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<br />..........,_. -.. <br /> <br />002688 <br /> <br />Average annual flood damages as of 1965, segre- <br />gated by regions and by upstream and downstream <br />components, are shown in figure 20. <br />Damages classed as upstream are those that occur <br />in tributary areas of 250,000 acres (390 square miles) <br />or less. <br /> <br /> <br />Flood Control <br /> <br /> <br />Status <br /> <br />Historically, the flood plains have been among the <br />most popular areas for settlement and development. <br />The Pacific Southwest has been no exception. No <br />particular types of flood dominate the Pacific <br />Southwest. They are the result of general rainstorms <br />during the winter and spring, rapid snowmelt in the <br />late spring and early summer, or cloudburst-type <br />storms during the summer and fall. <br />Many of the flood plain lands are favorably <br />located for residential, cOrnnlercial, industrial, and <br />agricultural development. As the population and <br />economic activity of the area continue to grow, <br />recurring floods will cause increased loss of life, <br />human suffering, damage to property, and loss of <br />goods and services. <br /> <br />DOWNSTREAM <br />67.4 <br /> <br />CALIFORNIA <br />50.8 <br /> <br />Needs and Problems <br /> <br />The average annual flood damage in the Pacific <br />Southwest under the 1965 level of economic devel- <br />opment, and with existing flood control projects, was <br />estimated to be $156 million. If protection remains at <br />the 1965 level, the future average annual damage will <br />be as shown in figure 21. <br />Flood damage can be reduced to a reasonable level <br />by (I) controlling floodflows with structural measures <br /> <br />UPSTREAM <br />89.1 <br /> <br />CALIFORNIA <br />56.6 <br /> <br />UPPER COLa <br />1.4 <br /> <br />Figure 20.-1965 Flood damage ($ million). <br /> <br />59 <br />