GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 151 

October 1951 

KANSAS .. MISS~DURI FLOODS OF JULY 1951 

PreparEd by Water Resources Division 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Oscar L. Chapman, Secretary 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

W. E. Wrather, Director 

Washington, D. C. 

Free on application to the Geological Survey, Washington 25, D. C. GPO 82-&J00589 
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CffiCULAR 151 

October 1951 

KANSAS-MISSOURI FLOODS OF JULY 1951 

Prepared by Water Resources Division 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Oscar L. Chapman, Secretary 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

W. E. Wrather, D ire c tor 

Washington, D. C. 

Free on application to the Geological Survey, Washington 25, D. C. GPO 82-8000589 
This preliminary report on the KansasMissouri floods of July 1951 was prepared by 

the U. s. Geological Survey, Water Resources 

Division, under the general direction of 

PREFACE 

C. G. Paulsen, Chief Hydraulic Engineer, a~d 

J. V. B. Wells, Chief, Surface Water Branch. Tecr~ical personnel of the Branch detailed to 

Kansas from Washington, D. C., and from sev- eral of the District offices in the United 

States, have made this report possible by 

performing, under the pressure of emer~ency 

conditions, the difficult and tedious field 

surveys and office computations required. 

Basic records of discharge collected by 

the Geological Survey in cooperation with the 

States of Kansas~ Missouri, and Nebraska 

under the direction of J. B. Spiegel, H. c. 

Bolon, and D. D. Lewis, District Engineers, 

Surface Water Branch, are supplemented by 

the detailed records of the flood being cur- rently obtained and disseminated. 

The following agencies have materially 

aided the preparation of this report by furnishing the services listed after each: 

Corps of Engineers--hydraulic engineers, sur- vey parties, typist; Bureau of Reclamation--

survey parties; Kansas board of Agriculture, 

Water Resources Division--hydraulic engineers 

and survey parties; and the U. S. Weather 

Bureau--office space for the period August 13 

to September 6. 

KANSAS-MISSOURI FLOODS OF JULY 1951 

Prepared by Water Reaourcee Division 

CONTENTS 

Page 

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

General features of the floods........... 1 

Antecedent conditions.................. 1 

July flood • • • • • • • • • . • • • . • . . • . • . . • . . • • • • 1 

Measurement of flood discharges.......... 10 

Stages and discharges at stream-gaging 

stations............................... 11 

Missouri River main stem............... 11 

Missouri River at St. Joseph, Mo..... 11 

Missouri River at Kansas City, Mo.... 12 

Missouri River at Waverly, Mo........ 13 

Missouri River at Boonville, Mo...... 14 

Missouri River at Hermann, Mo........ 15 

Kansas River Basin..................... 16 

Republican River near ~loomington, 

'Nebr...... . . • . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • • 16 

Republican River near Guide Rock, 

Nebr............................... 17 

Republican River near Horrty, ~ebr.... 18 

Republican River at Scandia, Kans.... 18 

Republican River at Concordia, Kans.. 19 

Republican River at Clay Center, Kan& 20 

Republican River at Milford, Kans.... 21 

Kansas River at Ogden, Kans.......... 22 

Kansas River at Wamego, Kans......... 23 

Kansas River at Topeka, Kans......... 24 

Kansas River at Lecompton, Kans...... 25 

Kansas River at bonner Springs, Kans. 26 ~hite Rock Creek at Lovewell, Kans. 27 

Smoky Hill River near Russell, Kan& 28 

Smoky Hill River at Ellsworth, Kan& 29 

Kanopolis Reservoir·near Kanopolis, 

Kans............................. 30 

Smoky Hill River near Langley, Kan& 31 

Smoky Hill River at Lindsborg, Kan& 32 

Smoky Hill River near Mentor, Kans. 33 

Smoky Hill River at Enterprise, 

Kans............................. 34 

Birr Creek near Hays, Kans........ 35 

Saline River near Russell, Kans.. 35 

Saline River at Tescott, Kans.... 36 

Page 

South Fork Solomon River a Alton, Kans............. 37 

South Fork Solomon River a Osborne, Kans........... 38 

Solomon River at Be·loit, K ns.... 39 

Solomon River at Niles, Ka s..... 40 

North Fork Solomon River at 

Kirwin, Kans.......... 41 

North Fork Solomon River near 

Downs , Kans . • . • • • • • • . • 42 

Big Blue River near Crete, N br.... 43 

Big Blue River at Barneston, Nebr.. 44 

Big Blue River at Randolph, ans... 45 

Big blue River near Manha tta , Kan& 46 

Little Blue River at Angus Nebr. 47 

Little Blue River near End cott, 

Nebr........................... 48 

Little Blue River at Water ille, 

Kans.................... 49 

Soldier Creek near Topeka, K ns.... 50 

Delaware River at Valley Fal s, 

Kans............................. 51 

Wakarusa River near Lawrence Kans. 52 

Stranger Creek near Tonganox e, 

Kans...................... 53 

Osag~ (Marais des Cygnes) River asin.. 54 

Marais des Cygnes River at Mel ern, 

Kans........................ 54 

Marais des Cygnes River near 0 tawa, 

Kans........................ 55 

Marais des Cygnes River at Tra ing 

Post, Kans......................... 56 

Osage River at Osceola, Mo.... •••••• 57 

Lake of the Ozarks near Bagnel , Mo.. 58 

Osage River near Bagnell, Mo......... 59 

Osage River near St. Thomas, M ••.•.• 60 

Salt Creek near Lyndon, Kans....... 61 

Arkansas River Basin............ 62 

Neosho River near Parsons, Kan •••••• 62 

Summary of flood sta~es and discha ges... 63 

Flood damage. . • • • • • • • . . • • • . • . • • • • • 69 
Figure 1. 

2. 

3· 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

Table 1. 

2. 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

Page Map showing location of area covered by this report............................... 3 

Map showing location of flood determinations included in this report.............. 4 

Precipitation for April 20 to July 1~, 1951 at 6 weather stations in Kansas....... 5 

Hydrographs of mean daily discharge for Blg Blue, Republican, and Solomon Rivers 

for period May 1-~ly 31, 1951 ••••••••• ~........................................ 6 

Hydrographs of mean ~aily discharge for Kansas and Neosho Rivers for period 

May 1-July 31, 1951............................................................. 7 

Isohyetal map of July 9-13, 1951 storm in Kansas.................................. 8 

Cumulative volume of runoff for Kansas River at Bonner Sprin~s, Kansas, July 10-

20, 1951.... •.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 9 

Maximum discharges, in cubic feet per second per square mile, for various areas in Kansas-Missouri, May-July 1951, as given in table 2 •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 68 

TABLES 

Page Precipitation at selected Weather Bureau stations in Kansas........................ 2 

Summary of flood discharges in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska for the floods of 

May-July 1951.................................................................... 64 
KANSAS-MISSOURI FLOODS OF JULY 1951 

INTRODUCTION 

The great July 1951 flood of eastern Kansas exceeded any others that have occurred in 

that area since the historic flood of 1844. 

The stream-flow records collected in the area 

during the flood period are of tremendous 

importance for the design of all contemplated 

projects in which volumes of flood flows and 

rates of flood discharges must be considered. 

This preliminary flood report has been prepared to provide all interested parties 

promptly with information on the stages and 

discharges at gaging stations operated by the 

Geological Survey. 

The period of intense flooding in eastern 

Kansas, July 10-16, was preceded by a 2-

months period of above-normal stream flow. 

Mean daily discharges at selected gaging stations are therefore presented for the period 

May 1 through July 31. For the period July 

8-25, stages and dischar~es at indicated 

times of each day are also presented. The 

location of the area reported on is shown on 

figure 1, and the locations of gaging stations anp points for which peak nischarges 

are reported are shown on figure 2. 

Data included in the report for each 

gaging station are as follows: descriptive 

information on type and location of gage, 

size of drainage area, length of record, ~enera1 notes regarding the continuity of gage 

record, the definition of the rating and 

special remarks describing any divergence 

from the standard method of computing discharge, and statements giving the July 1951 

flood crest stage and discharge and similar 

data for the highest occurrence of past 

record. The descriptive information for each 

station is followed by a table giving the 

mean daily discharge from May 1 to July 31. 

Stages and discharges at indicated times are 

shown for each day of the period July 8-25. 

Present and past flood maxima are sum:narized 

in a table showing the highest previous flood 

stage and discharge compared with the current 

data. 

The brief text contains descriptive 

information on the associated precipitation, 

the sequence of major flood events, and 

explanation of general field and office procedures used in collecting and assembling the 

gaging-station records. A short descriptive 

section on flood damage is also included. 

GENERAL FEATURES OF THE FLOODS 

The great flood of Juiy 1951 in eastern 

Kansas climaxed a prolonged wet spring and 

early summer, culminating in a 4-day period 

of almost unprecedented rainfall--July 9-12. 

Runoff during May and June was above normal 

throughout eastern Kansas and serious flooding occurred at many points. Notable floods 

of that period occurred on Big Creek at Hays, 

Kans., May 22; on Saline River at Tescott, 

Kans., June 7-12; and on Delaware River at 

Perry, Kans., June 21. When the unusually 

great rainfall of July 9-12 fell on the area 

most of it ran off into the already heavily 

burdened stream channels. There was then 

created a flood of a magnitude believed to be 

practically unattainable in this area. 

Antecedent Conditions 

During April, precipitation was slightly 

below normal in Kansas. A prolonged period 

of above-normal rainfall started on April 20 

and continued to the time of the July flood 

period. The amount and distribution of daily 

precipitation for the period April 20 to July 

13 are illustrated on figure 3, a plot of the 

observed precipitation published by the U. s. 

Weather Bureau for six selected weather stations in or near the flood area. The normal 

and measured precipitation for the months of 

April, May, and June 1951, for the stations 

shown on figure ~are given in table 1. 

The monthly mean rainfall for the State in 

May 1951, weighted on an areal basis, was 

6.43 inches as compared with 3.82 inches in 

May 1950, and 5.43 inches in May 1949; the 

monthly mean rainfall in June was 9.55 inches 

as compared with 2.86 inches in June 1950, 

and 5.93 inches in June 1949. In the June 

issue of Climatological data, published by 

the Weather Bureau, 14 stations reported more 

than 14 inches of rainfall in June, the 

greatest of which was 16.50 inches at Climax, 

in the Verdigris River basin, in south-central Kansas. 

The heavy rainfall that occurred during 

May and June caused the major streams in Kansas to rise well above normal. The high continuous runoff thBt occurred during the 

period antecedent to the July flood is shown 

on figures 4 and 5--hydrographs of the mean 

daily discharge at six selected gaging stations in the flooded area during the period 

May 1 to July 31. On June 30, at the close 

of the antecedent period, conditions were 

such that destructive runoff could result 

from heavy precipitations. 

July Flood 

The severe storm that caused the great 

July 1951 flood in Kansas began on July 9 and 

10 and generally lasted 4 days. Figure 6, 

an isohyetal map prepared from a larger-scale 

map furnished by the Weather Bureau, shows 

the magnitude and areal distribution of the 

storm rainfall. Centers of high rainfall 

were as follows: 

17 inches plus: 10 miles south of Emporia, 

Kans., in Neosho River 

basin. 

12 miles west of Council 

Grove, Kans., in Neosho 

River basin. 

12 miles south of Junction 

City, Kans., in Kansas 

1 
2 

Table 1.-- Precipitation at" selected Weather Bureau stations in Kansas 

April 20-30 May 

Total Nor- Total 

Station prec. mal prec. 

Dodge City l. 56 2.00 8.69 

Emporia 1.70 2.\'5 7.37 

Lincoln 5.10 2.40 5.33 

Manhattan 2.75 2.66 10.29 

Ottawa 2.96 3.11 7.78 

Valley Falls 2.51 2.80 4.33 

River basin. 

2 miles south of Alma, Kans. 

in Kansas River basin. 

14 inches plus: at Lyndon, Kans., in Marais 

des Cygne River basin. 

11 miles south of Clay Center, Kans., in Kansas River 

basin. 

About 6,700 square miles of area in Kansas 

received 10 inches or more of precipitation 

during the period July 9-13. 

The streams in the area of heavy precipitation began an almost immedi~te rise on July 

9, the first day of the storm. On July 11, 

Manhattan, Kans., situated just upstream from 

the junction of big Blue and Kansas Rivers, 

was partially inundated and extensive rescue 

operations were under way. The Air Force, 

Coast Guard, U. S. Marines, National Guard, 

and Red Cross rushed rescue personnel and 

equipment into the flooded area and began 

moving people from flooded homes to higher 

ground. The rapidly rising Kansas River 

burst the dike protecting North Topeka at 

1:05 a.m. July 12, in the vicinity of the 

Melan bridge and soon inundated the business 

district. Shortly after the initial failure, 

there was general ~ai1ure of the dikes and 

North Topeka was almost submerged. 

The heavy rain continued through July 13, 

adding more runoff to the already-swollen 

Kansas River. Destruction along the Kansas 

River mounted rapidly with the rising flood. 

Bridges both of railway and of highw~y 

systems failed and were swept downstream; 

houses and business buildings in the flooded 

cities stood abandoned with windows smashed 

in. The flood crested at Wamego about 5 a.m. 

on July 13 and moved rapidly downstream. 

Tributary inflow between Wamego and Topeka 

caused the Kansas River to reach peak stage 

at Topeka at 6:30 a.m. the same day. The 

crest stage at Bonner Springs, the mostdownstream gaging station operated by the 

Geological Survey on the Kansas River, about 

15 miles upstream from Kansas City, occurred 

at midnight July 13. 

The wors~ flood destruction in the area 

was at Kansas City. Just before midnight, 

June July 1-13 

Nor- Total Nor- Total Normal prec. mal prec. mal 

2.85 7.95 3.19 8.69 2.60 

5.20 8.67 4.73 15.48 3.48 

3.45 14.31 4.25 8.69 2.60 

4.43 11.12 4.61 15.32 3.73 

4.96 10.90 4.81 13.78 3.56 

4.48 10.63 4.58 9.23 3.33 

July 12, a section of dike protecting Argentine, low-lying industrial area on the right 

bank of the Kansas River, gave way. The 

ensuing rush of flood water submerged the 

Santa Fe Railroad freight yards where scores 

of diesel locomotives were stored, the Sinclair Oil Refinery, and scores of new homes. 

More than 2,000 residents flei to the high 

bluffs just ahead of the flood. At 5:20 a.m. 

July 13, Kansas River overtopped the Armourdale dike protecting the industrial area, 

located on the left bank opposite Argentine. 

Early on July 13, Kansas River overtopped the 

concrete flood wall protecting the central 

industrial area located on the right bank of 

Kansas River just above the mouth at Kansas 

City, Mo. Many animals at the stock yards 

were swept away. A d~relict 6,000-gallon oil 

tank floatej into a high-tension i1ire and 

started a fire that gutted the Phillips 

Petroleum Co. Plant, the Socony Vacuum Oil 

Co. plant, and many nearby installations. 

Firemen, working from boats, atte~pted to 

control the fire but an estimated loss of 

about 10 million dollars (according to the 

Kansas City Star, July 22) res•.llted from th:.s 

disaster alone. Although the Kansas City 

area had already received terrific dama~e, 

more was to come. Before recession of the 

flood was complete, the city water supply of 

Kansas City, Mo., became contaminated a~d the 

Fairfax industrial area, located on the right 

bank of Missouri River at Kansas City, Kans., 

was inundated. The flood moved downstream 

on Missouri River, establishing new peak 1ischarge records for the period of gage operation by the Geological Survey. However, at 

St. Louis the Mississippi.River reached a 

peak discharge of only 778,000 cfs on July 

21, which was 66,000 cfs less than the peak 

of April 30, 1944. 

The story of destruction and prolonged 

inundation by the flood in the Marais des 

Cygne and Neosho River basins is relatively 

the same as that for the Kansas River basin. 

Council Grove, Marion, Strong, Iolorence, and 

many smaller corr~unities were almost completely inun<iated by the Cottonwood and 

Neosho Rivers. From the July flood, Ottawa 

received the most damage of any city in the 

Marais des Cygne basin. 

The comparative hydrographs of figures 4 
········ .. ········. 

jff/// 

Outline of drainage bosin 

0 Outline of area covered by this report 

Are a of intense flooding wichltao 

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Figure I.--Mop showing location of oreo 

..... 

covered by this report. (.ol 
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Figure 2.--Map showing location of flood determinations included in this report. 
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APRIL MAY JUNE JULY 

Fioure 3.-- Precipitation for April 20 to July 13, 1951 at 6 weather stations in Kansas. 
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Figure 4.-- Hydrogrophs of mean dolly discharge for Big Blue, Republican, (Jnd Solomon Rivers 

for period May 1- July 31,1951. 
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Figure 5.-- Hydrographs of mean daily discharge for Kansas and Neosho Rivers 

for period May 1-July 31,1951. 
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Figure 6.--lsohyetal map of July 9-13,1951 storm in Kansas. 

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Figure 7.-- Cumulative volume of runoff for Kansas River at Bonner Springs, Kansas, 

July 10-20,1951. 
10 

and 5 show the relative ma~nitudes of mean daily discharges for the July flood in relation to the period May-July. Neosho River at 

Parsons had an instantaneous peak discharge 

of 439,000 cfs--more than five times the 

highest previously recorded discharge for a period of record of 30 years, from a.drainage area of 4,817 square miles. This compares 

with a peak discharge of 478,000 cfs from 

56,710 square miles for Kansas River at Topeka. The peak discharge of Kansas River at 

Topeka, Kans., 478,000 cfs, exceeded the previous peak, obtained in 34 years of record, 

by more than three times. 

Figure 7, a mass curve of volume of runoff 

for Kansas River at Bonner Springs for the 

period July 10-20, 1951, shows the tremendous 

volume discharged by the Kansas River. The 

total volume of flow for that period was 5,300,000 sere-feet, which is about 12 times 

the total capacity of Kanopolis Reservoir, 

and about one-th~rd thst of Fort Peck Reser~ 

voirr in Montana. 

MEASUREMENT OF FLOOD DISCHARGES 

At many gaging stations in the flood area, 

measurement of the peak discharge with a cur- rent meter was impossible. At most gaging 

stations a lar~e part of the discharge was overbank flow that bypass~d the cableway or tridge from which measurements are normaJly 

made. Some measuring structures were des-· 

troyed or rendered unsafe to use during the 

height of the flood. For stations where 

current-meter measurements at or nea!' the 

peak discharge were not made, or where extension of the rating curve was not practicable, 

the peak dischar~e was computed by slope-area or contracted-opening methods based on reliable flood marks. 
11 

Missouri River at St. Joseph, Mo. 

Location.- Lat 39°45'1011 , long. 94°51'2811 , in sec. 17, T. 57 N., R. 35 w., at St. Joseph 

and Grand Island Railroad bridge in St. Joseph. Datum of gage is 788.19 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 424,300 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Gage~elghts used to half-tenths. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 198,000 cfs 6 a.m. May 3 (gage height, 19.9 ft). 

-----1928 to April 1951: Discharge, 196,000 cfs June 4, 1929; maximum gage height, 

21.35 ft March 7, 1949 (ice jam) •. 1881 to 1927: Discharge known, about 370,000 cfs April 29, 1881 (gage height, 27.2 

ft), c0mputed by Corps of Engineers. Re~arks.- Drainage basin above station contains many reservoirs with total usable capacity in excess of 27,175,000 acre-feet. 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 195 1 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 147,000 73,800 103,00( 11 80,200 97,300 99,800 21 69,400 148,000 60,700 

2 181,000 145,000 91,40( 12 70,500 101,000 100,000 22 74,400 149,000 66,500 

3 189,000 161,000 104,00( 13 63,000 97,300 85,300 23 75,600 138,000 70,800 

4 128,000 177,000 138,00( 14 61,000 88,200 74,200 24 7.0,500 108,000 68,400 

5 96,000 143,000 128 ,ooc 15 63,600 88,800 69,700 25 66,700 90,000 60,500 

6 84,400 109,000 142,00( 16 72,200 111,000 67,900 26 81,400 101,000 57,000 

7 75,600 123,000 159 ,ooc 17 77,900 86,300 68,400 27 77,900 113,000 56,600 

8 70,000 131,000 121,00( 18 67,200 74,400 79,100 28 64,600 120,000 56,100 

9 65,700 116,000 89 ,50( 19 71,600 94,000 83,600 29 61,500 121,000 56,600 

10 73,300 98,000 77 ,ooc 20 75,600 108,000 64,200 30 58,000 114.,000 55,200 

31 59,000 52,800 

Monthly mean dischar~e, in second-feet ...........•............•...•. 82,960 114,200 84,070 

Runoff, in thousands of acre-feet ..•..•.............•........•... 5,101 6,794 5,170 

Runoff, in inches. ...••.......••..•••...•...........•.........•..... 0.23 0.30 0.23 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

~ Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis0 height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 

li:: July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 18.51 147,000 15.31 98,600 13.92 81,400 13.43 76,200 16.21 113,000 14.34 88,200 

4 18.31 143,000 15.20 97,300 13.83 80,200 13.62 78,400 16.04 111,000 14.29 87,500 

6 17.96 138,000 15.00 94,600 13.74 79,000 13.86 81,400 15.86 108,000 14.21 86,300 

8 17.66 133,000 14.88 92,600 13.66 78,400 14.14 84,400 15.74 106,000 14.21 86,300 

10 17.25 126,000 14.77 91,400 13.63 77,900 14.66 91,400 15.55 103,000 14.23 86,900 

N 16.86 120,000 14.68 90,000 13.55 77,300 15.29 99,300 15.36 101,000 14.24 86,900 

2 16.56 116,000 14.53 88,200 13.46 76,2'JO 15.90 108,000 15.16 98,000 14.24 86,900 

4 16.26 111,000 14.43 86,900 13.43 75,600 16.27 113,JOO 15.06 96,600 14.20 86,300 

6 16.00 107,000 14.28 85,000 13.36 75,000 16.50 116,000 14.88 94,600 14 •. 06 84,400 

8 15.82 105,000 14.20 84,400 13.32 74,400 16.56 118,000 14.77 03,300 13.93 83,200 

10 15.64 103,000 14.10 83,200 13.32 '74, 400 16.49 116,000 14.65 91,400 13.77 80,800 

12 15.46 98,600 14.00 82,000 13.34 74,400 16.38 115,000 14.49 89,400 13.69 80,200 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 13.57 79,000 12.79 70,500 12.59 68,800 12.53 68,800 12.08 64,100 14.71 96,000 

4 13.46 77,900 12.77 70,500 12.55 68,300 12.56 68,800 12.20 65,700 14.56 94,000 

6 13.36 76,700 12.75 70,500 12.55 68,300 12.65 70,000 12.11 64,600 14.43 92,000 

8 13.29 76,200 12.71 70,000 12.54 68,300 12.67 70,000 12.20 65,700 14.26 90,000 

10 13.18 74,400 12.69 69,400 12.52 68,300 12.68 70,500 12.47 68,300 14.07 87,500 

N 13.13 73,800 12.68 69,400 12.52 68,300 12.62 69,400 12.86 72,700 13.91 85,600 2 13.06 73,300 12.68 69,400 12.51 67,800 12.56 68,800 13.44 79,600 13.69 82,600 4 13.00 72,700 12.67 69,400 12.49 67,800 12.51 68,300 14.01 86,300 13.46 80,200 

6 12.94 72,200 12.66 69,400 12.48 67,800 12.43 67,800 14.57 93,300 13.26 77,900 

8 12.89 71,600 12.65 69,400 12.46 67,200 12.37 66,800 14.78 96,000 13.01 75,000 10 12.88 71,000 12.67 69,400 12.44 67,200 12.28 66,200 14.86 97,300 12.81 72,700 12 12.86 71,000 12.64 68,800 12.43 67,200 12.24 65,700 14.77 96,000 12.59 70,000 

July 20 July 21 July 22 Ju!L 23 Ju!l' 24 July 25 

2 12.41 68,800 11.73 62,000 11.49 60,000 13.18 78,400 12.38 70,00( 11.77 64,10( 4 12.30 67,200 11.71 61,500 11.47 59,500 13.00 76,700 12.43 70,50( ll.69 63,00( 6 12.21 66,700 11.68 61,500 11.46 59,500 12.72 73,300 12.41 70,500 11.62 62,500 8 12.11 65,700 11.66 61,000 ll. 46 59,500 12.56 71,600 12.40 70,000 11.54 61,50( 10 12.02 64,600 11.64 61,000 11.48 59,500 12.40 70,000 12.36 70,000 11.48 61,000 N 11.95 63,600 11.63 61,000 11.49 60,000 12.33 68,800 12.31 69,400 11.42 60,500 2 11.88 63,000 11.58 60,500 11.66 61,500 12.27 68,300 12.26 68,800 ll.34 59,500 4 .11.83 62,500 11.57 60,500 12.16 66,700 12.25 68,300 12.22 68,300 11.29 59,000 6 11.78 62,000 11.55 60,000 12.76 73,300 12.26 68,300 12.14 67,200 .ll. 30 59,000 8 11.77 62,000 ll.54 60,000 13.19 78,400 12.29 68,300 12.04 66,200 11.27 59 ,ooc 10 11.76 62,000 11.53 60,000 13.38 80,200 12.33 68 ,BOO 11.95 65,200 11.24 58, 50( 12 11.76 62,000 11.51 59,500 13.36 80,200 12.37 69,400 11.86 64,600 11.23 58,50( 
12 

M~ssouri River at Kansas City, Mo. 

Location.- Lat 39°06 1 4311 , long. 94°3!'1'16", in sec. 32, T. 50 N., R. 33 W., at Chicago, 

Burlinrrton & Quincy Railroad bridge at Kansas City, l mile downstream from Kansas 

River. Datum of gage is 715.79 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Draina~e area.- 489,200 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph. 

Discharp;e ~ecord.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. 

Gage~eights used to half-tenths. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Dischar~e, 573,000 cfs 1 p.m. July 14; gage height, 36.2 ft 

~o 7 a.m. July 14. 

1905-6, 1928 to April 1951: Discharge, 336,000 cfs June 18, 1943; gage hei~ht, 

29.10 ft June 19, 1943. 

1844 to 1927: Discharge knJwn, about 625,000 cfs June 15, 1844 (gage height, 

38.0 ft), computed by Corps of· Engineers. 

Flood of June 2, 1903 reached a stage of 3~.95 ft. . 

Remarks.- Drainage basin above station contains many reservoirs with total usable capa-

---citY in e)cess of 27,640,000 acre-feet. 

Mean discharge, m secon d f - eet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 154,000 77,200 268,00( 11 104,000 171,000 249,000 21 114,000 171,000 151,000 

2 241,000 131,000 247,00( 12 99,200 155,000 343,000 22 103,000 231,000 130,000 

3 257,000 176,000 195,00( 13 89,000 141,000 431,000 23 106,000 277,000 130,000 

4 241,000 179,000 202,00( 14 80,600 134,000 559,000 24 101,000 281,000 128,000 

.5 170,000 200,000 210,00( 15 76,200 122,000 492,000 25 96,600 263,000 120,000 

6 134,000 174,000 237,000 16 78,400 162,000 394,000 26 102,000 245,000 9g,8oo 

7 110,000 162,000 255,000 17 82,400 164,000 324,000 27 115,000 260,000 87,800 

8 89,600 190,000 260,000 18 90,200 141,000 257,000 28 102,000 270,000 86,000 

9 80,600 200,000 219,000 19 91,400 132,000 224,000 29 90,800 268,000 81,200 

10 86,000 186,000 183,000 20 121,000 143,000 180,000 30 84,200 269,000 79,400 

31 76,700 76,700 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet ........•..•..•.....•...•...•. 115,100 189,200 222,500 

Runoff, in thousands of acre-feet •.•..••.•...••....••••••..•.•..• 7,080 11,260 13,680 

Runoff, in inches. .•.•••..•••.••..•.•..••...•.......•.........•..••. 0.27 0.43 0.52 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- s height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

li: July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 25.60 261,000 24.76 247,000 21. 4.5 193,000 20.98 187,00( 2'7.48 295,00( 31.00 371,00( 

4 25.64 262,000 24.44 241,000 21.23 191,000 21.71 197 ,ooc 27.90 303,000 31.27 377 ,ooc 

6 25.75 268,000 24.12 236,000 21.13 188,000 22.86 216,000 28.40 313,000 31.54 383,00( 

8 25.75 268,000 23.80 231,000 20.87 185,000 23.88 232,00C 28.80 322,000 31.66 387 ,ooc 

10 25.75 26E',OOO 23.40 224,000 20.71 183,000 24.70 242,00( 29.35 333,000 32.00 393,000 

N 25.68 263,000 23.06 218,000 20.63 182,000 25.32 256,00( 29.94 347,000 32.50 406,000 

2 25.60 261,000 22.76 213,000 20.47 181,000 25.76 263,000 30.36 355,000 33.10 425,000 

4 25.50 259,000 22.47 209,000 20.38 179,000 26.04 269,00( 30.68 363,000 33.70 444,000 

6 25.30 256,000 22.29 206,000 20.37 178,000: 26.30 27 4,00C 30.88 368,000 34.40 469,000 

8 25.08 252,000 22.09 203,000 20.32 177,000 26.52 278, ooc 31.02 371,000 34.85 488,000 

10 25.00 251,000 21.87 200,000 20.37 178,000 26.86 283,00C 31.10 372,000 35.20 504,000 

12 24.88 248,000 21.66 197,000 20.55 181,000 27.10 288,00C 31.12 373,000 35.75 528,000 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 . July 18 July 19 

2 36.02 542,000 34.80 f>25,000 32.17 437,000 30.00 350,000 28.15 283,000 25.46 233,000 4 36.18 557,000 34.65 520,000 31.87 427,000 29.84 343,000 27.93 278,000 25.43 232,000 6 36.20 56:",000 34.55 fi16,000 31.66 420,000 29.73 340,000 27.63 271,000 25.37 232,000 8 36.18 569,000 34.35 510,000 :~1. 42 412,000 29.65 337,000 27.40 266,000 25-.34 231,000 10 36.16 571,000 34.25 506,000 31.15 402,000 29.50 332,000 27.19 262,000 25.27 230,000 N 36.14 572,000 34.10 -500,000 30.92 393,000 29.40 327,000 26.91 257,000 25.14 288,000 2 36.11 572,000 :13.92 494,000 :10.75 386,000 29.31 323,000 26.74 253,000 24.95 '226,000 4 36.08 571,000 :13.65 487,000 30.62 382,000 29.20 320,000 26.51 249,000 24.76 2"3,000 6 35.90 565,000 33.33 476,000 30.48 375,000 29.13 317,000 26.24 246,000 24.54 220,000 8 35.62 555,000 33.01 466,000 30.38 368,000 28.93 310,.000 25.98 241,000 24.25 216,000 10 ;:' .. 5.18 538,000 32.71 456,000 30.30 365,000 28.66 300,000 25.81 238,000 23.93 212,000 12 34.95 531,000 32.40 446,000 30.2~ 362,000 28.47 293,000 25.64 236,000 23.60 208,000 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 23.04 202,000 19.52 161,000 17.22 137,000 Hi.04 126,000 16.16 127 ,ooc 16.52 129 ,ooc 

4 22.68 19'7,000 19.09 159,000 17.06 135,000 16.25 127,000 16.11 126 ,ooc 16.42 128,00( 

6 22.26 19:0~ ,000 19.23 158,000 16.90 134,000 16.53 128,000 16.10 126,00( 16.29 128,00( 

8 21.89 187,000 19.09 156,000 16.78 132,000 16.?5 132,000 16.12 l2G ,OOC 16.12 126-, ooc 

10 21.60 124,000 18.92 154,000 16.62 131,000 16.91 134,000 16.1B 127,000 15.92 124,00( 

N 21.21 180,000 18.75 153,000 16.49 128,000 16.93 134,000 16.29 12(', ,ooc 15.51 120,00( 

2 20.91 177,000 1e .58 151,000 16.39 128,000 16.88 133,000 16.38 129 ,ooc 15.36 118,00( 

4 20.61 173,000 18.36 148,000 16.29 127,000 16.79 132,000 18.48 129 ,ooc 15.14 117 ,OOC 

6 20.34 169,000 18.12 146,000 16.19 127,000 16.66 131,000 16.57 130,00( 14.92 115,00( 

8 20.12 16?,000 17.89 143,000 16.08 126,000 16 .f)3 130,000 16.61 131,000 14.70 113,00( 

.10 19.93 165,000 17.69 142,000 15.99 125,000 16.40 129,000 16.62 131,00( 14.50 111 ,OOC 

12 19.68 162,000 17.50 140,000 16.00 125,000 16.30 128,000 13.57 130 ,ooc 14.31 108,00( 
13 

Missouri River at Waverly. Mo. 

Location.- Lat 39°12'511', long~ 93°30'5711 , in sec. l41 T. 51 N., R. 24 w., at 'bridge on u. s. Highway 65 at Waverly. Datum of gage is 645.49 ft above mean sea lenl, 

datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.:. 491,200' square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-sta~e recorder graph. bischar~e record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurementa. Gage 

heig ts used to half-tenths except for July 8-25, which were computed from di1scharge 

hydrograph based on current-meter measurements. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 532,000 cfs 8 to 11 a.m. July 16; gage heigh·:, 28.20 

---rr-6 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 14. 

1929 to April 1951: Discharge, 347,000 cfs April 24, 1944; gage height, 21;.14 ft 

June 24, 1947. 

Remarks.- Drainage basin above station contains reservoirs with total usable cap1aci ty in excess of 27,640,000 acre-feet. 

Mean dischar2e in second-feet. 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 124,000 75,900 287,000 11 101,000 184,000 223,000 21 127,000 159 ,ooo :333,000 

2 198,000 93,700 266,000 12 107,000 172,000 286,000 22 105,000 197,000 195,000 

3 230,000 166,000 235,000 13 93,700 160,oo0 336,000 23 102,000 229,000 159 ,ooo 

4 240,000 170,000 214,000 14 83,700 150,000 369,000 24 102,000 256,000 135,000 

5 208,000 184,000 225,000 15 77,700 139,000 480,000 25 95,000 281,000 126,000 

6 160,000 187,000 248,000 16 74,100 153,000 526,000 26 97,600 275,000 117 ,ooo 

7 130,000 164,000 281,0~~ 17 83,700 lBl,o~g 471,000 27 109,000 266,000 104,000 

8 105,000 1'76,000 302,00 18 91,800 157,00 398,000 28 109,000 275,000 97,600 

9 86,700 199,000 281,000 19 95,000 142,000 329,000 29 93,700 298,000 93,000 

10 84,300 199,000 233,00C 20 106,000 147,000 273,000 30 85,500 290,000 86,700 

31 80,100 82,500 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet •...••..•. , •..•...•••...•...•. 115,700 190,900 248,100 

Runoff, in thousands of acre-feet .•••..••.•...••....•••••••.•• · •. o. 7,112 11,360 15,260 

Runoff, in inches. .•.•••• o o •••••••••••••••••••••• o •••••••••••••••••• 0.27 0.43 0.58 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

! Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Disheight charge height charge height charge height charge · height charge height charge 

July 8 July 9 July10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 27.22 307,000 26.81 295,000 26.13 254,000 24.48 212,000 25.46 249 ,ooo 27.44 326,000 

4 27.20 307,000 26.81 296,000 25.97 249,000 24.40 212,000 25.63 256,000 27.51 331,000 

6 27.18 307,000 26.82 296,000 25.35 245,000 24.:36 213,000' 25.79 262,000 27.57 333,000 

8 27'.::.1 307,000 26.83 293,000 25.71 241,000 24.35 ~14,000 ~5.99 268,000 27.65 335,000 

10 27.06 307,000 26.84 290,000 25.58 237,000 24.40 216,000 26.15 276,000 27.82 337,000 

N 27.00 304,000 26.80 288,000 25.44 234,000 24.50 219,000 26.33 283,000 27.77 338,000 

2 26.96 302,000 26.76 282,000 2f?.28 232,000 24.60 223,000 26.50 289,000 27.87 338,000 

4 26.93 299,000 26.70 270,000 25.14 228,000 24.70 227,000 26.71 296,000 27.95· 338,000 

6 26.89 297 ,ooo 26.64 273,000 24.99 224,000 24.81 230,000 26.87 304,000 28.03 338,000 

8 26.84 295,000 26.55 267,000 24.82 220,000 24.99 233,000 27.03 310,000 28.10 338,000 

10 26.82 294,000 26.43 262,000 24.71 217,000 25.13 238,00Q 27.19 315,000 28.16 339 ,ooo 

12 26.82 294,000 26.29 258,000 24.60 214,000 25.28 243,000 27.32 320,000 28.18 341,000 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 Jul.y 19 

2 28.19 343,000 27.86 423,000 27.51 527,000 26.83 503,000 25.82 431,000 24.81 358,000 

4 28.19 346,000 27.83 433,000 27.51 529,000 26.74 496,000 25.73! '425,000 24.71 354,000, 

6 28.20 349,000 27.87 444,000 27.51 531,000 26.64 491,000 25.65 420,000 24.60 348,000 

8 28.20 352,000 27.85 456,000 27.50 532,000 26.54 485,000 25.56 413,000 24.48 342,000 

10 28.20 356,000 27.77 468,000 27 .4·7 532,000 26.50 480,000 25.48 406,000 24.42 336,000 

N 28.20 361,000 27.70 480,000 27.40 531,000 26.41 474,000 25.41 400,000 24.34 331,000 

2 28.18 367,000 27.64 490,000 27.26 530,000 26.30 468,000 25.32 395,000 24.26 325,000 

4 28.17 373,000 27.63 500,000 27.14 528,000 26.21 462,000 25.23 390,000 .24. 20 321,000 

6 28.15 380,000 27.62 508,000 27.15 525,000 26.13 456,000 25.14 385,000 24.14 315,000 

8 28.05 390,000 27.56 514,000 27.11 521,000 26.03 450,000 25.02 378,000 24.06 311,000 

10 27.96 401,000 27.56 519,000 27.00 516,000 25.98 445,000 24.93 372,000 24.03 306,000 

12 27.87 412,000 27.55 523,000 26.90 508,000 25.90 440,000 24.82 365,000 23.95 301,000 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 Jul.y 25 

2 23.86 296,000 22.88 250,000 21.39 211,000 19.86 176,000 19.60 140,000 19.17 131,000 

4 23.82 291,000 22.79 247,000 21.24 208,000 19.82 173,000 19.57 137,000 19.17 131,000 

6 23.76 286,000 22.65 244,000 21.10 205,000 19.82 169,000 19.52 1;36,000 19.16 130,000 

8 23.69 282,000 22.52 241,000 20.97 202,000 19.77 166,000 19.46 135,000 19.15 128,000 

10 23.62 277,000 22.41 237,000 20.85 200,000 19.74 163,000 19.40 133,000 19.13 127,000 

N 23.54 273,000 22.29 234,000 20.74 196,000 19.74 160,000 19.33 133,000 19.09 126,000 

2 23.45 269,000 22.16 231,000 20.60 194,000 19.74 157,000 19.29 134,000 19.04 126,000 

4 23. ~9 266,000 22.02 229,000 20.46 190,000 19.76 153,000 19.25 135,000 18.97 125,000 

6 23.30 263,000 21.90 225,000 20.31 187,000 19.75 150,000 19.23 134,000 18.90 124,000 

8 23.21 260,000 21.79 222,000 20.19 184,000 19.74 148,000 19.21 134,000 18.80 123,000 

10 23.12 256,000 21.66 219,000 20.02 182,000 19.71 145,000 19.20 133,000 18.72 122,000 

12 23.02 252,000 21.53 215,000 19.96 178,000 19.67 143,000 19.18 132,000 18.63 121,000 
14 

Missouri River at Boonville, Mo. 

