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<br />4.11 SAND CREEK BASIN <br /> <br />Flood History, Available data indicate that major flood events in the Sand Creek basin <br />are caused by runoff from intense thunderstorm-type rainfall. Nine major floods have <br />occurred in the Sana and Toll Gate Creek basins since 1896, No flood discharges are <br />available for floods in 1896,1912, 1917,1921,1933,and 1938. The other events are listed <br />below. <br /> <br />Flood of 30 May 1948. On 30 May 1948 a localized thunderstorm dropped 8 inches <br />of rain and hail in four hours on the lower basin of Sand and Toll Gate Creeks. Flooding <br />resulted downstream of Colfax Avenue. Estimated discharges on Sand Creek of 7,720 <br />c.f,s, and 10,500 c.f.s" respectively, at Colfax Avenue and at the mouth caused overbank <br />stages from 4 to 8 feet deep. Tourist cabins near Colfax Avenue and an oil refinery near <br />the mouth were damaged, but farms and livestock feet lots in the flood plain suffered the <br />most. <br /> <br />Flood of 8 and 9 May 1957. A heavy rainstorm occurred over the Sand Creek basin <br />and adjacent areas on 8 and 9 May 1957. Over 4.0 inches of rainfall occurred at the <br />storm center, Major flooding resulted on Sand and Toll Gate Creeks. Runoff from the <br />Sand Creek basin caused severe flooding along the South Platte River. The floodwaters <br />in the Sand Creek basin receded in less than 12 hours, but high flow conditions along the <br />South Platte River continued for several days as higher than average snowmelt lasted <br />almost to the end of ~ne month. On Sand Creek. near Stapleton International Airport, the <br />flow was estimated to be 25,000 cubic feet per second and upstream from Toll Gate <br />Creek, the Sand CreElk discharge was estimated to be 8,000 cubic feet per second. The <br />Toll Gate Creek discharge was estimated to be 10.500 cubic feet per second at East 6th <br />Avenue in Aurora, which is about 2 miles upstream from the mouth of Toll Gate Creek. <br />At 6th Street the fast rising flood aest exceeded the capacity of the culverts and <br />overflowed the roadway. Water flowing up to 1.6 feet deep washed out the road bed. <br />Extensive damages were inflicted on homes, utilities, and bridges. A woman and two <br />children were drowned in a basement apartment by Toll Gate Creek floodwaters. Peak <br />discharge-on the SOuih Platte River at the Henderson gaging station, located about 7 miles <br />downstream from the mouth of Sand Creek, was estimated to be 12,000 cubic feet per <br />second. <br /> <br />Flood of 16 and 17 June 1965. Heavy to torrential rainfall occurred over the Sand and <br />Toll Gate Creek basins on 16 June 1965. Rainfall averaged 2to 4 inches over the Sand <br />Creek basin. Resulting discharges on Sand Creek were estimated to be 13,400 cubic feet <br />per second at Sable Avenue, located about 0.5 miles upstream from Toll Gate Creek, and <br />18,900 cubic feet per second downstream from Toll Gate Creek. The peak flow on Toll <br />Gate Creek was estimated to be 17,000 cubic feet per second at East 6th Avenue in <br />Aurora. Heavy runoff from Sand and Toll Gate Creeks caused extensive damage in the <br />Aurora vicinity and contributed additional flood volume to the South Platte 'River north of <br />Denver. Nearly every highway and railroad bridge crossing on Sand and Toll Gate Creeks <br />was either damaged or destroyed. About 750 acres of land adjoining Sand Creek and 120 <br />acres of land adjoinin'~ Toll Gate Creek were inundated. Flooding along the downstream <br />10 miles of Sand Cre€,k were inundated. Flooding along the downstream 10 miles of Sand <br /> <br />Colorado Flood <br />Hydrology Manual <br /> <br />4,16 <br /> <br />a=w=r <br />