Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />The aear Creek flood of 2 September 1938 is typical of the flash.type <br />flooda that occur in the Bear and Clear Creek basins. This flood resulted <br />from a severe stono centered in the upper MolUlt Vernon Creek drainage baain. <br />Six persons drowned vhen trapped in their automobile on tbe higbvay between <br />Morriaon and Kittredge. Dovnstream frOIl1 Cold Spring Gulch damages Vere <br />estimated at $451,700. Losa of life vo~ld probably have been greater had <br />not the t~n of Morrison been alerted. A repeat of this flood today <br />vould cause a lI1uch greater dOllar da~age becauae of the increased urban <br />development and the riae in price levela aince 1938. <br /> <br /> <br />Flood Damllge on Bear Creek <br />at Morrison, September 1938 <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />GUIDELINES FOR USE OF FLOOD PLAIN AREAS <br /> <br />When flooding occurs, nat\lre delllSnds its right to the use of tbe <br />overbank areas for the passsge of flood vaters and these rights cannot <br />be ignored by the occu~nts of the flood plain. <br /> <br />Thefrequ.entbutmod.eratef'loodcoversallWl1,lOVlyingareas,vbile <br />t_"., 1n!'rc'l."-cnt :'-.:t sc':cre flco,:: COVer" th~ lvw lylug ..roas ~o a greater <br />depth and also spreads to higher elevations in the flood plain. It ia <br />evident, therefore, that the flood risk in th~ low lying areas is greeter <br />than the risk in the higher portions of the flood plain. <br /> <br /> <br />The effects of flooding are not confined to the flood stricken area. <br />Persons vho have property within the flooded ares s~ffer direct loss or <br />damage,vhereaapersonsvithpropertylocatedoutsidethefloodedare6 <br />suffer ind1rect loss in the fOrM of increased taxes for repa1r of damaged <br />public property aDd utilities, loss of 1neo~e if business is disrupted, <br />plus the cost of aiding flood victi~s. Moreover, nO one is completely <br />exempt from the possibility of losing his or her life or the life of some <br />relative or friend during a flood. It 1s i~portant to kn~ that the cost <br />of insurance against flood damage is far beyond the financial reach of <br />1ll0St people. <br /> <br /> <br />. <br />',,' <br /> <br />:'''., <br />- . <br />'. '. <br />,;''''''''. ..,.... <br />......'....~~, " <br />.....'. ..~.~',.. ;::". ~ <br />'-0. ',., '...".~,,~ ,';:.'.~. <br />"" '~, <br />i~'~~, "'. <br />~~':."'" <br />;-.;,...' .'.~.: <br />- -." <br />. '" .."".,.,",:". ; ~ <br />- -~~ .'." <br />..... ','.,...,, <br />~._ "' k'."., <br /> <br />. . <br />. . <br />- <br /> <br />. <br />.' <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />'] <br />~ " <br /> <br />. . <br />. <br /> <br />"., <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />~ <br />""~; <br />" "<~ <br /> <br />\.",.. <br />". <br /> <br />, i <br /> <br />,., <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />Road dsmage along Bear Creek <br />September 1938 <br /> <br />In view of the widespresd effects of flOOding, it is 1n the public <br />interest to enact and enforce lavs and regulstions prohibiting encroachment <br />on stream channels and reqUiring the judicious use of flood plain areas. <br />The spplicstion of 16ws snd regulatioDs depends upon the characteristics <br />of the sres. Control can be exercised through proper ~oning, b\lilding codes, <br />SUbdivision regulatioDs, evacuation, floodproofing, flood control works, <br />sw other PleaSures. These are diacussed in the follovingparagraphs: <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />FLOOD PLAIN ZONING <br /> <br />Devcloprncnt in thc floodplain csnbe controlled best through zoning <br />or~inauc<;s. Po Hat ,,1: :!,ublicliti"i:is c'u thh ~"vj"ct .i.~ ~vu4i""J. 1n the 8y- <br />pendix. This type Of control recognizes flood frequency, that Is, the- <br />nua:t>er of flOOds that may occ~r over s period of tittle, and provides for <br />appropriate land use. Areas subject to fr~q~ent flooding Can be used for <br />