Location.- Lat 38°58'4011 1 long. 92°45'1511 1 in sec. 351 T. 49 N., R. 17 W., at MissouriKansas-Texas Railroad bridge at Boonville. Datum of gage is 565.02 ft above mean . sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 505,700 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph. Dischar~e record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. 

Gagelheights used to half-tenths. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 550,000 cfs at 2 p.m. July 17; gage height, 32.82 ft ~p.m. July 17. 

1925 to April 1951: Discharge, 504,000 cfs April 27, 1944; gage height, 32.02 ft 

June 27, 1947. 

1844 to 1924: Discharge known, about 710,000 cfs June 21, 1844 (gage height, 32.7 

ft) computed by Corps of Engineers. 

The flood of June 6 1 1903 reached 30.5 ft. 

Remarks.- Drainage basin above station contains many reservoirs with total usable capacity in excess of 27,640,000 acre-feet. · 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 118,000 89,600 369,000 11 108,000 194,000 329,000 21 117,000 167,000 338,000 

2 178,000 90,200 355,000 12 135,000 180,000 323,000 22 121,000 203,000 294,000 

3 223,000 132,000 336,000 13 133,000 171,000 321,000 23 108,000 241,000 259,000 

4 240,000 183,000 312,000 14 120,000 164,000 344,000 24 106,000 271,000 227,000 

5 248,000 192,000 284,000 15 105,000 157,000 372,000 25 104,000 291,000 196,000 

6 227,000 197,000 275,000 16 93,600 155,000 432,000 26 98,300 316,000 170,000 

7 168,000 191,000 284,000 17 89,600 179,000 537,000 27 99,500 328,000 140,000 

8 132,000 177,000 314,000 18 93,600 184,000 524,000 28 118,000 330,000 116,000 

9 107,000 190,000 336,000 19 98,900 161,000 472,000 29 112,000 3;39,000 104,000 

10 100,000 200,000 "329 ,000 20 100,000 155,000 400,000 30 98,300 369,000 98,900 

31 93,0QO 93,600 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .....•..•..•..•.....•...•...•. 128,800 206,600 299,500 

Runoff, in thousands of acre-feet ..•..••.•....•....••.•••. • .•••..• 7,920 12,290 18,420 

Runoff, in inches. .•. , .•••••••.••..•••..•....•.......••........•..•.. 0.29 0.46 0.68 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

"' Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Qage Dis- Gage Dis- ;:1 height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

:X: July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July12 July 13 

2 27.28 298,000 28.22 331,000 28.46 335,000 28.29 325,000 28.42 330,000 27.86 317,000 

4 27.40 302,000 28.25 333,000 28.44 333,000 28.27 325,000 28.40 328,000 27.83 317,000 

6 27.48 304,000 28.26 335,000 28~40 331,000 28.25 323,000 28.38 328,000 27.82 317,000 

8 27.51 306,000 28.30 336,000 28.40 330,000 28.25 323,000 28.34 327,000 27 .so. 317 ,ooo 

10 27.55 307,000 28.34 338,000 28.40 330,000 28.39 328,000 28.30 325,000 27.79 319,000 

N 27.73 312,000 28". 36 339,000 28.39 328,000 28.55 333,000 28.20 322,000 27.79 319,000 

2 27.86 316,000 28.34 338,000 28.38 328,000 28.54 333,000 28.14 322,000 27.79 320,000 

4 27.94 319,000 28.32 336,000 28.36 327,000 28.53 333,000 28.07 320,000 27.80 322,000 

6 27.99 322,000 28.38 336,000 28.34 327,000 28.48 331,000 28.02 319,000 27.86 323;000 

8 28.05 323,000 28.40 336,000 28.34 327,000 28.46 331,000 27.98 319,000 27.88 325,000 

10 28.14 328,000 28.42 336,000 28.32 325,000 28.46 331,ooq 27.94 319,000 27.92 327,000 

12 28.16 328,000 28.41 335,000 28.32 325,000 28.44 330,000 27.89 317,000 27.93 328,000 

July 14 July15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 27.97 330,000 28.52 359,000 29.14 394,000 31.40 499,000 32.60 536,000 32~19 502,000 

4 28.03 333,000 28.55 362,000 29.25 400;000 31.72 515,000 32.61 536,000 32.09 497,000 

6 28.09 336,000 28.59 364,000 29.36 406,000 32.00 428,000 32.62 536,000 32.02 492,000 

8 28.13 338,000 28.62 365,000 29.49 412,000 32.10 531,000 32.61 534,000 31.91 486,000 

10 28.22 343,000 28.67 369,000 29.59 419,000 32.35 542,000 32.59 531,000 31.84 481,000 

N 28.24 343,000 28.70 370,000 29.72 425,000 32.50 547,000 32.57 528,000 31.77 476,000 

2 28.25 344,000 28.72 372,000 29.90 431,000 32.62 550,0{)0 32.51 526.,000 31.67 469 ,ooo 

4 28.31 347,000 28.74 374,000 30.12 442,000 32.63 547,000 32.43 520~000 31.59. 464,000 

6 28.35 351,000 28.78 375,000 30.35 451,000 32.70 547,000 32.40 518,000 31.46 458,000 

8 28.36 351,000 28.84 379,000 30.56 460 ,ooo. 32.71 547,000 32.33 512,000 31.35 451,000 

10 28.39 352,000 28.94 384,000 30.76 469,000 32.74 547,000 32.27 507,000 31.27 447,000 

12 28.45 355,000 29.01 388,000 30.99 479 ,ooo 32.75 547,000 32.19 502,000 31.21 442,000 

July 20 July 21 July 22 Julv 23 July 24 July 25 

2 31.02 431,000 29.61 362,000 28.28 311,000 26.92 273,000 25.47 241,000 24.04 209,000 

4 30.95 427,000 29.52 359,000 28.22 308,000 26.80 270,000 25.36 238,000 23.90 207,000 

6 30.85 423,000 29.39 352,000 28.10 304,000 26.72 268,000 25.25 235,000 23.78 204,000 

8 30.74 417,000 29.30 349,000 27.99 302,.000 26.68 267,000 25.13 233,000 23.67 202,000 

10 30.62 410,000 29.20 344,000 27.88 298,000 26.52 263,000 25.02 231,000 23.52 200,000 

N 30.54 404,000 29.08 339,000 27.77 295,000 26.41 260,000 24.91 228,000 23.41 197,000 

2 30.38 398,000 28.95 335,000 27.65 291,000 26.29 258,000 24.80 226,000 23.27 195,000 

4 30.20 388,000 28.87 331,000 27 .• 52 288,000 26.17 256,000 24.69 224,000 23.18 193,000 

6 30.08 383,000 28.76 327,000 27.42 286,000 26.06 253,000 24.56 221,000 23.06 191,000 

8 29.98 379,000 28.64 322,000 27.33 284,000 25.94 250,000 24.43 217,000 22.95 189,000 

10 29.84 372,000 28.54 319,000 27.25 282,000 25.82 247,000 24.34 216,000 22.61 186;000 

12 29.77 369,000 28.44 315,000 27.10 278,000 25.67 244,000 24.23 214,000 22.70 184,000 
15 

Missouri River at Hermann, Mo. 

Location.- Lat 38°42 1 36 11 , long. 91°26'21 11 , in swt sec. 25, T. 46 N., R 5 W., at bridge on State Highway 19 at Hermann. Datum of gage is 481.40 ft above mean sea level, 

datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 528,200 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Gage 

heights used to half-tenths. 

Maxima.- Ma¥-July 1951: Discharge, 618,000 cfs 8 a.m. to 12m. July 19 (gage height, 

33.33 ft). 

1928 to April 1951: Discharge, 577,000 cfs April 28, 1944; gage height, 31.20 ft 

May 21, 1943, June 29, 1947. 

1844 to 1927: Discharge known, about 892,000 cfs June 1844 (gage height, 35.5 ft), 

computed by Corps of Engineers. 

Remarks.- Drainage basin above station contains many reservoirs with total usable capacity ---rn-excess of 28,875,000 acre-feet. 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 130,000 106,000 470,000 11 117,000 231,000 502,000 21 122,000 179,000 554,000 

2 147,000 104,000 505,000 112 132,000 237,000 502,000 22 156,000 201,000 497 ,ooo 

3 215,000 103,000 500,000 13 152,000 223,000 514,000 23 170,000 244,000 442,000 

4 246,000 159 ,GOO 508,000 14 145,000 203,000 509,000 24 157,000 290,000 389,000 

5 249,000 203,000 508,000 15 136,000 187,000 503,000 25 147,000 313,000 343,000 

6 242,000 204,000 491,000 16 122,000 178,000 502,000 26 137,000 344,000 307,000 

7 225,000 213,000 479,000 17 109,000 174,000 516,000 27 123,000 372,000 270,000 

8 172,000 204,000 471,000 18 107,000 192,000 588,000 28 120,000 387,000 234,000 

9 137,000 226,000 478,000 19 112,000 191,000 614,000 29 139 ,ooo 410,000 196,000 

10 119,000 228,000 494,000 20 119,000 178,000 600,000 30 132,000 439,000 164,000 

31 111,000 142,000 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet ...........•............•...•. 150,100 230,800 444,900 

Runoff, i:1 thousands of acre-feet ..•..•.......•....••...•....•..• 9,229 13,730 27,360 

Runoff, in inches. .........•...•..•.....•.•..... 0 •••••• 0 o o. 0 •• o .. o •. OoZ3 Oo49 Oo97 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

s Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage ·Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis0 height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 

:X: July 8 July 9 July 1,0, July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 30o 35 470,000 30.38 47 4, 000 30o38 479,000 00~85 500,000 30.84 495,000 31.18 505,000 4 30.35 470,000 30o38 477,000 30.38 481,000 30.87 503,000 30.87 498,000 31.23 508,000 6 30.35 470,000 30.38 477,000 30.38 431,000 30.90 503,000 30o91 498,000 31.29 510,000 8 30o35 470,000 30.38 477,000 30.38 481,000 30.85 500,000 30.97 500,000 31.33 512,000 10 30.35 470,000 30.38 477,000 30.38 481,000 30.90 503,000 31.01 503,000 31.37 515,000 

N 30.35 472,000 30.38 477 ,ooo 30o80 503,000 30.92 503,000 31.03 503,000 31.38 515,000 

2 30.35 472,000 30.38 477,000 39o79 500,000 30.95 503,000 31.06 503,000 31 .• 40. 515,000 4 30.35 472,000 30.38 479,000 30.83 503,000 30.97 505,000 31.10 E05,000 31.41 518,000 

6 30.35 472,000 30o38 479,000 30o84 503,000 30.90 500,000 31.13 508,000 31.41 518,000 

8 30.35 472,000 30.38 479,000 30.85 503,000 30.92 500,000 31.13 505,000 31.41 518,000 

10 30.35 472,000 30o 38 479,000 30o87 503,000 30.90 500,000 31.14 505,000 31.41 518,000 

12 30o35 474,000 30o38 479,000 30.90 505,000 30o98 503,000 31.15 505,000 31o39 515,000 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 3lo37 515,000 31.15 503,000 31.15 503,000 31.14 500,000 32o13 552,000 33o22 613,000 

4 31.34 512,000 31.17 503,000 31.14 503,000 51.15 503,000 32.21 557,000 33.24 613,000 

6 31.32 512,000 31o20 505,000 31o13 500,000 31.15 503,000 32.37 565,000 33.28 616,000 

8 31.31 510,000 31.21 505,000 31.12 500,000 31.19 503,000 32o55 574,000 33.33 618,000 

10 31.29 510,000 31o18 505,000 31.13 500,000 31o23 505,000 32.69 582,000 33.33 618,000 

N 31.27 510,000 31.15 503,000 31.14 503,000 31.32 510,000 32.81 590,000 33.33 618,000 

2 31.25 508,000 31.14 503,000 31.15 503,000 31.41 515,000 32o93 596,000 33.25 613,000 

4 31.24 508,000 31o12 500,000 31.15 503,000 31.51 520,000 33.02 602,000 3Z.i9 610,000 

6 31.23 508,000 31.13 503,000 31.14 503,000 31.59 523,000 33.09 604,000 33.21 610,000 

8 31.22 508,000 31o12 500,000 31.13 500,000 31.69 528,000 33o16 610,000 33.22 613,000 

10 31.19 505,000 31o13 503,000 31.13 500,000 31.85 538,000 3·3.19 610,000 33.22 613,000 

12 31.16 503,000 31.14 503,000 31.14 503,000 31.94 541,000 :'>3.20 610,000 33.21 613,000 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July- 23 July 24 July 25 

2 33.23 610,000 32.66 576,000 31.61 51=:,000 30.50 465,000 29o57 412,000 28o56 361,000 

4 33.22 610,000 32o57 571,000 31.56 515,000 30.41 460,000 29.51 407,000 28.49 358,000 

6 33o21 610,000 32.54 571,000 31o46 510,000 30.36 458,000 29.43 403,000 28.40 355,000 

8 33o19 607,000 32o50 568,000 31.40 .':08,000 30.27 453,000 29o37 399,000 28.31 352,000 

10 33.15 607,000 32.41 563,000 31.32 503,000 30o2l 448,000 29 o30 395,000 28.21 347,000 

N 33o08 602,000 32.33 557,000 31o26 500,000 30.14 446,000 29.26 393,000 28.13 344,000 

2 33.03 599,000 32.23 552,000 31.15 495,000 30.06 441',000 29.13 387,000 28.04 341,000 

4 33.0°1 599,000 32.11 546,COO 31.06 491,000 29.98 437,000 29.05 383,000 27o97 338,000 

6 33.00 599,000 32.05 544,000 30.99 488,000 29o90 432,000 28.95 378,000 27.·'8 334,000 

8 32.88 590,000 31.95 538,000 30.91 484,000 29.83 427,000 28.85 374,000 27.80 331,000 

10 32.81 588,000 31.90 536,000 30.81 479,000 29'.76 423,000 28.77 369,000 27.72 328,000 

12 32.75 585,000 31o79 530,000 30.72 474,000 29.69 418,000 28.67 366,000 27.63 326,000 
16 

Republican R1ver near Bloomington, Nebr. 

Location.- Lat 40°041 00", long. 99°02'05", in NWiSEi sec. 8, T. 1 N., R. 15 W., 600 

feet downstream from county highway bridge, 2 miles south of Bloomington, and 9! 

miles downstream from Turkey Creek. Datum of gage is 1,824.15 feet above mean sea 

level, datum of 1929. 

Draina~e area.- 20,800 square miles, of which only 15,100 square miles contribute directly o surface runoff. 

Gage-hei~t record.- Water-stage recorder graph except period 7 a.m. June 20 to 8 a.m. 

June , when there was no gage-height record. The graph was estimated on parts of 

several other days. 

Dischar¥e record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. 

Shlf ing-control method used. Shifting-control adjustments fairly well defined 

except during period May 18-21. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 11,000 cfs 4 p.m. July 14 (gage height, 7.04 ft). 

1929 to April 1951: Discharget 260,000 cfs June 1, 1935 (gage height, 20.4 ft, 

from floodmarks, site then in use), by slope-area method. 

Remarks.- Natural flow affected by reservoirs above station. 

Mean discharge . in second-feet . 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 738 1,330 2,080 11 290 2,630 4,090 21 7 ,40( 2,500 3,600 

2 582 1,540 1,760 12 278 3,290 8,650 22 10,10( 2,000 2,640 

3 496 1,380 1,660 13 278 3,300 8,590 23 4,88( 2,500 2,120 

4 452 1,210 1,390 14 318 2,280 9,720 24 3,78( 4,000 2,520 

5 405 1,080 1,220 15 318 1,950 9,650 25 3,44( 3,500 2,690 

6 367 1,250 1,140 16 3,930 1,800 7,160 26 3,41( 3,000 2,240 

7 336 1,280 1,050 17 4,920 1,720 5,570 27 1,82( 3,000 1,880 

8 314 1,350 978 18 3,000 1,540 3,730 28 1,61( 3,000 1,850 

9 310 4,150 922 19 2,400 3,510 5,540 29 l,f.6( 2,550 2,560 

10 302 3,830 908 20 1,800 3,120 5,070 30 1,30( 2,520 1,840 

31 83 1,860 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet ........•..•............•...•. 1,999 2,404 3,441 

Runoff, in acre-feet .....................••......•.•..••.•••..•.•..• 122,90( 143,000 211,600 

Runoff, in inches. ..........•..•..•.....•.....................•..••. 0.1 0.13 0.19 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

r.. Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis-

::s height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

::t: July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July13 

2 2.84 1,130 6.05 8,640 5.74 7,920 

4 2.97 1,320 6.12 8,810 5.75 7,940 

6 3.03 1,410 6.16 8,900 5.75 7,940 

8 3.17 1,580 6.18 8,950 5.81 8,080 

10 3.50 2,000 6.18 8,950 5.73 8,030 

N 4.98 4,400 6.17 8,930 6.0U 8,520 

2 5.20 5,120 6.12 8,810 6.17 8,930 

4 5.40 5,860 6.05 8,640 6.21 9,020 

6 5.57 6,590 6.01 8,540 6.39 9,470 

8 5.71 7,200 5.88 8,240 6.35 9,370 

10 5.85 7,830 5.82 8,100 6.27 9, ],70 

12 5.96 8,310 5.89 8,260 6.22 9,050 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 6.17 8,810 6.74 10,200 6.25 8,760 5.73 5,730 4.~;9 3,860 5.05 3,950 

4 6.14 8,740 6.68 10,100 6.22 8,450 5.70 5,670 4.88 3,700 5.09 4,010 

6 6.12 8,690 6.63 9,950 6.16 8,080 5.68 5,630 4.81 3,590 5.14 4,090 

8 6.19 8,830 6.58 9,820 6.08 7,680 5.67 5,610 4.81 3,590 5 .. 77 5,160 

10 6.22 8,930 6.54 9,720 5.97 7,220 I 5.66 5,590 4.83 3,620 6.33 6,210 

N 6.31 £',140 6.49 9,600 5.91 6,8e9 5.64 5,560 4.85 3,650 6.45 6,450 

2 6.S5 10,500 6.45 9,500 5.86 6,570 5.66 5,590 4.86 3,660 6.46 6,470 

4 7.04 11,000 6.42 9,420 5.84 6, 430 5.69 5,650 4.87 3,680 6.41 6,370 

6 6.98 10,900 6.38 9,320 5.81 6,270 5.72 5,710 4.91 3,740 6.37 6,290 

8 6.£5 10,800 6.35 9,240 5.78 6,110 5.72 5,.710 4.92 3,760 6.35 6,250 

10 6.87 10,600 6.33 9,200 5.76 5,970 5.65 5,390 4.98 3,840 6.33 6,210 

12 6.81 10,400 6.29 9,100 5.74 5,840 5.17 4,220 5.02 3,900 6. 24 6,030 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 6.09 5, 7.50 5.2~ 4,250 4.42 3,000 

4 6.00 5,580 5.20 4,170 4.40 2,980 

6 5.90 5,390 5.12 4,050 4.36 2,920 

8 5.79 5,190 5.01 3,880 4.36 2,920 

10 5.73 5,080 4.87 3,660 4.36 2,920 

N 5.68 4,990 4.77 3,520 4.37 2,940 

2 5.65 4,940 4.69 3,400 4.34 2,900 

4 5.59 4,840 4.60 3,280 4.31 2,860 

6 5.52 4,720 4.54 3,190 3.95 2,410 

8 5.4? 4,630 4.47 3,090 3.51 1,930 

10 5.41 4,530 4.41 3,020 3.22 l,6EO 

12 5.34 4,410 4.36 2,950 3.17 1,600 
17 

Republican River near Guide Rock, Nebr. 

Location.- Lat 40°031 50 11 , long. 98°22'40", in SE-fNE-f sec. 7, T. 1 N., R. 9 w., 300ft 

upstream from Willow Creek, a quarter of a mile downstream from Courtland diversion 

dam, and 2 miles west of Guide Rock. 

Gage-hei~t record.- Water~stage recorder graph. Accuracy of ~raph on July 11, 12 is 

quest onabie. The graph was estimated during parts of several days. 

Discharge record.- Stage-dlscharge relation defined by current-meter measu::-ements below 14,0 0 cfs. ' 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 14,300 cfs 2 p.m. May 22 (gage height, 9.82 ft). 

August 1950 to April 1951: Discharge, 10,200 cfs Sept 20, 1950 (gage height, 8.46 ft). 

R~.- Natural flow affected by reservoirs above station. 

Mean discharge in second-feet1 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 1,100 2,510 3,670 11 395 4,430 l2 1 UUU 21 4,e~u ~,46U 5,510 

2 842 8,540 2,240 12 372 3,260 12,100 22 12,600 3,720 5,130 

3 669 2,360 1,990 13 351 4,870 8,310 23 5,880 2,580 3,110 

4 588 1,890 1,800 14 390 3,330 7,900 24 3,940 5,580 2,8~0 

5 549 1,660 1, .510 15 404 3,220 8,730 25 3,730 5,150 3,210 

6 506 2,240 1,380 16 706 2,380 6,640 26 3,550 5,080 2,980 

7 461 7,140 1,260 17 3,700 2,050 6,000 27 3,370 4,600 2,650 

8 428 2,480 1,100 18 3,080 1,840 5,490 28 2,600 4,280 2,210 

9 413 3,670 1,010 19 2,140 1,580 4,850 29 2,250 2,960 2,330 

10 413 6,400 3,930 20 1,810 3,440 7,320 30 1,770 2,800 2,960 

31 1,590 2,040 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet •....•..•.••..•.....••..•...•. 2,112 3,617 4,329 

Runoff, in acre-feet ........•....••.•••..••.•...••....••..••..•.••.• IJ.29 ,900 215,200 266,200 

Rtmoff, in inches. .•.•.••••••.••..• , •..••••.•.......••......•.•..••. 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

~ Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis0 height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge. height charge 

l:t: July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 3.03 983 7 .. 77 9,280· 7.87 10,500 8.43 10,200 4 3.03 983 8 .. 20 10,900 8.06 10,800 8.25 9,720 6 3.07 1,010 8.57 12,600 8.33 11,000 8.04 9,200 8 3.92 1,830 8.84 14,000 8.68 11,400 7.83 8,680 10 4.79 3,000 8,"81 14,200 9.07 12,300 7.65 8,250 

N 5.78 4,500 8.65 14,000 9. 50 13,300 7. 49 7,880 2 6.25 5,340 8.38 13,800 9.70 13,900 7.35 7,560 4 6.73 6,260 8.02 13,000 9.62 13,700 7.22" 7,270 6 6.81 6,420 7.64 11,600 9.48 13,200 7.17 7,170 

8 6.67· 6., 140 7.51 10,900 9.28 12,600 7.19 7,210 

10 6.80 6,400 7.64 10,700 9.01 11,800 7.26 7,360 

12 7.26 7,580 7.74 10,400 8.69 10,900 7.34 7, 540 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 5.74 4,430 

4 7.87 8,780 5.7~ 4,390 

6 5.73 4,410 

8 8.01 9,120 5.74 4,430 

10 5.76 4,460 

N 8.08 9,300 5.78 4,500 

2 5.80 4,530 

4 8.04 9,200 5.82 4,560 

6 5.87 4,650 

8 7.67 8,300 6.1:3 5,200 

10 6.82 6,640 

12 7.30 7,450 7.25 7,600 

July 20 July 21 July 22 Ju~23 July 24 July 25 

2 

4 7.44 8,080 

6 

8 7.38 7,950 

10 

N 7.19 7,520 

2 

4 6.94 6,980 

6 

8 6.73 6,540 

10 

12 6. 57 6,220 
18 

Republican River near Hardy, Nebr. 

Location.- Lat 40°00', long. 97056', in sec. 6, T. 1 S., R. 5 W., li miles southwest of 

Hardy. Datum of gage is 1,501.46 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 22,400 square miles, of which 5,700 square miles are largely non-contributing. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except ror periods May 1-16, 20, May 28 

to June 1, June 4-6, 9, 16-20, June 28 to July 19, July 23-31, for which a graph was drawn based on twice-daily wire-weight gage readings. Dischar~e record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. slirr ing-control method used June 2 to July 31. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge; 18,600 cfs 11:45 a.m. June 2 {gage height, 12.59 ft). 

---1932 to April 1951: Discharge, 225,000 cfs June 2, 1935 {gage height, 19.4 ft), by 

slope-area method. 

Remarks.- Some regulation at low flow by power plant 8 miles above. Many diversions 

above station for irrigation. 

Mean discharge . in second-feet . 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 1,080 1,480 3,210 11 457 5,600 16,300 21 3,150 4,460 5,760 

2 1,310 13,300 2,940 12 420 3,770 14,600 22 12,000 5,900 5,460 

3 820 4,330 2,570 13 396 4,150 11,400 23 7,370 5,300 4,560 4 670 2,020 2,440 14 432 4,750 6,180 24 3,840 4,970 2,640 

5 576 1,570 2,350 15 478 4,170 7,880 25 2,970 6,640 3,100 

6 541 1,940 2,110 16 499 3,210 6,810 26 2,810 6,000 3,210 

7 506 12,300 2,070 17 2,260 2,730 5,120 27 2,910 6,36.0 3,770 

8 464 4,200 1,880 18 4,090 2,460 5,140 28 2,000 4,~2() 3,390 

9 414 2,300 1,780 19 2,760 2,270 4,080 29 2,070 3,580 1,660 

10 464 6,220 6,240 20 2,110 3,050 6,010 30 1,560 3,180 2,020 31 1,310 1,990 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet ........•..•........•...•...•. 2,024 4,548 4,796 

Runoff, in acre-feet .........•....•.••• , .••.•....•.•..••.•.•..•••••• 124,400 270,600 294,900 

Rtmoff, in inches-. .•.•••...••..•..•••.......•.................•..••. 0.10 0.23 0.25 

Republican River at Scandia, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°48 1 , long. 97°47', in NEi sec. 17, T. 3 S., R. 4 W., at bridge on U. S. Highway 36 at Scandia, 4 miles downstream from Dry Creek, and 4 miles upstream 

from School Creek. Datum of ga~e is 1,422.91 ft above mean sea level (1929 general adjustment, levels by Corps of Engineers). 

Draina~e area.- 22,930 square miles, of which 5,700 square miles is largely non-contribut ng. 

Gage-height record.- Graph drawn on basis of wire-weight gage readin~s made once daily 

at low stages, more frequently at high stages. Dischar~e record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

2'7,0 0 cfs and extended to peak stage on basis of shape of previous rating curve. Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 38,200 cfs 8 a.m. July ll (gage height, 11.60 ft). 1919-2~ 1928-44, November 1950 to April 1951: Discharge, 215,000 cfs June 2, 1935 

(gage height, 17.8 ft, from floodmarks). 

Stage known prior to flood of June 2, 1935, 14.2 ft June 20, 1915. 

Remarks.- Gage-height record collected in cooperation with U. S. Weather Mureau. 

Mean discharge . in second-feet ., 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 2,100 2,110 3,300 11 599 6,920 28,600 21 3,600 5,800 6,760 

2 1,910 17,700 3,160 12 564 4,560 25,000 22 11,600 7,120 6,000 

3 1,250 7,980 2,700 13 501 4,100 25,900 23 9,120 8,180 4,640 

4 886 4,420 2,400 14 494 6,200 11,900 24 5,500 5,340 3,250 

5 795 2,520 2,260 15 550 3,750 10,500 25 4,230 8,020 3,090 

6 711 3,080 1,970 16 585 3,780 8,850 26 3,970 6,440 3,160 

7 683 16,800 1,800 17 648 2,870 6,680 27 3,280 7,480 3,270 

8 648 10,400 1,630 18 3,720 2,500 6,040 28 3,970 5,180 4,700 

9 641 7,040 1,470 19 3,270 2,380 5,360 29 2,840 4,180 3,460 

10 536 6,520 2,390 20 2,400 2,340 6,700 30 2,700 3,460 2,710 

31 2,350 3,140 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet ...........•........•...•...•. 2,473 5,972 6,542 

Runoff, in ~ere-feet ..............•.•....••.•...••....••...•...••.•• 152,000 355,400 402,200 

Rtmoff, in inches-. .....•...••.....•.....•...•...............•.•...•. 0.12 0.29 0.33 
19 

Republican River at Concordia, Kana. 

Location.- Lat 39°35 1 40", long. 97°38'55", in sec. 27, T. 5 S., R. 3 w., at bridge on 

U. S. Highway 81, half a mile north .qf Concordia and 7 miles downstream from Buffalo 

Creek. Datum of gage is 1,?.33.68 ft above mean sea level, adJustment of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 23,540 square miles, of which 5,700 square miles are largely noncontributing·. 

Gage-heignt record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods May 6, 8-12, 17, 18, 

2o, May 30 to June 1, June 5, 6, 17-20, June 30 to July 10, July 25-31, for which 

a graph was drawn based on once-daily. wire-weight ga~e readings. No gage-height 

record May 29. 

Dischar~e record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. 

Shif ing-control method used June 29 to July 31. Discharge for day of no gage-height 

record computed on basis of records for station at Clay Center. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 33,600 cfs 2 p.m. July 13 (gage height, 11.23 ft). 

1946 to April 1951: Discharge, 75,000 cfs June 25, 1947 (ga~e height, 14.90 ft). 

Mean di sc h arge in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 1,580 2,800 3,410 11 735 8,940 19,300 21 3,920 10,000 6,250 2 2,300 10,500 3,350 12 772 5,960 24,200 22 9,810 13,200 6,5::0 3 1,980 8,090 3,280 13 682 4,220 30,400 23 12,800 16,400 6,140 4 1,370 5,780 3,020 14 668 6,290 19,200 24 6,620 9,980 4,620 5 l,llO 3,350 2,690 15 712 4,800 ll,600 25 4,740 9,080 4,010 

6 966 2,840 2,440 16 772 4,400 10,400 26 4,140 7,420 3,590 7 914 10,800 2,220 17 840 3,720 7,050 27 3,740 8,120 3,590 8 872 12,000 1,920 18 2,990 2,620 6,220 28 3,820 6,980 3,950 

9 840 10,000 1,790 19 4,440 2,460 5,640 29 2,900 5,560 4,120 10 795 6,600 1,930 20 3,320 3,460 4,880 30 2,860 4,200 3,170. 31 2,660 3,200 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .....•.....•............•...•. 2,796 7,019 6,906 

Runoff, in acre-feet ..............•.•....••.•....•....••.•.•....•..• ~71,900 417,700 424,?00 

Runaff, in inches. .•.•.....••.••..•••.......•.................•... • . 0.14 0.33 0.34 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

1-c Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis-

::s height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

::r:: July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 3.74 1,760 5.85 4,500 9.65 17,900 10.67 28,000 

4 3.74 1,760 8.50 11,100 9.75 18,800 10.77 29,000 

6 3.92 1,970 3.78 1,800 3.73 1,750 9.65 17,900 9.97 21,000 10.87 30,000 

8 3.73 1,750 10.25 23,800 10.20 23,300 10.98 31,100 

10 3.73 1,750 10.52 26,500 10.70 28,300 11.07 32,000 

N 3.87 1,910 3.76 1,780 3.73 1,750 10.47 26,000 10.90 30,300 11.20 33,300 

2 3.73 1,750 10.33 24,600 10.72 28,500 11.23 33,600 

4 3.73 1,750 10.27 24,000 10.46 25,900 11.15 32,800 

6 3.83 1,860 3.75 1,770 3.80 1,830 10.16 22,900 10.34 24,700 10.97 31,000 

8 4.00 ·2,080 10.00 21,300 10.31 24,400 10.80 29,300 

10 4.40 2,600 9.75 18,800 10.42 25,500 10.70 28,300 

12 3.80 1,830 3.74 1,760 5.10 3,500 9.65 17,900 10.55 26,800 10.55 26,800 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July17 July 13 July 19 

2 10.3E 24,800 9.28 15,200 8.75 12,200 7.40 7,850 6.50 6,200 6.30 5,900 

4 10.25 23,800 9.15 14,400 8.85 12;800 7.27 7,610 6.53 6,260 6.30 5,900 

6 10.12 22,500 8.93 13,200 8.85 12,800 7.20 7,420 6.58 6,380 6.30 5,900 

8 9.95 20,800 8.71 12,000 8.74 12,200 7.13 7,380 6.62 6,480 6-.30 5,900 

10 9.80 19' 300 8.44 10,900 8.56 ll,300 7.06 7,200 6.61 6,450 6.27 5,840 

N 9.68 18,100 8.25 10,100 8.36 10,50P 6.95 7,050 6.56 6,320 6.21 5,820 

2 9.55 17,100 8.12 9,780 8.12 9,780 6.87 6,850 6.49 6,180 6.10 5,700 

4 9.42 16,100 8.06 9,540 7.89 9,120 6.80 6,800 6.43 6,160 5.07 5,540 

6 9.40 16,000 8.10 9, 700 7.73 8,560 6.72 6,600 6.41 6,120 5.84 5,380 

8 9.35 Hi,600 8.23 10,000 7.68 8,300 6.65 6,.420 6.38 6,060 5.72 5,240 

10 9.35 15,600 8.40 10,700 7.53 8,090 6.57 6,350 6.34 5,980 5.58 5,060 

12 9.33 15,500 8.58 ll,400 7.43 7,940 6.54 6,280 6.32 5,940 5.47 4,940 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 5.40 4,900 6.63 6,420 5.98 5,560 6.40 6,100 5.82 5,340 

4 5.36 4,820 6.77 6,720 6.01 5,620 6.40 6,100 5.67 5,240 4.59 3,780 

6 5.32 4,7-10 6.80 6,800 6.16 5,820 6.47 6,180 5.51 5,020 

8 5.30 4,700 6.78 6,750 6.57 6,350 6.52 6,240 5.41 4,920 4.50 3,650 

10 5.30 4,700 6.73 6.620 6.91 6,950 6.53 6,260 5.30 4,700 

N 5.29 4,680 6.63 6,380 7.13 7,380 6.56 6,320 5.19 4,580 4.97 4,240 

2 5.29 4,680 6.50 6,200 7.18 7,500 6.55 6,300 5.08 4,460 

4 5.30 4,700 6.38 6,060 7.15 7,420 6.52 6,240 4.98 4,260 4.94 4,180 

6 5.34 4,780 6.24 5,880 7.00 7,050 6.45 6,160 4.88 4,160 

8 5.46 4,920 6.12 5,740 6.77 6,720 6.34 5,980 4.81 4,040 4.93 4,160 

10 5.87 5,440 6.02 5,640 6.61 6,450 6.18 5,860 4.74 3,940 

12 6.37 6,040 5.97 5,540 6.47 6,240 5.99 5,580 4.69 3,900 4.93 4,160 

Supplemental records.- July 11, 3 p.m., 10.38 ft, 25,100 cfs; July 11, 5 p.m., 10.10 ft, 

22,300 cfs; July 13, 1 a.m., 10.52 ft, 26,500 cfs; July 18, 3 a.m., 6.49 ft, 6,180 cfs. 
20 

Republican River at Clay Center, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°21', long. 97°08 1 , in SWi sec. 17, T. 8 S., R. 3 E., at bridge on 

State Hi5hway 15, l mile south of Clay Center, and 4 miles downstream from Five 

Creeks. Datum of gage is 1,159.32 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 24,570 square miles, of which 1,900 square miles are largely noncontributing. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods June 19 to 12m. June 

20, July 2 to 2 a.m. July 10, July 22 to July 31, for which graph was drawn based on 

daily wire-weight gage readings. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge,51,500 cfs 6 p.m. July 12 (gage height, 22.20 ft). 

