Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for 

Streams in the Northern Plains, 1996-97 

Circular 1185-B 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

U.S. Geological Survey 
Cover photograph: Fire consumes an outbuilding on a farmstead 

near the Red River of the North in northeastern North Dakota, 

April 1997. Photograph from North Dakota Water Education 

Foundation and North Dakota National Guard. Photograph was 

taken by Tony Mutzenberger. 
Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for 

Streams in the Northern Plains, 1996-97 

By Kathleen M. Macek-Rowland, Michael J. Burr, and 

Gregory B. Mitton 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 1185-B 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

GALE A. NORTON, Secretary 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Charles G. Groat, Director 

The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and 

does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Government 

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 2001 

Free on application to the 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Branch of Information Services 

Box 25286 

Denver, CO 80225-0286 

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publications Data 

Macek-Rowland, Kathleen. 

Peak discharges and flow volumes for streams in the northern plains I by 

Kathleen M. Macek-Rowland, Michael J. Burr, and Gregory B. Mitton. 

p. em.- (U.S. Geological Survey circular ; 1185-B) 

Includes bibliographical references. 

1. Stream measurements-Middle West. I. Burr, Michael J. II Mitton, Gregory B. III. 

Title. IV. Series. 

GB1217 .M33 2000 

551.48'3'097-dc21 00-045455 

ISBN 0-607-96339-5 
FOREWORD 

Floods are a common occurrence on all major streams and rivers of the 

United States. Many floods are just a n1inor nuisance when low-lying fields and 

roads are inundated~ however, major floods that result in loss of life and extensive 

damage occur on a number of the Nation's rivers each year. Knowledge of the 

flood characteristics of the Nation's streams and rivers is important for preventing 

the loss of life and mitigating the ever-increasing costs of flood damages. 

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) plays a critical role in supporting 

flood mitigation, flood forecasting, and response and recovery efforts during and 

after floods. The 18,000 streamflow-gaging stations that have been operated by 

the USGS at some time since 1889 provide much of the base information for 

assessing flood risk and for designing infrastructure such as dams and levees that 

minimize flood damages. The streamflow-gaging stations also provide data that 

are critical to effective management of the Nation's water resources. 

The USGS has a current network of 7,000 streamflow-gaging stations. Of 

these stations, 4,200 are used to provide real-time streamflow data 24 hours a day 

directly to the public and many organizations, including the National Weather 

Service, U.S. A1my Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the 

Federal Emergency Management Agency. These and other Federal, State, and 

local agencies use the river-stage data to forecast river conditions, to issue flood 

warnings and river-conditions statements, to plan flood response and recovery 

operations, and to plan reservoir releases or water withdrawals. With the advent of 

the internet, USGS data, real-time and historical, are being disseminated to an 

even broader range of interested users worldwide. 

This report, "'Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for Streams in the 

Northern Plains, 1996-97," is an example of the type of information produced by 

the USGS streamflow-gaging network. The report is the second in a two-part 

series of reports that document the 1997 spring floods in the northern plains. The 

report presents the magnitude and duration of discharges and volumes, describes 

the effects of reservoir storage on flood peaks, and summarizes the effects of the 

1997 spring floods on the people of the northern plains. U.S. Geological Survey 

Circular 1185-A, .. Precipitation in the Northern Plains, September 1996 through 

April 1997 ," is the first in the two-part series of reports and describes precipitation 

and climatic conditions before and during the 1997 spring floods. 

(2~117.1~ 

Robert M. Hirsch 

Chief Hydrologist 

FOREWORD Ill 

CONTENTS 

Foreword................................................................................................................................................................................ III 

Abstract.................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 

Introduction............................................................................................................................................................................ 1 

Antecedent Climatic and Hydrologic Conditions.................................................................................................................. 3 

Peak Stages and Discharges for 1997 Flood.......................................................................................................................... 4 

Red River of the North Basin....................................................................................................................................... 8 

Upper Mississippi River Basin.................................................................................................................................... 10 

Missouri River Basin................................................................................................................................................... 12 

Comparison with Previous Floods............................................................................................................................... 16 

Volumes, October 1, 1996, through September 30, 1997 ...................................................................................................... 17 

Magnitude and Duration of n-Day Flows .................................................................................................................... 18 

Recurrence Intervals for n-Day Flows......................................................................................................................... 19 

Elevations and Contents of Selected Reservoirs and Lakes .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .... . .. .. .. ...... .. .. .. .. ..... .. .. .. .. .. ...... . .... .. 23 

Effects of Winter Storms and Spring Floods on People in the Northern Plains.................................................................... 25 

Chronological Overview........................................................................................................................................................ 27 

Selected References . . . . ............... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . ................. ... . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . ................. ... . . . . . . . . ............. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 28 

Tabular Information ..................................................................................................................... .-............................. .... . . . . . . . . 31 

FIGURES 

1-4. Maps showing: 

1. General area of flooding streams, spring 1997.. ... .. .. .. .. .. .... . .. . .. .. ...... .. . .. .. .. .. ............. ...... .. . .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. . .. .. .. 2 

2. Areal distribution of precipitation, in inches, for the northern plains, September through 

October 1996...................................................................................................................................................... 4 

3. Areal distribution of snowfall, in inches, for the northern plains, November 1996 through 

April 1997 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . ... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . ................... .. . . . . . . . . .............. .. . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 5 

4. Locations of selected streamflow-gaging stations, dams, reservoirs, and lakes in the 

northern plains.................................................................................................................................................... 6 

5. Graphs showing daily mean stage or instantaneous stage for March through June 1997, previous 

peak stage, and flood stage at three streamflow-gaging stations in the northern plains ............................................. 10 

6. Graphs showing daily mean discharge for March through June 1997 and previous peak discharge 

at three streamflow-gaging stations in the northern plains .. .............................. ........... ................. ............................. 11 

7. Graphs showing the 1997 peak discharges and historical peak discharges at selected streamflowgaging stations in the northern plains .. . .. .. .. .. .... .. . .. . . . .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. ........ .... ...... .. .. .. . . . .. .. .. . .. . .. .. ...... .. .. .. .... .. . .. .. .. .. .. .... . .. .. .. . 18 

8. Flow volume, in acre-feet, for water year 1997 and mean annual volume, in acre-feet, for period of 

record at streamflow-gaging stations on the main stem of the Red River of the North and stations on 

selected tributaries to the Red River of the North ....................................................................................................... 20 

9. Flow volume, in acre-feet, for water year 1997 and mean annual volume, in acre-feet, for period of 

record at streamflow-gaging stations on the main stem of the Minnesota River and stations on selected 

tributaries to the Minnesota River............................................................................................................................... 21 

10. Flow volume, in acre-feet, for water year 1997 and mean annual volume, in acre-feet, for period of 

record at streamflow-gaging stations on the main stem of the James River and stations on selected 

tributaries to the James River...................................................................................................................................... 22 

11. Discharge into and out of selected reservoirs in the northern plains, March through June 1997 .. ............ .............. ... 24 

TABLES 

1. Historical peak stages and peak discharges and 1997 peak stages, peak discharges, and recurrence 

intervals at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the Red River of the North, upper Mississippi 

River, and Missouri River Basins, North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota................................................... 33 

2. Maximum mean discharges and recurrence intervals for 3, 7, and 30 consecutive days at selected 

streamflow-gaging stations in the northern plains................................................................................................... 43 

3. Maximum mean discharges and recurrence intervals for 60, 90, and 120 consecutive days at selected 

streamflow-gaging stations in the northern plains ................................................................................................... 47 

4. Historical and 1997 peak elevations of selected reservoirs and lakes in the northern plains.................................. 51 

5. Summary of losses and claims related to 1997 spring floods in North Dakota, Minnesota, 

and South Dakota ....................... ........... ................. .............. ............ .................. ........... ......... ..... ............. ............. .. 52 

CONTENTS V 
CONVERSION FACTORS 

Multiply 

inch 

foot 

cubic foot per second 

square mile 

acre-foot 

By 

2.54 

0.3048 

0.02832 

2.590 

1,233 

To obtain 

centimeter 

meter 

cubic meter per second 

square kilometer 

cubic meter 

Degree Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degree Celsius (°C) by using the following equation: 

°C = 5/9 (°F- 32) 

VI CONTENTS 
Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for Streams in 

the Northern Plains, 1996-97 

By Kathleen M. Macek-Rowland, Michael J. Burr, and Gregory B. Mitton 

Abstract 

The winter of 1996-97, combined with 

the 1997 spring floods, was one of the worst natural 

disasters in recent history on the northern plains. 

Above-normal snowfall in central and eastern 

North Dakota, western Minnesota, and central and 

eastern South Dakota during the winter of 1996-97 

and a blizzard on April 5-6, 1997, caused the worst 

flooding in several areas in more than 100 years. 

Record peak stages or discharges occurred at 72 of 

134 streamflow-gaging stations located in the Red 

River of the North, upper Mississippi River, and 

Missouri River Basins. Recurrence intervals for the 

peak discharges ranged from less than 10 years to 

500 years. Grand Forks, N. Dak., and East Grand 

Forks, Minn., which are located on the Red River 

of the North, were completely evacuated because of 

flooding. 

The flow volumes for water year 1997 at 

selected streamflow-gaging stations on the Red 

River of the North, the Minnesota River, and the 

James River were 186 to 788 percent of the mean 

annual volumes for the periods of record for those 

stations. In 1997, record 3-day maximum mean 

discharges occurred at 43 of 82 streamflowgaging stations, and record 120-day maximum 

mean discharges occurred at 44 of 82 streamflowgaging stations. Many reservoirs in the region 

were at capacity or near capacity from April 

through June 1997. Without flow regulation by 

the dams and reservoirs, peak stages along the 

main stem of the Missouri River probably would 

have been about 4 to 8 feet higher in many areas. 

INTRODUCTION 

Above-normal snowfall in central and eastern 

North Dakota, western Minnesota, and central and 

eastern South Dakota during the winter of 1996-97, 

combined with a blizzard on April 5-6, 1997, 

caused the worst flooding in several areas in 

the northern plains in more than 100 years. Floodwaters and severe weather forced thousands of people 

to flee their homes, some permanently, and caused 

more than $2 billion in damages to the region. This 

report is the second of two reports that document 

the 1997 spring floods in the northern plains. The 

first report1 describes precipitation and climatic 

conditions before and during the 1997 spring floods. 

This report describes peak discharges and flow 

volumes for streams in parts of the Red River of 

the North (Red River), upper Mississippi River 

(including the Minnesota River), and Missouri River 

(including the James River and Big Sioux River) 

Basins from March through June 1997 (fig. 1). This 

report also presents the magnitude and duration of 

flow volumes and the recurrence interval at selected 

streamflow-gaging stations, a summary of floodcontrol and storage characteristics of selected reservoirs and lakes in the region, and statistical data, 

including Federal assistance received as a result of the 

flood. The climatic conditions presented in the first 

report also are summarized in this report. 

The U.S. Geological Survey, one of the principal Federal agencies responsible for the collection 

and interpretation of water-resources data, works with 

other Federal, State, and local agencies to ensure that 

accurate and timely data are available for making decisions regarding the public's welfare. This report represents the combined efforts of U.S. Geological Survey 

personnel and personnel from the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, National Weather 

Service, State climatological offices, and other State 

and local offices whose work before, during, and after 

the 1997 spring floods gives a comprehensive view 

of one of the worst natural disasters to occur in 

1

U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1185-A, "Precipitation 

in the Northern Plains, September 1996 through April1997," 

by Kathleen M. Macek-Rowland, Michael J. Burr, and Gregory B. 

Mitton. 

Abstract 
Base from U.S. Geological Survey 

1 :2,000,000, 1972 

Figure 1. General area of flooding streams, spring 1997. 

2 Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for Streams in the Northern Plains, 1996-97 

0 

D 

D 

P7l 

L::.J 

D 

r:::"l 

L::.:J 

D . 

D 

40 80 120 MILES 

EXPLANATION 

Red Ri ver of the North Basin 

Upper Mississippi River Basin 

Minnesota River Basin 

Missouri Ri ver Basin 

James River Basin 

Big Sioux. River Basin 

Area of flooding streams 

Weather station 
the northern plains in recent history. Appreciation 

is expressed to those individuals who worked diligently, often under adverse conditions, to collect data. 

Appreciation also is expressed to Steven K. Sando, 

Tara Williams-Sether, and Aldo V. Vecchia of the 

U.S. Geological Survey who refined the recurrenceinterval data for this report. 

ANTECEDENT CLIMATIC AND 

HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS 

Flooding in the northern plains usually is 

caused by spring snowmelt. Conditions that contribute to flooding include (1) high soil-moisture levels 

produced by substantial precipitation in the fall and 

high water levels in numerous surface-water bodies; 

(2) above-normal snowfall in the winter; (3) frozen 

saturated soil that prohibits infiltration of moisture; 

(4) a late spring thaw; (5) above-normal precipitation 

during the spring thaw; and (6) ice jams (temporary 

dams of ice) on rivers and streams. Many of these 

conditions were present in the northern plains before 

and during the 1997 spring floods. 

Annual precipitation in the northern plains averages about 13 inches in the west and about 26 inches 

in the east. About 9 to 19 inches of the precipitation 

falls during the growing season, April through 

September, and about 4 to 7 inches falls during 

October through March. Many areas in the northern 

plains received normal to much-above-normal precipitation from 1993 to the fall of 1996 (Owenby and 

Ezell, 1992a, 1992b, 1992c; U.S. Department of 

Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, National Environmental Satellite, 

Data and Information Service, 1996-97a, 1996-97b, 

1996-97c; Tara Williams-Sether, written comrnun., 

1998). Thus, soils in many areas became saturated, 

and numerous potholes, sloughs, and small lakes in 

the region were filled and retained high water levels 

before the winter of 1996-97. When moisture was 

added to the water-laden systems in the fall and winter 

of 1996-97, conditions were set for the 1997 spring 

floods. 

During September through October 1996, 

precipitation in the flood-affected region generally 

was between 4 and 8 inches; however, precipitation in 

east-central South Dakota was more than 10 inches 

(fig. 2). Most of the region received between 100 

and 300 percent of the normal precipitation (based 

on data for September through October 1961-90), 

and single-day totals at some weather stations 

nearly equaled or exceeded the monthly normal 

(Macek-Rowland and others, 2001). 

During November 1996 through March 1997, 

a series of winter storms moving through the region 

caused above-normal precipitation (125 to 200 percent 

of the 30-year normal). The blizzard on April 5-6, 

1997, was preceded by wind-driven rain and sleet in 

many areas; the blizzard brought a severe drop in 

temperatures, windspeeds as much as 70 miles per 

hour, and as much as 2 feet of snow, with drifts many 

feet higher in several areas. The above-normal precipitation during the winter and early spring produced 

record or near-record snowfalls in much of central and 

eastern North Dakota, western Minnesota, and central 

and eastern South Dakota. The largest snowfall totals, 

exceeding 100 inches, occurred in the southern part of 

the Red River Basin, the central part of the Missouri 

River Basin, and the central part of the Big Sioux 

River Basin (fig. 3). Official and unofficial snowfall 

totals for the winter of 1996-97 at some cities in the 

region include 101.3 inches at Bismarck, N. Dak., 

117 inches at Fargo, N.Dak., 97.9 inches at Grand 

Forks, N.Dak., and 105.3 inches at Fergus Falls, 

Minn. Several other cities had snowfall totals that 

ranked in the top 10 highest snowfalls for the period 

of record at that city. Some of those totals include 

73.9 inches at Montevideo, Minn., 75.7 inches at 

Aberdeen, S.Dak., and 48.3 inches at Brookings, 

S. Dak. Generally, the areas that received the most 

snowfall were the areas that had the highest river 

stages and peak discharges in the spring. 

A driver makes its way through a 12-foot cut in a 

snowdrift on a road near Hartford, South Dakota, on 

January 14, 1997. (Photograph from Argus Leader, 

Sioux Falls, South Dakota.) 

ANTECEDENT CLIMATIC AND HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS 3 
Base from U.S. Geological Survey 

1:2,000,000, 1972 

10JO 100° ggo 

---;-- --~ 

,l_ I ' 

gso 

40 80 120MILES 

EXPLANATION 

- 4 - Line of equal precipitation--Hachures indicate 

equal or less precipitation. Interval vari able 

48° 

Figure 2. Areal distribution of precipitation, in inches, for the northern plains, September through October 1996. 

(Data from U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , National Environmental 

Satellite, Data and Information Service, 1996-97a, 1996-97b, 1996-97c.) 

Most of the snowfall received during the winter 

of 1996-97 remained until the spring thaw because 

temperatures in the northern plains were below normal 

and few mild days (days with temperatures at or above 

32°F) occurred during the winter. The absence of 

these mild winter days along with frozen moist soils 

slowed the gradual dissipation of accumulated snowfall through sublimation, evaporation, or infiltration 

in much of the region. 

Generally, snowmelt and warm temperatures 

begin in the southwestern and western parts of North 

Dakota and South Dakota and move northeast across 

both States into Minnesota. By late February 1997, 

runoff from snowmelt began on some streams in 

central and southern South Dakota, but widespread 

flooding in the northern plains did not begin until 

mid-March when high waters began occurring on 

rivers and streams in west-central and southeastern 

North Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, and northcentral South Dakota. 

PEAK STAGES AND DISCHARGES FOR 

1997 FLOOD 

Peak stages and discharges for 134 streamflowgaging stations maintained by the U.S. Geological 

Survey in the area of flooding are listed in table 1 in 

the "Tabular Information" section at the back of this 

report. Of the 134 stations, 45 are located in the Red 

River Basin, 22 are located in the upper Mississippi 

River Basin, and 67 are located in the Missouri River 

Basin. Stage is the height of the water surface in a 

stream above an arbitrarily established datum. Peak 

stages are reported because they are primary indicators 

of overbank flooding and are used to define the limits 

of flooding (Parrett and others, 1993). Because 

changes can occur in a channel or within a drainage 

area, the relation between peak stages and discharges 

may not remain constant. 

Locations ofthe 134 streamflow-gaging stations 

are shown in figure 4. The site numbers in the figure 

correspond to the site numbers listed in table 1, which 

4 Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for Streams in the Northern Plains, 1996-97 
also includes the streamflow-gaging station name and 

number. The station name and number, which was 

assigned according to downstream order, can be used 

to obtain additional data stored in U.S. Geological 

Survey data bases and published in U.S. Geological 

Survey annual water-data reports for each State. 

Peak discharges during a flood are best defined 

by direct measurements. However, measurements 

sometimes cannot be made because of limited access 

to a gage or safety concerns or because the flood 

events are short in duration and cause unstable conditions that make measuring extremely difficult or 

impossible. If measurements are not made, peak 

discharges may be extrapolated from rating curves 

extended to known peak stages. A rating curve is a 

unique relation between measured stage and discharge 

at a site on a stream. A rating curve may not be well 

defined at extreme high discharges. Therefore, additional data, such as the rate of change in stage, the fall 

Base from U.S. Geological Survey 

1 :2,000,000, 1972 

in a reach between gages, hydrologic conditions 

upstream and downstream from the measurement site, 

and weather conditions at the time of measurement, 

also may be considered when determining peak 

discharges (Kennedy, 1984 ). 

Peak discharges also may be determined from 

indirect measurements after a flood. Indirect measurements are made using slope-area, contracted-opening, 

flow-over-dam, or flow-through-culvert methods. 

Field data obtained by site surveys are required for the 

computation of peak discharges by these methods. The 

surveys include the locations and elevations of highwater marks that correspond to peak stage, the cross 

sections of the channel, the determination of the 

roughness coefficient for the channel site, and the 

descriptions and measurements of structures (for 

example, dams and culverts) that influence the 

discharge (Benson and Dalrymple, 1967). 

95" 

40 80 120 MILES 

EXPLANATION 

-100- Line of equal snowfall6Dashes indicate snowfall of at 

least I I 0 inches but less than 120 inches. Hachures 

indicate equal or less snowfall. Interval variable 

48" 

Figure 3. Areal distribution of snowfall, in inches, for the northern plains, November 1996 through April 1997. (Data 

from U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Environmental 

Satellite, Data and Information Service, 1996-97a, 1996-97b, 1996-97c.) 

