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WATTENBERG, COLORADO FLOOD HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN AUGUST 1996 throughout Weld County. Historical analysis is a very important element of flood hazard mitigation, as it provides a useful perspective from which to evaluate the flood hazard in Wattenberg and its potential impact on the community. It is not intended to be interpreted as an estimate of exactly what will occur in the future. Every flood event is unique. The factors that combine to create one flood may never occur again. Therefore, it is important to be prepared for any combination of factors that may lead to a flood event. The following flood accounts are typical of flood events which have occurred along the South Platte River in Weld County, but are, by no means, a complete history of such. They are presented here to give some insight as to the source and magnitude of floodwaters from the South Platte River. 1921 Flood Heavy rainfall over much of the upper South Platte River Basin caused flooding in Weld County in early June. Between Brighton and Orchard, the wooden bridges were impassable; two were destroyed and the approaches to the others were destroyed for a distance of several hundred yards (See Figure 7). Figure 7 1948 and 1949 Floods Heavy rainfall over a large area east of Denver caused flooding in late May and early June on the South Platte River between Sand Creek and Fort Lupton. Several approaches to county bridges were washed out as well as flooding of some agricultural land. In 1949 heavy rainfall over a melting snowpack caused flooding on the South Platte River mid-May to late June from Littleton, Colorado to North Platte, Nebraska. Considerable damage was incurred by homes, farm buildings, and crops along that reach of the river. 1965 Flood During the early days of June, each day had heavy to torrential rainfall over large portions of the South Platte River basin creating extensive flooding along the South Platte River. Heavy rainfall occurred over portions of the northern sections of the South Platte River basin on the 14th and 15th of June. As the storm system moved southward, torrential rainfall centered principally over Plum Creek, Cherry Creek, and Sand and Toll Gate Creek watersheds in the Denver region, and Bijou Creek, Kiowa Creek, Comanche Creek, Badger Creek, and Beaver Creek watersheds to the east. Extensive flooding occurred on the South Platte River from Plum Creek downstream to North Platte, Nebraska as a result of this rainfall. When it was over, 12 people died and damage was set at $102 million. 1973 Flood Snowmelt runoff from the lower mountain area of the South Platte River basin began about the middle of April. On May 5th rainfall, amounting to as much as 6 inches, was the major causative factor of flooding in the South Platte River basin. Sharp increases in the river flow as a result of the rainfall runoff were recorded at all gauging stations along the South Platte River from Littleton to the Colorado-Nebraska State 8