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<br />O~1492 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />h. Flood history. Periodic high volume and/or high <br />stsge flood flows resulting from heavy precipitation or heavy snow- <br />pack accumulations are characteristic of most mountain-spawned <br />streams. Severe adverse effects resulting from heavy runoff arise <br />when communities develop in the flood plains of these normally <br />tranquil streams. Initially drawn to these river valleys by favor- <br />able geographic features, fertile soil, water for irrigation of <br /> <br />crops, or an abundance of mineral resources, inhabitants of such <br /> <br />communities soon realize that an awareness of stream flow charac- <br /> <br />teriatics has not been maintained. <br /> <br />Floods on the Purgatoire River at Trinidad cause damage by <br /> <br />removal and destruction of structures, inundation, erosion, scour, <br /> <br /> <br />and deposition of sediment. These damages are both tangible and <br /> <br /> <br />intangible. Tangible damages are those susceptible to monetary <br /> <br /> <br />evaluation and include physical damage to property, reduction in <br /> <br />net crop income, emergency losses or costs incurred during flood <br /> <br />fighting, and business and other financial losses both in and near <br /> <br />the flooded area. Intangible damages are those causing human suffer- <br /> <br />ing such as injury and exposure durin~ floods and those creating con- <br />ditions detrimental to public health and security. <br /> <br />Historical records indicate the comparative magnitude of the <br /> <br />major floods which occurred in the drainage area above Trinidad as <br /> <br /> <br />early as 1866. Available data indicate that prior to the establish- <br /> <br /> <br />ment of gages, or during periods when the gage readings of the crest <br /> <br /> <br />stages were not obtained, large magnitude floods occurred at Trinidad <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />11-11 <br />