Floods of 1954 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1370 

This water-supply paper was printed 

as separate chapters, A-C 

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1959 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

FRED A. SEATON, Secretary 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Thomas B. Nolan, Director 
CONTENTS 

[The letters in parentheses preceding the titles designate separately published chapters] 

(A) Floods of June 1954 in Iowa ___________________________________ _ 

(B) Floods of October 1954 in the Chicago area, Illinois and Indiana ___ _ (C) Summary of :ftoods in the United States during 1954 ______________ _ 

III 

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201 

Floods of June 1954 

in Iowa - By I. D. YOST 

FLOODS OF 1954 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1370-A 

Prepared in cooperation with the States 

of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota, 

and with agencies of the Federal 

Government 

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1958 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

FRED A. SEATON, Secretary 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Thomas B. Nolan, Director 

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printint Office 

Washintton 25, D. C. 
PREFACE 

This report on the floods of June 1954 in Iowa was prepared by 

the U. S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, under the 

general direction of C. G. Paulsen, chief, and J. V. B. Wells, chief, 

Surface Water Branch. The section containing sediment records 

was prepared under the general direction of S. K. Love, chief, Quality of Water Branch. 

The collection of basic records of stage and discharge in the 

area described in this report is a part of a continuous cooperative 

program with the States of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota; and 

with the Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army. The U. S. 

Weather Bureau, the American Red Cross, and several State, municipal and private organizations supplied information included in 

this report and acknowledgement of the data is made in the text at 

the place where the data appear. 

The basic data were collected and compiled in the district offices 

of the Surface Water Branch under the supervision of the following 

district engineers: V. R. Bennion, Iowa; D. D. Lewis, Nebraska; 

and H. M. Erskine, South Dakota. Valuable assistance was given in 

the field and office work by R. E. Oltman, engineer in charge of the 

special reports office, Lincoln, Nebr. 

III 

CONTENTS 

Abstract. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Introduction . . . . . • . • . . 

General description of the floods. 

Causes ......... . 

Iowa River and tributaries. . 

Cedar River and tributaries . 

Skunk River . • . . . . . . 

Des Moines River and tributaries 

Tributaries to the Missouri River 

Flood damages. . . . . . • . . . 

Determination of flood discharges . 

Stages and discharges at stream-gaging stations. 

Explanation of data . . . . . . . . 

Wapsipinicon River at Independence, Iowa 

West Fork Iowa River near Klemme . 

East Fork Iowa River near Klemme 

Iowa River near Rowan . . . . . . 

Iowa River at Marshalltown . . . . . 

Timber Creek near Marshalltown 

Iowa River near Belle Plaine 

Iowa River at Iowa City . . . . . . 

Cedar River at Janesville . . . . 

Shell Rock River near Northwood. 

Lime Creek at Mason City. . . 

Shell Rock River at Shell Rock. . 

•• J 

West Fork Shell Rock River at Finchford 

Beaver Creek at New Hartford . 

Blackhawk Creek at Hudson 

Cedar River at Waterloo 

Cedar River at Cedar Rapids .. 

Cedar River near Conesville . 

Skunk River near Ames . . . . • 

Skunk River below Squaw Creek near Ames . 

Skunk River near Oskaloosa . . . . . . . . 

West Fork Des Moines River at Estherville . 

West Fork Des Moines River at Humboldt . 

East Fork Des Moines River near Burt . . 

East Fork Des Moines River near Hardy . 

East Fork Des Moines River at Dakota City . 

North Lizard Creek near Clare . 

Des Moines River at Fort Dodge . 

Boone River near Webster City . 

Des Moines River near Boone . 

Des Moines River at Des Moines 

Raccoon River near Jefferson 

Hardin Creek: 

East Fork Hardin Creek near Churdan 

South Raccoon River at Redfield . . .. 

Raccoon River at Van Meter ..• 

Des Moines River below Raccoon River, at Des Moines. 

Des Moines River near Tracy . . . . . . • . . . . . 

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VI CONTENTS 

Stages and discharges at stream-gaging stations--Continued 

Des Moines River at Ottumwa. . . . . . • . 

Des Moines River at Keosauqua . . . . . . . 

Vermillion River near Wakonda, South Dakota 

Big Sioux River Basin: 

Rock River near Rock Valley, Iowa 

Dry Creek at Hawarden 

Big Sioux River at Akron . . . . . . 

Perry Creek at 38th Street, Sioux City. • 

Floyd River at James . . . . . . . . 

Omaha Creek at Homer, Nebraska. . . 

Little Sioux River near Cherokee, Iowa 

Mill Creek near Cherokee 

Little Sioux River at Correctionville. 

Little Sioux River near Kennebec 

Maple River at Mapleton . . 

Little Sioux River near Turin . . 

Monona-Harrison ditch: 

West Fork ditch at Holly Springs 

Monona-Harrison ditch near Turin. 

Soldier River at Pisgah . . . . 

Summary of flood stages and discharges 

Frequency of peak discharges 

Flood~crest stages . . . 

Records of previous floods . • 

Iowa River basin . . . 

Cedar River basin . . 

Des Moines River basin 

Little Sioux River basin 

Sediment load of Little Sioux River 

Little Sioux River at Correctionville 

Little Sioux River at Kennebec 

References cited. 

Index ..... . 

Plate 1. 

Figure 1. 

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3. 

4. 

5. 

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7. 

8. 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

Map showing location of flood-determination points . . 

Map showing area in Iowa covered by this report. . . 

Isohyetal map showing total precipitation, in inches, 

June 17-19, 1954. . . . .....•.•. 

Isohyetal map showing total precipitation, in inches, 

June 20-22, 1954. . . . . . •......... 

Isohyetal map showing total precipitation, in inches, 

June 15-22, 1954 .•...•...•...•. 

Mass rainfall curves for storm of June 15-22, 1954 

Discharge hydrographs for selected streams, Iowa 

River basin, June 1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . 

View of the Iowa River at the gaging station flooding 

farmlands and county highway near Rowan 

Discharge hydrographs for selected streams, Cedar 

River basin, June 1954 . . . . • . . . . 

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CONTENTS VII 

Page 

Figure 9. Aerial view of part of Calhoun County showing water 

collected in the many depressions. 12 

10. View of floodwaters of the Des Moines River inundating 

a residential section of Fort Dodge 14 

11. Discharge hydrographs for selected streams, Des 

Moines River basin, June 1954. 15 

12. View of floodwaters of the Des Moines River flowing 

over Center Street Dam in Des Moines. 16 

13. View of floodwaters of the Des Moines River spread 

out over bottomlands downstream from Des Moines. 18 

14. Discharge hydrographs, Little Sioux River basin, 

June 1954. 19 

15. Regional runoff areas in Iowa 83 

16. Relation of unit discharge to size of drainage area 

for region C. . . . . . . . . 84 

17. Relation of unit discharge to size of drainage area 

for region D. . . . • . . . . 84 

18. Relation of unit discharge to size of drainage area 

for region E. . • . . . . . . • 85 

19. Relation of unit discharge to size of drainage area 

for region F. . . . . . . . . . 85 

20. Relation of unit discharge to size of drainage area 

for region G. . . . . . . . . . 86 

21. Relation of unit discharge to size of drainage area 

for region H. . . . . . . . . . 86 

22. Profiles of flood-crest elevations on the Des Moines 

River from 80 to 140 miles upstream from the mouth . 89 

23. Profiles of flood-crest elevations on the Des Moines 

River from 140 to 200 miles upstream from the 

mouth. 90 

24. Profiles of flood-crest elevations on the Des Moines 

River from 200 to 260 miles upstream from the 

mouth. 91 

25. Profiles of flood-crest elevations on the Des Moines 

River from 260 to 300 miles upstream from the 

mouth. 92 

26. Profiles of flood-crest elevations on the Des Moines 

River from 300 to 331 miles upstream from the 

mouth. 93 

27. Profiles of flood-crest elevations on the Iowa River 

from 196 to 259 miles upstream from the mouth 94 

28. Profiles of flood-crest elevations on the Iowa River 

from 259 to 316 miles upstream from the mouth 95 

29. Profiles of flood-crest elevations on the Iowa River 

from 316 to 358 miles upstream from the mouth 96 

TABLES 

Page 

Table 1. Summary of urban damages, flood of June 1954. 21 

2. Summary of agricultural damages, flood of June 1954 21 
VIII CONTENTS 

3. American Red Cross relief by counties in the flooded 

areas of Iowa, 1954. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4. Iowa National Guard expenditures by cities during 

flood of June 1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

5. Summary of flood stages and discharges . 

6. Flood-crest stages, West Fork, Des Moines River 

7. Flood-crest stages, Little Sioux River ..... . 

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FLOODS OF 1954 

FLOODS OF JUNE 1954 IN IOWA 

I. D. Yost 

ABSTRACT 

Rainfall during the latter part of May and the first half of June 1954, culminating in a series of heavy rains June 15-22, caused streams in north-central 

and northwest Iowa to rise to record heights in many places. Affected in Iowa 

were the basins of Iowa, Cedar, Skunk, Des Moines, Big Sioux, Floyd, Little Sioux, 

and Soldier Rivers and Perry Creek. The Omaha Creek basin in Nebraska also 

was flooded. 

Notable high rates of discharge produced by the extremely heavy rains include 

108 cfs (cubic feet per second) per square mile from 2.14 square miles of drainage area on the East Fork Iowa River above Hayfield, Iowa; 242 cfs per square 

mile from a drainage area of 7.07 square miles on a small Otter Creek tributary. 

The greatest unit peak discharge was 1,110 cfs per square mile measured from an 

area of 0. 056 square mile on a small tributary of the Boone River near Britt, 

Iowa. The unit discharge of 83. 4 cfs per square mile on the Skunk River near 

Randall, Iowa, was unusual considering its; much larger drainage area of 163 

square miles. 

The floods of June 1954 were the greatest known on the Iowa River above 

Eldora, on the Des Moines River below Fort Dodge to Des Moines, and on the Rock 

and the Little Sioux Rivers. Near-record floods occurred on the Des Moines River 

at and upstream from Fort Dodge, and on the Cedar River and tributaries upstream from Waterloo. 

Flood damage amounted to nearly $28 million. Much urban damage occurred; 

however the above total consisted mainly of agricultural damage with an estimated 725, 000 acres of cropland in 26 northern counties of Iowa under water 

during the first 3 weeks in June. 

INTRODUCTION 

The floods of June 1954 in Iowa were of record or near-record 

height throughout much of the northern half of the State. Heavy 

rainfall during the last few days in May and the first half of June 

thoroughly saturated the soil throughout much of the northern half 

of Iowa and produced conditions favorable for the occurrence of 

flood runoff from the heavy rains that were to follow. Many streams 

in the northwestern and north-central part of the State began rising 

to flood stages as a result of the heavy rainfall, June 15-19. Additional heavy rains of June 20-22 throughout most of the same general 

area added runoff to the already swollen streams and produced 
NEBRASKA 

M s u R 

Figure 1. --Map showing area in Iowa covered by this report. 

WISCONSIN 

EXPLANATION 

Area ~ of serious flooding 

Bou~rea covered by this report 

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FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 3 

record or near-record floods at many places. Peak discharges 

were the greatest of record on the Iowa River above Eldora, on the 

Des Moines River from Fort Dodge to Des Moines, and on the Little 

Sioux River. 

Figure 1 shows the location of the area covered by this report 

in which major floods occurred. Considerable urban damage occurred, but agricultural damages constituted most of the total which 

amounted to nearly $28 million. Because of the large area of flooding, agricultural damages probably exceeded those of any previous 

flood. 

The U. S. Geological Survey through the district office in Iowa 

City, Iowa, operates a network of stream-gaging stations in the area 

affected by this flood as a part of the _regular Nationwide program 

for the investigation of water resources. These stations are maintained mainly in cooperation with municipalities, the State, and with 

Federal agencies. Some of these stations have been operated for 

long continuous periods thus giving systematic records of stage. 

discharge, and volume of flow covering the range from drought to 

flood conditions. This report contains records of stage and discharge at 55 gaging stations during the flood period, and a summary 

of peak discharges at 22 miscellaneous points within the flood area 

and other data pertinent to the flood. 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE FLOODS 

Causes 

The floods in the northern half of Iowa in June 1954 were the result of successive periods of very heavy rainfall. During May the 

rainfall averaged near normal throughout the State and many stations reported rainfall well above normal. Soil moisture content 

was very low and most of the rain soaked into the ground with very 

little runoff until the last few days of May when rains and heavy 

thundershowers began moving across the State. June rainfall averaged nearly 2 inches above normal throughout the State with extremely heavy rains during the middle of the month in most of the 

northern half of the State. In general, the heavy rainfall during the 

first half of June saturated the soil throughout much of northwest 

and north-central Iowa and caused some runoff into the streams. 

Many streams in northern Iowa carried moderate amounts offloadwater but only the upper Skunk River basin produced record flooding during the first half of June. The heavy rains of June 15-19 

over the northwestern and north-central part of the State fell on 

the already saturated soil, filled the many depressions which characterize the terrain in that part of the State, and the streams began 

rising to greater heights. This condition set the stage for the record 
M .·s 0 u R 

WISCONSIN 

EXPLANATION --7-- lsohyetal line, showing 

precipitation in inches 

Figure 2. --Isohyetal map showing total precipitation, in inches, June 17-19, 1954. 

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NEBRASKA 

M s 0 u R 

WISCONSIN 

EXPLANATION --6--

Isohyetal line. showing 

precipitation in inches 

Figure 3. --Isohyetal map showing total precipitation, in inches, June 20-22, 1954. 

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WISCONSIN 

NEBRASKA u R 

Figure 4. --Isohyetal map showing total precipitation, in inches, June 15-22, 1954. 

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FLOODS OF .nJNE IN IOWA 

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June 15 June 16 June 17 June 18 June 19 June 20 June 21 June 22 

Figure 5. --Mass rainfall curves for storm of June 15-22, 1954. 

7 
8 FLOODS OF 1954 

floods produced by the additional heavy rains of June 20-22 over 

most of the same area. 

Standing water caused almost a total loss to crops planted on 

land in the depressions. Almost 20 percent of Hancock County was 

under water on June 19, and many farmers who had started replanting after the June 10-11 rains found their land again submerged. 

If these depressions had not existed, thousands of acre-feet of wa:ter 

would have been added to the already flooded streams, thus producing 

much higher stages and causing much more damage to the downstream areas. 

A discussion of the meteorology of the storms for June 17-21, 

1954, together with more detailed weather records are contained 

in a report by the U. S. Department of Commerce (U. S. Weather 

Bureau, 1954a). Figures 2 to 4 are isohyetal maps prepared from 

maps furnished by the U. S. Weather Bureau which show the distribution of total precipitation in Iowa, June 17-22. Figure 5 was 

prepared from records of the U.S. Department of Commerce (U. S. 

Weather Bureau, 1954b) which show the hourly distribution of storm 

precipitation at four selected stations in the northern part of Iowa. 

Iowa River and Tributaries 

Record floods occurred on the Iowa River above Eldora from 

heavy runoff-producing rainfall over the headwaters, June 15-19. 

On June 19, crests on the East and West Forks bf the Iowa River 

and below their confluence exceeded any previously recorded high 

stages. Both forks began to recede, then heavy rainfall during the 

night of June 20 produced additional runoff with the crest at the 

gaging station on the Iowa River near Rowan exceeding that recorded 

2 days earlier (fig. 6). Floodwaters covered Highway 69 at several 

places in the vicinity of Belmond, closing the highway to traffic 

for several days. The county highway to the gaging station near 

Rowan and adjacent farmlands was also flooded (fig. 7). One death 

directly attributed to the flood occurred on the Iowa River near 

Dows where a boy was drowned while herding cattle out of the flooded 

area. The crest on the Iowa River remained at record height downstream through Iowa Falls and Eldora. The Iowa River at Iowa 

Falls was said to be the highest within the memory of the oldest 

residents. Very little runoff was contributed by tributaries below 

Eldora; consequently the crest began flattening as it progressed 

downstream, and no serious flooding was experienced in urban 

areas downstream from Marshalltown. 
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June 18 June 19 June 20 June 21 June 22 June 23 June 24 June 25 June 26 June 27 June 28 June 29 June 30 

Figure 6. --Discharge hydrographs for selected streams, Iowa River basin, June 1954. 

co 
10 FLOODS OF 1954 

Figure 7. --View of the Iowa River at the gaging station flooding 

farmlands and county highway near Rowan. 

Cedar River and Tributaries 

Local flooding in Mason City from small creeks and from excessive local rainfall necessitated the evacuation of about 300'families. Residents declared this flood was the worst one the city had 

experienced since 1903. Heavy runoff was produced on the headwaters of the West Fork Shell Rock River and much flooding occurred 
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at Mason Cit/ - ...... 

June 18 June 19 June 20 June 21 June 22 June 23 June 24 June 25 June 26 June 27 June 28 June 29 June 30 

Figure 8. --Discharge hydrographs for selected streams, Cedar Rapids River basin, June 1954. ...... 

...... 
Figure 9. --Aerial view of part of Calhoun County showing water collected in the many depressions. 

Photograph by Rockwell City Advocate. 

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FLOODS OF JUNE IN lOW A 13 

in the upper reaches of the Shell Rock and Cedar Rivers. The 

crests from the West Fork Shell Rock River and the Shell Rock 

River coincided with the crest on the Cedar River producing a nearrecord crest downstream from the junction which caused considerable flooding at Waterloo a few miles downstream (fig. 8). Although 

it was necessary to evacuate only a few families, floodwaters inundated many thousands of acres of low-lying farmland and town 

areas along the flooded streams (fig. 9). Because of small amounts 

of tributary inflow downstream from Waterloo, the crest on the 

Cedar River flattened as it progressed downstream causing very 

little additional urban damage. 

Skunk River 

The first severe flooding occurred on the Skunk River at and 

upstream from the city of Ames. The Skunk River began rising on 

June 9 as a result of heavy thundershowers in Hamilton County and 

surrounding areas. Outstanding rates of runoff occurred north of 

Ames and a record flood was produced at the gaging station. Considerable damage was caused in low-lying agricultural areas under 

cultivation along the river but very little damage was done in urban 

areas. 

Des Moines River and Tributaries 

The flood on the Des Moines River developed in the upper reaches 

in the north-central part of the State as a result of heavy rainfall, 

June 15-19, with the additional runoff-producing rainfall of June 

20-22 adding to the already swollen streams. The flood on the East 

Fork Des Moines River was at near-record height while the flood 

on the West Fork was of little consequence at and upstream from 

Estherville. However, the flood on the West Fork developed rapidly and was of near-record height by the time the crest reached 

the gaging station at Humboldt (fig. 11). The crests from the East 

and West Forks arrived at their confluence only a few hours apart. 

With the contribution of additional runoff from smaller tributaries, 

the crest was at near-record height by the time it reached the 

gaging station at Fort Dodge, being exceeded only by the flood of 

June 1947, which was 0. 4 foot higher (fig. 10). Some flood damage 

was experienced in the city of Fort Dodge when several blocks of 

a low-lying residential area flooded, necessitating the evacuation 

of about 300 families. 

Although not of record proportions, runoff of some consequence 

was produced on Lizard Creek, and many small creeks in northcentral Iowa flooded as a result of scattered thunderstorm activity. 
14 FLOODS OF 1954 

Figure 10.--View offloodwaters ofthe Des Moines River inundating 

a residential section of Fort Dodge. Photograph by Fort Dodge 

Messenger. 

The headwaters of the Boone River received some of the heaviest rainfall during the flood period . Excessive rates of runoff were 

measured on some of the tributaries west of Britt. Fed by many 

small tributaries, the flood crest increased as it continued downstream, until by the time it reached Webster City the crest was 

several inches higher than any previously known flood in this city. 
60 

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June 18 June 19 June 20 June 21 June 22 June 23 June 24 June 25 June 26 June 27 June 28 June 29 June 30 

Figure 11. --Discharge hydrographs for selected streams, Des Moines River basin, June 1954. ...... 

01 
Figure 12. --View of floodwaters of the Des Moines River flowing over Center Street Dam in Des 

Moines. Photograph by Corps of Engineers. 

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FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 17 

At the gaging station 2 miles south of Webster City the stage of 

18. 55 feet was 0. 55 feet lower than the stage of the flood of 1918 

which was the highest stage known since 1896 (fig. 11). 

The addition of the Boone River floodwater to the already flooded 

Des Moines River produced the greatest flood in the history of the 

Des Moines River as far downstream as the city of Des Moines. 

The flood closed all east-west transportation routes in Boone County 

and only a few of the north-south roads and highways remained 

passable. The Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Southern Railway powerplant at Fraser stopped operating when floodwater inundated the 

plant, exploded a boil.er and cut off all power and traffic on the 

railroad except for a few diesel engines. Temporary sandbag levees 

constructed during the flood kept the water from inundating the city 

water plant at Boone. The State hospital water plant at Woodward, 

a few miles downstream from Boone, was inundated and stopped 

operation. 

The crest on the Des Moines River remained at record height 

after entering the city of Des Moines. Much of the residential area 

along the river was flooded, necessitating the evacuation of about 

1, 300 families. Center Street dam was almost submerged by the 

high stage (fig. 12}. Temporary levees built just before and during 

the flood prevented the water from inundating more residential and 

industrial property within the city. 

The Raccoon River, which enters the Des Moines River within 

the city of Des Moines, was carrying considerable floodwater but 

was several feet lower than the previous recorded high stage. At 

Des Moines, as well as for areas downstream, the crest on the 

Des Moines River preceded the Raccoon River crest by about 24 

hours. If the two crests had reached Des Moines at the same time, 

much more serious flooding would have resulted (fig. ll). 

Below the mouth of the Raccoon River there was little tributary 

runoff into the Des Moines River; consequently the crest flattened 

as it progressed downstream. Many small towns and homes throughout the entire river valley were flooded, however, and thousands 

of acres of farmland were inundated (fig. 13}. The crest at the 

gaging station at Ottumwa was 3. 3 feet below the previously recorded high stage, and a relatively small amount of flooding occur red within the city. 

Tributaries to the Missouri River 

Record or near-record floods developed on the tributaries to 

the Missouri River in northwest Iowa as a result of the heavy rainfalls, June 15-19 and June 20-22. At the gaging station on the Rock 
18 FLOODS OF 1954 

Figure 13. --View of floodwaters of the Des Moines River spread 

out over bottomlands downstream from Des Moines. Photograph 

by Des Moines Register and Tribune. 

River near Rock Valley, the crest recorded for this flood was 0.13 

foot lower than that recorded for the June 1953 flood; however, the 

peak discharge during the current flood was slightly greater than 

that of the 1953 flood. The Big Sioux River at Sioux City was reported to be the highest in 70 years or more. No serious damage 

was reported, but about 500 families were evacuated from lowlying areas in the city. 
25 

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I \ I \ ~na-Harrison ditch near Turin, Iowa I \ 

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Mapleton, Iowa 1-- -· 1- >--· 

June 18 June 19 June 20 June 21 June 22 June 23 June 24 June.25 June 26 June 27 June 28 June 29 June 30 

Figure 14. --Discharge hydrographs, Little Sioux River basin, June 1954. 
20 FLOODS OF 1954 

The flood on the Little Sioux River was of record proportion 

and caused considerable flooding throughout the river valley. In 

the Cherokee area the Little Sioux River flooded the lowlands, roads, 

and fields nearly repeating the 1953 disaster. Floodwaters inundated State Highway 5 blocking traffic east of Cherokee, and several 

families in the south edge of the city were evacuated. Farther 

downstream at the gaging station at Correctionville, the crest on 

the Little Sioux River exceeded the previously recorded high stage 

and caused considerable damage in that area. Highway 20, one of 

the main east-west highways, was inundated and closed to traffic 

for several days. Also at the gaging station at Kennebec, the Little 

Sioux River exceeded the previously recorded high stage. The 

floodwaters were fairly well confined to the normal levee flood 

plain downstream to Smithland. Downstream from Smithland several breaks occurred in the levee system, and the floodwaters inundated much of the surrounding farmland. At Turin, several miles 

farther downstream, the Little Sioux and Maple Rivers flooded all 

highways into the town leaving it completely isolated. It was thought 

that the entire population of the town would have to be evacuated; 

however, this threat was alleviated when both rivers began to recede. Figure 14 presents graphs of discharge at selected gaging 

stations in the Little Sioux River basin. 

FLOOD DAMAGES 

The floods of June 1954 caused heavy damage to both urban and 

agricultural areas in the State of Iowa. Two lives were reported 

lost. A boy was drowned while trying to save cattle from the floodwaters, and a man was electrocuted when he came in contact with 

a live wire in his flooded home. The A me ric an Red Cross reported 

six persons required hospitalization for major injuries. The Corps 

of Engineers estimated the total damage to be $27, 948. 000. Iowa 

croplands, particularly those planted in corn and soybeans, suffered 

heavy damage and total loss in many cases from water standing on 

the fields for a long time. The Soil Conservation Service estimated 

that during the first 3 weeks in June, 725, 000 acres of cropland in 

26 northern counties were under water. 

Personnel of the Corps of Engineers from both the Rock Island, 

Ill.. and Omaha, Nebr .• district offices began collecting data on 

flood damages soon after the floodwaters receded (tables 1 and 2). 

The American Red Cross reported a total expenditure of $147,428 

for rehabilitation and emergency services in the State of Iowa (table 

3). The Iowa National Guard assigned men and equipment to many 

flooded communities to perform guard duty and assist with sandbagging and temporary levee construction where necessary. Expenses are shown in table 4. 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 21 

Tab,le l. --Summary of urban damages, in dollars, flood of June 1954 

Total 

Location damages 

Cedar River basin 

Charles City--------- 50 150 850 585 50 0 1,685 

Cedar City----------- 85 135 1,670 1,515 40 55 3,500 

Cedar Falls---------- 85 395 2,045 l, 725 2,655 2,370 9,275 

Waterloo------------- 9,110 38,820 26,435 18,715 500 5,000 98,580 

Evansdale------------ 0 0 6,085 3,625 0 0 9, 710 

Cedar Rapids--------- 0 330 0 0 100 100 530 

Mason Ci~y----------- 38,500 19,900 120,115 14,280 7,050 11,465 2ll,310 

Green---------------- 0 300 200 100 0 0 600 

Total 47,830 60,030 157,400 40,545 10,395 18,990 335,190 

Iowa River basin 

Belmond-------------- 5,650 2,400 3,050 705 0 550 12,355 

Dews----------------- 0 0 2,600 640 0 230 3,470 

Alden---------------- 0 350 125 10 0 5,850 6,335 

Iowa Falls----------- 1,850 2,850 225 565 100 0 5,590 

Steamboat Rock------- 0 0 125 25 0 0 150 

Marshall town--------- 200 875 1,650 1,245 15,000 0 18,970 

Total------------ 7, 700 6,475 7, 775 3,190 15,100 6,630 46,870 

Des Moines River basin 

Fort Dodge----------- 7,125 114,685 44,045 19,500 9,995 36,105 231,455 

Kal o----------------- 0 0 4,875 1,525 0 0 6,400 

Lehigh--------------- 17,805 3,695 25,050 4,425 50,405 50 101,430 

Fraser--------------- 0 0 2;950 345 0 0 3,29:.> 

Boone---------------- 0 0 0 0 0 11,320 11,320 

Woodward------------- 0 500 0 0 125 15,230 15,855 

Des Moines----------- 202,240 448,755 257,830 66,305 78,350 479,975 1,533,455 

Levey---------------- 0 0 1,150 4,100 0 0 5,250 

Runnells------------- 0 0 0 0 0 500 500 

Red Rock------------- 240 195 1,400 1, 785 0 150 3, 770 

Harvey--------------- 0 0 1,055 45 0 0 1,100 

Eddyville------------ 0 2,520 3,815 8,800 0 21,645 36,780 

Ottumwa-------------- 10,650 281,250 7,090 5,340 0 49,465 353,795 

Eldon---------------- 250 250 0 0 0 0 500 

Selma--~------------- 0 0 45 ll5 0 0 160 

Keosauqua------------ 310 2,820 0 0 0 0 3,130 

Webster City--------- 3,300 2,500 57.725 21,350 5,400 28.950 119,225 

Sac city------------- 0 200 1,550 325 300 200 2,575 

Ade 1----------------- 100 100 400 200 200 0 1,000 

Total------------ 242,020 857,470 408,980 134,160 144,775 643,590 2 ,430, 995-

Missouri River basin 

Little Sioux River and tributaries---- 115,100 443,900 559,000 

Omaha Creek---------- 17,100 26,800 43,900 

Floyd River---------- 0 4, 200 4, 200 

Big Sioux River------ 0 64,500 64,500 

vermillion River----- 1-----+-~----1---8-00~1-----1--6-2 :_' 8_o_o+----+---6_3_,6_.o'-o 

Total------------ 133,000 602,200 735,200 

Table 2. --Summary of agricultural damages, in dollars, flood of June 1954 

Watershed Total area 

flooded (acres) 

Skunk River basin 

Total 

damages 

Main stem-------------------------- 25,000 716,880 81,800 798,680 

Squaw Creek------------------------ 5,000 89,960 89,960 

Indian Creek----------------------- 700 11,700 --------- 11,700 

North Skunk River------------------ I----~8~00..:....__-+ _ ___:1:..:1::..:':...:7_:6_:0-+ ___ _:4.::.00=--.J __ _::_l2=.!...:, 1:.:6:.:0:..._ 

Total-------------------------- 31,500 830,300 82,200 

Cedar River basin 

Lime Creek---------·---------------- 3, 950 143,250 72,900 

West Fork Shell Rock River--------- 19,275 756,990 255,110 

Shell Rock River, main stem and 

small tributaries---------------- 15,800 381,690 44,980 

Cedar River, main stem and small 

912,500 

216,150 

1,012,100 

426,670 

tributaries---------------------- l---6_5~,_7_4_0 __ +-_1~,_96_4~,~7_6_0-+-~3~0~3~,~3~7~0~~2~,~2~6~8~,1~3~0 

Total-------------------------- 104,765 3,246,690 676,360 3,923,050 

Iowa River basin 

West Fork-------------------------- 9,000 

East Fork-------------------------- 3, 900 

South Fork------------------------- 1, 850 

Honey Creek------------------------ 650 

Main Stem-------------------------- ~-~6~4~,~9~00..:....__-+~~~~~~--=~~~-1---=~~~~ 

769' 940 74,020 843,960 

129,440 58,230 187,670 

80,690 10,150 90,840 

31,970 6,150 38,120 

2,176,510 357,300 2,533,810 

Total-------------------------- 79,400 3,188,550 505,850 3,694,400 
22 FLOODS OF 1954 

Table 2. --Summary of agricultural damages, in dollars, flood of June 1954--Cont. 

Watershed 

West Fork--------------------------

East Fork--------------------------

Main Stern and small tributaries----

Lizard Creek-----------------------

Boone River------------------------

Raccoon River----------------------

Total area 

flooded (acres) 

Des Moines River basin 

5,100 257,580 30,890 

18,900 864,730 58,550. 

83,009 3,553,830 2,619,210 

5,950 298,930 145,020 

20,900 1,016,480 440,230 

Total 

damages 

288,470 

923,280 

6,173,040 

443,950 

1,460, 710 

27,540 1,217,000 143,250 1,360,250 ~--~~~----~~=-~~r---~~~--~~~~ 

Total-------------------------- 161,399 7 ,208,.550 3,441,150 10,649,700 

Missouri River tributaries 

Little Sioux River and tributaries- 71,000 --------- 2, 961,000 

Omaha Creek------------------------ 5, 200 --------- 246,900 

Floyd River------------------------ 9,400 --------- --------- 220,300 

Big Sioux River-------------------- 34,700 --------- 1,128,000 

Vermillion River--~---------------- r-----2_7~,_3_o_o ____ ~---------+------_-_-_-_-_-_--r ____ 6_6_3~,9_o_o_ 

Total-------------------------- 147,600 

Table 3.-- American Red Cross Relief by counties, 

flood of June 1954 !( 

Number of Number of Total 

County families families expenditures suffering 

loss assisted for relief 

Polk---------- 600 243 $76,36Q 

Hamil ton------ 100 54 16,477 

Webster------- 238 147 36,279 

Monona-------- 30 1 192 

Cedar Falls--- 175 9 395 

Blackhawk----- 200 4 755 

Warren-------- 14 1 205 

Boone------.:.-- 40 1 657 

Kossuth------- 30 5 565 

Clarion------- 20 3 217 

Sac----------- 15 3 130 

Pocohantas---- 25 3 146 

Clay---------- 12 5 201 

Wright-------- 25 8 444 

Cerro Gordo--- 300 29 8,184 

Wapello------- 60 16 3,579 

Benton-------- 15 2 369 

Ida----------- 50 1 255 

Woodbury------ 250 6 1,823 

Marion-------- 25 6 195 

Total----- 2,224 559 $147,428 

1/ From statistical and cost report furnished by 

the Disaster Services of the American National 

Red Cross, Midwestern area. 

