Floods of 1950

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1137

This water-supply paper was printed as 

separate chapters, A-I

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1954
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Douglas McKay, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

W. E. Wrather, Director
CONTENTS

[The letters in parentheses preceding the titles are those used to designate

separate publication]

	Page

(A) Missouri River basin floods of April-May 1950 in North and outh

Dakota, by R. E. Oltman and others___________ __ 1

(B) Floods of 1950 in the Red River of the North and Winnipeg liver

basins__________________________________. __ 115

(C) Flood of August 1950 in the Waimea area, Kauai, Hawaii, by t. K.

Chun____________________________________ .__ 327

(D) Floods of May-July 1950 in southeastern Nebrasko_______. __ 351

(B) Floods of 1950 in southwestern Oregon and northwestern Calif nia_ 413

(F) Floods of November-December 1950 in the Central Valley Rsin,

California_______________________________. __ 505

(G) Floods of 1950 in the upper Mississippi River and Lake Su >rior

basins in Minnesota______________________ ____ 791

(H) Floods of November-December 1950 in western Nevada _ 897

(I) Summary of floods in the United States during 1950___ __. __ 957

|e papers for

Missouri River Basin 

Floods of April-May 

1950 in North and 

South Dakota

By R. E. OLTMAN and others

FLOODS OF 1950

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1137-A

Prepared in cooperation with the North 

Dakota State Water Conservation 

Commission, the South Dakota State 

Engineer, the Corps of Engineers, 

United States Army, and the United 

States Bureau of Reclamation

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1951
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Oscar L. Chapman, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

W. E. Wrather, Director

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

Washington 25, D. C. - Price 30 cents
CONTENTS

Page

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

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

Administration and personnel ......................................... 3

Acknowledgments ........... ........................................ 3

General description of floods ......................................... 3

Flood damages ...................................................... 16

Meteorology (prepared by staff of United States Weather Bureau) ......... 21

Measurement of flood discharges ..................................... 26

Stages and discharges at stream-gaging stations ....................... 27

Explanation of data ............................................... 27

Missouri River main stem ........................................ 32

Missouri River near Williston, N. Dak. .......................... 32

Missouri River near Elbowoods, N. Dak. ........................ 32

Missouri River below Garrison Dam, N. Dak. .................... 33

Missouri River at Bismarck, N. Dak. ............................ 34

Missouri River near Mobridge, S. Dak. .......................... 35

Missouri River at Pierre, S. Dak. .............................. 36

Missouri River at Chamberlain, S. Dak. ......................... 37

Missouri River below Fort Randall Dam, S. Dak. ................. 38

Missouri River at Yankton, S. Dak. ............................. 38

Missouri River at Sioux City, Iowa .....;....................... 39

Little Missouri River Basin ......................................... 39

Little Missouri River near Watford City, N. Dak. ................. 39

Knife River Basin ..............'................................... 40

Knife River near Golden Valley, N. Dak. ......................... 40

Knife River at Hazen, N. Dak. .................................. 41

Spring Creek at Zap, N. Dak. ................................... 42

Heart River Basin ................................................ 43

Heart River near South Heart, N. Dak. ........................... 43

Heart River at Lehigh, N. Dak. .................................. 44

Heart River near Richardton, N. Dak. ........................... 45

Heart Butte Reservoir near Glen Ullin, N. Dak. ................... 46

Heart River below Heart Butte Dam near Glen Ullin, N. Dak. ....... 48

Heart River near Lark, N. Dak. ................................. 49

Heart River near Mandan, N. Dak. .............................. 50

Green River near Gladstone, N. Dak. ............................ 51

Muddy Creek near Almont, N. Dak. ............................. 52

Apple Creek Basin ............................................... 53

Apple Creek near Menoken, N. Dak. ............................. 53

Cannonball River Basin ........................................... 54

Cannonball River near New Leipzig, N. Dak. ..................... 54

Cannonball River at Breien, N. Dak. ............................. 55

Cedar Creek near Pretty Rock, N. Dak. .......................... 56

Beaver Creek Basin .............................................. 57

Beaver Creek at Linton, N. Dak. ................................ 57

Grand River Basin ................................................ 59

North Fork Grand River at Haley, N. Dak. ....................... 59

North Fork Grand River near White Butte, S. Dak. ................ 60

Grand River at Shadehill, S. Dak. ............................... 61

Grand River near Wakpala, S. Dak. .............................. 62

South Fork Grand River near Cash, S. Dak. ...................... 63

Moreau River Basin .............................................. 64

Moreau River at Bixby, S. Dak. ................................. 64

Moreau River near Faith, S. Dak. ............................... 66

Moreau River near Eagle Butte, S. Dak. .............. j.......... 68

Moreau River at Promise, S. Dak. .............................. 69

Cheyenne River Basin ............................................. 70

Cheyenne River near Eagle Butte, S. Dak. ........................ 70

Bad River Basin .................................................. 70

Bad River near Fort Pierre, S. Dak. ............................ 70

White River Basin ................................................ 71

White River near Oacoma, S. Dak. .............................. 71

Niobrara River Basin ............................................. 71

Niobrara River near Spencer, Nebr. ............................. 71

III
IV CONTENTS

Stages and discharges at stream-gaging stations--Continued. Page

James River Basin ................................................ 72

James River at Jamestown, N. Dak. .............................. 72

James River at LaMoure, N. Dak. ............................... 73

James River at Columbia, S. Dak. ............................... 74

James River near Stratford, S. Dak. ............................. 75

James River at Ashton, S. Dak. ................................. 75

James River near Redfield, S. Dak. .............................. 76

James River at Huron, S. Dak. .................................. 76

James River near Forestburg, S. Dak. ............................ 77

James River near Scotland, S. Dak. ............................. 77

Pipestem Creek near Buchanan, N. Dak. .......................... 78

Elm River at Westport, S. Dak. .................................. 79

Turtle Creek at Redfield, S. Dak. ................................ 79

Vermillion River Basin .....'........................................ 80

Vermillion River near Wakonda, S. Dak. .......................... 80

Big Sioux River Basin ............................................. 80

Big Sioux River at Akron, Iowa ................................... 80

Summary of flood stages and discharges ................................ 81

Flood-crest stages ................................................... 90

Records of previous floods ............................................ 90

Fluctuations of ground-water levels (prepared by Geo. LaRocque, Jr.,

district engineer,Ground Water Branch) .............................. 105

References cited ..................................................... Ill

Index ............................................................... 113

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

Plate 1_. Floods make gage maintenance difficult: A, Both gage and bridge 

destroyed on Muddy Creek near Almont; B, Gage structure on 

Cannonball River near New Leipzig damaged and exposed by bank 

erosion. .................................................. 12

2. Swollen rivers and floating ice cause widespread damage: A, 

Northern Pacific main line washed out by Heart River; B, Cannonball River damage to Mott estimated at $1, 000, 000 ........ 13

3. Battering ice increases damage to Mott: A, Ice damages grain

elevator office; B, Ice jam above concrete arch bridge ....... 14

4. Damage to Northern Pacific Railway branch line near Breien: 

A, Northern Pacific tracks washed out; B, Weeks were required 

to rebuild twisted and destroyed tracks ...................... 15

5. Cannonball River washes out highway bridges: A, This was new 

county bridge near town of Cannonball; B, Bank scour causes 

bridge failure near Heil ................................... 16

6. Cannonball River damages bridges and farm lands: A, River 

erupts from artificial channel to destroy bridge; B, Sand and silt 

deposited on farm land near Breien ......................... 17

7. Highway system damaged by local drainage and streams: A, Local 

drainage erodes shoulder of U. S. Highway 10; B, Shadehill 

bridge approach washed put by Grand River ..........'........ 18

8. Pipestem Creek and James River flood Jamestown; April 1950: 

A, Northern Pacific Railway along Pipestem Creek in West 

Jamestown; B, South Jamestown and fairgrounds flooded again 

like this in May ........................................... 19

Figure 1. Map showing area of 1950 floods in North and South Dakota. .... 2

2. Map of Missouri River Basin in North and South Dakota showing

location of flood-determination points ....................... 4

3. Map showing water content of snow on ground in flooded area

on Mar. 30, 1950 ......................................... 8

4. Daily range of temperatures at four weather stations in North

Dakota for Jan. 1 to May 31, 1950 .......................... 11

5. Maximum annual floods of Cannonball River at Breien, N. Dak . 15
CONTENTS

6. Temperature and precipitation in April and May 1950 at Bismarck, N. Dak., and Pierre, S. Dak. ..................... 22

7. Surface weather chart for Apr. 10, 1950 ................... 23

8. Graphs of mean daily discharge at selected river measurement

stations in Missouri River Basin, Apr. 1 to June 30, 1950 ... 28

9. Graph of mean daily discharge at river measurement stations 

on Missouri River from Williston, N. Dak., to Sioux City, 

Iowa. Apr. 1 to June 1, 1950 ............................. 30

10. Discharge hydrograph for selected streams in the Missouri

River Basin, April 1950 .................................. 31

11. Graphs of discharge for the floods of 1943 and 1950 at selected

stream-gaging stations in the Missouri River Basin ......... 88

12. Maximum discharges, in second-feet per square mile, for 

various areas in the Missouri River Basin in North and South 

Dakota, April to May 1950, as given in table 5 .............. 89

13. Location of selected observation wells in the flooded area .... 107

14. Water-level fluctuations in 10 typical wells in the James River

Valley, N. Dak., 1946-50 ................................ 108

15. Water-level fluctuations in six typical wells in the Heart and

Knife River Valleys, N. Dak., 1946-50 .................... 109

16. Water-level fluctuations in nine typical wells in the. Grand

River Valley, S. Dak., 1946-50 .......................... 110

Table 1. American Red Cross Relief by counties in the flooded area in

Missouri River Basin in North Dakota ..................... 17

2. Total damages caused by the 1950 floods in the Missouri River

drainage of North and South Dakota ........................ 18

3. Damages to highways and bridges by the 1950 floods in the

Missouri River Basin in North and South Dakota ............ 19

4. Flood damages to Jamestown and vicinity .................. 20

5. Summary of flood stages and discharges ................... 82

6. Flood-crest stages (furnished by Corps of Engineers except

as noted) ............................................... 91

7. Maximum stages of 1950 floods in North Dakota as measured

at miscellaneous points by the U. S. Geological Survey ..... 99

FLOODS OF 1950

MISSOURI RIVER BASIN FLOODS OF APRIL-MAY 1950 IN NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA

By H. E. Oilman and others

ABSTRACT

In areal coverage and magnitude of peak discharge the floods of April-May 1950 in the Missouri River Basin in 

North and South Dakota were unprecedented inthe area. These floods were characterized by an extremely late spring 

breakup of ice, by great flood peaks resulting from snow melt, and by two separate floods in the James River Valley 

in less than a month.

The primary causeof the floods was the rapid melting of the season's great accumulation of snow, one of the deepest on record. In the period between the normal spring breakup time and the actual breakup of river ice, considerably more snow accumulated. Son e of this was melted by a few .warm days and the melt was stored as water behind 

snow barriers in upland watercourses. A sudden increase in temperature beginning April 13 and lasting until most 

of the snow had been converted into runoff resulted in rapid rise of flood waters.

Tributary flood waters made the Missouri River from Mobridge to Yankton, S. Dak. , rise to near the maximum 

recorded discharge. At Sioux City, Iowa, the 1950 flood peak-discharge exceeded any previously recorded by the 

Geological Survey.

The center of the flooded area west of the Missouri River lay in the Cannonball River Basin which had the greatest 

water content of snow on the ground just before the ice broke up Floods north and south of this area were relatively 

less intense. Scattered records of the Cannonball River and a study of newspaper accounts and other information 

show that the flood of 1950 was greatest since the area was settled. Flooding of the James River at Jamestown was 

the greatest since 1897, and the floods of April and May 1950 were of nearly the same stage.

Itemized flood damages were made by Federal and State agencies, and relief was sent to the area by the Department of the Army and the American National Red Cross.

Data include records of stage and discharge at 54 gaging stations for the period of flood, a summary of peak discharges and comparative data for past and present maxima, a table of crest stages, and weather associated with the 

1950 flood.

INTRODUCTION

The floods of April and May 1950 on tributaries of the Missouri 

River between Bismarck, N. Dak., and Pierre, S. Dak., exceeded 

in size on many of these streams any previously known. Floodwater 

damage throughout the area was estimated at $10,000,000. Damage 

to bridges was particularly costly. West of the Missouri River the 

floods were notable for their rapid rise and magnitude of peak discharge; east of the Missouri they were notable for their long duration.

This report is the first chapter of a volume which the Geological 

Survey proposes to publish annually to describe the major floods of 

each year. It presents hydrologic information about the floods at an 

earlier date and in considerably more detail than it is possible to do 

in the annual Surface Water-Supply reports of the Geological Survey. 

Consequently, its data are intended to be of special value to the planning engineer concerned with the design and construction of bridges, 

water works, flood protection works, irrigation structures, and other 

building where floods must be considered. Included are brief discussions of the causal factors, extent of damages, descriptions of separate floods, and essential basic hydrological data. Information is 

arranged in this order: description of floods, damage, meteorology, 

measuring flood discharge, records of stage and discharge at gaging 

stations, summary of past maximum and present floods, flood profiles, 

and related changes in ground water levels.

The flood area is shown in figure 1, and the places where flood 

measurements were made are shown in figure 2.
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

104° 102° 100° 98°

Area in which major floods occurred 

Outline of area covered by this report

40°|

104° 98°

Figure I. Map showing area of 1950 floods in North and 

South Dakota
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF FLOODS

ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL

This report was prepared in the Surface Water Branch of the U. S. 

Geological Survey, under the general administration of J. V. B. Wells, 

chief. The field and office work in connection with the collection, 

computation, and presentation of data was done by the staff of the 

Bismarck district office tinder the supervision of H. M. Erskine, 

district engineer. Several engineers of the Geological Survey detailed 

from other parts of the United States assisted the local personnel in 

office and field. Coordination of the field work was done by Hollister 

Johnson, hydraulic engineer. This report was assembled and the 

text was prepared by the staff of the special reports office in Lincoln, 

Nebr. , R. E. Oltman, engineer in charge.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The collection of field data and compilation of records in this report 

was done as a part of the Interior Department Program for development 

of the Missouri River Basin.

The general investigation of s/urface-water resources in the area 

covered by this report is performed by the Geological Survey in cooperation with the North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission, 

the South Dakota State Engineer, the Corps of Engineers, and the 

Bureau of Reclamation. The Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Public Rjoads, and Weather Bureau also furnished 

data or services in conneption with this report. The North Dakota 

State Water Conservation Commission, J. J. Walsh, Chief Engineer, 

furnished the services of three surveymen and equipment to assist in 

the collection of field information with regard to computation of peak 

discharges.

Acknowledgment of material furnished by individuals or corporations is made in the text at the place where the material appears.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF FLOODS

The floods of April and^ May 1950 in the Missouri River Basin in 

North and South Dakota resulted from the rapid melting of the winter's

abnormal accumulation of snow. The fall of 1949-50 was mild and

L

dry to mid-December; then it merged into one of the most extreme 

winters in the climatic rdcords of North Dakota. Snowfall was excessive throughout January, and especially so east ofHhe Missouri 

River. Near the end of the month an area 50 miles wide, extending 

from Devils Lake to the S<t>uth Dakota line, was classified as a disaster area and the army assisted in moving food and fuel to snowbound 

farms within it.
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

44°

104°

Figure 2 Map of Missouri River Basin in North and South f
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF FLOODS

Stream -gaging stations at which systematic 

records of stages and discharges are available

Points at which determinations af maximum

discharge only are available 

Numbers conform to those an table 5

Missouri River Basin divide

0 75 Miles

A K VQ

100°

Dakota showing location of flood-determination points
6 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

February moderated somewhat, but March was unusually cold and 

wet, and there was little runoff. April continued unusually cold until 

the second week. The breakup of ice on the Missouri River at Bismarck, N. Dak., is the latest known, except that of 1846. Weather 

Bureau records date from 1881.

The following excerpts taken from the United States Weather Bureau monthly publication, Climatological Data for North Dakota, give 

a brief but emphatic account of the antecedent weather conditions:

December 1949. --"The first 10 days of December were a continuation of the above-normal temperatures and light precipitation that 

prevailed during November. After the 10th, temperatures averaged 

considerably below normal and precipitation averaged above normal 

***. Precipitation for the State averaged 0. 65 inches or 0. 17 inch 

above normal***.

January 1950. --"Cold weather began on the first of January and 

there were no periods warm enough to melt any snow during the entire 

month. It was the coldest January of record in North Dakota***. The 

maximum temperature did not go above zero on more than half of the 

days. Precipitation averaged more than twice the normal amount. 

Many stations reported more snow fall than in any previous January, 

and with wind velocities above average, blizzard conditions prevailed 

on many days***. The mean temperature for the State was -10. 5° or 

17.2° below the average***. Precipitation for the State averaged 

1.04 inches or 0.55 inch above the January normal. The mean for 

the eastern division was 1.32 inches, for the middle division 1.03 

inches, and for the western division 0. 75 inch***. Average snow fall 

for the eastern division was 18. 7 inches, for the middle division 14. 7 

inches, and for the western division 10. 0 inches***.

February 1950. --"Following the coldest January of record, February 

averaged only slightly below normal for temperature and the precipitation was light. Very little melting occurred during the month and much 

of the heavy snow cover at the end of January remained on the ground 

throughout February***. The mean temperature for the State was 

8.8° or 0. 9° below the average***. Precipitation for the State averaged 0. 32 inches or 0. 15 inch below the February normal***. This 

is the first February since 1944 that more precipitation occurred in 

the western division than in the eastern division. The greatest amount 

for any station was 1.15 inches at New England***.

March 1950. -- "March 1950 is the fourth consecutive month with 

the temperature below normal***. The precipitation was above normal for the winter with unusually heavy amounts in January and 

March. Several blizzards occurred during the month***. A storm 

began on the 25th with light snow and moderate easterly winds***. 

By the 26th normal to heavy snow was falling over the south half of 

the State except for rain in the southeast portion. Accumulations up 

to,20 inches of snow fell in south central and southwest portions of the 

State and this was one of the worst blizzards to hit these areas. Transportation was entirely tied up and numerous cars were stalled along 

the highway***. Precipitation for the State averaged 1.38 inches or 

0. 59 inch above the March normal. Most of the precipitation occurred
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF FLOODS 7

between the 20th and 27th. The average precipitation for the eastern 

division was 1.46 inches, for the middle division 1.33 inches, and for 

the western division 1. 35 inches. The greatest amount for any station 

was 3.64 inches at New England. The greatest amount in 24 hours 

was 1. 68 inches at New England on the 23rd***.

April 1950. --"The month opened with extremely heavy snow cover 

in the southwest and south central sections and lesser snow cover in 

nearly all other portions of the state. The heaviest snow cover was 

reported in New Salem with 27 inches on the ground and Carson with 23 

inches on the ground on the first***. The weather continued unseasonably cold for the first two weeks and the snow cover was very slow in 

disappearing. River ice was solid in most sections except for flooding on the Red River. After the 14th it became much warmer and most 

of the snow melted. Runoff was very rapid and flooding occurred on 

nearly all streams of the State***". "

Wind action formed extraordinarily deep snowdrifts during the 

course of the long winter. Many of the smaller ditches and drainage 

ways were so choked with hard-packed snow that any water from melting snow could not run off but was absorbed by the drifts as stored 

water or as ice. Bulldozer operators sent out to open county highways 

after the storm that occurred near the end of March reported that 

these snow dams contained much water. One operator told of being 

nearly inundated by a rush of water released from a snow dam by the 

passage of the bulldozer. With much of the seasonal precipitation 

stored in snow dams, rapid release of floodwater took place when 

temperatures suddenly rose sufficiently to melt the snow. The ponding of water by snowdrifts across valleys and small depressions was 

particularly frequent in the country west of the Missouri River. In 

the region east of the Missouri River where the land is generally flat 

and dotted with saucerlike depressions, the snow was more evenly 

distributed.

Just before the spring breakup the greatest amount of water stored 

as snow, as found by the Corps of Engineers surveys made March 

28-30, was in the Cannonball River drainage area. Figure 3, a map 

of the flooded area prepared by the Corps of Engineers, shows the 

lines of equal water content of snow on the ground on March 30 . 

Slightly more than 50 percent of the Missouri River Basin area of 

North Dakota was covered by snow with water content of two or more 

inches, an unusually large areal coverage in the Great Plains for 

snow of water content so high as that.

Observations on the absence or presence of ice on top of the ground 

and the degree of saturation of the ground were also made at the time 

of the snow surveys. A study of these observations indicates that the 

opportunity for infiltration was probably small during the breakup. A 

field moisture survey reportedly made about May 1 in the headwaters 

of the Cannonball River Basin near New England verified the fact that 

infiltration was small, at least in that area.

Near the close of March ice on the lower reaches of some of the 

tributaries west of the Missouri River began to break up. The Heart
8 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Figure 3 Map showing water content of snow on
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF FLOODS

EXPLANATION 

2.5 - 

Woter content in inches of snow on ground

O 

Indicotes city where snow survey determinotion wos mode

O MERCER^ «_,

Base data furnished by Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army

ground in flooded area on Mar. 30, I960
10 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

River on March 30 began a fairly rapid rise and ice on its lower 

reaches began breaking up. The Knife and other rivers west of the 

Missouri were similarly affected in their lower reaches but no really 

significant melting of the heavy snow cover took place.

On April 6 a moderate increase in temperature was recorded at all 

stations throughout North Dakota. This warm period was of short duration and caused but little runoff, although ice went out on the lower 

reaches of some tributaries west of the Missouri, and the smaller 

tributaries east of the Missouri near the North Dakota-South Dakota 

State line reached peak stage and discharge. The major consequence 

of this brief warm period over most of the area was that much snow 

was converted into water which was stored in snowdrifts and held ready 

for immediate release on the first day of significant melting. The 

next warm period began on April 13, continued until April 22, and 

caused flooding throughout the area. When temperatures again dropped 

the only snow left on the ground was in remnants of huge drifts. Figure 4 shows the daily maximum and minimum temperatures at selected 

weather stations in or adjacent to the flooded area.

After April 22 the weather turned cold again. More snow or rain 

fell intermittently until May 9. Temperatures were below normal during this period and snow cover accumulated rapidly. By the end of the 

first week in May serious floods were again feared. However, west 

of the Missouri River the flood threat did not materialize; moisture 

resulting from snow melt either evaporated or was absorbed by the 

ground, and streams rose but little. In the James River drainage area 

melting of the snow that had fallen between April 23 and May 9, together with water that had not yet run off from the first spring breakup, caused flood peaks slightly greater than those of April at the 

Jamestown, N. Dak., gage.

The Little Missouri River, which formed the western and northern 

boundary of the area subjected to severe flooding, went overbank onto 

the flats between the mouth of Cherry Creek and the Missouri River 

near the end of March. No reports of flood damage in this area were 

found in the local newspapers, but the figures compiled by the Corps 

of Engineers show a minor amount resulted.

The flood threat of the Knife River to Hazen, N. Dak., was recognized as early in the season as March 10 by the Hazen Star. Snow 

cover was much heavier than normal by mid-March and much of it 

was whipped into huge drifts that formed in highway cuts and on the 

south slopes of hills. The Army established headquarters at Beulah, 

N. Dak., in March for directing the relief work of "operation snowbound, " the use of a few track-laying motor vehicles to carry fuel and 

food to snowbound farms. Near the end of March, daily temperatures 

were warm enough to cause increased flow in the Knife River even 

though there was no sign of runoff in the gullies and dry runs. The 

increased flow caused the ice on the lower Knife River to break up or 

rise, but not much of it moved out. Ice jams held firm until the warm 

weather of April 6-7, when the increased flow broke the jams loose 

and the local residents thought the spring flood danger past. Colder
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF FLOODS 11

I 10 20 31 10 20 28 10 20 31 10 20 30 10 20 31 

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY

Figure 4. Daily range of temperatures at four weather stations 

in North Dakota for Jan. I to May 31, I960

948847 O - 51 - 2
12 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

weather delayed the melt of the remaining snow until the warm period 

beginning April 13 when melting and runoff were very rapid and the 

Knife River soon was out of banks in its entire length. On April 17 

Beulah was isolated and flood water forced fifty families to leave 

their homes. The towns of Center, Stanton, and Hazen, N. Dak. , 

were also seriously flooded.

Soon after the flood, inquiries were made of long-time residents 

of the flooded area in the Knife Valley to determine the relative magnitude of the 1950 and earlier floods. According to the information 

gathered the 1943 flood was about one-half foot higher than the 1950 

flood at both Beulah and Hazen. No one questioned--and some have 

lived in the area since 1884--could remember any flood that approached the size of the 1943 and 1950 floods.

The breakup on the Heart River resembled that on the Knife River; 

downstream ice broke up and jammed long before any appreciable 

snow-melt runoff occurred. On March 31, the Heart River formed an 

ice jam below Mandan, N. Dak., that caused water to back over the 

southeast part of the town, which is unprotected by dikes. Breaching 

of a dike downstream from Mandan allowed the floodwaters to close 

U. S. Highway 10 between Bismarck and Mandan from April 17 to 21.

Heart Butte Reservoir, situated on the Heart River about 60 miles 

upstream from Mandan, was completed in December 1949 by the U. S. 

Bureau of Reclamation. The operation of this reservoir and the dikes 

built by the Corps of Engineers to protect the city, saved Mandan from 

severe damage by flood during the big thaw of April 16-19. Even with 

most of the water from the drainage area above the dam stored in 

Heart Butte Reservoir, the flow reaching Mandan from Antelope, 

Muddy and Sweetbriar Creeks, and from numerous small streams 

that enter the Heart River below the reservoir, was near recordbreaking and thoroughly tested the dikes.

Throughout their length the Heart River and tributaries seriously 

damaged or totally destroyed many bridges. The damage resulted 

from severe pounding by ice floes and the erosive action of the water 

upon the submerged parts of bridge structures and overtopped approach 

fills. As elsewhere, it was not unusual to see ice cakes weighing 

about 20 tons mingled among smaller cakes and left stranded after 

recession of the flood. The Heart River destroyed the 52-year-old 

span at Gladstone, N. Dak. , on April 16, isolating the city and disrupting the natural gas supply. The Lehigh bridge was seriously 

twisted by ice floes as were many others downstream. The span 

across Muddy Creek, on which the Geological Survey gage near 

Almont, N. Dak. , was located, was completely demolished. ( See 

pi. 1.)

In addition to costly damage to bridges, the Heart River and tributaries stopped through-traffic on the Northern Pacific Railway's 

main line for nearly a week because of washouts west of Mandan 

caused by Sweetbriar Creek and the main river. (See pi. 2, A.) All 

of the town of Almont was at one time inundated except for the school
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1137 PLATE 1

FLOODS MAKE GAGE MAINTENANCE DIFFICULT.

A. Both gage and bridge destroyed on Muddy Creek near Almont. 

B. Gage structure on Cannonball River near New Leipzig damaged and 

exposed by bank erosion.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1137 PLATE 2

SWOLLEN RIVER AND FLOATING ICE CAUSE WIDESPREAD DAMAGE.

A. Northern Pacific main line washed out by Heart River. B. Cannonball River damage to Mott estimated at $1, 000, 000.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF FLOODS 13

house. Traffic between Bismarck and Mandan on U. S. Highway 10 

was stopped for several days during mid-April because of flood water 

from the Heart River.

The Apple Creek drainage area is normally insignificant in producing serious floods, but during April the water from this area slowed 

both rail and highway travel for many days where U. S. Highway 10 

and the Northern Pacific cross McKenzie Slough, a large depression 

that drains into Apple Creek about 15 miles east of Bismarck. Flooding of Apple Creek put water 2 feet deep over the floor of the transmitter house of radio station KFYR, a few miles east of Bismarck, 

and marooned the operators.

Destruction in the Cannonball River Basin was greater than any 

other in the flooded area. The story of the breakup is again the same; 

ice in the vicinity of Breien, N. Dak. , broke up and jammed, causing 

minor flooding on April 3, but the main snow melt began about April 

14 or 15.

Hardest hit of any town in the flooded area was Mott, N. Dak. , 

which took a severe battering from ice jams and flood water. An 

appraisal of damages made by Corps of Engineers personnel soon 

after the flood placed the loss at Mott at $1,000,000. The concrete 

arch bridge across the Cannonball River at the Milwaukee Road depot 

remained relatively undamaged despite the severe battering it was 

subjected to. Most of the damage in that part of town on the left bank 

resulted from immersion, that on the right bank was caused by icebattering and erosion. (See pis. 2, B, and 3.) Flood waters cut off 

the city's power supply and put part of the city water system out of 

operation.

Both the Northern Pacific and Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and 

Pacific branch lines in the Cannonball Valley were put out of operation 

for weeks by washouts and destroyed bridges, the Northern Pacific 

suffering the more severe damage to right of way. (See pi. 4.) The 

abutments of many relatively new county highway bridges across the 

Cannonball were severely damaged by bank scour. (See pi. 5.) Some 

flood damage was done to the towns of Breien and Solen, N. Dak.

The powerful erosive action of the floodwaters along Cedar Creek 

and the Cannonball River wrought many destructive changes in channel 

and damaged farm lands along both streams by depositing sand and 

silt on them. (See pi. 6.) The Cannonball destroyed a recently completed bridge when it erupted from an artificial channel that had been 

made to straighten a bend in its natural channel. (See pi. 6; the bridge 

is also shown on pi. 5, A.) Damage to highway shoulders caused by 

the local drainage is illustrated on plate 7, A and is described in 

detail on page 20.

The spillway at Cedar Creek dam north of Reeder, N. Dak. , failed 

during the breakup. The failure was gradual so no significant amount 

of flow was added to the flood crest on Cedar Creek.
14 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

The floods of 1950 on the Cannonball River and Cedar Creek, according to old inhabitants and available newspaper accounts, were the 

greatest experienced since the area was first settled. The Geological 

Survey has maintained a gage more or less regularly in the vicinity 

of Breien since 1903. Figure 5 shows the plot of observed annual 

maximum instantaneous peak discharge at this gage for the periods 

of available record from 1903 to June 1950. It shows that the size 

of the 1950 flood is outstanding. There is some evidence that the 

headwater areas of the Cannonball River may have experienced greater 

floods than that of 1950; the Hettinger County Herald for April 20, 

1950 contains this statement, "### not since 1912 has New England 

witnessed such high water. " The 1950 flood reached above the 18-foot 

mark on the Cannonball bridge at New England.

The floods in the Grand River Basin were similar to those in the 

Cannonball Basin, but damage to bridges did not reach the same proportions. Plate 7, B, shows damage to a bridge approach near Shadehill, S. Dak. Floods in the Moreau River Basin south of the Grand 

River were proportionately less severe.

Jamestown, N. Dak. , located at the junction of Pipestem Creek and 

James River, has been damaged frequently by floods because the 

streams often peak simultaneously. The 1950 floods were unusual 

because the combined flow of the two streams resulted in two separate peaks of nearly the same magnitude, coming on April 17 (see pi. 

8) and May 13. Both floods were from snow melt; the latter flood 

was caused by remnants of the winter snow plus that which fell during 

the cold weather of late April and early May.

Damage from ice and standing water was heavy in the low-lying 

regions of Jamestown. The Crippled Children's Home had to be closed 

and the pupils temporarily quartered elsewhere, and many persons 

were forced from their homes. The long duration of the flood, both 

in the city of Jamestown and in the rural areas, made it particularly 

costly. Much farm land along the James River downstream could not 

be seeded until near the end of June because of the floods. Total 

damages to Jamestown and areas south along the James River were 

estimated to be $2, 435, 000 in both floods.

The White River of South Dakota flooded in late March and caused 

severe ice jams. Part of the bridge carrying U. S. Highway 183 

across the river was destroyed.

Flooding along the Missouri River was confined to overflow, which 

is not considered particularly damaging to the lands along the river. 

Although the flood along the main river was the greatest since 1943, 

it did not draw much attention throughout the flooded area because of 

the greater floods in the tributaries. At Fort Pierre, S. Dak. , about 

80 percent of the town was flooded. Damage consisted largely of 

flooded basements and disrupted business operations. Severe damage 

to a recently completed highway fill was wrought at Sioux City, Iowa, 

about April 20.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1137 PLATE 3

BATTERING ICE INCREASES DAMAGE AT MOTT.

A. Ice damages grain elevator office. B. Ice jam above concrete arch 

bridge. Photo by Diedes Studio, Mott, N. Dak.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1137 PLATE 4

DAMAGE TO NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY BRANCH LINE 

NEAR BREIEN.

A, Northern Pacific tracks washed out. Photo by Don Vogtman, U. S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service. B. Weeks were required to rebuild twisted 

and destroyed tracks.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF FLOODS 15

I 50

Note- 1903-34 records from goge neor 

Timmer obout 6 miles upstreom 

from Breien

Figure 5. Maximum annual floods of Cannonball River 

at Breien, N. Dak.
16 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Flooding from small tributaries and from sloughs or lakes caused 

damages at many communities throughout the area. The towns of 

Napoleon and Strasburg in North Dakota were flooded by waters from 

sloughs that could not drain away fast enough through natural outlets. 

Many small lakes and sloughs that had been dry or nearly dry for several years were filled by the snow-melt water to the highest levels 

known. This was especially true in the area of poorly developed drainage between the Missouri River and the James River. Many of the 

sloughs, after filling, could empty only by evaporation or by seepage 

to the water table because natural surface drainage is poor. Highways 

of all classes, from unimproved country roads to major Federal 

routes, were subjected to closure or delays in traffic-and to varying 

degrees of damage by the ponded water. Some major routes and many 

secondary routes suffered damage to the extent of requiring complete 

rebuilding.

FLOOD DAMAGES

That the flood had caused considerable damage and human privation 

was recognized at an early date. On April 17 the American National 

Red Cross classified the flood disaster in North Dakota as Type A and 

hastened to assist local people to repair and rebuild damaged farms 

and homes.

Although no lives were lost by drowning, one man in Hettinger 

County, N. Dak. , died of a heart attack induced by exertions resulting from the flood. Data on the total number of houses destroyed or 

damaged by the floods in the Missouri River Basin in North Dakota 

are not available, although two houses were reported carried away at 

Solen. The sparsely settled country west of the Missouri River reduced the opportunity for flood damage. Mott suffered most heavily 

west of the Missouri, and Jamestown suffered most heavily east of 

the Missouri; 500 homes were evacuated at Jamestown.

The Red Cross set up local headquarters at Mott to handle the 

heavy relief work there. The National Guard assigned troops and 

equipment to Mott and to other flood communities in southwestern 

North Dakota to do guard duty and to work in conjunction with the Red 

Cross in relief activities. The Red Cross assisted 56 families in 

Grant County and 72 in Hettinger County; 40 Indian families driven 

into Shields by high water along the Cannonball received temporary tent 

shelters and food. The number of families given assistance and the 

expenditures for relief in each county by the Red Cross are listed in 

table 1. Data in this table are indicative of the number of people suffering damage from the flood. A total expenditure for all flood relief 

in the state of North Dakota of $151,733.63 was made by the Red 

Cross; this was divided as follows:
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1137 PLATE 5

CANNONBALL RIVER WASHES OUT HIGHWAY BRIDGES.

A. This was new County Bridge near town of Cannonball. B. Bank 

scour causes bridge failure south of Heil.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1137 PLATE 6

ft

CANNONBALL RIVER DAMAGES BRIDGES AND FARM LANDS.

A. River erupts from artificial channel to destroy bridge. Photo by 

Don Vogtman, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. B. Sand and silt deposited on farm land near Breien.
FLOOD DAMAGES 17

Rescue, transportation, and shelter $35, 112. 14

Food and clothing 14,261.84

Rebuilding and repair 70, 229. 27

Medical, nursing, and sanitation 2, 337. 78

Household furnishings 24, 466. 89

Farm supplies, livestock, and equipment 4,649.23

Occupational training, equipment, 676.48 

and supplies

Table 1. American Red Cross relief by counties in the flooded area 

in Missouri River Basin in North Dakota.!/

County

Adams

Bowman

Burleigh

Emmons

Grant

Hettinger

LaMoure

Logan

Mercer

Morton

Oliver

Stark

Stutsman

^Standing Rock

Indian Reservation

Number of 

families 

suffering 

loss

62

30

50

1

70

120

30

1

60

120

11

24

650

110

Number 

of 

families 

assisted

12

15

46

1

56

72

4

0

35

57

7

1

534

101

Expenditures 

for 

relief

* <t>

5,

11,

13,

1,

1,

10,

18,

18,

417.62

441.42

622.04

148. 20

554.28

260. 81

402. 73

0

932. 75

040. 05

330.05

66.33

766. 04

420. 19

*A11 of Sioux County and Part of Carson County, S. Dak.

The Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army, began surveying 

all damages immediately after the flood. The data listed in table 2 

were furnished by the Corps of Engineers from their compilation.

The Bureau of Public Roads has compiled estimates by counties for 

the flooded area showing the total damages suffered by both Federalaid and other highway systems in each State. These estimates are 

listed in table 3.

_!/ Data furnished by Robert Brumett, State Relations Officer, American Red Cross.
Table 2. Total damages caused by the 1950 floods in the Missouri River drainage of North and South

Dakota

Basin

Missouri River and small 

tributaries in N. Dak.

Little Missouri River

Knife River

Heart River

Cannonball River

Grand River

Moreau River

James River, N. Dak.

Missouri River and small 

tributaries in S. Dak.

James River, S. Dak.

Damage

Individual and corporate

Direct

$ 129,000

6,000

106,000

345,000

1,098,000

*

*

866,000

*

*

Indirect

$ 29,000

--

72,000

65,000

226,000

*

*

889,000

*

.*

County and state

Direct

$ "

--

29,000

621,000

486,000

*

*

100,000

*

*

Indirect

$ "

--

--

12,000

--

*

*

--

*

*

GRAND TOTAL

Total

$ 158,000

6,000

207,000

1,043,000

1, 810,000

1, 239,000

137,000

1, 855,000

1,091,000

2, 167,000

$9, 713,000

r 

o 

o 

oC/3

ffi

*Total not broken down according to classification used.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1137 PLATE 7

HIGHWAY SYSTEM DAMAGED BY LOCAL DRAINAGE AND STREAMS.

A. Local drainage erodes shoulder of U. S. Highway 10. B. Shadehill 

bridge approach washed out by Grand River.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1137 PLATE 8

^siSsS?*--.

PIPESTEM CREEK AND JAMES RIVER FLOOD JAMESTOWN

IN APRIL.

A. Northern Pacific Railway along Pipestem Creek in West Jamestown. B. South Jamestown and Fairgrounds flooded again like this in 

May. Photo by J. J. Walsh, Chief Engineer and Secretary, North Dakota Water Conservation Commission.
FLOOD DAMAGES 19

Table 3. Damages to highways and bridges by the 1950 floods in the 

Missouri River Basin in North and South Dakota

County

Adams, N. Dak.

Billings, N. Dak.

Bowman, N. Dak.

Burleigh, N. Dak.

Dickey, N. Dak.

Dunn, N. Dak.

Emmons, N. Dak.

Foster, N. Dak.

Grant, N. Dak.

Hettinger, N. Dak.

Kidder, N. Dak.

LaMoure, N. Dak.

Logan, N. Dak.

Mclntosh, N. Dak.

McLean, N. Dak.

Mercer, N. Dak.

Morton, N. Dak.

Oliver, N. Dak.

^Sheridan, N. Dak.

Sioux, N. Dak.

Slope, N. Dak.

Stark, N. Dak.

Stutsman, N. Dak.

^Wells, N. Dak.

Total - N. Dak.

Corson, S. Dak.

Harding, S. Dak.

Perkins, S. Dak.

Total - S. Dak.

Federal

aid

$ 74, 500

None

18,000

63,000

33,000

60,000

42,000

None

63,300

133,800

60,000

61,850

398,000

None

25,000

47,000

164,000

500

283,000

None

31,000

210,000

167,290

242,000

2, 177,240

__

--

--

Non-Federal

aid

$ 175,000

4,400

87,000

75,000

7, 500

12, 500

32, 720

102, 500

405,700

284,200

92,090

55,200

43, 125

30, 200

85,435

20, 500

435,850

76,700

69, 735

24,650

58, 500

158,000

628,000

84,680

3,049, 185

--

--

--

TOTAL, MISSOURI RIVER BASIN

Total

$ 249, 500

4,400

105,000

138,000

40, 500

72, 500

74, 720

102, 500

469,000

418,000

152,090

117,050

441,125

30,200

110,435

67, 500

599,850

77, 200

352,735

24,650

89, 500

368,000

795,290

326, 680

5,226,425 -

T 132,500

T 27,450

T361, 600

T521,550

$5. 747, 975

*Parts of county are outside Missouri River Basin.

TNO separation made between Federal aid and non-Federal aid losses.

948847 O - 51 - 3
20 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

The damages to the Federal-aid highways in table 3 are computed 

on the basis of the cost of replacing damaged structures or pavements 

with ones meeting adequate standards. Damages to highways not receiving Federal aid are computed on the basis of cost of repairs.

Damage to highway pavements from flood waters was severe where 

highways crossing flood plains were submerged for several hours or 

days. Rapidly flowing water had little direct effect on paved road surfaces but brought about damage by eroding the subgrade and fill material. An unusual occurrence found most often in the counties east of 

the Missouri River in North Dakota was the erosion by wave action on 

the highway fills that were built across formerly dry lake beds. West 

of the Missouri River, because of the heavy 1950 snowfall and drifting 

action, the highway maintenance forces necessarily had to be satisfied 

with plowing open the traveled road only; the berms were covered several feet deep with hard-packed snow. During the breakup, melt 

water naturally followed the channel of least resistance and ran down 

the shallow trough formed by the edge of the paving and the snowbank, 

the velocities of such flow being high on the steeper grades. Typical 

erosion of pavement and shoulder caused by this action is pictured in 

plate 1, A.

Detailed investigations of damages at and around Jamestown were 

made under the direction of the North Dakota State Engineer working 

in cooperation with the City Engineer of Jamestown for both the April 

and May floods. These estimates of damage are shown in table 4. 

Although the May flood reached a slightly higher stage than the April 

flood, it caused less damage because the first flood had ruined so 

many things beyond further spoiling. Then, too, the first flood gave 

people valuable experience in preventing future flood damage.

Table 4. -Flood damages to Jamestown and vicinity

Item

Streets, parks, sewers 

Dwellings 

Stores, apartment and tourist 

houses

Flooded basements

Lawns and gardens 

Crippled Children's Home 

Fairgrounds 

Churches, schools, hospitals 

Railroads

Industrial plants 

Miscellaneous

Total - Jamestown

Total - Below Jamestown 

Total - Jamestown and below

April

$ 410,000 

927, 000 

35,000

100,000

10,000 

35,000 

50,000 

50,000 

5,000

10,000 

98,000

$1, 730,000

235,000

$1, 965,000

May

$ 58, 000 

185,000 

7,000

20,000

2,000

3,000 

2,000 

1,000

2,000 

15,000

$295,000

175,000

$470, 000

Total

$ 468,000 

1, 112,000 

42,000

120,000

12,000 

35,000 

53,000 

52,000 

6,000

12,000 

113,000

$2, 025,000

410,000

$2,435,000
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS 21

METEOROLOGY 

(Prepared by staff of United States Weather Bureau)

The average annual amount of precipitation in North and South 

Dakota ranges from near 24 inches in the easternmost part to about 

10 inches in the west. Precipitation in the entire area is most frequently caused by a wedge of polar air lifting warm air from the 

Gulf of Mexico. About half of the year's rain falls in May, June, 

and July; peak rainfall is in June.

The floods which came in April and May 1950 were due to the combined effects of an unusually late spring, abnormal amounts of snow 

(especially in North Dakota where three times the normal snowfall 

was recorded), and extreme variations in temperature from week to 

week, and even day to day. March had been a cold, wet month, 

marked at either end by an intense storm -- in the first week, a 

blizzard, one of the most severe in the history of eastern South Dakota; in the last week, a snowstorm, with stations in the Black Hills 

reporting up to 60 inches of snow. The higher temperatures which 

followed the storm melted most of the snow in the southern half of 

South Dakota and caused light flooding. However, all of North Dakota 

was snow-covered at the month's end. An extremely heavy cover lay 

in some sections.

April 1950 was one of the coldest Aprils on record in South Dakota, 

and the coldest since 1920 in North Dakota. Mean temperatures for 

the month, like those for March, were below normal. A deep trough 

over the eastern part of the United States on the mean 700-millibar 

chart, (showing heights at 700 millibars, roughly 10,000 feet) for 

April, concurrent with a strong mean ridge in the west, resulted in 

repeated polar outbreaks over the Dakotas. The abnormal snowfall 

during April was caused by overrunning of Pacific maritime air rather 

than air from the Gulf of Mexico.

In the first two weeks of April there were three successive polar 

outbreaks, each bringing snow and plunging temperatures. From the 

7th to the 10th the air was so cold that maximum temperatures hovered near the point of normal minimum temperatures. The third surge 

of polar air, which invaded the Dakotas on April 10, even brought 

some maximum temperatures down below the normal minimum, as 

can be seen in figure 6. This last outbreak was the result of almost 

straight flow from the northernmost part of the Continent to the Mexican border (fig. 7). Temperatures rose steeply during the latter 

part of the period; still, mid-April found a snow cover which was increasingly heavy from north-central South Dakota into southern North 

Dakota.
22 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Figure 6. Temperature and precipitation in April and May 

1950 at Bismarck, N. Dak., and Pierre, S. Dak.
METEOROLOGY 23

Warm front 

Cold front

Pressures ore given in

millibars

Areas where precipitation is

occurring at the time of

observation are shaded

Official Weather Bureau Map

for 

1:30 P.M. E.S.T. April 10,1950

Figure 7. Surface weather chart for Apr. 10, 1950
24 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

In South Dakota the breakup of ice on the Missouri River on April 

2 prevented major gorges, although the threat of flood was everpresent throughout April. Rivers, creeks, and smaller streams 

were flooding fields and highways in the south-central area of North 

Dakota in the middle of April, but the western rivers were still 

frozen.

During the third week in April, only minor cold fronts crossed the 

Dakotas, and the upward trend in temperature continued. Ice started 

breaking on the Missouri River in North Dakota near Bismarck on the 

15th. The major part of the snow cover melted, and runoff was so 

rapid that there was flooding everywhere except on the Missouri and 

Souris Rivers in North Dakota.

On the 18th polar air again moved down into the Dakotas bringing 

snow and low temperatures but temperatures rose rapidly and by the 

21st most minimum temperatures were above freezing. In the course 

of the next two days, a complex low-pressure system developed in 

the central part of the country and resulted in one of the worst storms 

in the region during the spring season. The deep low-pressure area 

which moved slowly eastward from its position in South Dakota, and 

an overlying moist warm tongue of air gave North Dakota the greatest 

snowfall recorded for April since 1892. Some of the lowest temperatures for so late in the season were recorded during this last week 

in April, and by the end of the month the thaw in South Dakota was two 

weeks late.

Mean temperatures were again below normal in the Dakotas in 

May. The mean trough at 700 millibars lay directly over the two 

states, and the heavy precipitation in North Dakota during the month 

resulted in part from this. An unusually strong flow of air from the 

Gulf of Mexico carried most of the moisture that fell during the month.

Low temperatures and abundant precipitation characterized the 

first week of May. On May 1 a low pressure area formed in Nevada 

and Utah and was stimulated by a system of fronts which had moved 

inland from the Pacific. During the next two days the system moved 

eastward, and one center of the complex low appeared in South Dakota. 

Precipitation, mostly rain in South Dakota and snow in North Dakota, 

accompanied the low as it moved into southeastern North Dakota. It 

was soon damped out by a ridge which pushed down from the Canadian 

high.

On the morning of the 4th the polar front which had come down 

from Canada during the last week in April had an east-west orientation across the middle of the country. The winds on either side of 

the front blew in strong opposition; the dewpoints in the south were 

high. The 700-millibar chart confirmed the surface indication of 

overrunning Gulf air. Snow and rain fell in both Dakotas.
METEOROLOGY 25

The precipitation continued into the morning of the 5th, while in 

central Kansas a low was deepening rapidly. By afternoon the low, 

with a central pressure of less than 975 millibars, was centered in 

eastern South Dakota. The winds were strong, and heavy precipitation fell over both Dakotas, primarily in the form of snow. In 

South Dakota as much as 17 inches of snow were reported. The low 

moved to northern Minnesota and filled slightly, but snow and rain 

continued to fall in both Dakotas. Once again minimum temperatures 

fell below freezing. The season in North Dakota was later than in 

any previous year.

A new ridge of the Canadian high pushed down over the Dakotas on 

the 7th, and a low which had developed in Arizona moved into Utah. 

The great area of precipitation associated with the low reached into 

western South Dakota, producing more rain and snow. On the morning of the 8th the pressure areas were much the same as in the first 

week of May: a low in southeastern Colorado, the polar front oriented 

east-west across the middle of the country, a sharp wind contrast 

across the front, overrunning indicated over the Dakotas on the 700- 

millibar chart. The results were also the same. On the morning of 

the 9th rain and snow continued to fall in North Dakota, although precipitation had ended in most of South Dakota. Temperatures rose 

sharply from the 9th through the 13th, until they considerably exceeded the normal. Comparison of maximum temperatures for this 

period with the average maxima in figure 6 shows how marked were 

the departures.

As the system moved eastward, the Pacific high nosed into the 

Continent. The Dakotas were dominated by Pacific air until the 12th. 

During this period minimum temperatures had finally risen above 

freezing. For the following five days minor polar fronts passed the 

Dakotas causing but little rain and a slight lowering of temperatures. 

On the 16th, however, North Dakota received heavy rain when a polar 

front which passed on the 15th began retreating as a warm front. 

The James and Pipestem Rivers reached new crests in the Jamestown area about May 15. The flooding was not so severe as it had 

been in April, however. It rained heavily in North Dakota again on 

May 19 with the passage of a Pacific front. Although the temperatures in the Dakotas were above normal during the third week of May, 

the precipitation, too, was above normal.

Pacific air dominated the Dakotas until a new Pacific front approached on May 22. A ridge of the Pacific high extended up into the 

Gulf of Alaska at this time, and by the 23d a separate center of high 

pressure had formed off the Canadian west coast. The high, com - 

bined with the deepening of the frontal trough which moved east of 

the Dakotas, produced a flow from the north into those States. As a 

result, it was polar air from central Canada and the Hudson's Bay 

region, rather than maritime air from the Pacific, that flowed into 

the Dakotas. This circulation continued through the 25th, while the 

high moved southeastward across Canada and into the United States. 

For the next two days winds were from the south over the Dakotas as
26 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

the high moved east of those States. There was no appreciable rain, 

and maximum temperatures reached as high as the 80's. During the 

remaining days in May, temperatures averaged near normal and precipitation was scanty.

When the records of the month were compiled, it was found that 

South Dakota had received its greatest average snowfall for May in 

60 years of record more than 5-1/2 inches. The melted snow and 

ice in the James River drainage area in North Dakota above Jamestown moved slowly across South Dakota during the month. By the 

month's end the crest, the highest recorded for May, was still not 

out of the state. Flood came at seeding time, and high water remained 

until the end of the month.

MEASUREMENT OF FLOOD DISCHARGES

It was generally impossible to make current-meter measurements 

of flood discharges by the Geological Survey's standard techniques at 

many regular gaging stations in the flooded area west of the Missouri 

River because roads were impassable and bridges from which measurements are usually made were washed out, submerged, or isolated 

by flooding at approaches. (The techniques of making current-meter 

measurements and plotting rating curves have been described in many 

Water-Supply Papers and are fully explained in Water-Supply Paper 

888.) At several locations the flood either destroyed or submerged 

the gage and no record of the peak was obtained. Measurements of 

maximum flow at these unusable gaging stations and at places where 

there had been no gaging stations were made by calculating the flow 

from slope-area observations and the flow through contracted openings. Fairly detailed information about these methods as they have 

been used by the Geological Survey for severe floods is given in WaterSupply Papers 773-E, 796-G, 798, 799, 800, 816, 843, and 888.

Marks left by melting snowdrifts interfered considerably with attempts to determine peak discharge. In some places the presence of 

snowdrifts prevented the flood water at the peak of its rise from coming in contact with the ground and, consequently, no flood marks were 

left there. High-water marks left on snowdrifts had been lowered by 

the melting of the snow before Geological Survey engineers were able 

to make a. survey and were unreliable indicators of the flood crest.
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS 27

STAGES AND DISCHARGES AT STREAM-GAGING STATIONS 

Explanation of Data

The following paragraph taken from Geological Survey Water-Supply 

Paper 1080, p. 39, is offered here in definition of the term "base data. "

"The basic data systematically collected at stream-gaging stations 

consist of records of stage, measurements of discharge, and general 

information useful in determining the daily flow from the records of 

gage heights and discharge measurements. The records of stage are 

obtained either by periodic direct readings on a nonrecording gage or 

by a water-stage recorder which provides a continuous graph of stage. 

Measurements of discharge are generally made by a current meter, 

the methods of use of which are outlined in standard textbooks. Occasionally, determination of extraordinary peak flows must be made 

by auxiliary methods referred to in the preceding section of this report. Atypical stream-gaging station is usually equipped with a waterstage recorder andcableway and a suspended car from which discharge 

measurements are made. Rating tables showing the discharges for 

indicated stages are prepared from the results of discharge measurements. At some river stations, other or auxiliary devices are used 

in the determination of discharge, such as artificial controls, turbines, 

venturi meters, and gates, so calibrated as to indicate rates of discharge. "

The data tabulated on the following pages for each stream gaging 

station show: a station description, a table showing the daily discharge throughout the 3-month period April to June 1950, and a table 

showing the stage and discharge at selected intervals during each day 

of the period of major flood flow, generally April 14 to May 13, in 

sufficient detail to permit reliable definition of the flood hydrograph. 

It is intended to sacrifice no completeness of detail just to arrive at 

a concise tabulation.

The station description gives information on the type, location, 

and datum of the gage, the drainage area above the gage, and information about stages and discharges during the flood. Information about 

stages and discharges includes the following: the method used in determining the stage, the method used to define the rating curve applicable during the flood period, the maximum stage and discharge during 

the period April-June 1950 and for the indicated period of station 

records, plus historical stages when available, and remarks on miscellaneous items.

Mean daily discharges for the months April to June 1950 (March to 

June in a few cases) are tabulated below the station description. This 

period covers the floods throughout the area and gives adequate definition of antecedent conditions and of the recession. Runoff volumes 

are expressed in depth in inches over the drainage area and in acrefeet. Figure 8 shows hydrographs of mean daily discharge at nine
28 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

LITTLE MISSOURI RIVER NEAR WATFORD CITY

APRIL

15 

JUNE

Figure 8. Graphs of mean daily discharge at selected river 

measurement stations in Missouri River Basin, Apr. l-June 30, 1950
STAGES AND DISCHARGES AT STREAM-GAGING STATIONS 29

selected stream-gaging stations for the period April-June. Hydrographs of mean daily discharge for Missouri River gaging stations 

situated from Williston, N. Dak. , to Sioux City, Iowa, are shown on 

figure 9. The fast flow of streams draining the western slope compared to the relatively slow rate of runoff typical of streams draining 

the flat areas east of the Missouri River is illustrated by figure 10 

which shows several representative instantaneous discharge hydrographs made at the period of flood crest.

A table following the tabulation of mean daily discharge gives the 

stages and discharges at selected times of day for each station. The 

interval for presentation of momentary stage and discharge information was selected so as to offer exact hydrograph definition without 

the inclusion of unnecessary data. Standard time is the basis throughout. Data for each station are listed from April 14 until the recession 

has proceeded to the point where sufficient definition is furnished by 

the table of mean daily discharges.

Automatic gage recordings are given if available. When they are 

not, graphs were constructed on the basis of manual gage readings, 

high-water marks, and other pertinent evidence, and the indicated 

stages were scaled from the graph. Departures from this general 

procedure are noted in the description under gage-height record.

Records are presented in downstream order. The first record is 

that for the most upstream Missouri River station reported on, followed by the remaining main-stream stations. Then the tributary 

stations follow in similar order. Only records for streams on which 

floods occurred and for those streams on the fringe of the flooded 

area are included.
30 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

EXPLANATION 

Wilhston 

Elbowoods 

Garrison Dam 

Bismarck 

Mo bridge 

Pierre

Chamberlain 

For* Randall 

Yankton 

Sioux City

APRIL MAY

Figure 9. Graph of mean daily discharge at river measurement stations on 

Missouri River from WHIiston, N. Oak., to Sioux City, Iowa, Apr. I to June 1,1950
STAGES AND DISCHARGES AT STREAM-GAGING STATIONS 31

EXPLANATION

Connonboll River near New Leipzig 

Heart River near Richardtan 

Grand River at Shadehill

- Cedar Creek near Pretty Rack

 Apple Creek near Menoken 

Knife River at Hazen 

James River at Jamestown

APRIL

Figure 10. Discharge hydrograph for selected streams in the 

Missouri River Basin, April 1950
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS 

Missouri River Main Stem

Missouri River near Williston, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 48°07' , long. 103° 44' , in sec. 31, T. 154 N., R. 101 W. , at Lewis and 

Clark Highway bridge, 7 miles west of Williston, and 25 miles downstream from 

Yellowstone River. Datum of gage is 1,830.20 feet above mean sea level, datum of 

1929.

Drainage area. 164,500 square miles.

Sage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except for period 1 p.m. Apr. 26 to 

9 a.m. Apr. 28, when there was no gage-height record.

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

Stagp '-discharge relation affected by ice, Apr. 1-16. Discharge for period of no 

ga^e-height record interpolated. Shifting-control method used Apr. 17 to June 30.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 110,000 second-feet 10 a.m. Apr. 17j gage height, 

11.97 feet 11:30 a.m. Apr. 6 (affected by ice).

19£8 to March 1950: Discharge, 231,000 second-feet Apr. 4, 1930, from rating 

carve extended above 80,000 second-feet; gat;e height, 19.78 feet Mar. 28, 1943

(ice jam).

. Many diversions above station for 

Peck Reservoir.

irrigation. Flow partly regulated by

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

16,000

16,000

19,000

25,000

38,000

42,000

39,000

36,000

33,000

28,000

May

17,000

16,700

16,800

17,900

21,100

23,700

24,900

24,200

24,200

25,100

June

25,200

27,800

26,200

24,400

24,500

25,700

25,800

26,100

32,600

45,200

Day

11

12

13

14

16

17

18

19

20

April

25,000

23,000

22,000

24,000

30,000

40,000

80,000

44,600

31,200

31,200

May

25,500

24,300

22,OOC

19,300

18,80C

18,400

19 , 400

19,200

19,300

19,900

June

49,000

46,800

41,100

37,700

36,000

39,900

48,300

50,200

50,100

55,100

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

31,300

29,700

28,900

30,900

31,900

30,000

26,700

23,800

21,000

18,600

-

30,530

1,816

0.21

May

20,800

21,500

23,100

21,900

20,100

18,800

20,000

25,600

26,700

24,200

22,900

21,400

1,316

0.15

June

59 , 300

58,100

54,400

53,100

56,100

62,000

57,400

51,600

48,900

44,800

-

42,780

2,546

0.29

Missouri River near Elbowoods, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 47°34', long. 102°12', in NEpE^ sec. 12, T. 147 N., R. 91 W., at

bridge on State Highway 8, 2 miles downstream from Little Missouri River, and 2^

miles west of Elbowoods. Datum of ga e is 1,720.55 feet above mean sea level,

datum of 1929.

Drainage area. 179,800 square miles. 

Sage-height record. Qraph drawn on basis of once-daily wire-weight gage readings and

records for stations near Williston and below Garrison Dam. 

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

below 110,000 second-feet and extended by logarithmic plotting. Stage-discharge

relation affected by ice Apr. 1 to 9 a.m. Apr. 15. Shifting-control method used

9 a.m. Apr. 15 to June ?0. 

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 161,000 second-feet 8:45 a.m. Apr. 15; gage

height, 17.30 feet 8 p.m. Apr. 10 (affected by ice).

1939 to March 1950: Discharge, about 260,000 second-feet Mar. 26, 1947, from

ratine curve extended above 110,000 second-feet by logarithmic plotting (gare

height, 23.2 feet). 

Remarks. Flow partly regulated by Port Peck Reservoir.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

21,000

21,000

21,000

19,000

21,000

24,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

48,000

May

21,000

19,400

18,400

19,100

26,000

21,900

23,700

25,800

27,800

28,800

,June

22,800

23,100

24,600

25,100

25,400

24,300

25,300

25,700

26,800

29,500

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

52,000

55,000

60,000

63,500

100,000

79,000

81,500

68,200

85,200

45,200

May

28,500

30,90C

29,700

27,600

26,50C

24,40C

22,60C

21,90C

21.70C

21,300

June

42,000

49,200

45,400

39,800

39,000

38,600

41,600

52,200

52,600

52,900

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet ..................

April

38,100

35,600

32,800

31,900

31,900

32,200

32,600

30,200

27,400

23,400

-

42,860

2,550

1 0.27

May

20,900

21,300

21,800

22,400

23,400

21,800

20,200

19,400

19,900

26,000

24,600

23,310

1,433

0.15

June

57,400

61,700

57,600

52,400

51,900

56,200

63,600

58,200

51,700

48,800

-

42,180

2,510

0.26
MISSOURI RIVER MAIN STEM

Missouri River near Elbowoods, N. D&k. (Cont'd.)

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

3

EC

2

4

8

10

N

2

4

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

4

8

N

4

12

4

8

N

4

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gaee 

height

Ap

14.56

14.48

14.43

14.38

14.36

14.36

Discharge

 il 14

61,600

62,600

63,400

64,300

65,700

65,700

April 20

8.10

7.88

7.70

7.57

7.49

7.42

Ap

6.72

6.75

Ma

5.62

5.53

5.43

49 , 400

46,300

43,900

42,200

41,100

40,200

 il 26

32,200

32,400

y 2

19,800

19 , 200

18 , 600

May 8

6.57

6.63

6.73

6.72

6.74

6.78

24,900

25,400

26,200

26,100

26,300

26,700

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

14.52

14.90

13.60

11.50

10.70

10.30

68,000

71,000

140,000

104,600

91,200

84,600

April 21

7.27

7.20

7.12

Ap

6.81

6.78

6.71

38 , 400

37,500

36,600

 il 27

33,000

32,700

31,900

May 3

5.40

5.40

5.48

Ms

6.89

6.96

18 , 300

18,300

18,700

ly 9

27,800

28 , 600

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 16

10.02

9.93

9.88

9.85

9.94

10.07

Ap

7.06

7.00

6.92

79,900

78 , 400

77,600

77,100

78 , 600

80,800

ril 22

35,900

35,300

34,400

April 28

6.53

6.41

30,000

28,700

May 4

5.55

5. 61

5.65

19,000

19,300

19 , 400

May 10

7.00

6.98

29,000

28,900

Gaee 

height

Discharge

April 17

10.21

10.25

10.23

10.15

9.98

9.63

Ap

6. BO

6.71

6.68

Ap

6.37

6.26

6.07

M

5.73

5.93

Ma

6.91

6.88

6.95

83,100

83,700

83,400

82,100

79 , 300

73,500

ril 23

33,100

32,200

31,900

ril 29

28,200

27,000

25,200

iy5

19,800

21,000

y 11

28,400

28,300

29,000

Gage 

height

Ap

8.84

8.73

8.84

9.27

10.01

10.63

Discharge

ril 18

60,500

58,800

60 , 600

67,600

79,800

90,000

April 24

6.68

6.68

Ap

5.91

5.80

5.73

Ma

6.10

6.25

31,900

31,900

-il 30

23,800

22,800

21,900

y e

21,900

22,800

May 12

7.13

7.20

7.24

30,900

31,500

31,400

hGe!fht

Ap

11.03

11.18

10.88

10.10

9.20

8.60

Ap

6.69

6.70

Discharge

ril 19

96,700

99,200

94,200

81,300

66,400

56,800

ril 25

31,900

32,000

May 1

5.70

5.67

5.65

M

6.39

6.53

21,200

20,500

20,200

ay 7

23,700

24,600

May 13

7.17

7.09

7.04

30,200

29,100

28,300

Supplemental record. Apr. 15, 8:45 a.m., 14.93 ft., 161,000 sec. -ftMissouri River below Garrison Dam, N. Dak.

Location. Let. 47°23'35", long. 101 D 23'48", in E^ sec. 8, T. 145 N., R. 84 W., 5 miles 

northwest of Stanton, N. Dak., 6 miles upstream from Knife River, and 8 miles downstream from site of Garrison Dam. Datum of gage is 1600 feet above mean sea level, 

datum of 1929, from Corps of Engineers bench mark.

Drainage area. 181,400 square miles.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except for periods Apr. 1-3, 5, 6, 17- 

19, 24-26, June 14-18, 23-28, during which only intermittent record and the ranges 

in stage were availible.

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

below 66,000 second-feet and extended to peak stage on basis of rating characteristics at other Missouri River stations. Stage-discharge relation affected by ice 

Apr. 1-16. Discharge for periods of intermittent record computed on basis of known 

ranges in stage, 2 discharge measurements,and records for stations near Elbowoods 

and at Bismarck. Shifting-control method used Apr. 17 to June 30.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 220,000 second-feet 8:30 p.m. Apr. 16 (gage height, 

87.64 feet).

1948 to March 1950: Discharge, 210,000 second-feet Apr. 3, 1948 (gage height, 

94.55 feet, site and datum then in use).

Remarks. Flow partly regulated by Fort Peck Reservoir.

Mean discharge, in second-feet. 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

17,000

18,000

20,000

23,000

22,000

21,000

22,000

26,000

33,000

40,000

May

21,900

19,800

18,900

18,700

19,300

21,300

24,000

26,400

28,600

27,200

June

26,100

23,70C

24,100

25,800

27,200

25,300

24,300

25,500

£6,700

31,500

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

47,000

54,000

58,000

60,000

65,000

80,000

120,000

90,000

90,000

62,100

May

27,200

28,900

30,200

28,800

27,100

25,500

24,300

23,50C

23,300

23,200

June

40,500

45,900

45,100

43,000

39,000

36,000

38,000

45,000

51,400

52,800

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

45,600

40,500

35,700

33,000

32,500

32,000

32,000

30,000

27,400

25,000

-

43,390

2,582

0.27

May

22,600

22,400

22,400

22,400

23,100

22,900

22,400

20,200

19,600

20,900

27,200

23,680

1,456

0.15

June

54,700

59,900

61,000

56,000

52,000

53,000

58,000

64,000

52,800

49,700

-

41,930

2,495

0.26
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Missouri River at Bismarck, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 460 48 I 50 n , long. 100°49'10", in sec. 31, T. 139 N., R. 80 W., at 

Bismarck city water plant, 2,100 feet downstream from Northern Pacific Railway 

bridge, 1 mile west of Bismarck, and about 4 miles upstream from Heart River. 

Datura of gage is 1,618.38 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929.

Drainage area. 186,400 square miles.

Page-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except for period June 12, 13 when 

no record was available. Doubtful gage-height record May 7-14 due to partially 

plugged intake, graph based on engineers' readings and shape of recorder graph.

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

Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1 to 3 p.m. Apr. 18. Discharge for 

period of no gage-height record computed on basis of one discharge measurement 

and records for station below Garrison Dam. Shifting-control method used 3 p.m. 

Apr. 18 to June 30.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 192,000 second-feet 11 p.m. Apr. 17 (ga^e 

height, 18.72 feet, from floodmark).

1904-05, 1927 to March 1950: Discharge, 282,000 second-feet Apr. 3, 1943; 

gage height, 2<=.2 feet Apr. 1, 1943, from floodmarks.

Maximum stage known, 31.6 feet, present site and datum, Mar. 31, 1881 (ice ,1am).

Remarks. Flow partly regulated by Fort Peck Reservoir.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

15,000

16,000

18,000

20,000

21,000

21,000

22,000

23,000

26,000

32,000

May

27,000

23,600

21,500

20,200

21,100

21,300

23,000

27,000

32,600

30,900

June

27,900

26,800

24,300

24,400

26,500

28,100

26,800

26,700

29,100

29,100

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

38,000

43,000

49,000

56,600

62,300

83,700

130,000

143,000

112,000

93,800

May

31,200

33,000

35,300

32,900

29,300

27,200

25,300

23,200

23,400

23,000

June

32 , 100

40,000

50,000

45,700

38,000

34,700

33,700

35,700

47,800

52,900

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

54,900

45,500

42,600

38,800

35,800

33,800

34,900

34,900

32,500

29,800

-

2,794

0.28

May

23,000

22,700

22,500

22,900

23,500

24,800

25,200

23,600

21,800

21,500

23,100

1,560

0.16

June

54,000

59,000

63,600

61,500

54,200

54,000

57,800

63,800

58,500

52,000

-

2,497

0.25

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time. 1950

b

a 

a

X

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage 

height

Pischarge

April 14

15.81

15.91

15.98

16.00

16.01

16.02

Ap

14.24

14.04

13.50

12.82

12.05

11.36

Ap

8.03

8.05

8.08

Me

6.84

6.75

6.70

6.67

6.65

6.64

54,000

56,000

57,000

58,000

59,000

59,700

il 20

108,000

105,000

97,000

87,200

76,600

68,000

il 26

33,500

33,800

34,100

y 2

24,300

23,600

23,200

23,000

23,000

22,900

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

16.02

16.04

16.05

16.10

16.60

16.15

16.03

16.06

16.20

16.15

16.10

16.05

Ap

10.37

9.87

9.57

Ap

8.14

8.17

8.13

8.16

8.18

8.18

M,

6.59

6.45

6.40

6.36

6.34

6.34

59,700

59,700

61,100

61,500

65,500

63,400

62,500

63,000

63,900

63,400

63,000

62,600

ril 21

56,100

50,700

47,600

rfiCZT

34,700

35,000

34,700

35,000

35,200

35,200

iy3

22,500

21,600

21,300

21,000

20,800

20,800

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 16

15.98

15.88

15.55

14.10

15.57

15.38

Ap

9.36

9.30

9.23

Ap

8.18

8.19

8.20

8.13

8.04

7.99

M

6.33

6.28

6.26

6.18

6.17

6.18

62,100

61,200

58,500

92,300

123,000

124,000

ril 22

45,500

45,100

44,400

ril's^

35,200

35,400

35,500

34,800

34,100

33,700

ay 4

20,800

20,500

20,400

19 ,800

19,700

19 ,800

nei^it

Ap

15.14

14.80

14.55

14.97

16.50

18.60

Ap

9.14

8.95

8.80

Api

7.95

7.90

7.88

7.81

7.73

7.68

M.

6.20

6.24

6.33

6.44

6.59

6.68

pischarge

ril 17

123,000

117,000

113,000

120,000

147,000

190,000

ril 23

43,500

41,800

40,400

ril 29

33,3OO

33,000

32,800

32,100

31,500

31,100

iy 5

19,900

20,200

20,800

21,600

22,700

23,300

<3age | pisheight 1 charge

April 18

18.18

18.04

17.80

17.63

17.37

17. -12

16.88

16.00

15.56

15.17

14.84

14.67

Api

8.64

8.58

8.48

Ap

7.57

7.48

7.38

Ma

6.38

6.30

6.30

6.39

6.44

6.48

177,000

171,000

163,000

156,000

146,000

138,000

130,000

124,000

121,000

119,000

117,000

115,000

"il 24

38,900

38 , 400

37,500

-11 36

30,100

29,400

28,500

ye

21,200

20,600

20,600

21,300

21,600

21,900

Gage | Disheifht | charge

April 19

14.52

14.51

14.48

14.45

14.42

14.34

Ap

8.35

8.24

8.10

M

7.18

7.02

M

113,000

113,000

112,000

112,000

111,000

110,000

ril 25

36, 300

35,300

34,100

ay 1

27,000

25,700

ay 7

Supplemental record. Apr. 15, 4:30 p.m., 15.90 ft., 61,200 sec.-ft.; 5 p.m., 16.23 ft., 

63,900 sec.-ft.; Apr. 16, 1 p.m., 13.70 ft., 80,000 sec.-ft., 1:30 p.m., 13.35 ft., 

78,600 sec.-ft.; 2:30 p.m., 14.46 ft., 95,200 sec.-ft.; 3:30 p.m., 14.00 ft., 90,500 

sec."-ft.; 7 p.m., 15.62 ft., 122,000 sec.-ft.; Apr. 17, 2 p.m., 14.53 ft., 113,000 

sec.-ft.; 11 p.m., 18.72 ft., 192,000 sec.-ft.
MISSOURI RIVER MAIN STEM

Missouri River near Mobridge, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 45°32', long. 100°29', in sec. 7, T. 18 N., R. 30 E., at bridge on 

U. S. Highway 12, 3 miles west of Mobridge, and 3^ miles downstream from Grand 

River. Datum of gage is 1,527.19 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929.

