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<br />EM
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<br />FLOODS OF 19'65 IN THE UNITED STATES
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<br />SUMMARY OF FLOODS
<br />
<br />E65
<br />
<br />Fourteen lives were lost in Colorado and Kansas as a result of the
<br />floods.
<br />In New Mexico, flood damage was estimated at nearly $4 million,
<br />and two liyM were lost. Two separate flood peaks occurred on the
<br />Canadian River above Conchil.s Reservoir near Conchas Dam, N. Mex_
<br />The r.unoff from these floods was retained in Conchas Reservoir, and
<br />no floodwater was released during the flood.
<br />These floods are described in detail by Snites and Larimer (1970),
<br />The report contains descriptions of the storm and floods, detailed
<br />streamflow records at 126 sites, and information on damage, storage
<br />regulation, flood frequencies, and previous floods. A summary table
<br />gives the peak stages and discharges at flood-determination points for
<br />the floods of June 1965 and for the previous maximum floods of record.
<br />
<br />FLOODS OF JUNE 17-18 IN THE RIO HONDO VALLEY,
<br />SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO
<br />
<br />After ARDEN D. HAE]'lrNER (1967)
<br />
<br />. 0 Albuquerque
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<br />On June 17-18, severe flooding occurred in the Rio Hondo valley
<br />and in tributary valleys west of Roswell in southeastern New Mexico.
<br />The floods resulted from intense rainfalls in the upper reaches which
<br />moved downstream. Precipitation extended from Ruidoso to Picacho
<br />in an area approximately parallel to and centered over Rio Ruidoso
<br />(fig. 29). The greatest rainfall occurred in the vicinity of Ruidoso
<br />where an official measurement of 5.11 inches and an unofficial measure-
<br />ment of 8.0 inches were made. Rainfall was light in the upper Rio
<br />Bonito valley, In the lower part of the Rio Bonito valley near Hondo,
<br />the Soil Conservation Service reported 4.78 inches and 5,36 inches in
<br />two recording rain gages, The maximum storm duration at any point
<br />was 3 hours or less, and within 6 hours about 200 sq, mi. received 3 or
<br />more inches of rainfalL
<br />Between Two Rivers Reservoir and Hondo the topography is roll-
<br />ing hills covered with sparse desert. type vegetation. West of Hondo,
<br />where most of the rainfall occurred, the terrain is mountainous and
<br />has cover ranging from heavy coniferous forest at higher altitude to
<br />juniper and pmon at the lower altitudes.
<br />As the storm front moved downstream nearly simultaneously with
<br />the flood wave, it tended to compound the discharge and caused peaks
<br />that were unequaled within the memory of residents in the valley. In
<br />the unusual runoff pattern of this flood, the peaks from the tributary
<br />streams coincided with the flood wave of the main stream as it passed
<br />their respeotive mouths. A peak discharge of 1,340 ds (table 22) oc-
<br />curred on Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood (sta. 1) at 1540 hours on June
<br />17. As the peak'moved downstream, through 26 miles of channel, it
<br />was supplemented by tributary inflow and by sheet inflow that caused
<br />a peak discharge of 42,700 cfs at about 1800 hours on Rio Ruidoso at
<br />Hondo (sta. 7). Rio Bonito joins Rio Ruidoso near Hondo .to form Rio
<br />Hondo. The flow from Rio Bonito, Chaves Canyon, Alamo Canyon, alld
<br />sheet inflow combined with the flow of Rio Ruidoso to cause a peak
<br />discharge in Rio Hondo at Picacho (sta. 14) of 115,000 cfs, which is
<br />about five times as great as the 50-year flood for this statioll. In the
<br />30-mile meandering river reach from Picacho to the Diamond A
<br />Ranch, the peak discharge was reduced to 54,800 cis at 0040 hours Oll
<br />June 18. This large reduction resulted from channel storage and sub-
<br />surface.infiltration.
<br />
<br />36.
<br />
<br />. WYOMING
<br />--r- COLORADO j------,
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<br />
<br />l NEBRASKA__~--
<br />~KANSAS ,
<br />oDENVER I
<br />l 7.' r- \
<br />/ \o~adville /__--....\ I
<br />'-. ,___{ '-'\....... I
<br />( 0 Colorado Springs '-_+
<br />\.. <1.t? '--,./-------c;r:;:;B;;d'
<br />_:.f:..g I
<br />\ NsA:s I
<br />38. .....\ Pueblo !i'J"V.6'.q> Lamar Holly /1
<br />\ John Martin Re Graiiada //
<br />I ~ ~-~--_ /
<br />I...r, ../-// I --_/
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<br />------+-,2tok/ ~r---L---------
<br />\ ) ~L OKL,&.@MA -----,
<br />( I "1 -- TEXAS I
<br />/ \ "'I I
<br />.... \ "
<br />\ ~
<br />SANTA FE , l 8
<br />0\1
<br />\" I CA!:fADIAN
<br />\ C<mcha3Res
<br />\....."'\../ --
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<br />
<br />'0"
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<br />
<br />106'
<br />
<br />10<"
<br />100
<br />,
<br />
<br />,
<br />102.
<br />
<br />100.
<br />
<br />o
<br />", I I' I
<br />
<br />100 MilES
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<br />FIGURE 28.-Flood area in .Tune in the Arkansas River basin. ColoradQ, K~nsas,
<br />and- New Mexico.
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