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. deer across the main tourist area of Manitou Springs presents a real threat to life and property. As pointed out in the reconnaissance report, even the best flood warning system may not be effective when a high percentage of the population may be tourists who are unfamiliar with the emergency procedures. On the other hand, a higher capacity channel would result in faster travel of the peak flow to downstream areas that already experience problems with flooding. Arkansas River Increased base flow in the Arkansas River induced by the discharge of trans-mountain water into Fountain Creek creates a similar imbalance in the river system. The natural processes of meandering, increased bank erosion and channel bed degradation in some reaches and increased aggradation of the channel bed in other Teaches negatively affects communities and properties along the river. Such effects have been evident for Rocky Ford, La Junta and Las Animas. . Discharges of water stored at Pueblo Dam might also be considered an artificially induced increase to the base flow within the Arkansas River as well. When such releases are made in anticipation of flood control storage requirements, there is the possibility that downstream flood conditions could be worsened. Over the past year the dam has been operated under a deviation from the standard procedures to accommodate construction of a stabilizing berm on the downstream toe. Irrigation storage levels have been maintained at lower than usual levels. The Bureau of Reclamation has requested a change to the deviation allowing greater irrigation storage. The stabilizing berm is near complete and therefore the dam safety concerns which lead to reduced storage levels are not as compelling. Although Trinidad Reservoir provides protection in the upper reaches of the Purgatoire River, the flood peak at Las Animas is hardly affected for the larger events. Nevertheless, for more frequent events, the storage of flood volumes in the upper reaches provides some benefit to downstream communities. ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS The following flood assistance authorities and programs were used during and after the April 29, 1999 flood: Public Law 84-99; This law authorizes the Corps of Engineers to provide emergency operations, investigation and rehabilitation of damaged Federal and non-Federal flood control projects, and after action reporting. The Corps executes these responsibilities under the Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies Program financed under appropriation 96X3125. At the start of the flood event the district had $35,000 under category 200, Emergency Operation~, Class 210, Response Operations. This amount was increased by an additional $35,000 on May 6, 1999 for a total of $70,000. On May II, 1999, the Albuquerque District requested Category 300, Rehabilitation and Inspection Program funds, Class 340, Field Investigation for Proposed Rehabilitation . Post Flood Assessment Report 29 Chapter 3 - Flood of April29, 1999 Draft Revised 09/09/99