Arkansas River Flooding

The Arkansas River is a key resource that flows near Avondale, Colorado. Despite its vital importance, it has also known to be unpredictable. The flood of 1921 is an example of how torrential rains can cause the river to break its banks and flood cities. The flood of 1921 caused $25 million in damage and killed between 150-200 people. Although the worst flood in Pueblo’s history, more would follow in later decades.

Flooding has proven disastrous for towns like Avondale. The floods that have occurred throughout the 20th-century damaged infrastructure, as in the case of the 1941 flood but also can cause damage to agriculture. The flooding that occurred in 1977 caused topsoil damage, which transferred to nearby farms.

(More Reference: Andrew H. Gahan, "Bureau of Reclamation in Colorado," Colorado Encyclopedia, last modified May 04, 2020, https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/bureau-reclamation-colorado)

As Colorado’s population increased in the 20th century, water management became a pressing concern. Colorado’s water resources needed to be directed to areas with high populations. In 1962 the Bureau of Reclamation in Colorado received approval from Congress to proceed with a project known as the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. The project promoted the construction of dams, reservoirs, and canals, which delivered water to Arkansas Valley farmers and helped with flood control.