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<br />D24 <br /> <br />FLOODS OF 1965 IN THE UNITED STATES <br /> <br />CANADIAN RIVER TRIBUTARIES <br />Outstanding peak flows occurred on the Canadian River tributaries from <br />the intense storms of June 15 or 17. The peak flow of the Vermejo River <br />near Dawson of 12,600 cfs on June 17 was the greatest discharge since 1927 <br />and was probably higher than that during the flood of 1921. <br />Peak flow into Eagle Nest Lake on Cimarron Creek was about 550 cfs on <br />June 17, and outflow was less than I cfs. Measured tributary contributions <br />to Cimarron Creek for the first 10 miles downstream from the dam totaled <br />only 171 cfs. Flooding on the creek began less than 8 miles upstream from <br />the gaging station near Cimarron. The peak discharge of 15,500 cfs, <br />therefore, was generated in an area of about 30 square miles. Turkey Creek <br />Canyon, which drains 5.25 square miles, contributed over 40 percent of the <br />peak flow. The peak discharge on Cimarron Creek at Springer increased to <br />29,500 cfs. The Philmont Scout Ranch, about 10 miles southeast of <br />Cimarron, sustained heavy damage, and about 25 city blocks in Springer <br />were partially flooded. <br />Other tributaries to Cimarron Creek also had outstanding peak flows. <br />The peak discharge of 5,630 cfs on Ponil Creek near Cimarron, which <br />destroyed the gaging station, was the greatest since 1915. Flooding in the <br />valley downstream from Chase Canyon, which enters half a mile down- <br />stream from the gaging station on Ponil Creek, was the greatest in at least <br />80 years, according to a longtime resident. Rayado Creek at Sauble Ranch <br />near Cimarron had a peak flow of 9,000 cfs on June 17. This was nearly five <br />times the maximum discharge for the 54 years of record prior to June 1965 <br />and almost nine times the peak discharge of the 50-year flood. <br />Flooding in the Mora River basin occurred June 15-17. Peak discharges <br />at some stations on the main stem and on some of the tributaries ap- <br />proached or exceeded those of a 50-year frequency. <br /> <br />NORTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO <br /> <br />Flooding occurred in some areas in extreme northeastern New Mexico <br />near Clayton and Guyon tributaries to the Canadian, Cimarron, and North <br />Canadian Rivers. Travesser Creek near Guy had a peak discharge of 12,500 <br />cfs, or twice that of the 50-year flood. Cieneguilla Creek near Clayton had a <br />peak discharge of 9,580 cfs, or 1.2 times that of the 50-year flood. Clayton <br />Lake on Cieneguilla Creek was filled for the first time since its completion <br />in 1958. <br /> <br />EFFECTS OF STORAGE <br />In Colorado the entire flood runoff upstream from John Martin Dam was <br />stored in the reservoir. This was fortunate indeed for communities <br />downstream because of the high peak flows from the tributaries below the <br />dam. Two tributaries entering the Arkansas River within 6 miles down- <br />stream were contributing over 90,000 cfs in the early morning of June 18. At <br />0630 hours on June 18 the instantaneous inflow to the reservoir was about <br />