Drainage area. 208,700 square miles.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except Apr. 1-6 when gage heights are 

from graph based on once-daily wire-weight gage readings.

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

Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-13; discharge computed on basis of 

two discharge measurements, gage heights, and records for stations nearby. Shiftingcontrol method used Apr. 14 to June 30. Gage heights used to hundredths.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 251,000 second-feet Apr. 19 (gage height, 17.14 

feet).

1928 to March 1950: Discharge, 282,000 second-feet Apr. 5, 1943; gage height, 

19.55 feet Mar. £8, 1943 (ice jam).

Remarks. Flow partly regulated by Port Peck Reservoir.

Mean discharge, in second-feet. 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

28,000

32,000

40,000

49,000

59,000

58,000

41,000

49,000

44,000

41,000

May

36,000

33,400

31,000

29,700

28,500

29,100

32,800

37,200

40,700

47,200

.June

23,600

27,000

28,800

27,000

25,300

25,000

26,100

25,100

24,300

27,800

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

39,000

37,000

53,000

59 , 700

104,000

88,800

151,000

197,000

248,000

239,000

May

46,000

43,200

46,000

47,300

46,600

41,000

37,400

34,300

31 , 300

30,100

June

28,200

34,900

47,300

54,600

49 , 600

41 , 300

36,400

33,500

32,200

47,300

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

186,000

111,000

80,400

67,600

59 , 600

52,300

47,200

46,700

44,600

39,800

-

0.43

May

28,800

28,000

27,200

26,200

25,700

25,600

25,800

26,100

25,300

23,800

22,900

0.18

June

53,900

52,700

60,800

68,900

64,700

57,400

55,700

59,800

68,000

59,300

_

2

K.-I T

0.23

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

3 

O

2

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Ap

9.84 

9.66 

9.56 

9.54 

9.57 

9.66 

9.68 

9.61 

9.69 

10.51 

11.24 

11.58

Discnarge

-il 14

56,900 

53,000 

50 , 500 

49 , 400 

50,100 

53,000 

53,400 

51,300 

52,700 

74,200 

94,200 

104,000

April 20

16.92 

16.77 

16.67 

16.45 

16.19 

15.88

Ap

7.80 

7.72 

7.64 

7.56 

7.46 

7.38

Ma

6.27 

6.21 

6.19 

6.09 

5.83 

5.90

M

5.94 

6.08 

6.22 

6.31 

6.31 

6.27

246,000 

243,000 

241,000 

236,000 

230,000 

224,000

il 26

54,600 

53,500 

52,300 

51,200 

49 ,300 

48,800

y 2

35,100 

34,400 

34,200 

33,100 

30,800 

31 , 500

iy8

34,400 

36,200 

38,000 

39 , 400 

39 , 400 

38,900

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

12.00 

12.12 

12.03 

11.87 

11.78 

11.67 

11.51 

11.37 

11.18 

11.08 

11.06 

10.97

117,000 

120,000 

118,000 

113,000 

110,000 

107,000 

102,000 

98,000 

92,600 

89,800 

89 , 400 

86,600

April 21

15.49 

14.97 

14.44 

13.80 

13.10 

12.36

Ap

7.27 

7.24 

7.23 

7.22 

7.22 

7. IT1 M

5.90 

5.88 

5.85 

5.82 

5. 79 

5.72

M

6.25 

6.21 

6.28 

6.35 

6.66 

6.78

215, 00( 

204,000 

191,000 

175,000 

159,000 

142,000

ril 27

47.20C 

46,800 

47,000 

47,000 

47 , 300 

46,800

ay 3

31,500 

31 , 400 

31,100 

30,900 

30,800 

30,200

iy 9

38,50C 

37,800 

38,700 

39,500 

44,OOC 

45,60C

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 16

10.81 

10.71 

10.57 

10.46 

10.43 

10.48 

10.72 

11.19 

11.55 

11.73 

11.98 

12.36

82,400 

79 , 400 

75,600 

73,100 

71,800 

73,500 

80,200 

93,000 

103,000 

109,000 

116,000 

127,000

April 22

11.73 

11.14 

10 . 75 

10.40 

10.12 

9.98

Ap

7.14 

7.15 

7.15 

7.12 

7.09 

7.05

M

5.69 

5.67 

5.63 

5.60 

5.59 

5.55

Ma

6.85 

6.89 

6.89 

6.90 

6.99 

6.98

129,000 

116,000 

107,000 

100,000 

94,200 

91,200

ril 28

46,600 

46,800 

47,200 

46,700 

46,200 

45,600

iy4

30,100 

29,900 

29,600 

29,500 

29,500 

29,200

y 10

46,600 

47,000 

46,800 

46,800 

48,100 

47,800

hGe!fht

Pischarge

April 17

12.63 

12.83 

12.95 

12.98 

13.03 

13.02 

13.15 

13.23 

13.36 

13.46 

13.85 

14.06

Ap

9.64 

9.50 

9.42 

9.48 

9.26 

9.16

Ap

7.04 

7.00 

6.98 

6.94 

6.88 

6.81

M

5.56 

5.54 

5.46 

5.23 

5.44 

5.45

Ma

6.98 

6.96 

6.85 

6.85 

6.84 

6.80

135,000 

141,000 

145,000 

146,000 

148,000 

147,000 

151,000 

153,000 

157,000 

160,000 

172,000 

179,000

ril 23

84,200 

81,200 

79 , 400 

79,800 

76,800 

7.5,200

ril 29

45,500 

45,000 

44,800 

44,200 

43,200 

42,200

iy5

29,300 

29,200 

28,700 

27,000 

28,600 

28,800

y 11

47,600 

47,000 

45,200 

45,000 

44,800 

44,000

hGe!gt

Discharge

April 18

14.08 

14.12 

14.19 

14.21 

14.38 

14.52 

14.64 

14.76 

14.95 

15.57 

16.13 

16.54

Api

8.95 

8.77 

8.60 

8.49 

8.59 

8.47

Ap

6.76 

6.70 

6.64 

6.58 

6.53 

6. 50.

ME

5.39 

5.36 

5.34 

5.51 

5.69 

5.75

179,000 

181,000 

183,000 

184,000 

188,000 

193,000 

195,000 

199,000 

203,000 

217,000 

229,000 

238,000

'il 24

71,600 

68,500 

65,600 

64,000 

66,200 

64,200

ril 30

41,400 

40,600 

39 , 600 

38,900 

38,200 

37,800

ye

28,400 

28,200 

28,100 

29,500 

31,100 

31,800

May 12

6.79 

6.79 

6.77 

6.77 

6.79 

6.81

43,700 

43,600 

43,100 

43,100 

43,200 

43,600

Gage

height

Ap

16.76 

16.92 

16.97 

17.01 

17.06 

17.06 

17.12 

17.12 

17.12 

17.10 

17.04 

16.99

Ap

8.36 

8.22 

8.14 

8.08 

8.00 

7.90

M

6.43 

6.39 

6.33 

6.30 

6.30 

6.23

M

5.75 

5.80 

5.88 

5.86 

5.86 

5.88

Discharge

ril 19

243,000 

246,000 

248,000 

248,000 

250,000 

250,000 

251,000 

851,000 

251,000 

250,000 

249,000 

248,000

ril 25

62,400 

60,300 

59,100 

58,500 

57,400 

55,900

ay 1

36,900 

36,400 

35,700 

35,400 

35,400 

34,500

ay 7

31,900 

32,500 

33,300 

33,200 

33,300 

33,600

May 13

6.85 

6.92 

6.98 

7.03 

7.08 

7.12

44,200 

45,200 

46,000 

46,700 

47,500 

48,100

948947 O - 51 - 4
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Missouri River at Pierre, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 44°22'25", long. 100°22'05", in SW^ sec. 32, T. Ill N., R. 79 W. , at 

Chicago and North Western Railway "bridge at Pierre, 1-g- miles upstream from Bad 

River. Datum of gage is 1,414.41 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929.

Drainage area. 245,500 square miles.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph.

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

Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-4; discharge computed on "basis of 

one discharge measurement and gage heights. Shifting control method used Apr. 5 

to June 30. Gage heights used to hundredths.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 269,000 second-feet Apr. 21 (gage height, 18.44 

feet).

1929 to March 1950: Discharge, 281,000 second-feet Apr. 6, 1943 (gage height, 

19.65 fe?t).

Remarks . Flow partly regulated "by Fort Peck Reservoir.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

85,100

73,000

57,100

47,800

90,400

76,700

94,200

83,700

90,600

82,400

May

43,200

40,800

40,600

38 , 400

38,200

37,600

41,700

50,200

58,300

54,900

.June

25,400

24,400

24,400

26,300

27,700

26,900

26,100

26,600

26,700

27,000

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

69,800

62,400

55,600

65,000

83,700

118,000

146,000

179,000

214,000

255,000

May

58,300

54,400

48,400

46,700

48,200

46,700

43,500

38,800

35,300

34,300

June

26,900

27,700

28,800

39,100

50,200

48,800

44,000

38,700

36,500

35,000

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet ..................

Runoff, in thousand acre-feet. .......................

Runoff, in inches ..............................

April

265,000

205,000

122,000

88,700

78 , 400

67,200

57,800

51,300

48,800

46,800

-

102,000

6,070

0.47

May

33,500

31,000

30,000

29,400

28,400

27,100

26,100

25,700

25,600

26,100

26,100

38,950

2,395

0.18

June

38,400

51,800

53,300

57,900

65,200

63,100

56,500

53,900

56,100

64,900

-

39,940

2,377

0.18

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

3 

O

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Api

8.10 

8.18 

8.34 

8.59 

8.90 

9.21 

9.34 

9.40 

9.37 

9.31 

9.27 

9.26

Discharge

-il 14

53,500 

54,600 

56,900 

60,500 

65,200 

70,100 

72,100 

73,200 

72,600 

71,700 

71,000 

70,900

April 20

17.56 

17.76 

17.93 

18.02 

18.11 

18.17

Ap

9.27 

9.16 

8.98 

8.83 

8.73 

8.64

Ma

7.10 

7.11 

7.08 

7.07 

7.04 

7.07

248,000 

252,000 

256,000 

259,000 

261,000 

262,000

'-il 26

71,200 

69 , 500 

66,800 

64,500 

63,000 

61,700

y 2

40,900 

41,000 

40,700 

40,600 

40,300 

40,500

May 8

7.35 

7.62 

7.86 

8.52 

9.02 

8.93

42,100 

45,000 

47,800 

56,700 

65,900 

62,600

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

9.27 

9.26 

9.26 

9.30 

9.38 

9. 65 

10.05 

10.52 

10.87 

11.16 

11.35 

11.50

71,000 

70,900 

70,900 

71,500 

72,900 

77,300 

84,000 

92,300 

98,700 

104,000 

108,000 

111,000

April 21

18.27 

18.55 

18.44 

18.32 

18.17 

17.96

Ap

8.55 

8.49 

8.37 

8.26 

8.16 

8.10

M

7.08 

7.11 

7.11 

7.08 

7.06 

7.01

265,000 

266,000 

269,000 

266,000 

262,000 

256,000

-il 27

60,500 

59 , 600 

57,900 

56,300 

54,900 

54,100

iy 3

40,600 

40,900 

40,900 

40,500 

40,300 

39,700

May 9

8.75 

8.69 

8.65 

8.63 

8.59 

8.53

' 59,900 

58,900 

58,300 

57,900 

57,300 

56,300

Gage 

height

Api

11.60 

11.68 

11.75 

11.79 

11.85 

11.87 

11.90 

11.92 

11.94 

11.95 

11.95 

11.96

Discharge

-il 16

113,000 

115,000 

116,000 

117,000 

119,000 

119,000 

120,000 

120,000 

121,000 

121,000 

121,000 

121,000

April 22

17.70 

17.55 

16.74 

16.08 

15.27 

14.56

Ap

8.00 

7.95 

7.91 

7.84 

7.79 

7.77

M

6.94 

6.88 

6.81 

6.80 

6.80 

6.84

246,000 

233,000 

211,000 

195,000 

179,000 

161,000

-il 28

52,700 

52,000 

51,400 

50,500 

49,700 

49 , 500

ly 4

39,100 

58,500 

37,800 

37,700 

37,600 

38,000

May 10

8.45 

8.42 

8.59 

8.36 

8.42 

8.60

55,200 

54,800 

54,200 

53,800 

54,500 

57,000

Gage height

Ap

12.00 

12.17 

12.59 

12.65 

12.96 

15.19 

13.39 

15.56 

15.65 

15.87 

13.97 

14.07

Ap

13.43 

12.72 

12.20 

11.75 

11.38 

11.09

Api

7.74 

7.74 

7.73 

7.72 

7.71 

7.69

M

6.86 

6.89 

6.93 

6.91 

6.85 

6.82

Discharge

ril 17

122,000 

126,000 

131,000 

136,000 

145,000 

148,000 

153,000 

156,000 

158,000 

163,000 

165,000 

167,000

"il 23

143,000 

129,000 

120,000 

111,000 

105,000 

100,000

-il 29

49,000 

49,000 

48,800 

48,600 

48 , 400 

48,100

iy 5

38,200 

38 , 400 

38,700 

38,500 

37,900 

37,600

May 11

8.68 

8.71 

8.73 

8.71 

8.70 

8.68

58,000 

58,500 

58,800 

58,300 

58,200 

57,800

Gage 

height

Ap

14.17 

14.31 

14.39 

14.45 

14.49 

14.60 

14.70 

14.77 

14.85 

14.91 

15.02 

15.14

Discharge

"il 18

169,000 

172,000 

174,000 

176,000 

176,000 

179,000 

181,000 

182,000 

184,000 

186,000 

188,000 

191,000

April 24

10.85 

10.57 

10.25 

10.10 

9.97 

9.87

Ap

7.68 

7.66 

7.60 

7.54 

7.48 

7.42

96,400 

92,100 

87,000 

84,500 

82,400 

80,700

ril 30

47,900 

47,700 

47,000 

46,100 

45,400 

44,700

May 6

6.84 

6.85 

6.83 

6.80 

6.81 

6.98

37,700 

37,800 

37,500 

37,300 

37,300 

38,800

May 12

8.62 

8.52 

8.45 

8.34 

8.30 

8.22

56,900 

55,500 

54,500 

53,000 

52,400 

51,300

Gage 

height

Ap

15.30 

15.42 

15/58 

15.73 

15.92 

16.14 

16.36 

16.56 

16.75 

16.98 

17.17 

17.31

Discharge

ril 19

194,000 

197,000 

200,000 

204,000 

208,000 

213,000 

219,000 

223,000 

228,000 

233,000 

238,000 

241,000

April 25

9.83 

9.86 

9.82 

9.71 

9.57 

9.41

M

7.40 

7.35 

7.30 

7.25 

7.21 

7.19

M

7.22 

7.35 

7.38 

7.31 

7.28 

7.25

80,100 

80,600 

79,900 

78,100 

75,900 

73,400

ay 1

44,400 

43,800 

43,200 

42,600 

42,100 

41,900

ay 7

41,000 

42,300 

42,600 

41,800 

41,500 

41,100

May 13

8.17 

8.12 

8.11 

8.10 

8.08 

8.06

49,500 

48,700 

48,300 

48,000 

47,500 

47,000
MISSOURI RIVER MAIN STEM

Missouri River at Chamberlain, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 43°29", long. 99°20', in NE^ sec. 16, T. 104 N., R. 71 W., at bridge 

on U. S. Highway 16 at Chamberlain, 1,200 feet downstream from Chicago, Milwaukee, 

St. Paul and Pacific Railroad bridge. Datum of gage is 1,320.22 feet above mean 

sea level, datum of 1929.

Drainage area. 250,800 square miles.

Page-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except Apr. 25 to June 6, when gage 

heights are from graph based on once or twice-daily wire-weight gage readings.

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

Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1. Shifting-control method used 

Apr. 2-16, Apr. 22 to June 30. Sage heights used to hundredths.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 250,000 second-feet Apr. 22 (gage height, 18.80 

feet).

1928-29, 1945 to March 1950: Discharge, 213,000 second-feet Apr. 2, 1947 (gage 

height, 16.22 feet).

Maximum stage known, 19.3 feet Apr. 7, 1943.

Remarks. Flow partly regulated by Fort Peck Reservoir.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

65 , 400

124,000

92,500

78 , 200

71,800

88,000

85,000

88,200

82,500

89 , 600

May

46,700

43,900

42,400

41,100

40,500

40,600

41,400

46,000

65,200

63,400

June

27,OOC

26.60C

25.10C

24.20C

25.10C

27.50C

28,200

27,600

27,30C

27,300

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

78,100

65,800

59,700

53,700

68,800

107,000

126,000

158,000

181,000

212,000

May

59,100

59,900

54,300

47,800

45,200

47,200

47,000

43,500

41,500

36,600

June

27,300

27,200

27,200

28,000

35,700

51,700

51,700

45,900

39,800

36,000

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet ..................

Runoff, in thousand acre-feet ........................

Runoff, in inches ..............................

April

239,000

245,000

190,000

115,000

87,800

74,100

62,100

54,100

49 , 600

48,900

-

104,700

6,230

0.47

May

34,800

34,500

33,000

30,800

29,900

29,100

27,600

26,600

26,600

27,000

27,100

41,300

2,539

0.19

June

33,900

35,500

52,500

59,100

63,200

67,300

64,100

56,900

54,000

59 , 400

-

39 , 410

0.18

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

i,1

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Ap

8.80 

8.80 

8.79 

8.78 

8.75 

8.74 

8.71 

8.69 

8.69 

8.71 

8.79 

8.90

Discharge

-il 14

54,300 

54,300 

54,200 

54,130 

53,700 

53,600 

53,200 

53,000 

53,000 

53,200 

54,200 

55,500

April 20

16.40 

16.73 

17.01 

17.23 

17.45 

17.72

201,000 

208,000 

214,000 

218,000 

223,000 

228,000

April 26

10.40 

10.28 

10.09 

10.00 

9.83 

9.70

Ma

7.50 

7.44 

7.40 

7.38 

7.34 

7.31

78,400 

76,600 

73,700 

72,500 

69,900 

68,100

y 2

44,600 

44,100 

43,800 

43,700 

43,300 

43,100

May8

7.33 

7.42 

'7.53 

7.75 

8.07 

8.35

42,700 

43,500 

44,500 

46,800 

50 , 300 

53,500

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

9.13 

9.32 

9.55 

9.70 

9.33 

9.95 

10.02 

10.03 

10.04 

10.11 

10.13 

10.21

58,700 

61,400 

64,800 

67,200 

69,400 

71,500 

72,800 

73,100 

73,400 

74,700 

75,000 

76,500

April 21

17.93 

18.09 

18.26 

18.47 

18.61 

18.68

Ap

9.55 

9.39 

9.23 

9.09 

8.95 

8.83

233,000 

236,000 

239,000 

244,000 

247,000 

248,000

ril 27

66,100 

64,000 

62,000 

60,300 

58,600 

57,300

May 3

7.28 

7.25 

7.22 

7.18 

7.14 

7.10

42,900 

42,700 

42,500 

42,200 

41,900 

41 , 600

May 9

8.68 

9.00 

9.50 

9.80 

9.60 

9.43

57,500 

61,600 

68,700 

73,300 

69,900 

67,400

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 16

10.40 

10.73 

11.22 

11.62 

11.94 

12.22 

12.31 

12.41 

12.47 

12.51 

12.51 

12.54

79,800 

85,600 

94,500 

102,000 

109,000 

114,000 

117,000 

119,000 

120,000 

121,000 

121,000 

122,000

April 22

18.80 

18.80 

18.75 

18.65 

18.47 

18.26

Ap

8.71 

8.60 

8.51 

8.44 

8.36 

8.26

250,000 

250,000 

248,000 

244,000 

237,000 

230,000

-il 28

55,900 

54,700 

53,700 

53,000 

52,300 

51,100

May 4

7.07 

7.03 

7.02 

7.02 

7.01 

7.00

41,400 

41,100 

41,100 

41,100 

40,900 

40,800

May 10

9.37 

9.30 

9.21 

9.10 

8.99 

8.87

66,300 

65,200 

64,000 

62,300 

60,600 

59,000

Gage 

height

Ap

12.55 

12.53 

12.53 

12.52 

12.51 

12.52 

12.58 

12.70 

12.83 

13.13 

13.28 

13.41

Ap

17.92 

17.44 

16.-73 

15.92 

14.99 

14.05

Ap

8.18 

8.10 

8.07 

&. 05 

8.03 

8.01

Discharge

ril 17

122,000 

122,000 

122,000 

122,000 

121,000 

122,000 

123,000 

125,000 

128,000 

134,000 

137,000 

140,000

ril 23

220,000 

208,000 

192,000 

176,000 

158,000 

139,000

ril 29

50,300 

49,600 

49,400 

49,300 

49,200 

49,000

May 5

6.99 

6.98 

6.98 

6.98 

6.99 

7.00

40,600 

40,400 

40,400 

40,300 

40,400 

40,400

May 11

8.80 

8.79 

8.85 

8.95 

9.00 

9.05

58,000 

57,800 

58 , 400 

59 , 700 

60,300 

60,900

hGe!|ht

Discharge

April 18

13.61 

13.82 

14.03 

14.18 

14.38 

14.47 

14.57 

14.62 

14.64 

14.68 

14.72 

14.77

Ap

13.37 

12.87 

12.58 

12.35 

12.12 

11.86

Ap

8.00 

8.00 

7.97 

7.95 

7.91 

7.89

Mi

7.01 

7.02 

7.04 

7.05 

7.08 

7.09

144,000 

148,000 

153,000 

156,000 

160,000 

162,000 

164,000 

165,000 

165,000 

166,000 

167,000 

168,000

ril 24

126,000 

117,000 

112,000 

109,000 

105,000 

101,000

ril 30

49,100 

49,100 

48,900 

48,800 

48,300 

48,200

y s

40,500 

40,500 

40 , 600 

40,600 

40,300 

40,800

May 12

9.09 

9.10 

9.01 

8.98 

8.93 

8.88

61,300 

61,300 

60,000 

59 , 500 

58,800 

58,200

Gage 

height

Ap

14.90 

15.00 

15.10 

15.19 

15.35 

15.45 

15.51 

15.56 

15.65 

15.74 

15.90 

16.07

Discharge

ril 19

170,000 

172,000 

175,000 

176,000 

180,000 

182,000 

183,000 

184,000 

186,000 

188,000 

191,000 

194,000

April 25

11.52 

11.25 

10.82 

10.69 

10.57 

10.46

M

7.84 

7.82 

7.77 

7.68 

7.60 

7.55

M

7.10 

7.12 

7.16 

7.18 

7.22 

7.28

95,400 

91,300 

84,700 

82,700 

80,800 

79,100

ay 1

47,800 

47,700 

47,200 

46,400 

45,600 

45,100

ay 7

40,900 

41,000 

41,100 

41,400 

41,700 

42,300

May 13

8.83 

8.78 

8.60 

8.45 

8.34 

8.25

57 , 400 

56,600 

54,400 

52,600 

51,200 

50,200
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Missouri River below Fort Randall Dam, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 42°58'55", long. 98°29'35", In SW^NE^ see. 28, T. 35 N., R. 10 W. 

(Nebraska land lines), 6 miles downstream from Randall Creek, 7 miles downstream 

from Fort Randall Dam, and 12 miles south of Lake Andes. Datum of gage Is 1,230.00 

feet above me-an sea level, datum of 1929. (Corps of Engineers bench mark. )

Drainage area. 263,530 square miles.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph. Once-daily wire-weight gage readings 

by Weather Bureau, for gage at D. S. Highway 18, about 21 miles upstream, were used 

Apr. 1-25 to supplement record at recorder site.

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

Discharge for Apr. 1-25, when no discharge measurements were made at recorder site, 

was computed on basis of six discharge measurements, and gage heights at D. S. Highway 18 bridge, 21 miles upstream from gage. Shifting-control method used Apr. 26 

to June 30. Gage heights used to half tenths.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 249,000 second-feet Apr. 23 (gage height, 15.83 

feet), computed on basis of gage heights and discharge measurements at site 21 miles 

upstream.

1947 to March 1950: Discharge, 182-,000 second-feet Apr. 6, 1949 (gage height, 

12.36 feet).

Flood of April 1943 reached a stage of about 16.5 feet. Maximum stage known, 

April 1881, was about 5 feet higher than that of April 1943.

Remarks. Flow partly regulated by Fort Peck Reservoir.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

63,000

107,000

96,300

77,000

69,300

82,800

83,600

91,600

88,000

87,100

May

48,900

47,100

44,200

42,000

39,500

40,500

42,000

43,100

49,600

73,800

June

27,900

27,900

27,600

27,000

25,800

25,200

26,400

27,300

27,300

27,000

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

81,900

72,300

62,300

59,700

61,600

90,700

127,000

145,000

171,000

194,000

May

75,200

64,900

63,000

57,600

50,800

47,700

48,900

49,600

46,500

43,100

June

27,000

27,900

28,200

28,800

29,400

33,300

48,300

48,300

41,500

37,100

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

223,000

244,000

241,000

145,000

105,000

81,000

72,600

63,000

55,200

50,200

-

106,400

6

-1 -Zf)

0.45

May

39 ,000

35,300

34,100

33,300

32,200

30,800

30,100

29,400

28,800

27,900

27,600

0.19

June

34,900

33,700

33,300

45,300

52,200

56,800

63,000

61,100

56,000

52,900

-

2

-1 QQ

0.16

Missouri River at Yankton, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 42°52', long. 97°24" , between sec. 18, T. 93 N., R. 55 W., and sec. 13, 

T. 93 N., R. 56 W., at Meridian Highway Bridge In Yankton, 7 miles upstream from 

James River. Datum of gage is 1,159.68 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929.

Drainage area. 279,500 square miles.

Page-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except Apr. 30 to June 9, when dally 

gage heights are from graph based on once-daily wire-weight gage readings.

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

Shifting-control method used throughout period. Gage heights used to half tenths.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 237,000 second-feet Apr. 24 (gage height, 11.60 

feet).

1930 to March 1950: Discharge, 282,000 second-feet Apr. 8, 1943; gage height, 

14.80 feet Mar. 22, 1932 (ice jam).

Maximum stage known, 30.5 feet, present datum, Apr. 5, 1881 (ice jam).

Remarks. Flow partly regulated by Fort Peck Reservoir.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1990

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

69,400

100,000

136,000

113,000

89,900

87,400

100,000

97,500

101,000

92,400

May

48,000

45,800

43,000

42,400

41,100

42,400

45,100

46,500

49,500

70,400

June

25,200

25,900

27,000

27,400

26,300

26,300

25,500

25,900

26,300

27,000

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

96,200

85,000

73,600

66,400

58,800

69,400

129,000

152,000

182,000

193,000

May

83,800

74,700

64,400

59,700

52,700

46,500

47,200

50,300

57,900

51,100

June

26,600

26,600

27,000

27,800

28,200

29,900

36,200

59,700

54,400

45,800

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

195,OOC

204,000

225,000

229,000

129,000

92,400

76,900

65,400

58,800

50,300

_

113,900

6,779

0.45

May

45,100

39,800

38,000

37,400

38,000

35,200 

32,100

30,300

29,000

27,400

25,900

46,470

2,858

0.19

June

39,800

36,800

35,200

34,600

48,800

59,700

65, 400

69,400

66,400

63,500

_

38,150

2,270

0.15
MISSOURI RIVER MAIN STEM

Missouri River at Sioux City, Iowa

sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area. 314.600 square miles. 

Page-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except for April 10, 16, 18, May 9,

10, and June 18 when gage heights were obtained from a graph based on once-daily

wire-weight- gage readings and the reliable portion of the recorder record. 

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

Shifting-control method used throughout period. Gage heights used to half tenths. 

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 252,000 second-feet Apr. 25 (gage height, 18.44

1? 28 -31» J;938 to March 1950: Discharge, 212,000 second-feet Apr. 10, 1943 (gage

Maximum stage known, 22.5 feet Apr. 23, 1881. 

Remarks. Flow partly regulated by Fort Peck Reservoir.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

April

74,600

84,100

133,000

139,000

109,000

92,900

101,000

98,700

May

53,900

52,700

52,100

50,900

53,300

52,100

45,100

45,100

49,100

50,300

June

34,900

34.90C

34,60C

35,30C

34,20C

32.00C

30,600

30,300

32,OOC

34.20C

Day

11

12

13

14

IS

16

17

18

19

20

April

96,800

94,200

79,100

67,100

61,400

57,000

82,200

128,000

145,000

161,000

May

76,500

74,000

63,900

62,OOC

61,400

56,400)

53,30C

53,900

60,800

70,900

June

33,400

32,700

33,000

34,900

36,500

34,600

35,300

69,600

85,400

62,700

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet .............

Runoff, in thousand acre-feet ....

April

166,000

182,000

195,000

219,000

212,000

110,000

83,500

73,400

65,800

60,200

_

0.40

May

59,500

53,900

48,500

41,500

38,200

37,000

37,000

36,500

35.700

0.19

June

49,100

43,500

75,900

73,400

65,200

0.16

Little Missouri River Basin

Little Missouri River near Watford City, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 47°36', long. 103°16', In NH»i sec. 35, T. 148 N., R. 99 W., at bridge 

 oh tJ. S. Highway 85, 17^ miles south of Watford City, and 18 miles upstream from

Cherry Creek. Datum of gage Is 1929.03 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area. 8,490 square miles. 

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except Mar. 1-5, 8-22, Apr. 21 to

May 7, May 20-23 when graph was drawn based on once or twice-daily gage readings. 

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

below 67,000 second-feet and extended to peak stage. Shifting-control method

used Apr. 22 to June 30. Affected by Ice Mar. 1 to Apr. 16. 

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, about 60,000 second-feet 9 a.m. Apr. 9 (gage

height, 21.42 feet, backwater from Ice).

1934 to March 1950: Discharge, 110,000 second-feet Mar. 25, 1947 (gage height,

24.0 feet, from floodmark). 

Remarks. Some diversions above station for Irrigation.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

O

9

10

11

12

13

14

IS

March

0

0

23

56

114

5,670

8,510

6,340

2,190

551

350 

200

150

112

74

April

600

2,000

4,000

6,000

7,000

7,500

7,000

12,000

25,000

17,500

13,000 

10,500

9,000

10,000

11,500

May

842

798

738

682

682

807

1,300

2,010

2,440

4,800

4,800 

; 5,820

5,520

5,550

5,160

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet

June

334

309

883

265

245

233

221

378

432

397

346 

276

359

309

422

Day

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26 

27

28

29

30

31

Runoff, in inches ...................................

March

46

112

147

130

114

109

200

1,000

3,500

2,500

2,000 

1,500

1,200

1,000

800

700

1,271 

78,140

0.17

April

14,000

17,400

14,800

10,100

6,620

4,440

3,460

2,910

2,460

2,310

2,170 

2,130

1,880

1,300

1,040

-

7,654 

455,400

1.01

May

4,560

4,200

3-, 360

2,270

1,610

1,110

842

764

674

621

558 

512

454

417

387

355

2,085 

128,200

0,28

June

401

355

488

351

283

230

202

183

169

624

772 

666

531

606

494

-

372 

22,140

0.05
40 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Knife River Basin

Knife River near Golden Valley, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 47°09', long. 102°05', in SWi sec. 3, T. 142 N., R. 90 W., at county 

highway bridge, 2^ miles downstream from Elm Creek and 10 miles south of Golden 

Valley.

Drainage area. 1,230 square miles.

Gage-height"~record. Water-stage recorder graph, except for periods Apr. 8, 12-14 

(2 p.m.) and June 21 for which there was no record, Apr. 15 (11 p.m.) to Apr. 18 

(2 p.m.) when graph was drawn based on floodmark in gage house and outside gage 

readings on Apr. 17, 18, and Apr. 21 to May 1, May 4-17 when a graph was drawn 

based on occasional outside gage readings.

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

7,750 second-feet and extended to peak stage on basis of normal extension of rating 

for main channel and estimated flow through overflow section. Gage heights used to 

hundredths Apr. 15 (12 m.} to May 13; half tenths between 3.8 and 6.9 feet, hundredths below and tenths above these limits May 14 to June 30. Stage-discharge 

relation affected by ice Apr. 1-15 (12 m.).

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 10,900 second-feet 12 p.m. Apr. 16 (gage height, 

26.37 fept, from floodmark in well).

1903-19, 1921-24, 1943 to March 1950: Discharge, 7,700 second-feet June 26, 1914 

(gage height, 24.0 feet, from floodmark, site and datum then in use).

Maximum stage since 1903, 26.7 feet, from floodmark, Mar. 26, 27, 1943 (discharge, 

11,500 second-feet, from rating curve extended above 7,750 second-feet).

Remarks. Small diversions above station.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 19§0

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

120

100

100

150

300

500

1,000

1,700

1,500

1,300

May

138

138

148

168

188

228

324

372

396

527

June

38

36

35

34

33

32

31

35

35

34

Day

11

12

14

17

19

20

April

1,000

800

1,200

2,000

4,900

9,510

10,300

7,550

2,800

1,060

May

500

442

472

260

193

154

126

105

93

84

June

33

32

32

31

31

30

30

32

32

30

Day

21

22

23

24

26

2,7

28

29

30

31

April

676

625

504

488

418

310

234

204

184

158

-

1,723

1.56

May

75

69

64

60

56

52

50

47

45

42

39

182

0.17

June

29

27

25

27

37

36

32

32

35

33

-

32.3

1 Q OC\

0.03

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

t,

3

&

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage 

height

Ap

15.00

15.34

15.60

15.66

15.88

16.11

Discharge

 il 14

2,100

April 20

11.53

11.00

10.43

10.03

9.73

9.48

Ap

6.75

6.60

6.40

Ma

4.72

4.78

4.86

1,310

1,150

1,000

910

844

790

il 26

318

299

276

y 2

134

139

144

May 8

7.18

7.00

7.00

7.18

7.32

7.31

375

350

350

375

396

394

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

16.38

17.24

17.25

17.45

18.18

19.44

20.85

21.75

21.97

22.28

22.73

23.25

4,870

5,720

6,300

6,450

6,660

6,970

7,340

April 21

9.07

8.68

8.48

Ap

5.94

5.56

M

4.91

4.98

M

7.13

7.05

7.20

7.39

7.58

7.75

706

630

592

ril 27

231

198

»y 3

148

153

ly 9

368

357

378

406

437

464

Gage 

height

Pischarge

April 16

23.75

24.20

24.62

25.00

25.38

25.65

25.87

26.10

26.19

26.28

26.34

26.37

Ap

8.55

8.70

8.85

8.90

8.57

8.20

Api

5.46

5.55

5.80

5.75

5.66

5.59

M

5.08

5.25

5.42

7,680

8,020

8,420

8,860

9,370

9,760

10,100

10,500

10,600

10,800

10,900

10,900

ril 22

606

634

662

672

609

542

ril 28

190

197

218

214

206

200

iy4

160

173

187

May 10

8.07

8.30

8.18

519

560

538

Gage 1 pisheifht| charge

April 17

26.35

26.32

26.27

26.21

26.14

26.07

25.97

25.86

25.75

25.63

25.50

25.36

API

8.15

8.03

7.87

7.75

8.05

7.85

API

5.38

5.21

M:

5.33

5.46

5.66

10,900

10,800

10,800

10,700

10,500

10,400

10,300

10,100

9,920

9,740

9,540

9,340

 il 23

533

512

485

464

515

482

 il 29

183

170

ly 5

179

190

206

May 11

8.07

7.98

7.92

7.85

7.90

7.84

519

504

493

482

490

480

hGe!fh-t Discharge

April 18

25.21

25.05

25.83

24.54

24.30

24.00

23.55

22.95

22.15

21.28

20.20

19.10

Api

7.72

7.73

7.87

8.02

8.08

7.94

Ap

5.06

4.91

Me

5.70

6.02

6.34

9,130

8,920

8,660

8,340

8,110

7,860

7,540

7,120

6,570

6,000

5,330

4,670

 il 24

459

461

485

510

521

497

ril 30

158

148

y 6

209

238

269

May 12

7.54

7.48

7.78

430

421

470

hGe1fi!t

Ap

18.20

17.45

16.80

16.30

15.85

15.40

14.93

14.38

13.80

13.18

12.65

12.25

Ap

7.62

7.27

7.00

M

4.73

4.74

M

6.64

6.95

7.20

Discharge

ril 19

4,140

3,730

3,400

3,150

2,930

2,730

2,520

2,290

2,060

1,840

1,660

1,520

ril 25

443

388

350

ay 1

135

136

ay 7

304

344

378

May 13

7.94

8.07

8.10

7.83

7.40

6.96

497

519

524

478

408

345
KNIFE RIVER BASIN

Knife- River at Hazen, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 47°17', long. 101°37', in NEi sec. 19, T. 144 N., R. 86 W., at county 

highway bridge, 0.5 mile south of Hazen, and 2 miles upstream from Antelope Creek.

