Preventing Flooding in the Mile High Flood District

by Hazard Bahr, University of Denver student

The University of Denver's Colorado Rivers course gives students a perspective on the states rivers. As a final project for the course, students were assigned an infographic. The goal for the infographic assignment was to inform Colorado’s natives about their watersheds and also a key sustainability issue. This infographic designed and researched by University of Denver student Hazard Bahr, depicts The South Platte Mile High Flood District Watershed. This watershed is home to sixty percent of Colorado’s Population and is the reason for the chosen sustainability issue of flooding. Due to the South Platte Mile High Flood District Watershed large population, flooding is a large problem. Flooding can destroy property and harm people. It is a large risk to the population of this watershed and is why Hazard Bahr gave a solution. This solution involves wide stream corridors. Wide stream corridors creates more space for water to flow reducing the risk of flooding. An example of this solution can be seen at the City of Denver’s Cherry Creek Confluence. Here, the river is given room to flow. Rock formation slows the rate of water flow and prevents water from flooding. Natural forms of vegetation were also implemented in order to keep stream banks stable insuring a wide stream corridor. This infographic informs Colorado’s natives about their South Platte Mile High Flood District Watershed and also lists the key sustainability issue of flooding.