Keeping drainage channels clear to prevent flooding a constant challenge in Colorado Springs area
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- After seeing the flooding and damage that resulted from heavy rain and a clogged drainage channel in Security-Widefield this week, we're checking into the extent that similar issues may exist in a larger city such as Colorado Springs.
Many people remember a clogged channel last year under a bridge on Chelton Road, north of the Fountain Expressway intersection, that contributed to the flooding of homes and businesses in the immediate area.
At the time, city officials said a contributing factor was large amounts of tree debris produced by early fall and early spring storms.
Reggie Brown moved into a house beside the channel after the previous homeowner moved out, likely to escape the flood risk.
"I wasn't worried about it," Brown said. "My backyard runs downhill, so I didn't have any concerns. I haven't seen much buildup anymore, so I think they've done a good job of cleaning up everything."
Richard Mulledy, the city's stormwater manager, said a staff of 42 workers maintains 300 miles of open drainage channels.
"It's such an extensive system that we can only check each drainage once every three years," he said. "But we prioritize areas that tend to accumulate debris more often, as well as emergency situations."
Mulledy said while some of the debris in channels -- such as dead trees, limbs and branches -- falls in naturally, much of it is illegally dumped by people.
"It's hard to catch them doing it," he said. "And sometimes, maintaining the system means we have to cut some trees down or reduce vegetation. We've built newer drainages to be able to handle debris or sediment, but many of the older drainages are 50 to 100 years old and unable to handle it. They can barely handle stormwater runoff."
The city also isn't able to rely on 1,000 volunteers who who work on community cleanup days to help maintain the channels.
"The pandemic has eliminated that for now," he said.
Finally, Mulledy said the city has few of the grates that worsened the flash flooding in the Security-Widefield neighborhood.
"People often ask us to install grates to keep people out of the area under bridges," he said. "But grates create a bigger problem if they get clogged with debris. There's a risk of water overtopping the road above, or taking it out completely."