Drainage area. 2,352 square miles.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph.

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

15,900 second-feet and extended to peak stage on basis of contracted-opening measurement and computed flow over the road at the gage and logarithmic plotting of curve 

for main channel. Gaa;e heights used to hundredths Apr. 14 to May 13, half tenths 

between 4.5 feet and 6.5 feet, hundredths below and tenths above these limits, May 

14 to June 30. Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-14.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 22,700 second-feet 10-11 a.m. Apr. 17 (gage height, 

25.93 feet).

1928-33, 1937 to March 1950: Discharge, 26,500 second-feet (revised) Mar. 26, 

27, 1943 (gage height, 26.3 feet).

Remarks. Some diversions above station. Flow regulated by Ilo Lake (capacity 7,130 

acre-feet).

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

300

250

250

350

450

800

1.50C

2,200

2,100

2,000

May

419

40 C

404)

4171

430

464

537

665

742

958

.June

140

135

130

135

130

125

119

130

125

120

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

1,900

1,600

1,700

2,500

5,150

12,500

21,800

18,600

10,400

4,460

May

1,2SC

1.12C

99E

89 £

660

504

415

352

310

278

June

120

120

120

118

114

106

106

109

110

106

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet ...................

April

1,820

1,67C

1,290

1,140

993

787

656

570

499

455

-

3,356

199,700

1.59

May

252

234

222

204

193

182

176

171

166

155

150

461

28,340

0.23

June

103

98

93

95

104

111

114

105

102

101

-

115

6,820

0.05

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time. 1950

In 

g

«

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 14

13.15 

13.25 

13.34 

13.50 

13.73 

14.03 

14.32 

14.71 

15.43 

16.13 

17.08 

17.81

2,000 

2,050 

2,100 

2,150 

2,200 

2,300 

2,400 

2,550 

2,800 

3,100 

3,450 

3,800

April 20

23.08 

20.98 

17.78 

15.78 

14.81 

14.10

Ap

9.29 

8.96 

8.70

Ma

6.77 

6.81

7,390 

5,410 

3,670 

2,770 

2,390 

2,130

il 26

816 

751 

703

y 2

397

402

May8

7.98 

8.12 

8.51 

8.87 

8.94 

8.87

580 

602 

670 

734 

748 

734

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

18.48 

18.86 

19.18 

19.48 

19.78 

20.08 

20.48 

21.08 

21.78 

22.21 

22.52 

22.70

4,020 

4,S10 

4,370 

4,520 

4,690 

4,860 

5,100 

5,480 

5,990 

6,350 

6,660 

6,870

April 21

13.68 

13.41 

13.11 

12.80 

12.53 

12.47

Ap

8.49 

8.35 

8.22

M

6.81

6.8«

1,990 

1,900 

1,810 

1,710 

1,630 

1,610

ril 27

665 

642 

621

ay 3

402 

409

May 9

8.80 

9.01 

8.98

721 

761 

755

Gage 

height

pisc Barge

April 16

2S.93 

23.18 

23.41 

23.77 

24.32 

24.75 

24.92 

25.05 

25.26 

25.45 

25.53 

25.62

7,170 

7,540 

7,920 

8,590 

10,300 

12,700 

13,900 

14,800 

16,500 

18,100 

18,800 

19,700

April 22

12.68 

12.73 

13.00 

12.84 

12.43 

12.04

Ap

7.90 

7.66

M

6.93 

6.95

1,670 

1,690 

1,770 

1,720 

1,600 

1,480

"il 28

567 

529

iy4

419 

422

May 10

8.99 

9.31 

10.07 

10.63 

10.75 

10.67

757 

820 

982 

1,110 

1,140 

 1,120

Gage 1 Dishei|ht| charge

April 17

25.85 

25.90 

25.92 

25.83 

25.82 

25.79

21,900 

22,400 

22 , 600 

21,700 

21,600 

21,300

April 23

11.74 

11.51 

11.34 

11.13 

10.93 

[10.76

Ap

7.44 

7.33

M

6.97 

7.11

1,400 

1,330 

1,290 

1,230 

1,180 

1,140

ril 29

495 

478

jy5

425 

446

May 11

10.57 

10.71 

11.35 

11.55 

11.39 

11.15

1,10C 

1.13C 

1,290 

1,340 

1,300 

1,240

htifht

Ap

25.78 

25.69 

25.56 

25.37 

25.16 

24.92

Discharge

-il 18

21,800 

20,400 

19,100 

17,400 

15,700 

13,900

April 24

10.69 

10.69 

10.70 

10.77 

10.85 

10.80

Ap

7.16

7.04

1,130 

1,130 

1,130 

1,140 

1,160 

1,150

ril 30

453 

435

May 6

7.18 

7.48

456 

501

May 12

10.74 

10.50 

10.47

1,140 

1,080 

1,070

Gage i Disheight| charge

April 19

24.68 

24.46 

24.29 

24.10 

23.87 

23.60

12,300 

11,000 

10,100 

9,420 

8,810 

8,250

^ April 25

10.25 

9.89 

9,62

M

6.92 

6.83

M

7.55 

7.86 

7.97

1,020 

943 

884

ay 1

418 

405

ay 7

512 

561 

578

May 13

10.06 

9.99

980 

965
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Spring Creek at Zap, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 47°16'50", long. 101°55'10", In Sl»i sec. 14, T. 144 N., R. 89 W. , 250 

feet downstream from Northern Pacific Railway trestle in Zap and 9 miles upstream 

from Knife River.

Drainage area. 545 square miles.

Gage-helKht~record. Water-stage recorder graph, except for periods Apr. 1-15, Apr. 19 

to June 23,for which a graph was drawn based on one or more wire-weight gage readings daily.

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

Gage heights used to hundredths Apr. 14 to May 13, half tenths 3.3 to 5.7 feet, 

hundredths below and tenths above these limits Apr, 15, May 14 to June 30. Stagedischarge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-12.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 4,580 second-feet 9:30 a.m. Apr. 17 (gage height, 

18.80 feet).

1924, 1945 to March 1950: Discharge, 2,890 second-feet Apr. 7, 1949 (gage 

height, 16.0 feet).

Remarks. Flow regulated by Ilo Lake (capacity 7,130 acre-feet).

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

50

60

80

100

150

200

400

250

150

280

May

84

75

82

84

83

95

112

130

153

166

June

26

25

27

28

26

24

23

20

19

21

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

400

500

587

848

2,470

4,310

4,400

2,290

745

391

May

167

23C

238

182

166

182

150

72

62

52

June

22

26

26

22

18

19

20

20

20

21

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

272

211

171

165

150

129

117

106

95

96

-

672

1.38

May

44

44

38

36

34

32

32

30

29

27

25

89.2

0.19

June

20

18

17

18

22

24

22

23

22

21

_

22.0

0.05

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

gSB

2

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 14

8.07 

8.07 

8.09 

8.13 

8.21 

8.38 

8.70 

9.40 

10.20 

10.70 

11.20 

11.70

Ap

7.12 

6.65 

6.27

Ap

4.13 

4.03

Ma

3.27 

3.39

M

4.16 

4.33

635 

635 

638 

645 

660 

692 

755 

899 

1,080 

1,190 

1,310 

1,430

-11 20

411 

358 

316

11 26

128 

121

y 2

73 

80

ya

130 

142

Gage 1 Disr 

height| charge

April 15

12.15 

12.62 

13.10 

13.60 

14.15 

14.73 

15.30 

16.00 

16.58 

16.92 

17.22 

17.50

1,540 

1,670 

1,800 

1,960 

2,140 

2,350 

2,580 

2,890 

3,200 

3,390 

3,560 

3,740

April 21

5.79 

5.44

Ap

3.98 

3.88

Mt

3.40 

3.45

Mt

4.49 

4.63

268 

234

 il 27

118 

111

»y3

81 

84

ay 9

153 

164

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 16

17.90 

18.30 

18.53 

18.67 

18.71 

18.72

3,980 

4,240 

4,470 

4,500 

4,520 

4,530

April 22

5.19 

4.92

Apr

3.81 

3.72

M

3.45 

3.44

Ma

4.66 

4.65

211 

188

-il 28

106 

100

ay 4

84 

83

y 10

167 

166

Gage 1 Dis- heightj charge

April 17

18.71 

18.79 

18.74 

18.48 

18.20 

17.80

Ap

4.71 

4.61 

4.64

Ap

3.61 

3.59

M

3.42 

3.47

Ma

4.64 

4.73

4,520 

4,570 

4,540 

4,360 

4,170 

3,910

ril 23

171 

163 

165

'il 29

94 

92

ay 5

82 

85

y "

165 

172

fiUEt Discharge

April 18

17.43 

16.95 

16.30 

15.55 

14.82 

14.15 

13.50 

13.00 

12.52 

12.11 

11.73 

11.37

Api

4.68 

4.58

Ap

3.70 

3.65

Mt

3.54 

3.73 

3.81

Ma

4.85 

5.11 

5.54 

5.72 

5.86 

5.92

3,690 

3,400 

3,050 

2,680 

2,350 

2,070 

1,820 

1,650 

1,510 

1,390 

1,290 

1,200

 il 24

168 

160

ril 30

99 

96

ye

89 

101 

106

y 12

182 

204 

243 

261 

275 

281

Gage 

height

Ap

10.40 

9.60 

9.08 

8.60 

8.12 

7.73

Ap

4.45 

4.30

M

3.41 

3.28

M

3.87 

4p OO

Ma

5.73 

5.36 

5.10

Discharge

ril 19

963 

795 

699 

621 

547 

490

-il 25

150 

140

ay 1

82 

74

ay 7

110 

119

y «

262 

226 

203

Supplemental record. Apr. 17, 9:30 a.m., 18.80 ft.,,4,580 sec.-ft.
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Heart River Basin

Heart River near South Heart, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 46°51'40", long. 102°56'50", in SWi sec. 8, T. 139 N., R. 97 W. ,

a mile downstream from North Creek and 2 miles east of South Heart. 

Drainage area. 315 square

readings 

Discharge recor 

Affected by

 d. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements. 

Airectea oy ice Apr. 1-15. Shifting control method used May 7-8, 10-14, 22-25. 

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 4,080 second-feet 6:30 p.m. Apr. 16 (gage height, 

21.67 ft. from floodmark in gage well).

1947 to March 1950: 2,400 second-feet Mar. 31, 1949 (gage height, 17.75 feet).

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

15

16

12

11

10

12

41

104

143

69

May

21

24

22

24

25

45

69

71

59

158

,June

3.5

3.5

3.2

3.0

2.9

2.9

2.9

3.0

3.2

4.6

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

71

482

770

994

2,120

3,740

2,470

1,200

357

115

May

251

120

70

44

30

21

18

13

11

9.5

June

3.4

2.9

2.8

2.8

3.6

3.0

3.0

3.0

2.6

2.4

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

75

72

61

79

73

56

46

33

26

22

-

443

26,370

1.57

May

8.1

7.1

6.7

6.2

5.8

5.6

5.0

4.7

4.2

3.9

3.6

37.6

2,310

0.14

June

2.2

1.9

1.7

2.0

2.8

7.1

6.7

4.1

3.0

2.4

-

3.20

191

0.01

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time. 1950

I

2

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Ap

11.73 

11.57 

11.36 

11.18 

11.14 

11.53 

11.95 

12.48 

13. 35 

14.00 

14.63 

15.10

Pischarge

 il 14

874 

847 

814 

786 

780 

841 

911 

1,000 

1,160 

1,290 

1,420 

1,520

April 20

4.96 

4.79 

4.72 

4.58 

4.38 

4.26

Ap

3.66 

3.75 

3.70

Ma

2.95 

2.92 

2.97 

3.07 

3.08 

3.02

M

4.05 

4.08 

4.06 

3.97 

4.01 

3.90

132 

120 

115 

106 

93 

86

il 26

53

58 

55

y 2

22 

21 

23 

27 

27 

25

ay 8

73 

74 

74 

68 

71 

65

Gage 

height

Ap

15.32 

15.47 

15.58 

15.76 

16.05 

16.38 

16.68 

17.20 

17.92 

19.06 

19.97 

20.63

Pischarge

ril 15

1,580 

1,630 

1,670 

1,720 

1,810 

1,900 

1,990 

2,150 

2,380 

2,820 

3,220 

3,540

April 21

4.16 

4.08 

4.07 

4.12 

4.03 

3.90

Ap

3.52 

3.33

MJ

2.96 

2.92 

2.90 

2.91 

3.00 

3.04

80 

75 

74 

77 

72 

65

"il 27

46 

37

iy3

23 

21 

20 

21 

24 

26

May 9

3.82 

3.76 

3.72 

3.75 

3.75 

3.88

61 

58 

56 

58 

58 

64

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 16

21.15 

21.46 

20.98 

20.62 

20.30 

20.02 

20.65 

21.23 

21.65 

21.60 

21.36 

21.05

Ap

3.84 

3.98 

4.23 

4.17 

4.03 

3.84

Ap

3.22 

3.12

M

3.02 

2.97 

2.95 

3.00 

3.03 

3.02

Ma

4.14 

5.21 

5.92 

5.77 

5.83 

6.45

3,820 

3,970 

3,730 

3,550 

3,410 

3,280 

3,570 

3,860 

4,060 

4,040 

3,920 

3,760

ril 22

62 

69 

84 

80 

72 

62

ril 28

33 

29

ay 4

25 

23 

22 

24 

25 

25

y 10

78 

144 

197 

186 

190 

242

Gage 1 Dis- heifhtj charge

April 17

20.65 

20.14 

19.42 

18.66 

17.89 

17.21 

16.66 

16.27 

16.00 

15.76 

15.58 

15.40

Ap

3.73 

3.76 

3.89 

3.92 

3.83 

3.76

Ap

3.03 

3.01

M

3.00 

3.00 

3.01 

3.04 

3.05 

3.01

Ma

6.81 

6.87 

6.80 

6.55 

6.14 

5.69

3,570 

3,340 

3,030 

2,720 

2,440 

2,220 

2,060 

1,960 

1,890 

1,830 

1,790 

1,750

ril 23

56 

58 

64 

66 

62 

58

ril 29

25 

24

*ys

24 

24 

24 

26 

26 

24

y 11

275 

281 

274 

250 

215 

180

hGe!fht

Ap

15.18 

14.86 

14.50 

14.06 

13.52 

12.92 

12.31 

11.68 

11.02 

10.40 

9.79 

9.32

Api

3.86 

3.97 

4.04 

4.14 

4.58 

4.58

Ap

2.94 

2.92

Ms

3.03 

3.08 

3.20 

3.94 

4.07 

3.80

Discharge

 il 18

1,690 

1,620 

1,540 

1,440 

1,320 

1,200 

1,090 

976 

863 

766 

675 

609

-il 24

63 

68 

72 

78 

106 

106

ril 30

22 

21

y e

25 

27 

32 

67 

74 

60

May 12

5.30 

5.00 

4.73 

4.53 

4.39 

4.28

150 

130 

113 

99 

9^ 

36

Gage 1 pisheightj charge

April 19

8.91 

8.58 

8.28 

8.01 

7.70 

7.37 

6.98 

6.54 

6.14 

5.81 

5.54 

5.32

552 

509 

470 

435 

398 

358 

312 

265 

228 

199 

177 

160

April 25

4.23 

4.00 

4.0& 

3.98 

3.85 

3.72

M

2.90 

2.89 

2.88 

2.88 

2.94 

2.98

M

3.67 

3.87 

4.21 

4.18 

3.98 

3.95

Ma

4.18 

4.10 

4.46 

4.22 

4.02 

3.87

84 

70 

72 

69 

62 

56

ay 1

20 

20 

20 

20 

22 

23

ay 7

54 

64 

82 

80 

69 

68

y is

80 

75. 

68 

64 

61 

56

Supplemental Record. Apr. 16, 3:30 a.m., 21.50 ft., 3,990 sec.-ft.; 6:30 p.m., 21.67 

ft., 4,080 sec.-ft.; Apr. 21, 3:30 p.m., 4.07 ft., 74 sec.-ft.; Apr. 22, 5:30 p.m., 

4.11 ft., 77 sep.-ft.; 6:00 p.m., 4.18 ft., 81 sec.-ft.; Apr. 24, 10 p.m., 4.66 ft., 

Ill sec.-ft.; May 5, 6:00 p.m., 3.08 ft., 27 sec.-ft.; May 6, 6:00 p.m., 4.12 ft., 

77 sec.-ft.; May 7, 2:00 p.m., 4.24 ft., 84 sec.-ft.; May 8, 5:30 p.m., 3.93 ft., 

66 sec.-ft.; 6:00 p.m., 4.06 ft., 74 sec.-ft.; May 13, 11 a.m., 4.02 ft., 71 sec.-ft.
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Heart River at Lehlgh, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 46P52', long. 102°43', in NEi sec. 7, T. 139 N., R. 95 W., at county 

highway bridge in Lehisjh, 150 feet downstream from Northern Pacific Railway bridge, 

and about 10 miles upstream from Green River.

Drainage area. 453 square miles.

Gage-height record. Graph based on twice-daily wire-weight gage readings except May 

15 to June 24, June 26-30, when average of usually twice-daily readings was used. 

No record May 27 to June 5.

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

below 5,000 second-feet and extended to peak stage. Stage-discharge relation 

affected by ice Apr. 1-15. Shifting control method used Apr. 20 to June 30. Discharge for period of no gage-height record computed on basis of records for station 

near South Heart.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 5,980 second-feet 12 p.m. Apr. 15 (gage height, 

17.90 feet, from high-water mark).

1943 to March 1950: Discharge, 5,420 second-feet Mar. 25, 1943; gage height, 

17.7 feet from floodmark Mar. 25, 1943,and Mar. 13, 1945. The flood of Apr. 15, 

1950 is the greatest known.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

40

50

44

35

30

25

30

40

60

100

May

36

40

41

42

41

46

72

106

102

216

.June

3.6

3.4

3.2

2.9

2.6

2.3

2.1

2.1

1.9

1.7

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

68

350

860

1,250

3,090

4,460

3,210

1,890

781

334

May

284

253

118

88

63

43

27

24

23

24

June

1.7

1.7

1.7

1.7

1.7

1.9

1.9

1.9

1.9

1.6

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet ..................

April

303

136

127

134

139

89

71

63

44

38

-

593

35,280

1.46

May

26

26

24

13

7.4

5.8

5.0

4.5

4.2

4.0

3.8

58.4

3,590

0.15

June

1.3

1.3

1.3

1.7

29

4.6

4.9

6.1

1.7

1.0

-

3.31

191

0.008

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

i,§X

2

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Ap

12.07 

12.13 

12.30 

12.24 

12.78 

12.82

Pischarge

>il 14

1,050 

1,130 

1,220 

1,340 

1,470 

1,650

April 20

6.70 

6.55 

6.68 

6.86 

6.80 

6.42

Ap

5.30 

5.12 

5.04

Ma

4.33 

4.34 

4.44 

4.60 

4.63 

4.57

336 

305 

325 

357 

344 

272

il 26

92

78 

73

y 2

30 

31 

37 

49 

51 

46

May 8

5.25 

5.30

5.22

107 

112 

104

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

12.89 

12. 9£ 

13.12 

13.45 

13.80 

14.10 

14.50 

14.90 

16.50 

15.50 

16.60 

17.90

1,760 

1,880 

2,020 

2,180 

2,370 

2,600 

2,850 

3,200 

5,000 

4,320 

5,070 

5,980

April 21

6.12 

6.02 

5.98 

5.96 

5.95 

5.80

Ap

5.01 

4.99 

4.94

M

4.45 

4.48 

4.50

M

5.18 

5.15 

5.12 

5.10 

5.20 

5.50

220 

204 

197 

191 

187 

166

ril 27

72 

71

68

ly 3

38 

41 

42

ly 9

100 

98 

95 

94 

103 

135

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 16

17.20 

15.70 

15.44 

15.38 

15.35 

15.35 

15.38 

15.50 

15.60 

15.50 

15.38 

15.26

Ap

5.65 

5.55 

5.55 

5.58 

5.60 

5.61

Ap

4.90 

4.85 

4.80 

4.79 

4.80 

4.76

M

4.51 

4.48 

4.46

5,490 

4,460 

4,280 

4,240 

4,220 

4,220 

4,240 

4,320 

4,390 

4,320 

4,240 

4,160

ril 22

146 

131 

129 

130 

130 

130

-il 28

66 

63 

59 

59 

60 

57

iy4

43 

42 

40

May 10

6.15 

6.23 

6.28

222 

236 

244

Gage 

height

Ap

15.13 

15.00 

14.84 

14.40 

13.87 

13.55 

13.30 

13.05 

12.88 

12.78 

12.63 

12.50

Ap

5.62 

5.63 

5.64

Ap

4.63

4.44 

4.44

M

4.45 

4.47 

4.48

Discharge

ril 17

4,070 

3,980 

3,880 

3,590 

3,250 

3,050 

2,900 

2,750 

2,650 

2,600 

2,520 

2,440

ril 23

128 

126 

123

-il 29

49 

36 

36

iy5

40 

41 

42

May 11

6.28 

6.34 

6.52 

' 6.70 

6.75 

6.70

244 

253 

284 

318 

327 

318

hGe?fnt

Discharge

April 18

12.20 

11.90 

11.45 

11.03 

10.55 

10.00

2,280 

2,120 

1,900 

1,690 

1,480 

1,260

April 24

5.63 

5.60 

5.54 

5.50 

6.30 

6.17

Ap

4.46 

4.48 

4.49 

4.46 

4.44 

4.42

ME

4.48 

4.56 

4.66

130 

116 

109 

103 

301 

184

ril 30

37 

39 

40 

38 

36 

35

ye

42 

48 

56

May 12

6.52 

6.17 

5.7&

286 

338 

174

Gage 

height

Ap

9.44 

8.90 

8.50 

8.03 

7.38 

7.00

Ap

5.90 

5.63 

5.44

M

4.42 

4.44 

4.37

M

4.80 

4.96 

5.12

Discharge

ril 19

1,060 

895 

775 

642 

485 

403

ril 25

152 

120 

103

ay 1

35 

37 

33

ay 7

67 

79 

94

May 13

5.34 

5.14 

5.08

120 

100 

94

Supplemental record. Apr. 20 6:00 p.m., 6.88 ft., 359 sec.-ft.; Apr. 24 6:00 p.m. 

6.34 ft., 205 sec.-ft.
HEART RIVER BASIN

Heart River near Rlchardton, H. Dak.

Location. Lat. 46°44'46", long. 102°18'27", In NEi sec. 29, T. 138 N., R. 92 W., at

bridge on State Highway 8, half a mile downstream from Blacktall Creek and 9-|- miles

south of Rlchardton. Datum of gage is 2,153.67 feet above mean sea level, datum of

1929.

Drainage area. 1,310 square miles. 

Sage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except 8 p.m. Apr. 16 to 2 a.m. Apr.

17 (when record Is based on partial record and high-water mark) and 11 a.m. Apr. 18

to June 30 (for which a graph was drawn based on once or twice-daily readings of

the outside wire-weight gage). 

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

below 19,000 second-feet and extended to peak stage. Affected by ice Apr. 1-17.

Shifting control method used May 12-25. 

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, S3,400 second-feet 11 p.m. Apr. 16 (gage height,

88.05 feet, from high-water mark in gage house).

1903-22, 1943 to March 1950; Discharge, 11,700 second-feet Mar. 25, 1943 (gage

height, 24.2 feet, from floodmarks).

The flood of July 5, 1938, reached a stage of about 26.0 feet, from Information

by local resident (discharge 16,000 second-feet, revised). 

Remarks. No appreciable diversion or regulation above station.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

277

247

229

891

234

261

368

330

182

430

May

181

185

182

184

180

178

188

285

263

325

,June

38

35

32

29

32

31

28

42

51

41

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

811

811

1,450

3,350

7,040

16,300

17,000

7,540

2,560

1,220

May

508

808

568

347

252

198

167

145

132

121

June

33

31

35

26

24

22

20

22

26

30

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

705

570

442

424

433

380

275

233

210

189

-

2,160

128,500

1.84

May

119

100

88

78

70

62

56

46

44

45

42

196

12,070

0.17

June

30

23

20

22

37

58

45

42

36

28

-

32.3

1,920

0.03

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

tH

s o

SB

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Ap

12.68 

12.81 

13.16 

13.48 

13.76 

16.40 

15.18 

14.40 

14.15 

13.98 

14.46 

15.23

Discharge

 il 14

2,730 

2,890 

3,080 

3,180 

3,320 

3,440 

3,550 

3,640 

3,620 

3,530 

3,790 

4,250

April 20

10.15 

9.82 

9.56 

9.30 

9.05 

8.72

Ap

7.49 

7.39 

7.25

Ma

6.69 

6.68

1,470 

1,320 

1,200 

1,080 

972 

838

ril 26

399 

369 

330

y 2

187 

185

May8

6.84 

6.94

222 

247

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

16.26 

17.06 

17.35 

17.74 

17.81 

17.88 

18.62 

19.48 

20.68 

22.38 

23.80 

24.95

4,930 

5,490 

5,700 

5,970 

6,020 

6,070 

6,620 

7,260 

8,190 

9,280 

10,400 

12,700

April 21

8.44 

8.38 

8.36 

8.34 

8.31 

8.28

Ap

7.08 

6.97 

6.92

M

6.66 

6.68

726 

702 

694 

686 

674 

662

ril 27

284 

254 

242

iy3

180 

185

May 9-

7.00 

7.07

262 

281

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 16

25.18 

25.04 

25.04 

25.11 

25.61 

25.73 

25.66 

26.53 

26.73 

27.16 

27.93 

27.93

Ap

8.25 

8.17 

8.03 

7.89 

7.80 

7.73

Ap

6.90 

6.87 

6.85

13,600 

13,400 

13,400 

13,500 

14,800 

15,200 

14,800 

17,700 

18,400 

19,900 

22,900 

22,900

ril 22

651 

621 

 570 

522 

492 

471

ril 28

237 

230 

224

May 4

6.69 

6.66

187 

180

May 10

7.20 

7.45

316

387

Gage heifht

Discharge

April 17

27.07 

26.87 

26.50 

26.38 

26.54 

26.55 

26.42 

26.24 

25.94 

25.60 

25.17 

24.59

19 , 500 

18,100 

17,600 

17,100 

17,700 

17,700 

17,300 

16,700 

15,800 

14,800 

13,700 

12,500

April 23

7.63 

7.61 

7.59

Ap

6.81 

6.77 

6.73

441 

435 

429

 il 29

214 

205 

196

May 5

6.66 

6.65

Ma

7.57 

7.67 

7.78 

7.93 

8.13 

8.38

180 

178

y 11

423 

453 

486 

536 

606 

702

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 18

23.10 

21.19 

19.05 

17.77 

16.60 

14.45

10,400 

8,610 

6,940 

5,990 

5,170 

3,770

April 24

7.57 

7.56 

7.59

Ap

6.70 

6.67

Ms

6.65 

6.66

423

420 

429

ril 30

189

182j

ye

178 

180

May 12

8.58 

8.68 

8.70 

8.60 

8.43 

8.30

798 

854 

878 

838 

770 

718

Gage 

height

Ap

13.67 

12.93 

12.21 

11.54 

11.07 

10.62

Discharge

ril 19

3,300 

2,860 

2,470 

2,120 

1,880 

1,680

April 25

7.62 

7.62 

7.55

M

6.66 

6.67

438 

438 

417

ay 1

180 

182

May 7

6.67 

6.78

182 

207

May 13

8.03 

7.75 

7.48

614 

515 

432

Supplemental record. Apr. 14, 1:30 a.m., 12.82 ft., 2,680 sec.-ft.; 2:30 a.m., 1,259 

ft., 2,760 sec.-ft.; 8:30 a.m., 13.90 ft., 3,220 sec,-ft.; 11 a.m., 16.03 ft., 

3,380 sec.-ft.; 12:30 p.m., 16.72 ft., 3,460 sec.-ft.; 5:30 p.m., 14.27 ft., 3,6S 

sec.-ft.; Apr. 15, 9:30 p.m., 23.83 ft., 10,100 sec.-ft.; 10:30 p.m., 23.69 ft., 

11,100 sec.-ft.; Apr. 16, 1 a.m., 25.44 ft., 13,300 sec.-ft.j 9 a.m., 25.83 ft., 

14,200 sec.-ft.; 11 p.m. 28.05 ft., 23,400 sec.-ft.; Apr. 17, 3 a.m., 26.77 ft., 

18,500 sec.-ft.; 11 a.m., 26.59 ft., 17,900 sec.-ft.
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Heart Butte Reservoir near Glen Ullin, N. Dale.

Location. Lat. 46°35'48", long. 101°48'34", In SWiNE^ see. 13, T, 136 N. , R. 89 W. , 

10 miles upstream from Heart Butte Creek, 14 milss south of Glen Ullln, and 14 miles 

north of Elgin. Datum of gage is mean sea Isvel, datum of 1929 (Bureau of Reclamation bench mark).

Drainage area. 1,760 square miles.

Gage-height record. Computed on basis Of graph drawn through ga.je reallngs, which Here 

made from one to three times a day, except on Apr. 2, 8, 9, May 6, 7, 14, 28, 30, 

June 4, 11, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 28. Gage read to tenths prior to Apr. 20 and to 

hundredths thereafter.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Contents, 148,490 acre-feet 12:30 p.ra. Apr. 19 (elevation, 

57061.74 feet).

Remarks. Reservoir Is formed by earth-filled dam; storage began Sept. 29, 1949; dam 

completed Dec. 9, 1949. Total capacity is 423,000 acre-feet at maximum pool, elevation 2,118.2 feet. Dead storage is 6,800 acre-feet below lowest point of outlet, 

elevation 2,030.0 feet. Active conservation storage Is 68,700 acre-feet between 

slovatlon 2,030.0 feet and crest of spillway, elevation 2,064.5 feet. Figures 

given herein represent total contents. Controlled releases are through 4 foot by 

5 foot slide gate. The spillway is uncontrolled "glory hole" type and discharges 

through a conduit 14 feet in diameter. The reservoir is for flood control, irrigation and incidental water supply.

Cooperation. Gage-height record and capacity table furnished by Bureau of 

Reclamation.

Elevation, * in feet, and contents, in acre-feet, at 12 p.m. of indicated day, 1950

Day'

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Change in 

Contents,

Acre-feet

Change in

Contents,

Equivalent

Mean

Second-feel

April

Feet

41.1

41.4

41.6

41.9

42.3

43.1

43.9

_

44.6

44.9

45.2

45.8

46.3

48.4

56.1

67.9

77.6

81.6

81.5

30.6

79.53

78.35

7". OS

75.92

74.58

73.18

71.70

70.36

69.04

68.09

~

Acre-feet

18,660

19,100

19 , 400

19,850

20,460

21,720

23,030

_

24,210

24,730

25,250

26,320

27,230

31,280

49,500

87,300

127,900

147,760

147,240

142,630

137,250

131,460

125,400

120,120

114,150

108,140

102,000

95,650

91,570

88,000

-

+70,060

+ 1,177

May

Feet

6V. 43

56.98

66.67

66.47

66.32

_

66.03

66.05

66.01

65.97

65.91

65.88

65.83

65.76

65.64

65.49

65.23

65.13

64.94

64.76

64.64

64.48

64.34

64.18

64.01

63.88

63.75

63.64

63.55

63.59

63.53

Acre-feet

85,580

83,950

82,840

82,120

81,590

_

80,580

80,640

80,500

80,360

80,160

80,050

79,880

79,630

79,210

78,690

77,790

77,440

76,800

76,180

75,780

75,230

74,160

74,220

73,650

73,210

72,780

72,410

72,120

72,250

72,050

-15,950

- 259

June

Feet

63.52

63.40

63.36

63.33

63.27

63.20

63.32

63.48

63.34

63.17

63.12

63.09

63.09

63.09

63.13

63.10

-

63.08

63.05

62.97

62.96

62.95

-

-

62.84

62.84

62.85

62.80

62.73

62.70

Acre-feet

72,020

71,620

71,490

71,390

71,190

70,960

71,360

71,880

71,420

70,860

70,700

70,600

70,600

70,600

70,730

70,630

-

70,560

70,460

70,200

70,170

70,140

-

-

69 , 780

69,780

69,820

69,650

69,420

69 , 320

~

-2,730

- 45.9

Elevation, * in feet, and contents, in acre-feet, at indicated time, 1950

g

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Feet

Ap

46.5 

47.0 

48.4

AD

81.2

80.8 

80.6

Acrefeet

il 14

27,600 

28,540 

31,280

il 20

145,700 

143,650 

142,630

Feet Acrefeet

April 15

50.2 

53.0 

56.1

AD

80.25 

79.90 

79.53

35,030 

41,470 

49 , 500

ril 21

140,860 

139,100 

137,250

Feet Acrefeet

April 16

59.8 

63.9 

67.9

AD

79.15 

78.78 

78.35

60,190 

73,280 

B7.300

ril 22

135,380 

133,560 

131,480

Feet Acrefeet

April 17

71.7 

74.9 

77.6

A

77.92 

77.47 

77.08

102,000 

115,560 

127,900

pril 23

129,420 

127,280 

125,460

Feet Acrefeet

April 18

79.7 

81.2 

81.6

At

76.68 

76.37 

75.92

138,100 

145,700 

147,760

ril 24

123,600 

122,170 

120,120

Feet

Ap

81.7 

81.7 

81.5

A

75.53 

75.01 

74.58

Acrefeet

ril 19

148,280 

148,280 

147,240

pril 25

118,360 

116,040 

114,150

*Add 2, 000 to obtain elevation above mean sea level.
HEART RIVER BASIN

Heart Butte Reservoir near Glen Ullln, N. Dak. Continued

Elevation, * in feet, and contents, in acre-feet, at indicated time, 1950

I

4 

8 

N

4

8

12

Feet Acrefeet

April 26

74.11

73.63

73.18

112,110

110,050

108,140

Feet

At

72.72

72.23

71.70

Acrefeet

iril 27

106,200

104,170

102,000

Feet | AcreA

71.25

70.83

70.36

pril 28

100,180

98,510

96,650

Feet | A?"'

A{

69.91

69.45

69.04

>ril 29

94,900

93,130

91,570

Feet Acrefeet

April 30

68.66

68.35

68.09

90,130

88,980

88,000

Feet | AcreMay 1

67.84

67.68

67.43

87,080

86,270

85,580

Supplemental record.- Apr. 19, 12:30 p.m, 81.74 ft., contents, 148,490 acre-ft. 

*Add 2, 000 to obtain elevation above mean sea level.
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Heart River below Heart Butte Dam near Glen Ullin, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 46°36'50 n , long. 101°48'05", in NEi sec. 15, T. 156 N., R. 89 W..,

0.5 mile downstream from Heart Butte Dam, 10 miles upstream from Heart Butte Creek,

14 miles south of Glen Ullin, and 14 miles north of Elgin. 

Drainage area. 1,760 square miles. 

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph. 

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

Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-18. 

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 3,840 second-feet 10 p.m. Apr. 19; gage height,

7.55 feet, affected by ice, 2:50 a.m. Apr. 17.

1945 to March 1950: Discharge, 25,000 second-feet Mar. 24, 1947 (gage height,

21.5 feet, former site and datum, from floodmark, affected by ice). 

