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BACKGROUND On July 31st and August 1st, 1976 one of the worst natural disasters in the history of Colorado occurred in the Big Thompson Canyon. Intense precipitation over an approximate 60 square mile area between Lake Estes and Drake, with rainfall depths up to 12 inches, generated extremely high flood discharges. While the normal flow of the Big Thompson River varies from approximately 20 cubic feet per second (during December through March) to 300 cubic feet per second in June, it has been estimated that flows of over 31,000 cubic feet per second occurred during the early Sunday morning hours of August 1, 1976. This flood is known to have taken 139 lives, while 5 persons remain unaccounted for. Property damage was estimated to be over $16-million, while hundreds of people were left homeless (Ref. 1). Over 200 residential structures were damaged or destroyed by the flood, while nearly 1.200 land parcels were adversely affected. The amount of human suffering cannot be estimated. One of the physical casualties of this devastating flood was the dam, pipeline and power plant sometimes known as the City of Loveland's "Municipal Light and Power Plant." Rushing flood waters totally destroyed 75% of the concrete dam structure (Figs. 1 & 2), washed out or damaged approximately 1,700 lineal feet of aqueduct (Figs. 3 & 4) and totally destroyed the hydroelectric plant, substation and appurtenances (Figs. 5 & 6). i.': ;9 Loveland's "Municipal Light and Power Plant" had a very interesting beginning which started with a City Councilman by the name of Charles Viestanz in 1911 (Ref. 2). At that time the City was in great financial distress. There was no money in the Treasury, utility bonds were due and it was necessary to call a special election to refund half the bonds at 95 cents on the dollar. ~ r It was at this point that Mr. Viestanz made several trips to the Big Thompson River to "investigate and see whether I could discover ways and means to construct a Municipal Light and Power Plant. Such a project must certainly solve our problem." At that time it was considered that the City's financial dilemna was caused to a great degree by the ex. horbitant cost of electricity being charged the City by the local utility company and the high profits being reaped thereby. ""' R~-; ~ After a long and arduous struggle and great personal sacrifices of a few men, a general election was held in August, 1914 and the results of that election authorized the City Council to proceed with the construction of the Plant, by a majority of 84 votes. In 1915 ~ -,' ,- "