Laserfiche WebLink
<br />(2) Kansas: As the flood moved into Kansas, it covered <br /> <br /> <br />the entire Arkansas valley flood plain, extending over 2 miles wide <br /> <br /> <br />in places. Floodwaters entered Syracuse at about 5:00 p.m. on 17 <br /> <br /> <br />June, attaining a peak flow of about 200,000 c.f.s.; an area south <br /> <br /> <br />of the railroad tracks and the water supply system were severely <br /> <br /> <br />damaged. Lakin minimized damage through a successful flood fight. <br /> <br /> <br />Flooding at Garden City began on the evening of 18 June and consider- <br /> <br /> <br />able damage resulted in an area south of the railroad tracks. At <br /> <br /> <br />Dodge City on 19 June, floodflows reached a maximum stage of 15.7 <br /> <br /> <br />feet and 82,000 c.f.s. Here, the railroad embankment saved the main <br /> <br /> <br />business district to the north, but floodwaters attained depths of 9 <br /> <br /> <br />feet south of the embankment and about 1,500 people were evacuated <br /> <br /> <br />from the area. In Dodge City and nearby Wilroads Gardens, total <br /> <br /> <br />urban losses were estimated at $3,783,000, including damages to 615 <br /> <br /> <br />residences and 155 businesses in Dodge City. At Kinsley, the peak <br /> <br /> <br />discharge was 49,800 c.f.s. at about midday on 21 June; approximately <br /> <br /> <br />800 people were evacuated. By the time the flood reached Larned and <br /> <br /> <br />Great Bend, reduced peaks and volume allowed it to be controlled and <br /> <br /> <br />serious urban losses were avoided. Low-lying farmlands were moder- <br /> <br /> <br />ately damaged. <br /> <br /> <br />II. FLOOD PROBLEMS.- Costly floods may be expected to recur <br /> <br /> <br />in the Arkansas River subbasin between John Martin Dam and Great <br /> <br /> <br />Bend, Kansas, regardless of existing and authorized flood control' <br /> <br /> <br />projects. Most losses involve flooded agricultural land in the <br /> <br /> <br />valley, but properties along tributaries and in low-lying urban areas <br /> <br /> <br />also suffer. Flood damages are caused when the runoff from steep <br /> <br /> <br />tributary streams converges into the broad valleys with flatter <br /> <br /> <br />slopes and lower energy gradients. These low-velocity flood flows not <br /> <br /> <br />only increase the duration of flooding, but permit sediment and <br /> <br /> <br />debris to be deposited on the valley's most productive lands. Floods <br /> <br /> <br />are governed by the nature of storm patterns and tributary runoff. <br /> <br /> <br />For example, when rainfall is concentrated over one tributary water- <br /> <br /> <br />shed, flood damages are generally limited to the single tributary <br /> <br />c <br /> <br />A-8 <br />