<br />,
<br />
<br />7()'
<br />
<br />FLOODS IN COLORADO
<br />
<br />about Fort Morgan, Brush, and Wiggins, where these ra.ging torrents, the [South]
<br />Platte River, Kiowa, a.nd Bijou Creeks, met and at ODe point formed a. stream
<br />several miles wide.
<br />The office of the State engineer investigated these floods and the
<br />storm causing them. The areas of heaviest precipitation contained
<br />no Weather Bureau stations, therefore it was necessary in determining
<br />the location and approximate amount of rainfall to obtain from local
<br />residents such information as could be furnished by those who had
<br />measured tho rainfall in improvised rain gages. 'I'he following table
<br />summarizes tho information,
<br />
<br />Rainfall on Kiowa and Bijou Creeks, May SO, 1995
<br />{Compiled from statements of local residents and from Weather Bureau records)
<br />
<br />Location Rainf:lll Method of measurement Time
<br />(Inches>
<br />Bec. 2,. T.8S'8R.MW.u~--n.". TT. .oIYcmi:::::::::::::::::::::: - OCC8SionalraiD. Digbroi~~{ay
<br />8eo.33, T.ll 'r R.M W.nu__n 8
<br /> 29-30; bard rain noon to s.
<br /> p. m. May 30.
<br />Sec.IS. T.llS.. R.M W_Ud.... 8 Estimated_..____.___....___ 1 ~m. May 29 to 3 p. m.
<br /> 8)'30.
<br />Bee. 12, r.ll S., R. 65 W.________ . -EtOOktank:overftowed:::::- 8a.m.to6p.m.
<br />See. 34, T.IOS., R. 54 W...__nn " /) a. m. to 6 p. ro.; Intense at.
<br /> noon.
<br />See. '13, T. 10 S., R.M W.l_...____ 20 P-tock tank_._____m______.. Noon to4 p_ m.
<br />800.22, T. 10 S., R. 64 W __..__._. '8 Stock tank, overBowedn____ 9 a. m. to 6;3(! p. m.
<br />Bee. 10, T. 10 S., R. 64 W.ln____~. 16+ __ ___do_.__._ .~__u._ ....h_ u 12:30to4:30p.m.
<br />Bee. 9\ T.IOS., RM W.l___um. 81i CoIlee can_____.__.__________ 1:30 to 6:30 p. m.
<br />At Ebert. in 800. M, T. 9 S., 24 Standard mln ~~e, over-- 1:30to4:30p.m.
<br />n.64W. flowed.' 12 inches caught
<br /> in buCket after overflow.
<br />Bee. 32. T. 8 88' R.M W.U..h." '"'H''' Heavy rain, not measured. 4o:30to7a.m.;ltolip.m.
<br />Beo. 33, T.to ., R.63 W_u__nn Can___ ___~___ _...~~...u.__.
<br />Bee. 35, T. 9 S., R. 63 W.1nn_____ 7 do u_______._u___._____
<br />Sec. 27, T. 9.S., R.63 W_.__u..._ .... -S:Janon can_ .uunnn..n_ . .. m. to 6 p. m.; intense a
<br /> noon, and from 6 to 6 p. m.
<br />Bee. 26, T. a 8., R. 63 W. u_______ Tr. 'W'at6r'bW-rei==::=:=:==::::::
<br />Sec. 26, T. 10 B., R. 62 W _ uuuu . 2to9p.m.
<br />Bee. 16, T.8 8., R.62 W __________ ~) 'iiaii'bushej---measure -.- i4- 6;3000 lOa. m. 3to6 p. m.
<br />Beo. 24-,1'.88., R.62W......___. 12
<br /> inches high.
<br />See. 23, T. 7 8., R. 62 W.tn___n__ 3 -Oan:'ovej.8:owiDg-bY~iziom.:'
<br />&>0.23, T. 6 8., R. 61 W.1.num_ 81i
<br /> In,.
<br />Sec. 9, T." 8., R. 61 W._n..__~__ .11 Reported by Weather Du,
<br /> reau at Byers.
<br />Bee. 26, T. 10 Sn R. 60 W,1_.um_ Ir, -EstlmiiitMC::::::::::::::::=
<br />Bt".c. 4, T. 9 S., .60 W ___nn____
<br />Bee.g, T.8 B., R.tiOW.___.._.___ . Coffee can...__._ _._n_n__._ 3to6;30p.m.
