Now, let's take a look at historic flood data in order to determine how frequent and destructive past floods were:

Table 1 -- Historic Floods of Manitou Springs. Adapted from Manitou Springs Flood Hazard Mitigation Plan, Eve Gruntfest, 1985.
DateDescriptionDateDescription
July 1, 1882 Williams Canon, Fountain Creek.

500 Year Flood.

 May 31, 1894 Fountain Creek, Ruxton Creek, Williams Canon.

Flooding in Old Colorado City (near Manitou).

Rockfalls, bridge damage and structural damage.
August 5, 1902 Fountain Creek

100 Year Flood. All wagon bridges destroyed. Railroad damage.

June 5, 1921 Ruxton Creek, Fountain Creek.

Flooding in Downtown Manitou. Damage to buildings.
September 9, 1940 Fountain Creek.

Street flooding of depth up to 3 feet.

May 10, 1947 Williams Canon, Fountain Creek.

Small bridge washouts. Damage to several buildings.

Major damage to bridges in Colorado Springs.
August 4, 1964 Fountain Creek.

8 year flood.

Buildings damaged.

(1) There are several drainage basins running through Manitou Springs. Based on land use, history, and basin size, which drainage has the greatest catastrophic potential?

(2) Which creek floods most frequently?

(3) Using this floodplain map, identify the areas affected by past floods. Do they fall within the 100-yr. or 500-yr. flood zones?

Now that you are aware of the destructive potential of flash floods, please continue to the virtual field study.

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