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. . River, a total fall of 331 feet. The channel reach has 34 drop structures totaling 108 feet of drop, and 45 bridge structures, including six golf course bridges. . A verage channel slopes, excluding drop struc- tures, for various sections are as follows: . Dam to Monaco Blvd. S = Monaco Blvd. to Speer Blvd. S = Speer Blvd. to Mouth S = .0039 .0037 .0031 . Portions of the Cherry Creek channel lie within Arapahoe County (1.6 miles), the City and County of Denver (9.6 miles), and the City of Glendale (0.5 mile). . The channel in its natural state ranges from 50 to 150 feet in width and up to 10 feet in depth. The channel has been shaped and riprapped for 2,000 feet downstream from Cherry Creek Dam, and concrete walls are e)(isting alons- the channel from First Avenue bridge to the South Platte River. Earthwork dikes have been built along the channel between Monaco Blvd. and University Blvd. . ~ The channel section from First Avenue to the Mouth is 80 to 88 feet wide and approximately 10 feet deep. ~ The publicly-owned right of way along the Cherry Creek channel varies in width from approxi- mately 200 feet throug-h the lower area to 400 feet in the upper area. Existing roads paralIel to the channel " / (Speer Blvd. and Cherry Creek Drive) which are within the public right of way, and development up to the right of way along the downstream reaches of the channel, tend to constrict the flood carrying capacity of the channel. Development of the upper drainage basin is rapidly taking place and will, unless controlled by zoning, create further constrictions of drainage- ways. STREAM FLOODING HISTORY Cherry Creek flows northwesterly for 65 miles to the South Platte River in Denver and drains an area of 410 square miles. This represents 11 % of the South Platte River watershed. The Creek was named for the wild cherries growing along its banks. One of the first records of the name Cherry Creek is on an 1846 m(1p showing J. W. Albert's expedition route. At that time, Cherry Creek was used as (1 main route to cross the divide between the Platte and the Arkansas drainage basins. The first settlers were told of flooding on Cherry Creek by Indians who pointed out debris left at the high water mark of previous floods. The settlers ignored the warning, lots were platted in the creek bed, and houses were built. On May 20, 1864, Cherry Creek flooded after the upper Cherry Creek watershed was SUbjected to alternating hail and heavy rain the previous afternoon. 2 The ensuing flood of Cherry Creek destroyed many of the buildings along the creek. Produce and livestock from upstream farms were swept away. The first bridge built across the river at Larimer Street was washed away. One to five feet of water covered the lower portions of the city, leaving great deposits of sand and gravel. Nineteen lives were lost. West Denver was submerged more than Denver because it was lower. Many West Denver merchants, instead of rebuildirtg, started business on the east side of Cherry Creek. Cl1erry Creek flooded again on July 20, 1875, following five or si)( days of rain. Damages from this flood were estimated at $50,000. During this flood, an effort was made to turn the creek westerly, along or near Bayaud Avenue, to Lake Archer. This plan was later formalized by city council, and construction was planned. However, the sheriff of Arapahoe County, in which the City of Denver was then located, served an injunction (reason unknown) against turning Cherry Creek, and the plan was not implemented. At this time, another recommendation was made to cut a. channel through West Denver so that CherrY Creek would empty into the Platte aDove the lowlands. A $75,000 bond issue to accomplish this was turned down on January 22, 1876, because the sum was viewed as too la.rge for the City to assume for such a purpose. Cherry Creek again flooded on May 22, 1876. The flood resulted from a twenty-four hour rain and