Report on Review of 308 Report Platte River, Colo., Wyo., and Nebr., House Document No. 197 73D Congress 2nd Session on Flood Control for Bear Creek Colorado

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REPORT ON REVIEW OF 308 REPORT HOUSE DOCM,,,= N0. 197 73D CONGRESS, 2D SESSION PLATTE RIVER, COLORADO, WYOMING, _AI\ID NEBRASKA TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANY MODIFICATION SHOULD BE MADE AT THIS TIME WITH RESPECT TO FLOOD CONTROL ON BEAR CREEK, COLORADO SYLLABUS The Bear Creek Basin is subject to destructive floods. The towns of Morrison and Idledale, Colo., and the highways along Bear Creek Canyon and Mount Vernon Creek Canyon have experienced considerable damage from past floods, the most recent of which occurred in 1938. Annual flood damages averaging approximately 0141,000 since 1933 have been sustained in the basin. The lives of 44 persons have been lost in past floods, of which 17 have Veen since 1933. The basin is subject to periods of excessive rainfall and to storms of cloudburst intensity. The floods usually occur during the summer months when many tourists are visiting the basin. A system of reser- voir control is not economically feasible. Channel cleaning and enlargement at I4orrison would entail total annual costs of $10,106,91 and would prevent flood damages estimated at $18,100 annually, besides greatly reducing the menace to life. Construction of such a project at an initial Federal cost of $219,236 is recommended. For Idledale, a plan was studied to give pro- tection by evacuation of the flood zone and the restriction of the area to recreation and picnic purposes. The total annual costs would be :1,954.60; the Federal costs of construction are estimated at $31,620. The annual benefits are estimated to be 01,800 besides reducing the hazard to life. No project is recommended at Idledale, Colo., at this time because of the absence of any local municipal organization with the authority and financial ability to give assurance of local cooperation. -i-