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<br />4.1.5 CHERRY CREEK
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<br />Flood Historv. Because of channel improvements and construction of Cherry Creek
<br />Dam, many of the flood problems that once loomed large along that stream have been
<br />eliminated, Runoff from the upper basin is completely controlled by the dam and flood
<br />control releases are limited to the capacity of the downstream channel. During the evening
<br />and night of 16 June 1965, the Cherry Creek Reservoir impounded a flood which had a
<br />peak inflow of 58,000 c.ts, The flood stored in the reservoir saved an estimated $130
<br />million in flood damages downstream from the dam on the Cherry Creek and South Platte
<br />River flood plains. However, there was considerable damage upstream from the dam.
<br />Prior to the existence of the dam, major floods occurred on Cherry Creek in 1964, 1876,
<br />1885, 1912, 1933, and 1935. The shortest interval between major floods was two years,
<br />with an average interval of fourteen years, The flood of 14 July 1912 resulted from a
<br />violent rainstonn lasting two hours, during which rainfall of 2,08 inches was recorded, The
<br />pattem of this stonn caused a cumulative effect on runoff which was near the maximum
<br />for a stonn of this intensity,
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<br />Flood of SDrine 1844. According to legend a major flood occurred on the South Platte
<br />River during the spring of 1844, An article in the 22 June 1864 Denver Commonwealth
<br />indicated that Major James Bridger in relating his travel experiences told of a flood
<br />"extending from the bluff on Cherry Creek to the extreme bluff on the South Platte River,"
<br />He indicated he was compelled to wait 9 days before being able to cross the river and
<br />continue his joumey. The apparent high volume associated with this event would support
<br />the references to deep snow and continuous rain recorded in Major James Bridger's diary,
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<br />Flood of Julv 1912, In 1912, the only Weather Bureau Station in the Cherry Creek
<br />basin was located in Denver, Records indicate that 2.08 inches of rain occurred between
<br />Franktown and a point about 5 miles north of Denver, with the center located near Parker,
<br />The rainfall started at about 3 p,m, and continued until approximately 5 p,m, Cherry Creek
<br />crested at about 10 p.m, and had a peak discharge of 25,000 cubic feet per second in
<br />Denver, The Cherry Creek Flood Commission estimated that runoff occurred from an area
<br />of about 200 square miles, Flood damages in the reach between Franktown and the site
<br />of the existing Cherry Creek Dam and 'Reservoir totaled $554,000,
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<br />Flood of Julv 1922, A severe stonn centered over the Bayou Gulch basin, a tributary
<br />to Cherry Creek, during the afternoon of 28 July 1922. Heavy rainfall was reported to have
<br />occurred in an area bounded by lines 3 miles north of Parker, about 4 miles west of Cherry
<br />Creek, 1 mile south of Franktown, and by the Douglas County line on the east. Unofficial
<br />rainfall amounts varied from 1 inch to 3,5 inches, occurring in about 2 hours, An estimated
<br />peak discharge it 8,700 cubic feet per second discharged out of Bayou Gulch. The
<br />discharge on Cherry Creek, 3 miles north of Parker, was estimated to be 17,000 cubic feet
<br />per second, ARhough no damages were experienced in Denver, this was considered a
<br />major flood for the upstream part of the baSin.
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<br />Colorado Flood
<br />Hydrology Manual
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<br />4.8
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<br />fR6FT
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