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<br />FL-eOD CHRONOLOGY <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Major flooding began to occur in the Fountain Creek, Arkansas and Purgatoire river basins <br />between April 29, 1999 and early May 1999. In the Fountain Creek basin, minor flooding began <br />on the morning of April 29, 1999. Flooding problems along the Fountain escalated through the <br />day, reaching major proportions that evening. The major flooding along Fountain Creek <br />continued through May I, 1999 before water levels began to slowly recede. Damage was <br />widespread from Manitou Springs to Pueblo. <br /> <br />In the upper Fountain, around Manitou Springs, homes fell victim to mud and rock slides. <br />Homes and businesses were also flooded and numerous roads and bridges were either damaged <br />or destroyed. In addition, the city water supply was contaminated and the sewage system failed, <br />allowing raw sewage to seep into the streets. The heaviest rainfall occurred in Colorado Springs. <br />In Colorado Springs, between S'" and 2 I ,I A venues, completely washed away the soil supporting <br />both east-bound and west-bound approaches to U.S. Highway 24, a major four-lane <br />thoroughfare. Two mobile home parks along the river were flooded and numerous roads and <br />bridges were either damaged or destroyed. <br /> <br />In Pueblo County, flows from Fountain Creek also damaged or destroyed numerous roads and <br />bridges. Flood flows also washed away a bike route and eroded away miles of ranch land. Both <br />Fountain Creek and the St. Charles River, another tributary to the Arkansas River, crested on <br />Friday April 30, 1999. Water levels dropped below flood stage at all points along Fountain . <br />Creek by Monday May 3, 1999. The flood peaks that moved down these tributaries reached the <br />confluence with the Arkansas River on May I, 1999. <br /> <br />The Arkansas River began to flood on April 30, 1999. Flooding problems were first noted along <br />the river, east of Pueblo, near Avondale. In this area, major agricultural flooding occurred and <br />several homes were flooded. Numerous roads were damaged or destroyed. The Arkansas River <br />crested at Pueblo and rose to a new river stage of record at Avondale on Saturday May I, 1999. <br />Flood waters spread east into Otero and Crowley Counties the night of April 30, 1999 and into <br />the morning of May 1,1999. <br /> <br />Flooding problems became quite serious in Otero and Crowley Counties during the day of May <br />1,1999. During the evening of May I, 1999 through the day of May 2,1999, the flooding <br />reached major proportions from Rocky Ford to La Junta. Rocky Ford experienced flooding and <br />sewer water back up problems, but the area known as North La Junta was most severely affected. <br />In North La Junta, about 300 homes were flooded with water two thirds of the way up doorways <br />and flowing through businesses. Rescues were performed to save the lives of those who refused <br />to leave during evacuations. Many homes and businesses located on the south bank portion of <br />La Junta were also flooded. These areas in south La Junta were primarily affected by storm <br />sewer back up. Flood waters also spread east into Bent County on May I, 1999. Although water <br />levels climbed several feet above flood stage in Bent County, flood damage was confined mainly <br />to roads and agricultural land. The local flood protection levee at Las Animas held back <br />floodwaters and spared the city from severe flooding. The Arkansas River crested at La Junta on <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Post Flood Assessment Report <br /> <br />14 <br /> <br />Chapter 3 - Flood of April 29, 1999 <br />Draft Revised 09/09/99 <br />