FLOOD02122 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

6) Colorado School of Mines, EP202J Group #2, Bickel et a!., Drainage Ditch Evaluation, Walsenburg, Colorado, April 25, 1996. IV. STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION Communitv Description Walsenburg, the County Seat of Huerfano County, is located in south-central Colorado. It lies just to the west of Interstate 25 in the foothills of the Sangre De Cristo Mountain range. It is about 50 miles south of Pueblo, and about 45 miles north of the Colorado- New Mexico state line. Highway 160 is the major east west highway that passes through the community. The elevation of Walsenburg is 6,182 feet. Figure I presents a vicinity map for Walsenburg. The population of Walsenburg has been gradually declining over a number of years, and is currently about 3,800 people. The city was incorporated on June 16, 1873, and prospered as a coal mining town for many years. Once, coal mining production declined, so did the population. Recently, construction began on a large prison facility near Walsenburg which has had a significant impact on growth and development in the city and surrounding area. Site Description Walsenburg lies within the Cucharas River basin which has its headwaters in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains west of the city. The upper headwaters in the basin reach elevations of about 14,000 feet. The Cucharas River flows through the community from southwest to northeast and empties into the Huerfano River in southern Pueblo County. Precipitation in the form of snow is predominant in the upper basin, however Walsenburg is fairly dry with an average annual precipitation of about 15 inches. Most of the precipitation in Walsenburg is in the form of rain which commonly occurs as thunderstorms in the late spring and summer. Site Specific Problems The intent of this feasibility study is to focus on local storm drainage problems as a result of storm runoff in the north part of the city. A storm drainage system was constructed within a portion of the city in about 1985. The storm drain, which is part of the city's drainage system, outfalls into the Holita Ditch near the intersection Colorado A venue and Russell Avenue. The storm drainage system includes a storm sewer in addition to overland flows in the streets and gutters. During heavy rain storms, the Holita Ditch does not have capacity to carry the entire amount of stormwater that drains into it. The lack of ditch capacity would allow the stormwater to overflow the banks of the ditch, thus causing potential flooding problems, and damage (erosion or bank failure) to the ditch itself. The Holita Ditch is a privately owned irrigation ditch that runs through the city from southwest to northeast. In previous years, the Holita ditch was used to convey stormwater 3