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<br />GGJ456 <br /> <br />AN EXAMPLE OF FLASH FLOOD WARNING PLANNING AND EARLY DETECTION <br />CAPABILITIES FOR A SMALL URBAN WATERSHED IN THE <br />DENVER METROPOLITAN AREA <br />By Kevin G. Stewart1 <br />William G. DeGroot2 <br />L. Scott Tucker3 <br /> <br />ABSTRACT <br /> <br />In June of 1980 the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District (UDFCD), in <br />cooperation with three local governments and one municipal water company, embarked on <br />a program to develop a flash flood detection network and early warning plan for a <br />small watershed (Lena Gulch) located in Jefferson County, Colorado. The Lena Gulch <br />basin drains approximately 13.8 square miles with its headwaters located in the <br />foothills near Golden, CO. Flooding of Lena Gulch impacts a large water supply <br />reservoir, numerous major highways and arterial streets as well as intensely <br />urbanized areas within unincorporated Jefferson County and the cities of Lakewood and <br />Wheat Ridge. The small size of this watershed combined with the potential for loss <br />of life and high property damage presents the ultimate challenge for state-of-the-art <br />computer technology, advanced meteorologic forecasting, real-time data collection, <br />hydrologic modelling, emergency response planning and use of people resources in <br />implementing a rel iable and effective flood warning system. The "Lena Warning" <br />project has experienced significant evolution since its conception in 1979. <br />Instrumentation of the watershed includes a total of 9 automated self-reporting <br />gages(6 rain and 3 stage). Advances in micro-computer technology have been a key <br />element to the successful implementation of this project. Also, much knowledge has <br />been gained from past meteorologic forecasting experience in the Denver Metro Area <br />and from the 6-year operation of a similar flood warning system in Boulder County. <br />The Lena Warning project presents a model program for transferring technology and <br />experience to other geographic locations with small urbanized watersheds exhibiting <br />high flood loss potential. <br /> <br />Iproject Engineer, Flood Plain Management Program, Urban Drainage and Flood Control <br />District, Denver, CO <br />2Chief, Flood Plain Management Program, Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, <br />Denver, CO <br />3Executive Director, Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, Denver, CO <br />