PEAK STAGES AND DISCHARGES FOR 1997 FLOOD 5 
Base from U.S. Geological Survey 

1 :2,000,000, 1972 

EXPLANATION 

D Missouri River Basin 

U James River Basin 

D Big Sioux Ri ver Basin 

.... 85 Streamfl ow-gaging station-Site 

number is listed in table I, 

"Tabular Information" section 

Dl4 Dam, reservoir, or lake- Site 

number is listed in table 4, 

"Tabul ar Information" section 

~ Weather station 

0 40 80 120 MILES 

Figure 4. Locations of selected streamflow-gaging stations, dams, reservoirs, and lakes in the northern plains. 

Peak discharges are used to determine the probability, often expressed in recurrence intervals, that a 

given discharge will be exceeded. For example, a flood 

that has a 1-percent chance of exceedance in any given 

year would, on the long-term average, be expected 

to occur only about once a century; therefore, the flood 

would be termed the " 100-year flood." However, 

an equal chance (1 percent) exists for the flood 

to occur in any given year. Thus, a 100-year flood 

can occur in successive years at the same location. 

In some instances, recurrence-interval estimates 

can be based on periods of regulated discharge or 

made with historical adjustments when historical 

data are available. Because it is difficult to accurately 

determine recurrence intervals, particularly for 

sites that have short periods of record, ranges within 

6 Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for Streams in the Northern Plains, 1996-97 
Base from U.S. Geological SuiVey 

1 :2,000,000, 1972 

D 

D 

[2] 

SOUTH 

EXPLANATION 

Red Ri ver of the North Basin 

Upper Mississippi River Basin 

Minnesota Ri ver Basin 

Streamflow-gaging station- Site 

number is listed in table I, 

"Tabular Information" section 

DJO Dam, reservoir, or lake-Site 

number is listed in table 4, 

"Tabular Informatio n" section 

~ Weather station 

0 40 80 120 MILES gso 

Figure 4. Locations of selected streamflow-gaging stations, dams, reservoirs, and lakes in the northern plains-Continued. 

which the recurrence intervals for the 1997 spring 

floods are estimated to fall are given for many of 

the streamflow-gaging stations listed in table 1 

("Tabular Information" section). Recurrence intervals 

given in this report for the 1997 peak discharges 

generally are determined by using the most current 

techniques published in U.S. Geological Survey 

flood-frequency reports for States in the area of 

flooding and procedures described in Bulletin 17B 

of the Interagency Advisory Committee on Water 

Data (1982). 

Stages and discharges were measured at all 

active streamflow-gaging stations in the area of 

flooding. More measurements were made at selected 

streamflow-gaging stations than at other stations 

to better track the volumes of water through the 

PEAK STAGES AND DISCHARGES FOR 1997 FLOOD 7 
individual basins and to better define stage-discharge 

relations at high discharges. Because of the magnitude of the 1997 spring floods, additional data were 

collected at crest-stage gages, miscellaneousmeasurement sites, and inactive sites within each 

basin. The streamflow-gaging stations listed in table 1 

were selected on the basis of period of record, location, or recurrence interval. 

Red River of the North Basin 

In 1997, record peak stages or discharges 

occurred at 28 of the 45 streamflow-gaging stations 

in the Red River Basin. The Red River Basin is 

located in eastern and north-central North Dakota, 

western Minnesota, and a small part of northeastern 

South Dakota (fig. 4). The headwaters of the Red 

River are in west-central Minnesota, and the river 

flows into Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. At 

Emerson, Manitoba, near the Canada-United States 

boundary, the drainage area for the Red River Basin 

is about 40,200 square miles. The basin is relatively 

flat and has a shallow river channel. The Red River 

is one of the few rivers in the United States to flow 

directly north. Because of the flatness of the basin, 

the shallow river channel, and the northerly flow, 

the timing of spring thaw and snowmelt can greatly 

aggravate flooding. Snow in the headwaters of the 

Red River Basin begins to melt first, when areas 

downstream remain largely frozen. This melt 

pattern can cause ice jams to form, and substantial 

backwater (water that is retarded, backed up, or 

turned back in its course because of an obstruction 

or an opposing current) can occur as flow moves 

north. 

Recurrence intervals for 1997 peak discharges 

on the main stem of the Red River ranged from 50 to 

200 years (table 1). On April 6, 1997, the first of two 

peak stages occurred on the Red River at Wahpeton, 

N. Oak. (site 4, fig. 4, table 1). The peak stage 

was 19.42 feet, which is 1.47 feet higher than the 

record set in 1989. The peak stage was caused by 

backwater from ice. Before the peak stage, Wahpeton 

received additional moisture in the form of rain, sleet, 

and snow from the blizzard on April 5-6, 1997. 

This additional moisture resulted in the flooding 

of a several-block residential area in Wahpeton 

when dikes broke. Meanwhile, the northern part of 

Wahpeton's sister city, Breckenridge, Minn., was 

being flooded by flow from the Otter Tail River (site 1, 

fig. 4, table 1). Hundreds of people in both cities were 

evacuated. 

On April 8, 1997, most of the 1,700 people 

in Ada, Minn., were forced to flee their homes 

when overland flow from the flooding Marsh and 

Wild Rice Rivers (sites 26, 27, and 30, fig. 4, table 1) 

inundated the town. Freezing temperatures from the 

April 5-6 blizzard caused a layer of ice to form over 

the flooding waters in this area, hampering flood 

and rescue operations and slowing the melting 

process. The suddenness of the blizzard caught 

many farmers unaware, and they were unable to 

move livestock to shelter and food. Many livestock 

were lost because of the colder temperatures and 

floodwaters. 

On April 15, 1997, the second peak 

stage occurred on the Red River at Wahpeton, 

N. Oak. This peak stage was 19.25 feet, which 

is 0.17 foot less than the peak stage on April 6. 

The peak discharge was 12,800 cubic feet per 

second. The recurrence interval for this peak 

discharge was between 50 and 150 years. As 

temperatures rose, flow from the Red River broke 

through a levee protecting Wahpeton and more 

of the city was flooded. In Breckenridge, Minn., 

hundreds more people were evacuated as overland 

flooding from the Bois de Sioux River (sites 2 and 

3, fig. 4, table 1) inundated the southern part of the 

city. 

Sandbag dikes were common in the Red River of the 

North Valley in the spring of 1997. {Photograph from North 

Dakota Water Education Foundation and North Dakota 

National Guard.) 

8 Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for Streams in the Northern Plains, 1996-97 
Floodwater inundated Grand Forks, North Dakota, and 

East Grand Forks, Minnesota, in April1997. (Photograph 

from North Dakota Water Education Foundation and North 

Dakota National Guard.) 

On April 17, 1997, the peak stage of the Red 

River at Fargo, N. Dak. (site 8, fig. 4, table 1), was 

39.57 feet, and the peak discharge was 28,000 cubic 

feet per second. The recurrence interval for this peak 

discharge was between 50 and 100 years. In the 

southern part of Fargo, a section of a dike gave way, 

sending floodwaters into a nearby neighborhood and 

causing the evacuation of area residents. On April18, 

1997, the peak stage was 39.72 feet, which is 0.62 foot 

higher than the record set 100 years earlier, and the 

peak discharge was 27,700 cubic feet per second. 

A decision was made to build a massive dike around 

the southern part of the city to prevent widespread 

flooding from overland flows coming from the south 

and west. 

High flows continued moving downstream on 

the Red River. On April 18, 1997, the peak stage of the 

Red River at Grand Forks, N. Dak. (site 36, fig. 4, 

table 1), was 52.04 feet, which is 1.84 feet higher than 

the record set in 1897, and the peak discharge was 

137,000 cubic feet per second. This peak discharge 

was unusual in that it resulted from the convergence of 

flows from the Red Lake River in Minnesota, flows 

from the main channel of the Red River, and breakout 

flows from the Red River that were conveyed by the 

old Red River oxbows. Breakout flows occurred 

upstream from Grand Forks when plugs in the 

upstream end of the oxbows either were overtopped or 

washed away, allowing about 25,000 cubic feet per 

second of discharge to arrive at the confluence of the 

Red Lake River and the Red River. The daily mean 

stage for March through June 1997 and the previous 

peak stage for the Red River at Grand Forks, N.Dak., 

are shown in figure 5, and the daily mean discharge 

for March through June 1997 and the previous peak 

discharge are shown in figure 6. On April19, 1997, 

a fire demolished several buildings in the flooded 

downtown area of Grand Forks, N. Dak. The flooding 

made it extremely difficult for firefighters to reach 

the fires and put them out. Except for emergency 

personnel, Grand Forks and its sister city, East Grand 

Forks, Minn., were completely evacuated by this time. 

On April 24, 1997, the peak stage of the Red 

River at Drayton, N. Dak. (site 40, fig. 4, table 1), was 

45.55 feet, which is 1.89 feet higher than the record 

set in 1979, and the peak discharge was 124,000 cubic 

feet per second. The recurrence interval for this peak 

discharge was between 100 and 200 years. On 

April26, 1997, the peak stage of the Red River at 

Emerson, Manitoba (site 43, fig. 4, table 1), just north 

of the international boundary between the United 

States and Canada, was 792.41 feet, which is 1.22 feet 

higher than the record set on May 1, 1979, and the 

peak discharge was 133,000 cubic feet per second. 

The April 26 peak discharge surpassed the previous 

peak discharge of 95,500 cubic feet per second that 

occurred on May 13, 1950. The recurrence interval 

for the April 26 peak discharge was between 100 

and 200 years. 

Record peak discharges during the 1997 

spring floods also occurred on many tributaries to 

the Red River. The recurrence intervals for these 

peak discharges ranged from less than 10 years 

to 200 years. The recurrence interval for the peak 

discharge on the Bois de Sioux River near White 

Rock, S.Dak. (site 2, fig. 4, table 1), was between 

100 and 200 years, and the recurrence interval for the 

peak discharge on the Wild Rice River at Twin Valley, 

Minn. (site 26, fig. 4, table 1), was between 100 

and 200 years. The recurrence interval for the peak 

discharge on the Red Lake River at Crookston, Minn. 

(site 35, fig. 4, table 1), was between 30 and 100 years. 

The Red Lake River normally accounts for almost 

35 percent of the Red River flow. 

Devils Lake Basin is a 3,810-square-mile 

closed subbasin within the Red River Basin. Devils 

Lake discharges no water until the lake level reaches 

1,459 feet above sea level, the lowest outlet elevation. 

Since 1993, the lake level has risen rapidly in response 

PEAK STAGES AND DISCHARGES FOR 1997 FLOOD 9 
to above-normal precipitation and runoff. The rising 

water has inundated homes, businesses, and agricultural lands and has caused roads to be closed. On 

April16, 1997, Devils Lake reached 1,438.40 feet 

above sea level, equaling the previous record set in 

1867. Because of the heavy runoff during the spring of 

1997, the lake level continued rising to 1,442.97 feet 

above sea level on July 26, 1997, the highest level in 

at least 130 years. In 1997, record peak stages or 

discharges occurred at several streamflow-gaging 

stations (sites 10 through 14, fig. 4, table 1) in the 

Devils Lake Basin. 

40 

30 Flood stage 

Upper Mississippi River Basin 

In 1997, record peak stages or discharges 

occurred at 10 of the 22 stations in the upper 

Mississippi River Basin. The upper Mississippi River 

Basin, including the Minnesota River Basin, is located 

in Minnesota and northeastern South Dakota (fig. 4). 

The Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers generally 

flow from the northwest to the southeast. The drainage 

area for the upper Mississippi River Basin is about 

3 7,000 square miles, and the drainage area for the 

Minnesota River Basin is about 16,900 square miles. 

-------------------- --------------------------

1-

w 

20 

10~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

25~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~onononononononononon~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Previous peak stage, April12, 1969 

20 / Instantaneous stage SITE NUMBER 59 

MINNESOTA RIVER AT 

MONTEVIDEO, MINN. 

Cl 

ui 

~ 15 

10 

Flood stage ~ 

~ (/) 

a~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

14~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~onononTnonononononon~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

12 

Previous peak stage, June 12, 1991 

1 0 Flood stage 

8 

6 

/ Daily mean stage 

SITE NUMBER 119 

BIG SIOUX RIVER NEAR 

WATERTOWN, S. OAK. 

5 10 15 20 25 31 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 31 5 10 15 20 25 30 

March April May June 

Figure 5. Daily mean stage or instantaneous stage for March through June 1997, previous peak stage, and flood stage 

at three streamflow-gaging stations in the northern plains. (Broken lines indicate periods of missing data for 1997. Instantaneous stage data for the Minnesota River at Montevideo, Minn., are considered preliminary.) 

10 Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for Streams in the Northern Plains, 1996-97 
SITE NUMBER 36 

/ Daily mean discharge RED RIVER OF THE NORTH 

AT GRAND FORKS, N. OAK. 

100,000 

50,000 

0 B 50,000 fTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT,.TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTcrncrn""T"f"'crncrncrncrnrrnrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrT"T"Tl 

u 

w 

(f) 

a: 

w 

a.. 

1-

w 

w 

LL 

40,000 

30,000 

20,000 

Previous peak discharge, April1 2, 1969 -- -------- -----

SITE NUMBER 59 

MINNESOTA RIVER AT 

MONTEVIDEO, MINN. 

u 

iD 

:::) 

u 

~ / Daily mean discharge 

8,000 rrrrrrrrrTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT,-,rrr 1 rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.rrr 1 rrrrrrrrrTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT,-rr<lrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrT'TT1 

SITE NUMBER 119 

BIG SIOUX RIVER NEAR 

WATERTOWN, S. OAK. 

