A drainage line through town

Lena Gulch drains runoff from higher ground to the west, and the channel and trail that follow it are part of how Wheat Ridge handles heavy rain. Homes near the gulch are not necessarily in danger, but they sit near a path that water follows when the sky opens up. Brief, intense storms can send a lot of water along it in a short time, and nearby streets and yards may be the first places to pond.

For a homeowner, the practical question is where water goes on your own lot. A driveway that slopes toward the garage, a patio that pitches to the foundation and a downspout that ends at the corner of the house matter more than the gulch itself.

Walk your lot after a rain

  1. Look at the ground.Find where puddles linger and note their direction relative to the foundation.
  2. Follow each downspout.See where it empties and whether the flow runs away or back toward the wall.
  3. Check window wells.Look for standing water, silt or leaves, and test whether the drain at the bottom works.
  4. Check the garage threshold.Water can enter through a garage door that sits lower than the driveway crown.
  5. Note neighbors' flow.Water from a higher lot may be directed toward yours; a conversation sometimes solves it.

Surface water versus groundwater

Surface water

  • Arrives during or just after storms
  • Enters through window wells, doors and low walls
  • Often fixed with grading and downspout work
  • Likely gray or worse

Groundwater

  • Rises slowly after prolonged wet weather
  • Seeps through floor cracks and wall joints
  • Needs sump pumps and drainage
  • Often cooler and cloudier with sediment

Who handles what

Public storm drains and gulch maintenance
City of Wheat Ridge or the responsible drainage authority
Private yard drainage
The property owner
Sewer backup
The sewer utility serving the property, plus a plumber for the private line
Insurance
Your insurer or agent

One more thing to keep in mind

Every property near the gulch has a slightly different story, so keep your own notes after each storm about where water went, how deep it got and how long it took to drain. Over a few seasons those notes become a map of your lot that no general guide can supply.

Map of Lena Gulch corridor, south Wheat Ridge. It shows an area, not an office or a job site.

Common questions

Is Lena Gulch a flood risk to my house?

That depends on where the home sits relative to the channel and floodplain. Public flood maps and the city can show how a specific address is classified.

What is the fastest drainage fix?

Extending downspouts and clearing window wells are quick steps that often make the biggest difference.

General information for Wheat Ridge, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.