Erosion eats away property near Sand Creek

A 15-foot ledge is inching its way closer to several homes in southwest Colorado Springs.

The city’s storm water manager says the fix is a priority, but can it wait?

The city admits that Sand Creek isn’t maintained. Due to recent rains and July’s huge hailstorm the channel is growing wider and washing away the land.

Homes are now just feet away from a 15-foot drop-off. The cliff is about 3 feet from J.T. Stevenson’s home.

“We’re going to lose our houses and mine is going to be first. It just crumbles away when it rains, it doesn’t even take a hard rain,” said Stevenson.

Stevenson has been watching Sand Creek erode the hill near her property.

“If (the city) doesn’t take action we’re not going to have backyards. I don’t know what will happen,” said Carol Zier, Stevenson’s neighbor.

“It hasn’t encroached into the property, but it’s very close,” said Brian Kelley, the city’s storm water manager.

Kelley says his team is ready to take action.

“This area is a top priority. I say that because it’s actually going into construction in 2016,” said Kelley.

The city of Colorado Springs is using $1.3 million of FEMA money to secure the channel.

“We are anticipating construction to begin in November after the monsoon,” said Kelley.

Until then, Kelley says crews will place rocks and sand in the back of Stevenson’s home as a temporary fix.

“That will buy us some time until the end of the monsoon season, end of September typically,” said Kelley.

Kelley says crews will begin the temporary fix in a few weeks.