FLOOD TRACKING CHART, AMITE RIVER BASIN,

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96-649

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Amite River at Darlington

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Prepared in cooperation with the AMITE RIVER BASIN DRAINAGE AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Prepared by

Lawrence E. Callender, Volunteer, Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District and U.S. Geological Survey; Brian E. McCallum and Sebastian R. Brazelton of the U.S. Geological Survey FLOOD TRACKING CHAR11111 For real-time data, access the USGS 'Home Page' at http://iemwdlabrg.erusgs.gov/public/dist000.html AMITE RIVER BASIN, LOUISIANA

This Amite River Basin ler Amite River at Darlington Flood Tracking Chart can be used Estimated Elevation of Foundation: Add 145.81 feel to corned peak Magee to elevation 28 above sea knot by local citizens and emergency 25 Predicted Crest • Date and Thee response personnel to record the Key Gaging Station: 24 23 latest river stage and predicted Comite River near Olive Branch 1.76 Add 113.95 feet to convert peak repos to &ovation 22 flood crest information along the above sea level 21 25 Amite and Comite Rivers and Predicted Cren: Date and Time z 20 24 19 . By comparing 22.88 18 5 - P 23 22.80 22 45 the current stage (water-surface - - 6 17 22 18 elevation above some datum) and a e iciana St. Helena Recorded Peak Stages predicted flood crest to the IP 21 15 r litter recorded peak stages of previous td 20 I floods, emergency response 19 18 Amite River at Grangeville personnel and residents can make 11111 A frl d 71.84 feat to convert peek stage. to elevation 17 Recorded Peak Stages above tea level 4/ 48 47 an informed decision concerning Not a forecast point the threat to life and property. 46 45 44.18 44.33 44.50 This chart shows a map of the 44 43 basin, with the location of major 42 real-time stream gaging stations It 41 z and the historical recorded peak 40 of 39 stages at each station. Each 38 station has a scale on which to 37 Recorded 38 record the most recently reported Comite River at Joor Road 35 Add 23.85 feet to convert peak rape. to elevation Stage river stage from the U.S. above sea level 34 Geological Survey (USGS). Also Predicted C'rest• Date and lime 32 _ for each station, the predicted 30.64 Amite River at Magnolia 30 29.72 28 Peak stages are referenced to •eveton above sea level 72 flood crest information from the 2607 ' 27.52 National Weather Service 28 Predicted Crest Date and Time (NWS) can be recorded. E 26 50.97 oi 24 48.28 49.08 48.40 48 During a flood, the USGS 6 22 • go 20 • 46 provides current river stage . ti 44 information to the public through 18 Recorded Peak Stages news releases, and more directly 40 through the USGS "Home Page" 38 Recorded Peek Stages on the Internet and a voice MN Ell message: • The Louisiana District of the Amite River near Denham Springs USGS displays available real- Peek stapes are referenced to elevation above ma level

time river stage data on the Prethaed Crest Dale and Item World Wide Web at the 41. following Uniform Resource 88 1EllePwAllit 39.27 Locator (URL) address: 0 4 http://wwwdlabrg.er.usgs.gov/ t public/dist000.html.

• A voice message, which is Recorded Peak Stages updated by the USGS, gives the latest river stages; it can be Bayou Manchac near Little Prairie accessed by calling the Peek stages are reteremed to elevatian above sea eve! 18 est 0aton * Not a forecast paint Advocate Info Linea at (504) 17 16 83 pa Moe, 383-0000 and specifying 16

extension 4444 for the East 15 14 71 14.42 onzales Baton Rouge Parish Office of • 14

Emergency Preparedness. w 13 12 30 The NWS has direct access to all g 12 information collected by the 11

USGS for use in their forecasting 10 01Recorded Peak Stages models, and broadcasts this MOM IIMM forecast information routinely to the news media and on short- wave radio at a frequency of Amite River at Bayou 162.40 MHz (megahertz). Manchac Point 23 (National Weather Service To use the chart for a 21 Manual Gage) particular property, determine 19 lleterenced to elevation above sea levet the approximate elevation of the 17 Amite River at French Settlement threatened property and record 15 Predtcted 0,0 411, Peak Maps am referenced to &melon above sea level this in the appropriate box (at the uir 13 Date d. Time 9 Predicted Crest Dale and lime 8 top of the map) along with the tit River at Port Vincent 740 No recorded data available Peak Capes are referenced to elevator elbow so, OVW 8.81 9 100CI 7 "key gaging station." The "key Stage 18 5.80 5.90 597 7 Predicted Crest Date and lb, 6 gaging station" is the station that 18 14.65 It s is closest to the threatened 14 Hood 4 ago property. For example, most 12 1.96 11.47 11.56 3 people in Denham Springs, tr 10

Louisiana, probably will use the td 8 Recorded Peak Stages TO CONVERT- STAGE TO SEA LEVEL Amite River near Denham 1111 1111 1111 EXAMPLE: Amite River at Darlington Springs station as their "key 4 gaging station." By the ways If stage - 15 84 ft and sea level conversion factor 145 81 ft.. Elevation above sea level 15.84 It 145.91 ft described above, routinely find = 161 85 ft out the latest river stage information. Record this information at each station, especially the "key gaging station," and compare to the Four of the stations in the upper The flood tracking chart was produced and the Amite River Basin Drainage and elevation of the property to part of the basin must have their readings as part of a cooperative program between Water Conservation District. immediately know if the property adjusted to express those readings as the USGS and the Amite River Basin has an impending threat of elevation above sea level. The Drainage and Water Conservation District. a Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive adjustment factor for each of these The network of river gaging stations is purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S flooding. One must be cautioned Geological Survey. by the fact that the surface of stations is shown in the corresponding operated by the USGS, in cooperation with flowing water is not flat, but has a box for that station, and can be added to several Federal, State, and local agencies. For additional information, write to: the current river stage and also to the These agencies include the U.S. Army slope, and that the water-surface District Chief elevation near a threatened historical recorded peak stages to relate Corps of Engineers, Louisiana Office of this information to sea level elevations. Emergency Preparedness, Louisiana U.S. Geological Survey property might not be the same as 3535 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Suite 120 the Department of Transportation and the river stages at these gaging See the example in lower left corner Baton Rouge, LA 70816 Development, East Baton Rouge Parish, stations because of this slope. of the map. E-mail: [email protected]

AMITE RIVER BASIN Prepared by

Lawrence E. Callender, Volunteer, Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation Dist nct and U S Geological Survey; Bnan E. McCallum and Sebastian R. Brazelton of the U.S. Geological Survey 3,1j U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96-649 DRAINAGE AND WATER U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CONSERVATION DISTRICT tan4-44 Dz-$44.