------------ ---------------------------- 4,000 

2,000 

Daily mean discharge 

~~~~--_j~~~~~~= ==~~rn===~====~ ----~ 5 10 15 20 25 31 5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 31 5 10 15 20 25 30 

March April May June 

Figure 6. Daily mean discharge for March through June 1997 and previous peak discharge at three streamflow-gaging 

stations in the northern plains. 

Recurrence intervals for peak discharges on the 

main stem of the upper Mississippi River ranged from 

25 to 100 years. On April 9, 1997, the peak stage of 

the Mississippi River near Anoka, Minn. (site 48, 

fig. 4, table 1), was 16.44 feet, which is 3.09 feet less 

than the record set on April 17, 1965, and the peak 

discharge was 69,800 cubic feet per second. The 

recurrence interval for this peak discharge was 

between 25 and 50 years. On April 13, 1997, the 

peak stage of the Mississippi River at St. Paul, Minn. 

(site 66, fig. 4, table 1), was 22.37 feet, which is 

3.64 feet less than the record set on April16, 1965, 

and the peak discharge was 134,000 cubic feet per 

second. The recurrence interval for this peak discharge 

was between 50 and 100 years. 

Recurrence intervals for peak discharges on 

the main stem of the Minnesota River ranged from 

25 to 300 years. On April10, 1997, the peak stage of 

the Minnesota River at Ortonville, Minn. (site 52, 

fig. 4, table 1), was 12.85 feet, which is 0.07 foot less 

than the record set on April13, 1952, and the peak 

discharge was 5,070 cubic feet per second. The recurrence interval for this peak discharge was between 50 

and 150 years. On April 6, 1997, the peak stage of the 

Minnesota River at Montevideo, Minn. (site 59, fig. 4, 

PEAK STAGES AND DISCHARGES FOR 1997 FLOOD 11 
table 1), was 23.90 feet, which is 2.22 feet greater 

than the record set on April12, 1969, and the peak 

discharge was 4 7,500 cubic feet per second. The 

recurrence interval for this peak discharge was 

between 100 and 300 years. The instantaneous 

stage for March through June 1997 and the previous 

peak stage for the Minnesota River at Montevideo, 

Minn., are shown in figure 5, and the daily mean 

discharge for March through June 1997 and the 

previous peak discharge are shown in figure 6. On 

April 12, 1997, the peak stage of the Minnesota River 

near Jordan, Minn. (site 65, fig. 4, table 1), was 

32.24 feet, which is 2.83 feet less than the record 

set on April 12, 1965, and the peak discharge 

was 82,300 cubic feet per second. The recurrence 

interval for this peak discharge was between 25 

and 50 years. 

Record peak discharges during the 1997 

spring floods also occurred on many tributaries to 

the Minnesota River. The recurrence intervals for 

these peak discharges ranged from 10 to 100 years. 

The recurrence interval for the peak discharge on 

the Whetstone River near Big Stone City, S.Dak. 

(site 51, fig. 4, table 1), was between 25 and 

50 years, and the recurrence interval for the peak 

discharge on the Lac Qui Parle River near Lac Qui 

Parle, Minn. (site 57, fig. 4, table 1), was between 

50 and 100 years. The recurrence interval for the 

peak discharge on the Chippewa River near Milan, 

Minn. (site 58, fig. 4, table 1), was between 50 and 

100 years. 

Missouri River Basin 

In 1997, record peak stages or discharges 

occurred at 34 of the 67 stations located in that part 

of the Missouri River Basin that is in western and 

central North Dakota and central and eastern South 

Dakota. The headwaters of the Missouri River are in 

Montana and Wyoming, and the mouth is in eastern 

Missouri. Of the 529,000 square miles in the basin, 

about 244,600 square miles are located in North 

Dakota and South Dakota. The Missouri River flows 

southeastward across North Dakota and South Dakota. 

Discharges on the river are regulated by a series 

of dams built on its main stem and tributaries. The 

dams were built, in part, to control flooding on the 

Missouri River. One of the dams, built in 1952, is 

Garrison Dam in North Dakota. Lake Sakakawea, 

the reservoir behind Garrison Dam, has a maximum 

capacity of 24.1 million acre-feet and is managed by 

the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which regulates 

the release of water from the dam. 

In 1997, spring runoff began earlier in western 

and central North Dakota than in eastern North 

Dakota. Discharge from tributaries to the Missouri 

River caused the stage of the Missouri River at 

Bismarck, N. Dak. (site 70, fig. 4, table 1), to continually increase through the spring and early summer. 

Because of heavy snowpack in the northern Rocky 

Mountains in Montana and Wyoming and a late spring 

thaw, high discharges continued through mid-summer. 

On July 13, 1997, the peak stage at Bismarck was 

14.00 feet, which is 0.24 foot less than the postGarrison Dam record set on December 18, 1979. The 

peak discharge on July 25, 1997, was 59,500 cubic 

feet per second, which is the second highest discharge 

since the completion of Garrison Dam. The recurrence 

interval for this peak discharge was between 50 and 

100 years. To accommodate the higher discharges, 

the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released about 

59,000 cubic feet per second of water from Garrison 

Dam for several weeks. The discharge moved downstream on the main stem through a series of dams on 

the Missouri River in South Dakota. (Additional information on selected dams in the Missouri River Basin 

and in the Red River and upper Mississippi River 

Basins is given in the "Elevations and Contents 

of Selected Reservoirs and Lakes" section of this 

report.). Although the high discharges on the main 

stem of the Missouri River caused little damage, the 

high discharges on tributaries to the Missouri River 

caused flooding in many communities in North and 

South Dakota in the early spring. 

Record peak discharges during the 1997 spring 

floods occurred on many tributaries to the Missouri 

River. The recurrence intervals for these peak 

discharges ranged from less than 10 years to 

500 years. Ice jams on many rivers and streams caused 

flooding in several areas in western and central North 

Dakota. On March 23, 1997, the peak stage of the 

Knife River at Hazen, N.Dak. (site 69, fig. 4, table 1), 

was 26.92 feet, which is 0.09 foot less than the record 

set in 1966, and the peak discharge was 20,500 cubic 

feet per second. The recurrence interval for this peak 

discharge was between 25 and 50 years. On March 24, 

1997, the peak stage of Cedar Creek near Raleigh, 

N.Dak. (site 74, fig. 4, table 1), was 17.05 feet, which 

12 Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for Streams in the Northern Plains, 1996-97 
is 3.35 feet greater than the record set in 1978, and 

the peak discharge was 14,600 cubic feet per second. 

The recurrence interval for this peak discharge was 

between 50 and 100 years. On March 25, 1997, 

the peak stage of the Cannonball River at Breien, 

N. Oak. (site 75, fig. 4, table 1), was 20.82 feet, 

which is 1.48 feet less than the record set in 1950, 

and the peak discharge was 31,100 cubic feet per 

second. The recurrence interval for this peak discharge 

was between 10 and 25 years. Flooding from the 

Cannonball River in Matt, N. Oak., affected about 

200 people. Many homes were flooded in this small 

community. On March 27, 1997, the peak stage of Oak 

Creek near Wakpala, S. Oak. (site 77, fig. 4, table 1), 

was 19.83 feet, which is 1.21 feet greater than the 

record set on March 14, 1995, and the peak discharge 

was 7,500 cubic feet per second. The recurrence 

interval for this peak discharge was between 10 and 

50 years. The high discharge inundated most of the 

community of Wakpala (Teller and Burr, 1998). 

Ice and snow outline the actual James River channel in 

northeastern South Dakota on April1, 1997. (Photograph by 

John Davis, Aberdeen American News, Aberdeen, South 

Dakota.) 

The James River is one of the major tributaries 

to the Missouri River in North and South Dakota. The 

headwaters of the James River are in central North 

Dakota. The drainage area for the James River Basin 

is about 20,900 square miles. The James River flows 

south through South Dakota and empties into the 

Missouri River in the southeastern part of that State. 

Since 1993, flooding occurred in many low-lying areas 

along the James River. On April19, 1997, the peak 

stage of the James River at Jamestown, N. Oak. 

(site 90, fig. 4, table 1), was 12.12 feet, which is 

3.70 feet less than the record set on May 13, 1950. On 

May 5, 1997, the peak discharge at the same site was 

1,880 cubic feet per second. The recurrence interval 

for this peak discharge was between 25 and 50 years. 

Discharge at the site is regulated by the Jamestown 

Dam. On April 1, 1997, the peak stage of the James 

River at LaMoure, N. Oak. (site 91, fig. 4, table 1), 

was 16.09 feet, which is 0.08 foot less than the record 

set on April 14, 1969, and the peak discharge was 

6,500 cubic feet per second. The recurrence interval 

for this peak discharge was between 15 and 45 years. 

On April6, 1997, the peak stage of the James River 

at Dakota Lake Dam near Ludden, N. Oak. (site 92, 

fig. 4, table 1), was 17.86 feet, which is 3.89 feet 

greater than the record set in 1996, and the peak 

discharge was 7,500 cubic feet per second. The recurrence interval for this peak discharge was between 25 

and 100 years. 

On April 6, 1997, the peak stage of the James 

River at Ashton, S. Oak. (site 97, fig. 4, table 1), was 

26.64 feet, which is 4.25 feet greater than the record 

set on May 18, 1995. On April 23, 1997, the peak 

discharge at the same site was 9,150 cubic feet 

per second. The recurrence interval for this peak 

discharge was between 100 and 200 years. Excessive 

tributary inflows at the same site on March 31, 1997, 

caused the discharge to reverse in the channel. A 

discharge of 8,400 cubic feet per second was measured 

flowing upstream. On April 6, 1997, the James Valley 

Christian School near Huron, S. Oak., was evacuated 

when dikes failed and accumulating downstream 

inflows inundated the school with 5 to 7 feet of 

water. On April6, 1997, the peak stage of the James 

River at Huron, S. Oak. (site 102, fig. 4, table 1), was 

21.28 feet, which is 4.42 feet greater than the record 

set on May 19, 1995, and the peak discharge was 

23,400 cubic feet per second. The recurrence interval 

for this peak discharge was between 150 and 

500 years. 

PEAK STAGES AND DISCHARGES FOR 1997 FLOOD 13 
THE LIFE OF A 

STREAMFLOW-GAGING STATION 

As part of its mission, the U.S. Geological Survey is responsible for the collection and interpretation 

of water-resources data from many of the Nation's rivers and streams. These data are used by several Federal, 

State, and local agencies to make decisions regarding the public's welfare during times of flooding. The primary 

source of these data is the U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station network. A streamflow-gaging 

station generally consists of a gage house, which contains instruments for recording continuous river stage. Some 

stations are equipped with instrumentation to transmit data by satellite for real-time acquisition of the data. The 

life of one such streamflow-gaging station is described on these pages. 

In March 1997, U.S. Geological Survey 

personnel dug down through several feet 

of snow to get to the gage-house door. 

U.S. Geological Survey personnel monitor 

gage-house instrumentation routinely and 

service equipment periodically to ensure 

the quality of the data collected. 

Since October 1945, water-resources data have 

been collected continuously by instruments in 

the James River at Ashton, S. Oak., gage 

house (site 97, fig. 4, table 1). 

14 Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for Streams in the Northern Plains, 1996-97 
In May 1998, the gage house was moved 

several feet back from the James River 

and elevated to minimize future flood 

damage. The concrete pad in the foreground indicates the previous location of 

the gage house during the 1997 spring 

flood. 

On April 8, 1997, the ice-encrusted gage 

house was flooded as a result of the 

melting of record-breaking winter snowfall and added precipitation from a blizzard on April 5-6, 1997. On April6, 

1997, the water was nearly a foot higher 

than the water level in this photograph. 

PEAK STAGES AND DISCHARGES FOR 1997 FLOOD 15 
The Big Sioux River is another tributary that 

flows into the Missouri River in the southeastern 

part of South Dakota. The headwaters of the Big 

Sioux River are in northeastern South Dakota. The 

drainage area for the Big Sioux River Basin is about 

9,000 square miles. Melting of a heavy snowpack in 

the spring of 1997 caused severe flooding around 

Watertown, S.Dak. On AprilS, 1997, the peak stage 

of the Big Sioux River near Watertown, S. Dak. 

(site 119, fig. 4, table 1), was 12.09 feet, which is 

0.96 foot greater than the record set on June 21, 1991, 

and the peak discharge was 7,820 cubic feet per 

second. The recurrence interval for this peak discharge 

was between 50 and 100 years. The daily mean stage 

for March through June 1997 and the previous peak 

stage for the Big Sioux River near Watertown, S.Dak., 

are shown in figure 5, and the daily mean discharge 

for March through June 1997 and the previous peak 

discharge are shown in figure 6. Lake Kampeska 

is located on the Big Sioux River near Watertown, 

S.Dak. Property along the shores of Lake Kampeska 

was extensively damaged from record-high lake levels 

caused by inflows from the river. On April 6, 1997, 

the peak stage of the Big Sioux River at Watertown, 

S.Dak. (site 121, fig. 4, table 1), was 12.49 feet, 

which is 1.09 feet greater than the record set on 

April 8, 1969, and the peak discharge was 5,800 cubic 

feet per second. The recurrence interval for this peak 

discharge was between 200 and 500 years. On 

April 11, 1997, the peak stage of the Big Sioux River 

near Castlewood, S.Dak. (site 124, fig. 4, table 1), 

was 12.87 feet, which is 1.14 feet greater than the 

record set on March 30, 1986, and the peak discharge 

was 4,300 cubic feet per second. The recurrence 

interval for this peak discharge was between 50 

and 200 years. The peak stage on April 7, 1997, 

was 13.19 feet, but that stage was affected by 

backwater. 

Comparison with Previous Floods 

Flooding in the northern plains is not 

uncommon. In any given year, the region is likely 

to have an area flooded either by spring snowmelt 

or by intense rainstorms. Within the last 200 years, 

the region has had several major floods. Before 

streamflow-gaging stations were installed on rivers 

and streams, records of high discharge were based 

on eyewitness accounts. On the basis of those 

accounts, extensive flooding occurred along the Red 

River in 1824, 1825, 1826, 1851, 1852, 1853, and 

1897; the 1897 flood was one of the most severe for 

the Red River Valley (Harrison and Bluemle, 1980). 

Some of the floods that occurred along the Red 

River in the 1800's apparently exceeded the worst 

floods of this century by several feet (Harrison and 

Bluemle, 1980). In this century, major flooding 

occurred in the Red River and upper Mississippi 

River Basins in 1979 when conditions were similar 

to those in 1997. More recently, major flooding 

occurred in the upper Mississippi River and 

Missouri River Basins as a result of extensive 

rainfall in the summer of 1993 (Parrett and others, 

1993; Wahl and others, 1993; Southard, 1995). 

Recent occurrences of major flooding in the three 

basins are listed in the following table: 

Year of major Red River of Upper Missouri the North Mississippi flooding Basin River Basin River Basin 

1950 X X 

1952 X 

1957 X 

1960 X 

1962 X 

1965 X X 

1966 X X 

1969 X X X 

1972 X 

1975 X X 

1978 X 

1979 X X 

1983 X 

1984 X 

1989 X 

1993 X X 

1997 X X X 

In the spring of 1997, record peak stages 

or discharges occurred at about one-half of the 

134 streamflow-gaging stations listed in table 1. 

Most of the record peaks occurred on the main stems 

of the Red River, the James River, and the Big Sioux 

River. The 1997 peak discharges on the lower Red 

River were about 30 to 60 percent greater than 

previous record peak discharges. Some of the 1997 

peak discharges on the James River were about 60 

to 200 percent greater than previous record peak 

16 Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for Streams in the Northern Plains, 1996-97 
discharges, and some of the 1997 peak discharges 

on the Big Sioux River were about 10 to 200 percent 

greater than previous record peak discharges. The 

1997 peak discharges and historical peak discharges 

for the period of record at selected streamflow-gaging 

stations in the northern plains are shown in figure 7. 

VOLUMES, OCTOBER 1, 1996, THROUGH 

SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 

Most flood volumes in the northern plains 

are the result of spring snowmelt, precipitation, 

or both. The highest flows normally occur during 

March through June. Occasionally, a flood may 

result from intense rainfall over a basin during another 

part of the year or, even rarer, from a blockage of 

normal flow. Regardless of the cause of a flood, the 

volumes of water that are generated in a basin need to 

be quantified to design bridges and flood-control structures such as reservoirs, dikes, and levees and to 

manage flows through regulatory controls such as 

dams. 

Flow volumes for water year 1997 (October 1, 

1996, through September 30, 1997) and mean annual 

volumes for the period of record at selected streamflowgaging stations are shown in figures 8, 9, and 10. 

Annual volumes rather than March through June flood 

volumes were used to illustrate the magnitude of flows 

occurring in water year 1997 because above-average 

flows continued in some parts of the basins after June, 

thus sustaining flood conditions. The direction of flow 

and the magnitude of volumes for stations on the main 

stems of the Red River, the Minnesota River, and the 

James River are shown in the figures along with the 

volumes for stations on many of the tributaries in each 

basin. The tributary volumes were determined at active 

continuous-record stations that were at or near the 

mouth of the tributaries. 

The volume for water year 1997 for 

the Red River at Emerson, Manitoba, was 

9,285,000 acre-feet or 353 percent of the mean 

annual volume (2,631,000 acre-feet) for the period 

of record (fig. 8). For stations on the main stem 

of the Red River, the 1997 volumes were 266 

to 412 percent of the mean annual volumes. For 

stations on selected tributaries to the Red River, the 

1997 volumes were 186 to 630 percent of the mean 

annual volumes. For the Bois de Sioux River near 

Doran, Minn., the 1997 volume was 516 percent of 

the mean annual volume, and, for the Wild Rice 

River near Abercrombie, N.Dak., the 1997 volume 

was 630 percent of the mean annual volume. The 

Bois de Sioux and Wild Rice Rivers are located 

in areas that received some of the highest snowfall totals during the winter of 1996-97 and that 

were particularly hard hit by the blizzard of 