Table 4.-- Iowa National Guard expenditures 

flood of June 1954 y in dollars, by cities, 

City Payroll Food Gasoline Medical Miscellaneous 

Boone---------- 6,118.97 426.68 40.50 152.90 

Des Moines----- 16,535.42 947.92 317.33 205.86 7,850.88 

Eddyville------ 2,645.46 255.05 16.19 ------------- Fort Dodge and 

Webster City- 5,729.81 25.00 47.60 110.27 188.73 

Ottumwa-------- 2,276.80 195.87 37.83 6.00 57.92 

Sioux City----- 243.45 23.08 15.65 

Total----- 33,549.91 1,850.52 442.03 362.63 8,266.08 

y Furnished by the State Adjutant General's Office. 

5,220,100 

Total 

6, 739.05 

25,857.41 

2,916. 70 

6,101.41 

2,574.42 

282.18 

44,471.17 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 23 

DETERMINATION OF FLOOD DISCHARGES 

The operation of a stream -gaging station consists principally of 

the measurement of stage and discharge and the definition of the 

stage-discharge relation from which discharge can be calculated 

for a known stage. The general method of determining discharge 

at gaging stations involves computing a stage-discharge relation 

from current-meter measurements of discharge at stages varying 

from low to high water and applying this relation to the records of 

stage. Short extensions of the stage-discharge relation curve are 

made by logarithmic plotting, from velocity-area studies, or by use 

of other measurable hydraulic factors. 

In Iowa most of the stream channels are sandy or silty and are 

subject to scour and fill, especially during periods of flood flow 

where the relation between stage and discharge becomes unstable. 

Frequent current-meter measurements are necessary to define discharge reliably. 

During major floods it is often impossible to obtain currentmeter measurements because of impassable roads, insufficient 

flood warning on streams of rapidly changing stages, heavy floating 

debris, or destruction of structures from which flood measurements are made. However, during the June 1954 flood in Iowa 

current-meter measurements were obtained at most of the gaging 

stations affected by the flood, thereby defining reliable stage-discharge relations. 

At a few miscellaneous sites where excessive runoff occurred, 

determination of the peak flow was made by indirect methods such 

as computation of flow over roadways or through contracted openings, slope-area, or a combination of these methods. A general 

description of these methods can be found in U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Supply Paper 888, and more detailed information in publications of the Geological Survey. 

STAGES AND DISCHARGES AT STREAM-GAGING STATIONS 

Explanation of Data 

The purpose of this report is to present detailed information 

regarding stages and discharges of streams in Iowa during the floods 

of June 1954. Much of the information presented is in addition to 

the records usually published in the annual water-supply papers. 

The data are presented in sufficient detail to be used in studies 

relative to flood control measures and watershed development. 
24 FLOODS OF 1954 

The systematic collection ofbasic data at a stream-gaging station includes a record of stage, measurements of discharge, and 

any other general information pertinent to the determination of the 

daily flow of the stream at the gaging station. The record of stage 

is obtained either from periodic readings of some type of nonrecording gage or from an automatic water-stage-r~corder installation which provides a continuous graphic record of stage. Measurements of flow are generally made by current meter. 

In general, the data presented on the following pages consist of 

a description of the gaging station, a table showing the daily discharges for 3 months, May to July 1954, and tables of stages and 

discharges at indicated times for many of the stations during the 

flood period in June. 

The description of the gaging station gives information relative 

to location, datum, type of gage, and drainage area. In addition, 

information is given describing the method of determining the stage 

during the flood. Information is also given relative to the definition 

of the stage-discharge relation throughout the ranges of stage experienced during the 1954 floods as well as the previously recorded 

maximum flood. The maximum stage and discharge at each gaging 

station are given for May to July 1954 and for the indicated period 

of previous record. Information regarding floods outside the period 

of gaging station record also is given in as much detail as is available. Remarks on cooperation, regulation and diversion, and other 

pertinent information are included where applicable. 

The table of daily mean discharges is presented for May to July 

1954. This period was chosen to show the relation of the flood discharges to the discharges of the preceding and the following periods. 

The table also shows the monthly mean discharge and the volume 

of runoff, in inches, and in acre feet. 

The table of stages and discharges at indicated times is presented generally for the period from June 18 until such time as the 

recession reached the point where sufficient definition is furnished 

by the table of daily mean discharges. Central standard time is 

·given throughout. 

The stages were obtained from records of continuous waterstage recorders where available. For a station where the waterstage recorder was not functioning properly, the interrupted stage 

graph was completed on the basis ,of a floodmark or supplemental 

gage readings when available, and comparison with records on the 

same stream or nearby streams. For stations at which the records 

of stage consisted of one or more gage readings each day, a stage 

graph was drawn on the basis of these readings, floodmarks, and 

comparison with nearby stations. Details of the methods used in 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 25 

defining the stage record are given in the section of the description 

concerning the gage-height record. 

Records for several stations not published in the annual watersupply papers were included as a part of this report in order to 

present all available data on the flood area. 

The stations are numbered and arranged in downstream order 

from headwater to mouth, with stations on tributaries inserted in 

corresponding order, and following the order in which the tributaries enter the main stream. Stations on streams tributary to the 

Mississippi River are shown first, beginning with the Wapsipinicon 

River at Independence, Iowa. Tributaries to the Missouri River 

which were affected by this flood are then presented in their proper 

downstream order. Records for streams on the fringe of the flooded 

area are included as well as for streams within the areas of intense 

flooding. Location of the gaging stations are shown by number on 

plate 1. 

For other available published records of streamflow discussed 

in this report, reference may be made to the annual series of watersupply papers, part 5, Hudson Bay and upper Mississippi River 

basins, and parts 6A and 6B. Missouri River basin. 

•457709 0 - 58 - 3, 
26 FLOODS OF 1954 

Wapsipinicon River basin 

(2) Wapsipinicon River at Independence, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°27'50", long' 91°53'50", in sec. 4, T. 88 N., R. 9 W., on right bank at 6th Street 

in Independence, 1, 800 ft ddwnstream from Interstate Power Co.'s hydroelectric plant, 4-3/4 

miles downstream from Otter Creek, and 9t miles downstream from Pine Creek. Datum of gage 

is 882.85 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-1, llbO so mi, approximatel~'· 

Gage-height recoro.-Water-stage recoruer graph. 

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 2, 780 cfs 1:30 p.m. May 3 (gage height, 7. 30ft). 

1933 to April1954: Discharge, 21,500 cfs June 14, 1947 (gage height, 18.74 ft). 

Remarks.-Diurnal fluctuation caused by powerplant above station. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June 

1 2,250 711 765 11 738 456 260 21 257 486 2 2,420 1,010 603 12 364 342 271 22 217 1,310 3 2,720 1,330 638 13 585 292 232 23 230 1,520 4 2,540 1,720 476 14 439 285 143 24 244 1,390 5 2,290 1,580 667 15 405 262 185 25 193 1,230 6 2,220 1,320 695 16 450 257 169 26 221 1,110 7 2,100 920 454 17 260 255 138 27 216 1,280 8 1,710 711 434 18 267 231 34 28 244 1,650 9 1,130 554 373 19 377 200 252 29 722 1,590 10 855 469 279 20 232 79 132 30 720 1,020 

31 666 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •.••••..•..•••••.• 912 852 

Runoff, in acre-feet •••.•.•.•••...•••••••••••.•.•••.•••••••..••• 56,100 50,720 

Runoff, in inches ••••••••.••.••••••.•.•.••••••.••.•••••••••.•••• 0.99 0,90 

Iowa River basin 

(3) West Fork Iowa River near Klemme, Iowa 

July 

124 

135 

32 

267 

32 

237 

135 

106 

100 

84 

126 

277 17,010 

0,30 

Location.-Lat 42°53'00", long 93°42'20", between sees. 8 and 17, T. 94 N., R. 24 W., on down-

----stream side of highway bridge 8 miles southwest of Klemme and 9 miles upstream from confluence 

with East Fork Iowa River. Datum of gage is 1, 180.83 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-110 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Wire-weight gage read once daily; more often at high stages. Gage heights 

June 18-30 computed from graph based on daily gage readings and occasional readings by engineer. 

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used May 1 to June 17. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 1, 920 cfs 4 a.m. June 21 (gage height, 14.97 ft, from flood-

---mark). 1948 to April1954: Discharge, 1,420 cfs Apr. 7, 1951; gage height, 12.38 ft June 26, 1951. 

Mean dischare:e, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 79 30 338 11 28 24 148 21 10 1,880 43 2 92 35 282 12 26 26 120 22 9.8 1,790 43 3 95 48 271 13 24 24 98 23 11 1,680 40 4 88 63 240 14 23 20 76 24 19 1,550 36 5 66 68 210 15 22 18 72 25 17 1,410 39 6 50 67 183 16 20 19 68 26 17 1,270 32 7 46 60 174 17 17 21 61 27 25 1,070 30 8 40 52 148 18 15 1,200 54 28 56 812 29 9 33 38 188 19 12 1,540 50 29 61 599 28 10 29 23 178 20 11 1,580 44 30 63 434 26 31 57 40 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second .......••••••••.•. 37.5 582 109 Runoff, in acre-feet •.•.•••••••••..•..•••••••••••••••••••••.•••• 2,300 34,610 6,720 

Runoff, in inches •.•.•••.••....•.••••...••..•..•.•.•••.••.....•. 0.39 5,90 1.15 

Gage height in feet and discharge in cubic feet per second at indicated time 1954 ' ' Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge ~our h~~;:t Discharge Hour Gage Discharge heiiht heieht heie:ht 

June 18 2 13.05 1,500 12 13.40 _l 1,570 June 21 

2 4.85 225 4 13.05 1,500 June 20 2 14,90 1,900 

4 7,60 554 8 13.06 1,500 N 13.33 1,560 4 14.97 1,920 

6 10.50 1,020 12 13.08 1,510 8 13.30 1,550 6 14.96 1,910 

8 12.62 1,410 June 19 10 13.60 1,620 N 14.87 1,890 10 12.86 1,460 N 13.32 I 1,550 12 14.68 1,850 12 14.64 1,840 N 13.00 1,490 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 27 

(8) East Fork Iowa River near Klemme, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 43°01 1, long 93°37 1, between sees. 25 and 26, T. 95 N., R. 24 W., on upstream 

side of highway bridge, It miles northwest of Klemme and 12! miles upstream from confluence 

with West Fork Iowa River. Datum of gage is 1,180.13 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-120 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Wire-weight gage read once daily except June 18, 19, 21. Gage heights for 

June 18-30 computed from graph based on daily gage readings, floodmarks, and occasional 

readings by engineer. · 

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 5,960 cfs 2 a.m. June 19 (gage height, 11.2 ft, from flood-

----mark) . 1948 to April 1954: Discharge, 3, 440 cfs June 26, 1951 (gage height, 10. 80 ft). 

Maximum stage known prior to April 1948, about 10ft in June 1944, from information by 

local residents. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 17 23 240 11 20 20 130 21 14 3,880 53 2 84 34 215 12 20 18 97 22 14 2,140 58 3 92 44 385 13 18 17 87 23 14 1,280 47 4 57 51 318 14 15 17 71 24 14 888 44 5 45 44 215 15 15 16 66 25 14 697 40 6 45 39 200 16 15 16 61 26 17 614 39 7 34 29 220 17 14 17 51 27 22 536 37 8 30 29 185 18 14 1,780 49 28 28 442 37 9 27 22 165 19 14 3,640 47 29 33 363 39 10 22 18 150 20 14 2,110 47 30 29 291 41 31 26 42 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second ••...••••..•..••.. 27 .o 637 112 Runoff, in acre-feet .••.•.......•..•.••••••••..•..•••• , •••...••. 1,660 37,910 6,890 

Runoff, in inches •.•••.••.•••..•.•..•.•••••.••..••.•••.•••..••.. 0.26 5.92 1.08 

G age h . h . e1g f t t, m ee , an d d' lSC ha rge, in cu b' 1c f t ee per secon d t. d' , a m 1cate d tim e, 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage I Hour Gage Discharge height height height Discharge heie:ht 

June 18 June 20 June 22 June 27 

4 3.48 128 6 9.181 2,100 N 9.17 I 2,080 N 6.64 I 538 

8 5.52 358 N 9.12 2,020 12 8.73 1,610 12 6.36 484 

N 7.64 823 4 9.07 1,960 June 23 June 28 

4 9.40 2,360 8 9.05 1,940 N 8.36 I 1,250 N 6.08 I 442 

8 ~0.44 4,120 12 9.80 2,920 12 8.05 1,030 12 5.81 402 

12 11.15 5,820 June 21 June 24 June 29 

June 19 2 0.28 3,800 N 7. 77 I 882 N 5.55 I 362 

2 1.20 5,960 4 0.63 4,550 12 7.50 760 12 5.31 326 

4 1.08 5,630 6 0.74 4,820 June 25 June 30 

8 10.45 4,140 8 0.72 4,770 N 1.21 I 691 N 5.05 288 

N 9.88 3,050 N 10.48 4,200 12 7.12 646 12 4.82 262 

4 9.56 2,550 4 10.20 3,640 June 26 

8 9.37 2,320 8 9.94 3,140 N 7.01 l 613 

12 9.27 2,200 12 9.73 2,810 12 6.87 584 
28 FLOODS OF 1954 

(9) Iowa River near Rowan, Iowa 

~-Lat 42°45'35", long 93°37 1 2011 , in NEt sec. 25, T. 92 N., R. 24 W., on left bank 10ft 

downstream from highway bridge, 3l miles northwest of Rowan, and lot miles downstream from 

confluence of East and West Forks. Datum of gage is 1, 143. 35 ft above mean sea level, datum 

of 1929. 

Drainage area.-396 sq mi. 

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

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used June 19-23. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 8, 460 cfs 8 p.m. June 21 (gage height, 14.88 ft). 

---1-940 to April1954: Discharge, 5, 610 cfs June 28, 1951 (gage height, 13.18 ft). 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June 

1 160 166 1,140 11 106 120 426 21 53 7,640 2 264 153 930 12 98 372 379 22 52 7,330 3 357 190 810 13 90 243 330 23 52 5,310 4 340 248 780 14 82 274 320 24 55 3,920 5 264 236 810 15 76 201 277 25 60 3,140 6 210 196 705 16 70 198 252 26 60 2,740 7 172 162 582 17 65 188 236 27 71 2,480 8 147 135 534 18 61 989 228 28 357 2,200 9 129 115 510 19 59 5,790 210 29 400 1,830 10 117 118 486 20 56 6,700 196 30 280 1,450 

31 192 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second ••.••••••••••••••• 147 1,828 

Runoff, in acre-feet •••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 9,030 108,800 

Runoff, in inches •.••••••.•..•••.••••.•.••.•••.••••••••••••••••• 0.43 5.15 

July 

191 

188 

182 

170 

156 

143 

129 

122 

126 

129 

129 

381 

23,420 

1.11 

Gage height in feet and discharge in cubic feet per second at indicated time 1954 ' ' ' Hour Gage Discharge !Hour Gage Discharge ~our Gage Discharge Gage I . heiJlht heiRht heiiht Hour heiRht D1scharge 

Jrine 18 Jtlne 19 8 13.98 6,130 12 14.10 I 6,350 

4 4.24 171 2 11.78 3,580 12 14.04 6,240 June 23 6 4.56 219 4 12.18 4,260 June 21 6 13.75 I 5, 740 8 5.19 321 6 12.55 4,850 4 14.19 6,530 N 13.35 5,260 10 6.23 511 8 12.74 5,130 8 14.51 7,180 6 12.98 4,820 N 7,19 718 N 13.25 6,080 N 14.75 7,900 12 12.66 4,480 2 8,01 953 4 13,59 6,780 4 14.86 8,420 June 24 4 8. 74 1,200 8 13.98 7,270 8 14,88 8,460 N 12.141 3,900 6 9.37 1,520 12 14.21 7,300 12 14.85 8,400 12 11.76 3,410 8 10.08 1,960 June 20 June 22 June 25 10 10.78 2,520 6 14.3~ I 7,340 6 14.73 ~, 7,860 N 11.481 3,120 12 11.34 3,030 N 14.19 6,530 N 14.56 7,270 12 11.24 2,890 

4 14.07 6,300 6 14,36 6,820 
FLOODS OF .ruNE IN lOW A 29 

(11) Iowa River at Marshalltown, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°04 1, long 92°54', in SWt sec. 24, T. 84 N., R. 18 W., on right bank in city park 

in Marshalltown, 300ft upstream from Burnett Creek, 0. 2 mile downstream from bridge on State 

Route 14, 2 miles upstream from Linn Creek, and at mile 189. Records include flow of Burnett 

Creek. Datum of gage is 853.10 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-1, 530 sq mi, approximately, including that of Burnett Creek. 

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

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 11, 200 cfs 8:30 p.m. June 16 (gage height, 16. 02 ft). 

---1-915-27, 1933 to April1954: Discharge, 42,000 cfs June 4, 1918 (gage height, 17.74 ft), from 

rating curve extended above 19, 000 cfs. 

~.-Some diurnal fluctuation caused by powerplant at Iowa Falls. 

Mean discharge in cubic feet er second 1954 

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

1 420 3,600 2,490 11 465 7,850 815 21 220 2,130 390 2 747 5,010 2,070 12 435 4,280 765 22 210 5,370 390 3 1,360 2,670 1,820 13 390 2,190 705 23 202 1,600 363 4 1,130 2,020 1,600 14 345 1,770 630 24 210 9,400 354 5 990 1,640 1,400 15 339 1,740 585 25 207 9,400 330 6 885 1,360 1,200 16 324 7,640 510 26 189 8,100 309 7 750 1,160 1,130 17 283 7,020 465 27 248 6,340 274 8 645 990 1,100 18 274 2,810 465 28 525 4,780 223 9 570 920 1,020 19 256 1,870 450 29 955 3,590 220 

10 510 3,100 920 20 234 1,560 435 30 832 2,880 205 

31 832 202 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •••••••••••••••••• 516 4,026 769 

Runoff, in acre-feet .••••.•.••..•••••••••••••.•••••••••••••••••• 31,700 239,600 47,280 

Runoff, in inches ••••••••.••••••.••.•••.•••••••••••••••••••••••• 0.39 2.94 0.58 

(12) Timber Creek near Marshalltown, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°00'30", long 92°51 1 10", in SEiSWt sec. 8, T. 83 N., R. 17 W., 20ft down-

-stream from bridge on U. S. Highway 30 and about 3 miles southeast of Marshalltown. 

Drainage area. -117 sq mi. 

Gage-height record.-Water-stage recorder graph except for period 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 10 

when recorder was not functioning properly. Gage height for this period estimated on basis of 

engineer's readings of wire-weight gage. 

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used May 1-2. 

Maximum. -May-July 1954: Discharge, 2, 270 cfs 2 p.m. June 10 (gage height, 13. 47ft, from 

graph based on gage readings). 

Remarks.-Gage-height record and discharge measurements furnished by Corps of Engineers. 

--niSCharge records computed for the flood period only, no previous records computed. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 32 502 26 11 17 310 14 21 12 196 12 2 106 152 24 12 16 115 13 22 11 237 11 3 148 320 24 13 15 84 12 23 12 76 11 4 49 164 23 14 14 119 12 24 12 75 11 

5 36 105 22 15 14 114 11 25 12 79 10 

6 28 94 20 16 13 807 10 26 12 61 9.4 7 22 71 19 17 12 210 10 27 14 42 9.4 8 22 57 18 18 12 92 11 28 57 35 9.8 

9 20 52 17 19 12 74 11 29 35 32 9.6 10 19 1,320 15 20 12 66 12 30 20 29 9.0 

31 73 9.0 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •.•••••.•..••..••• 28.7 190 14.0 Runoff, in acre-feet .••••.•.•...••.••••••.•••••••••..•••.•••..•• 1,760 11,290 863 Runoff, in inches ••••••••.••••••.••••.•.••.•••••••••••.•••.•••.. 0.28 1.81 0.14 
30 FLOODS OF 1954 

(13) Iowa River near Belle Plaine, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 41°51'20", long 92°14 120", in NWt sec. 5, T. 81 N., R. 12 W., on right bank 5 ft 

downstream from bridge on State Route 212, 0. 5 mile downstream from Walnut Creek, and 2. 7 

miles south of Belle Plaine. Datum of gage is 749.82 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-2, 420 sq mi, approximately, includes that of Salt Creek. 

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

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used May 1-12, June 1-7, 11-18, 21-24, 30, July 1-31. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 10,700 cfs 3:30a.m. June 28 (gage height, 14.50 ft). 

1939 to April 1954: Discharge, 34, 000 cfs June 14, 1947 (gage height, 17. 07 ft). 

Flood of June 5, 1918, reached a stage of 17. 9 ft (discharge, 43, 000 cfs). 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June 

1 1,460 2,480 4,860 11 922 2,62() 1,240 21 461 3,680 2 1,510 2,830 3,360 12 810 3,600 1,140 22 444 4,100 3 2,010 4,100 2,690 13 745 4,200 1,040 23 444 4,100 4 2,270 4,300 2,340 14 685 5,380 990 24 415 4,300 5 2,010 4,300 2,140 15 605 5,240 922 25 405 4,980 6 1,690 3,120 1,880 16 565 3,120 832 26 398 6,660 7 1,460 2,410 1,630 17 548 3,440 788 27 405 9,620 8 1,290 2,010 1,510 18 512 3,680 725 28 461 10,100 9 1,120 1,750 1,400 19 478 6,420 685 29 530 8,730 10 990 1,570 1,340 20 461 7,420 665 30 900 6,420 

31 990 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second ••..••.•••••••••.. 903 4,556 

Runoff, in acre-feet .••.••• .' ••.••••• ·~· •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 55,520 271,100 

Runoff, in inches •••.••••.••..••.•••••••••••••.••..•••••••..•••. 0.43 2.10 

(14) Iowa River at Iowa City, Iowa 

July 

645 

605 

585 

548 

530 

495 

478 

461 

444 

418 

402 

1,219 

74,950 

0.58 

Location.-Lat41°39'30", long 91°32'20", inSEtsec. 9, T. 79N., R. 6W., onrightbank25ft 

downstream from University of Iowa hydraulics laboratory in Iowa City, 175 ft downstream from 

University dam, 1. 5 miles upstream from Ralston Creek, 3. 3 miles downstream from Clear 

Creek, and at mile 74. 2. Datum of gage is 627. 27 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-3, 230 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Water-stage recorder graph. No gage-height record May 30-31. 

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 7,690 cfs 4 a.m. July 3 (gage height, 8.31 ft). 

---1-903 to April 1954: Discharge, 36,200 cfs June 7, 1918 (gage height, 19.45 ft, site and datum 

then in use). 

Floods of 1851 and 1881 exceeded flood of 1918, stage and discharge not known. 

~.-Low flow regulated by powerplants above station. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June 

1 2,010 1,850 5,990 11 1,210 1,890 1,490 21 514 4,200 

2 2,200 3,100 7,300 12 1,050 1,930 1,410 22 525 4,800 

3 2,290 3,370 7,560 13 980 2,920 1,250 23 476 4,900 

4 2,290 3,910 6,820 14 910 3,370 1,170 24 548 5,110 

5 2,160 4,100 4,000 15 850 3,820 1,090 25 446 4,600 

6 2,200 4,200 2,740 16 790 4,100 1,020 26 495 4,200 

7 1,850 4,100 2,290 17 730 4,100 945 27 445 4,300 

8 1,690 3,190 1,980 18 675 3,640 880 28 753 4,400 

9 1,490 2,560 1,770 19 635 3,640 820 29 665 4,700 

10 1,330 2,200 1,610 20 580 3,910 670 30 800 5,110 

31 1,000 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •.....•.•••••.•••. 1,116 3,741 

Runoff, in acre-feet •••.•.•.•.•••••••••••.••••••••••••••••••.••• 68,600 222,600 

Runoff, in inches •••.•.•.••••.••.••.•...•••.••.•••.••••••••••••• 0.40 1.29 

July 

730 

702 

675 

655 

625 

582 

589 

576 

532 

460 

444 

1,915 

117,800 

0.68 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 31 

(15) Cedar River at Janesville, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°39 1, long 92°28 1, in NEt sec. 35, T. 91 N., R. 14 W., on left bank 300ft down-

----strea"m from highway bridge at Janesville and 3 miles upstream from Shell Rock River. 

Drainage area.-1, 660 sq mi, approximately. 

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

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

Maxima. May-July 1954: Discharge, 18,400 cfs 12 p.m. June 22 (gage heightr 12.08 ft). 

---1-905-6, 1915-27, 1932-42, 1946 to April 1954: Discharge, 30,400 cfs Apr. 1, 1933 (gage 

height, 15. 43 ft, site then in use). 

Flood of Mar. 17, 1945, reached a stage of 16. 2ft, from floodmark at site 300 ft upstream 

(discharge, 34,300 cfs). 

~.-Diurnal fluctuation during low water caused by powerplant at Waverly, 9 miles upstream. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet 1 er second, 1954 

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

1 1,370 966 1,220 11 889 485 690 21 414 8,280 411 

2 1,540 821 1,150 12 753 552 572 22 304 16,700 430 

3 2,330 886 1,160 13 650 424 657 23 382 17,300 428 

4 2,990 902 1,260 14 564 237 539 24 272 12,900 524 

5 2,630 854 980 15 584 338 3-32 25 424 6,540 494 

6 2,220 763 830 16 562 313 451 26 375 3,640 297 

7 1,560 538 920 17 340 536 359 27 350 2,310 411 

8 1,170 719 906 18 533 1,170 526 28 591 1, 710 364 

9 980 595 805 19 340 2,280 304 29 775 1,550 351 

10 777 596 730 20 404 3,690 363 30 746 1,370 455 

31 812 547 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •...•••••••••••••• 924 2,999 628 

Runoff, in acre-feet •.•••••••.••.•.••••••••••••••••••.••••••.••• 56,790 178,400 38,610 

Runoff, in inches •.••••••.•.•.••.••.••..••••••.•••.•••.•••..•••. 0.64 2.02 0.44 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge ~our Gage Discharge !Hour ~l::t Discharge Hour Gage I . heillht height hei~rht D1scharge 

June 18 N 4.72 3,810 June 23 JJne 26 

4 2.11 840 4 5.04 4,220 4 12.04 18,300 6 ••• o I 4,040 

8 2.29 1,020 8 5.30 4,560 8 11.93 18,000 N 4.69 3,770 

N 2.45 1,180 12 5.60 4,950 N 11.73 17,500 6 4.18 3,150 

4 2.57 1,310 June 21 4 11.53 16,900 12 3.87 2, 770 

8 2. 75 1,500 4 6.07 5,580 8 11.27 16,200 June 27 

12 2.96 1, 740 8 6.67 6,420 12 11.01 15,500 N 3.491 2,320 

June 19 N 7.45 7,720 June 24 12 3.04 1,820 

4 3.18 1,980 4 8.40 9,500 6 10.581 14,400 June 28 

8 3.42 2,240 8 9.32 11,400 N 10.04 13,100 N 2.921 1,690 

N 3.57 2,410 12 10.08 13,200 6 9.29 11,400 12 2.86 1,630 

4 3.68 2,550 June 22 12 8.47 9,640 June 29 

8 3.56 2,400 4 10.72 14,800 June 25 N 2.841 1,600 

12 3.56 2,400 8 11.28 16,200 6 7.50 7,810 12 2.62 1,360 

June 20 N 11.66 17,300 N 6.50 6,180 June 30 

4 3.781 2,660 4 11.87 17,800 6 5.73 5,120 N 2.721 1,470 

8 4.22 3,190 8 12.04 18,300 12 5.22 4,460 12 2.45 1,180 

12 12.08 18 400 
32 FLOODS OF 1954 

(16) Shell Rock River near Northwood, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 43°25 1, long 93°13', between sees. 4 and 9, T. 99 N., R. 20 w., near center of 

span on downstream side of highway bridge, 1 mile south of Northwood, and about 85 miles upstream from mouth. Datum of gage is 1, 176.48 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-380 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Wire-weight gage read once daily; more often at high stages. Gage heights 

June 18-30 computed from graph based on daily gage readings. No gage-height record May 9, 

23, 30, June 6, , 3, July 4, 9, 11, 18, 25. 

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 1, 360 cfs 9 a.m. June 22 (gage height, 7. 96 ft, observed). 

---1-948 to April 1954: Discharge, 2, 430 cfs Apr. 10, 1951; gage height, 11.38 ft Apr. 7, 1951 

(ice jam). 

Mean discharge in cubic feet er second 1954 

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

1 272 245 465 11 168 102 120 21 49 1,340 58 2 327 228 405 12 152 102 105 22 48 1,360 55 3 405 225 378 13 138 90 84 23 50 1,300 51 4 420 232 320 14 118 80 84 24 59 1,200 49 5 363 208 278 15 104 75 74 25 107 1,080 45 

6 327 180 250 16 98 102 72 26 95 930 41 7 278 150 215 17 87 92 68 27 111 858 38 8 260 146 178 18 80 411 60 28 272 758 59 9 220 128 160 19 61 1,100 53 29 260 670 51 10 191 120 142 20 61 1,240 51 30 255 562 47 

31 250 47 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second .••.•.••• ( .•...... 183 510 132 

Runoff, in acre-feet ...••..••...•.•••.•••••••...•••••.••••...•.. 11,280 30,370 8,140 

Runoff, in inches •.•••.•..•....•.••.•.•.••.••..•••.•••.•••..••.. 0.56 1.50 0.40 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 33 

(1 7) Lime Creek at Mason City, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 43°10 1, long 93°11', in sec. 3, T. 96 N., R. 20 W., on right bank 650ft upstream 

--fron1i3th Street bridge in Mason City and 0. 5 mile upstream from Willow Creek. Datum of gage 

is 1, 069. 59 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-535 sq mi. 

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

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 7, 060 cfs 5 a.m. June 21 (gage height, 11.85 ft). 

---1-932 to April1954: Discharge, 9,400 cfs Mar. 30, 1933 (gage height, 15.70 ft, present 

datum). 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 437 289 750 11 179 121 271 21 92 6,280 161 

2 546 255 656 12 161 124 240 22 84 4,350 154 

3 750 277 875 13 144 111 211 23 89 2,860 147 

4 568 301 850 14 134 100 195 24 111 2,350 134 

5 451 271 722 15 127 103 179 25 130 1,940 124 

6 367 230 563 16 114 215 168 26 150 1,580 114 

7 307 199 465 17 105 172 161 27 158 1,340 108 

8 255 164 388 18 103 2,970 158 28 230 1,160 137 

9 215 140 332 19 100 3,810 150 29 451 1,030 172 

10 199 130 307 20 97 4,330 147 30 430 889 175 

31 339 179 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second ••......•••••••.•• 246 1,270 303 Runoff, in acre-feet •••••.•..•.....•..••..•••.•.•...•••••••••••• 15,120 75,550 18,630 

Runoff, in inches •.••••••.••••••.•••••..••••••.•••.•••.•••.••••. 0.53 2.65 0,65 

Gage height in feet and discharge in cubic feet per second at indicated time 1954 ' Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge :Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage.l . heillht heiiht heillht hei.rht D1scharge 

June 18 2 7.60 3,520 10 11.21 6,49( June 24 

2 1.94 195 4 7,85 3,700 N 10.77 6,09( N 5.83 I 2,350 

4 2.12 277 6 8.10 3,880 2 10.38 5, 74( 12 5.50 2,150 

6 2.72 651 8 8.23 3,980 4 10.27 5,64C June 25 

8 4.50 1,550 10 8.34 4,070 6 10,50 5,85C N 5.15 I 1,940 

10 6.86 3,000 12 8.43 4,140 8 10.57 5,91C 12 4.81 1, 740 

N 8,00 3,800 June 20 10 10,50 5,85C June 26 

2 9.76 4,730 4 8.53 4,220 12 10.33 5, 70C N 4.541 1,570 

4 0.57 4,820 8 8.43 4,140 June 22 12 4.31 1,450 

6 0.62 4,860 N 8.22 3,980 4 9,76 5,21C June 27 

8 0.24 4, 710 4 8.04 3,830 8 9.18 4, 74C N 4.11 I 1,340 

10 9.72 4,700 6 7.93 3,750 N 8,61 4,29C 12 3,91 1,240 

12 9.21 4,530 8 9.20 4, 760 4 8,07 3,86C June 28 

June 19 10 10.33 5,700 8 7.62 3,53C N 3. 741 1,160 

2 8.70 4,360 12 11.05 6,340 12 7.27 3,290 12 3.58 1,080 

4 8.23 3,980 June 21 June 23 June 29 

6 7.81 3,670 2 11.66 6,890 6 6.89 3,020 N 3,491 1,040 

8 7,49 3,440 4 11.83 7,050 N 6.62 2,83C 12 3,36 977 

10 7.46 3,420 5 11.85 7,060 6 6.38 2,680 June 30 

N 7.43 3,40() 6 11.82 7,040 12 6.18 2,560 N 3.18 I 890 

8 11,61. 6,850 12 3.00 800 
34 FLOODS OF 1954 

(18) Shell Rock River at Shell Rock, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°42 1 35", long 92°35'05", in NWiNEisec. 11, T. 91 N., R. 15 W., on right bank 

--:waTt upstream from bridge on State Route 3 in Shell Rock and 11 miles upstream from mouth. 

