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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I HISTORY Over the centuries, large parts of the valley where G1enwood Springs is situated have been subject to flood hazards as a result of mud floods and debris flows beginning in the many gulches, large and small, on the surrounding mount ai ns ides. Spring, summer and fall, storms either of heavy, rapid rainfall or cloudbursts trigger washes on the upper parts of the debris fans, sending rivers of red mud, debris and rocks, tumbling down the slopes. Gulches previously formed carry the burden and it hits many areas of the city. In the rush down the mountainside, new channels may be cut, sending mud and debris on areas previously damaged very little. As the valley developed, homes were built in the paths of ancient flows, asphalt parking lots caused sheeting of muddy water and trash to inundate property adjacent to it. New streets provided curb to curb channels for the debris flow to follow, with land blocks away from the mountain gulches being affected. Thunderstorms of the years prior to World War II brought the debris and mud from the mountains, but much of the land which is now heavily developed was then open range and pasture and irrigated farmland. Consequently, damage was limited to clean up of fields and farm yards in those areas. The area north of 13th Street was the populated area and it was covered with mud at times. The Rio Grande depot was filled with mud and rocks on occasion. Streets were washed and prior to the WPA project of the 12th Street drainage ditch being built late in the 1930's, 1938, Grand Avenue received its share of cloudburst aftermaths. Lawrence "Bugo" Zancanella recalled one in 1938 which flowed down 11th Street covering between 7th and 13th from the top of the hill to the Roaring Fork River,