April 5-6, 1997. 

The volume for water year 1997 for 

the Minnesota River near Jordan, Minn., was 

7,527,000 acre-feet or 238 percent of the mean 

annual volume (3,161,000 acre-feet) for the period 

of record (fig. 9). For stations on the main stem of 

the Minnesota River, the 1997 volumes were 238 

to 358 percent of the mean annual volumes. For 

stations on selected tributaries to the Minnesota 

River, the 1997 volumes were 260 to 378 percent 

of the mean annual volumes. Areas located upstream 

from Mankato, Minn., were particularly hard hit by 

flooding. 

The volume for water year 1997 for 

the James River near Scotland, S.Dak., was 

2,893,000 acre-feet or 712 percent of the mean 

annual volume (406,500 acre-feet) for the period 

of record (fig. 10). For stations on the main stem 

of the James River, the 1997 volumes were 367 

to 788 percent of the mean annual volumes. For 

stations on selected tributaries to the James River, 

the 1997 volumes were 368 to 501 percent of the 

mean annual volumes. For the James River at 

Huron, S.Dak., the 1997 volume was 788 percent 

of the mean annual volume. 

The volumes for water year 1997 as a 

percentage of the mean annual volumes for the periods 

of record for the James River are larger than those 

for the Red River or the Minnesota River. The larger 

percentages may be attributed to the substantial 

amounts of snowfall in parts of the James River Basin, 

but they also may be attributed to the shorter periods 

of record for many of the streamflow-gaging stations 

in the James River Basin. Statistics based on shorter 

periods of record are less reliable than those based on 

longer periods of record, particularly if the years of 

record are very wet or very dry. When compared to 

statistics computed for longer periods of record, statistics, such as the mean, computed for shorter periods of 

record may be highly influenced by an annual or single 

event. 

VOLUMES, OCTOBER 1, 1996, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 17 
15,000 

10,000 

5,000 

0 

30,000 

0 20,000 

z 

0 

(.) 

UJ 

(/) 

c: 10,000 

UJ 

[l_ 

1-

UJ 

UJ 

LL 0 (.) 

[i'j 150,000 :::> 

(.) 

~ 

ui 

Cl 100,000 c: 

~ 

I 

(.) 

(/) 

i3 50,000 

0 

60,000 

40,000 

20,000 

SITE NUMBER 4 

RED RIVER OF THE NORTH 

AT WAHPETON, N. OAK. 

SITE NUMBER 35 

RED LAKE RIVER AT 

CROOKSTON, MINN. 

SITE NUMBER 43 

RED RIVER OF THE NORTH 

AT EMERSON, MANITOBA 

SITE NUMBER 59 

MINNESOTA RIVER AT 

MONTEVIDEO, MINN. 

1997 

'\ 

1997 

""" 

1997 

"' 

1997 

"' 

30,000 

20,000 

10,000 

0 

150,000 

100,000 

50,000 

0 

6,000 

4,000 

2,000 

0 

150,000 

100,000 

50,000 

SITE NUMBER 8 

RED RIVER OF THE NORTH 

AT FARGO, N. OAK. 

SITE NUMBER 36 

RED RIVER OF THE NORTH 

AT GRAND FORKS, N. OAK. 

SITE NUMBER 52 

MINNESOTA RIVER 

AT ORTONVILLE, MINN. 

SITE NUMBER 65 

MINNESOTA RIVER 

NEAR JORDAN, MINN. 

1997 

\ 

1997 

""" 

1997 

"' 

1997 

~ 

Figure 7. The 1997 peak discharges and historical peak discharges at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the northern 

plains. 

Magnitude and Duration of n-Day Flows 

The n-day maximum mean discharge is the 

highest mean discharge sustained for n consecutive 

days. The comparisons between the n-day discharges 

for 1997 and then-day discharges for the period of 

record are made with the assumption that channel and 

drainage-basin characteristics for each streamflowgaging station did not change during the periods used 

for comparison. Data were analyzed for 82 of the 

134 streamflow-gaging stations listed in table 1. Of 

the 82 stations, 34 are in the Red River Basin, 11 

are in the upper Mississippi River Basin, and 37 

are in the Missouri River Basin. 

The 3-, 7-, and 30-day maximum mean 

discharges for 1997 and for the periods of record 

are listed in table 2 in the "Tabular Information" 

section at the back of this report. In 1997, record 

3-day maximum mean discharges occurred at 43 of 

the 82 stations. Of those 43 stations, 19 are in the Red 

River Basin, 6 are in the upper Mississippi River Basin 

18 Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for Streams in the Northern Plains, 1996-97 
40,000 

30,000 

20,000 

10,000 

0 

100,000 

80,000 

Cl 

z 60,000 

0 

(.) 

~ 40,000 

a: 

w 

£L 20,000 fw 

w 

lJ._ 0 (.) 

co 10,000 ::J 

(.) 

~ 

ui 8,000 r-

(.!) 

a: 

<{ 6,000 r- I 

(.) 

(/) 4,000 r- 0 

2,ooo r0 

6,000 

4,ooo r2,000 rI 

SITE NUMBER 69 

KNIFE RIVER AT 

HAZEN, N. DAK. 

SITE NUMBER 74 

CEDAR CREEK NEAR 

RALEIGH, N. DAK. 

SITE NUMBER 97 

JAMES RIVER AT 

ASHTON, S. DAK. 

I 

SITE NUMBER 121 

BIG SIOUX RIVER AT 

WATERTOWN, S. DAK. 

1900 1920 1940 

1997 

\ 

1997 

"' 

1997 

"' 

1960 1980 2000 

600,000 

400,000 

200,000 

0 

8,000 

6,000 r4,000 r2,000 r0 

30,000 

20,000 

I 

SITE NUMBER 70 

MISSOURI RIVER AT 

BISMARCK, N. DAK. 

SITE NUMBER 91 

JAMES RIVER AT 

LAMOURE, N. DAK. 

SITE NUMBER 102 

JAMES RIVER AT 

HURON, S. DAK. 

1997 

"' 

I1,1JJtl1, t ,J Jlt, Ll 

1997 

'\ 

OL--L--L-~--~~L-~~~~~~~~~~ 

6,000 r--r---,-------r---,------r--...,-----r---,-------r---,--,,------, 

SITE NUMBER 124 

BIG SIOUX RIVER NEAR 

CASTLEWOOD, S. DAK. 

1997 

\ 

Figure 7. The 1997 peak discharges and historical peak discharges at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the northern 

plains-Continued. 

(including the Minnesota River Basin), and 18 are 

in the Missouri River Basin (including the James 

River and Big Sioux River Basins). The 60-, 90-, 

and 120-day maximum mean discharges for 1997 

and for the periods of record are listed in table 3 in 

the "Tabular Information" section at the back of 

this report. In 1997, record 120-day maximum mean 

discharges occurred at 44 of the 82 stations. Of those 

44 stations, 16 are in the Red River Basin, 8 are in the 

upper Mississippi River Basin, and 20 are in the 

Missouri River Basin. 

Recurrence Intervals for n-Day Flows 

The statistical procedure used to compute 

recurrence intervals for peak discharges also is 

applicable to flow analysis for any specific highest 

daily mean discharge for n-day periods. Generally, 

the longer then-day period and the longer the recurrence intervals for that discharge, the more significant 

then-day discharge for 1997 when compared to 

the previous maximums on record. The recurrence 

interval for the 3-day maximum mean discharge for 

VOLUMES, OCTOBER 1, 1996, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 19 
C A N ADA 

i"i"'NTTYDSTA-iE--s---- ------------

Site number 42 

Pembina River at (490) = 764•

600 

156,000 Neche, N. Oak. 

S~e number 39 

Park River at (379) = 164•

600 

Grafton, N. Oak. 43,400 

Site number 43 

Red River of the North 

at Emerson, Manitoba 

9,285,000 = (353) 

2,631 ,000 

127 300 Site number 41 

68,340 = (186) South Branch Two Rivers 

at Lake Bronson, Minn. 

84 360 Site number 38 

31 :

130 =(271) Middle River at 

Site number 37 114 800 

F

Mmto orest , NRiver . Oakat . (307) = .]_ ~, :::::::~:,_::=:== ---------------- Argyle, Minn. 

(362) = 7,290,000 

2,014,000 

Site number 36 / 

Red River of the North 

at Grand Forks, N. Oak. 

S~e number 29 

Goose River at 

Hillsboro, N. Oak. 

(452) = 276,700 61 ,260 

Site number 21 

Sheyenne River Diversion 

at West Fargo, N. Oak. 

(386) = 581 ,800 

150,800 

(412) = 1,896,000 

460,500 / 

Site number 8 / 

Red River of the North 

at Fargo, N. Oak. 

Site number 7 

Wild Rice River near 

Abercrombie, N. Oak. 

(630) = 405,100 

64,350 

Site number 4 

Red River of the North 

at Wahpeton, N. Oak. 

(266) = 1 '158,000 

435,700 

Grand Forks, North Dakota 

Wahpeton, North Dakota 

S~e number 35 

Red Lake River at 

Crookston, Minn. 

2,111 ,000 = (253) 

835,900 

160 300 Site number 31 

56,1 10 = (286) Sand Hill River at 

Climax, Minn. 

Site number 27 

Wild Rice River at 

Hendrum, Minn. 

592,500 = (284) 

208,900 

311 200 Site number 25 

102:

600 = (303) Buffalo River near 

Dilworth, Minn. 

EXPLANATION 

D Volume for water year 1997 

• Mean annual volume for period of record 

(204) Volume for water year 1997 as a percentage 

of mean annual volume for period of record 

Site number 1 

502,500 = (204) Otter Tail River below 

246,000 Orwell Dam near 

Fergus Falls, Minn. 

Site number 3 388'

000 = (516) Bois de Sioux River 75,220 near Doran, Minn. 

Figure 8. Flow volume, in acre-feet, for water year 1997 and mean annual volume, in acre-feet, for period of 

record at streamflow-gaging stations on the main stem of the Red River of the North and stations on selected 

tributaries to the Red River of the North. 

20 Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for Streams in the Northern Plains, 1996-97 
< 

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EXPLANATION 

D Volume for water year 1997 

• Mean annual volume for period of record 

(238) Volume for water year 1997 as a percentage 

of mean annual volume for period of record 

%- <\),; 

~,& &"'v. 

'-6 <~'o<'o> "-'6 ,.~., ~,:, &,. 6'6' 

' %_,<9 ... .,<9 

~ ~ ..... 

~..;! 

~,, > 

.y~ , 6')' ~> ·oa ..._ ·oaov 

Figure 9. Flow volume, in acre-feet, for water year 1997 and mean annual volume, in acre-feet, for period of record at streamflow-gaging stations on the 

main stem of the Minnesota River and stations on selected tributaries to the Minnesota River. 
NORTH DAKOTA _ _ _ Dakota Lake Dam 

SOUTH DAKOTA ----

Siten 

£trn umber 95 

Westpo~'Vser at 

' · Oak 

(Sot)"' 200,

200 · 

~ 

D 

• (367) 

EXPLANATION 

Volume for water year 1997 

M ean annual volume for period of record 

Volume for water year 1997 

as a percentage of mean annual 

volume for period of record 

(666)"' 1, to8,

~ 

000 

Figure 10. Flow volume, in acre-feet, for water year 1997 and mean annual volume, in acre-feet, for 

period of record at streamflow-gaging stations on the main stem of the James River and stations on 

selected tributaries to the James River. 

22 Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for Streams in the Northern Plains, 1996-97 
1997 was 100 years at 14 of the 82 streamflowgaging stations and greater than 100 years at 5 of the 

82 streamflow-gaging stations (table 2). Of the five 

stations that had recurrence intervals greater than 

100 years, three are in the Red River Basin, one is in 

the upper Mississippi River Basin, and one is in the 

Missouri River Basin. The recurrence interval for the 

120-day maximum mean discharge for 1997 was 

100 years at 8 of the 82 streamflow-gaging stations 

and greater than 100 years at 6 of the 82 streamflowgaging stations (table 3). Of the six stations that had 

recurrence intervals greater than 100 years, two are in 

the Red River Basin and four are in the Missouri River 

Basin. 

ELEVATIONS AND CONTENTS OF 

SELECTED RESERVOIRS AND LAKES 

Flood control is a function of many reservoirs 

in the northern plains. The elevations and contents of 

selected reservoirs and lakes in the region (fig. 4) are 

listed in table 4 in the "Tabular Information" section at 

the back of this report. The largest dams in the region 

are on the Missouri River. Of the six major dams on 

the Missouri River, one (Garrison) is in North Dakota, 

four (Oahe, Big Bend, Fort Randall, and Gavins Point) 

are in South Dakota, and one (not included in this 

report) is in Montana. In 1997, snowmelt in North 

Dakota and South Dakota in April and snowmelt in 

the Rocky Mountains of Montana and Wyoming in 

June produced the largest discharges in the Missouri 

River Basin in a century of record keeping. The 

six major reservoirs on the Missouri River have 

a capacity of73.4 million acre-feet. In 1997, the reservoirs held 71.6 million acre-feet of water, the largest 

volume since July 1975 when the reservoirs held 

72.1 million acre-feet of water. By capturing the 

runoff from snowmelt and timing the releases at all 

dams, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was able to 

prevent major flooding along the main stem of the 

Missouri River downstream from the dams. The peak 

stage of the Missouri River at Bismarck, N. Dak., in 

April 1997 was about 13.7 feet; flood stage is about 

16.0 feet. Without Garrison Dam, the peak stage for 

April1997 probably would have been about 17.5 feet, 

and the peak stage for June 1997 probably would have 

been about 20.5 feet (Paul Johnston, U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers, written commun., 1997). The peak stage 

of the Missouri River at Pierre, S. Dak., in April 1997 

was about 12.6 feet; flood stage is about 15.0 feet. 

Without the dams, the peak stage for April1997 

probably would have been about 21.0 feet, and the 

peak stage for June 1997 probably would have been 

about 19.0 feet (Paul Johnston, written commun., 

1997). 

Peak discharges on the James River and 

the Minnesota River and on tributaries to the Red 

River also were affected by dams. During the 1997 

spring floods, many of the smaller reservoirs were 

at or near storage capacity. The amount of discharge 

into a reservoir, the volume of water currently being 

stored in the reservoir, the volume of water that can 

be stored before a critical stage exists, and the types 

of hydrologic conditions that exist downstream from 

the reservoir determine the discharge that can be 

released from the reservoir without causing a detrimental effect downstream. Discharges into and out of 

six selected reservoirs in the northern plains during 

March through June 1997 are shown in figure 11. 

During that time, the discharges into and out of 

Homme Lake near Park River, N.Dak., were nearly 

identical. Reservoir elevations for April through 

June 1997 indicated the reservoir storage was near 

capacity during those months (G. Heitzman, 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, written commun., 

1997). Lower Red Lake near Red Lake, Minn., is part 

of a naturally occurring lake system (the Upper and 

Lower Red Lakes). The reservoir has a storage 

capacity of about 4 million acre-feet (Ruddy and 

Hitt, 1990). During March and April1997, storage 

in the reservoir increased 333,300 acre-feet because 

of snowmelt in the area. Because of the storage 

capacity, discharge out of the reservoir during those 

months remained fairly constant. During April 1997, 

discharges into Orwell Lake near Fergus Falls, 

Minn., and Lake Traverse near Wheaton, Minn., 

were larger than discharges out of those reservoirs. 

The difference in discharges probably was caused 

by the melting of heavy snowpacks in the area, 

additional moisture in the area from the blizzard 

on April 5-6, 1997, and attempts to mitigate 

downstream flooding during April by controlling 

discharge from the reservoirs. High flows have 

an unusual effect on Lake Traverse, located about 

6 miles upstream from Mud Lake on the Bois de 

Sioux River in Minnesota. When the water level in 

ELEVATIONS AND CONTENTS OF SELECTED RESERVOIRS AND LAKES 23 
8,000 

6,000 

4,000 

2,000 

0 

0 -2,000 z 

0 4,000 () 

w 

(j) 

a: 

w 3,000 

a.. 

Iw 

w 2,000 u.. 

() 

ili 

::> 1,000 () 

z 

w 0 C} 

a: 

<( 

I 

() -1 ,000 (j) 

0 20,000 

15,000 

10,000 

5,000 

0 

Discharge into reservoir 

Discharge out of reservoir 

Discharge into reservoir 

Discharge out of reservoir 

Discharge into reservoir 

Discharge out of reservoir •• 

SITE NUMBER 01 

BALDHILL RESERVOIR NEAR 

VALLEY CITY, N. OAK. 

...... 

SITE NUMBER 02 

HOMME LAKE NEAR 

PARK RIVER, N. OAK. 

SITE NUMBER 07 

LAKE TRAVERSE NEAR 

WHEATON, MINN. 

- 5'000 LL.<..L..U.5~-'-1.u0 ~u.15~-'-2.uO...L.L.u.25_.L.JJ..J.J..J3-'-1 ~-'-5.L.JJ..u1 O...L.L.u1-'-5.L.JJ..u2u.O _.L.JJ2-'-5.L..U..L..3L..LO_.L.JJ...L5.L..U..L..1u0 _.L.JJ1...L5.L..U..L.2uO..J.J..J2-'-5.L..LJ._.L.JJ3-'-1 .L..U.5.L..LJ._.L.JJ1 O..J.J..Ju.1.L..5L..L.J...u2-'-0 .L..U.2.l...5L..L.J...u30 

March April May June 

Figure 11. Discharge into and out of selected reservoirs in the northern plains, March through June 1997. (Data from the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District. All reservoir data were retrieved during July 1998. Lower Red Lake data were 

updated during February 1999. Negative discharge into reservoirs can be caused by evaporation from the pool, wind effect on 

the pool elevation, or other similar conditions.) 

Lake Traverse reaches about 977 feet above sea level, 

water spills into Mud Lake and begins filling that 

lake. When the water level in Mud Lake reaches 

about 977 feet above sea level, both lakes combine 

and form a much larger Lake Traverse. The water 

level in the larger Lake Traverse can rise to about 

982 feet above sea level before water needs to be 

released downstream from White Rock Dam on Mud 

Lake. This situation occurred with Lake Traverse and 

Mud Lake during the 1997 spring floods. A similar 

situation exists with Lac Qui Parle Reservoir and 

Marsh Lake in the Minnesota River Basin. 

24 Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for Streams in the Northern Plains, 1996-97 
2,500 rTT"TTT"TTT"TTT"TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT"TT1"TT1"TT1"TT1CTTlCTTlrrT"rrT"rTT"rTT"rTT"TTT"TTT"rTTl 

• • • • • • • • Discharge into reservoir 

2,000 -- Discharge out of reservoir 

1,500 

1,000 

0 

. 

~ 

.. 

. . 

.. " 

. . SITE NUMBER DB 

ORWELL LAKE NEAR 

FERGUS FALLS, MINN . 

· ........................... ··· ·-·· 

5 40,000 C'T'r1rTT'TTTTTTT'rrnrrrTTTTTTT'T'TT'"rTTTT 

1 rrnrrrTTTTTTT'T'TT'"rTT'lTTTTTTT'TfTTTTTTT'TT'"rTT'lTTTTTTTTT""rTT'lrTT'TTff"T'r1TTTTTTTTT""rTT'lrTT'TTTTTTT""rT'TT1 

() 

UJ 

CJ) 

a: 

UJ 

a.. 

1-

UJ 

UJ 

u. 

() 

ro 

::J 

() 

z 

30,000 r20,000 f10,000 fDischarge into reservoir 

Discharge out of reservoir 

.................................. ······· ....... ····· .. 

SITE NUMBER D9 

LOWER RED LAKE NEAR 

RED LAKE, MINN. -

-

-

w 

CJ 

a: 

"'~ . .. ...... . 0 f- " '•J • ..• ·· ... ._:· .•• • • .. · ...................................... --

~ - 1 o,ooo LLJ...LJ...L.Ju...w..J...J....L..1.J..J...1.J..J..L.LL.I...J..I..L.LJ....L.LJ...LJ...1.JILJ...l.J..J...J....L..1.J..J...1.J..J..L.LL.I...J..I..I...J..I.J..J..J..u...1.J..J.I.I...J..I.J....LJ._.L.LJ...J...J...J..I...J....WLJ...l.Ju...w..1.J..J...1.J..J...1.J..J. I .I...J..I..I...J..I.J..J..J..J...J...J..LJ...l.Ju...w..J...J....L..1.J..J..J..J.J 

CJ) 80,000 rTT"TTT"TTT"TTT"TTT"TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT"TT1"TT1"TT1"TT1"TT1CTTlCTTlCTTlrrT"rTT"rTT"rTT"rTT"rrr1 

0 

Discharge into reservoir 

60,000 Discharge out of reservoir 

40,000 

20,000 

.; 

'• '• 

::: 

SITE NUMBER D11 

LAC QUI PARLE RESERVOIR 

NEAR WATSON, MINN. 

0 ~~5~a10~~1~5~2~0~~25~~u...w~5.L.LL.L.LL.L.LL~15LLJ.._~2~0LLJ.._I..J.25.L.LL~.L.LL~5J..J..J..~J..J..J.. ~~w25~~3~1 5~~10~~1~5~2~0~~25~~30 

March Apri l June 

Figure 11. Discharge into and out of selected reservoirs in the northern plains, March through June 1997-Continued. 

EFFECTS OF WINTER STORMS AND 

SPRING FLOODS ON PEOPLE IN THE 

NORTHERN PLAINS 

For thousands of years, major snowstorms or 

floods have occurred somewhere in the northern plains 

in any given year. However, the winter and spring of 

1996-97 was the first time in recent history when 

severe weather and widespread flooding combined to 

devastate so many people in the northern plains. With 

