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<br />down the main channel which increasec the severity of flooding. <br />Circled numbers on the basin map indj,cate approximate locations <br />and amount of rainfall as reported by nearby residents. <br /> <br />Comparison of Storm Data <br /> <br />The table and graph in figure 2 were developed from data <br />presented in the U.S. Weather Service pulication "NOAA Atlas 2, <br />precipitation-Frequency Atlas of the We";tern United States, <br />Volume III-Colorado." This table indicates that Milliken may have <br />received a 100-year, 1-hour duration storm if the rainfall <br />averaged 2.5 inches over the entire basi.n. A 2 inch rainfall <br />over the entire basin represents around a 35-year, 1-hour <br />duration storm. Thus, t,he flood outli.rws and problems identified <br />in this report should fairly well indicate the hazards and <br />problem areas which need to be correcb~d. <br /> <br />No estimated discharge values a):'e available as clean-up <br />operations have eliminated the high "later marks necessary for <br />such measurements. <br /> <br />Flood Hazards and Drainage Problems <br /> <br />The flooding on June 3, 1981 identified 3 main drainaqe <br />problems for Milliken, Colorado. One drainage problem an~a is <br />located on the east side of tOwn bet'"een the Union Pacific <br />Rail road Tracks and Cora Avenue. A nond up to six feet deep can <br />develop during storms as indicated in figure 3 due 1:0 inadequate <br />culvert capacity under the union Pacific Railroad. Water <br />continues to pond in this area until it can breakout over Dorothy <br />Avenue and flow west, back towards the )~ola Park tributary or <br />washes out the U.p. tracks. This over.'Elow alo:o contributes in <br />part to the flood problems experienced by some small business <br />near the intersections of Frances and "l ighway 60. Adding to the <br />problem is the load of fine sediment::, and fertilizers the waters <br />pick up after washing predominately aCII~ icul t ural lands. It <br />should also be noted that simply improv ing the culvert wi t'lout <br />increasing the drainage ditch capacity all the way to the river <br />won't solve the total problem in thi:3 area but: would merely <br />transfer it farther downstream. <br /> <br />The second drainage problem area 1:3 located along the <br />unnamed tributary running through Lola Park. As indicated in the <br />pictures taken by photographer Karen c;chulenburg of the Loveland <br />Daily Reporter-Herald the water pond" behind and then overtops <br />Forest, Elm and Broad Streets before d iv iding. Flood waters then <br />either flow along the south side of Highway 60 (Broad street) to <br />the 1'hompson and platte ditch or ovedlow Highway 60 and run down <br />through the trailer courts and into t~e Thompson and platte <br />ditch. If the Thompson and Platte ditch overtops the flood <br />waters then flow northward and a'lain pond in the open areas just <br />south of the Great Western Railroad yards and there either <br />evaporate or overflow the tracks and proceed on down to the <br /> <br />-4"" <br />