U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Open-File Report 2012–1147

In cooperation with the North Dakota State Water Commission, North Dakota 

Department of Health, North Dakota Department of Transportation, and Red River 

Joint Water Resource Board

Streamflow Statistics for Selected Streams 

in North Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba, and 

Saskatchewan

Streamflow Statistics for Selected Streams 

in North Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba, and 

Saskatchewan

By Tara Williams-Sether

In cooperation with the North Dakota State Water Commission, North 

Dakota Department of Health, North Dakota Department of Transportation, 

and Red River Joint Water Resource Board

Open-File Report 2012–1147

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2012

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U.S. Government.

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as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner.

Suggested citation:

Williams-Sether, Tara, 2012, Streamflow statistics for selected streams in North Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba, and 

Saskatchewan: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012–1147, 11 p.
iii

Contents

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

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

History of the streamflow-gaging program in North Dakota..................................................................1

Explanation of station summaries...............................................................................................................7

Station description................................................................................................................................7

Statistics of monthly and annual mean discharges........................................................................7

Monthly and annual flow durations...................................................................................................9

Probability of occurrence of high discharges .................................................................................9

Annual peak discharge and corresponding gage height and monthly and annual mean 

discharges................................................................................................................................9

Data considerations ......................................................................................................................................9

References cited..........................................................................................................................................10

Glossary.........................................................................................................................................................10

Figures

1. Map showing locations of operating streamflow-gaging stations with 10 or more years 

of discharge record through water year 2009 .........................................................................5

2. Map showing locations of operating peak streamflow-gaging stations with 10 or more 

years of discharge record through water year 2009, operating streamflow-gaging 

stations with 5–9 years of discharge record through water year 2009, and streamflowgaging stations discontinued since water year 2000 .............................................................8

Tables

1. List of operating streamflow-gaging stations with 10 or more years of discharge record 

through water year 2009 for which streamflow statistics are published in this report 

and links to streamflow statistics ..............................................................................................2

2. List of operating peak streamflow-gaging stations with 10 or more years of discharge 

record through water year 2009, operating streamflow-gaging stations with 5–9 years 

of discharge record through water year 2009, and streamflow-gaging stations discontinued since water year 2000 for which streamflow statistics are published in this 

report and links to streamflow statistics ..................................................................................6 
iv

Conversion Factors

Inch/Pound to SI

Multiply By To obtain

Length

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

square mile (mi2

) 259.0 hectare (ha)

square mile (mi2

) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) 

Flow rate

cubic foot per second (ft3

/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the “North American Datum of 1983 

(NAD 83).”

Water year, 12-month period October 1 through September 30. The water year is designated 

by the calendar year in which it ends and which includes 9 of the 12 months.
Streamflow Statistics for Selected Streams in North 

Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan

By Tara Williams-Sether

Abstract

Statistical summaries of streamflow data for the periods 

of record through water year 2009 for selected active and 

discontinued U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging 

stations in North Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan were compiled. The summaries for each streamflowgaging station include a brief station description, a graph of 

the annual peak and annual mean discharge for the period 

of record, statistics of monthly and annual mean discharges, 

monthly and annual flow durations, probability of occurrence 

of annual high discharges, annual peak discharge and corresponding gage height for the period of record, and monthly 

and annual mean discharges for the period of record.

Introduction

Knowledge of the magnitude and time distribution of 

streamflow is essential for all aspects of water management 

and environmental planning. Federal, State, and local agencies 

responsible for the development and management of North 

Dakota’s surface-water resources use this information for 

making safe, economical, and environmentally sound waterresource planning decisions.

At streamflow-gaging stations, a continuous record of 

discharge (streamflow) is developed by creating a relation 

between continuously recorded water level, or stage, and periodic measurements of discharge throughout the range in water 

level (Rantz and others, 1982). Streamflow statistics published 

in annual state water reports by the U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS) include records of daily mean discharge, annual high 

and low discharge, and annual mean discharge. Water resource 

managers may go to various Federal and State agencies or 

Universities to obtain necessary statistics, but sources may 

only include active streamflow-gaging stations listed in the 

most recent annual report and, thus, overlook information 

available for many discontinued streamflow-gaging stations.

