In 2013, after the floods, I read up on flood control in Denver.  It is damn interesting, if memory serves, the Chatfield, Cherry Creek and Bear Creek dams are all designed to keep Denver from flooding again.  It seems like a case of somebody thinking way way ahead.  Even with all 3, Cherry Creek in downtown was maybe a foot from overtopping its channel around Wynkoop St.  I was a bit scary to see.