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<br />II. MANITOU SPRINGS - CURRENT STATUS <br /> <br />Ao The Flash Flood Threat <br /> <br />Land use in Manitou Springs is constrained by geography. The town is <br />located along the channels of Fountain, Ruxton, Waldo, Beckers Lane, <br />Williams, and Sutherland Creeks. Much of the remainder of the town is <br />located on steep slopes above the floodplain. There is very little land <br />available for development that does not face flood or slope stability <br />hazards. Consequently, downtown Manitou Springs is built along the creeks, <br />and the floodplain is nearly fully developed. Shops, hotels, homes, and <br />restaurants sit astride or are built partially in the floodway. <br /> <br />B. Floodplain Management <br /> <br />In August 1983, the City of Manitou Springs adopted a floodplain <br />management ordinance, number 0184, in compliance with National Flood <br />Insurance Program regulations. This ordinance establishes a two-district <br />(flood-way and flood fringe) approach. New construction and substantial <br />improvements to existing structures are severely restricted in the floodway <br />but may be allowed in the flood fringe, provided the construction takes <br />place so as to limit damages from the base flood. (A copy of the ordinance <br />is attached as Appendix E.) <br /> <br />1. National Flood Insurance Program <br /> <br />Manitou Springs entered the emergency phase of the National Flood <br />Insurance Program in 1975. The Federal Emergency Management Agency released <br />its report entitled Flood Insurance Study: Manitou Springs in 1983 and <br />Manitou Springs entered the regular phase of the program in 1984. As of <br />May, 1985, there are 32 flood insurance policies in force in Manitou <br />Springs. <br /> <br />2. Warning System <br /> <br />The current flash flood warning system along Fountain Creek was <br />installed in April 1975. The equipment from the National Weather Service is <br />located at Cascade, Colorado and consists of a stream level monitoring <br />device, transmission equipment and receiving devices located within the <br />Manitou Springs Police Department. An alarm is sounded in the station <br />whenever the level of the stream rises abOve a designated height. It is <br />estimated that 15 minutes of warning time would be provided before the high <br />level of water reached Manitou Springs. <br /> <br />The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the U.S. <br />Department of Commerce keeps a round-the-clock surveillance on the nation's <br />rivers and issues warnings when there is a threat of flooding. The National <br />Weather Service Forecast Centers provide flood forecasts for the major ri ver <br />systems and flash flood guidance for the smaller streams and headwater <br />regions. Flash flood watches are issued by these Centers and flash flood <br />warnings are issued by National Weather Service Offices that have local and <br />county warning responsibility. <br /> <br />-20- <br />