U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5106

Prepared in cooperation with Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma Water Resources 

Board

Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected 

Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma for use in 

Modeling Applications
Cover: The bridge and channel at Skeleton Creek near Lovell (07160500), August 2001. Photograph by Martin L. 

Schneider, U.S. Geological Survey.
Determination of Baseline Periods of 

Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging 

Stations in and near Oklahoma for use in 

Modeling Applications

By Rachel A. Esralew

Prepared in cooperation with Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma 

Water Resources Board

Scientific Investigations Repor 2010–5106

U.S. Department of the Interior

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

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2010

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

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Suggested citation:

Esralew, R.A., 2010, Determination of baseline periods of record for selected streamflow-gaging stations in and near 

Oklahoma for use in modeling applications: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5106, 65 p. 
iii

Contents

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

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

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

Selection of Data for Analysis ....................................................................................................................3

Methods Used to Determine the Baseline Period of Record ................................................................6

Determination of Least-Altered Period of Record ..........................................................................6

Analysis of Historical Station and Basin Information to Eliminate Nonbaseline 

Years and Define Preliminary Least-Altered Period of Record .............................6

Evaluation of Basin Regulation to Eliminate Nonbaseline Years and Refine 

Preliminary Least-Altered Periods .............................................................................8

Visual Trend Analysis and Double-Mass Analysis of Annual Streamflow to 

Eliminate Nonbaseline Years and Refine Preliminary Least-Altered Period .......9

Visual Trend Analysis and Selection of Stations for Further Statistical 

Analysis ................................................................................................................11

Analysis of Covariance of Double-Mass Curves ........................................................11

Kendall’s Tau Analysis .....................................................................................................13

Determination of Optimum Minimum Period of Record to Represent Climate Variability .....14

Determination of the Baseline Period of Record ...................................................................................15

Least-Altered Period of Record .......................................................................................................15

Optimum Minimum Period of Record .............................................................................................16

Final Baseline Period .........................................................................................................................16

Summary .......................................................................................................................................................19

References ...................................................................................................................................................20

Figures

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

continuous daily streamflow record and a drainage area of less than 2,500 square 

miles ...............................................................................................................................................4

2. Chart showing overview of processes used to determine the baseline period of record 

for selected streamflow-gaging stations .................................................................................7

3. Map showing National Weather Service Climate Divisions used in annual 

precipitation analysis ..................................................................................................................8

4. Delineated areas upstream from dams in the basin draining to the U.S. Geological 

Survey streamflow-gaging station, Washita River near Clinton, Oklahoma, (station 

ID 07325000) as of (A) 1950, (B) 1956, (C) 1960, and (D) the percentage of the 

drainage basin upstream from dams with time ....................................................................10

5. Example of (A) a time series plot of annual runoff and a Friedman’s smooth trendline 

(Friedman, 1984), and (B) a double-mass curve for cumulative annual precipitation 

and cumulative annual runoff at Cimarron River near Kenton, Oklahoma, (USGS 

station identifier 07154500) showing breakpoints that indicate changes in the slope 

of the relation between precipitation and streamflow ........................................................12
iv

6–7. Maps showing: 

6. Climate divisions used in the process to determine a baseline period of 

record for selected streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma, and 

the optimum minimum number of years of streamflow record needed for the 

baseline period for streamflow-gaging stations in those climate divisions, 

defined separately for gages located in each climate division for (A) periods 

of record where more than 50 percent of years occurred prior to 1980, the 

historically normal period, and (B) periods of record where more than 50 

percent of years occurred after 1980s, the historically wet period .........................17

7. Selected USGS streamflow-gaging stations with a period of record of 10 or 

more years, and the final baseline period quality ranking for each station ...........18

Tables

1. Determination of preliminary baseline period for selected stream reaches in and 

near Oklahoma (in water years) based on streamflow-gaging station history from 

published U.S. Geological Survey annual data reports (1930–2007), and oral and 

written communication from staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water 

Science Center ...........................................................................................................................23

2. Preliminary least-altered period of record and quality ranking based on the years 

that the estimated area upstream from dams in the drainage basins of 115 

streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma equaled or exceeded 1, 5, 10, 

or 20 percent of the drainage-basin area ..............................................................................37

3. Results and description of visual trends in annual base flow, runoff, total flow, 

and base-flow index, for the entire period of record for 74 streamflow-gaging 

stations in and near Oklahoma with at least 20 years of available record ......................46

4. Selected results of analysis of covariance test for double-mass curves for annual 

streamflow data at 11 selected streamflow-gaging stations and annual precipitation 

data at selected climate divisions in and near Oklahoma. ..................................................52

5. Results of Kendall’s tau trend test of selected annual flow parameters for nine 

selected streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma ............................................56

6. Results of the determination of an optimum minimum number of years of 

streamflow record to consider as a baseline period of record on the basis of testing 

of variability of annual precipitation between shorter sub-periods and the period 

1925–2007 using a Wilcoxon rank-sum test ..........................................................................60

7. Final baseline period of record for 111 streamflow-gaging stations in and near 

Oklahoma with at least 10 years of continuous daily streamflow record and a 

drainage area of less than 2,500 square miles. .....................................................................61
v

Conversion Factors

Inch/Pound to SI

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

acre 4,047 square meter (m2

)

acre 0.4047 hectare (ha)

acre 0.4047 square hectometer (hm2

) 

acre 0.004047 square kilometer (km2

)

square mile (mi2

) 259.0 hectare (ha)

square mile (mi2

) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) 

Flow rate

cubic foot per second (ft3

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

inch per year (in/yr) 25.4 millimeter per year (mm/yr)

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the insert datum name (and abbreviation) here 

for instance, “North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88).”

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the insert datum name (and abbreviation) 

here for instance, “North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).”

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

Water year is the 12-month period October 1 through September 30, and is named for the year in 

which it ends.
Abstract 

Use of historical streamflow data from a least-altered 

period of record can be used in calibration of various modeling applications that are used to characterize least-altered 

flow and predict the effects of proposed streamflow alteration. 

This information can be used to enhance water-resources 

planning. A baseline period of record was determined for 

selected streamflow-gaging stations that can be used as a 

calibration dataset for modeling applications. The baseline 

period of record was defined as a period that is least-altered 

by anthropogenic activity and has sufficient streamflow record 

length to represent extreme climate variability. Streamflow 

data from 171 stations in and near Oklahoma with a minimum of 10 complete water years of daily streamflow record 

through water year 2007 and drainage areas that were less than 

2,500 square miles were considered for use in the baseline 

period analysis. 

The first step to determine the least-altered period of 

record was to evaluate station information by using previous 

publications, historical station record notes, and information 

gathered from oral and written communication with hydrographers familiar with selected stations. The second step was to 

indentify stations that had substantial effects from upstream 

regulation by evaluating the location and extent of dams in 

the drainage basin. The third step was (a) the analysis of 

annual hydrographs and included visual hydrograph analysis for selected stations with 20 or more years of streamflow 

record, (b) analysis of covariance of double-mass curves, and 

(c) Kendall’s tau trend analysis to detect statistically significant trends in base flow, runoff, total flow, and base-flow index 

related to anthropogenic activity for selected stations with 15 

or more years of streamflow record. 

A preliminary least-altered period of record for each 

stream was identified by removing the period of streamflow 

record when streams were substantially affected by anthropogenic activity. After streamflow record was removed from 

designation as a least-altered period, stations that did not have 

at least 10 years of remaining continuous streamflow record 

were considered to have an insufficient baseline period for 

modeling applications.

An optimum minimum period of record was determined 

for each of the least-altered periods for each station to ensure a 

sufficient streamflow record length to provide a representative 

sample of annual climate variability. An optimum minimum 

period of 10 years or more was evaluated by analyzing the 

variability of annual precipitation for selected 5-, 10-, 15-, 25-, 

and 35-year periods for each of 20 climate divisions that contained stations used in the baseline period analysis. The distribution of annual precipitation was compared for each consecutive overlapping 5-year period to the period 1925–2007 by 

using a Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The least-altered period of 

record for stations was also compared to the period 1925–2007 

by using a Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The results of this analysis 

were used to determine how many years of annual precipitation data were needed for the selected period to be statistically 

similar to the distribution of annual precipitation data for a 

long-term period, 1925–2007. Minimum optimum periods 

ranged from 10 to 35 years and varied by climate division. 

A final baseline period was determined for 111 stations 

that had a baseline period of at least 10 years of continuous 

streamflow record after the record-elimination process. A 

suitable baseline period of record for use in modeling applications could not be identified for 58 of the initial 171 stations 

because of substantial anthropogenic alteration of the stream 

or drainage basin and for 2 stations because the least-altered 

period of record was not representative of annual climate variability. The baseline period for each station was rated “excellent”, “good”, “fair”, “poor”, or “no baseline period.” This 

rating was based on a qualitative evaluation of the approximate 

degree of basin alteration for the least-altered period of record, 

and whether or not the least-altered period was long enough 

to be representative of long-term climate variability. Baseline 

periods of record were rated as “excellent” for 22 stations, 

“good” for 42 stations, “fair” for 24 stations, and “poor” for 

23 stations.

Introduction

Managing rivers and streams to maintain physical, 

chemical, and biological integrity is a challenge for resource 

Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected 

Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma for use 

in Modeling Applications

By Rachel A. Esralew
2 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma

managers in Oklahoma and nationwide. Knowledge of how 

anthropogenic activity and climate change affect the flow 

regime can be helpful for water supply regulation and planning. Currently (2010), the Oklahoma 50-Year Comprehensive 

Water Plan requires development of stream water allocation 

models to predict how proposed alterations may affect water 

supply for consumptive and nonconsumptive uses (Robert S. 

Fabian, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, oral and written 

commun., July 2008). These models are part of the process for 

development of a water-permitting policy for Oklahoma.

The use of historical streamflow data from a least-altered 

period of record can enhance water resources planning. These 

data can be used to calibrate various modeling applications 

that are used to characterize unregulated flow and predict the 

effects of proposed streamflow alteration. Streamflow data 

commonly are needed from streams that are difficult or costprohibitive to gage. Streamflow can be estimated for many 

ungaged stream locations by using digital watershed or regression models. The following are examples of frequently used 

digital watershed modeling applications in which verification 

or calibration by using long-term data from streamflow-gaging 

stations (referred to as “stations” in this report) are required: 

Hydrologic Simulation Program-Fortran (HSPF) (Donigan and 

others, 1984), Spatially Referenced Regresssion on Watershed 

Attributes (SPARROW) (Preston and others, 2009), Precipitation Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) (Leavesley and others, 

1983), MIKE_11 [Havnø and others, 1995], and TOPMODEL 

[Wolock, 1993]). Regression models often are used to estimate 

flow statistics at ungaged stream locations (for example, the 

U.S. Geological Survey, StreamStats program, U.S. Geological Survey, 2009a), and many regression applications require 

use of a least-altered period of streamflow data (or streamflow 

record) for model calibration (Esralew and Smith, 2009). A 

least-altered period of streamflow record was used to create the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Hydroecological 

Integrity Assessment Process for Oklahoma (HIP) (Turton 

and others, 2009). This model can be used to estimate how 

proposed flow alteration may affect flow parameters that are 

vital to aquatic ecological function. For this report, continuous 

streamflow data from streamflow gaging-stations are referred 

to as “streamflow record” and a specified period during which 

continuous daily streamflow data are calculated is referred to 

as a “period of record”.

Ideally, modeling applications that use data from stations to characterize unaltered flow need to include data from 

a long-term period of record. This period of record should 

reflect the least-altered condition of streamflow available. 

Demand for water increases with population, urban, and 

agricultural development increases, and increasing recreational 

use. Typical anthropogenic activity that affects streamflow 

may include streamflow regulation, irrigation, diversion 

and groundwater withdrawal for industrial and consumptive water supply, effluent discharge, and urban development 

(Stankowski 1972; Fitzpatrick and others, 1999; Konrad and 

Booth, 2002; Smith and Wahl, 2003). 

The unpredictable nature of current and future patterns 

in climate also can affect streamflow. Streamflow data have 

been collected for streams in and near Oklahoma during 

periods ranging from a few years to nearly a century (USGS 

National Water Information System, http://waterdata.usgs.

gov/nwis, accessed November 1, 2007). The least-altered 

period of record for some stations (referred to in this report 

as the “least-altered period”) may be short because of few 

streamflow data and an increase in urban or agricultural development of a stream with time. Shorter periods of record may 

coincide with aberrant climate and streamflow patterns that 

are not considered typical. Longer periods of record are more 

likely to provide a representative sample of central tendencies 

and variability of streamflow. A sufficient streamflow record 

length (at least 10 years, for example) would likely increase 

the probability that variability of the daily hydrograph, caused 

by recurrent climate cycles, is included in the streamflow 

data used for model calibration. Therefore, longer periods of 

streamflow record can help to minimize statistical bias and 

random error in modeling applications. 

A baseline period of record (referred to in this report as a 

“baseline period”) may be determined for stations with a sufficient streamflow record. The baseline period can be defined 

as a period in which streamflow is least-altered by anthropogenic activity and has sufficient streamflow record length 

to represent annual climate variability. By this definition, 

some stations cannot be assigned a baseline period because 

streamflow at these stations is substantially altered or the 

length of the period of record is short. To address the need for 

a least-altered period of record for use in modeling applications and water-resources planning, the USGS, in cooperation 

with Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma Water 

Resources Board, conducted a study to determine baseline 

period of record for selected streamflow-gaging stations in and 

near Oklahoma.

Streamflow at few if any streams in or near Oklahoma 

have been completely free of alteration from anthropogenic 

activity during the last century. Therefore, streamflow record 

that includes effects from anthropogenic alteration must be 

included in evaluation of Oklahoma streamflow to obtain 

a sufficiently long-term period of record representative of 

streamflow during varied climate. The goal of the baseline 

period determination process, in Oklahoma, is to select, 

for each station, a sufficiently long period that is “leastaltered.” The period of streamflow data, in which the degree 

of alteration is substantially high, can be eliminated from 

inclusion in a baseline period. The degree of anthropogenic 

alteration may vary spatially and temporally. Subjective decisions may be involved in the process to determine if a period 

is “altered”. Examples of such change include increased 

irrigation during a period of time, continued construction of 

many small flood retarding structures, or urbanization of a 

drainage basin. 

Substantial streamflow alteration can be caused by a 

variety of human activities. Consumptive water uses are common throughout Oklahoma, including irrigation, livestock, 
Selection of Data for Analysis 3

and public water-supply from surface-water and groundwater 

sources (Tortorelli, 2009). 

Many surface-water sources for water-supply in Oklahoma are from reservoirs or other impoundments (Tortorelli, 

2009). Flood-peak reduction also affects streamflow for large 

areas of Oklahoma, mainly from many floodwater-retarding 

structures that serve to decrease main-stem flood peaks and 

regulate the rate of runoff recession (Bergman and Huntzinger, 

1981; Tortorelli and Bergman, 1985). Substantial regulation of 

streamflow from reservoirs and other impoundments can alter 

the magnitude, frequency, and duration of streamflow, depending on the intended water use and the extent of the regulation. 

Specifically, regulation can alter the seasonal flow regime, 

decrease the magnitude and frequency of flooding, increase 

the duration and frequency of zero-flow and low-flow periods, 

and decrease long-term average flows downstream (Tortorelli 

and Bergman, 1985).

Most irrigation water used in Oklahoma comes from 

groundwater, most of which comes from the High Plains 

Aquifer in western Oklahoma. Groundwater also is used for 

municipal public water supply, livestock, and oil and gas 

development (Tortorelli, 2009). Groundwater withdrawals in 

the drainage basin of a stream can affect streamflow through 

reduction of base flow or alteration of base-flow patterns 

(Wahl and Tortorelli, 1997). 

Quality assurance and examination of outliers in modeling applications may require a qualitative assessment of the 

data used to calibrate the model. A quality ranking can be 

assigned to each baseline period to reduce the subjectivity of 

data selection and comparison. For example, terms such as 

“excellent”,“good”, “fair”, and “poor”, can be assigned to the 

period of record on the basis of the degree of anthropogenic 

activity, severity of climatic bias for the period with the least 

anthropogenic activity, and length of the streamflow record. 

In this scenario, selection of a baseline period for each stream 

would be a period with the most favorable quality ranking 

based on these criteria. 

Purpose and Scope

This report describes the process used to determine 

baseline periods of record for selected stations in and near 

Oklahoma with more than 10 years of continuous streamflow 

data. The baseline period determination process included identification of a least-altered period and the minimum number of 

years to reflect climate variability. 

This report documents the methods used to select the 

least-altered period that include (1) analysis of historical 

information about stations and basins, (2) assessment of the 

change in the area upstream from dams in the basins, and 

(3) visual and statistical trend analysis to determine the year 

when anthropogenic activity may have altered streamflow. 

The process used to determine an optimum minimum number 

of years for a least-altered period to be considered baseline is 

described. The optimum minimum number of years is based 

on the minimum time period required to represent annual 

variability of climate. Also described is the process used to 

determine a quality ranking for each baseline period. The final 

baseline period and quality ranking determined for streamflow 

record at selected stations is presented.

Selection of Data for Analysis

Streamflow data from 171 stations in and near Oklahoma 

were considered for use in the baseline period analysis (fig. 1). 

These stations had a minimum of 10 complete water years of 

daily streamflow record through water year 2007 and a drainage area that was less than 2,500 square miles (fig. 1). Daily 

mean streamflow data for USGS stations in Oklahoma and 

adjacent states are available on the World Wide Web (URL 

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ok/nwis/ and http://waterdata.usgs.

gov/us/nwis). Ten years of continuous streamflow record was 

assumed to be the minimum required for defining the leastaltered period. This assumption was based on the use of a 

minimum of 10 years of streamflow record for computation 

of long-term streamflow statistics in Oklahoma (Heimann and 

Tortorelli, 1988; Tortorelli, 2002; Lewis and Esralew, 2009). 

Gaps in the continuous streamflow record were accepted as 

long as the total streamflow record equaled or exceeded 10 

complete water years. 

Stations selected for baseline period analysis include 

only those in which the drainage area to that station is completely in 8-digit hydrologic unit (HU) boundaries that are in 

Oklahoma or touch the Oklahoma state border (fig. 1). These 

criteria were required because basin-characteristic 

data were not readily available for stations with drainage 

basins that extend outside of this area (Smith and Esralew, 

2009). Basin characteristic data were used to determine the 

extent of regulation that was part of the process used to 

determine the least-altered period (see section titled “Evaluation of Basin Regulation to Eliminate Nonbaseline Years 

and Refine Preliminary Least-Altered Periods”). Stations 

selected for the baseline period analysis only included stations 

in which the drainage area was less than 2,500 square miles. 

For this report, drainage area sizes greater than 2,500 square 

miles were considered substantially large, which is the same 

criteria for drainage-area size defined in a previous study 

(Tortorelli, 1997). Stations with drainage areas larger than 

this size are more difficult to analyze for a least-altered period 

because of the challenge in identification of a potentially large 

range of anthropogenic activities that may affect streamflow 

in large basins. Analysis of station records with drainage areas 

of this size was beyond the scope of this study. Analysis of 

station records along main stems of the largest river systems in 

the state (the Arkansas, Canadian, Neosho, Red, and Verdigris 

Rivers; and lower parts of the Cimarron, North Canadian, and 

Washita Rivers) was not considered for this report because the 

drainage areas were greater than 2,500 square miles or extend 

outside of the study area. 
Albers Equal-Area Conic Projection

North American Datum 1983

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Stream

# Streamflow-gaging station used in baseline

period analysis and number (table 1)

106

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Eight-digit Hydrologic Unit (HU) boundary

Figure 1. Selected streamflow-gaging stations with 10 or more years of continuous daily streamflow record and a drainage area of less than 2,500 square miles.

Selection of Data for Analysis 5
6 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma

Methods Used to Determine the 

Baseline Period of Record

The process used to determine the baseline period for 

each station was completed in two phases. An overview of the 

processes used to determine the baseline period is in figure 2 

with notation of the table in which the results are presented. 

A least-altered period was determined for each station 

in the first phase of the analysis. A least-altered period for a 

station is the continuous period that remained after eliminating 

years altered by anthropogenic activities. The first phase was 

divided into three steps each of which was used to determine 

and evaluate potential anthropogenic alteration that may affect 

streamflow. First, historical station information was evaluated 

from previous publications, record notes, and oral and written 

communication. Second, stations wth streamflows that were 

substantially affected from upstream dams were identified 

by determining the location and extent of dams in the drainage basin, and the percentage of the drainage basin upstream 

from dams. Third, visual and statistical trend analysis was 

used for selected stations with 20 or more years of continuous 

streamflow record to detect statistically significant changes in 

base flow, runoff, total flow, and base-flow index that might 

be attributable to anthropogenic alteration. During each step, 

streamflow record from the station in which anthropogenic 

activity was suspected to alter streamflow was either removed 

from consideration for the least-altered period or the quality rank that described the least-altered period was adjusted 

accordingly. 

An optimum minimum period of record was determined 

for stations in each Climate Division (National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration, 2008) in the second phase of 

the analysis (fig. 3). Climate divisions are considered regions 

that are homogeneous with respect to climate and hydrologic 

conditions (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2008). Statistical analysis of annual precipitation data 

was used to determine whether 10 years of streamflow record 

sufficiently represented long-term climate variability. 

Determination of Least-Altered Period of Record

The methods used to determine the least-altered period 

are described in this section. These methods comprise the first 

phase of the process used to determine a baseline period. 

Analysis of Historical Station and Basin 

Information to Eliminate Nonbaseline Years 

and Define Preliminary Least-Altered Period of 

Record

Historical basin information was used to eliminate 

streamflow record during nonbaseline years from selected stations to identify a preliminary least-altered period. Historical 

information about each station was obtained from previous 

USGS publications (Heimann and Tortorelli, 1988; Wahl and 

Tortorelli, 1997; Tortorelli, 2002; Smith and Wahl, 2003; 

Tortorelli and others, 2005; U.S. Geological Survey, 2008; 

and Lewis and Esralew, 2009), from information provided by 

hydrographers at the USGS Oklahoma Water Science Center, 

and from information gathered from historical station records 

filed at the USGS Oklahoma Water Science Center (table 1, 

back of report). 

Annual reports (U.S. Geological Survey, 2008) and 

hydrographer records typically included comments about 

suspected anthropogenic activities that might affect the 

streamflow. These activities included information about 

regulation, diversion, irrigation, and sewage effluent discharge. 

Groundwater withdrawals in the drainage basin were difficult 

to document because of scarce historical groundwater-use data 

availability in Oklahoma (Robert L. Tortorelli, U.S. Geological Survey, oral commun., August 2008). In addition, some 

comments were subjective because of the inconsistency with 

which a hydrographer might choose to document observations pertaining to human activities in the basin. A preliminary 

least-altered period was determined for each station on the 

basis of evaluation of all available historical information. 

If substantial anthropogenic activity began from a known 

date during the period of record, then the period before that 

date was considered for the preliminary least-altered period. 

For example, authors of previous publications consider a basin 

to be substantially regulated if 20 percent or more was affected 

by regulation (Heimann and Tortorelli, 1988, Tortorelli 2002; 

Lewis and Esralew, 2009). This criterion was used to eliminate 

nonbaseline years from the period of record that could not be 

considered least-altered or eliminate stations that did not have 

a least-altered period suitable for a baseline period. If less than 

10 years of streamflow record for a given station were not substantially affected by anthropogenic activity, then all data from 

the station was eliminated from consideration as a baseline 

period. Quality rankings were assigned for each preliminary 

least-altered period on the basis of professional judgment.

The methods for this step are limited to use of available 

historical information in record notes. Examples of anthropogenic activities in Oklahoma that may affect streamflow 

but may not have been documented in the historical record 

include regional irrigation and other agricultural activities 

(Tortorelli, 2009), water-use for shale-gas well hydraulic 

fracturing (Schein, 2008), and clear-cutting from logging 

operations in southeastern Oklahoma (Howell and Johnson, 

2003). Although water-use assessments for Oklahoma were 

reported in previous studies by 4-digit HU, by major aquifer, 

and on a statewide basis (Tortorelli, 2009), historical water-use 

estimates are not well documented at the drainage-basin level. 

