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Floods of 1986 and 1990 in the Raccoon River Basin, West-Central Iowa

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Floods of 1986 and 1990 in the Raccoon River Basin, West-Central Iowa FLOODS OF 1986 AND 1990 IN THE RACCOON RIVER BASIN, WEST-CENTRAL IOWA U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Open-File Report 92-94 Prepared in cooperation with the HIGHWAY RESEARCH ADVISORY BOARD, HIGHWAY DIVISION, IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Research Project HR-140) FLOODS OF 1986AND1990 IN THE RACCOON RIVER BASIN, WEST-CENTRAL IOWA By Robert W. Baebenroth and Bryan D. Schaap U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Open-File Report 92-94 Prepared in cooperation with the HIGHWAY RESEARCH ADVISORY BOARD, HIGHWAY DIVISION, IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Research Project HR-140) Iowa City, Iowa 1992 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MANUEL LUJAN, JR., Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Dallas L. Peck, Director For additional information write to: Copies of this report can be purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Books and Open-File Reports Rm. 269, Federal Building Federal Center 400 South Clinton Street Box 25425 Iowa City, Iowa 52244 Denver, Colorado 80225 ii FLOODS OF 1986 AND 1990 IN THE RACCOON RIVER BASIN, WEST-CENTRAL IOWA CONTENTS Page Abstract ................................................................................................................................................ 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and scope ................................................................................................................... 1 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................... 1 Study area ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Hydrologic data .................................................................................................................................... 4 Flood history ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Flood of May 10, 1986 ............................................................................................................. 4 Flood of June 29-July 1, 1986 ................................................................................................. 5 Flood of June 16-17, 1990 ..................................................................................................... 16 Flood frequency and magnitude ........................................................................................................ 16 Flood profiles ...................................................................................................................................... 18 Discussion ......................................................................................................................................... 22 Selected references ............................................................................................................................. 22 Appendices .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 1. Peak stages and discharges for gaging stations in the Raccoon River basin, west-central Iowa............................................................................................................ 24 05482135 North Raccoon River near Newell ................................................................ 25 05482170 Big Cedar Creek near Varina ....................................................................... 27 05482300 North Raccoon River near Sac City .............................................................. 31 05482500 North Raccoon River near Jefferson ........................................................... 35 05482600 Hardin Creek at Farnhamville ..................................................................... 40 05482800 Happy Run at Churdan ................................................................................. 42 05482900 Hardin Creek near Farlin ............................................................................ 44 05482950 East Fork Hardin Creek near Paton ............................................................ 46 05483000 East Fork Hardin Creek near Churdan ....................................................... 4 7 05483318 Brushy Fork Creek near Templeton ............................................................. 51 05483349 Middle Raccoon River tributary at Carroll .................................................. 52 05483450 Middle Raccoon River near Bayard ................................................. ;............ 53 05483600 Middle Raccoon River at Panora................................................................... 56 05484000 South Raccoon River at Redfield ................................................................. 60 05484500 Raccoon River at Van Meter ......................................................................... 65 05484800 Walnut Creek at Des Moines ........................................................................ 72 2. Flood profiles ................................................................................................................... 76 3. Temporary bench marks and reference points in the Raccoon River basin, west- central Iowa .................................................................................................................. 112 CONTENTS iii ILLUSTRATIONS Page Figure 1. Map showing location of active and discontinued U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations in the Raccoon River basin .......................................... 2 2. Map showing location of hydrologic regions and indirect-discharge measurement sites in the Raccoon River basin ........................................................ 3 Figures 3-16. Graphs showing annual peak discharges for period ofrecord for: 3. North Raccoon River near Newell gaging station .................................................... 8 4. Big Cedar Creek near Varina gaging station ........................................................... 8 5. North Racoon River near Sac City gaging station ................................................... 9 6. North Raccoon River near Jefferson gaging station ................................................. 9 7. Hardin Creek at Farnhamville crest-gage station ................................................. 10 8. Happy Run at Churdan crest-gage station ............................................................. 10 9. Hardin Creek near Farlin crest-gage station ......................................................... 11 10. East Fork Hardin Creek near Churdan gaging station ......................................... 11 11. Middle Raccoon River tributary at Carroll crest-gage station .............................. 12 12. Middle Raccoon River near Bayard gaging station ................................................ 12 13. Middle Raccoon River at Panora gaging station .................................................... 13 , 14. South Raccoon River at Redfield gaging station .................................................... 13 15. Raccoon River at Van Meter gaging station ........................................................... 14 16. Walnut Creek at Des Moines gaging station .......................................................... 14 17. Graph showing relation of maximum discharges and regional, 100-year flood discharges with drainage area for active and discontinued streamflow-gaging stations and indirect-discharge measurement sites in the Raccoon River basin ........................................................................................... 15 18. Graph showing relation of 100-year flood discharges computed using Bulletin 17B and hydrologic regions 3 and 4 with drainage area for active and discontinued streamflow-gaging stations in the Raccoon River basin.~ ........................................................................................................................ 19 Figures 19-53. Graphs showing water-surface-elevation profiles for: 19-26. Raccoon River ....................................................................................................... 77-84 27-32. South Raccoon River ........................................................................................... 85-90 33-45. Middle Raccoon River ....................................................................................... 91-103 Iv FLOODS OF 1986 AND 1990 IN THE RACCOON RIVER BASIN, WEST-CENTRAL IOWA ILLUSTRATIONS--Continued Page Figure 46-49. Walnut Creek .................................................................... , ............................. 104-107 50-52. Mosquito Creek ............................................................................................... 108-110 53. Willow Creek .......................................................................................................... 111 TABLES Page Table 1. Flood-peak discharges at miscellaneous, indirect-discharge measurement sites in the Raccoon River basin ........................................................ 5 2. Selected flood-peak discharges, recurrence intervals, and unit runoff at active and discontinued streamflow-gaging stations in the Raccoon River basin ............................................................................................................................ 6 3. Discharge and frequency
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