Minutes of South Platte River Basin Flood Control Investigation Meeting

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4 4 Floods are becoming increasingly damaging due to the fast development of urban and rural communities within the north and northeast metropolitan area of Denver. Federal lands located within the watershed are some 27,500 acres of the Lowry Bombing range, the Buckley Nava. Air Station, Lowry Field of the U. S. Air Force, Fitzsimons Army Hospital, and perhaps a 1,000 acres of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. In addition, some 3,000 acres of the City of Denver, is located within the watershed, as is the City of Aurora, Commerce Town. and the town of Altura. Denver Stapleton Airfield and new city jail are also located within the watershed. Two irrigation canals cross Sand Creek, known as the Burlington, and the High Line. Some 80,000 acres of land are dependent upon the Burlington Canal for irrigation water. All of this land is located outside of the watershed. This canal is located in a vulnerable spot within a quarter of a mile of the mouth of Sand Creek and is siphoned under Sand Creek. This siphon under Sand Creek creates a bottle- neck for the flood waters, thereby backing them up until they over -top the canal itself causing failure of the canal Other facilities located i n roads, federal, state, and pipe lines, residential an radio station. the watershed are three rail - county highways, gas and water d commercial buildings and KOA The sewage oxidation beds for the town of Altura are located on the flood plain and.are subject to severe damage. All facilities mentioned are subject to..flood damage varying from slight damage to total loss. Three lives were known to be lost in the 1957 flood. 4.. Proposed Objectives Installation of channel improvements and flood prevention structures. 5. Type of Treatment Contruction of flood retarding dams and channel improvements. - 2 -