Incorporation of this information into the least-altered period 

determination process was 

beyond the scope of this report; however, further investigation into historical water-use at the drainage-basin level 

may be useful for refinement of the least-altered period of 

record.
Methods Used to Determine the Baseline Period of Record 7

A. Analyses of historical station and basin information from various publications

B. Evaluation of basin regulation and estimation of percentage of drainage basin upstream from dams 

C1. Analysis of visual trends in annual base flow, runoff, 

total flow, and base-flow index

C2. Analysis of the start date (breakpoint year) of trends in annual flow parameters by using double-mass analysis

C3. Analysis of trends before and after breakpoint year by using Kendall’s tau analysis

Determine suspected degree of 

alteration from regulation, diversion, 

withdrawal, effluent, and land use

Determine suspected degree of 

alteration from regulation only, and 

refine baseline periods from step A

Identify visual trends in annual 

flow that are associated with 

human alteration

Determine if and when trend in 

annual streamflow started if visual 

trends were identified from step C1

Determine if trend is statistically 

significant before and after 

breakpoint years identified in step C2

Eliminate nonbaseline years 

and define preliminary leastaltered period of record

Assign preliminary quality rank

Eliminate nonbaseline years 

and refine preliminary leastaltered period of record

Determine if station needs to be 

analyzed in step C2 or C3

Determine years of analysis for 

step C3

Table 1

1. Determination 

of least-altered 

period of record

2. Determination 

of optimum 

minimum period 

of record to 

represent 

climate 

variability

A. Determine the optimum minimum number of years of record for each climate division by comparing variability in annual precipitation for selected shorter periods to the annual precipitation during the period 1925–2007

A. Compare the annual precipitation during the leastaltered period of record to annual precipitation during the period 1925–2007 for the climate division in which that station is located

Determine a sufficient record length 

to provide a representative sample 

of streamflow during extremes of 

climate variability and determine if a 

different minimum number of years 

is needed for stations in different 

climate divisions

Ensure that the least-altered 

period of record has a sufficient 

length to provide a 

representative sample of 

streamflow during extremes of 

climate variability

Determine an optimum minimum 

number of years for stations in 

each climate division

Lower the quality rank if the leastaltered period of record is less 

than the optimum record length

Assign a quality rank of “no 

baseline period” for gages where 

annual precipitation is statistically 

different from the period 1925–

2007 at a p-value of 0.05

Table 3

Table 4

Table 5

Phase Step of Process Purpose Results Table of Results

2 elbaT 2 elbaT 2 elbaT

Eliminate nonbaseline years 

and refine preliminary leastaltered period of record

Table 6

Table 7

Refine preliminary quality rank

Refine preliminary quality rank

Figure 2. Overview of processes used to determine the baseline period of record for selected streamflow-gaging stations. 
8 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma

Evaluation of Basin Regulation to Eliminate 

Nonbaseline Years and Refine Preliminary LeastAltered Periods

The purpose of this step was to further evaluate the extent 

of regulation in the drainage basins for stations that were 

analyzed in the previous step. Although previous publications 

identified whether or not streamflow at a station was regulated 

by dams affecting 20 percent or more of the drainage basin, 

(Heimann and Tortorelli, 1988; Tortorelli, 2002; Lewis and 

Esralew, 2009), or 10 percent or more of the basin (Long and 

others, 2004), little was documented regarding less extensive 

(minor) regulation in the basin. Even minor regulation from 

dams and other impoundments may affect the streamflow 

regime depending on the rate of withdrawals and management 

of releases. The extent of regulation, as indicated by the number of dams in the drainage basin, was analyzed for stations 

that had at least 10 years of least-altered continuous streamflow record as determined from the previous step. For these 

stations, each drainage basin was delineated by using ArcInfo 

software (Environmental Systems Research Institute, Incorporated, 2007). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National 

Inventory of Dams (NID) (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

2008) and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board Oklahoma 

Water Atlas (Vance, 2007) were used to locate dams in the 

drainage basin. Uses for these dams include flood control, 

public-water supply, hydropower, recreation, and agricultural 

uses (irrigation supply and farm impoundments). The drainage 

area upstream from the dams was determined and the percentage of the total drainage area for the station that was affected 

by dams was calculated. Only dams with certain characteristics were considered in the analysis. Dams were considered 

in this analysis if the dams had (1) an upstream drainage area 

of at least 9,700 square feet, (2) were classified as (a) a dam 

with high or substantial hazard potential, (b) were classified 

as a dam with a low-hazard potential that exceeds 25 feet in 

height and 15 acre-feet storage or (c) were classified as a dam 

with low-hazard potential that exceeds 50 acre-feet storage 

and is at least 6 feet high, (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

2008), and (3) had a documented year of completion. The dam 

locations were verified by using National Agriculture Imagery 

Program (NAIP) 2003 or 2006 color aerial photography (U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, 2008) and U.S. Geological Survey 

7.5-minute, 1:24,000 scale topographic map quadrangles (U.S. 

Geological Survey, 2009b). 

Many small farm impoundments are constructed for 

domestic or small-scale use. The dams that form these 

impoundments were often difficult to locate, or were not on 

drainages that met the size requirement for accurate delineation, and were omitted from analysis. Therefore, estimates 

of area upstream from dams presented in this report most 

likely underestimate the total drainage area affected by 

regulation. However, the drainage area upstream from farm 

impoundments is typically small when compared to the total 

drainage area upstream from the stations in this report. The 

farm impoundments in drainage areas of stations that were 

KANSAS

7 8 9

1

1

1

2

2 3

4

4

4

4 5

6

7

7

8 9

HIGH PLAINS

EAST TEXAS

NORTH CENTRAL

CENTRAL

SOUTHWEST SOUTHEAST

WEST OZARKS

NORTHEAST

SOUTH CENTRAL

PANHANDLE

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHEAST

SOUTH

CENTRAL

NORTH CENTRAL

NORTHWEST

LOW

ROLLING

PLAINS

EAST

CENTRAL WEST

CENTRAL

SOUTHWEST

WEST

CENTRAL ARKANSAS

OKLAHOMA

KANSAS

TEXAS

MISSOURI

NEW MEXICO

COLORADO

3

A

Climate Divisions used in report

Climate Division code and name

(National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration, 2009)

OK-9

SOUTHEAST

EXPLANATION

State boundary

Figure 3. National Weather Service Climate Divisions used in annual precipitation analysis. 
Methods Used to Determine the Baseline Period of Record 9

considered in this analysis (farm impoundments that could be 

located and met the drainage area requirements for delineation) had drainage-basin areas that ranged from 0.25 acre to 14 

square miles, and had an average drainage area of 0.7 square 

mile. The average drainage area for stations considered for this 

step was 559 square miles.

The year that a dam was completed was used to construct a time-series plot of drainage area upstream from dams. 

Nested dams, or dams that are upstream from other dams, 

were not included in the computation if the year of completion 

of the nested dam was after that of a dam that was downstream. As an example, figure 3 shows the percentage of the 

drainage area at Washita River near Clinton (07325000) that 

was affected by impoundment with time. 

The least-altered period was refined from the previous 

steps by either (1) excluding years in which the drainage areas 

upstream from dams ranged from 1 percent to 20 percent of 

the drainage area if at least 10 years of streamflow record 

remained after the years were excluded, or (2) modification of 

the quality rank for the least-altered period. 

Streamflow record in which more than 20 percent of the 

drainage area was upstream from dams was removed from 

consideration for the least-altered period and if less than 10 

years remained, then the streamflow record for the station was 

not considered suitable as a baseline period. Visual inflections 

in the plots of drainage area upstream from dams with time 

were used to locate a time period in which increases in the 

area upstream from dams were visually prominent. This analysis was done for stations that had 10 or more years of streamflow record in which regulation affected less than 20 percent 

of the drainage area. The year prior to the inflection point was 

used as the end year for the new least-altered period. If the 

percentage of the drainage area upstream from dams was gradual with time, an incremental procedure was used. The year 

prior to the year when 10, 15, or 20 percent of the drainage 

basin was upstream from dams was selected as the end year 

for the new least-altered period. A preference was given to 

lower percentages of drainage area upstream from dams, if the 

resulting streamflow record length after data elimination was 

at least 10 years. Drainage basins in which less than 1 percent 

of the drainage area was upstream from dams were assumed 

to have no notable regulation and remarks were noted (table 2, 

back of report). Drainage basins in which less than 5 percent 

of the drainage area was upstream from dams were considered 

to have minor regulation. However, the least-altered period 

was not reduced on the basis of this criteria. Instead, the quality ranking was adjusted. This approach was used to avoid 

excessive elimination of least-altered years based on a minor 

amount of regulation.

The preliminary quality ranking was adjusted on the 

basis of the degree of alteration indicated by historical records 

and the extent of the drainage area upstream from dams. The 

remaining period of record was re-assessed to determine if a 

known alteration from historical information was indicated 

from the previous step of the analysis. If no known alteration was indicated during the remaining period, the following 

procedures were used to determine the preliminary quality 

ranking: (1) if the resulting least-altered period for a station 

included a period in which 1 to 5 percent of the drainage area 

was upstream from dams, then the quality rank was changed 

to “good”, (2) if the drainage area upstream from dams was 

between 5 and 10 percent it was changed to “fair”, or (3) if 

the drainage area upstream from dams affected an area greater 

than 10 percent and less than 20 percent of the drainage basin, 

the rank was changed to “poor”. 

The quality rank was adjusted by using professional 

judgment for stations in which streamflow record elimination was performed and additional indications of alteration 

were apparent from historical information. For example, if the 

remarks from the previous step pertained to regulation (such 

as diversions for water supply), then the quality rank was 

not adjusted again. Some periods of streamflow record were 

eliminated from further consideration because of substantial 

historical alteration not related to regulation (such as groundwater pumping or sewage effluent). 

An example of this procedure is demonstrated for 

Washita River near Clinton, with a period of record of 1936–

2007 (fig. 4). Previous publications and historical information 

indicate that this station has been regulated by Foss Reservoir 

since 1961 (Lewis and Esralew, 2009). Prior to 1961, streamflow at the station was regulated by many upstream floodwater-retarding structures that affected less than 20 percent of the 

drainage area (Heimann and Tortorelli, 1988; Tortorelli, 2002; 

Lewis and Esralew, 2009), but the extent of this regulation 

was unavailable in existing documentation. The drainage area 

consists of more than 1 percent drainage area upstream from 

dams since 1931, more than 5 percent drainage area upstream 

from dams since 1952, more than 10 percent drainage area 

upstream from dams since 1956, and a little less than 20 percent drainage area upstream from dams since 1960 just prior to 

the construction of Foss Reservoir. The change from 1 percent 

to less than 20 percent drainage area upstream from dams 

represents a gradual increase with time. Because at least 10 

years of streamflow record were available in which less than 

10 percent of the drainage area was upstream from dams, the 

least-altered period was reduced to the period prior to 1956. 

As a result, the preliminary least-altered period for this station 

was 1936–1955, and the quality rank was assigned as “fair”.

Visual Trend Analysis and Double-Mass Analysis 

of Annual Streamflow to Eliminate Nonbaseline 

Years and Refine Preliminary Least-Altered 

Period

Additional analysis of annual streamflow record was used 

to test whether the qualitative indicators of alteration determined in previous steps had an observable effect on the annual 

streamflow regime. In order to further eliminate nonbaseline 

years and better define the least-altered period, a statistical 

approach was used for selected streams to detect if substantial 

changes in annual streamflow patterns might be associated 
10 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma

ashita River near Clinton, Oklahoma, (station ID Delineated areas upstream from dams in the basin draining to the U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station, W Figure 4.

07325000) as of (A) 1950, (B) 1956, (C) 1960, and (D) the percentage of the drainage basin upstream from dams with time. 

0 4 8 2 Miles

0 10 20 5 Kilometers

#* !

!

!

!

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!

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!!

! ! !!

! !

! !!!

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1960

0 4 8 2 Miles

0 10 20 5 Kilometers

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0 4 8 2 Miles

0 10 20 5 Kilometers

#*

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A

1950

B

1956

C

0

908070605040302010

100

1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980

Foss Reservoir

constructed 1961

Year

Percentage of drainage basin upstream from

dams

EXPLANATION

Delineated areas upstream from damsWashita River drainage basinStreams

#* USGS Streamflow-gaging station (Washita River near Clinton, Okla.)

!

D

Streamflow-gaging

station at Washita River

near Clinton, Okla.

Washita River Drainage Basin

#*

Drainage-basin boundary for Washita River near Clinton, Okla. (USGS station ID 07325000)

Study area boundary

State boundary

Foss Reservoir

Dam location
Methods Used to Determine the Baseline Period of Record 11

with anthropogenic activity during the preliminary leastaltered periods. This analysis was used to detect any additional 

changes in the basin during the preliminary least-altered 

period that were not accounted for in historical information 

or the analysis of the extent of regulation as indicated by the 

number of dams in the drainage basin. 

Statistical trend analysis of annual base flow in inches, 

annual total flow in inches, annual runoff in inches, and annual 

base-flow index (the ratio of base flow to total flow) was used. 

Trends in annual base flow, runoff, total flow, and base-flow 

index may indicate large-scale anthropogenic alteration to a 

stream or in a drainage basin. Downward trends in base flow, 

runoff, and total flow might indicate that direct surface-water 

withdrawals are increasing in the basin. Downward trends 

in base flow also may indicate that the magnitude and extent 

of groundwater withdrawals are increasing in the basin. An 

upward or downward trend in base-flow index may indicate 

an increase in surface-water or groundwater withdrawals, or 

a change in the way that water is being withdrawn. Upward 

trends in base flow and base-flow index may indicate that 

streams are receiving irrigation returns, or that infiltration is 

increasing in the basin. Infiltration in the drainage basin may 

happen because of an increasing number of impoundments 

in the drainage basin that may induce recharge, or because 

of increasing precipitation in the drainage basin caused by 

climate change. 

Visual Trend Analysis and Selection of Stations for Further 

Statistical Analysis

Annual base flow, runoff, total flow, and base-flow index 

were calculated from daily mean streamflow record by using 

the Base-Flow Index program (Institute of Hydrology, 1980; 

Wahl and Wahl, 1995). Annual plots of these parameters for 

stations that had at least 20 years of streamflow record were 

created and visually analyzed to identify potential changes 

in streamflow. If a noticeable change in any of the annual 

streamflow parameters were detected, then the station was 

further considered for statistical trend analysis. If no noticeable change in annual streamflow parameters were detected, 

then an assumption was made that there would be no statistical 

trend; therefore, a statistical trend test was not performed. This 

assumption was made to reduce the need to perform statistical 

analysis on data from a large number of stations and increase 

efficiency of the analysis procedures.

Even though 10 years of streamflow record can be considered adequate for a baseline period, for this report, 10 years 

was not considered an adequate streamflow record length to 

draw conclusions from trends caused by anthropogenic activities during the least-altered period. Usage of only 10 years of 

streamflow record in visual and statistical time-based trend 

analysis may be misleading because of insufficient data. For 

example, if a 10-year period contains a climate cycle that 

includes wet and dry periods, but starts in a dry period and 

ends in a wet period, this cycle may be mistaken for a trend 

caused by human activities rather than climate. For these 

reasons, 20 years of streamflow record were selected as a 

minimum number of years for visual trend analysis. If less 

than 20 years of streamflow data were available prior to the 

start of substantial regulation or known irrigation (Wahl and 

Tortorelli, 1997), visual trend analysis was not performed. If 

the station had 20 years or more of streamflow data available 

prior to the start of substantial regulation or irrigation, only 

those 20 years or more of data were analyzed.

Upward trends observed from inspection of data plots at 

many stations indicated that base flow and runoff increased 

in the early to mid-1980s. Concensus from literature and 

precipitation data from the early to mid-1980s to around the 

year 2000, indicated much of the state experienced an unprecedented wet period (Garbrecht and Schneider 2007; Oklahoma 

Climatological Survey, 2007; Oklahoma Water Resources 

Board, 2007). For this report, the period between 1980 and 

2000 is referred to as the “wet period” with respect to annual 

precipitation. An observed upward trend in base flow, runoff, 

or total flow, or any observed trend in base-flow index, during 

this the wet period was assumed to be caused by climate rather 

than anthropogenic activity. In this case, the span of the leastaltered period was not reduced, and further analysis was not 

needed to refine the least-altered period. 

Analysis of Covariance of Double-Mass Curves

Analysis of covariance of double-mass curves (Searcy 

and Hardison, 1960) was used as an additional tool to determine whether changes in streamflow characteristics, not 

related to climate variability, could be detected. A doublemass curve is a 2-dimensional linear plot of the cumulative 

data value of one variable over the cumulative data value of 

a second variable during coincident years (fig. 5). For this 

analysis, annual streamflow (annual base flow, annual runoff, 

and annual total flow) at the test station was plotted along the 

x-axis, and annual precipitation, during the same year, was 

plotted along the y-axis. 

An abrupt change in the slope of the double-mass curve, 

referred to as a “breakpoint,” indicates a change in hydrologic 

conditions at the test station and the year of breakpoint can be 

interpreted as an appropriate end of the least-altered period. 

An assumption was made that a change in the relation between 

streamflow and precipitation at the test station is observed 

when plotted as a double-mass curve, that the change is caused 

by anthropogenic alteration of streamflow and not caused by a 

change or trend in climate. On the basis of these assumptions, 

a change in the streamflow trend with time may be caused by 

anthropogenic activity that has led to increased alteration of 

the streamflow regime.

Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) of double-mass 

curves was performed for stations in which trends were 

visually detected that may be associated with anthropogenic 

activity. ANCOVA was used to test the significance of potential breakpoints on each double-mass curve, as described in 

Searcy and Hardison (1960). In this method, a variance-ratio 

test (or “F-test”) (Snedecor, 1934) is used to determine the 

probability (p) that the null hypothesis of no difference among 

slopes of the line segments before and after the breakpoint can 
12 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma

be rejected with a critical p-value less than or equal to 0.05. 

Searcy and Hardison (1960) reported that the ANCOVA test 

can be applied after visually inspecting the double-mass curve 

to identify possible breakpoints. 

Esralew and Baker (2008) reported that a minor breakpoint in the double-mass plot may be easy to overlook and 

may only identify those breakpoints that are the most visually 

evident. Visually evident breakpoints may not be the same as 

the breakpoint with the largest F-value, so a visually evident 

breakpoint may not be the strongest statistical breakpoint. 

Therefore, all points on each double-mass curve were tested 

as potential breakpoints, and slopes of the line segments 

Figure 5. Example of (A) a time series plot of annual runoff and a Friedman’s smooth trendline (Friedman, 1984), and (B) a doublemass curve for cumulative annual precipitation and cumulative annual runoff at Cimarron River near Kenton, Oklahoma, (USGS station 

identifier 07154500) showing breakpoints that indicate changes in the slope of the relation between precipitation and streamflow.

0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,20

1950 1970 1990 2010

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

A

B

Year

Annual runoff, in inches Cumluative annual runoff, in inches

Cumulative annual precipitation, in inches

Cumulative Annual Runoff, in inches

Statistically Significant Breakpoints at p = 0.05

Friedman’s Smooth Line

1956–1990

Breakpoint with Maximum 

F-Value of 14.2 (1968)
Methods Used to Determine the Baseline Period of Record 13

before and after each point were compared. This step facilitated the interpretation of breakpoints that are not evident 

visually as single points but as gradual changes in slope. This 

interpretation may indicate, for example, which changes such 

as increases in farm impoundments or other basin irrigation 

activities are gradually altering streamflow characteristics.

Limitations apply to this approach that warrant careful 

consideration of the results from ANCOVA tests, which is 

discussed in Wigbout (1973). One notable limitation is the 

F-test is sensitive to variability (scatter) in each of the two 

line segments. The F-test compares the variability in annual 

streamflow among periods to the variability in annual streamflow in periods so comparing line segments with high coefficients of determination (R2

) may lead to the designation of a 

minor inflection in slope as significant (Searcy and Hardison, 

1960; Wigbout, 1973; Esralew and Baker, 2008). Therefore, 

in addition to significance as determined by ANCOVA, visual 

inspection of double-mass curves, such as visual evaluation 

of slope changes and breakpoint prominence, were used to 

determine whether substantial changes in streamflow were 

indicated in years in which a breakpoint was identified. 

Double-mass curves were created to relate annual baseflow, annual total-flow, and annual runoff to annual precipitation for the climate division for each station selected for analysis. Double-mass analysis was not performed for base-flow 

index data because the units (unitless ratio) are not the same as 

that for annual precipitation. All years in which the ANCOVA 

critical F-value (p=0.05 significance level) was exceeded were 

identified as possible breakpoints for each double-mass curve. 

Breakpoints were visually examined to determine whether 

statistically significant breakpoints most likely represented 

substantial changes in the annual streamflow parameter being 

evaluated. 

When the double-mass method was selected to analyze 

changes in streamflow, an assumption was made that breakpoint years would be detected only when the relation between 

streamflow and precipitation measurably changed. Even 

though this assumption would only highlight those trends that 

are not related to changes in climate, this assumption was not 

always appropriate. Preliminary observations indicated that 

some upward trends in cumulative annual streamflow may 

be detected in the double-mass analysis at the start of the wet 

period. The relation between precipitation and runoff is not 

necessarily linear. A nonlinear relation between cumulative 

annual streamflow and cumulative annual precipitation may be 

caused by changes in the duration and frequency of precipitation during wetter periods compared to drier periods or by 

increases in base flow from recharge as a result of a series 

of years with above-normal precipitation. This nonlinearity of the relation between precipitation and streamflow may 

result in statistically significant breakpoints. These changes 

in precipitation would not always be apparent when plotting 

annual precipitation. Therefore, if the breakpoint years showed 

an increase in base flow, runoff, or total flow starting in the 

early to mid-1980s, which is likely associated with increased 

precipitation during the wet period, then an assumption was 

made that the breakpoint was likely associated with changes 

in climate and not anthropogenic activity; no further statistical analysis was performed for that station. Further analysis of 

significant trends in annual streamflow adjusted for changes in 

precipitation would help to evaluate whether trends in streamflow are associated with climate (Esralew and Lewis, 2010).

Kendall’s Tau Analysis

In the previous step of the analysis, suspected breakpoints 

were determined that might be used to eliminate nonbaseline 

years and refine the least-altered period. Stations that had 

breakpoints detected from double-mass analysis assumed to be 

related to anthropogenic activity (and not because of the wet 

period) were further analyzed to calculate trends in streamflow 

during the least-altered period by using a Kendall’s tau test. 

Kendall’s tau test is a nonparametric statistical test that 

can be used to indicate the likelihood of an upward or downward trend with time. Information about the Kendall’s tau 

test can be found in Sen (1968) and Kendall and Gibbons 

(1990). This test is effective for identifying trends in streamflow because extreme data points or skewness in the data 

have a minimal effect on the outcome of the trend analysis 

(Helsel and Hirsch, 1992). Kendall’s tau test also was used to 

analyze trends in peak flow and mean annual streamflow by 

Tortorelli and others (2005), the base flow, runoff, and total 

flow of selected stations in the Beaver/North Canadian Basin 

(Wahl and Tortorelli, 1997) and the North Fork Red River 

Basin (Smith and Wahl, 2003), and base flow, total flow, and 

base-flow index for selected stations throughout Oklahoma 

with long-term streamflow record (Esralew and Lewis, 2010). 

Tau is a dimensionless measure of the correlation between 

the annual streamflow parameter and time (year), in which 

positive and negative signs indicate the direction of the trend. 

A trend is considered to be statistically significant if the null 

hypothesis of no trend in streamflow with time is rejected. The 

critical probability (p-value) for rejection of the null hypothesis is set at 0.05 for this report. The trend slope is a measure 

of the magnitude of the trend and was computed by using Sen 

slope estimator (Sen, 1968; Helsel and Hirsch, 1992). 

The Kendall’s tau test was run for annual base flow, 

annual runoff, and annual total flow for the period of record 

or the preliminary least-altered period, and for periods before 

and after suspected breakpoints determined from the doublemass analysis. Periods before and after suspected breakpoints 

that were identified for further analysis from the double-mass 

procedure are referred to in this report as “sub-periods”. The 

Kendall’s tau test was used to identify additional trends in 

streamflow remaining during the sub-periods of record to 

refine the least-altered period. Kendall’s tau also was calculated for base-flow index data for all sub-periods.

At least 15 years of streamflow record in the sub-periods 

tested were required to run the test to minimize the possibility that trends determined from the Kendall’s tau test were not 

because of climate fluctuations. This minimum required period 

was reduced from 20 years (used for the visual trend analysis), 
14 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma

because many of the sub-periods identified from the doublemass analysis were less than 20 years. 

Trends detected during any sub-period were used to 

determine if that period of record should be retained for 

consideration as the least-altered period, whether to reduce the 

quality rank of the least-altered period, or whether the station 

does not have a suitable least-altered period. A statistically 

significant trend detected in streamflow during the preliminary 

least-altered period (as identified from steps A and B, fig. 2) 

not related to climate would indicate that an anthropogenic 

change may have affected streamflow. 

The longest period of record prior to a breakpoint year 

that did not result in a statistically significant trend because of 

the Kendall’s tau test was selected as a potential least-altered 

period for each streamflow parameter. Then the shortest 

potential least-altered period for all streamflow parameters 

was selected as the final least-altered period. For example, if 

the longest period of record prior to a breakpoint year that did 

not result in a statistically significant trend was 1939–1969 for 

base-flow index and 1939–1965 for base flow, then 1939–

1965, the shorter of the two periods, was selected as the final 

least-altered period. 

Quality ranks were adjusted only if a lesser degree of 

regulation or other anthropogenic activity (determined from 

steps A and B of phase 1) during a new shortened least-altered 

period was determined from this analysis. For example, if a 

station with a period of record from 1945–2007 was affected 

by minor wastewater effluent since 1985 that resulted in a 

quality ranking of “fair”, but the new least-altered period 

determined from this phase was 1945–1982, then the quality 

ranking would be adjusted to “excellent”. 

