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<br />. <br /> <br />reached Weldona. Only in rare events do the ditches spill or break out. In the 90-year history of the <br />Riverside Ditch, 1997 was the first time that the ditch had actually breached above Weldona, <br />according to a ditch company representative. Several spills may have previously occurred, <br />including some in 1995 and 1996. <br /> <br />Floodinl! Problems and Floodinl! Historv <br />Flooding problems in Weldona are caused by inadequate storm drainage systems, flat topography, <br />and man-made flow obstructions that block the natural drainage courses (i.e. railroad embankment, <br />highway embankment, county roads, etc.). Two irrigation canals above Weldona complicate the <br />hydrology and hydraulics of the lower Schaefer Draw basin. According to a floodplain information <br />report produced by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, Weldona is located outside <br />of the lOO-year floodplain of the South Platte River. The Morgan County Flood Insurance Rate <br />Map shows Weldona outside of any lOO-year floodplain area. Floods on the tributaries in Morgan <br />County, including Schaefer Draw, normally occur during the spring and summer months from May <br />through September as a result of intense thunderstorms or large general rainstorms. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />1997 Flood Event <br />Reports of flooding in Weldona were broadcast by a local television station on the morning of <br />July 30, 1997. On that same morning, CWCB staff performed field investigations in the <br />Weldona area to view the flooded areas and to begin flood documentation efforts. An intense <br />rainstorm had occurred north and east of Weldona late in the evening of July 29 and into the <br />early morning of July 30. The storm produced flood flows in Schaefer Draw above Weldona, <br />which caused two irrigation canals to breach. Storm runoff from Schaefer Draw combined with <br />spilled flows from the irrigation canals inundated nearly the entire community. Residents were <br />evacuated from their homes due to flood hazards and potential health hazards. Flood depths were <br />generally from I to 3 feet. The U.S. Army National Guard was called in to assist with the <br />evacuations, to perform rescue operations, and to secure the area. <br /> <br />Morgan County, among other Colorado Counties, officially received a federal disaster <br />declaration on August I, 1997 based on severe flooding conditions. The disaster declaration <br />made it possible for Morgan County to be eligible to receive federal funding (disaster relief) <br />which includes individual assistance, public assistance, and mitigation assistance. <br /> <br />Morgan County officials made written and verbal requests to the CWCB for technical assistance <br />with developing a flood hazard mitigation feasibility study to address drainage and flooding <br />problems in Weldona. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Obiective <br />The Project objective is to develop a flood hazard mitigation feasibility study and prepare <br />portions of a final report to assist the local government (Morgan County) with the preparation of <br />a full application for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The completed application <br />with included technical information must satisfy all of the FEMA requirements in order for the <br />community to be eligible to receive federal grant money for project implementation. For the <br />purposes of this Project, Weldona flood issues will be addressed as two distinct components. <br />The first component is local storm drainage within the urbanized part of the community. The <br />second component is major drainage way work related to Schaefer Draw and the irrigation canals. <br /> <br />2 <br />