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<br />In describing this flood, which was the greatest known on Monument Creek. the
<br />Colorado Sprinjl:s Gazelle, on May 3], 1935, stated:
<br />
<br />The destructive flood waters from half a dozen cloudbursts swept
<br />through Monument Valley .., shortly after noon, Earlier, a
<br />cloudburst had sent Sand Creek, east of Colorado Springs, on a tear
<br />.., four lives were lost in Colorado Springs and the property
<br />damage, exclusive of that suffered by the railroads, was estimated
<br />by the city engineer as $1,215,000,00,
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />I n Colorado Springs, Monument Creek reached flood stage in less than I hour,
<br />attained its peak 1,5 hours later, receded slightly for] ,5 hours, and was back within
<br />its channel 1.5 hours later.
<br />
<br />Developments subject to flood damage consist of residential properties and commercial and
<br />light industrial establishments, Some bridges and culverts across the streams are constrictive
<br />to floodflows and contribute to flooding problems, Generally, the bridges across Fountain
<br />and Monument Creeks will pass at least the ]OO-year flood, with the most constrictive bridges
<br />and culverts being on the smaller streams, Other obstructions to floodflows include landfills
<br />and isolated levees that have been constructed to protect commercial and residential properties
<br />from flooding, Large floods are relatively unaffected by these levees, The greatest
<br />obstruction is that of houses adjacent to the banks of streams, This usually occurs in the
<br />mountainous and hilly basins such as Upper Fountain Creek,
<br />
<br />Man-made and natural obstructions in the floodplains impede the flow of water, creating a
<br />backwater effect and increasing flood heights, These obstructions in Manitou Springs take
<br />the form of trees, brush, and numerous footbridges and planked crossings throughout the
<br />study area, This material is carried downstream to create dams at bridges and in areas where
<br />the channels are restricted by building foundations and other forms of encroachment.
<br />
<br />Severe flooding has occurred several times in Manitou Springs, In July ]882, a cloudburst
<br />in the city caused flooding on Fountain Creek, Williams Canyon, and Ruxton Creek, A wall
<br />of water came down Williams Canyon and flooded Fountain Creek and the lower part of
<br />Ruxton Creek, Most houses in the area sustained some damage and one person was killed
<br />in Williams Canyon, Hailstones were found to be I] inches in circumference (Reference 12),
<br />
<br />In May 1894, a ramstorm of several days' duration caused flooding in the area; however,
<br />flood heights were not as high as they couid have been, had much of the precipitation not
<br />fallen as snow, Fountain Creek, Ruxton Creek, and Williams Canyon all flooded, Canon
<br />Avenue was described as a mountain torrent with hundreds of tons of rock washing down
<br />(Reference ]]).
<br />
<br />A cloudburst over Williams and Waldo Canyons in May 1947, caused flooding on Williams
<br />Canyon and Fountain Creek, Many small bridges were washed out, and the debris created
<br />dams that eventually broke and caused further damage (Reference 13),
<br />
<br />A correlation between the elevations of previous floods and the elevations of possible future
<br />floods as presented in the study for Manitou Springs is difficult to determine because of
<br />changes in the streams channels as a result of high flows and subsequent development, At
<br />Fountain, Colorado, approximately 25 miles downstream from Manitou Springs, a 40.foot.
<br />
<br />13
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