O 0

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Prepared in cooperation with the 

Georgia Department of Transportation 

 Preconstruction Division 

 Office of Bridge Design

Historic Flooding in Georgia, 2009

Open-File Report 2010–1230
Cover. Powder Springs Creek at Powder Springs, Cobb County, Georgia, September 21, 2009. 

Photo by Brian E. McCallum, USGS.
Historic Flooding in Georgia, 2009

By Anthony J. Gotvald

Prepared in cooperation with the 

Georgia Department of Transportation 

 Preconstruction Division 

 Office of Bridge Design

Open-File Report 2010–1230

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: 2010

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, 

natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS

For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, 

visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod

To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the 

U.S. Government.

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Gotvald, A.J., 2010, Historic flooding in Georgia, 2009: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2010–1230, 19 p.
iii

Contents

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

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

Purpose and Scope .......................................................................................................................................3

Description of Storms Associated with the Floods..................................................................................3

Description of the Floods..............................................................................................................................5

Flood Stages and Streamflows ..........................................................................................................6

Annual Exceedance Probabilities......................................................................................................7

Summary........................................................................................................................................................10

Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................................10

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................10

Figures

1–3. Maps showing—

1. A total of 69 Georgia counties that were declared disaster 

areas because of flooding in 2009 .............................................................................2

2. Daily rainfall totals in Georgia during March 27–29 and April 1–3, 2009 .............3

3. Daily rainfall totals in Georgia from September 16 through 22, 2009....................4

4. Photograph showing U.S. Geological Survey hydrographers 

measuring the Sweetwater Creek flow over Interstate 20 near 

Atlanta, Georgia, September 2009.......................................................................................5

5–6. Maps showing—

5. Location of the 238 U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in Georgia 

that record peak flow, 2009..........................................................................................6

6. Annual exceedance probabilities of the 238 U.S. Geological Survey

streamgages in Georgia that record peak flow, 2009 ..............................................8

Tables

1. T-year recurrence intervals with corresponding percent annual 

 exceedance probabilities for flood-frequency flow estimates..........................................1

2. Peak stages and flows at streamgages in Georgia with a peak flow 

 that exceeded the 10–percent annual exceedance probability, 2009 ............................12
iv

Conversion Factors and Datums

Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) as follows:

°C=( °F– 32 )/ 1.8

Vertical coordinate information is referenced North American Vertical Datum of 1988 

(NAVD 88).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Elevation, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch 2.54 centimeter (cm)

inch 25.4 millimeter (mm)

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) 

Volume

cubic foot (ft3

) 28.32 cubic decimeter (dm3) 

cubic foot (ft3

) 0.02832 cubic meter (m3) 

Flow rate

cubic foot per second (ft3

/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s)
By Anthony J. Gotvald

Abstract

Heavy rains in southern Georgia during March 27–

April 3, 2009, and in northern Georgia during 

September 16–22, 2009, caused severe flooding and 

widespread damages to residential, public, and commercial 

structures. Of the 159 counties in Georgia, 69 were declared 

disaster areas because of flooding. The heavy rainfall 

in southern Georgia resulted in severe flooding in the 

Satilla–St. Marys and upper Ochlockonee Basins and 

caused approximately $60 million in damages to the public 

infrastructure. The heavy rainfall in northern Georgia 

resulted in severe flooding on many streams within the 

upper Chattahoochee, Altamaha, and Coosa–Tallapoosa 

Basins and caused 10 deaths, evacuation of thousands of 

residents, and approximately $500 million in damages.

The U.S. Geological Survey computed annual 

exceedance probabilities of the peak flows in 2009 at 

238 streamgages throughout the State. Record peak flows 

were recorded at 40 streamgages for the respective periods 

of record as a result of the heavy rainfall during the two 

multiday events. The peak flows at 33 streamgages 

exceeded the 1-percent annual exceedance probability 

(100-year recurrence interval), and 19 of these exceeded 

the 0.2-percent annual exceedance probability (500-year 

recurrence interval). 

Introduction

Flood data are needed by Federal, State, and local 

agencies to make informed decisions in meeting mission 

requirements related to flood-hazard mitigation, planning, 

and response. For example, the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency (FEMA) needs timely information 

on the magnitude and probability of floods to help respond 

to flood damage, direct emergency response management, 

protect infrastructure, provide recovery guidance, and plan 

for future flood events.

In past flood reports, flood frequencies were expressed as 

recurrence intervals for selected flood quantiles, such as the 

“100-year flood.” The use of recurrence-interval terminology 

is now discouraged by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 

because it sometimes causes confusion for the general public. 

The term is sometimes interpreted to imply that there is a set 

time interval between floods of a particular magnitude when, 

in fact, floods are random processes that are best understood 

by using probabilistic terms. While a flood identified by a 

specific recurrence interval (T-year) is statistically expected 

to occur, on average, once during the specified period, it may 

actually occur multiple times during the period or not at all. 

The terminology associated with flood-frequency 

estimates is undergoing a shift away from the T-year recurrence 

interval to the annual exceedance probability (AEP) as a 

percentage (P-percent). The use of AEP is now recommended 

because it conveys the probability, or odds, of a flood of a 

given magnitude being equaled or exceeded in any given year. 

For example, a 1-percent AEP flood (formerly known as the 

“100-year flood”) corresponds to the flow magnitude that 

has a probability of 0.01 of being equaled or exceeded in any 

given year. The percent, P, is computed as the inverse of the 

T-year recurrence interval multiplied by 100. T-year recurrence 

intervals with corresponding AEPs are shown in table 1.

Historic Flooding in Georgia, 2009

Table 1. T-year recurrence intervals with corresponding 

percent annual exceedance probabilities for flood-frequency 

flow estimates.

T-year 

recurrence interval

P-percent annual 

exceedance probability

2 50

5 20

10 10

25 4

50 2

100 1

200 0.5

500 0.2
2 Historic Flooding in Georgia, 2009

Rainfall in southern Georgia during March 27–April 3, 

2009, resulted in floods that exceeded the 1-percent AEP 

at six USGS streamgages, one of which exceeded the 

0.2-percent AEP. Because of the magnitude of and damages 

from this flood, a Presidential Disaster Declaration, 

FEMA–1833–DR (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 

2009a), was declared for 46 counties (fig. 1) on April 23, 2009. 

FEMA reported that 1,875 homes and 29 businesses were 

affected by floodwaters. Approximately $60 million in public 

infrastructure damage occurred to roads, culverts, bridges, and 

a water-treatment facility (U.S. Geological Survey, 2009). 

