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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 4 Floodflows from Sand Creek caused high stages on the South Platte River as far as Fort Lupton, about 29 miles downstream from Denver. Discharges of Sand Creek at its mouth were estimated to be 15,000 cubic feet per second. Sand Creek discharged 7,720 cubic feet per second at East Colfax Avenue. Flood depths up to 8 feet were reported. Roads and culverts in the storm area were eroded and damaged. Agri- cultural lands in the Sand Creek flood plain were damaged by erosion. Water inundated many homes, some tourist cabins, an oil refinery, and business places along U.S. Highway 40. Along the South Platte River, 1,000 acres of low-lying crop and pasture lands were flooded and several county road bridges were damaged. In Aurora, Westerly Creek overflowed and halted traffic on Colfax Avenue for about 2 hours, inundated 32 homes, and caused the sewage treatment plant to close. Damages along Sand and Toll Gate Creeks, along the South Platte River, and along Westerly Creek were estimated to be $133,000, $20,500, and $14,900, respectively. "Flood of 8 and 9 May 1957. A heavy rainstorm occurred over the Sand Creek basin and adjacent areas on 8 and 9 May 1957. Over 4.0 inches of rainfall occurred at the storm center. Major flooding resulted on Sand and Toll Gate Creeks. Run- off from the Sand Creek basin caused severe flooding along the South Platte River. The floodwaters in the Sand Creek basin receded in less than 12 hours, but flood conditions along the South Platte River continued for several days. Maximum discharges recorded to that date occurred on Sand and Toll Gate Creeks. On Sand Creek, near Stapleton International Airport, the flow was estimated to be 25,000 cubic feet per second. Upstream from Toll Gate Creek, the Sand Creek discharge was estimated to be 8,000 cubic feet per second. The Toll Gate Creek discharge was estimated to be 10,500 cubic feet per second at East 6th Avenue in Aurora. Discharges on the South Platte River at Henderson and at Fort Lupton were esti- mated to be 12,000 and 10,000 cubic feet per second, respectively. "In its 1 ower reaches, Sand Creek spread over wi de areas. From Buckl ey Field to the mouth of Sand Creek, the "flood width varied from 500 to 2,500 feet. Average flood widths along the downstream reaches of Toll Gate Creek were 1,000 feet. Agricultural areas, public utilities, residences, and government property sustained severe damages. Homes were flooded, the sewer line and oxidation beds at the Altura sewage plant were destroyed, and three homes near Commerce City were undercut and toppled into Sand Creek. Most of the bridges across Sand Creek between Colfax Avenue.and the South Platte River were damaged or destroyed. The embankment protecting the approaches to the Burlington Ditch Siphon, near the mouth of Sand Creek, was overtopped, causing floodwaters to follow the ditch and to flood areas outside the natural flood plain. Three lives were lost along the downstream reach of Toll Gate Creek. Bottom lands along a 29-mile reach of the South Platte River channel were flooded. Crops and pasture land in the area sustained almost total loss. Large areas of land were eroded. Heavy damages were sustained by highways and bridges, railroad embankments, and by irrigation ditches. Floating debris partially clogged numerous bridges and caused floodwaters to overtop bridge embankment fills. Flood losses on Sand and Toll Gate Creeks amounted to $338,000. Damages on the South Platte River were estimated to be $2,000,000. "Flood of 16 and 17 June 1965. The catastrophic rainstorms of June 1965 also included major flooding in the Sand Creek basin. Rainfall up to 14 inches fell on the Plum Creek basin during the afternoon and evening of 16 June 1965. The storm pattern extended over Sand and Toll Gate Creeks with rainfall averaging 2 to 4 inches over the Sand Creek basin. Resulting discharges on Sand Creek were estimated to be 13,400 cubic feet per second at Sable Avenue and 18,900 cubic feet per second downstream from Toll Gate Creek. Toll Gate Creek flow was estimated to be 17,000 cubic feet per second at East 6th Avenue in Aurora. Heavy runoff from Sand and