---1917 to April 1951: MaximUm stage, 25.74 ft June 3, 1935, from floodmarks. 

Mean discharge . in second-feet . 1951 

Pay May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 5,460 2,860 5,480 11 1,070 8,360 37,800 21 4,140 18,200 6,500 

2 4,170 5,220 4,570 12 1,000 9,600 46,000 22 4,770 30,400 9,220 

3 2,880 15,400 4,060 13 1,000 6,620 44,500 23 12,300 28,800 9,820 

4 2,390 9,060 3,620 14 949 8,020 36,300 24 9,780 19,200 7,760 

5 1,850 6,180 3,290 15 935 9,700 27,400 25 6,780 11,100 6,840 

6 1,530 4,740 3,120 16 1,080 6,030 15,200 26 5,370 11·,500 6,280 

7 1,370 9,060 4,600 17 1,120 5,230 12,000 27 4,380 11,100 4,~10 

8 1,260 19,300 2,380 18 1,7>10 3,770 10,200 28 3,860 14,000 3,970 

9 1,200 18,000 2,28C 19 2,490 3,220 10,300 29 3,970 11,400 3,800 

10 1,130 10,300 17,200 20 4,670 3,430 7,470 30 3,070 8,230 4,380 

31 3,190 3,430 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet •....•.....•..•.....•...•...•. 3,241 10,930 11,760 

Runoff, in acre-feet ..................•..••.•....•....••...•....•.•• 199,300 650,300 723,300 

Runoff, in inches. .•.•.•.••••.••.••.•...••..•....•..••......•.•..••. 0.15 0.50 0.55 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

~ Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- I 0 height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 

ti: July 3 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 11.42 4,140 19.93 30,500 21.17 40,500 22.01 49,100 

4 12.37 5,800 20.31 :'\3,200 21.22 41,000 21.93 48,200 

6 10.15 2,420 9.90 2,140 13.47 7,()60 20.50 34,700 21.17 40,500 21.82 47,000 

8 14.86 10,700 20.74 36,700 21.33 42,100 21.90 47,900 

10 16.55 14,700 21.07 39,600 21.50 43,800 21.81 46 ,\=lOO 

N 10.05 2,300 9.91 2,150 17.73 18,800 21.25 41,300 21.77 43,500 21.64 45,200 

2 18.55 22,700 21.18 40,600 21.97 48,700 21.51 43,900 

4 18.95 24,700 21.17 40,500 22.10 50,200 21. 31· 41,000 

6 9.98 2,230 10.01 2,260 10.15 25,800 21.12 40,100 22.20 51,500 21.18 40,600 

8 19.29 26,600 21.22 41,000 22.17 51,100 21.08 3S', 700 

10 19.58 28,300 21.14 40,300 22.13 50,600 20.98 38,800 

12 9.92 2,160 10.65 3,020 19.74 29,300 21.18 40,600 22.16 51,000 20.90 38,100 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 20.83 37,500 15.48 12,100 

4 20.78 37,000 20.18 32,300 17.25 16,800 14.38 9,780 15.40 11,900 

6 20.73 36,600 13.02 1:'\,300 u .. 29 11, 70C 

8 20.68 36,200 19.86 30,100 16 .·37 lE,OOO 14.28 9,580 15.10 11,200 

10 20.67 36,100 14.26 10,700 

N 20.68 36,200 19.46 27,600 15.41 14,;)00 15.37 11,800 14.32 9,660 14.62 10,300 

2 20.69 36,300 14.38 9,780 

4 20.73 36,600 18.98 24,900 16.36 14,200 14.60 10,200 ·14.18 9,380 

6 20.63 35,800 14.95 10,900 ,:P- 14.05 9,120 

8 20.62 35,700 18.48 22,300 16.41 14,300 15.08 11,200 13.94 8,900 

10 20.57 35,300 13.85 8,720 

12 20.56 35,200 17.94 19,700 16.34 14,100 14.58 10,200 15.40 11,900 13.78 8,580 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 12.62 6,280 

4 1::.:.58 6,200 13.78 8,580 14.84 lC,700 

6 13.56 8,140 12.56 6,130 13.48 7,980 12/'8 3,:'80 

8 12.54 3,130 13.85 8,720 14.78 10,600 

10 12.53 6,110 

N 13.21 7,440 12.53 6,110 13.74 8,500 14.44 9,900 13.36 7,740 12.90 3,820 

2 12.5~ 6,220 

4 12.27 5,'310 14.27 9,560 14.15 9,320 

6 12.90 6,820 13.07 7,160 13.23 7,480 12.83 3,680 

8 13 .. ~2 7,660 14.73 10,500 13.90 8,820 

10 1:".49 8,000 

12 12.66 6,350 13.62 8,260 H.82 10,700 13.74 8,500 13.10 7,2;;._0 12.78 6,580 

Supplemental record.- July 11, 3 p.m., 21.25 ft , 41,300 cfs, 5 p.m., 21.07 ft,39,600 

cfs; July 12, l a.m., 21.22 ft, 41,000 cfs, 9 p.m., 22.06 ft, 49,700 cfs. 
21 

Republican River at Milford, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°10' , long. 96°55', in SW-f sec. 19, T. 10 S., R. 5 E., at bridge on state highway 82 on southwest boundary of Milford city limit.:s, Geary county, Kansas. 

Drainage area.- 24,900 square miles, of which 5,700 square miles is largely non-contributing. 

Gage-hei@ht record.- Graph based on one or more daily wire-weight gage readings. Dischar~e record.- Stage-dischar~e relation defined by current-meter measurements below 39,0~ cfs and extended to peak stage on basis of velocity-area study. ~·-May-July 1951: Discharge, 62,900 cfs 12m. July 12 (gage height, 19.70 ft). 

Mean disc h arge, in second-feet, 19 51 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 4,700 2,790 9,740 11 1,250 7;200 45,000 21 4,660 22,000 6,620 

2 4,800 4,380 3,500 12 1,230 10,100 54,900 22 4,100 33,900 8,100 

3 2,660 14,600 3,080 13 1,190 6,680 46,300 23 9,300 31,200 8,190 

4 2,260 9,850 2,690 14 1;150 5,820 35,800 24 10,800 20,800 7,820 

5 2,050 5,920 2,360 15 1,120 11,200 30,500 25 6,680 11,600 5,840 

6 1,760 4,800 2,390 16 3,920 6,320 19,300 26 4,960 10,000 5,610 

r 1,590 9,960 2,280 17 3,130 4,700 14,100 27 4,120 11,300 4,320 

8 1,440 18,900 1,980 18 1,600 3,520 12,500 28 3,570 16,500 3,700 

9 1,390 18,000 3,330 19 3,550 3,090 12,200 29 3,040 12,900 3,640 

10 1,320 11,000 29',200 20 4,640 3,300 7,940 30 3,230 7,220 5,050 

31 2,750 4,350 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet •....•..•..•..•.....•...•...•. 3,354 11,320 12,980 

Runoff, in acre-feet ...............•..•..••.•...••.••.••••••..•••.•• 206,200 673,500 798,000 

RlDloff, in inches. .•••••••.••.••.••••.••••..•....••.••......•.•..••. 0.15 0.51 0.60 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

~ Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Disheight charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 

~ July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 6.80 1,870 12 •. 75 14,500 18.62 47,900 4 6.77 1,840 13.95 19,200 18.17 43,200 18.82 50,600 

6 6.75 1,830 14.93 23,600 19.07 54,100 18.70 48,900 

8 6.74 1,820 15.80 28,000 18.40 45,500 19.40 58,700 10 6.73 1,810 16.63 32,700 19.68 62,600 

N 6.92 1,970 6.74 1,820 16.75 33,400 18.51 46,600 19.70 62,900 18.55 47,100 2 6.95 2,000 16.60 32,500 19.55 60,800 

4 7.75 2,750 16.60 32,500 18.48 46,300 19.29 57,200 

6 8.62 3,910 16.80 33,700 19.03 53,500 18.25 44,000 

8 9.55 5,700 17.25 36,400 18.38 45,300 18.91 51,800 

10 10.55 8,180 17.63 38,700 18.84 50,900 

12 6.81 1,880 11.60 10,900 17.85 40,300 18.49 46,400 18.79 50,200 ·17.85 40,300 

July 14 July15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 10.50 11,100 

4 17.55 38,200 16.75 33,500 13.92 21,400 10.39 10,800 

6 11.95 15,400 10.30 10,500 11.21 13,200 

8 17.26 36,500 16.65 33,000 13.45 20,000 10.30 10,500 

10 10.50 11,100 

N 17.02 35,000 16.42 31,700 13.09 18,900 11.55 14,200 10.92 12,400 10.90 12,300 

2 11.32 13,600 

4 16.86 34,100 15.96 29,400 12.80 18,000 11.54 14,200 

6 11.10 12,900 11.60 14,400 10.52 11,200 

8 16.80 33,800 15.35 26,600 12.54 17,200 11.57 14,300 

10 11.53 14,200 

12 16.79 33,700 14.65 23,800 12.30 16,500 10.62 11,500 11.46 14,000 10.10 9,900 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 

4 8.53 5,980 8.65 6,280 

6 9.68 8,850 9.34 8,000 9.45 8,280 9.38 8,100 

8 8.48 5,850 8.42 5,700 

10 

N 9.28 7,850 8.53 5,980 9.43 8,220 9.41 8,180 9.35 8,020 8.35 5,550 

2 

4 8.66 6,300 8.36 5,570 

6 8.92 6,950 9.48 8,350 9.37 9,080 9.20 7,650 

8 8.87 8,820 8.39 5,630 

10 

12 8.65 6,280 9.08 7,350 9.48 8,350 9.39 8,120 8.90 6,900 8.42 5,700 
22 K~nsas River .at O~den, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°07 1 , long. 96042', in SWt sec. 12, T. 11 s., R. 6 E., three-quarters 

of a mile south of O~den and 10 miles downstream from confluence of Smoky Hill and 

Republican Rivers. Datum of gage is 1,020.83 ft above mean sea level (levels by 

Corps of Engineers·). 

Drainage area.- 45,240 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for p~riods May 1-5, 7-9, 11, 12, 

14, 16-19, 21, July 18-25, 28-31, for which graph was drawn based on once or twicedaily wire-weight gage readings, and May 6, 10, 13, 15, 20, 10 a.m. July 13 to July 

17, July 26, 27, when there was no gage-height record. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

60,000 cfs and by slope-area measurement of peak discharge. Discharge for periods 

of no gage-height record cor.puted on basis of records for s.tation at Wamego and Big 

Blue River near Manhattan, supplemented for period 10 a.m. July 13 to July 17 by 

recession study and observed secondary peak stage on July 15. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 314,000 cfs 10 p.m. July 12 (gage height, 30.53 ft). 

1917 to April 1951: Discharge, 170,000 cfs June 3, 1935 (gage hei~ht, 28.03 ft), 

from rating curve extended above 30,000 cfs on basis of velocity-area studies. 

Flood in May 1903 reached a stage of about 28.5 ft, from information by Corps of 

Engineers. 

Mean discharge, in secon d f - eet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 21,400 16,100 58,300 11 6,260 30,800 153,000 21 1:3,500 27,100 38,400 

2 16,800 11,600 44,200 12 6,410 30,800 257,000 22 14,200 45,200 37,800 

3 11,900 15,900 36,700 13 5,200 29,600 278,000 23 16,200 62,300 36,200 

4 9,380 20,200 33,100 14 4,480 27,800 186,000 24 23,800 76,500 31,800 

5 7,430 16,800 31,200 15 4,000 3:'i,200 186,000 25 20,000 56,000 23,800 

6 6,200 16,400 29,400 16 9,950 33,500 103,000 26 19,000 44,200 22,000 

7' 5,240 31,600 27,000 17 12,900 32,900 72,000 27 16,700 45,100 21,500 

8 4,540 37,800 23,100 18 13,400 30,200 54,000 28 16,000 54,500 19,200 

9 4,140 43,900 10,500 19 20,500 25,600 45,400 29 16,800 94,600 19,400 

10 5,100 37,100 61,700 20 18,000 21,200 40,500 30 18,000 78,200 17,800 

31 17,700 1'7,000 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet ........•..•........•...•...•. 12,520 37,560 65,450 

Runoff, in thousands of acre-feet •••..••.•....•.••.••••••..•.•..• '769.8 2,235 4,024 

Runoff, in inches. .•.•••...••..•..•••.......•.......•.........•..••. 0.32 0.93 1.67 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

s:.. Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis-

= height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

::t: July 8 July 9 July10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 13 .. 95 21,000 21.75 83,200 27.29 199,000 30.38 308,000 

4 13.84 20,600 15.64 28,200 22.03 87,400 27.51 206,000 20.41 309,000 

6 17.24 36,900 22.59 95,800 27.82 215,000 30.43 310,000 

8 13.68 19,900 18.45 44,600 24.55 134,000 28.20 226,000 30.43 310,000 

10 19.54 54,400 25.71 158,000 28.75 246,000 30.3'7 307,000 

N 14.48 23,100 13.50 19,200 21.05 72,800 26.18 170,000 29.23 263,000 300,000 

2 21.89 85,400 26.5'1. 179,000 29.51 273,000 278,000 

4 13.39 18,800 22.22 90,300 27.02 191,000 29.59 276,000 262,000 

6 22.14 89,100 27.32 200,000 30.26 303,000 245,000 

8 13.30 18,400 21.88 85,200 27.40 202,000 30.49 312,000 230,000 

10 21.71 82,600 27.35 201,000 30.53 314,000 217,000 

12 14.00 21,200 13.33 18,600 21.65 81,800 27.27 109,000 30.50 312,000 205,000 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 Julyl8 July 19 

2 

4 186,000 228,000 125,000 80,000 

6 19.50 57,000 17.13 46,800 

8 173,000 205,000 115,000 75,000 

10 

N 170,000 184,000 l07,opo 72,000 18.78 53,600 16.77 45,300 

2 

4 176,000 165,000 99,000 67,500 

6 18.05 50,500 13.44 43,900 

8 197,000 150,000 92,000 64,000 

10 

12 228,000 137,000 86,000 20.14 61,000 17.55 48,500 16.14 42,600 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 

4 

6 15.82 41,;::;00 15.25 38,600 15.08 37,900 14.88 36,900 14.16 33,300 12.98 26,400 

8 

10 

N 15.60 40,200 2 

15.17 38,300 15.08 37,900 14.78 36,400 13.91 32,000 12.57 :.03,900 

4 

6 15.50 39,800 15.10 

8 

38,000 15.02 37,600 14.60 35,500 13.65 30,400 12.15 21,600 

10 

12 15.38 :,z,g ,200 15.09 37,900 14.97 . 37,400 14.40 34,500 13.34 28,500 11.44 17,800 

Supplemental records.- July 15, 2 a.m., 230,000 cfs. 
23 

Kansas River at Wamego, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°12 1 , long. 96°18', in SEt sec. 9, T. 10 ~., R. 10 E., at Wamego, 3 

miles downstream from Antelope Creek. Datum of gage is 953.51 ft above mean sea level, 

datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 55,240 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph eycept for period May 4, 7-10, May 12 

to 3 p.m. May 16, for which a Fraph was drawn based on daily wire-weight gage readings. 

Dischar6e record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

170, 00 cfs and by slope-area and contracted-opening measurements of peak discharge. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 340,000 cfs 5:30 a.m. July 13 (gage height, 27.56 ft). 

1919 to April 1951: Discharge, 177,000 cfs June 4, 1935 (gage height, 23.79 ft, 

from graph based on gage readings). 

Flood in May 1903 reached a stage of 26.3 ft, determined by U. S. Weather bureau 

from floodmarks. 

Mean discharge I I in second-feet 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 42,300 17,600 104,000 11 9,550 45,100 147,000 21 20,100 43,600 55,700 

2 52,900 13,600 67,100 12 7,610 39,100 265,000 22 17,600 94,900 46,100 

3 48,300 20,000 51,200 13 7,100 41,700 329,000 23 17,000 119,000 51,500 

4 20,600 44,400 43,300 14 6,230 36,700 251,000 24 25,300 115,000 44,100 

5 11,600 43,300 41,100 15 5,480 46 '700 214,000 25 22,800 105,000 32,200 

6 8,930 45,300 42,400 16 7,320 61,900 155,000 26 21,000 79,500 26,400 

7• 7,450 56,200 44,800 17 15,100 68,700 109,000 27 18,900 87,900 26,700 

8 6,270 71,300 44,800 18 19,100 51,600 91,000 28 17,100 107,000 22,100 

9 6;230 81,800 37,900 19 25,400 36,400 80,200 29 16,500 132,000 21,200 

10 7,280 65,900 66,·200 20 24,200 32,400 72,000 30 17,500 135,000 21,500 

31 18,300 23,500 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .....•.....•........•...•...•. 17,780 64,620 84,740 

Runoff, in thousands of acre-feet', ••..••.•.........•..•....•.•..• 1,093 3,845 5,211 

Rl.Uloff, in inches. ....••...••.••..•••..••...•.................•..••. 0.37 1.31 1.77 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

$.< Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis-

::s height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

::t: July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 12.03 35,200 21.64 121,000 25.12 215,000 

4. 13.35 43,100 13.03 41,200 21.98 127,000 25.41 226,000 27.55 339,000 

6 13.88 46,300 2:::;.20 131,000 25.63 236,000 

8 13.09 41,500 14.46 49,800 22.37 1:'>4,000 25.82 245,000 27.52 337,000 

10 15.23 54,400 22.53 138,000 26.10 258,000 

N 13.65 44,900 12.63 38,800 16.23 60,600 22.65 141,000 26.24 266,000 27.47 334,000 

2 17.18 67,900 22.80 144,000 26.39 273,000 

4 12.03 35,200 18.12 76,200 23.02 150,000 26.60 284,000 27.42 331,000 

6 19.12 86,900 23.40 160,000 26.82 296,000 

8 11.45 31,700 20.00 97,500 23.84 172,000 27.03 308,000 27.20 318,000 

10 20.66 106,000 24.31 186,000 27.15 315,000 

12 13.51 44,100 11.22 30,300 21.20 114,000 24.70 199,000 27.30 324,000 26.94 303,000 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 

4 26.58 283,000 25.37 225,000 17.96 81,700 

6 23.85 172,000 21.21 114,000 

8 26.17 262,000 25.38 225,000 1}.65 79,600 

10 

N 25.80 244,000 25.25 220,000 23.16 154,000 20.62 107,000 19.07 90,600 17.45 78,200 

2 

4 25.52 231,000 25.00 210,000 17.58 79,100 

6 22.46 136,000 20.14 102,000 

8 25.30 222,000 24.72 200,000 17.75 80,200 

10 

12 25.26 220,000 24.40 189,000 21.82 124,000 19.90 98,900 18.24 83,900 17.82 80,700 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 

4 17.63 79,400 14.70 59,000 12.96 48,300 12.89 47,900 

6 12.92 48,000 10.50 34,400 

8 17.15 76,000 14.35 56,800 12.69 46,700 13.45 51,200 

10 

N 16.63 72, t.oo 14.14 55,400 12.44 45,300 13.82 53,400 12.22 44,000 10.10 3:2,300 

2 

4 16.0G 68,400 14.02 54,600 12.31 44,500 13.92 54,000 

6 11.50 3P ,900 9.62 29,900 

8 15.56 64,9CO 10.65 52,400 12.30 44,400 13.86 53,700 

10 

12 lf, 10 61,700 13.26 50,100 12.42 45,100 13.56 51,900 10.94 c6,800 9.12 27,400 

~p1emental record.- July 13, 5:30a.m., 27.56 ft, 340,000 cfs; July 23, 6 p.m., 13.94 

ft, 54,100 cfs. 
24 

Kansas River at Topeka, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°04 1 , long. 95°40', in SEi sec. 30, R. 16 E., T. 11 s. at Topeka Avenue 

bridge in Topeka, 2 miles upstream from Soldier Creek. Datum of gage is 854.08 ft 

above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 56,710 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods May 6 to 1 p.m. May 

18, May 28 to June 3, for which a graph was drawn based on once-daily wire-weight 

gage readings. 

Discharfe record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. 

Shlf lng-control method used May 6 to June 4, 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. July 12. Shiftingcontrol corrections July 12 based on record of levee breaks. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 478,000 cfs 6:30a.m. July 13 (gage height, 36.34 ft). 

-----1917 to April 1951: Maximum discharge, 154,000 cfs June 5, 1935 (gage height, 

26.65 ft, site and datum then in use). 

Flood of May 30, 1903 reached·a stage of 32.7 ft, from floodmarks, referred to 

U. s. Weather Bureau gage and datum 0.5 mile downstream. Floon in spring of 1844 is 

believed to have been.higher, according to data of Corps of Engineers. 

Remarks.- Dikes at Topeka first broke at 1:05 a.m. July 12, 1951, followed by general 

failure of dikes at 3 a.m. From time of failure through July 20, when Kansas River 

returned within banks at 21-ft stage, discharges below include flow of Soldier Creek. 

Mean discharge in secon d -feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 50,100 22,700 118,000 11 11,600 51,100 136,000 21 26,80( . 46,000 60,00( 

2 70,700 20,000 79,400 12 12,300 40,400 338,000 22 23,700 97,200 50,20( 

3 52,100 16,800 59,900 13 9,410 41,300 471,000 23 21,400 un,ooo 48,900 

4 36,000 35,900 49,700 14 9,080 39;200 414,000 24 24,200 116,,000 49 ,SOC 

5 18,800 42,800 53,200 15 7,760 4.6,800 321,000 25 30,200 105,000 38,60( 

6 14,000 42,600 59,500 16 7,460 58,600 269 ,ooo 26 24,600 106,000 30 ,_100 

7 11,000 51,100 56,400 17 15,500 60,700 178,000 27 23,700 98~800 30,100 

8 9,250 63,400 47,900 18 22,300 58,600 114,000 28 21,800 96,900 25,800 

9 8,450 70,800 44,500 19 30,600 42,400 86,000 29 19,800 116,000 22,700 

10 13,100 69,300 60,300 20 35,300 34,500 76,400 30 20,600 134,000 21,700 

31 22,600 23,300 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .....•..•..•..•.....•...•...•. 22,720 64,860 110,800 

Runoff, in th.ousands of acre-feetj •••..••.•....•....••.•••..•••... 1,397 3,860 6,810 

Runoff, 10 m~nes. ................................................. , •. 0.4€ 1.28 2.25 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

J-4 Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- :3 height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

II: July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 15.91 40,500 25.97 106,000 31.04 179,000 36.23 473,000 

4 17.18 46,200 15.94 40,600 26.85 114,000 31.40 235,000 36.29 476,000 

6 16.35 42,500 27.90 126,000 31.71 248,000 36.33 478,000 

8 17.08 45,800 17.27 46,600 28.79 136,000 32.49 280,000 36.32 477,000 

10 18.40 51,900 29~29 142,000 33.30 320,000 36.28 476,000 

N 17.55 47,900 16.95 45,200 19.53 57,200 29.14 141,000 33.93 354,000 36.28 476,000 

2 20.60 62,400 29.13 14:1,000 34.46 386,000 36.19 472,000 

4 16.70 44,000 21.58 67,300 29.44 144,000 34.85 408,000 36.22 473,000 

6 22.57 74,100 29.93 150,000 35.17 425,000 36.12 468,000 

8 16.33 42,400 23.50 82,500 30.16 153,000 35.55 443,000 36.04 465,000 

10 24.27 89,400 30.32 155,000 35.85 456,000 35.90 458,000 

12 17.25 46,600 15.94 40,600 25.00 96,000 30.36 156,000 36.08 467,000 35.77 453,000 

July14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 35.70 450,000 

4 35.58 444,000 33.60 336,000 32.90 298,000 30.45 207,000 26.75 127,000 23.81 92,300 

6 35.45 438,000 

8 35.36 434,000 33.30 320,000 32.60 285,000 29.89 191,000 26.27 120,000 23.42 88,900 

10 35.25 429,000 

N 3·5~ 12 422,000 33.20 314,000 32.31 272,000 29.27 176,000 25.74 113,000 22.96 85,200 

2 34.92 412,000 

4 34.75 403,000 33.18 313,000 31.90 254,000 28.71 163,000 25.20 106,000 .22.80 82,300 

6 34.52 389 ,ooo 

8 34.34 378,000 33.16 312,000 31.44 238,000 28.03 149,000 24.75 101,000 22.27 79,700 

10 34.14 366,000 

12 33.91 353,000 33.10 308,000 30.95 222,000 27.35 137,000 24.28 96,500 22.20 79,100 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 18.00 53,300 

4 22.24 79,400 18.10 53,800 16.58 46,500 17.98 53,200 

6 19.84 62,700 17.90 52,800 15.42 40,900 

8 22.30 79,900 17.62 51,500 16.65 46,800 17.77 52,200 

10 17.59 51,300 

N 22.14 78,600 19.16 59,100 17.24 49,700 16.89 48,000 17.40 50,400 14.88 38,300 2 17.20 49,500 

4 2l.f77 75,700 16.99 48,500 17.38 50,300 16.97 48,400 

6 18.69 56,800 16.72 47,200 14.43 36,200 

8 21.24 71,700 16.72 47,200 17.77 52,200 16.48 46,000 

10 16.22 44,800 

12 20.63 67,400 18.35 55,000 16.59 46,500 17.98 53,200 15.99 43,700 14.00 34,100 

Supplemental records.- July 12, 1 a.m., 30.72 ft, 160,000 cfs, 3 a.m., 31.31 ft, 230,000 

cfs, 5 a.m., 31.50 ~. 240,000 cfs; July 13, 6:30a.m., 36.34 ft, 478,000 cfs. 
25 

Kansas River at Lecompton, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°03 1 , long. 95°24 1 , in NEt sec. 34, T. 11 s., R. 18 E., at Lecompton, 

half a mile downstream from Delaware River. Datum of gage is 821.26 ft above mean 

sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 58,420 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Graph drawn on basis of one to eight daily readin:s of gage, with 

the more frequent readings at high stages. Wire-weight gage used except for periods 

June 23 to 12m. June 24, July 13 to 8 a.m., July 17, when an improvised staff gage 

was used. 

Dischar~e record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

12o, 00 cfs and by slope-area measurement of peak discharge. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 483,000 cfs 4 p.m. July 13 (gage height, 30.23 ft). 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 65,200 22,300 178,000 11 14,500 55,000 188,000 21 29,100 50,800 58,800 

2 106,000 20,800 109,000 12 14,400 41,800 320,000 22 25,800 150,000 48,300 

3 63,700 17,300 64,200 13 11,100 41,900 476,000 23 22,500 213,000 44,300 

4 45,600 28,200 52,700 14 10,100 39,800 413,000 24 22,200 194,000 47,800 

5 22,900 43,300 57,400 15 8,820 49,600 333,000 25 26,200 146,000 37,200 

6 16,700 42,700 81,400 16 8,140 66,300 293,000 26 26,000 167,000 29,900 

7 13,500 51,000 78,600 17 12,600 64,300 214,000 27 24,300 166,000 28,800 

8 11,300 69,200 56,800 18 21,600 63,600 144,000 28 22,100 145,000 26,400 

9 10,400 82,400 45,300 19 33,000 44,300 103,000 29 20,900 170,000 23,100 

10 14,700 82,400 52,500 20 44,200 36,000 77,900 30 20,700 189,000 22,300 

31 21,900 22,600 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet •...••..•. , •..•.....•...•...•. 26,130 85,100 120,200 

Runoff, in thousands of acre -feet •••..••.•...••.••.••••••..•••. • • 1,607 5,064 7,393 

Runoff, in inches. .•.•••••.••.••..•••..•••..•....•..........•.•• ~ ••. 0.52 1.63 2.37 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated til'ne, 1951 

$..! Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis-

::I height charge height charge height charge height charge he1gJ\t charge height charge 0 

::.::: July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 19.48 98,700 25.36 249 ,ooo 

4 13.45 43,500 20.50 116,000 25.40 251,000 30.08 474,000 

6 13.98 46,700 21.46 136,000 25.48 254,000 

8 13.59 44,300 22.41 159,000 25.62 260,000 30.14 478,000 

10 23.39 187,000 25.88 270,000 

N 15.42 56,100 13.66 44,800 14.00 46,800 24.28 213,000 26.74 307,000 30.21 482,000 

2 24.67 225,000 27.20 330,000 

4 14.82 52,000 24.~0 232,000 27.60 350,000 30.23 483,000 

6 13.47 43,600 25.04 237,000 27.82 361,000 

8 16.49 63,900 25.14 241,000 28.45 392,000 30.10 476,000 

10 25.22 244,000 29.70 455,000 

12 14.38 49,200 13.42 43,300 18.48 85,800 25.30 247,000 20 •. 92 466,000 29.86 463,000 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 29.68 454,000 27.57 348,000 26.85 312,000 22.54 163,000 

4 29.53 446,000 27.46 343,000 26.83 312,000 25.10 239,000 22.30 156,000 

6 29.40 440,000 27.40 340,000 26 ,'=\0 310,000 22.08 150,000 20.46 115,000 

8 29 .:"5 438,000 27.43 342,000 26.76 308 ,coo 24.83 230,000 21.03 146,000 

10 29.08 424,000 27. 4•3 343,000 26.68 304,000 21.90 146,000 

N 28.92 416,000 27.28 334,000 26.61 300.000 24.45 218,000 21.84 144,000 19.80 103,000 

2 28.66 403,000 27.16 32·S ,000 26.48 294,000 21.67 140,000 

4 28.54 397,000 27.10 325,000 26.34 289,000 23.98 204,000 21.58 13fC,,OOO 

6 28.40 390,000 27.05 322,000 26.18 282,000 21.50 136,000 18.98 91,800 

8 28.08 374,000 26.98 310,000 25.85 269,000 23.38 186,000 21.38 134,000 

10 27.88 364,000 26.92 316,000 25.56 257,000 U.22 130,000 

12 27.70 355,000 26.88 314,000 25.37 250,000 22.80 170,000 21.04 126,00C 18.12 81,400 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 18.00 80,000 17.03 69,300 13.28 42,500 14.58 50,500 

4 17.98 79,800 16.78 66,800 14.95 52,900 1:".27 42,400 14.62 50,800 

6 17.99 79,900 16.46 63,600 13.29 42,500 14. 5') 50,600 

8 17.99 79,900 15.94 59,600 14.47 49,800 l:'\.33 42,800 14.44 49,600 

10 17.96 7'?-,600 15.40 55,900 13.37 43,000 14.3<_o 4\? .~oo 

N 17.88 78,700 15.14 54,~00 14.16 47,800 13.43 43,4 0 14.28 48,600 12.25 36,600 

2 17.82 78,000 15.12 5c1 ,000 13.52 43,900 14.16 47,800 

4 17.77 '17 ,500 15.12. 54,400 1:'\. 89 4·3' 100 13.60 44,400 14.00 4·3 ,2.00 

6 17.70 76,700 15.24 54,800 1:"..74 45,200 13.82 45,700 

8 17.56 75,200 15.23 55,100 13.62 Ll4,500 13.0(1 46,700 13.62 .14,500 

10 17.40 7:"·,400 15.:27 55,,)00 14.21 48,100 13.44 43,400 

12 17.22 71,400 15.22 54,700 1:".06 43,000 14.49 49,900 13.28 42,500 11.58 33,000 
26 

Kansas River at Bonner Springs, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°03 1 , long. 94°52 1 , NEt sec. 32, T. ll s., R. 23 E., at Bonner Springs, 

half a mile downstream from Wolf Creek. Datum of gage is 747.01 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 59,890 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods May 6-18, 23, 24, May 

27 to June 4, 7 a.m. July 13 to 5 p.m. July 17, for which a graph was drawn based on a floodmark, generally twice-daily wire-weight gage readings, and frequent staff-gage readings July 13, 14. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

230, 00 cfs and by slope-area measurement of peak discharge. Shifting-control method 

used May 1-5, 19-28. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 510,000 cfs 12 p.m. July 13 (gage height, 38.58 ft). 

1917 to April 1951: Discharge, 147,000 cfs June 18, 1943 (gage height, 25.23 ft). 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 43,200 ~~.uuu 169 ,ooo 11 21,400 63,900 132,000 21 34,000 37,700 72,900 

2 107,000 21,200 143,000 12 16,400 46,200 241,000 22 28,~00 82,700 55,600 

3 88,200 19,200 90,700 13 14,700 39,600 441,000 23 2~_..000 138,000 47,900 

4 55,500 19,600 69,300 14 12,300 41,100 486,000 24 32,600 171,000 52,200 

5 32,100 40,800 66,300 15 11,400 39,600 382,000 25 28,000 155,000 43,700 

6 21,200 41,600 95,200 16 10,200 64,800 299,000 26 29 ,ooo 140,000 34,300 

7 16,800 48,500 100,000 17 9,640 63,500 247,000 27 25,000 154,000 29,500 

8 14,200 65;8oQ 80,200 18 19,000 65,800 175,000 28 23,400 158,000 29,800 

9 13,400 75,300 58,500 19 26,900 52,900 126,000 29 21,600 151,000 25,000 

10 20,100 77,600 55,80C 20 48,200 40,700 92,000 30 20,200 162,000 22,900 

31 21,300 22,400 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .....•..•..•............•...•. 28,410 76,640 128,600 

Runoff, in thousands o!' acre-feet ••.....••......•.....•...•..•.•••• 1,747 4,560 7,905 

Runoff, in inches. ....••..•.••.••..•....•............•.........•...•. 0.55 1. 43 2.48 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

~ Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis0 height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 

ti: July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 

4 13.72 52,200 18.97 97,200 26.68 198,000 34.37 371,000 

6 18.30 90,500 

8 13.63 51,600 21.33 123,000 28.20 225,000 35.94 418,000 

10 

N 17.23 80,600 14.64 58,700 13.65 51,800 22.64 139,000 29.30 246,000 37.13 458,000 

2 

4 13.97 54,000 23.62 151,000 29.81 256,000 37.84 483,000 

6 15.99 69,400 

8 14.97 61,300 24.26 160,000 30.61 273,000 38.36 502,000 

10 

12 15.2 63,200 13.90 53,500 16.47 73,700 25.20 173,000 32.56 321,000 38.58 510,000 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 

4 38.53 508,000 

6 35.78 413,000 32.09 308,000 30.22 265,000 26.41 193,000 22.25 134,000 

8 38.37 502,000 

10 

N 38.08 492,000 34.76 382,000 31.67 

2 

298,000 29.37 247,000 25.26 174,000 21.57 126,000 

4 37.69 477,000 

6 33.60 349 ,ooo 31.27 288,000 28.47 230,000 24.08 157 ,OOO· 20.80 117 ,ooo 8 37.23 461,000 

10 

12 36.71 443,000 32.69 324,000 30.82 278,000 27.47 211,000 23.08 144,000 19.89 107,000 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 

4 

6 18.86 96,100 17.12 79,600 14.56 58,100 13.19 48,500 13.70 52,100 12.96 46,900 

8 

10 

N 18.24 89,900 16.33 72,500 14.20 55,600 13.00 47,200 13.97 54,000 12.42 43,200 

2 

4. 

6 17.86 86,200 15.60 66,300 13.83 53,000 12.99 47,100 13.88 53,400 11.93 40,200 

8 

10 

12 17.66 84,400 15.02 61,700 13.41 50,100 13.07 47.700 13.50 50,700 11.57 38,000 
27 

White Rock Creek at Lovewell, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°53 1 , long. 97°59 1 , in swt sec. 15, T. 2 s., R. 6 w., on county bridge 

half ~ mile northwest of Lovewell, Kans. 

Drainage area.- 358 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- ~raph drawn on basis of wire-weight gage readings made generally 

three times daily, more frequently during high stages. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

5,200 cfs and extended to peak stage on basis of logarithmic plotting and currentmeter measurements made in 1950 about 7 miles upstream at State Hi~hway 14 brid~e. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 26,600 cfs 7:30p.m. June 7 (gage height, 21.40 ft). 

