Susquehanna Riyer Drainage Basin
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'M, General Hydrographic Water-Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 109 Series -j Investigations, 13 .N, Water Power, 9 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CHARLES D. WALCOTT, DIRECTOR HYDROGRAPHY OF THE SUSQUEHANNA RIYER DRAINAGE BASIN BY JOHN C. HOYT AND ROBERT H. ANDERSON WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1 9 0 5 CONTENTS. Page. Letter of transmittaL_.__.______.____.__..__.___._______.._.__..__..__... 7 Introduction......---..-.-..-.--.-.-----............_-........--._.----.- 9 Acknowledgments -..___.______.._.___.________________.____.___--_----.. 9 Description of drainage area......--..--..--.....-_....-....-....-....--.- 10 General features- -----_.____._.__..__._.___._..__-____.__-__---------- 10 Susquehanna River below West Branch ___...______-_--__.------_.--. 19 Susquehanna River above West Branch .............................. 21 West Branch ....................................................... 23 Navigation .--..........._-..........-....................-...---..-....- 24 Measurements of flow..................-.....-..-.---......-.-..---...... 25 Susquehanna River at Binghamton, N. Y_-..---...-.-...----.....-..- 25 Ghenango River at Binghamton, N. Y................................ 34 Susquehanna River at Wilkesbarre, Pa......_............-...----_--. 43 Susquehanna River at Danville, Pa..........._..................._... 56 West Branch at Williamsport, Pa .._.................--...--....- _ - - 67 West Branch at Allenwood, Pa.....-........-...-.._.---.---.-..-.-.. 84 Juniata River at Newport, Pa...-----......--....-...-....--..-..---.- 93 Susquehanna River at Harrisburg, Pa -..._.-----...-..--._.------_-.- 104 Susquehanna River at McCalls Ferry, Pa. --..-...-.-.-..-...--.--....- 130 Chemung River at Chemung, N. Y................_...._......--.__.. 140 Tioughnioga River at Chenango Forks, N. Y ._----.--_--.-...---._.-. 145 Cayuta Creek at Waverly, N. Y_.......... 1 _..............__..---.... 146 Chenango River at Oxford, N". Y--..--...........--.------.--------_- 150 Eaton and Madison brooks, Madison County, N. Y_..........-...---., 151 Diversions from Chenango River drainage basin...................... 154 Precipitation _____._.____.___.._.__..._..___________.______.___.__--.__--. 154 Floods..--.......-_-----------_----.-.------..---.-....-----.-.-......-.. 172 Flood discharge and values of " n " by Kutter's formula _.-..--.-.---.-_.. 178 Low-water conditions -----.---.....-----.--.........-.-...--...--.----..-. 180 Accuracy of stream measurements -...-..-............----.-..------.---. 182 Vertical velocity measurements ...._........__.........--.--.-...-..- .... 184 Water power ____.________.____._.____.____.____._._._---.--_.__._------- 199 General discussion........_.................---.----.-------.-.----.. 199 Duration of the stages of the lower Susquehanna -_-.-..--..--.---_-.. 202 Rules for estimating discharge -..-.-.-..-.--.-.-..--.---.---.------.- 203 Tables showing developed horsepower and elevations _... .--.---._... 204 Index ........ .......................................................... 211 3 ILLUSTRATIONS. PLATE I. A, Typical view on Susquehanna River near Catawissa, Pa.; B, Bed of Susquehanna River at McCalls Ferry cable station during low water_______-.______--_---____-___--- 18 II. Rating curve for Susquehanna River at Wilkesbarre, Pa___ 48 III. Rating curve for Susquehanna River at Danville, Pa. ______ 60 IV. Rating curve for West Branch of Susquehanna River at Williamsport, Pa.-_--__.__.__..__________-__-_-----_-._.- 72 V. Rating curve for West Branch of Susquehanna River at Allenwood, Pa........____________..__._._.__._______ 88 VI. Rating curve for Juniata River at Newport, Pa ............ 98 VII. Rating curve for Susquehanna River at Harrisburg, Pa .... 114 VIII. View of Susquehanna River, McCalls Ferry gaging stations. 130 IX. A, Gaging car in operation at McCalls Ferry cable station; B, Gaging car at McCalls Ferry cable station .__... ______ 132 X. Rating curve for Susquehanna River at McCalls Ferry, Pa_. 136 XI. Curve of mean velocity for Susquehanna River at McCalls Ferry, Pa., cable station. _. .... ..... ...-...... 172 XII. Curve of mean velocity for Susquehanna River at Harris- burg, Pa_ ................................................ 172 XIII. Ice flood of 1875 at Wilkesbarre, Pa_.........'.............. 174 XIV. Flood of March 8, 1904, at its height, York Haven, Pa...... 174 XV. A, McCalls Ferry at beginning of flood, March 8. 1904; B, McCalls Ferry after flood of March 8,1904_ __.__._._______ 176 XVI. A, Ice left by flood of March 8, 1904, at York Haven, Pa.; B, Ice left by flood of March 8,1904, below McCalls Ferry, Pa-- ---.------------- --_- ._- _--._-- 176 XVII. Middletown, Pa., during flood of March 8,1904 ____________ 178 XVIII. Map showing sections used in Kutter's formula determina tions near McCalls Ferry, Pa._.._._.._.....