ARCHIVED CONTENT: In December 2020, the CZO program was succeeded by the Critical Zone Collaborative Network (CZ Net) ×

Boulder Creek CZO responds to record-breaking Colorado rainfall and flooding

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The Gilbert White Memorial Flood marker (top of the black base is the 50 year flood level). Photo credit: Suzanne Anderson.

13 Sep 2013

Investigators and staff rush into action to collect samples and observe impacts

Image: The Gilbert White Memorial Flood marker (top of the black base is the 50 year flood level). Photo credit: Suzanne Anderson. [Click image to enlarge]

All Disciplines
Hydrology
Climatology / Meteorology

National
Boulder

BcCZOII member, Nate Rock, and undergrad assistant extraordinaire, Clayton Jensen, were able to brave the September 2013 catastrophic flooding in Boulder County to collect water samples in the Boulder Creek CZO. On 12 September 2013, they were able to sample at Betasso, Boulder Creek at Orodell, and a few other spots on Boulder Creek, capturing samples near peak conditions. On 13 September 2013, although they were turned away at the canyon mouth, they were able to sample Boulder Creek at 6 spots from Eben G. Fine Park down to the 75th Street gage site. Other CZO members plan to continue sampling at those 6 sites over the next few days as flood waters recede.

BcCZOII members were able to observe debris flows and rock slides in the Boulder, CO area after the recording-setting Boulder flooding.

BcCZOII members have begun to undertake a water sampling program to collect as many samples as possible to document this event.

BcCZOII member, Harihar Rajaram, was able to photograph Boulder Creek both upstream and downstream of the 75th Street gage station. In addition, he was able to witness firsthand the flooding on 75th Street east of the Walden Ponds.

75th stream gaging station, pictures of the flow upstream and downstream of the bridge and the flooding on 75th east of the
Walden Ponds. (photo credit: Harihar Rajaram)

USGS hydrograph for gage at 75th St.

Storm exceeds 1000-year recurrence interval

Other useful information:

Flickr Photos - Selected photos taken by staff of CU-Boulder's Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES).

Precipitation Totals - 7 Day Totals - Sept 9th thru Sept 15th 2013. (NOAA).

Floodplain Map - Interactive flood hazard mapping, City of Boulder.

Real-time Rainfall Maps and Related Data - Rain gage network, provides a useful way to see rainfall totals across the area. Urban Drainage and Flood Control District (UDFCD).

Inside the Colorado Deluge - How much rain fell on the Front Range, and how historic was it? Perspective by Bob Henson. AtmosNews (NCAR|UCAR).

75th stream gaging station, pictures of the flow upstream and downstream of the bridge and the flooding on 75th east of the
Walden Ponds. (photo credit: Harihar Rajaram)

USGS hydrograph for gage at 75th St.

Storm exceeds 1000-year recurrence interval

News Category:
RESEARCH | INFRASTRUCTURE

Key Links

Wettest day on record in Boulder (Daily Camera)

Photos

Boulder creek catastrophic flooding

Failure at about Forest St. from North Boulder Park (photo credit: Suzanne Anderson)

The Gilbert White Memorial Flood marker (top of the black base is the 50 year flood level). (photo credit: Suzanne Anderson)

Pictures of the flow upstream and downstream of the bridge and the flooding on 75th east of the walden ponds. (photo credit: Harihar Rajaram)

Photos taken on a trail run this morning - base of Flatiron 1, above Chatauqua. Photo Noah Fierer

Stream gauge at Lower Gordon Gulch. Photo nate Rock

Large rock removed out of the debris stuck under the bridge! Photo nate Rock

Post storm at Upper Gordon ISCO washed 15 m Upper Gordon Gulch. Photo Nate Rock

Post storm at Upper Gordon Gulch Stream Gauge

Sampling at Upper Gordon Gulch post storm (Need caption)

Upper Gordon post storm (Need caption)

Erosion on the road at Upper Gordon Gulch

Water flowing at Upper Gordon Gulch

Rachel Gabor, Aneliya Sakaeva, and Chris Jaros helped collect samples of floodwater from Boulder Creek, Monday Sptember 16 2013

Sampling the Boulder Creek floodwater on Monday Sptember 16 2013 with a bucket method

Sampling the Boulder Creek floodwater on Monday Sptember 16 2013

Boulder Flood 2013 (Photo Nate Rock)

Boulder Flood 2013 (Photo Nate Rock) Lower Gorden Gulch

Boulder Flood 2013 (Photo Nate Rock)

Boulder Flood 2013 (Photo Nate Rock) people watching flood waters

Boulder Flood 2013 (Photo Nate Rock) Boulder Creek in Boulder

Boulder Flood 2013 (Photo Nate Rock) Road closure

Boulder Flood 2013 (Photo Nate Rock)

Boulder Flood 2013 (Photo Nate Rock) collecting samples

Boulder Flood 2013 (Photo Nate Rock) Debris in road

Boulder Flood 2013 (Photo Nate Rock)

Boulder Flood 2013 (Photo Nate Rock) Sampling

Boulder Flood 2013 (Photo Nate Rock)

Boulder Flood 2013 (Photo Nate Rock) Flooded highway

Boulder Flood 2013 (Photo Nate Rock) Rescue helicopter

September 12th 2013. Wettest day on record.

Prior to Wednesday, the single wettest day on record was July 31, 1919, when 4.80 inches of rain were recorded, according to Bob Henson, a science writer at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. (Daily Camera POSTED: 09/12/2013 04:54:28 AM MDT)

Sept 17 pictures of Stream gauge at Lower Gordon Gulch added.

Sept 18 pictures of Stream gauge at Lower Gordon Gulch added.