COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A creek that runs through northeastern Colorado Springs could be getting much-needed repairs soon, as severe erosion over time has led to utility lines being at risk of exposure, and the integrity of a nearby electrical substation.
Cottonwood Creek flows east to west, from around North Powers Boulevard to Interstate 25 near Mark Dabling Road, where it connects with Dry Creek. A section of Cottonwood Creek, near Frank Costello Park along Potomac Road, is now in the sights of city stormwater management for major repairs that will cost millions.
The City of Colorado Springs says that they just got word last week that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding will finally be coming their way, to help launch the project for the specific portion of the creek. The city says that repairs of that scale would normally cost about $10 million dollars, which is about the same amount the city’s stormwater budget totals per year.
They say thanks to the FEMA funds, this erosion mitigation project will only cost about $1 million dollars.