Remarks. Flow regulated by Heart Butte Reservoir after Sept. 29, 1949. Small

diversions above station for irrigation.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

C

1

3

3

4

10

5

3

5

5

May

1,470

1,130

904

777

688

588

513

508

591

737

June

108

103

10E

102

92

102

92

92

92

86

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

4

50

6

59

66

272

3,370

5,680

5,790

5,800

May

781

774

783

761

682

626

561

514

485

442

June

86

82

57

60

55

79

79

76

76

76

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Runoff, in inches ..............................

April

3,760

3,720

3,660

3,560

5,460

5,560

3,270

3,160

2,940

2,090

-

1,605

1.02

May

417

598

410

542

378

330

307

293

201

115

87

567

0.57

June

76

76

76

79

79

79

79

79

82

67

-

82.6

0.05

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time. 1950

tc

3 

O

X

2

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Ap

1.40 

1.38 

1.38 

1.58 

1.45 

1.75 

2.00 

2.45 

2.41 

2.33 

2.30 

2.28

Discharge

-il 14

0 

0 

0 

0 

0

15 

126 

112 

89 

82 

76

April 20

6.88 

6.87

Ap

6.47 

6.42

Ma

5.97 

5.88 

5.73

M

2.89 

2.89

3,800 

5,790

il 26

3,360 

3,510

y 2

1,160 

1,100 

996

ya

509 

509

Gage 

height

Ap

2.2E 

2.22 

2.17 

2.12 

2.10 

2.43 

2.55 

2.44 

2.21 

1,98 

1.90 

1.84

Discharge

ril 15

70 

62 

51 

41 

36 

119 

164 

122 

62 

14 

9 

6

April 21

6.84 

6.82

Ap

6.38 

6.35

3,750 

3,730

ril 27

3,270 

5,220

May 3

5.57 

3.47

895 

852

May 9

2.90 

2.92 

2.92 

3.24 

3.20 

5.20

514 

524

524 

698 

676 

676

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 16

1.77 

1.70 

1.65 

1.57 

1.61 

2.01 

2.08 

1.98 

1.85 

3.35 

4.95 

6.02

5 

5 

2 

1 

2 

58 

54 

29 

9 

488 

1,480 

2,540

April 22

6.80 

6. BO

Ap

6.27 

6.21

M

3.38 

,3.28

5,710 

5,710

-il 28

5,160 

5,100

iy4

778 

721

May 10

3.20 

3.20 

3.42 

5.41 

5.40 

3.40

676 

676 

802 

796 

790 

790

hGel|Et

Pischarge

April 17

7.25 

7.00 

6.88 

6.75 

6.62 

6.41 

6.25 

6.24 

6.32 

6.37 

6.44 

6.51

Ap

6.75 

6.71

Ap

6.20 

6.18 

6.15 

6.02 

5.85 

5.65

3,040 

3,240 

5,550 

3,390 

3,450 

3,450 

5,480 

5,490 

3,510 

3,530 

3,560 

3,580

ril 23

5,660 

5,610

ril 29

3,090 

3,070 

3,040 

2,910 

2,720 

2,530

May 5

5.25 

5.26 

3.24 

3.25 

3.15 

5.15

704 

710 

698 

693 

637 

648

May 11

5.58 

3.38

778 

778

>

Ap

6.58 

6.62 

6.64 

6.72 

6.79 

6.77 

6.77 

6.77 

6.81 

6.82 

6.83 

6.82

Ap

6.66 

6.62

Ap

5.30 

4.94 

4.70

Ms

3.08 

2.99 

2.95

Discharge

-il 18

5,600 

5,620 

5,640 

3,670 

3,700 

3,680 

3,680 

3,680 

3,720 

3,750 

3,740 

3,730

-il 24

3,560 

3,510

ril 30

2,230 

1,910 

1,720

y 6

609 

561 

540

May 12

3.37 

3.37

773 

773

Gage 

height

Ap

6.83 

6.84 

6.85 

6.86 

6.86 

6.87 

6.87 

6.88 

6.89 

6.90 

6.92 

6.91

Ap

6.56 

6.53

M

4.48 

4.28 

4.08

Discharge

ril 19

3,740 

3,750 

3,760 

3,780 

3,780 

3,790 

3,790 

3,800 

3,810 

3,820 

3,840 

3,830

ril 25

5,450

3,420

ay 1

1,540 

1,380 

1,240

May 7

2.88 

2.88

504 

504

May 13

5.40 

5.38

790

778

Supplemental record. Apr. 17, 2:30 a.m., 7.55 ft., 4,430 sec.-ft. 

2.90 ft., 514 sec.-ft.; 2 a.m., 3.50 ft., 752 sec.-ft.; May 10, 

687 sec.-ft.

; May 9, 1:30 p.m., 

11:50 a.m., 3.22 ft.,
HEART RIVER BASIN

Heart River near Lark, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 46 D 36'00", Ion.?. 101°23'30", in Sj sec. 9, T. 136 N., R. 85 W. , at 

bridge on State Highway 31, 1 mile downstream from Muddy Creek and 10 miles north 

of Lark.

Drainage area. 3,810 square miles; 1,760 square miles affected "by storage in Heart 

Butte Reservoir.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph, except for periods Apr. 1 to 12 m. 

Apr. 17 and 10 p.m. Apr. 19 to 1 p.m. Apr. 21, for which a graph was drawn based 

on daily wire-weight gage readings.

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

below 9,200 second-feet and extended to peak stage on basis of contracted-opening 

measurement including discharge over road. Stage-discharge relation affected by 

ice Apr. 1 to 6 a.m. Apr. 17.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 29,200 second-feet 9 p.m. Apr. 17 (gage height, 

20.7O feet).

1946 to March 1950: Discharge, 10,400 second-feet Mar. 25, 1947, affected by 

ice (gage Height, 15.85 feet).

Remarks. Flow partly regulated by Heart Butte Reservoir (see page 46). Small diversions above station for irrigation.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

45

60

90

130

250

550

650

550

500

450

May

1,840

1,480

1,250

1,080

990

913

868

970

1,140

1,520

June

145

130

139

137

136

129

202

868

394

227

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

350

320

350

430

1,140

5,060

22,000

23,200

14,000

7,840

May

1,780

1,660

1,400

1,260

1,070

934

830

732

682

611

June

180

162

154

145

120

112

108

106

104

103

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Runoff, in acre-feet .............................

April

5,910

5,960

5,390

4,810

4,170

3,710

3,440

3,310

3,170

2,550

-

4,013

238,800

1.59

May

547

511

481

492

411

418

369

354

339

251

156

882

54,230

0.36

June

103

103

100

110

122

122

112

106

103

101

-

163

9,690

0.06

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

i

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Ap

6.82 

6.98

Discharge

il 14

410 

530

April 20

13.75 

12.83 

12.05

Ap

9.88 

9.78 

9.63

Ma

7.33 

7.19

8,340 

7,050 

6,090

il 26

3,750 

3,650 

3,500

y 2

1,460 

1,360

May8

6.47 

6.67 

6.87

892 

1,010 

1,140

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

7.10 

7.80 

9.00 

10.90

620 

900 

1,460 

2,620

April 21

11.98 

11.39 

11.78 

11.75 

11.90 

12.02

Ap

9.60 

9.54 

9.52

M

7.01 

6.88

6,010 

5,910 

5,790 

5,760 

5,920 

6,050

ril 27

3,470 

3,410 

3,390

ay 3

1,240 

1,150

May 9

6.92 

6.91 

6.85 

6.82 

6.86 

6.97

1,170 

1,170 

1,120 

1,100 

1,130 

1,210

Gage 

height

Api

12.00 

13.80 

13.42 

13.00 

12.75 

12.57 

12.52 

12.55 

12.70 

13.05 

13.55 

14.30

Discharge

-il 16

3,500 

5,050 

4,870 

4,720 

4,650 

4,700 

4,790 

5,020 

5,370 

5,940 

6,750 

8,120

April 22

12.12 

12.05 

12.00 

11.89 

11.71 

11.61

6,170 

6,090 

6,030 

5,910 

5,710 

5,600

April 28

9.48 

9.41 

9.36

3,350 

3,280 

3,230

May 4

6.77 

6.72

1,070 

1,040

May 10

7.06 

7.21 

7 39 

7.69 

7.75 

7.63

1,270 

1,380 

1,500 

1,740 

1,790 

1,690

hGe!|nt

Ap

15.20 

16.50 

17.95 

18.80 

19.27 

19.52 

19.65 

20.38 

20.46 

20.55 

20.68 

20.62

Ap

11.63 

11.59 

11.49 

11.27 

11.18 

11.09

Discharge

ril 17

9,910 

13,000 

17,500 

21,000 

22,800 

23,800 

24,200 

27,600 

28,000 

28,400 

29,100 

28,800

ril 23

5,620 

5,580 

5,470 

5,230 

5,130 

5,030

April 29

9.35 

9.30 

9.15

3,220 

3,170 

3,020

May 5

6.62 

6.58

982 

958

May 11

7.60 

7.67 

7.81 

7.89 

7.79 

7.64

1,670 

1,730 

1,840 

1,900 

1,820 

1,700

Gage 1 Dis- height | charge

April 18

20.20 

19.93 

19.38 

18.71 

18.40 

18.13

26,700 

25,400 

23,200 

20,600 

19,600 

18,600

April 24

11.00 

10.84 

10.59

Ap

8.60 

8.15

Ma

6.50 

6.44

4,930 

4,750 

4,480

ril 30

2,530 

2,120

ye

910 

874

May 12

7.57 

7.62 

7.66 

7.58 

7.52 

7.44

1,650 

1,690 

1,720 

1,690 

1,610 

1,540

Gage 

height

Ap

17.40 

16.47 

15.61 

14.85

Discharge

ril 19

16,300 

13,700 

11,700

10,200

April 25

10.38 

10.18 

10.08

M

7.76 

7.55

M

6.42 

6.44

4,250 

4,050 

3,950

ay 1

1,800 

1,630

ay 7

862 

874

May 13

7.26 

7.20 

7.12

1,410 

1,370 

1,310
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Heart River near Mandan, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 46°50', long. 100°59', in NE±NWt 3ec. 25, T. 139 N., R. 82 W., at

bridge on U. S. Highway 10, 3 miles west of Mandan and 4 miles downstream from

Sweetbriar Creek. Datum of gage is 1,638.70 feet above mean sea level, datum of

1929, and 1,632.03 feet above Northern Pacific Railway datum. 

Drainage area. 3,360 square miles; 1,760 square miles affected by storage in Heart

Butte Reservoir. 

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph, except for period Apr. 1-15, for

which a graph was drawn based on twice-daily wire-weight gage readings. 

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

Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-15. Shifting-control method used

Apr. 16. 

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 30,500 second-feet 4 a.m. Apr. 19 (gage height,

53764 feet).

1924, 1928-33, 1937 to March 1950: Discharge, 21,400 second-feet Mar. 27, 1943

(gage height, 24.7 feet). 

Remarks. Flow partly regulated by Heart Butte Reservoir (see page 46). Small diversions above station for irrigation.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

80

110

150

190

360

770

900

800

700

620

May

2,960

2,380

2,060

1,800

1,570

1,450

1,310

1,300

1,540

2,190

.June

269

218

187

180

173

175

286

2,270

1,440

755

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

500

450

500

713

2,200

10,200

21,200

28,400

27,900

16,400

May

2,790

2,790

2,340

1,940

1,740

1,520

1,350

1,260

1,160

1,010

June

434

350

289

257

233

204

187

175

180

185

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

9,910

9,630

8,360

7,520

6,110

5,160

4,630

4,270

4,050

3,760

_

5,885

1.95

May

888

800

720

660

685

596

614

538

502

474

430

1,399

86,020

0.48

June

182

163

148

175

204

185

187

163

152

150

_

339

20,140

0.11

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time. 1950

s 

o

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Ap

8.33 

8.51 

8.53 

8.30 

7.80 

7.43 

7.15 

6.94 

7.12 

7.39 

7.59 

7.70

Ap

21.35 

20.45 

19.50 

18.30 

17.30 

16.83

Ap

11.48 

11.27 

11.09

Ma

7.98 

7.78

Discharge

-il 14

770 

840 

880 

840 

710 

620 

570 

530 

600 

690 

770 

820

ril 20

21,200 

18,600 

16,100 

13,500 

11,900 

11,200

ril 26

5,230 

5,040 

4,880

y 2

2,350 

2,210

MayB

6.33 

6.38 

6.51

1,270 

1,300 

1,370

Gage

height

Discharge

April 15

7.87 

8.05 

8.65 

10.26 

11.85 

13.45

930 

1,060 

1,370 

2,440 

3,980 

6,000

April 21

16.50 

16.15 

15.78 

15.31 

15.15 

15.24

Ap

10.88 

10.70 

10.60

M

7.55 

7.36

10,800 

10,300 

9,840 

9,270 

9,080 

9,190

ril 27

4,690 

4,530 

4,440

iy 3

2,050 

1,920

May 9

6.57 

6.63 

6.68 

6.90 

7.08 

7.15

1,410 

1,440 

1,470 

1,620 

1,730 

1,780

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 16

14.60 

15.70 

16.18 

17.25 

18.22 

18.96

7,500 

9,040 

9,770 

11,500 

13,200 

14,800

April 22

15.52 

15.87 

16.02 

15.67 

15.33 

15.08

Ap

10.45 

10.32 

10.24

M

7.25 

7.11 

6.98

9,520 

9,960 

10,200 

9,700 

9,300 

' 9,000

ril 28

4,320 

4,210 

4,140

ly 4

1,840 

1,750 

1,670

May 10

7.22 

7.40 

7.68 

8.09 

8.32 

8.32

1,820 

1,940 

2,140 

2,430 

2,600 

2,600

&$t

Discharge

April 17

19.40 

20.35 

20.75 

21.05 

21.40 

21.55 

21.60 

21.95 

22.04 

22.13 

22.05 

22.45

Ap

14.88 

14.66 

14.47 

14.35 

14.24 

14.15

Ap

10.14 

10.11 

10.10

M

6.84 

6.78 

6.77

15,800 

18,300 

19 , 400 

20,400 

21,400 

21,900 

22,100 

23,300 

23,700 

24,000 

23,700 

25,300

ril 23

8,760 

8,490 

8,280 

8,140 

8,020 

7,920

ril 29

4,050 

4,030 

4,020

jy 5

1,580 

1,540 

1,530

May 11

8.13 

8.29 

8.62 

8.84 

8.92 

8.82

2,460 

2,580 

2,830 

3,000 

3,070 

2,990

Gage 

height

Ap

22.60 

22.81 

23.00 

23.13 

23.20 

23.24 

23.26 

23.45 

,23.49 

23.54 

23.57 

23.60

Ap

14.11 

14.02 

13.88 

13.64 

13.37 

13.19

Ap

9.95 

9.70 

9.29

M£

6.69 

6.59 

6.54

Discharge

ril 18

25,900 

26,700 

27,500 

28,100 

28,400 

28,600 

28,700 

29,600 

29,800 

30,000 

30,200 

30 , 300

*il 24

7,880 

7,780 

7,630 

7,360 

7,070 

6,890

ril 30

3,890 

3,690 

3,360

ye

1,480 

1,420 

1.390

May 12

8.73 

8.77 

8.68 

8.47 

8.22 

8.12

2,910 

2,950 

2,880 

2,720 

2,530 

2,460

Gage

height

Discharge

April 19

23.64 

23.45 

23.15 

22.79 

22.45 

21.96

Ap

12.59 

12.13 

11.80

M

8.78 

8.32

M

6.45 

6.32 

6.33

30,500 

29,600 

28,200 

26,700 

25,300 

23,400

ril 25

6,290 

5,840 

5,530

ay 1

2,950 

2.600

ay 7

1,340 

1,270 

1.270

May 13

8.08 

8.12 

8.04 

7.90 

7.76 

7.64

2,420 

2,460 

2,400 

2,300 

2,200 

2,110
HEART RIVER BASIN

Green River near Gladstone, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 46O 53'20 1', long. 102°38'20", in Slll/t sec. 36, T. 140 N., R. 95 W., at 

bridge on U. S. Highway 10, 3 miles northwest of Gladstone, and 3 miles upstream 

from mouth.

Drainage area. 356 square miles.

Gage -he lght~e co rd. Graph drawn on basis of one or more wire-weight readings daily for 

period Apr. 2 to May 15; one daily reading May 16 to June 30, except for following 

days when no readings were made: Apr. 1, 23, May 11, 17, 25, 27, 28, 30, June 27 

and 29.

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

Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-15. Discharge for period of no 

gage-height record computed on basis of adjacent gage-height record and interpolation.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 5,260 second-feet 12 p.m. Apr. 15 (gage height, 

18.3 feet from floodmark).

1945 to March 1950: Discharge, 3,780 second-feet Apr. 5, 1949 (gage height, 16.9 

feet).

Remarks. No diversion or regulation above station.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

46

44

43

40

42

42

105

204

301

244

May'

43

40

40

42

46

49

58

65

75

163

,June

12

11

10

9.6

7.9

7.5

7.9

13

12

12

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

206

383

852

1,530

3,470

4,640

2,560

731

353

221

May

215

174

142

92

64

50

43

36

28

28

June

10

9.6

9.1

8.3

7.9

8.3

12

13

12

8.3

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

142

108

91

84

72

62

56

50

48

44

-

560

33,350

1.76

May

26

24

23

21

20

18

17

16

15

14

12

54.8

3,370

0.18

June

7.2

7.2

6.4

7.2

16

15

12

10

9.8

9.6

-

10.1

599

0.03

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time. 1950

1

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N

4 

8 

12

Sigt

Discharge

April 14

10.00 

10.10 

10.18 

10.23 

10.28 

10.42 

11.00 

11.65 

12.50 

13.18 

13.73 

14.22

Ap

4.44 

4.21 

4.00

TAp

3.17 

3.13 

3.11

Ma

2.94 

2.93

M

3.18 

3.18

1,190 

1,210 

1,230 

1,250 

1,260 

1,290 

1,440 

1,610 

1,840 

2,040 

2,230 

2,430

 il 20

239 

204 

173

il 26

64 

59 

57

y 2

39 

38

y 8

65 

65

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

14.68 

14.98 

14.98 

14.87 

14.64 

15.40 

15.98 

16.60 

17.50 

17.88 

18.13 

18.30

2,620 

2,760 

2,770 

2,720 

2,630 

3,010 

3,340 

3,760 

4,420 

4,760 

5,040 

5,260

April 21

3.83 

3.69 

3.62

Ap

3.10 

3.08

M

2.95 

2.96

M

3.19 

3.26 

3.50

149 

130 

120

ril 27

56 

54

»y3

40 

41

ly 9

66 

74 

104

Gage 

height

Api

18.24 

18.10 

17.92 

17.77 

17.66 

17.54 

17.38 

17.28 

17.07 

16.86 

16.64 

16.38

Ap

3.53 

3.43

Ap

3.05 

3.03

M

2.97 

3.00

Ma

3.94

4.30

Pischarge

il 16

5,210 

5,100 

4,960 

4,840 

4,750 

4,660 

4,550 

4,480 

4,330 

4,180 

4,030 

3,850

ril 22

108 

95

ril 28

50 

48

»y4

42

45

y 10

165 

218

hGe?fht

Pischarge

April 17

16.12 

15.83 

15.50 

15.08 

14.45 

13.40 

13.07 

12.80 

J.2.34 

11.20 

10.20 

9.40

Ap

3.37

Ap

3.03 

3.01

M

3.02 

3.02

Ma

4.12

3,690 

3,520 

3,320 

3,100 

2,790 

2,350 

2,220 

2,130 

1,990 

1,660 

1,410 

1,220

ril 23

87

ril 29

48

46

ly 5

47

47

y 11

192

hlfifht

Discharge

April 18

7.45 

6.42 

5.82

Api

3.35 

3.32

Ap

2.98 

2.98

Me

3.03 

3.07

771 

578 

470

il 24

85 

81

ril 30

43 

43

y«

48 

53

May 12

3.98 

3.88

172 

158

height

Ap

5.31' 

4.89

4.64

Ap

3.26 

3.21 

3.20

M

2.98 

2.97

M

3.11 

3.18

Discharge

ril 19

380 

309 

269

ril 25

74 

68 

67

ay 1

43 

42

ay 7

57 

65

May 13

3.78 

3.58

145 

121

Supplemental record. Apr. 15, 5 a.m., 15.0 ft., 2,770 sec.-ft.

948847 O - 51 - 5
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Muddy Creek near Almont, Dak.

Location. Lat. 46°41'40", long. 101°27'55" , in SW^ sec. 7, T. 137 N., R. 85 W. , at 

bridge on county road, 2 miles downstream from Hailstone Creek, 3 miles southeast 

of Almont, and about 12 miles above mouth.

Drainage area. 456 square miles.

Gage-height record. Graph based on once-daily readings of wire-weight or staff gage 

to hundredths, except Apr. 10, when no readings were obtained, Apr. 16-21, when 

readings were estimated by observer to nearest foot, May 10-13, when readings were 

estimated to nearest tenth of a foot. Datum of temporary gage uncertain Apr. 23-27. 

Record for period Apr. 16-21 verified by stage graph at Almont constructed from 

observations of Weather Bureau observer.

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

3,300 second-feet and extended to peak stage on basis of slope-area measurement and 

logarithmic plotting. Stage discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-16.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 20,200 second-feet 12 m. Apr. 17 (gage height, 

30.7 feet, from floodmarks).

1945 to March 1950: Discharge, 3,250 second-feet Mar. 24, 1948 (gage heipht, 

19.20 feet, affected by ice).

Remarks. No regulation or diversion.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

22

28

40

60

120

250

300

250

250

200

May

84

96

117

132

130

126

140

215

400

546

.June

8.2

7.8

7.2

7.0

7.0

6.8

6.8

8.0

170

47

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet 

Runoff in acre-feet

April

160

140

170

250

1,000

3,000

15,000

6,980

2,860

1,460

May

643

707

534

400

160

84

73

63

60

46

June

9.6

8.9

8.2

7.8

7.3

6.7

6.4

5.5

5.2

4.5

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Runoff, in inches ..............................

April

575

596

331

185

115

96

91

113

87

82

-

1,160 

69,050

2.84

May

37

33

25

21

17

16

14

11

9.6

8.7

8.4

160 

9,830

0.40

June

3.7

3.6

3.4

4.5

5.2

6.4

5.8

4.4

3.6

3.5

-

13.0 

774

0.03
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Apple Creek Basin 

Apple Creek near Menoken, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 46°47'35", long. 100°39'15", on line between sees. 4 and 9, T. 138 N.,

R. 79 W. , at "bridge on former U. S. Highway 10, 4 miles upstream from Hay Creek,

6.3 miles west of Menoken, and 6.4 miles east of Bismarck. 

Drainage area. 1,520 square miles. 

Gage-height record. Graph baaed on twice-daily readings of wire-weight or staff gage

Apr. 1-23, once-daily readings thereafter. 

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

Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-17. 

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 6,750 second-feet 2 p.m. Apr. 18 (gage height,

1945 to March 1950: Discharge, 2,340 second-feet Apr. 7, 1948 (gage height, 

15.80 feet). 

Remarks. Small diversions above station for irrigation.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

41

55

70

82

150

500

550

390

300

250

May

1,010

978

959

934

965

920

846

894

917

919

June

487

479

452

353

322

313

292

233

213

207

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

270

280

300

406

728

2,000

4,980

5,590

4,340

3,740

May

1,030

. 1,210

1,830

2,390

1,680

1,350

1,220

1,150

1,120

1,060

June

205

213

196

179

156

123

108

161

144

115

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet ..................

April

3,320

3,220

2,930

2,380

1,880

1,440

1,330

1,200

1,150

1,070

-

1,498

89,140

1.10

May

1,020

954

932

891

828

824

772

706

693

638

548

1,038

63,840

0.79

June

93

82

77

76

76

79

78

80

80

78

-

192

11,400

0.14

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

I

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Ap

13.08 

13.23 

13.37 

13.50 

13.83 

14.21

Discharge

il 14

351 

371 

391 

420 

460 

522

April 20

16.32 

16.34 

16.36 

16.35 

16.29 

16.24

Ap

15.04 

14.90 

14.81

Ma

13.47 

13. tl 

13.35 

13.31 

13.31 

13.30

3,720 

3,790 

3,860 

3,820 

3,620 

3,450

il 26

1,460 

1,390 

1,350

y 2

994 

983 

972 

965 

965 

963

May8

12.82 

12.96 

13.06

884 

907 

923

Mayl4

16.00 

15.95 

15.87 

15.80 

15.69 

15.59

2,720 

2,600 

2,410 

2,270 

2,100 

1,960

Gage 

height

Ap

14.42 

14.64 

14.80 

14.93 

14.99 

15.07 

15.08 

15.03 

14.98 

14.98 

15.06 

15.21

Discharge

nil 15

562 

606 

648 

690 

720 

754 

774 

789 

786 

815 

858 

942

April 21

16.19 

16.19 

16.20

Ap

14.79 

14.80 

14.79 

14.74 

14.65 

14.56

M

13.29 

13.27 

13.23

3,290 

3,290 

3,320

-il 27

1,350 

1,350 

1,350 

1,330 

1,290 

1,260

xy3

961 

958 

951

May 9

13.06 

13.00 

12.96

923 

913 

907

May 15

15.38 

15.22 

15.10

1,720 

1,580 

1,500

Gage 

height

Ap

15.47 

15.64 

15.82 

16.00 

16.08 

16.07 

16.02 

16.02 

16.03 

16.03 

16.12 

16.30

Pischarge

il 16

1,120 

1,300 

1,550 

1,880 

2,130 

2,170 

2,140 

2,220 

2,330 

2,390 

2,640 

3,210

April 22

16.19 

16.15 

16.12

Api

14.47 

14.38 

14.31 

14.28 

14.25 

14.23

M

13.20 

13.16 

13.12 

13.08 

13.06 

13.10

3,290 

3,170 

3,080

-il 28

1,240 

1,210 

1,190 

1,180 

1,170 

1,170

ly 4

946 

939 

932 

926 

923 

929

May 10

12.96 

13.04 

13.26

907 

919 

956

May 16

14.86 

14.63 

14.49

1,380 

1,290 

1,240

hGe!fgt

Ap

16.49 

16.68 

16.80 

16.89 

16.94 

16.98 

16.99 

16.95 

16.63 

16.59 

16.60 

16.63

Ap

16.15 

16.16 

16.08 

16.02 

15.98 

15.93

Discharge

ril 17

3,840 

4,520 

5,010 

5,430 

5,640 

5,810 

5,920 

5,820 

4,680 

4,470 

4,610 

4,820

ril 23

3,170 

3,200 

2,960 

2,780 

2,670 

2,540

April 29

14.20 

14.16 

14.03

M

13.17 

13.27 

13.35 

13.40 

13.43 

13.38

1,160 

1,150 

1,120

iy5

941 

958 

972 

981 

987 

977

May 11

13.49 

13.72 

13.98

998 

1,050 

1,110

May 17

14.42 

14.38 

14.31

1,220 

1,210 

1,190

Gage 

heifht

Ap

16.68 

16.72 

16.78 

16.85 

16.92 

16.99 

17.07 

17.00 

16.77 

16.68 

16.66 

16.64

Discharge

il 18

5,020 

5,180 

5,420 

5,720 

6,040 

6,360 

6,750 

6,400 

5,380 

5,020 

4,940 

4,860

April 24

15.89 

15.83 

15.73

Ap

13.89 

13.78 

13.66

Ms

13.30 

13.19 

13.06 

12.90 

12.75 

12.68

2,450 

2,330 

2,160

ril 30

1,080 

1,060 

1,030

y 6

963 

944 

923 

897 

873 

862

May 12

14.23 

14.49 

14.80

1,170 

1,240 

1,350

May 18

14.20 

14.10 

14.03

1,160 

1,140 

1,120

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 19 '

16.58 

16.54 

16.50 

16.48 

16.40 

16.33

Ap

15.61 

15.45 

15.26

M

13.57 

13.54 

13.53

M

12.61 

12.56 

12.51 

12.50 

12.59 

12.67

4,630 

4,490 

4,350 

4,280 

4,000 

3,760

ril 25

1,980 

1,790 

1.610

ay 1

1,010 

1,010 

1,010

ay 7

852 

844 

836 

835 

848 

860

May 13

15.00 

15.20 

15.40 

15.61 

15.82 

15.94

1,440 

1,560 

1,740 

1,980 

2,310 

2,570

May 19

14.04 

14.08 

13.98

1,120 

1,130 

1,110
54 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Cannonball River Basin

Cannonball River near New Leipzig, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 46°20', long. 101°57', in SW^ sec. 11, T. 133 N., R. 90 W., at bridge 

on State Highway 49, 2| miles south of New Leipzig and 8 miles downstream from 

Thirty Mile Creek.

Drainage area. 1,180 square miles.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph, except for periods 3 a.m. Apr. 17 to 

9 a.mT Apr. 26 for which a graph was drawn based on four estimates of stage on 

Apr. 17, 18, highwater mark in gage well and time of crest from observer, four or 

more daily gage readings Apr. 19-22; and two or more daily readings thereafter, and 

May 1-16 for which a graph was drawn based on one or more daily readings of the 

outside gage.

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

below 11,100 second-feet and extended to peak stage on basis of a slope-area determination of the 1943 flood and slope-area and contracted-opening determinations of 

the 1950 flood. Gage heights, used to hundredths 6 p.m. Apr. IS to May 13; half 

tenths between 6.9 and 9.4 foot, tenths above and hundredths below May 14 to June 

30. Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-16 (5 p.m.).

Maxima. April-May 1950; Discharge, 51,800 second-feet at 12 p.m. Apr. 17 (gage height, 

34.0 feet, floodmark in well).

1943 to March 1950; Discharge, 15,000 second-feet Mar. 25, 26, 1943 (gage 

height, 25.9 feet, from floodmarks), by slope-area method.

Remarks. Some small diversions and storage above station.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

120

100

90

90

90

150

200

170

130

100

May

215

237

244

230

217

227

296

324

401

567

June

6C

58

53

51

5C

50

52

261

76

52

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

80

80

100

120

800

5,800

37,100

32,200

12,900

5,490

May

595

634

595

452

318

249

210

186

162

147

June

50

46

45

44

43

41

40

41

41

38

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

2,710

2,160

1,430

1,000

646

461

349

285

258

229

-

3,515

209,100

3.32

May

133

118

106

94

87

84

79

74

71

65

52

241

14,830

0.24

June

35

35

33

36

40

39

35

35

34

33

-

51.6

3,070

0.05

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time. 1950

(.3 

o

2

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gape 

height

Discharge

April 14

7.93 

8.04 

8.24 

8.53

Ap

20.20 

18.40 

17.00 

16.10 

15.35 

14.65

Ap

8.20 

7.95

Ma

6.88 

7.00 

7.12 

7.13 

7.13 

7.10

Mi

7.42 

7.33

ril 20

7,480 

6,020 

4,960 

4,330 

3,840 

3,420

il 26

459 

401

y2

207 

228 

251 

253 

253 

247

y8

327 

308

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

8.66 

8.77 

9.18 

9.79 

11.93 

14.55

Ap

14.00 

13.37 

12.84 

12.94 

13.35 

13.60

Ap

7.70 

7.50

Mi

7.07 

7.03

M

7.63 

8.36

N

ril 21

3,030 

2,660 

2,390 

2,440 

2,640 

2,790

rti 27

346 

304

*ys

245 

238

iy9

374 

548

Gage 

height

Pischarge

April 16

14.70 

15.42 

16.20 

15.10 

15.30 

19.40 

18.00 

18.62 

20.37 

21.60 

22.86 

24.65

Ap

13.28 

12.84 

12.18 

11.88 

11.61 

11.38

Ap

7.40 

7.30

M

6.98 

6.94

Ma

8.50 

8.36 

8.35

5,700 

6,200 

7,630 

8,740 

9,960 

11,800

il 22

2,610 

8,390 

2,060 

1,910 

1,780 

1,660

ril 28

284 

268

iy4

230 

223

y 10

590 

559 

551

Gage I Dis- hei§ht| charge

April 17

26.80 

28.40 

29.80 

31.20 

32.45 

33.00 

33.25 

33.50 

33.70 

33.85 

33.95 

34.00

Ap

11.20 

11.00 

10.75 

10.56 

10.42 

10.27

Api

7.24 

7.16

M:

6.90 

6.87

Ma

8.55 

8.53 

8.54

14,900 

18,700 

23,800 

30,700 

38,800 

43,100 

45,100 

47,300 

49,100 

50 , 400 

51,400 

51,800

ril 23

1,590 

1,510 

1,410 

1,330 

1,280 

1,210

 il 29

257 

245

iy5

217 

212

yii

606 

601 

604

h^iSt

Ap

33.80 

33.45 

33.00 

32.50 

31.80 

31.10 

30.45 

29.80 

29.10 

28.55 

28.05 

27.65

Ap

9.97 

9.58 

9.22

Ap

7.04 

6.98

Mt

6.92

7.07

Ma

8.68 

3.66

Discharge

-il 18

50,000 

46,800 

43,100 

39,200 

34,300 

30,100 

25,800 

23,800 

21,000 

19,200 

17,600 

16,600

i!24

1,080 

932 

788

ril 30

226 

221

y«

223 

251

y!2

644 

639

Gage 

height

Ap

27.25 

26.90 

26.55 

26.20 

25.85 

25.50 

25.20 

24.80 

24.40 

23.85 

23.00 

22.15

Ap

8.78 

8.45

M

6.93 

6.91

M

7.30 

7.46

Discharge

ril 19

15,800 

15,000 

14,400 

13,800 

13,300 

12,800 

12,400 

12,000 

11,500 

11,000 

10,100 

9.250

ril 25

636 

526

ay 1

214 

210

ay 7

300 

333

May 13

8.56 

8.43 

8.24

617 

582 

533
CANNONBALL RIVER BASIN

Cannonball River at Breien, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 46°23', long. 100°56', in sec. 36, T. 134 N., R. 82 W., at bridge on 

State Highway 6, 950 feet downstream from Louise Creek and 0.5 mile south of Breien. 

Datum of gage is 1,676.54 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929.

Drainage area. 4,066 square miles.

Bage-helght record. Water-stage recorder graph, except for periods Apr. 1-15, 9 p.m. 

Apr. 18 to May 26. Graph based on onc.e-daily readings of wire-weight gage Apr. 1- 

15, Apr. 25 to May 26. For period 9 p.m. Apr. 18 to Apr. 24, graph based on daily 

readings of staff gage at overflow bridge 1200 feet north, floodmarks, and information from a resident living nearby.

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

16,000 second-feet and extended to peak stage on basis of slope-area and contractedopening measurements. Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-5.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 94,800 second-feet 2 a.m. Apr. 19 (gage height, 

22.30 feet, from high-water mark in gage well).

1934 to March 1950: Discharge 30,900 second-feet (revised) Mar. 27, 1943 (gage 

height, 17.4 feet, from floodmark).

Remarks. Some diversions above station. Some storage In several small lakes above 

station.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

160

650

4,000

5,500

7,000

5,440

7,900

4,770

3,050

2,300

May

1,370

1,460

1,620

1,460

1,450

1,630

1,870

1,630

2,460

1,740

June

318

298

278

266

256

246

235

256

682

460

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

1,860

1,570

1,450

1,920

7,950

17,300

25 , 400

32,700

63,100

36,000

May

1,570

1,730

1,680

1,640

1,540

1,420

1,230

1,050

968

885

June

688

426

334

278

249

218

207

204

194

185

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet ..................