The statistical procedures described were used to eliminate nonbaseline years from the preliminary least-altered 

period. However, because changes in annual streamflow 

parameters only represent selected elements of the streamflow regime, a substantially altered period of record may 

be overlooked by the trend analysis procedures used in this 

report if anthropogenic activities do not have a visible effect 

on annual streamflow parameters. For example, some anthropogenic activities such as in-stream diversions or increases in 

impervious surface may affect the timing or rate of streamflow 

change, which may not necessarily change the total annual 

streamflow volume. Because of these limitations, the number 

of years in the least-altered period of record determined from 

previous steps were not increased if no statistical changes 

could be detected by using the methods described. This conservative assumption was used to decrease the likelihood that a 

substantially altered period of record would be designated as a 

baseline period.

Several previous publications used similar procedures to 

assess trends in base flow and total flow. Wahl and Tortorelli 

(1997) performed a Kendall’s tau trend analysis for selected 

stations in the Beaver-North Canadian River Basin upstream 

from Canton Lake, and Smith and Wahl (2003) performed a 

Kendall’s tau trend analysis for selected stations in the North 

Fork Red River Basin. The degree of alteration because of 

irrigation activities for stations in those basins was determined 

in both studies. Trend analysis was still performed for these 

stations in this report because the years of analysis were different than those years used in both studies. 

Determination of Optimum Minimum Period of 

Record to Represent Climate Variability

An analysis was performed to determine the minimum 

number of years of precipitation record needed to accurately 

represent climate variability during 1925–2007. Durations of 5 

to 35 years were evaluated for each of the 20 climate divisions 

that contained stations selected for analysis (fig. 3). 

The period 1925–2007 was divided into overlapping 

moving sub-periods of 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25- and 35-year 

periods for each climate division. For example, for 10-year 

periods, the period 1925–2007 was broken up into periods of 

1925–1934, 1926–1935, 1927–1936 and so on. The distribution of annual precipitation was compared for each consecutive overlapping 5-year period to the period 1925–2007 by 

using a Wilcoxon rank-sum test (Wilcoxon, 1945), for each 

climate division. The test was repeated for the remaining 10-, 

15-, 20-, 25-, and 35-year periods. 

The null hypothesis specified no difference in the distribution of annual precipitation of the sub-period and the period 

1925–2007. A p-value was calculated from the Wilcoxon 

rank-sum test. The results of this test indicate the probability 

that a difference exists in the distribution of annual precipitation between the two periods, with the critical p-value set at 

less than or equal to 0.05. The optimum minimum period of 

record for each climate division was defined as the shortest 

sub-period for which the null hypothesis was not rejected for 

any of the overlapping sub-periods.

Annual rainfall is dominated by relatively consistent 

alternating periods of wet and dry that typically last 5 to 

10 years, but from the early 1980s to around the year 2000, 

Oklahoma experienced an unprecedented wet period (Garbrecht and Schneider 2007; Oklahoma Water Resources Board, 

2007). Recent and historical data indicate that hydrologic 

droughts in Oklahoma occurred in water years 1929–1941, 

1952–1956, 1961–1972, 1976–1981, and most recently 2006 

(Tortorelli and others, 2005; Oklahoma Water Resources 

Board, 2007). In addition, characteristics of typical climate 

variability including the wet period may be different depending on climate division (Garbrecht and Schneider, 2007).

The optimum minimum period of record was defined separately for sub-periods starting or mostly ongoing in the wet 

period, and sub-periods starting in the historically normal climate period (prior to 1980). This procedure was used to reflect 

the likelihood that the period from the early 1980s to the year 

2000 was an uncharacteristically wet period when compared 

to earlier years. Statistical rejections for 5- and 10-year subperiods were tallied separately for sub-periods starting in 1925 

through 1980, and sub-periods starting in 1981 through 2007. 

The cut-off year for defining the wet period started in 1970 for 
Determination of the Baseline Period of Record 15

the 15-, 20-, and 25-year sub-periods. A wet-period analysis 

was not performed separately for the 35-year periods. 

The optimum minimum number of years for a baseline 

period was identified for each station by comparing the leastaltered period to the minimum number of years determined for 

the climate division in which the station was located. Streamflow during least-altered periods of record with 50 percent 

or more of the years after 1980 were considered to be substantially affected by the wet period. The optimum minimum 

number of years for a baseline period determined for the wet 

period was applied to stations in which the least-altered period 

met this criteria. The quality ranking was lowered by one level 

(for example a “fair” baseline period would be reduced to a 

“poor” baseline period) for stations that had less than the optimum minimum number of years of streamflow record for a 

baseline period. If the least-altered period was already “poor”, 

the quality ranking was not changed. 

The Wilcoxon rank-sum test also was run for annual 

precipitation for the least-altered period for each station 

compared to a long-term period, 1925–2007, for the same 

climate division. This procedure was used to determine if the 

least-altered period determined from the previous steps was 

adequate enough in length and happened during an appropriate 

time period to be representative of annual climate variability.

If the p-value was at or below the critical value of 0.05, 

the null hypothesis of a representative period of record was 

rejected and the station was considered not to have a suitable 

baseline period for use in modeling applications. If the p-value 

was at or below a critical value of 0.1, the quality ranking for 

the baseline period was reduced to “poor”. Stations that were 

already previously ranked “poor” were not removed from 

consideration.

Determination of the Baseline Period 

of Record

Least-Altered Period of Record

One hundred and seventy-one stations were initially 

considered in the first step of the least-altered period selection 

process. Table 1 (back of report) lists the known anthropogenic 

alteration determined from historical information. The table 

also lists the preliminary quality ranking for the station, which 

was assigned by using professional judgment, on the basis 

of the historical information pertaining to human alteration 

determined for each station. Fifty-five stations were eliminated 

during this step of the analysis from further consideration in 

the baseline period analysis because of substantial alteration. 

If a station was eliminated from consideration, the baseline 

quality rank was marked “no baseline period” (table 1).

One hundred and sixteen stations that had 10 years of 

least-altered streamflow record as determined from the first 

step of the process to determine the least-altered period of 

record (phase 1, step A, fig. 2) were considered in the second 

step of the process (phase 1, step B, fig. 2) and are listed in 

table 2 (back of report). One station, Gaines Creek near Krebs 

(07232000) with a preliminary quality rank of “excellent” 

from the previous step, could not be analyzed during the second step because the station was inundated by Lake Eufala and 

digital drainage information was unavailable (accurate delineations could not be performed). An assumption was made that 

regulation of streamflow at this station prior to the completion 

of Lake Eufala was negligible. The table lists the year that 1, 

5, 10, and 20 percent regulation by dams were reached for the 

station during the full period of record and lists the quality 

rank adjustment that was assigned for the degree of regulation. 

The preliminary baseline period for 20 stations was reduced 

and the quality ranking for 73 stations was changed because 

of the second step of the least-altered period of record analysis 

(phase 1, step B, fig. 2). The quality ranking for two stations 

were changed to “no baseline period”. The quality ranking for 

Illinois River at Savoy (07194800), in which about 19 percent 

of the drainage area was affected by regulation for the period 

of record, was changed to “no baseline period.” The quality 

ranking for Salt Fork Red River near Elmer (07301110) was 

changed from “poor” to “no baseline period” because streamflow is likely affected by substantial anthropogenic activity. 

More than 15 percent of the drainage basin was affected by 

regulation for the period of record and historical station notes 

indicated that streamflow was affected by irrigation returns.

Of 114 stations that had a preliminary least-altered 

period from the second step of the least-altered period analysis 

(phase 1, step B, fig. 2), 74 stations with 20 or more years of 

streamflow record prior to the start of substantial regulation or 

known irrigation (Wahl and Tortorelli, 1997) were analyzed 

for visual trends in annual base flow, runoff, total flow, and 

base-flow index (table 3, back of report) as part of the third 

step of the process (phase 1, step C1, fig. 2). Only data from 

the years prior to substantial regulation or irrigation were analyzed. Visual inspection revealed that 31 stations had detectable and directional trends in some or all four streamflow 

parameters during the period of streamflow record prior to 

substantial regulation. Of those stations, the upward trends in 

some or all annual streamflow parameters or upward or downward trends in base-flow index at 22 stations were likely associated with the start of the wet period in the early 1980s and an 

assumption was made that the visual trends were not because 

of anthropogenic activities such as diversions, withdrawals, 

regulation, or effluent at these stations. Visual trends were 

detected during the analysis period for 12 stations for some or 

all streamflow parameters that were assumed to be unassociated with the wet period. A substantial gap in the least-altered 

period was identified for Salt Fork Arkansas River near Alva 

(07148400) (29 years). Double-mass and Kendall’s tau tests 

could not be used to analyze the full dataset because of the 

streamflow record gap. For this station, base flow was generally higher and runoff was generally lower for the earlier 

period 1939–1951 than the later period, which indicates that 

the cause of the trend occurred from 1951–1979; therefore, 
16 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma

1939–1951 was assumed to be the least-altered period without 

further analysis. 

Analysis of covariance of double-mass curves were performed for 11 stations identified for analysis from the previous 

step (phase 1, step C2, fig. 2). Table 4 (back of report) shows 

the results of the double-mass analysis, including statistically significant breakpoint years in which the analysis of 

covariance and visual interpretation of the results indicated 

a substantial change in the rate of change of the annual flow 

parameter relative to precipitation. For each station, the likelihood that the breakpoint year or years associated with the start 

of the wet period was determined (table 4). Of 11 stations in 

which the double-mass test was run, 9 stations were selected 

for further analysis by using the Kendall’s tau test (phase 1, 

step C3, fig. 2).

Results are listed in table 5 (back of report) for the 

Kendall’s tau test for stations in which the test was performed 

and changes to the least-altered period resulting from this 

analysis. The quality ranking for Clear Creek near Elmwood 

(07234100) was changed from “poor” to “no baseline period” 

because significant downward trends in total flow and runoff 

were detected during the full period of record, 1966–1993, 

and the period before the breakpoint identified from doublemass analysis, 1974, was less than 10 years of streamflow 

record. Significant trends in base-flow index, total flow, or 

runoff were not detected for the period 1975–1993. This result 

supported the observation that a substantial change to the 

streamflow regime happened in mid-1970s. A similar result 

also was observed by Wahl and Tortorelli (1997), who noted 

that regional irrigation activities in the Beaver/North Canadian 

River Basin (which contains this drainage basin) substantially 

affect streamflow. The least-altered period and quality ranking 

also were adjusted for Medicine Lodge River near Kiowa, 

Kansas, (07149000). The end of the least-altered period, 1969, 

was changed to a year prior to when 5 percent, but after when 

1 percent, of the drainage basin was upstream from dams 

(1968), and resulted in a change in the quality ranking from 

“fair” to “good”.

Optimum Minimum Period of Record

The optimum minimum period of record for each climate 

division is listed in table 6. Results of the analysis indicated 

that optimum periods of record for climate divisions ranged 

from 10 to 35 years for the normal period (prior to 1980) and 

after the start of the wet period (1980). In general, during the 

period prior to the start of the wet period, stations in northeast 

Oklahoma and southwest Missouri, and stations in southwest 

Oklahoma, require a longer streamflow record than stations 

in other areas to include a climate that is representative of the 

longer period (fig. 6). In contrast, stations in central and southern Oklahoma and southwest Arkansas need more streamflow 

record after the start of the wet period compared with surrounding climate divisions. Stations located in many of the climate divisions had optimum minimum periods of record of 15 

or more years for periods of record that mostly occurred prior 

to the wet period, and 20 or more years of streamflow record 

for periods of record mostly occurring during the later wet 

period. Twenty-seven stations had quality rankings that were 

changed because of this phase of the analysis (phase 2, step A, 

fig. 2). Final quality rankings for each station because of this 

analysis are listed in table 7 (back of report). Stations that did 

not have a baseline period because of previous analyses are not 

listed in table 7.

Annual precipitation during the least-altered period for 

113 stations was compared to the period 1925–2007 to determine if the least-altered period happened during an appropriate 

time period to be representative of a annual climate variability 

(phase 2, step B, fig. 2). The least-altered periods for two stations, Sweetwater Creek near Sweetwater (07301420) and Salt 

Creek near Okeene (07158400), were removed from consideration as a baseline period because the critical p-value for 

annual precipitation for the least-altered period was less than 

or equal to 0.05 from the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Four other 

stations had p-values that were greater than 0.05 but were less 

than 0.1. Stahl Creek near Miller, Missouri, (07185500) and 

Spring River at LaRussell, Missouri, (07185700) had a baseline period initially ranked “excellent” from previous analysis, but were changed to “poor”. Washita River near Clinton, 

Oklahoma, (07325000) and Bird Creek at Avant, Oklahoma, 

(07176500) already had a preliminary least-altered period that 

was ranked “poor”, so the quality ranking was not changed for 

the baseline period because of this analysis.

Final Baseline Period

A final baseline period and quality ranking were determined for 111 stations (65 percent of stations analyzed). Of 

171 stations analyzed for a baseline period, a suitable baseline 

period for modeling applications could not be identified for 

60 stations (35 percent of stations analyzed). A baseline period 

could not be identified for 58 stations because of substantial 

anthropogenic alteration of the stream or drainage basin and 

for 2 stations because the least-altered period of record was 

not representative of annual climate variability. Table 7 (back 

of report) lists the baseline period determined for each station 

(if the station had a baseline period) and the associated quality 

ranking of the baseline period (fig. 7). Stations that do not 

have a baseline period are not listed in table 7. In figure 6, 

a quality ranking of “no baseline period” was assigned to 

stations from table 1 (back of report) that did not have a baseline period.

Baseline periods were rated as “excellent” for 22 stations, 

“good” for 42 stations, “fair” for 24 stations, and “poor” for 

23 stations. Out of 22 stations with baseline periods that were 

rated “excellent”, 12 stations were in southeastern Oklahoma 

(defined as tributaries that drain to the Red River downstream 

from Lake Texoma, fig. 7). No clear spatial patterns in the 

location of stations with baseline periods rated “good”, “fair” 

and “poor” were apparent. 
Determination of the Baseline Period of Record 17

Figure 6. Climate divisions used in the process to determine a baseline period of record for selected streamflow-gaging stations in and 

near Oklahoma, and the optimum minimum number of years of streamflow record needed for the baseline period for streamflow-gaging 

stations in those climate divisions, defined separately for gages located in each climate division for (A) periods of record where more 

than 50 percent of years occurred prior to 1980, the historically normal period, and (B) periods of record where more than 50 percent of 

years occurred after 1980s, the historically wet period.

EXPLANATION

0

100 200 400

MILES

0

50 100 200

KILOMETERS

Albers Equal Area Conic Projection

KANSAS

7 8 9

1

1

1

2

2 3

3

4

4

4

4 5

6

7

7

8 9

HIGH PLAINS

EAST TEXAS

NORTH CENTRAL

CENTRAL

SOUTHWEST SOUTHEAST

WEST OZARKS

NORTHEAST

SOUTH CENTRAL

PANHANDLE

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHEAST

SOUTH

CENTRAL

NORTH CENTRAL

NORTHWEST

LOW

ROLLING

PLAINS

EAST

CENTRAL WEST

CENTRAL

SOUTHWEST

WEST

CENTRAL

ARKANSAS OKLAHOMA

KANSAS

TEXAS

MISSOURI

NEW MEXICO

COLORADO

3

1

1

2

2 3

3

4

5

6

7

7

8 9

HIGH PLAINS

4 EAST TEXAS

NORTH CENTRAL

CENTRAL

7 SOUTHWEST 9 SOUTHEAST

NORTHEAST

1 PANHANDLE

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHEAST

SOUTH

CENTRAL

NORTH CENTRAL

NORTHWEST

LOW

ROLLING

PLAINS

EAST

CENTRAL 4

WEST

CENTRAL

WEST

CENTRAL

ARKANSAS OKLAHOMA

8 SOUTH CENTRAL

KANSAS

TEXAS

4 WEST OZARKS

MISSOURI

NEW MEXICO

COLORADO

3

SOUTHWEST

7

9

SOUTHERN Climate Division number and name

10 years

15 years

20 years

25 years

35 years

Climate Division boundaries and

optimum minimum number of years

of streamflow record for streamflowgaging stations in climate division

State boundary

A

B
18 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma

Selected USGS streamflow-gaging stations with a period of record of 10 or more years, and the final baseline period quality ranking for each station. Figure 7.

Albers Equal-Area Conic ProjectionNorth American Datum 1983

KANSAS

TEXAS

ARKANSAS

MISSOURI COLORADO

NEW

MEXICO

0 50 25 MILES0 50 KILOMETERS

100°

33°

97°

94° 103°

31°

Canadian

River

River

Red

River

Cimarron

Neosho

Verdigris

Arkansas

River

River River

Canadian

North

Washita

River

Salt

Fork

Caney

9

8 7

6

5

4

3

2

1

98

97

96

94

95

93

92 91

90

89

88 87

86

85

84

83

82

81

80

79

78

77 76

75

74

73

72

71

70

69

68 67

66

64

65 63

62

60

59

58 57

56 55

54

52

53

51

50

49

48 47

46

45

44

43

42

41

40

37

36

35

34 33

32

30

28

29

27

26

25

24 23 22 21

20

19

18

17

16

15

13

14

12

11

10

171

170

168

169

167

165

166

164

163

162

161 160

159

158

157

156

155

154

153

152

151

150 149

148

147

146

145

144

143

142

141 140

139 138

137

136

135

134

133

132 131

130

129

128

127

126

124

123

122

121

120

119

118

117

116 115

114

113

112

111

110

109

108

107

106

105

104

103

102

101

100

99

125

31

38

39

61

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

# ##

#

#

##

#

#

#

##

###

#

##

####

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

##

#

#

#

#

#

##

#

###

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

##

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

##

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

###

##

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

# #

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

Lake

Texoma

#

#

#

#

#

EXPLANATION

Study area boundary

State boundary

Arkansas-Red basin divide

Stream

USGS streamflow-gagingstations and number (table 7)

Final Baseline Period Quality Rank

# Good# Fair# Poor

# No Baseline Period

# Excellent 119

122

103

112

107
Summary 19

Baseline periods represented a wide range of years, starting with 1924 and included baseline periods that extended 

through 2007. Baseline periods ranged from 10 years to 

84 years, with an average of 26 years. Of 111 stations with a 

baseline period, 83 percent of stations had a baseline period 

that was less than 40 years. Of the stations with a baseline 

period, more than 80 percent of stations had baseline periods 

that included one or all years between 1949 and 1964. Twentyseven percent of stations had baseline periods that included 

any of the years between 1924 and 1939. Thirty-five percent 

of stations included years after 1981, indicating that most 

stations in this report do not have baseline periods that extend 

through the wet period. Even though the years 1940–1980 

were better represented by baseline periods than years before 

or after this period, a concurrent baseline period for all stations 

could not be established. No single year was indicated when 

more than 60 percent of stations had baseline periods that 

contained that year. This inconsistency may have been the 

result of increases in regulation after the 1960s, especially 

with large-scale construction of Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) dams 

(Tortorelli, 1997 and 2002; Lewis and Esralew, 2009; Smith 

and Esralew, 2009), and short-term maintenance of unregulated stations with drainage areas less than 2,500 square 

miles. 

Anthropogenic activity that may affect streamflow during the baseline period was noted for 44 stations. The most 

commonly noted anthropogenic activity for stations that had 

baseline periods was minor regulation. Twenty-two stations 

had baseline periods that were affected by minor regulation as 

indicated by the number of dams in the drainage basin (including two stations that were affected by backwater from nearby 

regulation) 12 stations had baseline periods that were affected 

by diversion or withdrawal, 12 stations had baseline periods 

that were affected by irrigation activity, and 3 stations were 

affected by effluent. More than one type of anthropogenic 

activity was noted for eight stations.

Summary

Use of historical streamflow data from a least-altered 

period can enhance water resources planning by using these 

data in calibration of various watershed modeling applications. 

This information is especially useful for watershed models 

that are used to characterize least-altered streamflow and 

predict the effects of proposed streamflow alteration. To 

address this need, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation 

with Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma Water 

Resources Board, determined baseline periods of record for 

selected streamflow-gaging stations that can be used as a 

calibration dataset for modeling applications. The baseline 

period was defined as a period that is least-altered by anthropogenic activity and has sufficient streamflow record length to 

represent the extreme wet and dry periods included in typical 

annual climate variability. Streamflow data from 171 stations 

in and near Oklahoma with a minimum of 10 complete water 

years of daily streamflow record through water year 2007 and 

drainage areas that were less than 2,500 square miles were 

considered for use in the baseline-period analysis. 

In the first step of the process to determine the leastaltered period, historical basin information was used to 

identify anthropogenic activities in each drainage-basin 

that may affect streamflow. Station information was evaluated by using previous publications, historical station record 

notes, and information gathered from oral and written communication with U.S. Geological Survey hydrographers familiar 

with selected stations. This information was used to eliminate 

streamflow record from selected stations to identify a preliminary least-altered period. Quality rankings were assigned for 

each preliminary least-altered period on the basis of professional judgment of the suspected degree of alteration as determined from this step.

The second step was to determine for the least altered 

period, the stations that had substantial effects from upstream 

regulation by documenting the location of dams in the drainage basin. The drainage area upstream from the dams was 

determined and the percentage of the total drainage area for 

the station that was affected by dams was calculated. The year 

that the dams were completed was used to construct a plot of 

downstream drainage area affected by dams with time. The 

least-altered period was refined from the previous step by 

either (a) excluding years in which the percent of the drainage 

area upstream from dams ranged from 1 percent to 20 percent 

if at least 10 years of streamflow record remained after the 

years were excluded, or (b) modification of the quality rank 

for the period of record on the basis of the percentage of the 

drainage area affected by dams. 

The third step of the determination of the least-altered 

period was visual analysis of annual hydrographs, and 

included analysis of covariance of double-mass curves and 

Kendall’s tau analysis to detect statistically significant changes 

in base flow, runoff, total flow and base-flow index for 

selected stations. 

Annual plots of these parameters for stations were created and visually analyzed to identify changes in streamflow. 

If the station had 20 years or more of streamflow data available prior to the start of substantial regulation or irrigation, as 

determined from steps 1 and 2, only those 20 years or more of 

data were analyzed. If a noticeable change in any of the annual 

streamflow parameters were detected but were not assumed to 

be caused by increases in precipitation, then the station was 

further considered for statistical trend analysis. 

Double-mass curves were created to relate annual base 

flow, annual runoff, and annual total flow to annual precipitation for the climate division for each station selected from the 

visual hydrograph analysis. Statistical breakpoints identified 

by the double-mass analysis were visually examined to determine if the breakpoints most likely represented substantial 

changes in the annual streamflow parameter being evaluated. 

A Kendall’s tau trend test was run for annual base-flow, 

annual runoff, and annual total-flow for the the preliminary 
20 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma

least-altered period determined from previous steps, and for 

sub-periods before and after suspected breakpoints determined 

from the double-mass analysis for stations with preliminary 

least-altered periods and sub-periods of at least 15 years of 

streamflow record. The test was used to identify additional 

trends in streamflow remaining during the sub-periods of 

record for a refined least-altered period. Trends detected 

during any sub-period were used to (1) determine if that 

streamflow record should be retained for consideration as the 

least-altered period, (2) reduce the quality rank of the leastaltered period, or (3) determine that the stream does not have a 

least-altered period suitable for a baseline period. 

An optimum minimum period of record was determined for each of the least-altered periods for each station to 

ensure that the least-altered period had a sufficient streamflow 

record length to provide a representative sample of climate 

variability. An optimum minimum period of 10 years or more 

were evaluated by analyzing the variability of annual precipitation for selected 5-, 10-, 15-, 25-, and 35-year periods for 

each of 20 climate divisions that contained stations used in 

the baseline period analysis. The distribution of annual precipitation was compared for each consecutive overlapping 5-year 

period to the period 1925–2007 by using a Wilcoxon rank-sum 

test. The least-altered period of record for stations also was 

compared to the period 1925–2007 by using a Wilcoxon ranksum test. The results from the test were used to determine how 

many years of annual precipitation were needed for the distribution of annual precipitation for the selected least-altered 

period to be statistically similar to the distribution 

of annual precipitation for a long-term period (1925–2007). 

Of 171 stations analyzed for a baseline period, a final 

baseline period and quality ranking were determined for 

111 stations (65 percent of stations analyzed), and a suitable baseline period for modeling applications could not be 

identified for 60 stations (35 percent of stations analyzed). A 

baseline period could not be identified for 58 stations because 

of substantial anthropogenic alteration of the stream or drainage basin and for 2 stations because the least-altered period 

of record was not representative of annual climate variability. 

The baseline period for each station was rated“excellent”, 

“good”, “fair”, “poor”, or “no baseline period” on the basis 

of a qualitative evaluation of the approximate degree of basin 

alteration for the least-altered period, and whether or not the 

least-altered period was long enough to be representative of 

long-term climate variability. Baseline periods were rated as 

“excellent” for 22 stations, “good” for 42 stations, “fair” for 

24 stations, and “poor” for 23 stations.

Eighty-three percent of stations with a baseline period 

had a baseline period of less than 40 years. Of 111 stations 

with a baseline period, more than 80 percent of stations had 

baseline periods that included the years 1949–1964. Thirtyfive percent of stations included years after 1981, indicating 

most stations analyzed in this report do not have baseline periods that extend through the wet period. The most commonly 

noted anthropogenic activity for stations that had baseline 

periods was minor regulation.

