Floods of May 17-20, 1999, in the Volga and Wapsipinicon River Basins, northeast Iowa
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Iowa↗
Geology topics
E.E. Fischer
Publications and source records attributed to E.E. Fischer.
Flood of June 15-17, 1998, Nishnabotna and East Nishnabotna rivers, Southwest Iowa
Record flooding occurred June 15-17, 1998, in the Nishnabotna and East Nishnabotna River basins following severe thunderstorm activity over southwest Iowa. More than 8 inches of rain fell over a large part of Cass County. The rain gage at Atlantic, Iowa recorded a 24-hour total rainfall of 13.18 inches, which established a new official State record for the greatest amount of rainfall in a 24-hour period. The peak discharge was 41,400 cubic feet per second in the East Nishnabotna River near Atlantic, 60,500 cubic feet per second in the East Nishnabotna River at Red Oak, and 65,100 cubic feet per second in the Nishnabotna River above Hamburg. The peak discharge at Atlantic was greater than the theoretical 200-year flood and the peak discharges at Red Oak and Hamburg were greater than the respective theoretical 500-year floods. Information about the basin, the rain storms, the flooding, and a profile of high water marks at selected intervals along the Nishnabotna and East Nishnabotna Rivers are presented in this report.
Iowa↗
Statistical summaries of selected Iowa streamflow data through September 1996
Statistical summaries of streamflow data collected at 156 streamflow-gaging stations in Iowa are presented in this report. All gaging stations included for analysis have at least 10 years of continuous record collected before or through September 1996. The statistical summaries include (1) statistics of monthly and annual mean discharges; (2) monthly and annual flow durations; (3) magnitudes and frequencies of instantaneous peak discharges (flood frequencies); and (4) magnitudes and frequencies of high and low discharges. Also presented for each gaging station is a graph of the annual mean flows and, for most stations, selected values from the most-recent stage-discharge rating table.
Iowa↗
Survey of users of the USGS stream-gaging network in Iowa, 1996
A survey was sent to over 200 Federal, State, and local agencies that might use streamflow data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in Iowa. A total of 181 forms were returned and 112 agencies indicated that they use streamflow data. The responses show that streamflow data from the Iowa USGS stream-gaging network, which in 1996 is composed of 117 stations, are used by many agencies for many purposes and that many stations provide streamflow data that fulfill a variety of joint purposes. The median number of respondents per station that use data from the station was 6 and the median number of data-use categories indicated per station was 9. The survey results can be used by agencies that fund the Iowa USGS stream-gaging network to help them decide which stations to continue to support if it becomes necessary to reduce the size of the stream-gaging network.
Iowa↗
Potential-scour assessments and estimates of maximum scour at selected bridges in Iowa
The results of potential-scour assessments at 130 bridges and estimates of maximum scour at 10 bridges in Iowa are presented. All of the bridges evaluated in the study are constructed bridges (not culverts) that are sites of active or discontinued streamflow-gaging stations and peak-stage measurement sites. The period of the study was from October 1991 to September 1994. The potential-scour assessments were made using a potential-scour index developed by the U.S. Geological Survey for a study in western Tennessee. Higher values of the index suggest a greater likelihood of scour-related problems occurring at a bridge. For the Iowa assessments, the maximum value of the index was 24.5, the minimum value was 3, and the median value was 11.5. The two components of the potential-scour index that affected the indices the most in this study were the bed-material component, which accounted for 27.1 percent of the overall total of the indices, and bank erosion at the bridge, which accounted for 18.3 percent of the overall total. Because the potential-scour index represents conditions at a single moment in time, the usefulness of potential-scour assessments is dependent upon regular assessments if the index is used to monitor potential-scour conditions; however, few of the components of the index considered in this study are likely to change between assessments. The estimates of maximum scour were made using scour equations recommended by the Federal Highway Administration. In this study, the long-term aggradation or degradation that occurred during the period of streamflow data collection at each site was evaluated. The streambed appeared to be stable at 6 of the 10sites, was degrading at 3 sites, andwas aggrading at 1 site. The estimates of maximum scour were made at most of the bridges using 100-year and 500-year flood discharges. Other discharges also were evaluated at four of the bridges. With respect to contraction scour, channel cross sections measured during floods show parts of the streambed to be scoured lower than the computed maxi mum contraction-scour depths at 4 of the 10 sites. The measured discharges at three of the sites were less than the respective 100-year floods used to compute scour. No pier-scour measurements were obtained in the study except for about 4 feet of local pier scour that was measured at the bridge over the Iowa River at Wapello, Iowa. However, the streambed was below the base of the pier footing, which is supported by piling, at the time the measurement was made. Discharge-measurement cross sections collected at two other bridges, which are not supported by piling, show the streambed between the piers to be lower than the bases of the piers. Additional investigation may be warranted at these sites to determine whether the streambed has been scoured below the bases at the upstream edges of the piers. Although the abutment-scour equation predicted deep scour holes at many of the sites, the only significant abutment scour that was measured was erosion of the embankment at the left abutment at one bridge after a flood.
Iowa↗
Statistical summaries of selected Iowa streamflow data through September 30, 1988
Statistical summaries of streamflow data collected at 144 active and discontinued stream-gaging stations in Iowa through water year 1988 are presented in the report. The summaries for each streamgaging station include: 1) station description, 2) the most recent stage-discharge rating table, 3) statistics of monthly and annual mean discharges, 4) boxplots of monthly and annual mean discharges, 5) monthly and annual flow durations, 6) probabilities of annual high discharges, 7) probabilities of annual low discharges, and 8) probabilities of seasonal low discharges. The minimum period of record at stations included in the report is 10 years. The location of each station is shown on a map of Iowa.
Iowa↗
Rainfall-runoff data in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, metropolitan area, 1976-83
Rainfall and discharge data from 13 flood-hydrograph stations in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, metropolitan area are presented. The period of record is from 1976, when the first three stations were installed, through 1983. The data include daily mean values for discharge for the period of record at each station, monthly rainfall totals, and selected rainfall-discharge unit values. Unit-value data are presented at 5-minute intervals; where there is more than one raingage in a drainage basin, the data from all the gages are presented together. Maps of the respective drainage basins are furnished. (USGS)
Open-File Report↗
Estimation of natural streamflow in the Jemez River at the boundaries of Indian lands, central New Mexico
Natural streamflow in the Jemez River at the boundaries of Indian lands was estimated from available streamflow records which were adjusted by estimated losses of water due to man-made changes in the hydraulic characteristics of the river basin. The average estimate annual natural streamflow is 53,180 acre-feet at the upstreams boundary of the Jemez Indian Reservation, 53 ,180 acre-feet at the Jemez--Zia Indian Reservation boundary, 55 ,440 acre-feet at the Zia--Santa Ana Indian Reservation boundary , and 46,550 acre-feet at the downstream boundary of the Santa Ana Reservation. (USGS)
Water-Resources Investigations Report↗