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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br />Future basin development was considered in this study by utilizing <br /> <br />crops. Very little damage from high flood waters has been <br /> <br />land use plans documented in the 1975 Comprehensive Plan prepared <br /> <br />reported for the two streams. <br /> <br />and adopted by Adams County. Within the study basins, the proposed <br /> <br />land uses are primarily agricultural with some low density urban- <br /> <br />As indicated, with the proximity of Third Creek and Second Creek <br /> <br />ization and employment. The agricultural land use consists of <br /> <br />so close to the South Platte River, very little record is available <br /> <br />farming with some large lot residential development. This use is <br /> <br />on damages associated with the two streams. On most occasions, <br /> <br />proposed for over 95 percent of the total drainage area. The low <br /> <br />flooding would have occurred along these streams during periods <br /> <br />density urbanization use included one to six dwelling units per <br /> <br />of heavy flooding along the South Platte. As the area is developed <br /> <br />acre of average residential density. Employment areas include <br /> <br />and property values increase, damages from floods on these streams <br /> <br />light industrial, office complexes, warehousing and other commer- <br /> <br />will be more evident. Accounts of past flooding on and around <br /> <br />cial type development. <br /> <br />Second and Third Creeks are presented in the following paragraphs <br /> <br />as summaries and excerpts from the Brighton Blade. <br /> <br />- HISTORICAL FLOODS - <br /> <br />May 30, 1948 - Disastrous hailstorms and floods hit <br />Adams County, which resulted in one death and millions <br />of dollars of damage to crops and truck gardens. High- <br />way 85, south of Brighton, was closed to traffic the <br />night of May 30 and May 31 due to high water from <br />numerous creeks. Water was reported to be approxima~ely <br />three feet deep on Highway 85 at both Second and Third <br />Creeks. Sable Avenue (Highway 51) was inundated by <br />flood water over a quarter mile wide. Highway 6 <br />(presently I-76) was closed as a result of flash flood- <br />ing on Second Creek. <br /> <br />Information on historical floods on Second and Third Creeks was <br /> <br />obtained through conversations with local residents and research <br /> <br />of the historic files of the Brighton Blade, a Brighton, Colorado <br /> <br />newspaper. No gauging stations exist on the study streams, and <br /> <br />thus a record of peak discharges which have occurred within the <br /> <br />drainage areas is unavailable. <br /> <br />June, 1949 - 1.2 inches of rain on Sunday, June 13, <br />created a flash flood on Third Creek, resulting in a <br />six foot wall of water crossing the farm home at l44th <br />Avenue and old U.S. 85. 144th Avenue was completely <br />washed out while old U.S. 85 was partially damaged. <br /> <br />Details of many of the past floods on Second Creek and Third <br /> <br />to damage within these drainageways, thus more concern and atten- <br /> <br />May 8, 1957 - The Brighton Blade reported that a total <br />of 3.71 inches of rain fell Wednesday, May 8, for one <br />of the biggest amounts of rain ever to fall in the <br />Brighton area in such a short space of time. The rain <br />resulted in the South Platte River and many of its <br />branches filling to overflowing. Damages were heavy <br />to specialty crops and pasture lands were filled with <br />silt and sand. Fifteen to fifty head of cattle were <br />estimated to have been lost in the high water. A large <br />amount of damage came from the breaching of the Burlington <br />ditch. Damage in the county to crops and facilities was <br />later estimated to be over $1.5 million. <br /> <br />Creek have gone unreported. In the past, there has been little <br /> <br />tion has been given to those areas along the South Platte River <br /> <br /> <br />where damages have been more extensive. Damages which did occur <br /> <br />within the basin were considered to be the result of heavy and <br /> <br />intense rainfall beating down and destroying young and mature <br />