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<br />The P~wnee Creek flood plain in the Sterling are~ Is <br />crossed by U.S. Highway 6 and the combined Union Pacific Railroad <br />and Burlington Northern rallro/ld. The ambankrnent associated with <br />these roadways Is of sufficient height to create floodflOw obstruc- <br />tions. DurlngperlodsofhlghstageonPawneeCreek, floodwaters <br />can esc/lpe the Pawnee Creek valley to flow overland toward the <br />PI~tTe River. However, these floodwaters are intercepted by the <br />hlghw/lyand railroad embankments redirecting the floodwater tOward <br />Sterling. <br /> <br />major reservoirs located on the South Platte River upstream from <br />Sterling are listed in hble 3. Few additional flood protection <br />measures e~lst that reduce the amount of potentlal flooding at <br />Sterling other than ISOlated levees protecting small areas. <br /> <br />Table 3 <br />Major Storage Reservoirs In the South Platte River Basin <br /> <br />Reservoir <br />and location <br /> <br />ManM/lde objects, such as buildings, cars, and fences, as <br />well as trees, brush, and other vegetation located on the flood <br />plain, can also cause floodflow obstructions. These Items, while <br />remaining In place, not only tend to create higher stages on the <br />flood plain because of reduced flOw /lrea and flow blockage but may <br />also create higher localized velocities as the floodwaters flOw <br />around them. Flood shges may be lowored In a loc<lllzed IIrea, If <br />the floodflows are of sufficient magnitude to dislodge these flow <br />obstructions. The debris may then lodge at locations farther down- <br />stream, thus compounding problems. This flo/ltlng debris commonly <br />lodges against bridge piers and bridge decks; the flow area 15 <br />then reduced or the channel is completely blocked. Theblockage <br />can produce severe stage and velocity incne/lses, often accompanied <br />by bridge damage or complete failure. <br /> <br />ElevenmlleCanyon <br />Near lake George, <br />Coloraclo <br /> <br />Cheesman lake Near <br />Deckers, Color~clo <br /> <br />Cherry Craek Near <br />Denver, Colorado <br /> <br />Ch~tfleld Near <br />Denv"r, Coto""do <br /> <br />Bear Creek Ne..r <br />Morrison, Colorado <br /> <br />Drainage <br />Area <br />(sq.ml,) <br /> <br />960 <br /> <br />1,750 <br /> <br />'" <br /> <br />~,020 <br /> <br />"0 <br /> <br />Primary <br />Purpose <br /> <br />Oetteof <br />Initial Staraqe <br /> <br />Municipal ~nd <br />IrrIgation <br />Supply <br /> <br />October 1932 <br /> <br />Municipal and OctOber 1902 <br />IrrigatIon <br />Suppiy <br /> <br />F'Iood Control June 195~ <br /> <br />Flood Control June 1975 <br /> <br />FlOOd Control Under Construction <br /> <br />Flood plain zoning can be an effective method for pre- <br />venting flJtllr", o:I!!1I'I1l9'3S, To d..te, flood pl."!;n 20nlng In lon"" <br />County has been Instituted where flood plain Information Is avail- <br />able. The city of Sterl ing, however, has not InstItuted aoy flOOd <br />plain zoning. <br /> <br />Ice effects have, historically, not been a problem On <br />the South Platte River or Pawnee Creek In the Sterling area. Ice <br />jams, however, could occur in the future on the South Platte River <br />aithough the chaoce of occurrence Is quIte remote, <br /> <br />Otherfl>CtorSllndthelrlmpacts-FlooddalMgesarealso <br />possible In the event of large amounts of runoff from the numerous <br />tributaries and ~II dralnagcways flowing into the South Platte <br />Illverint"eSterllngarea. Flooddamagasare."!lsoposslblo In <br /> <br />Flood d~maqe reduction measures - Several dams and reser- <br />voirs are located In the South Platte River basIn. Of these, the <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />" <br />