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22 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma

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Table 1

23

Table 1. Determination of preliminary baseline period for selected stream reaches in and near Oklahoma (in water years) based on streamflow-gaging station history from published U.S. Geological Survey annual data reports (1930–2007), and oral and written communication from staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water Science Center.—Continued[ID, identifer; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; ft, feet; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mi2, square miles; 

station, streamflow-gaging station]

Map 

number 

(fig. 1)

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey ID

Station name

Period of 

record 

(complete 

water 

years)

Comments1

Preliminary 

baseline 

period of 

record 

(complete 

water years)

Preliminary 

quality 

ranking2

1 07148350 Salt Fork Arkansas River 

near Winchester, Okla.

1960–1993 Conservation ponds and terracing are common in drainage basin. 1960–1993 Good

2 07148400 Salt Fork Arkansas River 

near Alva, Okla.

1939–1951, 1980–2007

Conservation ponds and terracing are common in drainage basin. 1938–1951, 

1980–2007

Good

3 07149000 Medicine Lodge River 

near Kiowa, Kans.

1939–1950, 1960–2007

None 1939–1950, 

1960–2007

Excellent

4 07149500 Salt Fork Arkansas River 

near Cherokee, Okla.

1941–1950 None 1941–1950 Excellent

5 07151500 Chikaskia River near 

Corbin, Kans.

1951–1965, 1976–2007

Streamflow may be slightly affected by groundwater withdrawals, diversions for 

irrigation, and return flow from irrigated areas.

1951–1965, 1976–2007

Good

6 07152000 Chikaskia River near 

Blackwell, Okla.

1937–2007 Some minor regulation at low flow by Lake Blackwell, 12.6 miles upstream from 

station, since 1950. Small diversion made from reservoir for municipal supply of city of Blackwell. Streamflow may be slightly affected by groundwater withdrawals, diversions for irrigation, and return streamflow from irrigated areas. 

1937–1949 Fair

7 07153000 Black Bear Creek at 

Pawnee, Okla.

1945–2007 Some retention reservoir work was done by the Soil Conservation Service during the 

period of record to dampen flooding, and streamflow has been regulated since 1963 by numerous floodwater-retarding structures.

1945–1962 Fair

8 07153100 Ranch Creek at Cleveland 

Dam near Cleveland, Okla.

1946–1963 Station is located at intake tower at Cleveland Dam, and is completely regulated for the 

period of record.

None No Baseline 

Period

9 07154500 Cimarron River near 

Kenton, Okla.

1951–2007 Diversions for irrigation of about 7,400 acres upstream from station. 1951–2007 Poor

10 07155000 Cimarron River above Ute 

Creek near Boise City, Okla.

1943–1954 Records include water diverted at Kohler’s dam 1,000 ft upstream from station for 

sluicing of canal, from which the water returns to the stream just downstream from the station control, and for irrigation of about 650 acres downstream from station, from 

which the return streamflow enters stream 8.3 miles downstream from the station. Diversions for irrigation of about 8,600 acres upstream from station.

1943–1954 Poor

11 07155590 Cimarron River near 

Elkhart, Kans.

1972–2007 Extensive irrigation upstream from station for the period of record, extremely low flow or 

zero streamflow occurs often.

None No Baseline 

Period

12 07157500 Crooked Creek near 

Englewood, Kans.

1943–2007 Diversion for irrigation of about eight irrigation wells adjacent to Crooked Creek 

upstream from station.

1943–2007 Poor

Table 1. Determination of preliminary baseline period for selected stream reaches in and near Oklahoma (in water years) based on streamflow-gaging station history from published U.S. Geological Survey annual data reports (1930–2007), and oral and written communication from staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water Science Center.[ID, identifer; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; ft, feet; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mi2, square miles; 

station, streamflow-gaging station]

Table 1
24 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma Table 1. Determination of preliminary baseline period for selected stream reaches in and near Oklahoma (in water years) based on streamflow-gaging station history from published U.S. Geological Survey annual data reports (1930–2007), and oral and written communication from staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water Science Center.—Continued [ID, identifer; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; ft, feet; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mi2, square miles; station, streamflow-gaging station] Map num- ber (fig. 1) U.S. Geological Survey ID Station name Period of record (complete water years) Comments1 Preliminary baseline period of record (complete water years) Preliminary quality ranking2 13 07157900 Cavalry Creek at Coldwater, Kans. 1967–1980 None 1967–1980 Excellent 14 07157960 Buffalo Creek near Lovedale, Okla. 1967–1993 None 1967–1993 Excellent 15 07158400 Salt Creek near Okeene, Okla. 1962–1967, 1975–1979 Some streamflow diverted for three small ungated lakes at Roman Nose State Park. 1962–1967, 1975–1979 Good 16 07159000 Turkey Creek near Drummond, Okla. 1948–1970 Some diversions upstream for irrigation. 1948–1970 Fair 17 07159750 Cottonwood Creek near Seward, Okla. 1974–1982, 1990–2001 Streamflow regulated by numerous floodwater-retarding structures for the period of record. Low flow sustained in part by treated wastewater effluent from Oklahoma City. None No Baseline Period 18 07160350 Skeleton Creek at Enid, Okla. 1997–2007 Low flows minorly regulated by releases of effluent from the City of Enid wastewater treatment plant, 1 mile upstream. Basin is moderately urbanized (greater than 10% of area contains impervious surfaces). None No Baseline Period 19 07160500 Skeleton Creek near Lovell, Okla. 1950–1993, 2002–2007 Activities that affect upstream station, Skeleton Creek at Enid (07160350), most likely does not have a substantial affect on streamflow at this station. 1950–1993, 2002–2007 Excellent 20 07163000 Council Creek near Stillwater, Okla. 1935–1993 Weir and other channel modifications made in the early 1960s may have minor effects on low flow. 1934–1960 Good 21 07164600 Joe Creek at 61st Street at Tulsa, Okla. 1989–2007 Basin is substantially urbanized. None No Baseline Period 22 07165500 Polecat Creek below Heyburn Reservoir near Heyburn, Okla. 1944–1979 Streamflow completely regulated by Heyburn Lake since September 1950. Basin is substantially urbanized. None No Baseline Period 23 07165562 Haikey Creek at 101 Street South at Tulsa, Okla. 1989–2007 Basin is substantially urbanized. None No Baseline Period 24 07165565 Little Haikey Creek at 101st Street South at 

Tulsa, Okla.

1988–2007 Basin is substantially urbanized. None No Baseline 

Period

25 07170700 Big Hill Creek near 

Cherryvale, Kans.

1958–2007 Streamflow completely regulated since 1981 by Big Hill Lake (07170695), 1,200 ft 

upstream. Regulation is complete until lake elevation reaches 857.80 ft when water flows through an uncontrolled open chute.

1958–1980 Excellent
Table 1

25

Table 1. Determination of preliminary baseline period for selected stream reaches in and near Oklahoma (in water years) based on streamflow-gaging station history from published U.S. Geological Survey annual data reports (1930–2007), and oral and written communication from staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water Science Center.—Continued[ID, identifer; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; ft, feet; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mi2, square miles; 

station, streamflow-gaging station]

Map 

number 

(fig. 1)

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey ID

Station name

Period of 

record 

(complete 

water 

years)

Comments1

Preliminary 

baseline 

period of 

record 

(complete 

water years)

Preliminary 

quality 

ranking2

26 07172000 Caney River near Elgin, 

Kans.

1940–2007 Streamflow regulated since 1965 by numerous floodwater-retarding structures. 1940–1964 Excellent

27 07173000 Caney River near Hulah, 

Okla.

1938–1993 Streamflow completely regulated since February 1950 by Hulah Lake (07172500) from 

which about 5 to 9 ft3/s is diverted from gaging pool for municipal water supply by the 

city of Bartlesville.

1938–1949 Excellent

28 07174200 Little Caney River below 

Cotton Creek, near Copan, Okla.

1939–19803 Streamflow regulated since 1969 by numerous floodwater-retarding structures. Station 

used to be 07174000 (Little Caney River near Copan), but was moved in 1958 prior to anticipated dam construction for Copan Lake, which was completed in 1983. Statistical analysis includes streamStreamflow record at the previous station from 1944–1958 water years.

1939–1968 Good

29 07174400 Caney River above Coon 

Creek at Bartlesville, Okla.

1986–2007 Streamflow regulated by Hulah Lake 27 miles upstream, and by Copan Lake 12 miles 

upstream. Diversion at station for municipal water supply by the city of Bartlesville.

None No Baseline 

Period

30 07174600 Sand Creek at Okesa, 

Okla.

1960–1993 Streamflow may be affected by minor regulation from Sunset Lake since 1961. 1960–1993 Poor

31 07174700 Caney River near 

Ochelata, Okla.

1957–1976 Streamflow regulated by Hulah Lake for the period of record. None No Baseline 

Period

32 07175000 Double Creek Surface 

Water Station 5 near Ramona, Okla.

1956–1969 Streamflow regulated since 1955 by floodwater-retarding structures. Station is just 

downstream from a floodwater-retarding structure.

None No Baseline 

Period

33 07175500 Caney River near Ramona, 

Okla.

1946–2007 Streamflow regulated since February 1951 by Hulah Lake, and since April 1983 by 

Copan Lake.

1946–1950 No Baseline 

Period

34 07176465 Birch Creek below Birch 

Lake near Barnsdall, Okla.

1978–1992 Streamflow completely regulated for the period of record by Birch Lake. None No Baseline 

Period

35 07176500 Bird Creek at Avant, Okla. 1946–2007 Streamflow slightly regulated since 1958 by Bluestem Lake, and substantially regulated 

since 1977 by Birch Lake, located 12 miles upstream. Small diversions upstream for municipal water supply for the cities of Pawhuska and Barnsdall. Immediately upstream from station, water may be diverted for use in freshwater flooding of oil wells.

1946–1976 Poor

36 07176800 Candy Creek near Wolco, 

Okla.

1970–1980 None 1970–1980 Excellent
26 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma Table 1. Determination of preliminary baseline period for selected stream reaches in and near Oklahoma (in water years) based on streamflow-gaging station history from published U.S. Geological Survey annual data reports (1930–2007), and oral and written communication from staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water Science Center.—Continued [ID, identifer; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; ft, feet; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mi2, square miles; station, streamflow-gaging station] Map num- ber (fig. 1) U.S. Geological Survey ID Station name Period of record (complete water years) Comments1 Preliminary baseline period of record (complete water years) Preliminary quality ranking2 37 07177000 Hominy Creek near Skiatook, Okla. 1945–1980 None 1945–1980 Excellent 38 07177500 Bird Creek near Sperry, Okla. 1939–2007 Streamflow slightly regulated since 1958 by Bluestem Lake and substantially regulated since 1977 by Birch Lake. Streamflow regulated since October 1984 by Skiatook Lake. Farther upstream, the cities of Barnsdall and Pawhuska, Oklahoma, divert a small amount of water for municipal use. Also farther upstream at Avant, some water may be diverted for use in flooding oil fields. 1939–1957 Fair 39 07177650 Flat Rock Creek at Cincinatti Avenue at Tulsa, Okla. 1989–2007 Basin is substantially urbanized. None No Baseline Period 40 07177800 Coal Creek at Tulsa, Okla. 1989–2007 Basin is substantially urbanized. None No Baseline Period 41 07178000 Bird Creek near Owasso, Okla. 1936–1938, 1988–2007 Streamflow slightly regulated since 1958 by Bluestem Lake and since March 1977 by Birch Lake. Streamflow regulated since October 1984 by Skiatook Lake (capacity 322,300 acre-ft). None No Baseline Period 42 07178040 Mingo Creek at 46th Street North at Tulsa, Okla. 1988–1997 Basin is substantially urbanized. None No Baseline Period 43 07178200 Bird Creek at State Highway 266 near Catoosa, Okla. 1989–2007 Streamflow slightly regulated since 1958 by Bluestem Lake and since March 1977 by Birch Lake. Streamflow regulated since October 1984 by Skiatook Lake (capacity 322,300 acre-ft). None No Baseline Period 44 07184000 Lightning Creek near McCune, Kans. 1939–1946, 1960–2007 None 1939–1946, 1960–2007 Excellent 45 07185095 Tar Creek at 22nd Street Bridge at Miami, Okla. 1985–1993, 2005–2007 Basin is substantially urbanized. None No Baseline Period 46 07185500 Stahl Creek near Miller, 

Mo.

1951–1976 None 1951–1976 Excellent

47 07185700 Spring River at LaRussell, 

Mo.

1958–1973, 1976–1980

None 1958–1973, 

1976–1980

Excellent

48 07185765 Spring River at Carthage, 

Mo.

1967–1980, 2002–2007

None 1967–1980, 

2002–2007

Excellent
Table 1

27

Table 1. Determination of preliminary baseline period for selected stream reaches in and near Oklahoma (in water years) based on streamflow-gaging station history from published U.S. Geological Survey annual data reports (1930–2007), and oral and written communication from staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water Science Center.—Continued[ID, identifer; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; ft, feet; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mi2, square miles; 

station, streamflow-gaging station]

Map 

number 

(fig. 1)

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey ID

Station name

Period of 

record 

(complete 

water 

years)

Comments1

Preliminary 

baseline 

period of 

record 

(complete 

water years)

Preliminary 

quality 

ranking2

49 07186000 Spring River near Waco, 

Mo.

1925–2007 Low flow affected by gristmills upstream. 1925–2007 Fair

50 07187000 Shoal Creek above Joplin, 

Mo.

1942–2007 None 1942–2007 Excellent

51 07188000 Spring River near Quapaw, 

Okla.

1940–2007 Streamflow is subject to periodic releases from floodgates at old Riverton hydroelectric 

plant, 15 miles upstream. Low flow may be slightly affected by Grand Falls Dam (lowwater dam).

None No Baseline 

Period

52 07188500 Lost Creek at Seneca, Mo. 1949–1959 None 1949–1959 Excellent

53 07189000 Elk River near Tiff City, 

Mo.

1940–2007 Backwater from Lake O’ the Cherokees may affect streamflow when lake reaches upper 

range at flood pool.

1940–2007 Good

54 07189540 Cave Springs Branch near 

South West City, Mo.

1998–2007 None 1998–2007 Excellent

55 07189542 Honey Creek near South 

West City, Mo.

1998–2007 None 1998–2007 Excellent

56 07191000 Big Cabin Creek near Big 

Cabin, Okla.

1948–2007 Low flows are sustained to about 0.5 ft3/s by effluent from the city of Vinita. Small 

amounts used for irrigation.

1948–2007 Fair

57 07191220 Spavinaw Creek near 

Sycamore, Okla.

1962–2007 None 1962–2007 Excellent

58 07192000 Pryor Creek near Pryor, 

Okla.

1948–1963 None 1948–1963 Excellent

59 07194800 Illinois River at Savoy, 

Ark.

1996–2007 Some regulation from floodwater-retarding structures. 1996–2007 Poor

60 07195000 Osage Creek near Elm 

Springs, Ark.

1951–1975, 1996–2007

Slight fluctuations during periods of low flow might be caused by operation of a small 

reservoir at the spring in the town of Cave Springs. Treated wastewater is discharged into Osage Creek by the City of Rogers Wastewater Pollution Control Facility about half a mile upstream from the Osage Creek. Treated wastewater also is discharged by the City of Springdale into Spring Creek, a tributary to Osage Creek that has a confluence just upstream from the confluence of Little Osage Creek. Occasionally, either plant will be shut down for servicing, resulting in noticeable drops in stage.

1951–1975, 1996–2007

Fair

61 07195430 Illinois River South of 

Siloam Springs, Ark.

1996–2006 None 1996–2006 Excellent
28 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma Table 1. Determination of preliminary baseline period for selected stream reaches in and near Oklahoma (in water years) based on streamflow-gaging station history from published U.S. Geological Survey annual data reports (1930–2007), and oral and written communication from staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water Science Center.—Continued [ID, identifer; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; ft, feet; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mi2, square miles; station, streamflow-gaging station] Map num- ber (fig. 1) U.S. Geological Survey ID Station name Period of record (complete water years) Comments1 Preliminary baseline period of record (complete water years) Preliminary quality ranking2 62 07195500 Illinois River near Watts, Okla. 1956–2007 Since July 2, 1957, streamflow may be affected by small diversion for municipal water supply for the city of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, upstream from station. Some minor regulation during low flows by Lake Frances since 1931 until the dam was breached on May 4, 1990, by a high-flow event. Effects on streamflow prior to 1990 were considered negligible (only at low flow), and as of 2007 the low-water dam had no observable effect on streamflow. 1991–2007 Fair 63 07195800 Flint Creek at Springtown, Ark. 1962–2007 No known regulation or diversion except in 1964 and 1980 when pumpage for irrigation occurred upstream from station. 1962–1963, 1965–1979, 1981–2007 Good 64 07195855 Flint Creek near West Siloam Springs, Okla. 1980–2007 Streamflow regulated by Lake Siloam Springs and Little Flint Creek Reservoir, both about 4 miles upstream. Streamflow also is affected by treated wastewater discharge from the city of Gentry. None No Baseline Period 65 07195865 Sager Creek near West Siloam Springs, Okla. 1997–2007 Low flow sustained in part by treated wastewater effluent from Siloam Springs, Arkansas, 3 miles upstream from station. 1997–2007 Fair 66 07196000 Flint Creek near Kansas, Okla. 1956–1990, 1993–2007 Minor regulation by Lake Siloam Springs. Flow regulated by Little Flint Creek Reservoir since 1978. Small diversion upstream from station for irrigation. 1956–1977 Fair 67 07196500 Illinois River near Tahlequah, Okla. 1936–2007 None 1936–2007 Excellent 68 07196900 Baron Fork at Dutch Mills, Ark. 1959–2007 None 1959–2007 Excellent 69 07196973 Peacheater Creek at Christie, Okla. 1993–2003 None 1993–2003 Excellent 70 07197000 Baron Fork at Eldon, Okla. 1949–2007 None 1949–2007 Excellent 71 07197360 Caney Creek near Barber, Okla. 1998–2007 None 1998–2007 Excellent 72 07198000 Illinois River near Gore, 

Okla.

1925, 1940–2007

Streamflow completely regulated since July 1952 by Tenkiller Ferry Lake. 1925, 

1940–1952

Excellent

73 07229300 Walnut Creek at Purcell, 

Okla.

1966–1993 Affected by backwater from Canadian River at times. 1966–1993 Excellent
Table 1

29

Table 1. Determination of preliminary baseline period for selected stream reaches in and near Oklahoma (in water years) based on streamflow-gaging station history from published U.S. Geological Survey annual data reports (1930–2007), and oral and written communication from staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water Science Center.—Continued[ID, identifer; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; ft, feet; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mi2, square miles; 

station, streamflow-gaging station]

Map 

number 

(fig. 1)

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey ID

Station name

Period of 

record 

(complete 

water 

years)

Comments1

Preliminary 

baseline 

period of 

record 

(complete 

water years)

Preliminary 

quality 

ranking2

74 07230000 Little River below Lake 

Thunderbird near Norman, Okla.

1953–2007 Streamflow regulated by Lake Thunderbird since March 1965 (07229900). In prior years, 

occasional diversions upstream from station for irrigation.

1953–1964 Fair

75 07230500 Little River near 

Tecumseh, Okla.

1944–2007 Streamflow regulated or diverted since 1965 by Lake Thunderbird, 19.2 miles upstream. 

Small amount of pumped irrigation is used during the crop season.

1943–1964 Good

76 07231000 Little River near Sasakwa, 

Okla.

1943–2007 Streamflow regulated since 1962 by numerous floodwater-retarding structures. 

Streamflow regulated by Lake Thunderbird 80 miles upstream since March 1965. 

1943–1961 Excellent

77 07232000 Gaines Creek near Krebs, 

Okla.

1943–1963 None 1943–1963 Excellent

78 07232500 Beaver River near 

Guymon, Okla.

1938–1993 Prior to 1972 considered a natural, unregulated basin. After 1978, irrigation development 

has had a substantial effect on streamflow.

1938–1971 Excellent

79 07232900 Coldwater Creek near 

Guymon, Okla.

1981–2007 After 1971, irrigation development has had a substantial effect on streamflow. None No Baseline 

Period

80 07233000 Coldwater Creek near 

Hardesty, Okla.

1940–1964 After 1971, irrigation development has had a substantial effect on streamflow. 1940–1964 Excellent

81 07233500 Palo Duro Creek near 

Spearman, Texas

1946–1979, 2000–2007

Small diversion upstream for irrigation. No streamflow at times. After 1971, irrigation 

development began in the region and has had a substantial effect on streamflow.

1946–1971 Good

82 07233650 Palo Duro Creek at Range, 

Okla.

1992–2007 Streamflow regulated for the period of record by Palo Duro Reservoir, 18 miles upstream. 

Streamflow also affected by local irrigation withdrawals since 1972. 

None No Baseline 

Period

83 07234100 Clear Creek near 

Elmwood, Okla.

1966–1993 Low flows sustained by nearby springs; streamflows affected by diversion ponds and 

occasional diversion for irrigation. 

1966–1993 Poor

84 07235000 Wolf Creek at Lipscomb, 

Texas

1941–1942, 

1962–2007

There are several small diversions upstream from station for irrigation and recreation. 

Since installation of the station, streamflow has been regulated by Lake Fryer, 30 miles upstream. After 1971, irrigation development has had a substantial effect on streamflow 

None No Baseline 

Period

85 07236000 Wolf Creek near Fargo, 

Okla.

1943–1976 Prior to 1972 considered an unregulated basin. After 1978, irrigation development 

began in the region and may also have had a substantial effect on streamflow. Minor regulation from Lake Fryer for period of record.

1943–1971 Fair

86 07237000 Wolf Creek near Fort 

Supply, Okla.

1938–1992 Streamflow completely regulated since May 1942 by Fort Supply Lake. After 1971, 

irrigation development has had a substantial effect on streamflow.

1938–1942 No Baseline 

Period
30 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma Table 1. Determination of preliminary baseline period for selected stream reaches in and near Oklahoma (in water years) based on streamflow-gaging station history from published U.S. Geological Survey annual data reports (1930–2007), and oral and written communication from staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water Science Center.—Continued [ID, identifer; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; ft, feet; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mi2, square miles; station, streamflow-gaging station] Map num- ber (fig. 1) U.S. Geological Survey ID Station name Period of record (complete water years) Comments1 Preliminary baseline period of record (complete water years) Preliminary quality ranking2 87 07242350 Deep Fork near Arcadia, Okla. 1970–1993 Streamflow affected by urban watershed in the city of Oklahoma City, Okla. Regulated by Arcadia Dam since November 1986. Just prior to regulation, dam construction affected streamflow at times. None No Baseline Period 88 07242380 Deep Fork at Warwick, Okla. 1984–2007 Considerable regulation by Arcadia Lake, 30 miles upstream, since November 1986. None No Baseline Period 89 07243000 Dry Creek near Kendrick, Okla. 1956–1994 None 1956–1994 Excellent 90 07243500 Deep Fork near Beggs, Okla. 1939–2007 Streamflow regulated since 1968 by numerous floodwater-retarding structures. Some regulation by Arcadia Lake since November 1986. 1939–1967 Excellent 91 07244000 Deep Fork near Dewar, Okla. 1938–1950 Some small impoundments along tributaries, the largest of which is Lake Okmulgee. 1938–1950 Fair 92 07245500 Sallisaw Creek near Sallisaw, Okla. 1943–1976 Streamflow regulated since 1964 by numerous floodwater-retarding structures. Small diversion at low-water dam just upstream from station for municipal water supply for City of Sallisaw. During periods of extreme drought city pumps from pool just downstream from low-water dam. 1943–1963 Poor 93 07247000 Poteau River at Cauthron, Ark. 1940–2007 As of September 1974, streamflow from 92.2 mi2 upstream from this station is controlled by 16 floodwater-detention reservoirs. 1940–1973 Excellent 94 07247015 Poteau River at Loving, Okla. 1993–2007 Regulation for period of record by numerous small floodwater-retarding structures. None No Baseline Period 95 07247250 Black Fork below Big Creek near Page, Okla. 1993–2007 None 1993–2007 Excellent 96 07247500 Fourche Maline near Red Oak, Okla. 1939–2007 Regulation since 1966 by floodwater-retarding structures. 1939–1965 Excellent 97 07248500 Poteau River near Wister, Okla. 1939–1986 Streamflow completely regulated since October 1949 by Wister Lake. 1939–1948 Excellent 98 07249400 James Fork near Hackett, 

Ark.

1959–2007 Strip mining activity upstream from station may affect streamflow. 1959–2007 Fair

99 07249413 Poteau River near Panama, 

Okla.

1993–2007 Streamflow regulated for period of record by Wister Reservoir, 34 miles upstream. None No Baseline 

Period

100 07249500 Cove Creek near Lee 

Creek, Ark.

1951–1970 None 1951–1970 Excellent
Table 1

31

Table 1. Determination of preliminary baseline period for selected stream reaches in and near Oklahoma (in water years) based on streamflow-gaging station history from published U.S. Geological Survey annual data reports (1930–2007), and oral and written communication from staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water Science Center.—Continued[ID, identifer; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; ft, feet; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mi2, square miles; 

station, streamflow-gaging station]

Map 

number 

(fig. 1)

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey ID

Station name

Period of 

record 

(complete 

water 

years)

Comments1

Preliminary 

baseline 

period of 

record 

(complete 

water years)

Preliminary 

quality 

ranking2

101 07249985 Lee Creek near Short, 

Okla.

