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<br />II <br />II <br />I[ <br />II <br />II <br />II <br />II <br />I! <br />II <br />II <br />- <br />- <br />I <br />\ <br /> <br />- <br />~ <br />- <br />- <br />- <br />- <br /> <br />July 18,2001 <br /> <br />Re: Dolores River Flooding and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers floodplain and hydrology <br />report, 1978: <br /> <br />I obtained a bound copy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' floodplain maps and <br />hydrology report for the Upper Dolores River between West Fork and town. All County. <br />State, and Federal agencies rely upon these maps and discharge figures. The base <br />el'evations of the maps appear to be correct; they match the most recent u.s.a.s, <br />quadrangle maps. However, all the flood discharge figures and channel velocities are <br />extremely incorrect. Army Corps claims the methods they use would compensate for any <br />inaccurate data. They-and all relyinl'.upon them-need a big Reality Check. <br />Their figures claim it would take ovei:'<;l.~cfs discharge to reach flood stage. I have <br />nuiiierous-ne"W'Sp1l1le"r accoums, witn'pid6rres, from Cortez Journal archives showing <br />floods and describing damage at discharge volumes of 5.000-6.000 cfs. In fact a witness <br />whoboats on the river every spring, Tim Hovezak, states that the minor flood of 1995. at <br />5.3'0 cfs, over-ran the reclaimed Caldwell/Reimer pit and destroyed its rec1amaiion. <br />Anotherwitness, Pat Blackmer. stated in affidavit that property he used to own below <br />Stapleton Bridge also flooded in the 1995 event. These real-life reports and photos wipe <br />out the Army Corps claims. <br /> <br />Also. I have computerized. print-out data from the U.S.O.S. river gage in Dolores. They <br />send a man over about once a month to take actual flow measurements. Consistently <br />over a 10-year period with different technicians taking the measurements, these real-time <br />checks show that channel discharge volumes between 3,000 and 4.500 cfs cause channel <br />velocities of 7-8 feet per second. These velocities are what the Army Corps reports <br />would occur only in a 100-yearflood! Army Corps claims are totally refuted by all real <br />measurements and evidence. <br /> <br />How does all tbis science affect us? It means that all our floodplain maps probably are <br />wrong-for discharge and channel velocity both are controlled by water depth. To get <br />the discharge and velocity figures of the Army Corps report, you would have to be using <br />incorrect flood depths and vice-versa, Tbis is why I have called upon the County <br />Commissioners to obtain an objective, modem, re-study of the Dolores by some <br />competent hydrologist. Even a quick, cross-section test run would show whether we <br />have a problem. I am not looking for a study to help environmentalists or to help gravel <br />miners-simply for the truth. People's insurance. livelihoods, and lives themselves all <br />are resting on a false foundation here. <br /> <br />Marilyn Boynton <br />700 East 2nd St. #20 <br />Cortez. CO 81321 <br />564-8340 <br />