The purpose of this report is to provide a comprehensive 

publication summarizing streamflow statistics for the periods 

of record through water year 2009 for selected active and 

discontinued streamflow-gaging stations that are operated in 

or adjacent to North Dakota. The term “water year” in this 

report is defined as the 12-month period October 1, for any 

given year through September 30, of the following year. The 

water year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends 

and which includes 9 of the 12 months. Thus, the year ending 

September 30, 2009 is called the 2009 water year. Operating 

streamflow-gaging stations that have at least 10 years of discharge record through water year 2009 are listed in table 1 and 

their locations are shown in figure 1. Operating peak streamflow-gaging stations that have at least 10 years of discharge 

record through water 2009, operating streamflow-gaging 

stations that have 5–9 years of discharge record through water 

year 2009, and streamflow-gaging stations that were discontinued since water year 2000 are listed in table 2 and their 

locations are shown in figure 2.

History of the Streamflow-Gaging 

Program in North Dakota

Much of the history of the streamflow-gaging program in 

North Dakota outlined in this report was originally presented 

by Crosby (1970). The collection of systemic streamflow data 

began in 1882 when a stage-gaging station was established 

on the Red River of the North at Grand Forks (Crosby, 1970). 

Infrequent discharge measurements were made at this station 

for navigational purposes. The Missouri River Commission 

obtained stage data on the Missouri River at Bismarck in 

1881–82 and in 1886–89. As a result of the National Reclamation Act of 1902 and the disastrous flood in 1897 in the Red 

River of the North Basin, the USGS, in cooperation with the 

State of North Dakota, established and operated streamflowgaging stations from 1901 through 1909 (Crosby, 1970). The 

diversion of water along the international boundary created 

interest from Canada, and resulted in the formation of the 

International Joint Commission in 1912. State cooperation was 

discontinued in 1925 when eight streamflow-gaging stations 

were in operation (Crosby, 1970). Only five federally operated 

streamflow-gaging stations were continued. State cooperation resumed in 1931, but funds were limited from 1934 

through 1938. However, the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1927 

and the Flood Control Acts of 1928 and 1936 resulted in the 
2 Streamflow Statistics for Selected Streams in North Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan

Table 1. List of operating streamflow-gaging stations with 10 or more years of discharge record through water 

year 2009 for which streamflow statistics are published in this report and links to streamflow statistics.

[Water year, the 12-month period October 1, for any given year through September 30, of the following year; Y, yes; N, no]

Map

identifier

(fig. 1)

Station number 

(with link to 

streamflow 

statistics)

Station name Regulation 

(Y/N)

1 05051500 Red River of the North at Wahpeton, N. Dak. Y

2 05051522 Red River of the North at Hickson, N. Dak. Y

3 05051600 Wild Rice River near Rutland, N. Dak. N

4 05052500 Antelope Creek at Dwight, N. Dak. N

5 05053000 Wild Rice River near Abercrombie, N. Dak. Y

6 05054000 Red River of the North at Fargo, N. Dak. Y

7 05054500 Sheyenne River above Harvey, N. Dak. N

8 05056000 Sheyenne River near Warwick, N. Dak. N

9 05056060 Mauvais Coulee Tributary No. 3 near Cando, N. Dak. N

10 05056100 Mauvais Coulee near Cando, N. Dak. N

11 05056200 Edmore Coulee near Edmore, N. Dak. N

12 05056215 Edmore Coulee Tributary near Webster, N. Dak. N

13 05056239 Starkweather Coulee near Webster, N. Dak. N

14 05056340 Little Coulee near Leeds, N. Dak. N

15 05057000 Sheyenne River near Cooperstown, N. Dak. N

16 05057200 Baldhill Creek near Dazey, N. Dak. N

17 05058000 Sheyenne River below Baldhill Dam, N. Dak. Y

18 05058700 Sheyenne River at Lisbon, N. Dak. Y

19 05059000 Sheyenne River near Kindred, N. Dak. Y

20 05059300 Sheyenne River above Sheyenne River Diversion near Horace, N. Dak. Y

21 05059310 Sheyenne River Diversion near Horace, N. Dak. Y

22 05059480 Sheyenne River Diversion at West Fargo, N. Dak. Y

23 05059500 Sheyenne River at West Fargo, N. Dak. Y

24 05059600 Maple River near Hope, N. Dak. N

25 05059700 Maple River near Enderlin, N. Dak. N

26 05060000 Maple River near Mapleton, N. Dak. Y

27 05060100 Maple River below Mapleton, N. Dak. Y

28 05060500 Rush River at Amenia, N. Dak. N

29 05064500 Red River of the North at Halstad, Minn. Y

30 05066500 Goose River at Hillsboro, N. Dak. N

31 05070000 Red River of the North near Thompson, N. Dak. Y

32 05082500 Red River of the North at Grand Forks, N. Dak. Y

33 05082625 Turtle River at Turtle River State Park near Arvilla, N. Dak. Y

34 05084000 Forest River near Fordville, N. Dak. N

35 05085000 Forest River at Minto, N. Dak. N
History of the Streamflow-Gaging Program in North Dakota 3

