Repeated Flash Floods at Colorado State University

On July 28, 1997, another flash flood hit the main campus of Colorado State University and the City of Fort Collins, Colorado. Flooding in the City of Fort Collins killed five people, injured 54, and damaged or destroyed nearly 3,000 homes and businesses. Flooding on the main campus of Colorado State University resulted in water damage to over 425,000 books in the main library and major flood damage to 25 campus buildings including the Library, Student Center, and Heating Plant. No flood related injures were reported on campus but over $100,000,000.00 (one hundred million dollars) in flood related damages were reported. This paper reviews campus flooding, flood-damage, and precipitation records for documented campus floods of 1902, 1938, 1951, 1992, and 1997. Flood depths for these events are analyzed to predict recurrence intervals and design flood depths at the campus Heating Plant for the 25, 50, and 100-year design floods. Our analysis indicates that the 100-year flood depth at the Heating Plant is 2.3 meters. This depth is close to the 1997 flood depth of 2.13 meters.