FLOOD01033

• County: El Paso
• Community: Pikes Peak Region
• Stream Name: Arkansas River and Tributaries
• Title: Pikes Peak Area Flash Flood Warning System Needs Assessment
• Date: 1/1/1986
• Prepared For: Colorado Springs
• Prepared By: UCCS
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Miscellaneous

INTRODUCTION

The need for a region-wide flash flood warning system as
an important addition to flood plain management options in
the Pikes Peak Region has been noted by many knowledgeable .
individuals and jurisdictions,' The combined effects of
meteorology and topography in western El Paso County create
the potential for large-scale flooding on Fountain and
Monument Creeks and their tributaries, Indeed, significant
floods have occurred on these creeks, and these events have
been documented in other reports. This publication has
been designed to present the results of survey work that
has documented the numbers of people who could die and the
numbers of structures that could be severely damaged in the
event of unpredicted flooding in the study area.

In March of 1986, the Center for Community Development
and Design (CCDD) at the University of Colorado--Colorado
Springs held a symposium to discuss the threats and
implications of flash flooding and possible mitigation
measures, In discussions there, representatives from
jurisdictions and community groups in the area formed the
Pikes Peak Flood Hazard Task Force, The Task Force met two
days later at UCCS with representation from El Paso County,
Colorado springs, Manitou Springs, Green Mountain Falls,
Fountain, Monument, Palmer Lake, the Organization of
Westside Neighbors, and Teller County, Advisers to the
Task Force included representatives from CCDD, UCCS, the
State Division of Disaster Emergency Services, the Colorado
Water Conservation Board, the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, the U,S, Army Corps of Engineers, the National
Weather Service, and Simons, Li and Associates, The Task
Force noted the need for improvement in many aspects of
flood plain management. It also saw the development and
operation of a flash flood warning system as a major and
immediate need that is inexpensive relative to other
measures or the value of lives at risk,

Following many months of discussion, deliberation, and
investigation, the Task Force agreed that an initial-stage
warning system using rain gauges, stream gauges, and a
central computer could serve the needs of all Task Force
participants in making an early flash flood warning
possible, Cooperative efforts by the jurisdictions
involved were necessary to agree on the approach adopted,
and greater cooperative efforts will be needed to fund,
develop, and operate the warning system and to respond to
the warning that it could' one day give.