April

23,700

15,200

10,100

7,000

4,960

3,380

2,540

2,060

1,710

1,510

-

2.76

May

750

655

595

565

518

468

428

404

386

364

342

0.33

June

179

170

162

158

433

712

535

368

274

218

-

0.09

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time. 1950

i

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N

4 

8

12

Gage 

height

Ap

4.08 

4.12 

4.13 

4.05 

3.98 

4.00 

4.07 

4.23 

4.58 

5.26 

5.96 

7.46

Ap

18.08 

17.27

Ap

6.34 

5.74

Ma

3.56 

3.58 

3.78 

4.06 

4.19 

4.24

M

4.06 

3.94 

3.95 

4.02 

4.26 

4.72

Discharge

il 14

1,600 

1,620 

1,630 

1,580 

1,540 

1,550 

1,590 

1,700 

1,950 

2,420 

2,980 

4.310

-il 20

35,900 

30,000

"il 26

3,300 

2,800

y 2

1,290 

1,300 

1,420 

1,590 

1,670 

1,710

ly 8

1,590 

1,510 

1,520 

1,560 

1,720 

2,040

Gage 1 pisheight | charge

April 15

8.46 

9.06 

9.51 

9.76 

9.97 

10.18 

10.45 

10.96 

11.50 

12.09 

12.60 

13.13

5,340 

6,010 

6,550 

6,870 

7,140 

7,410 

7,790 

8,540 

9,400 

10,400 

11,400 

12,700

April 21

16.18 

15.10

Ap

5.40 

5.06

M

4.21 

4.11 

4.12 

4.12 

4.04 

3.98

M

5.42 

5.81 

5.63 

5.33 

4.94 

4.60

23,300 

18,300

ril 27

2,530 

2,280

iy3

1,690 

1,620 

1,620 

1,620 

1,570 

1,540

iy9

2,550 

2,860 

2,710 

2,470 

2,200 

1,960

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 16

13.32 

13.78 

14.17 

14.30 

14.45 

14.68 

14.86 

15.15 

15.45 

15.69 

15.86 

16.15

Ap

14.04 

13.00

Api

4.73 

4.46

M

3.84 

3.84 

3.84

Ma

4.30 

4.19 

4.14

13,200 

14,400 

15,300 

15,700 

16,200 

16,800 

17,400 

18,500 

19,700 

20,800 

21,700 

23.200

ril 22

15,000 

12,400

 il 28

2,050 

1,860

iy4

1,450 

1,450 

1,450

y 10

1,750 

1,670 

1,640

Gage I Dishei§ht| charge

April 17

16.82 

17.20 

17.20 

17.08 

16>82 

16.52 

16.25 

16.10 

16.02 

16.02 

16.03 

16.14

Ap

11.80 

10.80

Ap

4.23 

4.06

M

3.84 

3.84 

3.82

Ma

4.14 

4.08 

3.96 

3.94 

3.97 

4.04

27,100 

29,500 

29 , 500 

28,700 

27,100 

25,300 

23,700 

22,900 

22,500 

22,500 

22,600 

23.100

-il 23

9,900 

8,260

-il 29

1,700 

1,590

iy5

1,450 

1,450 

1,440

y 11

1,640 

1,600 

1,530 

1,510 

1,530 

1,570

Gage 

height

Api

16.42 

16.74 

16.90 

16.97 

16.97 

16.89 

16.80 

16.72 

16.77 

17.50 

20.36 

22.00

Api

9.85 

8.96

Ap

3.94 

3.78

Ma

3.81 

3.83 

3.98 

4.34 

4.51 

4.54

Ma

4.16 

4.30 

4.34 

4.34 

4.32 

4.30

Discharge

-il 18

24,700 

26,600 

27,600 

28,000 

28,000 

27,500 

27,000 

26,500 

26,800 

31,600 

61,600 

89,100

-il 24

6,940 

5,840

-il 30

1,510 

1,420

y 6

1,440 

1,450 

1,540 

1,780 

1,900 

1,920

y 12

1,650 

1,750 

1,780 

1,780 

1,760 

1,750

Gage 1 Disheightj charge

April 19

22.30 

22.18 

21.68 

20.38 

20.32 

19.92 

19.64 

19.40 

19.22 

19.05 

18.90 

18.76

Ap

8.10 

7.24

M

3.70 

3.60

M

4.51 

4.46 

4.46 

4.50 

4.47 

4.32

94,800 

92,500 

83,300 

69,700 

61,000 

55,400 

51,700 

48,800 

46,700 

44,800 

43,300 

41.900

ril 25

4,950 

4,110

ay 1

1,370 

1,310

ay 7

1,900 

1,860 

1,860 

1,890 

1,870 

1.760

May 13

4.21 

4.17 

4.16

1,690 

1,660 

1,650
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Cedar Creek near Pretty Rock, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 46°02' , long. 101°49', in S-J- sec. 33, T. 130 N. , R. 89 !«/., at county 

highway bridge, 7 miles north of Keldron, S. Dak., 10^ miles south of Pretty Rock, 

and 15 miles downstream from Timber Creek.

Drainage area. 1,260 square miles.

Gage-height~record. Water-stage recorder graph, except for period 7 a.m. Apr. 17 to 

3 p.m. Apr. 21, for which a graph was drawn based on floodmark in gage house and 

time of crest from local residents, hydrographer' s estimate of stage on Apr. 18, 

and observed inside gage readings on Apr. 19, 20.

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

below 7,720 second-feet and extended to peak stage on basis of slope area measurement. Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-16. Gage heights used to 

hundredths Apr. 17 to May 13; half tenths between 4.8 and 6.5 feet, tenths above 

and hundredths below these limits May 14 to June 30.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 48,000 second-feet at 9 

26.5 feet from floodmark in gage house).

1943 to March 1950: Discharge, 4,450 second-feet Apr. 10, 1944 (.gage height, 

14.9 feet).

Flood of Mar. 24, 1943 reached a stage of 21.8 feet, from floodmarks (discharge 

14,300 second-feet).

Remarks . Small diversions above station.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Apr. 17 (gage height,

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

10

15

20

30

40

50

100

80

60

50

May

246

250

278

258

234

222

230

242

282

306

June

57

55

50

49

47

47

47

245

296

111

Day

13

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

5C

4C

4C

5C

1,OOC

4,000

28,700

34,000

13,900

8,440

May

323

362

378

428

401

304

£28

187

161

137

June

75

60

55

49

45

42

41

39

39

38

Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet ..................

April

6,05C

3,70C

2.06C

1,44C

8B£

643

501

380

315

277

-

3,564

212,100

3.16

May

125

112

102

94

86

80

74

72

68

63

57

206

12,680

0.19

June

36

32

31

31

128

75

48

41

37

35

-

66.0

3,930

0.06

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

Gage 

height

Discharge

Gage Disheightj chargeGage 

height

Pischarge

Gage Dis- height charge

Gage height

Discharge

Gage 

height

Discharge

Ap April 15 April 16 April 17 April 18 April 19

6.37

7.2

7.70

8.72

10.47

13.40

13.49

13.5

13.50

13.39

13.92

14.47

13.72

14. 22

15.17

16.78

18.30

18.77

17,200

14,800

13,200

12,000

11,100

10,100

April 20 April 21 April 22 April 23 April 24 April 25

15.15

14.37

13.37

12.50

11.74

11.10

1,670

1,5'

1,460

1,330

1,20

1,090

Ap il 26 April 27 April 28 April 29 April 30

May 2 May 3 iy 4 May 5 May 6 May 7

4.47

4.61

244

277

4.6 

4.58

258

244

219

224

May8 May 9 May 10 May 11 May 12 May 13

4.44

4.52 4.7!

28

12 304

Supplemental record. Apr. 17, 9 p.in. , 26.5 ft., 46,000 aye.-ft.
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS 57 

Beaver Creek Basin

Beaver Creek at Linton, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 46°15'40", long. 100°14'00", on line between sections 17 and 18, T. 132 

N., R. 76 W., at bridge on U. S. Highway 85, 0.7 mile south of Linton and a mile upstream from Spring Creek.

Drainage area. 852 square miles.

Gage-height record. Graph drawn on basis of two or more wire-weight gage readings

daily for periods Apr. 1 to June 1, June 28, 29, once-daily readings June 2-27, 30.

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

Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-5.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 3,680 second-feet 5 a.m. Apr. 7 (gage height, 

16.50 feet 10 p.m. Apr. 7).

August 1949 to February 1950: Continuous low flow.

Remarks. Small diversions above station for irrigation.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

March

0.1

.1

.1

.1

.2

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

April

620

980

1,310

1,750

2,520

3,190

3,280

3,150

2,550

1,540

May

117

125

191

564

557

582

261

525

517

691

June

65

60

60

58

52

48

46

44

40

58

Day

11

12

IS

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

March

0.4

.4

.4

.4

.6

1.0

1.4

1.5

1.5

1.6

April

1,150

1,250

1,100

1,110

1,780

2,180

2,590

1,650

1,080

751

May

811

918

804

662

528

595

519

262

259

256

June

57

35

34

32

31

28

27

27

26

25

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Runoff, in acre-feet . . . ..... . ......... ................ ... .

Runoff, in inches .................................................

March

2.0

5.0

6.0

29

260

500

500

400

280

210

280

67.2

4,130

0.09

April

541

419

550

272

227

197

160

143

155

126

_

1,247

74,180

1.67

May

255

194

174

148

127

115

105

93

85

76

70

321

19,720

0. 44

June

24

23

25

22

548

240

761

420

191

150

-

99.8

5,940

0.15

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

1

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage

Mai

8.65 

8.60 

8.58 

8.60 

8.82 

9.24

AD

12.13 

12.46 

12.68 

12.34 

15.00 

15.52

Ap

16.20 

16.02 

15.64

Apr

11.51 

11.45

11.56 

11.55 

11.80 

15.00

Apr

10.15 

9.70 

9.55

Dis-

-ch 27

500 

290 

290 

290 

510 

540

ril 2

850 

920 

980 

1,040 

1,100 

1,190

ril 8

5,250 

5,100 

2,840

il 14

1,080 

1,060 

1,040 

1,050 

1,150 

1.550

il 20

766 

680 

606

April 26

6.41 

6.35 

6.28

200 

194

188

Gage DisMarch 28

9.90 

10.46 

10.65 

10.46 

10.18 

9.74

AD

15.64 

15.75 

15.60 

15.50 

13.65 

15.80

Ap

15.00 

14.50 

15.74

Apr

15.78 

15.99 

15.68 

15.55 

15.55 

15.85

40C 

420 

430 

420 

590 

540

ril 3

1,290 

1,520 

1,290 

1,300 

1,360 

1,400

ril 9

2,460 

2,200 

1,830

il 15

1,840 

1,940 

1,800 

1,670 

1,670 

1.880

April 21

9.05 

8.81 

8.56

Apr

6.15 

5.71 

5.58

557 

522 

482

il 27

175 

144 

135

Gage

Mai

9.55 

9.15 

8.92 

8.75 

8.53 

8.27

AD

14.02 

14. 2o 

14.35 

14.47 

14.66 

14.98

Apr

12.45 

12.05 

11.70

Apr

14.53 

14. 44 

14.56 

14.56 

14.50 

15.05

Disch 29

500 

280 

280 

280 

260 

240

ril 4

1,490 

1,590 

1,700 

1,820 

1,980 

2,200

il 10

1,540 

1,220 

1,120

il 16

2,220

2,170 

2,130 

2,130 

2,200 

2,490

April 22

8.25 

8.02 

7.80

432 

599 

568

April 28

5.64 

5.80 

5.74

137 

150 

146

Gage DisMarch 30

8.05 

7.86 

7.76 

7.67 

7.62 

7.65

API

15.50 

15.09 

15.12 

15.05 

15.57 

15.48

Apr

11.49 

11.90 

12.26

Apr

15.50 

15.17 

14.92 

14.64 

14.41 

14.18

220 

210 

200 

200 

190 

190

il 5

2,420 

2,410 

2,480 

2,540 

2,750 

2,840

a 11

1,070 

1,180 

1,290

a 17

2,640

2,560 

2,410 

2,270 

2,160 

2,040

April 23

7.60 

7.44 

7.28

540 

518 

296

April 29

5.58 

5.55 

5.51

135 

132 

130

Gage 1 DisMarch 31

7.79 

7.99 

8.55 

8.70 

9.26 

9.85

Ai

15.48 

15.30 

15.18 

15.45 

15.93 

16.08

Ap

12.23 

11.95 

11.69

Ap

15.99 

15.68 

1,5.54 

12.88 

12.49 

12.12

210 

220 

260 

500 

570 

440

sril 6

2,870 

2,950 

5,080 

5,510 

3,660 

5,660

ril 12

1,280 

1,200 

1,120

ril 18

1,940 

1,800 

1,670 

1,480 

1,360 

1,250

April 24

7.15 

7.00 

6.90

Ap

5.42 

5.46 

5.38

280 

262 

250

ril 30

124 

127

122

Gage 

heieht

Ap

10.82 

11.20 

11.24 

11.08 

11.10 

11.55

Ac

16.20 

15.90 

15.85 

16.17 

16.47 

16.45

Ap

11.56 

11.65 

11.58

Ap

11.85 

11.67 

11.60 

11.42 

11.10 

10.75

Ap

6.79 

6.59 

6.48

Discharee

ril 1

560 

620 

640 

650 

660 

740

ril 7

3,520 

3,020 

2,970 

5,210 

3,420 

5,590

ril 13

1,090 

1,110 

1,100

-il 19

1,160 

1,120 

1,100 

1,060 

975 

890

il 25

237

217 

206

May 1

5.32 

5.28 

5.22

118 

116 

112
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Beaver Creek at LInton, N. Dak. Continued

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

l>

a

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

tiage

height

DisMay 2

5.22 

5.29 

5.40 

5.46 

5.64 

5.83

Ma

7.31 

7.45 

7.48 

7.53 

7.70 

7.94

112 lie

123 

127 

139 

152

f S

299 

319 

323 

330 

354 

388

Gage I DisMay 3

5.97 

6.06 

6.17 

6.32 

6.70 

7.10

ME

8.19 

8.47 

8.71 

9.00 

9.36 

9.77

162 

170 

179 

192 

228 

274

iv 9

423 

467 

506 

552 

612 

694

Gage 

height

Discharge

May 4

7.50 

7.90 

8.00 

7.92 

7.85 

7.79

326 

382 

396 

385 

375 

367

May 10

10.00 

9.86 

9.72 

9.59 

9.60 

9.76

740 

712 

684 

658 

660 

692

Gage 

heieht

Discharge

May 5

7.65 

7.71 

7.80

347

355 

368

May 11

10.02 

10.28 

10.41 

10.48 

10.62 

10.85

744 

796 

822 

836 

864 

912

Gage 

heifht

Discharffe

May 6

7.82 

7.85 

7.90 

7.97 

8.00 

7.90

M

11.04 

11.02 

10.90 

10.81 

10.71 

10.56

371 

375 

382 

392 

396 

382

ay 12

960 

955 

925 

902 

882 

852

Gage 

height

Disnharffe

May 7

7.60 

6.92 

6.60 

6.50 

6.68 

6.98

340 

252 

218 

208 

226 

260

May 13

10.42 

10.32 

10.34 

10.34 

10.20 

10.02

824

804 

808 

808 

780 

744

Supplemental record. Mar. 28, 10 a.m., 10.60 ft., 430 sec.-ft.; Apr. 1, 6 a.m., 11.13 ft. 

610 sec.-ft.; 6 p.m., 11.03 ft., 650 sec.-ft.; Apr. 5, 3 a.m., 15.40 ft., 2,430 sec.- 

ft.; 6 a.m., 15.06 ft., 2,380 sec.-ft.; 3 p.m., 15.04 ft., 2,480 sec.-ft.; Apr. 7, 

3 a.m., 16.25 ft., 3,680 sec.-ft.; 6 a.m., 15.95 ft., 3,200 sec.-ft.j 10 p.m., 16.50 

ft., 3,440 sec.-ft.j Apr. 12, 4 a.m., 12.29 ft., 1,300 aec.-ft.; Apr. 15, 6 a.m., 

14.04 ft., 1,970 sec.-ft.; Apr. 16, 3 a.m., 14.48 ft., 2,190 aec.-ft.; 6 a.m., 14.58 

ft., 2,240 sec.-ft.; Apr. 17, 5:30 a.m., 15.30 ft., 2,640 aec.-ft.
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS 

Grand River Basin

North Fork Grand River at Haley, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 45°57', long. 103°07', in NE^ sec. 36, T. 129 N., R. 100 W. , at 

bridge on county road about 300 feet south of Post Office at Haley, and half a 

mile north of the South Dakota State line.

Drainage area. 509 square miles.

Gage-height record. Wire-weight gage read once daily except Apr. 7-21 when it was 

read two or more times a day. Daily mean gage heights computed from graph based 

on gage readings Apr. 2 to May 13.

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

below 5,000 second-feet and extended to peak stage on basis of slope-area measurement. Affected by ice Apr. 1-15. Shifting control used June 27-30.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 11,300 second-feet 3-7 p.m., Apr. 15 (gage 

heTght, 17.10 feet).

1908-17, 1945 to March 1950: Discharge observed, 5,810 second-feet, Mar. 31, 

1913, discharge measurement (gage height, 9.85 feet, datum then in use).

Remarks. No known regulation or diversion.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

2

2

2

2

2

140

730

1,600

1,000

900

May

50

53

60

84

96

138

282

398

241

643

.June

15

14

12

10

11

12

12

12

12

11

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

840

820

1,000

3,130

9,160

9,300

4,020

1,550

627

324

May

627

231

134

84

57

62

86

65

43

36

June

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

11

9.6

9.6

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet ..................

Runoff, in inches ..............................

April

236

196

161

161

173

165

109

77

63

57

-

1,218

72,490

2.67

May

30

24

24

23

23

22

20

18

20

18

14

120

7,350

0.27

June

9.6

8.2

7.9

7.9

9.0

8.2

7.9

7.6

6.9

6.6

-

10.3

611

0.02

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

t, 

3 

0

»

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Ap

11.98 

12.12 

12.32 

12.47 

12.68 

12.89 

13.13 

13.44 

13.78 

14.34 

14.58 

14.74

Discharge

-il 14

1,750 

1,900 

2,090 

2,270 

2,500 

2,770 

3,080 

3,500 

3,990 

4,820 

5,280 

5,640

April 20

7.26 

7.10 

6.97

Ap

6.53 

6.46 

6.33

Ms

5.61 

5.64

M

7.46 

7.52 

7.57 

7.55 

7.45 

7.28

337 

296 

265

il 26

174 

162 

141

y 2

53 

56

ay 8

391 

408 

422 

416 

388 

342

Gage 

height

Ap

14.90 

15.07 

15.25 

15.48 

15.98 

16.42 

16.98 

17.10 

17.10 

17.09 

17.08 

17.07

Discharge

-il 15

6,030 

6,470 

6,930 

7,510 

8,680 

9,670 

11,000 

11,300 

11,300 

11,300 

11,200 

11,200

April 21

6.88 

6.78 

6.73

Ap

6.16 

6.03 

5.93

M

5.65 

5.67 

5.68 

5.70 

5.72 

5.76

M

7.06 

6.82 

6.71 

6.68 

6.76 

6.98

245 

223 

212

-il 27

115 

98 

86

»y3

56 

58 

59 

61 

63 

67

ly 9

286 

231 

208 

202 

219 

267

Gage 

height

Api

16.95 

16.87 

16.47 

15.84 

15.32 

14.78

Discharge

-il 16

10,900 

10,700 

9,780 

8,370 

7,310 

6,300

April 22

6.67 

6.63 

6.56

200 

193 

180

April 28

5.86 

5.83 

5.79

78 

74 

70

May 4

5.87 

5.94 

5.94 

5.95 

5.95 

5.96

Ma

7.33 

7.83 

8.38 

8.92 

9.22 

9.27

79 

87 

87 

88 

88 

89

y 10

355 

499 

664 

826 

916 

931

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 17

14.25 

13.74 

13.18 

12.68 

12.07 

11.64

Ap

6.48 

6.40 

6.40

^ Ap

5.70 

5.68

M

5.98 

6.03 

6.10

Ma

9.12 

8.70 

8.23 

7.76 

7.45 

7.23

5,400 

4,640 

3,880 

3,280 

2,630 

2,240

ril 23

166 

152

152

-il 29

61 

59

iy5

92 

98 

107

y 11

886 

760 

619 

478 

388 

329

Gage 

height

Api

11.33 

11.18 

10.78 

10.08 

9.49 

9.08

Api

6.43

6.48 

6.50

Ap

5.67 

5.60

Ma

6.21 

6.34 

6.62

Ma

7.05 

6.91 

6.78 

6.67 

6.57 

6.48

Discharge

-il 18

1,990 

1,890 

1,620 

1,240 

997 

874

il 24

157 

166 

169

-il 30

58 

52

ye

122 

142 

191

y 12

284 

251 

223 

200 

182 

166

Gage i pisheight 1 charge

April 19

8.49 

7.97 

7.54

Ap

6.58 

6.53 

6.55

M

5.56 

5.58

M

6.91 

7.17 

7.38

Ma

6.34 

6.22 

6.11

697 

541 

414

ril 25

173 

174 

178

ay 1

49

50

ay 7

251 

314 

369

y 13

142 

124 

108

Supplemental record. Apr. 14, 6:50 p.m., 

4,520 sec. -ft.; Apr. 15, 3 p.m., 17.10 

sec. -ft.; May 8, 2 p.m., 7.59 ft., 428

13.99 feet, 4,290 sec. -ft.; 7 p.m., 14.15 ft., 

ft., 11,300 sec. -ft.; 7 p.m., 17.10 ft., 11,300 

sec. -ft.; May 9, 2 p.m., 6.67 ft., 200 sec. -ft.
60 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

North Fork: Grand River near White Butte, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 45°4B'10", long. 102°21'35", in NW-iNW^ sec. 11, T. 21 N., R. 14 E. , 

at county highway bridge, a quarter of a mile upstream from nearest tributary, 

9f miles south of White Butte, and IS miles upstream from confluence with South 

Fork.

Drainage area. 1,190 square niles.

Gage-height, record. Water-stage recorder graph 12 p.11. Apr. 2, to 5 a.m. Apr. 3, 

8 pTm. Apr. 3 to 12 p.m. Apr. 7, 3 a.m. Apr. 15 to 5 a.m. Apr. 16. 3raph drawn 

on banis of fragmentary reorder record and once- or twice-daily wire-weight gage 

readings rect of period Apr. 1 to May 25. Daily readings May 26 to June 30. 

No reading May 29, June 5.

Pis charge record. Stage-dl^harge relation defined by current-meter measurements 

below 4,300 second-feet and extended to peak stage on basis of logarithmic plotting and slope-area measurement. Affected by ice Apr. 1-15. Shifting-control 

method used June 24-33.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 30,900 second-feet 2 p.m. Apr. 16 (gage height, 

20.n feet, from floodmarks).

1945 to March 1950: Discharge observed, 7,040 second-feet Mar. 24, 1947 (gage 

height, 12.35 feet).

Remarks. No regulation or diversion.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

50

150

350

250

30U

650

500

850

1,200

May

260

258

276

280

280

294

304

371

480

474

June

51

48

46

42

44

38

31

46

38

44

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

1,600

1,100

900

1,200

4,300

22,800

21,800

8,770

3,390

1,300

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet .....

May

588

762

450

317

259

215

181

157

171

148

June

45

41

44

37

34

34

30

31

29

30

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Runoff, in acre-feet ................ . ..........

Runoff, in inches ..............................

April

1,350

1,330

998

730

542

452

400

354

312

281

-

2,627

156,300

2.46

May

119

111

99

101

85

77

70

68

64

59

56

240

0.23

June

26

27

25

25

26

22

21

20

19

18

-

0.03

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

t,

3 

O

2

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 14

8.48 

8.48 

8.51 

8.73 

9.00 

9.30

April 20

7.42 

7.25 

7.10

Ap

5.54 

5.50 

5.48

Ma

4.97

5.00

1,810 

1,670 

1,550

ril 26

458 

440 

432

y 2

256 

265

May8

5.30 

5.48

365 

432

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

9.39

9.57 

9.76 

9.43 

9.01 

9.43 

10.35 

10.88 

11.13 

12.69 

13.33 

13.82

3,540 

4,360 

4,880 

5,160 

7,240 

8,200 

8,930

April 21

6.88 

6.69 

6.88

Ap

5.43 

5.37 

5.30

M

5.05 

5.04

M

5.62 

5.63

1,370 

1,220 

1,370

ril 27

412 

390

365

ly 3

281 

278

iy 9

495 

500

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 16

14.23 

14.78 

16.00 

17.20 

18.60 

19.76 

20.00 

19.97 

19.93 

19.87 

19.78 

19.68

9,540 

10,600 

13,200 

17,060 

23,200 

29,500 

30,900 

30,700 

30,500 

30,100 

29 , 600 

29,000

April 22

7.04 

6.70 

6.60

1,500 

1,230 

1,150

April 28

5.30 

5.25 

5.20

365 

348 

330

May 4

5.05 

5.04

281 

278

May 10

5.57

5.53

472 

454

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 17

19.00 

17.65 

16.05

25,200 

18,800 

13,400

April 23

6.52 

6.30 

6.18

Ap

5.16 

5.13 

5.10

M

5.04 

5.07

1,090 

915 

826

"il 29

317 

307 

297

iy s

278 

287

May 11

5.50 

5.92 

6.25

440 

657 

878

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 18

14. 40 

12.72 

11.04

Api

6.11 

5.99

5.82

9,800 

7,280 

5,050

-il 24

777 

699 

601

April 30

5.07 

5.04 

5.00

Ma

5.10 

5.10

287 

278 

265

y 6

297 

297

May 12

6.30 

6.23 

6.10 

5.97 

5.85 

5.74

915 

862 

770 

687 

618 

557

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 19

9.65 

8.55 

7.97

Ap

5.77 

5.65 

5.60

M

4.98 

4.97

3,740 

2,770 

2,270

ril 25

574 

510 

485

ay 1

259 

256

May 7

5.10 

5.18

297 

323

May 13

5.50 

5.30

440 

365

Supplemental record. Apr. 15, 7 

3,100 sec.-ft.

n., 9.93 ft., 3,100 sec.-ft.; 9 a.m., 8.99 ft.
GRAND RIVER BASIN

Grand River at Shadehill, S. Dak.

Location-' Lat. 45°46', long. 102°11', in SE^ sec. 19, T. 21 N., R. 16 E., at bridge 

on State Highway 73 at Shadehill, 1 mile downstream from Shadehill Dam, 5 miles 

downstream from confluence of North Pork and South Fork, and 12 miles south of 

Lemmon. Datum of gage is 2,186.46 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929.

Drainage area. 3,120 square miles.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph 5 a.m. Apr. 4 to 6 p.m. Apr. 7, 10 a.m. 

Apr. 9 to 12- p.m. Apr. 10, 8 a.m. Apr. 11 to 2 a.m. Apr. 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Apr. 

12, 7 p.m. Apr. 14 to 10 a.m. Apr. 15, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Apr. 15, 3 p.m. Apr. 19 to 

10 p.m. Apr. 26, 10 p.m. May 8 to 5 p.m. May 13, 8 p.m. May 31 to June 30; graph 

based on partial recorder record, twice-daily readings of wire-weight gage, highwater marks, weather records, and other pertinent data for rest of period.

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

below 52,000 second-feet and extended to peak stage on basis of contract-opening 

and slope-area measurements. Affected by ice Apr. 1-14.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 58,000 second-feet 7 p.m. Apr. 16 (gage height, 

21.0 feet, from floodmarks upstream from bridge - 19.06 feet, from floodmark in gage 

well, unreliable).

1904-06, 1943 to March 1950: Discharge, 18,000 second-feet Apr. 7, 1944; gage 

height, 18.7 feet Feb. 20, 1943 (ice jam).

Remarks. Small diversions above station. Low water flow affected by construction 

operations at Shadehill Dam prior to June 30, 1950, and by storage thereafter.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

160

153

162

704

1,840

2,360

4,160

6,370

3,150

2,340

May

491

524

605

882

762

653

883

869

985

961

June

122

ioe

10E

99

94

94

106

121

99

108

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

2,510

2,000

1,630

1,970

9,830

42,500

37,300

21,600

8,230

3,610

May

3 ,47C

1,460

1,OOC

758

617

512

440

572

410

368

June

106

90

82

80

70

75

110

101

76

82

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet ..................

April

2,450

2,540

2,130

1,720

1,320

1,060

843

706

609

517

-

5,649

330,200

1.98

May

326

256

235

200

178

165

160

146

135

123

126

557

34,260

0.21

June

79

73

71

66

75

65

65

70

79

40

-

87.1

5,180

0.03

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

I

2

4

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

4

8

N

4

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

4

a

N

4

a

12

Gage 

height

Ap

7.40

7.36

7.10

7.53

8.42

9.42

Discharge

-il 14

1,680

1,640

1,440

1,780

2,600

3,760

April 20

9.48

9.02

8.73

8.45

8.27

8.12

Ap

6.24

6.13

5.99

Ma

5.37

5.40

4,330

3,800

3,480

3,180

2,980

2,820

ril 26

1,100

1,020

923 j

y 2

534

550

May8

5.92

5.87

5.86

5.85

5.95

6.09

874

839

832

825

895

993

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

10.66

12.50

13.68

14.90

15.61

1.6.78

5,240

7,850

9,790

12,100

13,700

16,800

April 21

7.98

7.85

7.70

7.57

7.55

7.58

Ap

5.87

5.77

M

5.48

5.63

2,680

2,550

2,400

2,270

2,250

2j_280

ril 27

839

770 j

*y3

594

683

May 9

6.09

6.05

6.10

993

965

1,000

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 16

17. 8£

19.28

20. 5E

20. 9C

20. 9£

20.57

Ap

7.70

7.91

8.05

8.00

7.78

7.58

Ap

5.66

5.58

M

6.08

5.92

21,200

34,100

51,000

56,400

57,700

51,200

ril 22

2,400

2,610

2,750

2,700

2,480

2,280

ril 28

701

653

ay 4

986

874

May 10

6.07

6.03

6.00

6.00

5.99

6.25

979

951

930

930

923

1,110

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 17

19. 8£

19.06

18.26

17. 52

17.00

16.61

46,OOC

41,200

36,30C

31,90C

29,10C

27,OOC

April 23

7.55

7.56

7.43

7.34

7.26

7.20

Ap

5.51

5.42

2,250

2,260

2,130

2,050

1,970

1.920

- il 29

611

561

May 5

5.74

5.61

751

671

May 11

6.52

6.77

6.78

6.82

6.75

6.75

1,320

1,530

1,540

1,580

1,520

1,520

Gage 

height

Pischarge

April 18

16. 3C

16.10

15.79

15.25

14. 7C

14.07

25,300

24,200

22,50C

19,900

17,20C

14,300

April 24

7.10

7.00

7.00

6.92

6.84

6.76

1,830

1,740

1,740

1,670

1,600

1.520

April 30

5.32

5.30

Ms

5.55

5.61

506

495

ys

635

671

May 12

6.82

6.82

6.75

6.64

6.50

6.38

1,580

1,580

1,520

1,420

1,300

1,200

hGe!|gt

Ap

13.30

12.62

12.00

11.22

10.60

9.97

Ap

6.57

6.42

6.36

M

5.30

5.27

M

5.74

6.03

6.02

5.98

6.02

5.97

Discharge

ril 19

11,100

8,750

7,700

6,530

5,680

4,910

ril 25

1,360

1,240

1.190

ay 1

495

480

ay 7

751

951

944

916

944

909

May 13

6.16

6.02

5.90

1,040

944

860

Supplemental record. Apr. 16, 7 p. 21.0ft., 58,000 sec. -ft.
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Grand River near Wakpala, S. Dak.

Location. Let. 45°39'55", long. 100°38'20", in NWi SEi sec. 26, T. 20 ti. , R. 28 E. , 

at bridge on U. S. Highway 12, 5 miles west of Wakpala, 8 miles upstream from Deep 

Bank Creek, and 21 miles upstream from mouth.

Drainage area. . 5,510 square miles.. 

Sage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except for May 26 to June 12, when

record is from once-daily wire-weight gage readings. No gage readings on May 27,

29, 31, June 2, 4, 6, 8, 12. 

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

Stage-discharge relation af-fected by ice Apr. 1-3; discharge computed on basis of

gage heights and weather records. Discharge for days of no gage-height record was

interpolated. Shifting-control method used Apr. 4-18, Apr. 23 to June 30. Gage

heights used to hundredths. 

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 82,200 second-feet Apr. 18 (gage height, 22.75

fe¥t).

1911-18, 1928 to March 1950: Discharge, 32,000 second-feet Apr. 9, 10, 1944

(gage height, 19.5 feet). 

Remarks. Small diversion above station.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

900

1,400

5,000

7,470

6,590

7,200

10,100

12,800

9,480

6,740

May

1,290

1,270

1,230

1,240

1,210

1,880

2,160

2,500

4,060

4,800

June

264

255

246

230

210

200

185

240

616

710

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

4,790

4,300

4,460

4,840

7,430

12,900

15,700

50,200

55,700

32,700

May

2,800

2,060

2,490

2,380

1,750

1,330

1,220

1,100

1,100

1,070

June

448

390

337

294

264

228

222

216

200

190

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

10,400

5,800

4,710

4,260

3,580

2,900

2,180

1,670

1,580

1,360

-

593,300

2.02

May

1,140

858

700

570

507

416

380

344

320

294

280

0.30

June

210

210

185

165

185

200

175

130

195

185

-

0.05

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

t, 3 O

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Ap

8.92 

8.91 

8.88 

8.88 

8.88 

8.89 

8.95 

9.03 

9.17 

9.34 

9.42 

9.49

Ap

17.69 

16.96 

16.10 

15.28 

14.25 

13. lp

Ap

8.09 

7.99 

7.95 

 7.89 

7.82 

7.75

Ma

6.77 

6.76 

6.78 

6.76 

6.78 

6.77

M

7.24 

7.28 

7.42 

7.55 

7.51 

7.37

Pischarge

-il 14

4,680 

4,670 

4,630 

4,630 

4,630 

4,640 

4,720 

4,830 

5,030 

5,270 

5,380 

5 ( 490

11 20

41,700 

37,500 

32,800 

28,400 

23,100 

18,000

ril $6

3,110 

2,950 

2,880 

2,790 

2,680 

2.560

y 2

1,270 

1,260 

1,280 

1,260 

1,280 

1,270

iy s

2,160 

2,250 

2,550 

2,880 

2,790 

2,440

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

9.55 

9.68 

9.79 

9.97 

10.25 

10.53 

10.86 

11.18 

11.47 

11.88 

12.08 

12.35

5,580 

5,770 

5,940 

6,210 

6,660 

7,110 

7,670 

8,230 

8,760 

9,530 

9,920 

10.500

April 21

12.07 

11.38 

10.97 

10.62 

10.29 

9.98

Ap

7.64 

7.57 

7.50 

7.42 

7.32 

7.24

M

6.74 

6.73 

6.72 

6.72 

6.77 

6.77

M

7.28 

7.51 

8.08 

8.39 

8.53 

8.59

13,400 

10,900 

9,620 

8,620 

7,730 

6,950

ril 27

2,400 

2,300 

2,190 

2,070 

1,930 

1,820

iy3

1,230 

1,220 

1,210 

1,210 

1,270 

1,270

iy 9

2,250 

2,790 

4,340 

5,270 

5,590 

5,730

Gage 

height

Ap

12.66 

12.95 

13.08 

13.23 

13.38 

13.59 

13.78 

14.00 

14.10 

14.22 

14.22 

14.32

Ap

9.80 

9.61 

9.50 

9.35 

9.19

rJWfc

Ap

7.18 

7.10 

7.06 

6.95 

7.22 

7.J.5

M

6.76 

6.75 

6.75 

6.76 

6.76 

6.75

Ma

8.58 

8.41 

8.21 

8.02 

7.93 

7.80

Pischarge

il 16

11,100 

11,700 

12,000 

12,300 

12,600 

13,000 

13,400 

13,900 

14,100 

14,300 

14,300 

14.600

il 22

6,510 

6,050 

5,800 

5,460 

5,100 

5f 010

-il 28

1,760 

1,660 

1,600 

1,460 

1,810 

}- 7?°

y4

1,260 

1,240 

1,240 

1,260 

1,260 

I r 240

y 10

5,610 

5,320 

4,730 

4,170 

3,910 

3,560

hGe!fht

Pischarge

April 17

14.42

14.58 

14.60 

14.73 

14.79 

14.86 

14.98 

15.08 

15.10 

15.20 

15.33 

15.47

Ap

9.06 

9.00 

8.94 

8.92 

8.95 

8.92

Api

7.12 

7.10 

7.07 

7.00 

6.93

6 T 92M

M,

6.71 

6.72 

6.71 

6.71 

6.71 

6.71

14,800 

15,100 

15,100 

15,400 

15,500 

15,700 

15,900 

16,100 

16,200 

16,400 

16,600 

16.900

nil 23

4,840 

4,710 

4,580 

4,540 

4,610

-Jg&a

"il 2$

1,680 

1,660

1,620 

1,520 

1,440

fWS9 iys

1,200 

1,210 

1,200 

1,200 

1,200 

1,200

May 11

7.70 

7.53 

7.52 

7.41 

7.31 

7.20

3,290 

3,090 

2,800 

2,540 

2,310 

2,070

S$t

Ap

15.62 

15.81 

16.19 

17.61 

20.17 

22.30 

22.75 

22.63 

22.37 

21.95 

21.65 

21 T 38

Api

8.94 

8.85 

8.74 

8.64 

8.53 

8.56

Ap

6.89 

6.88 

6.85 

6.84 

6.83 e^ai

Ma

6.82 

7.12 

7.19 

7.27 

7.21 

7.21

Ma

7.20 

7.21 

7.19 

7.19 

7.19 

7.18

Discharge

 il 18

17,200 

17,600 

18,500 

22,900 

37,600 

75,300 

82,200 

80,300 

76,400 

70,600 

67,000 

64.600

-il 24

4,610 

4,420 

4,200 

4,020 

4,000 

, 3 »?70

ril SS

1,400 

1,390 

1,350 

1,340 

1,330 

J.340

y 6

1,360 

1,890 

2,060 

2,240 

2,090 

2,090

y 12

2,070 

2,090 

2,060 

2,060 

2,060 

2,030

Cage 

height

Ap

21.15 

20.94 

20.68 

20.40 

20.13 

19.85 

19.64 

19.56 

19.51 

19.24 

18.89 

^8,5^

Ap

8.51 

8.42 

8.36 

8.31 

8.31 

8.17

M

6.80 

6.80 

6.79 

6.78 

6.78 

6.79

M

7.24 

7.26 

7.20 

7.25 

7.27 

7.30

Pischarge

ril 19

62,900 

61,600 

60,000 

58,200 

56,500 

54,800 

53,500 

53,000 

52,700 

51,000 

48,900

46, j § P, 9,

ril 25

3,800 

3,640 

3,540 

3,460 

3,460 

3,, 220

ay 1

1,290 

1,290 

1,280 

1,270 

1,270 

1.280

ay 7

2,160 

2,220 

2,070 

2,190

2,240 

2,300

May 13

7.32 

7.42 

7.44 

7.42 

7.39 

7.43

2,320 

2,550 

2,610 

2,550 

2,490 

2,580
GRAND RIVER BASIN

South Fork Grand River near Cash, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 45°38'55", long. 102 38'45", in NEtSWiSEt sec. 33, T. 20 N., R. 12 E., 

at county highway bridge, 1 mile upstream from Little Nasty Creek, 4 miles north of 

Cash, and 16 miles downstream from Big Nasty Creek.