Prolonged rainfall in northern Georgia from September 

16 to September 22, 2009, resulted in floods that exceeded 

the 0.2-percent AEP at 18 streamgages. More than 20 inches 

of rain fell in parts of northern Georgia during this period. A 

Presidential Disaster Declaration, FEMA–1858–DR (Federal 

Emergency Management Agency, 2009b), was declared for 

23 counties (fig. 1) on September 24, 2009. Approximately 

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

SOUTH

CAROLINA

EXPLANATION

Georgia counties declared as 

disaster areas on April 23, 2009, 

under FEMA declaration 1833

Georgia counties declared as disaster 

areas on September 24, 2009, under 

FEMA declaration 1858

0 20 40 MILES

0

Base modified from U.S. Geological Survey

1:100:000-scale digital files 20 40 KILOMETERS

Ware

Burke

Clinch

Wayne

Laurens

Hall

Early

Floyd

Worth Coffee

Bulloch

Charlton

Emanuel

Long

Camden

Dodge

Screven

Decatur Grady Thomas

Troup

Tift

Liberty

Wilkes

Harris

Irwin

Cobb

Jones

Appling

Polk

Sumter

Dooly

Gilmer

Bibb

Colquitt

Telfair

Bartow

Rabun

Walker

Fannin

Carroll

Mitchell

Talbot

Coweta

Echols

Union

Taylor

Wilcox

Elbert

Pike

Greene

Stewart

Hart

Henry

Pierce

Upson

Crisp

Heard

Clay

Putnam

Bacon

Walton

Gordon

Miller

Jackson

Butts

Lee

Fulton

Bryan

Glynn

Brooks

Macon

Baker

Berrien

Lowndes

Washington

Jasper Hancock

Marion

Twiggs

Jefferson Monroe

Toombs Chatham

Brantley

Jenkins

Effingham

Gwinnett

Murray

Wilkinson

Mcintosh

Cook

Morgan

Randolph

Cherokee

Houston

White

Terrell

Meriwether

Turner

Banks

Atkinson

Warren

DeKalb

Lumpkin

Oglethorpe

Newton

Paulding

Dade

Johnson

Madison

Wheeler

Jeff

Davis

Richmond

Lincoln

Pulaski

Columbia

Baldwin

Calhoun

Ben Hill

Evans

Crawford

Lanier

Lamar

Franklin

Whitfield

Pickens

Dougherty

Candler

Forsyth

McDuffie

Haralson

Chattooga

Seminole

Dawson

Towns

Fayette

Habersham

Peach

Oconee

Webster

Bleckley

Schley

Douglas

Spalding

Treutlen

Muscogee

Barrow

Quitman

Stephens

Catoosa

Montgomery

Taliaferro Clayton

Clarke

Chattahoochee

Glascock

Rockdale

Tattnall

GEORGIA

82°

84°

34°

32°

Atlanta

Figure 1. A total of 69 Georgia counties that were declared disaster 

areas because of flooding in 2009.
Description of Storms Associated with the Floods 3

$500 million in damages occurred, including damages to 

20,000 homes and structures. Ten fatalities in Georgia were 

attributed to the September 2009 flooding. The majority of 

these incidents resulted from driving on roads covered with 

moving water. None of the fatalities occurred, however, 

because of bridge failures, which is reflective of the efforts of 

the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to inspect 

bridges and determine closures during the floods (National 

Weather Service, 2010).

To document the severity of the 2009 flooding in 

Georgia, the USGS in cooperation with the GDOT, compiled 

the peak stages and flows and computed the AEPs of the peak 

flows at USGS streamgages in Georgia.

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this report is to provide the magnitude 

and probability of the floods during 2009 in Georgia. The 

AEPs of the peak flows for the 2009 water year (October 1, 

2008–September 30, 2009) were determined for 238 USGS 

streamgages in Georgia where peak-flow data are recorded. 

This report contains the peak stages and flows and the AEPs of 

the peak flows for 83 USGS streamgages in Georgia where the 

peak flow exceeded the 10-percent AEP. For streamgages on 

regulated streams and at sites with significant backwater, 

an AEP is not given. This information is valuable to the GDOT 

and to local engineers and planners in ongoing and future 

bridge and roadway design studies.

Description of Storms Associated 

with the Floods

Heavy rains during March 27–April 3, 2009, caused 

severe flooding in southern Georgia. A series of weather 

systems with similar storm tracks and heavy rain swept 

across the region during this period (fig. 2). The National 

Weather Service (NWS) radar rainfall estimates of these 

storms show 10-day rainfall totals over 12 inches across 

southwestern Georgia with maximum 10-day totals in excess 

of 16 inches (National Weather Service, 2009c). Daily rainfall 

totals exceeded 6 inches, which is equal to a 10-percent AEP

(Hershfield, 1961), at four USGS raingages on March 28, 2009.

Figure 2. Daily rainfall totals in Georgia during March 27–29 and April 1–3, 2009 

(images from the National Weather Service, 2009b).

GEORGIA

March 27, 2009 March 27, 2009 March 28, 2009 March 28, 2009 March 29, 2009 March 29, 2009

April 1, 2009 April 2, 2009 April 2, 2009 April 3, 2009 April 3, 2009

10 

8.0

6.0

5.0

Observed daily precipitation, in inches

EXPLANATION

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.5

2.0

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.75

0.50

0.5

0.25

0.10

0.01

Figure 2. Daily rainfall totals in Georgia during March 27–29 and April 1–3, 2009 

(images from the National Weather Service, 2009b).
4 Historic Flooding in Georgia, 2009

Prolonged rains resulting from a nearly stationary frontal 

boundary during September 16–22, 2009, caused severe 

flooding in northern Georgia. More than 20 inches of rain 

fell during this period (fig. 3). Rainfall in parts of Douglas, 

Paulding, Cobb, Carroll, Gwinnett, and Walker Counties 

exceeded 10 inches during a 24-hour period, which exceeds 

a 0.02-percent AEP (National Weather Service, 2009a). 

The maximum rainfall recorded in a 24-hour period was 

21.03 inches, which occurred at the Douglas County Water 

and Sewer Authority near Douglasville (National Weather 

Service, 2010). The southeastern United States had abovenormal precipitation from August to early September, which 

resulted in saturated soil conditions that made the region 

extremely flood prone (National Weather Service, 2010).

10 

8.0

6.0

5.0

Observed daily precipitation, in inches

EXPLANATION

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.5

2.0

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.75

0.50

0.5

0.25

0.10

0.01

Figure 3. Daily rainfall totals in Georgia from September 16 through 22, 2009 

(images from the National Weather Service, 2009b).

September 2009

GEORGIA

16th

20th 21st

17th 18th

19th

16th

20th 21st

17th 18th

19th

22nd 22nd

Figure 3. Daily rainfall totals in Georgia from September 16 through 22, 2009 

(images from the National Weather Service, 2009b).
Description of the Floods 5

Flooding was so severe during the September rainfall 

in northern Georgia that 20 USGS streamgages in Georgia 

were severely damaged or destroyed. The peak stage at 

Dog River at Fairplay, GA (USGS streamgage 02337410, 

see map on page 9 for location) in Douglas County was 

12 feet above the shelter that housed the streamgaging 

equipment. All 20 streamgages, however, were restored to 

operational status within 5 days. During both heavy rainfall 

events, more than 35 USGS personnel worked in the field 

to collect and provide hydrologic information, and as a 

result, more than 100 direct discharge flood measurements 

were made at streamgages throughout the State (fig. 4).