1931–1936, 1950–1991, 1993–2007

None 1931–1936, 

1950–1991, 1993–2007

Excellent

102 07250000 Lee Creek near Van 

Buren, Ark.

1931–1936, 1951–1992

None 1931–1936, 

1951–1992

Excellent

103 07300000 Salt Fork Red River near 

Wellington, Texas

1953–2007 Regulation since August 1967 by Greenbelt Reservoir (capacity 59,110 acre-ft) 42 miles 

upstream. One small diversion upstream for irrigation and diversions from Greenbelt Reservoir for municipal use by Greenbelt Municipal and Industrial Water Authority.

1953–1966 Fair

104 07300500 Salt Fork Red River at 

Mangum, Okla.

1938–2007 Streamflow regulated by Lake Greenbelt since 1967. 1938–1966 Excellent

105 07301110 Salt Fork Red River near 

Elmer, Okla.

1980–2007 Low flows sustained by irrigation returns from Lake Altus. 1980–2007 Poor

106 07301300 North Fork Red River near 

Shamrock, Texas

1965–1991, 2001–2007

Streamflow is partially regulated by McClellan Reservoir for the period of record. 

Streamflow also is affected at times by discharge from flood-detention pools of 11 floodwater-retarding structures.

None No Baseline 

Period

107 07301410 Sweetwater Creek near 

Kelton, Texas

1963–2007 There are small diversions upstream from the station for ranch use. 1963–2007 Fair

108 07301420 Sweetwater Creek near 

Sweetwater, Okla.

1987–2007 None 1987–2007 Excellent

109 07301500 North Fork Red River near 

Carter, Okla.

1938–1962, 1965–2007

None 1938–1962, 

1965–2007

Excellent

110 07303000 North Fork Red River 

below Altus Dam near Lugert, Okla.

1978–2007 Some regulation at low flow by Lugert Lake prior to December 1943, and completely 

regulated thereafter by Lake Altus for the period of record. Diversions at Lake Altus bypass most of streamflow. 

None No Baseline 

Period

111 07303400 Elm Fork of North Fork 

Red River near Carl, Okla.

1960–1979, 1995–2007

None 1960–1979, 

1995–2007

Excellent

112 07303500 Elm Fork of North 

Fork Red River near Mangum, Okla.

1938–1976 Low flow is usually sustained by numerous springs upstream from station. 1938–1976 Excellent
32 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma Table 1. Determination of preliminary baseline period for selected stream reaches in and near Oklahoma (in water years) based on streamflow-gaging station history from published U.S. Geological Survey annual data reports (1930–2007), and oral and written communication from staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water Science Center.—Continued [ID, identifer; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; ft, feet; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mi2, square miles; station, streamflow-gaging station] Map num- ber (fig. 1) U.S. Geological Survey ID Station name Period of record (complete water years) Comments1 Preliminary baseline period of record (complete water years) Preliminary quality ranking2 113 07304500 Elk Creek near Hobart, Okla. 1950–1993 Part of high streamflows are diverted 1 mile upstream from station, by means of a breech canal into Tom Steed Reservoir, since 1975. Several farms pump from the creek for irrigation upstream from the station. 1950–1974 Fair 114 07305500 West Otter Creek at Snyder Lake near Mountain Park, Okla. 1952–2003 Regulation by Snyder Lake from start of period of record through 1970, and regulation by Mountain Park Dam from 1971 through the completion of Tom Steed Reservoir. Flow completely regulated since June 1975 by Tom Steed Reservoir for the remainder of the period of record. The city of Snyder diverted about 130 acre-ft from Snyder Lake annually prior to October 1958 and none thereafter. None No Baseline Period 115 07307028 North Fork Red River near Tipton, Okla. 1985–2007 Streamflow regulated for period of record by storage and diversion at Lake Altus. Diversions for irrigation of about 48,000 acres upstream from station. None No Baseline Period 116 07311000 East Cache Creek near Walters, Okla. 1939–1963, 1970–2007 Low flow sustained by treated wastewater effluent from cities of Lawton and Walters. Minor regulation by Lake Lawtonka on Medicine Creek prior to late 1953, and additional minor regulation by Lake Thomas on Little Medicine Creek; regulation since March 1961 by Lake Ellsworth, on East Cache Creek. 1939–1960 No Baseline Period 117 07311200 Blue Beaver Creek near Cache, Okla. 1965–2003 Regulated by Lake Rush, Lake Jed Johnson, and Lake Ketch, for the period of record. Considered a “hydrologic benchmark” station. None No Baseline Period 118 07311500 Deep Red Creek near Randlett, Okla. 1950–1963, 1970–2007 Some regulation by numerous floodwater-retarding structures, and Lake Frederick. 1950–1963, 1970–2007 Poor 119 07313000 Little Beaver Creek near Duncan, Okla. 1949–1963 None 1949–1963 Excellent 120 07313500 Beaver Creek near Waurika, Okla. 1954–1993 Streamflow completely regulated by Waurika Lake (07313400) 1.2 miles upstream beginning August 1977. 1954–1976 Excellent 121 07315700 Mud Creek near Courtney, Okla. 1961–2007 Minor regulation from stock ponds. 1961–2007 Fair 122 07316500 Washita River near Cheyenne, Okla. 1938–2007 Streamflow regulated since 1961 by numerous floodwater-retarding structures. Several local irrigation wells in the alluvial plain along the right bank of the stream near the station may cause extreme low flows of 5 ft3/s or less to drop off sharply during 

pumping, date of well construction is unknown.

1938–1960 Poor

123 07319500 Sandstone Creek near 

Berlin, Okla.

1953–1972 Streamflow is regulated for the period of record by numerous floodwater-retarding 

structures.

None No Baseline 

Period

124 07323000 Sandstone Creek near 

Cheyenne, Okla.

1952–1973 Streamflow regulated for the period of record by numerous floodwater-retarding 

structures. Some diversion for irrigation upstream from station. 

None No Baseline 

Period
Table 1

33

Table 1. Determination of preliminary baseline period for selected stream reaches in and near Oklahoma (in water years) based on streamflow-gaging station history from published U.S. Geological Survey annual data reports (1930–2007), and oral and written communication from staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water Science Center.—Continued[ID, identifer; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; ft, feet; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mi2, square miles; 

station, streamflow-gaging station]

Map 

number 

(fig. 1)

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey ID

Station name

Period of 

record 

(complete 

water 

years)

Comments1

Preliminary 

baseline 

period of 

record 

(complete 

water years)

Preliminary 

quality 

ranking2

125 07324200 Washita River near 

Hammon, Okla.

1970–1987, 1990–2007

Streamflow regulated for the period of record by numerous floodwater-retarding 

structures.

None No Baseline 

Period

126 07324400 Washita River near Foss, 

Okla.

1962–1987, 1990–2007

Streamflow completely regulated for the period of record by Foss Reservoir. None No Baseline 

Period

127 07324500 Barnitz Creek near 

Arapaho, Okla.

1946–1963 Streamflow regulated since 1955 by numerous flood retention reservoirs. 1946–1954 No Baseline 

Period

128 07325000 Washita River near 

Clinton, Okla.

1936–2007 Streamflow regulated since February 1961 by Foss Reservoir (07324300) and by 

numerous floodwater-retarding structures.

1936–1960 Excellent

129 07325800 Cobb Creek near Eakly, 

Okla.

1969–2007 Streamflow regulated for the period of record by numerous floodwater-retarding 

structures.

None No Baseline 

Period

130 07326000 Cobb Creek near Fort 

Cobb, Okla.

1940–2007 Streamflow regulated since March 1959 by Fort Cobb Reservoir. 1940–1958 Excellent

131 07326500 Washita River at 

Anadarko, Okla.

1964–2007 Streamflow regulated for the period of record by low-water dams upstream and by Fort 

Cobb Reservoir, Foss Reservoir, and numerous floodwater-retarding structures.

None No Baseline 

Period

132 07327000 Sugar Creek near 

Gracemont, Okla.

1956–1974 Streamflow regulated since 1963 by numerous floodwater-retarding structures. 1956–1962 No Baseline 

Period

133 073274406 Little Washita River above 

Soil Conservation Service Pond 26 near Cyril, Okla.

1996–2007 None 1996–2007 Excellent

134 07327442 Little Washita River near 

Cyril, Okla.

1993–2007 Streamflow affected since 1971 by numerous flood retention reservoirs. None No Baseline 

Period

135 07327447 Little Washita River near 

Cement, Okla.

1993–2007 Streamflow regulated for the period of record by numerous flood retention reservoirs. None No Baseline 

Period

136 07327490 Little Washita River near 

Ninnekah, Okla.

1952–1985 Small diversions upstream from stations for irrigation. Statistical analyses include 

streamflow record from nearby station Little Washita River at Ninnekah, OK (07327500), October 1951 to September 1963. Flow regulated since 1974 by numerous floodwater-retarding structures.

1952–1973 Fair

137 07327550 Little Washita River East 

of Ninnekah, Okla.

1993–2007 Streamflow affected for the period of record by numerous flood retention reservoirs. None No Baseline 

Period
34 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma Table 1. Determination of preliminary baseline period for selected stream reaches in and near Oklahoma (in water years) based on streamflow-gaging station history from published U.S. Geological Survey annual data reports (1930–2007), and oral and written communication from staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water Science Center.—Continued [ID, identifer; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; ft, feet; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mi2, square miles; station, streamflow-gaging station] Map num- ber (fig. 1) U.S. Geological Survey ID Station name Period of record (complete water years) Comments1 Preliminary baseline period of record (complete water years) Preliminary quality ranking2 138 07328070 Winter Creek near Alex, Okla. 1965–1986 Streamflow regulated since 1967 by 16 floodwater-retarding structures. Minor diversions for irrigation upstream from station. None No Baseline Period 139 07328180 North Criner Creek near Criner, Okla. 1990–2007 Streamflow regulated for the period of record by retention ponds 1.5 miles northwest of station. None No Baseline Period 140 07329000 Rush Creek at Purdy, Okla. 1940–1953, 1983–1994 Streamflow regulated since 1960 by numerous floodwater-retarding structures. 1940–1953 Excellent 141 07329500 Rush Creek near Maysville, Okla. 1955–1976 Streamflow regulated since 1960 by numerous floodwater-retarding structures. 1955–1959 No Baseline Period 142 07329700 Wildhorse Creek near Hoover, Okla. 1970–1993, 2001–2007 Streamflow regulated for the period of record by Duncan, Clear Creek, Humphries, and Fuqua Lakes, and numerous floodwater-retarding structures. None No Baseline Period 143 07329852 Rock Creek at Sulphur, Okla. 1990–2007 Streamflow regulated for the period of record by numerous floodwater-retarding structures. None No Baseline Period 144 07329900 Rock Creek at Dougherty, Okla. 1957–1966 Streamflow regulated since 1962 by numerous floodwater-retarding structures. Streamflow regulated by Lake Thunderbird 80 miles upstream since March 1965. 1957–1961 No Baseline Period 145 07330500 Caddo Creek near Ardmore, Okla. 1937–1950 Streamflow regulated since 1970 by numerous floodwater-retarding structures. 1937–1950 Excellent 146 07332400 Blue River at Milburn, Okla. 1966–1986 None 1966–1986 Excellent 147 07332500 Blue River near Blue, Okla. 1937–2007 Some regulation at low flow by a State fish hatchery, 16.0 miles upstream from station. Small diversion for municipal water supply for city of Durant, Oklahoma, water works dam about 14 miles upstream. Other diversons noted since 1981. No streamflow also on Sept. 19 to Oct. 16, 1956, as a result of regulation at fish hatchery. 1937–1980 Fair 148 07332600 Bois D’Arc Creek near Randolph, Texas 1964–1985 None 1964–1985 Excellent 149 07333500 Chickasaw Creek near 

Stringtown, Okla.

1956–1968 None 1956–1968 Excellent

150 07333800 McGee Creek near 

Stringtown, Okla.

1957–1968 None 1957–1968 Excellent
Table 1

35

Table 1. Determination of preliminary baseline period for selected stream reaches in and near Oklahoma (in water years) based on streamflow-gaging station history from published U.S. Geological Survey annual data reports (1930–2007), and oral and written communication from staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water Science Center.—Continued[ID, identifer; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; ft, feet; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mi2, square miles; 

station, streamflow-gaging station]

Map 

number 

(fig. 1)

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey ID

Station name

Period of 

record 

(complete 

water 

years)

Comments1

Preliminary 

baseline 

period of 

record 

(complete 

water years)

Preliminary 

quality 

ranking2

151 07334000 Muddy Boggy Creek near 

Farris, Okla.

1938–2007 Some minor regulation since June 1959 by Atoka Reservoir; pipeline diversions from 

Atoka Reservoir to Oklahoma City since November 1963, and substantial regulation since April 1987 by McGee Creek Lake, drainage area 178 mi2. 

1938–1987 Poor

152 07335000 Clear Boggy Creek near 

Caney, Okla.

1943–1989, 2006–2007

Streamflow regulated since 1965 by numerous floodwater-retarding structures. 1943–1964 Excellent

153 07335300 Muddy Boggy Creek near 

Unger, Okla.

1983–2007 Streamflow is minorly regulated by Atoka Reservoir for the period of record, and 

substantially regulated by McGee Creek Reservoir since 1988. Streamflow also is minorly regulated by numerous floodwater-retarding structures for the period of record.

1983–1987 No Baseline 

Period

154 07335400 Sanders Creek near 

Chicota, Texas

1968–1986 Streamflow is regulated for the period of record by Pat Mayse Lake. None No Baseline 

Period

155 07335700 Kiamichi River near Big 

Cedar, Okla.

1966–2007 Hydrologic benchmark station. 1966–2007 Excellent

156 07335790 Kiamichi River near 

Clayton, Okla.

1982–2007 Regulation since December 1982 by Sardis Lake, on Jackfork Creek 4.5 miles upstream. None No Baseline 

Period

157 07336000 Tenmile Creek near Miller, 

Okla.

1956–1970 None 1956–1970 Excellent

158 07336200 Kiamichi River near 

Antlers, Okla.

1973–2007 Regulation since December 1982 by Sardis Lake, located on Jackfork Creek, 42 miles 

upstream from station. Small diversion for municipal water supply for city of Antlers upstream from station. Backwater from Hugo Reservoir may affect streamflow about 20 miles downstream from station.

1973–1982 Fair

159 07336500 Kiamichi River near 

Belzoni, Okla.

1926–1972 The City of Antlers, Oklahoma, diverts a small quantity of water, at a point upstream 

from the gaging station, for municipal use.

1926–1972 Fair

160 07336750 Little Pine Creek near 

Kanawha, Texas

1970–1980 None 1970–1980 Excellent

161 07336800 Pecan Bayou near 

Clarksville, Texas

1963–1977 None 1963–1977 Excellent

162 07337500 Little River near Wright 

City, Okla.

1945–1989 Except for 10 mi2 intervening area, streamflow completely regulated since June 1969 by 

Pine Creek Lake (07337300). On June 15, 1967, closure for diversion was made. 

1945–1966 Excellent
36 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma Table 1. Determination of preliminary baseline period for selected stream reaches in and near Oklahoma (in water years) based on streamflow-gaging station history from published U.S. Geological Survey annual data reports (1930–2007), and oral and written communication from staff at the U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water Science Center.—Continued [ID, identifer; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; ft, feet; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mi2, square miles; station, streamflow-gaging station] Map num- ber (fig. 1) U.S. Geological Survey ID Station name Period of record (complete water years) Comments1 Preliminary baseline period of record (complete water years) Preliminary quality ranking2 163 07337900 Glover River near Glover, Okla. 1962–2007 None 1962–2007 Excellent 164 07338500 Little River below Lukfata Creek near Idabel, Okla. 1930–2007 Streamflow regulated since June 1969 by Pine Creek Lake, 41.9 miles upstream. Substantial diversions by Weyerhaeuser Company 41 miles upstream from station, more than 1,500 acre-feet per month after completion of Pine Creek Lake. Prior to Pine Creek, water consumed by city of Idabel has some effect on low Streamflows. 1930–1968 Fair 165 07338750 Mountain Fork at Smithville, Okla. 1992–2007 None 1992–2007 Excellent 166 07339000 Mountain Fork near Eagletown, Okla. 1930–2007 Streamflow completely regulated except for 33-mi2 intervening area, since October 1968 by Broken Bow Lake. 1930–1968 Excellent 167 07339500 Rolling Fork near DeQueen, Ark. 1949–1980 Regulation since Aug. 31, 1977, by DeQueen Lake. 1949–1976 Excellent 168 07340300 Cossatot River near Vandervoort, Ark. 1968–2007 None 1968–2007 Excellent 169 07340500 Cossatot River near DeQueen, Ark. 1939–1980 Regulation since May 1975 by Gillham Lake, 15.5 miles upstream. 1939–1974 Excellent 170 07341000 Saline River near Dierks, Ark. 1939–1980 Regulation and diversions since May 8, 1975, by Dierks Lake, 5.9 miles upstream. 1939–1974 Excellent 171 07341200 Saline River near Lockesburg, Ark. 1964–2007 Regulation since May 8, 1975, by Dierks Lake, 5.9 miles upstream for water supply for the City of Dierks. 1964–1974 Excellent

1 Comments are from records at the Oklahoma Water Science Center, various U.S. Geological Survey reports (Tortorelli, 2002; Tortorelli, 2005), and from Robert L. Tortorelli, Robert L. Blazs, Tony Coffee, 

and David Adams, (U.S. Geological Survey, oral and written commun., 2008).

2 Quality rank assigned for these preliminary baseline periods was changed in later analysis of the baseline period of record when the least–altered period of record was refined (table 7).3Analysis includes streamflow record from nearby station (07174000) from 1939–1943.
Table 2

37

Table 2. Preliminary least-altered period of record and quality ranking based on the years that the estimated area upstream from dams in the drainage basins of 115 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma equaled or exceeded 1, 5, 10, or 20 percent of the drainage-basin area.—Continued[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; --, did not exceed indicated percentage; “no change” indicates that the baseline period of record did not change as a result of the assessment of impoundment; SCS, soil conservation service]

Map 

no. 

(fig. 1)

U.S. Geological 

Survey 

station ID

Station name

Period 

of record 

(complete 

water 

years1)

Year during period of record in 

which the area upstream from 

dams equaled or exceeded a 

given percentage

Preliminary baseline 

period of record

Preliminary 

quality ranking

1% 5% 10% 20% Prior to assessment2 Adjusted from assessment2 Prior to assess- ment2 Adjusted from as- sessment2

1 07148350 Salt Fork Arkansas River near Winchester, Okla. 1960–1993 1965 -- -- -- 1960–1993 No change Good No change2 07148400 Salt Fork Arkansas River near Alva, Okla. 1939–1951, 

1980–2007

1961 -- -- -- 1939–1951, 

1980–2007

No change Good No change

3 07149000 Medicine Lodge River near Kiowa, Kans. 1939–1950, 

1960–2007

before 

1939

1969 -- -- 1939–1950, 

1959–2007

No change Excellent Fair

4 07149500 Salt Fork Arkansas River near Cherokee, Okla. 1941–1950 before 

1941

-- -- -- 1941–1950 No change Excellent Good

5 07151500 Chikaskia River near Corbin, Kans. 1951–1965, 

1976–2007

1960 -- -- -- 1951–1965, 

1976–2007

No change Good Fair

6 07152000 Chikaskia River near Blackwell, Okla. 1937–2007 before 

1937

-- -- -- 1937–1949 1937–1949 Fair No change

7 07153000 Black Bear Creek at Pawnee, Okla. 1945–2007 before 

1945

before 

1945

1961 1965 1945–1962 1945–1960 Fair No change

9 07154500 Cimarron River near Kenton, Okla. 1951–2007 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1951–2007 No change Poor No change

10 07155000 Cimarron River above Ute Creek near Boise City, Okla. 1943–1954 before 

1943

-- -- -- 1943–1954 No change Poor No change

12 07157500 Crooked Creek near Englewood, Kans. 1943–2007 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1943–2007 No change Poor No change

13 07157900 Cavalry Creek at Coldwater, Kans. 1967–1980 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1967–1980 No change Excellent No change

14 07157960 Buffalo Creek near Lovedale, Okla. 1967–1993 before 

1967

before 

1967

1968 -- 1967–1993 No change Excellent Poor

15 07158400 Salt Creek near Okeene, Okla. 1962–1967, 

1975–1979

before 

1962

-- -- -- 1962–1967, 

1975–1979

No change Good Fair

Table 2. Preliminary least-altered period of record and quality ranking based on the years that the estimated area upstream from dams in the drainage basins of 115 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma equaled or exceeded 1, 5, 10, or 20 percent of the drainage-basin area.[No., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; --, did not exceed indicated percentage; “no change” indicates that the baseline period of record did not change as a result of the assessment of impoundment; SCS, soil conservation service]

Table 2
38 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma Table 2. Preliminary least-altered period of record and quality ranking based on the years that the estimated area upstream from dams in the drainage basins of 115 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma equaled or exceeded 1, 5, 10, or 20 percent of the drainage-basin area.—Continued [no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; --, did not exceed indicated percentage; “no change” indicates that the baseline period of record did not change as a result of the assessment of impoundment; SCS, soil conservation service] Map no. (fig. 1) U.S. Geo- logical Survey station ID Station name Period of record (complete water years1

)

Year during period of record in 

which the area upstream from 

dams equaled or exceeded a 

given percentage

Preliminary baseline 

period of record

Preliminary 

quality ranking

1% 5% 10% 20% Prior to assessment2 Adjusted from assessment2 Prior to assess- ment2 Adjusted from as- sessment2

16 07159000 Turkey Creek near Drummond, Okla. 1948–1970 before 

1948

-- -- -- 1948–1970 No change Fair Poor

19 07160500 Skeleton Creek near Lovell, Okla. 1950–1993, 

2002–2007

before 

1950

-- -- -- 1950–1993, 

2002–2007

No change Excellent Good

20 07163000 Council Creek near Stillwater, Okla. 1935–1993 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1934–1960 No change Good No change

25 07170700 Big Hill Creek near Cherryvale, Kans. 1958–2007 before 

1958

1981 1981 1981 1958–1980 No change Excellent Good

26 07172000 Caney River near Elgin, Kans. 1940–2007 1960 1965 1966 1967 1940–1964 No change Excellent Good27 07173000 Caney River near Hulah, Okla. 1938–1993 1947 1950 1950 1950 1938–1949 No change Excellent Good28 07174200 Little Caney River below Cotton Creek, near Copan, Okla. 1939–1980 1963 1963 1964 1964 1939–1968 1939–1963 Excellent No change

30 07174600 Sand Creek at Okesa, Okla. 1960–1993 1958 1958 1958 1960–1993 No change Poor No change

35 07176500 Bird Creek at Avant, Okla. 1946–2007 before 

1946

1958 1958 1977 1946–1976 No change Poor No change

36 07176800 Candy Creek near Wolco, Okla. 1970–1980 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1970–1980 No change Excellent No change

37 07177000 Hominy Creek near Skiatook, Okla. 1945–1980 before 

1945

-- -- -- 1945–1980 No change Excellent Good

38 07177500 Bird Creek near Sperry, Okla. 1939–2007 1940 1958 1977 1984 1939–1957 No change Fair Good44 07184000 Lightning Creek near McCune, Kans. 1939–1946, 

1960–2007

Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1939–1946, 1960–2007

No change Excellent No change
Table 2

39

Table 2. Preliminary least-altered period of record and quality ranking based on the years that the estimated area upstream from dams in the drainage basins of 115 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma equaled or exceeded 1, 5, 10, or 20 percent of the drainage-basin area.—Continued[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; --, did not exceed indicated percentage; “no change” indicates that the baseline period of record did not change as a result of the assessment of impoundment; SCS, soil conservation service]

Map 

no. 

