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<br />'34
<br />
<br />FLOODS IN COLORADO
<br />
<br />MAJOR FLOODS-SOUTH :PLA'ITE RIVER
<br />
<br />35
<br />
<br />flow of Cold Spring Gulch, As the tributary gulch has a short, nar-
<br />row, steep drainage area, it appears that its flow was relatively small
<br />at the time of the peak in Cold Spring Gulch. The flow of 9,000
<br />second-feet, as measured, represents the peak flow of Cold Spring
<br />Gulch.
<br />The peak discharge of Bear Creek at Morrison, above the mouth of
<br />Mount Vernon Creek, was 6,200 second-feet from 164 square miles,
<br />or 37.8 second-feet per square mile, The difference between the peak
<br />on Cold Spring Gulch and that on Bear Creek at Morrison is un-
<br />doubtedly due to the fact tbat the peak discharge on the gulch was
<br />of very short duration and flattened out in the channel of the creek
<br />between the mouth of Cold Spring Gulch and Morrison, a distancc
<br />of about 5 miles. Mount Vernon Creek in SW)~ sec. 23, T. 4 S.,
<br />R. 70 W., 2 miles above Morrison, had a peak discharge of 3,900
<br />second-feet from a drainage area of 5~7 square miles, or 684 second-teet
<br />per square mile. In sec. 35, T. 4 S., R. 70 W., half a mile above its
<br />mouth at Morrison, the peak discharge of Mount Vernon Creek wItS
<br />9,230 second-feet from a drainage area of 9.45 square miles, or 977
<br />second-feet per square mile. From statements by local residents it
<br />appears tha.t the peak discharge of Mount Vernon Creek at Morrison
<br />occurred about 7 p. m. September 2, and that on Bear Creek at
<br />Morrison about 7:30 p. m. the same day. The length of time that the
<br />peak discharge lasted at Morrison is not definitely known, but several
<br />local residents state that it was about 1)\ to 2 hours from the time the
<br />flood from' Mount Vernon Creek reachcd Morrison until the water
<br />had subsided sufficiently to permit travel on the main street.
<br />The water-stage reeorder at the gaging station on Bear Creek at
<br />Morrison did not operate during the flood bccause a deposit of gravel
<br />and rocks bloeked the intake, but a satisfactory record was obtained
<br />by the recorder at the Sheridan Junction gaging station, near the
<br />mouth of Bear Creek, about 10 miles below Morrison. The table
<br />that follows shows the stage and discharge at this station nt frequent
<br />
<br />intervals during the flood and indicates that the flood was of short
<br />duration. The total quantity of water discharged in the 6-hour
<br />period 10 p. m. to 4 a. m. was 732 acre-feet.
<br />The reduction shown in the peak discharge of Bear Creek between
<br />Cold Spring Gulch and Morrison e.ontinued i,n greater degree below
<br />Mount Vernon Creek, as at its mouth Bear Creek had a peak dis-
<br />charge of only 2,810 second-feet.
<br />
<br />CLEAR CREEK
<br />
<br />Clear Creek emerges from the Front Range at Golden and flows
<br />for a distance of 16 miles across the plains. For a distance of 10
<br />miles above the mouth of the canyon the fall is 103 feet per mile,
<br />and across the plains it is 37 feet per mile, .
<br />
<br />Gaging stations on Clear Creek
<br />
<br />Sta.tton
<br />
<br />Dr8lna~
<br />area (square
<br />mUes)
<br />
<br />Period of reeord
<br />
<br />~~~t~ ~~~It~~=:::::::::::::::::::::::
<br />Canyon, 7 miles above Oolden..______
<br />Ncar aoJden___________~_+n____....__
<br />Atmoutb, near Derby__n_______..___
<br />
<br />239 October 1910 to September 1912.
<br />345 May 1899 to October 1912-
<br />374 August 1887 to September 1888.
<br />392 December IfX:18 to Dacomher 1009; June 1911 to date.
<br />600 April to November 1914; February 1927 to date.
<br />
<br />Floods on the Clear Creek occurred in May and June 1864. The
<br />only information regarding the flood of May 18 is contained in the
<br />Central City Daily Miners Register, issue of May 18, 1864:
<br />
<br />Clear Creek is on a bender. The rain storms of the past feW' days with the
<br />melting snQWS * III *, together fill the mountain streams to o;erflowing.
<br />fNorth} Clear Creek, where it courses through Blackhawk,-is at present far above
<br />the banks. In front of the Blackhawk foundry the water covers nearly the entire
<br />surface of the street.
<br />
<br />11'*.
<br />
<br />And on May 29 the Register stated that the bridges over Clear
<br />Creek along the road to Denver had been washed away, except ths
<br />one at Golden.
<br />Regnrding the flood of Jnne 10, the Georgetown Courier, June 12,
<br />1864, stated:
<br />
<br />Clear Creek rose very rapidly Monda.y night [June 9] and overflowed its banks
<br />near the comer of Rose and Tenth Streets. It became necessary to construct
<br />a levee the next day to keep the stream within its limits.
<br />High water did considera.ble damage on the Empire branch of Clear Creek last
<br />ThursdB:Y [June 5]. The dam above Bartt and Fletcher's mill gave way. The
<br />large county bridge below wa.a wrecked, the bridge above Empire sta.tion the
<br />railroad bridge, and the other bridge below the sta.tion were carried away. ~
<br />
<br />Gage height and du;charge of Bear Creek at mouth, near Sheridan Junction, Colo.,
<br />Sept. B-S, 18S8
<br />[Data furnished by tbe Colorado State Engineer]
<br />
<br /> 08!!:: D1"'":;r. 08\:, Djschnr~e
<br />Sept. Time beig t (""'" . Sept. T[me hei~ t (second.
<br /> (feet) l88') (feet) feet)
<br />L_____... 10:00 p. m...~~.u. 2." 120 3__.~......_ 1:00.. nL.______h 4.30 816
<br /> 10:05 P. m.n~h.~. 3.110 218 2:ooa. m........._ 3... ""
<br /> 10;10 p. m__....... 4..75 826 3:00 a.m_...._..__ 3.75 "0
<br /> 10:20 p. tpm~..u_ 17.21 2,tUO 4:00 ft. m_._.._____ 3.70 &<,
<br /> l1:OOp.m...._____ '.80 ~'IIO 7:QIJa.m........__ 8.80 """
<br /> 12:00 mldnlght..._ 6.70 1,600
<br />
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