Progress continues on two key stormwater projects

Repairs to Rockrimmon Creek are nearly finished while work begins soon on the Stormwater Canyon, both weather-related projects in west Colorado Springs.

Problems at both locations became apparent during an especially wet spring.

The city is spending $2.6 million to install an underground pipe to transport water in Rockrimmon Creek and stabilizing steep banks on which several homes were built and sustained erosion damage.

“We should be finished this month,” said Tim Mitros, the city’s storm water manager. “We have some finishing touches, including installing wetlands to make it look nice.”

Meanwhile, Mitros said work begins within the next month on the Stormwater Canyon above Popes Valley Drive.

A large chasm in a cliff face gradually formed by runoff from the Pebblewood condominuim complex above. Flash flooding into the canyon damaged several homes at the bottom of the canyon near Popes Valley Drive.

Mitros said the six-month project will stabilize the area, fill the eroded canyon and install a pipe to carry runoff from Pebblewood down to Popes Valley Drive.

The original plan, Mitros said, was to install a pipe a shorter distance to an existing drain that became clogged by debris from the canyon erosion.

“We actually redesigned the project because the way it was designed, it had to go between two homes, and it was a concern that it wasn’t going to work,” he said.

Mitros said the redesign lowered the repair cost from $750,000 to $600,000.