Datum of gage is 885.34 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-1, 770 sq mi, approximately. 

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

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used July 13-31. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 21, 300 cfs 9:30a.m. June 22 (gage height, 14.00 ft). 

---J-une 1953 to April 1954: Discharge, 4, 720 cfs Aug. 4, 1953 (gage height, B. 79ft). 

Flood of 1856 reached a stage of 17. 7 ft, from floodmark, furnished by Corps of Engineers at 

bridge 400 ft downstream (discharge not determined). 

~.-Some regulation at low stages from powerplant at Greene. 

Mean dischara:e in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 725 1,020 2,340 11 750 510 1,100 21 349 11,400 425 2 1,350 908 2,130 12 675 460 1,010 22 341 19,100 565 3 1,870 881 2,000 13 640 700 902 23 341 12,100 550 4 1,870 886 2,270 14 590 535 825 24 280 7,120 530 5 1,620 919 2,130 15 420 470 750 25 324 5,300 495 6 1,380 850 1,870 16 510 720 675 26 358 4,500 460 7 1,180 760 1,680 17 375 1,100 635 27 460 3,810 425 8 1,040 670 1,440 18 371 3,680 620 28 625 3,300 425 9 930 605 1,290 19 380 9,830 585 29 958 2,900 405 10 825 510 1,200 20 358 10,200 565 30 1,120 2,630 500 

31 1 120 775 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •••.•.••••••..•••• 779 3,612 1,018 

Runoff, in acre-feet •••.••.•••.•..••••••••••••.•.••••••••••••••• 47,870 215,000 62,620 

Runoff, in inches •••..•••.•••....••.••.•••..••.••..•••.•••..••.. 0,51 2.28 0,66 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge ~our Gage I . !Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage I . heillht heillht Dtscharge heillht heillht Dtscharge 

June 18 6 11. 7~1 11,100 4 13,65 19,400 12 8.131 4,120 4 3.98 1,140 12 11.89 11,500 8 13.29 17,600 June 27 8 4.46 1,420 June 20 12 12.90 15,700 N 7.741 3,790 10 5.85 2,300 N 11.421 9,960 June 23 12 7.41 3,530 N 7.48 3,580 12 11.27 9,510 N 11.991 11,900 June 28 2 8.48 4,470 June 21 12 11.04 8,820 N 1.10 I 3,280 4 9.17 5,280 N 11.571 10,400 June 24 12 6,88 3,100 6 9.64 5,900 6 12.13 12,400 N 10.201 6,900 June 29 8 10.01 6,520 12 13.05 16,400 12 9.60 5,840 N 6.591 2,870 10 10.20 6,900 June 22 June 25 12 6,48 2,780 12 10.40 7,300 4 13.681 19,500 N 9.151 5,260 June 30 June 19 8 13.98 21,200 12 8.79 4,820 N 6.291 2,630 6 11.011 8,730 9:30 14.00 21,300 June 26 12 6,11 2,490 N 11.48 10 100 N 13.94 21,000 N 8,531 4,520 

, 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 35 

(20) West Fork Shell Rock River at Finchford, Iowa 

Location. --Lat 42°37'40", long 92°32'45", in SEi sec. 6, T. 90 N., R. 14 W., on downstream 

side of highway bridge in Finchford, 2. 5 miles upstream from mouth. Datum of gage is 867. 06 

ft above mean sea level, datum of t929. 

Drainage area. --860 sq mi. approximately. 

Gage-height record. --Wire-weight gage read once daily, more often at high stages. Gage heights 

---:Jiiilellf.="!fOcomputed from graph based on daily gage readings. 

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

Maxima. --May-July 1954: Discharge, 14, 200 cfs 1 a.m. June 23 (gage height, !4. 9 ft, from 

----riOOcltiia r k) • 

1945 to April 1954: Discharge, 31,900 cfs June 27, !951 (gage height, 17.28 ft). 

Flood of March 1929 reached a stage of about 14ft, from information by local resident. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 352 694 1,420 11 340 292 520 21 193 7,880 234 

2 565 532 1,180 12 315 269 460 22 191 8,830 232 

3 810 517 1,050 13 315 287 415 23 186 11,200 212 

4 950 526 970 14 304 523 378 24 175 6,780 221 

5 1,050 572 930 15 280 747. 328 25 168 4,720 205 

6 1,010 547 990 16 264 775 304 26 168 3,440 193 

7 740 466 890 17 248 910 292 27 175 2,790 175 

8 565 390 722 18 239 1,160 271 28 237 2,300 173 

9 475 338 652 19 221 2,260 253 29 264 2,030 157 

10 402 313 582 20 207 9,610 244 30 535 1,760 149 

31 792 151 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •••.•••••••••••••• 411 2,449 482 

RlUloff, in acre-feet •••.••..••••••••.•••••.•••.••••••••••••••••• 25,260 145,700 29,660 

Runoff, in inches •••••.•.••..•••.•..•.•.••.•••.•••.•••••••.••••• 0.55 3,18 0.65 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge ~our Gage j_ Hour Gage Discharge heig_ht hei.Jlht he!Jlht Discharge heil!ht 

June 18 June 20 June 22 N 14.11 10,800 

N 7.071 1,120 4 12.85 7,440 6 12.571 6, 770 6 13.65 9,680 12 7.79 1,460 8 14.07 11,100 N 12.67 7,010 12 13.21 8,390 

June 19 N 14.18 11,400 4 13,45 9,060 June 24 

6 8,26 1,720 6 13.92 10,600 8 14.55 12,800 N 12.501 6,600 

N 8,88 2,060 12 13.55 9,360 12 14.88 14,100 12 11,97 5,540 

6 9.68 2,600 June 21 June 23 June 25 12 11.00 3,900 N 12.9~1 7,630 1 14.9~1 14,200 N 11,501 4,680 

12 12.62 6,890 6 14,62 13,100 12 11.05 3,980 
36 FLOODS OF 1954 

(21) Beaver Creek at New Hartford, Iowa 

Location.-Lat42°35', long 92°37', inSEtsec. 28, T. 90N., R. 15W., ondownstreamsideof 

highway bridge, a quarter of a mile north of New Hartford, and 8 miles upstream from mouth. 

Drainage area.-350 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Wire-weight gage read once daily, more often at high stages. 

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used May 3, 4, June 12, 12, 17, 22. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 1, 990 cfs 2 p.m. June 17 (gage height, 8. 55 ft, from graph 

~d on gage readings). 

1948 to April 1954: Discharge, 11,600 cfs Mar. 29, 1951 (gage height, 11.7 ft). 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 115 198 115 11 71 1,070 59 21 38 327 40 2 207 309 105 12 67 927 61 22 38 1,190 38 3 420 269 96 13 63 232 57 23 37 589 38 4 328 302 87 14 57 170 53 24 35 302 37 

5 207 234 85 15 53 155 50 25 38 250 35 

6 140 167 81 16 48 274 45 26 32 226 32 7 111 140 83 17 45 1,480 43 27 34 212 29 

8 91 132 71 18 43 586 43 28 59 155 29 

9 79 123 67 19 42 386 42 29 120 139 28 

10 75 170 65 20 46 301 40 30 128 124 28 

31 95 28 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •••••••••••••••.•• 95,5 371 55.2 

Runoff, in acre-feet •••.•.•.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 5,870 22,090 3,390 

Runoff, in inches ••••••••.••.••••••.•.•.••••••••••.•••.••••••••• 0.31 1,18 0.18 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage I ~our Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge hei.rht hei.iht Discharge height heillht 

June 10 12 4.581 426 8 8.00 1,610 4 3.92 305 

N 2.68 I 120 June 13 N 8.42 1,890 8 4,33 377 4 2.86 144 4 5.70 I 269 2 8.55 1,990 12 5.30 585 

8 3.52 240 8 3.38 219 4 8,50 1,950 June 22 12 4,60 430 N 3.30 207 8 7.70 1,440 4 6,66 1,010 

June 11 12 3.16 186 12 6.70 1,020 8 7.78 1,480 

4 5.68 694 June 14 June 18 10 7.86 1,530 8 6. 75 1,040 N 3.041 169 4 5.701 700 N 7.81 1,500 N 7.40 1,290 12 2,96 157 8 5.25 572 4 7.33 1,260 

2 7.56 1,360 June 15 N 5.07 528 8 6.90 1,090 4 7.64 1,410 N 2.921 152 12 4.70 450 12 6.46 946 8 7.30 1,250 12 2.98 160 June 19 June 23 12 6.62 994 June 16 N 4.361 382 6 5,821 738 June 12 N 3.391 220 12 4.06 329 N 5,17 552 4 6.40 930 4 3.74 275 June 20 6 4,53 416 8 6.72 1,020 8 4.31 373 N 3.871 297 12 4.20 353 N 7.22 1,210 12 5.48 634 12 3.77 280 June 24 4 6. 70 1,020 June 17 June 21 N 3,861 295 8 5.60 670 4 6,95T 1,110 N 3.8o 1 285 12 3,68 266 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 37 

(22) Blackr,awk Creek at Hudson, Iowa 

Location.--Lat 42"24'20", long 92"27'45". in NE~3ec. 27, T. ~8 N., R. 14 W., on left bank 35ft 

downstream from bridge on State Route 58 and 0. 2 mile northwest of Chicago Great Western 

Railway tracks in the west edge of Hudson. Datum of gage is 865. 03 ft above mean sea level, 

datum of 1929. Drainage area.-295 sq mi. 

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

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 2, 040 cfs 4 p.m. June 11 (gage height, 13.58 ft). 

---1-952 to April 1954: Discharge, 2,100 cfs July 7, 1953; gage height, 15.46 ft Feb. 21, 1953 

(ice jam). 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 333 517 94 11 89 1,640 51 21 43 184 30 2 384 1,310 97 12 82 744 49 22 40 405 30 3 711 786 89 13 75 325 46 23 40 277 28 

4 437 696 81 14 70 277 43 24 37 198 26 

5 262 454 76 15 66 219 39 25 34 161 25 

6 198 349 73 16 62 258 37 26 33 149 25 7 160 285 70 17 56 421 34 27 43 139 24 

8 132 233 65 18 53 233 34 28 338 123 24 

9 111 240 62 19 48 191 33 29 505 113 23 10 97 469 55 20 45 165 32 30 262 103 23 31 184 22 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •.•••••••.•••.•.•. 162 389 46.5 

Runoff, in acre-feet ••••••••••.•••••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 9,980 23,130 2,860 

Runoff, in inches •.•••••••••.•••••..•..•••.••..•••.•••.••••.•••• 0.63 1.47 0.18 
38 FLOODS OF 1954 

(23) Cedar River at Waterloo, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°30 100", long_, 92°19 140", in NWt sec. 25, T. 89 N., R. 13 w., on left bank at 

foot of East Seventh Street, 0. 3 mile upstream from Eleventh Avenue bridge, and 1 mile downstream from Blackhawk Creek. Datum of gage is 824.09 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-5, 190 sq mi, approximately. 

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

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used May 1-6, June 22-24. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 49,400 cfs 3 p.m. June 23 (gage height, 18.40 ft). 

---1-941 to April1954: Discharge, 56,400 cfs Apr. 9, 1951 (gage height, 18.83 ft). 

Flood of March 1929 reached a stage of about 20 ft, determined by Corps of Engineers from 

information by city of Waterloo. 

~.-Diurnal fluctuation at low flow caused by powerplants above station. 

Mean discharge in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 2,720 3,380 5,570 11 2,520 2,650 2,590 21 1,220 24,700 1,480 2 3,860 3,710 4,890 12 2,410 3,380 2,230 22 1,200 31,900 1,380 3 5,400 3,920 4,250 13 2,170 2,150 2,210 23 1,130 47,300 1,530 4 7,370 3,650 4,570 14 1,950 1,990 2,040 24 1,220 39,400 1,510 

5 6,760 3,300 4,410 15 1,830 1,910 1,810 25 925 25,800 1,510 

6 6,250 3,000 3,950 16 1,590 2,060 1,650 26 1,150 15,900 1,420 7 4,570 2,610 3,680 17 1,380 3,050 1,570 27 1,250 11,300 1,240 8 3,800 2,370 3,380 18 1,310 4,730 1,610 28 1,890 8,760 1,400 

9 3,100 2,210 3,050 19 1,340 8,060 1,570 29 2,450 7,470 1,270 10 2,740 2,120 2,780 20 1,220 15,000 1,460 30 2,720 6,520 1,240 

31 3,020 1 510 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second ••.••.•••.••.••..• 2,660 9,810 2,412 

Runoff, in acre-feet ••••••..••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.••• 163,600 583,700 148,300 

Runoff, in inches •••••••..••...•.••.•...••••••.•••.••••••••.••.. 0,59 2.11 0.54 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1954 

Hour Gage I Hour Gage Discharge ~our Gage Discharge Hour Gage I . heillht Discharge heiJlht heiJlht heirlht DlScharge 

June 19 N 12.84 25,200 N 18.34 49,000 June 26 

N 7.861 8,150 6 12.95 25,600 3 18.40 49,400 N 10,011 15,500 12 8.62 10,700 12 13.10 26,200 8 18.28 48,900 12 9.31 13,100 

June 20 June 22 12 17.96 47,200 June 27 

6 9.12, 12,400 6 13.401 27,2,00 June 24 N 8. 771 11,200 N 9. 71 14,400 N 14.25 30,500 N 16.411 39,000 12 8,36 9,850 

6 10.57 17,400 6 15.54 36,100 12 14.66 32,400 June 28 12 11.67 21,100 12 16.84 41,300 June 25 N 8.011 8,660 

June 21 June 23 N 12.9~1 25,500 12 7.77 7,850 6 12.56J 24,200 6 17,851 46,500 12 11.22 19,600 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 39 

(24) Cedar River at Cedar Rapids, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 41°58'15", long 91°40 10511 , in sec. 28, T. 83 N., R. 7 W., on right bank 500ft 

upstream from Eighth Avenue bridge in Cedar Rapids, 2. 7 miles upstream from Prairie Creek, 

and at mile 80. 5. Datum of gage is 700.33 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-6, 640 sq mi, approximately. 

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

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

~.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 41,400 cfs 8:30a.m. June 26 (gage height, 14.02 ft). 

1903 to Aprill954: Discharge, 72,000 cfs Mar. 19, 1929 (gage height, 20.1 ft). 

Flood of June 1851 reached a stage of about 20 ft. 

~.-Diurnal fluctuation at low stages caused by powerplant half a mile above station. 

Mean discharge in cubic feet er second 1954 

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

1 5,220 5,290 8,530 11 3,570 3,380 3,540 21 1,610 7,690 1,910 2 5,040 5,040 7,390 12 3,070 3,190 3,250 22 1,500 10,300 1,830 3 5,760 5,760 6,480 13 2,960 3,960 2,960 23 1,520 14,000 1,760 4 6,120 6,440 5,760 14 2,720 4,100 2,640 24 1,470 21,400 1,720 5 6,660 5,580 5,400 15 2,480 2,960 2,570 25 1,420 34,900 1,740 6 7,390 4,830 5,400 16 2,300 2,690 2,370 26 1,400 40,000 1,740 7 6,840 4,340 5,040 17 2,110 2,600 2,110 27 1,360 31,900 1,660 8 6,120 3,850 4,690 18 1,950 2,640 2,010 28 2,050 22,100 1,570 9 4,860 3,250 4,240 19 1,720 3,960 1,950 29 2,220 15,100 1,470 10 4,060 3,340 3,920 20 1,660 5,400 1,870 30 2,500 11,000 1,570 31 2 880 1 420 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second .•..•..••..••••••. 3,308 9,700 3,242 

Runoff, in acre-feet •.•.••••••••••••••••••••••.••••••.••••••.••• 203,400 577,200 199,400 

Runoff, in inches ••••..••.•...•..••••.•.••.••..••.••••..••••••.. 0.57 1.63 0.56 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1954 

Hour Gage I Hour Gage I . Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage I . height Discharge heillht D1scharge heil!ht heillht D1scharge 

June 23 June 25 6 13.47 39,200 12 8.o31 18,ooo N 6.941 13,800 N 12.641 35,900 12 12.95 37,100 June 29 12 7.75 16,900 12 13.85 40,700 June 27 N 7.231 14,900 

June 24 June 26 N 11.661 31,900 12 6.62 12,600 N 8. 751 20,700 6 13.971 41,200 12 10.31 26,600 June 30 12 10.45 27,200 8:30 14.02 41,400 June 28 N 6.171 10,900 

N 13.81 40,500 N 9.081 21,900 12 5.78 9,400 
40 FLOODS OF 19 54 

(25) Cedar River near Conesville, Iowa 

Location.- --Lat 41°24'30", long 91° 17'25", in SW~ sec. 2, T. 76 N., R. 4 W., on downstream 

side of highway bridge, 3~ miles northeast of Conesville, 5 miles downstream from Wapsinonoc 

Creek, and at mile 9. 5. Datum of gage is 581. 85ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929 (levels 

by Corps of Engineers). 

Drainage area. --7, 840 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record. --Water-stage recorder except May 1 to July 1 when wire-weight gage on 

downstream side of highway bridge, 150 ft upstream from recording gage, was read once daily. 

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current"-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used June 23 to July 1. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 36,600 cfs 6 p.m. June 28 (gage height, 14.80 ft, from graph 

based on gage readings). 

1939 to Apri11954: Discharge, 60, 000 cfs June 18, 1947 (gage height, 15. 35 ft). 

Maximum stage known, 16ft in March 1929, determined by Corps of Engineers from information by local residents. 

Mean discharae in cubic feet er second 1954 

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

1 3,280 4,910 20,000 11 5,250 4,740 4,860 21 2,580 6,500 2,600 

2 6,100 8,350 12,000 12 4,570 4,740 4,520 22 2,520 7,900 2,540 

3 7,500 8,600 9,200 13 4,120 4,260 4,200 23 2,460 10,100 2,410 

4 7,300 8,350 8,020 14 3,840 4,260 3,880 24 2,460 11,700 2,410 

5 7,300 8,600 7,170 15 3,700 4,910 3,560 25 2,400 13,500 2,290 

6 7,300 7,900 6,560 16 3,490 4,570 3,410 26 2,400 17,100 2,290 

7 7,700 6,700 6,160 17 3,280 4,120 3,200 27 2,520 26,100 2,230 

8 7,700 5,930 5,960 18 3,070 3,840 2,990 28 2,820 35,700 2,230 

9 7,100 5,420 5,580 19 2,880 3,840 2,800 29 3,490 35,700 2,170 

10 6,100 4,910 5,220 20 2,700 4,570 2,660 30 3,560 27,000 2,060 

31 3 560 2.000 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second ••.••••••••••••••• 4,356 10,160 4,748 

Runoff, in acre-feet ••••••••••••••.•••••••••••••.••••••••••••••• 267,900 604,600 291,900 

Runoff, in inches ••••••••••••.••• , ..•.•.•••• , , .•••••••••••••••.• 0,64 1.45 0,70 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 41 

Skunk River basin 

(26) Skunk River near Ames, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°0410611 , long 93°37'02", in swt sec. 23, T. 84 N., R. 24 W., on left bank 

2{ miles north of Ames, 3! miles downstream from Keigley Branch, and 5 miles upstream 

from Squaw Creek. Datum of gage is 893.6 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929 (Iowa Highway Commission bench mark). 

Drainage area.-322 sq m'L 

Gage-height record.-Water-stage recorder graph except for period 6 a.m. June 2 to 10 p.m. 

June 10, for which graph was estimated on basis of recorded range in stage and weather records. 

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 8,630 cfs 11 p.m. June 10 (gage height, 13.66 ft). 

---1-920-27, 1933 to April 1954: Discharge, 8, 060 cfs May 20, 1944 (gage height, 13.90 ft). 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

Day May June July Day M~ June July Day May June July 

1 139 2,380 148 11 69 5,760 44 21 34 1,130 33 

2 284 1,210 130 12 63 2,820 40 22 33 1,540 20 

3 464 960 112 13 58 2,100 33 23 31 1,050 18 

4 298 694 101 14 53 1,650 28 24 28 720 16 

5 195 502 90 15 50 1,410 25 25 26 535 14 

6 142 360 80 16 48 1,960 21 26 22 403 12 

7 118 267 73 17 45 1,610 19 27 33 316 10 

8 99 207 63 18 44 1,190 20 28 969 255 9.4 

9 86 170 58 19 42 900 23 29 628 211 8.0 

10 76 2,500 51 20 38 697 21 30 311 174 7.3 

31 362 7.7 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •••••••••••••••••• 158 1,189 43.1 Runoff, in acre-feet •••.•••.•••.••••••••••••••.•.•••••••••••.••• 9,690 10,110 2,650 

Runoff, in inches ••••.••..••.•••.••.•••.••..••.••.••••.•••..••.• 0.56 4.12 0,15 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge jHour Gage Discharge Hour h~r::t Discharge Hour Gage I . heillht heii!ht heillht DlScharge 

June 10 10 11.24 6,140 June 15 June 19 

4 2.99 157 N 10.72 5,650 N 5.181 1,330 N 4.481 909 

8 2.99 157 2 10.36 5,320 4 5.14 1,300 12 4.25 782 

N 3.41 325 4 9.88 4,890 8 5,45 1,490 June 20 

1 4.08 689 6 9.42 4,480 12 5.67 1,640 N 4.091 694 

2 5.08 1,210 8 9.02 4,120 June 16 12 3,95 618 

3 6.38 2,120 10 8.68 3,840 4 5.96 1,820 June 21 

4 7.63 3,020 12 8.37 3,600 8 6.22 2,000 6 4.271 794 

5 8.83 3,960 June 12 N 6.21 2,000 N 4.91 1,170 

6 10.10 5,090 4 7.92 3,240 4 6.25 2,020 6 5.33 1,420 

7 10.98 5,880 8 7.55 ;2,960 8 6.34 2,090 12 5,75 1,690 

8 11.88 6,180 N 7.22 2,720 12 6.16 1,960 June 22 

9 12.68 7,580 4 7.02 2,560 June 17 N 5.581 1,580 

10 13.38 8,320 8 6.85 2,440 6 5.891 1,710 12 5.13 1,300 

11 13.66 8,630 12 6.70 2,340 N 5.58 1,580 June 23 12 13.54 8,490 June 13 6 5.34 1,420 N 4.661 1,020 

June 11 N 6.351 2,100 12 5.28 1,390 12 4,37 848 2 12.981 1,880 12 5.98 1,840 June 18 June 24 

4 12.45 7,350 June 14 N 4.931 1,180 N 4.11, 706 6 12.00 6,900 N 5.691 1,650 12 4.64 1,000 12 3,95 618 8 11,63 6,530 12 5.41 1,470 

457709 0 - 58 -4 
42 FLOODS OF 1954 

(29) Skunk River below Squaw Creek, near Ames, Iowa 

Location.-Lat42°001 30",long 93°351 4011 , inNEiNWtsec. 13, T. 83N., R. 24W., onrightbank 

----r5ftdownstream from highway bridge, a quarter of a mile downstream from Squaw Creek, 1 mile 

downstream from bridge on U. S. Highway 30, and about 2 miles southeast of Ames. 

Drainage area.-565 sq mi. 

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

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 7, 980 cfs 8 a.m. June 11 (gage height, 11.92 ft). 

---O-ctober 1952 to April 1954: Discharge, 1, 620 cfs May 1, 1953 (gage height, 5. 47ft). 

Flood of May 19, 1944, reached a stage of 13ft. 

Mean d isc ha rge in cubic feet er secon d , 1954 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June 

1 231 4, 790 260 11 105 7,020 77 21 39 2,430 2 435 2,360 229 12 93 3,860 71 22 38 3,440 3 708 1,970 205 13 84 2,650 64 23 39 1,920 

4 498 1,320 181 14 77 2,080 56 24 43 1,200 

5 318 876 160 15 69 1,830 51 25 39 864 

6 243 627 142 16 60 2,980 45 26 39 672 7 193 465 123 17 54 2,290 43 27 58 543 

8 162 348 107 18 49 1,610 39 28 1,480 444 

9 142 286 96 19 47 1,210 45 29 1,040 369 10 121 2,050 89 20 43 994 43 30 532 306 

31 450 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •...•..••••••••••. 243 1,793 

Runoff, in acre-feet •••.•.........•••••••.•••..••••..••••••••••• 14,930 106,700 

Runoff, in inches •.••.••...•...•..•.••..••..••.••.••••••••...•.• 0,50 3.54 

July 

71 

71 

49 

41 

34 

30 

25 

24 

21 

18 

17 

81.5 

5,010 

0,17 

Gage height . in feet and discharge in cubic feet per second at indicated time 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge height heil!'ht heil!'ht heie-ht 

June 10 6 7.691 3,250 June 17 2 7.02 2,760 

4 1.82 253 12 7.35 3,000 N 6.291 2,250 4 7.21 2,900 

8 1.96 289 June 13 12 5.68 1,860 6 7.39 3,020 

10 2.88 578 N 6.851 2,640 June 18 8 7.62 3,200 

N 4.60 1,270 12 6.38 2,320 N 5-.241 1,610 10 7.94 3,450 

2 6.03 2,070 June 14 12 4.80 1,370 12 8.15 3,640 

4 7.07 2,800 N 6.051 2,080 June 19 June 22 

6 7.99 3,490 12 5.66 1,850 N 4.461 1,200 4 8.19 3,670 

8 9.25 4,650 June 15 12 4.16 1,060 8 8,27 3, 740 

10 10.11 5,530 N 5.401 1,700 June 20 N 8.35 3,820 

12 10.62 6,140 4 5.30 1,640 6 4,031 1,010 4 7.86 3,390 

June 11 8 5.80 1,930 N 3.90 960 8 7.25 2,920 

4 11.51 7,360 12 6.55 2,440 6 3.96 984 12 6. 76 2,580 

8 11.92 7,980 June 16 12 3.95 980 June 23 

N 11.77 7,700 4 7.30 2,960 June 21 6 6.151 2,160 

4 11.28 7,020 8 7.56 3,150 2 4.59 1,260 N 5.69 1,860 

8 10.70 6,240 N 7.60 3,180 4 4.91 1,430 6 5.33 1,660 

12 10.03 5,440 4 7.40 3,030 6 5.40 1,700 12 4.93 1,440 

June 12 8 7.27 2,940 8 6,17 2,170 June 24 

6 8.901 4,310 12 7.09 2,810 10 6.52 2,410 N 4.421 1,190 

N 8.16 3,640 N 6.78 2,600 12 4,01 1,000 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 43 

(30) Skunk River near Oskaloosa, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 41°21'10", long. 92°39'20", in SWt sec. 25, T. 76 N., R. 16 W., on right bank 

--sooTt upstream from bridge on U. S. Highway 63 and 4 miles north of Oskaloosa. 

Drainage area.-1, 640 sq mi, approximately. 

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

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used May 31 to July 31. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 5, 420 cfs 3 p.m. June 24 (gage height, 15.89 ft). 

---1-948 to April1954: Discharge, 10,800 cfs Mar. 9, 1949; gage height, 18.46 ft Feb. 22, 

1953. 

Flood of May 1944 reached a stage of 25.8 ft (discharge not determined). Flood of June 15, 

1947, reached a stag_~ of 21.26 ft (discharge, 20,000 cfs). 

Mean discharge, in cubic eet er secon d 4 , 195 

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

1 346 2,360 962 11 326 1,260 402 21 150 4,270 207 2 476 3,540 872 12 293 3,540 367 22 144 5,000 234 

3 1,110 3,950 800 13 266 4,030 333 23 138 5,200 207 

4 1,140 3,360 746 14 242 4,190 303 24 138 5,420 210 

5 926 2,470 692 15 223 3,420 275 25 144 4,320 190 

6 692 1,690 638 16 207 3,810 251 26 138 2,320 170 7 548 1,410 584 17 194 4,350 231 27 144 1,730 163 8 476 1,220 530 18 180 4,190 218 28 194 1,450 154 9 409 1,070 476 19 170 2,820 215 29 1,230 1,220 148 10 364 926 437 20 161 2,220 212 30 1,530 1,070 140 31 998 132 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •••••••••••••••••. 442 2,928 371 

Runoff, in acre-feet •••.•.•.••.•••••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 27,170 174,200 22,810 

Runoff, in inches •••••••..•...•...•.••..••..••.••.•.••..••..•••• 0.31 1,99 0,26 
44 FLOODS OF 1954 

Des Moines River basin 

(31) West Fork Des Moines River at Estherville, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 43°24'00", long. 94°50'45", in SE-i:SW-1: sec. 10, T. 99 N., R. 34 W., on right bank 

in city park, 1, 200 ft downstream from bridge on State Route 9 at Estherville, and 2. 5 miles upstream from Brown Creek. 

Drainage area.-1, 408 sq mi. 

Gage-height record.-Water-stage recorder graph. Doubtful gage-height record July 14•18. 

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 1, 360 cfs 4 p.m. June 21 (gage height, 5. 66 ft). 

---1-951 to April1954: Discharge, 10,800 cfs June 8, 1953 (gage height, 15.53 ft). 

Mean discharge in cubic feet er second 1954 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June 

1 388 182 322 11 336 164 204 21 179 1,110 2 452 239 312 12 330 143 185 22 170 1,030 3 500 260 408 13 308 137 170 23 152 888 4 488 274 348 14 288 128 159 24 164 784 

5 464 270 319 15 274 126 152 25 158 656 6 464 256 291 16 260 114 148 26 117 580 7 440 250 270 17 236 106 143 27 120 512 8 416 239 246 18 217 836 141 28 123 460 9 380 223 239 19 204 962 138 29 140 428 10 360 192 223 20 192 846 134 30 120 392 

31 126 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second ••..•.•••••••••••• 276 426 

July 

158 

119 

112 

103 

90 

80 

80 

121 

108 

108 

111 

185 

Runoff, in acre-feet •••••••.••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••..••• 16,990 25,360 11,390 

Rupoff, in inches ••••..••....•.•.••••.•.••••••.•••.•••.••••••••. 0.23 0,34 0,15 

Gage height . . in feet and discharge . in cubic feet per second . at indicated time . 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge ~our Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge heillht heie:ht heie:ht heil!'ht 

June 18 12 5,561 1,320 8 3.83 632 8 4. 78 1,010 2 3.00 305 June 19 10 3.82 628 N 4.93 1,070 4 3.25 400 2 5.57 1,330 12 3.87 648 4 5,66 1,360 6 3,27 408 4 5,52 1,310 June 20 8 5.55 1,320 8 3.83 632 6 5.36 1,240 4 4.22 788 12 5,30 1,220 10 4.39 856 8 5,17 1,170 8 4.64 956 June 22 N 4.74 996 10 4.94 1,080 N 4.58 932 6 4.94 1,080 2 4.81 1,020 N 4.65 960 4 4.34 S36 N 4.77 1,010 4 4.88 1,050 2 4.31 824 8 4.36 844 6 4.63 952 

6 5.08 1,130 4 4.06 724 12 4.22 788 12 4.54 916 8 5.28 1,210 6 3.91 664 4.5~je 21 10 5.45 1,280 4 908 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 45 

(32) West Fork Des Moines River at Humboldt, Iowa 

Location.-Lat42°43'10", long 94°13 110", inSWisec. 1, T. 91N., R. 29W., atbridgeonFirst 

--xveriiie South in Humboldt, about 700 ft downstream from Iowa Public Service Co. powerplant, 

and 4 miles upstream from confluence with East Fork Des Moines River. 

Drainage area.-2, 295 sq mi. 

Gage-height record.-Wire-weight gage read once daily. Gage heights June 18-30 computed from 

graph based on daily gage readings and occasional readings by engineer. 

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

~.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 9, 490 cfs 12m. June 22 (gage height, 11.33 ft, from graph 

based on gage readings). 

1940 to April 1954: Discharge, 11,000 cfs June 23, 1947 (gage height, 12.2 ft). 

