Laserfiche WebLink
<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 />HISTORIC FLOODS <br /> <br />Most floods on Parachute Creek are caused by rapid snowmelt from <br />mountainous regions of the upper Parachute Creek basin during late May to early <br />July. There is also potential for floods resulting from rainfall occurring on <br />top of rrelting snCM as well as from summer thunderstorms. Snowmelt floods are <br />characterized by moderate peaks, large volumes of runoff and long durations <br />whereas floods from summer thunderstorms have larger peaks but smaller volumes <br />and shorter durations. <br /> <br />Listed in Table 1 are floods of record on Parachute Creek. <br /> <br />TABLE 1 <br /> <br />Date <br /> <br />Discharge, (cfs) <br /> <br />May 18, 1979 <br />Aug. 19, 1977 <br />July 31, 1976 <br />May 5, 1952 <br />May 20, 1922 <br /> <br />944 <br /> <br />2,310 <br />2,600 <br />912 <br />795 <br /> <br />Source: ref. 2. <br /> <br />There have undoubtedly been floods of greater magnitude on Parachute Creek, <br />but there are limited recorded accounts of dates, flood magnitudes or extent of <br />damages. <br /> <br />There have been recording gages in operation on the Colorado River since <br />the early part of the century near Glenwood Springs and further downstream near <br />Plateau Creek. However, accounts of floods on the Colorado River near Parachute <br />are not available. <br /> <br />7 <br />