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<br />the 1965 flood of 22,100 cfs had a higher elevation than the 1955 <br />flood of 44,000 cfs. After the 1965 flood however, the channel <br />bottom under the bridge was cleared during construction of the <br />east bridge in 1973. <br /> <br />Flooding in Las Animas <br /> <br />.' <br /> <br />The cross-sections on figure 5 show the calculated water <br />surface elevations for the 100-year flood. The flood water is <br />limited in southward extent by an irrigation ditch located 1200 <br />feet north of the city boundary. This ditch is backed by the <br />higher dike of the Town Ditch, located along the north boundary <br />of the city. As a conclusion concerning the hazard of flooding <br />in Las Animas from the 100-year flood, these two irrigation <br />ditches in conjunction with the levee constructed in 1955 will <br />prevent any flood encroachment into the city. It should be <br />emphasized that this conclusion is contingent upon the Town <br />Ditch remaining in its present condition. <br />The ditch right-of-way has been abandoned and has already <br />been cut at Carson Street and on the northeast corner of the <br />city. In its present state, the ditch embankment is a valuable <br />flood-protection asset for the City of Las Animas it should <br />not be destroyed. <br />In 1965, there was concern that flood water could enter the <br />upper end of the Town Ditch or the Consolidated Ditch and thus <br />enter the city from the west. Since that time, the Town Ditch <br />has been abandoned and blocked in several places near the head- <br />gate, thus it does not pose a flood threat. The Consolidated <br />Ditch-Riverside Lateral could be inundated west of the city, <br />however the capacity of the ditch is less than 20 cfs in most <br />places and the excess flow would spill out onto farm land west <br />of the city. Any flows reaching Las Animas would be contained <br />in the ditch or within the streets. <br /> <br />18 <br />