Remarks.-Daily records not published for this station because of regulation by powerplant above 

--gage:- Stages and discharges at selected times during the flood period presented for this report. 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicate d time, 195 4 

Hour Gage 

hei.iht Discharge jHour heiJlht Gage: I Discharge ~our ~f:ht_l Discharge Hour Gage J . hejg_ht DlScharge 

June 18 June 20 June 23 June 27 N 4.081 608 6 .... 1 6,300 N 10.721 8,400 N 6.881 2,970 12 4.48 867 N 9.50 6,400 12 10.18 7,490 12 6.64 2,700 June 19 6 9.45 6,330 June 24 June 28 4 5.00 1,220 12 9.53 6,450 N 9.631 6,610 N 6.411 2,460 8 6.20 2,250 June 21 12 9.08 5,810 12 6.23 2,280 N 7.60 3,820 N 10.301 7,680 June 25 June 29 4 8.50 5,000 12 10.97 8,850 N 8.541 5,060 N 6.061 2,110 8 8.90 5,560 June 22 12 7.98 4,280 12 5.92 1,970 12 9.18 5,950 N 11.3~1 9,490 June 26 June 30 12 11.16 9,190 N 7.5~1 3, 740 N 5.7~1 1,820 

12 7.17 3,300 12 5.60 1,680 
46 FLOODS OF 1954 

(33) East Fork Des Moines River near Burt, Iowa 

Location.-Lat43°12'30", long. 94°10 1 30", inNWtNE;isec. 20, T. 97N., R. 28W., onrightbank 

--wTtdownstream from county road bridge, 0. 8 mile upstream from Buffalo Creek, 2. 5 miles 

northeast of Burt, and 4 miles downstream from Mud Creek. 

Drainage ar·ea.-466 sq mi. 

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

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used May 31, July 10-15. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 3, 870 cfs 6 a.m. June 21 (gage height, 12.67 ft). 

1951 to April 1954: Discharge, 1, 680 cfs Mar. 31, 1952 (gage height, 11.42 ft). 

Mean discharge in cubic feet er second, 1954 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June 

1 153 121 840 11 llO 32 450 21 49 3,590 

2 244 88 782 12 100 28 378 22 44 2,950 

3 315 94 720 13 93 24 322 23 43 2,340 

4 343 103 720 14 85 21 280 24 46 2,010 

5 315 104 705 15 77 20 244 25 61 1,660 

6 232 85 690 16 66 20 226 26 79 1,440 

7 185 66 690 17 60 18 208 27 69 1,240 

8 153 49 600 18 60 491 202 28 128 1,100 

9 133 40 514 19 57 2, 710 185 29 202 1,000 

10 120 36 504 20 52 2,980 163 30 '250 914 

31 210 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •..••.•.•..••••..• 133 846 

Runoff, in acre-feet •••.•.•.••••.•.••••••••••••••••..•••.••••••• 8,200 50,330 

Runoff, in inches •••..••..••••••.•..•.•.••..••.•••..••.••...••.• 0.33 2.03 

July 

168 

163 

148 

133 

124 

109 

98 

120 

190 

196 

180 

357 21,920 

0.88 

Gage height in feet and discharge in cubic feet per second at indicated time 1954 ' ' , 

Hour Gage Discharge !Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge Gage I . hei~rht heiJ[ht hei~rht Hour hei~rht D1scharge 

June 18 10 12.21 2,880 8 12.66 3,850 June 25 

2 4.67 40 N 12.42 3,310 N 12.56 3,620 N 11.381 1,660 

4 4.97 60 2 12.53 3,560 4 12.52 3,530 12 ll.24 1,540 

6 5.50 98 4 12.56 3,620 8 12.47 3,420 June 26 

8 6.90 225 6 12.55 3,600 12 12.43 3,340 N ll.121 1,440 

10 8.74 474 8 12.53 3,560 June 22 12 10.98 1,320 

N 9.41 628 10 12.49 3,470 6 12.361 3,190 June 27 

2 9.67 696 12 12.45 3,380 N 12.25 2,960 N 10.861 1,230 

4 9.82 741 June 20 6 12.12 2,710 12 10.75 1,160 

6 9.94 779 4 12.36 3,190 12 12.04 2,560 June 28 

8 10.05 820 8 12.30 3,060 June 23 N 10.651 1,100 

10 10.15 860 N 12.22 2,880 N 11.891 2,300 12 10.56 1,050 

12 10.28 916 4 12.14 2,750 12 11.83 2,210 June 29 

June 19 8 12.11 2,690 June 24 N 10.471 1,000 

2 10.591 1,060 12 12.37 3,210 N 

11.6~1 2,010 12 10.37 956 

4 11.05 1,380 June 21 12 ll.52 1,800 June 30 

6 11.44 1,720 4 12.661 3,850 N 10.281 916 

8 11.87 2,270 6 12.67 3,870 12 10.17 868 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 47 

(34) East Fork Des Moines River near Hardy, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°48'10", long 94°08 100", in NWtNE-1 sec. 10, T. 92 N., R. 28 W., near center 

of span on downstream side of highway bridge, 4t miles west of Hardy, 6 miles northeast of 

Dakota City, 7t miles downstream from Lotts Creek, and 12 miles upstream from mouth. 

Drainage area.-1, 230 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Wire-weight gage read once daily. Gage heights June 18-30 computed from 

graph based on daily readings. 

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 18,800 cfs 3 p.m. June 21 (gage height, 16.95 ft, from 

--riO'Odmark). 

1940 to April 1954: Discharge, 13, 000 cfs June 23, 1947 (gage height, 15.4 ft). 

Maximum stage known, about 17.4 It in September 1938, from information by local residents. 

Mean discharge in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 360 1,140 2,540 11 371 492 1,360 21 189 17,800 382 2 481 996 2,420 12 360 426 1,260 22 167 14,100 371 3 680 1,040 2,150 13 328 404 1,120 23 159 9,920 371 4 790 940 2,000 14 286 352 850 24 297 7,750 350 

5 790 850 1,820 15 276 331 790 25 360 6,490 328 

6 760 790 1,740 16 266 297 730 26 382 5,660 318 

7 680 680 1,660 17 256 268 584 27 426 4,470 318 

8 607 630 1,580 18 212 726 492 28 515 3,780 297 

9 526 561 1,500 19 205 2,900 448 29 820 3,440 276 

10 459 533 1,430 20 197 8,950 382 30 850 3,060 339 

31 940 382 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •••.••••• , , .• , , • , , 451 3,326 987 Runoff, in acre-feet . , , . , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . , , • , , . , .• , • , , , , , , , .••• , , 27,760 197,900 60,670 

Runoff, in inches , • , •••••••.•.••.•••.... , , ..••. , , ••••••.•.•••••• 0.42 3.02 0.92 

Gage height . in feet . and discharge . . . in cubic feet per second at indicated time 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge ~our ~r::t j Discharge Hour Gage Discharge height height hei11:ht 

June 18 June 19 June 20 N 16.92 18,600 4 3.63 303 4 8.57 1,810 6 13.<51 6,450 3 16.95 18,800 8 4.37 463 8 9.40 2,200 N 13.97 7,490 8 16.87 18,400 

N 5.20 655 N 10.21 2,680 6 15.40 11,800 12 16.70 17,500 4 6,03 889 4 11.02 3,280 12 16.18 14,900 June 22 

8 6.88 1,180 8 11.87 4,080 

16.7gje 21 N 15.931 13,700 12 7.70 1,460 12 12.75 5,220 6 17,500 12 15.32 11,600 
48 FLOODS OF 1954 

(35) East Fork Des Moines River at Dakota City, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°43'25", long 94°11 1 2511 , in SEt sec. 6, T. 91 N., R. 28 W., on right bank 50ft 

upstream from old mill dam in city park at east edge of Dakota City, 500 ft upstream from bridge 

on State Route 3, and 3. 2 miles upstream from confluence with West Fork Des Moines River. 

Datum of gage is 1, 038. 71 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-1, 262 sq mi. 

Gage-height record.-Water-stage recorder graph. Station established June 9, 1954. 

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

June 1-8 estimated on basis of record for station near H<trdy to complete month. 

~.-June-July 1954: Discharge, 17,400 cfs 7 p.m. June 21 (gage height, 24.02 ft). 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 1,200 2,750 11 570 1,300 21 16,300 428 

2 1,100 2,440 12 593 1,180 22 15,700 391 

3 1,080 2,230 13 460 1,090 23 11,700 382 

4 1,000 2,030 14 374 970 24 8,580 374 

5 900 1,900 15 325 790 25 6,890 347 

6 850 1,700 16 295 655 26 5,790 316 

7 780 1,640 17 270 570 27 4,880 283 

8 700 1,540 18 671 524 28 4,130 262 

9 556 1,480 19 2,860 474 29 3,560 254 

10 570 1,390 20 10,400 451 30 3,100 270 

31 365 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second ••..•.••••••.••••• 3,539 993 

Runoff, in acre-feet •••••.•.••••••.••••••••••.••.••••••••••..••• 210,600 61,040 

Runoff, in inches ••••.••.•••.•••.••••.•.•••.••.•••••••••••.•••.• 3.13 0.91 

Gage height in feet . . and discharge in cubic feet per second . at indicated time . 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge ~our Gage Discharge !Hour Gage Discharge Gage I . heieht heieht heiiht Hour heieht D1scharge 

June 18 N 12.46 2,490 June 21 12 21.80J 13,700 4 8.66 254 4 12.93 2,850 4 22.50 14,800 June 23 

8 a. 75 291 8 14.36 4,100 8 23.25 16,100 N 20.481 11,600 

N 9.36 566 12 16.96 6,850 N 23.75 17,000 12 19.23 9,720 

4 9.92 862 June 20 4 23.97 17,300 June 24 

8 10.49 1,200 4 18.20 8,360 7 24.02 17,400 N 18,311 8,500 

12 10.90 1,450 8 19.22 9, 710 12 23,91 17,200 12 17.58 7,600 

June 19 N 19.96 10,800 June 22 June 25 

4 11.2~1 1,660 4 20.42 11,400 6 23.57:1 16,700 N 16.951 6,840 

8 11.66 1,940 8 20.75 12,000 N 23.04 15,800 12 16.48 6,280 12 21.56 13,300 6 22.45 14,800 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 49 

(36) North Lizard Creek near Clare, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°32 1 3011, long 94°20 14011 , in NE-1 sec. ll, T. 89 N., R. 30 W., on right bank, 

~ownstream from highway bridge, 3 miles south of Clare, 8 miles upstream from confluence 

with South Lizard Creek, and 8 miles northwest of Fort Dodge. 

Drainage area.-257 sq mi. 

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

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 6, 210 cfs 4 a.m. June 20 (gage height, 13.21 ft). 

---1-940 to April 1954: Discharge, 10,000 cfs June 23, 1947 (gage height, 16.0 ft, from floodmark), from rating curve extended above 4, 500 cfs. 

Mean dlScharge in cubic eet er secon d 4 , 195 

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

1 178 424 348 11 117 3,220 102 21 71 4,550 48 

2 282 344 309 12 108 1,800 91 22 68 3,380 43 

3 421 390 288 13 98 1,140 81 23 67 1,980 39 

4 376 477 252 14 91 900 73 24 65 1,360 34 

5 282 324 222 15 84 736 64 25 65 1,070 31 

6 230 240 193 16 81 580 57 26 65 892 28 

7 191 193 167 17 81 438 54 27 75 748 25 

8 165 154 154 18 79 348 57 28 178 616 25 

9 142 129 133 19 78 1,290 51 29 121 505 25 

10 127 1,190 117 20 75 4,900 49 30 98 421 29 

31 96 30 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •••.••••••••.••.•• 137 1,158 104 

Runoff, in acre-feet •.•••..•••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 8,440 68,900 6,380 

Runoff, in inches •••.••••.••••••.••.•.••••••••••••.••••••••.••.• 0.62 5.03 0.47 

Gage height . in feet . . and discharge in cubic feet per second . at indicated time . 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge fHour Gage Discharge !Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge hei~tht heiRht heiiht heiibt 

June 10 8 9,4~1 2,900 6 7.14 1,450 8 11.48 4,530 

2 4. 75 452 12 8.77 2,420 8 7,99 1,890 10 11,10 4,190 

4 6.45 1,120 June 12 10 9,44 2,890 N 10.97 4,080 

6 7.46 1,610 N 7.671 1,720 12 11.66 4,690 4 11,15 4,240 

8 8.07 1,940 12 6.91 1,340 June 20 8 11.32 4,390 

10 7.52 1,640 June 13 2 12.81 5,810 12 11.28 4,350 

N 6. 72 1,240 N 6.451 1,120 4 13.21 6,210 June 22 

2 6.33 1,070 12 6.14 992 6 12.93 5,930 6 10.771 3,920 

4 6.18 1,010 June 18 8 12.63 5,620 N 10,07 3,360 

6 6.14 996 N 4.441 344 10 12.30 5,300 6 9,37 2,840 

8 6.32 1,070 6 4.38 324 N 11,94 4,950 12 8.84 2,470 

10 6.78 1,270 12 4.45 348 2 11.49 4,540 June 23 

12 7.50 1,630 June 19 4 11.04 4,140 N 8.051 1,930 

June 11 2 4.48 358 6 10.60 3,780 12 7.45 1,600 

2 8.32 2,100 4 4,49 362 8 10.45 3,660 June 24 

4 9.11 2,660 6 4.62 407 10 11.02 4,120 N 6.911 1,340 

6 10.20 3,460 8 5.37 688 12 11.90 4,910 12 6,58 1,170 

8 10.82 3,960 10 6.44 1,120 June 21 June 25 

10 11,03 4,130 N 6.62 1,190 2 12.3~1 5,370 N 6.331 1,070 

N 10.97 4,080 2 6.83 1,300 4 12.36 5,360 12 6.11 984 

4 10.38 3,600 4 6.86 1,310 6 11.92 4,930 
50 FLOODS OF 1954 

(37) Des Moines River at Fort Dodge, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°30'30", long 94°12 100", in SWi sec. 19, T. 89 N., R. 28 W., on right bank 

----:tii'01t upstream from Soldier Creek, 1, 800 ft downstream from Illinois Central Railroad bridge, 

and 2, 000 ft downstream from Lizard Creek. Datum of gage is 969. 38 ft above mean sea level, 

datum of 1929 (city of Fort Dodge bench mark). 

Drainage area.-4, 207 sq mi. 

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

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used June 29 to July 31. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 35,400 cfs 11 a.m. June 21 (gage height, 19.28 ft). 

---1-905-6, 1913-27, 1949 to April 1954: Discharge, 22,300 cfs Apr. 8, 1951 (gage height, 

12.13 ft). 

Maximum stage known, 19.7 ft June 23, 1947, from floodmark (discharge, 34,000 cfs). 

Remarks.-Diurnal fluctuation at low flow caused by powerplant above station. 

Mean discharlle, in cubic feet 1 er second, 1954 

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

1 1,630 2,720 6,360 11 1,580 8,190 2,330 21 850 34,000 977 2 2,500 2,810 5,720 12 1,470 6,470 1,980 22 804 32,000 934 3 3,150 2,860 4,980 13 1,380 4,320 1,940 23 874 25,700 889 4 3,500 3,210 4,480 14 1,260 3,140 1,640 24 1,240 20,000 874 

5 3,140 2,810 4,100 15 1,230 2,400 1,550 25 1,210 16,200 822 

6 2,790 2,310 3,470 16 1,120 2,020 1,320 26 1,160 13,700 732 

7 2,470 2,000 3,310 17 1,080 1,720 1,240 27 1,280 11,800 693 

8 2,230 1,680 2,910 18 1,010 1, 770 1,160 28 2,060 10,200 666 

9 1,900 1,440 2, 740 19 956 7,260 1,100 29 2,020 8,560 640 

10 1,770 5,.150 2,430 20 884 20,700 1,030 30 1,950 7,220 730 

31 1,910 812 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •......•••.•.••.•• 1,691 8,812 2,083 

Runoff, in acre-feet •.••.••.•.•.•••••••••.•.•••..•••••••••...••. 103,900 524,300 128,000 

Runoff, in inches ••••.••..•..•••.••••.•.•••.•.•••••.••.•••.•••.• 0,46 2.34 0,57 

Gage height in feet and discharge in cubic feet per second at indicated time 1954 ' ' ' ' ' Hour Gage Discharge ~our Gage Discharge !Hour h~~;:t Discharge Gage T . heieht heieht Hour hei.lht D1scharge 

June 18 June 20 N 19.23 35,300 June 25 

N 4.041 1,440 2 9.20 14,400 4 18.85 34,500 N 9,901 16,100 

12 4.60 2,620 4 9.88 16,000 8 18.60 34,000 12 9,40 14,900 

June 19 6 10.69 17,800 12 18,48 33,800 June 26 

2 4.54 2,480 8 11.45 19,400 June 22 N 8.901 13,600 

4 5.23 4,180 10 11.89 20,400 6 18.281 33,400 12 8,53 12,700 

6 4.83 3,180 N 12.34 21,300 N 17.76 32,300 June 27 

8 5,23 4,180 2 12.54 21,700 6 16.98 30,800 N 8.171 11,800 

10 5.41 4,620 4 12.67 22,000 12 16.16 29,100 12 7,87 11,100 

N 6.30 6,900 6 12.81 22,300 June 23 June 28 

2 7.03 8,820 8 13.05 22,800 6 15.281 27,400 N 7.551 10,100 

4 7.50 10,100 10 15.55 27,900 N 14.44 25,700 12 7,29 9,380 

6 7.80 10,900 12 17.06 30,900 6 13.55 23,900 June 29 

8 8.07 11,500 June 21 12 12.84 22,400 N 7.071 8,670 

10 8.33 12,300 4 18.011 32,800 June 24 12 6.64 7,530 

12 8.82 13,400 8 19.10 35,000 N 11.6~1 19,900 June 30 

11 19.28 35,400 12 10.68 17,800 N 6.5~1 7,270 

12 6.41 6,790 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 51 

(42) Boone River near Webster City, Iowa 

Location.-Lat42°25150", long. 93°48 110", inSEtsec. 18, T. 88N., R. 25W., onrightbank10ft 

upstream from bridge on State Route 60, 2 miles south of Webster City and 4. 5 miles downstream from White Fox Creek. 

Drainage area.-842 sq mi. 

Gage-height record.-Water-stage recorder except for period 12 m. June 20 to 7 a.m. June 22 for 

which graph was estimated on basis of occasional gage readings and adjacent recorder graph. 

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 20,300 cfs 2 p.m. June 22 (gage height, 18.55 ft). 

---1-940 to April1954: Discharge, 10,400 cfs June 28, 1951; gage height, 13.7 ft, in gage well, 

13. 9 ft, from outside gage, June 14, 1944. 

Maximum stage known since 1896, 19.1 ft, from floodmarks, about June 10, 1918. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 578 681 1,020 11 334 1,240 321 21 150 19,100 133 2 940 604 865 12 306 925 291 22 145 19,500 129 

3 1,350 750 765 13 279 965 257 23 143 14,900 126 

4 1,140 805 668 14 258 ?is 223 24 145 8,580 118 

5 890 805 600 15 238 627 195 25 152 5,060 108 

6 690 735 535 16 218 600 172 26 227 3,340 99 

7 556 604 464 17 199 531 159 27 238 2,430 92 

8 472 487 414 18 186 470 155 28 844 1,920 87 

9 414 414 384 19 173 1,960 155 29 865 1,550 81 

10 368 2,290 349 20 160 10,700 143 30 622 1,250 83 

31 556 93 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •••.•.•••••••...•. 446 3,485 299 Runoff, in acre-feet •.•.•••••.•.••• , , •••••• , , •••••••••••••.•••.• 27,440 207,300 18,410 

Runoff, in inches ••••••••••••..•.••.•.•.••..•..••..•••.••.•.••.. 0.61 4.62 0.41 

Gage height in feet and discharge in cubic feet per second at indicated time 1954 ' ' Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge ~our Gage Discharge Gage I . heig_ht hetiht hetiht Hour heil!'ht D1scharge 

June 18 June 21 8 16.67 16,200 June 26 

N 3.351 458 4 18.06 19,200 N 15,92 14,700 N 7.571 3,300 

12 3.40 475 8 18.32 19,800 4 15,20 13,500 12 7.02 2,770 

June 19 N 18.24 19,600 8 14.51 12,200 June 27 4 3.98 730 4 18.00 19,100 12 13.87 11,100 N 6,571 2,410 

8 4,98 1,280 8 17'.79 18,700 June 24 12 6.21 2,120 

N 6.00 1,970 12 17,77 18,600 4 13.27 10,200 June 28 

4 6.73 2,530 June 22 8 12.66 9,320 N 5.921 1,910 

8 7,35 3,080 4 17.88 18,900 N 12.07 8,500 12 5.64 1,720 

12 8,20 3,930 8 18.16 19,400 4 11.50 7,700 June 29 

June 20 N i8.51 20,200 8 10.96 7,020 N 5.40 I 1,550 4 9.56 5,370 2 18.55 20,300 12 10.42 6,370 12 5,13 1,370 8 11.53 7,740 4 18.50 20,200 June 25 June 30 N 13.70 10,800 8 18.32 19,800 6 

··~, 5,630 N .... , 1,250 

4 15.30 13,600 12 17,87 18,800 N 9,23 5,000 12 4.72 1,120 8 16.47 15,800 June 23 6 8.70 4,430 12 17.34 17,700 4 17.321 17,600 12 8.26 3,990 
52 FLOODS OF 1954 

(43) Des Moines River near Boone, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°04'40", long 93°55'55", in NEt sec. 24, T. 84 N., R. 27 W., on left bank 30ft 

upstream from Boone Water Department dam, 2 miles northwest of Boone, and 2. 2 miles upstream from Bluff Creek. Datum of gage is 871.52 ft above mean sea level, adjustment of 1912. 

Drainage area.-5, 490 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Water-stage recorder graph except for period 1 p.m. June 21 to 4 p.m. 

June 28 for which graph was based on hourly readings of staff gage. 

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 57,400 cfs 4 p.m. June 22 (gage height, 25.35 ft, from 

graph based on hourly gage readings). 

1920-27, 1933 to April 1954: Discharge, 37,100 cfs June 24, 1947 (gage height, 19.85 ft). 

~.-Slight diurnal fluctuation caused by powerplants above station. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet 1 er second, 1954 

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

1 1,720 3,330 7,550 11 2,250 14,500 2_,830 21 1,170 31,700 1,610 

2 2,460 3,780 6,530 12 2,120 11,000 2,640 22 1,130 55,900 1,550 

3 3,780 4,060 5,830 13 1,980 8,240 2,480 23 1,070 55,000 1,510 

4 4,710 4,210 5,270 14 1,860 5,930 2,340 24 1,070 44,200 1,420 

5 4,570 4,290 4,850 15 1, 720 4,680 2,160 25 1,440 30,800 1,370 

6 3,850 3,680 4,430 16 1,650 3,960 1,980 26 1,440 21,700 1,320 

7 3,290 3,010 4,000 17 1,550 3,160 1,930 27 1,530 16,700 1,240 

8 2,920 2, 740 3,620 18 1,460 2,680 1,860 28 2,540 13,300 1,170 

9 2,740 2,400 3,200 19 1,390 2,640 1,710 29 3,380 10,900 1,110 

10 2,420 7,660 3,020 20 1,260 9,330 1,750 30 2,830 9,000 1,010 

31 2,640 1,010 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •••••••.•••••••••• 2,256 13,150 2,725 

Runoff, in acre-feet •••.•••••..•••.•.•••••••••••••••.•••••••.••• 138,700 782,400 161,600 

Runoff, in inches •.••••••••..•••.••.•••••••.••.••..•••.••••••••. 0.47 2.67 0.57 

Gage height . . in feet and discharge . in cubic feet per second . . at indicated time 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge !Hour h~r;:t Discharge Hour Gage I . heie:ht heie:ht heie:ht D1scharge 

June 18 10 10.44~1 16,100 8 25.29,1 57,200 June 26 

N 1.621 2,680 12 11.70 18,100 12 25.29 57,200 6 14.421 23,300 

12 1.52 2,480 June 21 June 23 N 13.59 21,600 

June 19 2 12.24 19,100 4 25.21 56,800 6 12.71 19,900 

6 1.481 2,400 4 12.75 20,000 8 25.08 56,300 12 12.07 18,700 

N 1.47 2,380 6 13.50 21,400 N 24.86 55,500 June 27 

4 1.52 2,480 8 14.45 23,400 4 24.55 54,400 6 11.40 I 11,600 8 1. 73 2,890 10 15.71 26,100 8 24.12 52,900 N 10.78 16,700 

12 2.48 4,120 N 17.06 29,700 12 23.62 51,200 6 10.22 15,100 June 20 2 18.40 33,700 June 24 12 9.70 14,900 

2 2.92 4,740 4 19.82 38,000 6 22.111 48,000 June 28 

4 3.52 5,580 6 20.87 41,500 N 21.63 44,200 6 9.121 14,000 

6 4.28 6,640 8 21.85 45,000 6 20.56 40,400 N 8.68 13,300 

8 4.90 7,550 10 22.67 47,800 12 19.47 36,900 6 8.26 12,600 

10 5.45 8,380 12 23.37 50,300 June 25 12 7.87 12,000 

N 5.92 9,080 June 22 6 18.41 33,700 June 29 

2 6.33 9,700 4 24.44 54,000 N 17.37 30,600 N 7.111 10,800 

4 6.72 10,300 8 24.99 56,000 6 16.29 27,600 12 6.45 9,880 

6 7.16 10,900 N 25.27 57,100 12 15.35 25,400 June 30 

8 7.83 11,900 4 25.35 57,400 N 5.851 8,980 12 5.31 8,160 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 53 

(44) Des Moines River at Des Moines, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 41°36'4511 , long 93°37'05", in NEt sec. 34, T. 79 N., R. 24 W., on right bank 5 ft 

upstream from Second Avenue bridge in Des Moines, 1. 8 miles upstream from Iowa Power and 

Light Co. dam, 2. 8 miles upstream from Raccoon River, and 4. 5 miles downstream from Beaver 

Creek. Datum of gage is 773.84 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-6,180 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Water-stage recorder graph except for periods May 1, 2, May 28 to June 1, 

June 7-21. Graph based on once-daily reading of wire-weight gage used June 7-21. 

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used July 3-10. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 60,200 cfs 9 a.m. June 24 (gage height, 30.16 ft). 

---1-915-27, 1932 to April 1954: Discharge, 39,500 cfs June 26, 1947 (gage height, 26.5 ft), but 

may have been greater June 7, 1918; gage height, 16.5 ft June 7, 1918, site and datum then in 

use. 

Flood of May 31, 1903, reached a stage of about 27. 3 ft, present site and datum, from flood 

profile by office of City engineer (probably backwater from Raccoon River). 

Mean discharge in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 2,030 4,400 8,960 11 2,620 6,820 3,470 21 1,360 11,500 1,600 

2 2,430 4,970 7,530 12 2,430 12,200 3,170 22 1,280 20,800 1,4'70 

3 2,900 5,140 6,610 13 2,250 14,000 2,870 23 1,230 48,100 1,330 

4 4,090 5,240 5,920 14 2,070 10,300 2,670 24 1,150 59,100 1,260 

5 4,820 5,200 5,340 15 1,950 6,800 2,430 25 1,090 51,600 1,200 

6 4,720 5,040 4,900 16 1,790 7,260 2,210 26 1,340 39,600 1,170 

7 4,200 4,430 4,790 17 1,690 5,680 1,970 27 1,470 27,900 1,090 

8 3,690 3,950 4,680 18 1,610 4,680 1,770 28 2,270 19,900 1,020 

9 3,290 3,490 4,240 19 1,490 3,600 1,670 29 3,000 14,800 960 

10 3,000 3,050 3,800 20 1,440 4,980 1,600 30 3,490 11,400 900 

31 3,890 870 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •...•...•....•...• 2,454 14,200 3,015 

Runoff, in acre-feet ..•.....••.....•.•••••.•••...•...•••.•.•...• 150,900 844,800 185,400 

Runoff, in iliches ••..••...•......••.•...•••.••..•..•• ~ .••...•... 0.46 2.56 0,56 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge Hour .Gage Discharge !Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge hei2ht heilrht heiiht hei~rht 

June 18 8 18.651 13,200 9 30.16 60,200 June 27 

N 15.151 4,620 12 18.80 13,500 N 30.12 60,000 4 24.01 31,400 

12 14.83 3,950 June 22 4 30.03 59,400 8 23.52 29,500 

June 19 4 19.14 14,500 8 29.90 58,600 N 23,06 27,600 

N 14.641 3,570 8 19.77 16,400 12 29.70 57,400 4 22.62 26,100 

12 14.51 3,310 N 20.54 18,900 June 25 8 22.23 24,700 

June 20 4 21.81 23,200 4 29.40 55,700 12 21.84 23,300 

N 14.56 3,410 8 23.25 28,400 8 29.02 53,600 June 28 2 14.65 3,590 12 24.60 33,800 N 28.62 51,600 6 21.30 I 21,500 

4 14.83 3,950 June 23 4 28.24 49,800 N 20.80 19,800 

6 15.96 6,360 4 26.07 39,900 8 27.76 47,500 6 20.34 18,300 

8 17.13 9,120 8 27.12 44,600 12 27.30 45,600 12 19.94 17,000 

10 17.41 9,820 N 28.00 48,600 June 26 June 29 

12 17.50 10,000 4 28.88 52,900 4 26.85 43,300 N 19.161 14,600 

June 21 8 29.42 55,800 8 26,43 41,500 12 18.49 12,800 

4 17.631 10,400 12 29.76 57,800 N 26.01 39,600 June 30 8 17.69 10,500 June 24 4 25.56 37,800 N 17.881 11,300 

N 17.88 11,000 4 29,991 59,200 8 25.06 35,700 12 17.34 10,000 

4 18.23 12,000 8 30,13 60,000 12 24.50 33,400 
54 FLOODS OF 1954 

(45) Raccoon River near Jefferson, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 41°59 120", long 94°22 130", in NW~ sec. 20, T. 83 N., R. 30 W., on right bank 

--soTt'downstream from bridge on State Route 17, 2 miles south of Jefferson and 3! miles upstream from Hardin Creek. 

Drainage area.-1, 630 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Water-stage recorder graph except for period May 1-5, for which graph 

based on once-daily readings of wire-weight gage was used. 

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used July 16-31. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 21,300 cfs 11:30 p.m. June 22 (gage height, 19.52 ft). 

---1-940 to April1954: Discharge, 29,100 cfs June 23, 1947 (gage height, 22.3 ft). 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet 1 er second, 1954 

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

1 372 1,120 2,030 11 531 1,650 531 21 268 5,780 289 2 474 2,600 1,670 12 493 4,140 467 22 254 13,700 271 

3 845 3,550 1,490 13 456 4,590 418 23 251 19,100 254 

4 1,300 3,080 1,330 14 421 4,420 375 24 243 14,100 240 

5 1,300 2,700 1,160 15 391 2,920 346 25 240 11,200 216 

6 1,030 2,010 980 16 369 2,070 331 26 235 9,300 197 

7 868 1,490 845 17 343 1,700 319 27 240 7,380 179 

8 755 1,210 755 18 319 1,440 310 28 353 5,370 179 

9 650 1,000 670 19 298 1,190 304 29 1,300 3,420 166 

10 590 886 590 20 280 1,860 301 30 1,200 2,540 158 

31 845 153 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •.•••.•••••••.•••• 565 4,584 565 Runoff, in acre-feet •••.•.•.•••••.••••••••• , •••.•••••••••••..••• 34,740 272,800 34,760 

Runoff, in inches ••••.••..••.•••.•..•...•••.••..••••••••••.••••. 0.40 3.14 0.40 

Gage height . in feet and discharge in cubic feet per second at indicated time . 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge rs:our Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge Gage I . heillht heie:ht heillht Hour heillht D1scharge 

June 20 N 11.76 5,540 N 18.78 19,300 June 27 6 6.47 1,060 6 12.00 5,850 6 18.16 17,700 N 12.981 7,370 10 6.77 1,220 12 12.48 6,570 12 17.57 16,200 12 12.39 6,440 N 7.28 1,480 June 22 June 24 June 28 2 7.91 1,860 4 12.99 7,380 N 16.521 13,900 N 11.681 5,430 4 8.41 2,160 8 14.17 9,310 12 15.77 12,300 12 10.66 4,180 6 8.85 2,460 N 16.26 13,400 June 25 June 29 8 9.14 2,680 4 18.22 17,900 N 15.201 11,200 N 9.881 3,330 10 9.53 3,010 8 19.23 20,500 12 14.70 10,300 12 9.36 2,860 12 11.40 5,070 iu:30 19.52 21,300 June 26 June 30 June 21 12 19.51 21,200 N 14.151 9,270 N 8.931 2,520 2 11.951 5,780 June 23 12 13.59 8,340 12 8.55 2,260 6 11.83 5,630 6 19.321 20,700 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 55 

(49) East Fork Hardin Creek near Churdan, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°06'25", long 94°22 100", in SE-i:SW-1: sec. 5, T. 84 N., R. 30 W., on left bank 

~pstream from highway bridge on county road D, 4. 4 miles upstream from mouth, and 6. 5 

miles southeast of Churdan, Greene County. 

Drainage area.-22. 7 sq mi. 

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

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used May 31 to June 2. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 156 cfs 12 p.m. May 31 (gage height, 5. 94ft). 

