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<br />Floods caused by overflow of the South Platte River and Sand <br />Creek were studied in detail. The areas studied in detail were <br />chosen with consideration given to all forecasted development <br />until 1980. <br /> <br />2.2 Community Description <br /> <br />Commerce City is situated in the southwestern corner of Adams <br />County, a centrally located county in Colorado. The city is 15 <br />miles south of Brighton, the county seat. Denver's Stapleton <br />International Airport and the U.S. Army's Rocky Mountain Arsenal <br />border the city on the east. The City and County of Denver, the <br />state capital, forms the southern boundary, and Adams County <br />adjoins the city to the north and west. <br /> <br />Commerce City was first incorporated in December of 1952 and <br />named Commerce Town. The population increased 750% from 1200 <br />persons in 1952 to 9000 persons in 1960 at which time Commerce <br />Town became Commerce City. As of 1975, the city had a population <br />of approximately 18,700 persons. <br /> <br />Commerce City is characterized by broad, gently rolling terrain. <br />The South Platte River flows from south to north, draining the <br />western part of the city. The main drainageway through the <br />center of Commerce City is Sand Creek, which flows from the <br />southeast, northwesterly to its confluence with the South Platte <br />River just south of Interstate 270 at the western corporate <br />Hmi to The South Platte River ranges in elevation from 5,128 <br />feet at the southern limit to 5,091 feet at the northern <br />boundary. Sand Creek ranges from 5,215 feet at the southeastern <br />corporate limit to 5,096 feet at the confluence with the South <br />Platte River. The vegetation in the floodplain areas is <br />predominately grama-buffalo grasses and some scattered native box <br />elders and cottonwood trees. <br /> <br />The city's climate generally is similar to that of the high <br />plains. It has a wide daily range in temperature with a yearly <br />normal daily maximum of 64'F and a minimum of 33'F, with <br />approximately 15 inches of annual precipitation. <br /> <br />The soils. in the South Platte and Sand Creek channel areas are <br />predominately a sandy loam soil with moderate infiltration. <br />Development within the floodplains, which is mostly industrial, <br />has been limi ted due to the poor structural properties of the <br />soils in the floodplains. Although with the increasing value of <br />land, development pressures are also increasing within <br />floodplains and if permitted, could result in increased flood <br />heights and destruction. <br /> <br />3 <br />