DETERMINING THE FLOOD POTENTIAL OF DRAINAGE BASINS IN COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, USA

The use of local runoff formulas along with field investigations helped two groups of students to understand the possibilities of flooding and related erosion problems within drainage basins in the Colorado Springs area. The two groups of students include college undergraduates and gifted and talented sixth grade students. The college students are from two classes: Water in the Pikes Peak Region and Environmental Geology. Both groups were initially assigned an Internet project that required the students to use a list of websites that included information about drainage basins, stream channel flow, flooding and erosion, and the use of both theoretical and actual data. Although the students were given a list of websites, they were required to find at least another dozen useful websites and were to write a short, one page at the most, description of why they selected their websites.

Both groups used 100- year flood formulas to determine the theoretical amount of runoff that would fill the channel during a 100-year flood in several of the drainage basins studied. After determining the theoretical data, the students moved into the field for observation and specific measurements of the channel that were evaluated. The theoretical and actual data determined and collected were compared and a determination about the hazards that may occur during a 100-year flood was completed. The middle school group used software, developed by the author and based on Q = cia where Q = 100-year discharge in cfs, C = coefficient of runoff, i = intensity of runoff, and a = area in acres, to develop theoretical data by the use of a computer. The college students used an academic version of HEC-Pack from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) and Graphical HEC-1 from Haestad Methods. Both groups used nomographs, flood hydrographs, and specific topographic maps while completing their investigations.

The developed field and computer data was used to develop mitigation solutions to the observed problems. Many solutions such as levee and dam development, widening and deepening of channels, raising bridges, and the relocation of structures were often included in their solutions.

The poster presentation will incorporate the developed data, photographs, maps, and solutions for many of the drainage basins.