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<br />00,05.36
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<br />Water Resources Deveiopment
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<br />the basin are conducive to excessive runoff. The shape of the basin,
<br />the location of its major axis parallel to beavy storm paths, and the
<br />generally heavy rolling to steep hilly terrain adjacent to the main
<br />river and its tributaries, combined with soils that are fairly dense,
<br />are all contributing factors for the rapid concentration of runoff into
<br />excessive flood-producing volumes.
<br />
<br />EARLY FLOODS
<br />
<br />Available records of past floods indicate that they have occurred
<br />during every month of the year. The first destructive flood of record
<br />occurred in the spring of 1826. The inhabitants of the valley were
<br />mostly Indians and wigwams were carried away and crops destroyed.
<br />Another great flood of record occurred in June of 1844. Damages
<br />. were exceedingly heavy to crops, farm buildings and livestock.
<br />Other early floods of record occurred in 1875, 1892, 1895 and 1896.
<br />
<br />RECENT FLOODS
<br />
<br />Records of the flood of 1904 indicate that flooding occurred five
<br />times during the period April to July. In 1909 the overflow was the
<br />third highest of record. In November,1928, the river reached the
<br />highest stage of record and causcd exceedingly heavy losses to crops,
<br />railroads, bridges, highways, farm structures, and livestock. Eight
<br />lives were lost in this flood. This storm generally referred to as the
<br />"Lebo Storm" was one of the largest of record in this part of the
<br />United States. During the four-day period approximately 11.5
<br />inches of rain fell in the vicinity of Lebo and the headwaters of the
<br />Marais des Cynes river. The average precipitation over the basin
<br />was 8.8 inches. A complcte flood record was obtained from the
<br />gaging station located at Trading. Post. The crest discharge at that
<br />station was estimated to be 120,000 cubic feet per second and in-
<br />volved a total runoff of 1,087,700 acre-feet. At Quenemo the river
<br />was 11.9 feet above flood stage; 11.6 feet above flood stage at
<br />Ottawa; and 10.4 feet above flood stage at Trading Post. Estimates
<br />by U. S. Anny Engineers of flood losses set the amount at $1,395,000
<br />in the Kansas portion of the basin.
<br />Other damaging floods occurrcd in 1915, 1922, 1927, 1928, 1935,
<br />1939, 1941 and 1944, when flood waters reached the second highest
<br />stages of record. It has been estimated that direct flood losses in
<br />the basin in Kansas during the past eighteen years, total more than .
<br />$4,000,000.
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