1946 to April 1951: Discharge, 23,300 cfs July 10, 1950 (~age height, 21.62 ft, 

site and datum then in use). · 

Mean discharge in second-feet, 1951 

Day' May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 558 84 119 11 16 290 2,390 21 459 1,310 160 

2 312 1,540 108 12 16 261 5,630 22 468 1,860 223 

3 103 2,080 89 13 15 387 4,270 23 466 1,620 363 

4 47 723 72 14 16 413 1,500 24 198 724 455 

5 25 176 59 15 25 365 350 25 102 247 153 

6 20 168 57 16 20 190 252 26 54 204 106 

7· 18 10,200 53 17 53 122 198 27 27 177 130 

8 17 6,280 46 18 190 111 192 28 21 151 1,080 

9 17 1,380 34 19 162 88 200 29 70 129 358 

10 17 484 574 20 79 84 210 30 201 128 163 

31 192 87 

Monthly mean dis~harge, in second-feet .....•..•..•........•...•...•. 129 1,066 635 

Runoff, in acre-feet .......••....••••.•..••.•...••.•..••...•....•.•• 7,902 63,420 39,040 

Runoff, in inches. .•.••••••••.••..•••..••...•.......•.........•..••. 0.41 3.32 2.04 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

~ Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Disheight charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 

~ July 8 July 9 July10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 4.64 30 16.00 2,040 17.23 2,380 

4 4;64 30 16.59 2,170 17.29 2,410 

6 4.65 30 16.93 2,270 17.52 2,500 19.33 4,770 

8 4.77 42 17.18 2,360 18.18 2,950 

10 5.50 122 17.35 2,430 18.90 3,710 

N 4.81 46 4.69 33 6.80 266 17.52 2,500 19.35 4,840 18.84 3,630 

2 8.12 435 17.63 2,570 19.'72 6,750 

4 9.75 674 17.68 2,600 20.00 8,790 

6 11.75 1,040 17.68 2,600 20.12 9,820 18.51 3,260 

8 13.80 1,520 17.55 2,520 20.08 9,470 

10 14.65 1,730 17.40 2,450 20.00 8,790 

12 4.76 41 4.64 30 15.40 1,920 17.28 2,400 19.88 7,860 18.21 2,980 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 18.06 2,860 

4 17.80 2,670 

6 17.45 2,470 7.65 372 6.10 188 6.00 177 

8 16.50 2,140 

10 14.00 1,560 

N 12.10 1,110 7.38 337 6.66 250 6.13 191 6.13 191 6.19 198 

2 11.05 900 

4 10.25 754 

6 9.65 658 7.18 312 6.21 200 6.39 220 

8 9.80 590 

10 8.75 523 

12 8.35 467 6.98 288 6.37 218 6.25 204 6.05 182 6.50 232 

July_20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 6.83 270 10.00 714 

4 5.68 142 6.64 247 9.55 642 

6 6.46 228 6.50 232 9.06 569 6.02 179 

8 5.91 167 6.37 218 8.77 526 

10 6.33 213 8.69 515 

N 6.29 209 5.84 159 6.41 222 6.37 218 8.63 506 5.83 158 

2 6.90 278 8.30 460 

4 6.87 274 7.70 379 7.20 314 

6 6.17 196 8.50 488 6.84 271 5.63 136 

8 7.22 317 9.27 600 6.61 244 

10 9.90 698 6.46 228 

12 6.06 184 5.65 138 7.03 294 10.10 730 6.31 211 5.00 67 
28 

Smoky Hill River near Russell, Kana. 

Location.- Lat 38°47', long. 98°51', in NWi sec. 2, T. 15 s., R. 14 W., a quarter of a 

mile upstream from Landon Creek and 7.7 miles south of Russell. Datum of gage is 

1,689.74 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 6,965 square miles. 

Gage-hei~ht record.- Water-stage recorder g~aph, except for period 4 p.m. May 22 to 

7 a.m. May 23, for which graph was drawn based on gage readings around peak. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 39,500 cfs 6:30p.m. May 23(gage height, 23.26 ft). 

-----1939 to April 1951: Discharge,22,300 cfs June 18, 1942 (gage height, 18.70 ft). 

The flood of May 30,1938 reached a stage of 30.3 ft (discharge not determined) from 

information by nearby resident. 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 205 701 3,660 11 'dJ. 2,230 2,440 .21 971 1,540 1,360 

2 139 2,870 2,830 12 91 3,210 5,670 22 15,900 9,080 1,450 

3 111 41560 2,470 13 93 2,070 4,690 23 14,700 15,'700 3,040 

4 105 2,430 2,330 14 105 5,280 2,710 24 4,710 10,300 2,610 

5 101 1,280 2,240 15 744 6,430 2,090 25 2,520 6,900 1,740 

6 93 4,650 2,140 16 635 2,700 1,820 26 1,720 3,260 1,580 

7 88 10,800 2,070 17 435 1,520 1,680 27 1,240 2,490 1,590 

8 86 5,740 2~040 18 560 1,260 1,580 28 1,010 4,480 1,500 

9 88 3,330 1,940 19 635 1,1:30 1,500 29 881 8,110 1,440 

10 100 3,810 1,880 20 641 845 1,430 30 809 5,730 1,400 

31 743 1,730 

Monthly mean discharge, 1,624 4,415 2,215 in second-feet .....•..•..•..•.....••..•...•. 

Runoff, in acre-feet ...•...•••...••.•••.. · ••.•...••.••.••••••..•.•••• 99,870 262,700 136,200 

Runoff, in inches. .•••••...••.••..•••..•••..•...............•.•..••. 0.27 0.71 0.37 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

1-4 Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis-

::s height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

li: ,July 8 July 9 July10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 6.43 1,840 10.94 5,230 12.11 6,350 

4 6.93 2,080 6.68 1,960 6.57 1,900 6.44 :;!.,840 10.94 5,230 11.74 5,980 

6 6.45 1,840 10 .• 66 4,970 11.23 5,490 

8 6.9:3 2,080 6.66 1,950 6.56 1,900 6.47 1,&60:. .10.56 4,880 10.71 5,020 

10 6.50 1,870 10.90 5,190 10.27 4,630 

N 6.86 2,050 6.66 1,950 6.54 1,890 6.70 1,970 11.21 5,470 9.96 4,370 

2 7.08 2,160 11.54. 5,780 9.72 4,160 

4 6.77 2,000 6.63 1,940 6.43 1,840 7.36 2,33G 11.69 5,930 9.55• 4,020 

6 7.81 2,630 12.04 6,280 9.41 3,900 

8 6.73 1,980 6.59 1,920 6.46 1,850 8.87 3,460 12.41 6.650 9.23 3,750 

10 9.76 4,20Q 12.42 6,660 9.10 3,640 

12 6.69 1,960 6.58 1,910 6.44 1,840 10.50 4,830 12.28 6,520 8.93 3,500 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 

4 8.56 3,210 7.06 2,150 6.54 1,890 6.18 1,710 5.97 1,600 

6 

8 8.20 2,920 7.08 2,160 6.48 1,860 6.18 1,710 5.94 1,590 5.79 1,520 

10 

N 7~83 2,640 7.04 2,140 6.42 1,830 6.14 1,690 5.93 1,590 

2 

4 7.51 2,420 6.90 2,070 6.34 1,790 6.09 1,660 5.91 1,580 5.'73 1,480 

6 

8 7.26 2,270 6.76 2,000 6.26 1,750 6.04 1,640 5.88 1,560 

10 

12 7.06 2,150 6.63 1,940 6.20 1,720 6.00 1,820 5.81 1,520 5.69 1,460 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 6.46 1,850 8.81 3,410 

4 5.49 1,360 6.93 2,080 8.56 3,210 6. 49 1,860 

6 7.44 2,380 8.31 3,010 

8 5.53 1,380 7.84 2,650 8.07 2,820 6.32 1,790 

10 8.19 2,910 7.85 2,660 

N 5.65 1,440 5.48 1,360 5.58 1,410 8.58 3,220 7.67 2,530 6.19 1,720 

2 8.97 3,540 7.45 2,380 

4 5.70 1,470 9.24 3,750 7.27 2,270 6.07 1,660 

6 9.32 3,820 7.08 2,160 

8 5.90 1,570 9.37 3,860 6.93 2,080 5.99 1,620 

10 9.24 3,750 6.81 2,020 

12 5.52 1,380 5.40 1,320 6.21 1,720 9.07 3,620 6.70 1,970 5.97 1,600 

Supplemental records.- July 12, 3 a.m., 11.00 ft, 5,280 cfs; July 12, 9 p.m., 12.47 ft, 6,720 cfs. 
29 

Smoky Hill River at Ellsworth, Kans. 

Locstion.- Lat 38°44 1 , long. 98°14 1 , in SE! sec. 20, T. 15 S., R. 8 w .• at bridge on 

State Highway 14 in Ellsworth, 2 miles downstream from Turkey Creek. 

Drainage area.- 7,580 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 30,000 cfs 9:15p.m. May 23 (gage height, 24.12 ft). 

18\?5-1!?05, 1918-25, 1928 to April 1951: Discharge,6l,OOO cfs June 1, 1938 (gage 

height, 27.2 ft). 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 666 996 5,720 11 390 3,780 7,400 21 3,010 9,930 1,540 

2 410 4,450 3,870 12 206 2,86C 11,600 22 4,740 6,980 1,490 

3 285 4,740 3,380 13 154 3,40C 11,100 23 15,600 11,800 1,780 

4 194 4,300 2,950 14 152 3,61C 5,330 24 18,100 19,200 3,480 

5 154 2,270 2,580 15 595 7,47C 3,110 25 4,440 12,500 2,460 

6 138 4,820 2,540 16 1,180 6,030 2,500 26 2,800 7,060 1,820 

7 124 18,300 2,400 17 1,390 2,630 2,090 27 1,900 4,180 1,690 

8 115 13,500 2,330 18 924 1,790 1,870. 28 1,480 4,190 1,660 

9 165 5,930 2,240 19 762 l,52C 1,740 29 1,260 7,230 1,540 

10 833 3,980 2,130 20 72'3 1,320 1,630 30 1,140 7,320 1,480 

31 1,070 2,050 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .... ~ ......•........•...•...•. 2,100 6,270 3,213 

Runoff, in acre-feet .......•.•...••..••..••.....••.•..••.•.•....•... 129,100 373,100 197,600 

Runoff, in inches. .•.•••.•.••..•..•••..••...•.................•..••. 0.32 0.92 0.49 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

g Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis0 height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 

ll:: July a July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 7.73 2,580 17.21 9,990 

4 7.12 2,270 8.30 2,910 17.01 9,810 18.94 12,400 

6 6.94 2,180 9.77 3,830 16.76 9,580 

8 7.06 2,240 12.45 5,760 16.90 9,710 18.55 11,600 

10 14.13 7,220 17.30 10,100 

N 7.25 2,340 6.99 2,200 6.82 2,120 15.13 8,120 18.00 10,700 18.17 10,900 

2 16.52 9,370 18.78 12,100 

4 7.07 2,240 18.13 10,800 19.40 13,300 17.90 10,600 

6 6.75 2,080 18.18 10,900 19.83 14,300 

8 7.07 2,240 17.85 10,600 19.80 14,200 17.38 10,100 

10 17.67 10,400 19.70 14,000 

12 7.18 2,300 7.00 2,210 6.78 2,100 17.43 10,200 19.48 13,500 16.05 8,940 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 

4 13.76 6,880 

6 ~.00 3,330 7.87 2,650 6.97 2,200 6.48 1,950 

8 12.00 5,400 

10 

N 11.22 4,820 8.46 3,010 7.55 2,480 6.77 2,100 6.39 1,900 6.06 1,740 

2 

4 10.68 4,440 

6 8.17 2,830 7.31 2,360 6.65 2,040 6.27 1,840 

8 10.14 4,070 

10 

12 9.68 3,770 8.07 2,770 7.11 2,260 6.08 1,750 6.20 1,810 5.92 1,670 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 5.90 1,660 5.67 1,560 8.18 2,840 

4 5.88 1,660 5.72 1,580 8.64 3,110 8.19 2,840 

6 5.86 1,650 5.75 1,600 9.11 3,400 

8 5.83 1,630 5.78 1,610 9.50 3,660 7.75 2,580 

10 5.81 1,620 5.82 1,630 9.73 3,800 

N 5.78 1,610 5.62 1,540 5.48 1,480 5.87 1,650 9.85 3,880 7.37 2,400 

2 5.85 1,640 5.95 1,690 9.87 3,900 

4 5.80 1,620 6.10 1,760 9.75 3,820 7.05 2,240 

6 5.78 1,610 6.31 1,860 9.57 3,700 

8 5.77 1,610 6.65 2,040 9.28 3,510 6.82 2,120 

10 5.71: 1,60C 7.16 2,290 9.00 3,339 

12 5.n l,59G 5.48 1,480 5.58 1,520 7.68 2,550 8.72 3,160 6.62 G,020 

Supplemental records.- July 11, 5 p.m., 18.32 ft, 11,100 cfs; July 12, 7 p.m., 19.87 ft, 

14,400 cfs; July 20, 1 p.m., 5.77 ft, 1,610 cfs. 
30 

Kanopolis Reservoir near Kanopolis, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 38°37', long. 97°58 1 , in NEt sec. 3, T. 17 S., R. 6 W., in shaft 

of control tower at dam on Smoky.Hill River, 12 miles southeast of Kanopolis, 

25 miles southwest of Saline, 207.8 miles above the mouth of the Smoky Hill 

River. Datum of gage is at mean sea level, a~justment of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 7,857 square miles. 

Gase-height record.- Water-sta~e recorder graph. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Contents, 434,000 acre-feet July 14 (elevation, 1,506.90 

-rn. 

1948 to April 1951: Contents, 248,400 acre-feet Sept. 1, 2, 1950 (elevation, 

1,491.03 ft). 

Remarks.- Reservoir is formed by earth-fill dam; dam completed in 1948. Capacity, 

450,000 acre-feet between elevation 1415 (sill of outlet gate) and 1508 ft. 

Crest of uncontrolled spillway is at elevation 1507 ft. Storage capacity of 

397,000 acre-feet above elevation 1459 ft is provided for flood control. Storage 

capacity of 53,000 acre-feet below elevation 1459 ft is provided for conservation 

• and recreation. Elevations and contents furnished by Corps of Engineers. 

Elevation, in feet, and contents, in acre-feet, at 12 p.m. of indicated day 

May June July 

Day Elevation Acre-feet Elevation Acre-feet Elevation Acre-feet 

1 1,459. 34 54,280 1,474.32 124,000 1,503.10 381,400 

2 1,459. 57 55,140 1,474.12 128,600 1,502.99 380,000 

3 1,459. 70 55,630 1,476.14 135,100 1,502.95 379,500 

4 1,459.78 55,930 1,477.24 142,200 1,502.69 376,000 

5 1,459.83 56,120 1,477.65 144,800 1,502.51 373,700 

6 1, 459.86 56,240 1,478.89 152,800 1,502.04 367,500 

7 1,459.84 56,160 1,483.73 187,100 1,501. 67 362,700 

8 1,459. 60 55,260 1' 486.90 212,400 1,501,.·31 358,000 

9 1,459.73 55,740 1,488.32 224,400 1,500.91 352,700 

10 1,460.75 59,600 1, 488.90 229,200 1,500.55 348,000 

11 1,460.87 60,040 1,489.54 234,600 1,502.74 376,700 

12 1,460.72 59,490 1,489.86 237,300 1,505.55 414,300 

13 1,460.53 58,'760 1, 490.64 244,600 1,506.87 433,500 

14 1,460.45 58,460 1, 491.06 248,700 1,506.90 434,000 

15 1,460.:?4 58,040 1,492.20 259 '600 1,506.60 429,600 

16 1,460.63 59,140 1,493. 30 270,200 1,506.22 424,000 

17 1,461. 78 63,500 1 ,493. 58 272,900 1,505.73 416,900 

18 1,462.15 64,910 1 ,493. 50 272,100 1,505.18 408,900 

19 1,462.27 65,370 1,493.07 268,000 1,504.92 405,200 

20 1,462.35 65,670 1, 492.58 263,300 1,504.65 401,700 

21 1,463.40 69,770 1,494.25 279,300 1 ,504. 59 400,900 

22 1,465.50 78,720 1,495.84 295,600 1,504.54 400,300 

23 1,470.05 100,100 1, 497.45 313,100 1,504.53 400,100 

24 1,475.50 131,000 1,499.75 338,100 1,504.70 402.,400 

25 1,476.95 140,300 1,501.37 358,800 1,504.86 404,500 

26 1,477•01 140,700 1,501.90 395,700 1,504.77 403,300 

27 1,476.85 139,700 1,501.86 365,200 1,504.57 400,700 

28 1,476.40 136,800 l ,501.95 ·366, 400 1,504.35 397 ,BOO 

29 1,475.75 132,600 1,502.43 372,600 1,504.11 394,600 

30 1,475.00 127,800 1,502.87 378,400 1,503.85 391,200 

31 1,474.68 126,000 1,503.64 388,500 
31 

Smoky Hill River near Langley, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 38°37 1 , long. 97°57', in SEi sec. 35, T. 16. s., R. 6 W., half a mile belo~ Kanopolis Dam, lt miles west of Ellsworth-McPherson county line, 3 miles downstream 

from Bluff Creek, and 5 miles north of Langley. 

Draina e area.- 7,857 square miles. a e- e t record.- Water-stage recorder graph. sc arge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. 

Maxima.- ·May-July 1951: Discharge, 5,570 cfs 8 a.m. July 15 (gage height, 15.29 ft}. 

1941 to April 1951: Discharge, 17,200 cfs Oct. 20, 1941 (gage height, 23.47 ft}. 

Remarks.- Flow regulated by Kapopolis Reservoir(see page 30). 

M ean discharge in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 153 1,"860 4,560 11 434 980 1,970 21 515 2,100 1,790 

2 6.5 1,360 4,550 12 431 984 2,240 22 371 1,140 1,720 

3 6'5 866 4,050 13 427 987 3,210 23 302 1,040 1,670 

4 66 872 4,550 14 420 1,000 5,250 24 717 2,500 1,660 

5 67 875 4,620 15 416 1,000 5,550 25 1,340 3,900 1,650 

6 68 890 4,.qlQ 16 420 1,010 5,530 26 2,390 4,120 2,100 

7• 166 990 .4~590 17 494 1,010 5,370 27 2,400 4,120 2, 960 

8 407 956 4,620 18 484 1,760 4,810 28 2,690 4,130 2,970 

9 405 971 4,600 19 489 3,500 4,790 29 3,280 4,170 3,030 

10 429 977 4,590 20 491 3,480 3,540 30 3,250 4,360 3,020 

31 2,700 3,290 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet ....••..•..•..•.....•...•...•. 850 1,930 3,660 

Runoff, in acre-feet ..••...•••.••••••••..••.•....•.••.••.•••..•••••• 52,270 114,900 225,000 

Runoff, in inches. .••••••••••.••.••••..•••..•....•..••......•.•..••. 0.12 0.27 0.54 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

~ Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis0 height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 

= July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 9.63 2,770 6.30 1,330 6.43 1,380 

4 13.14 4,600 6.45 1,380 6.55 1,420 6.39 1,360 

6 13.15 4,610 13.ll 4,590 6.32 1,340 6.65 1,450 6.37 1,350 

8 13.21 4,630 6.85 1,520 7.75 1,890 6.35 1,350 

10 7.60 1,820 9.35 2,620 10.08 3,010 

N 13.19 4,630 13.13 4,600 13.10 4,580 7.95 1,980 10.50 3,240 ll.53 3,830 

2 8.72 2,320 11.79 3,970 ll.68 3,910 

4 13.18 4,620 8.34 2,150 10.88 3,450 13.58 4,800 

6 13.12 4,590 13.10 4,580 7.48 1,'770 9.43 2,660 13.83 4,910 

8 13.18 4,620 6.85 1,'720 7.95 1,980 13.87 4,930 

10 6.50 1,400, 6.98 1,570 13.87 4,930 

12 13.18 4,620 13.11 4,590 13.14 4,600 6.34 1,340 6.51 1,4_20 13.88 4,940 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 13.88 4,940 15.18 5,520 

4 13.88 4,940 15.17 5,520 15.17 5,520 

6 13.8'7 4,930 15.23 5,540 15.16 5,510 13.60 4,810 13.5'7 4,800 

8 13.86 4,930 15.29 5,570 15.16 5,510 

10 13.85 4,920 15.15 5,510 

N 15.08 5,480 15.25 5,550 15.20 5,530 15.12 5,490 13.60 4,810 13.55 4,790 

2 15.18 5,520 15.10 5,480 

4 15.21 5,530 15.24 5,550 15.08 5,480 

6 15.22 5,540 15.18 5,520 15.07 5,470 13.58 4,800 13.54 4,'780 

8 15.21 5,530 15.25 5,550 13.:90 4.940 

10 15.20' 5,530 13.73 4,870 

12 15.19 5,530 15.25 5,550 15.18 5.520 13.6'7 4,840 13.58 4,800 13.53 4,780 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 13.53 4,780 

4 13.53 4,780 

6 13.53 4,780 7.55 1,800 7.46 1,760 7.25 1,680 

8 13.52 4,770 

10 13.51 4,770 

N 13.50 4,760 7.52 1,790 7.30 1,700 7.23 1,670 7.19 1,660 7.17 1,650 

2 9.40 2,650 

4 7.78 1,900 

6 7.60 1,820 7.48 1,770 7.25 1,680 7.21 1,660 

8 7.57 1,810 

10 7.57 1,810 

12 7.56 1,800 7.47 1,770 '7.25 f-,680 '7.20 1,660 7.17 1,650 7.15 1,640 

Supalemental records.- July 8, 6 a.m., 13,20 ft, 4,630 cfs; July 11, 1 a.m., 13.15 ft, 

,610 cfs; July 12, 3 a.m., 6.30 ft, 1,330 cfs; July 12, 5 a.m. 6.53 ft, 1,410 cfs; 

July 13, 9 a.m., 6.35 ft, 1,~50 cfs; July 15, 5 a.m., 15.28 ft, 5,~70 cfs; July 20, 

1 p.m., 13.50 ft, 4,760 cfs; July 22, 10 a.m., 7.45 rt, 1,760 cfs; July ~8, 11 a.m., 

'7.14 ft, 1,640 cfs. 
32 

Smoky Hill River at Lindsborg, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 38°34 1 , long. 97°40 1 , in SEi sec. 17, T. 17 S., R. 3 w., at bridge 

300 ft downstream from mill dam in Lindsborg. Datum of gage is 1,297.19 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 8,110 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph. 

Dischar~e record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

4,50 cfs, by shape of previous discharge rating curve above, and by slope-area 

measurement of peak dischar~e. Shifting-control method used May 1-9, July 14, 19-31. 

Maxima.- May-July, 1951: Discharge, 18,700 cfs 4 p.m. July 12 {gage height, 29.32 ft). 

1930 to April 1951: Discharge, 26,000 cfs .June 3, 1938 (gage height, 32.55 ft). 

Flood of May 1903 reached a stage of 33.9 ft, from floodmarks (discharge, 32,000 

cfs). 

Remarks.- Flow partially regulated by Kanopolis Reservoir (see page30). 

M ean d h isc arge in secon d -f eet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 908 1,930 4,690 11 685 1,230 9,470 21 1,270 3,460 2,840 2 37€ 2,240 4,610 12 579 1,220 16,700 22 1,180 2,310 2,060 3 175 1,180 4,800 13 561 1,220 13,800 23 886 1,740 1,980 4 137 1,100 4,480 14 549 1,660 5,490 24 587 1,420 1,900 5 119 1,080 4,550 15 545 1,410 5,700 25 985 3,210 1,850 6 107 1,210 4,630 16 698 1,260 6,280 26 1,890 3,820 1,810 7 97 3,670 4,630 17 2,770 1,240 6,390 27 2,350 4,020 2,380 8 192 1,400 4,620 18 1,450 1,240 6,300 28 2,370 4,100 2,770 9 758 1,360 4,660 19 1,160 2,610 5,540 29 2,900 5,460 2,800 10 1,510 1,240 4,650 20 752 3,360 5,120 30 3,150 5,410 2,810 31 3,170 2,820 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet •...••..•..•..•...•.•...•...•. 1,125 2,260 4,940 

Runoff, in acre-feet ..••...•.....••••••..••.•...••.••..•••••..•••••• 69,160 134,500 303,700 

Runoff, in inches. .••••••..••.••..•••..•••..•.......••........•..••. 0.16 0.31 0.70 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

$.1 Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- ::I height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

= July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 19.90 4,640 20.32 4,890 27.70 13,600 29.20 18,200 

4 19.87 4,630 19.90 4,640 20.97 5,310 27.79 13,800 29.11 17,900 

6 19.95 4,670 19.89 4,640 22.25 6,320 28.07 14,500 28.97 17,400 

8 19.80 4,590 19.90 4,640 23.49 7,490 28.40 15,500 28.77 16,700 

10 19.91 4,650 24.70 8,770 28.77 16,700 28.49 15,800 

N 19.85 4,620 19.93 4,660 19.89 4,640 25.84 10,200 29.10 17,900 28.14 14,700 

2 19.89 4,640 26.55 11,200 29.27 18,500 27.58 13,200 

4 19.85 4,620 19.88 4,640 26.98 12,000 29.32 18,700 26.94 11,900 

6 19.91 4,650 19.88 4,640 27.22 12,400 29.29 18,600 26.04 10,500 

8 19.87 4,630 19.8~ 4,640 27.38 12,800 29.28 18,500 25.04 9,180 

10 19.92 4,660 27.54 13,200 29.27 18,500 23.90 7,900 

12 19.90 4,640 19.90 4,640 20.08 4,750 27.64 13,400 29.24 18,400 22.78 6,800 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 21.95 6,060 

4 21.40 5,620 

6 21.10 5,400 21.27 5,520 22.12 6,210 22.31 6,380 21.55 5,740 

8 20.96 5,300 

10 20.93 5,270 

N 20.94 5,280 21.46 5,670 22.23 6,310 22.33 6,400 22.29 6,360 21.23 5,490 

2 20.98 5,310 

4 21.03 5,350 

6 21.06 5,370 21.69 5,850 22.29 6,360 22.15 6,240 21.00 5,330 

8 21.09 5,390 

10 21.13 5,420 

12 21.15 5,440 21.94 6,050 22.32 6,390 22.31 6,380 21.90 6,020 20.85 5,210 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 20.13 4,680 

4 19.21 4,080 

6 20.78 5,160 17.85 3,250 

8 16.90 2,740 

10 16.40 2,460 

N 20.73 5,110 16.09 2,330 15.28 2,050 15.03 1,970 14.81 1,900 14.64 1,850 

2 15.90 2,260 

4 15.77 2,220 

6 20.71 5,100 15.67 2,190 

8 15.65 2,180 

10 15.58 2,160 

12 20.56 5,000 15.52 2,130 15.18 2,020 14.92 1,940 14.73 1,880 14.58 1,830 
33 

Smoky Hill River near Mentor, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 38°48 1, long. 970351, in sec. 31, T.· 14 S., R. 2 w., 1 mile south of 

Salina and 1! miles east of U. S. Highway 81. Datum of gage is 1,211. 74 ft above mean sea level (levels by Corps of Engineers). 

Drainage area.- 8,230 square miles. 

Gage-heigpt record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods May 10, 16-18, May 22 

to June 1, June 7, 20-22, 26-30, July 22-28, for which a graph was drawn based on . one to.three times daily wire-weight gage readings. Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

4,500 cfs and by slope-area measurement of peak discharge. ~·-May-July 1951: Discharge, 24,000 cfs 10 a.m. July 13 (gage height, 24.93 ft). 

1923-32, 1947 to April 1951: Discharge, 7,450 cfs Aug. 17, 1927 (gage height, 

25.8 ft, site and datum then in use). 

Remarks.- Flow partially regulated by Kanopolis Reservoir (see page 30). 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 1,570 2,880 10,300 11 1,420 1,170 16,200 21 900 3,300 7,640 

2 961 1,760 5,810 12 630 1,150 23,400 22 1,380 3,380 2,870 

3 420 1,860 4,920 13 544 1,140 23,800 23 1,440 2,580 2,420 

4 227 1,050 5,450 14 518 1,250 22,600 24 820 1,540 2,320 

5 189 996 4,460 15 502 1,740 19,000 25 662 1,680 2,240 

6. 172 1,170 4,300 16 947 1,270 13,600 26 1,250 3,260 2,200 

7 161 3,280 4,330 17 1,510 1,170 12,{300 27 2,170 3,490 2,280 

8 155 4,210 4,270 18 3,230 1,150 13,600 28 2,350 3,570 3,000 

9 245 1,420 4,250 19 1,410 1,210 13,600 29 2,430 3,970 3,140 

10 1,360 1,270 4,490 20 1,150 2,760 11,400 30 3,000 9,250 3,170 

31 3,110 3,190 

Monthly mean discharge, 1,188 2,331 8,285 in second-feet .....•..•..•......•.•...•...•. Runoff, in acre-feet ..••...•.....••.•.•..••.•...••.•..••••••..•.••.• 73,060 138,700 509,500 

Runoff, in inches. .•••••••.••..•..•.•..••...•.......••........•..•.. 0.17 0.32 1.16 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

~ Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis0 height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 

::c: July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July12 July 13 

2 

4 

6 21.55 4,350 23.72 12,700 24.89 23,500 

8 

10 

N ~1.46 4,260 21.44 4,240 21.59 4,390 24.37 17,900 24.90 23,600 24.92 23,900 

2 

4 

6 21.65 4,480 24.62 20,400 24.92 23,900 

8 

10 

12 21.43 4,230 21.49 4,290 22.33 5,990 24.76 22,000 24.92 23,900 24.88 23,400 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 24.83 22,800 24.50 19,200 23.79 13,10G 23.69 12,500 23.87 13,700 23.88 13,800 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12 24.73 21,600 24.17 16,000 23.66 12,300 23.79 13,100 23.89 13,800 23.80 13,200 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 20.70 3,670 4 

6 23.06 8,900 19.64 3,450 

8 18.58 3,240 

10 ~2.95 8,380 17.51 2,920 

N 23.53 lJ.2.85 

16.94 2,720 

2 11,500 7.920 16.62 2,610 16.08 2,420 15.74 2,310 15.49 2,240 

16.46 2,550 4 ~2.73 7,420 16.33 2,510 6 16.27 2,480 

8 lJ.2.44 6,340 16.23 2,470 

10 16.20 2,460 

12 23.17 9,450 ~1.56 4,360 16.18 2,450 15.95 2,380 15.60 2,270 15.43 2,220 

SupJlemental records.- July 10, 11 a.m., 21.55 ft, 4,350 cfs; 9 p.m., 21.65 ft, 4,480 cfs; 

uiy 12, 4 a.m., 24.80 ft, 2<:;,400 cfs; July 13, 10 a.m., 24.93 ft, 24,000 cfs. 
34 

Smoky Hill River at Enterprise, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 38054', long. 97007', in NEi sec. 20, T. 13 s., R. 3 E., in Enterprise, 

at Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad bridge, and 14 miles upstream from Chapman 

Creek. Datum of gage is 1,098.14 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 19,200 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

55,0 0 cfs and by slope-area measurement of peak. discharge. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 240,000 cfs 2 p.m. July 14 (e;age height, 33.96 ft). 

-----1934 to April 1951: Discharge, 37,800 cfs Oct. 20, 1941 (gage height, 30.20 ft). 

1903-33: Discharge, 90,000 cfs in May 1903 (stage, about 32 ft) from information 

by Corps of Engineers. 

Remarks.- Flow partially regulated by Kanopolis Reservoir (see page 30). 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1 9 51 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June J!llY 

1 6,850 7,360 45,400 11 3,830 21,900 51,000 21 6,320 13,400 21,600 

2 7,090 6,410 27,400 12 3,680 21,500 146,000 22 7,410 19,100 20,100 

3 5,330 6,360 25,000 13 2,450 23,200 186,000 23 10,400 27,500 18,200 

4 3,550 9,100 25,400 14 1,840 25,900 213,000 24 12,000 27,400 14,200 

5 2,640 9,910 24,300 15 1,680 26,700 170,000 25 11,700 27,300 12,100 

6 2,200 10,500 22,000 16 2,540 24,900 101,000 26 11,000 27,200 11,200 

7 1,880 19,100 19,500 17 5,640 21,100 60,200 27 10,900 31,600 11,500 

8 1,580 22,400 17,300 18 7,480 18,700 37,000 28 11,900 53,400 12,100 

9 1,450 21,200 14,300 19 9,660 15,100 28,600 29 13,200 54,600 13,0'00 

10 3,250 22,400 17,800 20 8,360 12,300 24,600 30 14,300 45,400 14,000 

31 13,000 13,400 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .....•..•.••........•...•...•. 6,616 22,430 45,720 

Runoff, in thousands of acre-feet ••• , .•• , •...•• ·•··••·•••····••• • 406.8 1,335 2,811 

RlDloff, in inches. ..••••••.••..•..•••...•...•........•......•.•..••. 0.40 1.30 2.75 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated·time, 1951 

~ Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Disheight charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 

~ July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 27.90 18,200 26.04 15,500 26.09 15,500 30.16 27,600 31.35 59,000 33.78 222,000 

4 27.80 18,100 25.81 15,100 26.92 16,800 30.32 29,300 31.68 74,000 33.68 212,000 

6 27.68 17,900 25.61 14,800 27.18 17,200 30.45 31,200 32.05 94,000 33.59 204,000 

8 27.58 17,800 25.37 14,600 27.28 17,300 30.63 34,600 32.47 119,000 33.47 193,000 

10 27.45 17,600 25.17 14,400 27.36 17,400 30.91 42,300 32.69 134,000 33.36 184,000 

N 27.33 17,400 24.95 14,200 27.46 17,600 31 .. 32 57,800 32.88 148,000 33.28 177,000 

2 27.18 17,200 24.72 13,900 27.59 17,800 31.63 71,500 33.06 160,000 33.23 173,000 

4 27.04 17,000 24.50 13,700 27.71 18,000 31.72 76,000 33.20 171,000 33.19 170,000 

6 26.86 16,700 24.30 13,500 27.86 18,200 31.66 73,000 33.48 194,000 33.15 167,000 

8 26.66 16,400 24.16 13,400 27.96 18,300 31.53 66,500 33.76 220,000 33.13 165,000 

10 26.47 16,100 24.21 13,400 28.97 20,400 31.40 61,000 33.89 233,000 33.12 165,000 

12 26.26 15,800 24.82 14,000 29.72 23,700 31.33 58,200 33.84 228,000 33.12 l65,00C 

July 14 July15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 33.16 168,000 33.59 204,000 32.55 124,000 

4 33.26 176,000 33.53 199,000 32.47 119,000 31.61 70,500 

6 33.48 194,000 33.44 191,000 32.38 114,000 

8 33.69 213,000 33.36 184,000 32.30 109,000 31.48 64,200 30.80 39,000 30.31 29,200 

10 33.86 230,000 33.27 177,000 32.24 105,000 

N 33.95 239 ,ooo 33.18 169,000 32.16 101,000 31.37 59,800 

2 33.96 240,000 33.08 162,000 32.09 96,400 

4 33.94 238,000 32.99 155,000 32.03 92,800 31.25 55,000 30.60 34,009 30.16 27,600 

6 33.88 232,000 32.89 148,000 31.94 87,4-00 

8 33.79 223,000 ·32.83 144,000 31.86 83,000 31.14 50,600 

10 33.73 217,000 32.72 136,000 31.79 79,500 

12 33.16 210,000 32.63 130,000 31.75 77,500 31.00 45,000 30.45 31,200 30.08 26,800 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 

4 

6 29.47 22,000 28.21 18,800 25.74 15,000 23.18 12,400 

8 

10 

N 29.83 24,500 29.36 21,500 28.85 20,100 27.93 18,300 24.80 14,000 22.88 12,100 

2 

4 

6 29.27 21,200 27.44 17,600 24.06 13,300 22.60 11,800 

8 

10 

12 29.58 22,700 29.13 20,800 28.43 19,300 26.76 16,500 23.57 12,800 22.34 11,500 

Supplemental record.- July 9, 9 p.m., 24.08 ft, 13,300 cfs. 
35 

Big Creek near Hays, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 38°51', long. 990191, in SW! sec. 10, T. 14 s., R. 18 w., at highway 

bridge half a mile above concrete dam, 3 miles southeast of Hays, and 25 miles 

upstream from mouth. 

Ga§e-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except July 30, for which a graph was drawn based on one wire-weight ga~e reading, and July 31, when there was no gage-height reco~o. 

Discharge ·record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

7,400 cfs and extended to peak stage on basis of logarithmic plotting of mainchannel flow and slope-area measurement of the overflow. ~-- May-July, 1951: Discharge, 21,100 cfs 4 a.m. May 22 (gage height, 21.46 ft). 

1946 to April 1951: Discharge observed, 4,000 cfs Oct. 6, 1946 (gage height, 

19.65 ft). 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May JWle July Day May JWle July 

1 14 93 546 11 21 468 333 21 158 1,760 114 

2 16 1,570 406 12 17 605 486 22 6,980 5,450 1,720 

3 15 209 339 13 14 1,090 464 23 1,580 7,610 1,050 

4 15 187 306 14 34 3,560 368 24 1,100 5,610 347 

5 14 104 236 15 26 1,060 248 25 415 1,270 248 

6 13 1,340 301 16 17 356 203 26' 225 567 255 

7# 12 1,620 250 17 16 243 172 27 146 2,680 168 

8 12 1,740 211 18 16 213 150 28 114 4,480 139 

9 16 2,960. 182 19 16 163 137 29 95 4,540 125 

10 16 624 166 20 26 213 122 30 81 1,190 104 

31 73 90 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet •....•..•..•........•...•...•. 365 1,786 322 

RWloff, in acre-feet .......•••...•..•••..••.•...••.•..••.•••..•.•.•• 22,440 106,300 19,810 

Runoff, in inches. •••••••••••.••.•••••.•••.••....•.•••......•.•..••. 

Saline River near Russell, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 38°58 1, long. 98°51', between sees. 34 and 35, T. 12 S., R. 14 W., 2 

miles downstream from Salt Creek and 5 miles north of Russell. 

Drainage area.- 1,502 square miles. Gage-hei~ht record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period July 30, 31, for which a graPh was nrawn based on daily wire-wei~ht gage readin~s. 

Discharge•record.- Stage-discharge· relation defined by current-meter measurements. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 17,000 cfs 9 p.m. June 28 (gage height, 19.12 ft). 

