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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />1. History of Flooding <br /> <br />Historical records reference many floods in the Arkansas River Valley above John Martin <br />ReseIVOir. The earliest known in the area occurred in 1826. The next notable flood was in 1844, Other <br />reported floods: floods in the 1800's occurred in 1859, 1864, 1869, and 1894. These floods were <br />generally confined between Pueblo and the present John Martin Dam. Major floods were experienced <br />at various localities in the subbasin in 1921, 1935, 1942, 1955, and 1965. The flood of 1921 was the <br />greatest flood of record on the Arkansas River at La Junta. <br /> <br />In addition to flooding from the Arkansas River, King and Anderson Arroyos have flooded La <br />Junta, with flooding reported to have occurred in 1886, 1965, 1969 and 1972. <br /> <br />2. Flood Descriptions <br /> <br />July 1886: A large flood occurred in the valley below the confluence of the Purgatoire River <br />during the period of July 20-25, 1886. This flood was produced by rainfall with heavy amounts <br />occurring in the vicinity of Las Animas and La Junta. At Las Animas there were 3.36 inches ofrainfall <br />on July 24 and 25. At La Junta water reportedly came down King Arroyo in a 12-foot wave. In <br />Anderson Arroyo water was at least 20 feet deep and overtopped the AT&SF Railway Bridge. <br /> <br />June 1921: Two areas of intense rainfall were obselVed above Pueblo. One of these was mostly <br />north of the towns of Florence and Canon City, The other was fairly well distnouted on both banks of <br />the Arkansas River between Portland and Pueblo, Precipitation in this latter area is reported to have <br />been as much as II inches in six hours while in the other area it was reported to have been as much as <br />nine inches in six hours. The rainfall in the upper area was reported to have OCCUlTed first so that runoff <br />combined with that below to produce the largest flood of record at Pueblo. The peak'discharge of <br />103,000 cubic feet per second occurred at midnight on June 3. Above La Junta the effect ofVa11ey <br />storage on peak attrition was obscured by the inflow from tributary streams and the peak discharge at <br />La Junta was 200,000 cubic feet per second, North La Junta was flooded; water was four to six feet <br />deep on Second Street and reached the Otero County Jail. It was reported that 13 persons were <br />drowned although some of the bodies were not found until June 9. Areas in the Huerfano and <br />Purgatoire Rivers and in Timpas, Adobe, and Horse Creek were flooded. Heavy rains occurred on the <br />main stem of the Arkansas River from La Junta to Lamar. Below La Junta tnoutary inflow was small. <br /> <br />12 <br />