Drainage area. 1,350 square miles.

Sage-height""reeord. Water-stage recorder graph 6 p.m.'to 11 p.m. Apr. 4, 7 a.m. Apr. 5 

to 10 p.m. Apr. 7, 4 p.m. Apr. 9 to 6 p.m. Apr. 10, 2 p.m. Apr. 14 to 9:30 a.m. Apr. 

17, 3 p.m. Apr. 18 to 12 m. Apr. 19, 9 a.m. May 10 to 12 m. May 11; graph based on 

partial recorder record and frequent gage readings rest of period Apr. 4 to May 

20; daily wire-weight gage readings Apr. 1-3, May 22 to June 30; except no record 

Apr. 2, 20, 22, 23, Apr. 28 to May 1, May 7, 14, 21, 28, 30, June 4, 11, 18, 25.

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

14,000 second-feet and extended to peak stage on basis of slope-area measurement. 

Affected by ice Apr. 1-5. Shifting-control method used Apr. 14, 15, 20, 21, May 

6-17. Discharge for period of no gage-height record computed by interpolation, 

weather records, and by comparison with stations nearby.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 27,000 second-feet 8 p.m. Apr. 15 (gage height, 

15.40 feet).

1945 to March 1950: Daily discharge, 5,000 second-feet Mar. 23, 1947; gage 

height observed, 14.35 feet Mar. 22, 1947 (ice jam).

Remarks. No regulation or diversions.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

110

100

120

700

1,630

1,850

4,820

3,340

1,660

84C

May

350

476

507

398

311

462

450

411

292

400

June

39

37

36

35

34

33

30

51

62

41

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

703

730

574

1,410

13,600

15,600

7,120

3,260

1,210

621

May

392

228

183

150

125

131

242

150

109

89

June

40

35

37

46

50

81

50

45

38

35

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

426

450

500

563

528

390

256

240

220

200

-

1.76

May

80

68

62

58

51

51

49

45

44

44

43

208

12,800

0.18

June

32

30

26

24

25

27

71

50

35

27

-

40.1

2,380

0.03

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

i,

1

2

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Ap

4.48 

4.56 

4.67 

4.79 

4.95 

5.14 

5.36 

5.90 

7.02 

7.56 

7.94 

8.34

Pischarge

-il 14

531 

534 

606 

656 

726 

819 

909 

1,260 

2,370 

2,970 

3,380 

3,820

April 20

5.50 

5.53

Ap

5.02 

4.81

Ma

5.24 

5.27

568 

492

nil 26

385 

297

y2

504 

522

May 8

5.24 

5.16

415 

362

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

8.87 

9.60 

10.59 

11.32 

12.15 

12.75 

13.12 

13.72 

14.40 

15.40 

15.35 

15.10

4,360

5,160 

6,500 

7,850 

9,860 

11,800 

13,300 

16,400 

20,400 

27,000 

26,600 

24,900

April 21

5.40 

5.30

Ap

4.68 

4.56

M

5.24, 

5.20 

5.18 

5.27 

5.33 

5.22

M

5.02 

4.86

420 

370

ril 27

254 

220

*y3

504 

480 

469 

522 

561 

492

ly 9

290 

22V

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 16

14.81 

14.39 

13.82 

13.43 

13.16 

13.05 

13.01 

13.07 

13.20 

13.30 

13.15 

12.92

23,000 

20,300 

16,900 

14,8'00 

13,500 

13,000 

12,800 

13,100 

13,700 

14,200 

13,500 

12,500

April 22

April 28

M

5.02 

4.90

Ma

4.89 

5.10 

5.37 

5.44 

5.74 

5.64

ly 4

385 

330

y 10

233 

297 

405 

436 

632 

568

&$t

Discharge

April 17

12.54 

12.17 

11.69 

11.24 

10.90 

10.71 

10.52 

10.32 

10.12 

9.91 

9.70 

9.49

Ap

5.39

Ap

M

4.84 

4.81

11,000 

9,710 

8,400 

7,380 

6,700 

6,340 

6,030 

5,750 

5,470 

5,190 

4,940 

4,690

ril 23

603

rtl 29

iy5

308 

297

May 11

5.60 

5.35 

5.25 

5.17 

5.09 

5.01

540 

405 

362 

326 

300 

276

5.74 ft., 632 sec. -ft., 11 p.m., 5.60 ft., 540 sec. -ft.; 

610 sec. -ft.

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 18

9.28 

9.07 

8.85 

8.62 

8.39 

8.17 

7.93 

7.71 

7.59 

7.39 

7.22 

7.03

Ap

5.33

5.28

Ap

Ms

5.06 

5.34 

5.32

Ma

4.79 

4.66

4,440 

4,180 

3,940 

3,680 

3,430 

3,190 

2,930 

2,710 

2,590 

2,390 

2,220 

2,030

ril 24

561 

528

rtl 30

ye

405 

568 

528

y 12

220 

194

S£t

Ap

6.84 

6.59 

6.38 

6.16 

6.02 

5.91 

5.89 

5.86 

5.83 

5.80 

5.76 

5.72

Discharge

ril 19

1,860 

1,630 

1,440 

1,240 

1,120 

1,020 

1,000 

976 

950 

925 

891 

857

April 25

5.31 

5.22

M

5.00

M

5.26

547 

492

ay 1

375

ay 7

452

May 13

4.58 

4.53

180 

178

May 11, 2 a.m., 5.70 ft.,
84 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Moreau River Basin

Moreau River at Blxby, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 45°08'35", long. 102°33'25", in NWiSE^ sec. 29, T. 14 N., R. 13 E. , 300 

feet (revised) below county highway "bridge, a quarter of a mile east of Bixby and 

2-g miles downstream from Bixby Dam site. Datum of gage is 2431.02 feet above mean sea 

level (Bureau of Reclamation bench mark).

Drainage area. 1,570 square miles.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except for periods 9 p.m. Apr. 6 to 

1 a.m. Apr. 7, 5-9 a.m. Apr. 7, 3 p.m. Apr. 7 to 9 a.m. Apr. 8, 1-8 a.m. Apr. 15, 

1-8 p.m. May 10, for which graph was projected from adjacent record.

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

Affected by ice Apr. 1-6. Shifting-control method used Apr. 10-13, Apr. 17 to May 3, 

May 15 to June 30.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 10,500 second-feet 5 p.m. Apr. 16 (gage height, 

T4765 feet).

1904-6, 1948 to March 1950: Discharge, 5,420 second-feet Mar. 23, 1949 (gage 

height, 11.0 feet, observer's estimate).

Remarks. No regulation or diversion at present.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

200

1,300

2,900

2,710

2,730

2,960

6,590

5,740

3,900

1,500

May

105

123

178

484

744

650

852

687

542

947

.June

26

23

21

21

20

18

18

22

20

20

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet

April

901

729

871

2,530

8,490

9,420

4,880

2,260

1,180

602

May

1,410

824

291

146

108

89

77

69

59

53

June

24

20

18

33

33

21

22

19

17

16

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

363

295

326

313

266

203

160

131

119

110

-

2,156 

128,300

1.53

May

48

43

39

35

34

34

32

29

28

26

30

284 

17,490

0.21

June

18

14

13

11

40

33

21

94

138

74

-

29.6 

1,760

0.02

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

L,

1

4 

3

N 

4

a

12

4

a

N 

4

a

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 1 Disheightl charge

April 2

6.76 

7.00 

7.51 

8.50 

9.55 

12.40

Ap

11.30 

11.25 

11.32 

11.30 

11.23 

11.10

Api

6.07 

6.84 

7.40 

8.28 

9.22 

11.10

Api

5.12 

4.95 

4.79 

4.67 

4. 62 

4.53

Api

3.70 

3.57 

3.49

600 

750 

1,000 

1,600 

2,300 

2,500

ril 8

5,760 

5,700 

5,780 

5,760 

5,680 

5,530

-il 14

1,330 

1,810 

2,190 

2,850 

3,650 

5,530

il 20

762 

650 

560 

503 

481 

442

il 26

220 

187 

170

May 2

3.18 

3.18 

3.20 

3.20 

3.24 

3.43

117

117 

120 

120 

126 

161

Gage I Disheighlj charge

April 3

12.83 

13.05 

9.30 

8.17 

8.90 

9.46

Ap

10.72 

10.20 

9.45 

8.83 

8.14 

7.34

Ap

12.50 

13.23 

13.64 

13.87 

14.02 

13.99

Ap

4.43 

4.33 

4.24 

4.17 

4.11 

4.09

Ap

3.47 

3.40 

3.33

M

3.55

3.50 

3.45 

3.47 

3.57 

3.78

2,900 

3,100 

3,200 

2,300 

2,800 

3,30C

ril 9

5,110 

4,570 

3,860 

3,310 

2,740 

2,150

ril 15

7,260 

8,300 

8,910 

9,260 

9,490 

9,440

ril 21

409 

378 

351 

340

32S 

318

ril 27

170 

155 

142

ay 3

182 

172 

161 

165 

187 

243

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 4

8.40 

7.98 

8.07 

8.90 

9.02 

9.25

A

6.73 

6.52

6.25 

6.19 

6.10 

6.00

A

13.79 

13.89 

14.29 

14.64 

14.05 

11.90

A

4.08 

4.03 

3.97 

3.93

4.00 

4.10

A

3.28 

3.25 

3.20

2,490 

2,190 

2,260 

2,900 

3,020 

3,230

pril 10

1,720 

1,580 

1,400 

1,360 

1,290 

1,220

pril 16

9,140 

9,280 

9,920 

10,500 

9,540 

6,480

pril 22

315 

298 

279 

266 

288 

322

3 ril 28

133 

128

120

May 4

3.96 

4.23

4.46 

4.60 

4.96 

5.19

279 

374 

468 

530 

713 

840

Gage 1 Disheighlj charge

April 5

9.18 

8.50 

8.14 

8.18 

8.52 

8.49

Ai

5.72 

5.43 

5.38 

5.26 

5.32 

5.40

AI

11.10 

11.22 

10.92 

10.00 

8.90 

8.15

AI

4.17 

4.15 

4.08 

4.04 

4.07 

4.10

Ai

3.20 

3.19 

3.17

3,190 

2,650 

2,390 

2,420 

2,680 

2,650

Dril 11

1,050 

889 

850 

779 

806 

845

3ril 17

5,530 

5,660 

5,400 

4,490 

3,520 

2,930

>ril 23

351 

344

318 

305 

315 

325

ril 29

120 

118 

116

May 5

5.24 

5.17 

5.03 

4.89 

4.80 

4.70

867 

828 

752 

675 

630 

580

Gage 

height

Ap

8.26 

8.11 

8.22 

8.85 

9.57 

10.50

Ap

5.32 

5.16 

5.15 

5.11 

5.07 

5.24

Ap

7.67 

7.38 

7.25 

7.06 

6.69 

6.34

Ap

4.10 

4.00 

3.98

Ap

3.13 

3.12 

3.10

Discharge

ril 6

2,480 

2,370 

2,450 

3,030 

3,780 

4,870

ril 12

796 

708 

702 

686 

670 

774

ril 18

2,600 

2,400 

2,290 

2,130 

1,860 

1,610

ril 24

332

298 

291

ril 30

110 

108 

105

May 6

4.69 

4.76

4.80 

4.86 

5.01 

5.10

575 

610 

630

660 

740 

790

Gage! Disheientl charge

April 7

11.43 

12.27 

12.75 

12.33 

11.90 

11.53

Ap

5.24 

5.16 

5.15 

5.16 

5.80 

5.94

Ap

6.10 

5.85 

5.66 

5.51 

5.38 

5.27

Ap

3.92

3.85 

3.77

ft/

3.10 

3.08 

3.19

5,920 

6,960 

7,610 

7,040 

6,480 

6,040

ril 13

784 

752 

762 

784 

1,150 

1,250

ril 19

1,450 

1,270 

1,150 

1,040 

950 

867

ril 25

279 

257 

234

lay 1

105 

102 

118

May 7

5.13 

5.18 

5.25 

5.27 

5.28 

5.23

806 

834 

872 

884 

889 

862
MOREAU RIVER BASIN

Moreau River at Blxby, S. Dak. Continued

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

£ &4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage 

heieht

Discharee

May 8

5.14

5.00

4.85

4.71

4.69

4.85

812

735

655

585

575

655

Gage 

heieht

Discharge

May 9

4.83

4.63

4.58

4.60

4.45

4.40

645

545

521

530

464

442

Gage 

height

Discharge

May 10

4.42

4.90

5.50

5.87

6.20

6.18

451

680

1,010

1,210

1,410

1,400

Gage 

height

Discharge

May 11

6.09

6.08

6.26

6.38

6.27

6.03

1,340

1,340

1,450

1,520

1,450

1,310

Gage 

height

Discharge

May 12

5.38

4.85

4.39

944

655

438

Gage 

height

Discharge

May 13

4.09

3.83

3.62

322

240

185

Supplemental record;

Apr. 2, 9 p.m., 12.45 ft., 2,600 sec.-ft.; 11 p.m., 12.25 ft., 2,400 sec.-ft.; 

Apr. 3, 12:30 a.m., 13.35 ft., 3,300 sec.-ft.; 11 a.m., 13.53 ft., 3,500 sec.-ft.;

2 p.m., 8.01 ft., 2,200 sec.-ft.; 5 p.m., 10.54 ft., 2,400 sec.-ft.;

6.30 p.m., 8.77 ft., 2,700 sec.-ft.; 10 p.m., 10.42 ft., 3,100 sec.-ft.;

11 p.m., 9.53 ft., 3,300 sec.-ft.; 

Apr. 4, 2 a.m., 9.50 ft., 3,380 sec.-ft.; 2 p.m., 8.04 ft., 2,240 sec.-ft.;

6 p.m., 9.39 ft., 3,320 sec.-ft.; 10 p.m., 8.84 ft., 2,890 sec.-ft.; 

Apr. 5, 1:30 a.m., 9.55 ft., 3,500 sec.-ft.; 2 p.m., 8.12 ft., 2,380 sec.-ft.; 

Apr. 6, 1:30 p.m., 8.21 ft., 2,440 sec.-ft.; 

Apr. 7, 1 p.m., 12.74 ft., 7,600 sec.-ft.; 

Apr. 9, 3 p.m., 8.88 ft., 3,350 sec.-ft.; 

Apr. 10, 3 p.m., 6.16 ft., 1,340 sec.-ft.;

Apr. 13, 2 a.m., 5.29 ft., 806 sec.-ft.; 5 p.m., 5.21 ft., 818 sec.-ft.; 

Apr. 14, 2 a.m., 5.90 ft., 1,230 sec.-ft.; 

Apr. 15, 1 a.m., 11.85 ft., 6,420 sec.-ft.; 

Apr. 16, 6 a.m., 13.77 ft., 9,100 sec.-ft.; 5 p.m., 14.65 ft., 10,500 sec.-ft.;

6 p.m., 14.63 ft., 10,500 sec.-ft.; 

Apr. 17, 5 a.m., 11.05 ft., 5,480 sec.-ft.; 

May 1, 7 p.m., 3.06 ft., ICO sec.-ft.
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Moreau River near Faith, S. Dak.

Location. Wire-weight gage, lat. 45°11'50", long. 102°09'10", in NWjNWi sec. 10,

T. 14 N., R. 16 E., at bridge on State Highway 73, 2% miles downstream from Rabbit

Creek and 13j miles northwest of Faith. Prior to Oct. 5, 1949 at bridge ^ mile

upstream, at same datum. 

Drainage area. 2,660 square miles. 

Gage-height record. Once-daily readings below 4.4 ft. gage height and two or more

aboveTGraph drawn for periods Apr. 1 to May 28 and June 28-30. 

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

Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-2. Shifting-control method used

Apr. 10-14, 23-29, May 3-14. 

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 23,000 second-feet 1 a.m. Apr. 17 (gage height,

18.0 feet, from floodmarks).

1943 to March 1950: Discharge, 26,000 second-feet Apr. 9, 1944 (gage height,

20.9 feet at fortier site, from floodmark) by slope-area method. 

Remarks. No regulation or diversion.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Dav

1

2

3

4

7

8

9

10

April

300

1,840

4,180

5,060

4,460

4,340

8,950

8,420

7,140

3,920

May

269

267

288

407

747

804

848

1,150

1,080

1,040

June

55

50

50

48

43

43

36

53

53

50

Day

11

12

13

14

17

18

19

20

April

1,990

1,610

1,300

2,850

10,800

18,300

16,900

7,380

3,550

1,730

May

1,730

1,720

893

522

364

286

266

540

184

156

June

50

41

36

50

62

43

60

45

36

36

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

1,060

877

806

784

691

571

503

392

316

277

-

1.70

May

ise

119

10C

91

86

72

67

65

60

60

57

0.20

June

36

33

35

33

38

80

91

43

36

167

-

0.02

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

14 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8

N 

4 

8

12

4 

8

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

bright

DisApril 2

5.82 

6.02 

7.22 

8.70 

10.00 

8.95

AF

12.25 

11.60 

11.31 

11.34 

11.26 

11.24

AE

5.90 

6.21 

6.58 

7.32 

8.15 

9.26

AD

5.82 

5.38 

4.95

AF

3.68 

3.72 

3.65

M

3.09 

3.10

400 

500 

1,200 

2,500 

4,000 

4,500

ril 8

9,200 

8,33Q 

7,950 

7,990 

7,890 

7,860

ril 14

1,810 

2,100 

2,460 

3,200 

4,060 

5,330

ril 20

1,870 

1,530 

1,230

ril 26

555 

580 

545

ay 2

266 

270

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 3

8.02 

7.15 

7.32 

7.94 

9.55 

10.05

Af

11.18 

11.10 

10.84 

10.52 

10.02 

9.62

At

10.82 

12.15 

13.55 

14.58 

15.25 

15.75

At

4.68 

4.62 

4.45

AE

3.57 

3.55 

3.52

M

3.10 

3.16 

3.20

3,920 

3,030 

3,200 

3,830 

5,680 

6,320

ril 9

7,780 

7,680 

7,340 

6,930 

6,280 

5,760

ril 15

7,320 

9,060 

11,100 

12,700 

14,100 

15,300

ril 21

1,070 

1,030 

930

ril 27

504 

494 

476

ay 3

270 

298 

319

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 4

9.95 

9.46 

8.97 

8.37 

8.08 

8.05

Ap

9.05 

8.58 

7.98 

7.38 

7.05 

6.75

Ap

16.12 

16.38 

16.44 

17.02 

17.62 

17.95

AD

4.36 

4.35 

4.28

Ap

3.35 

3.31 

3.26

M

3.27 

3.39

3.77

6,180 

5,570 

4,980 

4,310 

3,990 

3,960

ril 10

5,080 

4,540 

3,820 

3,160 

2,800 

2,490

ril 16

15,300 

17,000 

17,200 

19,000 

21,300 

22,800

ra 22

878 

872 

834

ril 28

391 

373 

346

ay 4

350 

409

605

Gage 1 Disheightl charge

April 5

8.10 

8.25 

8.58 

8.70 

8.86 

8.90

A

6.48 

6.28 

6.16 

6.05 

5.96 

5.88

A

17.86 

17.23 

16.00 

15.25 

14.23 

13.20

A

4.21 

4.21 

4.21

A

3.22 

3.17 

3.14

1

3.95 

4.02 

4.06 

4.07 

4.09 

4.10

4,010 

4,180 

4,540 

4,670 

4,850 

4,900

pril 11

2,220

2,040 

1,940 

1,850 

1,780 

1,710

pril 17

22,400 

19,800 

16,000 

14,100 

12,100 

10,600

pril 23

801 

801 

801

pril 29

328 

302 

290

Hay 5

705 

746 

768 

774 

790 

796

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 6

8.66 

8.30 

8.34 

8.90 

9.42 

9.94

A

5.80 

5.75 

5.75 

5.74 

5.70 

5.46

A

12.23 

11.40 

10.70 

10.15 

9.56 

8.95

A

4.21 

4.15 

4.09

A

3.11 

3.10

A

4.12 

4.12 

4.12

4,630 

4,230 

4,270 

4,900 

5,520 

6,170

pril 12

1,660 

1,620 

1,620 

1,610 

1,580 

1,410

pril 18

9,170 

8,070 

7,160 

6,440 

5,690 

4,960

pril 24

806 

774 

746

pril 30

274 

270

Jay 6

806 

806

806

Gage 

height

A

10.52 

11.25 

12.22 

13.08 

13.50 

13.18

A

5.24 

5.12 

5.15 

5.25 

5.40 

5.62

A

8.00 

7.20 

6.42

Ai

4.06 

3.92 

3.80

3.10 

3.09

IV

4.12 

4.12 

4.15 

4.20 

4.27 

4.34

Discharge

Dril 7

6,930 

7,880 

9,160 

10,400 

11,000 

10,500

Dril 13

1,260 

1,190 

1,210 

1,280 

1,400 

1,570

3rU 19

3,900 

3,080 

2,360

aril 25

730 

665 

610

«ay 1

270 

266

lay 7

806 

806 

828 

862 

906 

954
MOREAU RIVER BASIN 

Moreau River near Faith, S. Dak. Continued

Gage height. In feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

t,1

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage I DisMay 8

4.40 

4.45 

4.55 

4.78 

4.86 

4.90

996

1,030 

1,100 

1,280 

1,340 

1,300

Gagel DisMay 9

4. 5£ 

4.45 

4.32

1,10C 

1.03C 

942

Gage DisMay 10

4.29 

4.29 

4.38 

4.52 

4.70 

4.89

918 

918 

984 

1,080 

1,210 

1,370

Gage DisMay 11

5.13 

5.35 

5.52 

5.46 

5.42 

5.48

1,540 

1,730 

1,880 

1,830 

1,790 

1,840

Gage 1 DisMay 12

5.59 

5.60 

5.43 

5.22 

5.01 

4.81

1,950 

1,950 

1,800 

1,610 

1,460 

1,300

Gage DisMay 13

4.57 

4.35 

4.18 

4.04 

3.93 

3.83

1,120 

966 

850 

757 

695 

640

Supplemental plemental record. record. Apr. 3, 9:30 a.m., 7.06 ft., 2,940 sec. -ft.; 10 p.m., 9.92 f 

6,150 sec. -ft.; Apr. 4, 1:30 a.m., 10.10 ft., 6,380 sec. -ft.; 10 a.m., 9.40 ft. 

5,500 sec. -ft.; Apr. 5, 2 p.m., 8.74 ft., 4,710 sec. -ft.; 11 p.m., 8.93 ft., 4, 

sec. -ft. Ar. 6. a.m. . ec. - A. 6 .m. .

948847 O - 51 - 6
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

, T. 14 N., H. 24 E. , 

Creek, and 13 miles

Moreau River near Eagle futte, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 45°11'20", long. 101°13'05", in NWtNWiSWA sec. 8 

at bridge on State Highway 63, 4 miles downstream from Meadow 

north of Eagle Butte.

Drainage area. 4,320 square miles.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph Apr. 8, 13-19, May 9 to June 30. Oncedaily wire-weight gage readings, or graph based on gage readings, was used Apr. 1, 

4-7, 9, 11, 20, 25, May 6. No gase-height record Apr. 2, 3, 10, 12, 21-24, Apr. 26 

to May 5, May 7, 8.

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

12,000 second-feet and extended to peak on basis of contracted-opening measurement. 

Shifting-control method used May 11 to June 30. Discharge for. periods of no gageheight record was interpolated or computed on basis of weather records and records 

for station at Promise. Gage heights used to hundredths.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 22,200 second-feet Apr. 18 (gage height, 20.23 

feet), by contracted-opening method.

1943 to March 1950: Discharge observed, 27,000 second-feet (revised) Apr. 9, 

1944 (gage height, 23.0 feet), by slope-area method.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

'S.OOO

-5,500

i.6,000

7,000

7, '360

8,510

11,200

12,300

10,100

7,700

May

850

900

800

800

1,000

1,360

1,500

2,500

4,000

3,020

.June

102

89

86

79

77

72

72

79

72

62

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

4,880

3,500

2,920

3,070

8,240

14,800

19,600

21,500

12,800

6,760

May

2,010

1,850

2,060

1,380

912

665

537

449

380

344

June

70

77

72

72

66

59

138

160

117

109

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet ..................

Runoff, in acre-feet. ............................

Runoff, in inches ..............................

April

5,000

3,500

2,500

2,200

1,850

1,600

1,300

1,000

800

800

_

1.67

May

306

274

240

208

180

155

146

141

130

114

102

58,140

0.25

June

102

86

79

66

66

59

63

55

59

109

_

82.5

4,910

0.02

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

ga:

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Api

7.42 

7.41 

7.40 

7.41 

7.43 

7.41 

7.40 

7.48 

7.59 

V.77 

7.97 

8.22

Discharge

-il 14

2,940 

2,930 

2,920 

2,930 

2,950 

2,930 

2,920 

3,010 

3,130 

3,340 

3,580 

3,880

April 20

11.23 

10.74 

10.34 

10.07 

9.90 

9.75

Ap

Ma

7,780 

7,100 

6,540 

6,180 

5,960 

5,760

nil 26

y 2

May 8

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

8.42 

8.69 

8.97 

9.25 

9.70 

10.54 

11.04 

11.65 

12.17 

12.70 

13.13 

33.53

4,120 

4,450 

4,780 

5,120 

5,700 

6,820 

7,520 

8,370 

9,100 

9,870 

10,500 

11,100

April 21

Ap.-il 27

May 3

May 9

7.87 

8.18 

8.50 

8.68 

8.61 

8.42

3,460 

3,840 

4,220 

4,440 

4,350 

4,120

Gage 

height

Api

13.92 

14.28 

14.63 

15.10 

15.51 

15.94 

16.35 

16.75 

16.99 

17.17 

17.26 

17.46

Ap

Ap

Discharge

-il 16

11,700 

12,300 

12,900 

13,600 

14,300 

15,000 

15,600 

16,300 

16,700 

17,000 

17,200 

17,500

Pil 22

rll 28

May 4

May 10

7.81 

7.60 

7.40 

7.31 

7.21 

7.10

3,390 

3,140 

2,920 

2,820 

2,710 

2,600

Gage 

height

Ap

17.67 

17.93 

18.21 

18.46 

18.67 

18.82 

18.96 

19.05 

19.10 

19.18 

19.23 

19.30

Ap

Ap

Discharge

pil 17

17,900 

18,300 

18,800 

19,200 

19,600 

19,800 

20,100 

20,200 

20,300 

20,400 

20,500 

20,600

-il 23

-il 29

May 5

May 11

6.91 

6.73 

6.54 

6.35 

6.19 

6.07

2,380 

2,190 

2,010 

1,840 

1,690 

1,590

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 18

19.36 

19.51 

19.71 

19.84 

20.03 

20.12 

20.19 

20.15 

20.10 

19.85 

19.55 

19.02

Ap

I Ap

20,700 

21,000 

21,300 

21,500 

21,900 

22,000 

22,100 

22,100 

22,000 

21,600 

21,100 

20,200

-il 24 n

ril 30

May 6

May 12

6.04 

6.27 

6.55 

6.61 

6.61 

6.60

1,560 

1,740 

1,980 

2,020 

2,020 

2,000

Gage 

height

Ap

18.21 

16 06 

15.94 

15.22 

14.61 

14.13 

13.64 

13.17 

12.82 

12.50 

12.12 

11.80

Discharge

HI 19

18,800 

16,700 

15,000 

13,800 

12,800 

12,100 

11,300 

10,600 

10,000 

9,570 

9,030 

8,580

April 25

May 1

May 7

May 13

6.65 

6.78 

6.78 

6.75 

6.63 

6.44

2,040 

2,150 

2,140 

2,100 

1,980 

1,820
MOREAU RIVER BASIN

Moreau River at Promise, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 45°20', long. 100°36', in sec. 17, T. 16 N., R. 29 E., at county highway bridge, 170 feet downstream from Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific 

Railroad bridge, 0.5 mile downstream from Virgin Creek, and three-quarters of a 

mile north of Promise.

Drainage area. 5,223 square miles.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph used Apr. 21, 22, May 25 to June 2. 

Graph based on once or twice-daily wire-weight gage readings and fragments of 

recorder record was used Apr. 1-20, Apr. 23 to May 24, and June 3-30. No gage 

reading Apr. 18. Gage readings for Apr. 19, 20 are from auxiliary staff gage at 

railroad bridge 170 feet upstream from reference gage.

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

below 15,200 second-feet and extended to peak stage on basis of contracted-opening 

measurement. Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1, 2. Shifting-control 

method used May 16 to June 30. Discharge for day of no gage-height record, Apr. 18, 

was computed from graph drawn on basis of gage-height record for adjoining days. 

Gage heights used to hundredths.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 20,900 second-feet Apr. 19 (gage height, 21.8 

feet), by contracted-opening method.

1928 to March 1950: Discharge, 29,500 second-feet Mar. 25, 1947 (gage height, 

24.4 feet, from floodmark), by velocity-area studies.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

4,800

6,400

8,930

11,500

11,600

11,200

13,300

13,400

18,700

10,100

May

1,000

1,150

1,060

920

1,040

1,240

2,760

5,700

5,800

5,270

.June

178

168

158

150

139

130

124

126

122

119

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

7,450

5,250

4,300

4,830

6,010

10,800

14,800

17,000

20,100

15,200

May

3,650

3,040

2,370

1,950

1,240

840

652

568

512

464

June

113

106

98

90

83

82

77

76

87

119

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet ..................

Runoff, in inches ..............................

April

6,610

4,260

3,100

2,410

2,050

1,790

1,480

1,270

970

950

-

7,819

465,200

1.67

May

488

426

340

323

291

255

247

228

216

199

185

1,430

88,110

0.32

June

89

83

82

77

75

70

66

62

59

58

-

102

6,080

0.02

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

1

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Api

9.83 

9.90 

10.01 

10.16 

10.38 

10.63 

10.80 

10.93 

11.01 

11.06 

11.08 

11.08

Discharge

-il 14

4,130 

,200 

,310 

,460 

,680 

,930 

5,100 

5,230 

5,310 

5,360 

5,380 

5,380

April 20

21.44 

20.93 

19.40 

16.70 

15.35 

14.38

Ap

7.30 

7.24 

7.19 

7.11 

7.03 

6.97

Ma

6.13 

6.19 

6.22 

6.23 

6.24 

6.24

20,000 

18,900 

15,900 

11,700 

10,000 

8,880

fil 26

1,890 

1,840 

1,800 

1,740 

1,680 

1,640

y2

1,110 

1,140 

1,160 

1,170 

1,170 

1,170

May8

10.19 

10.62 

11.28 

12.00 

12.80 

13.02

4,490 

4,920 

5,580 

6,300 

7,140 

7,380

Gage 

height

Ap

11.10 

11.12 

11.20 

11.30 

11.46 

11.61 

11.74 

11.91 

12.12 

12.38 

12.70 

13.13

Discharge

nil 15

5,400 

5,420 

5,500 

5,600 

5,760 

5,910 

6,040 

6,210 

6,420 

6,680 

7,030 

7,500

April 21

13.41 

12.77 

12.21 

11.72 

11.23 

10.88

7,810 

7,110 

6,510 

6,020 

5,530 

5,180

April 27

6.88 

6.80 

6.73 

6.67 

6.61 

6.58

M

6.21 

6.19 

6.09 

5.96 

5.82 

5.75

M

12.50 

11.82 

11.25 

10.95 

10.72 

10.60

1,580 

1,520 

1,470 

1,430 

1,400 

1,380

iy3

1,160 

1,140 

1,080 

1,010 

930 

895

iy9

6,810 

6,120 

5,550 

5,250 

5,020 

4,900

Gage 

height

Ap

13.70 

14.35 

14.89 

15.41 

15.80 

16.13 

16.48 

16.83 

17.18 

17.48 

17.72 

17.93

Ap

10.58 

10.28 

9.92 

9.62 

9.36 

9.12j

Discharge

il 16

8,130 

8,840 

9,470 

10,100 

10,600 

11,000 

11,400 

11,900 

12,400 

12,800 

13,200 

13,500

r-il 22

4,880 

4,580 

4,220 

3,920 

3,670 

3,460

April 28

6.54 

6.49 

6.41 

6.34 

6.25 

6.10

M

5.73 

5.78 

5.80 

5.83 

5.87 

5.90

1,350 

1,320 

1,280 

1,230 

1,180 

1,090

iy 4

885 

910 

920 

935 

955 

970

May 10

10.62 

11.40 

11.60 

11.15 

10.62 

10.12

4,920 

5,700 

5,900 

5,450 

4,920 

4,420

Gage 

height

Ap

18.11 

18.26 

18.40 

18.52 

18.63 

18.76 

18.39 

19.00 

19.11 

19.20 

19.29 

19.38

Ap

8.93 

8.79 

8.69 

8.63 

8.52 

8.37

Discharge

-il 17

13,800 

14,000 

14,200 

14,400 

14,600 

14,800 

15,000 

15,200 

15,400 

15,600 

15,700 

15,900

nil 23

3,290 

3,160 

3,070 

3,020 

2,920 

2,780

April 29

6.00 

5.95 

5.89 

5.83 

5.81 

5.81

M,

5.93 

5.99 

6.02 

6.08 

6.10 

6.12

1,030 

1,000 

965 

935 

925 

925

»ys

988 

1,020 

1,040 

1,080 

1,090 

1,100

May 11

9.77 

9.50 

9.23 

9.06 

8.96 

8.87

4,070 

3,800 

3,560 

3,400 

3,310 

3,230

Gage 

height

Ap

19.45 

19.55 

19.61 

19.69 

19.78 

19.35 

19.91 

19.97 

20. .01 

20 .'20 

20.43 

20.70

Api

8.20 

8.02 

7.92 

7.82 

7.75 

7.69

Ap

5.81 

5.84 

5.87 

5.88 

5.88 

5.89

ME

6.13 

6.14 

6.20 

6.34 

6.62 

6.99

Discharge

'il 18

16,000 

16,200 

16 , 300 

16,500 

16,600 

16,800 

16,900 

17,000 

17,100 

17,400 

17,900 

18 , 400

il 24

2,630 

2,470 

2,390 

2,310 

2,250 

2,200

nil 30

925 

940 

955 

960 

960 

965

ye

1,110 

1,110 

1,150 

1,230 

1,400 

1,650

May 12

8.80 

8.73 

8.69 

8.62 

8.50 

8.35

3,170 

3,110 

3,070 

3,010 

2,900 

2,760

Gage 

height

Ap

20.90 

21.10 

21.26 

21.43 

21.55 

21.65 

21.70 

21.75 

21.77 

21.80 

21.74 

21.68

Ap

7.61 

7.56 

7.50 

7.44 

7.40 

7.34

M

5.89 

5.89 

5.92 

6.00 

6.04 

6.09

M

7.39 

7.87 

8.30 

8.80 

9.28 

9.76

Discharge

nil 19

18,800 

19 , 200 

19,600 

20,000 

20,300 

20,500 

20,600 

20,800 

20,800 

20,900 

20,800 

20,600

nil 25

2,140 

2,100 

2,050 

2,000 

1,970 

1,920

ay 1

965 

965 

982 

1,030 

1,050 

1,080

ay 7

1,960 

2,350 

2,720 

3,170 

3,600 

4,060

May 13

8.18 

8.02 

7.89 

7.74 

7.61 

7.55

2,610 

2,470 

2,360 

2,240 

2,140 

2,090
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Cheyenne River Basin

Cheyenne River near Eagle Butte, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 44° 42' , long. 101°13' , in SE£ sec. 32, T. 9 N. , R. 24 E. , at bridge on 

State Highway 63, 0.5 mile upstream from Hermaphrodite Creek, and 21 miles south of 

Eagle Butte.

