FLOOD09450

• County: Logan
• Community: Sterling
• Stream Name: Sand Creek, Pawnee Creek overflow
• Basin: South Platte
• Title: Summary Report Floodplain Information
• Date: 1/1/1987
• Prepared For: Sterling
• Prepared By: Charles F. Leaf, PE
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

I
I
I
~
I
~
I
I
I
I
1
I
I
J
I
I
I
I
I

South
1844
1864
1876
1894
1921
1935

bridgepilirl9".
June 1921 -. Heavy rainfall over much of the upper South Platte
River basin caused flooding in Weld County in early June.
Between Brighton and Orchard. the wooden bridges were
impassable; two were destroyed and the approaches to the
others were destroyed for a distance of several hundred
yards. At Fort Morg,1n the water surface crest was comparahle
to that of the flood of 1894. The dischargc of this flood
at Kersey and at Balzac was the largest ever recorded at
those locations except for t~e flood of ~ay 1973 and the
flood of June 1965, respectively. The flooded area at
Sterling was reported as being 4 miles wide.
May 1935 .. Huge Pawnee flood damaged the railroad between Sterling
and Atwood. perhaps the biggest in many years. This flow
swept out several hundred yards of grade on Highway No. 14.
west of Sterling. washed out the approaches to Sterling
bridge north of Atwood, and sent a tide flowing over Highway
6, and the bridge and tracks of railroads at the Pawnee
bridge (see Figures land2).
Juno:! 1965 -~ Flooding occurred JU!le Hand 15 as t~,e result of heav}"
rainfall on Pawnee Creek. Considerable damage occurred
througnout the lower reaches of the watershed. Southof
Sterling, near Atwood. Colorado. flood water overtopped
Highway 6 and railroad tracks. Pawnee Creek flood waters
also flowed ioanortheasterlydirectionalongHignway6
and inundated portions of Sterling.
JunLl.9.68 n High intensity rainfdll on Sdnd Cr<>ek resulted in
flooding whiCh covered most of the city (see Figures 3-7).
Documented flood ocurrences since 1844 can be grouped by basin as follows;
PldtteRiver Pawnee Creek Sand Creek
1942 -iRff3""--- 1968
1949 1894 1981
1965 1914
1969 19?1
1973 1935
1979 1965
1980
1983

6

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

c
~
~
"t.'}.;
~ ~
~ ~
"--<
" u
~ '
~

>
.
.
"
o
8
o
<;
<
.
o
,
C
.
'"
j 2
.
.
,
.
-

>
o
,
<
o.
-.
"-
0;:1
" 0
.,
>0
~.
o
o.
-,
.>
. ,
.'
."
> 0
0,
&1::
,.
'"
"-
'0

I
-

,
o
"
"

,