<br />Sec. 11, T. 7 S., R. 60 W _ .__.__u. . Bucket with vertical sldes___ 2to9p.m.
<br />see. 13, T. 5 S., R.W W.I__nu... . __..n..._._.___._____.__.._.. 7 p. m. May 30, to mom
<br /> 01 May 31.
<br />8eo.12, T. 7 8., R. 59 W.I.._______ . -----.---....-..----.........---
<br />
<br />In1r
<br />
<br />I Data obtained by Oeologlcal Survey.
<br />12 inches in one hour reported; probably not the total rainfall.
<br />
<br />The following table summarizes the results of the slope,-area
<br />measurements:
<br />
<br />T
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />MAJOR FLOODS-SOUTH PLATTE RIVER
<br />
<br />71
<br />
<br />Peak discharge of Kiowa a.nd Bijou Creeks, May S0--81) 1985
<br />(Data from 28th Biennial report of the State Engineer or Colorado, p. 41, 1931J]
<br />
<br /> Drainage Peak discharge
<br /> area affected (second-feet)
<br />Location brsstorm
<br /> s~uare Per square
<br /> mles) Total mile
<br />Kiowa Creek:
<br />Elbert, in sec. 34n T. 9 S., R. 64 W ...__.__.__u.u~__n_n__._ 60 143,500 '26
<br />Sec. 21, T. 0 S., .63 W _______.._~h_._..____._.~......._~u. 100 '110,000 ".
<br />Bllllliett, in sec. 26, T. 3 S., R. 63 W___~_______.__.u.n.__.._ ... 176,300 283
<br />West llljou Cn'.ek:
<br />Sec. 13, '1'. 8 S., R. 62W ___n_.____~___..__hh_.__UU..__... 118 13(,250
<br />Mld~~' :ij;~ .gr~c'k~' 62 W.. --.-----.-----.------- --- ----------- '.7 1(4,400 ..7
<br />~~~: ~~: 1: ~ ~::~: ~ ~:::::::::::::::=::::::::::::::::=::::: '" 171.270 472
<br />230 . 143, 640 ...
<br />East Bljou Creek:
<br />Deer Trail, in seo.la, T. 5 S., R. 60W ._n._...~...._........~ 2M I 26, 000 ..
<br />
<br />200
<br />
<br />I Based on one cross section and slope of stream bed.
<br />r Based on two eross sections and hlgh.water slope.
<br />I Based on one cross section and hlgh.water slope.
<br />
<br />In addition to the results given in the preceding table two more
<br />discharge measurements were made. A slope-area measurement on
<br />West Bijou Creek at Byers was taken above the railroad embank-
<br />ment which, before its failure, ponded the flood. As the slope used
<br />in this measurement was that of the stream bed subsequent to the
<br />flood, it did not show the effect of the pondage, and the results ob-
<br />tained are therefore believed to be too high. A slope-area measure-
<br />ment on Bijou Creek in sec. 32, T, 4 N., R. 59 W., a few miles below
<br />Wiggins, gave a discharge of about 280,000 second-feet. J. E. Field,
<br />consulting engineer, made an investigation of the flood at Wiggins,
<br />from which he concluded that a very considerable body of water had
<br />been held back by the Burlington Railroad embankment. When
<br />this cmbankment failed it relellSed the ponded water within. a com-
<br />paratively short time and greatly increased the flow in the river
<br />below. The high-water marks used to determine the peak flow were
<br />those caused by the failure of the embanianent, and therefore did not
<br />represent the pe..k flow.
<br />Describing the results of the investigations on Kiowa Creek and
<br />Bijou Creek, the Stato Engineer 37 says:
<br />
<br />While some of the results, particula.rly those of the Bijou Creek discharges a.p.-
<br />pear to be incredible and entirely beyond anything which has ever occurred in
<br />Colorado or adjacent areas, they a.re submitted for wha.tever value they may
<br />have.
<br />
<br />In view of the uncertainties as to the accuracy of these results they
<br />should be used with caution.
<br />
<br />II Colorado State Engineer, 28th Blenu, Rept., p, 43, 1939,
<br />
|