FLOOD06302

• County: Logan
• Community: Sterling
• Stream Name: Pioneer Drainage Ditch
• Basin: South Platte
• Title: Proposed Near-term Improvements and Operation of Pioneer Drainage Ditch
• Date: 7/1/1988
• Prepared For: Sterling
• Prepared By: Charles F. Leaf, PE
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Project

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I NTRODUCnON

A detailed description of the Pioneer Drainage Ditch and its function
in conveying storm runoff to the South Platte River is presented in the
Flood Plain Information Report and Drainage Plan prepared by Leaf and
Resource Consultants, Inc. (1983). The Pioneer Ditch receives storm
runoff from six service areas in the northwest and southwest quadrants of
the City. Runoff from other areas outside the city limits also enters the
Ditch throughout its length.

Regional Flooding

The Pioneer Drainage Ditch receives regional flood runoff from Pawnee
Creek overflows and from Sand Creek. Figure 1 is a map showing the extent
of flooding from the lOO-year event from these two sources. As seen in
Figure 1. runoff of th,is magnitude completely inundates the Ditch and
adjacent flood plain. It is emphasized that this report is concerned with
mitigating local drainage problems and not with regional flooding. Regional
flooding is thoroughly discussed by Leaf and RCI (1983).

Local Drainage

Originally, the function of the Pioneer Drainage Ditch was to lower
the water table for the primary purpose of growing crops. With development
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along the Ditch. an additional burden has been added,that being to convey
the increased storm runoff from impervious areas to the river. Currently,
the Ditch is not capable of efficiently handling this increased runoff
from moderate storm events. Certain Ditch improvements, including the
removal of all bottlenecks, increasing waterway area, and realignment
have been proposed in the Master Drainage Plan (see Leaf and RCI. 1983).