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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />",.. to devise and formulate methods, means and plans for bringing about the <br />greater utilization of the waters of the state and the prevention of flood damages <br />therefrom .,." <br /> <br />Proiect Location <br />The project area is located in south central Colorado. Pueblo is an incorporated community <br />within Pueblo County, A vicinity map of the Pueblo area is attached as Figure 1. The specific <br />project area is described as follows: The City of Pueblo, Colorado. Priority locations for siting <br />of real time rain gages will be identified as part of the application process <br /> <br />Watershed DescriDtion <br />The watershed(s) of interest are the tributaries to the Arkansas River basin within Pueblo, Colorado. <br />These drainages are primarily in the western sections of the incorporated areas of Pueblo, Pueblo is <br />located on the north and south banks of the Arkansas River in south central Colorado. <br /> <br />Floodinl! Problems and Floodinl! Historv <br />Flooding problems in Pueblo are caused by inadequate channel capacity for most of Pueblo's left <br />bank tributaries including Wild Horse, Dry and Salt Creeks and Goodnight Arroyo, primarily <br />within the city limits. Flat topography and man-made flow obstructions that block the natural <br />drainage courses (i.e. railroad embankment, highway embankment, county roads, etc.) also <br />exacerbate the problem. Floods on the tributaries in Pueblo County, normally occur during the <br />spring and summer months from May through September as a result of intense thunderstorms or <br />large general rainstorms. <br /> <br />Pueblo rests at the confluence of two large drainage systems, the Arkansas River and Fountain <br />Creek. While climatologically classified as semi-arid, Pueblo frequently falls victim to heavy <br />downpours from thunderstorms that form over the mountains and then move east. These events <br />result in flooding of businesses and residences adjacent to the watercourses and often require <br />immediate evacuation of the people in theses areas, Currently only two streamflow gages exist <br />in the area, one on Fountain Creek and the other on the Arkansas River just below its confluence <br />with Fountain Creek. Theses gages were installed by the US. Geological survey and are <br />monitored by the National Weather Service. There is no system in place that provides real time <br />monitoring of rainfall or streamflows within the City or County. <br /> <br />Pueblo has a history of damaging floods, Floods have been recorded in Pueblo in 1844, 1864, <br />1867, 1869, 1875, 1880, 1881, 1889, 1893, 1894, 1921, 1935, 1965, 1994 and 1997. <br /> <br />1997 Flood Event <br /> <br />One August 11, 1997, Pueblo looked like hurricane-swept Miami when a fast moving deluge <br />stormed the city, Pueblo was plagued with heavy rains, strong winds and flooded raodways. <br />The NWS issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Pueblo at 5:30 p.m. MST when the easterly <br />heading storm was spotted just west of Pueblo. Within minutes, rain and hail were pelting the <br />city. Trees reportedly were leaning sideways and visibility plunged to zero in some locations <br />while the worst of the storm ran its course, <br /> <br />There were at least two reports of people trapped inside their vehicles with water up to the <br />windows. No injuries were reported, however. Shortly after the storm, officers began reporting <br />non-stop that all intersections had rapidly been filled with floodwaters. Golf-ball sized hail was <br /> <br />2 <br />