36 05090000 Park River at Grafton, N. Dak. Y

37 05092000 Red River of the North at Drayton, N. Dak. Y

38 05099100 Snowflake Creek near Snowflake, Manitoba, Canada N

39 05099150 Mowbray Creek near Mowbray, Manitoba, Canada N

40 05099300 Pembina River near Windygates, Manitoba, Canada N

41 05099400 Little South Pembina River near Walhalla, N. Dak. Y

42 05099600 Pembina River at Walhalla, N. Dak. N

43 05100000 Pembina River at Neche, N. Dak. N

44 05101000 Tongue River at Akra, N. Dak. Y

45 05102500 Red River of the North at Emerson, Manitoba, Canada Y

46 05113360 Long Creek at west crossing of International Boundary, Saskatchewan, CanadaN

47 05113600 Long Creek near Noonan, N. Dak. N

48 05114000 Souris River near Sherwood, N. Dak. Y

49 05116000 Souris River near Foxholm, N. Dak. Y

50 05116500 Des Lacs River at Foxholm, N. Dak. Y

51 05117500 Souris River above Minot, N. Dak. Y

52 05120000 Souris River near Verendrye, N. Dak. Y

53 05120500 Wintering River near Karlsruhe, N. Dak. Y

54 05122000 Souris River near Bantry, N. Dak. Y

55 05123400 Willow Creek near Willow City, N. Dak. N

56 05123510 Deep River near Upham, N. Dak. N

57 05124000 Souris River near Westhope, N. Dak. Y

58 06329597 Charbonneau Creek near Charbonneau, N. Dak. N

59 06331000 Little Muddy River below Cow Creek near Williston, N. Dak. N

60 06332515 Bear Den Creek near Mandaree, N. Dak. N

61 06332523 East Fork Shell Creek near Parshall, N. Dak. N

62 06332770 Deepwater Creek at mouth near Raub, N. Dak. N

63 06335500 Little Missouri River at Marmarth, N. Dak. N

64 06336000 Little Missouri River at Medora, N. Dak. N

65 06336600 Beaver Creek near Trotters, N. Dak. N

66 06337000 Little Missouri River near Watford City, N. Dak. N

67 06338490 Missouri River at Garrison Dam, N. Dak. Y

68 06339100 Knife River at Manning, N. Dak. N

69 06339500 Knife River near Golden Valley, N. Dak. N

70 06340000 Spring Creek at Zap, N. Dak. N

Table 1. List of operating streamflow-gaging stations with 10 or more years of discharge record through 

water year 2009 for which streamflow statistics are published in this report and links to streamflow 

statistics.—Continued

[Water year, the 12-month period October 1, for any given year through September 30, of the following year; Y, yes; N, no]

Map

Identifier

(fig. 1)

Station number 

(with link to 

streamflow 

statistics)

Station name Regulation 

(Y/N)
4 Streamflow Statistics for Selected Streams in North Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan

71 06340500 Knife River at Hazen, N. Dak. N

72 06342260 Square Butte Creek below Center, N. Dak. Y

73 06342450 Burnt Creek near Bismarck, N. Dak. N

74 06342500 Missouri River at Bismarck, N. Dak. Y

75 06344600 Green River near New Hradec, N. Dak. N

76 06345500 Heart River near Richardton, N. Dak. Y

77 06345780 Heart River above Lake Tschida near Glen Ullin, N. Dak. Y

78 06347000 Antelope Creek near Carson, N. Dak. N

79 06347500 Big Muddy Creek near Almont, N. Dak. N

80 06348300 Heart River at Stark Bridge near Judson, N. Dak. Y

81 06348500 Sweetbriar Creek near Judson, N. Dak. Y

82 06349000 Heart River near Mandan, N. Dak. Y

83 06349500 Apple Creek near Menoken, N. Dak. N

84 06350000 Cannonball River at Regent, N. Dak. N

85 06352000 Cedar Creek near Haynes, N. Dak. N

86 06353000 Cedar Creek near Raleigh, N. Dak. N

87 06354000 Cannonball River at Breien, N. Dak. N

88 06354580 Beaver Creek below Linton, N. Dak. N

89 06468170 James River near Grace City, N. Dak. N

90 06468250 James River above Arrowwood Lake near Kensal, N. Dak. N

91 06469400 Pipestem Creek near Pingree, N. Dak. N

92 06470000 James River at Jamestown, N. Dak. Y

93 06470500 James River at LaMoure, N. Dak. Y

94 06470800 Bear Creek near Oakes, N. Dak. N

95 06470878 James River at North Dakota-South Dakota State line Y

96 06471200 Maple River at North Dakota-South Dakota State line N

Table 1. List of operating streamflow-gaging stations with 10 or more years of discharge record through 