any natural disaster, the effect on humans cannot be 

determined until long after the disaster has occurred. 

The snowstorms and floods that occurred during 

1996-97 are no exception. The effects of major snowstorms and floods on people in the northern plains 

during the winter and spring of 1996-97 are described 

in publications by the North Dakota Water Education 

Foundation (1997) and The Forum (1997). 

EFFECTS OF WINTER STORMS AND SPRING FLOODS ON PEOPLE IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS 25 
Floodwater moved this house off its foundation and on top 

of a car in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in the spring of 

1997. (Photograph from North Dakota Geological Survey.) 

The winter of 1996-97 in the northern plains 

was one of the most severe on record. A series of 

storms produced recordbreaking snowfall in many 

parts of the northern plains and periodically caused the 

closing of schools and businesses. Cities, towns, counties, and townships exhausted budgets, manpower, and 

machines trying to keep roads clear and traffic 

moving. Little-used secondary roads became increasingly difficult to keep open; eventually, some of those 

roads were closed until after the snow melted and the 

floodwaters receded. The closed roads affected many 

people. For example, dairy farmers were forced to 

empty milk-storage tanks on their property time and 

again when tanker trucks carrying milk could not 

make it to and from markets. Livestock losses across 

the region also were high (table 5 in the "Tabular 

Information" section at the back of this report). In 

North Dakota, unofficial reports indicate more than 

137,000 cattle either froze during blizzards or 

drowned during flooding. In South Dakota, total livestock losses were estimated to be more than 296,000 

(Teller and Burr, 1998). Many of the livestock losses 

in both North Dakota and South Dakota occurred 

during the blizzard on April 5-6, 1997. Heavy snows 

and high winds caused farms and communities 

throughout the region to be without electrical power 

several times during the winter. During the spring blizzard, ice and wind toppled transmission towers and 

power poles. In central and eastern North Dakota, 

5,729 power poles were lost to ice damage, causing 

about 36,150 consumers to be without power for many 

days or, in some cases, even longer (North Dakota 

Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, 1997). 

As winter ended, snowmelt began. At first, 

floodwaters covered low-lying areas and affected 

mostly rural and agricultural lands, but, as the snow 

continued to melt, the floodwaters began pouring 

into towns and cities along many rivers in the 

region; many people lost their homes, businesses, or 

other property. President Clinton issued Presidential 

Disaster Declarations for all of the counties in 

North Dakota and South Dakota and for 59 of the 

87 counties in Minnesota (table 5), resulting in 

Federal assistance of more than $2 billion. The 

Federal Emergency Management Agency, along 

with the Division of Emergency Management 

offices in each State, rendered aid, in the form of 

emergency shelter, food, and clothing, to the floodravaged region. Many residents began applying for 

Federal disaster assistance, disaster housing assistance, small business loans, and unemployment 

claims (table 5). Organizations such as the 

American Red Cross and the Salvation Army 

supplied temporary housing, clothing, meals, and 

basic staples and necessities. Additional supplies 

and aid came from other organizations and from 

countless individuals. The National Guard supplied 

temporary drinking-water-supply units, built dikes, 

and rescued people and animals stranded by the 

floodwaters. Most of the floodwaters receded in a 

few months, but cleaning, repairing, and rebuilding 

many of the communities affected by the floods is 

taking much longer. 

Debris from flood-ravaged homes lined many streets in 

Grand Forks, North Dakota, in the spring of 1997. (Photograph from North Dakota Geological Survey.) 

26 Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for Streams in the Northern Plains, 1996-97 
CHRONOLOGICAL OVERVIEW 

Flooding in the northern plains usually is caused 

by spring snowmelt. Conditions that contribute to 

flooding include above-normal precipitation in the fall, 

high soil-moisture levels at freezeup, above-normal 

snowfall in the winter, a late spring thaw, abovenormal precipitation during the spring thaw, and ice 

jams on rivers and streams. Many of these conditions 

were present in the northern plains before and during 

the 1997 spring floods. 

During September through October 1996, 

precipitation in the flood-affected region generally 

was between 4 and 8 inches; however, precipitation 

in east-central South Dakota was more than 10 inches. 

Most of the region received between 100 and 

300 percent of normal precipitation, and single-day 

totals at some weather stations nearly equaled or 

exceeded the monthly normal. 

During November 1996 through March 1997, a 

series of winter storms caused above-normal precipitation (125 to 200 percent of normal) across the region. 

Snowfall totals exceeded 100 inches in the southern 

part of the Red River Basin, the central part of the 

Missouri River Basin, and the central part of the Big 

Sioux River Basin. Temperatures in most of the region 

were below normal and few mild days occurred during 

the winter. The colder temperatures slowed the dissipation of accumulated snowfall so that substantial 

snowpacks remained in many areas. Generally, the 

areas that received the most snowfall had the highest 

river stages and peak discharges in the spring. 

Spring flooding began in west-central and 

southeastern North Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, 

and north-central South Dakota by mid-March. 

However, colder temperatures at the end of March and 

a blizzard on April 5-6 slowed the snowmelt. The 

blizzard brought a severe drop in temperatures, windspeeds as much as 70 miles per hour, and as much as 

2 feet of snow, with drifts many feet higher in several 

areas. The drifting caused many roads in the region to 

be blocked. Schools and businesses were closed for 

several days. In southeastern North Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, and eastern South Dakota, the 

blizzard was preceded by wind-driven rain and sleet. 

The wind and ice toppled transmission towers and 

power poles, leaving thousands of people without 

power for days. Livestock losses were high because 

the intensity and timing of the blizzard prevented 

many farmers and ranchers from reacting in time to 

save their livestock. The blizzard also hampered flood 

and rescue operations in areas where flooding already 

was occurring. The additional moisture brought by the 

blizzard added to the flows in many basins and caused 

ice jams on many rivers and streams in the region. 

Peak stages and discharges occurred on many 

rivers and streams in the northern plains. In the Red 

River Basin, heavy snowpacks and a northerly flow 

combined to cause some of the worst flooding in this 

century. Record peak stages or discharges occurred at 

28 of 45 streamflow-gaging stations. Grand Forks, 

N.Dak., and East Grand Forks, Minn., which are 

located on the main stem of the Red River, were 

evacuated when floodwaters inundated both cities. 

The flow volumes for water year 1997 at selected 

streamflow-gaging stations were 186 to 630 percent 

of the mean annual volumes for the period of record. 

Most of the reservoirs in the Red River Basin were at 

or near storage capacity. 

In the upper Mississippi River Basin (including 

the Minnesota River Basin), record peak stages or 

discharges occurred at 10 of 22 streamflow-gaging 

stations. Some streams such as the Yellow Medicine 

River and the Redwood River crested at the end of 

March during the first major warmup. Areas located 

upstream from Mankato, Minn., were particularly 

hard hit by flooding. The flow volumes for water 

year 1997 at selected streamflow-gaging stations 

were 260 to 378 percent of the mean annual volumes 

for the period of record. Some reservoirs in the upper 

Mississippi River Basin were at or near storage 

capacity. 

The flag of the United States of America flies over floodwater in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in April 1997. (Photograph from North Dakota Water Education Foundation and 

North Dakota National Guard.) 

CHRONOLOGICAL OVERVIEW 27 
In the Missouri River Basin (including the 

James River and Big Sioux River Basins), record peak 

stages or discharges occurred at 34 of 67 streamflowgaging stations. Discharges on the main stem of the 

Missouri River are controlled by a series of large 

dams. Without such control, peak stages probably 

would have been about 4 to 8 feet higher in many 

areas. Flooding did occur on some of the tributaries 

to the Missouri River. The flow volumes for water 

year 1997 at selected streamflow-gaging stations on 

one of the tributaries, the James River, were 367 to 

788 percent of the mean annual volumes for the period 

of record. Several low-lying areas were inundated by 

the high discharges, and when dikes failed near Huron, 

S.Dak., the James Valley Christian School was inundated with 5 to 7 feet of water. 

In 1997, record 3-day maximum mean 

discharges occurred at 43 of 82 streamflow-gaging 

stations, and record 120-day maximum mean 

discharges occurred at 44 of 82 streamflow-gaging 

stations. Of the 82 stations analyzed, 34 are in the Red 

River Basin, 11 are in the upper Mississippi River 

Basin, and 37 are in the Missouri River Basin. 

The floodwaters and severe weather forced 

thousands of people to flee their homes, some permanently, and caused more than $2 billion in damages to 

the region. All of the counties in North Dakota and 

South Dakota and 59 of the 87 counties in Minnesota 

were declared Federal disaster areas. 

SELECTED REFERENCES 

Benson, M.A., and Dalrymple, Tate, 1967, General field and 

office procedures for indirect discharge measurements: 

U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of WaterResources Investigations, book 3, chap. A1, 30 p. 

Harrison, S.S., and Bluemle, J.P., 1980, Flooding in the 

Grand Forks-East Grand Forks area: North Dakota 

Geological Survey Educational Series 12, 66 p. 

Interagency Advisory Committee on Water Data, 1982, 

Guidelines for determining flood flow frequency: U.S. 

Geological Survey, Bulletin 17B of the Hydrology 

Subcommittee, 183 p. 

Kennedy, E.J., 1984, Discharge ratings at gaging stations: 

U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of WaterResources Investigations, book 3, chap. A10, 59 p. 

Macek-Rowland, K.M., 1997, 1997 floods in the 

Red River of the North and Missouri River Basins 

in North Dakota and western Minnesota: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97-575, 8 p. 

Macek-Rowland, K.M., Burr, M.J., and Mitton, G.B., 2001, 

Precipitation in the northern plains, September 1996 

through April 1997: U.S. Geological Survey 

Circular 1185-A, 19 p. 

North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, 

1997, The fury: North Dakota REC/RTC, v. 43, no. 11, 

p. 4-10. 

North Dakota Water Education Foundation, 1997, Flood 

disaster of 1997: North Dakota Water, v. 5, issue 5, 

31 p. 

Owenby, J.R., and Ezell, D.S., 1992a, Monthly station 

normals of temperature, precipitation, and heating and 

cooling degree days, 1961-90, Minnesota: U.S. 

Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration, National Climatic Data 

Center, Asheville, North Carolina, Climatography of 

the United States No. 81, unpaginated. 

---1992b, Monthly station normals of temperature, 

precipitation, and heating and cooling degree days, 

1961-90, North Dakota: U.S. Department of 

Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, National Climatic Data Center, 

Asheville, North Carolina, Climatography of the 

United States No. 81, unpaginated. 

---1992c, Monthly station normals of temperature, 

precipitation, and heating and cooling degree days, 

1961-90, South Dakota: U.S. Department of 

Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, National Climatic Data Center, 

Asheville, North Carolina, Climatography of the 

United States No. 81, unpaginated. 

Parrett, Charles, Melcher, N.B., and James, R.W., Jr., 1993, 

Flood discharges in the upper Mississippi River Basin, 

1993: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1120-A, 14 p. 

Ruddy, B.C., and Hitt, K.J., 1990, Summary of selected 

characteristics of large reservoirs in the United States 

and Puerto Rico, 1988: U.S. Geological Survey OpenFile Report 90-163, 295 p. 

Southard, Rodney, 1995, Flood volumes in the upper 

Mississippi River Basin, April 1 through 

September 30, 1993: U.S. Geological Survey 

Circular 1120-H, 32 p. 

Teller, R.W., and Burr, M.J., 1998, Floods in north-central 

and eastern South Dakota, spring 1997: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-021-98, 4 p. 

28 Peak Discharges and Flow Volumes for Streams in the Northern Plains, 1996-97 
The Forum, 1997, Fighting back-The blizzards and floods 

in the Red River Valley, 1996-97: Fargo, North 

Dakota, Forum Communications Company, 111 p. 

U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration, National Environmental 

Satellite, Data and Information Service, 1996-97 a, 

Climatological data, Minnesota, September 1996 

through April 1997: Asheville, North Carolina, v. 102, 

no. 9, through v. 103, no. 4, unpaginated. 

---1996-97b, Climatological data, North Dakota, 

September 1996 through April 1997: Asheville, 

North Carolina, v. 105, no. 9, through v. 106, no. 4, 

unpaginated. 

---1996-97c, Climatological data, South Dakota, 

September 1996 through April1997: Ash~ville, North 

Carolina, v. 101, no. 9, through v. 102, no. 4, unpaginated. 

U.S. Geological Survey, 1991, National water summary 

1988-89-Hydrologic events and floods and droughts: 

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2375, 

591 p. 

Wahl, K.L., Vining, K.C., and Wiehe, G.J., 1993, Precipitation in the upper Mississippi River Basin, January 1 

through July 31, 1993: U.S. Geological Survey 

Circular 1120-B, 13 p. 

SELECTED REFERENCES 29 

TABULAR INFORMATION 

Table 1. Historical peak stages and peak discharges and 1997 peak stages, peak discharges, and recurrence intervals at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the 

Red River of the North, upper Mississippi River, and Missouri River Basins, North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota 

[ft3/s, cubic feet per second;--, not available;<, less than] 

Drainage 

Maximum peaks previously known Maximum peaks during February 

Site Period of from period of record through September 1997 area number Station name and number (square known Recurrence 

(fig. 4) peaks Date Stage Date Discharge Date Stage Date Discharge interval miles) (feet) (tt3/s) (feet) (ft3/s) (years) 

Red River of the North Basin 

Otter Tail River below Orwell Dam near Fergus 1,740 1931-97 06-17-1953 a5.60 06-17-1953 1,710 05-22-1997 4.63 05-22-1997 1,500 b10-25 

Falls, Minn. (05046000) 

2 Bois de Sioux River near White Rock, S.Dak. 1,160 1942-97 04-19-1969 c 15.07 04-19-1969 3,770 04-20-1997 16.90 04-20-1997 8,750 b100-200 

(05050000) 

3 Bois de Sioux River near Doran, Minn. 1,880 1989-97 03-16-1995 22.33 03-16-1995 4,290 04-16-1997 24.42 04-16-1997 12,300 

(05051300) 

4 Red River of the North at Wahpeton, N. Dak. 4,010 1897 1897 dl7.00 1897 d10,500 04-06-1997 ac19.42 

(05051500) 1942-97 04-05-1989 17.95 04-10-1969 9,200 04-15-1997 19.25 04-15-1997 12,800 50-150 

e2,200 

5 Red River of the North at Hickson, N. Dak. 4,300 1976-97 04-07-1989 35.81 04-07-1989 12,900 04-14-1997 36.85 04-14-1997 13,300 50-150 

(05051522) 04-16-1997 37.60 04-16-1997 12,800 

6 La Belle Creek near Veblen, S.Dak. 8.74 1988-97 03-26-1989 a8.58 05-18-1996 664 04-01-1997 al2.57 

(05051650) 04-04-1997 a10.60 04-04-1997 a100 <10 

7 Wild Rice River near Abercrombie, N.Dak. 2,080 1897 1897 27.50 -- 04-06-1997 a26.59 

(05053000) 1933-97 04-11-1969 24.58 04-11-1969 9,540 04-16-1997 25.40 04-16-1997 9,470 b25-70 

8 Red River of the North at Fargo, N. Dak. 6,800 1882 04-11-1882 d36.10 04-11-1882 d20,000 04-17-1997 39.57 04-17-1997 28,000 50-100 

(05054000) 1897 04-07-1897 d39.10 04-07-1897 d25,000 04-18-1997 39.72 04-18-1997 27,700 

1902-97 04-15-1969 37.34 04-15-1969 25,300 

9 Sheyenne River near Warwick, N. Dak. 2,070 1950-97 04-18-1956 a7.83 04-14-1969 4,660 04-21-1997 8.08 04-21-1997 3,990 10-25 

(05056000) 

10 Mauvais Coulee near Cando, N. Dak. 387 1954-97 04-25-1979 11.18 04-25-1979 2,660 04-21-1997 11.68 04-21-1997 3,000 10-50 

(05056100) 

-1 11 Edmore Coulee near Edmore, N.Dak. 382 1956-97 07-30-1993 87.76 07-30-1993 1,180 04-24-1997 87.95 04-24-1997 1,830 10-50 l> (05056200) tD 

c: 

r- 12 Starkweather Coulee near Webster, N. Dak. 310 1980-97 04-06-1989 10.05 08-11-1987 570 04-04-1997 8.79 )> 

:a (05056239) 04-27-1997 7.75 04-27-1997 782 25-100 

z 

., 13 Big Coulee near Churchs Ferry, N.Dak. g2,510 1950-97 04-23-1995 7.62 04-23-1995 1,450 09-12-1997 f10.74 

0 (05056400) -- -- 05-04-1997 2,280 g25-100 :!! 

.:. 

)> 14 Channel A near Penn, N.Dak. (05056410) 930 1984-97 08-15-1993 43.67 08-15-1993 1,560 04-30-1997 45.55 04-30-1997 2,050 ..... 05-05-1997 h45.74 05-05-1997 a2,010 0 

z 15 Sheyenne River near Cooperstown, N.Dak. 6,470 1945-97 04-18-1996 19.13 04-17-1950 7,830 04-24-1997 18.52 04-24-1997 5,280 10-25 

(05057000) 

w 

Co) 
(o) Table 1. Historical peak stages and peak discharges and 1997 peak stages, peak discharges, and recurrence intervals at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the ol:lo 

Red River of the North, upper Mississippi River, and Missouri River Basins, North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota-Continued 

"'D 

[ft3/s, cubic feet per second;--, not available;<. less than] CD Q) 

~ 

c 

(ij" Maximum peaks previously known Maximum peaks during February (") Drainage :::r Site Period of from period of record through September 1997 Q) area cO number Station name and number (square known Recurrence CD (fig. 4) peaks Date Stage Date Discharge Date Stage Date Discharge interval 1/) miles) (feet) (ft3/s) (feet) (ft3 Q) /s) (years) :::::1 

c. Red River of the North Basin-Continued "11 

0 16 Sheyenne River at Valley City, N. Oak. 7,810 1882 04-1882 20.00 -- -- 04-19-1997 18.01 04-19-1997 4,810 bl5-40 :e 

< (05058500) 1897 04-21-1996 18.78 04-21-1996 5,250 0 1919 

c 1938-97 3 

CD 17 Sheyenne River at Lisbon, N. Oak. (05058700) 8,190 1950 04-13-1996 a19.20 07-01-1975 5.270 04-05-1997 al9.29 04-05-1997 a6,100 25-50 1/) 

-

0 1957-97 04-23-1997 18.24 04-23-1997 5,670 ""' 

~ 18 Sheyenne River near Kindred, N. Oak. 8,800 1947 1947 22.10 04-30-1996 5,100 04-08-1997 a22.33 04-08-1997 a5,800 ; 

Q) (05059000) 1950-97 07-06-1975 21.66 04-27-1997 21.38 04-27-1997 5,970 b25-50 

3 19 Sheyenne River above Sheyenne River a25.44 1/) 8,840 1992-97 05-02-1996 24.67 05-02-1996 4.430 04-17-1997 

:;- Diversion near Horace, N. Oak. (05059300)i 05-08-1997 25.27 05-08-1997 5,210 :; 

CD 20 Sheyenne River Diversi_on near Horace, 1992-97 05-02-1996 24.67 04-22-1996 m2,300 04-17-1997 a25.44 

