FLOOD07093

• County: Otero
• County: Pueblo
• Community: Otero, Pueblo Counties
• Stream Name: Arkansas River
• Basin: Arkansas
• Title: Arkansas River Channel Capacity and Riparian Habitat Planning Study
• Date: 8/1/2001
• Prepared For: CWCB
• Prepared By: US Army Corps of Engineers
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Project

Post Flood Assessment Report

Chapter 2 - Plistory of Flooding and Flood Protection
6 Draft Revised 01/05/01

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

damage at Pueblo was apparently minor. In Septemoer of the same year, Trinidad experienced
the most disastrous flood of record on the PurgatoirelRiver.

,
Development of water resources on the Arkansas River and tributaries began in the late 1850's
when gold was discovered and production of garden vegetables and other crops by means of
irrigation evolved in support of the mining camps which located along the banks of the mountain
tributaries. During the latter part ofthe century, rapid and extensive expansion of irrigation
enterprises accompanied the establishment of permm\.ent settlements. Many small reservoirs
were constructed, primarily for storage of water for I~te season irrigation, but also to provide
local flood control as well as domestic and industriallwater supply.

RECORDED FLOOD HISTORY

Greatest Flood of Record

The flood of June 1921, the greatest of authentic recqrd on the Arkansas River at Pueblo, was
caused by a storm which extended over most of the qrainage area but was particularly intense in
the upper reaches west, northwest, and north of Pueblo. According to U.s. Weather Bureau,
records, the 48-hour rainfall measured 3 to 5 inches at the precipitation stations, but reports from
persons residing in the area indicated as much as 9 to 11 inches in 6 hours at some locations.
The flood peak on the Arkansas River and many of$e tributary streams such as Dry and
Fountain Creeks converged on Pueblo at the same tithe, resulting in property damage of $1 0
million and the loss of78 lives. The peak flow at Pueblo was 103,000 c.f.s. As the flood
progressed downstream, agricultural lands were inunaated, irrigation and transportation facilities
were damaged or washed out, and urban areas were ipundated to various depths. The flood peak
had increased to 200,000 c.f.s. at La Junta where six ilives were lost. The peak began to decrease
downstream to 187,000 c.f.s. at Las Animas and 165;000 c.f.s. at Lamar; yet, according to local
residents, almost the entire city of Las Animas was flooded. Water was 4 to 5 feet in some
places. It was estimated in June 1967 that such a flood would produce $57,000,000 in damages.
Substantial development has occurred in the Pueblo lU'ea over the last thirty years so a current
assessment would result in a much higher figure.

Other Major Flood Events

Major floods were experienced at various localities ih the subbasin in May 30, 1935, April 16,
1942, and May 20, 1955. The most recent and destructive flood since the flood of record
occurred between June 14th and 18th of 1965.

Flood ofMav 30. 1935: The May 30, 1935 flood deyeloped on Monument Creek which is the
principal tributary to Fountain Creek. It produced ilie maximum known flow on this creek and
caused severe property damage and the loss of four Hves in and near Colorado Springs. The
flood peak had diminished by the time it reached Pueblo and caused little damage there. The
flood peak at the mouth of Fountain Creek was estimated by indirect measurement to be