FLOOD02559

• County: Gilpin
• Community: Black Hawk
• Basin: South Platte
• Title: Black Hawk Chunnel Technical Information
• Date: 2/3/1995
• Prepared For: Black Hawk
• Prepared By: Futura Engineering Inc
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Project

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Futura Engineering Inc.

Engineering Consultants and Surveyors

'2741 East Caley Avenue, Suite 126
Englewood, Colorado 801 11
[phone] FAX [phone]

December 2, 1994

Chunnel Committee
City of Black Hawk, Colorado

RE: Project Status and Proposal for Preliminary Engineering and Surveying Services for
the Black Hawk Chunnel

Dear Committee:

This document is intended to provide a brief summary of the Chunnel project to date and
provide recommendations for the ensuing steps of preliminary and final design. Futuf"II has
compiled two three-ring binders of engineering calculations and background data and several
sheets of engineering drawings supporting these findings. Some of the following technical
discussion is uninteresting, but necessary, since transporting water and sediments through the
Chunnel!low flow channel is a complex process. The feasibility of chunnel operation has
been completed.

A cost proposal is included which outlines steps required for timely completion of survey and
engineering. A statement of qualifications is enclosed for your information.

HISTORY AND COMPlETED WORK

The Chunnel was originally conceived as a method to construct the Black Hawk stream scape
and protect it and the public from flood damage. Water quality and Super Fund benefits
soon became apparent. This history and discussion of completed work is broken out by non.
technical (ideas and agency coordination) and technical (engineering analyses and design)
categories.

Non. Technical

The Chunnel and other flood control alternatives were evaluated for applicability to the reach
of North aear Creek next to the New Gilpin Hotel. Regulatory agencies were contacted for
their review of the alternative and their design parameters. The enthusiastic reception by the
U.S. Army .Corps of Engineers and the E.P.A. encouraged the Chunnel concept. The project
was subsequently extended to protect the waste water treatment plant from flood damage.