FLOOD02366

• County: Statewide
• Community: State of Colorado
• Stream Name: All
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: The Big Thompson Flood of 1976 Field Trip Guidebook
• Date: 1/1/1976
• Prepared For: Annual meeting of Geological Society
• Prepared By: USGS
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Documentation Report

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PREFACE

This guide to the 1976 flood of the Big Thompson River has been

prepared for use with a field trip conducted for participants of The

Geological Society of America, 1976 Annual Meeting. Unlike most guide-

books, no road logs are included as the physical effects of the flood

are ephemeral and there is no basis for predicting which of the features

will be available for viewing at the time of the trip. This guide is

organized into five major sections. A general description of the flood

is provided in the introduction, followed by sections dealing with

meteorological aspects, hydrologic aspects, hazards and geomorphic as-

pects and finally, a chapter discussing other issues including future

land use planning.

The section on meteorology was provided by Mr. John Henz of Geo-

physical Research and Development Corporation, Fort Collins. Mr. Henz

was the first to predict the potentially dangerous weather conditions

(31 hours prior to the flood) for an area including the Big Thompson.

The section dealing with geomorphic aspects and geologic hazards was

supplied by Mr. James M. Soule of the Colorado Geological Survey. Mr.

Soule and his associates have been intensely studying flood related hazards

for application to land use regulation. Their work began before ~he flood

had completely receded. Other information for this publication has been

gleaned from press reports, public presentations by other scientists, and

eyewitness accounts. Other governmental agencies studying the Big Thompson

Flood include the U. S. Geological Survey (Mss. R. U. Grozier and J. F.

McCain of the Colorado District, Water Resources Division as well as the

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