FLOOD03506

• County: Jefferson
• Community: Lakewood
• Stream Name: South Lakewood Gulch
• Basin: South Platte
• Title: Major Drainageway Planning
• Date: 8/1/1978
• Prepared For: Lakewood
• Prepared By: UDFCD
• Contract/PO #: &&
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

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SECTION VI
PHASE A ALTERNATIVES

The de$ign criteria used for this storm drainage planning study are those

contained in the Denver Regional Council of Governments' Urban Storm Drainage

Criteria Manual, Volume Nos. I and 2.

GENERAL COMMENTS

The economic investigation of feasible alternatives is made by a factual
analysis of the various costs and benefits associated with possible alter-
nates, with careful consideration given to the input of the various entities
involved. The approach taken was to use entity input and past experience
to identify the alternatives for each reach which may be feasible. The re-
sulting alternates are evaluated as to their measurable benefits and costs
as described in the following section.

The Tables V-I and V-2 show the storage and non-storage alternates which

were investigated for the various reaches of South Lakewood Gulch during

Phase A. A complete description of the alternates may be found in the

Phase A Report.

These results can then be subjectively analyzed considering intangible

benefits.and. neighborhood desires, implementation capability, and political

considerations to choose the alternatives for each reach which are most de-

sirable from the standpoint of the policy bodies for each entity. As long

as the chosen 'alternate is technically practical, it is not necessarily

desirable to use the alternative with the highest benefit/cost ratio, and

as long as the chosen alternate is economically practical, this decision

lies with the local government. In other words, it is reasonable to select

an alternate which generates the greatest social, environmental, and recrea-

tional benefits even though the quantifiable benefit/cost ratio may not be

the highest.

Most of the impacts of urban development have an effect on the storm

runoff system. It is important to recognize, while attempting to integrate

the multitude of requirements for the urban system, that the major drain-

age system will operate whether or not it is planned or designed, and whether

or not urban development is wisely located with respect to it. Thus, major

drainage should be given a high early priority when considering the urban

system so that storm runoff is handled as an asset and not a liability. It

is important that the design criteria be well-conceived to maximize the

benefits to be obtained from each alternate and to insure that the major

drainage system will.operate as intended.

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