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" . This chapter attempts to fill the gap left by the lack of scientific data for the 1894 flood. Little hydrologic work was done in Colorado in 1893 and 1894, which explains the lack of operative gauging stations on the creeks.12 Therefore, an interpretation of the 1894 event must be created by reconstructing human experiences and observations that relate to the magnitude of the flood. WEATHER The 1894 event was a result of several meteorologic conditions generally recognized as fundamental to a disasterous flood occurrence; a heavy and constant spring rain at fairly low elevations was stalled against the mountain by an upslope wind condition, contributing to added streamflows in creeks already swollen by snowmelt runoff. The ground was saturated because of days of previous rain. 13 . Although there is some debate as to whether the snowmelt runoff during the spring of 1894 was normal or above normal, the meteorologic data carried in government reports concerning the rains that frequented the vicinity in the last few weeks of May were supported by diaries fron citizens in Boulder, Longmont and Salina and from newspaper reports of the time.14 The snowpack was considered less than normal by the United States Weather Service, but heavy rains accelerated the rate of melting. Although the amount of snowpack has been controversial, agreement has been reached concerning the events immediately preceding the flood. The area just east of the Continental Divide above Boulder was pummeled by sixty hours of constant rain from a thunderstorm held against the mountains by a wind blowing from the east. Precipitation amounts recorded at rain gauges neasured 5.00 to 8.54 inches during that period. The storm hovered near the upper portions of St. Vrain, Lefthand and Boulder (and probably South Boulder) Creek basins, forcing those waterways and their tributaries to reach flood stage during the night and early morning hours of May 31, 1894.15 ST. VRAIN CREEI( BASIN DMMGES North, ,1v1iddlc and South St. Vrain Creeks were sparsely populilted in 1894, and as a result data for the areas upstream of Lyons are scarce. The ,toll roads from Lyons to Estes Park and from Lyons to Long Gulch were pronounced disasters and, like many roads in the County, it took over six weeks of repair to make them passable.16 Lyons . Lyons, at least the lower part at the confluence of Middle and North St. Vrain Creeks, was covered by a lake some three miles long, which stretched alrnost as far as Longmont, according to Sheriff Dyer. 17 Nearly twenty houses and businesses were destroyed by the rush of the floodwaters and the town lost its water works system, bridges and picnic grounds at Meadow Park. Just as north and south Boulder were