(fig. 1)

U.S. Geological 

Survey 

station ID

Station name

Period 

of record 

(complete 

water 

years1)

Year during period of record in 

which the area upstream from 

dams equaled or exceeded a 

given percentage

Preliminary baseline 

period of record

Preliminary 

quality ranking

1% 5% 10% 20% Prior to assessment2 Adjusted from assessment2 Prior to assess- ment2 Adjusted from as- sessment2

46 07185500 Stahl Creek near Miller, Mo. 1951–1976 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1951–1976 No change Excellent No change

47 07185700 Spring River at LaRussell, Mo. 1958–1973, 

1976–1980

Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1958–1973, 1976–1980

No change Excellent No change

48 07185765 Spring River at Carthage, Mo. 1967–1980, 

2002–2007

Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1967–1980, 2002–2007

No change Excellent No change

49 07186000 Spring River near Waco, Mo. 1925–2007 1955 -- -- -- 1925–2007 No change Fair No change50 07187000 Shoal Creek above Joplin, Mo. 1942–2007 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1942–2007 No change Excellent No change

52 07188500 Lost Creek at Seneca, Mo. 1949–1959 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1949–1959 No change Excellent No change

53 07189000 Elk River near Tiff City, Mo. 1940–2007 1969 -- -- -- 1940–2007 No change Good Fair

54 07189540 Cave Springs Branch near South West City, Mo. 1998–2007 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1998–2007 No change Excellent No change

55 07189542 Honey Creek near South West City, Mo. 1998–2007 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1998–2007 No change Excellent No change

56 07191000 Big Cabin Creek near Big Cabin, Okla. 1948–2007 before 

1948

-- -- -- 1948–2007 No change Fair Poor

57 07191220 Spavinaw Creek near Sycamore, Okla. 1962–2007 before 

1962

-- -- -- 1962–2007 No change Excellent Good
40 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma Table 2. Preliminary least-altered period of record and quality ranking based on the years that the estimated area upstream from dams in the drainage basins of 115 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma equaled or exceeded 1, 5, 10, or 20 percent of the drainage-basin area.—Continued [no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; --, did not exceed indicated percentage; “no change” indicates that the baseline period of record did not change as a result of the assessment of impoundment; SCS, soil conservation service] Map no. (fig. 1) U.S. Geo- logical Survey station ID Station name Period of record (complete water years1

)

Year during period of record in 

which the area upstream from 

dams equaled or exceeded a 

given percentage

Preliminary baseline 

period of record

Preliminary 

quality ranking

1% 5% 10% 20% Prior to assessment2 Adjusted from assessment2 Prior to assess- ment2 Adjusted from as- sessment2

58 07192000 Pryor Creek near Pryor, Okla. 1948–1963 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1948–1963 No change Excellent No change

59 07194800 Illinois River at Savoy, Ark. 1996–2007 before 

1996

before 

1996

before 

1996

19963 1996–2007 No Baseline 

Period

Poor No 

Baseline Period

60 07195000 Osage Creek near Elm Springs, Ark. 1951–1975, 

1996–2007

Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1951–1975, 1996–2007

No change Fair No change

61 07195430 Illinois River South of Siloam Springs, Ark. 1996–2006 before 

1996

before 

1996

before 

19964

-- 1996–2006 No change Excellent Poor

62 07195500 Illinois River near Watts, Okla. 1956–2007 before 

1956

1962 -- -- 1991–2007 No change Fair No change

63 07195800 Flint Creek at Springtown, Ark. 1962–2007 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1962–1963, 1965–1979, 

1981–2007

No change Good No change

65 07195865 Sager Creek near West Siloam Springs, Okla. 1997–2007 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1997–2007 No change Fair No change

66 07196000 Flint Creek near Kansas, Okla. 1956–1990, 

1993–2007

before 

1956

before 

1956

1977 -- 1956–1977 No change Fair No change

67 07196500 Illinois River near Tahlequah, Okla. 1936–2007 1943 1952 1978 -- 1936–2007 1936–1977 Excellent Fair68 07196900 Baron Fork at Dutch Mills, Ark. 1959–2007 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1959–2007 No change Excellent No change

69 07196973 Peacheater Creek at Christie, Okla. 1993–2003 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1993–2003 No change Excellent No change
Table 2

41

Table 2. Preliminary least-altered period of record and quality ranking based on the years that the estimated area upstream from dams in the drainage basins of 115 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma equaled or exceeded 1, 5, 10, or 20 percent of the drainage-basin area.—Continued[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; --, did not exceed indicated percentage; “no change” indicates that the baseline period of record did not change as a result of the assessment of impoundment; SCS, soil conservation service]

Map 

no. 

(fig. 1)

U.S. Geological 

Survey 

station ID

Station name

Period 

of record 

(complete 

water 

years1)

Year during period of record in 

which the area upstream from 

dams equaled or exceeded a 

given percentage

Preliminary baseline 

period of record

Preliminary 

quality ranking

1% 5% 10% 20% Prior to assessment2 Adjusted from assessment2 Prior to assess- ment2 Adjusted from as- sessment2

70 07197000 Baron Fork at Eldon, Okla. 1949–2007 1967 -- -- -- 1949–2007 No change Excellent Good71 07197360 Caney Creek near Barber, Okla. 1998–2007 before 

1998

-- -- -- 1998–2007 No change Excellent Good

72 07198000 Illinois River near Gore, Okla. 1940–2007 1953 1953 1953 1953 1940–2007 1940–1951 Excellent No change73 07229300 Walnut Creek at Purcell, Okla. 1966–1993 before 

1966

1968 -- -- 1966–1993 No change Excellent Fair

74 07230000 Little River below Lake Thunderbird near Norman, Okla. 1953–2007 1950 1963 -- -- 1953–1964 1953–1962 Fair Poor75 07230500 Little River near Tecumseh, Okla. 1944–2007 1960 1965 1965 1965 1943–1964 No change Good Fair76 07231000 Little River near Sasakwa, Okla. 1943–2007 1957 1962 -- -- 1943–1961 No change Excellent Good

78 07232500 Beaver River near Guymon, Okla. 1938–1993 1955 1955 1961 -- 1938–1971 1938–1960 Excellent Fair80 07233000 Coldwater Creek near Hardesty, Okla. 1940–1964 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1940–1964 No change Excellent No change

81 07233500 Palo Duro Creek near Spearman, Texas 1946–1979, 

2000–2007

1970 1970 1970 -- 1946–1971 1946–1969 Good No change

83 07234100 Clear Creek near Elmwood, Okla. 1966–1993 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1966–1993 No change Poor No change

85 07236000 Wolf Creek near Fargo, Okla. 1943–1976 before 

1943

before 

1943

before 

1943

-- 1943–1971 No change Fair Poor

89 07243000 Dry Creek near Kendrick, Okla. 1956–1994 1965 1998 -- -- 1956–1994 No change Excellent Good90 07243500 Deep Fork near Beggs, Okla. 1939–2007 1954 1961 1963 1978 1939–1967 1939–1960 Excellent Good91 07244000 Deep Fork near Dewar, Okla. 1938–1950 before 

1938

1960 -- -- 1938–1950 No change Fair Good

92 07245500 Sallisaw Creek near Sallisaw, Okla. 1943–1976 1963 1963 1963 1964 1943–1963 No change Poor No change
42 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma Table 2. Preliminary least-altered period of record and quality ranking based on the years that the estimated area upstream from dams in the drainage basins of 115 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma equaled or exceeded 1, 5, 10, or 20 percent of the drainage-basin area.—Continued [no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; --, did not exceed indicated percentage; “no change” indicates that the baseline period of record did not change as a result of the assessment of impoundment; SCS, soil conservation service] Map no. (fig. 1) U.S. Geo- logical Survey station ID Station name Period of record (complete water years1

)

Year during period of record in 

which the area upstream from 

dams equaled or exceeded a 

given percentage

Preliminary baseline 

period of record

Preliminary 

quality ranking

1% 5% 10% 20% Prior to assessment2 Adjusted from assessment2 Prior to assess- ment2 Adjusted from as- sessment2

93 07247000 Poteau River at Cauthron, Ark. 1940–2007 1942 1964 1964 1969 1940–1973 1940–1963 Excellent Good95 07247250 Black Fork below Big Creek near Page, Okla. 1993–2007 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1993–2007 No change Excellent No change

96 07247500 Fourche Maline near Red Oak, Okla. 1939–2007 before 

1939

before 

1939

1964 1964 1939–1965 1939–1963 Excellent Fair

97 07248500 Poteau River near Wister, Okla. 1939–1986 1937 1949 1949 1949 1939–1948 No change Excellent Good98 07249400 James Fork near Hackett, Ark. 1959–2007 before 

1959

-- -- -- 1959–2007 No change Fair No change

100 07249500 Cove Creek near Lee Creek, Ark. 1951–1970 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1951–1970 No change Excellent No change

101 07249985 Lee Creek near Short, Okla. 1931–1936, 

1950–1991, 1993–2007

Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the 

period of record

1931–1936, 1950–1991, 1993–2007

No change Excellent No change

102 07250000 Lee Creek near Van Buren, Ark. 1931–1936, 

1951–1992

Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1931–1936, 1951–1992

No change Excellent No change

103 07300000 Salt Fork Red River near Wellington, Texas 1953–2007 1967 1967 1967 1967 1953–1966 No change Fair No change104 07300500 Salt Fork Red River at Mangum, Okla. 1938–2007 1967 1967 1967 1967 1938–1966 No change Excellent No change105 07301110 Salt Fork Red River near Elmer, Okla. 1980–2007 before 

1980

before 

1980

before 

1980

-- 1980–2007 No Baseline 

Period5

Poor No 

Baseline Period5

107 07301410 Sweetwater Creek near Kelton, Texas 1963–2007 before 

1963

-- -- -- 1963–2007 No change Fair No change

108 07301420 Sweetwater Creek near Sweetwater, Okla. 1987–2007 before 

1987

-- -- -- 1987–2007 No change Excellent Good
Table 2

43

Table 2. Preliminary least-altered period of record and quality ranking based on the years that the estimated area upstream from dams in the drainage basins of 115 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma equaled or exceeded 1, 5, 10, or 20 percent of the drainage-basin area.—Continued[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; --, did not exceed indicated percentage; “no change” indicates that the baseline period of record did not change as a result of the assessment of impoundment; SCS, soil conservation service]

Map 

no. 

(fig. 1)

U.S. Geological 

Survey 

station ID

Station name

Period 

of record 

(complete 

water 

years1)

Year during period of record in 

which the area upstream from 

dams equaled or exceeded a 

given percentage

Preliminary baseline 

period of record

Preliminary 

quality ranking

1% 5% 10% 20% Prior to assessment2 Adjusted from assessment2 Prior to assess- ment2 Adjusted from as- sessment2

109 07301500 North Fork Red River near Carter, Okla. 1938–1962, 

1965–2007

1939 1964 1964 -- 1938–1962, 

1965–2007

1938–1962 Excellent Fair

111 07303400 Elm Fork of North Fork Red River near Carl, Okla. 1960–1979, 

1995–2007

1950 1950 1950 -- 1960–1979, 

1995–2007

No change Excellent Poor

112 07303500 Elm Fork of North Fork Red River near Mangum, Okla. 1938–1976 1950 1950 -- -- 1938–1976 No change Excellent Fair113 07304500 Elk Creek near Hobart, Okla. 1950–1993 before 

1950

before 

1950

before 

1950

1969 1950–1974 1950–1966 Fair Poor

118 07311500 Deep Red Creek near Randlett, Okla. 1950–1963, 

1970–2007

1974 1974 1974 19986 1950–1963, 

1970–2007

1950–1963, 

1970–1973

Poor Excellent

119 07313000 Little Beaver Creek near Duncan, Okla. 1949–1963 1960 -- -- -- 1949–1963 No change Excellent Good

120 07313500 Beaver Creek near Waurika, Okla. 1954–1993 1960 1977 1977 1977 1954–1976 No change Excellent Good121 07315700 Mud Creek near Courtney, Okla. 1961–2007 1960 -- -- -- 1961–2007 No change Fair Good122 07316500 Washita River near Cheyenne, Okla. 1938–2007 1958 1960 1961 1961 1938–1960 1938–1957 Poor No change128 07325000 Washita River near Clinton, Okla. 1936–2007 1952 1952 1956 1960 1936–1960 1936–1955 Excellent Fair130 07326000 Cobb Creek near Fort Cobb, Okla. 1940–2007 1956 1957 1959 1959 1940–1958 1940–1955 Excellent No change133 073274406 Little Washita River above SCS Pond 26 near Cyril, Okla. 1996–2007 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1996–2007 No change Excellent No change

136 07327490 Little Washita River near Ninnekah, Okla. 1952–1985 1954 1960 1970 1972 1952–1973 1952–1969 Poor No change140 07329000 Rush Creek at Purdy, Okla. 1940–1953, 

1983–1994

1950 1959 1960 1960 1940–1953 No change Excellent Good

145 07330500 Caddo Creek near Ardmore, Okla. 1937–1950 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1937–1950 No change Excellent No change
44 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma Table 2. Preliminary least-altered period of record and quality ranking based on the years that the estimated area upstream from dams in the drainage basins of 115 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma equaled or exceeded 1, 5, 10, or 20 percent of the drainage-basin area.—Continued [no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; --, did not exceed indicated percentage; “no change” indicates that the baseline period of record did not change as a result of the assessment of impoundment; SCS, soil conservation service] Map no. (fig. 1) U.S. Geo- logical Survey station ID Station name Period of record (complete water years1

)

Year during period of record in 

which the area upstream from 

dams equaled or exceeded a 

given percentage

Preliminary baseline 

period of record

Preliminary 

quality ranking

1% 5% 10% 20% Prior to assessment2 Adjusted from assessment2 Prior to assess- ment2 Adjusted from as- sessment2

146 07332400 Blue River at Milburn, Okla. 1966–1986 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1966–1986 No change Excellent No change

147 07332500 Blue River near Blue, Okla. 1937–2007 2000 2000 -- -- 1937–1980 No change Fair No change148 07332600 Bois D’Arc Creek near Randolph, Texas 1964–1985 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1964–1985 No change Excellent No change

149 07333500 Chickasaw Creek near Stringtown, Okla. 1956–1968 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1956–1968 No change Excellent No change

150 07333800 McGee Creek near Stringtown, Okla. 1957–1968 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1957–1968 No change Excellent No change

151 07334000 Muddy Boggy Creek near Farris, Okla. 1938–2007 1959 1959 1959 1982 1938–1987 No change Poor Excellent152 07335000 Clear Boggy Creek near Caney, Okla. 1943–1989, 

2006–2007

1950 1961 1962 1965 1943–1964 1943–1960 Excellent Good

155 07335700 Kiamichi River near Big Cedar, Okla. 1966–2007 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1966–2007 No change Excellent No change

157 07336000 Tenmile Creek near Miller, Okla. 1956–1970 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1956–1970 No change Excellent No change

158 07336200 Kiamichi River near Antlers, Okla. 1973–2007 1959 1983 1983 1983 1973–1982 No change Fair No change159 07336500 Kiamichi River near Belzoni, Okla. 1926–1972 1964 -- -- -- 1926–1972 No change Fair No change160 07336750 Little Pine Creek near Kanawha, Texas 1970–1980 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1970–1980 No change Excellent Excellent
Table 2

45

Table 2. Preliminary least-altered period of record and quality ranking based on the years that the estimated area upstream from dams in the drainage basins of 115 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma equaled or exceeded 1, 5, 10, or 20 percent of the drainage-basin area.—Continued[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; %, percent; --, did not exceed indicated percentage; “no change” indicates that the baseline period of record did not change as a result of the assessment of impoundment; SCS, soil conservation service]

Map 

no. 

(fig. 1)

U.S. Geological 

Survey 

station ID

Station name

Period 

of record 

(complete 

water 

years1)

Year during period of record in 

which the area upstream from 

dams equaled or exceeded a 

given percentage

Preliminary baseline 

period of record

Preliminary 

quality ranking

1% 5% 10% 20% Prior to assessment2 Adjusted from assessment2 Prior to assess- ment2 Adjusted from as- sessment2

161 07336800 Pecan Bayou near Clarksville, Texas 1963–1977 before 

1963

-- -- -- 1963–1977 No change Excellent Good

162 07337500 Little River near Wright City, Okla. 1945–1989 1969 1969 1969 1969 1945–1966 No change Excellent No change163 07337900 Glover River near Glover, Okla. 1962–2007 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1962–2007 No change Excellent No change

164 07338500 Little River below Lukfata Creek, near Idabel, Okla. 1930–2007 1969 1969 1969 1969 1930–1968 No change Fair No change165 07338750 Mountain Fork at Smithville, Okla. 1992–2007 before 

1992

before 

1992

-- -- 1992–2007 No change Excellent Fair

166 07339000 Mountain Fork near Eagletown, Okla. 1930–2007 1957 1969 1969 1969 1930–1968 No change Excellent Good167 07339500 Rolling Fork near DeQueen, Ark. 1949–1980 1977 1977 1977 1977 1949–1976 No change Excellent No change

168 07340300 Cossatot River near Vandervoort, Ark. 1968–2007 Less than 1% of the drainage are 

was upstream from dams for the period of record

1968–2007 1968–2007 Excellent No change

169 07340500 Cossatot River near DeQueen, Ark. 1939–1980 1969 1975 1975 1975 1939–1974 No change Excellent Good170 07341000 Saline River near Dierks, Ark. 1939–1980 1975 1975 1975 1975 1939–1974 No change Excellent No change171 07341200 Saline River near Lockesburg, Ark. 1964–2007 1975 1975 1975 1975 1964–1974 No change Excellent No change

1 Complete water years are those years where daily discharge data are available for every day of the Water Year, October 1 through September 30.2 In previous analysis, the preliminary baseline period and quality ranking was determined from historical basin information only. In the analysis of impoundment presented in this table, the preliminary baseline period was adjusted to eliminate those years after a substantial increase in impoundment in the drainage basin and quality ranking was adjusted based on the percentage of the drainage area upstream from 

impoundments for the remaining years.

3 In 1996, the estimated percentage of the drainage area upstream from impoundment was just under 20%.4 In 1996, the estimated percentage of the drainage area upstream from impoundment was just under 10%.5 The ranking for this station was downgraded to “no baseline period” because more than 15 percent of the drainage basin was affected by regulation for the period of streamflow record and historical station 

notes indicated that streamflow was affected by irrigation returns.

6 In 1998, the estimated percentage of the drainage area upstream from impoundment was just under 20%.
46 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma Table 3. Results and description of visual trends in annual base flow, runoff, total flow, and base-flow index, for the entire period of record for 74 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma with at least 20 years of available record.—Continued [no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; base-flow index is the ratio of base flow to total flow] Map no. (fig. 1) U.S. Geologi- cal Survey station ID Station name Period of record (water rears)1 Period of record analyzed (water years)1 Num- ber of years ana- lyzed Was trend in annual plot over time visually obvious? Remarks Was further analysis con- ducted?2 Base flow Runoff Total flow Base-flow index

1 07148350 Salt Fork Arkansas 

River near Winchester, Okla.

1960–1993 1960–1993 34 Yes, 

upward

No Yes, 

upward

Yes, 

upward

Upward visual trends appear to start in the early 

1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate.

No

2 07148400 Salt Fork Arkansas 

River near Alva, Okla.

1939–1951, 1980–2007

1939–19513 13 Yes, 

upward

Yes, 

downward

No Yes, 

upward

Upward visual trends in base flow and baseflow index appear to start in the early 1980s. 

Assumption made that observed upward trend is associated with climate. Downward trends in runoff do not follow these assumptions, however.

No3

3 07149000 Medicine Lodge 

River near Kiowa, Kans.

1938–1950, 1959–2007

1938–1950, 1959–2007

70 Yes, 

upward

No Yes, 

upward

Yes, 

upward

Trends observed prior to the 1980s. Yes

5 07151500 Chikaskia River near 

Corbin, Kans.

1951–1965, 1976–2007

1951–1965, 1976–2007

57 Yes, 

upward

No No No Upward visual trends appear to start in the early 

1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate.

No

6 07152000 Chikaskia River near 

Blackwell, Okla.

1937–2007 1937–2007 71 Yes, 

upward

No No Yes, 

upward

Upward visual trends appear to start in the early 

1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate.

No

9 07154500 Cimarron River near 

Kenton, Okla.

1951–2007 1951–2007 57 Yes, 

downward

Yes, 

downward

Yes, 

downward

No Yes

12 07157500 Crooked Creek near 

Englewood, Kans.

1943–2007 1943–2007 65 No Yes, 

downward

Yes, 

downward

Yes, 

upward

Yes

14 07157960 Buffalo Creek near 

Lovedale, Okla.

1966–1993 1966–1993 28 Yes, 

upward

No No Yes, 

upward

Upward visual trends appear to start in the early 

1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate.

No

16 07159000 Turkey Creek near 

Drummond, Okla.

1948–1970 1948–1970 23 No No No No No

19 07160500 Skeleton Creek near 

Lovell, Okla.

1950–1993, 2002–2007

1950–1993, 2002–2007

58 Yes, 

upward

No No Yes, 

upward

Upward visual trends appear to start in the early 

1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate.

No

20 07163000 Council Creek near 

Stillwater, Okla.

1935–1993 1935–1960 26 Yes, 

upward

No No Yes, 

upward

Upward visual trends appear to start in the early 

1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate.

No

Table 3. Results and description of visual trends in annual base flow, runoff, total flow, and base-flow index, for the entire period of record for 74 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma with at least 20 years of available record.[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; base-flow index is the ratio of base flow to total flow]

Table 3
Table 3

47

Table 3. Results and description of visual trends in annual base flow, runoff, total flow, and base-flow index, for the entire period of record for 74 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma with at least 20 years of available record.—Continued[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; base-flow index is the ratio of base flow to total flow]

Map 

no. 

(fig. 1)

U.S. 

Geological Survey 

station ID

Station name

Period 

of record 

(water 

rears)1

Period of 

record 

analyzed 

(water 

years)1

Number of years 

analyzed

Was trend in annual plot over 

time visually obvious?

Remarks

Was 

further 

analysis 

conducted?2 Base flow Runoff Total flow Base-flow index

25 07170700 Big Hill Creek near 

Cherryvale, Kans.

1958–2007 1958–1980 23 No No No No No

26 07172000 Caney River near 

Elgin, Kans.

1940–2007 1940–1964 25 No No No No No

28 07174200 Little Caney River 

below Cotton Creek, near Copan, Okla.

1944–1980 1944–1968 25 No No No No No

30 07174600 Sand Creek at Okesa, 

Okla.

1960–1993 1960–1993 34 Yes, 

upward

Yes, 

upward

Yes, 

upward

Yes, 

upward

Upward visual trends appear to start in the early 

1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate.

No

35 07176500 Bird Creek at Avant, 

Okla.

1946–2007 1946–1976 31 Yes, 

upward

Yes, 

upward

Yes, 

upward

Yes, 

upward

Trends observed prior to the 1980s. Yes

37 07177000 Hominy Creek near 

Skiatook, Okla.

1945–1980 1945–1980 36 No No No No No

44 07184000 Lightning Creek near 

McCune, Kans.

1939–1946, 1960–2007

1939–1946, 1960–2007

69 No No No No No

46 07185500 Stahl Creek near 

Miller, Mo.

1951–1976 1951–1976 26 No Yes, 

upward

Yes, 

upward

Yes, 

upward

Trends observed prior to the 1980s. Yes

47 07185700 Spring River at 

LaRussell, Mo.

1958–1973, 1976–1980

1958–1973, 1976–1980

23 No No No Yes, 

downward

Trend in base-flow index appears to start prior 

to the 1980s.

Yes

48 07185765 Spring River at 

Carthage, Mo.

1967–1980, 2002–2007

1967–1980, 2002–2007

41 No No No No Trends are difficult to observe because of large 

gap in period of record.

No

49 07186000 Spring River near 

Waco, Mo.

1925–2007 1925–2007 83 No No No No No

50 07187000 Shoal Creek above 

Joplin, Mo.

1942–2007 1942–2007 66 No No No No No

53 07189000 Elk River near Tiff 

City, Mo.

1940–2007 1940–2007 68 No No No No No

56 07191000 Big Cabin Creek near 

Big Cabin, Okla.

1948–2007 1948–2007 60 No No No No No

57 07191220 Spavinaw Creek near 

Sycamore, Okla.

1962–2007 1962–2007 46 No No No No No
48 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma Table 3. Results and description of visual trends in annual base flow, runoff, total flow, and base-flow index, for the entire period of record for 74 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma with at least 20 years of available record.—Continued [no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; base-flow index is the ratio of base flow to total flow] Map no. (fig. 1) U.S. Geologi- cal Survey station ID Station name Period of record (water rears)1 Period of record analyzed (water years)1 Num- ber of years ana- lyzed Was trend in annual plot over time visually obvious? Remarks Was further analysis con- ducted?2 Base flow Runoff Total flow Base-flow index 60 07195000 Osage Creek near Elm Springs, Ark. 1951–1975, 1996–2007 1951–1975, 1996–2007 57 No No No No No 63 07195800 Flint Creek at Springtown, Ark. 1962–2007 1962–1963, 1965–1979, 1981–2007 46 No No No No No 66 07196000 Flint Creek near Kansas, Okla. 1956–1990, 1993–2007 1956–1977 22 No No No No No 67 07196500 Illinois River near Tahlequah, Okla. 1936–2007 1936–2007 72 No No No No No 68 07196900 Baron Fork at Dutch Mills, Ark. 1959–2007 1959–2007 49 No No No No No 70 07197000 Baron Fork at Eldon, Okla. 1949–2007 1949–2007 59 No No No No No 73 07229300 Walnut Creek at Purcell, Okla. 1966–1993 1966–1993 28 Yes, upward Yes, upward Yes, upward No Upward visual trends appear to start in the early 1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate. No 77 07232000 Gaines Creek near Krebs, Okla. 1943–1963 1943–1963 21 No No No No No 78 07232500 Beaver River near Guymon, Okla. 1938–1993 1938–1971 34 No No No No No 80 07233000 Coldwater Creek near Hardesty, Okla. 1940–1964 1940–1964 25 No No No No No 81 07233500 Palo Duro Creek near Spearman, Texas 1946–1979, 2000–2007 1946–1971 26 No No No No No 83 07234100 Clear Creek near Elmwood, Okla. 1966–1993 1966–1993 28 No Yes, down- ward Yes, down- ward Yes, upward Upward visual trends in base-flow index and decreases in runoff and total flow appear to start prior to the 1980s. Yes 85 07236000 Wolf Creek near Fargo, Okla. 1943–1976 1943–1971 29 Yes, down- ward Yes, down- ward Yes, down- ward Yes, upward Trends prior to irrigation period of record established by Wahl and Tortorelli (1997). Yes

89 07243000 Dry Creek near 

Kendrick, Okla.

