FLOOD08336

• County: Chaffee
• Community: Poncha Springs, Salida
• Stream Name: South Arkansas River
• Basin: Arkansas
• Title: Floodplain Information Report - Lower South Arkansas River
• Date: 4/1/1979
• Prepared For: Chaffee County
• Prepared By: WRC Engineering, Inc.
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

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CHAPTER III

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The newspaper issues published within the two weeks before and after

the above mentioned dates were researched at the office of the Mountain Mail

newspaper in Salida. Records of the past newspaper issues available at the

Salida Public Library were also researched. A sample of newspaper accounts

of floods in the vicinity of the study area is as follows:

HISTORY OF FLOODING

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Streamflow records are available at locations near and within the

study reaches. Recorded historical flows show maximum discharges of

1,110 and 307 cfs for the South Arkansas River at Poncha and Poncha Creek

at Poncha Streamflow Recording Stations. These flows were recorded on

July 5, 1911 and May 27, 1912, respectively. Long term streamflow records

from nearby stations indicate that peak flows occurred in a number of

years, particularly in 1957.

The documentation of the peak flows in the study area included:
research of the past issues of Salida newspapers, personal interviews
with the local residents who have resided in the area for a long period,
discussions with the city and county officials, and a written solicitation
from the Colorado Water Conservation Board requesting input from a number
of local residents who were identified by the local officials as possible
sources of information on the history of flooding of the South Arkansas
River and Poncha Creek.

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From the "Salida Mail"
Tuesday, June 14, 1921

From the "Sal ida Mail"
July 20, 1923

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High Water at Monarch
Damages New Bridge

Heavy Rains Cause
Damage to the Roads

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The highest water for ten years
began running at Monarch Sunday
when Columbus creek and Boss Lake
creek turned into torrents. The
new government bridge on Monarch
Pass road, a quarter mile above
Garfield,was damaged by the flood
and is closed for repairs. In the
meanwhile traffic is being diver-
ted to the old Monarch road.
Garfield dam was opened 10 days
ago. The water coming down is di-
rect from the mountains where the
snow is melting fast, The melt-
ing season began late this year.
It is expected that the high
water will continue for two weeks
or more.

Rain is on the daily program in
Salida lately but the rainfall in
the city and immediate vicinities
comparatively light. Cloudbursts
and heavy downpours have struck
all around Salida, washing .out
roads and bridges and delaying
traffic. The farmers putting up
hay have found it impossible to
make progress and there will be
some losses.
Rains have washed the road
tween Salida and Canon City
cars are coming through.
road to Buena Vista also is
ed and Monarch Pass road is
near Maysville.
A cloudburst Wednesday night
washed out a bridge near Brown's
Canon and filled the river with
debris. The Ute trail is pass-
able.

be-
but
The
wash-
rough

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The research of the past issues of the Salida newspaper "Mountain

Mail" were centered around specific dates. These dates were selected from

a review of a graph of peak flow data for eleven streamflow gaging stations

near the study area. Specifically, these dates include:

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May 21, 1901 July 8, 1952
June 5, 1911 June 29, 1957
June 12, 1921 July 1, 1957
July 17, 1923 June 6, 1958
June 16, 1924 June 20, 1965
June 21, 1947 July 13, 1965
June 10, 1952 June 11, 1973

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