Flash Flood in Colorado, April 29 to 30, 1999

Heavy rain, with amounts between 3 and 6 inches, swelled the Monument Creek and Fountain Creek watersheds to overflowing the evening of the 29th. The fast moving waters caused much bank erosion and flooded many areas adjacent to Fountain Creek from Manitou Springs through Colorado Springs to Fountain. Damage to agricultural lands, irrigation systems, trails, roads, sewer treatment plants, and other public and private property has been estimated at near 30 million dollars at this time. The bridge at 21st Street over Fountain Creek in western Colorado Springs on highway 24, the major east-west highway heading up into the mountains, was deemed unsafe, and was closed three weeks for repairs. On the 30th, power went out for about 24 hours in the city of Fountain and surrounding when power lines over Fountain Creek were brought down by the flood waters. Due to flood waters, many sewer lines in southern Colorado Springs backed up into scores of residences and businesses, causing much damage. President Clinton declared El Paso county a disaster area on May 17th.