Figure 4. U.S. Geological Survey hydrographers measuring the Sweetwater Creek flow over Interstate 20 near 

Atlanta, Georgia. Photograph by Alan M. Cressler, USGS.

Description of the Floods

Water levels rose in many streams throughout Georgia 

as a result of the heavy rainfall during March 27–April 3 and 

September 16–22, 2009. USGS personnel monitored and 

reported flood information to other Federal, State, and local 

agencies from the onset of the two storms until floodwaters 

receded. Stage and discharge data were reported to the U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the NWS, FEMA, 

various State natural resource and transportation departments, 

electrical power companies, and numerous county and city 

officials. The information provided to these groups was 

essential to their work to minimize loss of life and property. 

The NWS used USGS flood data to provide flood warnings 

to the general public in flood-affected areas. 

Figure 4. U.S. Geological Survey hydrographers measuring the Sweetwater Creek flow over Interstate 20 near 

Atlanta, Georgia, September 2009. Photograph by Alan M. Cressler, USGS.
6 Historic Flooding in Georgia, 2009

Flood Stages and Streamflows 

The USGS examined the 2009 annual peak-flow data 

for the 238 streamgages that record annual peak-flow data 

in Georgia (fig. 5). The streamgages with annual peak-flow 

record are either continuous-record gages or crest-stage gages. 

At continuous-record gages, the water-surface elevation 

(stage) of the stream is recorded at fixed intervals, typically 

at 15-minute intervals. At crest-stage gages, only the crest 

(highest) stage that occurs between site visits is recorded. 

0 20 40 MILES

0

Base modified from U.S. Geological Survey

1:100:000-scale digital files

20 40 KILOMETERS

Figure 5. Location of the 238 U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in Georgia that record 

peak flow, 2009.

Carroll

Ware

Burke

Clinch

Wayne

Laurens

Hall

Early

Floyd

Worth

Coffee

Bulloch

Charlton

Emanuel

Long

Camden

Dodge

Screven

Decatur

Grady Thomas

Troup

Tift

Liberty

Wilkes

Harris

Irwin

Cobb

Jones

GEORGIA

Appling

Polk

Sumter

Dooly

Gilmer

Bibb

Colquitt

Telfair

Bartow

Rabun

Walker

Fannin

Carroll

Mitchell

Talbot

Coweta

Echols

Union

Taylor

Wilcox

Elbert

Pike

Greene

Stewart

Hart

Henry

Pierce

Upson

Crisp

Heard

Clay

Putnam

Bacon

Walton

Gordon

Miller

Jackson

Butts

Lee

Fulton

Bryan

Glynn

Brooks

Macon

Baker

Berrien

Lowndes

Washington

Jasper Hancock

Marion

Twiggs

Jefferson

Monroe

Toombs

Brantley

Jenkins

Effingham

Gwinnett

Murray

Wilkinson

Mcintosh

Cook

Morgan

Randolph

Cherokee

Houston

White

Terrell

Meriwether

Turner

Banks

Atkinson

Warren

DeKalb

Lumpkin

Oglethorpe

Newton

Paulding

Dade

Johnson

Madison

Wheeler

Jeff

Davis

Richmond

Lincoln

Pulaski

Columbia

Baldwin

Calhoun

Ben Hill

Evans

Crawford

Lanier

Lamar

Franklin

Whitfield

Pickens

Dougherty

Candler

Forsyth

McDuffie

Haralson

Chattooga

Seminole

Dawson

Towns

Fayette

Habersham

Peach

Oconee

Webster

Bleckley

Schley

Douglas

Spalding

Treutlen

Barrow

Quitman

Stephens

Catoosa

Montgomery

Taliaferro Clayton

Clarke

Chattahoochee

Glascock

Rockdale

Tattnall

Muscogee

82°

84°

34°

32°

Atlanta

0 10 20 MILES

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Hall

Cobb

Bartow

Coweta Henry

Walton

Fulton

Jasper

Gwinnett

Cherokee

DeKalb

Newton

Paulding

Pickens

Forsyth

Douglas

Barrow

Gordon

Dawson

Clayton

Rockdale

Jackson

Banks

Lumpkin Habersham

White

Fayette

Carroll

Morgan

Oconee

Atlanta

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

SOUTH

CAROLINA

Continuous streamgage

Savannah

Flint

Chattahoochee

Satilla–St. Marys

Suwannee

Ochlockonee

Ogeechee

Altamaha

River Basin

Crest-stage streamgage

EXPLANATION

Tennessee–Hiwassee

Guntersville Lake

Coosa–Tallapoosa

Figure 5. Location of the 238 U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in 

Georgia that record peak flow, 2009.
Description of the Floods 7

Annual Exceedance Probabilities

The AEPs at each rural streamgage were estimated by 

comparing the 2009 peak streamflows with the weighted 

AEP estimates published in Gotvald and others (2009). For 

urban streamgages, the AEPs were computed by using the 

USGS computer program PeakFQ, version 5.2 (Flynn and 

others, 2006), which is based on guidelines provided by the 

Interagency Advisory Committee on Water Data (1982) in 

Bulletin 17B. For streamgages on regulated streams and at 

sites with significant backwater, an AEP is not given in 

table 2. Figure 6 is a map of the AEPs for the 238 USGS 

streamgages in Georgia that record peak flow. 

Rainfall in southern Georgia during March 27–

April 3, 2009, resulted in flood flows that exceeded the 

1-percent AEP at six streamgages, one of which exceeded the 

0.2-percent annual exceedance flow. The prolonged rainfall 

in northern Georgia during September 16–22, 2009, resulted 

in floods that exceeded the 1-percent AEP at 27 streamgages, 

18 of which exceeded the 0.2-percent annual exceedance flow. 

Cobb and Gwinnett Counties each had six streamgages with 

peak flows that exceeded the 0.2-percent AEP. The peak flows 

for two streamgages (USGS 02337197 and USGS 02337410) 

in Douglas County, where the most intense rainfall occurred, 

were 3 to 5 times greater than the 0.2-percent AEP flow.

Measurements of flow (discharge) are measured (directly or 

indirectly) throughout the range of recorded stages, and a 

relation between stage and discharge is developed for each 

gaging station. Using this stage-discharge relation (rating), 

discharges for all recorded stages are determined. The 

highest peak discharge that occurs during a given water year 

(October 1–September 30) is the annual peak flow for the year. 

The peak-flow records for USGS streamgages are available 

from the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) 

database at http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/peak/.

During the September 2009 flooding, USGS personnel 

could not access every streamgage that needed direct 

discharge measurements because of road and bridge closures. 

Four interstate highways in the Atlanta metropolitan area 

were closed because of flooding, including the west side of 

the Interstate 285 beltway. After the floodwaters receded, 

USGS personnel surveyed and collected data to make indirect 

measurements of peak flows at 17 streamgages by using the 

procedures outlined by Benson and Dalrymple (1967). The 

peak flows for these 17 streamgages were computed by using 

indirect methods—2 were made by using contracted opening 

methods; 8 were made by using culvert methods; and 7 were 

made by using slope-area methods.

