Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Latest southern Colorado news, weather and sports from FOX21 News

Bank erosion is putting homes in danger
Posted: 09.15.2011 at 9:28 PM
Updated: 09.16.2011 at 4:20 AM
0
Flooding may be an issue in the Sand Creek area soon.  / FOX21: Mike Duran
Photo

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Wednesday's record-breaking rainfall is creating some big erosion problems for homeowners in the Powers corridor in Colorado Springs.

According to city officials, the Sand Creek area has been on the list of top five drainage issues for some time, and Wednesday's rainfall didn't help.

The east fork of Sand Creek is having major erosion problems. The rocks are part of the drop structure built to slow the velocity of the water down, but that's beginning to fail.

"It's not effective anymore or doing what it's supposed to do," Allen Peterson, Acting City Street Division Manager, said. "It's eroding the banks faster."

The concern is that if the erosion continues, a group of homes lining the bank will be swallowed up.

Other weather-related stories
Snow on Pikes Peak 
Corn hurt by hail, hot weather 
Earthquake in southern Colo. 

After the Stormwater Enterprise, a fee added to utility bills, was eliminated, the city's drains started to operate on an emergency basis.

The City Street Division collected $43 million between 2007 and 2010 from the fee, money that went towards drainage repairs.

And with a loss of funding, city officials said they're focusing on federal requirements.

"We are mandated by the federal government to provide maintenance to a number of ponds, detention ponds," Peterson said.

That's where a majority of their funds go.

But the city is taking action to make sure Sand Creek doesn't erode any further, they're in the process of looking at contractors to come in and shore up the creek.

The city hopes to have the contractor finalized by the end of this year.

There's a current back log of $500 million of storm water projects, and Sand Creek needs to be taken care of sooner rather than later.

Popular Stories
Thumbnail
First responders bury pets lost in Black Forest Fire
Abbie Burke  |  Today at 10:00 AM  |  8 comments
Thumbnail
New Colorado wildfire prompts evacuations of homes
FOX21 Continuous News Desk  |  Today at 2:48 PM
Thumbnail
Couple who died in Black Forest Fire identified
Travis Ruiz   |  Today at 8:05 AM  |  8 comments
Follow FOX21
Get news and weather notifications on your phone by downloading the iPhone or Android app below
Sign up to get alerts and updates for breaking news, severe weather, and deals:
submit
ADVERTISEMENT
Special Features
Pets
Advice and information for people with pets.
Health Connection
Local medical information
Home and Garden
Home and garden tips
Loud & Proud
Tell us what makes your school cool.
ADVERTISEMENT