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w w <br />62. Flood of Septembor 2, 1938.- A cloudburst, centered over Genesee <br />i:iountain in the vicinity of the headwaters of Cold Spring, Gulch and DIt. Vernon <br />Creek, where an estimated 9 inches of rain fell in a period of from 1 -1/2 to <br />2 hours, caused the most disastrous flood ever experienced in the Bear Creek <br />Basin.. Flood crests on Bear Creek and I.It. Vernon Creek met at Iviorrison. The <br />U. S, Geological Survey estimated the maximum discharge on Cold Sprin€ Gulch <br />as 9,000 second -feet; and on iUt. Vernon Creek as 4,180 second -feet above the <br />highway crossing 1 -1/2 miles above i;iorrison, and 9,230 second -feet at orrison. <br />Although the situation is obscured by the failure of the highway crossing <br />during; the flood, a review of the entire situation indicates that the estimate <br />of 4,180 second -feet is probably the maximum discharge of this creek. The <br />estimated discharge on Bear Creek about 1 -1/2 miles below the mouth of Cold <br />Spring Gulch was determined by slope -area measurements to be 6,500 second -feet. <br />1 ,kt the recording; station at I-lorrison, the estimated maximum discharge at the <br />peak of the flood at 7 :15 p.m. was 6,200 seccnd -feet. At the station at <br />Sheridan Junction the peak occurred at 10:20 p.m. when the total maximum dis- <br />charge was 2,810 second -feet. Large quantities of sand, boulders, and debris <br />added greatly to the amount of damages and the cost of rehabilitation. A total <br />of 57 automobiles gore lost or damaged, the greater portion of which occurred <br />on the highway, and six motorists lost their lives. Total damages from this <br />flood amounted to 5¢648,000 as is shown in the following tabulation. <br />DA uiGIJS, FLOOD OF SIPTT;LHLR <br />2, 1938 <br />Bear Creek Canyon <br />Land - - - - - - - - - -- <br />X18,000 <br />Buildings and improvements- <br />111,900 <br />Roads and bridges - - - - - <br />24C,300 <br />5370,200_- <br />I lorr i son <br />Land - - - - - - -- - - - - - <br />6,900 <br />Buildings and improvements- - <br />54,400 <br />Waterworks- - - - - - .. - - - <br />2,000 <br />Power plant -- - . - - - - - - <br />1,000 <br />Clean -up by WPA - - - - - - - <br />60,000 <br />124,300 <br />Below Morrison <br />- <br />Land- - - - - - - - - - - - - <br />14,500 <br />Roads and bridges - - - - - - <br />1,500 <br />i;iiscellaneous - - - - - - - - <br />5,000 <br />21,000 <br />Ht. Vernon Creek <br />Land- - - - - - - - - - - - - 8,400 <br />Buildings and improvements- 2,100 <br />Roads and bridges - - - - - 112,000 <br />l:iscellaneous - - - - - - - - 10,000 132,500 <br />Total - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $648,000 <br />-19- <br />