water year 2009 for which streamflow statistics are published in this report and links to streamflow 

statistics.—Continued

[Water year, the 12-month period October 1, for any given year through September 30, of the following year; Y, yes; N, no]

Map

Identifier

(fig. 1)

Station number 

(with link to 

streamflow 

statistics)

Station name Regulation 

(Y/N)
History of the Streamflow-Gaging Program in North Dakota 5

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) supporting a large 

expansion of the streamflow-gaging program (Crosby, 1970). 

The North Dakota-South Dakota USGS Office was created on 

October 16, 1944 and 41 streamflow-gaging stations were in 

operation at that time. Plans for the coordinated development 

of the waters of the Missouri River Basin, with respect to flood 

control, navigation, power, and irrigation, were formulated in 

1943–44 by the USACOE, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, 

and the States in the basin. These plans resulted in a rapid 

expansion of the streamflow-gaging program, and by 1947, 

64 gaging stations were in operation in North Dakota (Crosby, 

1970). The number of streamflow-gaging stations increased 

steadily from the late 1940s until the late 1960s, and by 1969, 

109 streamflow-gaging stations were in operation.

During 1969–76, the number of streamflow-gaging 

stations in operation remained relatively stable. During the 

1970s, the USGS established 25 additional streamflow-gaging 

stations to monitor the quantity and quality of streamflow 

in drainage basins underlain by strippable lignite deposits 

(Haffield, 1981). By 1979, about 145 streamflow-gaging stations were in operation in North Dakota. During 1981–83, the 

number of streamflow-gaging stations in operation declined 

rapidly, and, during 1984–87, the number declined slowly 

to about 110. Since 1987, the number of streamflow-gaging 

stations in operation has been relatively stable ranging from 

about 100 to 110 stations.

SASKATCHEWAN

NORTH DAKOTA

MONTANA

MINNESOTA

SOUTH DAKOTA

CANADA

UNITED STATES

MANITOBA

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

96 95

94

93

92

91

90

89

88 87

86

85

84

83

81 82

80 79

78

77 76

75

74

73

72

71

70

69

68

67

66

65

64

63

62

61

60

59

58

57

56 55

54

53

52

51

50

49

48 47

46

45

44

43

42

41

38 39 40

37

36

35

34

33

32

31

30

29

28

27

26

25

24

22 23

21

20

19

18

17

16

15

14

13

12

11

10

Wahpeton

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection

Zone 14

0 50 100 MILES

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

EXPLANATION

8

Red River

of the North

104° 102° 100° 98° 96°

48°

46°

Operating streamflow-gaging station with 10 or 

more years of discharge record through water 

year 2009. Number is identifier used in table 1

Figure 1. Locations of operating streamflow-gaging stations with 10 or more years of discharge record through water year 2009.
6 Streamflow Statistics for Selected Streams in North Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan

Table 2. List of operating peak streamflow-gaging stations with 10 or more years of discharge record through water year 

2009, operating streamflow-gaging stations with 5–9 years of discharge record through water year 2009, and streamflowgaging stations discontinued since water year 2000 for which streamflow statistics are published in this report and links to 

streamflow statistics.

[Water year, the 12-month period October 1, for any given year through September 30, of the following year; Y, yes; N, no]

Map 

identifier 

(fig. 2)

Station number 

(with link to 

streamflow 

statistics)

Station name Regulation 

(Y/N)