z N. Oak. (05059310)J 04-28-1997 25.38 04-28-1997 2,590 0 

;:J. 21 a28.77 a22.90 :::r Sheyenne River Diversion at West Fargo, -- 1992-97 04-18-1996 05-02-1996 4.280 04--09-1997 CD 

""' N. Oak. (05059480) 04--19-1997 22.68 04-19-1997 k4,810 :::::1 

"'D 

;- 22 Sheyenne River at West Fargo, N. Oak. 8,870 1902 07-05-1975 22.25 05-02-1996 m4,240 04--09-1997 n22.90 

:;- (05059500)1 1903-05 04-19-1997 22.68 04-19-1997 4,810 ~ 1919 .... 

co 1929-97 co 

en 

I 23 Buffalo River near Hawley, Minn. (05061000) 322 1945-97 1921 11.30 1921 3,000 04-06-1997 a10.77 04-06-1997 ao2.360 10-25 co 

..... 24 South Branch Buffalo River near Sabin, Minn. 522 1945-97 07-02-1975 19.90 07-02-1975 8,500 -- 04-05-1997 ao5,850 10-25 

(05061500) 04-06-1997 a19.11 

25 Buffalo River near Dilworth, Minn. (05062000) 1,040 1931-97 07-02-1975 27.10 07-02-1975 13,600 04-06-1997 a27.02 04-06-1997 0 8,370 10-25 

26 Wild Rice River at Twin Valley, Minn. 929 1909-17 07-22-1909 20.00 07-22-1909 9,200 04-06-1997 15.91 04-06-1997 10,000 100-200 

(05062500) 1931-97 

27 Wild Rice River at Hendrum, Minn. 1,600 1944-97 04-21-1979 32.30 04-10-1978 9,350 04-18-1997 q33.85 04-18-1997 10,600 b20-50 

(05064000)P 

28 Red River of the North at Halstad, Minn. 21,800 1936-37 04-22-1979 39.00 04-22-1979 42,000 04-19-1997 40.74 04-19-1997 71,500 100-200 

(05064500) 1942-97 

29 Goose River at Hillsboro, N. Oak. (05066500) 1,203 1931-97 04--21-1979 16.76 04-21-1979 14.800 04--06-1997 15.62 04-06-1997 8,520 15-40 

30 Marsh River near Shelly, Minn. (05067500) 151 1944-97 04--19-1979 c23.36 04--19-1979 4,880 04--18-1997 c25.45 04--18-1997 q4,300 50-100 

31 Sand Hill River at Climax, Minn. ( 05069000) 426 1943-97 04-23-1979 c q32.79 04-14-1965 4,560 04-20-1997 q39.40 04-20-1997 oq4J60 25-50 

32 Red Lake River at High Landing near 2,300 1929-97 07-03-1975 13.44 -- 04-10-1997 a12.36 

Goodridge, Minn. (05075000)P 07-07-1975 13.39 07-07-1975 4,060 -- 04-15-1997 2,260 <10 
Table 1. Historical peak stages and peak discharges and 1997 peak stages, peak discharges, and recurrence intervals at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the 

Red River of the North, upper Mississippi River, and Missouri River Basins, North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota-Continued 

[ft3/s, cubic feet per second;--, not available;<. less than] 

Drainage 

Maximum peaks previously known Maximum peaks during February 

Site Period of from period of record through September 1997 area number Station name and number (square known Recurrence 

(fig. 4) peaks Date Stage Date Discharge Date Stage Date Discharge interval miles) (feet) (ft3/s) (feet) (ft3/s) (years) 

Red River of the North Basin-Continued 

33 Thief River near Thief River Falls, Minn. 959 1909-17 05-13-1950 17.38 05-13-1950 5,610 04-18-1997 a16.33 

(05076000) 1920-21 04-22-1997 15.20 04-22-1997 4,120 10-25 

1922-24 

1928-81 

1982-97 

34 Clearwater River at Red Lake Falls, Minn. 1,370 1909-17 04-25-1979 12.38 04-25-1979 10,300 04-05-1997 a11.15 

(05078500) 1934-81 03-06-1983 a15.85 -- -- 04-15-1997 11.10 04-15-1997 7,860 10-25 

1982-97 

35 Red Lake River at Crookston, Minn. 5,270 1897 04-12-1969 27.33 04-12-1969 28,400 04-17-1997 a28.40 04-17-1997 w28,000 30-100 

(05079000) 1902 

1904-20 

1922-97 

36 Red River of the North at Grand Forks, N. Oak. 30,100 1882-1997 04-10-1897 50.20 04-10-1897 85,000 04-18-1997 52.04 04-18-1997 rl37,000 

(05082500) 04-22-1997 c54.35 04-22-1997 114,000 100-200 

37 Forest River at Minto, N. Oak. (05085000) 740 1944-97 04-19-1948 11.80 04-04-1997 a9.11 

04-18-1950 11.80 04-18-1950 16,600 04-20-1997 5.93 04-20-1997 2,140 <10 

38 Middle River at Argyle, Minn. (05087500) 265 1945 05-19-1996 c18.27 05-19-1996 5,020 04-19-1997 17.96 04-19-1997 4,330 25-50 

1950-81 

1982-97 

39 Park River at Grafton, N. Oak. (05090000) 695 1932-97 04-19-1950 20.13 04-19-1950 12,600 04-21-1997 15.40 04-21-1997 5,250 b<10 

40 Red River of the North at Drayton, N. Oak. 34,800 1936-37 04-28-1979 43.66 04-28-1979 92,900 04-24-1997 45.55 04-24-1997 124,000 100-200 

(05092000) 1941-97 

41 South Branch Two Rivers at Lake Bronson, 444 1929-37 04-05-1966 18.23 04-05-1966 5,410 04-20-1997 14.58 04-20-1997 4,260 10-25 

Minn. ( 05094000) 1941-47 

-1 1954-97 

l> 42 Pembina River at Neche, N. Oak. (05100000) 3,410 1904-08 04-20-1979 a23.64 04-20-1950 10,700 04-21-1997 a24.51 04-21-1997 a12,800 Ill 

c: 1910-15 04-27-1997 24.20 04-27-1997 15,100 50-100 rl> 1919-97 

::0 

z 43 Red River of the North at Emerson, Manitoba 40,200 1902 05-01-1979 791.19 05-13-1950 95,500 04-26-1997 792.41 04-26-1997 133.000 100-200 ., (05102500) 1912-29 0 

~ 1929-97 

;. 44 Roseau River at Ross, Minn. (05107500) 1,220 1928-91 05-12-1950 18.25 05-12-1950 6,560 04-26-1997 17.30 04-26-1997 4,670 b10-25 

-1 1995-97 0 

z 45 Roseau River below State Ditch 51 near 1,560 1917 05-19-1950 11.81 05-19-1950 4,080 04-19-1997 a11.13 04-19-1997 3,320 25-50 

Caribou, Minn. (05112000) 1920-97 05-08-1997 10.74 w 

c.n 
to) Table 1. Historical peak stages and peak discharges and 1997 peak stages, peak discharges, and recurrence intervals at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the en 

Red River of the North, upper Mississippi River, and Missouri River Basins, North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota-Continued 

"'0 

[ft3/s, cubic feet per second:--, not available:<. less than] (I) 

C» 

"' c 

;;· Maximum peaks previously known Maximum peaks during February n Drainage :::r Site Period of from period of record through September 1997 C» area "'I 

CQ number Station name and number known (square Recurrence (I) (fig. 4) peaks Date Stage Date Discharge Date Stage Date Discharge Ul interval miles) (feet) (ft3/s) (feet) (ft3/s) C» (years) ::::s 

c. 

., Upper Mississippi River Basin 

0 46 Sauk River near St. Cloud, Minn. (05270500) 925 1909-12 04-13-1965 10.68 04-13-1965 9,100 04-06-1997 8.72 04-06-1997 5,150 10-25 

== 1913 

< 0 1929 ~ 1930-31 3 

(I) 1932-33 Ul 1934-81 0 

"'I 1990-97 

sa 47 Crow River at Rockford. Minn. (05280000) 2,520 1906 04-16-1965 c19.27 04-16-1965 22,400 04-08-1997 14.42 04-08-1997 11,800 10-25 "'I 

(I) 

C» 1909-17 

3 1929 Ul 1930-31 :;· 

s: 1932 

(I) 1933 

z 1934-97 0 

~ 48 Mississippi River near Anoka, Minn. 19,100 1963-67 04-17-1965 19.53 04-17-1965 91,000 04-09-1997 16.44 04-09-1997 69,800 25-50 :::r 

~ (05288500) 1975-97 ::::s 

"'0 Minnesota River Basin 

Dr 49 Big Coulee Creek near Peever, S.Dak. 12.1 1988-97 06-21-1991 8.21 06-21-1991 456 03-27-1997 a9.43 

:;· 

!!' (05289985) 03-11-1995 a9.08 04-05-1997 7.73 04-05-1997 358 .... 50 Little Minnesota River near Peever, S. Dak. 447 1939-81 07-25-1993 13.58 04-25-1993 8,900 03-27-1997 a14.40 -- 10-25 co 

co 

0'1 (05290000) 1989-97 -- 03-28-1997 3,590 I 

co 51 Whetstone River near Big Stone City, S. Dak. 389 1910-12 04-08-1969 c14.32 04-08-1969 6,870 04-06-1997 14.21 04-06-1997 7,930 25-50 ...... (05291000)s 1931-97 

52 Minnesota River at Ortonville. Minn. 1,160 1938-97 04-13-1952 12.92 04-13-1952 3,060 04-10-1997 12.85 04-10-1997 5,070 b50-150 

(05292000) 

53 North Fork Yellow Bank River near Odessa. 208 1992-97 07-08-1994 14.62 07-08-1994 2.580 03-29-1997 a18.02 

Minn. (05292704) 03-31-1997 15.94 03-31-1997 4,670 

54 Yellow Bank River near Odessa. Minn. 398 1939-97 04-09-1969 c19.07 04-09-1969 6,970 04-02-1997 c 17.94 04-02-1997 6,770 25-50 

(05293000) 

55 Pomme de Terre River at Appleton. Minn. 905 1931-35 04-09-1969 al4.58 04-11-1969 5.520 04-07-1997 c t18.13 04-07-1997 t8.890 

(05294000) 1935-97 

56 Cobb Creek near Gary. S.Dak. (05299700) 70.3 1993-97 06-17-1992 12.09 06-17-1992 860 03-31-1997 a13.99 03-31-1997 a2,100 

57 Lac Qui Parle River near Lac Qui Parle, Minn. 983 1910-14 04-09-1965 ac19.37 04-10-1969 17,100 04-07-1997 17.68 04-07-1997 13,100 50-100 

(05300000) 1931-97 

58 Chippewa River near Milan, Minn. (05304500) 1,870 1937-97 04-09-1969 15.45 04-09-1969 11.400 04-06-1997 c 18.03 04-06-1997 14,400 50-100 

59 Minnesota River at Montevideo, Minn. 6.180 1909-17 04-12-1969 c21.68 04-12-1969 35.100 04-06-1997 23.90 04-06-1997 47,500 b100-300 

(05311000) 1917-29 

1929-97 
Table 1. Historical peak stages and peak discharges and 1997 peak stages, peak discharges, and recurrence intervals at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the 

Red River of the North, upper Mississippi River, and Missouri River Basins, North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota-Continued 

[ft3/s, cubic feet per second;--, not available;<, less than] 

Drainage 

Maximum peaks previously known Maximum peaks during February 

Site Period of from period of record through September 1997 

number Station name and number area known Recurrence 

(fig. 4) (square peaks Date Stage Date Discharge Date Stage Date Discharge interval miles) (feet) (ft3/s) (feet) (ft3/s) (years) 

Minnesota River Basin-Continued 

60 Yellow Medicine River near Granite Falls, 653 1931-35 04-10-1969 14.90 04-10-1969 17,200 03-31-1997 11.80 03-31-1997 9,020 10-25 

Minn. (05313500) 1935-38 

1939-97 

61 Redwood River near Marshall, Minn. 259 1940-97 05-09-1993 17.00 05-09-1993 6,380 03-30-1997 15.82 03-30-1997 3,310 10-25 

(05315000) 

62 Redwood River near Redwood Falls, Minn. 629 1909-14 06-18-1957 c 15.92 06-18-1957 19,700 03-29-1997 3 18.01 

(05316500) 1930-35 -- -- 03-30-1997 307,200 10-25 

1935-97 

63 Cottonwood River near New Ulm, Minn. 1,280 1909-13 04-08-1965 20.86 04-10-1969 28,700 03-30-1997 16.03 03-30-1997 13,800 10-25 

(05317000) 1931-38 

1938-97 

64 Minnesota River at Mankato. Minn. 14,900 1967-81 06-21-1993 30.11 04-10-1965 94,100 04-10-1997 27.61 04-10-1997 79.800 50-100 

(05325000) 1982-97 

65 Minnesota River near Jordan, Minn. 16,200 1934-97 04-12-1965 35.07 04-11-1965 117,000 04-12-1997 32.24 04-12-1997 82,300 25-50 

(05330000) 

Upper Mississippi River Basin-Continued 

66 Mississippi River at St. Paul, Minn. (05331000) 36,800 1892-1997 04-16-1965 26.01 04-16-1965 171,000 04-13-1997 22.37 04-13-1997 134,000 50-100 

67 Mississippi River at Prescott, Wis. (05344500) 44,800 1928-97 04-18-1965 43.11 04-18-1965 228,000 04-12-1997 40.09 04-12-1997 161,000 25-50 

Missouri River Basin 

68 Spring Creek at Zap, N. Oak. (06340000) 549 1924 03-15-1972 20.70 04-07-1952 6,130 03-22-1997 12.87 03-22-1997 3,500 <10 

1945-97 

69 Knife River at Hazen, N. Oak. (06340500) 2.240 1930-33 06-24-1966 27.01 06-24-1966 35,300 03-23-1997 c26.92 03-23-1997 u20,500 25-50 

1938-97 

70 Missouri River at Bismarck, N. Oak. 186,400 1928-97 03-31-1881 31.60 -- 07-13-1997 v14.00 07-25-1997 59,500 50-100 

(06342500) 04-06-1952 27.90 04-06-1952 500,000 

-t 12-18-1979 3 14.24 07-13-1975 68,900 )> 

m 71 Green River near New Hradec, N. Oak. 152 1964-97 03-22-1978 3 17.60 05-09-1970 4,120 03-21-1997 3 19.58 03-21-1997 1,400 <10 c: 

r (06344600) )> 3 lJ 72 Heart River near Richardton, N. Oak. 1,240 1905-21 03-30-1912 41.95 -- -- 03-20-1997 24.22 03-23-1997 w13,000 25-50 

z (06345500) 1938 04-16-1950 28.05 04-16-1950 23,400 "11 1943-97 0 

lJ 73 Heart River near Mandan, N. Oak. (06349000) 3,310 1924 04-04-1952 3 25.75 04-19-1950 30.500 03-23-1997 3 24.21 03-23-1997 w22,000 b10-25 3: 

"> 1928-33 -t 1937-97 0 

z 74 Cedar Creek near Raleigh, N. Oak. (06353000) 1,750 1939 03-28-1978 13.70 03-28-1978 13,400 03-24-1997 3 17.05 03-24-1997 14,600 50-100 

1962-97 

w 

...... 
Co) Table 1. Historical peak stages and peak discharges and 1997 peak stages, peak discharges, and recurrence intervals at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the CD 

Red River of the North, upper Mississippi River, and Missouri River Basins, North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota-Continued 

., 

[ft3ts, cubic feet per second;--, not available;<, less than] CD 

I» 

~ 

c 

ur Maximum peaks previously known Maximum peaks during February n Drainage :::r Site Period of from period of record through September 1997 I» area ca number Station name and number (square known 

Discharge Recurrence CD (fig. 4) peaks Date Stage Date Discharge Date Stage t/) Date interval miles) (feet) (ft3/s) (feet) (ft3/s) I» (years} ::::1 

c. Missouri River Basin-Continued "T1 

0 75 Cannonball River at Breien, N.Dak. 4,100 1935-97 04-19-1950 c22.30 04-19-1950 dd94,800 03-25-1997 20.82 03-25-1997 31,100 10-25 

:e (06354000) < 0 76 Spring Creek near Herreid, S. Dak. (06354860) 440 1881 03-22-1987 13.38 03-22-1987 4,540 03-31-1997 c 12.64 03-31-1997 2,680 10-20 c 

3 1963-x87 CD 1989-97 t/) 

- 77 Oak Creek near Wakpala, S. Dak. (06354882) 356 1985-97 03-04-1986 17.73 03-04-1986 3,780 03-27-1997 3 19.83 03-27-1997 3 7,500 10-50 ~ 

(/) 03-14-1995 al8.62 

-; 78 Grand River at Little Eagle, S. Dak. 5,370 b1959-97 03-18-1966 ac21.76 03-24-1997 3 19.58 I» 

3 (06357800) 03-23-1987 19.16 03-23-1987 31,000 03-27-1997 19.58 03-27-1997 20,900 15-40 t/) 

:;· 79 Moreau River near Whitehorse, S. Dak. 4,880 1955-97 03-14-1972 3 26.20 03-21-1997 3 27.68 03-23-1997 29,700 15-45 

s: (06360500) 05-24-1982 26.00 05-24-1982 27,700 CD 

z 80 Bad River near Fort Pierre, S.Dak. (06441500) 3,107 xl905 06-18-1967 29.55 06-18-1967 43,800 02-21-1997 3 25.28 0 1927 05-02-1997 21.74 05-02-1997 14,700 <10 ::I. 

:::r 1929-97 CD 

.. 81 Medicine Knoll near Blunt, S.Dak. (06442000) 317 1950-97 06-05-1991 12.98 06-05-1991 0 5,000 03-28-1997 al3.15 03-28-1997 3 ::::1 4,000 15-40 

., 82 Campbell Creek near Lee's Comer, S.Dak. 54.1 1988-97 07-24-1993 15.01 07-24-1993 3,260 06-03-1997 14.60 06-03-1997 3,060 <10 iii' 

:;· (06442718) ~t/) 

.... 83 Elm Creek near Gann Valley, S.Dak. 381 1987-97 07-25-1993 17.24 -- -- 03-22-1997 al7.00 <0 (06442900) 03-28-1997 15.58 03-28-1997 3,440 (b) <0 

I 84 White River near Oacoma, S. Dak. (06452000) 10,200 1929-97 03-30-1952 Y15.40 03-30-1952 51,900 02-20-1997 a23.84 ...... 03-04-1994 3 24.70 -- -- 06-05-1997 18.58 06-05-1997 33,700 10-20 

85 Platte Creek near Platte, S.Dak. (06452320) 741 1989-97 05-11-1995 11.29 05-11-1995 2,600 02-20-1997 a9.13 02-20-1997 1,400 (b) 

05-08-1997 a12.67 

86 Choteau Creek near Avon, S. Dak. ( 06453255) 602 1983-97 06-12-1984 13.93 06-12-1984 7,280 03-13-1997 7.13 03-13-1997 1,320 <10 

87 Snatch Creek near Tabor, S.Dak. (06466715) 44.0 1993-97 05-30-1995 10.58 05-30-1995 1,660 03-10-1997 6.65 03-10-1997 500 (b) 

James River Basin 

88 James River near Grace City, N.Dak. 1,060 1969-97 03-21-1996 3 16.18 07-28-1993 3,520 04-03-1997 a14.77 04-03-1997 4,000 10-20 

(06468170) 

89 Pipestem Creek near Pingree, N. Dak. 700 1974-97 03-17-1995 11.70 03-17-1995 3,180 04-19-1997 11.37 04-19-1997 3.400 10-25 

(06469400) 

90 James River at Jamestown, N.Dak. (06470000) 2,820 1928,1933 05-13-1950 15.82 05-13-1950 6,390 04-19-1997 12.12 

1938-39 -- -- 05-05-1997 1,880 b25-50 

1943-97 

91 James River at LaMoure, N.Dak. (06470500) 4,390 1950-97 04-14-1969 16.17 04-14-1969 6,800 04-01-1997 3 16.09 04-01-1997 w6,500 b15-45 
Table 1. Historical peak stages and peak discharges and 1997 peak stages, peak discharges, and recurrence intervals at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the 

Red River of the North, upper Mississippi River, and Missouri River Basins, North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota-Continued 

[ft3/s, cubic feet per second;--, not available;<, less than] 

Drainage 

Maximum peaks previously known Maximum peaks during February 

Site Period of from period of record through September 1997 area number Station name and number (square known Recurrence 

(fig. 4} peaks Date Stage Date Discharge Date Stage Date Discharge interval miles} (feet} (ft3/s} (feet} (ft3/s} (years} 

James River Basin-Continued 

92 James River at Dakota Lake Dam near Ludden, 5,480 1982-97 04-19-1996 13.97 04-19-1996 2,850 04-06-1997 a 17.86 04-06-1997 7,500 25-100 

N.Dak. (06470875) 

93 James River at Columbia, S.Dak. (06471000) 5,857 b1974-97 05-13-1995 a18.50 05-03-1979 2,340 04-19-1997 a19.08 

04-30-1997 a18.63 04-30-1997 3 4,130 15-40 

94 Maple River at North Dakota-South Dakota 716 1881 04-11-1969 a16.05 04--11-1969 a5,930 03-29-1997 a16.19 03-29-1997 a5,300 20-45 

State line (06471200) 1957-97 

e1969> 

95 Elm River at Westport, S.Dak. (06471500) 1.493 1881 04--10-1969 22.11 04-10-1969 12,600 03-30-1997 a21.56 03-30-1997 a9,380 15-30 

1947-97 

(X 1969) 

96 James River near Stratford, S.Dak. (06472000) 8,865 1881 05-18-1995 19.86 05-14--1950 5,580 04--06-1997 c 19.48 04--06-1997 8,400 50-100 

1950-72 

1977,1995 

X1997 

97 James River at Ashton, S.Dak. (06473000) 9,742 1881 04--24-1969 20.63 04-24-1969 a5,680 04--06-1997 ac26.64 

1946-x97 05-18-1995 a22.39 -- -- 04-23-1997 a25.03 04-23-1997 a9,150 100-200 

98 Snake Creek near Ashton, S.Dak. (06473700) 2,657 1881 04-10-1969 Y17.21 04--10-1969 6,980 04-01-1997 20.74 04-01-1997 15,000 50-200 

1956-72 

1977-79 

1985-89 

x1997 

99 Turtle Creek near Tulare, S.Dak. (06474000) 1,124 1881 04-05-1969 a18.51 04-05-1969 a6,000 03-26-1997 a19.32 

1954-56 03-28-1997 18.80 03-28-1997 13,500 25-100 

1966-81 

1985-x97 

100 Turtle Creek at Redfield, S.Dak. (06474500) 1,481 1881 04-07-1969 15.94 04--07-1969 7,660 03-29-1997 c18.32 03-29-1997 13,500 25-75 

~ 1946-72 

)> x1997 

m 

c: 101 James River near Redfield, S.Dak. (06475000) 13,911 1881 05-15-1995 26.26 05-15-1995 9,800 04--03-1997 29.92 04--03-1997 17,000 100-400 r-

)> 1950-x97 04-06-1997 ac31.10 

::D 

z 102 James River at Huron, S.Dak. (06476000) 15,869 1881 05-19-1995 16.86 05-19-1995 10,000 04-06-1997 a c21.28 04--06-1997 3 23,400 150-500 "TT 1929-32 0 1944-x97 :rJ 

s: 103 Sand Creek near Alpena, S.Dak. (06476500) 261 1950-97 03-28-1950 a14.10 -- -- 03-23-1997 a 13.45 03-23-1997 a2,000 10-20 J> 

-1 03-28-1960 13.35 03-28-1960 2,240 0 

z 104 James River near Forestburg, S. Dak. 17,590 1881 04--22-1995 a17.26 -- -- 04-06-1997 20.61 04-06-1997 25,600 100-200 

(06477000) 1950-x97 05-18-1995 17.08 05-18-1995 13,000 

(t.) 

U) 
ol:o Table 1. Historical peak stages and peak discharges and 1997 peak stages, peak discharges, and recurrence intervals at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the c Red River of the North, upper Mississippi River, and Missouri River Basins, North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota-Continued 

., 

[ft3/s, cubic feet per second;--, not available;<, less than] (I) 

Q) 

;:llr 

c 

ur Maximum peaks previously known Maximum peaks during February n Drainage ::r Site Period of from period of record through September 1997 Q) area ca number Station name and number (square known Recurrence (I) (fig. 4) peaks Date Stage Date Discharge Date Stage Date Discharge f/1 interval miles) (feet) (tt3

/s) (feet) (tt3/s) Q) (years) ::::s 

Q. 

, James River Basin-Continued 

0 105 Rock Creek near Fulton, S.Dak. (06477150) 240 1967-79 04-07-1969 Yl0.21 04-07-1969 2,040 03-29-1997 13.74 03-29-1997 3,120 10-20 ~ 1989-97 04-18-1995 11.75 < 0 

~ 106 Firesteel Creek near Mount Vernon, S. Dak. 521 1956-97 04-03-1969 3 17.12 03-20-1997 12.37 03-20-1997 2,690 <10 

3 

(I) (06477500) 04-04-1969 15.34 04-04-1969 6,610 

f/1 z20.43 z23.14 - 107 James River near Mitchell, S.Dak. (06478000) 19,064 1881 04-23-1995 04-23-1995 16,200 04-07-1997 04-07-1997 28,000 Q 1954-58 

sa 1966-72 

Cil 

Q) 1995,x1997 

3 108 Enemy Creek near Mitchell, S.Dak. 163 1976-87 06-22-1984 15.15 06-22-1984 4,280 03-10-1997 3 f/1 13.23 03-10-1997 1,000 <10 

3' (06478052) 1989-97 