A compilation of the peak stage and flow data for 2009 

at all of the USGS streamgages that recorded annual peak 

flows that exceeded the 10-percent AEP is provided in table 

2 (see page 12 of this report). The 17 peak flows that were 

computed by using indirect methods are noted in the table. 

The peak flow recorded in 2009 was the new peak of record at 

40 streamgages.
8 Historic Flooding in Georgia, 2009

Base modified from U.S. Geological Survey

1:100:000-scale digital files

See facing

page for

map detail

Figure 6. Annual exceedance probabilities of the 238 U.S. Geological Survey streamgages 

in Georgia that record peak flow, 2009.

River Basin

EXPLANATION

< 0.2

0.5 to 0.2

1 to 0.5

2 to 1

4 to 2

10 to 4

Regulated

Unknown due 

 to backwater

> 10

Annual exceedance probabilities

Savannah

Flint

Chattahoochee

Satilla–St. Marys

Suwannee

Ochlockonee

Ogeechee

Altamaha

Tennessee–Hiwassee

Guntersville Lake

Coosa–Tallapoosa

0 20 40 MILES

0 20 40 KILOMETERS

Calhoun

Ware

Burke

Clinch

Wayne

Laurens

Hall

Early

Floyd

Worth

Coffee

Bulloch

Charlton

Emanuel

Long

Camden

Dodge

Screven

Decatur

Grady

Thomas

Troup

Tift

Liberty

Wilkes

Harris

Irwin

Cobb

Jones

GEORGIA

Appling

Polk

Sumter Dooly

Gilmer

Bibb

Colquitt

Telfair

Bartow

Rabun

Walker

Fannin

Carroll

Mitchell

Talbot

Coweta

Echols

Union

Taylor

Wilcox

Elbert

Pike

Greene

Stewart

Hart

Henry

Pierce

Upson

Crisp

Heard

Clay

Putnam

Bacon

Walton

Gordon

Miller

Jackson

Butts

Lee

Fulton

Bryan

Glynn

Brooks

Macon

Baker

Berrien

Lowndes

Washington

Jasper Hancock

Marion

Twiggs

Jefferson

Monroe

Toombs

Brantley

Jenkins

Effingham

Gwinnett

Murray

Wilkinson

Mcintosh

Cook

Morgan

Randolph

Cherokee

Houston

White

Terrell

Meriwether

Turner

Banks

Atkinson

Warren

DeKalb

Lumpkin

Oglethorpe

Newton

Paulding

Dade

Johnson

Madison

Wheeler

Jeff

Davis

Richmond

Lincoln

Pulaski

Columbia

Baldwin

Ben Hill

Evans

Crawford

Lanier

Lamar

Franklin

Whitfield

Pickens

Dougherty

Candler

Forsyth

McDuffie

Haralson

Chattooga

Seminole

Dawson

Towns

Fayette

Habersham

Peach

Oconee

Webster

Bleckley

Schley

Douglas

Spalding

Treutlen

Muscogee

Barrow

Quitman

Stephens

Catoosa

Montgomery

Taliaferro Clayton

Clarke

Chattahoochee

Glascock

Rockdale

Tattnall

Atlanta

82°

84°

34°

32°

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

SOUTH

CAROLINA

02398000

02193340

02214820

02341800

02413000

02338500

02384540 02384600

02177000

02327415

02327355

02355662

02357000

02356000

02354800 02353000

02352500

02227500

02318700 02317500

02316000

02327500

02318500

02318000

02228000

02226500

023177483

02354500

02343267

02356640

Figure 6. Annual exceedance probabilities of the 238 U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in 

Georgia that record peak flow, 2009.
Description of the Floods 9

Base modified from U.S. Geological Survey

1:100:000-scale digital files

0 10 20 MILES

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Figure 6. Annual exceedance probabilities of the 238 U.S. Geological Survey streamgages 

in Georgia that record peak flow, 2009.—Continued

< 0.2

0.5 to 0.2

1 to 0.5

2 to 1

4 to 2

10 to 4

Regulated

Unknown due 

 to backwater

> 10

River Basin Annual exceedance probabilities

EXPLANATION

Savannah

Flint

Chattahoochee

Satilla–St. Marys

Suwannee

Ochlockonee

Ogeechee

Altamaha

Tennessee–Hiwassee

Guntersville Lake

Coosa–Tallapoosa

Hall

Cobb

Bartow

Coweta Henry

Walton

Fulton

Jasper

Gwinnett

Cherokee

DeKalb

Newton

Paulding

Pickens

Forsyth

Douglas

Barrow

Gordon

Dawson

Clayton

Rockdale

Jackson

Banks

Lumpkin Habersham

White

Fayette

Carroll

Morgan

Oconee

02207335

02204070

02411735

02338000

02337500

02337448

02337410

02337197

02337170

02336986

02336968

02336840

02336870

02392975

02392780

02393419 02393377

00239295

02335580

02334578

02207220

02337000 02207120

02336728

02335700

02336240

02335450

02336120

02334885 02218565

02205596

02336030

02335000

02208150

02207000

02334880

02205522

02205500

02205230

02205000

02208130

02208050

02336635 02336526

02336490 02336410

02335870

023358685

02336000

02335790

02206105

02335815

02335910

N

Atlanta

Fairplay

Dog River

Figure 6. Annual exceedance probabilities of the 238 U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in 

Georgia that record peak flow, 2009.—Continued
10 Historic Flooding in Georgia, 2009

Summary

Heavy rains during March 27–April 3, 2009, and 

September 16–22, 2009, caused severe flooding in Georgia 

and resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars worth of 

damage to homes, businesses, infrastructure, and agricultural 

lands. Ten deaths were attributed to the September 2009 

flooding, and thousands of persons were evacuated from 

flooded areas. 

Estimated 10-day rainfall totals of more than 12 inches 

fell in parts of southern Georgia during the April–March event, 

and more than 20 inches fell in parts of northern Georgia 

during the September event. Of the 238 USGS streamgages 

that record annual peak flows in Georgia, 40 streamgages 

have a new record peak flow for the respective periods of 

record. The peak flow for 2009 exceeded the 1-percent annual 

exceedance probability at 33 USGS streamgages, 19 of 

which had peak flows that exceeded the 0.2-percent annual 

exceedance probability.

Acknowledgments

This report is prepared as part of an ongoing cooperative 

program of water-resources investigations between the USGS 

and the GDOT, Preconstruction Division, Office of Bridge 

Design. The peak stage and flow data described in this report 

were collected throughout Georgia at streamgages operated 

in cooperation with the GDOT and a variety of other Federal, 

State, and local agencies. The author also acknowledges the 

dedicated work of USGS staff in collecting the peak-flow 

data documented in this report, including the Georgia USGS 

field-office staff, Frank Melendez and Timothy Dunleavy of 

the South Carolina USGS field office, and Keith Ryan and 

James Chapman of the North Carolina USGS field office. 

References Cited

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

office procedures for indirect discharge measurements: 

U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources 

Investigations, book 3, chap. A1, 30 p. 

Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2009a, Georgia 

severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line 

winds—FEMA–1833–DR: Major disaster declaration 

by Governor Sonny Perdue, April 23, 2009, accessed 

June 30, 2010, at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/news/pda/1833.pdf.

Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2009b, Georgia 

severe storms and flooding—FEMA–1858–DR: 

Major disaster declaration by Governor Sonny Perdue, 

September 23, 2009, accessed June 30, 2010, at 

http://www.fema.gov/pdf/news/pda/1858.pdf.

Flynn, K.M., Kirby, W.H., and Hummel, P.R., 2006, User’s 

manual for program PeakFQ, annual flood frequency 

analysis using Bulletin 17B guidelines: U.S. Geological 

Survey Techniques and Methods, book 4, chap. B4, 42 p., 

available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/tm/2006/tm4b4/.

Gotvald, A.J., Feaster, T.D., and Weaver, J.C., 2009, Magnitude 

and frequency of rural floods in the southeastern United 

States, 2006—Volume 1, Georgia: U.S. Geological Survey 

Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5043, 120 p., accessed 

June 1, 2010, at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2009/5043/.

Hershfield, D.M., 1961, Rainfall frequency atlas for the United 

States for durations from 30 minutes to 24 hours and return 

periods from 1 to 100 years: U.S. Weather Bureau Technical 

Paper 40.

Interagency Advisory Committee on Water Data, 1982, 

Guidelines for determining flood flow frequency: Hydrology

Subcommittee Bulletin 17B, 28 p., 14 app., 1 pl.

National Weather Service, 2009a, Historic rainfall 

frequency amounts set in September: National Weather 

Service Weather Forecast Office, Peachtree City, GA, 

accessed July 1, 2010, at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/

ffc/?n=0909historicrain.

National Weather Service, 2009b, Precipitation analysis: 

National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic 

Prediction Service Precipitation Analysis, accessed 

June 24, 2009, at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/rfcshare/

precip_analysis_new.php.

National Weather Service, 2009c, Severe weather and 

flooding of late March and early April 2009: National 

Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Tallahassee, 

FL, accessed July 1, 2010, at http://www.srh.noaa.gov/

tae/?n=event-20090326to0405.

National Weather Service, 2010, Southeast United States 

floods, September 18–23, 2009: Silver Spring, MD, 

U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration, Service Assessment, 

accessed June 30, 2010, at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/

assessments/pdfs/se_floods10.pdf.

U.S. Geological Survey, 2009, Historic flooding in South 

Georgia, March 27–April 3, 2009: U.S. Geological 

Survey Fact Sheet 2009–3079, 2 p., accessed June 1, 2010, 

at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2009/3079/.
Table 2
12 Historic Flooding in Georgia, 2009

Table 2. Peak stages and flows at streamgages in Georgia with a peak flow that exceeded the 10-percent 

annual exceedance probability, 2009.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; mi2, square miles; ft, feet above an arbitrary datum; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; —, no data]

USGS 

streamgage 

number

Stream name 

and location

Drainage 

area 

(mi2

)

Latitude Longitude

County Period of record

(degree minute second) 

02177000 Chattooga River near Clayton, 

Georgia

207 34 48 50 83 18 22 Columbia 1915, 1917–1929, 

1940–2009

02193340 Kettle Creek near Washington, 

Georgia

33.9 33 40 57 82 51 29 Wilkes 1987–2009 

02204070 South River at Klondike Road, 

near Lithonia, Georgia

182 33 37 47 84 07 43 De Kalb 1961, 1963, 1984–2009 

02205000 Wildcat Creek near Lawrenceville, 

Georgia

1.59 34 00 07 84 00 18 Gwinnett 1954-1984, 1997–2009 

02205230 Wolf Creek at Dean Road, near 

Suwanee, Georgia

0.39 34 00 04 84 02 57 Gwinnett 1987–2009 

02205500 Pew Creek near Lawrenceville, 

Georgia

2.23 33 56 05 84 00 60 Gwinnett 1954–1963, 1995–2009 

02205522 Pew Creek at Patterson Road, near 

Lawrenceville, Georgia

7.00 33 55 33 84 02 16 Gwinnett 2006–2009 

02205596 Yellow River Tributary at Plantation 

Road, near Lawrenceville, Georgia

7.23 33 54 45 84 02 45 Gwinnett 1997–2009 

02206105 Jackson Creek at Angels Lane, 

near Lilburn, Georgia

0.18 33 53 12 84 12 42 Gwinnett 1987–2009 

02207000 Garner Creek near Snellville, 

Georgia

5.54 33 51 45 84 05 50 Gwinnett 1954–1963, 1983, 

1995–2009

02207120 Yellow River at State Highway 124, 

near Lithonia, Georgia

162 33 46 22 84 03 30 Gwinnett 2002–2009 

02207220 Yellow River at Pleasant Hill Road, 

near Lithonia,Georgia

213 33 44 01 84 03 43 De Kalb 2003–2009 

02207335 Yellow River at Gees Mill Road, 

near Milstead, Georgia

260 33 40 01 83 56 17 Rockdale 2002–2009 

02208050 Alcovy River near Lawrenceville, 

Georgia

9.97 33 58 40 83 56 23 Gwinnett 1965–1974, 1995–2003, 

2006–2009

02208130 Shoal Creek at Paper Mill Road, 

near Lawrenceville, Georgia

3.90 33 56 59 83 56 54 Gwinnett 2007–2009 

02208150 Alcovy River at New Hope Road, 

near Grayson, Georgia

30.8 33 55 03 83 53 17 Gwinnett 2001–2009 

02214820 Mossy Creek at U.S. Highway 41, 

near Perry, Georgia

92.9 32 31 15 83 43 23 Houston 1979–2009 

02218565 Apalachee River at Fence Road,

 near Dacula, Georgia

5.68 34 00 37 83 53 39 Gwinnett 1994–2009 

02226500 Satilla River near Waycross, Georgia 1,200 31 14 18 82 19 28 Ware 1928, 1937–2009 

02227500 Little Satilla River near 

Offerman, Georgia

646 31 27 05 82 03 16 Pierce 1930, 1948, 1951–2009 

02228000 Satilla River at Atkinson, Georgia 2,790 31 13 14 81 51 56 Brantley 1929, 1931–2009 

02316000 Alapaha River near Alapaha, Georgia 663 31 23 04 83 11 33 Berrien 1928, 1938–1976, 1984, 

1986, 1991, 1993, 

2003–2009

02317500 Alapaha River at Statenville, Georgia 1,400 30 42 15 83 01 60 Echols 1928–2009 
 13

Table 2. Peak stages and flows at streamgages in Georgia with a peak flow that exceeded the 10-percent 

annual exceedance probability, 2009.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; mi2, square miles; ft, feet above an arbitrary datum; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; —, no data]

USGS 

streamgage 

number

Maximum prior to 2009 water year Maximum for 2009 water year Annual 

exceedance 

probability 

(percent) 

Water 

year

Peak 

stage 

(ft)

Peak 

flow 

(ft3

/s)

Date

Peak 

stage 

(ft)

Peak 

flow 

(ft3/s)