1956–1994 1956–1994 39 Yes, 

upward

Yes, 

upward

Yes, 

upward

No Upward visual trends appear to start in the early 

1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate.

No

90 07243500 Deep Fork near 

Beggs, Okla.

1939–2007 1939–1967 29 No No No No No
Table 3

49

Table 3. Results and description of visual trends in annual base flow, runoff, total flow, and base-flow index, for the entire period of record for 74 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma with at least 20 years of available record.—Continued[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; base-flow index is the ratio of base flow to total flow]

Map 

no. 

(fig. 1)

U.S. 

Geological Survey 

station ID

Station name

Period 

of record 

(water 

rears)1

Period of 

record 

analyzed 

(water 

years)1

Number of years 

analyzed

Was trend in annual plot over 

time visually obvious?

Remarks

Was 

further 

analysis 

conducted?2 Base flow Runoff Total flow Base-flow index

92 07245500 Sallisaw Creek near 

Sallisaw, Okla.

1943–1976 1943–1963 21 No No No No No

93 07247000 Poteau River at 

Cauthron, Ark.

1940–2007 1940–1973 34 Yes, 

upward

No No Yes, 

upward

Upward visual trends appear to start in the early 

1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate.

No

96 07247500 Fourche Maline near 

Red Oak, Okla.

1939–2007 1939–1965 27 No No No No No

98 07249400 James Fork near 

Hackett, Ark.

1959–2007 1959–2007 49 No No No Yes, 

downward

Downward trend in base-flow index appear to 

start in the late 1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate.

No

101 07249985 Lee Creek near Short, 

Okla.

1931–1936, 1950–1991, 1993–2007

1931–1936, 1950–1991, 1993–2007

77 No No No Yes, 

downward

Downward visual trend in base-flow index 

appear to start in the late 1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate.

No

102 07250000 Lee Creek near Van 

Buren, Ark.

1931–1936, 1951–1992

1931–1936, 1951–1992

62 Yes, 

upward

No Yes, 

upward

No Upward visual trends appear to start in the early 

1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate.

No

104 07300500 Salt Fork Red River 

at Mangum, Okla.

1938–2007 1938–1966 29 Yes, 

upward

Yes, 

downward

No Yes, 

upward

Upward visual trends in base flow and baseflow index appear to start in the early 1980s. 

Assumption made that observed upwards trend is associated with climate. Downward visual trends in runoff do not follow these assumptions, however.

Yes

107 07301410 Sweetwater Creek 

near Kelton, Texas

1963–2007 1963–2007 45 No No Yes, 

downward

Yes, 

upward

Upward visual trends in base-flow index appear 

to start in the early 1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate. Downward visual trend in total flow do not follow these assumptions, however.

Yes

108 07301420 Sweetwater Creek 

near Sweetwater, Okla.

1987–2007 1987–2007 21 No No No Yes, 

downward

Downward visual trend in base-flow index 

appear to start after 2000 (end of a wet period). Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate. 

No

109 07301500 North Fork Red River 

near Carter, Okla.

1938–1962, 1965–2007

1938–1962, 1965–2007

70 Yes, 

upward

Yes, 

downward

No Yes, 

upward

Upward visual trend in base-flow index appears 

to start prior to the 1980s. Other visual trends are downward even during the wet period.

Yes
50 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma Table 3. Results and description of visual trends in annual base flow, runoff, total flow, and base-flow index, for the entire period of record for 74 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma with at least 20 years of available record.—Continued [no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; base-flow index is the ratio of base flow to total flow] Map no. (fig. 1) U.S. Geologi- cal Survey station ID Station name Period of record (water rears)1 Period of record analyzed (water years)1 Num- ber of years ana- lyzed Was trend in annual plot over time visually obvious? Remarks Was further analysis con- ducted?2 Base flow Runoff Total flow Base-flow index 111 07303400 Elm Fork of North Fork Red River near Carl, Okla. 1960–1979, 1995–2007 1960–1979, 1995–2007 48 No No No No Trends are difficult to observe because of large gap in period of record. No 112 07303500 Elm Fork of North Fork Red River near Mangum, Okla. 1938–1976 1938–1976 39 No No No No Trends are difficult to observe because of large gap in period of record. No 113 07304500 Elk Creek near Hobart, Okla. 1950–1993 1950–1974 25 Yes, upward No No Yes, upward Upward visual trends appear to start in the early to mid 1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate. No 118 07311500 Deep Red Creek near Randlett, Okla. 1950–1963, 1970–2007 1950–1963, 1970–2007 58 Yes, upward Yes, upward Yes, upward Yes, upward Upward visual trends appear to start in the early 1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate. No 120 07313500 Beaver Creek near Waurika, Okla. 1954–1993 1954–1976 23 No No No No No 121 07315700 Mud Creek near Courtney, Okla. 1961–2007 1961–2007 47 Yes, upward Yes, upward Yes, upward Yes, upward Upward visual trends appear to start in the early 1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate. No 122 07316500 Washita River near Cheyenne, Okla. 1938–2007 1938–1960 23 No No No No No 128 07325000 Washita River near Clinton, Okla. 1936–2007 1936–1960 25 No No No No No 136 07327490 Little Washita River near Ninnekah, Okla. 1952–1985 1952–1973 22 No Yes, upward No No Upward visual trends in base-flow index appear to start in the early 1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate. No 146 07332400 Blue River at Milburn, Okla. 1966–1986 1966–1986 21 No No No No No 147 07332500 Blue River near Blue, Okla. 1937–2007 1937–1980 44 No No No No No 148 07332600 Bois D’Arc Creek near Randolph, 

Texas

1964–1985 1964–1985 22 No No No No No

151 07334000 Muddy Boggy Creek 

near Farris, Okla.

1938–2007 1938–1987 50 No No No No No
Table 3

51

Table 3. Results and description of visual trends in annual base flow, runoff, total flow, and base-flow index, for the entire period of record for 74 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma with at least 20 years of available record.—Continued[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; base-flow index is the ratio of base flow to total flow]

Map 

no. 

(fig. 1)

U.S. 

Geological Survey 

station ID

Station name

Period 

of record 

(water 

rears)1

Period of 

record 

analyzed 

(water 

years)1

Number of years 

analyzed

Was trend in annual plot over 

time visually obvious?

Remarks

Was 

further 

analysis 

conducted?2 Base flow Runoff Total flow Base-flow index

155 07335700 Kiamichi River near 

Big Cedar, Okla.

1966–2007 1966–2007 42 No No No No No

159 07336500 Kiamichi River near 

Belzoni, Okla.

1926–1972 1926–1972 47 No No No No No

162 07337500 Little River near 

Wright City, Okla.

1945–1989 1945–1966 22 No No No No No

163 07337900 Glover River near 

Glover, Okla.

1962–2007 1962–2007 46 No No No No No

164 07338500 Little River blw 

Lukfata Ck, near Idabel, Okla.

1930–2007 1930–1968 39 No No No No No

166 07339000 Mountain Fork near 

Eagletown, Okla.

1930–2007 1930–1967 38 No No No No No

167 07339500 Rolling Fork near 

DeQueen, Ark.

1949–1980 1949–1976 28 No No No No No

168 07340300 Cossatot River near 

Vandervoort, Ark.

1968–2007 1968–2007 40 Yes, 

upward

Yes, 

upward

Yes, 

upward

No Upward visual trends appear to start in the early 

1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate.

No

169 07340500 Cossatot River near 

DeQueen, Ark.

1939–1980 1939–1974 36 Yes, 

upward

No No Yes, 

upward

Upward visual trends appear to start in the early 

1980s. Assumption made that observed trend is associated with climate.

No

170 07341000 Saline River near 

Dierks, Ark.

1939–1980 1939–1974 36 No No No No No

1 Record was only analyzed if 20 or more years were available prior to the start of substantial regulation, which is defined as the year when 20 percent or more of the basin was regulated by water-supply or 

flood-control dams (table 1).

2 If there were visually observed trends that were not attributable to changes in climate (increases at the start of the wet period in the early 1980s, for example), then a Kendall’s tau trend test was performed 

for the annual parameter during the period of record. Results for those sites where further analysis was performed are listed in table 4.

3 Double mass and Kendall’s tau could not be used to analyze the full dataset because of the gap in the period of record. The earlier period, 1939–1951, should be considered baseline based on visual analysis 

alone. 
52 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma Table 4. Selected results of analysis of covariance test for double-mass curves for annual streamflow data at 11 selected streamflow-gaging stations and annual precipitation data at selected climate divisions in and near Oklahoma.—Continued [no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; No BP identified, no significant breakpoints were detected on the double-mass curve; --, did not calculate because there was no breakpoint identified; <, less than] Map no. (fig. 1) U.S. Geologi- cal Survey station ID Station name Clim- ate divis- ion Period of record (water years) Period of re- cord tested1 Flow type Selected break- point years P-value F- value Is F-value the max- imum for the F-test dataset? Direc- tion of trend with re- spect to precip- itation Remark Was Kendall’s tau analysis conducted for this pa- rameter and breakpoint year?2 If yes, least- altered period of record(s) tested

3 07149000

Medicine 

Lodge River near Kiowa, Kans.

KS8 1939–1950, 1960–2007 1939–1950, 1960–2007

Base 

flow

1982 <0.0001 24.1 Yes Upward Many breakpoints on curve (gradual 

upward trend). Probably associated with start of wet period.

No --

Base 

flow

1970 <.0001 22 No Upward Many breakpoints on curve (gradual 

upward trend). Visually prominent. 

Yes 1939–1969; 

1971–2007; 1939–2007

Runoff 2000 .029 5.26 Yes Downward Isolated breakpoint. Probably associ- ated with end of wet period. No --

Total 

flow

No BP 

identified

-- -- -- No --

9 07154500

Cimarron 

River near Kenton, Okla.

OK1 1951–2007 1951–2007

Base 

flow

1971 <.0001 25 Yes Downward Many breakpoints on curve (gradual downward trend). Yes 1951–1966; 1972–2007; 

1951–2007

Runoff 1968 <.0001 14.2 Yes Downward Many breakpoints on curve (gradual downward trend). Yes 1951–1966; 1972–2007; 

1951–2007

Total 

flow

1968 <.0001 15.2 Yes Downward Many breakpoints on curve (gradual downward trend). Yes 1951–1966; 1972–2007; 

1951–2007

12 07157500

Crooked 

Creek near Englewood, Kans.

KS7 1943–2007 1943–2007

Base 

flow

1976 .001 12.7 Yes Downward Many breakpoints on curve (gradual downward trend). Yes 1943–1975; 1977–2007; 

1943–2007

Runoff 1956 <.0001 27.6 Yes Downward Many breakpoints on curve (gradual downward trend). Not enough years 

to run double-mass analysis.

No

Runoff 1964 <.0001 22.5 No Downward Many breakpoints on curve (gradual downward trend). Yes 1943–1963; 1965–2007; 

1943–2007

Total 

flow

1956 <.0001 25.1 Yes Downward Many breakpoints on curve (gradual downward trend). Not enough years 

to run double-mass analysis.

No

Total 

flow

1964 <.0001 19.6 No Downward Many breakpoints on curve (gradual downward trend). Yes 1943–1963; 1965–2007; 

1943–2007

Table 4. Selected results of analysis of covariance test for double-mass curves for annual streamflow data at 11 selected streamflow-gaging stations and annual precipitation data at selected climate divisions in and near Oklahoma.[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; No BP identified, no significant breakpoints were detected on the double-mass curve; --, did not calculate because there was no breakpoint identified; <, less than]

Table 4
Table 4

53

Table 4. Selected results of analysis of covariance test for double-mass curves for annual streamflow data at 11 selected streamflow-gaging stations and annual precipitation data at selected climate divisions in and near Oklahoma.—Continued[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; No BP identified, no significant breakpoints were detected on the double-mass curve; --, did not calculate because there was no breakpoint identified; <, less than]

Map 

no. 

(fig. 1)

U.S. 

Geological Survey 

station ID

Station name

Climate 

division

Period of 

record 

(water 

years)

Period of record tested1 Flow type

Selected 

breakpoint 

years

P-value F- value

Is 

F-value 

the maximum 

for the 

F-test 

dataset?

Direction of 

trend 

with respect to 

precipitation

Remark

Was 

Kendall’s 

tau analysis 

conducted 

for this parameter and 

breakpoint 

year?2

If yes, 

leastaltered 

period of 

record(s) 

tested

35 07176500

Bird Creek 

at Avant, Okla.

OK3 1946–2007 1946–1976

Base 

flow

1968 0.041 4.61 No Upward A few other breakpoints on curve. 

Visually prominent.

Yes 1946–1967; 

1946–1976

Base 

flow

1973 .009 7.93 Yes Upward A few other breakpoints on curve. Yes 1946–1972

Runoff No BP 

identified

-- -- -- No --

Total 

flow

No BP 

identified

-- -- -- No --

46 07185500

Stahl Creek 

near Miller, Mo.

MO4 1951–1976 1951–1976

Base 

flow

No BP 

identified

-- -- -- No --

Runoff No BP 

identified

-- -- -- No --

Total 

flow

No BP 

identified

-- -- -- No --

47 07185700

Spring River 

at LaRussell, Mo. MO4 1958–1973, 1976–1980 1958–1973, 1976–1980

Base 

flow

No BP 

identified

-- -- -- No --

Runoff No BP 

identified

-- -- -- No --

Total 

flow

No BP 

identified

-- -- -- No --

83 07234100

Clear Creek 

near Elmwood, Okla.

OK1 1966–1993 1966–1993

Base 

flow

No BP 

identified

-- -- -- No --

Runoff 1974 <.0001 22.8 Yes Downward A few other breakpoints on curve. Yes 1966–1993; 1975–1993

Total 

flow

1974 <.0001 21.8 Yes Downward A few other breakpoints on curve. Yes 1966–1993; 1975–1993
54 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma Table 4. Selected results of analysis of covariance test for double-mass curves for annual streamflow data at 11 selected streamflow-gaging stations and annual precipitation data at selected climate divisions in and near Oklahoma.—Continued [no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; No BP identified, no significant breakpoints were detected on the double-mass curve; --, did not calculate because there was no breakpoint identified; <, less than] Map no. (fig. 1) U.S. Geologi- cal Survey station ID Station name Clim- ate divis- ion Period of record (water years) Period of re- cord tested1 Flow type Selected break- point years P-value F- value Is F-value the max- imum for the F-test dataset? Direc- tion of trend with re- spect to precip- itation Remark Was Kendall’s tau analysis conducted for this pa- rameter and breakpoint year?2 If yes, least- altered period of record(s) tested 85 07236000 Wolf Creek near Fargo, Okla. OK1 1943–1976 1943–1976 Base flow 1953 0.005 12.6 Yes Down- ward A few other breakpoints on curve. Not enough record in period to run a Kendall’s tau test. No -- Base flow 1957 .045 4.35 No Down- ward A few other breakpoints on curve. Visually prominent when compared to other years, but a weak break- point. Only 14 years in period prior to breakpoint.3 Yes3, 4 1943–1956; 1960–1976; 1943–1976 Runoff 1959 .000 13.6 Yes Down- ward A few other breakpoints on curve. Yes3, 4 1943–1956; 1960–1976; 1943–1976 Total flow 1958 .001 11.1 Yes Down- ward A few other breakpoints on curve. Yes3, 4 1943–1956; 1960–1976; 1943–1976 104 07300500 Salt Fork Red River at Man- gum, Okla. OK7 1938–2007 1938–1966 Base flow 1957 .011 7.5 Yes Upward A few other breakpoints on curve. Yes 1938–1957; 1938–1966 Runoff No BP identi- fied -- -- -- No Total flow No BP identi- fied -- -- -- No 107 07301410 Sweetwater Creek near Kelton, Texas TX2 1963–2007 1963–2007 Base flow No BP identi- fied -- -- -- No Runoff 1980 .001 14.3 Yes Down- ward Many breakpoints on curve (gradual downward trend). Yes 1963–1980; 1981–2007; 1963–2007 Total 

flow

1979 .023 6.7 Yes Downward Many breakpoints on curve (gradual downward trend). Yes 1963–1979; 1981–2007; 

1963–2007
Table 4

55

Table 4. Selected results of analysis of covariance test for double-mass curves for annual streamflow data at 11 selected streamflow-gaging stations and annual precipitation data at selected climate divisions in and near Oklahoma.—Continued[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; No BP identified, no significant breakpoints were detected on the double-mass curve; --, did not calculate because there was no breakpoint identified; <, less than]

Map 

no. 

(fig. 1)

U.S. 

Geological Survey 

station ID

Station name

Climate 

division

Period of 

record 

(water 

years)

Period of record tested1 Flow type

Selected 

breakpoint 

years

P-value F- value

Is 

F-value 

the maximum 

for the 

F-test 

dataset?

Direction of 

trend 

with respect to 

precipitation

Remark

Was 

Kendall’s 

tau analysis 

conducted 

for this parameter and 

breakpoint 

year?2

If yes, 

leastaltered 

period of 

record(s) 

tested

109

07301500

North Fork 

Red River near Carter, Okla.

OK4 1938–1962, 1965–2007 1938–1962, 1965–2007

Base 

flow

1987 <0.0001 33.8 Yes Upward Many breakpoints on curve (gradual 

upward trend). Probably associated with the wet period.

No

Base 

flow

1960 .008 7.38 No Upward Many breakpoints on curve (gradual 

upward trend). Visually prominent, but also may be because of gap in the record.

Yes 1938–1961; 

1965–2007

Runoff 1965 <.0001 30.6 Yes Downward Many breakpoints on curve (gradual downward trend). May be because 

of gap in the record.

Yes 1938–1961; 

1965–2007; 1938–1962, 1965–2007

Total 

flow

1952 .002 10.6 Yes Downward Many breakpoints on curve (gradual downward trend). Yes 1938–1952; 1953–1962; 

1965–2007; 1938–1962, 1965–2007

Total 

flow

1965 .002 10.5 No Downward Many breakpoints on curve (gradual downward trend). May be because 

of gap in the record.

Yes 1938–1961; 

1965–2007; 1938–1962, 1965–2007

1 If there was obvious or complete regulation, such as a dam that affected streamflow from a substantial part of the drainage basin, then only that period was analyzed by using double-mass analysis.2 Kendall’s tau test was run on sub-periods of at least 15 years unless indicated otherwise.3 An exception was made and the record 1943–1956 was analyzed by using a Kendall’s tau test even though 14 years is a short period.4 Even though the breakpoints with the highest F-value for annual base flow, annual runoff, and annual total flow varied between 1957 and 1959, common sub-periods of 1943–1956 and 1960–1976 were 

tested for consistency.
56 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma

Table 5 Table 5. Results of Kendall’s tau trend test of selected annual flow parameters for nine selected streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma.—Continued [no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; --, trend slope was not calculated because the trend was not statistically significant at a critical p-value of 0.05; <, less than; “no change” indicates that the baseline period of record or quality rank of the baseline period did not change as a result of the trend assessment]

Map 

no. 

(fig. 1)

U.S. Geological 

Survey 

station ID

Station name

Streamflow 

parameter

Period 

tested 

(water 

years)

Kendall’s tau results Preliminary baseline period of record Preliminary quality rank 

Kendall’s 

tau

Probability 

value

Trend slope

Prior to trend 

analysis

Adjusted from 

trend analysis

Prior to 

trend 

analysis

Adjusted 

from trend 

analysis (units per year)

(percent 

of median 

for period 

tested, 

per year)

3 07149000 Medicine Lodge River near Kiowa, Kans.

Base flow

1939–1969 0.094 0.535 -- -- 1939–1950, 1955, 

1960–2007

1939–1950, 1955, 1960–19684

Fair Good

1971–2007 .161 .159 -- --

1939–2007 .106 <.0001 0.014 1.5

Base-flow 

index

1939–1969 .275 .063 -- --

1971–2007 .176 .122 -- --

1939–2007 .097 <.0001 .004 .8

9 07154500 Cimarron River near Kenton, Okla.

Base flow

1951–1966 -.142 .457 -- -- 1951–2007 1951–1966 Poor No 

Change5 1972–2007 -.038 .754 -- --

1951–2007 -.300 .001 .000 3.1

Runoff

1951–1966 .007 1.000 -- --

1972–2007 -.308 .009 -.003 -3.8

1951–2007 -.368 .000 -.004 -4.1

Total flow

1951–1966 .008 1.000 -- --

1972–2007 -.298 .011 -.003 -3.3

1951–2007 -.382 <.0001 -.004 -4.1

Base-flow 

index

1951–1966 -.125 .525 -- --

1972–2007 .110 .354 -- --

1951–2007 -.038 .680 -- --

12 07157500 Crooked Creek near Engle- wood, Kans.

Base flow

1943–1975 .182 .141 -- -- 1943–2007 1943–1963 Poor No 

Change6 1977–2007 -.286 .025 -.001 -.8

1943–2007 -.208 .041 -.001 -.5

Runoff

1943–1963 .038 .833 -- --

1965–2007 -.442 <.0001 -.003 -4.2

1943–2007 -.515 <.0001 -.004 -3.9

Table 5. Results of Kendall’s tau trend test of selected annual flow parameters for nine selected streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma.[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; --, trend slope was not calculated because the trend was not statistically significant at a critical p-value of 0.05; <, less than; “no change” indicates that the baseline period of record or quality rank of the baseline period did not change as a result of the trend assessment]
Table 5

57

Table 5. Results of Kendall’s tau trend test of selected annual flow parameters for nine selected streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma.—Continued[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; --, trend slope was not calculated because the trend was not statistically significant at a critical p-value of 0.05; <, less than; “no change” indicates that the baseline period of record or quality rank of the baseline period did not change as a result of the trend assessment]

Map 

no. 

(fig. 1)

U.S. Geological 

Survey 

station ID

Station name

Streamflow 

parameter

Period 

tested 

(water 

years)

Kendall’s tau results Preliminary baseline period of record Preliminary quality rank 

Kendall’s 

tau

Probability 

value

Trend slope

Prior to trend 

analysis

Adjusted from 

trend analysis

Prior to 

trend 

analysis

Adjusted 

from trend 

analysis (units per year)

(percent 

of median 

for period 

tested, 

per year)

12 07157500 Crooked Creek near Engle- wood, Kans.—Continued

1943–1963 0.038 0.833 -- -- 1943–2007 1943–1963 Poor No 

Change6

1965–2007 -.442 <.0001 -0.003 -4.21943–2007 -.515 <.0001 -.004 -3.9

Total flow

1943–1963 .029 .880 -- --

1965–2007 -.452 <.0001 -.005 -2.5

1943–2007 -.467 <.0001 -.005 -2

Base-flow 

index

1943–1963 -.052 .763 -- --

1943–1975 .296 .016 .008 1.11965–2007 .406 <.0001 .009 1.41977–2007 .297 .016 .008 2.21943–2007 .554 <.0001 .009 1.6

35 07176500 Bird Creek at Avant, Okla.

Base flow

1946–1967 .124 .976 -- -- 1946–1976 1946–1972 Poor No Change

1946–1972 .095 .509 -- --

1946–1976 .251 .054 -- --

Base-flow 

index

1946–1967 .129 .432 -- --

1946–1972 .185 .193 -- --

1946–1976 .218 .093 -- --

83 07234100 Clear Creek near Elmwood, Okla.

Runoff 1966–1993 -.293 .034 -.006 -5.8 1966–1993 No Baseline Period Poor No Base- line 

Period 1975–1993 -.046 .820 -- --

Total flow 1966–1993 -.237 .087 -- --

1975–1993 -.020 .940 -- --

Base-flow 

index

1966–1993 .328 .018 .014 2.2 1966–1993 No Baseline Period Poor No Baseline 

Period

1975–1993 .059 .762 -- --
58 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma Table 5. Results of Kendall’s tau trend test of selected annual flow parameters for nine selected streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma.—Continued [no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; --, trend slope was not calculated because the trend was not statistically significant at a critical p-value of 0.05; <, less than; “no change” indicates that the baseline period of record or quality rank of the baseline period did not change as a result of the trend assessment] Map no. (fig. 1) U.S. Geo- logical Survey station ID Station name Stream- flow parameter Period tested (water years) Kendall’s tau results Preliminary baseline period of record Preliminary quality rank Kendall’s tau Probability value Trend slope Prior to trend analysis Adjusted from trend analysis Prior to trend analysis Adjusted from trend analysis (units per year) (percent of median for period tested, per year) 85 07236000 Wolf Creek near Fargo, Okla. Base flow 1943–1956 -0.275 0.119 -- -- 1943–1971 1943–1956 Poor No Change 1960–1976 -.103 .592 -- -- 1943–1976 -.095 .441 -- -- Runoff 1943–1956 -.011 1.000 -- -- 1960–1976 -.063 .001 -0.014 -11.4 1943–1976 -.423 .001 -.009 -5.3 Total flow 1943–1956 -.099 .661 -- -- 1960–1976 -.456 .012 -.015 -4.6 1943–1976 -.365 .003 -.012 -3.3 Base-flow index 1943–1956 -.033 .913 -- 1960–1976 .603 .001 .019 3.1 1943–1976 .508 <.0001 .014 2.6 104 07300500 Salt Fork Red River at Man- gum, Okla. Base-flow 1938–1957 .021 .923 -- -- 1938–1966 No Change Excellent No Change 1938–1966 .133 .320 -- -- Base-flow index 1938–1957 .005 1.000 -- -- 1938–1966 .170 .202 -- -- 107 07301410 Sweetwater Creek near Kelton, Texas Runoff 1963–1979 -.029 .902 -- -- 1963–2007 1963–1978 Fair No Change 1981–2007 -.123 .381 -- -- 1963–2007 -.220 .034 -.003 -1.4 Total flow 1963–1978 -.059 .773 -- -- 1981–2007 -.083 .559 -- -- 1963–2007 -.118 .257 -- --

Base-flow 

index

1963–1979 -.147 .434 -- --1981–2007 .128 .359 --

1963–2007 .283 .006 .004 .6
Table 5

59

Table 5. Results of Kendall’s tau trend test of selected annual flow parameters for nine selected streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma.—Continued[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in which it ends; --, trend slope was not calculated because the trend was not statistically significant at a critical p-value of 0.05; <, less than; “no change” indicates that the baseline period of record or quality rank of the baseline period did not change as a result of the trend assessment]

Map 

no. 