Operating peak streamflow-gaging stations with 10 or more years

97 05056017 Mauvais Coulee Tributary above Brumba Pool near Rock Lake, N. Dak. N

98 05056900 Sheyenne River Tributary near Cooperstown, N. Dak. N

99 05057100 Baldhill Creek near Binford, N. Dak. N

100 05058500 Sheyenne River at Valley City, N. Dak. Y

101 05060400 Sheyenne River at Harwood, N. Dak. Y

102 05060470 Rush River near Hunter, N. Dak. N

103 05065810 Middle Branch Goose River Tributary near Pickert, N. Dak. N

104 05083500 Red River of the North at Oslo, Minn. Y

105 05083580 Middle Branch Forest River Tributary near Adams, N. Dak. N

106 05090025 Willow Creek near Hensel, N. Dak. N

107 05099340 Unnamed Tributary near Langdon, N. Dak. N

108 05100450 Tongue River near Osnabrock, N. Dak. N

109 05102490 Red River of the North at Pembina, N. Dak. Y

110 05113520 Long Creek Tributary near Crosby, N. Dak. N

111 05113800 Short Creek below International Boundary near Roche Percee, Saskatchewan, Canada Y

112 05116135 Tasker Coulee Tributary near Kenaston, N. Dak. N

113 05119410 Bonnes Coulee near Velva, N. Dak. N

114 05120180 Wintering River Tributary near Kongsberg, N. Dak. N

115 05121000 Souris River west outfall at Eaton Dam near Towner, N. Dak. Y

116 05121001 Souris River east outfall at Eaton Dam near Towner, N. Dak. Y

117 05123300 Oak Creek Tributary near Bottineau, N. Dak. N

118 06332150 White Earth River Tributary near White Earth, N. Dak. N

119 06336300 Little Missouri River Tributary near Medora, N. Dak. N

120 06337080 Cherry Creek Tributary near Arnegard, N. Dak. N

121 06337900 Snake Creek Tributary near Garrison, N. Dak. N

122 06339890 North Creek near Werner, N. Dak. N

123 06343000 Heart River near South Heart, N. Dak. N

124 06347090 Tavis Creek near Glen Ullin, N. Dak. N

125 06349083 Southeast Branch Little Heart River at St. Anthony, N. Dak. N

126 06349580 Hay Creek at 43rd Avenue near Bismarck, N. Dak. N

127 06349590 Hay Creek at Divide Avenue in Bismarck, N. Dak. N

128 06351630 Middle Fork Cedar Creek Tributary near Amidon, N. Dak. N

129 06352380 Timber Creek Tributary near New Leipzig, N. Dak. N

130 06354450 Beaver Creek Tributary near Linton, N. Dak. N

131 06469100 Pipestem Creek near Heaton, N. Dak. N

132 06470200 Beaver Creek Tributary near Eldridge, N. Dak. N

133 06471100 Maple Creek Tributary near Edgeley, N. Dak. N

134 06471150 South Fork Maple River Tributary near Merricourt, N. Dak. N
Explanation of Station Summaries 7

Explanation of Station Summaries

Station summaries are presented so that each station 

description and tables of streamflow statistics and probabilities 

of occurrence are presented in the same order and format for 

each streamflow-gaging station. The station summaries can be 

found by following the provided links listed in tables 1 and 2. 

Because the information and statistics in the tables were created by retrievals from the USGS National Water Information 

System (NWIS) database (http://water.usgs.gov/nwis/nwis) 

(U.S. Geological Survey, 2011) or statistical program results, 

significant figures were not rounded to USGS standards. The 

order of presentation is as follows:

1. station description;

2. graph of annual peak and annual mean discharges;

3. table of statistics of monthly and annual mean discharges;

4. table of monthly and annual flow durations;

5. table of probability of occurrence of annual high discharges;

6. table of annual peak discharge and corresponding gage 

height for the period of record; and

7. table of monthly and annual mean discharges for the 

period of record.

Where pre-regulated and post-regulated statistics are 

presented for a streamflow-gaging station, the respective tables 

for the pre-regulated and post-regulated data are presented in 

the same format as non-regulated streams with pre-regulated 

statistics being listed before post-regulated statistics. Monthly 

and annual statistics computed using daily mean discharge 

values were not generated for peak streamflow-gaging stations 

(table 2), unless daily mean discharge values existed.

Station Description

The location, drainage area, period of record, and other 

general information about each streamflow-gaging station 

are included in the station description (Station Info tab). This 

information was retrieved from the USGS NWIS database.

Statistics of Monthly and Annual Mean 

Discharges

Statistics of monthly and annual mean discharges presented for each streamflow-gaging station include the maximum, minimum, and mean monthly discharges and the maximum, minimum, and mean annual discharges (Statistics of 

discharge tab). The water years (October 1 through September 

30) in which the maximum and minimum discharges occurred 

are listed with the respective values, and the standard deviation and coefficient of variation of the monthly and annual 

mean discharges are listed with the respective values. The 

percentage of the annual discharges computed using monthly 

mean discharges are also listed.