02177000 2004 11.21 33,300 Sept. 20 8.24 17,400 10 to 4

02193340 1989 17.68 4,150 Sept. 22 16.62 3,730 10 to 4

02204070 1961 — 17,000 Sept. 21 13.55 13,800 4 to 2

02205000 1956 8.20 806 Sept. 21 10.05 d 1,840 Exceeds 0.2

02205230 2008 8.71 232 Sept. 22 12.27 d 364 Exceeds 0.2

02205500 1996 13.39 2,340 Sept. 21 10.05 1,510 4 to 2

02205522 2006 10.83 750 Sept. 21 19.10 d 5,000 1 to 0.5

02205596 2005 10.15 1,200 Sept. 21 a 14.00 d ,e 1,310 Unknown due to backwater effects

02206105 2004 5.17 163 Sept. 21 7.13 249 Exceeds 0.2

02207000 1983 b 7.62 2,290 Sept. 21 10.61 d 1,900 2 to 1

02207120 2005 17.24 8,430 Sept. 22 27.47 16,500 1 to 0.5

02207220 2005 18.14 10,000 Sept. 22 25.54 22,900 0.5 to 0.2

02207335 2005 16.36 9,960 Sept. 22 22.54 20,800 2 to 1

02208050 1969 b 4.92 1,620 Sept. 21 8.29 2,200 2 to 1

02208130 2008 7.30 645 Sept. 21 13.12 d 2,280 1 to 0.5

02208150 2003 14.93 8,630 Sept. 21 13.85 6,470 1 to 0.5

02214820 1994 19.86 c 24,000 Dec. 11 9.67 1,597 10 to 4

02218565 2003 6.93 962 Sept. 21 8.56 d 2,190 Exceeds 0.2

02226500 1948 b 22.40 39,000 Apr. 05 22.36 42,100 0.5 to 0.2

02227500 1929 — 38,000 Apr. 04 14.49 16,900 4 to 2

02228000 1929 27.20 110,000 Apr. 07 22.89 74,000 1 to 0.5

02316000 1928 19.00 16,000 Apr. 04 18.63 15,700 2 to 1

02317500 1948 b 29.80 27,300 Apr. 07 31.52 33,400 0.5 to 0.2
14 Historic Flooding in Georgia, 2009

Table 2. Peak stages and flows at streamgages in Georgia with a peak flow that exceeded the 10-percent 

annual exceedance probability, 2009.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; mi2, square miles; ft, feet above an arbitrary datum; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; —, no data]

USGS 

streamgage 

number

Stream name 

and location

Drainage 

area 

(mi2

)

Latitude Longitude

County Period of record

(degree minute second) 

023177483 Withlacoochee River at McMillan 

Road, near Bemiss, Georgia

502 30 57 10 83 16 07 Lowndes 1948, 1977–2009 

02318000 Little River near Adel, Georgia 577 31 09 20 83 32 37 Cook 1928, 1941–1971, 1973–

1979, 1984, 1986, 

1991, 2003–2009

02318500 Withlacoochee River at 

U.S. Highway 84, near 

Quitman, Georgia

1,480 30 47 35 83 27 13 Brooks 1928–1931, 1938–1949, 

1953–1954, 1964, 

1979, 1984, 1986, 

1989–2009

02318700 Okapilco Creek at State Highway 33, 

near Quitman, Georgia

269 30 49 32 83 33 45 Brooks 1980–2009 

02327355 Ochlockonee River at State Highway 

188, near Coolidge, Georgia

260 31 00 08 83 56 21 Thomas 1948, 1981–2009 

02327415 Little Ochlockonee River at State 

Highway 111, near Moultrie, 

Georgia

44.8 31 07 02 83 58 42 Colquitt 1981–1994, 1996–2009 

02327500 Ochlockonee River near 

Thomasville, Georgia

550 30 52 33 84 02 44 Thomas 1928–1929, 1937–1973, 

1975, 1984, 1986, 

1990–1996, 2001–2009

02334578 Level Creek at Suwanee Dam Road, 

near Suwanee, Georgia

5.04 34 05 47 84 04 47 Gwinnett 2003–2009 

02334880 Mill Creek at Wildwood Road, 

near Suwanee, Georgia

1.86 34 01 41 84 04 12 Gwinnett 1995–2009 

02334885 Suwanee Creek at Suwanee, Georgia 47.0 34 01 56 84 05 22 Gwinnett 1985–2009 

02335000 Chattahoochee River near Norcross, 

Georgia

1,170 33 59 50 84 12 07 Gwinnett 1886, 1902–2009 

02335450 Chattahoochee River above 

Roswell, Georgia

1,220 33 59 09 84 18 58 Fulton 1977–2009 

02335580 Big Creek at State Highway 9, 

near Cumming, Georgia

36.4 34 09 21 84 13 07 Forsyth 2008–2009 

02335700 Big Creek near Alpharetta, Georgia 72.0 34 03 02 84 16 10 Fulton 1961–2009 

02335790 Willeo Creek at State Highway 120, 

near Roswell, Georgia

16.1 34 00 10 84 23 40 Fulton 2008–2009 

02335815 Chattahoochee River below 

Morgan Falls Dam, Georgia

1,370 33 58 05 84 22 58 Fulton 2002–2009 

023358685 Sewell Mill Creek at State Highway 

120, near Marietta, Georgia

12.57 33 58 45 84 27 08 Cobb 2008–2009 

02335870 Sope Creek near Marietta, Georgia 29.2 33 57 14 84 26 36 Cobb 1963, 1966–1967, 

1969–1970, 1977, 

1982, 1985–2009

02335910 Rottenwood Creed at Interstate North 

Parkway, near Smyrna, Georgia

18.6 33 53 37 84 27 28 Cobb 1977, 2008-2009 

02336000 Chattahoochee River at Atlanta, 

Georgia

1,450 33 51 33 84 27 16 Fulton 1886, 1902, 1920, 

1929–1932, 

1937–2009
 15

Table 2. Peak stages and flows at streamgages in Georgia with a peak flow that exceeded the 10-percent 

annual exceedance probability, 2009.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; mi2, square miles; ft, feet above an arbitrary datum; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; —, no data]

USGS 

streamgage 

number

Maximum prior to 2009 water year Maximum for 2009 water year Annual 

exceedance 

probability 

(percent) 

Water 

year

Peak 

stage 

(ft)

Peak 

flow 

(ft3

/s)

Date

Peak 

stage 

(ft)

Peak 

flow 

(ft3/s)