(fig. 1)

U.S. Geological 

Survey 

station ID

Station name

Streamflow 

parameter

Period 

tested 

(water 

years)

Kendall’s tau results Preliminary baseline period of record Preliminary quality rank 

Kendall’s 

tau

Probability 

value

Trend slope

Prior to trend 

analysis

Adjusted from 

trend analysis

Prior to 

trend 

analysis

Adjusted 

from trend 

analysis (units per year)

(percent 

of median 

for period 

tested, 

per year)

109 07301500 North Fork Red River near Carter, Okla.

Base flow 1938–1961 -0.048 0.778 -- -- 1938–1962 1938–1961 Fair No Change

1965–2007 .391 .000 0.007 3

Runoff

1938–1961 .004 1.000 -- --1965–2007 -.045 .676 -- --1938–2007 -.224 .008 -.006 -1.4

Total flow

1938–1952 -.128 .583 -- --

1938–1961 -.039 .822 -- --1953–2007 .054 .576 -- --1965–2007 .132 .217 -- --1938–2007 -.040 .642 -- --

109 07301500 North Fork Red River near Carter, Okla. Base-flow index

1938–1952 .205 .360 -- -- 1938–1962 1938–1961 Fair No Change1938–1961 -.082 .612 -- --1953–2007 .626 <.0001 .010 2.9

1965–2007 .538 <.0001 .009 2.21938–2007 .568 <.0001 .007 2.3

1 Base-flow index is a unitless ratio (baseflow, in inches, divided by total flow, in inches), and base flow, runoff, and total flow are in inches per year.2 The period tested was based on results from analysis of covariance of double-mass curves, which relate cumulative annual flow to cumulative annual precipitation, that indicate years in which a statistically 

significant change in this relation have been detected. Results from this analysis are listed in table 4. 

3 The p-value is the probability that the null hypothesis for the statistical test, that there is no trend in the value over time, can be rejected. The critical p-value for rejection of the null hypothesis is set at 0.05. 

All p-values less than 0.05 are highlighted in red, and indicate that the trend is statistically significant.

4 The percentage of the drainage-basin affected by impoundment was 5 percent in 1969 (table 2 of this report). Because of this impoundment, the least-altered period of record ended in 1968.5 Remarks in table 1 indicated that there were substantial diversions for irrigation. This diversion was documented prior to 1966, therefore, the period is still considered poor.6 Remarks in table 1 indicated that there were substantial diversions for irrigation. This diversion was documented prior to 1963, therefore, the period is still considered poor.
60 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma

Table 6

Table 6. Results of the determination of an optimum minimum number of years of streamflow record to consider as a baseline period 

of record on the basis of testing of variability of annual precipitation between shorter sub-periods and the period 1925–2007 using a 

Wilcoxon rank-sum test.

[Fraction of rejections, the percentage of sub-periods of the indicated record length where the null hypothesis of no difference in annual 

precipitation for the sub-period and the period 1925–2007 was rejected (at a probability of less than or equal to 0.05) for moving sub-periods 

starting with 1925; %, percent; AR, Arkansas; KS, Kansas; MO, Missouri; OK, Oklahoma; TX, Texas; None, no sub-periods were rejected for 

any moving period of the indicated record length; NA, not applicable]

Climate division number 

and region descriptor 

(fig. 3)

Normal period1 Wet period1

Fraction of rejections Optimum 

minimum 

period of 

record3

Fraction of rejections Optimum 

minimum 

period of 

record3 

5 

year2

10 

year

15 

year

20 

year

25 

year

35 

year

5 

year

10 

year

15 

year

20 

year

25 

year

35 

year5

AR1 - Northwest 5% None 4% None None None 20 None 12% 9% None None NA 20

AR4 - West Central 4% 2% None None None None 15 None None None None None NA 10

AR7 - Southwest 2% None None None None None 10 5% 24% 40% 10% None NA 25

KS7 - Southwest 14% 14% None None None None 15 None None None None None NA 10

KS8 - South Central 4% None None None None None 10 None 6% None None None NA 15

KS9 - Southeast 7% 4% None None None None 15 None None 9% None None NA 20

MO4 - West Ozarks 5% 2% 7% 7% 2% None 35 None 6% None None None NA 15

OK1 - Panhandle 16% 14% None None None None 15 5% None None None None NA 10

OK2 - North Central 5% None None None None None 10 9% None 9% None None NA 20

OK3 - Northeast 10% 4% None 4% None None 25 5% 18% 27% None None NA 20

OK4 - West Central 9% 4% None None None4 None 15 5% None 18% 27% None NA 25

OK5 - Central 7% 2% None None None None 15 13% 23% 45% 36% None NA 25

OK6 - East Central 12% None 3% None None None 20 5% 47% 54% 45% None NA 25

OK7 - Southwest 5% 2% 2% None None None 20 9% 29% 45% 36% 15% NA 35

OK8 - South Central 4% None None None None None 10 14% 29% 18% 9% None NA 25

OK9 - Southeast 2% None None None None None 10 9% 29% 36% 9% None NA 25

TX1 - High Plains 5% None None None None None 10 9% None None None None NA 10

TX2 - Low Rolling Plains 3% None None None None None 10 None None None None None NA 10

TX3 - North Central 4% 2% None None None None 15 None 6% None None None NA 15

TX4 - East Texas 2% None None None None None 10 9% 6% None None None NA 15

1

 The optimum minimum period of record was defined separately for sub-periods starting or mostly in the wet period, and sub-periods starting in the historically typical climate period, which was prior to 1980. For the 5- and 10-year sub-periods, rejections were tallied separately for sub-periods starting in 1925 

through 1980, and sub-periods starting in 1981 through the current year. For the 15- , 20- , and 25-year periods, the cut-off year for defining the wet period 

started earlier in 1970. 

2

 Sub-periods tested include all possible continuous periods of the indicated length. For example, for the test of sub-periods that are 5 years in length, annual 

precipitation for the periods 1925–1929, 1926–1930, 1927–1931, and so on, were each compared to annual precipitation for the period 1925–2007 by using a 

Wilcoxon rank-sum test to determine if the null hypothesis should be rejected.

3

 The optimum minimum number of years of record reflects the suggested minimum number of years of continuous streamflow data to use in a baseline period 

of record for those gages that are located in the respective climate division. The minimum number of years for a baseline period is defined here as the least number of years for which the null hypothesis was not rejected for any tested sub-period of that length.

4

 All rejections occurred for periods starting as late as 1933. All streanflow records started after 1933, so the rejections for this time frame reflect the non-wet 

period 1934–1978.

5

 A wet-period analysis was not performed separately for the 35-year periods. 
Table 7 61

Table 7. Final baseline period of record for 111 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma with at least 10 years of continuous 

daily streamflow record and a drainage area of less than 2,500 square miles.—Continued

[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in 

which it ends; Final quality ranking of baseline period indicates the degree of alteration of the streamflow-gaging station and may be lowered 

if the record length is insufficient to account for climate variability; N, north; SCS, Soil Conservation Service]

Map 

no. 

(figs. 1 

and 6)

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey 

station ID

Station name Climate 

division

Drainage 

area 

(square 

miles)

Baseline 

period of 

record

Number 

of baseline 

years

Human 

activities that 

may affect 

baseline period

Final quality ranking 

of baseline 

period

1 07148350 Salt Fork Arkansas River near 

Winchester, Okla.

OK2 848.7 1960–1993 34 None Identified Good

2 07148400 Salt Fork Arkansas River near Alva, 

Okla.

OK2 1,007.5 1939–1951 13 Irrigation Good

3 07149000 Medicine Lodge River near Kiowa, 

Kans.

KS8 908 1939–1950, 

1960–1968

21 None Identified Good

4 07149500 Salt Fork Arkansas River near Cherokee, 

Okla.

OK2 2,420 1941–1950 10 None Identified Good

5 07151500 Chikaskia River near Corbin, Kans. KS8 833.6 1951–1965, 

1976–2007

47 None Identified Fair

6 07152000 Chikaskia River near Blackwell, Okla. OK2 1,921.6 1937–1949 13 None Identified Fair

7 07153000 Black Bear Creek at Pawnee, Okla. OK3 552.3 1945–1960 16 Minor 

Regulation

Poor

9 07154500 Cimarron River near Kenton, Okla. OK1 1,140.4 1951–1966 16 Irrigation Poor

10 07155000 Cimarron River above Ute Creek near 

Boise City, Okla.

OK1 2,017.6 1943–1954 12 Irrigation, 

Diversion

Poor

12 07157500 Crooked Creek near Englewood, Kans. KS7 843.3 1943–1963 21 Irrigation Poor

13 07157900 Cavalry Creek at Coldwater, Kans. KS7 39 1967–1980 14 None Identified Good

14 07157960 Buffalo Creek near Lovedale, Okla. OK1 411.7 1967–1993 27 Minor 

Regulation

Poor

16 07159000 Turkey Creek near Drummond, Okla. OK2 261.4 1948–1970 23 Diversion Poor

19 07160500 Skeleton Creek near Lovell, Okla. OK5 422.7 1950–1993, 

2002–2007

58 None Identified Good

20 07163000 Council Creek near Stillwater, Okla. OK5 30.8 1935–1960 26 None Identified Good

25 07170700 Big Hill Creek near Cherryvale, Kans. KS9 37.8 1958–1980 23 None Identified Good

26 07172000 Caney River near Elgin, Kans. KS9 445 1940–1964 25 Minor 

regulation

Good

27 07173000 Caney River near Hulah, Okla. OK3 729.2 1938–1949 12 None Identified Fair

28 07174200 Little Caney River below Cotton Creek, 

near Copan, Okla.

OK3 516.4 1939–1963 24 None Identified Good

30 07174600 Sand Creek at Okesa, Okla. OK3 141.4 1960–1993 34 Minor 

Regulation

Poor

35 07176500 Bird Creek at Avant, Okla. OK3 378.1 1946–1972 27 Minor 

Regulation

Poor

36 07176800 Candy Creek near Wolco, Okla. OK3 32.2 1970–1980 11 None Identified Good

37 07177000 Hominy Creek near Skiatook, Okla. OK3 340 1944–1980 37 None Identified Good

38 07177500 Bird Creek near Sperry, Okla. OK3 930.5 1939–1957 20 Diversion Fair

44 07184000 Lightning Creek near McCune, Kans. KS9 201 1939–1946, 

1960–2007

56 None Identified Excellent

46 07185500 Stahl Creek near Miller, Mo. MO4 4.1 1951–1976 26 None Identified Poor

Table 7. Final baseline period of record for 111 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma with at least 10 years of continuous 

daily streamflow record and a drainage area of less than 2,500 square miles.

[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in 

which it ends; Final quality ranking of baseline period indicates the degree of alteration of the streamflow-gaging station and may be lowered 

if the record length is insufficient to account for climate variability; N, north; SCS, Soil Conservation Service]

Table 7
62 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma

Table 7. Final baseline period of record for 111 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma with at least 10 years of continuous 

daily streamflow record and a drainage area of less than 2,500 square miles.—Continued

[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in 

which it ends; Final quality ranking of baseline period indicates the degree of alteration of the streamflow-gaging station and may be lowered 

if the record length is insufficient to account for climate variability; N, north; SCS, Soil Conservation Service]

Map 

no. 

(figs. 1 

and 6)

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey 

station ID

Station name Climate 

division

Drainage 

area 

(square 

miles)

Baseline 

period of 

record

Number 

of baseline 

years

Human 

activities that 

may affect 

baseline period

Final quality ranking 

of baseline 

period

47 07185700 Spring River at LaRussell, Mo. MO4 313.5 1958–1973, 

1976–1980

21 None Identified Poor

48 07185765 Spring River at Carthage, Mo. MO4 459.4 1967–1980, 

2002–2007

20 None Identified Good

49 07186000 Spring River near Waco, Mo. MO4 1,164 1924–2007 84 None Identified Fair

50 07187000 Shoal Creek above Joplin, Mo. MO4 438.5 1942–2007 66 None Identified Excellent

52 07188500 Lost Creek at Seneca, Mo. MO4 41.8 1949–1959 11 None Identified Good

53 07189000 Elk River near Tiff City, Mo. MO4 872.7 1940–2007 68 Backwater from 

Regulation

Fair

54 07189540 Cave Springs Branch near South West 

City, Mo.

MO4 8.2 1997–2007 11 None Identified Good

55 07189542 Honey Creek near South West City, Mo. OK3 49.9 1997–2007 11 None Identified Good

56 07191000 Big Cabin Creek near Big Cabin, Okla. OK3 462 1948–2007 60 Effluent, 

Irrigation

Poor

57 07191220 Spavinaw Creek near Sycamore, Okla. OK3 135 1962–2007 46 None Identified Good

58 07192000 Pryor Creek near Pryor, Okla. OK3 233.3 1948–1963 16 None Identified Good

60 07195000 Osage Creek near Elm Springs, Ark. AR1 133.3 1966–1975, 

1996–2007

22 Effluent, Minor 

Regulation

Fair

61 07195430 Illinois River South of Siloam Springs, 

Ark.

AR1 582.5 1996–2006 11 Minor 

Regulation

Poor

62 07195500 Illinois River near Watts, Okla. OK6 646.1 1991–2007 18 Diversion Poor

63 07195800 Flint Creek at Springtown, Ark. AR1 15.1 1962–1963, 

1965–1979, 

1981–2007

44 None identified Good

65 07195865 Sager Creek near West Siloam Springs, 

Okla.

OK3 19.6 1997–2007 11 Effluent Poor

66 07196000 Flint Creek near Kansas, Okla. OK3 118.6 1956–1977 22 Irrigation Poor

67 07196500 Illinois River near Tahlequah, Okla. OK6 974.9 1936–1977 42 Minor 

Regulation

Fair

68 07196900 Baron Fork at Dutch Mills, Ark. AR1 42.2 1959–2007 49 None Identified Excellent

69 07196973 Peacheater Creek at Christie, Okla. OK6 25.5 1993–2003 11 None Identified Good

70 07197000 Baron Fork at Eldon, Okla. OK6 319.7 1949–2007 59 None identified Good

71 07197360 Caney Creek near Barber, Okla. OK6 92.5 1998–2007 10 None Identified Fair

72 07198000 Illinois River near Gore, Okla. OK6 1,656.8 1940–1951 12 None Identified Good

73 07229300 Walnut Creek at Purcell, Okla. OK5 207.4 1966–1993 28 Backwater from 

Regulated 

Stream

Fair

74 07230000 Little River below Lake Thunderbird 

near Norman, Okla.

OK5 257 1953–1962 10 None Identified Poor

75 07230500 Little River near Tecumseh, Okla. OK5 474.5 1944–1964 21 Irrigation Fair
Table 7 63

Table 7. Final baseline period of record for 111 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma with at least 10 years of continuous 

daily streamflow record and a drainage area of less than 2,500 square miles.—Continued

[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in 

which it ends; Final quality ranking of baseline period indicates the degree of alteration of the streamflow-gaging station and may be lowered 

if the record length is insufficient to account for climate variability; N, north; SCS, Soil Conservation Service]

Map 

no. 

(figs. 1 

and 6)

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey 

station ID

Station name Climate 

division

Drainage 

area 

(square 

miles)

Baseline 

period of 

record

Number 

of baseline 

years

Human 

activities that 

may affect 

baseline period

Final quality ranking 

of baseline 

period

76 07231000 Little River near Sasakwa, Okla. OK5 911.4 1943–1961 19 None Identified Good

77 07232000 Gaines Creek near Krebs, Okla. OK6 600.3 1943–1963 21 None Identified Excellent

78 07232500 Beaver River near Guymon, Okla. OK1 1,653.5 1938–1960 23 Minor 

Regulation

Fair

80 07233000 Coldwater Creek near Hardesty, Okla. OK1 1,055.5 1940–1964 25 None Identified Excellent

81 07233500 Palo Duro Creek near Spearman, Texas TX1 640.9 1946–1969 24 Diversion Good

85 07236000 Wolf Creek near Fargo, Okla. OK1 1,511.1 1943–1956 16 Impoundment Poor

89 07243000 Dry Creek near Kendrick, Okla. OK5 70.1 1956–1994 39 None Identified Good

90 07243500 Deep Fork near Beggs, Okla. OK6 2,056.2 1939–1960 22 Minor 

Regulation

Good

91 07244000 Deep Fork near Dewar, Okla. OK6 2,355.5 1938–1950 13 Minor 

Regulation

Fair

92 07245500 Sallisaw Creek near Sallisaw, Okla. OK6 185.8 1943–1962 20 Diversion Poor

93 07247000 Poteau River at Cauthron, Ark. AR4 208.8 1940–1963 29 Minor 

Regulation

Good

95 07247250 Black Fork below Big Creek near Page, 

Okla.

OK9 96.8 1992–2007 16 None Identified Good

96 07247500 Fourche Maline near Red Oak, Okla. OK9 123.5 1939–1963 25 Impoundment Fair

97 07248500 Poteau River near Wister, Okla. OK9 1,019.4 1939–1948 10 None identified Good

98 07249400 James Fork near Hackett, Ark. AR4 150.5 1959–2007 19 Diversion/ 

Withdrawal

Fair

100 07249500 Cove Creek near Lee Creek, Ark. AR4 35.7 1950–1970 21 None Identified Good

101 07249985 Lee Creek near Short, Okla. OK6 445.3 1931–1936, 

1950–1991, 

1993–2007

63 None Identified Excellent

102 07250000 Lee Creek near Van Buren, Ark. OK6 449.3 1931–1936, 

1951–1992

48 None Identified Excellent

103 07300000 Salt Fork Red River near Wellington, 

Texas

TX2 1,029.4 1953–1966 14 Irrigation Fair

104 07300500 Salt Fork Red River at Mangum, Okla. OK7 1,380.4 1938–1966 29 None identified Excellent

107 07301410 Sweetwater Creek near Kelton, Texas TX2 305 1963–1978 15 Diversion Fair

109 07301500 North Fork Red River near Carter, Okla. OK4 2,155 1938–1961 25 None Identified Fair

111 07303400 Elm Fork of N Fork Red River near Carl, 

Okla.

OK7 449.3 1960–1979, 

1995–2007

33 Diversion/ 

Withdrawal

Poor

112 07303500 Elm Fork of N Fork Red River near 

Mangum, Okla.

OK7 868.3 1938–1976 39 Minor 

Regulation

Fair

113 07304500 Elk Creek near Hobart, Okla. OK7 563.5 1950–1966 17 Irrigation Poor

118 07311500 Deep Red Creek near Randlett, Okla. OK7 619.7 1950–1963, 

1970–1973

18 None identified Good

119 07313000 Little Beaver Creek near Duncan, Okla. OK8 160.6 1949–1963 15 None Identified Good
64 Determination of Baseline Periods of Record for Selected Streamflow-Gaging Stations in and near Oklahoma

Table 7. Final baseline period of record for 111 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma with at least 10 years of continuous 

daily streamflow record and a drainage area of less than 2,500 square miles.—Continued

[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in 

which it ends; Final quality ranking of baseline period indicates the degree of alteration of the streamflow-gaging station and may be lowered 

if the record length is insufficient to account for climate variability; N, north; SCS, Soil Conservation Service]

Map 

no. 

(figs. 1 

and 6)

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey 

station ID

Station name Climate 

division

Drainage 

area 

(square 

miles)

Baseline 

period of 

record

Number 

of baseline 

years

Human 

activities that 

may affect 

baseline period

Final quality ranking 

of baseline 

period

120 07313500 Beaver Creek near Waurika, Okla. OK8 579 1954–1976 23 None Identified Good

121 07315700 Mud Creek near Courtney, Okla. OK8 589.3 1961–2007 47 Minor 

Regulation

Good

122 07316500 Washita River near Cheyenne, Okla. OK4 782.3 1938–1957 18 Irrigation Poor

128 07325000 Washita River near Clinton, Okla. OK4 1,998.8 1936–1955 20 Irrigation, 

Minor 

Regulation

Fair

130 07326000 Cobb Creek near Fort Cobb, Okla. OK7 318.8 1940–1950 11 Minor 

Regulation

Good

133 073274406 Little Washita River above SCS Pond 26 

near Cyril, Okla.

OK7 3.7 1995–2007 13 None Identified Good

136 07327490 Little Washita River near Ninnekah, 

Okla.

OK5 213.3 1952–1969 18 Irrigation, 

Minor 

Regulation

Poor

140 07329000 Rush Creek at Purdy, Okla. OK8 143.3 1940–1953 26 None Identified Good

145 07330500 Caddo Creek near Ardmore, Okla. OK8 304 1937–1950 14 None Identified Excellent

146 07332400 Blue River at Milburn, Okla. OK8 208.5 1966–1986 21 None Identified Excellent

147 07332500 Blue River near Blue, Okla. OK8 489.8 1937–1980 44 Minor 

Regulation

Fair

148 07332600 Bois D’Arc Creek near Randolph, Texas TX3 74 1964–1985 22 None Identified Excellent

149 07333500 Chickasaw Creek near Stringtown, Okla. OK8 33.5 1956–1968 13 None Identified Excellent

150 07333800 McGee Creek near Stringtown, Okla. OK8 91.1 1956–1968 13 None Identified Excellent

151 07334000 Muddy Boggy Creek near Farris, Okla. OK8 1,117.1 1938–1958 21 None Identified Excellent

152 07335000 Clear Boggy Creek near Caney, Okla. OK8 731.8 1943–1960 18 None Identified Good

155 07335700 Kiamichi River near Big Cedar, Okla. OK9 40.7 1966–2007 42 None identified Excellent

157 07336000 Tenmile Creek near Miller, Okla. OK9 70.1 1956–1970 15 None Identified Excellent

158 07336200 Kiamichi River near Antlers, Okla. OK9 1,158.3 1973–1982 10 Diversion Fair

159 07336500 Kiamichi River near Belzoni, Okla. OK9 1,452.6 1926–1972 47 Diversion Fair

160 07336750 Little Pine Creek near Kanawha, Texas TX4 77.2 1970–1980 11 None Identified Good

161 07336800 Pecan Bayou near Clarksville, Texas TX4 101.5 1963–1977 15 None Identified Good

162 07337500 Little River near Wright City, Okla. OK9 665 1945–1966 22 None identified Excellent

163 07337900 Glover River near Glover, Okla. OK9 328.6 1962–2007 46 None Identified Excellent

164 07338500 Little River below Lukfata Creek, near 

Idabel, Okla.

OK9 1,260 1930–1968 39 Diversion/

Withdrawal

Fair

165 07338750 Mountain Fork at Smithville, Okla. OK9 330.7 1992–2007 16 None Identified Poor

166 07339000 Mountain Fork near Eagletown, Okla. OK9 820.5 1930–1968 39 None Identified Good

167 07339500 Rolling Fork near DeQueen, Ark. AR7 188.1 1949–1976 28 None Identified Excellent

168 07340300 Cossatot River near Vandervoort, Ark. AR4 91.4 1967–2007 29 None identified Excellent
Table 7 65

Table 7. Final baseline period of record for 111 streamflow-gaging stations in and near Oklahoma with at least 10 years of continuous 

daily streamflow record and a drainage area of less than 2,500 square miles.—Continued

[no., number; ID, identifier; a water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending September 30 and is named for the year in 

which it ends; Final quality ranking of baseline period indicates the degree of alteration of the streamflow-gaging station and may be lowered 

if the record length is insufficient to account for climate variability; N, north; SCS, Soil Conservation Service]

Map 

no. 

(figs. 1 

and 6)

U.S. 

Geological 

Survey 

station ID

Station name Climate 

division

Drainage 

area 

(square 

miles)

Baseline 

period of 

record

Number 

of baseline 

years

Human 

activities that 

may affect 

baseline period

Final quality ranking 

of baseline 

period

169 07340500 Cossatot River near DeQueen, Ark. AR7 370.6 1939–1974 36 None Identified Good

170 07341000 Saline River near Dierks, Ark. AR7 123.3 1939–1974 36 None Identified Excellent

171 07341200 Saline River near Lockesburg, Ark. AR7 259.3 1964–1974 11 None Identified Excellent

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