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<br />As discussed on the previous
<br />page, official rain gage data was
<br />available for this studied area.
<br />Since the Missionary Ridge Fire
<br />scorched the land, the potential
<br />for floods and mudslides
<br />increased dramatically due to the
<br />loss of erosion reducing weeds,
<br />trees, and natural grasses.
<br />Several new rain gages were
<br />installed around the burn area,
<br />northeast of Durango, in order to
<br />help warn the surrounding
<br />communities of flash flood
<br />producing storms. According to the rain gage A-l, approximately 0.57 inches of rain fell
<br />on July 23Td, and 0.27 inches of precipitation was recorded for the August 3rd storm.
<br />Figure 4.4 on the previous page shows daily precipitation totals for each day between the
<br />end of June and the end of August. Figures 4.5 and 4.6 show the location of this rain gage
<br />and a map of the gage's location in relation to the state of Colorado.
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<br />Figure 4.5 - Map of Missionary Ridge Rain Gage A-
<br />1 Location.
<br />
<br />
<br />Figure 4.6 - Missionary Ridge
<br />Rain Gage A-1 Location in
<br />Relation to the State of Colorado.
<br />
<br />Additional rain gages were found in the burn area along with one at the Vallecito
<br />Reservoir, which is about 25 miles northeast of Durango. Daily precipitation graphs, as
<br />well as the figures showing the location of each gage, are included in the Additional
<br />Support Information section of this report. Supplementary rain gages were installed in the
<br />burn area by the federal Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation Team (BAERT). Their
<br />locations are shown in a map also located in the Additional Support Information section
<br />of this report.
<br />
<br />Color radar images for the state of Colorado were found on the National Climatic Data
<br />Center's website. The NEXRAD radar images show a small pocket of storm activity that
<br />formed within the Missionary Ridge Burn Area at approximately 7:30PM. These images
<br />are shown below, and on the following page, in Figures 4.7 through 4.15. Next to the
<br />figures is a legend indicating the higher the color number, the more intense the storm. In
<br />order to locate the Durango area on the NEXRAD radar images, Figure 4.16 (next page)
<br />contains a map of the state of Colorado with the town of Deckers highlighted.
<br />
<br />ICON cng-neering, Inc
<br />
<br />30
<br />
<br />January 2003
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