FLOOD09001

• Designation Number: 189
• County: Fremont
• Community: Unincorporated Fremont County
• Stream Name: Arkansas River
• Basin: Arkansas
• Title: Floodplain Information Report - Arkansas River in Fremont County, Canon City and Florence, Colorado, Volume I
• Date: 6/1/1982
• Designation Date: 4/1/1982
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Floodplain Report/Masterplan

Obstructions to flood flows within the study reach include natural
obstructions such as brush, trees and other vegetation growing-along the
stream bank and man made obstructions such as brldg-es, culverts and
buildings. Ourfngfloods, these obstructions 1mpede flood flows and cause
backwater conditions that may increase the flood heights upstream of the
obstruction and velocfties downstream of the obstruction. Brush washed out
during floods is carried along downstream and may collect at bridges and
culverts due to channel constrictions, thus creating a dall'll1ing effeetand
overbank flow. As flood flows increase, masses of debris may break loose
and cause a wall of water and debris to surge downstream until another
obstruction is encountered. In sane1nstances, debris may eollecttothe
p01ntwl1erestructural capabllity fs ellceeded and a bridge h destroyed,or
abutments and approaches eroded, and road bedS are damaged.
In all reaches. bridges were assumed to ...ithstand major flooding and a
mfnfmum of debris blockage.
Canon City on June 16, 1980, adopted Resolution No. 9-80, "Floodplain
Regulations for the City of Canon City." Tills resolution regulated
developrnent in the floodplafnaccording to maps which were reviewed b yC\lC8
and adopted by the City Council.

HISTORY OF FLOODING

The Arkansas River in the this portion of the Freroont County area has a
long hfstoryof flooding. Large floods occurred inI909,1921,1933, 1941,
1948,1949, 1957 and 1965 {References 2). Peak flood discttargesand stages
for the Arkansas River at Canon City durfng the period of record are
presented in Table 2.

Table 2
Historical Flood Peak Olscharges and Stages
Arkansas River at Canon City
(OrainageArea=3117squaremilesl

1909
1921
1933
1941
1948
1949
1957
1965

Peak Discharge Stage
Date (efs) (ft)
August 18 12,300 11.20
August 2 19,OOO 10.70
August 3 12,760 7.52
July 13 11,800 8.66
June 12 4,960 5.12
June 22 5,400 5.15
June2g 10,300 6.80
July 24 7,950 8.28

Year

In general, information on past floods Is based on newspaper accounts,
interviews with long t1me residents of the area. and flow data pub1ish edin
U.S. Geologfcal Survey \later Supply Papers and Surface Water Records
(References2,3,4,5l.
SUll'll1aryof floods occuring in 1909, 1921,1932, 1941, 1949.1957,and1965
areconta1ned in articles fromvarlous newspapers Of ttle area. Tneflood of
1921 ....hich registered the highest floodflow ever at Canon City caused most
of its damage downstream of Canon City, in Portland and Pueblo. However,
Canon Cfty reported that its streets were flooded,abridgewaswashe dout
and many penitentiary gardens were destroyed. Various flood photographs
are presented after the Flood History in Figures 1 through 3.

CANON CITY TIMES
CANON CITY, FREMONT COUNTY, COLORADO
THURSDAY, AUGUST 19. 1909
THE ARKANSAS RIYER ON A HIGH OLD JAMBOREE

Flood \r/aters from a Te~as Creek Cloudburst Play Havoc
with Railroad and Other Property
Tuesday night this section of the country was visited by
tr.e most disastrous flood since 1866, whtn the high
...ater mar~ was six incr.es greater than that of last
night.

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