Laserfiche WebLink
<br />There are two areas of shallow sheet flow within the community, both <br />of which are along Sand Creek. The upstream area is on the <br />southwest side of Sand Creek between the corporate limits and east <br />49th Drive. In this area, the ground slopes away from the channel <br />and the flow cannot return. The second area is under Interstate <br />Highway 270, at the two railroad underpasses to the northwest. <br />During a large flood event, the flood waters wi 11 pass under the <br />interstate bridge and flow along the low ground away from the <br />channel, returning to the South Platte River north of East 64th <br />Avenue. <br /> <br />In 1965, a unique combination or orographic effects and <br />meteorological conditions in the South Platte River basin caused the <br />worst flooding in the region I s recorded history. Severe <br />thunderstorms commenced over the headwaters of Plum Creek and Cherry <br />Creek on June 16 and moved northeasterly down the creeks, augmenting <br />peak flows. More than 14 inches of rain was recorded at Palmer Lake <br />in 4 hours. Overnight, westerly winds moved the storm front to a <br />position over Kiowa and Bijou Creek basins to meet with <br />thunderstorms forming just south of Agate. Here 5.25 inches fell in <br />45 minutes. The net resu1 twas 6 persons drowned, 2 other deaths <br />caused by flood-related activities, and estimated damages of $500 <br />million occurred in the Denver metropolitan area. Scenes of the <br />1965 flood in Commerce City are shown in Figures 2 through 9. The <br />pictures were taken from photographic records of the Denver Post and <br />Hotchkiss, Inc. <br /> <br /> <br />Figure 2. South Platte <br />North Toward the <br />Right Foreground. <br /> <br />River, June 17, 1965. Truck Farms Inundated Looking <br />East 74th Avenue Bridge. The Burlington Ditch Is in <br />(Hotchkiss, Inc. Photograph) <br /> <br />5 <br />