1952 to April 1954: Discharge, 105 cfs June 10, 1953 (gage height, 5. 17 ft). 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June 

1 4.0 121 4.4 11 1.7 6.5 1.3 21 0.7 111 2 9.7 78 3.6 12 1.6 6.0 1.1 22 .6 44 3 9.6 57 3.4 13 1.4 5.7 .9 23 • 7 24 

4 5.7 32 3.0 14 1.3 5.2 .8 24 • 7 18 

5 4.2 24 2.6 15 1.2 5.2 • 7 25 .6 14 

6 3.8 18 2.3 16 1.0 5.7 .6 26 .6 9.6 7 2.8 14 2.2 17 .9 5.7 .6 27 1.0 8.0 

8 2.4 9.6 1.8 18 .9 5.0 .6 28 4.9 7.1 

9 2.0 8.3 1.6 19 .8 4. 7 .6 29 2.8 6.0 

10 1.8 7.4 1.4 20 .7 8.4 .6 30 1.9 5.2 

31 31 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •.•••••••••••••••• 3.32 22.5 Runoff, in acre-feet .••••.•.••.•.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 204 1,340 

Runoff, in inches ••••••••.••••••••.••••.•••.•••••••••••••••.••.. 0.17 1.10 

(50) South Raccoon River at Redfield, Iowa 

July 

0.6 

.5 

.4 

.4 

.3 

.2 

.2 

.2 

.2 

.2 

.2 

1.21 74 0.06 

Location.-Lat 41°341 3011 , long 94°10'40", in SE-1: sec. 3, T. 78 N., R. 29 W., on left bank 10ft 

upstream from highway bridge at Redfield, 0. 8 mile downstream from bridge on U. S. Highway 6, 1 mile downstream from Middle Raccoon River, and 14.5 miles upstream from mouth. 

Drainage area.-995 sq mi. 

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

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 1, 760 cfs 10 p.m. June 21 (gage height, 6. 59ft). 

---1-940 to April 1954: Discharge, 23, BOO cfs June 12, 1947 (gage height, 24.3 ft). 

~.-Some diur.nal fluctuation during low flow caused by powerplant at Panora. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er secon d , 1954 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June 

1 289 501 113 11 116 142 56 21 74 923 

2 353 501 99 12 110 395 52 22 70 1,500 

3 510 506 94 13 102 181 50 23 70 967 

4 416 403 91 14 96 139 47 24 68 532 

5 274 305 89 15 91 524 44 25 72 333 

6 210 232 82 16 89 1,170 42 26 79 243 

7 174 195 74 17 84 341 42 27 91 192 

8 154 164 70 18 82 232 44 28 819 157 

9 136 181 66 19 82 171 44 29 780 136 

10 118 161 58 20 77 151 49 30 463 121 

31 278 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second ..•••..•••.••••••• 207 390 

Runoff, in acre-feet •••••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 12,750 23,200 

Runoff, in inches •••••••..••..••.••.•.•.•••.••.•••.•••.•••..••.• 0.24 0.44 

July 

58 

54 

49 

49 

42 

38 

37 

37 

37 

34 

38 

57.4 

3,530 

0.07 
56 FLOODS OF 1954 

(51) Raccoon River at Van Meter, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 41°32 100", long 93°56 1 50", in SWt sec. 22, T. 78 N., R. 27 W., on right bank 10ft 

upstream from highway bridge, 0. 3 mile northeast of Van Meter, 1 mile downstream from South 

Raccoon River, and 30 miles upstream from mouth. Datum of gage is 841.16 ft above mean sea 

level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-3, 410 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Water-stage recorder graph except July 8-14 when graph based on once-daily 

readings of wire-weight gage was used. 

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used May 5, 6, May 30 to June 30, July 6-26. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 20,800 cfs 6 a.m. June 25 (gage height, 17.40 ft). 

---1-915 to April1954: Discharge, 46,800 cfs June 13, 1947 (gage height, 21.4 ft, in gage well, 

21. 6 ft, from outside floodmark). 

~.-Diurnal fluctuation at low flow caused by powerplant at Adel, 10 miles upstream. 

Mean discharge in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 869 1,850 3,210 11 829 1,430 802 21 438 3,520 411 

2 945 2,260 2,760 12 763 2,400 700 22 411 7,340 385 

3 1,200 3,740 2,360 13 675 4,330 614 23 385 8,130 374 4 1,420 4,240 2,080 14 644 4,960 555 24 379 13,600 359 

5 1,720 4,130 1,840 15 590 5,440 504 25 379 19,900 345 

6 1,720 3,620 1,610 16 573 7,420 487 26 379 15,800 326 

7 1,460 2,940 1,390 17 555 3,640 438 27 369 11,800 308 

8 1,200 2,320 1,200 18 538 2,880 421 28 1,200 8,960 295 

9 1,050 1,910 1,050 19 493 2,440 400 29 1,160 6,670 286 

10 945 1,650 903 20 460 2,000 395 30 2,040 4,360 281 

31 2 080 273 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second ••..•••••••••••..• 899 5,523 883 

Runoff, in acre-feet ••.•••.••....••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 55,280 328,600 54,270 

Runoff, in inches ••••••••.••.••••••.•...•••.•..•••.•••.•••••••.• 0.30 1.81 0.30 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge ~our ~rff:t Discharge Hour Gage.l . hei.Jtht heilirht heisrht DlScharge 

June 21 12 10.47_1 7,980 12 11 .15_1 20,100 June 27 

4 4.85 1,940 June 23 June 25 N 13.021 11,800 

8 5.42 2,460 6 10.561 8,100 6 17.<01 20,800 12 12.09 10,300 

N 6.10 3,110 N 10.53 8,070 N 17.19 20,200 June 28 

4 7.25 4,240 6 10.56 8,100 6 16.79 19,300 N 11.181 8,890 

8 8.22 5,310 12 10.89 8,550 12 16.26 18,200 12 10.35 7,760 

12 8.98 6,190 June 24 June 26 June 29 

June 22 4 11.36 9,220 6 15.70 16,900 N 9.511 6,720 

4 

9.5~1 6,850 8 12.20 10,600 N 15.15 15,800 12 8.48 5,490 

8 9.81 7,180 N 13;64 12,900 6 14.50 14,400 June 30 

N 10.03 7,440 4 15.17 15,800 12 14.00 13,500 N 7.321 4,180 

6 10.28 7,760 8 16.48 18,600 12 6.77 3,610 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 57 

(52) Des Moines River below Raccoon River, at Des Moines, Iowa 

~-Lat 41°341 53", long 93°36'4511 , in NWt sec. 10, T. 78 N., R. 24 W., in upstream end 

of first pier from left bank of Scott Street bridge in Des Moines, 5 ft upstream from Scott Street 

dam, 100 ft downstream from Raccoon River, 1 mile downstream from dam of Iowa Power and 

Light Co., and at mile 200.1. Datum of gage is 773.84 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929, 

and at city datum. 

Drainage area.-9, 770 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Water-stage recorder graph except for period June 1-7 and July 24-31, for 

which once-daily readings of wire-weight gage were used. 

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used June 1-7. 

~.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 67,300 cfs 10 p.m. June 24 (gage height, 20.08 ft). 

1940 to April 1954: Discharge, 77, 000 cfs June 26, 1947 (gage height, 20. 8 ft, in gage well, 

21. 6 ft, from outside floodmark). 

Flood of May 31, 1903, reached a stage of 20.9 ft, present site and datum, from flood profile 

by office of City engineer. Flood of June 26, 1947, is the maximum stage known. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 2,590 7,170 13,800 11 3,560 6,580 4,350 21 1,800 13,300 2,080 2 3,160 7,230 10,000 12 3,200 11,800 4,010 22 1,690 24,000 1,950 3 4,060 7,950 8,250 13 2,880 14,600 3,740 23 1,690 53,600 1,830 4 5,430 8,550 7,590 14 2,660 13,200 3,380 24 1,610 65,800 1,720 

5 6,310 8,610 6,930 15 2,520 10,700 3,080 25 1,520 63,900 1,580 6 6,480 8,070 6,480 16 2,360 14,700 2,730 26 1,770 56,400 1,520 7 5,870 7,530 5,920 17 2,230 9,510 2,560 27 1,890 43,800 1,450 8 5,160 6,640 5,480 18 2,140 7,230 2,360 28 2,760 31,300 1,400 9 4,550 5,760 5,000 19 2,020 6,200 2,200 29 4,750 23,100 1,320 10 4,010 4,850 4,600 20 1,920 6,540 2,080 30 5,100 18,000 1,230 

31 5 650 1 180 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •......••..••••••• 3,334 18,890 3,929 

Runoff, in thousand acre-feet ••••..••••••••.••••••••.••••.•••...• 205.0 1,124 241.6 

Runoff, in inches •.••••••.••••••..•.•...••..••.•••.••...•...••.. 0.39 2.16 0.46 

Gage height in feet . and discharge . in cubic feet per second at indicated time . 1954 

Hour Gage I Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge Gage I . height Discharge height height Hour height D1scharge 

June 20 N 10.90 21,600 6 20.02 66,800 12 14.941 37,400 

N 5.981 5,540 6 13.14 28,600 10 20.08 67,300 June 28 

6 6.14 6,420 12 15.45 40,000 12 19.94 66,300 N 13.60 I 30,700 12 6.98 11,300 June 23 June 25 12 12.55 26,400 

June 21 6 17.001 47,700 N 19.631 64,100 June 29 

6 7.401 13,100 N 18.25 55,200 12 19.22 61,200 N 11.381 22,900 

N 7.50 13,500 6 19.05 60,000 June 26 12 10.32 20,200 

6 7.54 13,600 12 19.47 63,000 N 18.561 57,100 June 30 

12 7.87 14,600 June 24 12 17.41 50,200 N 9.231 18,100 

June 22 6 19.751 65,000 June 27 12 8.20 15,600 

6 9.331 18,300 N 19.97 66,500 N 16.221 43,800 
58 FLOODS OF 1954 

(53) Des Moines River near Tracy, Iowa 

Location.-Lat41°16'55", long 92°51 130", inSE~sec. 19, T. 75N., R. 17W., nearrightbank 

on downstream side of Bellefountaine highway bridge, 1 mile east of Tracy, 3 miles upstream 

from Cedar Creek, and 6 miles downstream from English Creek. Datum of gage is 671.78 ft 

above mean sea level, adjustment of 1912. 

Drainage area.-12, 400 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Wire-weight gage read once daily. 

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 69,900 cfs 3 a.m. June 27 (gage height, 22.14 ft, observed). 

---1-920-27, 1933-35, 1940 to April 1954: Discharge, 155,000 cfs June 14, 1947 (gage height, 

26.5 ft). 

Mean \discharge in cubic feet 1 er second, 1954 

Day May June July 1 Day May June July Day May June July 

1 3,090 12,000 23,600 11 4,480 5,440 5,600 21 2,220 8, 710 2,880 

2 3,600 15,100 13,100 12 4,000 7,650 4,960 22 2,090 18,000 2,740 

3 7,320 10,900 12,900 13 3,680 15,800 4,640 23 1,910 20,200 2,670 

4 6,900 11,800 11,100 14 3,380 16,100 4,480 24 1,970 26,500 2,540 

5 6,140 10.700 9,820 15 3,090 19,600 4,320 25 2,030 35,900 2,340 

6 6,500 10,000 8,720 16 2,880 18,500 3,920 26 1,850 63,600 2,220 

7 6,500 9,380 8,100 17 2,670 22,400 3,680 27 1,790 69,000 2,150 

8 6,140 8,300 7,300 18 2,540 13,600 3,460 28 2,090 58,400 1,970 

9 5,280 6,900 6,700 19 2,480 9,380 3,160 29 2,740 47,100 1,910 

10 4,800 5,960 6,140 20 2,340 7,300 2,950 30 4,480 37,000 1,790 

31 5,120 1,670 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second ••....•••..•.•••.• 3,745 20,710 5,598 

Runoff, in thousand acre-feet •••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 230,3 1,232 344.2 Runoff, in inches •.•••••..••••.••••.••••••••••.•••••••••••..•••• 0,35 1,86 0.52 

(54) Des Moines River at Ottumwa, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 41°00', long 92°24 1, in NE~ sec. 25, T. 72 N., R. 14 W., on right bank 10ft down-

----stream from Vine Street bridge at Ottumwa, 5. 5 miles upstream from Village Creek, 10 miles 

downstream from South Avery Creek, and at mile 93. 9. Datum of gage is 622. 77 ft above mean 

sea level, datum of 1929, 

Drainage area.-13, 200 sq mi, approximately. 

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

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 61,400 cfs 10 p.m. June 28 (gage height, 16.89 ft). 

---1-917 to April1954: Discharge, 135,000 cfs June 7, 1947 (gage height, 20.2 ft). 

Flood of May 31, 1903, reached a discharge of about 100,000 cfs. 

Remarks.-Diurnal fluctuation at low flow caused by powerplant above station. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June 

1 3,080 6,660 36,600 11 4,430 5,430 5,800 21 2,340 6,450 

2 3,630 16,600 20,600 12 4,180 4,930 5,070 22 2,040 14,400 

3 5,270 11,700 14,100 13 3,450 11,200 4,790 23 2,250 18,100 

4 8,060 11,400 11,700 14 3,280 15,600 4,560 24 1,930 22,700 

5 6,060 10,800 10,300 15 3,110 14,700 4,300 25 2,040 26,900 

6 6,190 9,720 9,160 16 2,890 14,600 3,740 26 2,070 32,000 

7 6,320 9,160 8,330 17 2,840 21,700 3,520 27 1,820 46,100 

8 6,060 8,060 7,520 18 2,550 17,400 3,430 28 2,200 60,000 

9 5,430 6,980 6, 710 19 2,640 10,600 3,060 29 2,530 58,100 

10 4,800 6,060 6,190 20 2,240 7,790 2,840 30 2,450 48,000 

31 4,610 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •••..••••..••.•.•• 3,638 18,460 

Runoff, in thousand acre-feet •••••••••••••.• , •••••••••••••••••••• 223.7 1,098 

Runoff, in inches •••.•••..•...•••••••.••••.••..••••••••••••.•••• 0.32 1.56 

July 

2,830 

2,520 

2,630 

2,480 

2,320 

2,300 

1,960 

2,120 

1,910 

1,790 

1,620 

6,348 

390.3 

0.55 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 59 

(55) Des Moines River at Keosauqua, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 40°44', long 91°57', in sec. 36, T. 69 N .• R. 10 W., on right bank 10ft upstream 

-rrombridge on State Route 1 at Keosauqua, 4 miles downstream from Chequest Creek, and at 

mile 50. 6. Datum of gage is 558.10 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1912 (levels by Corps of 

Engineers). 

Drainage area.-13, 900 sq mi, approximately. 

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

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used June 27 to July 31. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 60,800 cfs 2 p.m. June 29 (gage height, 16.14 ft). 

---1-903-6, 1910 to April1954: Discharge, about 135,000 cfs June 1, 1903 (gage height, 27.85 ft, 

from floodmark). 

Flood of June 1, 1851, reached a stage of 24 ft. 

~.-Some diurnal fluctuation at medium and low stages caused by powerplant at Ottumwa. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet 1 er second 1954 

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

1 5,560 6,990 45,400 11 5,300 6,340 5,950 21 2,160 7,810 2,880 2 5,300 13,500 27,900 12 5,040 5,690 5,560 22 2,180 9,930 2,780 3 6,730 16,200 15,800 13 4,650 6,990 4,910 23 1,920 18,200 2,390 4 7,810 12,300 12,900 14 3,760 16,200 4,650 24 2,050 21,000 2,570 

5 7,810 12,300 11,000 15 3,500 16,200 4,390 25 1,760 25,800 2,300 6 6,600 11,000 9,520 16 3,380 14,800 4,260 26 1,890 30,300 2,170 7 6,730 10,400 8,650 17 3,380 19,900 3,630 27 1,910 39,900 2,020 

8 6,730 9,520 7,810 18 3,040 22,100 3,380 28 1,740 53,000 1,880 

9 6,730 8,370 7,120 19 2,610 13,900 3,140 29 2,090 60,300 1,900 10 6,080 7,120 6,340 20 2,480 9,810 3,020 30 2,530 57,100 1,760 

31 4,260 1,640 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •••••••••••••••••• 4,120 18,770 7,085 

Runoff, in thousand acre-feet ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.••• 253.3 1,117 435,6 

Runoff, in inches •••••••••••.•••••••••••••••••••••.••••••••••••• 0,34 1.51 0.59 
60 FLOODS OF 1954 

Vermillion River basin 

(56) Vermillion River near Wakonda, S. Dak. 

Location.-Lat 42°59'20", long 96°57 150", in swtNW! sec. 2, T. 94 N., R. 52 W., near center 

--ofSPin on downstream side of bridge on State Route 19, at miles downstream from Frog Creek, 

7! miles southeast of Wakonda, and 16t miles downstream from Turkey Ridge Creek. Altitude 

of gage is 1, 160 ft (by barometer). 

Drainage area.-1, 680 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Graph based on once- or twice-daily wire-weight gage readings at main channel. Graph based on twice-daily staff gage readings at overflow section except June 21, 24, 

26-28, June 30 to July 5 when no readings were made. 

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

broke at 8 a.m. June 19; discharge thereafter to July 5 is combined flow of bypass and main 

channel. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 3, 790 cfs 12m. June 21 (includes 1,850 cfs bypass flow from 

levee break); gage height, 16.56 ft 8 a.m. June 19. 

1945 to April 1954: Discharge, 3, 280 cfs Apr. 4, 1952 (includes 840 cfs bypass flow from 

levee break); gage height, 16.63 ft June 13, 1947, from graph based on gage readings. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 88 100 493 11 93 417 121 21 48 3,650 66 2 123 116 403 12 85 297 111 22 48 3,340 63 3 186 151 331 13 76 179 98 23 45 2,980 61 4 194 166 264 14 70 130 89 24 43 2,660 61 

5 177 165 237 15 64 104 81 25 43 2,290 59 6 158 164 228 16 61 93 78 26 44 1,890 56 7 138 138 209 17 57 89 74 27 47 1,540 52 8 122 122 190 18 56 665 73 28 49 1,200 56 9 110 123 158 19 55 2,410 72 29 73 888 57 10 99 230 139 20 51 2, 740 68 30 77 642 54 

31 112 58 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •..••.•••..••••..• 86.8 989 134 

Runoff, in acre-feet ...••••••...••..•••••.••••.••••••••••••...•• 5,340 58,870 8,250 

Runoff, in inches •.•••.•..••........•.•.••..••.••..•••.•••..•••. 0.06 0.66 0.09 

Gage height in feet , and discharge in cubic feet per second , at indicated time , 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge ~our h~~:t Discharge Hour Gagej . heillht heillht heillht D1scharge 

June 18 8 16.56 2,670 6 15.3~1 2,930 June 22 

4 5.49 136 N 16.24 2,540 12 15.44 3,290 N 15.50 I 3,330 

8 6.22 213 4 15.66 2,380 June 21 12 15.41 3,140 

N 8.97 516 8 15.50 2,450 6 15.73 3,650 June 23 4 11.92 887 12 15.42 2,430 9 15.85 3,770 N 15.30 I 2,970 8 13.71 1,310 June 20 N 15.83 3,790 12 15.21 2,830 

12 14.93 1,760 6 15.321 2,500 6 15.71 3,700 June 24 

June 19 N 15.29 2,650 12 15.64 3,570 N 15.051 2,660 

4 16.021 2,340 12 14.88 2,490 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 61 

Big Sioux River basin 

(62) Rock River near Rock Valley, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 43°11 155", long 96°20 110", in NEt sec. 25, T. 97 N., R. 47 W., on downstream 

side of bridge on U. S. Highway 18, 1. 8 miles west of Rock Valley and 17 miles upstream from 

mouth. Datum of gage is 1, 216. 00 ft above mean sea level (Iowa Highway Commission bench 

mark). 

Drainage area.-1, 630 sq mi, approximately. 

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

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 19,200 cfs 6 a.m. June 21 (gage height, 15.86 ft). 

---1-948 to April 1954: Discharge, 18,900 cfs June 8, 1953 (gage height, 15.99 ft). 

Flood of 1897 reached a stage of 17.0 ft (discharge not determined), from information by Iowa 

Highway Commission. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 320 233 453 11 228 139 203 21 147 16,600 118 2 396 216 409 12 216 127 186 22 141 8,290 118 3 462 223 394 13 203 120 173 23 137 3,560 118 4 445 233 350 14 194 115 157 24 133 1,910 113 5 409 230 330 15 182 110 146 25 129 1,310 107 6 368 223 300 16 174 107 138 26 127 1,190 102 7 323 199 275 17 169 103 132 27 143 990 96 8 292 176 252 18 161 412 130 28 189 780 100 9 265 157 231 19 157 5,500 124 29 187 636 103 10 246 157 213 20 153 13,200 120 30 314 517 153 31 295 252 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second ••••••••••••..••.. 236 1,925 197 Runoff, in acre-feet ..••••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 14,490 114,600 12,090 

Runoff, in inches •••••••..•••.••.••.•...•••.••.•••.•.•..••..•••. 0.17 1,32 0,14 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated· time, 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge ~our ~r::t Discharge Hour Gage Discharge hei~rht heie:ht hei~rht 

June 17 8 10.69 3,880 June 21 8 12.311 6,020 

N 4. 741 103 N 12.01 5,880 4 15.82 18,900 12 11.86 5,240 

12 4. 76 107 4 12.93 7,610 6 15.86 19,200 June 23 

June 18 8 13.49 8,850 8 15.78 18,700 6 11.091 4,100 

4 4. 77 108 12 13.49 8,850 N 15,51 17,400 N 10.51 3,420 

8 4.83 118 June 20 4 15.16 15,600 6 9.96 2,860 

N 5.03 157 4 13.66 9,380 8 14.79 13,800 12 9.51 2,440 

4 6.31 519 8 14.09 11,000 12 14.43 12,300 June 24 

8 7.28 945 N 14.75 13,600 June 22 6 9.12 2,110 

12 7.65 1,140 4 15.06· 15,100 4 

"·:1 

10,800 N 8.82 1,870 

June 19 8 15.34 16,500 8 13.61 9,230 6 8.56 1,670 

4 8.671 1,800 12 15.61 17,800 N 13.21 8,030 12 8.34 1,520 

4 12.75 6,900 
62 FLOODS OF 1954 

(63) Dry Creek at Hawarden, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°59'30", long 96°28 1 1011 , in NEt NEt sec. 2, T. 94 N., R. 48 W., on left bank 

---srrciOwnstream from bridge on State Route 10 at east edge of Hawarden and 1. 7 miles upstream 

from mouth. Datum of gage is 1, 170.42 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929 (Corps of Engineers bench mark). 

Drainage area.-48 sq mi, approximately. 

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

Discharge record. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 860 

cfs and by contracted-opening determination of peak flow at gage height 17. 57 ft. Shifting-control 

method used June 21-23. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 630 cfs 7 a.m. June 19 (gage height, 12.14 ft). 

---1-948 to April 1954: Discharge, 10, 900 cfs June 7, 1953 (gage height, 17. 57 ft). 

Flood of September 1926 reached a stage of 18.0 ft (discharge not determined), and flood of 

1934 reached a stage of 15.8 ft (discharge not determined), from information by Iowa Highway 

Commission. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 12 2.0 8.4 11 4.5 29 4.5 21 1,8 263 3.0 2 11 2.8 8.1 12 4,2 15 4.2 22 1,6 88 2.8 

3 11 6.8 8.4 13 3,6 12 3.6 23 1.4 41 2.8 

4 8,8 9.6 8.1 14 3.0 8.4 3.0 24 1,4 30 2.6 

5 7.8 6.4 7.4 15 2.8 5.8 3.0 25 1.4 19 2.4 

6 6.8 5.1 7.4 16 2.6 3.0 2.8 26 1.8 17 2.2 7 6.1 4.8 7.4 17 2.4 1.4 2.8 27 3.6 15 2.4 

8 5.8 3.3 6.4 18 2.6 36 3.0 28 3,3 13 3.0 

9 5.1 3.0 5.5 19 2.6 359 2.8 29 2.2 10 2.8 10 4.8 272 5.1 20 2.0 216 2.8 30 1.6 8,8 2.8 

31 2.4 3.3 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •••.•.•••••••••••. 4,26 50,2 4.35 

Runoff, in acre-feet ••••••••••.•..•••••••••••.•••••••••••••••••• 262 2,990 267 

Runoff, in inches •••••.••.••.•••.••.•••.•.•••..•.•.•••••••..•••. 0,10 1.17 0.10 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge ~our Gage Discharge Hour h~~::t Discharge Hour Gage Discharge hei2ht hetiht heistht 

June 18 6 10.72 415 June 20 8 8.62 247 4 5.27 1.1 7 12.14 630 4 9.64 290 N 8.38 253 

8 5.69 14 8 11.93 594 8 8.85 212 4 8.32 247 

N 7.09 90 10 11.45 516 N 7.84 134 8 8.19 224 

4 6.61 66 N 11.15 472 4 7.22 94 12 7.67 165 8 6.08 35 2 10.67 408 8 7.12 89 June 22 12 5.87 23 4 10.34 369 10 10.97 447 6 6,94 107 

June 19 6 10.19 351 12 10.88 435 N 6.51 78 2 7.8~1 132 8 10.15 346 June 21 6 6,30 62 

4 8.47 181 10 10.16 348 4 9.491 307 12 6.17 48 

12 10.02 332 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 63 

(64) Big Sioux River at Akron, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°49'40", long 96°33 150", in wt sec. 31, T. 93 N., R. 48 W., on left bank 300ft 

--aown5tream from highway bridge in Akron and 2-3/4 miles upstream from Union Creek, Datum 

of gage is 1, 118.90 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-8, 851 sq mi. 

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

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used May 1 to June 1, June 10-21, July 13-31. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 21,700 cfs 4 a.m. June 22 (gage height, 19.95 ft). 

1928 to April 1954: Discharge, 33,000 cfs Apr. 1, 1952 (gage height, 19.75 ft), from rating 

curve extended above 20,000 cfs on basis of velocity-area study. 

Mean discharge in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 941 1,140 1,490 11 1,120 1,640 833 21 73') 17,000 561 2 1,080 1,120 1,360 12 1,070 1,150 805 22 722 20,100 566 3 1,190 1,080 1,270 13 1,020 1,020 762 23 708 12,800 578 4 1,290 1,080 1,200 14 970 919 725 24 694 7,730 543 5 1,310 1,090 1,130 15 922 889 691 25 665 3,900 520 6 1,300 1,010 1,090 16 882 878 658 26 643 2,820 492 7 1,260 1,010 1,040 17 841 848 631 27 697 2,570 475 8 1,230 1,010 973 18 809 1,580 619 28 762 2,190 478 9 1,190 1,090 923 19 780 6,750 598 29 867 1,880 459 10 1,150 1,950 874 20 748 9,760 578 30 870 1,640 478 31 1,140 667 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •.•••.•••••••.•••• 955 3,655 776 

Runoff, in acre-feet •••.••••••.••.••••••••••••.••••••••••••.•••• 58,710 217,500 47,140 

Runoff, in inches •••..•••••••••••••••...••••••.•••..••.•.••••••• 0,12 0.46 0.10 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge Hour h~~:t Discharge Hour Gage Discharge heill_ht hetiht hei~rht 

June 18 8 15.761 7,890 June 22 8 16.57 8,550 4 5.13 823 12 15.91 8,120 2 19.83 21,000 N 16.10 7,860 6 5.25 867 June 20 4 19.95 21,700 4 15.43 7,070 8 6.12 1,190 4 16,05 8,330 8 19.87 21,200 8 14.54 6,180 10 5.98 1,140 8 16.25 8,720 N 19.83 21,000 12 13.42 5,240 N 6.65 1,390 N 16.48 9,170 4 19.66 20,000 June 25 4 7.49 1,780 4 16.86 10,000 8 19.42 18,500 4 12.42 4,530 8 8,47 2,320 8 17.46 11,400 12 19.12 17,000 8 11,68 4,050 12 10.28 3,400 10 17.92 12,800 June 23 N 11.18 3,730 

June 19 12 18.16 13,400 4 18.77 15,200 4 10.86 3,530 2 11.71 4,310 June 21 8 18.44 13,800 8 10.58 3,360 4 13.31 5,450 4 18.67 15,000 N 18.09 12,400 12 10.34 3,210 5 14.70 6,660 8 19.09 16,400 4 17.76 11,300 June 26 6 14,50 6,470 N 19.38 17,500 8 17.49 10,600 6 9,99 3,000 8 14.61 6,570 4 19.68 18,600 12 17.21 9,840 N 9.56 2,750 N 15.01 6,960 6 19.43 18,400 June 24 6 9,34 2,630 4 15.49 7,530 8 19.40 18,400 4 16.911 9,180 12 9,23 2,570 12 19.52 19,100 
64 FLOODS OF 1954 

Perry Creek basin 

(66) Perry Creek at 38th Street, Sioux City, Iowa 

Location.-Lat42°32', long 96°25', inSWisec. 9, T. 89N., R. 47W., onrightupstreamabut-

--meii'tof bridge on 38th Street in Sioux City, 3. 6 miles upstream from mouth. Datum of gage is 

1, 117.04 ft above mean sea level (city of Sioux City bench mark). 

Drainage area.-60 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Water-stage recorder graph except for period May 26-28, 31, June 2, 3, 7 

for which graph was drawn based on once-daily or more frequent wire-weight gage readings and 

portions of recorder graph. Once-daily wire-weight gage readings used May 1-19, 24, 25, 29, 

30, June 1, 4-6, 23-27. 

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 1, 700 

cfs and extended above on basis of indirect determinations made at 7, 800 cfs and 9, 600 cfs. 

Shifting-control method used May 26, 27, 31, June 1, 2, 19. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 4, 010 cfs 3:30a.m. June 19 (gage height, 13.75 ft). 

---1-945 to April1954: Discharge, 7, 780 cfs Sept. 10, 1949 (gage height, 21.80 ft), from rating 

curve extended above 1, 700 cfs on basis of slope-area determination of peak flow. 

Flood of July 7, 1944, reached a stage of about 25.5 ft, from floodmarks (discharge, 9, 600 

cfs, by contracted-opening method, by Corps of Engineers). 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet 1 er second, 1954 

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

1 11 13 13 11 9.8 9.6 7.8 21 7.4 106 6.5 

2 11 177 11 12 9.8 9.4 7.6 22 7.6 26 6.5 

3 11 49 10 13 9.6 9.1 7.0 23 7.4 14 6.5 

4 11 17 9.6 14 9.4 9.1 6.7 24 7.4 14 5.8 

5 10 15 9.6 15 9.1 9.4 6.5 25 8.0 13 5.3 

6 11 13 9.6 16 8.7 9.4 6.5 26 94 13 5.1 

7 11 12 9.8 17 8.7 8.9 6.8 27 325 12 5.1 

8 11 11 8.9 18 8.3 9.6 6.8 28 23 12 6,0 

9 10 10 8.3 19 8.1 982 6.8 29 14 12 7.0 

10 10 10 8.1 20 7.4 78 6.5 30 15 11 8.1 

31 200 8.9 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second .•..•.••••...••... 29.2 56.5 7.67 Runoff, in acre-feet .••..••.•....••••••••••••.•..••..•••••.••••• 1, 790 _3,360 471 Runoff, in inches •...••...••...•.••.•...••...•.••....•......••.. 0.56 1.05 0.15 

Gage height in feet and discharge in cubic feet per second at indicated time 1954 ' Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge Hour h~r:~t Discharge Hour Gage Discharge heillht ht!jg_ht heillht 

June 19 6 12.50 3,450 12 2. 7~_l 121 June 21 

1 1.70 11 7 9.25 2,200 June 20 1 3.18 239 

2 2.40 64 8 7.17 1,560 6 2.37 60 3 2.92 167 

3 6.65 1,420 10 5.82 1,180 N 2.19 38 6 2.81 141 

3:30 13.75 4,010 N 4,00 515 6 2.09 28 N 2.53 85 

4 13.65 3,960 4 3,39 302 10 3.07 207 6 2.41 66 

5 13.62 3,950 8 3.06 204 12 2.93 170 12 2.25 44 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 65 

Floyd River basin 

(67) Floyd River at James, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°34'4011 , long 96°18 140", in NWtNWt sec. 32, T. 90 N., R. 46 W., on right bank 

---roft'downstream from bridge on Plymouth County road J at James, 9. 5 miles upstream from 

mouth, and 14 miles downstream from West Floyd River. Datum of gage is 1, 102.59 ft above 

mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-918 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Water-stage recorder graph except for periods May 27, May 31 to June 17, 

June 19, 24, 25 for which graph was drawn based on once-daily or more frequent wire-weight 

gage readings and shape of recorder graph, July 25-27, 29, 30 when once-daily wire-weight gage 

readings were used. No gage-height record July 28. 

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used June 11-12, 19-25, July 5-31. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 6,250 cfs 2-6 a.m. June 22 (gage height, 19.88 ft). 