---1946 to April 1951: Discharge, 14,300 cfs July 26, 1950 (gage height, 18.40 ft). 

Mean discharge in second-feet, 1951 

Day May JWle July Day May JWle July Day May June July 

1 247 272 1,870 11 65 804 5,270 21 672 4,100 4~8 

2 108 971 1,330 12 61 1,360 4,940 22 4,850 10,400 1,510 

3 85 1,050 1,450 13 56 2,350 3,890 23 6,130 10,600 1,890 

4 75 408 1,200 14 67 1,580 2, 360 24 3,350 9,140 1,670 

5 69 293 872 15 165 1,700 1,510 25 1,280 4,580 1,990 

6 67 756 717 16 107 1,810 1,020 26 747 2,270 1,700 

7 64 1,350 627 17 llO 651 781 27 531 2,760 903 

8 63 1,760 568 18 252 493 668 28 428 9,830 672 

9 63 4,350 531 19 373 421 595 29 394 9,080 553 

10 65 1,080 531 20 244 389 537 30 357 3,710 508 

31 295 472 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet •....•....••.......•••.••...•. 692 3,011 1,408 

Runoff, in acre-feet ...•...•...•.••.•••.. : • .•...••....••..••..•.•..• 42,530 ll-79 ,100 88,540 

Runoff, in inches. .••••••••••.••..•••..•••..•.......••........•..••. 0.53 2.24 1.08 
36 

Saline River at Tescott, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°00', long. 97°53', in SEt sec. 16, T. l:G s., R. 5 W., at hi~hway 

bridg;e, half a mile solth of Tescott ar,d half a mile upstream frorr. Dr;r Creek. 

Drainoge area.- 2,820 square miles. Gage-hei~Sht record.- Water-stage recorder graph, except for perior:;s r.!ay l, 2, June 2, 14, 

July 7-10, July 21 to 4 p.m. July 24, July 30, 31, for which. a ';raph vtas drawn based on once-daily wire-weight gage readin~s. 

Discharg;e record.- Stage-discharge relqt:on defined by current-meter measurements below 

12_,000 cfs and by slope-area measurement of peak dis charge. ~·-May-July 1051: Di::;charge, 61,400 cfs 4·a.m. J'.lly 13 (gage heisht, 00.06 ft). 

1919 to .April 1951: Discharg-e, 6,850 cfs .June 3# 1935 (gage heL;ht, 20.57 ft, 

from graph based on gage reodings). · 

Mean discharge in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 307 84.3 6,100 11 336 6,550 5,800 21 1,220 4,380 1,660 

2 501 2,300 6,150 12 163 5,940 11,400 22 3,440 5,980 1,400 3 360 3,860 6,060 13 137 4,310 35,700 23 4,280 6,.100 1,460 

4 412 2,580 5,760 14 137 3,120 8,570 24 4,140 6,440 1,810 

5 257 2,390 4,700 15 143 4,070 6,110 25 4,420 7,000 2,910 

6 186 2,400 3,640 16 183 4,540 5,860 26 4,910 6,480 3,300 

7 160 6,240 2,980 17 1,010 4,600 5,620 27 5,220 6,340 2,870 

8 146 13,500 2,720 18 1,460 4,350 4,680 28 4,030 6,250 2,800 

9 140 18,100 2,340 19 621 2,.9.40 3,080 29 1,340 6,090 2,370 

10 354 12,000 2,260 20 350 1,870 2,070 30 1,010 6,000 1,500 

31 875 1,190 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .....•..•..•............•...•. 1,363 5,585 4,998 

Runoff, in acre-feet ..............•..•....•.•...••....••...•...••..• 83,800 332,400 307,300 

Runoff, in inches. .•....••.••..•..•••..•••..•.................•..••. 0.56 2.21 2.04 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

J.c Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- ;:I height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

ti: July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 16.82 2,210 22.80 4,l~g 29.27 6,212 30.02 52,8~2 4 19.01 2,910 17.51 2,410 16.77 2,190 25.60 4,89 29.32 6,34 30.06 61,40 

6 16.70 2,170 27.78 5,480 20.35 6,400 30.02 52,80( 

8 18.84 2,850 17.36 2,370 16.64 2,150 28.80 5,950 29.42 6,600 29.98 45,40( 

10 16.59 2,140 29.25 6,250 29.51 7,40C 29.~6 42,30( 

N 18.47 2,720 17.25 2,340 16.56 2,130 20.35 6,420 20.57 9,800 29.90 33,00C 

2 16.50 2,110 29.36 6,420 20.60 11,000 29.87 30,00C 

4 18.14 2,610 17.12 2,3UO 16.47 2,100 29.32 6,340 29.65 13,500 29.82 25,00C 

6 16.50 2,110 29.29 6,290 29.66 14,000 29 .• 80 23,00( 

8 17.89 2,530 16.99 2,260 16.67 2,160 29.28 6,280 29.69 15,50C 29.76 20,20( 

10 18.85 2,860 29.28 6,280 29.77 20,900 29.73 18,10( 

12 17.67 2,46( 16.87 2,220 20.50 3.440 29.28 6,280 29.90 33~000 29.70 16,00( 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 28.45 5,280 25.05 3,75C 

4 29.61 11,50( 29.31 6,220 29.11 5,910 28.95 S,750 28.35 5,200 24.62 3,60( 

6 28.21 5,0~0 24.21 3,45( 

8 29.5E 9,00C 29.28 6,160" 29.10 5,900 28.90 5,700 28.04 4,060 23.76 3,31( 

10 27.85 4,850 23.31 3,17C 

N 29.48 6,88( 29.26 6,120 29.08 5,880 28.85 5,650 21.59 4,69C 22.88 3,040 

2 27.31 4,560 22.48 2,920 

4 29.42 6,52( 29.22 6,040 29.04 5,840 28.78 5,580 26.97 4,430 :22.08 2,80C 

6 26.63 4,300 ":?.1.69 2,69( 

8 29.38 6,36( 29.19 5,990 29.00 5,800 28.68 5,480 26.26 4,17C 21.35 2,580 

10 25.86 4,030 21.02 2,49C 

12 29.36 6,32( 29.16 5,960 28.~6 5,760 28.55 5,360 25.43 3,880 20.75 2,400 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 Jul)' 25 

2 20.07 2,47( 

4 20.31 2,27( 18.5? 1,750 17.58 1,500 17.36 1,440 17.73 1, f30 21.31 2,57( 

6 21.67 2,68( 

8 19.90 2,15( 18.39 1,700 17.45 1,460 17.:Z,7 1,440 17.96 1,590 21.99 2,78( 

10 22.29 2,87( 

N 19 .5~ 2,04( 18.21 1,650 17.37 1,440 17.41 1,450 18.50 1,73C 22.57 2,95C 

2 22.82 3,03C 

4 ·19. 2~ 1,95( 18.04 1,610 17.37 1,440 17.43 1,460 19.12 1,Q2C 23.02 3,09( 

6 '23.27 3 1 16L 

8 19.0~ 1,89C 17 .8S 1,570 17.37 1,440 17.50 1,480 19.86 2,140 23.44 3,21C 

10 23.59 3,26C 

12 18.7'"1 1,81C 17.7~ 1,530 17.36 1,440 17.60 1,500 20.59 2,360 23.71 3,290 
37 

South Fork Solomon River at Alton, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°27 1 , long. 98057 1 , in SWi sec. 12, T. 7 S., R. 15 W., 1.1 miles 

south of Missouri Pacific Railroad in Alton, Osborne County. Datum of gage is 

1,598.20 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929 (levels by Bureau of Reclamation). 

Drainage area.- 1,720 square miles. 

Gage-helg§t record.- Water-stage recorder graph prior to July 12, except for periods 

May 24-29, June 10, 11, 16-20, July 5-7, for which graph was drawn based on oncedaily wire-weight gage readings. No gage-height record May 30, June 26, July 1-4, 

8, 9, 12-31. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

25,000 ~fs and extended to peak stage on basis of contracted-openin~ and slope~area 

measurements. Discharge for periods of no gage-height record prior to July 12, when 

gage was destroyed, computed.on basis of records for station at Osborne and North 

Fork Solomon River near Downs. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 91,900 cfs, between 7 and 9 p.m., July 12 (gage ~ght, 27.10, from floodmarks). 

1919-25, 1928-32, 1942 to April 1951: Discharge, 11,500 cfs June 16, 1943; 

gage height, 21.5 ft Sept. 19, 1919, present datum. 

Maximum stage known prior to 1951, 24.5 ft Aug. 1, 1928. 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June 

1 90 370 950 11 38 1,100 14,600 21 2,570 803 

2 67 810 750 12 38 1,780 22 11,600 13,100 

3 58 482 700 13 38 1,430 23 5,300 13,900 

4 48 300 850 14 40 2,500 24 1,220 3,700 

5 44 247 634 15 44 3,060 25 778 1,750 

6 41 1,370 522 16 76 915 26 574 1,100 

7 38 7,950 448 17 206 632 27 465 1,650 

8 38 4,290 550 18 259 503 28 408 4,700 

9 41 2,190 1,100 19 170 454 29 382 3,270 

10 41 1,080 692 20 142 408 30 350 1,540 

31 314 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet •...••..•..•........••..•...•. 823 2,579 

Runoff, in acre-feet ..•....•••...••.•.•..••.•...••.....•.•••..•. o ••• 50,610 153,500 

Runoff, in inches. .•.• o ••••• o •• o •••••••• o •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 0.55 1.67 

July 
38 

South Fo~k Solomon River at Osborne, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°26 1 , long. 98°42', on line between sees. 19 and 20, T. 7 S., R. 12 W., 

at bridge on U. S. Highway 281, half a mile south of Osborne, and 0.6 mile downstream 

from mouth of Covert Creek. 

Drainage area.- 2,024 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods May 21, 25-29, June 

l-4, 6, ll, 12, 17-21, 27, July 2-4, 6-10, July 19 to 7 a.m. July 23, July 27-31, for 

which a graph was drawn based on wire-weight gage readings made one or more times 

daily, and May 30, ~1, June 5, July 5, when there was no gage-height record. 

Discharge record.- Stage-disch1_3-rge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

16,000 cfs and by contracted-opening and slope-area measurements of peak discharge. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 76,800 cfs 2 a.m. July 13 (gage height, 27.65 ft). 

1946 to April 1951: Discharge, 10,000 cfs Aug. 29, 1950 (gage height, 20.13 ft). 

Mean discharge . in second-feet . 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 178 438 1,900 11 75 1,540 17,400 21 3,480 1,440 892 

2 124 1,710 1,160 12 71 2,130 51,000 22 8,500 12,100 1,630 

3 98 908 902 13 69 2,100 38,900 23 11,800 19,400 5,150 

4 90 499 1,000 14 86 1,940 6,640 24 2,990 5,750 4,500 

5 84 370 1,100 15 172 4,380 3,810 25 1,260 3,350 2,560 

6 80 2,300 718 16 106 1,820 2,660 26 830 1,930 1,460 

7· 74 8,380 632 17 192 904 1,940 27 619 2,880 950 

8 72 9,720 817 18 283 681 1,580 28 506 5,790 791 

9 77 4,800 1,620 19 238 589 1,260 29 442 5,870 707 

10 84 2,060 1,020 20 182 567 1,030 30 400 3,600 645 

31 350 594 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet ........•..•............•...•. 1,084 3,665 5,063 

Runoff, in acre-feet .......•.............••.•....•.........•..•.•..• 66,670 218,100 311,300 

Runoff, in inches. .•...•....•.••..•••...•...•.................•..••. 0.62 2.02 2.89 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

~ Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis-

::3 height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height char~e 0 

li: July 8 July 9 July10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 11.70 1,480 10.80 1,240 23.40 24,300 27.65 76,800 4 8.32 708 12.27 1,640 10.19 1,100 19.00 6,900 24.52 32,900 27.46 73,000 

6 12.65 1,760 22.15 17,600 25.65 43,800 26.92 62,600 8 8.47 735 12.93 1,860 9.76 1,010 22.41 18,800 26.40 54,800 26.16 51,200 

10 13.07 1,900 22.85 21,000 27.00 63,800 25.33 40,600 

N 8.71 782 12.92 1,850 9.42 932 23.03 22,100 27.18 67,400 24.47 32,500 

2 12.66 1,760 22.95 21,600 26.91 62,400 23.59 25,400 

4 8.97 834 12.35 1,660 9.27 899 22.92 21,400 26.46 55,700 22.75 20,600 

6 11.96 1,550 23.03 22,100 26.16 51,200 22.00 16,800 

8 9.39 926 11.55 1,430 9.60 972 23.08 22,400 26.20 51,800 21.36 14,300 

10 11.17 1,330 23.04 22,100 26.65 58,600 20.82 12,400 

12 10.50 1,170 10.83 1,250 10.28 1,120 23.06 22,300 27.29 69,600 20.35 10,800 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 13.81 1,620 

4 13.78 1,610 

6 19.27 7,580 13.73 1,590 

8 13.76 1,600 

10 13.78 1,610 

N 18.57 6,040 17.04 3,740 15.77 2,620 14.56 1,930 13.76 1,600 12.67 1,260 

2 13~75 1,600 

4 13.77 1,610 

6 18.08 5,220 13.70 1,580 

8 13.55 1,520 

10 13.36 1,460 

12 17.67 4,600 16.44 3,150 15.19 2,250 13.88 1,650 13.23 1,420 12.14 1,120 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 15.75 2,600 16.98 3,680 

4 11.80 1,050 16.20 2,960 17.26 3,990 

6 11.15 920 17.50 4,350 17.95 5,020 16.27 3,020 8 12.86 1,310 18.81 6,520 18.40 5,700 

10 19.32 7,700 18.34 5,610 

N 11.72 1,030 10.94 881 13.65 1,560 19.19 7,380 18.12 5,280 15.58 2,490 

2 18.85 6,600 17.83 4,840 

4 14.15 :)..,760 18.42 5,740 17.67 4,600 

6 10.73 850 18.00 5,100 17.34 4,110 14.82 2,060 

8 15.44 2,400 17.63 4,540 17.14 3,840 

10 17.33 4,100 16.97 3,670 

12 11.34 958 10.89 874 15.66 2,540 17.09 3,790 16.80 3,500 14.30 1,820 

Supplemental records.- July 12, 7 p.m., 26.11 ft, 50,400 cfs. 
Solomon River at Beloit, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°27 1 , long. 98°07 1 , in SWi sec. 9, T. 7 s., R. 7 w., in Beloit, 150ft 

upstream from dam at city water plant and li miles upstream from Leban Creek. Auxiliary wire-weight gage at bridge on State Highway 1~450 ft downstream from recorder. 

Datum of both gages is 1,339.11 ft above mean sea level, datum of 192~. 

Drainage area.- 5,430 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods May 1-8, 15-22, June 1, 

2, 12-21, 1 p.m. July 7 to 5 p.m. July 9, 12 m. July 12 to July 31, for which a graph 

was drawn based on wire-weight gage readings made three times daily. 

Dischar~e record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

31,0 0 cfs and extended to peak stage on basis of study of relationship of peak discharges to drainage areas at adjacent sites. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 125,000 cfs 4 a.m. July 13 (gage height, 39.30 ft). 

1895-97, 1929 to April 1951: Discharge, 37,800 cfs June 3, 1935 (gage height, 

34.5 ft, from graph based on gage readings and floodmarks) from rating curve extended 

above 25,000 cfs on basis of velocity-area studies. 

Mean discharge in second-feet~ 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 775 1,500 9,740 11 200 13,400 11,200 21 1,940 2,340 3,450 

2 873 3,850 6,210 12 187 7,580 72,200 22 4,630 10,400 4,050 

3 562 6,700 3,010 13 204 4,630 113,000 23 7,320 25,800 4,990 

4 397 8,230 2,160 14 226 4,500 67,000 24 14,000 38,200 7,210 

5 308 3,570 1,890 15 318 3,910 25,400 25 12,000 27,900 8,580 

6 259 1,880 2,400 16 574 4,160 12,500 26 6,450 14,200 7,380 

7 231 6,020 1,820 17 824 5,140 9,160 27 2,100 9,140 5,220 

8 222 13,100 1,500 18 1,160 3,040 6,920 28 1,450 7,030 3,390 

9 250 22,200 1,520 19 960 2,120 5,510 29 1,180 7,110 3,620 

10 222 19,300 2,500 20 782 1,530 4,410 30 1,170 9,880 5,310 

31 1,180 3,980 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet •....•..•..•..•...•.•...•...•. 2,031 9,612 13,460 

Runoff, in acre-feet .......•••...••..••..••.•...••.•...•••••..••••.• 124,900 572,000 827,600 

RlUloff, in inches. .••••••.•••.••..•••..•••..•....•...•........•..•.. 0.43 1.97 2.86 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Disheight charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 

~ July 8 July 9 July 10 July11 July12 July 13 

2 16.10 1,?,20 24.73 7,680 32.63 25,200 39.18 121,000 

4 15.78 1,380 16.10 1,720 25.78 8,760 34.30 32,800 39.30 125,000 

6 16.14 1,770 26.52 9,640 35.55 43,000 39.25 124,000 

8 15.80 1,400 16.17 1,800 26.99 10,300 36.46 58,300 39.20 122,000 

10 16.23 1,880 27.30 10,700 37.17 72,400 39.14 120,000 

N 15.89 1,490 15.88 1,480 16.30 1,960 27.48 11,000 37.60 81,200 38.98 115,000 

2 16.43 2,130 27.64 11,300 37.86 86,900 38.86 112,000 

4 15.98 1,590 16.48 2,190 27.84 11,700 38.06 91,400 38.73 108,000 

6 16.56 2,300 28.12 12,200 35.24 95,800 38•59 105,000 

8 16.07 1,690 18.30 3,690 28.67 13,300 38.50 102,000 38.46 101,000 

10 21.63 5,300 22.72 15,700 38.76 109,000 38.32 9'7,700 

12 15.81 1,41( 16.10 1,720 21.72 5,350 31.08 19,600 39.00 116,000 38.17 94,100 

July14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 38.m: 90,500 22.44 5,810 

4 37.86 86,900 34.47 33,700 29.22 14,500 26.63 9,780 22.27 5,690 

6 37.68 83,000 24.43 7,410 22.12 5,590 

8 37.49 78,800 33.69 29,800 28.62 13,200 26.28 9,340 21.97 5,500 

10 37.24 73,800 21.90 5,460 

N 36.91 67,20C 32.57 24,900 28.06 12,100 26.03 9,040 23.86 6,890 21.94 5,480 

2 36.56 60,200 22.10 5,580 

4 36.31: 55,800 31.12 19,700 27.65 11,300 25.86 8,850 22.04 5,540 

6 36.0E 51,40C 23.14 6,310 ·21.88 5,450 

8 35.81: 46,90( 30.25 17,100 2'7.31 10,800 25.70 8,670 21.67 5,320 

10 2f\.F,}?• 42,700 21.47 5,200 

12 35.19 39,000 29.72 15,700 27.00 10,300 25.28 8,230 22.59 5,910 21.26 5,080 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 18.41 3,730 17.34 3,260 20.09 4,440 23.16 6,330 25.94 8,930 

4 18.22 3,660 17.47 3,350 20.11 4,460 23.39 6,510 25.99 8,990 

6 18.05 3,590 18.01 3,570 20.18 4,490 23.57 6,660 2E.98 8,980 

8 17.90 3,530 18.87 3,920 20.37 4,580 23.68 6,740 25.92 8,910 

10 17.77 3,480 19.59 4,210 20.60 4,700 23.82 6,860 25.82 8,800 

N 19.94 4,370 17.65 3,430 19.84 4,320 20.86 4,840 24.00 7,020 25.72 8,690 

2 17.54 3,390 19.98 4,390 21.16 5,020 24.23 7,230 25.58 8,540 

4 17.45 3,340 20.06 4,430 21.48 5,210 24.50 7,470 25.44 8,390 

6 17.37 3,~90 20.10 4,450 21.82 5,410 24.82 7,770 ·25. 29 8,240 

8 17.32 3,250 20.10 4,450 22.20 5,640 25.16 8,110 25.17 8,120 

10 17.30 3,230 20.09 4,440 22.54 5,880 25.47 8,420 25.07 8,020 

12 18.62 3,820 17.30 3,230 20.08 4,440 22.86 6,100 25.74 8,710 25.00 7,950 

Supplemental records.- July 10, 11:30 p.m., 21.52 ft, 5,230 cfs; July 25, 5 a.m., 26.00 

ft , 9, 000 cfs. 
40 

Solomon River at Niles, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 7·8°58 1 , long:. 97°29', in NW-i sec. 3],, T. 12 S., R. l W., at county highway brldge three-quarters of a mile west of Niles and 12 miles upstream from mouth. 

Drainage area.- 6,770 square miles. 

Gage-heL,ht record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods· June 16, 17, June 30 

to July 2, for which a graph was drawn based on two or three wire-'.veight gage readings 

daily •. Disc:harge recor<!.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. 

Shifting-control method used June 28, 29. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discha:r~e, 178,000 cfs 6 a.m. July 14 {gr.ge height, 31.76 ft). 

------1897-1903, 1917 to April 1951: Discharge observed, 41,000 cfs June 3, 1903 (gage 

height, 33.8.ft, datum about 1! ft lower than present) by rainfall-runoff studies. 

Re~2rks.- Some diurnal fluctuation Gaused by power plants above station. 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 1,570 1,580 17,900 11 512 11,700 17,400 21 2,900 l\:1,300 12,300 

2 2,210 1,900 14,100 12 489 13,600 63,800 22 4,680 16,300 8,280 

3 1,780 4,010 14,000 13 472 14,900 68,200 23 6,100 15,500 6,470 

4 1,350 4,640 14,600 14 459 15,200 157,000 24 5,880 15,500 5,970 

5 1,080 4,950 11,500 15 462 14,300 90,500 25 5,800 16,100 5,470 

6 834 5,400 5,260 16 541 12,500 49,400 26 5,450 16,400 5,250 

7. 694 7,680 3,240 17 711 8,040 36,400 27 6,040 19,700 5,990 

8 603 9,550 3,090 18 1,500 5,330 28,400 28 7,220 29,000 7,100 

9 562 10,200 2,960 19 2,460 4,600 22,500 29 8,510 28,000 7,520 

10 545 10,400 3,260 20 2,310 4,200 16,800 30 5,520 23,900 6,560 

31 1,980 4,110 

Monthly mean di.scharge, in second-feet •....•.....•..•.....•...•...•.. 2,620 12,150 23,080 

Runoff, ·in thousands of acre-feet •..•..••......•.........• · .•.•..• 161.1 722.7 1,419 

Runoff, in inches. .•.•••.•.••.••.••.•...•.....................•..••. 0.45 2.00 3.93 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

1-c Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis-

::s height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

:X:: July 3 July 9 July 10 july 11 July 12 July 13 

2 22.59 5,240 29.51 2;:',,300 

4 16.65 2,760 24.42 6,220 29.65 26,800 30.87 53,400 

6 17.45 3,060 17.42 3,050 25.88 7,100 29.73 27,800 

8 16.63 2,750 27.21 8,84,0 30.08 32,500 30.90 54,900 

10 28.14 13,900 31.18 79.800 

N 17.50 3,080 17.19 2,960 17.20 2,960 29.14 21,700 31. 4f, 118,000 30.90 54,900 

2 29.50 20,200 31.41 111,000 

4 18.76 3,580 29.65 26,800 31.29 ~ 3' ?00 30.88 53,900 

6 17.62 3,130 16.94 2,860 29.63 26,600 31.18 7?,800 

8 19.44 3,860 29.57 26,000 :"1.08 68,800 31.25 8"3,600 

10 29.52 25,400 31.00 61,300 

12 17.60 3,120 16.78 2,800 20.92 4,470 29.50 25,200 30.94 57,500 31.62 149,000 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 31.70 165,000 

4 31.74 173,000 

6 31.76 178,000 

8 31.73 171,000 

10 31.70 165,000 

N 31. 6? 159,000 31.24 87,300 30.75 47,900 30.31 36,400 29.76 28,100 29.23 22,500 

2 31.66 157,000 

4 31.64 153,000 

6 31.61 147,000 

8 31.59 143,000 

10 31.55 136,000 

12 31.50 126,000 31.00 61,300 30.50 40,400 30.06 32,200 29.52 25,400 28.90 19,500 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 

4 25.53 6,890 

6 27.29 9,160 24.10 6,040 23.39 5,640 

8 25.09 6,620 

10 

N 28.54 16,700 27.8<;:< 12,400 26.94 7,900 24.69 6,380 24.02 5,090 23.03 5,460 

2 

4 24.40 6,210 

6 26.55 7,500 23.90 5,920 22.69 5,300 

8 :::4.23 6,110 

10 

12 28.20 14,300 27.46 10,000 25.97 7,150 24.14, 6,060 23.68 5,800 22.45 5,180 
41 

North Fprk Solomon River at Kirwin, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°40 1 , long. 99°07', in SWi sec. 34, T. 4 s., R. 16 W., half a mile 

south of Kirwin, three-quarters of a mile downstream from Bow Creek, and It miles 

upstream from Deer Creek. Datum of ~age is 1,656.95 ft above mean sea level, datum 

of 1929 (levels by Bureau of Reclamation). 

Drainage area.- 1,290 square miles. Gage-hei~ht record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods May 15-18, 26-31, 

June -8, 21, June 28 to July 5, July 7-10, 20, 21, 26-31, for which a graph was drawn based on once-daily wire-weight ga~e readings, and July 6, when there was no 

gage-height record. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge !elation defined by current-meter measurements below 

10,000 cfs and by slope-area and contracted-opening measurements at gage height 22.3 

ft. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 15,600 cfs 4:30 a.m., July ll (gage height, 20.42 

---rn. 

1919-25, 1928-32, 1941 to April 1951: · Discharge, 24,000 cfs (revised) Sept. 18, 

· 1919 (gage height, 22.5 ft). 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 40 474 270 11 34 177 10,900 21 560 1,390 524 

2 36 181 266 12 33 166 12,200 22 2,440 8,610 1,910' 

3 35 116 202 13 33 474 10,800 23 1,570 8,300 1,780 

4 33 87 502 14 35 902 4,990 24 774 3,680 1,510 5 33 79 200 15 96 642 3,020 25 234 2,250 1,310 

6 32 792 160 16 77 886 1,310 26 140 990 770 

7 32 1,970 137 17 76 1,060 877 27 141 722 558 

8 31 3,230 151 18 66 358 823 28 127 506 746 

9 40 1,980 146 19 80 183 702 29 106 574 542 

10 39 402 483 20 66 157 586 30 91 466 378 

31 207 362 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .....•..•..•........•...•...•. 237 1,393 1,907 

Runoff, in acre-feet .......••....•....•..••.•....•.•..••.•••...••..• 14,550 82,920 117,300 

Runoff, in inches. .•.••••..••.••..•.•...•...•.................•..•.. 0.21 1.21 1.70 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

$.c Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis-

::s height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

:I: July 8 July 9 July 10 J:uly 11 July 12 July 13 

2 4.73 141 15.60 5,6!';)0 18.30 10,200 19.75 13,700 

4 4.73 141 20.30 15,200 18.13 9,860 19.70 13,600 

6 4.82 150 4.73 141 19.98 14,200 19.14 12,200 19.35 12,700 

8 4.73 141 19.16 12,200 20.00 14,300 19.01 11,800 

10 4.73 141 18.60 10,800 19.66 13,,400 18.77 11,200 

N 4.85 153 4.78 146 4.73 141 18.13 9,860 19.17 12,200 18.55 10,700 

2 4.74 142 18.37 10,300 18.99 11,800 18.33 10,300 

4 4.82 150 18.71 11,100 19.26 12,400 18.08 9,760 

6 4.84 152 6.00 490 18.80 11,300 19.39 12, 800 17.78 9,160 

8 7.64 1,150 18.90 11,600 19.20 12,300 17.47 8,540 

10 8.95 1,670 18.92 11,600 19.25 12,400 17.16 7,920 

12 4.83 151 4.74 142 10.66 2,550 18.66 11,000 19.48 13,000 16.82 7,280 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July_18 July 19 

2 16.44 6,710 12.78 3,820 9.10 1,740 7.20 970 6.76 794 

4 15.82 5,870 12.54 3,670 8.65 1,550 7.15 950 6.74 786 

6 15.40 5,450 12.38 3,580 8.46 1,470 7.08 922 6.77 798 6.62 738 

8 15.08 5,130 12.02 3.360 8.20 1,370 6.98 882 6.85 830 

10 14.82 4,940 11.82 3,240 8.09 1,330 6.g3 862 6.90 850 

N 14.63 4,830 11.54 3,070 7.91 1,250 6.95 870 6.89 846 6.53 702 

2 14.35 4,680 11.23 2,890 7.69 1,170 6.92 858 6.85 830 

4 14.03 4,520 10.77 2,610 7.74 1,190 6.90 850 6.86 834 

6 13.62 4,290 10.69 2,560 7.58 1,120 6.85 830 6.89 (346 6.43 662 

8 13.22 4,070 10.29 2,340 7.45 1,070 6.82 818 6.89 846 

10 12.78 3,820 10.00 2,190 7.34 1,030 6.80 810 6.83 822 

12 12.68 3,760 9.50 1,940 7.26 994 6.78 802 6.75 790 6.34 626 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 6.34 626 9.53 1,960 8.82 1,620 8.44 1,470 

4 6.87 838 9.10 1,740 8.68 1,560 8.42 1,460 

6 6.28 602 6.12 538 7.75 1,190 8.98 1,680 8.64 1,550 8.40 1,450 

8 8.70 1,E70 9.03 1,700 8.57 1,520 8.36 1,430 

10 9.88 2,130 9.09 1,740 8.52 1,500 8.28 1,400 

N 6.24 586 6.08 522 11.00 2,750 9.16 1,770 8.47 1,480 8.18 1,360 

2 10.77 2,610 9.27 1,820 8.42 1,460 8.10 1,330 

4 10.87 2,670 9.24 1,810 8.42 1,460 7.94 1,270 

6 6.20 570 6.05 510 10.62 2,520 9.19 1,780 8.44 1,470 7.74 1,190 

8 10.37 2,380 9.15 1,760 8.48 1,480 7.52 1,100 

10 10.10 2,240 9.02 1,700 8.47 1,480 7.34 1,030 

12 6.15 550 6.02 498 9.90 2,140 8.93 1,660 8.46 1,470 7.18 962 

Supplemental records.- July 11, 4:30a.m., 20.42 ft, 15,600 cfs, 1 p.m., 18.15 ft, 9,900 

cfs; July 12, 3 a.m., 18.10 ft, 9,800 cfs, 7:30a.m., 20.04 ft, 14,400 cfs; July 15, 

1 a.m., 12.96 ft, 3,930 cfs; July 22, 1 p.m., 11.30 ft, 2,930 cf3. 
42 

North Fork Solomon River near Downs, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°31 1 , long. 98036', at west end of line between sees. 19 and 30, 

T. 6 S., R. 11 w., at bridge on U. s. Highway 24, 3 miles west of Downs, 4! miles 

upstream from Oak Creek, and ~ miles upstream from mouth. 

Drainage area.- 2,390 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for the periods May 25-28, June 

4, 5, 15, 17, 18, 6 a.m. July 19 to 10 a.m. July 22, 4 p.m. July 26 to 10 a.m. July 

28, for which graph was drawn based on once-daily wire-weight gage readings. Gage 

heights partially estimated June ll; no gage-height record May 29-31, June 16, 19, 

July l-8, 10 and insufficient gage-height record June 13, 14, 20, 28-30, July 9, 30, 

31. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

19,000 cfs and extended to peak stage by logarithmic plotting. Discharge for periods 

of insufficient or no gage-height record computed on basis of records for station at 

Kirwin and Solomon River at Beloit. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 35,700 cfs 12m. July 12 (gage height, 30.41 ft). 

1945 to April 1951: Discharge, 22,700 cfs Aug. 13, 1950 (gage height, 28.23 ft_). 

Mean discharge . in second-feet . 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 118 3,690 800 11 62 841 13,000 21 4,390 4,620 708 

2 148 4,980 580 12 62 1,720 32,300 22 6,790 9,050 1,080 

3 108 2,670 420 13 62 1,500 25,900 23 3,530 17,200 4,240 

4 95 706 600 14 82 1,100 13,800 24 1,140 11,200 1,770 

5 77 498 450 15 88 902 7,510 25 648 5,800 1,270 

6 67 583 350 16 132 700 3,700 26 500 1,950 1,030 

7 62 6,060 290 17 177 828 1,310 27 391 980 857 

8 60 7,880 310 18 138 880 1,510 28 330 1,200 1,760 

9 64 9,590 380 19 148 550 977 29 280 1,500 3,550 

10 63 4,660 1,400 20 132 350 817 30 250 1,300 1,500 

31 240 800 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet ...........•.................. 659 3,516 4,031 

Runoff, in acre-feet ..............•................................. 40,530 209,200 247,900 

Rtmoff, in inches. ..........•.....•...........................•..... 0.32 l. 64 1.94 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

~ Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis-

:3 height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

II: July fl July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 18.98 3,310 29.41 29,200 29.48 29,600 

4 21.52 5,490 29.56 30,100 29.31 28,600 

6 22.61 6,870 29.75 31,300 29.07 27,200 

8 23.65 8,570 29.98 32,800 28.87 26,000 

10 24.81 11,100 30.28 34,800 28.74 25,300 

N 25.47 12,800 30.41 35,700 28.70 25,100 

2 25.76 13,600 30.35 35·, 300 28.70 25,100 

4· 26.14 14,600 30.18 34,100 28.70 25,100 

6 27.00 17,500 29.98 32,800 28.65 24,800 

8 27.97 21,500 29.79 31,500 28.57 24,400 

10 28.81 25,700 29.65 30,600 28.36 23,400 

12 29.25 28,200 29.58 30,200 28.02 21,700 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 27.61 19,900 23.74 8,740 21.98 6,050 14.22 1,520 12.75 1,190 

4 27.15 18,000 23.55 8,390 21.74 5,760 13.93 1,450 14.20 1,520 12.00 1,040 

6 26.65 16,200 23.37 8,080 21.41 5,370 13.65 1,380 15.86 1,970 

8 26.24 15,000 23.23 7,840 20.89 4,830 13.38 1,320 16.18 2,080 11.81 1,010 

10 25.86 13,800 23.09 7,600 20.00 4,070 13.21 1,280 15.91 1,990 

N 25.52 12,900 22.95 7,380 19.00 3,320 13.14 1,270 15.26 1,790 11.59 968 

2 25.21 12,100 22.84 7,210 18.05 2,800 12.99 1,240 14.50 1,590 

4 24.92 ll, 300 22.73 7,040 17.14 2,430 12.85 1,210 13.68 1,380 ll. 48 951 

6 24.65 10,700 22.62 6,890 16.32 2,130 12.90 1,220 13.00 1,240 

8 24.42 10,200 22.49 6,710 15.68 1,920 12.95 1,230 12.56 1,150 11.26 916 

10 24.18 9, 630 22.37 6,550 15.09 1,740 12.86 1,210 12.28 1,100 

12 23.95 9,150 22.20 6,330 14.60 1,620 12.66 1,170 12.13 1,070 11.02 880 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 9.76 704 16.90 2,330 16.73 2,270 13.52 1,340 

4 10.87 859 9.99 736 9.92 726 19.00 3,320 16.05 2,030 13.37 1,310 

6 10.16 759 20.17 4,210 15.63 1,900 13.26 1,290 

8 10.72 838 9.86 717 10.50 807 20.72 4,670 15.38 1,830 13.15 1,270 

10 11.20 907 21.02 4~960 15.18 1,770 13.09 1,260 

N 10.57 817 9.75 702 12.80 1,200 21.26 5,210 14.98 1,710 13.06 1,250 

2 13.67 1,380 21.43 5,390 14.78 1,660 13.05 1 ,250 

4 10.42 796 9. 65 690 13.80 1,420 21.49 5,460 14.56 1,600 13.04 1,250 

6 13.49 1,340 21.30 5,250 14.33 1,550 13.02 1,240 

8 10.28 776 9.58 680 13.10 1,260 20.55 4,520 14.09 1,490 12.97 1,230 

10 13.25 1,290 19.15 3,420 13.89 1,440 12.91 1,220 

12 10.13 755 9. 67 692 14.75 1,650 17.80 2,690 13.69 1,390 12.85 1,210 

Supplemental records.- July 10, 11 p.m., 11.73 ft, 992 cfs; July 22, 3 p.m., 13.82 ft, 

1,420 cfs; July 22, 9 p.m., 13.04 ft, 1,250 cfs. 
43 

Big Blue River near Crete, Nebr. 

Location.- Lat. 40°35 1 40", long. 96°57 1 35", in Si sec. 3, T. 7 N., R. 4 E., at bridge on State Highway 82, 1.8 miles south from Missouri Pacific Railroad station in Crete, 

3.3 miles downstream from Walnut Creek, 3.6 miles upstream from Squaw Creek. Datum 

of gage is 1,311.5 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 2,680 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Wire-weight gage read twice daily. Gage heights above 12 feet 

obtained from graph based on gage readings. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Stagedischarge relation below about 12 feet affected by backwater from power dam downstream; discharge computed only for stages above 12 feet. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 25,000 cfs 4 a.m. June 3 (gage height, 28.3 ft.). 