Operating streamflow-gaging stations with 5–9 years 

135 05055300 Sheyenne River above Devils Lake State outlet near Flora, N. Dak. N

136 05055400 Sheyenne River below Devils Lake State outlet near Bremen, N. Dak. N

137 06349600 Hay Creek at Main Avenue in Bismarck, N. Dak. N

138 06351200 Cannonball River near Raleigh, N. Dak. N

Streamflow-gaging stations discontinued since water year 2000

139 05056410 Channel A near Penn, N. Dak. Y

140 05056636 Devils Lake outlet to Stump Lake near Lakota, N. Dak. N

141 05064900 Beaver Creek near Finley, N. Dak. Y

142 05123500 Stone Creek near Kramer, N. Dak. N

143 05123750 Cut Bank Creek at Upham, N. Dak. N

144 05123900 Boundary Creek near Landa, N. Dak. Y

145 06341410 Turtle Creek above Washburn, N. Dak. N

146 06349215 Long Lake Creek above Long Lake near Moffit, N. Dak. N

Table 2. List of operating peak streamflow-gaging stations with 10 or more years of discharge record through water year 

2009, operating streamflow-gaging stations with 5–9 years of discharge record through water year 2009, and streamflowgaging stations discontinued since water year 2000 for which streamflow statistics are published in this report and links to 

streamflow statistics.—Continued

[Water year, the 12-month period October 1, for any given year through September 30, of the following year; Y, yes; N, no]

Map 

identifier 

(fig. 2)

Station number 

(with link to 

streamflow statistics)

Station name Regulation 

(Y/N)
8 Streamflow Statistics for Selected Streams in North Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan

Each of the statistics is explained in the following paragraphs. As an aide to the readers’ understanding of how the 

monthly mean and annual mean discharges are determined, 

data for the streamflow-gaging station Red River of the North 

at Wahpeton, N. Dak. (05051500) are used as an example. The 

monthly mean value is the average of the daily mean values 

for the month. The annual mean value is the average of the 

daily mean values for the year. Months or years for which all 

daily mean values are not available are not included in the 

compilation of statistics.

The maximum monthly mean discharge is the maximum 

value of all the monthly mean values for a given month. The 

maximum mean value for October was 1,712 cubic feet per 

second (ft3

/s), which occurred during water year 2005. Similarly, the minimum monthly mean discharge is the minimum 

value of all the monthly mean values for a given month. 

The minimum mean value for October was 5.72 ft3/s, which 

occurred during water year 1977. The maximum and minimum 

monthly mean values are documented in the linked tables of 

SASKATCHEWAN

MONTANA

MINNESOTA

SOUTH DAKOTA

MANITOBA

Wahpeton

NORTH DAKOTA

97

136

135

134

133

132

131

130 129

128

138

137

146 125

124 123

145

122

121

120

119

118

144

143

142

117

115 116

114

113

112

111

110

109

108

107 106

105

104

103

141

102

100

99

98

140

139

100

135

146

Red River

of the North

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1983

Universal Transverse Mercator projection

Zone 14

0 50 100 MILES

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

EXPLANATION

104° 102° 100° 98° 96°

48°

46°

Operating peak streamflow-gaging station with 10 or more 

years of discharge record through water year 2009. Number 

is identifier used in table 2

Operating peak streamflow-gaging station with 5−9 years of 

discharge record through water year 2009. Number is 

identifier used in table 2

Streamflow-gaging station discontinued since water year 

2000. Number is identifier used in table 2

.

CANADA

UNITED STATES

101

127 126

Figure 2. Locations of operating peak streamflow-gaging stations with 10 or more years of discharge record through water year 

2009, operating streamflow-gaging stations with 5–9 years of discharge record through water year 2009, and streamflow-gaging 

stations discontinued since water year 2000.
Data Considerations 9

statistics of monthly and annual mean discharges (Statistics of 

discharges tab).

The mean monthly discharge is the mean of all the 

monthly mean discharges for a given month, and the standard 

deviation is a measure of the variability of the values. The 

mean monthly discharge for October was 389.31 ft3/s, and the 

standard deviation was 339.92 ft3/s. The monthly mean discharge for October (mean of the mean monthly values) is the 

same as the mean of all October daily values for the period of 

record used. However, the standard deviation is smaller than 

the standard deviation obtained using all daily values. The 

standard deviation is smaller because the monthly values have 

less variability than the daily values.