---1-934 to April1954: Discharge, 71,500 cfs June 8, 1953 (gage height, 25.3 ft, from floodmarks at downstream side of bridge), by contracted-opening and flow-over-embankment 

determination. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet 1 er second, 1954 

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

1 159 174 351 11 149 1, 770 194 21 89 5,590 134 2 204 256 326 12 144 978 184 22 84 6,040 129 

3 221 274 300 13 134 421 174 23 83 3,880 128 

4 239 237 285 14 126 274 164 24 81 1,580 122 

5 227 214 285 15 119 234 154 25 78 886 115 

6 210 183 264 16 113 209 149 26 77 710 108 

7 189 188 245 17 104 189 139 27 439 602 104 

8 179 160 233 18 100 186 144 28 292 501 104 

9 169 120 216 19 98 2,350 139 29 252 446 103 

10 159 184 204 20 93 4,910 134 30 189 388 107 

31 292 112 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second .•..•...•••...•... 164 1,138 179 

Runoff, in acre-feet .••...•.••.•..•••••..•••••...••... , •.••...•• 10,100 67,700 11,010 

Runoff, in inches •••..••......••.•..•.......••..••.••..••...•.•• 0.21 1.38 0.22 

Gage height in feet . and discharge . in cubic feet per second . at indicated time . 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge !Hour Gage Discharge jHour h~r;:t I Discharge Hour Gage Discharge height heil!'ht heil!'ht 

June 19 June 20 June 22 June 24 

2 8. 75 257 6 19.421 5,320 2 19.881 6,250 6 16.181 2,030 

4 16.73 2,310 N 19.24 4,950 6 19.88 6,250 N 14.16 1,340 

6 16.92 2,410 6 19.21 4,900 N 19.85 6,170 6 13.35 1,150 

8 16.98 2,450 12 19.38 5,250 6 19.75 5,920 12 12.83 1,030 

N 17.05 2;480 June 21 12 19.48 5,450 June 25 

4 17.18 2,550 6 19.41 5,300 June 23 6 12.45 942 

8 17.60 2,860 N 19.47 5,420 6 19.011 4,550 N 12.14 872 

12 18.45 3,670 6 19.72 5,920 N 18.53 3,770 6 11,91 826 

12 19.86 6,200 6 17.97 3,190 12 11.70 782 

12 17.26 2,610 
66 FLOODS OF 1954 

Omaha Creek basin 

(69) Omaha Creek at Homer, Nebr. 

Location.-Lat 42°20', long 96°29 1, in SEt sec. 11, T. 27 N., R. 8 E., on right pier on down-

----stre"am side of bridge on main street of Homer. Datum of gage is 1, 082.43 ft above mean sea 

level, datum of 1929 (preliminary). 

Drainage area.-170 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Water-stage recorder graph except June 5-9, June 27 to July 7. 

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 4, 000 

cfs and extended to peak stage by logarithmic plotting. Discharge for periods of no gage-height 

record computed on basis of two discharge measurements, weather records, and trend of flow. 

Shifting-control method used May 1 to July 31. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 10, 200 cfs 4:30 a.m. June 21 (gage height, 21.41 ft). 

---1-946 to April 1954: Discharge, 5, 950 cfs May 23, 1952 (gage height, 20.22 ft, at site half a 

mile downstream at datum 8. 03 ft lower). 

Flood of June 4, 1940, reached a stage of about 32.5 ft (discharge not determined). 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet 1 er second, 1954 

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

1 27 37 38 11 21 24 26 21 17 3,660 21 2 73 177 37 12 21 23 24 22 16 156 21 3 45 291 35 13 20 22 22 23 16 108 21 4 29 45 34 14 20 22 21 24 19 86 20 

5 24 30 33 15 19 22 20 25 16 64 19 6 23 27 32 16 18 24 20 26 16 527 19 7 22 26 31 17 17 22 19 27 46 285 18 8 22 26 29 18 18 32 19 28 22 80 70 9 21 26 28 19 20 350 19 29 17 50 27 10 21 27 27 20 18 1,440 19 30 16 42 24 31 196 29 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second .••.•••••..••••..• 28.9 258 26.5 

Runoff, in acre-feet .•..••..••..•..••••.••••••..••••.•••••.•.••• 1,780 15,370 1,630 

Runoff, in inches •••.•••..••....•••.....•••.••.••.••••.•••...•.. 0.20 1.70 0.18 

Gage heig h t, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at in d d icate time, 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge [Hour ~~::t Discharge Hour Gage Discharge heillht heil!ht heillht 

June 19 4 2.30 225 11 13.831 5,550 8 16.97 7,430 

2 1.61 64 8 2.26 214 12 13.72 5,480 9 15.24 6,390 

4 1.61 64 12 2.23 205 June 21 10 12.7 4,870 

5 2.50 285 June 20 1 13.76 5,510 11 9.51 3,160 

6 3.17 494 4 1.87 108 2 15.15 6,340 N 6.64 1,850 7 4.14 846 1 1.59 48 3 17.62 7,820 1 4.7 1,070 

8 4.58 1,020 5 1.51 37 4 21.02 9,910 2 3.3 540 

9 4.15 850 6 1.90 116 4:30 21.41 10,200 3 3.0 435 10 3.40 575 7 12.0 4,450 5 21.21 10,000 5 2.6 315 

11 3.69 676 8 17.63 7,830 6 19.97 9,230 7 2.4 255 

N 3.11 474 9 15.8 6,730 7 18.38 8,280 12 2.2 197 2 2.65 330 10 14.23 5,790 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 67 

Little Sioux River basin 

(70) Little Sioux River near Cherokee, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°49 1, long 95°30', in sec. 1, T. 92 N., R. 40 W., on downstream handrail of 

bridge, 5 miles north of Cherokee. Datum of gage is 1, 171.42 ft above mean sea level, datum 

of 1929. 

Drainage area.-1, 920 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Graph drawn on basis of frequent staff or wire-weight gage readings. 

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used July 15-31. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 16,000 cfs 4:30a.m. June 20 (gage height, 16.36 ft, from 

graph based on gage readings). 

1949 to April 1954: Discharge, 21, 400 cfs June 11, 1953 (gage height, 17.48 ft). 

Cooperation.-Records furnished by Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 334 615 3,620 11 497 2,210 1,040 21 209 10,800 444 

2 470 558 3,060 12 444 2,480 931 22 209 11,700 444 

3 668 624 2,540 13 393 1,640 861 23 209 12,300 444 

4 827 668 2,180 14 368 967 762 24 230 11,100 393 

5 895 638 1,900 15 344 775 699 25 209 9,080 368 

6 827 574 1,700 16 320 730 638 26 209 7,090 344 

7 699 538 1,600 17 297 662 580 27 252 5,960 320 

8 609 470 1,410 18 281 2,360 552 28 418 5,020 320 

9 580 1,100 1,260 19 252 6,210 497 29 320 4,510 320 

10 524 3,160 1,160 20 230 13,100 480 30 552 4,050 320 

31 762 344 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •.......•.••.....• 433 4,056 1,017 

Runoff, in acre-feet ..•.•.•.•••••.•••••••..••.••••••.•••••...••• 26,650 241,300 62,540 

Runoff, in inches •••..••..••..•....••...•••.••.••••.••.••..•••.. 0,32 2.91 0.76 

Gage height . in feet and discharge in cubic feet per second . at indicated time 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge Hour ~rff:tJ Discharge Gage I . heil(ht heillht Hour heillht DlScharge 

June 18 June 20 June 23 June 27 

4 5.50 967 4 16.33 15,900 6 15,281 12,300 N 12.90 I 6,100 

8 7.65 1,880 4:30 16.36 16,000 N 15.18 12,000 12 12.37 5,270 

N 9.15 2,610 8 15.95 14,500 6 15.36 12,600 June 28 

4 10.05 3,130 N 15.45 12,800 12 15.20 12,000 N 

~i:~~ I 5,040 8 10.32 3,310 4 15.15 11,900 June 24 12 4,740 

12 11.00 3,830 8 15.08 11,700 N 14.901 11,100 June 29 

June 19· 12 14.95 11,300 12 14.55 10,100 N 11.741 4,530 

4 11.64 4,420 June 21 June 25 12 11.47 4,250 

8 12.12 4,950 N 14.681 10,500 N 14.221 9,150 June 30 

N 12 .so 5,430 12 14.80 10,800 12 13.75 7,920 N 11.251 4,060 

4 12.94 6,170 June 22 June 26 12 10.99 3,820 

8 13.80 8,040 N 15.1~1 11,800 N 13.3~1 7,030 

12 15.40 12,700 12 15.33 12,500 12 13.06 6,390 
68 FLOODS OF 1954 

(71) Mill Creek near Cherokee, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°47', long 95°33', in SEtNEt sec. 15, T. 92 N., R. 40 W., on downstream hand-

--r:arrof bridge on U. S. Highway 59, 2 miles north of Cherokee. Datum of gage is 1, 179. 89 ft 

above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-292 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Graph drawn on basis of frequent wire-weight gage readings. No gage-height 

record July 11-17, discharge interpolated. 

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 9, 050 cfs 3:30p.m. June 19 (gage height, 13.00 ft, from 

graph based on gage readings). 

1949 to April1954: Discharge, 11,500 cfs June 8, 1953 (gage height, 14.30 ft). 

Flood of June 24, 1891, reached a stage of 31.0 ft, from floodmarks. 

Cooperation.-Records furnished by Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

Day May June July Day May June July Day May June 

1 60 270 98 11 40 384 46 21 29 1,360 

2 100 262 81 12 36 167 43 22 28 714 

3 136 255 66 13 34 130 36 23 32 664 

4 113 234 66 14 34 113 32 24 32 571 

5 93 209 63 15 33 96 31 25 34 482 

6 78 117 59 16 33 98 29 26 39 395 

7 72 85 56 17 33 130 24 27 147 196 

8 68 77 55 18 30 518 24 28 194 136 

9 57 72 52 19 31 5,150 30 29 203 136 

10 53 1,060 49 20 30 1,970 32 30 253 112 

31 604 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second ....•••••..••••.•• 89.0 539 

Runoff, in acre-feet .•..••.....••••••••.•..••.•••••...••.•...••• 5,470 32,060 

Runoff, in inches ••.•.••..••.•••.•.••...•••.••.•••.••...•...••.. 0.37 2.14 

Gage height . in feet . and discharge in cubic feet per second at indicated time . 1954 

July 

31 

28 

30 

26 

25 

24 

22 

22 

22 

22 

19 

40.1 

2,470 

0.16 

Hour Gage I ~~ Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge heillht Discharge our height heiiht hei~rht 

June 18 8 9.15 3,210 8 7.55 1,970 8 7.08 1,660 

6 3.601 295 N 11.85 6,940 N 6.75 1,480 10 7.50 1,930 

N 4.10 424 ~:30 13.00 9,050 4 6.18 1,190 N 7.28 1,790 

6 4.95 680 4 12.95 8,960 8 5.85 1,040 4 6.62 1,400 

12 6.10 1,150 8 11.82 6,890 12 5.80 1,010 8 6.10 1,150 

June 19 12 10.55 4,920 June 21 12 5.68 962 

4 7.401 1,870 June 20 4 5.971 1,090 

4 9.03( 3,190 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 69 

( 72) Little Sioux River at Correctionville, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°28', long 95°47', in Nt sec. 1, T. 88 N., R. 43 W., on right bank 10ft upstream from bridge on U. S. Highway 20, 0. 2 mile upstream from Bacon Creek, 0. 5 mile west 

of Correctionville, and 0. 8 mile downstream from Pierson Creek. Datum of gage is 1,096.49 ft 

above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-2,450 sq mi, approximately. 

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

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used at times. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 20,900 cfs 1:30 a.m. June 21 (gage height, 23.36 ft). 

---1-918-25, 1928-32, 1936 to April 1954: Discharge, 17,900 cfs Apr. 7, 1951 (gage height, 

22.58 ft). 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet 1 er second, 1954 

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

1 501 1,820 4,120 11 727 3,550 1,260 21 358 17,500 644 2 564 1,070 3,680 12 660 2,820 1,150 22 337 12,400 628 3 727 1,300 3,070 13 612 2,960 1,070 23 329 12,600 596 4 956 1,180 2,620 14 533 1,940 994 24 342 13,200 564 5 1,150 1,080 2,220 15 505 1,290 920 25 380 11,700 548 

6 1,180 1,000 1,990 16 486 1,070 866 26 350 9,430 516 7 1,110 913 1,810 17 442 1,000 830 27 442 7,590 486 

8 994 816 1,630 18 414 1,400 778 28 710 6,480 471 

9 902 734 1,500 19 400 9,210 727 29 620 5,570 471 10 795 1,370 1,380 20 383 12,800 677 30 583 4,720 471 

31 1 820 456 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second .•..•...•..••...•. 655 5,017 1,263 

Runoff, in acre-feet .•..•...•......•..•••..•••..••..•••......... 40,290 298,500 77,640 

Runoff, in inches •........•....•.••.•...•...••...•.•••.......... 0.31 2.28 0.59 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge ~our h~r;~t Discharge Hour Gage Discharge hei2ht hei2ht hei2ht 

June 18 June 19 June 20 6 22.97 19,100 

4 8.56 906 2 14.02 3,500 4 21.59 12,400 10 22.64 17,400 

8 8.59 916 4 18.50 7,000 8 21.43 12,200 N 22,82 17,800 

N 9.48 1,260 6 19.64 8,880 N 21.22 11,700 2 22.87 17,600 

4 9.88 1,430 8 20.42 10,400 4 21.18 11,800 6 22.57 16,000 

8 10.76 1,830 N 20.90 10,400 8 21.56 13,300 12 22.11 14,000 

10 12.17 2,510 4 20.84 9,960 12 23.06 19,600 June 22 

12 13.48 3,190 8 21.10 10,700 June 21 N 21.381 11,900 

12 21.47 11,800 ~:30 23.361 20,900 12 21.09 11,600 

2 23.32 20,700 
70 FLOODS OF 1954 

(73) Little Sioux River near Kennebec, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°05', long 96°00', on S~ sec. 18, T. 84 N., R. 44 W., on left bank 15ft downstream from bridge on county road A, l. 3 miles south of Kennebec, 5. 5 miles northeast of 

Onawa, and 6. 5 miles upstream from Maple River. Datum of gage is 1, 027.89 ft above mean 

sea level, datum of 1929 (Corps of Engineers benchmark). 

Drainage area.-2, 730 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Water-stage recorder graph except May 28-31 for which a graph was drawn 

based on once-daily or more frequent wire-weight gage readings. 

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used May 27, June 3, 19-29. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 13,500 cfs 12m. to 6 p.m. June 22; gage height, 26.63 ft 

~p.m. June 21. 

1 g39 to April 1954: Discharge, 12,000 cfs Apr. 11, 1951; gage height, 25. 03 ft Aug. 7, 1945. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 528 2,450 4,760 11 788 2,400 1,500 21 404 11,800 715 

2 620 1,520 4,220 12 737 3,420 1,380 22 380 13,100 680 

3 686 1,440 3,650 13 686 3,050 1,260 23 368 13,100 665 

4 839 1,470 3,180 14 836 2,930 1,140 24 368 13,000 635 

5 1,040 1,310 2,730 15 556 1, 770 1,030 25 368 12,600 605 

6 1,160 1,190 2,450 16 528 1,300 960 26 392 12,700 575 

7 1,200 1,060 2,180 17 500 1,130 890 27 1,050 11,400 530 

8 1,080 935 2,000 18 472 1,030 855 28 771 8,910 500 

9 964 822 1,820 19 444 4,750 802 29 754 6,740 485 

10 892 784 1,660 20 416 9,650 768 30 620 5,680 485 

31 790 500 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second .•.••...•..••••.•. 679 5,115 1,471 

Runoff, in acre-feet ••..•••......•.•..•••••••...•••..•.•.....•.• 41,730 304,300 90,470 

Runoff, in inches •.••..•..•...••.•..•.•.•...••.•••.•••••••.•••.• 0.29 2,09 0.62 

Gage height . . in feet and discharge in cubic feet per second . . at indicated time 1954 

Hour Gage I . ~< Gage heillht Dtscharge our heillht Discharge Hour h~fff:t Discharge Gage I . Hour heillht D1scharge 

June 18 8 19.701 6,630 10 25.44J 11,700 June 22 

6 8.881 957 12 21.66 7,850 12 25.28 11,700 N 26.161 13,500 

12 9.34 1,140 June 20 June 21 6 25.75 13,500 

June 19 4 23.10 8,500 6 24.98 11,600 10 25.08 12,800 

4 11.421 2,020 8 24.14 9,040 N 25.57 11,900 12 25.10 13,000 

8 15.80 4,390 N 24.62 9,420 6 26.61 11,900 June 23 

N 17.20 5,190 4 25.32 10,300 12 26.48 12,300 N 24.751 13,200 

4 18.25 5,780 8 24.72 10,600 12 24.12 13,000 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 71 

(74) Maple River at Mapleton, Iowa 

Location.-Lat42°09',long 95°48 1, inSEtsec. 23, T. 85N., R. 43W., incenterofriveron 

downstream side of pier of bridge on State Route 175, 80 ft downstream from Chicago and Northwestern Railway bridge, 0. 8 mile southwest of Mapleton, 12.5 miles northeast of Turin, and 

16 miles upstream from mouth. Datum of gage is 1, 085. 86 ft above mean sea level, datum of 

1929. Gage destroyed by flood of June 20, 1954. Wire-weight gage 1. 4 miles upstream at bridge 

on State Route 141 at datum 4. 05 ft higher used subsequent to June 20, 1954. 

Drainage area.-661 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Water-stage recorder graph to June 20, wire-weight gage reading thereafter. 

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 15,600 cfs 6 a.m. June 20 (gage height, 20.4 ft). 

---1-941 to April 1954: Discharge, 13, 400 cfs June 27, 1952; gage height, 22. 1 ft June 12, 1950. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 131 1,790 378 11 108 478 222 21 68 8,460 182 

2 223 766 378 12 102 365 214 22 66 4,420 180 

3 218 1,460 357 13 93 298 202 23 115 1,760 172 

4 205 829 342 14 86 250 194 24 295 965 172 

5 183 545 318 15 83 238 182 25- 195 725 166 

6 153 425 309 16 81 298 184 26 133 628 160 

7 141 356 291 17 74 245 184 27 1,640 568 164 

8 127 308 267 18 74 218 184 28 998 496 155 

9 119 275 248 19 74 5,710 180 29 492 468 147 

10 114 303 235 20 71 1~,400 177 30 250 465 160 

31 1,910 182 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •...•.••••.••.•.•. 278 1,550 222 Runoff, in acre-feet ..•...•.••.....•.•••••••••••••••••••.•...•.• 17,100 92,260 13,660 

Runoff, in inches •.•..•...•..•••....•...•••.•..••....•.••...••.. 0.49 2,62 0,39 

Gage height in feet and discharge in cubic feet per second at indicated time, 1954 ' , 

Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge height hetiht height heil!ht 

June 19 N 11.35 3,780 7 20.25 15,400 4 13.84 7,610 

1 5.70 353 2 11.60 4,000 8 20,05 15,100 8 13.24 6,890 

2 15.25 7,980 4 12.30 4,660 10 19.25 13,900 12 12.72 6,290 

3 17.40 11,100 6 13,70 6,130 N 18.50 12,800 June 22 

4 15.25 7,980 8 14.80 7,420 4 17.40 11,100 6 11.78, 5,280 

5 13.00 5,360 10 16.65 9,980 8 16.63 9,940 N 10,90 4,400 

6 11.85 4,220 12 18.00 12,000 12 16.46 9,690 6 10.00 3,500 

7 11.05 3,500 June 20 June 21 12 9.06 2,700 

8 11.10 3,550 2 18.751 13,100 4 15.821 10,200 June 23 

9 11.08 3,530 4 19.55 14,300 6 15.80 10,200 N 7. 761 1,590 

10 11.10 3,550 5 20.15 15,200 8 15.30 9,520 12 7,02 1,170 

6 20.40 15,600 N 14.44 8,370 
72 FLOODS OF 1954 

(75) Little Sioux River near Turin, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 41°58', long 95°58', on line between sees. 28 and 33, T. 83 N., R. 44 W .• near 

----center of span on upstream side of bridge on Brown's grade, 1 mile east of gaging station on 

Monona-Harrison ditch near Turin, 2. 4 miles downstream from equalizer ditch connecting Little 

Sioux River and Monona-Harrison ditch, 3. 5 miles downstream from Maple River, 3. 8 miles 

south of Turin, 6. 5 miles northeast of Blencoe, and 16. 5 miles upstream from mouth. Datum 

of gage is 1, 020.00 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929 (Corps of Engineers bench mark). 

Drainage area.-4, 460 sq mi, approximately (combined area above this station and abo~ station on 

Monona-Harrison ditch, 1 mile west). 

Gage-height record.-Wire-weight gage read once daily except May 2, June 8, 10, 15, 29, 30, 

July 3-19, 21-31 when there was no gage-height record; doubtful gage readings May 6-18, 20-23, 

June 5-13. 

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used May 19, 24-28, May 31 to June 4, June 14, 16-21. Discharge for June 22 to 

July 2 includes flow outside levees that does not influence channel gage heights. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 7, 920 cfs 12m. June 22; gage height, 25.5 ft about 1 a.m. 

---:Jiiiie 2 2. 

1939 to Apri11954: Discharge, 6,620 cfs Aug. 8, 1945; gage height observed, 26.0 ft Mar. 4, 

1949 (ice jam), from floodmark. 

Remarks.-Part or all of flow is diverted into Monona-Harrison ditch (see p. ) through an equalizer ditch at a point 2. 4 miles above station. 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 2.8 12 145 11 1.5 2.5 1.3 21 1.0 1,040 0.3 

2 4.0 9.4 71 12 1.5 2.0 1.0 22 1.0 5,220 .3 

3 7.6 5.5 40 13 1.4 2.0 .8 23 1.0 5,170 .3 

4 4.0 4.0 21 14 1.4 1,8 • 7 24 3.5 3,170 .3 

5 1.9 2.5 13 15 1.3 1.7 .6 25 1.6 1,970 .3 

6 1.8 2.0 8.0 16 1.3 1.6 .5 26 ,8 1,330 ,3 

7 1.7 2.0 5.6 17 1.2 1,4 .4 27 24 900 .3 

8 1.7 2.0 4.0 18 1.1 1.2 .4 28 5.5 570 ,3 

9 1.6 1.8 2,7 19 1.0 191 .3 29 1.2 345 .3 

10 1.6 4.0 2.0 20 1.0 865 .3 30 .8 210 1,0 

31 7.6 3.0 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •.......•..••..... 2.88 701 10,5 

Runoff, in acre-feet ........•...•......••.••••..•.••••••••....•. 177 41,730 645 Runoff, in inches lj ............................................. 0,33 1.98 0.47 

l/ Based on combined flow of Little Sioux River and Monona-Harrison ditch . 

Gage h h eig t, m feet, and d' lSC ha d . d' rge, in cubic feet per secon • at m 1cate d t im e, 1954 

Hour Gage j . [Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge Hour GageJ . heilZht D1scharge heilZht heilZht heilZht D1scharge 

June 19 N 20.56 970 4 20.81 1,070 12 22.831 6,440 

6 14.471 5.0 4 21.24 1,080 8 22.71 1,390 June 23 

N 15.51 99 8 20,37 939 12 25.16 1,790 N 21.691 5,110 

6 16.69 386 12 19.71 834 June 22 12 20.83 4,010 

12 17,91 546 June 21 1 25.50 I 1,840 June 24 

June 20 8 19.331 797 6 25.21 1,670 N 20.211 3,110 

6 19.211 754 N 19,45 835 N 24.36 7,920 12 19.85 2,460 

6 23.55 7,130 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 73 

(76) West Fork ditch at Holly Springs, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 42°16 1, long 96°05', on line between sees. 9 and 16, T. 86 N., R. 45 W., near 

-----center of span on upstream side of bridge on State Route 141 at west edge of Holly Springs, 12 

miles upstream from Wolf Creek, 16. 5 miles north of Onawa, and 22 miles southeast of Sioux 

City. Datum of gage is 1, 052.82 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929 (Corps of Engineers 

bench mark). 

Drainage area.-395 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Wire-weight gage read once daily and oftener at high stages. 

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

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 7,860 cfs 12 p.m. June 20 (gage height, 22.91 ft). 

---1-939 to April1954: Discharge, 6, 600 cfs Aug. 6, 1945 (gage height, 22.4 ft, from floodmarks). 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 79 391 197 11 69 949 102 21 38 5,910 67 2 103 231 174 12 68 422 92 22 36 2,790 63 

3 132 636 163 13 60 202 86 23 41 875 62 

4 125 510 160 14 58 152 79 24 46 406 62 

5 103 380 154 15 49 132 74 25 45 366 59 

6 88 334 143 16 51 124 72 26 54 276 56 7 84 142 126 17 44 112 72 27 124 236 54 8 79 125 118 18 42 107 69 28 106 226 54 

9 74 107 112 19 40 745 72 29 102 210 52 

10 72 212 107 20 37 5,440 66 30 93 204 58 

31 154 60 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second ••...•••••••.•••.. 74.1 765 93.1 Runoff, in acre-feet ••••.•..••....••••••••••••••••.••••••••••••• 4,550 45,520 5,720 

Runoff, in inches •••••••..•••.••.••.•..•••••••••••••••.••••.•••• 0.22 2.16 0.27 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1954 

Hour Gage.l ~our Gage Discharge !Hour GageJ Hour Gage I . hei~rht Discharge hetRht height Discharge heillht D1scharge 

June 19 N 20.04 5,940 6 18.18:1 4,850 6 12.621 2,160 6 5.541 159 6 22.16 7,330 12 16.70 4,050 12 11.02 1,540 

N 6.25 270 12 22.91 7,860 June 22 June 23 

6 10.76 1,440 June 21 6 15.461 3,430 N 8.481 741 

12 12.50 2,110 6 21.70 I 7,010 N 14.10 2,780 12 7.34 478 

June 20 N 19.85 5,830 6 15.601 3,500 

457709 0-58 -6 
74 FLOODS OF 1954 

(77) Monona-Harrison ditch near Turin, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 41°58', long 95°59 1, on line between sees. 29 and 32, T. 83 N., R. 44 W., on right 

~n downstream side of bridge on Brown's grade, 1 mile west of gaging station on Little Sioux 

River near Turin, 1. 5 miles downstream from equalizer ditch connecting Little Sioux River and 

Monona-Harrison ditch, 4 miles southwest of Turin, 5. 5 miles northeast of Blencoe, and 13 miles 

upstream from mouth. Datum of gage is 1, 020.00 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929 (Corps 

of Engineers benchmark). 

Drainage area.-4, 460 sq mi, approximately (combined area above this station and above station on 

Little Sioux River, 1 mile east). 

Gage-height record.-Water-stage recorder graph except May 17-18, 31, June 3 for which graphs 

were drawn from once-daily wire-weight gage readings. 

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method used June 13-18, June 25 to July 10. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 21,000 cfs 4:15p.m. June 20 (gage height, 23.40 ft). 

---1-939 to April1954: Discharge, 17,000 cfs Mar. 27, 1951; gage height, 25.6 ft Mar. 4, 1949 

(ice jam), from floodmarks. 

Remarks.-At times, part or all of flow of Little Sioux River (seep. ) is diverted into MononaHarrison ditch through an equalizer ditch which connects the two channels 1. 5 miles above station. 

Mean dischar2e, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 900 5,500 5,490 11 1,150 3,660 1,880 21 640 18,700 1,020 

2 1,280 3,220 4,680 12 1,080 4,660 1,700 22 600 18,900 980 

3 1,400 4,500 4,100 13 1,010 3,810 1,590 23 720 16,900 940 

4 1,450 3,830 3,630 14 942 3,610 1,440 24 860 15,400 900 

5 1,550 2,820 3,260 15 840 2,290 1,340 25 780 14,300 860 

6 1,670 2,410 2,880 16 800 1,750 1,240 26 700 13,800 820 

7 1,610 2,120 2,600 17 760 1,610 1,160 27 3,420 12,700 760 

8 1,500 1,850 2,420 18 720 1,520 1,100 28 2,390 11,100 722 

9 1,380 1,630 2,240 19 680 8,670 1,080 29 2,090 8,100 722 

10 1,280 1,490 2,060 20 660 18,900 1,040 30 1,320 6,560 740 

31 2, 710 780 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second •..•••••••.•....•• 1,255 7,210 1,812 

Runoff, in acre-feet ....••..•.•.•..•.•.••..••.•.••..•••••••..••• 77,140 429,000 111,400 

Runoff, in inches •••..•••.•..•••.•..•.•.•...••..••.•••••••••••.• - - -

Gage height . in feet and discharge in cubic feet per second at indicated time , 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge !Hour Gage Discharge Gage I . heiJZht heil!"ht heil!"ht Hour heil!"ht Dtscharge 

June 18 10 14.82 8,880 4:15 23.40 21,000 12 22.62.1 19,700 

6p 6.331 1,480 N 14.87 8,940 6 22.78 19,900 June 22 

10 6.29 1,460 2 15.04 9,150 10 22.04 18,800 6 22.521 19,500 

12 6.35 1,480 6 16.66 11,100 12 22.16 19,000 N 22.22 19,100 

June 19 12 19.84 15,400 June 21 6 21.81 18,400 

2 6.59 1,720 June 20 4 21.34 17,600 12 21.41 17,800 

4 9.75 3,900 6 21.8~ I 18,500 6 21.29 17,600 June 23 

6 13.05 6,900 N 22.74 19,900 N 21.88 18,500 N 20.87-, 16,900 

8 14.42 8,410 4 23.37 20,900 6 22.51 19,500 12 20.34 16,100 

10 22.64 19,700 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 75 

Soldier River basin 

(78) Soldier River at Pisgah, Iowa 

Location.-Lat 41°50 1, long 96°56 1, in NWt sec. 14, T. 81 N., R. 44 W., near center of span on 

~tream handrail of highway bridge at west edge of Pisgah, 2. 5 miles downstream from Stowe 

Creek, and 13 miles upstream from mouth. Datum of gage is 1, 036. 53 ft above mean sea level, 

datum of 1929. 

Drainage area.-417 sq mi, approximately. 

Gage-height record.-Wire-weight gage read twice daily. 

Discharge record.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. Shiftingcontrol method ·used May 1 to July 21. 

Maxima.-May-July 1954: Discharge, 15,200 cfs about 6 a.m. June 19 (gage height, 23.35 ft). 

---1-940 to April1954: Discharge, 22, 500 cfs June 12, 1950 (gage height, 28.17 ft). 

Mean discharge, in cubic feet er second, 1954 

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

1 88 610 90 11 64 123 67 21 47 2,910 67 2 670 317 592 12 61 95 66 22 47 331 66 3 211 694 108 13 58 92 66 23 289 197 64 

4 101 190 90 14 55 95 62 24 263 163 60 

5 81 133 84 15 53 95 60 25 77 136 58 

6 77 131 84 16 53 110 60 26 72 128 55 7 72 113 79 17 48 97 61 27 2,040 120 53 8 70 103 74 18 50 88 62 28 356 103 55 9 67 108 72 19 55 5,880 61 29 126 108 56 10 64 108 68 20 50 404 62 30 95 90 55 

31 562 110 

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second ••..•••••.•...•••. 194 462 86.0 

Runoff, in acre-feet •••.•......••..••••••••••••••••••••••••..•.• 11,940 27,510 5,290 

Runoff, in inches •••.••••.••••••.••.•.•.••..•..•••.••..••.•••... 0.54 1.24 0.24 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1954 

Hour Gage Discharge ~our Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge Hour Gage Discharge hei.ifht heiJtht heiJtht height 

June 19 N 15.30 6,870 N 7.11 331 4 17.73 9,130 

2 12.25 3,850 4 10.24 2,310 6 7.03 294 6 12.98 4,600 

4 18.60 10,000 8 8.60 1,220 10 7.07 312 8 10.18 2,260 

6 23.35 15,200 12 7.75 708 12 7.93 824 N 8.63 1,240 

8 21.83 13,400 June 20 June 21 6 7.89 798 

10 18.65 10,000 6 7.231 392 2 19.631 11,000 12 7.53 568 
76 FLOODS OF 1954 

SUMMARY OF FLOOD STAGES AND DISCHARGES 

The results of the determinations of peak flow at stream -gaging 

stations and at other miscellaneous points on streams in the area 

covered by this report are summarized and presented in table 5. 

The reference numbers in this table are applicable to plate 1, and 

will aid in identifying the place where the discharge was determined. 