-----1945 to April 1951: Discharge, 27,600 cfs July 10, 1950 (gage height, 28.74 ft.). 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 11 21 2,370 

2 13,500 12 22 2,580 

3 20,800 13 23 1,400 

4 11,800 14 1,870 24 

5 7,710 15 25 1,520 

6 4,860 16 26 1,740 

7 3,130 17 27 

8 1,990 18 3,830 28 

9 19 6,850 29 

10 20 3t390 30 

31 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet •....•..•..•............•...•. 

Runoff, in acre-feet ..•..........••.•••..••.•....•....••.•.•..•••..• 

Runoff, in inches. ...••••..••.••..•••..•....•........•........•.. ••· 
44 

Big Blue River at Barneston, Nebr. 

Location.- Lat 40°03', long. 96035 1 1 in NEiSWi sec: 13, T. lN., R. 7 E., in tailwater 

of power plant, three-quarters of a mile northwest of Barneston, 2 miles upstream 

from Plum Creek, and 5 miles upstream from Nebraska-Kansas State line. 

Drainage area.- 4,420 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorper graph except period July 25-31, for which a 

graph was drawn based on intermittent recorder record and occasional power plant 

tail-~age readings. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. 

Shifting-control method used May 4 to- June 2, July 15-31. 

Maxima.- M9.y-July 1951: Discharge, 126,000 cfs 12 p.m. June 4 (gage height, 27.48 ft ). 

---------1932 to April 1951: Discharge, 57,700 cfs June 9, 1941 (gage height, 34.3 ft ). 

Remarks.- Low flow regulated by power plant at gage, which has pondage of about 1,500 

---acre-feet. High flow occasionally affected for short periods by operation of trash 

gates. 

Mean discharge . in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 15,200 738 3,210 11 638 3,820 13,700 21 1,010 10,100 1,010 

2 7,910 11,600 2,680 12 521 4,990 18,200 22 2,160 12,900 1,360 

3 2,180 20,100 2,020 13 448 2,800 15,100 23 994 14,100 998 

4 1,100 22,700 1,670 14 519 8,310 6,330 24 696 10,100 699 

5 842 24,000 1,370 15 573 19,000 3,980 25 1,130 4,400 554 

6 565 19,400 10,200 16 648 12,000 2,470 26 2,040 15,900 518 

7 616 19,900 17,400 17 998 3,350 1,990 27 1,080 17,600 515 

8 596 12,500 5,750 18 923 2,400 8,130 28 .1,070 ll ,200 518 

9 596 5,710 1,530 19 1,500 6,100 2,440 29 970 4,740 440 

10 624 3,210 l, 740 20 1,130 6,850 1,360 30 954 3,390 410 

31 811 419 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet ...........•........•...•...•. 1,647 10,460 4,152 

Runoff, in acre-feet ..............•...•..•..•....•....•...•.....•..• 101,200 622,600 255,300 

Runoff, in inches. ....•.....•.••..•••...•...•........•... , .....•..•.. 0.43 2.64 1.08 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

1-c Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis-

::s height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

::c: July 8 July 9 July10 July 11 July12 July 13 

2 19.36 10,700 8.77 2,110 7.84 1,620 1,2.17 ~,870 24.44 18,700 24.15 18,100 

4 18.10 9,220 8.64 2,030 7.76 1,580 18.10 ~,,220 24.36 18,500 24.05 17,900 

6 16.60 7,840 8.51 1,960 7.64 1,520 19.05 10,300 24.32 18,400 23.90 17,600 

8 15.28 6,720 8.44 1,920 7.60 1,500 20.70 12,600 24.14 18,100 23.66 ·~1 ,200 

10 14.10 5,780 5.75 738 7.68 1,540 21.85 14,300 24.04 17,900 23.34 16,600 

N l3.dS 4,960 5.74 734 7.42 1,410 22.65 15,590 24.04 17,900 22.92 15,900 

2 12.19 4,330 5.74 734 7.68 1,540 23.25 16,500 24.08 18,000 22.42 15,100 

4 11.25 3,680 7.10 1,250 7.80 1,600 23.71 17,300 24.14 18,100 21.76 14,100 

6 10.40 3,090 7.52 1,460 7.94 1,670 23.99 17,800 24.18 18,200 20.91 12,900 

8 9.74 2,690 8.17 1,780 8.28 1,840 24.18 18,200 24.20 18,200 19.90 11,400 

10 9.28 2,420 7.98 1,690 9.31 2,440 24.34 18,509 24~22 18,300 18.95 10,200 

12 8.98 2,240 7.91 1,660 10.95 3,460 24.42 18,600 24.20 18,200 18.10 9,220 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 17.22 8,400 12.76 4,710 10.84 3,170 9.73 2,410 8.25 1,520 12.65 4,620 

4 16.42 7,680 12.54 4,530 10.76 3,110 9.60 2,320 10.00 2,600 11.88 4,000 

6 15.72 7,080 12.35 4,380 10.63 3,020 9.45 2,210 14.60 6,180 11.12 3,400 

8 15.14 6,610 12.16 4,230 10.56 2,980 9.30 2,120 19.61 11,000 10.46 2,910 

10 14.65 6,220 11.96 4,070 9.50 2,250 9.16 2,030 20.65 12,500 10.00 2,600 

N 14.28 5,920 11.79 3,930 5.93 545 9.07 1,970 20.93 12,900 9.64 2,330 

2 14.02 5,720 11.65 3,820 8.40 1,600 8.94 1,900 20.56 12,300 9.40 2,180 

4 13.80 5,540 11.48 3,680 9.60 2,320 8.80 1,820 19.60 11,000. 7.83 l,3QO 

6 13.61 5,390 11.32 3,560 10.00 2,590 8.71 1,770 18.40 9,540 5.94 548 

8 13.42 5,240 11.16 3,420 10.00 2,590 8.60 1,710 16.75 r"/,980 p.92 542 

10 13.20 5,060 11.06 3,350 9.98 2,570 8.47 1,640 15.05 6,540 7.95 1,360 

12 12.98 4,890 10 •. 96 3,260 9.82 2,470 8.33 1,560 13.62 5,400 8.38 l, 600 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12 
45 

Big Blue R~ver at Randolph, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°27 1 , long. 96°43', in·SWi sec. 12, T. 7 s., R. 6 E., at bridge on State Highway 13, half a mile upstream from Fancy Creek and three-quarters of a mile 

east of Randolph. Datum of gage is 1,034.73 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 9,100 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period July 29-31, for which a graPh was drawn based on once-daily wire-weight gage readings. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharg~ 60,100 cfs 2 p.m. July 13 (gage height, 28.88 ft). 

-----1918 to April 1951: Discharge, 80,000 cfs (revised) June 10, 1941 (gage height, 

30.81 ft), by conveyance-slope studies. 

Flood of 1903 reached a stage of 30.6 ft, from floodmarks. 

Mean discharge in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 27,200 1,78( 17,400 11 .1,87U 5,620 49,700 21 3,360 39,800 4,740 

2 35,800 3,01( 9,620 12 1,820 6,570 57,100 22 2,820 51,000 7,010 

3 18,100 18,10C 6,610 13 1,640 6,370 59,200. 23 3,590 45,400 12,200 

4 4,800 24,00( 5,550 14 1,520 6,780 50,000 24 2,600 36,200 4,890 

5 3,350 27,100 5,840 15 1,500 21,200 32,800 25 2,150 22,200 3,720 

6 2,76( 31,700 7,030 16 3,990 35,500 15,500 26 2,410 31,900 3,930 

7 2,18( 37,000 14,900 17 4,870 24,300 9,710 27 2,950 46,900 2,980 

8 2,10( 39,400 17,500 18 3,160 5,610 7,330 28 2,030 53,900 3,040 

9 1,97( 28,300 7,970 19 5,860 4,920 14,800 29 1,900 51,400 2,650 

10 1,92( 10,60( 25,300 20 5,510 9,340 7,060 30 2,020 36,400 2,730 

31 2,030 2,680 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet •...••..•..• , . , .... , •...•...•. 5,154 25,410 15,210 

Runof~ in thousands of acre-feet •••..••.•....•.•..••.•••..•.•.•• 316.9. 1,512 935.2 

Runoff, in inches. .•.••••• ; ••.••.••••. , •••..•....•...•......•.•..••. 0.65 3.12 1.93 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

~ Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis0 height charge height charge height charge height charge hdght charge height charg~ 

=· July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 18.26 17,100 10.61 4,410 27.87 51,80C· 28.77 59 ,00( 4 1'8.45 17,400 15.57 12,300 12.01 5,930 26.84 46,700 28.06 52,900 28,75 58,80( 

6 18.61 17,600 14.90 10,900 28.36 55,100 28.76 58,90( 

8 18.76 17,800 13.87 8,750 16.97 15,000 27.47 49,800 28.55 56,800 28.80 59,30( 

10 18.85 18,000 20.29 20,400 28~70 58,300 28.85 59 ,soc 

N 18.91 18,100 12.55 6,650 23.45 30,000 27.76 51,300 28.80 59,300 28.87 60,00( 

2 18.92 18,100 24.32 34,100 28.82 59,500 28.88 60,10( 

4 18.87 18,000 11.59 5,430 24.89 37.,000 27.77 51,400 28.80 59,300 28.87 60,00( 

6 18.75 17,800 25.30 39 ,ooo 28.80 59,300 28.82 59,500 

8 18.47 17,400 10.94 4,740 25.67 40,800 27.78 51,400 28.73 58,600 28.76 58,900 

10 17.98 16,700 25.90 42,000 28.75 58,800 28.67 58,000 

12 17.32 15,600 10.50 4,320 26.18 43,400 27.80 51,500 28.74 58,700 28.54 56,800 

July 14 July15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 13.25 7,68C 14.89 10,90( 4 28.24 54,100 25.52 40,100 18.72 17,800 13.09 7,42( 15.9'i 13,20( 

6 14.82 10,700 13.02 7,31C 16.9"f 15,00( 8 27.89 52,000 24.90 37,000 17.67 16,200 12.92 7,17C 17.68 16,20( 

10 12.90 7,140 18.20 17 ,ooc 

N 27.50 50,000 24.22 33,600 17.04 15,100 14.17 ·9 ,340 12.84 7 ,o~~ 18.44 17 ,40( 

2 12.78 6,97 18.36 17 ,30( 4 27.10 48,000 23.34 29,500 16.50 14,200 12.76 6,94C 18.04 16 ,80( 

6 13.86 8,730 12.82 7,030 17.53 16,00( 8 26.66 45,800 22.12 24,700 16.00 13,200 12.92 7,17C .16.81 14,70( 10 13.20 7,60C 16.00 13,20( 12 26.12 43,100 20.34 20,500 15.52 12,200 13.42 7,950 13.96 8,92C 15.24 11,60( 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July23 July 24 July 25 

2 10.25 4,120 17.28 15,60( 4 13.9€ 8,92( 11.3€ 5,160 10.17 4,060 17.27 15,50( 12.00 5,920 9.98 3,90( 

6 10.10 4,000 17.14 15,30( 8 13.05 7 ,36( 11.19 4,990 10.04 3,950 16.80 14,70( 11.2'7 5,070 9.89 3,83( 

10 9.99 3,910 16.36 13,90( 

N 12.4~ 6,48( ll.OC 4,800 10.10 4,000 15.84 12,90( 10.75 4,550 9.77 3,74C 

2 11.19 4,990 15.28 11,70( 4 11.90 5,80( 10.6E 4,450 13.07 7,390 14.74 10,50( 10.4C 4,240 9.64 3,63( 

6 1,4~ 7E 10,600 14.2~ 9 ,46( 

8 11.5E 5,38( 10.49 4,310 15.88 13,000 13.73 8,49( 10.15 4,040 9.50 3,52( 

10 16.60 14~400 13.28 7 ,73( 

12 1h4€ 5,27( 10.34 4,190 17.08 15,200 12.8€ 7,08( 10.04 3,950 9.34 3,39( 
46 

Big Blue River near Man~attan, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°J5'30", lom~. 96°35'03", tn SWi sec. 30, T. 9.S., R. 8 E., just above 

Kansas Power and Light Company power-plant dam and 8 miles upstream from mouth. 

Drainage area.- 9,540 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Graph based on twice-daily readings of wire-weight gage and frequent 

readings of power-plant staff gage. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

37,000 cfs and by slope-area measurement of peak discharve. At times durin~ May and 

June, discharges shown include flow through tainter gate and throu~h generator, 

computed on basis of a current-meter measurement and records of plant operation. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge; 102,000 cfs. 10 p.m. July 12 (gag-e height, 29.92 ft). 

Remarks.- Some regulation by power-plant operation. 

. ' Mean discharge in second-feet 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 23,800 2,490 2i1' 200 11 1,980 7,570 72,100 21 '3,000 32,500 (',,160 

2 33,800 4,050 12,300 12 2,370 7,390 95,300 22 3,760 73,200 5,~'90 

3 28,200 17,000 8,510 13 2,210 9,320 96,300 23 5,:260 63,200 1!"5,800 

4 8,010 24,100 6,110 14 1,800 8,050 8:",600 24 4,G50 45,200 7,310 

5 4,520 26,900 5,430 15 1,910 20,100 54,000 25 3,090 30,100 4,480 

6 3,250 30,000 6,990 16 5,660 31,400 22,700 26 3,150 28,600 5,010 

7 2,580 35,200 15,300 17 7,630 34,000 13,100 27 4,270 52,600 3,850 

8 2,310 38,000 19,200 18 5,320 9,830 9,420 28 3,200 75,000 3,050 

9 2,820 37,200 13,300 19 8,350 5,550 15,800 29 2,850 81,700 2,960 

10 2,260 14,500 29,800 20 9,250 11,000 10,800 30 2,770 59,100 2,780 

31 2,960 2,780 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet ...........•........•...•...•. 6,432 30,500 22,010 

Runoff, in thousands of acre-feet······· • · • · · · • • · · · · • • · • · · · · · • • · · • 395.5 1,815 1,354 

Runoff, in inches. .•..•..•.••..•..••..• , ••...•.......•.........•..••. 0.78 3.57 2.66 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

~ Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage m5- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis0 height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 

:I: July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 20.32 20,100 18.72 J1,400 

4 20.14 19,100 l.S.61 10,800 27.50 69 ,OOC 

6 20.04 18,500 19.82 17,400 18.72 11,400 29.17 '?0, 4(10 29.60 96, 6CO 

8 19.52 15,700 19.50 15,600 28.17 77,00C 

10 19.20 13,900 20.75 :22,400 

N 20.2 19,500 l8.8E 12,100 21.85· 28,800 28.50 8l,OOC 29.59 96,400 29.54 95,600 

2 18.5E 10,600 23.40 36,000 

4 18.30 0,450 24.15 38,800 28.70 83,80C 

6 20. 3~ 20,100 18.0~ 8,430 24.60 41,200 29.86 01,000 29.51 95,200 

8 1?.9~ 7,950 25.70 50,200 28.80 85,20( 

10 18.0~ 8,270 26.18 55,000 

12 20. 3E 20,300 18.8( 11,800 26.62 59,400 28.86 86,00C 29.89 01,000 29.47 94,600 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 

4 29. 3~ 92,600 22.43 31,800 

6 26.89 62,100 1C'.23 14,10C 18.45 10,1CO 18.75 11,600 

8 29 .oc 88,000 20.n5 23, E,OQ 

10 

N 28.7 83,900 26.1~ 54,400 20.31 20,000 10.02 12,SlOC 18.:27 9,320 19.95 18,000 

2 

4 28. 4~ 80,000 19.91 17,800 

6 25.2( 45,600 18.8:'· 12,000 18.13 8,680 20.42 20,600 

8 28.0 75,100 19.08 16,500 

10 

12 27.5E 69 '700 23.8'1 :'·7 ,700 1:' .49 15,500 18.64 11,000 18.00 8,150 10.90 17,800 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 19.48 15,400 

4 17.20 5,250 1°.71 16,700 

6 E>.lC 13,400 19.85 17,500 18.15 2,,780 15.97 4,560 

8 17.13 5,040 19.91 17,800 

10 19.92 17,900 

N 18.3E 9,720 l7.4E 6,110 17.06 4,830 19.85 17,500 17.66 6,810 16.92 4,410 

2 19.73 16,800 

4 17.00 4,650 19.56 15,900 

6 17.92 7,830 19.38 14,900 17.27 E,460 16.92 4,410 

8 17.65 6,780 19.16 13,700 

10 18.94_ 12,500 

12 17.7 6,990 17.2E 5,430 19.10 13,400 18.74 11,500 17.07 4,860 16.85 4,:.;00 

Supplemental record.- July 12, 10 p.m., 29.92 ft, 102,000 cfs. 
47 

Little Blue River at Angus, Nebr. 

Location.- Lat 40°161 2511 , long. 97°58 1 20", in NWt sec. 35, T. 4 N., R. 6 w., at bridge on county road a quarter of a mile downstream from Ox Bow Creek and half a mile 

southeast of Angus. 

Gage-height record.- Wire-wei~ht read twice daily and more frequently during rises. 

Gage heights computed from graphs based on gage readings June 1-8, 13-24, June 26 

to ·;:rulY. 2, July 10-18, 22. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

6,000 cfs and extended to peak stage. Shifting-control method used June 26 to July 

10, July 16-31. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 18,500 cfs 3 p.m. June 26 (gage height, 13.4 ft). 

September 1950 to April 1951: Discharge, 13,000 cfs Sept 21, 1950 (gage height, 

12.1 ft, from floodmark).. 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June .fuly Day May June July Day May June July 

1 201 1,800 506 11 99 169 4,490 21 ~64 243 186 

2 165 7,630 354 12 95 142 6,120 22 414 1,060 401 

3 137 2,130 284 13 93 474 4,660 23 264 820 222 

4 124 613 231 14 102 823 2,720 24 H<8 577 166 

5 115 318 207 15 100 810 1,850 25 153 317 151 

6 108 247 188 16 97 679 743 26 196 10,800 145 

7. 102 720 174 17 118 280 350 27 214 14,800 133 

8 99 495 167 18 119 1,370 293 28 139 7,440 126 

9 97 356 154 19 330 862 252 29 130 3,040 126 

10 126 247 1,910 20 256 352 214 30 126 996 121 

31 118 115 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .....•.....•..•...•.•...•...•. 158 2,020 895 

Runoff, in acre-feet ..••...•.•...••.•....••.•...••....••.•.•....•.•• 9,720 120,200 55,060 

Runoff, in inchea. .•••••..•••.••..•.•..•.•..•....•............•..••. 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

a Gage Dis- Qage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Disheight charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 

~ July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 2.00 158 

4 2.90 297 8.45 2,360 10.45 6,890 6 4.25 627 

8 5.74 1,120 9.00 2,740 10.35 6,560 9.85 4,920 10 7.25 1,760 

N 8.70 2,490 9.70 4,440 10.20 6,060 2 9.60 4,120 

4 9.55 3,960 10.20 6,060 10.10 5,730 9.78 4,700 6 8.90 2,630 

8 8.40 2,330 10.40 6,720 10.00 5,400 10 8.25 2,260 

12 l.9f 152 8.20 2,230 10.50 7,060 9.90 5_.~_080 9.45 3.650 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 

4 

6 7.90 2,080 5.15 868 3.85 457 

8 8.98 2,720 

10 

N 7.70 1,980 4.55 670 3.45 358 

2 

4 8.70 2,490 

6 7.00 1,630 4.22 571 2.85 233 

8 

10 

12 8.20 2,230 6.05 1,220 4.00 509 ::::.60 191 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12 
48 

Little Blue River near Endicott, Nebr. 

Location.- Lat 40°05 1 10", long. 97°08 1 10", in sec. 6, T. lN., R. 3 E., 300 feet downstream from county highway bridge, l~ miles upstream from Chicago, Burlington and 

"-uincy Railroad bridge, and 2 miles northwest of Endicott. 

Drainage area.- 2,340 square miles. 

Gage-heir;ht record.-- Water-sta"e recorder graph except period July 10-12. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. 

Shifting-control method used for stages below about 9 ft; for stages above 9 ft 

diseharge computed by using rate of change in stage as a factor. Discharge for July 

10-12 computed fro'll g:!"aph based on gage readings obtained at brid;;e on State Hi;hway 

15 about 4 miles upstream. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Dischar:;;e, 36,800 cfs 5 p.m. June 27. Ga;~e heif,ht, 16.82 ft 

--1-2-p.m. June 27. -

1908-15, 1929 to April 1951: Discharge, 31,000 cfs June 9, 1941 (~age height, 

16.23 ft), from rating curve extended above 20,000 cfs. 

Mean discharge , I in second-feet 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 797 303 2,410 11 270 1,160 11,000 21 94G 1,370 641 

2 961 3,590 1,320 12 270 1,160 20,000 22 1,060 2,880 700 

3 634 7,060 1,010 13 248 703 13,000 23 862 4,~20 775 

4 453 10,000 804 14 254 1,100 8,080 24 586 2,660 862 

5 371 2,640 675 15 262 1,660 4,670 25 470 1,340 562 

6 348 1,500 641 16 295 1,370 3,040 26 547 16,300 472 

7 324 1,370 782 17 351 1,140 1,540 27 464 28,900 431 

8 303 2,260 512 18 358 900 1,480 28 433 22,500 405 

9 290 1,960 453 19 348 1,360 926 29 418 12,000 402 

10 279 1,120 920 20 297 1,720 750 30 420 5,810 400 

31 344 371 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet ...........•............•..... 4:-jo 4,735 2,582 

Runoff, in acre-feet .....................•.......•....••.•.........• 28,290 28l,POO 58,700 

Runoff, in inches. ..........•..•..••....•.....................•...•. 0.~·3 2.26 1.27 
49 

Little Blue River at Waterville, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°42 1 , long. 96°451 , in SEi sec. 16, T. 4 s., R. 6 E., half a mile north 

of Waterville, 1 mile downstream from Corn Creek, and 4 miles upstream from mouth. 

Datum of gage is 1,111.06 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 3,440 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Graph drawn on basis of wire-weight gage readings made generally once da.ily, twice daily at high stages. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

25,000 cfs and extended to peak stage by logarithmic plotting. Shifting-control method 

used July 16-31. ~·-May-July 1951: Discharge, 38,200 cfs 2 a.m., July 13 (gage heiLrht, 24.65 ft). 

1922-25, 1928 to April 1951: Discharge, 50,400 cfs June 10, 1941 (gage height, 

26.20 ft, from floodmarks), by velocity-area studies. 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1 951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 7,790 605 8,210 11 601 2,130 25,200 21 970 20,800 1,980 

2 4,910 2,930 5,150 12 560 2,130 30,700 22 1,710 16,400 4,240 

3 3,430 7,800 4,240 13 545 1,720 33,800 23 1,330 11,200 4,510 

4 2,370 9,000 3,710 14 513 3,230 23,700 24 1,120 10,700 2,090 

5 1,410 9,760 3,520 15 520 6,350 12,700 25 1,210 5,880 1,500 

6 1,060 5,680 3,200 16 766 4,500 8,080 26 851 14,300 1,400 

7 916 6,550 3,030 17 816 2,630 5,950 27 707 22,900 1,330 

8 761 4,870 2,860 18 834 1,950 4,430 28 601 30,200 1,280 

9 702 5,390 2,550 19 1,710 1,400 3,990 29 567 26,000 1,310 

10 633 3,710 11,200 20 940 3,920 3,160 30 610 19,000 1,300 

31 633 1,200 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .....•.....•........•...•..... 1,358 8,788 7,146 

Runoff, in acre-feet .......•......•.•....••.....••.•..••...•....•..• 83,500 522,900 43~·, 400 

Runoff, in inches. .•.••••.•••..•..•.•..••.....................•..••. 0.46 2.85 2.39 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

J.< Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- ::s height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

:I: Julys July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 8.20 2,610 

4 9.42 3,590 

5 11.10 5,100 22.17 26,700 22.22 26,900 24.56 37,800 

8 13.10 7,110 

10 14.80 8,980 

N 8.52 2,870 8.08 2,510 16.18 10,600 21.88 25,500 22.94 29,800 23.80 34,000 

2 17.43 12,200 

4 18.45 13,900 

6 19.38 16,600 21.60 24,400 23.91 34,600 23.02 30,100 

8 20.24 19,300 

10 20.95 21,800 

12 8.27 2,670 8.07 2,510 21.42 23,700 21.75 25,000 24.61 38,000 22.59 28,400 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 

4 

6 22.18 26,700 

8 

10 

N 21.65 24,600 17.26 12,000 13.92 7,9QO 12.42 6,020 11.10 4,300 10.90 4,050 

2 

4 

6 20.70 21,000 

8 

10 

12 19.48 16,900 15.50 9,800 13.00 6,700 11.70 5,050 10.92 4,070 10.68 3,780 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 

4 8.91 1,750 

6 1<::.32 5,870 

8 9.08 1,880 

10 

N 10.19 3,190 9.05 1,860 11.~2 4,570 10.95 4,lf0 9.19 2,010 8.44 1,490 

2 

4 12.72 6,370 

6 10.30 3,300 

8 12.98 6,680 

10 

12 9.60 2,460 ~.90 1,740 12.94 6,640 9.84 2,770 8.70 1,580 8.27 1,440 

SupplementAl recorr1.- July VI, 2 a.m., 24.65 ft, 38,<::00 cfs. 
50 

Soldier Creek near Topeka, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 39°06 1 , long. 95°43', in NWi sec. 14, T. 11 S., R. 15 E., at steel highway bridge, 1~ miles upstream from Ha1fday Creek, 4 miles northwest of Topeka, and 

7 miles upstream from mouth. Datum of gage is 866.38 ft above mean sea level (levels 

by Corps of Engineers). 

Drainage area.- 268 square miles. Gage-hei~ht record.- Graph drawn on basis of wire-weight ga,;;e readings made generally once ally, with frequent readings during periods of high stages, May 1, June 21-24, 

26-30, July 5, 6, 10-12. 

Discharge record.- Stage-disc:harge r~:lla tion defined by cu_:rent-~Ieter measurements. Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 13,200 cfs 12 p.m. Ju~y 12 lgage height, 29.06 ft). 

1929 to April 1951: Discharge, 9,910 cfs April 23, 1944 (gage height, 28.2 ft, 

from graph based on gage readings}. 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 5,340 84 1,760 11 412 11E 8,070 21 724 2,950 384 

2 5,650 75 980 12 250 101 11,700 22 302 10,500 238 

3 830 136 2,300 13 169 111 11,800 23 196 8,160 266 

4 353 89 1,190 14 137 89 7,100 24 152 5,420 242 

5 265 61 4,320 15 122 1,010 4,990 25 134 1,740 193 

6 220 61 5,210 16 119 728 3,910 26 120 6,670 173 

7 185 175 1,790 17 ~'J05 22E 2,410 27 104 7,490 186 

8 165 508 679 18 197 31:3 1,010 28 91 3,680 154 

9 159 690 404 19 1,010 564 630 29 90 5,010 129 

10 367 674 2,110 20 l ,680 149 490 30 95 2,370 119 

31 92 lla 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .....•..•..•..•.....•...•...•. 646 1,998 2,423 

Runoff, in acre-feet .......•................•....•....••......•.•... 30,740 118,900 149,000 

Runoff, in inches. .•.•.....••.••...••..•.•..•.......•.........•..••. 2.78 8.32 10.42 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

1-< Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- ::s height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

:X: July 8 July 9 July iO. July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 5 •. so 537 18.99 4,960 26.28 9,620 

4 7.18 890 4.91 427 6.60 766 20.76 5,900 27.05 10,200 28.99 13,100 

6 8.12 1,100 22.40 6,880 27.55 10,600 

8 6.54 753 4.80 407 10.00 1,540 22± ~38 8,270 27.87 ll ,000 28.80 12,700 

10 ll. 73 2,010 25.20 8,840 28.15 11,400 

N 6.01 642 4.73 394 1?-.91 2,380 25.46 9,020 28.40 11,900 28.51 12,100 

2 13.68 2,550 25.58 9,110 28.60 12,300 

4 5.56 549 4. 69 387 14.22 2,850 25.68 9,180 28.76 12,600 28.08 11,300 

6 14.47 2,950 25.76 9,230 28.88 12,900 

8 5.22 484 4.68 386 14.18 2,830 25.83 9,280 28.97 13,000 27.53 10,400 

10 15. ?0 3,440 25.98 9,390 29.02 13,100 

12 5.04 450 4.71 391 17.25 4,110 26.07 9,460 29.06 13,200 26.86 9,630 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 26.50 9,200 17.82 3,310 

4 26.03 8,730 21.97 5,420 19.65 4,120 17.40 3,140 11.24 l,2t>C 8.13 693 

6 25.56 8,300 16.98 2,970 

8 25.02 7,820 21.68 .'5,230 19.38 4,000 16.50 2,780 10.55 1,110 7.91 658 

10 24.45 7,310 15.99 2,610 

N 23.80 6,790 21.35 5,030 19.17 3,910 15.40 2,410 9.73 956 7.70 624 

2 23.20 6,310 14.80 2,210 

4 22.78 5,990 20.92 4,780 18.98 3,820 14.10 2,000 9;12 852 7.53 596 

6 22.52 5,800 13.40 1,800 

8 22,37 5,700 20.48 4,540 18.72 3,700 12.88 1,670 8.72 787 7.37 569 

10 22.28 5,640 12.42 1,550 12 22.21 5,590 20.00 4,300 18.19 3,470 11.99 1,440 8.42 739 7.23 545 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 

4 7.10 523 6.50 421 5.87 314 5.50 257 5.56 266 5.11 20l::: 6 

8 6.99 504 6. 3q 402 5.78 

10 

300 5.52 260 5.49 25E 5.07 l9r; 

N 6.90 489 6.28 384 5.69 

2 

286 5.56 266 5.40 24~ 5.02 l£!C 

4 6 .'80 472 6.17 065 5.61 274 5.60 272 5.32 232 5;00 18'7 6 

8 6. 7l 457 6.06 346 5.55 

10 

264 5.62 2?5 5.21 216 4.98 184 

12 6.61 440 5.95 328 5.51 258 5.60 272 5.17 211 4.97 J8~ 

Supplemental records.- July 10, 7 p.m., 14.12 ft, 2,810 cfs. 
51 

Delaware River at Valley Falls, Kans. · 

Location.- Lat 39°21', long. 95°27', in SWi sec. 18, T. 8 s., R. 18 E., at county highway bridge, 200 ft downstream from Walnut Creek, 300 ft upstream from Atchison, Topeka, 

and Santa Fe Railway bridge, and a quarter of a mile north of Valley Falls. Datum of 

gage is 884.55 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 922 square miles. Gage-hei~ht record.- Graph drawn on basis of two or more daily wire-weight gage readings 

excep May 4 and July 29, when gage was not read. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

39,0 0 cfs and by slope-area measurement of peak discharge. Discharge for days of no gage-height record computed on basis of records for stations on nearby streams. 

Maxima•- May-July 1951: Discharge, 94,600 cfs 9:30 p.m. June 21 (gage height, 32.08 ft, 

---rrQm floodmarks). 

1922 to April 1951: Discharge: 45,900 cfs June 16, 1945 (gage height, 27.85 ft, 

from floodmark) • 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 18,600 282 1,070 11 1,010 257 21,300 21 850 42,900 605 

2 1,510 349 776 12 593 305 32,500 22 700 56,300 475 

3 1,010 401 2,100 13 432 329 18,200 23 522 15,200 456 

4 670 246 1,370 14 365 226 2,020 24 419 3,300 391 

5 654 215 5,180 15 337 1,230 1,200 25 378 1,220 357 

6 637 222 16,200 16 1,720 1,270 934 26 370 14,800 329 

7 505 1,040 12,700 17 1,090 406 711 27 325 13,500 304 

8 460 1,620 1,320 18 549 246 6,140 28 271 16,400 284 

9 490 748 828 19 7,580 293 2,660 29 278 13,400 270 

10 910 396 1,570 20 1,980 500 784 30 278 1,740 259 

31 293 245 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet ........•..•............•...•. 1,477 6,311 4,305 

Runoff, in acre-feet .............••...•..••.•....•.........•..•.•..• 90,820 375,600 264,900 

Runoff, in inches. .•..•.....•.••..•...........................•..••. 1.85 7.64 5. 39 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

H Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- ::s height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

ll:: July 3 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 5.66 1,890 4.35 862 15.08 9,180 24.89 31,400 24.55 29,800 4 5.41 1,680 4.37 878 4.42 915 18.24 12,700 24.91 31,600 24.22 28,100 

6 5.19 1,500 4.49 968 20.62 16,500 24.93 31,600 23.77 25,800 

8 5.03 1,370 4.30 825 4.59 1,040 21.49 18,300 24.95 31,800 23.18 23,400 

10 4.90 1,280 4.73 1,150 22.15 20,000 25.00 32,000 22.30 20,500 

N 4.83 1,220 4.26 797 4.90 1,280 22.84 22,200 25.18 • 32,900 21.20 17,600 

2 4.7fi 1,160 5.10 1,430 23.37 24,200 25.39 34,000 20.00 15,400 

4 4.68 1,110 4.24 783 5.32 1,610 23.85 26,200 25.45 34,200 18.68 13,300 

6 4.63 1,070 5.55 1,800 24.25 28,200 25.36 33,800 17.16 11,400 

8 4.56 1,020 4.26 797 6.00 2,180 24.55 29,800 25.21 33,000 15.24 9,340 

10 4.50 975 6.67 2,700 24.71 30,600 25.03 32,200 11.95 6,510 

12 4.46 945 4.31 832 10.02 4,980 24.82 31,100 24.82 31,100 7.98 3,570 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 6.96 2,900 4.09 684 10.60 5,430 

4 6.40 2,500 4.22 769 9.62 4,680 

6 6.02 2,200 4.90 1,280 4.51 982 4.21 762 4.45 938 8.68 4,020 

8 5.80 2,010 6.25 2,380 7-.85 3,480 

10 5.69 1,920 1f.20 9,300 6.96 2,900 

N 5.60 1,840 4.75 1,160 4.45 93!3 4.11 696 17.25 11,500 6.16 2,310 

2 5.54 1,790 16.57 10,700 5.36 1,640 

4 5.47 1,730 15.77 9,870 4.84 1,230 

6 5.40 1,670 4.66 1,100 4.38 885 4.04 654 14.84 8,960 4.54 1,000 

8 5.30 1,590 13.78 8,010 4.36 870 

10 5.22 1,530 12.75 7,150 4.31 832 

12 5.16 1,480 4.58 1,040 4.30 825 4.02 642 11.70 6,310 4.30 825 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 Jul:y 24 July 25 

2 

4 3.56 414 

6 4.30 825 3.73 490 3.67 462 

8 3.50 390 

10 

N 4.28 811 3.95 602 3.68 466 3.67 462 3.46 374 3.41 354 

2 

4 3.47 378 

6 4.18 742 3.65 452 3.65 452 

8 3.48 382 

10 

12 4.10 690 3.80 525 3.66 457 3.62 439 3.47 378 3.38 343 
52 

Wak«rusa River near Lawrence, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 38°55 1 , long. 95°16 1 , in NWi sec. 24, T. 13 S., R. 19 E., at bridge on 

U. s. Highway 59, 4 miles southwest of Lawrence, and ll miles upstream from mouth. 

Datum of gage is 799.24 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 458 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Graph drawn on basis of two or more daily wire-weight gage readings. 

Dlscharge r~cord.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

15,000 cfs and extended to peak stage by logarithmic plotting. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 24,200 cfs 12 p.m. July 12 (gage height, 31.59 ft, 

---rrom floodmark). 

1929 to April 1951: Discharge, 18,500 cfs April 23, 1944 (gage height, 30.00 ft, 

from graph based on rage readings). 

Mean discharge . I in second-feet 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 2,850 78 1,630 11 718 329 21,300 21 196 121 485 

2 3,660 62 790 12 396 311 22,600 22 347 672 269 

3 746 40 1,300 13 266 253 22,100 23 516 1,510 262 

4 463 30 1,350 14 202 174 9,790 24 275 3,760 333 

5 33.1 28 1,480 15 163 256 1,910 25 168 1,220 268 

6 256 226 2,350 16 158 526 996 26 132 8,120 194 

7 217 3,560 4,160 17 241 217 693 27 108 13,300 156 

8 190 3,130 1,'240 18 214 141 501 28 91 6,490 162 

9 178 2,720 678 19 182 429 424 29 82 3,730 116 

10 907 670 15,700 20 157 172 409 30 79 3,820 93 

31 81 85 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .....•..•..•............•..... 470 1,870 3,672 

Runoff, in acre-feet .............••.•....•.......•....•....•....•..• 28,900 111,300 225,800 

Runoff, in inches. ...•.•...••.••..•••..••.....................•..••. 1.18 4.55 9.24 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

H Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis-

;:I height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

:I: July 8 July 9 July10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 16.20 2,370 9.88 706 16.48 2,470 

4 14.69 1,860 9. 78 686 24.00 6,150 31.07 21,800 

6 13.31 1,460 9.71 672 29.07 14,200 30.88 21,000 31.46 23,600 

8 12.20 1,200 9.64 65? 29.80 16,800 31.10 22,000 

10 11.49 1,040 9.58 647 30.18 18,200 

N 11.11 959 9.55 642 30.38 19,000 30.97 21,400 31.17 22,300 31.21 22,400 

2 10.82 897 9.53 638 30.48 19,400 

4 10.60 851 9.51 634 30.59 19,900 31.29 22,800 

6 10.40 810 9.50 632 30.69 20' 300 31.02 21,600 30.89 21,100 8 10.26 782 9.50 632 30.77 20,600 31.50 23,800 

10 10.11 752 9.55 642 30.81 20,700 

12 9.99 728 12.00 1,160 30.85 20,900 31.04 21,700 31.59 24,200 30.27 18,600 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 30.01 17,500 

4 29.69 16,400 16.65 2,530 10.43 816 9.02 534 

6 29.27 14,900 11.57 1,060 

8 28.80 13,400 15.18 2,020 10.17 764 9.03 536 

10 28.00 11,200 

N 26.28 7,920 15.12 2,000 11.23 986 9.86 702 8.95 520 8.50 430 

2 24.75 6,640 

4 23.25 5, 700 13.24 1,440 9.43 616 8.77 484 6 21.88 4,930 10.94 922 

8 20.64 4,270 12.53 1,280 ·9.15 56'0 8.59 448 

10 19.49 3,700 

12 18.43 3,220 12.08 1,170 10.64 859 9.05 540 8.51 432 8.38 406 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 

4 8.32 394 8.78 486 

6 7.72 274 7.54 238 8.06 342 

8 8.27 384 8.87 504 

10 

N 8.31 392 8.89 508 7.53 236 7.63 256 8.08 346 7.69 268 

2 

4 8.41 4J2 8.85 500 

6 7.57 244 7.75 280 8.01 332 

8 8.54 438 8.71 472 

10 

12 8.68 466 8.40 410 7.53 236 7.Pl 312 7.91 312 7.47 224 
53 

Stranger Creek near Tonganoxie, Kans. 

