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- 11 - held the waters from doing any damage in the area below there. The angry waters extended clear down to Grand Junction. The bridge on the Whatley road caved in to a degree, but fast effort on the part of the high- way crew saved it, and kept one more route of communication open. I ~.; ~ Only a constant vigil on the part of the many con- cientious men made the saving of this great street possible. The town water crew, town marshal, councilmen, county commissioners, and sheriff's department put in many long hard hours, serving above and beyond the call of duty, but with a love for their "high country" and its welfare, upper- most in their hearts. , , , r Flooding within the town of Breckenridge was a function primarily of backwater from culverts and bridges that were plugged with debris. Consequently, flooding was most extensive around each of the major crossings and localized in the stretches between the crossings_ The runoff approached the lOO-year recurrence storm. On July 23 of the same year the Blue River left its banks for a second time. The flood was attributed to a storm of high intensity centered over a small tributary above the town. Because of the time of year, rainfall runoff was the predom- inant cause of flooding. Prior to the storm the flow in the Blue River was 400 cfs and was generally decreasing. FACTORS AFFECTING FLOODING Flooding is a natural function of a river and its tribu- taries. In the process of flooding, vegetation, debris and other natural obstructions impede flood flows and cause backwater conditions that increase flood heights. The debris is washed downstream and collected on bridges and culverts creating a damming effect. As flood flows increase the accumulated debris may break loose and a wall of water and debris surges downstream until another obstruction is en- countered. ~ Leonard Rice Consulting Water Engineers, Inc.