FLOOD08156

• County: Logan
• Community: Sterling
• Stream Name: South Platte River
• Basin: South Platte
• Title: History of Flooding in the Sterling Area, 1921-1968
• Date: 9/1/1982
• Prepared For: Logan County
• Prepared By: Ali Izadian
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Documentation Report

page 5

Development

Development on the flood plain in the Gt,udy area iEI primarily
associated with the city of Sterling. Residential, industrial, and
commercial developmont is common along the left bank flc'od plain of

the South Platte River in the Sterling area. The right bank flood plain

of the South Platte River is relatively undeveloped except for a small

portion in the immediate vicinity of U.S. Highway 6.

Factors Affecting Floodin~
Obstructions to flood flows--There are two crossings over the

South Platte River flood plain as described in this report. These are

the Burlington Northern Railroad and U.S. Highway 6. Both of these
create flood flow obstructions.
The Pawnee Creek flood palin in the Sterling area is crossed by
U.S. Highway 6 and the combined Union Pacific Railroad and Burlington
Northern Railroad. The embankment associated with these roadways is

of sufficient height to create flood flow obstructions. During periods

of high stage on Pawnee Creek, flood waters can excape the Pawnee Creek

Valley to flow overland toward the South Platte River. However, these

flood waters are intercepted by the highway and the railroad embankments

redirecting the flood waters toward Sterling.

Gagin~ Data and Yearly Peak Dischar~es

Table 1 shows South Platte River stream gaging data, and Tables 2, 3,

and 4 indicate yearly peak discharges experienced on the South Platte

River at the three stream gaging stations operated in the past by the

United States Geological Survey described in Table 1. No accounts of

annual peak discharges on Pawnee Creek are presented since pertinent

stream gaging data was unavailable.