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<br />to ~ rapid concentration of run-off resulting in flash floods
<br />characterized by high peak flows, moderate volumes and short
<br />
<br />d"rations.
<br />
<br />Summary of Historical Floods
<br />Various historical sources disclo5e that large magni-
<br />tude floods swept the Trinidad vicinity on at least three occasions
<br />prior to 1896--in November 1866, the s~~er of 1883, and in July
<br />1886. Definitive information is generally lacking, but it can be
<br />reasonably pre5u~ed that damages increased with each flood event,
<br />paralleling the growth of Trinidad and continuing settlenent in the
<br />
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<br />
<br /> pL,~ OISCH"~GE
<br /> 4~,400 '"
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<br />
<br />rural PurgatOire River Valley. ~~ong the major floods occurring
<br />since 1896, the September 1904 flood was the highest of record on
<br />the Furgatoire River, yet, the latter~day May 1955 flood (ranking
<br />fourth in terms of peak discharge) repOrtedly caused the greatest
<br />devastation. Figure 1 shows the estimated hydrograph for the flood
<br />of September 1904 at Trinidad. Table ~ lists the highest ten
<br />recorded flows in order of magnitude since 1896 at the Tri~idad
<br />stream gaging $tation.
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<br />TABLE ~
<br />
<br />"
<br />
<br />HIGHEST TEN DN-',AGI:-JG FLOODS I~ ORDER OF' MAGNITUDE
<br />PURGATOIRE RIVER AT TRINIOAD, COLORADO
<br />
<br />Ord<lr
<br />:-lumber
<br />
<br />18':E - 19n
<br />llat.. of Crest
<br />
<br />['Cillo;
<br />Discharqc
<br />e.Ls.
<br />45,400
<br />35,000
<br />33,000
<br />28,000
<br />23,900
<br />20,000
<br />19,800
<br />19,600
<br />15,700
<br />15,000
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<br />
<br />September 30, 1904
<br />April ~3, 1942
<br />July ~~, 19~~
<br />May 19, 1955
<br />August2,19S0
<br />July29,1927
<br />October 1, 1923
<br />August ~3, 1927
<br />June 17, 1965
<br />AUgust 30, 1937
<br />
<br />SEP.TEM8ER 1904
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<br />i:Y::;~Om\.\~H, ?~';:'""7"I;;;;
<br />
<br /><\IV::;;
<br />
<br />TRtNmAD, COUJAADO
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