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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />('> FLOOD WARNING AND RESPONSE <br /> <br />~ The first indications of potential flood conditions in Southeastern <br />~ <br />~, Colorado were the localized downpours that occured in Pueblo and elsewhere on <br /> <br />Tuesday, July 27. These storms followed a long period of hot, dry weather and <br /> <br />were welcomed. As heavy localized precipitation continued on the 28th, together <br /> <br />with steady regional rainfall, the first signs of significant cumulative sur- <br /> <br />face flows were registed on the COMSAT General network. After a precipitious <br /> <br />rise of flow at Fountain near Security, registered at 8:35 p.m., a check of <br /> <br />system screenS pointed toward a flash flood event that had carried away measure- <br /> <br />ment equipment. Fountain Creek at Pinon began to rise quickly during the early <br /> <br />morning hours of the 29th and the State Engineer's Office, the USGS Pueblo <br /> <br />Sub-District and the local Corps of Engineers mounted a near continuous monitoring <br /> <br />of the Fountain. During the same period, the usually quiet streams below Pueblo, <br /> <br />such as the St. Charles River and Huerfano River, exceeded there computerized <br /> <br />high flood levels and promised to add significant new waters to the rising main- <br /> <br />stem of the Arkansas. Using plots of streamflows and lists of specific flow <br /> <br />conditions of the sort reproduced in Appendix B, the responsible Federal, State <br /> <br />and local officials carried out the following coordinated actions. <br /> <br />o The Division Engineer reviewed the upstream high waters on the <br />Fountain, the inflows and conditions at Pueblo Resevoir, the <br />potential cooditions south of Pueblo on the Arkansas and deter- <br />mined--in consultation with his field people and the U.S. Geological <br />Survey--to order Pueblo Dam closed about 9:30 a.m., July 29 in <br />accordance with the operating plan. <br /> <br />o The Corps of Engineers Pueblo Office went on alert status and <br />began to evaluate potential flood conditions for the 70 mile <br />stretch of the Arkansas between Avondale and La Junta. <br /> <br />o The USGS, Pueblo dispatched field personnel to verify surface <br />water conditions reported by the COMSAT system and with the <br />conditions reported by the COMSAT system and with the cooditions <br />verified, provided technical assistance to the, flood management <br />agencies. <br /> <br />-3- <br />