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<br />0517 <br />are available only for the major floods. Damages estilllated for <br />floods from 1940 to the present were obtained from past flood <br />surveys conducted by the Denver or Omaha Districts of the Corps <br />of Engineers. It is probable that some minor floods occurred, <br />which, because of limited damages, were not investigated, <br />recorded, or reported. <br /> <br />DESCRIPTION OF FLOODS <br /> <br />Major floods occurred along the South Platte River from <br />Bijou Creek to the mouth in the years 1894, 1914, 1921, 1923, <br />1935, 1942, 1949, 1965, and 1969, and 1973, Lesser floods are <br />recorded in 1904, 1910, 1917, 1924, 1938, and 1951. Flood data <br />are meager for a number of the ear~ floods. Descriptions of <br />selected flood events are given in the paragraphs that follow, <br /> <br />Flood of June 1921 <br />A large storm system over the western plains states from 3 <br />through 5 June 1921 resulted in heavy rains over eastern Colorado. <br />'lhe maximum 6-hour rainfall in the South Platte River basin was <br />4.3 inches recorded at Longmont on 3 June; 3.5 inches were reported <br />e;t; Kassler on 4 June. Heavy snowmelt augmented the storm runoff. <br />Flood stages were prevalent on 7 and 8 June on the South Platte <br />River and most of its tributaries. Peak discharges are presented <br />in table 1. Crop damage was severe. Irrigation works, highways, <br />railroads, and bridges also were damaged. Damages on the lower <br />South Platte River were estimated at $2,543,900, the worst of w:ry <br />flood to that date. <br /> <br />5 <br />