Williams Canyon prepares for flood season

For the first time since floods damaged Manitou Springs, KRDO NewsChannel 13 is the only one to get a behind-the-scenes look at the flood projects in the canyon. The projects are meant to keep the city safe.

Manitou Springs City Administrator Jack Benson said the more than $5 million project took more than nine months to plan.

He said the channel in Williams Canyon will be cleared of the rocks and debris.

“I think we are going to have three or four nets that will go across the channel and pick up any additional debris,” he said.

Benson then said a concrete culvert will be put in the ditch also.

The city spent more than $300,000 to buy houses and tear them down near Canon Avenue. Benson said the area will be important to catch anymore debris that comes through the ditch.

“This is kind of the last line of defense. It will take out debris and we can come in and clean it up,” he said.

Last year, floods damaged Timberline Baptist Church.

Dan Parton is the pastor of the church. He said most of the church is repaired and he hopes the flood projects can protect it.

“Our plan is to stay here and keep on keeping on for the lord,” he said.

Benson said the Williams Canyon project should be done by mid to late summer.