The coefficient of variation is the ratio of the standard 

deviation to the mean. The coefficient of variation is dimensionless. Because monthly mean discharges are generally 

greater in spring than in winter, the standard deviations also 

are generally greater in spring than in winter. However, dividing the standard deviation by the mean monthly discharge 

tends to equalize the measures for all months so a more meaningful comparison among months can be made.

The percentage of the annual discharge is the percent of 

the annual discharge that occurred during each month. It is 

calculated by dividing the mean discharge for the month by 

the total of the 12 monthly mean discharges and multiplying 

by 100. Because of rounding of the monthly percentage, the 

sum of the 12 percentages may not equal 100 percent.

The maximum, minimum, and mean annual discharges 

are selected or computed from the annual mean discharges for 

the period of record used. The water years of occurrence of the 

maximum and minimum values are listed with the respective 

values, and the standard deviation of the mean of the annual 

mean values are listed with the mean value. The minimum 

annual mean discharge of 54.0 ft3

/s occurred in 1977, and the 

maximum annual mean discharge of 1,838 ft3/s occurred in 

2009. The mean annual discharge for the period of record used 

is 687.60 ft3/s.

Monthly and Annual Flow Durations

The monthly and annual flow durations table is a magnitude and frequency analysis of daily mean discharge values 

(Flow durations tab). It is computed by tabulating the number 

of daily mean discharge values that fall within pre-selected 

class limits, computing the percentage of values within each 

class, and interpolating discharge values for the percentages shown in the table. Monthly values are calculated from 

daily mean values in all complete months in the record, and 

annual values are calculated for all complete water years. For 

example, if the 90-percent flow duration value for October is 

87.2 ft3

/s, then 90 percent of all October daily mean discharge 

values for the period of record used were equal to or greater 

than 87.2 ft3/s.

Probability of Occurrence of High Discharges

The probability of occurrence of annual high discharges 

is presented in a table for each streamflow-gaging station 

(Annual high discharges tab). The probability of occurrence 

is an estimate of the likelihood that a particular discharge in a 

stream will be equaled or exceeded in one year. The probability of occurrence of a high flow is called the exceedance probability. For example, if the maximum instantaneous discharge 

for the 0.20 exceedance probability is listed as 4,450 ft3/s, then 

a 20 percent chance exists that a discharge equal to or greater 

than 4,450 ft3/s will occur once during the year.

The table of probability of occurrence of annual high discharges for each streamflow-gaging station lists the maximum 

instantaneous discharge and the maximum mean discharge 

for the 3, 7, 15, and 30 consecutive-day periods for selected 

exceedance probabilities. Values for the maximum instantaneous discharges were computed using peak streamflow 

record according to the guidelines established by the Hydrology Subcommittee of the Interagency Advisory Committee on 

Water Data (1982). No adjustments were made for length of 

record, high or low outliers and a generalized skew was used 

in the computations unless the peak streamflow was regulated; 

then a station skew was used instead of a generalized skew. 

Values for the maximum mean discharges for the 3, 7, 

15, and 30 consecutive-day periods were computed from the 

annual high mean values of the corresponding periods. The 

computations were based on the log-Pearson Type III distribution using values obtained for the water year. If the log-Pearson Type III distribution curve for the high discharges failed to 

fit the data at the upper or lower ends, graphical interpretations 

were not made. Cautionary notes are provided for the user in 

these instances.

Annual Peak Discharge and Corresponding 

Gage Height and Monthly and Annual Mean 

Discharges

The annual peak discharge and corresponding gage 

height for the period of record is presented in a table for each 

streamflow-gaging station (Annual peak discharges tab). Also, 

a table of monthly and annual mean discharges is presented 

for each streamflow-gaging station that had daily mean values 

(Mean discharges tab). The values for each of these tables are 

presented by water year for the period of record.

Data Considerations

The reliability of statistical data is related to the length 

of the period of record for a streamflow-gaging station. The 

Hydrology Subcommittee of the Interagency Advisory committee on Water Data (1982) recommends that at least 10 years 

of record be used for computing flood frequency estimates. 
10 Streamflow Statistics for Selected Streams in North Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan

Therefore, the length of record criterion for inclusion of a 

streamflow-gaging station in this report was at least 10 years. 

