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<br />The contaminated water and mudflows run into homes, down the street and into the city <br />eventually draining into Clear Creek. Downstream users have to be notified by the Upper <br />Clear Creek Watershed Association for their safety during each flooding event. Children <br />often play in the water rush without giving thought to the danger. Even though the Fire <br />Department and the Road and Bridge Department may have the road closed, it doesn't <br />necessarily keep them out. (Several comprehensive action plans are in progress to <br />alleviate the hazards detailed later in this section.) During a flood event, the road is <br />usually closed from four to seven days, crippling thoroughfare into Central City and Black <br />Hawk. There have been incidents when angry gamblers have literally rammed their <br />vehicles into heavy equipment repairing the road. Since the onset of gaming, general <br />traffic over Virginia Canyon Road has increased by 600%; heavy equipment traffic has <br />increased by 100%; and fire/medical response has increased by 10%. The Road & Bridge <br />Department developed an improvement project plan that includes widening 1500' of the <br />road starting at milepost 1.2. Some flood hazard provisions will be included. Larger <br />culverts treated to withstand mineral erosion, better culvert positioning to reduce road <br />erosion and debris grates will be installed. Cost: $153,000. (budgeted) <br /> <br />The EPA is working on a series of water quality and clean-up projects on Virginia Canyon. <br />The county has met with EPA to coordinate a working relationship on simultaneous <br />projects. Their contribution to the Virginia Canyon Project complements Project Impact <br />initiative and addresses water quality and clean-up issues. <br /> <br />2A.1 b. Project Description <br />The proposed project is designed by partnership, to combine the benefits of flood <br />mitigation, the purification of water contamination and soil aggravation from mining history, <br />the preservation of open space by acquisition, to develop a trail head, and to negotiate a <br />right of way greenbelt to protect the project area. <br /> <br />Project Impact initiative seed money would be used in the acquisition of the property <br />adjacent to the creek area where the series of flood mitigation velocity breaks would start. <br />(Mile marker 1.2 at Virginia Canyon "short" Road") This area would be developed into a <br />trailhead with footbridge access serving also as a scenic overlook. The flood mitigation <br />project, which will be designed with at least 4 velocity breaks, will start at the foot bridge <br />site (mile marker 1.2) and be properly positioned in intervals downstream to capture all <br />pertinent drainage sources. The velocity breaks will be designed with debris basins and <br />stilling ponds, constructed with on site rock. Larger-sized, treated culverts will be properly <br />placed to assist in the overall effectiveness of the velocity breaks and erosion menace. <br /> <br />Just above the residential area, at the last planned velocity break, the channel will be <br />cleaned up and widened to provide a broader, less steep basin. An 8' culvert and debris <br />grate fitted to accommodate excess water flow and catch debris will be fitted where the <br />residential area begins and water flows underground. <br /> <br />12 <br />