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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />CHAPTER II <br />FLOOD HISTORY AND STREAM <br />'" DETERIORATION <br />'" <br /> <br />FLOOD HISTORY <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Coiorado experiences, on average, 20 to 30 flood events annually, Every year, at least one of these events <br />equals or exceeds the 1 DO-year flood level, somewhere in the state, Over the past decade, Colorado has <br />experienced statewide f'ooding in 1993, 1995, and 1997, Western Colorado experienced major flooding in <br />1983 and 1984, <br /> <br />Colorado's total direct value flood damages are approaching $5 billion (in 1998 dollars), and fatalities <br />totaling more than 300 people, Secondary 'osses have not been quantified, but are estimated to be two to <br />three times greater than the direct damages, Secondary losses include economic development and trade, <br />tourism, agricultural production, and investment capital. <br /> <br />The state of Colorado formally started collecting flood data in 1937, with authorizations and the creation of <br />the CWCS, Prior to 1937, the state's flood data was gathered and documented in individual reports and <br />from federal agencies, <br /> <br />Documented flood information and data are very valuable in the administration of a floodplain <br />management program, Past flood information is valuable in the projection and forecasting of future flood <br />activity for a floodplain or watershed, Nature has demonstrated that it will repeat Itself on any given <br />watershed, <br /> <br />The scientific community uses past flood information for: <br />. Hydrological analysis, <br />I HydrauliC determinations, <br />I Economic justification of flood protection measures, and <br />I Justification for regulatory floodplain mapping and flood insurance reQuirements. <br /> <br />The management community uses past flood information for: <br />. Community awareness of flood dangers and risks, <br />I Community implementation of a floodplain management program, and <br />I Community endorsement of major economic development proposals. <br /> <br />The flood produCing weather patterns in Colorado are not homogeneous, There is Quite a bit of seasonal <br />variability and geographic variability, Therefore, Colorado experiences several types of natural flood <br />events, including stream specific floods, localized f'oods, and regionaVstatewide floods, <br /> <br />Section II ~ 1 <br />