Even with this criterion, the lengths and continuity of record 

for the streamflow-gaging stations varied substantially. The 

10-year requirement was relaxed to a minimum of 5 years for 

some sites listed in table 2 in order to include streamflow-gaging stations that had been discontinued since water year 2000 

and those operating through water year 2009 but have less 

than 10 years of data. The relaxed 10-year requirement was 

only used to compute statistics of monthly and annual mean 

discharges and monthly and annual flow durations. Probability 

of occurrence of annual high discharges was not computed if 

the record length was less than 10 years. Longer record lengths 

for many of the streamflow-gaging stations in this report may 

result in different streamflow statistics when comparing data 

in this report with data in previous publications. Differences in 

statistical data for pre- and post-regulation periods may not be 

caused solely by regulation. Differences also can be attributed 

to the length of record and climatic variability as expressed by 

hydrologic variability.

References Cited

Crosby, O.A., 1970, A proposed streamflow data program for 

North Dakota: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report, 

68 p.

Haffield, N.D., 1981, Statistical summaries of streamflow 

and water-quality data for streams of western North 

Dakota, 1977–80: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 81–1066, 78 p.

Hydrology Subcommittee of the Interagency Advisory Committee on Water Data, 1982, Guidelines for determining 

flood flow frequency: Hydrology Subcommittee Bulletin 

17B, 28 p., 14 appendixes.

Rantz, S.E, and others, 1982, Measurement and computation of streamflow—Volume 1. Measurement of stage and 

discharge and Volume 2. Computation of discharge: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2175, 631 p.

U.S.Geological Survey, 2011, USGS Water Data for USA: 

U.S. Geological Survey database, accessed December 29, 

2011, at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis?. 

Glossary

C

cubic foot per second (ft3/s) Rate of discharge representing a 

volume of 1 cubic foot passing a given point during 1 second 

and is equivalent to 7.48 gallons per second or 448.8 gallons 

per minute or 0.02832 cubic meters per second.

D

discharge Volume of water in the “natural” channel of 

a stream that passes a given point within a given period of 

time. Discharge often is used interchangeably with the term 

“streamflow”.

drainage area Area, measured in a horizontal plane, 

enclosed by a topographic divide from which direct surface 

runoff from precipitation normally drains by gravity into the 

stream upstream from the station.

drainage basin Part of the surface of the Earth that is occupied by a drainage system, which consists of a surface stream 

or a body of impounded surface water together with all tributary surface streams and bodies of impounded surface water.

E

exceedance probability Probability that a specified discharge will be exceeded.

G

gage height Water-surface elevation referred to some arbitrary gage datum. Gage height often is used interchangeably 

with the more general term “stage”, although gage height is 

more appropriate when used with a reading on a gage.

gaging station Particular site on a stream, canal, lake, or 

reservoir where systematic observations of hydrologic data are 

obtained.

H

hydrologic unit Geographic area representing part or all of a 

surface drainage basin or distinct hydrologic feature as delineated by the Office of Water Data Coordination on the State 

Hydrologic Unit Maps; each hydrologic unit is identified by an 

8-digit number.

I

instantaneous discharge Discharge at a particular instant of 

time.
Glossary 11

M

mean Arithmetic average of a list of values.

mean discharge Arithmetic mean of individual discharges 

during a specific period.

N

NAD27 North American Datum of 1927; a horizontal control 

datum for the United States that was defined by location and 

azimuth on the Clarke spheroid of 1886, with its origin at 

Meades Ranch, Kansas.

NGVD29 National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929; a vertical control datum established in 1929.

P

period of record Time during which a streamflow-gaging 

station is in operation and for which the records are published.

probability of occurrence Likelihood that an event will 

occur. Probabilities generally are expressed as a decimal number between 0 and 1. If the probability is 0, the event will not 

occur; if the probability is 1, the event will occur absolutely. 

Probability also can be expressed as a percent, where 0 percent 

corresponds to 0 probability and 100 percent corresponds to a 

probability of 1.

R

regulation Artificial manipulation of the flow of a stream.

S

stage see “gage height”

stage-gaging station Gaging station where a record of gage 

height is obtained.

standard deviation Measure of the variability of the values 

in a list of values.

streamflow-gaging station Gaging station where a record of 

discharge of a stream is obtained.

streamflow see “discharge”.

surface water Water on the surface of the Earth.

W

water year 12-month period October 1 through September 

30. The water year is designated by the calendar year in which 

it ends and which includes 9 of the 12 months. Publishing support provided by:

Rolla Publishing Service Center

For additional information concerning this publication, contact:

Director, USGS North Dakota Water Science Center

821 East Interstate Avenue

Bismarck, North Dakota 58503

(701) 250–7400

Or visit the North Dakota Water Science Center Web Site at:

http://nd.water.usgs.gov


Tara Williams-Sether—Streamflow Statistics for Selected Streams in North Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan—Open-File Report 2012–1147