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2.04.7(2) • North Fork Gunnison River. Severe floods result when rapid snowmelt is augmented by rain. The largest flood known in the Gunnison River basin occurred in June 1884. It is probable that flood conditions along the North Fork were also severe that year. Generally, high flows along the North Fork Gunnison River are contained in-channel, and extensive overbank flooding is infrequent. However, newspaper accounts indicate flood damage to orchards, roads and road bridges, railroad facilities, homes, and business establishments in 1906, 1907, 1912, 1916, 1917, 1920, and 1927. All flood events occurred in May with damage specifically mentioned in Bowie, Paonia, and Hotchkiss. Serious erosion of farmland, pastureland, and orchards is known to have occurred. In descending order of magnitude, the highest recorded flows on the North Fork occurred in Aiay 1932, June 1957, Atay 1929, • May 1973, May 1928, and May 1974. Peak flows of the larger historical floods on the North Fork Gunnison River in the study area are shown on Table 2.04.7(2)(b)(i)-2. Paonia Dam and Reservoir, a multiple-purpose project built by the U.S. Plater and Power Resources Service on Muddy Creek just upstream from the junction of Pluddy and Anthracite Creeks, became operational in 1961. Affording 21,000 acre-feet of storage capacity, the facility is operated by the Diorth Fork water Conservancy District to provide flood control during periods of high snowmelt runoff. Although floods with magnitudes and frequencies similar to those of past floods could recur, discussion of future floods in this report is limited primarily to one designated as the 100-year flood. A 100-year flood has a peak flow magnitude with a 1 percent chance of being equalled or exceeded in any given year, • or a frequency of occurrence of about once in 100 years. The term "100 - year flood" relates to a flood magnitude and does not mean that the flood will occur one time in a 100-year period. 5-51