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<br />. <br /> <br />from Kersey to the state line. Rainfall runoff, which was the <br /> <br /> <br />major causative factor of the flooding, began on 5 May. Sharp <br /> <br /> <br />increases in flow as a result of the rainfall runoff were <br /> <br /> <br />recorded at all gaging stations along the South Platte River <br /> <br /> <br />from Littleton to the Colorado-Nebraska State line. The rainfall <br /> <br /> <br />runoff was augmented by mountain snowmelt runoff which was also <br /> <br /> <br />increasing during this period. The result was general flooding <br /> <br /> <br />throughout the South Platte River basin which was characterized <br /> <br /> <br />by high, sharp hydrograph peaks from the rainfall runoff followed <br /> <br /> <br />by a slow recession because of the continuing mountain snowmelt <br /> <br />runoff. Record peaks were established at the Kersey and Weldona <br /> <br /> <br />stations on the South Platte River. Major South Platte River <br /> <br /> <br />tributary streams that experienced flooding or that contributed <br /> <br /> <br />to flood flows on the South Platte River are Bear Creek, Cherry <br /> <br /> <br />Creek downstream from the dam, Clear Creek, St. Vrain Creek, Big <br /> <br /> <br />Thompson River, and Cache la Poudre River. Information on <br /> <br /> <br />tributary streams downstream from the mouth of the Cache la <br /> <br /> <br />Poudre River is not available. Flood hydro graphs for this event <br /> <br /> <br />on Cherry Creek and at selected stations on the South Platte <br /> <br /> <br />River are shown on plates 12 through 17. <br /> <br />FLOOD OF 31 JULY-l AUGUST 1976 <br /> <br /> <br />The flood of July-August 1976 in the Big Thompson River was <br /> <br /> <br />the most disastrous flood event in terms of human lives lost that <br /> <br /> <br />has occurred in the South Platte River basin. At least 135 persons <br /> <br /> <br />out of an estimated 2,500 to 3,500 in Big Thompson Canyon on the <br /> <br /> <br />night of 31 July were killed by a rapid rise in the Big Thompson <br /> <br /> <br />River. The peak discharge of 31,200 cubic feet per second at <br /> <br /> <br />the mouth of the canyon was generated by intense rainfall over a <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />26 <br />