The figures for peak discharge at gaging stations were obtained 

from defined stage-discharge relations, which were a part of the 

station record. At most of the miscellaneous points listed, creststage gages are maintained and peak discharges were obtained from 

defined stage-discharge relation. The peak discharges at a few 

miscellaneous points were obtained by special methods as noted 

under Measurement of Flood Discharges. These are indicated by 

headnote in the summary table. Gaging stations and miscellaneous 

sites can be identified in table 5. A period of record is shown for 

all regular gaging stations, whereas a leader indicates a miscellaneous point where no record of discharge has been systematically 

collected. 
Table 5.--SUJrunary of flood stages and discharges 

[Maximum discharges for the floods of June 1954 were obtained from records at gaging stations or at rated crest-stage stations or from current-meter measurements, except as otherwise indicated by the ments; B, flow-through-culvert measurement; c, slope-area measurement.] 

following symbols: A, contracted-opening measureMaximum flood previously known Maximum during October 1954 flood Drainage Period No. Stream and place of determination area of Gage Discharg_e Gage Dischar11:e 

sq mi record Date height Cfs Cfs per Date and hour height Cfs Cfs per (feet) sq mi (feet sq mi 

Crane Creek near Lourdes, Iowa------ 75.4 -------------- ------------------ 2,760 36.6 

Wapsipinicon River near Independence, 1,060 1933-54 June 14, 1947 18.74 21,500 20.3 May 3, 1:30 p.m--- 7.30 2,780 2.62 Iowa. 

West Fork Iowa River near Klemme, llO 1948-54 Apr. 7, 1951 11.84 1,420 12.9 June 21, 4 a.m---- 14.97 1,920 17.5 l'%j 

Iowa. June 26, 1951 12.38 ~ 

0 4 East Fork Iowa River above Hayfield, 2.14 -------------- June 18----------- 232 108 0 Iowa. 0 5 East Fork Iowa River near Hayfield, 8.35 June 18----------- 460 Ul -------------- 55.1 Iowa. 0 

East Fork Iowa River near Garner, 46.2 -------------- June 18----------- 1,150 24.9 l'%j 

Iowa. C-.! 

Unnamed Creek (tributary to East Fork q 5.64 -------------- June 18----------- 210 37.2 z Iowa River) near Garner, Iowa. tzj 

8 East Fork Iowa River near Klemme, 120 1948-54 June 26, 1951 10.80 3,440 28.7 June 19, a.m---- 11.2 5,960 49.7 1-1 

Iowa. June 1944 10 z 

1-1 

Iowa River near Rowan, Iowa---------- 396 1940-54 June 28, 1951 13.18 5,610 14.2 June 21, p.m---- 14.88 8,460 21.4 0 

10 Minerva Creek near Clemons, Iowa----- 153 -------------- June 10, p.m---- 9.3 5,700 37.3 ~ 

::t> 11 Iowa River at Marshalltown, Iowa----- 1,530 1915-27, June 4, 1918 17.74 42,000 27.5 June 16, 8:30 p.m- 16.02 ll,200 7.32 1933-54 

12 Timber Creek near Marshalltown, Iowa- 117 -------------- June 10, 2 p.m---- 13.47 2,270 19.4 

13 Iowa River near Belle Plaine, Iowa--- 2,420 1939-54 June 14, 1947 17.07 34,000 14.0 June 28, 3:30 a.m- 14.50 10,700 4.42 June 5, 1918 17.9 43,000 

14 Iowa River at Iowa City, Iowa-------- 3,230 1903-54 a June 7, 1918 b 19.45 36,000 ll.2 July 3, 4 a.m----- 8.31 7,690 2.38 

15 Cedar River at Janesville, Iowa------ 1,660 1905-6, Apr. 1, 1933 c 15.43 30,400 18.3 June 22, 12 p.m--- 12.08 18,400 11.1 1915-27, Mar. 17, 1945 16.2 34,300 

1932-42, 

1946-54 -J 

-J 
Table 5. --Summary of flood stages and discharges--Continued 

Maximum flood previously known 

Drainage Period No. Discharge Stream and place of determination area of Gage sq mi record Date height Cfs per (feet) Cfs sq mi 

16 Shell Rock River near Northwood, 380 1948-54 Apr. 7, 1951 d 11.38 ------ ------ Iowa. Apr. 10, 1951 9.55 2,430 6.39 

17 Lime Creek at Mason City, Iowa------ 535 1932-54 Mar. 30, 1933 15,70 9,400 17.6 

18 Shell Rock River at Shell Rock, Iowa 1, 770 1953-54 Aug. 4, 1953 8,79 4,720 2.67 1856 f 17.7 ------ ------ 19 West Fork Shell Rock River near 286 ------- ------------- ------ ------ ------ Dumont, Iowa. 

20 West Fork Shell Rock River at 860 1945-54 June 27, 1951 17.28 31,900 37.1 Finchford, Iowa. March 1929 14 ------ ------ 21 Beaver Creek at New Hartford, Iowa-- 350 1948-54 Mar. 29, 1951 11.7 11,600 33.1 

22 Blackhawk Creek at Hudson, Iowa----- 295 1952-54 Feb. 21, 1953 d 15.46 ------ ------ July 7, 1953 13.71 2,100 7.12 

23 Cedar River at Waterloo, Iowa------- 5,190 1941-54 Apr. 9, 1951 18,83 56,400 10,9 March 1929 20 ------ ------

24 Cedar River at Cedar Rapids, Iowa---· 6,640 1903-54 Mar. 19, 1929 20.1 72,000 10.8 June 1851 20 ------ ------ 25 Cedar River near Conesville, Iowa--- 7,840 1939-54 June 18, 1947 15.35 60,000 7.65 March 1929 16 ------ ------

26 Skunk River near Randall, Iowa------ 163 ------- ------------- ------ ------ ------

27 East Long Dick Creek near Ellsworth, 4.7 ------- ------------- ------ ------ ------ Iowa. 

28 Skunk River near Ames, Iowa--------- 322 1920-27' May 20, 1944 13.90 8,060 25.0 1933-54 

29 Skunk River below Squaw Creek near 565 1952-54 May 1, 1953 5.47 1,620 2.87 Ames, Iowa. May 19, 1944 13 ------ ------

30 Skunk River near Oskaloosa, Iowa---- 1,640 1948-54 Mar. 9, 1949 18.27 10,800 6.59 

Feb. 22, 1953 18.46 ------ ------ May 1944 25.8 ------ ------ June 15, 1947 21.26 20,000 ------

Maximurn during October 

Gage Date and hour height 

(feet) 

June 22, 9 a.m---- e 7,96 

June 21, 5 a.m---- 11.85 

June 22, 9:30a.m- 14.00 

June 19----------- -----

June 23, 1 a.m---- 14.9 

June 17, 2 p.m---- 8,55 

June 11, 4 p,m---- 13.58 

June 23, 3 p.m---- 18.40 

June 26, 8:30 a.m- 14.02 

June 28, 6 p.m---- 14.80 

June 10----------- ------ June 10----------- ------

June 10, 11 p.m--- 13.66 

June 11, 8 a.m---- 11.92 

June 24, 3 p.m---- 15.89 

1954 flood 

Discharge 

Cfs Cfs per sq mi 

1,360 3,58 

7,060 13.2 

21,300 12 .o 

19,500A 68.2 

14,200 16.5 

1,990 5.69 

2,040 6,92 

49,400 9,52 

41,400 6.23 

36,600 4.67 

13,600A 83.4 

501B 106 

8,630 26.8 

7,980 14.1 

5,420 3.30 

"%.1 

~ 

0 

0 

t1 

en 

0 

"%.1 
31 West Fork Dee Moines River at 1,408 1951-54 June 8, 1953 15.53 10,800 7.67 June 21, 4 p.m---- 5.66 1,360 0.97 

Estherville, Iowa. 

32 West Fork Des Moines River at 2,295 1940-54 June 23, 1947 12.2 11,000 4.79 June 22, 12 m----- 11.33 9,490 4.14 Humboldt, Iowa. 

33 East Fork Des Moines River near 466 1951-54 Mar. 31, 1952 11.42 1,680 3.61 June 21, a.m---- 12.67 3,870 8.30 

Burt, Iowa. 

34 East Fork Des Moines River near 1,230 1940-54 June 23, 1947 15.4 13,000 10.6 June 21, 3 p.m---- 16.95 18,800 15.3 Hardy, Iowa. Sept. 1938 17.4 

35 East Fork Des Moines River at 1,262 1954 ------------- June 21, p.m---- 24.02 17,400 13.8 Dakota City, Iowa. 

36 North Lizard Creek near Clare, Iowa- 257 1940-54 June 23, 1947 16.0 10,000 38.9 June 20, 4 a.m---- 13.21 6,210 24.2 

37 Des Moines River at Fort Dodge, Iowa 4,207 1905-6, Apr. 8, 1951 12.13 22,300 5.30 June 21, 11 a.m--- 19.28 35,400 8.41 ~ 

t-t 1913-27, June 23, 1947 19.7 34,000 

1949-54 0 

0 38 Unnamed Creek (tributary to Boone .05 ------------- June 19----------- 62.2 1,110 0 River} near Britt, Iowa. U) 

39 Unnamed Creek (tributary to Boone 1.68 ------------- June 19----------- 579B 345 0 

River} near Britt, Iowa. ~ 

40 Boone River near Hutchins, Iowa----- 14.8 ------------- June 19----------- l,lOOA 74.3 d 41 Boone River near Goldfield, Iowa---- 443 ------------- June 21----------- 16,600A 37.5 ~ 

Boone River near Webster City, Iowa- 842 1940-54 14, 1944 g June 22, 2 p.m---- 18.55 20,300 ttj 42 June 24.1 1-1 June 28, 1951 13.37 10,400 12.4 June 10, 1918 19.1 z 

1-1 

43 Des Moines River near Boone, Iowa--- 5,490 1920-27, June 24, 1947 19.85 37,100 6. 76 June 22, 4 p.m---- 25.35 57,400 10.5 0 

1933-54 =a 44 Des Moines River at Des Moines, Iowa 6,180 1915-27, June 7, 1918 16.5 June 24, a.m---- 30.16 60,200 9.74 > 

1932-54 June 26, 1947 26.5 39,500 6.39 

May 31, 1903 27.3 

45 Raccoon River near Jefferson, Iowa-- 1,630 1940-54 June 23, 1947 22.3 29,100 17.9 June 22, 11:30 p.m 19.52 1,300 13.1 

46 Hardin Creek at Farnhamville, Iowa-- 69.5 -------------- June 21----------- 1,530 22 .o 

47 Happy Run at Churdan, Iowa---------- 3.87 -------------- June 21----------- 128 33.1 

48 Hardin Creek near Farlin, Iowa------ 104 -------------- June 22----------- 1,780 17.1 

49 East Fork Hardin Creek near 22.7 1952-54 June 10, 1953 5.17 105 4.63 May 31, 12 p.m---- 5.94 156 6.87 

Churdan, Iowa. -.J 

co 
Table 5. --Surrunary of flood stages and discharges--Continued 00 

0 

Maximum flood previously known Maximum during October 1954 flood Drainage Period No. Stream and place of determination area of Gage Discharge Gage Discharge sq mi record Date height Cfs per Date and hour height Cfs per (feet) Cfs sq mi (feet) Cfs sq mi 

50 South Raccoon River at Redfield, 995 1940-54 June 12, 1947 24.3 23,800 23.9 June 21, 10 p.m--- 6.59 1,760 1.77 Iowa. 

51 Raccoon River at Van Meter, Iowa---- 3,410 1915-54 June 13, 1947 h 46,800 13.7 June 25, 6 a.m---- 17.40 20,800 6.10 

52 Des Moines River below Raccoon River 9, 770 1940-54 June 26, 1947 i 77,000 7. 88 June 24, 10 p.m--- 20.08 67,300 6.89 at Des Moines, Iowa. May 31, 1903 20.9 

53 Des Moines River near Tracy, Iowa--- 12,400 1920-27, June 14, 1947 26.5 155,000 12.5 June 27, 3 a.m---- e22 .14 69,900 5.64 1933-35, 

194Q-54 ~ 

135,000 10.2 June 16.89 61,400 4.65 54 Des Moines River at ~ Ottumwa, Iowa--- 13,200 1917-54 June 7, 1947 20.2 28, 10 p.m--- May 0 31, 1903 100,000 0 55 Des Moines River at Keosaugua, Iowa- 13,900 1903-6, June 1, 1903 27.85 135,000 9. 71 June 29, 2 p.m---- 16.14 60,800 4.37 0 1910-54 June 1, 1851 24 r.n 

56 Vermillion River near Wakonda, 1,680 1945-54 June 13, 1947 16.63 June 19, 8 a.m---- 16.56 0 s. Dak. Apr. 4, 1952 j 3,280 1.95 June 21, 12 m----- 15.83 k 3, 790 2.26 ~ 

57 Otter Creek near Sibley, Iowa------- 13.1 ------------- June 20----------- 57.3 ~ 751 co 

CJ'I 58 Unnamed Creek (tributary to Otter 1.53 ------------- June 19----------- 85 55.6 ~ Creek), Iowa. 

59 Otter Creek at Sibley, Iowa--------- 31.0 ------------- June 20----------- 3,860 125 

60 Unnamed Creek (tributary to Otter 7.07 ------------- June 20----------- 1, 710A 242 Creek), Iowa. 

61 Otter Creek near Ashton, Iowa------- 88.7 ------------- June 20----------- 7 ,osoc 79.2 

62 Rock River near Rock Valley, Iowa--- 1,630 1948-54 June 8, 1953 15.99 18,900 11.6 June 21, a.m---- 15.86 19,200 11.8 1897 17.0 

63 Dry Creek at Hawarden, Iowa--------- 48 1948-54 June 7' 1953 17.57 10,900 227 June 19, a.m---- 12.14 630 13.1 Sept. 1926 18.0 

64 Big Sioux River at Akron, Iowa------ 8,851 1928-54 Apr. 1, 1952 19.75 33,000 3.73 June 22, 4 a.m---- 19.95 21,700 2.45 

65 Perry Creek near Hinton, Iowa------- 30.6 ------------- June 19----------- 1,660C 54.2 
66 

67 

68 

69 

70 

71 

72 

73 

74 

75 

76 

77 

78 

Perry Creek at 38th Street, 60 1945-54 Sept. 10. 1949 21.80 Sioux City, Iowa. July 7, 1944 25.5 

Floyd River at James, Iowa---------- 918 1934-54 June 8, 1953 25.3 

South Omaha Creek at Walthill, Nebr- 55 ------- -------------- -----

Omaha Creek at Homer, Nebr---------- 170 1946-54 ~y 23, 1952 m20.22 June 4, 1940 32.5 

Little Sioux River near Cherokee, 1,920 1949-54 June 11, 1953 17.48 Iowa. 

Mill Creek near Cherokee, Iowa------ 292 1949-54 June 8, 1953 14.30 June 24, 1891 31.0 

Little Sioux River at Correction- 2,450 1918-25 Apr. 7, 1951 22.58 ville, Iowa, 1928-32 

1936-54 

Little Sioux River near Kennebec, 2,730 1939-54 Aug. 7, 1945 25.03 Iowa. Apr. 11, 1951 24.33 

Maple River at Mapleton, Iowa------- 661 1941-54 June 12, 1950 22.1 June 27, 1952 19.05 

Little Sioux River near Turin, Iowa- n 4,460 1939-54 Aug. 8, 1945 ----- Mar, 4, 1949 i 26.0 

West Fork ditch at Holly Springs, 395 1939-54 Iowa. Aug. 6, 1945 22.4 

Monona-Harris on ditch near Turin, n 4,460 1939-54 Mar. 4, 1949 d 25.6 Iowa. Mar. 27, 1951 -----

Soldier River at Pisgah, Iowa------- 417 1940-54 June 12, 1950 28.17 

a Floods of 1851 and 1881 exceeded flood of 1918, stage and discharge not known. b Site and datum then in use. c Site then in use. d Caused by ice jam. e Observed. f From floodmark furnished by Corps of Engineers at bridge 400 ft downstream. g Gage height, 13,7 ft in gage well, 13.9 ft from outside gage. h Gage height, 21.4 ft in gage well, 21.6 ft from outside floodmark. i Gage height, 20,8 ft in gage well, 21,6 ft from outside floodmark. j Includes 840 cfs by-pass flow from levee break. k Includes 1,850 cfs by-pass flow from levee break. m At site 0,5 mile downstream at datum 8,03 ft lower. n Combined drainage area of Little Sioux River and Monona-Harrison ditch. 

7,780 130 June 19, 3:30 a.m- 9,600 -----

71,500 77.9 June 22, 2 to 6 a.m 

----- ----- June 21------------

5,950 35.0 June 21, 4:30 a.m-

----- -----

21,400 11.1 June 20, 4:30 a.m11,500 39,4 June 19, 3:30 p,m- ------ -----

17,900 7.31 June 21, 1:30 a.m-

------ ----- June 21, 7:30p.m- 12,000 4,40 June 22, 12 m to 6 p.m. 

------ ----- June 20, 6 a.m---- 13,400 20.3 

6,620 ----- June 22, 1 a.m---- ------ ----- June 22, 12 m-----

6,600 16.7 June 20, 12 p.m---

------ ----- June 20, 4:15 p,m- 17,000 -----

22,500 54,0 June 19, about 6 a.m. 

13.75 4,010 

19.88 6,250 

24.87 14 ,OOOC 

21.41 10,200 

16.36 16,000 

13,00 9,050 

23,36 20,900 

26.63 ------ 26.61 13,500 

20.4 15,600 

25.5 ------ ----- 7,920 

22.91 7,860 

23.40 21,000 

23.35 15,200 

66.8 

6.81 

255 

60.0 

8,33 

31.0 

8,53 

-----

4.95 

23.6 

-----

-----

19.9 

-----

36.5 

co 

...... 
82 FLOODS OF 1954 

FREQUENCY OF PEAK DISCHARGES 

A flood frequency report for the State covers the entire area 

affected by the floods of June 1954 in Iowa (Schwob, 1953). That 

report contains peak discharge data and describes the method used 

to develop regional frequency relations. It was found that frequency 

characteristics differed among 8 regions, A to H. Figures 2a and 

2b of the flood-frequency report show the relation of peak discharge 

to drainage area for the 50-year recurrence interval in each of the 

8 regions. 

The frequency regions that are defined are shown in figure 15 

of this report. The flood of June 1954 extended over 6 of these 

regions, C to H. The unit peak discharges for the June flood have 

been plotted against drainage area in each appropriate region as 

shown in figures 16 to 21. Also plotted are the 50-year recurrence 

interval lines as defined in the flood frequency report. The line of 

the 10-year recurrence has also been added to give an approximate 

scale of vertical dimension. 

The principal use of these regional curves is to indicate whether 

the floods of June 1954 were greater or less than the 50-year flood 

and the relative magnitude thereof. Although the 50-year recurrence 

interval curve may be used with a fair degree of confidence, no 

attempt should be made to estimate the recurrence intervals of 

points which are plotted an appreciable distance from the curve. 

Region C contains 22 stations in the Wapsipinicon River basin, 

the Iowa River basin with the exception of the headwaters of the 

main stem. and the Skunk River basin. The greatest rate of runoff 

occurred in the Skunk River basin and tributaries to the upper Cedar 

River. The recurrence intervals of the floods on West Fork Shell 

Rock River near Dumont ( 19) and of the Skunk River near Randall 

(26) were greatly in excess of 50 years while those on East Long 

Dick Creek near Ellsworth (27), and Minerva Creek near Clemons 

(10) slightly exceeded 50 years. Five other stations had recurrence 

intervals between 10 and 50 years and the 13 remaining stations all 

had recurrence intervals of less than 10 years. The Wapsipinicon 

River near Independence was on the east edge of the flood area and 

the peak discharge was about 40 percent of its mean annual flood. 

The lower reaches of the Iowa. Skunk and Shell Rock Rivers produced peaks of similarly low-recurrence intervals. 

For 8 of the 17 stations in region Q the recurrence interval 

exceeded 50 years by a considerable amount. reflecting the high 

rate of runoff in the East Fork Des Moines River (34, 35). the headwaters of the Des Moines River (37). the Boone River (41). and the 

upper Iowa River (9). In the headwaters of the West and East Fork 
M N N E s 

WISCONSIN 

EXPLANATION 

··················· M s u 

Regional boundary 

R 

Figure 15. --Regional runoff areas in Iowa. 
84 

I 

I 

I 

i 

I I I 

I 

I 

! I 16• .30 

I i 

I 

I 

I j 

I I Ti •2 o14 II 

II 

i II I I 

+t r--

I 

I 

II 

I 

I, 

II 

10 100 1000 10,000 

DRAINAGE AREA, IN SQUARE MILES 

Figure 16. --Relation of unit discharge to size of drainage area 

for region C. 

+ f----+--t----1· -t- +--------- -- --- -r--·--- --

!--+ r- f_ r- - IT-- I r----tI I 

I 

i 

i I I I 

DRAINAGE AREA, IN SQUARE MILES 

Figure 17. --Relation of unit discharge to size pf drainage area 

for region D. 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 85 

500 

..... ..... .., I', '-, ..... .so ! 

I .sa ....... ..... ..... ....... ..... , I 

I 

..... , . ..... ....... , '..,, 59 ....... I ....... ..... I ~- ·+--- ·- ·-r-- c--

61 ..... 

. 5~;-:: 65 r--~- --- ·sgc--· -~ 

--- - 1-· 1--

---;58 ....... ~"j.., .$, ,_ ,a-;, , ---r-- i 

~-w--r.--- -- -{7s- tt-~-~-- -rr. I I ..... I '~(t/"r, 71 : I t I r i ''o ~ I -""Z'<.·, "'--' --, " ! I 1 

! :Yeilrr.' 1-~~l),il/ i76 [• 1

1 

i 

--!tntf·,~::~-r-~~~1'- I ! 

: 463'. I .I e,~~~ 11--r--Jll 6i I 

' ' I I I il/i..... • ' I+- 1 i'-. , 

1---1---- -70F-72 

--1---f--t-+ -c+fi --t- ......___ ..... 

i 

3 1'--. ~t -1--!- ....... .., i"r-.. I 

i i - r-~t+ ~ j lLI ! 11 s~ i 1ft 

n ! I 

I I I I 

l I I I 

I 1 : J [I I I !, i : I I 'l I 1 L 

10 100 1000 10,000 

DRAINAGE AREA, IN SQUARE MILES 

Figure 18. --Relation of unit discharge to size of drainage area 

for region E. 

~ 100 

i 

w 

a::: 

< 

:::l 

g 

a::: 

w 

a.. 

Cl 

z 

0 

~ ct: 

w 

a.. 

4~ 

I 

f_ I 

I I 1---- I I 

I 'i 

I I I 

I 

I 

r-- _ ___b. ! i 

':b....... .... 'd 

I I Iii'',~~ I I I I 

I''!' '\. lM·42 I' I I '461 lo'-... J llrre~l, I! _ l , ~ I . ,------t-"Yei1 "- . t't,f. 

I I!· [ (eiJce·"- I· 45 I I 

~ 10 

I I ! II .48 ! rc(t;~JJI;~ 

: I ' _['llter,ilf ......., 4344 

-- 1-- r-- ,. --. ..... 49 ....., u 

iii 

:::l 

u 

~ 

...; 

(!) 

0::: 

< 

:r 

&l 

0 

"' 

~ 

--·- I ..... 

1 I ·.., 

- I '· I ---::- I 

l 

1 I 

10 100 1000 10,000 

DRAINAGE AREA, IN SQUARE MILES 

Figure 19. --Relation of unit discharge to size of drainage area 

for region F. 
86 FLOODS OF 1954 

400 

LLI 

_J 

:E 

LLI 

0::: 

c( 

::J 100 0' 

(/) 

0::: 

LLI 

0.. ...... 

........... 

0 

z 

0 

(.) 

LLI 

(/) 

0::: 

LLI 

0.. 

1-

LLI 

LLI 

LL. 

(.) 

iii 

::J 10 (.) 

~ 

'i, '1"...... ......... ~ ...... I", 

r'{ 

~ 

.,. · ........ Eb '1). . 

:~')..; 'I 

i"e _...... ~q;-- '· ..... 

52 

LLi 51 ' (!) 

0::: 'I, c( 

J: l'·r-. 

~ 

0 

::.::: 

~ 0.. so 

100 1000 10,000 

DRAINAGE AREA, IN SQUARE MILES 

Figure 20. --Relation of unit discharge to size of drainage area 

for region G. 

300 

I r--

I 

I 

I 

I I 

--

...... -+ 

I ...... ~["' t17--- I r-zs~ I! ~---:-+ I 

t>t-11,.,+--

I ! I tlfi~ll#' rl I l'o;;~ '~t~,~ ' : 

I !II I I , 'ilr,...., I 

I J I t't-t,.,...... f".' I ' I "~"e"ce ':-.i. - l=-''~te 

I - - 1~' I ·~ 

i sj"-

i I] 1 l 54•·s5' 

II I I, ! ll I i II I 

I 

I I 

! 1

1 

i I 

I I I I i 'II 

I 

I! I ! I I: il I I I I :I . il I 

I I 

I 1 'I 

1 ! I 

100 1000 10,000 100,000 

DRAINAGE AREA, IN SQUARE MILES 

Figure 21. --Relation of unit discharge to size of drainage area 

for region H. 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 87 

Iowa River, the peak discharges at 8 stations were well below the 

50-year recurrence interval, and 5 of them were below the 10-year 

recurrence interval. 

The extreme northwestern part of region E produced peak discharges mostly below the 50-year recurrenceinterval but the discharges became progressively greater toward the south. On South 

Omaha Creek at Walthill, Nebr. (68) the peak discharge was 255 

cfs per square mile from 55 square miles, whereas the discharge 

for the 50-year recurrence interval in this Iowa area is about 51 

cfs per square mile. 

In region F the peak discharges of about half of the stations: 

Boone River near Webster City (42), Des Moines River near Boone 

(43) and at Des Moines (44), and Raccoon River near Jefferson (45), 

somewhat exceeded the 50-year flood while those at the other half 

(tributaries to the Raccoon River) were small. 

The 3 stations in region G were at the south edge of the flood 

area, and only the Des Moines River below Raccoon River at Des 

Moines (52) equaled the 50-year flood while the other 2 stations 

which are in the Raccoon River basin had very low peak discharges. 

The peak discharge at Van Meter was about 50 percent greater than 

its mean annual flood and that at Redfield was only about one-fourth 

of its mean annual flood. 

The discharges of all four stations in region H were about equal 

to or less than the 10-year recurrence interval.-

FLOOD-CREST STAGES 

Records of flood-crest elevations were obtained by the Corps of 

Engineers and the Geological Survey along major streams in the 

area flooded during June 1954. These flood-crest elevations are 

the highest known over much of the area covered by this report 

and, therefore, will serve as a useful guide for the design of structures to be built on or adjacent to the flood plains. ... 

Table 6 contains data on flood-crest stages along the West Fork 

Des Moines River. Table 7 contains similar data for the Little 

Sioux River above Correctionville. Figures 22 to 26 are profiles 

of flood-crest elevations along the Des Moines Rivr-r from the confluence of the East and West Forks downstream to Ottumwa, and 

figures 27 to 29 are profiles along the Iowa River from above the 

confluence of the East and West Forks downstream to Tama. These 

profiles show the comparison between the elevations of the June 

1954 and those of previous record floods with distance above river 

mouth and cultural features noted in order that the locations can be 
88 FLOODS OF 1954 

identified. The profiles were furnished by the Corps of Engineers 

and the original field notes are on file in their district office in 

Rock Island, Ill. Original notes for the flood-crest elevations shown 

in tables 6 and 7 are on file in the district office of the Geological 

Survey. Iowa City, Iowa. 

Flood crest elevations may be determined at Geological Survey 

gaging stations when the gage datums are known, by adding the maximum gage height during the flood to the datum of the gage above 

mean sea level. 

Table 6.--Flood-crest stages, West Fork Des Moines River, flood of June 1954 

Location 

Left upstream wingwall of bridge ii.J 13ec; 27, '1'. 97 N., R. 33 W .••••.•. 

Left upstream wingwall of main channel bridge on Highway 18 at 

line between sees. 14 and 23, T. 96 N., R. 33 W ..••.•.•.•..••••.••• Left ups.trearn side of approach span of bridge in sec. 35, T. 96 

N., R. 33 W ••••••••.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

Right upstream pier of bridge on State Highway 17, east line sec. 

12, T. 95 N., R. 33 W •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ,. Right downstream wingwall of bridge in sec. 21, T. 95 N., R. 31 W ••.•. Right upstream pier of bridge in sec. 29, T. 95 N. , R. 31 W .•.•.••..•. Left downstream wingwa1l of bridge at line between sees. 5 and 8, 

T. 94 N. , R. 31 W •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

Left abutment of bridge in sec. 17, T. 94 N., R. 31 W ••.•••.•••.•.•... Left upstream abutment of bridge at line between sees. 20 and 29, 

T. 94 N. , R. 31 W •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

Right downstream abutment of bridge at line between sees. 1 and 2, 

T. · 93 N., R. 31 W .•.•..•••...••. • •.•••..•• · •.••••••• , •••.••• ; •.•••• , .. Right downstream abutrnel)t of bridge in sec. 1, T. 93 N., R. 31 W .••••• Left downstream wingwal1 of C.B. & Q. Ry. bridge in sec. 6, T. 

92 N., R. 30 W ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Right downstream wingwall of bridge on State Highway 287, at line 

between sees. 8 and 17, T. 92 N., R. 30 W •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

Left downstream wingwall of bridge in sec. 23, T. ·92 N., R. 30 W •....• 

Left upstream end of Rutland darn in sec. 29, T. 92 N., R. 29 W .••••••• 

Left bank below Rutland darn in sec. 29, T. 92 N., R. 29 W •• , .••••.•••• 

Left abutment of bridge in sec. 29, T. 92 N., R. 29 W •••••.•••.••••••• 

Left downstream wingwall of bridge in sec. 34, T. 92 N. , R. 29 W •..••• Right upstream pier of bridge on State Highway 3 at line between 

sec. 34, T. 92 N., R. 29 w., and sec. 3, T. 91 N., R. 29 w ••••••••• At Humboldt powerp1ant intake in sec. 2, T. 91 N., R. 29 w •••••••••••• Left wingwall below Humboldt powerplant darn, in sec. 2, T. 91 N., 

R. 29 W •••••..•••.••••...•.•.•••••••••..•••..••••..•.••••••.••.•••• 

Miles Altitude 

above in feet 

mouth (datum of 1929). 

385.8 1,214 . .0:3 

380.3 1,204.40 

377.2 1,196.07 

374.7 1,190. 77 

371.2 1,180.52 366.1 1,163.80 

364.0 1,158.12 

362.5 1,153.21 

361.0 1,148.43 

357.3 1,138.07 

355.1 1,128.62 

346.6 1,120.04 

344.9 1,116.02 

340.5 1,106.72 

336.7 1,098.5 

336.7 1,092.2 

336.5 1,090.03 

333.5 1,082.42 

332.9 1,081.89 331.5 1,078.00 

331.5 1,070.32 

Table 7. --Flood-crest stages, Little Sioux River, flood of June 1954 

Altitude 

Location in feet (datum of 1929) 

20ft upstre~ from bridge on Highway 18, in swt sec. 27, T. 97 N., R. 37 w., 3.8 mi. northwest of Spencer, Clay County.................................. 1,322. 77 

Upstream side bridge on Highway 18, in swt sec. 15, T. 96 N., R. 36 W., 3. 2 rni southeast of Spencer, Clay County. . . . . . . . • • • . • . . • • . . • . . • • . . . . • . . • . • . . . . . 1, 301.32 

Downstream side bridge on Highway 18, in swt sec. 15, T. 96 N., R. 36 W., 

3. 2 rni southeast of Spencer, Clay County. . . . . . • . . . . • • • . . . . • • • • • • . • . • • • . . . . . 1, 300. 97 

Bridge on county road A, NEt sec. 25, T. 95 N., R. 36 W., west of Gillette Grove, Clay County.:-....................................................... 1,278.87 

Downstream end of right abutment of bridge on state Highway 10, NEt sec. 27, 

T. 94 N., R •. 39 W., 4.5 rni southeast of Sutherland, O'brien County......... 1,214.95 

Illinois Central Railroad bridge, swt sec. 34, T. 92 N., R. 40 W., in Cherokee, Cherokee County. . . . • • . . • . • . . • • . • • . • • • . • • • • . . • • . • . • • . . . . • . • . • • • . . . 1,169. 48 

Upstream side of roadf111 at left end of bridge on county road !':!• on west line of sec. 1, T. 90 N., R. 41 W., 0. 4 rni north of Quimby, Cherokee 

County .•.•.••••.••••••...••.•.••..•. ,....................................... 1,150.84 

Downstream side of roadfill at left end of bridge on county road !':!· on west line of sec. 1, T. 90 N., R. 41 W., 0.4 rni north of Quimby, Cherokee 

county.. • • • • . . • • • • . • • • • • • • • . • • . • • . • • • • • • • • • • . . • . • . • • . • • . • • • . • • . • • • • • • • • • • . • 1,150. 65 

Upstream side roadfi1l at right end of bridge on county road _!o, on south line of sec. 30, T. 90 N., R. 41 W., 0.5 rni west of Washta, Cherokee 

county..................................................................... 1,136.41 Upstream side bridge on Highway 20 at USGS gage,· in N~ sec. 1, T. 88 N., 

R. 43 W., 0.5 rni west of Correctionville, Woodbury County.................. 1,ll9.84 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 89 

670 

660 

640 

630 

620 

610 

600 

80 81 82 84 86 88 89 94 95 96 98 99 100 700 

690 I . I 

~~t_~J_~_t~~--~1J~w~4~~~~~~:1:J~=-~-t~~-~~-~-~+--~---~l ~~----~---~ JYfiE_,19,?<\_ -- -- - I I 

660 1:o ~:~f--1- -f.---- __ - ·-- t--- I i i r~ -~--------- __ :,._ ----r----1 ~ 650 I ;f--+---t------+--+---+--+-_-__ -_+--__ -_-_+-_-_-__ -+-J-.iQ.~~"f~}~li- - I 

~ 640 ~~-~-~~C=~===±~=r---~==T--+--~~---t--+-~-~H--+--+---+--+--+--,-t------t 

~ a:i 

~ 630100~ul·~10_1_1~02 _ _L_~1M-~1~--1L~--10L7-~-~-1L10-~-~~L-~-~--1L16--11L7_~_1L19-~1W 

720,--,--,--,--.-,--,--,--,--,--,-.--,--,--,--,--,--,-,--,--, 

t 700 t------t---+---+---+--+--t--f-----t-----..JU"'N,!-E '194;'"'-Ht--:- f--- t---

-f.---~ _J.)J.!l~~~ ~- 690 -~~--=- j---+-+----+--+--+----+--+---f-----="'----1 

680 F-==" - -- -:9!" -+-±---4=-+--+--t----+--+--t------1 1-9~L ~~1'1,!\- f -- ---- 67o f-----t---+---+---+--+--==i=--1="'---t--+---+--j !-·+--1--+--+--+-+-+--+--~1---1 

860f-----t----+--------+--~-+--t--f-----t--+--Hl-+--+--+--+--+-~t------t--+--+-~ ~ 

DISTANCE,IN RIVER MILES 

Figure 22. --Profiles of flood-crest elevations on the Des Moines 

River from 80 to 140 miles upstream from the mouth. 