:f 109 Dry Creek near Parkston, S. Dak. ( 064 78300) 97.2 1956-80 03-27-1960 c y 12.70 03-27-1960 4,210 03-10-1997 3 (I) 9.48 03-10-1997 1,100 <10 

z 1989-97 0 

~ 

:r 110 Wolf Creek near Clayton, S.Dak. (06478390) 396 1976-97 06-21-1984 18.01 06-21-1984 6,520 04-05-1997 13.64 04-05-1997 2,530 <10 (I) 

3 111 James River near Scotland, S.Dak. (06478500) 20,653 1881 06-23-1984 20.45 06-23-1984 29,400 04-09-1997 19.87 04-09-1997 28,000 50-100 

., 1929-x97 ;-

s· 112 James River near Yankton, S.Dak. (06478513) 20,942 1881 06-23-1984 24.34 06-23-1984 26,400 04-09-1997 22.94 04-09-1997 28,800 50-100 !' 

..... 1982-x97 CD 

(b) (0 113 East Fork Vem1illion River near Ramona, 508 1987-89 11-04-1995 3 7.87 11-04-1995 3

en 350 04-30-1997 8.50 04-30-1997 1,600 

tb S.Dak. (06478535) 1996-97 02-12-1996 38.39 ...... 

114 Little Vermillion River near Salem, S.Dak. 78.6 1881 07-04-1993 c l1.95 07-04-1993 0 3,300 03-28-1997 10.01 03-28-1997 1,560 10-25 

(06478540) 1967-97 

(x1993) 

115 East Fork Vermillion River near Parker, S. Dak. 973 1996-97 06-03-1996 8.13 06-03-1996 1,060 03-22-1997 3 12.75 

(06478600) 03-29-1997 12.73 03-29-1997 4,210 (b) 

116 West Fork Vermillion River near Parker, 377 1962-97 05-08-1993 13.14 05-08-1993 6,300 03-27-1997 11.63 03-27-1997 3,360 10-25 

S.Dak. (06478690) 

Big Sioux River Basin 

117 Big Sioux River near Florence, S.Dak. 638 1985-97 03-29-1986 9.08 03-29-1986 1,810 04-02-1997 3

9.52 

(06479215) 07-25-1993 9.18 -- -- 04-04-1997 9.32 04-04-1997 2,000 10-50 

118 Still Lake Outflow near Florence, S. Dak. 224 1996-97 06-02-1996 4.80 06-02-1996 64 04-07-1997 7.43 04-19-1997 m408 (b) 

(06479430) 

119 Big Sioux River near Watertown, S.Dak. 1,007 1881 03-30-1986 11.08 03-30-1986 4,970 04-05-1997 12.09 04-05-1997 7~S~O 50-100 

(06479438) 1973-x97 06-21-1991 al1.13 
Table 1. Historical peak stages and peak discharges and 1997 peak stages, peak discharges, and recurrence intervals at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the 

Red River of the North, upper Mississippi River, and Missouri River Basins, North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota-Continued 

[ft3/s, cubic feet per second;--, not available;<. less than] 

Drainage 

Maximum peaks previously known Maximum peaks during February 

Site Period of from period of record through September 1997 area number Station name and number (square known Recurrence 

(fig. 4) peaks Date Stage Date Discharge Date Stage Date Discharge interval miles) (feet) (tt3/s) (feet) (W/s) (years) 

Big Sioux River Basin-Continued 

1:!0 Lake Kampeska inlet/outlet near Watertown, 28.8 1881 03-23-1994 22.32 03-14-1996 m3,030 04-06-1997 aa25.78 04-06-97 5,890 (b) 

S. Oak. (06479450) 1994-97 04-30-1995 into lake into lake 

m402 04-10-97 out ml,410 

out of lake of lake 

121 Big Sioux River at Watertown, S. Oak. U29 1881 04-08-1969 a11.40 04-09-1952 2,220 04-06-1997 c 12.49 04-06-1997 5,800 200-500 

(06479500) 1946-72 

x1997 

122 Willow Creek near Watertown, S. Oak. 110 1972-86 03-15-1972 a9.86 -- -- 04-02-1997 a c 11.21 

(06479515) 1997 03-30-1986 8.96 03-30-1986 bb2,300 04-05-1997 c 10.93 04-05-1997 3,650 bb25-50 

123 Big Sioux River below Watertown, S. Oak. 1,902 1995-97 03-12-1995 11.74 03-12-1995 al,600 04-02-1997 al3.13 

(06479520) 03-13-1996 a11.78 -- 04-11-1997 12.99 04-11-1997 6,700 (b) 

124 Big Sioux River near Castlewood, S. Oak. 1,997 1881 03-30-1986 11.73 03-30-1986 2,250 04-07-1997 al3.19 

(06479525) 1977-x97 04-11-1997 a12.87 04-11-1997 a4,300 50-200 

125 Hidewood Creek near Estelline, S. Oak. 164 1881 06-16-1992 cl3.10 06-16-1992 cc 17,300 03-29-1997 cll.75 

(06479640) 1969-84 04-02-1997 a c 10.71 04-02-1997 a3,000 10-25 

1990-97 

(x1992) 

126 Battle Creek near Nunda, S. Oak. (06479928) 163 1988-97 07-04-1993 a12.99 07-04-1993 0 3,400 03-28-1997 all.33 

03-30-1997 10.95 03-30-1997 2,570 10-25 

127 Medary Creek near Brookings, S. Oak. 200 1981-97 07-04-1993 11.78 07-04-1993 3,710 03-28-1997 al3.02 03-28-1997 a3,500 10-25 

(06479980) 

128 Big Sioux River near Brookings, S. Oak. 3,898 1881 04-09-1969 14.77 04-09-1969 33,900 04-02-1997 13.02 04-02-1997 11,000 10-20 

(06480000) 1954-97 04-08-1997 acl3.29 

(x1969) 

129 Flandreau Creek above Flandreau, S. Oak. 100 1982-97 06-20-1984 11.02 06-20-1984 2,650 03-28-1997 a11.40 03-28-1997 a1,800 <10 

-t (06480650) 

l> 

m 130 Big Sioux River near Dell Rapids, S. Oak. 4,483 1881 04-09-1969 16.47 04-09-1969 41,300 04-07-1997 15.54 04-07-1997 16,500 10-25 

c: (06481000) 1949-97 r- (x1969) l> 

::D 

131 Skunk Creek at Sioux Falls, S. Oak. 622 1881 06-17-1957 Y17.78 cc29,400 z 06-17-1957 03-28-1997 6.10 03-28-1997 3,240 <10 ., (06481500) 1949-97 

0 (X 1957) ::D 

i: l32 Big Sio11x River 'lt North Cliff Av~nue, at 5,216 dd1914-97 04-10-1959 27.45 04-10-1969 40,700 04-07-1997 23.11 04-07-1997 17,700 dd10-25 l> 

-t Sioux Falls, S. Oak. (06482020) (x1969) 

0 

z 

-'=" 

.... 
.j:::o. 

1\) 

"tt 

CD 

I» 

" c 

u;· 

(') 

:::r 

I» 

ca 

m 

I» 

:J 

c. 

., 

~ < 0 

c 

3 

CD 

Ill 

0 

.. 

sa 

i 

3 

Ill 

:;· 

:; 

CD 

z 

0 

~ 

i 

.. 

:J 

, 

i» 

:;· 

!I 

.... 

CD 

CD 

I 

...... 

Table 1. Historical peak stages and peak discharges and 1997 peak stages, peak discharges, and recurrence intervals at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the 

Red River of the North, upper Mississippi River, and Missouri River Basins, North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota-Continued 

[ft3/s, cubic feet per second;--, not available;<, less than] 

Drainage 

Maximum peaks previously known 

Site 

number Station name and number 

{fig. 4) 

Period of area known {square peaks miles) 

from period of record 

Stage Date {feet) Date 

- Big Sioux River Basin-Continued 

133 Split Rock Creek at Corson, S. Dak. 464 1881 

(06482610) 1966-97 

(xl993) 

134 Rock River at Luverne, Minn. (06483000) 425 1911-14 

1972-95 

1995-97 

a Backwater from aquatic vegetation, ice, debris, or other water source. 

b Affected by regulation period. 

cFrom floodmarklhigh watermark. 

dExtreme outside period of record. 

05-08-1993 

05-08-93 

eOverland flow to the Wild Rice River Basin about 7 miles upstream from the gage. 

f Stage affected by Devils Lake. 

cl7.58 05-08-1993 

14.23 05-08-1993 

Discharge 

{ft3/s) 

18,900 

35,400 

gCalculation based on reduction in drainage area from 2,510 to 1,690 square miles upon completion of Channel A in 1979. 

hBackwater from Devils Lake. 

Maximum peaks during February 

through September 1997 

Stage Discharge Recurrence 

Date {teet) Date {ft3/s) interval 

{years) 

03-28-1997 cl2.80 03-28-1997 8,290 <10 

03-28-1997 11.69 03-28-1997 13,600 10-25 

iTotal Sheyenne River flow immediately upstream from Horace flood diversion. 

jWhen flows are greater than 1,000 ft3/s at Sheyenne River above Sheyenne River Diversion near Horace, diversions are made to this channel in order to control flood discharge downstream. 

kUnknown amount of flow entered diversion through flapper gates and overtopping of diversion levee during April and May. 1

Includes flow of diversion. 

mMaximum daily discharge . 

nMaximum gage height in diversion channel; backwater from ice. 0 Estimated. 

PMost peaks affected by diversion . 

qBackwater from Red River of the North. 

rMaximum observed flow affected by breakout flow from Red River about 20 river miles upstream of gage. The breakout flow reentered the Red Lake River about 2 miles upstream from the gage. 8 1919 peak not used in frequency analysis. 

tcaused in part by dam failure. 

uBased on measurement made at peak. 

v Affected by backwater from Lake Oahe. 

w Approximate value. 

x Historical frequency analysis used. 

Y Site and datum used different from current site and datum. 

zGage height from bridge 0.6 mile upstream. 

aaHighest stage since 1881 based on local records. 

bbPrevious peaks were revised based on 1997 data. 

ccBased on indirect measurement. 

ddPeriod of analysis includes 1944-60 data [rom station 05482000, Dig Sioux River at Sioux ~alls, and 1%0-71 data from st<1ti0n OM~~lOO, Ri.g Si.oux River near Brandon, combined with data from 

this station. 
i! 

I:D 

c:: 

rl> 

:::c 

z 

"T1 

0 

:::c 

s: 

~ 

0 

z 

.j;:lo 

w 

Table 2. Maximum mean discharges and recurrence intervals for 3, 7, and 30 consecutive days at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the northern plains 

[ft3/s, cubic feet per second; recurrence interval, rounded to nearest 5 years for 20- to 50-year recurrence intervals and to nearest 10 years for 55- to 100-year recurrence intervals;>, greater than;<, less than] 

Site 

number 

(fig. 4) 

2 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

13 

15 

17 

18 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

31 

32 

33 

34 

35 

Station name and number 

Otter Tail River below Orwell Dam near Fergus Falls, Minn. 

(05046000) 

Bois de Sioux River near White Rock, S. Dak. (05050000) 

Red River of the North at Wahpeton, N.Dak. (05051500) 

Red River of the North at Hickson, N.Dak. (05051522) 

La Belle Creek near Veblen, S.Dak. (05051650) 

Wild Rice River near Abercrombie, N.Dak. (05053000) 

Red River of the North at Fargo, N.Dak. (05054000) 

Sheyenne River near Warwick, N.Dak. (05056000) 

Big Coulee near Churchs Ferry, N.Dak. (05056400) 

Sheyenne River near Cooperstown, N.Dak. (05057000) 

Sheyenne River at Lisbon, N.Dak. (05058700) 

Sheyenne River near Kindred, N.Dak. (05059000) 

Buffalo River near Hawley, Minn. (05061000) 

South Branch Buffalo River near Sabin, Minn. (05061500) 

Buffalo River near Dilworth, Minn. (05062000) 

Wild Rice River at Twin Valley, Minn. (05062500) 

Wild Rice River at Hendrum, Minn. (05064000) 

Red River of the North at Halstad, Minn. (05064500) 

Goose River at Hillsboro, N.Dak. (05066500) 

Sand Hill River at Climax., Minn. (05069000) 

Red Lake River at High Landing near Goodridge, Minn. 

(05075000) 

Thief River near Thief River Falls, Minn. ( 0507 6000) 

Clearwater River at Red Lake Falls, Minn. (05078500) 

Red Lake River at Crookston, Minn. (05079000) 

Maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for 1997 

(ft3ts) 

1,500 

7,620 

12.500 

12,900 

48.3 

9,250 

27,000 

3,650 

2,280 

4,630 

5,600 

5,580 

1,950 

4,550 

7,390 

5,900 

9,870 

68,700 

7,500 

4,200 

2,070 

4,050 

7,160 

26,200 

3-day 

Recurrence 

interval 

for 1997 

(years) 

Previous 

maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for period of 

record used 

(ft3/s) 

Red River of the North Basin 

25 

>200 

100 

25 

<5 

25 

100 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

100 

25 

100 

25 

25 

5 

50 

10 

100 

1,660 

3,370 

8,810 

10,700 

130 

9,020 

23,500 

3,730 

1,430 

6,540 

4,960 

4,920 

1,900 

7,570 

12,700 

4,910 

9,010 

40,300 

11,800 

4,030 

4,010 

5,540 

8,530 

24,100 

Maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for 1997 

(ft3

/s) 

1,490 

7,340 

12,100 

12,600 

32.1 

8,510 

26,100 

3,220 

2,280 

4,140 

5,390 

5,480 

1,650 

3,490 

6,070 

4,360 

9,130 

63,300 

5,860 

3,710 

1,950 

3,840 

6,640 

22,900 

7-day 

Recurrence 

interval 

for 1997 

(years) 

25 

200 

100 

25 

<5 

25 

100 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

50 

25 

50 

25 

25 

5 

50 

25 

100 

Previous 

maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for period of 

record used 

(ft3ts) 

1,650 

3,250 

7,910 

8,650 

72.9 

7,660 

21,000 

3,010 

1,410 

5,480 

4,660 

4,650 

1,660 

5,300 

9,630 

3,780 

7,750 

38,300 

8,990 

3,410 

3,890 

5,440 

8,160 

22,400 

30-day 

Maximum Recurrence 

mean interval 

discharge for 1997 

for 1997 (years) 

(ft3/s) 

1,410 

4,210 

9,060 

10,400 

21.5 

5,640 

19,100 

1,810 

2,120 

2,740 

4,520 

4,760 

1,050 

1,690 

3,440 

2,510 

5,250 

42,800 

3,410 

1,590 

1,590 

2,720 

3,580 

12,300 

25 

50 

>200 

50 

5 

50 

200 

50 

25 

25 

25 

25 

50 

50 

50 

50 

50 

100 

50 

25 

5 

25 

10 

50 

Previous 

maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for period of 

record used 

(ft3/s) 

1,540 

1,970 

4,990 

4,510 

26.5 

3,220 

11,200 

1,490 

1,270 

3,110 

3,510 

3,680 

1,040 

1,640 

3,540 

2,310 

3,740 

23,300 

3,520 

1,660 

3,350 

4,340 

5,920 

16,500 
~ 

~ 

., 

m 

~ 

c 

c;r 

0 

::T 

I» 

ca 

m 

I» 

::J 

a. 

"TI 

~ < 0 

~ 

3 

CD 

tn 

~ 

~ 

; 

I» 

3 

tn 

:;· 

g: 

CD 

z 

0 

::I. 

::T 

CD 

... 

::J 

., 

ii 

:;· 

~ _.. 

U) 

CD 

I 

..... 

Table 2. Maximum mean discharges and recurrence intervals for 3, 7, and 30 consecutive days at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the northern plains-Continued 

[ft3

/s, cubic feet per second; recurrence interval, rounded to nearest 5 years for 20- to 50-year recurrence intervals and to nearest 10 years for 55- to 100-year recurrence intervals;>, greater than;<, less than] 

Site 

number 

(fig. 4) 

36 

37 

38 

39 

40 

41 

42 

43 

44 

45 

46 

47 

48 

50 

51 

52 

54 

55 

57 

58 

59 

68 

69 

Station name and number 

Maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for 1997 

(ft3/s) 

3-day 

Recurrence 

interval 

for 1997 

(years) 

Previous 

maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for period of 

record used 

(ft3/s) 

Maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for 1997 

(ft3/s) 

Red River of the North Basin-Continued 

Red River of the North at Grand Forks, N. Dak. ( 05082500) 116,000 

Forest River at Minto, N.Dak. (05085000) 1,930 

Middle River at Argyle, Minn. (05087500) 3,390 

Park River at Grafton, N.Dak. (05090000) 5,010 

Red River of the North at Drayton, N.Dak. (05092000) 123,000 

South Branch Two Rivers at Lake Bronson, Minn. (05094000) 4,010 

Pembina River at Neche, N. Dak. (05100000) 

Red River ofthe North at Emerson, Manitoba (05102500) 

Roseau River at Ross, Minn. (05107500) 

Roseau River below State Ditch 51 near Caribou, Minn. 

{05112000) 

Sauk River near St. Cloud, Minn. (05270500) 

Crow River at Rockford, Minn. (05280000) 

Mississippi River near Anoka, Minn. (05288500) 

Little Minnesota River near Peever, S.Dak. (05290000) 

Whetstone River near Big Stone City, S.Dak. (05291000) 

Minnesota River at Ortonville, Minn. (05292000) 

Yellow Bank River near Odessa, Minn. (05293000) 

Pomme de Terre River at Appleton, Minn. (05294000) 

Lac Qui Parle River near Lac Qui Parle, Minn. (05300000) 

Chippewa River near Milan, Minn. (05304500) 

Minnesota River at Montevideo, Minn. (05311000) 

Spring Creek at Zap, N.Dak. (06340000) 

Knife River at Hazen, N. Dak. (06340500) 

13,600 

132,000 

4,590 

3,280 

5,040 

11,600 

68,500 

3,190 

5,310 

4,940 

6,090 

6,420 

11,300 

12,900 

45,300 

2,670 

16,300 

200 

5 

50 

10 

100 

25 

80,400 

9,520 

4,270 

9,660 

90,000 

4,790 

100 8,840 

200 93,300 

25 6,430 

50 3,260 

Upper Mississippi River Basin 

25 7,630 

25 21,600 

50 88,600 

Minnesota River Basin 

25 

50 

200 

100 

100 

50 

100 

100 

4,140 

5,120 

3,020 

5,760 

4,660 

14,000 

9,780 

33,000 

Missouri River Basin 

10 

25 

5,040 

19,800 

110,000 

1,770 

2,710 

4,600 

115,000 

3,560 

12,100 

126,000 

4,450 

3,270 

4,710 

10,900 

65,900 

2,620 

4,700 

4.830 

5,170 

5,490 

10,800 

11,300 

40,800 

1,850 

10,700 

7-day 

Recurrence 

interval 

for 1997 

(years) 

200 

5 

50 

10 

100 

25 

100 

200 

25 

50 

25 

25 

50 

25 

200 

200 

200 

100 

100 

100 

100 

10 

25 

Previous 

maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for period of 

record used 

(ft3/s) 

78,600 

6,140 

3.030 

7,610 

85,500 

3,850 

7,550 

91,500 

6,260 

3,140 

6,510 

19,400 

82,000 

2,500 

3,440 

3,020 

3,790 

3,800 

10,700 

8,360 

27,900 

3,660 

13,800 

30-day 

Maximum Recurrence 

mean interval 

discharge for 1997 

for 1997 (years) 

(ft3/s) 

64,000 

1,100 

985 

1,990 

69,400 

1,520 

8,130 

82,400 

3,400 

3,040 

3,000 

7.220 

43,800 

1,600 

2,220 

4,110 

2,040 

3,090 

5,620 

6.610 

22,400 

S4.J 

3,270 

100 

10 

25 

10 

50 

10 

100 

100 

25 

25 

50 

10 

25 

100 

>200 

>200 

200 

100 

200 

100 

100 

10 

25 

Previous 

maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for period of 

record used 

(ft3/s) 

44,000 

2,990 

1,060 

3,970 

66,400 

2,090 

5,620 

76,200 

4.670 

3,010 

3,060 

10,500 

50,100 

1,320 

1,390 

2,380 

1,420 

1,770 

3,710 

3,970 

14,000 

1,040 

4.300 
~ m 

c 

rl> 

::::tl 

z 

., 

0 

::::tl 

3:: 

~ 

0 

z 

.l:o 

CJ1 

Table 2. Maximum mean discharges and recurrence intervals for 3, 7, and 30 consecutive days at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the northern plains-Continued 

[ft3/s, cubic feet per second; recurrence interval, rounded to nearest 5 years for 20- to 50-year recurrence intervals and to nearest 10 years for 55- to 100-year recurrence intervals;>. greater than;<. less than] 

Site 

number 

(fig. 4) 

70 

71 

72 

73 

74 

75 

77 

78 

79 

80 

82 

83 

84 

86 

88 

89 

90 

91 

92 

93 

94 

95 

Station name and number 

Missouri River at Bismarck, N.Dak. (06342500) 

Green River near New Hradec, N.Dak. (06344600) 

Heart River near Richardton, N.Dak. (06345500) 

Heart River near Mandan, N.Dak. (06349000) 

Cedar Creek near Raleigh, N.Dak. (06353000) 

Cannonball River at Breien, N.Dak. (06354000) 

Oak Creek near Wakpala, S.Dak. (06354882) 

Grand River at Little Eagle, S.Dak. (06357800) 

Moreau River near Whitehorse, S.Dak. (06360500) 

Bad River near Fort Pierre, S.Dak. (06441500) 

Campbell Creek near Lee's Comer, S.Dak. (06442718) 

Elm Creek near Gann Valley, S.Dak. (06442900) 

White River near Oacoma, S.Dak. (06452000) 

Choteau Creek near Avon, S.Dak. (06453255) 

James River near Grace City, N.Dak. (06468170) 

Pipestem Creek near Pingree, N.Dak. (06469400) 

James River at Jamestown, N.Dak. (06470000) 

James River at LaMoure, N.Dak. (06470500) 

James River at Dakota Lake Dam near Ludden, N.Dak. 

(06470875) 

James River at Columbia, S.Dak. (06471000) 

Maple River at North Dakota-South Dakota State line 

(06471200) 

Elm River at Westport, S.Dak. (06471500) 

Maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for 1997 

(ft3/s) 

59,200 

900 

10,800 

16,700 

11.600 

27,000 

5,710 

17.300 

26,600 

11,800 

652 

2,690 

26,600 

1,110 

3,100 

2.480 

1,840 

5,870 

6,930 

4,090 

3,800 

8,600 

3-day 

Recurrence 

interval 

for 1997 

(years) 

Previous 

maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for period of 

record used 

(ft3/s) 

Missouri River Basin-Continued 

50 

5 

25 

10 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

10 

5-10 

25 

25 

<5 

68,700 

2,360 

9,500 

25,800 

9,130 

43,900 

2,570 

20,200 

22,700 

23,800 

548 

1,210 

38,000 

4,150 

James River Basin 

10 

50 

50 

25 

50 

50 

25 

25 

2,900 

2,050 

1,350 

3,520 

2,840 

2,290 

4,550 

11,000 

Maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for 1997 

(ft3/s) 

59,000 

499 

6,180 

14.400 

9,030 

21,600 

3,550 

14,700 

20,700 

8,560 

389 

2.250 

16,500 

904 

2,700 

2,070 

1,840 

4.870 

5,960 

4,070 

2,500 

6,410 

7-day 

Recurrence 

interval 

for 1997 

(years) 

50 

5 

10 

25 

25 

25 

25 

50 

50 

10 

10 

25 

25 

<5 

10 

50 

25 

25 

50 

50--100 