-.-.....-._.. 180 XIX. Curve of mean velocities of Susquehanna River at Duncans Run, near McCalls Ferry, Pa_.-__--__--._-___-________-_ 182 XX, XXI. Vertical velocity curves of Susquehanna River at Duncans Run, near McCalls Ferry, Pa -.__-_-_____________-__-_ 198 XXII, XXIII. Vertical velocity curves for Susquehanna River at cable station near McCalls Ferry, Pa _..-.__-..-..._-._._.___._ 198 XXIV, XXV. Vertical velocity curves for Susquehanna River at cable station near McCalls Ferry, Pa ...___-____.______-._-__-. 198 XXVI. Vertical velocity curves of Susquehanna River at Harris- burg, Pa _- -__-__ -__ ..-..-_--.----.-------- 198 XXVII. Curves showing mean duration of the various stages and discharges of Susquehanna River at Harrisburg for years 1891-1902, inclusive-, __-__-_ -._____-_-__-__---_-_- 202 XXVIII. Profile of Susquehanna River from mouth to Athens, Pa. _ _ _ 210 XXIX. Profiles of some of the tributaries of Susquehanna River. _.. 210 5 O ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. FIG. 1. Map showing drainage area and locations of gaging and rainfall stations --.._......-..........--...._....---.---.--..---.-----.. 11 3. Rating curve for Susquehanna River at Binghamton, N. Y_.-.--.. 26 3. Rating curve for Chenango River at Binghamton, N.Y........... 36 4. Contour of bottom of Chenango River at Court Street Bridge, Binghamton, N. ^ ............................................. 189 5. Contours of Susquehanna River bed at Exchange Street Bridge, Binghamton, N. Y.............................................. 190 6. Mean vertical velocity curves, Chenango River, Binghamton, N. Y_ 192 7. Mean vertical velocity curves, Chenango River, Binghamton, N. Y_ 192 8. Mean vertical velocity curves, Susquehanna River, Exchange Street Bridge, Binghamton, N. Y ...................... .^............. 193 9. Mean vertical velocity curves, Susquehanna River, upper side of Exchange Street Bridge, Binghamton, N. If..................... 193 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. DEPARTMENT OP THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, HYDROGRAPHIC BRANCH, Washington, D. C., May 5, 1904. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a manuscript by John C. Hoyt and Robert H. Anderson, relating to the hydrography of the Susquehanna River drainage basin, and recommend its publication in the series of Water-Supply and Irrigation Papers. In this paper has been brought together, in such form as to be of use to both the general and the engineering public, all the available hydrographic information in regard to this important area. It is intended that this paper shall be published in sequence with another (No. 108) entitled "Quality of Water in the Susquehanna River Drainage Basin, by Marshall Ora Leighton, with an Introduc tory Chapter on Physiographic Features, by George Buell Hollister." The combination of the two papers will make available a large amount of valuable information with reference to the resources of this important river system. Very respectfully, F. H. NEWELL, Chief Engineer. Hon. CHARLES D. WALCOTT, Director United States Geological Survey. 7 HYDROGRAPHY OF THE SUSQUEHAMA RIVER BASIN, By JOHN C. HOYT and ROBERT H. ANDERSON. INTRODUCTION. A detailed study of the hydrographic features of the Susquehanna River drainage basin has revealed the existence of a large amount of interesting data. These, however, are widely distributed in various publications and manuscripts which are in most cases inaccessible. This paper has been prepared to meet the constant demand for this information from both the general and the engineering public. The general deductions are intended to give the general reader a compre hensive review of the principal conditions which exist in this area, while the base data have been given for the use of the engineer, so that he may make his own deductions and have sufficient data for estimates in hydraulic investigations. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The records and reports of the United States Geological Survey have been the chief sources from which the data on flow have been obtained. These records have been carefully revised and in many cases recomputed. New rating tables based on all the discharge measurements to date have been prepared and the tables of estimated discharge have been revised to agree with these rating tables. These recomputations will account for the differences between the figures herein presented and many of those in the previous reports, as the latter were prepared from year to year with such information as was available. Spe'cial acknowledgment is due to E. G. Paul, resident hydrographer for Pennsylvania, who established the gaging stations and under whose direction the discharge measurements in this State have been made. The stations