4577090-58-7 
90 FLOODS OF 1954 

700r-~--~--~--.---.---,--.--~--~------,-------,--,---,---,--.---.---,---, 

f-------+----+----t------+-----+---+---+1--+---+---+-tl I --+I' -+--+-----+-----t---~-t~ 730 f---+-+-----+--+---+---+--+--f----+---+ 1_--+-- ~-f--:::;;;1..-+-"f..--=---=:o·t---·~- cr-:-- -~---~- --~-

720 1------t----+----+-~--------jf-----_+~---=_"-.._-_-_-i""_ =_-- ~=::~ ~- jijti<-(;4 t--~ ill ---r--- t.::;:....::~ 

710 ~\:;;:': ----- - r---r----- #- _L ;"'--+--='--r---r--~-t----t--+---l 1--- LOW WP.~i!..+--- -- ~ 

700 __ , i ~l---t----1---t-----t-----t------t---~i 

600~~~------~-~--+----_--+-r--·-_-,__+--~~--+-~f--~__,~----+~:~~+--l------t--+--+----t-~ 

~ i 6WL-~--~--L---L--~--L-~L_~---L--~-~--~--~~~~--~-~-~~=-~ 

140 142 147 150 152 154 158 

~ 780 

770I-----11----+---+---+---,_-+---~~--+--+-1----t----+---t---t---+----t------t----r---

~;:.::.=pf"r- ~ 

78ot---t---+---+---1---+---t-----1---+---+----t--~-t----~~~~~~--~~-T~~---t--r-~---t-t--t----~ ~;::;.::.-~-

770 t-----t---+----+-----t---+-=:=.=::-:-::-;;l;o;.-......,.-::..-;...C::::-i""'-;::;-,-~-+-JU~'~•"'t'::__--t----1---+---+---t-1---H----t---r-t-t:=-l 

F"- - J -!) 

76o t--+---+---+---1---+---+-----1---+---f-.~,_~_w,.1~-+-r=-t----1r-" -- g:,--+---t----i----t------1 

- ~ fg 

1------t----+---+----:i=--="=F--+-------If-'-·-_-_-+---+---t-----t---+----+----+-~ -! ~ -~ l r-r---

____ --- ~1"-~ ~-~ ~i-+---

740 t--+---+---+---1---+---+-----1r----+---+---r--,_--+---~---1i-=5' - ~ ~-r---- ~r-r---

7~L-~--~---L---L--~ __ l_ __ L_~---L---L--~--~--L---~~-=~--~--~~~~ ~ i ~ ~ 180 183 184 185 186 187 190 191 192 194 196 

Figure 23. --Profiles of flood-crest elevations on the Des Moines 

River from 140 to 200 miles upstream from the mouth. 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 91 

0 

~ ~~~~-4---+--~--~--4---+---+-~~-4---+--~--~--4--++-~+-~~~r-----~-~-~ 

~ - ! 54 -f-..:..::..!----'- ~ ~r-~r--4---+--~--~--~--+---+1~--~ ~ J:N~llr~---~--~v--~-9~--~--~--4-~ - -g -.- JUNE 1947 

--~- ~ 

------ r--~--+---+--~~~----~-----/-t~~~& J & 

;:.:::: _,..., ~ -·'g ~-- t---=-=lf=-·.:j~~= ~oH"=---t-----t--&- 0: 1--1~-4--1-+-'l'l-.cl'iE.~--....,_±-----i""" ~ 0:-++--f-----4---+----1 

H----+---+_--=--~ =::==:. ~ .::_ -=:..;=11-.);+0'l'l_--_-~--~---t-i i ~l!ll~ -+---+---4----t------1 

H----1---+--!- ~---- -r-~ i ~ ~1-+--~--+---t--~ §- ::E m ~& 8 . cj <3 j ~~ 

224 225 226 227 230 231 233 234 239 240 

l---+---l---+-~1---+--~--+--4---l---+---1---+--4+--~~:~-- -----~ .----f-- ----- ~r---~~~-+---+--~---+----1--=~ ~u~!9p_-_-+-~----~--~R~--~~---+---+r-~--~~H+~ ----- - J~- ~---- -- ---------~----"' I . 8~~-----~-----~-~-~---·~~----t-=-~~+--4~-4f---+---+---I----H--~--+---+I---f--~f--~+-~ 

860 -- ----- E t- [\& 8 & ~ ] ~ !-- --~ .!!--

g 0: f ~ 0: 11 I ~-- - --~ c5-- .,; z ~ !0 

::::i <..i :! 

.. 

:§ 

;., 

s 

"' 

840 ..=.:;::._ 1--+----+---t---+---t---+-- lt----+---+----+---+----H 

~ 

246 247 248 250 253 256 258 260 

DISTANCE, IN RIVER MILES 

Figure 24. --Profiles of flood-crest elevations on the Des Moines 

River from 200 to 260 miles upstream from the mouth. 
92 FLOODS OF 1954 

~~-+---r--,_--r--4---+--~--+-~r--+--~--+---r--+---r--,_--+-~---r~ 

--~----

920t-----t---+---+---+-----t---+---t--t-+----1JIJI-IIJ_,.l._9+!i4_--_--+---+----::e:-;- ~----- - - - 9101-----t---+-+--+---+-----t-+---+.,..- ~-c-!:--=~:-=-:-J1u\QA:~?z:.~ _.....,_t:::::~=+=-+--+-++-~---+--__j --- -- -----_- ~--- __ ....... -,..-""1 

~ - ~~-+--4-+-r--+-1~--~--+-~---+--,_--~-~--~==~-4 r--~- :t- ------ ~ - ~-r--+--~~f ~-+---t--t-+-~~~W'~~-~-~-=--~~~~--4---+---~!~--~--+-~ 

i ~I! t---+----11--1-+----+---+---t----+----+---~----~ -~=~-+--+-~ 

~~-+---t---+----1~-+----+---+---·-!=t----+--+-_, s,; 

: ~ti 

,; 

880 1 

::i 870 ci 

ci 

860 

~ 

i i ~ ;---'-----

8 I 210 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 273 274 275 276 279 210 

9lO 

960 

- ,_.1;::,;;~ -- r--

-L-~--~--~--L-~---L--~--~~~~---L--~--L-~---LL-~--L-~---L~ 

210 m B m * ~ - m ~ • m m m m ~ - ~ m ~ m - DISTANCE, IN RIVER MILES 

Figure 25. --Profiles of flood-crest elevations on the Des Moines 

River from 260 to 300 miles upstream from the mouth. 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 

~ 

£ 

~ 

305 306 307 308 309 310 311 313 314 

~~ 

~ 

900f--~---+---+--~--++--+---++~---+---+i--

980 f----f---+---+--+----Ht--1----£:~1--+--+----l'~ - ~ i 

970 r-~---+---+-~---Ht·~--f>;}-~--+--l$g-

~ ~ 1 - 320 321 322 323 324 326 327 328 329 330 331 

DISTANCE, IN RIVER MILES 

93 

316 318 319 

Figure 26. --Profiles of flood-crest elevations on the Des Moines' 

River from 300 to 331 miles upstream from the mouth. 
94 FLOODS OF 1954 

198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 

1111~\:~~-

f---+--+-+--+----+ ~ ~ -=--~ \g~;::flt----il--t-+-+--t--t--t---t---1 = 'iij..<f!-:;:::'-1-'- ~ f--+--+--+--r---::::~.-e ~~ e lt-~1--+-+-+--t--+--t---r--1 

1~-+--1--t'_-::: __ --~ ~ ~ ~ ~~-~·~--~-~--+--+1 ~i~+----i~-+---r-+-<~1~--t--+-+-~-r--+--r-T-~ 

f---+--+-+--+--+~ m,r-+-~1--t---r-+-~~-~-+-+-+--r--+--r-~~ ~ ~ :::;: ~ ~ ~oL-~--L-~-L-~~~~~--L-~--L-~-L-~--L--L-L-~L-_L-~-~~ 

217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 

980,--,---.-.--.--.--.-.--.--.--.-,--.--,--.-,--,--,,--,-,--.---

~01--f---+--+--t--+---+--~-t--+--+--~--t-~--+---r--t-~,--+-~--t---

239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 

DISTANCE, IN RIVER MILES 

Figure 27. --Profiles of flood-crest elevations on the Iowa River 

from 196 to 259 miles upstream from the mouth. 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 95 

1040 

1030 

1020 

1010 

1000 

990 

980 E 

~ 

970 &, . 

j' v 960 E 

~ 

-1---+--,_--r-~--~~~+---~-+---r--+--+t 

8 8 

~.0: t--t---r----t-----t-1~ ~ ---t---t---j--~1 

st-T---r----r---H~·---t----r-~--~ 

~ 8 

~ 1140 

... . 1130 

0 

::& 1120 

~ ..... 1110 

~ 1100 

~ 

- 1._:::; 

--~~ ~ -~ r-=- -- )\l~~-1~ ~--~ LQ'f!. ~b,U.l3 - --- -- -

P:lut~t._\2~1 -- - ,' 

L /v ~ 1090 

"< 1080 

~ ~ 1070 

z 

0 1060 

~ LiJ 1050 

E /}4' ~ 

d ~~ (.) r/ t'l~. 

j ~v "' ~ 

~ 

Jl ..... ~ t i ..... " ·c .0 ~ 1040 

1030 

1----

~~ ~ 2 E i 1 

M ~- ~ 1.~ ~ l: c IE ~ ! j !! 

~ ~ 8 8 

" 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 

304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 

DISTANCE, IN RIVER MILES 

Figure 28. --Profiles of flood-crest elevations on the Iowa River 

from 259 to 316 miles upstream from the mouth. 
96 FLOODS OF 1954 

DISTANCE, IN RIVER MILES 

Figure 29. --Profiles of flood-crest elevations on the Iowa River 

from 316 to 358 miles upstream from the mouth. 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 97 

RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 

At a few locations streamflow records have been collected in 

Iowa by the U. S. Geological Survey since 1903, and intermittent 

gage-height records at Des Moines were collected as early as 1893. 

Therefore some information is available at these locations on major 

floods which occurred during the 20th century. Historical information indicates that before 1900, notable floods occurred in Iowa 

in July 1851, April 1862, June 1865, June 1869, July 1881, April 

1888 and May 1892. Little information is available on the relative 

magnitude of these historical floods other than the ones which occurred in 1851. 

A special report is available on magnitude and frequency of floods 

in Iowa (Schwob, 1953). This report contains an analysis on a regional basis of floods measured at Geological Survey gaging stations. Graphs show the mean annual flood in cubic feet per second 

and the magnitude of floods of several recurrence intervals. 

Other Geological Survey publications contain information on previous floods which occurred in the area covered by this report 

(U. S. Geological Survey, 1955a, 1955b. 1955c). 

Iowa River basin 

Streamflow records, which began in 1903 on the Iowa River at 

IoWR City and Wapello, indicate the flood of June 1918 was the greatest known at Iowa City during the period of record. Historical information indicates that floods during 1851 and 1881 exceeded the 

1918 flood at Iowa City. At Wapello, farther downstream, the flood 

of June 1947 is the greatest known; however no information is available on the 1851 or 1881 floods in this vicinity. On most of the 

headwaters of the Iowa River as far downstream as Eldora, the 

current flood is reported to be the highest known. The Iowa River 

at Iowa Falls in June 1954 was said to be the highest within the 

memory of the oldest residents. 

Cedar River basin 

On the Cedar River at Cedar Rapids the flood of March 1929 exceeded any recorded during the period of record beginning in 1903. 

The stage of 1851 was about equal to that of the 1929 flood. Other 

noteworthyfloods within thebasin occurred in 1933,1947 and 1951. 
98 FLOODS OF 1954 

Des Moines River basin 

Streamflow records have been collected for the Des Moines at 

Keosauqua and Des Moines since 1903 with intermittent gage-height 

records at Des Moines dating back to 1893. During the period of 

record noteworthy floods occurred in 1903, 1917, 1935, 1944, 1946, 

1947 and 1954. The most severe floods throughout the basin were 

those of 1851, 1903, 1947 and 1954. 

The flood of June 1947 exceeded all previous records at many 

gaging stations in the Des Moines River basin; however, the June 

1954 flood was the highest ever recorded between Fort Dodge and 

Des Moines. During the 1947 flood a major part of the runoff was 

contributed by streams tributary to the Des Moines River between 

Des Moines and Tracy, whereas during the 1954 flood practically 

all the runoff originated upstream from Des Moines. 

Little Sioux River basin 

Little information is available on great floods in the Little Sioux 

River basin. Reports indicate the storm in June 1891 caused considerable flooding, the most severe floods having occurred on the 

middle and lower parts of the basin. The gaging station records 

on the Little Sioux River at Correctionville, which have been collected during the years 1918-25, 1928-32 and 1936 to the present 

time, indicate the June 1954 flood was the highest during the period 

of record. ~ 
• FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 99 

SEDIMENT LOAD OF LITTLE SIOUX RIVER 

This section is included as a part of the report to show the effect 

of flood discharges on the suspended-sediment load of the Little 

Sioux River. The excessive rainfalls which produced the floods 

washed large quantities of soil into the streams resulting in a serious loss of soil from the agricultural lands. 

Sediment records for the Little Sioux River at Correctionville 

and near Kennebec have been obtained since May 1950, and are 

presented for the flood period, May to July 1954, to bring out the 

significant increase in suspended- sediment load carried by the 

stream at these two sites. Although the drainage area increases 

slightly from 2,450 to 2, 730 square miles between these 2 stations, 

the total suspended-sediment load for the month of June 1954 increased from 858,260 tons to 1,366,450 tons, an increase of nearly 

60 percent. It is also significant that the total suspended-sediment 

load at each station for the month of June 1954 was about 70 percent of the total for the entire water year, October 1953 to September 

1954. 

The data presented on the following pages consist of descriptions of the sediment sampling stations, tables showing the daily 

mean water discharge in cubic feet per second, the daily mean 

suspended-sediment concentration in parts per million, and the 

daily suspended-sediment load in tons per day. The tables cover 

the period May to July 1954. 
100 FLOODS OF 1954 

Little Sioux River Basin 

Little Sioux River at Correctionville, Iowa 

Location. --At gaging station at the bridge on Highway 20, 0.2 mile 

upstream from Bacon Creek, 0. 5 mile west of Correctionville, 

Woodbury County, and 0.8 mile downstream from Pierson Creek. 

Drainage area. --2, 450 sq mi, approximately. 

Maxima. --May-July 1954: Sediment concentration: Maximum daily, 

11, 900 ppm June 19. 

Sediment load: Maximum daily, 257, 000 tons June 19. 

May 1950 to September 1954: Sediment concentration: Maximum 

daily, 12, 200 ppm July 12, 1950. 

Sediment load: Maximum daily, 257,000 tons June 19, 1954. 

Suspended sediment May to July 1954 

May June 

Mean Suspended sediment Mean 

discharge 

(secondfeet) 

Suspended sediment 

Day disl 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

ll 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

'17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24.' 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

:so 

31 

charge 

(secondfeet) 

501 

564 

727 

956 

1,150 

1,180 

1,110 

994 

902 

795 

727 

660 

612 

533 

505 

486 

442 

414 

400 

383 

358 

337 

329 

342 

580 

350 

442 

710 

620 

583 

1,820 

Mean 

con-centration 

(ppm) 

Tons 

per 

day 

289 

535 

785 

1,800 

2,530 

2, 720 

2,090 

1,400 

1,100 

214 

220 

400 

696 

815 

855 

698 

522 

450 

392 

350 

312 

293 

300 

612 

520 

375 

300 

247 

} "' ~ 174 

841 

687 

556 

484 

432 

834 

682 

448 

335 

267 

149 

179 

200 189 

830 

2,060 

1,270 

785 

7 '700 

ab 1,200 

3,950 

2,130 

1,240 

a 47 ,:soo 

Total 20,312 ------- 75,548 

1,820 

1,070 

1,300 

1,180 

1,080 

1,000 

913 

816 

734 1,370 

3,550 

2,820 

2,960 

1,940 

1,290 

1,070 

1,000 

1,400 

9,210 

12,800 

17,500 

12,400 

1"2,600 

13,200 

11,700 

9,430 

7,590 

6,480 

5,570 

4, 720 

Mean 

concentration 

(ppm) 

6,680 

2,410 

2,220 

1,490 

1,020 

950 

846 

692 

600 

6,100 

7,400 

3,590 

2,270 

1,350 

1,050 

900 

755 

9,400 

ll ,900 

5,320 

2,000 

764 

554 

415 

357 

380 

432 

470 

500 

720 

150,513 -------

a Sediment discharge computed by subdividing day. b Computed from partly estimated concentration graph. 

Tons 

per 

day 

a 35,200 

6,960 

7, 790 

4, 750 

2,970 

2,570 

2,090 

1,520 

1,190 

ab 27,000 

ab 70,000 

27 ,:soo 18,100 

7,070 

3,660 

2,600 

2,040 

ab 50,000 

a 257,000 

a 120,000 

94,500 

25,600 

18,800 

14,800 

11,300 

9,680 

8,850 

8,220 

7,520 

9,180 

858,260 

July 

Mean 

discharge 

(secondfeet) 

Suspended sediment 

4,120 

3,680 

3,070 

2,620 

2,220 

1,990 

1,810 

1,630 

1,500 

1,380 

1,260 

1,150 

1,070 

994 

920 

866 

830 

778 

727 

677 

644 

628 

596 

564 

548 

~~~ -1 471 

471 

471 

456 

Mean 

concentration 

(ppm) 

916 

898 

932 

927 

899 

828 

762 

665 

632 

586 

575 

570 

508 

472 

461 

415 

398 

366 

300 

317 

282 

249 

242 

39,143 -------

Tons 

per 

day 

,10,200 

8,920' 

7 '730 

6,560 

5,390 

4,450 

:s, 720 

2,920 

2,560 

2,180 

1,960 

1,770 

1,470 

1,270 

1,150 

970 

892 

769 

589 

579 

474 

365 

308 

70,106 
FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 101 

Little Sioux River near Kennebec. Iowa 

Location. --At gaging station. at the bridge on County road A. 1. 3 

miles south of Kennebec. Monona County. 5.5 miles northeast of 

Onawa. and 6. 5 miles upstream from Maple River. 

Drainage area. --2. 730 sq mi. approximately. 

Maxima.--May-July 1954: Sediment concentration: Maximum daily. 

20. 700 ppm May 27. 

Sediment load: Maximum daily. 255, 000 tons June 19. 

May 1950 toSeptember 1954: Sediment concentration: Maximum 

daily. 40, 800 ppm June 18, 1950. 

Sediment loads: Maximum daily. 520, 000 tons June 18, 1950. 

Suspended sediment, May to July 1954 

May June 

Mean Suspended sediment Mean Suspended sediment 

Day dis- Mean dis- Mean charge concen- Tons charge concen- Tons (second- tration per (second- tration per feet) (ppm) day feet) (ppm) day 

1 528 595 848 2,450 13,100 86,700 

2 620 1,240 2,080 1,520 7,210 29,600 

3 686 620 1,150 1,440 5,690 22,100 

4 839 695 1,570 1,470 2,970 11,800 

5 1,040 1,000 2,810 1,310 2,000 7,070 

6 1,16CJ 1,180 3, 700 1,190 1,620 5,210 

7 1,200 1,090 3,530 1,060 1,510 4,320 

8 1,080 875 2,550 935 1,390 3,280 

9 964 698 1,820 822 1,100 2,440 

10 892 520 1,250 784 1,200 2,540 

11 788 487 1,040 2,400 8,080 a 57,500 

12 737 462 919 3,420 6,820 a 64,600 

13 686 390 722 3,050 4,210 34,700 

14 636 346 594 2,930 2,800 22,200 

15 556 445 668 1, 770 1,910 9,130 

16 528 730 1,040 1,300 1,470 5,160 

17 500 496 670 1,130 1,360 4,150 

18 472 400 510 1,030 1,350 3, 750 

19 444 325 390 4, 750 18,400 a 255,000 

20 416 265 298 9,650 5,930 a 151,000 

21 404 290 316 11,800 6,240 199,000 

22 380 300 308 13,100 2,21.0 78,200 

23 368 300 b 300 13,100 1,560 55,200 

24 368 216 215 13,000 1,360 47 '700 25 368 195 194 12' 600 1,320 44,900 

26 392 250 265 12,700 1,210 41,500 

27 1,050 20,700 a 75,300 11,400 1,110 34,200 

28 771 17,500 36,400 8,910 1,200 28,900 

29 754 6,090 12,400 6, 740 1,560 28,400 

30 620 3,650 6,110 5,680 1, 710 26,200 

31 790 4,870 a 11,800 

Total 21,037 ------- 171,767 153,441 ------- 1,366,450 

a Sediment discharge computed by subdividing day. b Computed from a:n estimated concentration graph. 

July 

Mean Suspended sediment 

dis- Mean charge concen- Tons (second- tration per feet) (ppm) day 

4, 760 1,810 23,300 

4,220 1,610 18,300 

3,650 1,500 14,800 

3,180 1,410 12,100 

2, 730 1,260 ·9,290 

2,450 1,120 7,410 

2,180 1,090 6,420 

2,000 984 5,310 

1,820 903 4,440 

1,660 840 3, 760 

1,500 806 3,260 

1,380 750 2, 790 

1,260 704 2,400 

1,140 652 2,010 

1,030 610 1, 700 

960 564 1;460 

890 524 1,260 

855 563 1,300 

802 

768 509 1,020 

715 

680 -< 665 

635 > 508 850 

605 

575 ~ 530 

500 > 513 693 

485 

485 

500 661 892 

45,610 ------- 132 .~54 

FLOODS OF JUNE IN IOWA 103 

REFERENCES CITED 

Schwob, H. H .• 1953, Iowa floods; magnitude and frequency: Iowa 

State Highway Comm. Bull. 1. 

United States Geological Survey, 1955a, Floods of April 1952 in the 

Missouri River basin: U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 

1260-B, p. 49-302, 

___ 1955b, Floods of 1952 in the basins of the Upper Mississippi 

River and Red River of the North: U. S. Geol. Survey WaterSupply Paper 1260-C, p. 303-529. 

___ 1955c, Floods of June 1953 in northwestern Iowa:U. S. Geol. 

Survey Water-Supply Paper 1320-A, p. 1-68. 

United States Weather Bureau, 1954a, Climatological Data, National 

Summary: v. 5, no. 10. 

--- 1954b, Climatological Data, Iowa, June 1954. 

Abstract •.....•...•. 

Akron, Iowa, Big Sioux River at . 

Ames, Iowa, Skunk River near .. 

Skunk River below Squaw Creek near . 

Beaver Creek at New Hartford, Iowa • 

Belle Plaine, Iowa, Iowa River near . 

Big Sioux River at Akron, Iowa . . . . 

Blackhawk Creek at Hudson, Iowa .. 

Boone River near Webster City, Iowa. 

Boone, Iowa, Des Moines River near . 

Burt, Iowa, East Fork Des Moines River 

near .......•... 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Cedar River at 

Cedar River at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

at Janesville, Iowa . . . . . . . 

at Waterloo, Iowa. . . . . . . . 

near Conesville, Iowa. . . . . . 

Cherokee, Iowa, Little Sioux River near 

Mill Creek near ......... . 

Churdan, Iowa, East Fork Hardin 

Creek near ......... . 

Clare, Iowa, North Lizard Creek near 

Conesville, Iowa, Cedar River near 

Correctionville, Iowa, Little Sioux 

River at ........ . 

Dakota City, Iowa, East Fork Des 

Moines River at. . . . . . 

Damages, flood. . . . . . . . . 

Des Moines River at Des Moines, Iowa . 

at Fort Dodge, Iowa. . . • . . . . 

at Keosauqua, Iowa . . . . . . . . 

at Ottumwa, Iowa . . . . . . . . . 

below Raccoon River at Des Moines, 

Iowa ........... .

East Fork, at Dakota City, Iowa 

near Burt, Iowa. . 

near Hardy, Iowa. . .. 

near Boone, Iowa . . . . 

near Tracy, Iowa . . . . 

West Fork at Estherville, Iowa. 

at Humboldt, Iowa . . 

Des Moines, Iowa, Des Moines River at 

Des Moines River below Raccoon 

River at ........ . 

Determination of flood discharges 

Discharge, determination of flood 

Dry Creek at Hawarden, Iowa .. 

East Fork Des Moines River at Dakota 

City, Iowa ......... . 

near Burt, Iowa . . . . . . . . . 

near Hardy, Iowa. . . . . . . . . 

East Fork Hardin Creek near Churdan, 

Iowa ............. . 

East Fork Iowa River near Klemme, Iowa . 

Estherville, Iowa, West Fork Des 

Moines River at 

Explanation of data . . . . ... 

Finchford, Iowa, West Fork Shell Rock 

River at. . · 

Flood-crest stages . • • . . . . . 

Flood damages. • . . . . . . . . 

Flood discharge, determination of . 

Floods, causes. . . . . . . . . . 

Cedar River and tributaries . . . 

Des Moines River and tributaries 

general descriptions of . . . . . 

Iowa River and tributaries. . . . 

Skunk River . . . . . . . . . . 

tributaries to the Missouri River. 

Flood stages and discharges, Summary of. 

Floyd River at James, Iowa . . . . . . 

Fort Dodge, Iowa, Des Moines River at. 

Frequency of peak discharges . . . . . 

INDEX 

Page 

1 

63 

41 

42 

36 

30 

63 

37 

51 

52 

46 

39 

39 

31 

38 

40 

67 

68 

55 

49 

40 

69 

48 

20 

53 

50 

59 

58 

57 

48 

46 

47 

52 

58 

44 

45 

53 

57 

23 

23 

62 

48 

46 

47 

55 

27 

44 

23 

35 

87 

20 

23 

3 

10 

13 

3 

8 

13 

17 

76 

65 

50 

82 

Page 

General description of the floods. . . . . 3 

Hardin Creek, East Fork, near Churdan, 

Iowa. . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 

Hardy, Iowa, East Fork Des Moines 

River near. . . . . . . . . • 47 

Hawarden, Iowa, Dry Creek at. • • . 62 

Holly Springs, Iowa, West Fork ditch at 73 

Homer, Nebr., Omaha Creek at. . . . 66 

Hudson, Iowa, Blackhawk Creek at. . . 37 

Humboldt, Iowa, West Fork Des Moines 

River at. . . . . . . . . . 45 

Independence, Iowa, Wapsipinicon 

River near . 

Introduction. . . 

Iowa City, Iowa, Iowa R~ver at .. 

Iowa River at Iowa City, Iowa . . . 

at Marshalltown, Iowa . . . . . 

East Fork, near Klemme, Iowa . 

near Belle Plaine, Iowa ..... 

near Rowan, Iowa. . . . . . . . 

West Fork, near Klemme, Iowa . 

James, Iowa, Floyd River at . . . 

Janesville, Iowa, Cedar River at . 

Jefferson, Iowa, Raccoon River near. 

Kennebec, Iowa, Little Sioux River near 

Keosauqua, Iowa, Des Moines River at . 

Klemme, Iowa, East Fork Iowa River 

near ........ . 

West Fork Iowa River near . • 

Lime Creek at Mason City, Iowa. 

Little Sioux River: 

at Correctionville, Iowa. 

Sediment load of . 

near Cherokee, Iowa 

near Kennebec, Iowa 

Sediment load of 

near Turin, Iowa. . 

Maple River at Mapleton, Iowa. 

Mapleton, Iowa, Maple River at 

Marshalltown, Iowa, Iowa River at . 

Timber Creek near ...... . 

Mason City, Iowa, Lime Creek at . 

Mill Creek near Cherokee, Iowa .. 

Monona-Harrison ditch near Turin, Iowa 

New Hartford, Iowa, Beaver Creek at. . 

North Lizard Creek near Clare, Iowa .. 

Northwood, Iowa, Shell Rock River near 

Omaha Creek at Homer, Nebr ... 

Oskaloosa, Iowa, Skunk River near. 

Ottumwa, Iowa, Des Moines River at . 

Peak discharges, frequency of. . . . 

Perry Creek at 38th Street, Sioux City, 

Iowa. ........ . 

Pisgah, Iowa, Soldier River at. 

Previous floods, records of . 

Cedar River basin . . . 

Des Moines River basin. 

Iowa River basin . . . . 

Little Sioux River basin . 

Raccoon River at Van Meter, Iowa. 

near Jefferson, Iowa . . . 

Records of previous floods . . . . \. . 

Redfield, Iowa, South Raccoon River at. 

References cited . . . . . . . . . 

Rock River near Rock Valley, Iowa. 

Rock Valley, Iowa, Rock River near 

Rowan, Iowa, Iowa River near . . . 

26 

1 

30 

30 

29 

27 

30 

28 

26 

65 

31 

54 

70 

59 

27 

26 

33 

69 

100 

67 

70 

101 

72 

71 

71 

29 

29 

33 

68 

74 

36 

49 

32 

66 

43 

58 

82 

64 

75 

97 

97 

98 

97 

98 

56 

54 

97 

55 

103 

61 

61 

28 

105 
106 INDEX 

Page Page 

Sediment load of Little Sioux River. 99 Tracy, Iowa, Des Moines River near 58 

at Correctionville. . . . . . . . 100 Turin, Iowa, Little Sioux River near. 72 

at Kennebec . . . . . . • • . . 101 Monona-Harrison ditch near 74 

Shell Rock River at Shell Rock, Iowa. 34 

near Northwood, Iowa. . . . . . . 32 Van Meter, Iowa, Raccoon River at . 56 

West Fbrk, at Finchford, Iowa . . 35 Vermillion River near Wakonda, S. Oak 60 

Shell Rock, Iowa, Shell Rock River at 34 

Sioux City, Iowa, Perry Creek at 38th Wakonda, S. Oak., Vermillion River near 60 

Street. . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Wapsipinicon River near Independence, 

Skunk River below Squaw Creek near Iowa. 26 

Ames, Iowa . . . . . . 42 Waterloo, Iowa, Cedar River at. 38 

near Ames, Iowa. . . . . . . . . 41 Webster City, Iowa, Boone River near. 51 

near Oskaloosa, Iowa. . . . • . . 43 West Fork Des Moines River at Estherville, 

Soldier River at Pisgah, Iowa . • . . 75 Iowa. 44 

South Raccoon River at Redfield, Iowa. 55 at Humboldt, Iowa. 45 

Sta:ges and dischar.ges at stream-gaging West Fork ditch at Holly Springs, Iowa 73 

stations . . . . • . . . . . . . 2 3 West Fork Iowa River near Klemme, Iowa 26 

Summary of flood stagt;1s and discharges . 76 West Fork Shell Rock River at Finchford, 

Iowa. 35 

Timber Creek near Marshalltown, Iowa . 29 

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1958 0 -457709