25 

25 

Previous 

maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for period of 

record used 

(ft3/s) 

68,600 

1,370 

7,000 

17,700 

8,060 

30.500 

2.000 

12,500 

17,600 

21,900 

326 

644 

25,000 

2,780 

2.400 

1.560 

1,340 

2,950 

2,740 

2,180 

2,760 

8,170 

30-day 

Maximum Recurrence 

mean interval 

discharge for 1997 

for 1997 (years) 

(ft3/s) 

57,100 

147 

1,750 

6,060 

3,060 

7,190 

1.260 

6,880 

8,550 

4,900 

139 

953 

6,040 

614 

1,900 

1,360 

1,750 

3,350 

4,740 

3.670 

1,200 

2,880 

50 

5 

10 

25 

25 

25 

25 

50 

50 

25 

10 

25 

10 

<5 

25 

>200 

25 

50 

50 

200 

25 

25 

Previous 

maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for period of 

record used 

(ft3/s) 

67,500 

347 

2,420 

6,600 

2,640 

10,100 

586 

6.250 

6,260 

7,820 

144 

284 

14,400 

1,210 

1,100 

751 

1.280 

1,720 

2,030 

1.830 

802 

2,420 
-'=" 0) 

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Table 2. Maximum mean discharges and recurrence intervals for 3, 7, and 30 consecutive days at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the northern plains-Continued 

[ft3/s, cubic feet per second; recurrence interval, rounded to nearest 5 years for 20- to 50-year recurrence intervals and to nearest 10 years for 55- to 100-year recurrence intervals;>. greater than;<, less than] 

3-day 7-day 30-day 

Previous Previous Previous 

Site Maximum Recurrence maximum Maximum Recurrence maximum Maximum Recurrence maximum 

number Station name and number mean interval mean mean interval mean mean interval mean 

{fig. 4) discharge for 1997 discharge discharge for 1997 discharge discharge for 1997 discharge 

for 1997 {years) for period of for 1997 {years) for period of for 1997 {years) for period of 

{ft3

/s) record used {ft3

/s) record used {ft3

/s) record used 

{ft3

/s) {ft3

/s) {ft3

/s) 

James River Basin-Continued 

97 James River at Ashton, S.Dak. (06473000) 8,970 100 5,650 8,670 100 5,580 7,700 200 4,140 

102 James River at Huron, S.Dak. (06476000) 22,500 >200 9,880 21,100 >200 9,540 16,600 >200 7,480 

104 James River near Forestburg, S.Dak. (06477000) 24,500 100 12,800 23,200 100 12,100 17,600 200 9,470 

106 Firesteel Creek near Mount Vernon, S.Dak. (06477500) 2,140 5 4,140 1,770 5-10 2,730 840 10 1,320 

111 James River near Scotland, S.Dak. (06478500) 27,500 100 25,600 26,500 100 19,800 21,200 100 13,700 

114 Little Vermillion River near Salem, S.Dak. (06478540) 1,070 25 1,680 734 25 1,040 317 25 535 

116 West Fork Vermillion River near Parker, S.Dak. (06478690) 2,890 25 3,200 2,490 25-50 2,870 1,220 200 1,360 

Big Sioux River Basin 

117 Big Sioux River near Florence, S.Dak. (06479215) 1,300 25 917 756 25 549 297 25 216 

124 Big Sioux River near Castlewood, S.Dak. (06479525) 3,960 50 1,930 3,540 50 1,760 2,540 25 1,400 

128 Big Sioux River near Brookings, S. Dak. (06480000) 10,100 10-25 24,000 9,190 25 14,500 6,060 25-50 5,010 

130 Big Sioux River near Dell Rapids, S. Dak. (06481 000) 14,700 25 30,900 13,900 25 20,600 8,840 50 7,080 

131 Skunk Creek at Sioux Falls, S.Dak. (06481500) 2,770 5-10 6,220 2,350 10 4,870 1,620 10-25 3,040 

132 Big Sioux River at North Cliff Avenue, at Sioux Falls, S. Dak. 16,200 25 18,600 15,300 25 15,300 10,400 25 10,000 

(06482020) 
Table 3. Maximum mean discharges and recurrence intervals for 60, 90, and 120 consecutive days at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the northern plains 

[ft3/s, cubic feet per second; recurrence interval, rounded to nearest 5 years for 20- to 50-year recurrence intervals and to nearest 10 years for 55- to 100-year recurrence intervals;<, less than;>, greater than] 

60-day 90-day 120-day 

Previous Previous Previous 

Site Maximum Recurrence maximum Maximum Recurrence maximum Maximum Recurrence maximum 

number Station name and number mean interval mean mean interval mean mean interval mean 

(fig. 4) discharge for 1997 discharge discharge for 1997 discharge discharge for 1997 discharge 

for 1997 (years) for period of for 1997 (years) for period of for 1997 (years) for periodof 

(ft3

/s) record used (ft3/s) record used (ft3

/s) record used 

(ft3

/s) (ft3ts) (ft3

/s) 

Red River of the North Basin 

Otter Tail River below Orwell Dam near Fergus Falls, Minn. 1.370 200 1,430 1,230 200 1,310 1.130 200 1,210 

(05046000) 

2 Bois de Sioux River near White Rock, S.Dak. (05050000) 2.710 25 1,470 1,980 25 1,100 1,570 25 926 

4 Red River of the North at Wahpeton, N.Dak. (05051500) 6,070 200 3,690 4,640 200 2,990 3,760 100 2,730 

5 Red River of the North at Hickson, N.Dak. (05051522) 6,940 50 3,750 5,230 50 3,350 4,190 25 3,030 

6 La Belle Creek near Veblen, S.Dak. (05051650) 12.9 <5 18.5 8.84 <5 14.8 6.74 <5 11.9 

7 Wild Rice River near Abercrombie, N.Dak. (05053000) 3.140 50 1,730 2,160 50 1,240 1,660 25 1,060 

8 Red River of the North at Fargo, N. Dak. (05054000) 11,700 200 6,990 8,600 200 5,190 6,820 200 4,400 

9 Sheyenne River near Warwick, N.Dak. (05056000) 1,110 50 1,160 768 50 801 600 50 610 

13 Big Coulee near Churchs Ferry, N.Dak. (05056400) 1,660 25 1,080 1,340 25 911 1,130 25 761 

15 Sheyenne River near Cooperstown, N.Dak. (05057000) 1,790 25 2,180 1,260 25 1,530 998 25 1.170 

17 Sheyenne River at Lisbon, N.Dak. (05058700) 3,330 50 2,200 2,380 25 1,730 1,890 25 1,400 

18 Sheyenne River near Kindred, N.Dak. (05059000) 3,480 50 2,830 2,490 25 2,220 1,980 25 1.780 

23 Buffalo River near Hawley, Minn. (05061000) 657 25 642 499 25 504 434 50 421 

24 South Branch Buffalo River near Sabin, Minn. (05061500) 893 25 918 621 25 693 506 25 573 

25 Buffalo River near Dilworth, Minn. (05062000) 1,940 50 1.860 1,400 50 1,590 1,170 50 1,280 

26 Wild Rice River at Twin Valley, Minn. (05062500) 1,570 25 1,900 1,180 25 1,630 1,100 25 1,350 

-t 27 Wild Rice River at Hendrum, Minn. (05064000) 3,160 25 2,660 2,360 25 2,270 2,150 50 1.880 :1> 

m 28 Red River ofthe North at Halstad, Minn. (05064500) 27,300 100 13,800 19,800 100 12,500 16,100 100 10,800 c: 

r- 29 Goose River at Hillsboro, N.Dak. (05066500) 1,900 25 2,260 1,310 25 1,560 1.110 50 l,l90 :1> 

::c 

z 31 Sand Hill River at Climax, Minn. (05069000) 874 25 1,010 691 25 732 606 50 578 

"11 32 Red Lake River at High Landing near Goodridge, Minn. 1,310 5 2,860 1,230 5 2,600 1.220 5 2.320 0 

::c (05075000) :s: 

:1> 33 Thief River near Thief River Falls, Minn. (05076000) 2,050 25 3,020 1,670 25 2,280 1,420 25 1,780 -t 

5 34 Clearwater River at Red Lake Falls, Minn. (05078500) 2,120 10 4,040 z 1,930 10-25 3,000 1,940 25 2,380 

35 Red Lake River at Crookston, Minn. (05079000) 7,990 25 11,900 6,670 25 9,250 6,160 50 7,580 

.j:::o, 

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CD 

Q) 

c """ 

iii' 

n 

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Q) 

<0 

CD 

0 

Q) 

:::J 

Q. 

., 

0 

== < 0 

c 

3 

CD 

0 

0 

"'' !a 

CiJ 

Q) 

3 

0 

:;· 

:;: 

CD 

z 

0 

::::i. 

:::r 

CD 

3 

., 

;-

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..... 

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% 

........ 

Table 3. Maximum mean discharges and recurrence intervals for 60, 90, and 120 consecutive days at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the northern 

plains-Continued 

Site 

number Station name and number 

(fig. 4) 

36 Red River of the North at Grand Forks, N.Dak. (05082500) 

37 Forest River at Minto, N.Dak. (05085000) 

38 Middle River at Argyle, Minn. (05087500) 

39 Park River at Grafton, N.Dak. (05090000) 

40 Red River of the North at Drayton, N.Dak. (05092000) 

41 South Branch Two Rivers at Lake Bronson, Minn. (05094000) 

42 Pembina River at Neche, N.Dak. (05100000) 

4 3 Red River of the North at Emerson, Manitoba ( 051 02500) 

44 Roseau River at Ross, Minn. (05107500) 

45 Roseau River below State Ditch 51 near Caribou, Minn. 

(05112000) 

46 Sauk River near St. Cloud, Minn. (05270500) 

47 Crow River at Rockford, Minn. (05280000) 

48 Mississippi River near Anoka, Minn. (05288500) 

50 

51 

52 

54 

55 

57 

58 

59 

68 

69 

70 

Little Minnesota River near Peever, S.Dak. (05290000) 

Whetstone River near Big Stone City, S.Dak. (05291000) 

Minnesota River at Ortonville, Minn. (05292000) 

Yellow Bank River near Odessa, Minn. (05293000) 

Ponm1e de Terre River at Appleton, Minn. (05294000) 

Lac Qui Parle River near Lac Qui Parle, Minn. (05300000) 

Chippewa River near Milan, Minn. (05304500) 

Minnesota River at Montevideo, Minn. (05311000) 

Spring Creek at Zap, N.Dak. (06340000) 

Knife River at Hazen, N.Dak. (06340500) 

Missouri River at Bismarck, N.Dak. (06342500) 

Maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for 1997 

(ft3/s) 

60-day 

Recurrence 

interval 

for 1997 

(years) 

Previous 

maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for period of 

record used 

(ft3/s) 

Maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for 1997 

(ft3/s) 

Red River of the North Basin-Continued 

41,100 

687 

560 

1,100 

47,200 

919 

4,960 

54,000 

2,450 

2,580 

100 

10 

25 

10 

50 

10 

50 

50 

10 

25 

31,500 

1,580 

753 

2,120 

48,400 

1,550 

4,480 

56,300 

3,220 

2,740 

Upper Mississippi River Basin 

30,400 

480 

402 

822 

34,500 

650 

3,690 

40,100 

1,790 

1,980 

1,920 25 2,100 1,390 

4,720 

30,200 

967 

1,230 

2,610 

1,120 

1,880 

3,100 

4,140 

14,100 

371 

1,930 

52,700 

10 

10 

6,880 

39,500 

Minnesota River Basin 

100 

200 

200 

100 

100 

100 

50 

100 

699 

815 

1,720 

1,030 

1,270 

1,980 

3,110 

9,790 

Missouri River Basin 

10 535 

25 2,220 

50 63,400 

3,390 

23,000 

669 

842 

1,850 

766 

1,340 

2,120 

2,980 

10,100 

254 

1,320 

50,300 

90-day 

Recurrence 

interval 

for 1997 

(years) 

100 

10 

25 

10 

50 

5 

50 

50 

10 

25 

10 

5 

5 

50 

100 

100 

50 

50 

50 

50 

50 

10 

10 

50 

Previous 

maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for period of 

record used 

(ft3/s) 

24,500 

1,070 

505 

1,420 

36,200 

1,180 

3,300 

42,100 

2,550 

2,140 

1,670 

5,350 

33,000 

471 

618 

1,220 

737 

938 

1,420 

2,600 

7,610 

367 

1,510 

56,000 

Maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for 1997 

(ft3

/s) 

26,100 

447 

346 

676 

29,400 

524 

3,020 

34,000 

1,440 

1,640 

1,160 

3,510 

21,400 

506 

642 

1,440 

592 

1,070 

1,630 

2,630 

8,160 

211 

1,060 

48,300 

120-day 

Recurrence 

interval 

for 1997 

(years) 

100 

25 

25 

25 

50 

10 

100 

100 

10 

25 

10 

10 

10 

50 

50 

50 

50 

50 

50 

50 

50 

10 

10 

50 

Previous 

maximum 

mean 

discharge 

for periodof 

record used 

(ft3/s) 

20,200 

806 

382 

1,070 

29,000 

9m 

2,620 

33,700 

2,010 

1,800 

1,330 

4,860 

28,300 

440 

493 

980 

572 

779 

1,520 

2,360 

6,240 

280 

1,230 

51,600 
Table 3. Maximum mean discharges and recurrence intervals for 60, 90, and 120 consecutive days at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the northern 

plains-Continued 

60-day 90-day 120-day 

Previous Previous Previous 

Site Maximum Recurrence maximum Maximum Recurrence maximum Maximum Recurrence maximum 

number Station name and number mean interval mean mean interval mean mean interval mean 

(fig. 4) discharge for 1997 discharge discharge for 1997 discharge discharge for 1997 discharge 

for 1997 (years) for period of for 1997 (years) for period of for 1997 (years) for periodof 

(ft3/s) record used (ft3

/s) record used (ft3

ts) record used 

(ft3

/s) (ft3

ts) (ft3

ts) 

Missouri River Basin-Continued 

71 Green River near New Hradec, N.Dak. (06344600) 88 5 189 59.3 5 133 53.8 5 102 

72 Heart River near Richardton, N.Dak. (06345500) 1.100 10 1.350 753 10 953 594 10 912 

73 Heart River near Mandan, N.Dak. (06349000) 3,950 25 4.130 2,700 25 3,020 2,080 10 2,610 

74 Cedar Creek near Raleigh, N.Dak. (06353000) 2.090 50 1.500 1,430 25 1.060 1.090 25 899 

75 Cannonball River at Breien, N.Dak. (06354000) 4,730 50 5,630 3.230 50 3,860 2.480 25 2,940 

77 Oak Creek near Wakpala, S.Dak. (06354882) 703 10 355 476 10 282 365 10 213 

78 Grand River at Little Eagle, S.Dak. (06357800) 4,990 50 3,820 3.470 50 2,700 2.780 50 2,130 

79 Moreau River near Whitehorse, S. Dak. (06360500) 6,710 50-100 3,810 4,970 50 2.650 4,000 50 2,080 

80 Bad River near Fort Pierre, S.Dak. (06441500) 3,940 50 4.410 3.400 50-100 3.130 2,880 100 2,380 

82 Campbell Creek near Lee's Comer, S.Dak. (06442718) 96.0 10 85.6 88.4 10 58.2 68.6 10 48.8 

83 Elm Creek near Gann Valley. S.Dak. (06442900) 602 25 181 452 25 127 347 25 111 

84 White River near Oacoma, S.Dak. (06452000) 4,540 25 8,890 3,460 25 6,330 3,650 25 4,860 

86 Choteau Creek near Avon, S.Dak. (06453255) 434 5 677 331 <5 585 295 5 496 

James River Basin 

88 James River near Grace City, N. Dak. ( 06468170) 1.200 25 740 800 25 570 600 25 440 

89 Pipestem Creek near Pingree, N.Dak. (06469400) 826 >200 526 564 >200 403 428 >200 327 

90 James River at Jamestown, N.Dak. (06470000) 1,663 25 1.180 1.470 25 1,060 1.220 25 1,020 

91 Jan1es River at LaMoure. N.Dak. (06470500) 2,640 25 1.480 2.260 25 1,280 1.910 25 1.230 

-t 92 James River at Dakota Lake Dam near Ludden, N.Dak. 3.480 25 1.770 2,810 25 1.590 2,370 25 1,360 )> 

m (06470875) 

c 93 James River at Columbia, S.Dak. (06471000) 2.930 200 1,670 2,460 200 1.470 2.140 200 1,300 r 

)> 

:::0 94 Maple River at North Dakota-South Dakota State line 683 25 415 463 25 283 349 25 214 

z (06471200) "11 

0 95 Elm River at Westport, S.Dak. (06471500) 1.630 25 1,250 1.100 25 859 831 25 660 

lJ 

== 97 James River at Ashton, S.Dak. (06473000) 5,770 200 2,830 ,.,. 4,550 200 2.330 3.850 100-200 ?.,OQO 

-t 102 James River at Huron, S.Dak. (06476000) 12,200 >200 6,620 9,090 >200 5,740 7.400 >200 4,940 0 

z 

.l:oo 

CD 
Availability of Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey 

Order U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) publications by calling 

the toll-free telephone number 1-888-ASK-USGS or contacting the offices listed below. Detailed ordering instructions, 

along with prices of the last offerings. are given in the current-year issues of the catalog ''New Publications of the U.S. 

Geological Survey." 

Books, Maps, and Other Publications 

By Mail 

Books, maps, and other publications are available by mail 

fromUSGS Information Services 

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Publications include Professional Papers, Bulletins, WaterSupply Papers, Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, 

Circulars, Fact Sheets, publications of general interest, single 

copies of permanent USGS catalogs, and topographic and 

thematic maps. 

Over the Counter 

Books, maps, and other publications of the U.S. Geological 

Survey are available over the counter at the following USGS 

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authorized agents of the Superintendent of Documents: 

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Information Periodicals 

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Printed copies of the Minerals Yearbook and the Min~ral Commodity Summaries can be ordered from the Superintendent of 

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Printed copies of Metal Industry Indicators and Mine ... al Industry Surveys can be ordered from the Center for Disease Control 

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CD-ROM 

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Selected Series of U.S. Geological Survey Publications 

Books and Other Publications 

Professional Papers report scientific data and interpretations 

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Bulletins contain significant data and interpretations that are of 

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Water-Supply Papers are comprehensive reports that present 

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wide interest to professional geologists, hydrologists, and engineers. The series covers investigations in all phases of hydrology. including hydrogeology, availability of water, quality of 

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Circulars are reports of programmatic or scientific information 

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Repm1s in the Digital Data Series (DDS) distribute large 

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Water-Resources Investigations Reports are papers of an 

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Maps 

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Geophysical Investigations Maps (GP's) are on topographic 

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Miscellaneous Investigations Series Maps or Geclogic 

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Information Periodicals 

Metal Industry Indicators (Mil's) is a free montl,ly newsletter that analyzes and forecasts the economic health of five 

metal industries with composite leading and coincident 

indexes: primary metals, steel, copper, primary and secondary 

aluminum, and aluminum mill products. 

Mineral Industry Surveys (MIS's) are free period~,': statistical 

and economic reports designed to provide timely statistical 

data on production, distribution, stocks, and consumption of 

significant mineral commodities. The surveys are issued 

monthly, quarterly, annually, or at other regular intervals, 

depending on the need for cunent data. The MIS's are published by commodity as well as by State. A series of international MIS's is also available. 

Published on an annual basis, Mineral Commodit;' Summaries is the earliest Government publication to furnish estimates 

covering nonfuel mineral industry data. Data sheets contain 

information on the domestic industry structure, Go'remment 

programs, tariffs, and 5-year salient statistics for more than 90 

individual minerals and materials. 

The Minerals Yearbook discusses the performance of the 

worldwide minerals and materials industry during a calendar 

year, and it provides background information to assist in interpreting that performance. The Minerals Yearbook ~onsists of 

three volumes. Volume L Metals and Minerals, cortains chapters about virtually all metallic and industrial mineral commodities important to the U.S. economy. Volume IL Area Reports: 

Domestic, contains a chapter on the minerals indmtry of each 

of the 50 States and Puerto Rico and the Administned Islands. 

Volume III, Area Reports: International, is published as four 

separate reports. These reports collectively contain the latest 

available mineral data on more than 190 foreign ccuntries and 

discuss the impm1ance of minerals to the economies of these 

nations and the United States. 

Permanent Catalogs 

"'Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey, 1879-1961" 

and "'Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey, 1962-

1970" are available in paperback book form and as a set of 

microfiche. 

"Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey, 1971-1981" is 

available in paperback book form (two volumes, P'Iblications 

listing and index) and as a set of microfiche. 

Annual supplements for 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 

subsequent years are available in paperback book form. 
ISBN 0-607-96339-5 

@ Printed on recycled paper ] ~~~~~~~~~l'JIJWII