023177483 1948 — 37,500 Apr. 04 25.66 26,200 2 to 1

02318000 1948 21.00 38,800 Apr. 03 22.35 32,900 Exceeds 0.2

02318500 1948 31.70 62,000 Apr. 05 34.67 60,700 0.5 to 0.2

02318700 1986 18.75 18,500 Apr. 03 18.94 18,200 4 to 2

02327355 1948 — 35,000 Apr. 02 18.59 15,450 10 to 4

02327415 2005 10.54 6,750 Apr. 02 10.83 7,630 2 to 1

02327500 1948 29.10 66,000 Apr. 03 23.83 38,600 1 to 0.5

02334578 2004 12.49 2,800 Sept. 21 11.60 1,830 2 to 1

02334880 2004 7.60 676 Sept. 21 10.53 1,230 2 to 1

02334885 1996 12.04 4,350 Sept. 21 14.30 7,870 Exceeds 0.2

02335000 1946 27.70 55,000 Sept. 21 14.51 14,900 Regulated

02335450 2004 9.94 14,600 Sept. 21 11.96 21,100 Regulated

02335580 2008 7.84 709 Sept. 21 10.43 4,800 10 to 4

02335700 1982 13.05 6,100 Sept. 22 12.50 5,200 10 to 4

02335790 2008 7.49 930 Sept. 21 14.70 6,200 Exceeds 0.2

02335815 2004 824.71 20,900 Sept. 21 827.01 35,500 Regulated

023358685 2008 6.17 619 Sept. 21 13.09 d 4,570 0.5 to 0.2

02335870 2004 17.47 8,160 Sept. 21 18.35 9,500 2 to 1

02335910 1977 b 838.90 3,300 Sept. 21 13.31 d 4,500 2 to 1

02336000 1920 29.00 64,000 Sept. 21 27.80 40,900 Regulated
16 Historic Flooding in Georgia, 2009

Table 2. Peak stages and flows at streamgages in Georgia with a peak flow that exceeded the 10-percent 

annual exceedance probability, 2009.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; mi2, square miles; ft, feet above an arbitrary datum; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; —, no data]

USGS 

streamgage 

number

Stream name 

and location

Drainage 

area 

(mi2

)

Latitude Longitude

County Period of record

(degree minute second) 

02336030 North Fork Peachtree Creek at Graves 

Road, near Doraville, Georgia

1.42 33 54 20 84 13 30 Gwinnett 2004–2009 

02336120 North Fork Peachtree Creek at 

Buford Highway, near Atlanta, 

Georgia

34.8 33 49 53 84 20 34 De Kalb 1961, 1963–1964, 

1966–1967, 1969, 

1973–1976, 2004–2009

02336240 South Fork Peachtree Creek at Johnson Road, near Atlanta, Georgia28.7 33 48 10 84 20 27 De Kalb 1961, 1963-1967, 1969, 

1973, 1975–1976, 

2003–2009

02336410 Nancy Creek at West Wesley Road, 

at Atlanta, Georgia

37.7 33 50 18 84 26 22 Fulton 1961, 1963–1964, 

1966–1967, 1969, 

1973–1975, 2003–2009

02336490 Chattahoochee River at State Highway 280, near Atlanta, Georgia1,590 33 49 01 84 28 48 Fulton 1961, 1972–1977, 1979, 

1982–2009

02336526 Proctor Creek at Jackson Parkway, 

at Atlanta, Georgia

13.4 33 47 39 84 28 28 Fulton 1961, 1963, 1965–1967, 

1975, 1983, 1989–

1990, 2003–2009

02336635 Nickajack Creek at U.S. Highway 

78/278, near Mableton, Georgia

31.5 33 48 12 84 31 17 Cobb 1961, 1963, 1966–1969, 

1977, 1996–2009

02336728 Utoy Creek at Great Southwest Parkway, near Atlanta, Georgia33.9 33 44 36 84 34 06 Fulton 2005–2009 

02336840 Sweetwater Creek at Brownsville 

Road, near Powder Springs, 

Georgia

102 33 49 38 84 43 11 Cobb 1982, 2008–2009 

02336870 Powder Springs Creek near Powder 

Springs, Georgia

17.3 33 51 33 84 41 17 Cobb 2008–2009 

02336968 Noses Creek at Powder Springs Road, 

near Powder Springs, Georgia

44.5 33 51 33 84 39 10 Cobb 2000–2009 

02336986 Olley Creek at Clay Road, near 

Austell, Georgia

13.5 33 50 10 84 37 54 Cobb 2008–2009 

02337000 Sweetwater Creek near Austell, 

Georgia

246 33 46 22 84 36 53 Douglas 1904–1905, 1916, 

1937–2009

02337170 Chattahoochee River near Fairburn, 

Georgia

2,060 33 39 24 84 40 25 Fulton 1886, 1920, 1946, 1961, 

1966–2009

02337197 Anneewakee Creek at Anneewakee 

Road, near Douglasville, Georgia

23.2 33 42 04 84 41 12 Douglas 2008–2009 

02337410 Dog River at State Highway 5, 

near Fairplay, Georgia

66.5 33 39 14 84 49 16 Douglas 2008–2009 

02337448 Hurricane Creek Tributary near 

Fairplay, Georgia

0.31 33 35 03 84 50 54 Douglas 1977–2009 

02337500 Snake Creek near Whitesburg, 

Georgia

35.5 33 31 46 84 55 42 Carroll 1955–2009 

02338000 Chattahoochee River near 

Whitesburg, Georgia

2,430 33 28 37 84 54 03 Carroll 1886, 1920, 1938–1954, 

1961, 1965–2009
 17

Table 2. Peak stages and flows at streamgages in Georgia with a peak flow that exceeded the 10-percent 

annual exceedance probability, 2009.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; mi2, square miles; ft, feet above an arbitrary datum; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; —, no data]

USGS 

streamgage 

number

Maximum prior to 2009 water year Maximum for 2009 water year Annual 

exceedance 

probability 

(percent) 

Water 

year

Peak 

stage 

(ft)

Peak 

flow 

(ft3

/s)

Date

Peak 

stage 

(ft)

Peak 

flow 

(ft3/s)

02336030 2004 10.22 1,290 Sept. 21 12.93 d 2,850 Exceeds 0.2

02336120 2004 17.70 5,530 Sept. 21 18.57 6,140 2 to 1

02336240 1976 b 828.25 4,900 Sept. 21 15.25 4,370 10 to 4

02336410 2004 21.34 5,720 Sept. 21 25.46 5,500 10 to 4

02336490 1961 — 34,000 Sept. 21 35.98 42,300 Regulated

02336526 2003 16.40 8,000 Sept. 21 14.91 d 6,220 Exceeds 0.2

02336635 2005 a 16.56 7,300 Sept. 21 19.85 Unknown due to backwater effects

02336728 2005 a 22.53 Unknown Sept. 22 27.53 Unknown due to backwater effects

02336840 1982 b 904.80 7,200 Sept. 21 31.40 d 30,000 Exceeds 0.2

02336870 2008 8.73 964 Sept. 21 19.91 8,940 Exceeds 0.2

02336968 2005 a 19.10 Unknown Sept. 21 23.21 Unknown due to backwater effects

02336986 2008 7.15 548 Sept. 22 27.39 Unknown due to backwater effects

02337000 2005 21.87 13,400 Sept. 22 30.82 31,500 Exceeds 0.2

02337170 1920 31.60 75,000 Sept. 22 30.65 63,900 Regulated

02337197 2008 7.86 1,740 Sept. 21 28.37 d 20,400 Exceeds 0.2

02337410 2008 5.90 983 Sept. 21 33.83 d 59,900 Exceeds 0.2

02337448 1978 9.46 292 Sept. 21 10.57 376 1 to 0.5

02337500 1961 14.40 7,690 Sept. 21 19.42 13,500 Exceeds 0.2

02338000 1920 — 95,000 Sept. 23 29.74 60,600 Regulated
18 Historic Flooding in Georgia, 2009

