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<br />-",- <br /> <br />EXECUTfVES~MARY <br /> <br />This report documents the April 29, 1999 flood event, past flood histOlY, and flood management <br />system performance within the Arkansas River watershed, including Fountain Creek, which <br />enters the Arkansas River at Pueblo, and Monument Creek, which enters Fountain Creek from <br />the north just east of Manitou Springs. The report also addresses deficiencies and makes <br />recommendations for improvements. <br /> <br />The flood of April 29, 1999 on the Arkansas River had an. estimated peak discharge of28,000 <br />cubic feet per second (c.f.s.) at Las Animas which equates to about a 20 to 30-year event. <br />Tributary flows combined to create a river stage of record on the Arkansas River at the Avondale <br />gauge on May 1, 1999. This peak went on to crest in La Junta on May 3,1999 causing extensive <br />flooding and requiring the evacuation of many residents. Flooding in La Junta occurred when <br />local levees were overtopped and eventually breached by the flow on the Arkansas River. <br />Fortunately, local drainage areas south of La Junta did not experience heavy rainfall and <br />contributed little to the flooding. <br /> <br />The heaviest rainfall occurred in El Paso County within the Monument Creek watershed and the <br />City of Colorado Springs. This runoff contributed heavily to the flood damage along Fountain <br />Creek. The estimated peak discharge along Fountain Creek was 20,100 c.f.s. at Fountain, which <br />equates to about a 10-year event. Nevertheless, the volume of flow on Fountain Creek caused <br />more erosion damage than any previously recorded flood. Flood damages were also high in <br />Manitou Springs where the channel capacity is extremely restricted by encroaching development. <br /> <br />The total damage caused by the regional flooding over the four counties of El Paso, Pueblo, <br />Otero and Bent counties was in excess of$61 million. Corps of Engincers projects in the area <br />prevented in excess of $57 million in damages. On May 17, 1999, the President signed <br />DR#1276 declaring the ten counties of Otero, Bent, El Paso, Larimer, Pueblo, Las Animas, <br />Crowley, Kiowa, Elbert, and Freemont in Colorado eligible for Federal Disaster Assistance.; <br />however, the heaviest damage occurred in Otero County and the City of La Junta. <br /> <br />Under authority of the Public Law 84-99, Emergency Levee Rehabilitation and Repair Program, <br />the Corps of Engineers will repair the levees at La Jlmta, levee toe erosion at Las Animas; and <br />replace riprap lost along the floodway levee in Pueblo. The Corps had originally constructed all <br />these flood control works. <br /> <br />The highest need for flood management improvements is in the vicinity of Colorado Springs, <br />Manitou Springs, and La Junta. Further study in each of these areas will likely find that viable <br />flood management solutions exist. The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments and the Pueblo <br />Area Council of Governments have formed the Fountain Creek Watershed FOlUm and have <br /> <br />Post Flood Assessment Report <br /> <br />v <br /> <br />Executive Summary <br />Draft Revised 09/15/99 <br />