Prepared in cooperation with the South Dakota Department of Transportation Peak-Flow Frequency Estimates Based on Data through Water Year 2001 for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in South Dakota Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5104 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover photographs: Upper left: U.S. Geological Survey hydrologic technician measures the flow of the Cheyenne River near Plainview (station 06438500) during flood conditions in 1997. Photograph by U.S. Geological Survey. Upper right: James River near Redfield (station 06475000) during flood conditions in 1997. Photograph by U.S. Geological Survey. Bottom: Cars were stacked by the force of water as it pushed through Rapid City leaving the banks of Rapid Creek during the 1972 flood. Photograph courtesy of the Rapid City Journal. Peak-Flow Frequency Estimates Based on Data through Water Year 2001 for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in South Dakota By Steven K. Sando, Daniel G. Driscoll, and Charles Parrett Prepared in cooperation with the South Dakota Department of Transportation Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5104 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Mark D. Myers, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2008 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1–888–ASK–USGS For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1–888–ASK–USGS Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Sando, S.K., Driscoll, D.G., and Parrett, Charles, 2008, Peak-flow frequency estimates based on data through water year 2001 for selected streamflow-gaging stations in South Dakota: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5104, 367 p. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2 Peak-Flow Frequency Estimates .................................................................................................................2 Hydrogeologic Considerations Regarding Peak-Flow Frequency Estimates .............................2 Procedures for Frequency Analyses ...............................................................................................11 General Procedures for Fitting the Log-Pearson Type III Probability Distribution .........11 Procedures for Skew Coefficient and Low Outliers .............................................................12 Procedures for Gaging Stations Affected by Regulation ....................................................13 Record-Extension Procedures ................................................................................................14 Historical Adjustment Procedures ..........................................................................................21 Procedures for Gaging Stations in the Black Hills Region .................................................23 Characteristics of Gaging Stations and Frequency Analyses by Major River Basin ..............28 Red River of the North and Minnesota River Basins ...........................................................28 Minor Tributaries to Missouri River ........................................................................................31 Grand River .................................................................................................................................31 Moreau River ..............................................................................................................................32 Cheyenne River ..........................................................................................................................32 Cheyenne River and Belle Fourche River Main Stems ...............................................32 Cheyenne and Belle Fourche River Tributaries in the Black Hills Region ...............33 Cheyenne River Tributaries Downstream from the Black Hills Region....................36 Bad River .....................................................................................................................................36 White River..................................................................................................................................36 James River ................................................................................................................................37 Vermillion River ..........................................................................................................................38 Big Sioux River ...........................................................................................................................38 Summary........................................................................................................................................................39 References ....................................................................................................................................................41 Appendix 1. Additional data ......................................................................................................................43 Appendix 2. Graphs ....................................................................................................................................95 Figures 1–2. Maps showing: 1. Locations of selected streamflow-gaging stations in South Dakota ..........................3 2. Main physiographic divisions of South Dakota ..............................................................4 3–4. Graphs showing: 3. Relations among annual precipitation and peak-flow characteristics for short- and long-term periods for selected sites in eastern South Dakota .................7 4. Peak-flow frequency information for three long-term stations in eastern South Dakota based on data for three different time periods ......................................8 iv 5–6. Maps showing: 5. Generalized surficial geology of South Dakota ..............................................................9 6. Hydrogeologic settings for the Black Hills region........................................................10 7–11. Graphs showing: 7. Peak-flow frequency information for Firesteel Creek near Mount Vernon (06477500) illustrating effects of low-outlier and skew adjustments on frequency curve fits ..........................................................................................................13 8. Peak-flow frequency information for normalized high-outlier peak flows of the Black Hills regional mixed-population analysis ................................................26 9. Peak-flow frequency information for (A) Battle Creek near Keystone (06404000) and (B) Grace Coolidge Creek near Game Lodge near Custer (06404998) illustrating application of the Black Hills regional mixed- population analysis ............................................................................................................27 10. Peak-flow frequency information illustrating influences of the loss-zone hydrogeologic setting .......................................................................................................35 11.1–11.272 Appendix 2. Graphs showing peak-flow information for stations: 11.1 05050000, Bois de Sioux River near White Rock, SD .................................................96 11.2 05051650, La Belle Creek near Veblen, SD ..................................................................97 11.3 05289950, Little Minnesota River tributary at Sisseton, SD ......................................98 11.4 05289985, Big Coulee Creek near Peever, SD .............................................................99 11.5 05290000, Little Minnesota River near Peever, SD ...................................................100 11.6 05290300, North Fork Whetstone River tributary near Wilmot, SD ........................101 11.7 05291000, Whetstone River near Big Stone City, SD ................................................102 11.8 05292000, Minnesota River at Ortonville, MN ...........................................................103 11.9 05292600, North Fork Yellow Bank River tributary near Stockholm, SD ...............104 11.10 05292704, North Fork Yellow Bank River near Odessa, MN ..................................105 11.11 05299700, Cobb Creek near Gary, SD ........................................................................106 11.12 06334500, Little Missouri River at Camp Crook, SD ................................................107 11.13 06354845, Spring Creek tributary near Greenway, SD ...........................................108 11.14 06354860, Spring Creek near Herreid, SD ................................................................109 11.15 06354882, Oak Creek near Wakpala, SD ..................................................................110 11.16 06355400, North Fork Grand