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<br />, <br /> <br />Population for the metro area increased in varying amounts from 7% for Denver <br /> <br />to 90% in the case of Commerce City. The metro area showed on the average <br /> <br />an increase in the area under development that was exposed to flood hazard. <br /> <br />This development occurred in response to the continual demand for more <br /> <br />housing and more job opportunities, but without full consideration of the <br /> <br />likely impacts of natural hazards which occurred in relatively low frequency. <br /> <br />The floods of 1965 did not impact the major part of the city. Due <br />to storm orientation, only part of the metro area was impacted, because <br /> <br />of partial rather than wholesale flooding; flooding was confined to Plum <br /> <br />Creek which emptied into the South Platte and Toll Creek which emptied into <br /> <br />Sand Creek. In general terms, losses were high, but most of the Denver <br /> <br />area was affected in only a minor way. The main rainfall during the storm <br /> <br />did not occur on the city as the storm hit Castle Rock area in the south <br /> <br />and the precipitation level in the Denver metro area was low. Another <br /> <br />reason of low damage were the mitigating measures that had been put into <br /> <br />effect. <br /> <br />Mitigating Measures <br /> <br />Although generally speaking, mitigatinq measures had not been adopted <br /> <br />as a mater of policv in general development; the recurrent floods along the <br /> <br />Cherry Creek had forced adoption of structural protection for residents <br /> <br />living along the stream, In 1953, Cherry Creek dam was built at a cost of <br /> <br />$15,000,000 in order to contain flood waters of that stream. During the <br /> <br />floods of 1965, all the floodflow of the Cherry Creek and its tributary <br /> <br />Piney Creek, was contained in the reservoir, and thus much of the damage <br /> <br />below the reservior was avoided. In the absence of the dam, the flood peak <br /> <br />below the reservoir was avoided. In the absence of the dam, the flood peak <br /> <br />of this flow w0uld have joined that of Plum Creek in the South Platte and more <br /> <br />-14- <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br />