FLOOD11630 ‎(2)‎

• County: Statewide
• Basin: Arkansas
• Title: Post Flood Assessment Report - Arkansas River
• Date: 9/15/1999
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Documentation Report

regional management approach to the problem was essential to finding a solution.
The PPACG Boazd of Directors decided to create a public forum for continuing work on the
Fountain Creek Watershed Project. The PPACG formed the Fountain Creek Watershed Forum
(FCWF) in conjunction with the Pueblo Area Council of Governments (PACOG). Elected
afficials from the PPACG and PACOG provide the leadership and form the Policy Development
Committee. The technical staf~ from cities and counties and other interested agencies and
affected parties form the Fountain Creek Watershed Forum Technical Advisory Committee
(FCWFTAC). The FCWFTAC has been meeting since November 1998. At the advice of the
FCWFTAC, the FCWF began explori.ng the possibility of securirig another grant from the EPA.
The grant will be used to generate a comprehensive, regional watershed management plan.
In conjunction with this proposed EPA funded study effort, the FCWF has expressed interest in
pursuing a Feasibility Study by the Corps of Engineers through re-activation of an existing study
authority. As a result of the Apri129, 1999 flood, many affected parties along Fountain Creek
were able to obtain immediate streambank erosion protection through the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS). The NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection pro~am allows
restoration and protection of streambanks threatening private and public interests. Nevertheless,
the overall challenge for the FCWF is enormous in scope and will likely require a cambined
effort on the part of the Corps of Engineers, local government agencies ana other Federal
agencies.
In anticipation of a concerted regional effort, the City of Colorado Springs, El Paso County, City
of Pueblo and Pueblo County are working toward a regional stormwater services project to
develop the organizational, operational, legal, and financial framework of a regional stormwater
and flood control organization. This may ultimately evolve into an entity which can sponsor a
comprehensive, basin-wide, Federally cost shazed floocl control improvement project.
Arkan~as Itiver
Development within the Arkansas basin downstream of Pueblo has not been as significant as the
development along the Fountain Creek and tributaries. The increased flow and associated
erosion and sediment transport from Fountain Creek has created aggradation within the Arkansas
River channel. This aggradatian and increase in base stream flow has resulted in increased
flooding from flows that occur at relatively frequent intervals. This appeazs to be largely the case
at La Junta, Colorado. Local officials report that the Arkansas River channel bed in La Junta has
increased in elevation 16 feet over the last 30 yeazs.
Aggradation in the river channel has become problematic from the standpoint of local
stormwater drainage. In 1993, the Corps of Engineers conducted a hydrologic investigation for
La Junta as part of an initial appraisal for a Section 205 Small Flood Control Project. The
investigation was focused on the First Street Stormdrain between the King and Anderson
Arroyos. The drainage azea and flow quantity were below the policy threshold for Corps of
Engineers projects, but it was clear that sedimentation has adversely affected drainage to enter
Chapter 5- Flood Risk Assessment
Post Flood Assessment Report 36 Draft Revisef109/09/99