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<br />3.9 <br /> <br />rather than the longer 24-hour storm. aowever, a redefinition of the hydro- <br /> <br />logy was not in the scope of this project. <br /> <br />3.3 Flume Descriptions <br /> <br /> <br />3.3.1 History of the Flumes <br /> <br /> <br />The early prospectors laid out the Town of Ouray in 1875 on the combined <br /> <br /> <br />alluvial fans formed by Portland and Cascade Creeks. The grid street system <br /> <br /> <br />and rectangular lot layout did not recognize the existence of these streams. <br /> <br /> <br />For many year~ the streams wandered naturally over the rock and g.ravel which <br /> <br /> <br />had accumulated for centuries. <br /> <br /> <br />As the tOwn grew in population, property owners tried to force these <br /> <br /> <br />streams to be contained in more or less defined channels which g~nerally <br /> <br /> <br />followed thei~ present alignment. The property owners' purpose was to add to <br /> <br /> <br />their own pro~erty, but the result was a very narrow channel in $ome places <br /> <br />which endange~ed other properties. <br /> <br /> <br />In 1908, severe debris flooding o~ Portland Creek and Casca~e Creek <br /> <br /> <br />awakened the town to the potential for serious damages. The lan~ owners adja- <br /> <br />cent to Portland Creek in the block abOve Third street apparently constructed <br /> <br /> <br />a wooden flume across their properties to more efficiently carry the debris <br /> <br /> <br />that was washed down. <br /> <br />The following year, on July 21, 1~09, the town experienced more severe <br /> <br />flooding on Portland and Cascade Creek~ which caused considerable damage to <br /> <br /> <br />the town. The short segment of wood f~ume on Portland Creek between Third and <br /> <br /> <br />Fourth Streets filled with rock and wa~ put out of alignment. <br /> <br /> <br />On July 26, 1909, Mayor Charles A, Sperberg convened a special meeting of <br /> <br /> <br />the city council to hear the following recommendations submitted by the <br /> <br /> <br />Ordinance Committee regarding reconst~ction and financing of the flumes: <br /> <br />July 26, 1909 <br /> <br />The Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />Ouray, Colorado <br /> <br />Gentlemen: <br /> <br />Your Committee to whom was referred the question of drafting an <br />ordinance on recommendation as to the best place to pursue in the <br />matter of the recent floods in POrtland and Cascade Creeks begs <br />leave to submit the following report: <br /> <br />~ <br />