Location,- Lat 39°06 1 , long. 95°01 1 , in NEi sec. 13, T. 11 S., R. 21 E., at highway 

bridge 1 mile upstream from Tonganoxie Creek, 4 miles east of Tonganoxie, and 9 miles 

upstream from mouth. Datum of gage is 796.95 ft above mean sea level (levels by 

Corps of Engineers). 

Drainage area.- 406 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods May 23, 24, 26, 27, 

29-31, June 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 12, for which a graph was drawn based on once-daily wireweight gage readings, May 25, 28, June l, ~-6, 8, 11, when there was no ga~e-height 

record. 

Dischar~e record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

16,0 0 cfs and by slope-area measurement of peak discharge. Discharge for periods 

o.f no gage-height record computed on basis of recorded range in stage and records for 

stations on nearby streams. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 33,100 cfs 12 p.m. July 12 {gage height, 28.94 ft)~ 

1929 to April 1951: Discharge, 15,500 cfs Dec. 5, 1944 (gage height, 27.40 ft). 

Mean disc h arge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 2,380 95 2,640 11 773 220 3,370 21 135 811 246 

2 3,220 73 468 12 406 155 14,200 22 141 2,620 196 

3 3,100 67 656 13 254 88 19,400 23 119 7,300 i90 

4 512 65 892 14 198 78 10,200 24 104 9,960 190 

5 323 70 2,760 15 168 108 2,580 25 105 4,110 165 

6 261 150 3,430 16 172 438 567 26 108 3,150 148 

7 222 104 3,950 17 218 329 346 27 i06 3,820 134 

8 201 450 6,170 18 186 131 278 28 84 8,290 124 

9 224 365 2,600 19 164 119 870 29 74 3,810 116 

10 1,060 307 1,120 20 144 470 679 30 81 8,160 111 

31 96 114 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .....•..•..•..•.........•...•. 495 1,864 2,545 

Runoff, in acre-feet ...............••••..••.•...••.••.••.•••..•••.•• 30,420 ll0,900 156,500 

Runoff, in inches. .•.•..•..••.••.••••..•••..•.......•.......•.•..••. 1.41 5.12 7.23 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

~ Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Disheight charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 

~ July 8 July 9 July 10 JuJ,y 11 July 12 July 13 

2 25.70 6,960 24.50 3,700 17.20 1,300 16.84 1,230 24.90 3,940 

'4 25.72 7,060 23.93 3,390 16.89 1,240 20.32 2,150 25.03 4,070 28.54 27,900 

6 25.74 7,150 23.33 3,130 16.58 1,180 22.91 2,970 25.25 4,820 

8 25.75 7,200 22.87 2,950 16.21 1,100 24.01 3,420 25.59 6,430 27.99 21,800 

10 25.73 7,100 22.45 2,810 15.82 1,020 24.60 3,760 26.02 8,500 

N 25.68 6,860 21.89 2,620 15.63 986 24.94 3,960 26.51 ll,lOO 27.45 17,00C 

2 25.61 6,530 21.23 2,420 15.65 990 25.07 4,170 27.15 15,000 

4 25.50 6,000 20.55 2,220 15.87 1;030 25.08 4,190 27.62 18,500 27.02 14,100 

6 25.37 5,380 19.79 1,990 16.13 1,090 25~04 4,100 28.32 25,400 

8 25.20 4,600 19.03 1,760 16.30 1,120 25.00 4,000 28.14 23,400 26.80 12,800 

10 25.00 4,000 18.25 1,560 16.37 1,130 24.94 '3,969 28.61 28,800 

12 24.78 3,870 17.58 1,400 16.38 1,140 24.86 3,920 28.94 33,100 26.78 12,700 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 25.12 4,310 10.49 260 

4 26.80 12,800 24.84 3,900 13.75 658 11.66 379 10.49 260 

6 24.47 3,680 10.78 287 10.84 293 

8 26.70 12,200 24.01 3,420 13.41 607 11.50 361 12.46 476 

10 23.26 3,100 14.22 730 

N 26.44 10,700 22 .. 15 2,700 13.19 577 11.31 340 10.67 276 15.63 986 

2 20.39 2,170 16.46 1,150 

4 26.13 9,080 18.46 1,620 12.84 528 11.16 325 ·17.09 1,280 

6 16.78 1,220 10.56 266 17.47 1,370 

8 25.76 7,25C 15.55 970 12.30 455 ll.03 312 17.65 1,410 

10 14.76 822 17.64 1,410 

12 25.35 5,280 14.26 737 12.00 418 10.94 30.3 10.50 261 17.42 1,360 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 16.96 1,250 

4 16.32 1,120 9.50 178 

6 15.59 978 10.51 262 9.66 191 

8 14.73 816 9.57 184 

10 13.91 682 

N 13.14 570 10.28 241 9.72 196 9.68 192 9.71 195 9.3.3 164 

2 12.47 477 

4 11.~6 413 9.78 200 

6 11.56 368· 10.11 227 9.61 187 

8 11.26 335 9.75 198 

10 11.01 310 

.12 10.86 295 9.96 215 9.51 179 9.70 194 9.48 176 9.20 155 

Supplemental records.- July 12, 7 p.m., 28.55 ft, 28,000 cfs. 
54 Marais de Cygnes River at Melvern, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 38°31 1 , long. 95°38 1 , in SW~ sec. 3, T. 18 S., R. 16 E., half a mile 

north of Melvern and li miles upstream from Long Creek. 

Drainage area.- 363 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- From graph based on once-daily wire-weight gage readings, except 

May 9, 10, 16, June 26, 30, July 17, when there was insufficient gage-height record 

to construct the graph. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

19,000 cfs and by slope-area measurement of peak discharge. Discharge for days of 

insufficient gage-height computed on basis of records for stations on nearby streams. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, -68,000 cfs 6 a.m. July 11 (gage height, 31.5 ft, 

from floodmarks). 

1939 to April 1951: Discharge, 29,000 cfs April 23, 1944 (gage height, 26.7 ft). 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 :'1,690 55 '742 11 97 389 58,000 21 220 60 .239 

2 1,400 46 348 12 95 202 40,200 22 273 160 .l-80 

3 935 37 1,230 13 92 204 24,'700 23 930 2,790 3 ;o?o 

4 399 31 1,170 14 92 22C 5,480 24 318 1,540 659 

5 119 31 700 15 99 24€ 681 25 192 522 306 6 109 34 2,940 16 500 234 738 26 180 1,500 238 7 104 ] ,420 7,310 17 90 180 1,500 27 128 372 426 

8 93 1,790 3,790 18 83 119 388 28 92 444 224 

9 2,500 1,420 639 19 84 86 291 29 69 458 180 

10 480 1,190 9,840 20 180 69 267 30 60 3,500 146 

31 59 1~5 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet ...........•............•...•. 444 645 5,411 

Runoff, in acre-feet ...•..............•..••.•....•.....•...•..•.•..• 27,300 38,380 3:Z2,700 

Runoff, in inches. .....•...••..•..••....•...•.................•..•.. 1. 41 1.98 17.19 
55 

Marais des Cygnes River near Ottawa, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 38°37', long. 95°15', in NWi sec. 6, T. 17 S., R. 20 E., three-quarters 

of a mile downstream from Skunk Creek and li miles southeast of Ottawa, Datum of gage 

is 656.06 ft above mean sea level (levels by Corps of Engineers). 

Drainage area.- 1 1 260 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods May 1-6, for which 

graph was drawn based on once-daily readings of U. S. Geological Survey wire-weight 

gage, and 9 p.m. July 12 to 5 p.m. July 16, for which graph was drawn based on once- daily readings of U. s. Weather Bureau gage ll miles upstream,which were converted 

by a gage-relation curve. Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

44,0 0 cfs and by slope-area measurement of peak discharge. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 142,000 cfs 12 p.m. July 11 to 2 a.m. July 12 (gage 

---nefght, 42.50 ft), by slope-area measurement. 

1902-5, 1916 to April 1951: Discharge, 75,000 cfs Nov. 17, 1928 (gage height, 

38.65 ft). 

Mean dischar_ge in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 4,600 224 9,500 11 5,950 1,910 62,300 21 788 256 665 

2 9,110 196 7,120 12 1,280 79e 139,000 22 748 467 536 

3 6,660 163 1,560 13 766 759 117,000 23 1,620 982 2,540 4 3,500 143 1,120 14 565 527 51,300 24 1,580 4,260 4,210 5 856 126 1,30d 15 464 449 19,100 25 794 6,600 2,100 

6 646 140 1,670 16 434 1,070 11,500 26 516 7,080 713 

7 519 3,090 5,040 17 753 987 4,650 27 363 10,500 876 

8 440 7,010 6,720 18 645 464 3,120 28 326 7,660 945 

9 673 11,200 7,760 19 740 323 1,110 29 286 8,460 478 

10 7,970 8,710 10,100 20 635 440 622 30 241 9,680 385 

31 230 305 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet •...••..•..•..•...•.•...•...•. 1,651 3,157 15,410 

Runoff, in acre-feet ...•..••••...••••••..••.•...••.•..••.•••..•••..• 113,800 187,800 947,200 

Runoff, in inches. .••••••••••.••..•••.••••..•.......•.......•.•..••. 1.69 2.80 14.10 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

s Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Disheight charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 

~ July 8 July 9 July10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 15.83 5,260 29.33 13,400 42.50 142,000 

4 20.78 8,020 23.02 0 ,360 18.33 6,660 29.77 13,700 42.44 141,000 42.02 134,000 

6 20.73 7,990 30.31 14,100 42.46 141,000 

8 21.53 6,470 22.48 9,040 22.?5 9,320 31.43 15,500 42.35 140,000 41.67 129,000 

10 24.63 10,300 32.58 20,600 42.25 138,000 

N 22.18 8,860 21.30 8,330 25.77 11,000 34.98 42,600 42.20 137,000 41.20 1:22,000 

2 26.60 11,500 37.63 71,600 42.20 137,000 

4 22.67 9,150 19.28 7,140 27.43 12,100 39.53 97,400 42.24 138,000 40.85 112,000 

6 28.08 12,600 40.73 115,000 42.27 138,000 

8 23.02 9,360 16.65 5,820 28.48 12,800 41.63 128,000 42.25 138,000 39.45 96,300 

10 28.81 13,100 42.25 138,000 42.21 137 ,ooo 

12 23.15 9,440 14.67 4,250 29.06 13,200 42.50 142,000 42.19 137,000 38.28 79,900 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 

4 29.44 13,500 15.85 5,280 14.26 3,910 7.27 1,290 

6 36.76 61,600 32.83 22,600 

8 28.62 12,900 14.95 4,500 13.85 3,610 6.65 1,140 

10 

N ·35.65 49,300 31.97 16,700 27.55 12,200 14.67 4,250 13.23 3,240 6.28 1,050 

2 

4 25.80 11,000 14.65 4,240 12.41 2,860 6.03 988 

6 34.65 39' 300 31.11 14,900 

8 22.28 8,920 14.65 4!240 10.73 2,260 5.87 945 

10 

12 33.70 30,300 30.20 14,100 18.15 6,580 14.59 4,180 8.27 1,540 5.75 912 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 4.63 603 

4 7.23 1,290 13.11 3,170 

6 5.59 869 10.23 2,100 14.23 3,880 

8 12.10 2,740 1:1.. 53 2,540 

10 13.08 3,150 

N 5.41 821 4.85 666 4.41 539 1:1.26 3,260 15.03 4,580 9.49 1,880 

2 13.16 3,200 

4 13.03 3,120 7.73 1,410 

6 5.25 778 12.94 3,080 15.24 4,770 

8 12.87 3,050 6.57 1,120 

10 12.92 3,C70 

12 5.08 732 4.61 597 4.18 472 13.18 3,210 14.37 4,000 5.83 934 

Supplemental records.- July 23, 1 a.m., 4.18 ft, 472 cfs. 
56 

Marais des Cygnes River at Trading Post, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 38°15 1 , long. 94°41', in SEi sec. 5, T. 21 S., R. 25 E., at bridge on U. S. Highway 69 at Trading Post, l mile upstream from Big Sugar Creek. Datum of 

gage is 761.16 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 2,910 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 6 a.m. July 13 to 12 p.m. July 14, for which a graph was drawn based on floodmark and shape of graph on adjacent days, and July 15 to 22, for which a graph was drawn based on twice-daily wire-weight gage readings. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

110,000 cfs and extended to pea~ stage on basis of area-velocity studies. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 148,000 cfs 2 to 4 a.m. July 14 (gage height, 38.12 ~from floodmark in gage house). 

1921-23, 1928 to April 1951: Discharge, 120,000 cfs Nov. 18, 1928 (gage height, 

34.45 ft), from rating curve extended above 74,000 cfs. 

Mean discharge . in second-feet . 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 1,850 912 51,700 11 6,940 14,200 27,400 21 2,250 6,900 14,100 2 8,360 728 39,600 12 10,100 13,900 59,000 22 2,740 2,900 4,630 

3 11,900 616 31,800 13 7,500 6,950 jl26,000 23 2,800 4,340 2,240 

4 13,200 538 32,100 14 2,400 2,300 jl4l,OOO 24 3,120 13,000 7,580 

5 12,900 472 127,600 15 1,500 1,580 107,000 25 3,120 15,900 9,510 

6 6,240 454 122,100 16 1,220 3,950 73,000 26 2,210 17,100 8,090 7 1,760 2,160 ~0,800 17 2,330 8,620 52,600 27 1,460 21,000 2,940 

8 1,240 6,440 jl9,100 18 2,630 4,830 39,300 28 1,060 23,400 1,630 

9 1,060 11,200 16,800 19 2,290 1,980 30,100 29 888 28,900 1,820 

10 1,950 13,500 IJ..7,600 20 2,290 3,100 23,800 30 819 44,200 1,690 31 763 896 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .....•.....•........•...•...•. 3,900 9,202 32,690 

Runoff, in thousands of acre-feet ..••..••.....••.....•...•....•..• .239 .8 547.6 2,010 

Runoff, in inches. ...•••...••.••..•••...••..•.................•.. • .. 1.54 3.53 12.95 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- 1-c 

::l height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

:I: July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 

4 26.14 19,900 26.57 21,800 28.84 39,400 34.96 107,000 6 25.04 17,300 24.65 16,500 8 25.99 19,500 26.98 23,900 29.40 45,000 35.97 119,000 10 

N 25.83 19,100 

2 

24.79 16,800 25.14 17,500 27.50 27,000 30.26 54,100 36.78 129,000 

4 25.65 18,700 27.93 30,400 31.54 69,500 37.39 !137,000 6 24.52 16,200 25.51 18,400 

8 25.47 18,300 28.20 33,000 32.49 80,400 37.83 ~44,000 10 

12 25.30 17,900 24.30 15,800 26.18 20,100 28.52 36,200 33.81 94,600 38.07 1147,000 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 

4 38.12 148,000 

6 35.73 116,000 ~2.48 80,300 30.48 56,800 29.13 42,300 28.12 32,200 8 38.01 146,000 

10 

N 37.76 143,000 

2 

34.87 106,000 ~1.78 72,400 ~0.14 52,700 128.81 39,100 27.84 29,700 

4 37.43 138,000 

6 34.03 96,800 ~1.18 8 37.02 132,000 

65,200 b9,74 48,400 128.51 36,100 127.64 28,100 

10 

12 36.56 126,000 33.23 88,500 30.75 60,000 29.43 45,300 28.29 33,900 27.48 26,900 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 17.9( 8,370 4.32 1,870 13.42 5,090 19.11 9,340 

4 27.37 26,200 25.24 17,800 16.8( 7,500 4.14 1,770 14.43 5,800 19.20 9,420 

6 15. 6~ 6,640 4.07 1,720 15.36 6,450 19.26 9,470 

8 27.23 25,400 24.36 15,900 14. 3~ 5,730 4.02 1,680 16.21 7,060 19.32 9,520 

10 12.8~ 4,690 4.02 1,680 16.89 7,570 19.36 9,560 

N 27.03 24,200 23.28 14,000 ll. 2~ 3,700 4.11 1,750 17.44 8,000 19.40 9,590 

2 

!26.75 

9. 6~ 3,180 4.40 1,900 17.98 8,430 19.41 9,600 

4 22,800 22.00 12,100 8. 3~ 2,920 5.25 2,200 18.30 8,690 19.41 9,600 

6 7 .1~ 2,660 6.93 2,610 18.53 8,870 19 0 40 9,590 

8 26.38 20,900 20.50 10,600 6.H 2,420 8.92 3,040 18.71 9,020 19.36 9,560 

10 5. 3( 2,210 I:L0.82 3,480 18.87 9,150 19 0 30 9,500 

12 25.89 19,200 18.89 9,160 4. 6E 2,o::w 2.25 4,310 19.00 9,250 19.21 9,430 

Supp'lemental records.- July 10, l a.m., 24.27 ft, 15,700 cfs; July 14, 2 a.m. 38.12 ft, 

148,000 cfs. 
57 

Osage River at Osceola, Mo. 

Location.- Lat 38°031 44", long. 93°41'37", in NEiNE! sec. 17, T. 38 N., R. 25 w., halr 

a mile downstream rrom Gallinipper Creek, 1 mile downstream rrom hydroelectric plant 

or West Missouri Power Co., and 1 mile northeast or Osceola. Datum or gag;e is 678.91 

rt above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 8,220 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-sta~e recorder graph. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Gage 

heights used to half tenths below 6.0 ft and tenths above. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 98,300 cfs 2 to 7 p.m. July 6 (gage height, 35.87 ft 

---ro-gage well, 36.04 ft from outside gage). 

1921-28, 1930 to April 1951: Discharge, 146,000 cfs May 21, 1943 (gage height, 

41.48 ft in gage well, 41.7 ft from outside ga~e). 

Maximum stage known prior to 1943, about 40.3 ft in June 1844, from profile based on 

floodmarks in the vicinity and furnished by Union Electric Company of Missouri (discharge, 135,000 cfs, from rating curve derined by discharge measurements since 1931). 

Remarks.- Low and medium flow regulated by power plant 1 mile upstream. 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 4,190 3,680 53,800 11 5,040 16,300 67,700 21 5,210 9,370 84,500 

2 5,210 2,620 60,500 12 9,550 18,400 65,700 22 8,830 18,200 77,400 

3 10,300 2,230 65,800 13 12,100 19,900 61,000 23 14,300 25,800 69,600 

4 13,700 1,930 89,400 14 12,700 ;L7, 400 56,600 24 14,100 32,700 62,200 

5 14,700 1,650 74,200 15 9,190 14,100 57,600 25 13,300 27,000 55,200 

6 15,300 1,350 96,100 16 4,700 9,550 65,900 26 13,100 28,800 49,500 

7 14,700 2,050 90,900 17 3,280 11,600 79,200 27 12,000 30,600 42,800 

8 9,190 6,740 74,000 18 3,760 13,900 88,600 28 8,110 30,600 35,500 

9 4,360 14,100 64,400 19 5,380 12,300 91,600 29 4,280 33,400 28,300 

10 3,760 15,700 67,600 20 5,210 8,470 90,600 30 2,830 44,800 20,100 

31 3,120 7,930 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .....•..•.••........•...•...•. 8,565 15,840 64,330 

Runoff, in thousands of acre-feet ••...••.•...••....••.•••..••••.• b26.6 942.6 3,955 

Runoff, in inches. .•.••••••••.••.••••..•••..•....•..•.........•..••. 1.20 2.15 9.02 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

~ Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Disheight charge height charge height ch~rge height charge height charge height charge 

July 8 July 9 July10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 33.44 80,500 31.22 67,300 30.02 61,400 31.59 69,500 31.00 66,300 30.56 64,300 

4 33.10 78,500 31.06 66,800 30.42 63,300 31.51 68,900 30.98 66,300 30.47 63,800 

6 33.03 77,900 30.92 65,800 30.64 64,300 31.44 68,400 30.95 66,300 30.36 63,300 

8 32.90 77,300 30.75 65,300 31.00 66,300 31.38 68,400 30.93 65,800 30.23 62,400 

10 32.65 75,400 30.61 64,300 31.19 67,300 31.31 67,900 30.91 65,800 30.08 61,900 

N 32.47 74,800 30.47 63,800 31.43 68,400 31.28 67,900 30.88 65,800 29.97 61,400 

2 32.27 73,600 30.33 62,800 31.61 69,500 31.23 67,300 30.89 65,800 29.80 60,500 

4 32.01 71,800 30.22 62,400 31.71 70,100 31.19 67,300 30.87 65,800 29.68 60,000 

6 31.92 71,200 30.10 61,900 31.76 70,600 31.12 66,800 30.83 65,300 29.57 59,600 

8 31.72 70,100 30.01 61,400 31.74 70,100 31.10 66,800 30.78 65,300 29.39 58,700 

10 31.53 68,900 30.85 65,300 31.70 70,100 31.06 66,800 30.71 64,800 2().29 58,200 

12 31.37 68,400 30.78 65,300 31.63 69,500 31.03 66,300 30.67 64,800 29.20 57,800 

July14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 29.16 57,800 28.82 56,000 29.84 60,500 32.22 73,000 34.15 85,900 34.89 90,900 

4 29.09 57,300 28.87 56,500 30.03 61,400 32.39 74,200 34.23 85,900 34.02 90,900 

6 29.00 56,900 28.89 56,500 30.23 62,400 32.59 75,400 34.30 86,600 34.96 91,600 

8 29.00 56,900 28.91 56,500 30.40 63,300 32.79 76,600 34.39 87,300 34.97 91,600 

10 28.95 56,900 28.97 56,900 30.58 64,300 32.97 77,900 34.47 88,000 34.07 91,600 

N 28.91 56,500 29.05 56,900 30.77 65,300 33.16 79,200 34.56 88,700 34.98 91,600 

2 28.88 56,500 29.13 57,300 30.96 66,300 33.29 79,800 34.65 88,700 34.99 91,600 

4 28.87 56,500 29.20 57,800 31.17 - 67,300 33.45 80,500 34.71 89,400 35.01 01,600 

6 28.86 56,500 29.30 58,200 31.37 68,400 33.59 81,800 34.77 90,200 35.04 91,300 

8 28.83 56,000 29.42 58,700 31.60 69,500 33.75 83,200 34.85 90,200 35.04 91,600 

10 28.84 56,000 29.57 59,600 31.78 70,600 33.86 83,800 34.08 90,900 35.07 ~'2, 300 

12 28.85 56,000 29.70 60,000 31.99 71,800 34.02 84,500 34.91 90,900 35.07 92,300 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 35.07 92,300 34.46 88,000 33.45 80,500 32.24 73,000 30.82 65,300 29.28 58,200 

4 35.07 92,300 34.38 87,300 33.35 80,500 32.12 72,400 30.68 64,800 29.16 57,800 

6 35.05 91,600 34.33 86,600 33.25 79,200 31.99 71,800 30.57 64,300 29.02 56,900 

8 35.02 91,600 34.21 85,900 33.15 79,200 31.88 71,200 30.47 63,800 28.',7 56,500 

10 34.98 91,600 34.12 85,200 33.06 78,.500 31.75 70,600 30.37 63,300 28.75 50,000 

N 34.95 91,600 34.03 84,500 3.2.96 77,900 31.65 69,500 30.22 02,400 28.59 55,200 

2 34.88 90,900 33.95 84,500 32.86 77,300 31.55 69,500 30.08 61,900 28.48 54,800 

4 34;.78 90,200 33.82 83,200 32.75 76,600 31.42 68,400 29.97 61,400 28.36 54,500 

6 34.74 89,400 33.77 83,200 32.65 75,400 31.30 67,900 29.82 60,500 28.19 53,800 

8 34.67 89,400 33.67 82,500 32.55 75,400 :'>1.17 67,300 29.68 60,000 28.07 53,500 

10 34.59 88,700 33.57 81,800 32.45 74,200 31.07 66,800 29.56 59,600 27.89 52,~00 

12 34.53 88,000 33.49 81,200 32.35 74,200 30.96 66,300 29.45 58,700 27.75 52,600 
58 

Lake of the Ozarks near Bagnell, Mo. 

Location.- Lat 38°121 , long. 92°37 1 , in SE{ sec. 19, T. 40 N., R. 15 W., at Bagnell 

Dam on Osar::;e River, 2 miles southwest of .Eagnell. Datum of e;age is at mean sea 

level, ad,iustment of 1912, or 1.18 ft below mean sea level, datum of 1929, determined by Union Electric Company of Missouri. Elevations given herein are referred 

to ad.1ustment o!' 1912. Draina~e area.- 14,000 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stace recorder graph. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Contents, 1,482,000 acre-feet 12m. to 10 p.m. July 7 

---relevation, 664.41 ft). 

1931 to April 1951: Contents, 1,527,000 acre-feet May 22, 1943 (elevation, 635.45 

ft). 

Remarks.- Reservoir is formed by concrete gravity dam. Spillway is equipped with 12 

taintor gates 34 ft wide by 22 ft high. Stor~ge began in 1931. Usable capscity, 

1,235,000 acre-feet between elPvations 630.00 ft (maximum draw-down) and 660.00 ft 

(top of gates) above mean sea level. Dead stora~e, 774,000 acre-feet. Figures given 

herein are of usable contents. Water is used for generRting electricity. Records 

collected and prepared in cooperation with the Union Electric Co. of Missouri. 

Elevation, in feet, and contents, in acre-feet, at 12 p.m. of indicated day. 

May June July 

Day Elevation Acre-feet Elevation Acre-feet Elevation Acre-feet 

1 651.53 304,300 655.48 998,800 662.75 1,3',13,000 

2 651.55 805,300 655.48 998,800 663.08 1,410,000 

3 651.63 809,100 655.65 1,008,000 663.08 1,410,000 

4 651.86 820,100 655.45 997,300 663.14 1,414,000 

5 652.58 854,300 655.21 984,900 663.64 1,440,000 

6 653.30 889,400 654.95 971,500 664.37 1,480,000 

7 653.70 909,200 654.77 962,300 664.40 1,481,000 

8 653.90 919,200 654.58 952,900 664.20 1,471,000 

9 653.86 917,200 654.95 971,500 663.79 1, 449,000 

10 653.68 908,300 655.13 980,800 663.74 1, 44·3 ,000 

11 653.44 896,400 655.31 990,100 663.74 1,44.6,000 

12 653.55 901,800 655 •. 74 1,012,000 663.56 1,436,000 

13 G54.00 924,100 656.15 1,034,000 663.52 l ,439 ,ooo 

14 654.04 926,100 656.34 1,044,000 663.12 1,413,000 

15 654.07 927,600 656.67 1,062,000 662.59 1,385,000 

16 653.89 918,700 657.35 1,098,000 662.11 1,359,000 

17 653.57 902,800 657.90 1,128,000 661.81 1,343,000 

18 653.24 886,400 658.17 1,143,000 661.76 1,340,000 

19 653.38 89 3, 400 658.31 1,151,000 661.84 1,344,000 

20 654.30 9 39 ,000 658.31 1,151,000 661.95 1,350,000 

21 654.64 955,900 658.09 1,138,000 661.93 l, 349,000 

22 655.26 987,500 658.09 l, 138,000 661.76 1,340,000 

23 655.37 993,200 658.72 1,173,000 661.48 1,325,000 

24 655.43 996,200 659.82 1,235,000 661.15 1,308,000 

25 655.44 996,800 660.17 1,255,000 660.87 1,292,000 

26 655.75 1,013,000 660.29 1,261,000 660.63 1,280,000 

27 656.24 1,038,000 660.29 1,261,000 660.39 1,207,000 

28 656.22 1,037,000 660.73 1,285,000 660.15 1,254,000 

29 656.07 1,030,000 G6l. 48 1,325,000 660.09 1,251,000 

30 656.12 1,032,000 662.52 1,381,000 660.08 1,250,000 

31 655.81 1,016,000 659.79 1,233,000 
59 

Osage River near Bagnell, Mo. 

Location.- Lat 38°12 1 26", long. 92°~5'23", in N~SEi sec. 21, T. 40 N., R. 15 W., li 

miles upstream from Bagnell and 3 miles downstream from hydroelectric plant of Union 

Electric Company of Missouri. 

Datum of gage is 548.57 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Draina e area.- 14,000 square miles. 

a e- e t record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for May 1, June 26 to July 1, w en here was no recorder record. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Gage 

heights used to half-tenths ~etween 3.9 and 6.4 ft, hundredths below and tenths above 

these limits. Discharge determined by integration on days of power plant regulation. 

Discharge during periods of no gage-height record obtained from power plant operating 

data. 

Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 126,000 cfs 5 to 8 a.m. July 8 (gage height, 38.26 ----rn. 

1925 to April 1951: Discharge, 220,000 cfs May 19, 1943 (gage height, 48.8 ft). 

Maximum stage known prior to 1943, 43.1 ft in June 1844 (discharge, 164,000 cfs). 

Remarks.- Flow regulated by Lake of the Ozarks (see preceding page). 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 9,400 12,800 93,800 11 13,600 20,800 119,000 21 8,760 21,200 102,000 

2 9,360 4,620 96,900 12 8,940 21,100 117,000 22 16,200 21,400 102,000 

3 9,620 1,570 100,000 13 3,270 21,100 119,000 23 20,500 23,900 97,900 

4 9,910 9,040 101,000 14 13,100 20,800 117,000 24 20,800 34,600 92,900 

5 834 9,130 104,000 15 13,500 19,200 115,000 25 19,600 50,900 85,600 

6 500 9,220 116,000 16 13,200 9,460 113,000 26 8,060 57,600 77,600 

7 8,640 12,100 124,000 17 13,600 1,870 109,000 27 2,840 59,600 68,700 

8 9,140 20,000 124,000 18 1,2,800 12,400 105,000 28 13,100 61,400 57,300 

9 9, 750 21,100 122,000 19 4,400 15,700 104,000 29 13,100 71,400 40,500 

10 1.12,300 20,300 119,000 20 1,380 21,100 102,000 30 5,090 84,900 29,300 

31 13,700 25,000 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet •...••..•..•......•.•...•...•. 10,290 25,680 96,760 

Runoff, in thousands of acre-feet ••..••.•...••.•..••••••..•.•.•• 632.7 1,528 5,949 

Runoff, in inches.. .•••••..•••.••.••••.•••...•...............•.•..••. 0.85 2.05 7.98 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

~ Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Disheight charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 

July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July12 July 13 

2 38.24 125,000 37.87 123,000 37.30 120,000 37.12 119,000 36.92 117,000 37.00 118,000 4 38.24 125,000 37.84 123,000 37.28 120,000 37.12 119,000 36.94 117,000 37.10 119,000 

6 38.26 126,000 37.82 123,000 37.27 120,000 37.12 119,000 36.97 118,000 37.18 119 ,ooo 

8 38.26 126,000 37.80 123,000 37.25 119,000 37.12 119,000 36.97 118,000 3'7.20 119,000 

10 38.12 125,000 37.70 122,000 37.22 119,000 37.10 119,000 36.96 118,000 37.19 119 ,ooo 

N 38.10 125,000 37.60 122,000 37.20 119,000 37.10 119,000 36.96 118,000 37.18 119,000 

2 38.06 125,000 37.53 121,000 37.20 119,000 36.93 117,000 36.95 118,000 37.12 119,000 

4 38.02 124,000 37.46 121,000 37.18 119,000 37.01 118,000 36.93 117,000 37.10 119,000 

6 37.98 124,000 37.42 120,000 37.16 119,000 37.12 119,000 36.93 117,000 37.10 119,000 

8 3?.94 123,000 37.40 120,000 37.16 119,000 37.12 119,000 36.93 117,000 37.10 119,000 

10 37.92 123,000 37.35 120,000 37.15 119,000 36.88 117 ,ooo 36.92 117 ,ooo 37.09 119,000 

12 37.90 123,000 37.32 120,000 37.13 tl19,000 36.88 117 ,ooo 36.91 117 ,ooo 37.08 119,000 

July 14 July15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 37.04 118,000 36.64 116,000 36.21 114,000 35.87 112,000 34.60 106,000 34.38 104,000 

4 37.00 118,000 36.60 116,000 36.18 114,000 35.82 112,000 34.60 106,000 34.37 104,000 

6 36.98 118,000 36.57 116,000 36.13 113,000 35.80 112,000 34.57 106,000 34.34 104,000 

8 36.93 117,000 38.52 115,000 36.10 113,000 35.78 112 ,ooo 34.53 105,000 34.33 104,000 

10 36.91 117,000 36.49 115,000 36.08 113,000 35.67 111,000 34.51 105,000 34.33 104,000 

N 36.90 117,000 36.47 115,000 36.04 112,000 35.33 109 ,ooo 34.50 105,000 34.28 104,000 

2 36.88 117 ,ooo 36.43 115,000 36.00 112,000 35.18 108,000 34.48 105,000 34.20 104,000 

4 36.83 117,000 36.40 115,000 35.97 112,000 35.03 108,000 34.46 105,000 34.15 104,000 

6 36.80 117,000 36.37 115,000 35.94 112,000 34.94 107,000 34.43 104,000 34.11 103,000 

8 36.77 117,000 36.33 114,000 35.91 112,0QO 34.70 106,,000 34.40 104,000 34.08 103,000 

10 36.72 116,000 36.30 114,000 35.88 112,000 34.73 106,000 34.38 104,000 34.07 103,000 

12 ;".6.70 116,000 36.27 114,000 35.88 112,000 34.70 106,000 34.37 104,000 34.05 102,000 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 34.03 102,000 33.98 102,000 33.~5 102,000 33.40 99,600 32.45 95,200 31.08 89,400 

4 34.00 102,000 33.98 102,000 33.94 102,000 33.35 99,600 32.39 95,200 31.02 89,000 

6 34.00 102,000 33.98 102,000 33.94 102,000 33.29 99,200 32.32 94,700 30.97 89,000 

8 34.00 102,000 33.98 102,000 33.93 102,000 33.24 98,700 32.28 94,700 30.90 88,600 

10 34.00 102,000 33.98 102,000 33.91 102,000 33.15 98,700 32.13 93,800 30.64 87,200 

N 34.00 102,000 33.98 102,000 33.90 102,000 33.04 97,800 32.02 93,400 30.20 85,500 

2 34.00 102,000 33.98 102,000 33.90 102,000 32.94 97,400 31.85 92,500 29.98 84,600 

4 34.00 102,000 33.98 102,000 33.89 102,000 32.88 97,400 31.72 92,100 29.83 83,700 

6 33.94 102,000 33.98 102,000 33.80 102,000 32.83 96,900 31.60 91,600 29.70 83,300 

8 33.94 102,000 33.98 102,000 33.72 101,000 32.80 96,900 31.52 91,200 29.58 82,800 

10 33.97 102,000 33.97 102,000 33.60 101,000 32.66 96,500 31.37 90,800 29.50 82,400 

12 33.98 102,000 33.96 102,000 33.50 100,000 32.52 95,600 31.23 89,900 29.34 81,500 
60 

Osage River near St. Thomas, Mo. 

Locati£!!·- Lat 38°20 1 25 11 , long. 92°13'2511 i in SEtSW~· sec. 35, T. 42 N., R. 12 W., 0. 5 

mile downstream from Sugar Creek and 22 miles south of St. Thomas. Datum of ~age 

is 528.06 ft above mean sea level, ~atum of 1929. 

Drainage area.- 14,500 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods May 3, 4, 13, 15-21, 

July 10-17, 20-23, for which graph was drawn based on daily gage readin~s and 

recorded range line. 

Discharge record.- Stage-dischar~e relation defined by current-meter measurements. Ga~e 

heights used to half-tenths below 5.6 ft and to tenths above. Maxi~.- May-July 1951: Discharg;e· 130,000 cfs about 7 to ll p.m. July 13 ( r·age heir-ht, 

35.20 ft). 

1931 to April 1951: Discharge, 216,000 cfs May 20, 1943 (gage hei~ht, 43.8 ft). 

Maximum stage known prior to 1943, about 39.4 ft in June 1844. 

Remarks.- Flow regulated by Lake of the Ozarks (see p. ). 

