Flood of September 3, 1972, in Hillsboro, New Mexico

Four deaths, two persons seriously injured, and property damage estimated at $846,500 resulted from a flood that struck the village of Hillsboro, N. Mex. during the early morning hours of September 3, 1972.

Hillsboro is situated at the confluence of Percha Creek and its main tributary, North Percha Creek. Heavy rainfall in the drainage basin upstream from Hillsboro occurred during the night of September 2-3. Peak discharge computed by slope-area measurements indicated that Percha Creek carried a maximum flow of 12,200 cubic feet per second (346 cubic meters per second) and that North Percha Creek carried a flow of 20,900 cubic feet per second (592 cubic meters per second) at points just upstream from Hillsboro. Flood-control facilities in Hillsboro consisting of levees on the south bank of Percha Creek failed and flood waters reached depths of 6 feet (1.8 meters) in Hillsboro.

Hillsboro was declared a disaster area by Governor Bruce King and by President Richard Nixon.