FLOOD03827 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Synopsis The interaation of two dissimilar air moles from the Paaifia Gaean over the San Juan. Dolores. and Unaompahgre River Basin of the Colorado River Watershed above Lee Fe1'1'Y during early September 1970 produaed heavy rains r,Jhich resulted in severe flooding in the Animas Valley above Durango. on Valleaito Creek above Vallecito Reservoir and on the lorver reaahes of Montezwna Creek and the San Juan River. Minor flooding also oaaurred on other tributaries to the San Juan River and in the Dolores and Uncompahgre River r,Jatershed. During the September 1970 floods about 21.100 aares of land r,Jere inundated by stream overflOUJ and flood damages estimated at about $3.100.000 ocaU1'red. Public facility losses estimated at about $1.150.000 aomprised the largest aategory of flood damage. The cost of emergency repair and restoration of flood damaged facili- ties under aontinuing authority of the Corps of Engineers r,Jas $85.000. There are no Corps of Engineers flood aontrol projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin. HoWever. emergenay flood aontrol r,Jork has been done in the area affected by the September 1970 floods at Bluff. Utah; and at Dolores. Riao. and Gunnison. Colorado. This r,Jork r,Jas partially effeative in reduaing damages during the floods. Bureau of Realamation reservoir projeats whiah have flood control spaae aZZoaated on a foreaast basis only during the spring snOUJmelt and runoff. stored substantial quantities of floo~ater in the re- speative aonservation pools to prevent approximately $415.000 in flood damages by reduaing streamflows belOUJ reservoirs to non- damaging levels. Flood benefits resulting from r,Jatershed proteation measures implemented by the Soil Conservation Service and the Forest Service by land treatment and structural measures r,Jere substantial; hOUJever. the evaluation of these benefits are beyond the saope of this report. At this time. several authorized Bureau of Realamation multi- purpose reservoir projeats would have prevented an estimated $200.000 in flood damages by temporarily storing floo~aters and aontl'Olling floodflows to non-damaging channel aapaaities dOUJn- stream of the proposed struatures. .;..