Mean discharge . in second-feet . 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 9,410 12,900 94,300 11 14,000 21,600 124,000 21 5,640 21,000 109,000 

2 9,940 10,800 97' 400 12 11,600 21,900 1:24,000 22 17,200 21,300 108,000 

3 9,940 3,780 102,000 13 6,000 21,300 128,000 23 24,100 43,800 106,000 

4 10,200 3,700 105,000 14 7,100 21,300 128,000 24 21,600 ~3,400 103,000 

5 8,630 9,410 107,000 15 13,500 20,100 124,000 25 20,400 49,800 96,900 

6 2,620 10,200 114,000 16 13,200 14,300 121,000 26 14,000 60,600 89,800 

7 2,740 g ,940 122,000 17 13,200 6,850 118,000 27 6,600 62,300 81,000 

8 9,150 19,800 128,000 18 12,900 4,240 114,000 28 5,640 63,200 69,000 

9 9,150 24,800 128,000 19 10,500 13,800 112,000 29 1::",500 68,100 52,600 

10 11,000 21,600 126,000 20 2,920 20,100 110,000 30 9,410 82,900 33,400 

31 6,360 27,400 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .....•..•..•......•.....•...•. 10,710 25,960 103,300 

Runoff, in thousands of· acre-feet., ....• , .....••.•..•....•..•.•..• 658.8 1,545 3,353 

Runoff, in inches. ...••••.•••..•.• , ••....•....................•..••. 0.85 2.00 G.22 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

$.< Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- ::s height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 0 

~ July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 34.67 126,000 35.01 128,000 34.88 128,000 34.51 125,000 34.40 124,000 34.58 126,000 

4 34. 7l 126,000 :"i5.01 128,000 34.86 128,000 34.51 125,000 34.40 124,COO 34.61 126,000 

6 34.79 127,000 .35.00 128,000 34.82 b.27 ,000 34.50 125,000 34.40 124,000 34.66 126,000 

8 34.83 127,000 34.99 128,000 34.78 127,000 34.48 125,000 34.41 124,000 34.72 1G6,000 

10 34.87 128,000 34.98 128,000 34.72 b.26,QOO 34.46 125,000 34.41 124,000 34 •. 0 127,000 

N 34.89 128,000 34.97 128,000 ;".4.69 126,000 34.44 124,000 34.43 124,000 34.83 1<:;7,000 

2 34.91 128,000 34.96 128,000 04.64 126,000 34.42 124,000 34.45 124,000 34.93 128,000 

4 34.93 128,000 34.06 128,000 34.63 b.26,000 34.42 124,000 34.45 124,000 35.01 128,000 

6 34.96 128,000 34.95 12 8, 000 34.60 b.26,000 34.41 124,000 34.47 125,000 35.10 129,000 

8 34.99 128,000 34.95 128,000 34.58 b.26,000 34.41 124,000 34.50 125,000 35.20 130,000 

10 35.00 128,000 34.93 128,000 34.55 126,:.:00 34.40 124,000 34.51 125,000 35.20 130,000 

12 35.01 128,000 34.91 128,000 34.53 b.25,000 34.40 124,000 34.54 125,000 35.14 129,000 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 35.14 129 ,ooo 34.62 126,000 ~4.09 ~22,000 33.67 120,000 33.12 116,000 32.59 113,000 

4 35.10 129,000 34.58 126,000 34.05 ~22,000 33.61 119,000 33.06 116,000 32.57 113,000 

6 35.05 128,000 34.53 125,000 34.00 :1.22,000 33.59 119,000 33.00 116,000 32.::'3 113,000 

8 35.01 128,000 34.48 125,000 33.97 122,000 33.56 119,000 32.92 115,000 32.51 113,000 

10 34.96 128,000 34.45 124,000 33.93 121,000 33.50 119,000 32.88 115,000 32.49 113,000 

N 34.95 128 ,ooo 34.40 124,000 :"3.90 121,000 33.47 119,000 32.82 114,000 32.48 113,000 

2 34.92 128,000 34.36 124,000 33.88 121,000 33.42 118,000 32.7'? 114,000 32.45 112,000 

4 34.88 128,000 34.31 124,000 :Z-3.83 121,000 33.41 118,000 32.76 114,000 32.42 112,000 

6 34.83 127,000 34.25 123,000 33.81 121,000 :">3.37 118,000 32. 7l 114,000 ::'>2.40 112,000 

8 34.79 127,000 34.20 123,000 33.79 121,000 33.29 117,000 32.68 114,000 32.38 112,000 

10 34.72 126,000 34.15 123,000 03.75 1~c1,000 33.23 117,000 32.65 113,000 32.35 112,000 

12 34 .. 69 126,000 34.13 122,000 33.70 L.:O,OOO :"3,19 117,000 32.62 113,000 32.32 111,000 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 32.31 111,000 31.96 110,000 31.72 b.o8,ooo 31.65 107,000 31.16 105,000 30.08 ?9,5:0 

4 32.28 111,000 31.93 109,000 31.70 ~08,000 31.62 107,000 31.07 105,000 30.03 99,000 

6 32.23 111,000 31.91 109,000 31.70 ~08,000 31.60 107,000 31.00 104,000 39.93 98,500 

8 32.20 111,000 31.89 109,000 31.70 108,000 31.60 107,000 30.91 104,000 29.85 98,000 

10 32.19 111,000 31.85 109,000 31.71 108,000 31.59 107,000 30.84 103,000 29.76 98,000 

N 32.16 111,,')00 31.83 109,000 31.71 108,000 31.53 107,000 30.73 10:",000 29.66 97,400 

2 32.13 110,000 31.80 109,000 31.73 108,000 31.50 107,000 30.62 102,000 2?. 56 96,900 

4 32.11 110,000 31.79 109,000 31.73 108,000 31.43 103,000 30.54 102,000 29 •. 47 96,400 

6 32.09 llO ,000 31.77 109,000 31.73 108,000 31.39 106,000 30.45 101,000 29.38 95,900 

8 32.06 110,000 31.74 108,000 3i.73 108,000 31.32 106,000 30.37 101,000 29.26 95,400 

10 32.01 110,000 31.73 108,000 31.70 108,000 31.28 106,000 30.30 101,000 29 .l;zi 9 4, 300 

12 31.99 110,000 31.73 108,000 31.68 108,000 31.22 105,000 30.20 100,000 2'3.97 s:-·3,800 
61 

Salt Creek near Lyndon, Kans. 

Location.- Lat 38°37 1 , long. 95°38 1 in SWi sec. 34, T. 16 S., R. 16 E., on downstream 

side of county highway bridge, 2~ miles east of Lyndon. 

Drainage area.- 111 square miles. 

Gage-height record.- Graph based on usually once-daily readings of wire-weight gage, 

except May 3, 18, 20, 24, June 7, 10, July 14, 21, 27, 30, when there was no gageheight record, and June 8, when there was insufficient gage-height record. 

Discharge record.- Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 

60,000 cfs and by slope-area measurement of peak discharge. Discharge for days of no gage-height record computed on basis of unpublished records for Hundred and Ten 

Mile Creek near Quenemo and·records for other stations on nearby streams. Maxima.- May-July 1951: Discharge, 36,400 cfs 10 a.m. July 11 (gage height, 17.00 ft, 

from floodmarks). 

1939 to April 1951: Discharge, 17,900 cfs (revised) Apr. 22, 1944 and Apr. 16, 

1945 (gage height, 16.0 ft, from floodmark). 

Flood of 1935 reached a stage of 20.3 ft, from floodmarks. 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1951 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June July 

1 2,700 12 158 11 88 62 16,600 21 36 10 70 

2 434 8.5 95 12 73 53 7,760 22 249 22 129 

3 120 7.0 58 13 50 66 1,540 23 291 205 603 

4 73 7.0 45 14 30 148 750 24 65 924 226 

5 49 16 48 15 30 123 218 25 40 117 90 

6 41 ,370 1,270 16 127 30 182 26 29 683 62 

1 30 ll-,700 993 17 88 20 428 27 23 120 270 

8 30 900 158 18 45 15 185 28 18 652 135 

9 854 414 71 19 36 13 127 29 12 1,060 69 

10 137 120 4,600 20 40 11 98 30 9.0 1,360 45 

31 11 39 

Monthly mean discharge, in second-feet .....•.....•............•...•. 189 342 1,197 

Runoff, in acre-feet .... , ........•....•..••.•....•....••...•....•..• 11,620 20,330 73,630 

Runoff, in inches. .•.•••...••.••..•••..•••..•.................•..•.. 1.96 3.43 12.42 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

~ Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis0 height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge 

li: July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 2.89 44 15.15 10,000 15.76 15,000 

4 2.90 45 15.78 15,200 15.46 12,100 9.37 2,700 

6 3.00 58 15.28 10,800 15.03 9,520 

8 5.20 550 16.71 30,000 14.57 8,560 8.20 1,920 

10 11.69 4,800 17.00 36,400 14.10 7,850 

N 3.57 151 3.06 67 13.60 7,100 16.72 30,200 13.63 7,140 7.08 1,250 

2 10.91 7,560 16.12 19,600 13.13 6,470 

4 13.98 7,670 15.50 12,400 12.64 5,840 6.18 790 

6 14.00 7,700 14.94 9,220 12.13 5,280 

8 14.01 7,720 14.54 8,510 11.62 4,720 5.60 540 

10 14.06 7,790 14.35 8,220 11.08 4,190 

12 3.30 105 2.90 45 14.38 8,270 14.95 9,250 10.51 3,680 5.23 392 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 

2 

4 

6 4.62 186 6.25 825 

8 

10 

N 4.73 219 4.53 162 5.20 380 4.61 183 4.38 126 

2 

4 

6 4.49 152 4.90 270 

8 

10 

12 4.69 207 4.82 246 4.75 225 4.48 150 4.28 106 

July 20 July 21 Jul:y 22 July 23 July_24 July 25 

2 

4 5.75 600 

6 3.98 53 

8 6.02 710 

10 

N 4.25 100 4.13 77 5.98 692 4.58 175 4.21 92 

2 

4 5.84 636 

6 4.53 162 

8 5.63 552 

10 

12 4.18 86 5.25 400 5.38 452 4.25 100 4.11 74 
62 

Neosho River near Parsons. Kans. 

Loc2tion.- Lat 37°20 1 , long. 05°06', in NEl sec. 21, T. ~l S., R. 21 E., at bridge on 

- U. S. Hlr,hway 160, half a mile upstream f"'Or.t Hickory Creek, t>-;ree-quarters of a mile 

upstrea:r.1 from St. Louis -S•Jn Fr<mcisco Railway brid~~e, 2~ miles upstr•ea1;1 fr·om dam of 

Kansas Ordnan:::e Plant, and 8} miles east of Parsons. Datwn of t~a!;e is 810.::.:5 ft 

above mc~an sea level (levels by Corps of E•,gin'_"ers). Drai~a~e area.- 4,817 square miles, including that of Hickory Creek. 

SP~A-hei~ht record.- ~ater-stage recorder gr~ph, except for perio~ July 14-21, for which a graph was :Jrawn hg_sed on high-1·1eter mork in ga~e well snc'l a stare record at the 

Kar.sas Gas aYJ.d Electric Company plant about 3 miles do.vnstrear.., 

Dischor>ge r'~c.ord.- St<Jge-discharge relation defined by current-meter me,_-,suremAnts. 

Maxima.- Mn:;-cTuly 1951: Iischarge, 439,000 cfs l to 2 p.m. July 14 (R:,age heil"ht, 40.20 ft, 

from high-Nater mark in gn~e well). 

1921 to ;,.~,ril 1951: Discharge, 87,800 cfs July 27, HJ48 ( c;ac;e hein;ht, 30.74 ft). 

Rema"'ks.- Sn;al1 di•Jersion from pool in wnich ::;age is loccted by the Kansas Ordn1wce Plant, 

Mean discharge in second-feet, 1951 ' 

Day May June July Day May June July Day l\'Iay June July 

1 1,210 2,060 27,800 11 9,030 L~,900 40,900 21 S:· ,220 7,500 40,400 

2 8,480 1,890 28,800 12 7,280 16,200 39, fOO 22 1'7,800 7,230 30,800 

3 14,900 1,780 29,000 13 ; , 650 18,800 70,200 23 22,400 12,200 15,100 

4 16,100 1,660 30,800 14 5,640 20,900 400,000 24 17,300 17,100 8,440 

5 16,500 1,530 :'\2,600 15 4,600 12,800 279,000 25 11,400 23,300 14,500 

6 18,000 1,420 33,300 16 2,960 3,830 132,0,JO 26 8,640 24,800 17,500 

7 20,100 1,590 32,000 17 2,~50 6,540 85,300 27 7 .~J80 24,900 14,100 

8 21,700 4,600 33,900 18 5,340 8,730 6S,800 28 6,980 22,600 7,410 

9 9,830 7,410 ;".5,4(i0 19 LJ.,E70 9,300 60,600 29 f,,.J30 15,400 .5,690 

10 4,630 11,200 40,100 20 7,020 5,970 51,000 30 :5,8:30 24,500 5,440 

31 2,130 4,::'.50 

Monthly mean discharge. in second-feet ...........•............•...•. 9,687 11,050 55,380 

Runoff, in thousands of acre-feet ••...•.......•....••...•........ 59E .6 657.8 3,405 

Runoff, in inches. .•...•....•.••..•.•.........................•..... 2. 32 2.56 13.26 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1951 

... Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- Gage Dis- ;:::1 height charge height charge height charge height charge height charge height c~arge 0 

:X: July 8 July 9 JulylO July 11 July 12 July 13 

2 26.76 38,900 

4 26.54 36,200 26.78 39,100 

6 26.79 39,300 

8 26.89 40,600 26.81 39,500 

10 26.82 3~' J 700 

N 26.29 33,900 26.47 35,500 27.01 42,100 26.92 41,000 26.80 39 J 400 26.82 39,700 

2 26.83 39,800 

4 26.98 -U,700 26.92 41,000 

6 28.28 56,400 

8 26.96 !cl,500 32.23 119,000 

10 35.15 197 ,ooo. 

12 26.40 :'>4,800 26.51 35,900 26.96 41,500 26.86 40,200 25.76 38,900 36.90 266,000 

July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 13 July 19 

2 :"·8. 02 317,000 

4 ;:'\:o .80 356,000 

6 39.40 391,000 38.40 736,000 33.58 148,000 ;:.o. 75 91,000 

8 39.82 416,000 

10 40.05 430,000 

N 40.12. 438,000 37.12 275,000 32.66 127,000 30.32 83,600 2?. (:f) 69,600 28.60 60,600 

2 40.20 439,000 

4 40.16 437,000 

6 40.02 ~28,000 35.80 222,000 31. 97· ]]3,000 30.03 7g,ooo 

8 39.82: 416,000 

10 39.60 403,000 

12 39. :'\6 389,000 34. f.8 177,000 31.:00 100,000 29.72- 7t,300 :?rJ.9? 64.,600 28.29 SO ,fJOO 

July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 

2 12.33 6,!:,00 

4 26. ;z,o 34,000 ~2.15 22,400 12. 0E· 6, ,:,::::o 

6 12.47 6,700 16.80 13,500 

8 26.08 ?.Z, E~GO 19.74 18,000 12.60 ? ,o.q_o 

10 12.99 7,480 

N 27.84 51,200 26.2.9 40,600 25.7? 30,800 17 .. "'2 14,100 13.3f_-, 8,020 17.68 14,700 

2 1:',. 72 S,!":BO 

4 2f,. 36 2~· 'l 00 lf·. 36 11,200 14.10 9,160 

6 14.59 9,940 18.:"2 15,600 

8 24.80 27,600 13.60 8,400 15.01 10,600 

10 15.41 11,300 

12 2?.26 44,900 26.48 35,600 23.85 25,700 12.48 6,720 lE.?l 12,100 18.86 16,500 

Supplemental recurd.- JQly 14, 1 p.m., 40.20 ft, 439,000 cfs. 
SUMMARY OF FLOOD STAGES AND DISCHARGES 

The results of the determinations of maxi- '-"~ flood flows at existing gaging stations 

"ld at miscellaneous points on streams in the 

r•"a covered by this report are summarized 

"ld presented in table 2. Miscellaneous 

oints can be identified by the absence of a e,iod of record and of nearly all data other 

',,ln discharge during; the present flood. 

63 

Figure !:3, a plot o1' maximum discharge in 

cubic feet per second per square mile, shows 

the variation of unit discharges with size of draina~e area during the flood period. 

The methods used in determining the maxi- mum disch!•rge are indicated in the discharge 

column by symbols which are explained in the 

headnotes. Figures of discharge that are not 

qualified by a symbol were obtained from a stage-discharge relation. 
Table 2.--Summary of flood discharges in Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska for the floods of May-July 1951 

(MaxUnum discharges for the floods of May-July 1951 were obtained from gaging-station records, except as otherwise indicated by the following symbols: 

A, by current-meter measurementJ B, by indirect methods) 

Maximum flood previously known Maximum during present flood 

No. Drainage Discharge Discharge on Stream and place of determination area Period of Gage Gage 

fig. (square record Date height cfs per Time height ofs per 

2 miles) (ft) cfs square (f't) cfs square 

mile mile 

MISSOURI RIVER MAIN STEM 

1 Missouri River at St. Joseph, Mo. 424,300 1928- Apr. 29, 1881 27.2 a 370,000 0.87 May 3, 6 a.m. 19.9 198,000 0.47 

2 Missouri River at Kansas City, Mo. 489,200 1905-6, June 16 , 1844 38.0 a 625,000 1.28 July 14, 1 p.m. b 36.2 573,000 1.17 

1928-

3 Missouri River at Waverly, Mo. 491,200 1929- Apr. 24, 1944 c 25.14 347,000 .71 July 16, 8-11 a.m. d 28.2 532,000 1.08 

4 Missouri River at Boonville, Mo. 505,700 1925- June 21, 1844 32.7 a 710,000 1.40 July 17, 2 p.m. e 32.82 5.50,000 1.09 

5 Missouri River at Hermann, Mo. 528,200 1928- June 1844 35.5 a 892,000 1.69 July 19, 8 a.m. to 33.33 618,000 1.17 

12 m. KANSAS RIVER BASIN 

6 Republican River near Bloomington, Nebr. 20,800 1929- June 1, 1935 f, g20.4 260,000 12.5 July 14, 4 p.m. 7.04 11,000 .53 

7 Republican River near Guide Rock, Nebr. - 1950- Sept. 20, 1950 8.46 10,200 - May 22, 2 p.m. 9.82 14,300 - 8 Republican River near Hardy, Nebr. 22,400 1932- June 2, 1935 19.4 225,000 10.0 June 2, 11:45 a.m. 12.59 18,600 .83 

9 Republican River at Scandia, Kans. 22,930 1919-25, June 2, 1935 f 17.8 215,000 9.38 July 11, 8 a.m. 11.60 38,200 1.67 

1928-44, 

1950-

10 Republican River at Concordia, Kans. 23,540 1946- June 25, 1947 14.90 75,000 3.19 July 13, 2 p.m. 11.23 33,600 1.43 

11 Republican River at Clay Center, Kans. 24,570 1917- June 3, 1935 f 25.74 (h) - July 12, 6 p.m. 22.20 51,500 2.10 

12 Republican River at Milford, Kans. 24,~00 (i) - - - - July 12, 12 m. 19.70 62,900 2.53 

13 Kansas River at Ogden, Kans. 45,240 1Pl7- June 3, 1935 j 28.03 170,000 3.76 July 12, 10 p.m. 30.53 314,000 6.94 

14 Kansas River at Wamego, Kans·. 55,240 1919- June 4, 1935 k 23.79 177 ,ooo 3.20 July 13, 5:30 a.m. 27.56 340,000 6.15 

15 Kansas River at Topeka, Kans. 56,710 1917- June 5, 1935 m, n26.65 154,000 2.72 July 13, 6:30 a.m. 36.34 478,000 8.43 

16 Kansas River at Lecompton, Kans. 58,420 1899-1905, May 31, 1903 (p) - - July 13, 4 p.m. 30.23 483,000 8.27 

1936-

17 Kansas River at Bonner Springs, Kans. 59,890 1917- June 18, 1943 25.23 147 ,ooo 2.45 July 13, 12 p.m. 38.58 510,000 8.52 

18 f~sas River at Kansas City, Kans. - - - - - - July 14, 8 a.m.- q 35.80 A 503,000 - 3 p.m. 

19 White Rock Creek at Lovewell, Kans. 358 1946- July 10, 1950 n 21.62 23,300 65.1 June 7, 7:30 p.m. 21.40 26,600 74.3 

O'l 

,j:>. 
201Smoky Hill River near Russell, Kana. 

211 Smoky Hill River at Ellsworth, Kana. 

221Hanopolis Reservoir near Kanopolis, Kans. 

231Smoky Hill River near Langley, Kans. 

241Smoky Hill River at Lindsborg, Kans. 

251Smoky Hill River near Mentor, Kans. 

261Smoky Hill River at Enterprise, Kans. 

271 Smoky Hill River at Junction City, Kans. 

281Big Creek near Hays, Kans. 

291Saline River near Russell, Kans. 

301Saline River at Tescott, Kans. 

311South Fork Solomon River at Webster, Kans. 

321South Fork Solomon River at Alton, Kans. 

331South Fork Solomon River at Osborne, Kans. 

341Solomon River near Cawker City, Kans. 

351Solomon River at Glen Elder, Kans. 

361Solomon River at Beloit, Kans. 

371Solomon River at Niles, Kans. 

381North Fork Solomon River at Kirwin, Kans. 

391North Fork Solomon River near Downs, Kans. 

401Chapman Creek near Chapman, Kans. 

411Big Blue River near Crete, Nebr. 

421Big Blue River at Barneston, Nebr. 

431Big Blue River at Randolph, Kans. 

See footnotes at end of table, page 67 

6,96611939· Jane 18, 1942 lr 18.70 

7,5BOI1896·1906,1June 1, 1938 

1918-25, 

1928-

27.2 

22,300 

61,000 

7,85711948- Sept. 1, 2, 

1950 ~491.03 Ia 248,400 

t 7,85711941-

8,110 1930-

Oot. 20, 1941 

May 1903 

23.47 

33.9 

8,23011923-32, wiAug. 17, 1927 In 25.8 

1947-

19,20011934-

19,900 

1946-

1,50211946-

2,82011919-

1945-

1, 72011919-25, 

1928-32, 

1942-

2,02411946-

4,960 

5,040 

May 1903 a 32 

Oct. 6, 1946 19.65 

July 26, 1950 18.40 

June 3, 1935 29.57 

June 22, 1948 11.12 

June 16, 1943 lx 19.94 

Aug. 29, 1950 20.13 

5,43011895-97, !June 3, 1935 If 34.5 

1929-

6,770il897-1903,1June 3, 1903 IY 33.8 

1917-

17,200 

32,000 

n 7,-160 

90,000 

w 4,000 

14,300 

6,850 

15,000 

11,500 

10,000 

37,800 

41,000 

1,290ilflP-25, !Sept. 18, 19191 22.5 I z 24,000 

H?28-32, 

1941-

2,39011945- IAug. 13, 1950 I 28.23 I 22,700 

300 

2,680,1P45-

4,420 1932-

9,10011918-

July 10, 1950 28.74 27,600 

June 9, 1941 34.3 57' 700 

June 10, 1941 lz 30.81 80,000 

3.201May 23, 6s30 p.m. 

8e05 May 23, 9al5 p.m. 

23.26 

24.12 

39,600 

30,000 

July 14 1,506.90 Ia 434,000 

2.191July 15, 8 a.m. 15.29 

3e951July 12, 4 p.m. 29.32 

.90IJuly 13, 10 a.m. 24.93 

4.691July 14, 2p.m. 33.96 

July 13, 1 a.m. T 33.40 

May 22, 4 a.m. 21.46 

9.521June 28, 9 p.m. 19.12 

2.431July 13, 4 a.m. 30.06 

r 14.9 

6.691July 12, between 7 I f 27.10 

and 9 p.m. 

4.941July 13, 2 a.m. 27.65 

6.961Ju1y 13, 4 a.m. 39.30 

6o061July 14, 6 a.m. 31.76 

18.6 !July 11, 4:30 a.m. 20.42 

9.601July 12, 12 m. 30.41 

10.3 !June 3, 4 a.m. 28.3 

13.1 IJune 4, 12 p.m. 27.48 

8.791Ju1y 13, 2 p.m. 26.88 

5,670 

18,700 

24,000 

240,000 

279,000 

21,000 

1'!,000 

61,400 

55,200 

91,900 

76,800 

95,400 

104,000 

125,000 

178,000 

15,600 

35,700 

46,700 

25,000 

26,000 

60,100 

5.67 

3.96 

.71 

2.30 

2.92 

12.5 

14.0 

11.3 

21.8 

53.4 

37.9 

19.2 

20.6 

23.0 

26.3 

12.1 

14.9 

156 

9.33 

5.88 

6.60 01 

(11 
No. 

on 

fig. 

2 

44 

45 

46 

47 

48 

49 

50 

51 

52 

53 

54 

55 

56 

57 

58 

59 

60 

61 

62 

63 

Table 2.--summary of flood discharges in Kansas, Missouri, and ~ebraska for the floods of May-July 1951--ContiDued 

Maximum flood previously known Maximum during present flood 

Drainage Discharge Discharge 

area Period of Gage ofs per Gage ofs per Stream and place of determination (souare record Date height Time height 

miles) (ft) ofs square (ft) of's square 

mile mile 

Big Blue River near Manhattan, Kans. 9,540 1950- - - - - July 12, 10 p.m. 29.92 102,000 10.7 

Little Blue River at Angus, Nebr. - 1950- Sept. 21, 1950 f 12.1 13,000 - June 26, 3 p.m. 13.4 18,500 - Little Blue River near Endicott, Nebr. 2,340 1908-15, June 9, 1941 16.23 31,000 13.2 June 27, 8 p.m. aa 16.82 36,800 15.7 

1929-

' 

Little Blue River at Waterville, Kans. 3,440 1922-25, June 10, 1941 f 26.20 50,400 14.7 July 13, 2 a.m. 24.65 38,200 11.1 

1928-

Tributary to Kansas Hiver near Wamego, Kans. 2.3 - - - - - - - .B 563 245 

Mill Creek at c.R.I.&P.R.R. bridge near 18. ~ - - - - - - - B 19,800 1,060 

Alta Vista, Kans. 

Mill Creek at State Highway 10 bridge 316 - - - - - - - B 78,800 249 

near Alma, Kans. 

Soldier Creek near Topeka, Kans. 268 1929- Apr. 23, 1944 28.2 9,910 37.0 July 12, 12 p.m. 29.06 13,200 49.3 

Delaware River at Valley Falls, Kans. 922 1922- June 16, 1945 r 27.85 45,900 49.8 June 21, 9:30 p.m. f 32.08 94,600 103 

Wakarusa River near Lawrence, Kans. 458 1929- April 23,1944 30.00 18,500 40.4 July 12, 12 p.m. r 31.59 24,200 52.8 

Stranger Creek near Tonganoxie, Kans. 406 1929- Dec. 5, 1944 27.40 15,500 38.2 July 12, 12 p.m. 28.94 33,100 81.5 

OSAGE (MARAIS DES CYGNES) RIVER BASIN 

Marais des Cygnes River at Melvern, Kans. 363 1939- Apr. 23, 1944 26.7 29,000 79.9 July 11, 6 a,.m. 31.50 68,000 187 

Marais des Cygnes River near Ottawa, Kans. 1,260 1902-5, Nov. 17, 1928 38.65 75,000 59.5 July 11, 12 p.m. to 42.50 142,000 113 

1918- July 12,' 2 a.m. 

Marais des Cygnes River at Trading Post, 2,910 1921-23, Nov. 18, 1928 34.45 120,000 41.2 July 14, 2-4 a.m. 38.12 148,000 so•9 

Kans. 1928-

Osage River at Osceola, Mo. 8,220 1921-28, May 21, 1943 ab 41.48 14~,000 17~8 July 6, 2-7 p.m. ao =35.87 •98,300 12.0 

1930-

Lake of the Ozarks near Bagnell, Mo. 14,000 1931- May 22, 1943 665.45 s 1, 527 ,ooo - July 7, 12 m.,-lOp.m. 664.41 s ],482,000 - Osage River near Bagnell, Mo. 14,000 1925- May 19, 1943 48.8 220,000 15.7' July 8, 5-8 e .• m. 38.26 126,000 9.00 

Osage River near St• Thomas, Mo. 14,500 1931- May 20, l943 43.8 216,000 14.9 July 13, 7-11 p.m.· 35.20 uo,ooo 8.97 

Salt Creek near Lyndon, Kans. 111 1939- Apr. 22, 1944 f 16.0 z 17,900 161 July 11, 10 a.m. r 11.00 36,400 328 

Apr. 16, 1945 

Big Bull Creek near Hillsdale, Kans. 147 ~948- May 21~ 1949 22.50 7,450 50.7 J:.uly 11, 12:30 p.m. 25.82 47,000 320 

O'l 

O'l 
64 Little Osage River at Fulton, K&ns. 

65 Marmaton River near Fort Scott, Kans. 

ARKANSAS RIVER BASIN 

66 Neosho Rinr at Counoil Grove, Kana. 

67 Neosho River at Burlington, Kans. 

68 Neosho River near Parsons, Kans. 

69 Rock Creek at Burlington, Kans. 

a About. Furnished by Corps of Engineers. 

b Occurred 5-7 a.m. c Occurred June 24, 1947. 

d Occurred 6 a.m. to l p.m. July 14. 

e Occurred at 11 p.m. 

f From floodmarks. 

g Site then in use. h Discharge uncertain. 

i From November 1950 

295 

4:11 

250 

3,025 

4,817 

8.8 

j Flood of May 1903 reached a stage of about 28.5 ft. 

1948- July 19, 1950 

1921-25, May 18, 1943 

1929-

1939- Oct. 20, 1941 

- - 1921- July 27, 1948 

- -

k Flood of May 1903 reached a stage of 26.3 ft, from floodmarks, determined 

by u. S. Weather Bureau, m Flood of May 1903 reached a stage of 32.7 rt, from floodmarks, at u. s. 

Weather Bureau gage and datum 0.5 mile downstream, higher flood in 

spring of 1844, according to Corps of Engineers. n Site and datum then in use. p Gage height and discharge uncertain; flood in spring of 1844 believed 

_ ll.i~~r_._ MQorAj.ng to C:or.J2!!1_~_gf_Endneerrs, _ q Stage at Missouri River a~ Kansas City gage. r Flood of May 30, 1938 reached a stage of 30.3 ft (discharge not determined) 

tram looal information. 

29.0 - - - - 16,800 

ad 36.90 34,200 83.2 June 30, 1:30 p.m. 35.96 28,000 

. 

ae 37.13 44,600 178 July 11, 8:30 a.m. af' 35.5 126,000 

- - - - - B 292,000 

30.74 87,800 18.2 July 14, 1-2 p.m. eg 40.20 439,000 

- - - - - B 9,560 

s Contents in acre-feet. 

t Affected by storage in Kanopolis Reservoir since February 1948. 

u Gage located 10 miles above present site. 

56.9 

68.1 

504 

96.6 

91.1 

1,090 

v Gage reading observed on highway department staff gage at bridge on State 

Highway 57 at 3 a.m. w Observed. 

x Flood of Sept. 19, 1919 reached a gage height .of 21.5 ft and flood of Aug. 

1, 1928 reached a stage of 24.5 ft. 

y Datum about Ii ft lower than present. z revised. 

aa Occurred 12 p.m. June 27. 

ab Gage height, 41.7 rt, from outside gage. ac Gage height, 36.04 ft, from outside gage. 

ad Flood of 1915 reached a stage of 42.34 ft. 

ae Flood of 1903 reached a stage of 37.3 ft, from floodmark. 

af Gage height of top of surge in well, 36.29 ft, from floodmarksJ gage height 

in wire- weight gage box at upstream side of bridge, 37.97 ft. fran 

_ t'lo_Cl!imarka _ __ ----·-·-··-- ___ . _ _ _____________ _ 

ag From high-water mark in gage structure. 

(j) 

....J 
"' ..J 

2 

"' Ill: 

c 

::;) 

0 

(/) 

Ill: 

"' Q. 

Q 

z 

0 

(,) 

"' (/) 

Ill: 

"' Q. 

._ 

"' "' &a. 

~ 

ID 

:::) 

(,) 

z 

"' C!)

Ill: 

c 

:1: 

(,) 

(/) 

0 

2,000 

1,000 

80Q 

600 

400 

300 

200 

100 

80 

60 

40 

30 

20 

10 

8 

6 

4 

3 

2 

1.0 

0.8 

0.6 

0.4 

1.0 

:s . 

49 

• 66 

62 

• • 63 

• • 48 50 

• 40 55 

-- •56 

l54 52 67 •sa 

19 • ~65 

64 • • 5; 0 53 32 51 

33 

30 36 • 

• 35.· 37 

•46 3'4 2'7 

• 3: .29 

39 47 58 • 2.6 

• • 44 

4~ so•&l 15 .. 17 

• 43 • 16 13 .._ 

42 2.0 14 

21 25 

•12. 

24 •II 

Note- Numbers conform to those in e9 

• table 2 and on figure 2 10 5 2::4 

3 . 23 8 

• 6 1r 

2 3 4 6 8 10 20 30 40 60 80 100 2 3 4 6 1,000 2 3 4 6 10,000 2 3 4 6 100,000 2 3 4 6 1,000,000 

DRAINAGE AREA, IN SQUARE MILES 

Figure e.--Maximum discharges, in cubic feet per second per square mile, for various areas in Kansas-Missouri, May-July 1951. 

en 

(X) 
FLOOD DAMAGE 

The July 1951 flood caused the greatest 

damage ever experienced in Kansas. Damage 

occurred to homes, business, and industrial 

buildings, to highways and railwa:Ts, to 

government property, and to farm lands. The 

flood waters carried a high concentration of 

suspended sediment that settled out in slackwater areas, thus adding to the immediate ~eavy damage. However, over a period of time 

this may benefit the soil. The cost of disrupted transportation alone ran into hundreds 

of thousands of dollars. 

For several days during the flood it was impossible to cross the Kansas River anywhere 

by train or automobile between Junction City 

and Kansas City, Kans. All roads and railroads running up the Kansas Valley were closed equally long or longer. At the following locations, highway bridges over the 

Kansas Elver between Junction City and Kansas 

City were entirely destroyed or damaged so that they are not yet in user 

Fort Riley - damaged. 

Ogden - rendered useless by channel chang~ 

County bridge 3 miles above Manhattan - several spans carried away. 

St. George - almost entirely destroyed. 

Brickyard bridge west of Topeka - almost 

entirely destroyed. 

Sardou Bridge, Topeka - destroyed. 

Lecompton - two spans carried away. 

De Soto - badly damaged. 

In all, 17 major bridges were reported to h~ve been destroyed throughout the flooded area. 

The Rock Island and Santa Fe Railway 

bridges at Topeka were badly damaged by the 

July flood. The Rock Island bridge was res- tored with temporary repairs, only to be destroyed by the rise in early September. The 

foregoing list of bridges damaq;ed or destroyed is a sample of the flood damage throughout 

the state of Kansas. ~ne Kansas Highway Commission has asked for emergency relief assistance from the Federal government for 40 

State projects totaling $4,845,100 and for 37 

county Federal-aid pro,iects totaling 

69 

i ~1,691,000. According to the Topeka State 

Journ+l, Sept. 6, the requested amounts includeisome pro,iects for which damage occurred 

earli'r than the July flood. 

Mamy h0mes were entirely lost or destroyed beyon~ repair by the July floods. In many of 

the flooded residential areas, homes had been 

evacu.ted during June when the first floods came. • The residents had just completed the 

cleamp.p of their houses and grounds when the 

July flood struck with its much more discoura!ing damage. More than two months after 

the J~ly flood many of the damaged homes were uninhsbited. Figures released by the Corps 

of En$ineers show that 518,500 people left 

their,homes during the July flood. The need 

for h~using is bein~ met temporarily at many commu~ities with trailer-houses. Store, offic~, and light industrial buildings stood 

idle for weeks or were repaired at great cos~ 

The complete stocks of most stores in the 

flooded communities were ruined, windows were *mashed, and floors had to be rebuilt becau~e of failure or swollen floor-boards. 

Municipal installations, mainly sewer and 

waterworks, received heavy damage in many comm~ities. About 30 cities in Kansas had 

order$ to use boiled water for a period of appro~imRtAlv one week after contamination 

of th~ir supplies. Good supervision of the probl~m forestalled any epidemics. Sewers were damaged by the flood through complete 

plugging with silt or by erosion of cover material. The high water table that accom- panied the flood caused inconvenience at the 

Topeka Waterworks when large pumps began 

settling in the saturated alluvium. 

Th~ loss to agricultural land was not res- tricted to the loss of crops by flooding but, 

in addition, included scour and sand deposition. The Kansas River cut several new channels ~etween Junction City and Kansas City 

that in some cases destroyed entire farms. 

Sand deposited 2 to 3 feet deep on many acres in the area will hamper the production on scores of farms until a means of disposing or treatment of it can be found. 

As .printed in the Topeka Daily Capital, 

July 20, prel i_minary estimates by the Corps 

of En$ineers list the flood losses as: 

Kansas Missouri 

Acres flooded 1,074,000 926,000 

150,000 

65,000 

9,000 

$139,000,000 

Persons displaced ~68,500 

Railroad rolling stock affected (units) ~2,100 

Livestock, lost or stranded 7,000 

Flood loss total $736,000,000