FLOOD02643 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

d. South Platte River basin. Flooding in the South Platte River basin was caused by overbank flows and by the accumulation of debris at bridges and other channel obstructions. Also, man- made structures, such as irrigation canals and drainageways, were unable to handle the high rate of runoff from the saturated land and from urbanized areas. Highline Canal, an irrigation caIJ8.l which meanders through Denver from the southwest to the northeast, is crossed by numerous small drainages which contributed to the canal's flows during the rainstorm. Over- flow from these drainages and from the canal created flood conditions at scattered locations throughout the metropolitan area. In other areas, inadequate drainageways caused sewers to back up into basements and to force street closures. e. East of Denver, rainfall amounts of 6 inches or more were reported in the Kiow. Creek basin, and rainfall accumulating to 4 inches or more was reported in the Boxelder, Bijou, Badger, and Beaver Creeks basins. For the most part, these basins are sparsely populated; consequently, damage was minor with the exception of the community of Wiggins, Colorado.. This community, with a population of about 400, was almost completely inundated by floodflows from Kiowa Creek, a right-bank tributary of the South Platte River. Downstream from Denver, the river flooded thousands of acres of agricultural lands and damaged or destroyed agricultural levees and irrigation structures. ~?he flood crest on the South Platte River reached North Platte, Nebraska during the early mrning hours of 13 May. Additional rainfall during the latter part of May again caused high stages along the South Platte River; there was some lowland flooding but no reportable damages occurred. f. North Platte River basin. Flooding in the North Platte River basin in Wyoming and Nebraska occurred concurrently with flooding in the South Platte River basin. Isolated flash flooding took place on 9 May 1973 on a drainage course of the Laramie River between the communities of Rock River and ]~sler, Wyoming. The flash flood washed out a 20-foot high abandoned railroad grade, derailed 4 engines and 41 cars of a Union Pacific freight train, and swept an automobile' off Highway 30. Two passengers in the auto were drowned. g. Minor lowland flooding occurred along Bates, Deer, Horseshoe, Boxelder, and LaBonte Creeks which are right-bank tributaries of the North Platte River in Wyoming. Lowland flooding also occurred along the main stem of the river between 72