Forging Ahead On Flood Fixes
Planned Work On Interstate 70 Creates Potential Opportunities
![watersheds](http://greaterparkhill.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/watersheds-300x218.jpg)
How does the proposed removal of the Interstate 70 viaduct near the National Western complex, and its replacement with a below-grade segment of the highway between the Brighton Boulevard exit and the Colorado Boulevard exit, have anything to do with our flooding issues in Greater Park Hill?
The answer is: that is where floodwater from Park Hill goes.
All of the floodwater that flows through Park Hill is trying to get to the South Platte River; the force of gravity pulls that water generally to the northwest.
The floodwater, whether it enters Park Hill from upstream or it originates in Park Hill, is conveyed through our community by two primary stream systems: Montclair Creek and Park Hill Creek.
I’m focusing on Montclair Creek this month, and in February I’ll look at Park Hill Creek.
The accompanying map shows most of Park Hill, along with adjacent areas of neighborhoods south of Colfax Avenue and west of Colorado Boulevard. Within Park Hill, if you draw an imaginary line from the intersection of Colfax and Monaco to the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard, you can divide Park Hill into the two watersheds.
Everything southwest of that imaginary line is in the Montclair Creek watershed and is trying to convey floodwater to City Park and then toward I-70 and the South Platte River near the National Western complex. That is what is shown on the map.
Everything northeast of that imaginary line and within Park Hill is in the Park Hill Creek watershed. That watershed is trying to convey floodwater across I-70 north of Park Hill roughly between Vasquez Boulevard and Dahlia Street, and then toward Riverside Cemetery and the South Platte River. That area will be the subject of next month’s column.
Any of you who were somewhere in the Montclair Creek watershed portion of Park Hill last spring, particularly during the intense June 24 rain and hailstorm, should see a connection between the blue areas on the map and what happened that afternoon and evening.
There were significant problem areas along Colfax between Eudora and Jersey, and along 16th Avenue between Glencoe and Colorado Boulevard. In addition, there were major problems along Batavia Place between Cherry and Colorado Boulevard. I don’t really need to elaborate for those of you who were there.
Meanwhile, before that storm the City and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) had been working on ways to safely convey 1 percent chance (100-year) flows in a way that did not pose a problem for I-70. They were already looking at what might be done on Montclair Creek immediately upstream (south) of I-70, between I-70 and City Park.
While they were not ignoring the part of the watershed upstream of City Park, including Park Hill, they were viewing it as an area to investigate in the future.
The June 24 storm, and the phone calls and e-mails it generated, significantly raised the City’s immediate concern about the upper watershed, including Park Hill. That is where your ideas come in.
Let me and/or Greater Park Hill Community (GPHC) know what you would like to see happen in those places where cars were damaged or even floating. What about streets and sidewalks that were unsafe for bicyclists or pedestrians, for little children or seniors with poor balance? What about shops and apartments (especially basement apartments) and houses that suffered flood damage? What should be done?
We are working diligently to arrange public meetings with the city and the I-70 planning team. We need your participation to make sure Park Hill is better prepared the next time there’s a big rainstorm.
Brian Hyde is an expert in floodplain management and stream restoration. He wants your feedback at westerly_connect_brian@comcast.net or 720-939-6039. GPHN Editor Cara DeGette can be reached at editor@greaterparkhill.org.