Table 2. Peak stages and flows at streamgages in Georgia with a peak flow that exceeded the 10-percent 

annual exceedance probability, 2009.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; mi2, square miles; ft, feet above an arbitrary datum; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; —, no data]

USGS 

streamgage 

number

Stream name 

and location

Drainage 

area 

(mi2

)

Latitude Longitude

County Period of record

(degree minute second) 

02338500 Chattahoochee River at U.S. Highway 27, at Franklin, Georgia2,680 33 16 45 85 05 60 Heard 1920, 1929–1931, 

1938–1939, 1949, 

1958–1959, 1961, 

2004–2009

02341800 Upatoi Creek near Columbus, 

Georgia

342 32 24 49 84 49 12 Chattahoochee 1969–2009 

02343267 Temple Creek at State Highway 39, 

near Blakely, Georgia

1.09 31 26 35 84 58 60 Early 1978–2009 

02352500 Flint River at Albany, Georgia 5,310 31 35 39 84 08 39 Dougherty 1893–2009 

02353000 Flint River at Newton, Georgia 5,740 31 18 25 84 20 20 Baker 1925, 1929, 1938–2009 

02354500 Chickasawhatchee Creek at 

Elmodel, Georgia

320 31 21 02 84 28 57 Baker 1916, 1940–1949, 1952–

1965, 1970–1983, 

1994, 1996–2009

02354800 Ichawaynochaway Creek near 

Elmodel, Georgia

1,000 31 17 38 84 29 31 Baker 1996–2009 

02355662 Flint River at Riverview Plantation, 

near Hopeful, Georgia

7,080 31 08 26 84 28 49 Mitchell 2003–2009 

02356000 Flint River at Bainbridge, Georgia 7,570 30 54 42 84 34 48 Decatur 1897, 1905–1996, 

2001–2009

02356640 Spring Creek at U.S. Highway 27, 

at Colquitt, Georgia

281 31 10 16 84 44 31 Miller 1981–2009 

02357000 Spring Creek near Iron City, Georgia 527 31 02 25 84 44 24 Decatur 1938–1978, 1983–2009 

02384540 Mill Creek near Crandall, Georgia 7.68 34 52 19 84 43 17 Murray 1985–2009 

02384600 Pinhook Creek near Eton, Georgia 3.78 34 49 34 84 48 54 Murray 1964–2009 

02392780 Little River at State Highway 5, 

near Woodstock, Georgia

139 34 07 20 84 30 16 Cherokee 2006–2009 

02392950 Noonday Creek at Hawkins Store 

Road, near Woodstock, Georgia

24.3 34 03 23 84 32 08 Cobb 1999–2009 

02392975 Noonday Creek at Shallowford Road, 

near Woodstock, Georgia

33.6 34 04 06 84 32 08 Cobb 1999–2009 

02393377 Butler Creek at Mack Dobbs Road, 

near Kennesaw, Georgia

3.60 34 01 01 84 38 36 Cobb 2008–2009 

02393419 Allatoona Creek at Stilesboro Road, 

near Acworth, Georgia

14.1 33 59 43 84 41 35 Cobb 2007–2009 

02398000 Chattooga River at Summerville, 

Georgia

192 34 27 59 85 20 10 Chattooga 1938–2009 

02411735 McClendon Creek Tributary at State 

Highway 120, near Dallas, Georgia

0.94 33 50 58 84 57 20 Paulding 1977–2009 

02413000 Little Tallapoosa River at U.S. Highway 27, at Carrollton, Georgia95.1 33 35 50 85 04 49 Carroll 1936, 1938–1965, 2009 

a

 Stage affected by backwater.

b

 Stage at different gage datum.

c

 Flow affected by dam failure.

d

 Flow computed using indirect methods.

e

 Annual peak flow greater than indicated value.
 19

Table 2. Peak stages and flows at streamgages in Georgia with a peak flow that exceeded the 10-percent 

annual exceedance probability, 2009.—Continued

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; mi2, square miles; ft, feet above an arbitrary datum; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; —, no data]

USGS 

streamgage 

number

Maximum prior to 2009 water year Maximum for 2009 water year Annual 

exceedance 

probability 

(percent) 

Water 

year

Peak 

stage 

(ft)

Peak 

flow 

(ft3

/s)

Date

Peak 

stage 

(ft)

Peak 

flow 

(ft3/s)

02338500 1920 b 28.40 105,000 Sept. 23 30.44 76,700 Regulated

02341800 1990 32.12 46,300 Mar. 28 18.85 13,600 10 to 4

02343267 1994 6.13 746 Mar. 28 2.92 156 10 to 4

02352500 1994 43.00 120,000 Apr. 04 31.66 62,800 10 to 4

02353000 1994 45.25 100,000 Apr. 05 32.05 57,500 10 to 4

02354500 1994 20.00 16,000 Apr. 05 12.79 5,260 10 to 4

02354800 1998 31.19 29,200 Apr. 04 23.33 15,900 10 to 4

02355662 2005 36.87 60,700 Apr. 06 39.56 64,600 10 to 4

02356000 1994 a 37.20 108,000 Apr. 06 30.91 69,500 10 to 4

02356640 1998 15.91 20,500 Mar. 29 12.53 10,760 4 to 2

02357000 1998 24.40 34,500 Mar. 30 20.75 18,500 4 to 2

02384540 1990 6.96 2,240 Sept. 26 6.12 1,590 10 to 4

02384600 2003 8.08 1,440 Sept. 27 8.58 d 1,300 2 to 1

02392780 2006 10.07 3,410 Sept. 21 20.80 16,100 1 to 0.5

02392950 2005 14.16 6,470 Sept. 21 17.28 11,900 Exceeds 0.2

02392975 2005 16.30 6,320 Sept. 21 19.66 11,400 Exceeds 0.2

02393377 2008 5.79 665 Sept. 21 14.27 d 6,760 Exceeds 0.2

02393419 2007 12.82 1,200 Sept. 21 23.90 d 16,600 Exceeds 0.2

02398000 1990 22.63 30,100 Sept. 21 21.19 23,500 4 to 2

02411735 1981 8.23 860 Sept. 21 7.64 783 1 to 0.5

02413000 1949 19.30 6,010 Sept. 21 17.05 6,210 4 to 2
Manuscript approved for publication, September 21, 2010

Edited by Rebecca J. Deckard

Illustrations and layout by Bonnie J. Turcott

For more information concerning the research in this report, contact

USGS Georgia Water Science Center

3039 Amwiler Road, Suite 130

Atlanta, Georgia 30360

telephone: 770-903-9100

http://ga.water.usgs.gov
Gotvald—Historic Flooding in Georgia, 2009—Open-File Report 2010–1230