FLOOD02396 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The October 5, 1911 flood is considered the most severe known in the Durango area. During that flood, a peak flow of 25,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) , which was estimated to be a flood of 100-year frequency, was recorded on the Animas River. This was accompanied by high flows on Junction and Lightner Creeks. Major snowmelt floods occurred on the Animas River in May 1941 and June 1949. A rainstorm falling on melting snow in June 1927 produced flows of 20,000 cfs. , Cloudbursts have caused numerous floods in the unincorporated areas near Durango from Junction and Lightner Creeks, The largest flood on Lightner and Junction Creeks occurred on October 20, 1972, with peak flows of 2830 and 1780 cfs, respectively (approximate return period of 50 years), Dry Gulch Creek floodflows are not available. v Past floods have disrupted highway ~d railroad traffic and communi- cation services; drowned livestock; land damaged and destroyed agricultural lands, roads, bridges, buildings, the sewage disposal plant, and the State Fish Hatchery. Several persons have drowned, and many others were injured. The potential flooding hazard at Bayfield from the Los Pinos River is controlled by the discharge from;Vallecito Reservoir, 11 miles upstream of Bayfield. In July 1957, heavy rains in the mountains to the north filled the Vallecito Resefvoir to its ultimate capacity. The three flood gates all opened ationce releasing a surge of water at approximately 13,000 cfs. The river stage at Bayfield reached the top of the U.S. Highway 160 bridge. The highwater caused base- ment flooding and agricultural loss. Other major flooding in the Bayfield area occurred in October 1911 and July 1927. In 1911, the Los pinos River inundated the land along the river at Bayfield for nearly 1 week. One house was washed away, while the water reached a depth of 3,5 to 4 feet at the fairgfounds. Residents reported that the 1927 flood stage was about equaf to the 1911 flood, In September 1901, flooding was reported in the ~an Juan River drainage basin; however, the Los Pinos River did not overflow its banks. The greatest rain flood of record on the Animas River in the vicinity of Hermosa occurred in October 1911, A severe flood also occurred on Hermosa Creek at that time, but no record or estimate of flow is available. These floods resulted from continuous heavy rain that totalled more than 4 inches in 3 days at one station in the upper watershed of the river. , The largest snowmelt 1941, and the second data on these floods flood of recor~ on Hermosa largest occurred in 1920, are available. Creek occured in May Little definitive . Flooding history of the small communities in the San Juan River basin is rather sketchy due to lack of gaging stations. History 6