Drainage area. 24,500 square miles.

Sage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph Apr. 2-25, May 3-16, May 22 to June 3, 

June 21-30. Once daily wire-weight gage readings u

27, 30, May 2, 18, 21,

sed for remainder of period 

except for Apr June 4-7, 11, 15, 17, 18, 20, when no readings

were taken.

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

Shifting-control method used Apr. 1, 2, 13-26, May 11 to June 30. Discharge for 

periods of no gage-height record was interpolated or computed on basis of weather 

records. Gage heights used to hundredths below 6.3 feet and to half tenths above.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 14,500 second-feet Apr. 8 (gage height, 7.53 feet).

1928 to March 1950: Discharge observed, 104,000 second-feet May 24, 1933 (gage 

height, 15.00 feet), from rating curve extended above 30,000 second-feet.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

7,150

7,400

7,150

6,550

8,850

6,650

8,250

13,100

10,400

7,950

May

771

770

1,650

2,830

2,210

2,290

2,520

3,580

4,220

9,750

June

575

542

468

430

400

380

360

336

327

34C

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet 

Runoff in acre-feet

April

6,350

4,460

4,610

3,950

6,650

12,000

12,000

9,750

7,650

4,420

May

6,500

3,950

3,650

3,140

2,680

1,900

1,510

1,300

1,100

1,450

June

340

340

355

336

320

309

300

320

345

350

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

2,870

2,110

1,660

1,400

1,190

1,050

950

852

771

770

-

5,630 

335,000

0.26

May

1,300

1,180

1,100

1,020

942

910

852

762

712

652

610

2,187 

134,500

0.10

June

360

390

450

422

385

375

395

360

345

355

-

377 

22 , 430

0.02

Bad River Basin

Bad River near Port Pierre, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 44°19'40", long. 100°23'00", in NWi sec. 10, T. 4 N., R. 31 E., at

highway bridge, 2^ miles south of Fort Pierre, and 5 miles upstream from mouth.

Datum of gage is 1,427.83 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929. 

Drainage area. 3,107 square miles. 

Gage-height record. Graph based on once or twice daily wire-weight gage readings.

Crest gage height determined from floodmarks. 

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

Shifting-control method used Apr. 8 to May 6, May 8-12, June 16-30. Gage heights

used to half tenths between 4.1 and 5.3 feet Apr. 1 to May 9, and between 4.7 and

6.4 feet May 10 to June 30; used to hundredths below and to tenths above these

limits. 

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 16,700 second-feet Apr. 2 (gage height, 23.4 feet,

from floodmark).

1928-32, 1934 to March 1950: Discharge, 34,200 second-feet May 1, 1942 (gage

height, 27.8 feet, from floodmark).

Maximum stage known, 30.89 feet, from floodmarks, in April 1927 (discharge,

50,000 second-feet, from rating curve extended above 33,000 second-feet).

Mean discharge, in second-feet. 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

15.70C

13,700

9,860

5,140

3,050

2,350

2,300

1,540

801

562

May

41

39

42

42

46

730

2,300

5,390

5,940

5,380

,June

22

20

20

15

14

12

11

12

14

11

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

488

524

524

524

640

640

488

370

239

189

May

3,41C

2,06C

1,23C

637

342

22Z

151

124

10£

81

June

8

8

6

6

4.9

4.6

3.9

4.2

4.6

4.6

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

156

111

92

87

69

57

50

43

42

41

-

2,012

119,800

0.72

May

72

64

56

50

44

35

33

37

32

30

929

57,120

0.34

June

4.2

4.2

4.9

6

6

7

6

6

4.9

4.2

-

8.64

514

0.003
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS 71 

White River Basin

White River near Oacoma, S. Dak.

Location-. Lat. 43°43'45", long. 99°28'55", in NW^ NW^ sec. 17, T. 103 N., R. 72 W., 

at bridge on State Highway 47, 4 miles upstream from mouth, 6 miles southwest of 

Oacoma, and 19 miles downstream from Black Dog Creek.

Drainage area. 10,200 square miles.

Gage-height record. Graph based on once or twice daily wire-weight gage readings. Ho 

gage reading on Apr. 10.

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

4,700 second-feet from Apr. 5 to June 30. Stage-discharge relation affected by ice 

Apr. 1-4; discharge computed on basis of three discharge measurements, gage heights, 

and gage reader's and hydrographer's-notes. Gage heights used to half tenths between 

2.4 and 4.8 feet gage height, hundredths below and tenths above. Shifting-control 

method used May 15 to June 15. Discharge for day of no gage-height record, Apr. 10, 

was interpolated.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Daily discharge, 16,500 second-feet Apr. 1, affected by backwater from ice.

1928 to March 1950: Discharge, 35,300 second-feet May 8, 1942; gage height, 17.6 

feet, from floodmark, Mar. 31, 1950 (ice jam).

Remarks. Some diversions above station.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

16,500

11,500

8,000

6,000

4,980

3,210

2,720

1,900

1,550

1,200

May

381

355

355

355

520

2,300

3,540

4,310

5,470

9,350

June

331

307

285

259

243

235

219

191

177

198

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April.

860

910

910

860

810

860

1,030

1,180

910

688

May

£,350

5,370

4,790

2,890

1,550

1,450

1,260

1,100

860

725

June

216

198

191

184

306

289

181

181

276

381

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

615

580

520

491

462

381

355

355

355

355

-

140,900

0.26

May

650

615

550

520

491

407

381

381

355

355

355

1,950

119,700

U.22

June

381

272

209

174

165

161

161

161

144

147

-

227

13,530

0.02

Niobrara River Basin

Niobrara River near Spencer, Nebr.

Location. Lat. 42°48', long. 98°39', in N^ sec. 30, T. 33 N., R. 11 W., at bridge on 

U. S. Highway 281, 600 feet downstream from Spencer power plant dam, and 5 miles 

southeast of Spencer. Datum of gage is 1,478.65 feet above mean sea level, datum 

of 1929.

Drainage area. 10,400 square miles.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder operated continuously throughout period except 

Mar. 8-16 when twice-daily staff readings were mads, and Mar. 1-4 and June 4 when 

there was no record.

Discharge record. Discharge was computed Mar. 1-6, during period of ice effect, on 

basis of weather records, engineers notes, and comparison with other Niobrara River 

stations, Mar. 7 to June 4 by applying mean daily gage heights to rating table witii 

shift adjustments based on measurements, and June 5-30 by mechanical integration 

with adjustments based on measurements.

Maxima. March-June 1950: Discharge not determined; occurred on Mar. 5-6.

1927-36, 1940-50: Discharge, 21,500 second-feet June 14, 1943, from power house 

records.

Remarks. Records poor. Spencer Reservoir upstream from gage has only minor effect on 

flood flows.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

March

2,000

2,000

2,000

5,000

10,000

15,000

7,990

2,640

1,160

1,520

1,680

1,960

2,250

2,120

1,620

April

6,620

8,480

6,000

3,970

3,660

3,520

3,460

2,790

2,540

2,310

2,240

2,540

2,180

2,160

2,440

May

1,740

1,630

1,660

1,690

2,220

2, '770

2,560

3,460

3,100

3,130

2,880

2,400

2,090

1,760

1,640

June

1,520

1,440

1,430

1,300

1,100

1,190

1,190

1,140

1,190

1,160

1,130

1,120

1,130

1,210

1,460

Day

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet ........

Runoff, in acre-feet ........... ......

Runoff, in inches ..................

March

1,550

1,760

2,120

2,190

1,930

1,520

1,320

1,960

3,630

7,360

11,600

9,370

6,160

3,620

3,330

3,800

3,941

242,300

0.44

April

2,690

2,540

2,330

2,010

1,790

1,660

1,600

1,480

1,500

1,530

1,530

1,420

1,400

1,630

1,710

-

2,724

162,100

0.29

May

1,830

1,560

1,940

1,970

1,710

1,780

1,600

1,520

1,480

1,600

1,570

1,560

1,630

1,630

1,560

1,530

1,974

121,400

0.22

June

1,440

1,420

1,570

1,510

1,370

1,340

1,300

1,240

1,240

1,220

1,180

1,200

1,190

1,190

1,170

-

1,276

75,950

0.14
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

James River Basin

James River at Jamestown, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 46°54', long. 98°41', in SE^ sec. 36, T. 140 N., R. 64 W., 80 feet 

downstream from Asylum bridge at southeast corner of Jamestown, 2.5 miles downstream from Pipestem Creek.

Drainage area. 2,740 square miles.

Sage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph.

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

Stage discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-5, 7-13.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 6,390 second-feet, 4 a.m. May 13 (gage height, 

15.82 feet).

1928-33, 1937-38, 1943 to March 1950: Discharge, 3,250 second-feet Apr. 23, 

1948; gage-height, 14.31 feet Apr. 24, 1948, at site 80 feet upstream.

Remarks. Flow regulated by Arrowood and Jim Lakes (capacity 16,000 acre-feet).

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

250

350

420

550

900

1,420

1,700

1,300

680

540

May

1,320

1,240

1,190

1,250

1,380

1,440

1,310

1,310

1,570

1,980

,June

906

809

700

644

577

525

489

474

442

384

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

900

1,200

1,400

1,510

1,840

3,230

5,280

5,840

5,260

4,720

May

3,490

5,700

6,170

5,500

5,040

4,310

3,850

3,630

3,590

3,600

June

384

470

528

345

298

255

234

229

201

177

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Runoff, in inches ..............................

April

5,180

5,250

4,720

4,060

3,580

3,150

2,540

2,050

1,710

1,480

-

2,434

144,800

0.99

May

3,270

2,760

2,370

2,130

1/990

1,760

1,550

1,370

1,210

1,060

979

2,559

157,300

1.08

June

165

159

144

134

243

304

285

231

189

159

-

369

21,980

0.15

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

3

&

2

4

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

12

4

8

N

4

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

4

a

N

4

R

12

Gage 

height

Ap

10.77

10.73

10.54

10.60

10.91

11.12

Discharge

-il 14

1,510

1,500

1,450

1,460

1,550

1,620

April 20

15.27

15.26

15.32

Ap

14.18

13.97

13.68

Ma

9.65

9.66

9.69

9.75

9.74

9.66

4,680

4,660

4,790

ril 26

3,260

3,070

2,830

y2

1,220

1,230

1,240

1,250

1,250

1,230

May 8

9.58

9.66

9.93

10.20

10.39

10.55

1,210

1,230

1,290

1,360

1,410

1,450

May 14

15.60

15.56

15.53

5,550

5,430

5,340

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

11.22

11.37

11.47

11.88

12.54

13.03

1,650

1,690

1,720

1,860

2,120

2,380

April 21

15.42

15.55

15.56

5,030

5,400

5,430

April 27

13.40

13.15

12.85

2,620

2,450

2,280

May 3

9.50

9.42

9.44

M

10.84

11.11

11.33

1,190

1,170

lj.170

ly 9

1,530

1,610

1,680

May 15

15.48

15.38

15.25

5,200

4,930

4,640

Gage 

height

Api

13.40

13.82

14.17

14.49

14.70

14.87

Discharge

'il 16

2,620

2,950

3,250

3,560

3,800

4,010

April 22

15.52

15.49

15.42

5,310

5,220

5,030

April 28

12.33

11.88

2,030

1,860

May 4

9.46

9.58

9.71

9.91

10.03

10.06

Ma

11.53

11.83

12.19

12.58

12.78

12.92

Ma

15.14

15.00

14.87

1,180

1,210

1,240

1,290

1,320

1,320

y 10

1,740

1,840

1,970

2,110

2,240

2,310

y 16

4,420

4,190

4,010

Gage 

height

Ap

15.15

15.47

15.59

15.63

15.70

15.73

Ap

15.30

15.11

Discharge

ril 17

4,440

5,170

5,520

5,660

5,900

6,020

ril 23

4,740

4,370

April 29

11.39

11.00

1,700

1,580

May 5

10.06

10.05

10.15

10.45

10.58

10.58

1,320

1,320

1,350

1,420

1,460

1,460

May 11

13.16

13.74

14.47

14.95

15.14

15.29

Ma

14.78

14.69

14.64

2,460

2,880

3,540

4,120

4,420

4,720

y"

3,900

3,790

3,730

Gage 

height

Ap

15.69

15.68

15.62

Discharge

-il 18

5,860

5,830

5,620

April 24

14.89

14.69

Ap

10.62

10.30

4,040

3,790

ril 30

1,470

1,390

May 6

10.58

10.54

10.47

10.46

10.44

10.39

1,460

1,450

1,430

1,430

1,420

1,410

May 12

15.46

15.61

15.69

15.72

15.76

15.81

Ma

14.60

14.51

14.47

5,140

5,580

5,860

5,980

6,140

6,340

y!8

3,680

3,580

3,540

Gage 

height

Ap

15.54

15.47

15.36

Ap

14.49

14.35

M

10.00

9.73

M

10.28

10.12

10.00

9.90

9.75

9.63

Discharge

ril 19

5,370

5,170

4,880

ril 25

3,560

3,420

ay 1

1,310

1,240

ay 7

1,380

1,340

1,310

1,290

1,250

^ 1,220

May 13

15.82

15.81

15.79

15.75

15.70

15.65

Ma

14.40

14.37

14.48

14.60

14.64

14.66

6,390

6,340

6,260

6,100

5,900

5,720

y 19

3,470

3,440

3,550

3,680

3,730

3,750
JAMES RIVER BASIN

James River at LaMoure, N. Dak.

73

Location. Lat. 46°21'20", long. 98°13'15", at northeast corner of sec. 11, T. 133 N 

R. 61 W. at bridge on State Highway 13, 12 miles upstream from Cottonwood Creek. '' 

Dauum of ga>;e is 1,300 feet above mean sea level, adlustraent of 19^9

Drainage area. 5.580 square miles.

Gage-height record. Graph based on one or more daily readings of distance from reference 

point to water surface except May 2, 5-8, 10, 13 when no readings were made.

Di3_cjiar S e_re_cord.-Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter- measarsjuents

Maximum.-April-May 1950: Discharge, 5,730 second-feet, 2-3 p.m. May 15 (elevation 

1, 30 5. 3 4 f e e t) . '

Remarks.-Observations of water surface elevation and 16 discharge measurements furnished 

by Corps of Engineers,,U. S. Army.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

_

-

-

_

-

-

_

-

-

-

May

2,900

2 , 570

2,230

1,920

1,720

1,680

1,300

1,930

2,050

2,170

.June

1 , 310

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Mean discharge in second- feet AL

April

_

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3 , 270

3 , 520

May

2,360

2,670

3,040

3,500

4,730

5 , 660

5,h50

5,480

5,110

4,550

June

_

_

_

_

-

-

-

_

_

-

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

4,050

4,470

4,550

4,670

4,840

4,580

4,220

3,860

3,550

3,230

-

May

4,180

3,820

3,750

3,580

3,310

3,020

2,720

2,490

2,200

1,860

1,630

June

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

_

_

-

-.r 1 9 to .Tnnp 1 . ............ 3.328

Runoff, in inches Apr. 19 to June 1 ................................... 1.01

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

IH

3

s

2

4

8

10

N

2

4

6

10

12

4

a

N

4

12

4

8

N

4

12

4

8

N

4

12

4

8

N

4

12

4

a

N

4

R

12

Gage 1 Oisheight \ charge

April 14

April 20

3. 53

3.78

3.92

Ap

4.75

4.67

4.53

Ma

2.28

2.07

1.36

3,450

3,570

3,690

ril 26

4,640

4,520

4,390

y 2

2,630

2,520

2,400

May8

0.91

1.00

1.07

Ma

3.52

3.77

4.10

1,910

1,960

1,990

y 14

3,. 380

3 , 570

3,840

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 15

April 21

4.14

4.45

4.5V

Ap

4.49

4.40

4.30

M

1.64

1.43

1.22

3,880

4,230

4,380

ril 27

4,230

4,170

4,050

iy 3

2,230

2,170

a, 060

May 9

1.15

1.24

1.32

M

4.55

4.81

5.03

5.22

2,020

2,070

2,110

iy 15

4,360

4,740

5,200

5,430

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 16

April 22

4.62

4.66

4.53

4,450

4,501

4,530

April 28

4.18

4.06

3.93

M

1.00

0.80

.52

3,920

3,800

3,690

iy 4

1,960

1,870

1,800

May 10

1.39

1.47

1.57

M

5.30

5.33

5., 54

5.33

2,140

2,190

2,240

iy 16

5,640

5,710

5,^30

5,710

hGe?fnt

Discharge

April 17

April 23

4.59

4.70

4.72

4,550

4,560

4,590

April 29

3.82

3.68

3. P2

M

0.49

.40

.34

3,610

3,500

3,330

iy 5

1,740

1,700

1,670

May 11

1.59

1.84

2.02

M

5.32

5.29

5.27

2,310

2,3^0

2,490

iy 17

5,630

5,620

5,580

Gage 1 pisheight | charge

April 18

3.18 3,160

April 24

4.74

4.78

4.85

Ap

3.37

3.21

3.03

Ms

0. 33

.35

.44

4,620

4,690

4,800

ril 30

3,230

3,180

3,070

y 6

1,660

1,630

1,720

May 12

2.23

2.45

2.66

Ma

5.24

5.21

5.15

2,610

2,730

2,850

y 18

5,520

5,460

5,340

Gage 

height

Ap

3.3C

3.42

3.52

Ap

4.89

4.90

4.88

4.83

Discharge

ril 19

3,230

3,310

3,380

ril 25

4,860

4,830

4,850

4,770

May 1

2.85

2.66

2.48

2,960

2,850

2,740

May 7

0.57

.70

.81

1,730

1,830

1,870

May 13

2.8S

3.10

3.31

M

5.08

4.99

4.85

2,980

3,110

3,240

ay 19

5,200

5,040

_ 4,320
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

James River at LaMoure, N. Dak. Continued

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

3

&

4

R

N

4

8

1-2

Gage

heifht

M

4.74

4.63

4.52

Discharee

ay 20

4,620

4,460

4,320

Gage 1 Disheishtl charee

May 21

4. 44

4.38

4.27

4,220

4,150

4,020

Gage

heisht

M

4.13

3.98

3.94

3.94

Discharee

ay 22

3,870

3,730

3,700

3,700

Gage

height

Discharee

May 23

3.98

4.04

4.00

3,730

3,790

3,750

Gage

heieht

M

3.84

3.72

3.63

Discharge

ay 24

3,620

3,530

3,460

Gage 1 Disheiehlj charee

May 25

3.50

3.35

3.19

3,370

3,260

3,160

James River at Columbia, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 45°37'05", long. 98°19'3011 , in NW^NWi sec. 29, T. 125 N., R. 62 W., 

at county highway bridge, half a mile west of Columbia, and 2 miles upstream from 

Elm River. Auxiliary high-water staff gage at same datum on right bank, an eighth 

of a mile from bridge, and 50 feet downstream from highway.

Drainage area. 7,050 square miles.

Gage-height record. Graph based on twice-daily wire-weight or staff gage readings.

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

Apr. 18 to June 30. Stage-discharge relation affected by ice and backwater from 

Elm River Apr. 1-18; discharge computed on basis of gage heights, weather records, 

gage reader's and hydrographer's notes, and records for Elm River at Westport. 

Gage heights used to hundredths. Shifting-control method used Apr. 19 to May 2, 

May 7 to June 30.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 5,420 second-feet May 24, 25 (gage height, 16.89 

feet).

1945 to March 1950: Discharge, 1,950 second-feet May 9, 10, 1948; gage height 

observed, 15.59 feet May 10, 1948.

Remarks. Frequent backwater and occasional reverse flow caused by Elm River.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

5

2

0

-5

-25

-50

-100

-80

-40

-10

May

2,430

2,530

3,320

3,560

3,700

3,830

3,830

4,020

3,760

3,500

June

3,320

3,200

2,870

2,530

2,310

2,150

1,820

1,650

1,560

1,570

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

0

2

5

25

100

250

350

450

612

678

May

3,420

3,200

3,340

3,320

3,400

3,450

3,200

3,020

3,400

3,400

June

1,610

1,550

1,540

1,490

1,430

1,410

1,380

1,270

1,180

1,220

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

780

940

1,140

1,400

1,660

1,920

2,050

2,200

2,360

2,400

-

634

37,720

0.10

May

3,730

3,760

4,420

5,370

5,140

4,920

4,380

4,130

3,760

3,670

3,530

3,692

227,000

0.60

June

1,140

1,030

953

.903

865

800

769

757

747

716

-

1,525

90,720

0..20
JAMES RIVER BASIN

James River near Stratford, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 45°14'30", long. 98°23'25", in SW^SWjSW^ sec. 35, T. 121 N., R. 63 W., 

at county highway bridge, 6^ miles southwest of Stratford, and &f miles upstream 

from Mud Creek. Station established Mar. 9, 1950. Prior to May 17, 1950, at site 

12^ miles upstream at different datum.

Drainage area. 9,990 square miles.

Gage-hei ght~record. Wlre-weight gage read once daily, except Apr. 9, May 10, 13-15, 

13-237 25,June 12, when no readings were made. Record for May 17 to June 30 computed on basis of readings at present site. Records prior to May 17 computed on 

basis of readings at site 12^ miles upstream.

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

Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-8; discharge computed on basis of 

gage heights, weather records, and records for stations nearby. Discharge for 

periods of no gage-height record was interpolated or computed on basis of records 

for stations nearby. Shifting-control method used, May 17. Gage heights used to 

hslf tenths above 10.1 feet and to tenths below, from Apr. 1 to May 16; and to half 

tenths above 15.8 feet and to tenths below, from May 17 to June 30.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Daily discharge, 5,300 second-feet May 13; gage height not 

determined.

Remarks. Records for the two sites used should be equivalent.

Mean discharge. In second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

35

60

80

100

120

140

150

180

190

215

May

975

1,040

1,200

1,560

1,730

2,360

3,020

3,320

3,48C

4,30C

June

4,240

4,100

3,960

3,680

3,400

3,400

3,000

2,870

2,490

2,370

Day

11

12

13

14

IS

16

17

18

19

20

April

235

255

296

318

340

375

388

417

468

487

May

5,080

5,270

5,300

5,200

5,000

4,890

4,390

4,200

4,100

4,000

June

2,370

2,200

2,020

2,020

1,910

1,800

1,700

1,700

1,600

1,520

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

507

528

551

577

577

607

607

641

764

860

-

369

21,950

0.04

May

4,100

4,100

4,200

4,390

4,550

4,830

5,130

5,130

4,980

4,680

4,540

3,905

240,100

0.45

June

1,520

1,360

1,360

1,360

1,280

1,220

1,220

1,220

1,150

1,150

-

2,173

129,300

0.24

James River at Ashton, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 44°59'55", long. 98°28'50", in NW^NE^ sec. 36, T. 118 H., R. 64 W., 

at county highway bridge half a mile east of Ashton, 4 miles upstream from Snake 

Creek and 10 miles upstream from Turtle Creek.

Drainage area. 11,000 square miles.

Gage-height record. Graph based on once-daily wire-weight gage readings prior to May 

8,and twice-daily readings thereafter. No gage reading Apr. 16, 23.

D i s cha rge re co rd. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements Apr. 

14 to June 30. Discharge for days of no gage-height record was interpolated. 

Stage-discharge relation affected by ice and backwater from Snake and Turtle Creeks 

Apr. 1-11; discharge computed on basis of gage heights, weather records, gage reader's and hydrographer's notes, and records for Turtle Creek at Redfield and West 

Branch Snake Creek near Athol. Gage heights used to tenths. Shifting-control 

method used Apr. 12 to May 11, May 20 to June 7, June 28-30.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 5,170 sepond-feet May 13, 19; gage height, 19.14 

feet May 19.

1945 to March 1950: Discharge observed, 1,110 second-feet May 16, 17, 1948; gage 

height observed, 13.78 feet Mar. 25, 26, 1948, affected by backwater from Turtle Greek.

Remarks. Occasional backwater and reverse flow caused by Snake and Turtle Creeks.

Mean discharge, in *econd-feetv 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

0

10

25

50

100

150

180

200

220

260

May

461

477

494

528

562

579

596

613

664

786

June

4,240

4,160

4,080

3,930

3,790

3,660

3,480

3,360

3,140

2,930

Day

11

12

13

14

IS

18

17

18

19

20

April

280

307

321

257

235

245

257

257

269

294

May

1,060

1,900

2,820

3,480

4,080

4,630

5,020

5,170

5,170

4,880

June

2', 770

2,620

2,530

2,390

2,260

2,130

2,010

1,940

1,830

1,760

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

307

321

340

365

381

413

429

429

445

445

_

0.03

May

4,750

4,630

4,520

4,420

4,330

4,240

4,240

4,330

4,330

4,420

4.330

0.31

June

1,660

1,580

1,520

1,470

1,440

1,400

1,350

1,300

1,260

1,220

_

0.25
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

James River near Redfield, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 44°55'15", long. 98°25'45 

at county highway "bridge, 4j miles doiir 

east of Hedfield. Station established

Drainage area. 14,800 square miles.

Gagf-height record. Graph based on on

, in SIV^MW^ sec. 23, T. 117 H.. R. 63 W. , 

stream from Tartle Creek and 5j miles nopfch- 

!.lar. 8, 1050.

Gagf-height record. Graph based on once or twice-daily wire-weight gage readings.

"No gage readings on Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, May -7, 21, 28, 30, June 4, 11, 18, 25. 

Did charge record. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements.

Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-8; discharge computed on basis of

two discharge measurements and gage heights. Discharge for days of no gage-height

record was interpolated. Gage heights used to tenths. 

Maximum. April-May 1950: Discharge observed, 5,290 second-feet May 22 (gage height,

20.68 feet).

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

G

7

8

9

10

April

2,500

2,400

2,330

2,330

2,190

1,920

1,730

1,410

1,170

969

May

569

586

603

603

639

675

713

752

772

878

June

4,630

4,490

4,350

4,140

3,970

3,810

3,540

3,420

3,270

3,050

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

752

694

713

694

639

603

569

552

536

520

May

1,140

1,520

£,360

3,160

3,730

4,260

4,840

4,890

5,000

4,940

June

2,900

2,790

2,650

2,500

2,360

2,190

2,090

1,990

1,890

1,830

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Runoff, in inches ..............................

April

520

520

520

504

489

489

504

520

552

569

-

0.08

May

5,050

5,230

5,230

5,110

4,940

4,780

4,680

4,680

4,680

4,730

4,730

3,112

191,300

0.24

June

1,760

1,700

1,610

1,550

1,500

1,440

1,380

1,330

1,300

1,250

-

152,100

0.19

James River at Huron, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 44°21'5E", long. 98°11'45", in SW^SE^NEi sec. 6, T. 110 N., H. 61 W., 

at city dam, 150 feet downstream from Chicago and North Western Railway bridge, 

150 feet upstream from bridge on U. S. Highway 14, at Huron. Staff gage at highway 

bridge 150 feet downstream, for use above 13.5 feet gage height, when dam is 

drowned out, was replaced by wire-weight gage at highway bridge on May 26, 1950. 

Datum of gage Is 1,223.44 feet above mean^sea level, datum of 1929.

Drainage area. 16,800 square miles.

Page-height record. Graph based on on^e or twice-daily gage readings. Staff gage at 

dam was used Apr. 1 to May 19, st"ff gage at highway bridge was used May 20-27, and 

wire-weight gage was used May 28 to June 30.

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

Stage-discharge relation affected by backwater from ice Apr. 1-12, and by backwater 

from return flow June 3-27; discharge computed on basis of ten discharge measurements. Stage-discharge relation affected by flow through drain pipes in dam Apr. 25 

to May 14; discharge computed on basis of gage heights and compated flow through the 

pipes. Shifting-control method used Apr. 13-24, June 28-30. Gage-heights used to 

half tenths between 8.6 and 8.9 feet, to hundredths below and to tenths above.

Maxima. April-Miy 1950: Daily discharge, 4,840 second-feet May 24-26. Gage height 

observed, 14.30 feet May 24, 25.

1928-32, 1943 to March 1950: Discharge observed, 4,630 second-feet Mar. 27, 

194B (gage height, 14.48 feet).

Maximum stage known, 16.5 feet Mar. 22, 1922.

Remarks. Some small diversions above station for water supplies. Stage and discharge 

affected by wind at time.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

1,99C

2,39C

2.58C

2,65C

2,65C

2.84C

2.96C

2,84C

2,52C

1,99C

May

590

545

710

710

755

755

730

755

940

915

June

4,690

4,690

4,620

4,620

4,550

4,270

3,990

3,800

3,620

3,460

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

1.36C

1,03C

890

89 C

792

876

737

711

659

536

May

950

1,020

1,310

1,780

2,460

3,130

3,570

3,920

4,270

4,480

June

3,300

3,180

3,080

2,900

2,780

2,580

2,460

2,320

2,200

1,990

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet ..................

Runoff, in inches ..............................

April

512

536

536

512

770

485

465

485

590

570

_

1,312

78,050

0.09

May

4,620

4,690

4,760

4,840

4,840

4,840

4,760

4,?60

4,760

4,690

4,690

2,792

171,700

0.20

June

1,85C

1,85C

1,77C

1,69C

1.53C

1,53C

1 , 53C

1,450

1,36C

1.36C

_

2,834

168, 60C

0.20
JAMES RIVER BASIN

James River near Forestburg, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 43°58'45", long. 98°04'05", in SW^SW^HWf sec. 20, T. 106 N. , R. 60 W. , 

at county highway bridge 3-J miles southeast of Forestburg, 4g- miles downstream 

from Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad bridge, and 5-ij miles downstream 

from Sand Creek. Station established Mar. 10, 1950.

Drainage area. 18,600 square miles.

Gage-height record. Graph based on once-daily wire-weight gage readings. No gage 

readings June 11, 24.

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

Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-6; discharge computed on basis of 

one discharge measurement and gage heights. Discharge for days of no gage-height 

record was interpolated. Shifting control method used June 2-30. Gage heights 

used to tenths.

Maximum.-April-May 1950: Discharge observed, 5,180 second-feet Hay 27, 30 (gage 

height, 15.06 feet).

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

2,220

2,270

2,400

2,640

2,790

2,790

2,940

3,000

3,000

3,060

May

581

581

581

581

581

719

811

811

811

811

June

4,970

4,970

4,770

4,770

4,590

4,420

4,270

4,140

4,140

4,140

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

2,640

2,890

2,640

2,180

1,750

1,440

1,290

1,100

973

903

May

811

811

973

1,050

1,230

1,570

1,940

2,220

2,500

2,740

June

4,000

3,810

3,720

3,630

3,470

3,320

3,180

3,000

2,840

2,640

Day

21

22 ,

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Runoff, in inches ..............................

April

765

696

650

627

627

650

650

627

581

581

-

1,712

101,900

0.10

May

3,060

3,470

4,020

4,590

4,970

4,970

4,970

4,970

4,970

5,180

4,970

2 , 350

144,500

0.15

June

2,500

2,310

2,140

2,000

1,860

1,750

1,640

1,510

1,440

1,380

-

3,244

0.19

James River ne=*r Scotland, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 43°11'00", long. 97°37'5E", in SWt SWi sec. 30, T. 97 N. , R. 57 W. , 50 

feet upstream from county highway bridge, 500 feet upstream from Dawson Creek, and 

5 miles northeast of Scotland.

Drainage a. 21,550 square miles.

scarge recor. age-r e - .

Gage heights used to tenths. 

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 6,280 second-feet Apr. 1 (gage-height, 15.89 fe

1928 to March 1950: Discharge, 10,800 second-feet May 15, 1942 (gage height, 

15.5 feet, from floodmark).

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

6,160

6,160

6,040

5,680

5,200

4,720

4,360

4,000

3,800

3,540

May

] ,050

1,010

985

1,030

1,090

1,130

1,180

1,270

1,380

1,400

June

3,SOC

3,64C

4,000

4,360

4,600

4,600

4,720

4,600

4,480

4,480

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

3,560

3,420

3,300

3,250

3,200

3,160

3,160

3,110

3,030

2,950

May

1,380

1,33C

1,310

1,330

1 , 360

1,380

1,420

1,570

2,500

2,710

June

4,360

4,240

4,240

4,120

4,120

4,000

4,000

4,000

3,900

3,800

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Runoff, in inches ..............................

April

2,790

2,500

2,110

1,740

1,520

1,330

1,220

1,110

1,070

1,070

-

3,280

195,100

0.17

May

2,560

2,390

2,290

2,290

2,360

2,420

2,500

2,600

2,710

2,750

2,950

1,790

110,400

0.10

June

3,640

3,490

3,420

3,300

3,200

3,070

2,990

2,910

2,790

2,640

-

3,830

227,900

0.20
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Pipestem Creek near Buchanan, N. Dak.

Location. Lat. 47°04', long. 98°55', in SE£ sec. 33, T. 142 N., R. 65 W., at bridge

on county road 4^ miles west of Buchanan. 

Drainage area. 925 square miles. 

Sage-height record. Graph based on two or more dally readings of wire-weight gage

Apr.15-21, May 10-18, one or more dally readings on other days. 

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

Stage-discharge relation affected by Ice Apr. 1-16. 

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge, 4,480 second-feet 4 a.m. Apr. 17; gage height,

IT789 feet 10 p.m. Apr. 9 (affected by Ice). 

Remarks. Small diversions above station for Irrigation.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

0

5

20

100

500

800

500

200

400

600

May

162

160

177

176

171

118

158

270

344

937

June

69

60

49

46

40

28

26

28

25

22

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

700

760

850

896

1,070

1,870

3,960

3,630

2,560

1,720

May

2,790

3,360

2,840

2,320

1,690

1,230

957

755

728

778

June

21

21

21

20

20

20

18

16

14

14

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

1,250

928

712

546

419

309

249

221

199

177

-

1.05

May

499

394

323

268

217

185

154

121

107

97

80

728

0.91

June

13

12

12

12

12

14

16

14

13

13

-

0.03

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1950

1

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

N 

2 

4 

6 

8 

10 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

4 

8 

N 

4 

8 

12

Gage 

height

Apj

9.62 

9.54

Discharge

 il 14

896 

931

April 20

9.10 

8.95 

8.78

Ap

5.70 

5.45

Ma

4.43 

4.47 

4.54

1,790 

1,640 

1,480

ril 26

305 

269

y 2

157 

160 

167

May8

5.32 

5.46 

5.53 

5.56 

5.55 

5.49

M

9.65 

9.51 

9.34

252 

270 

280 

284 

283 

275

iyl4

2,400 

2,230 

2,040

Gage 

height

Ap

9.55 

9.73 

9.89

Api

8.48 

8.22

Ap

5.30 

5.26 

5.21

Mi

4.65 

4.67 

4.64

M,

5.50 

5.62 

5.83 

6.08 

6.35 

6.68

M.

9.07 

8.89 

B.71

Discharge

r-il 15

981 

1,130 

1,250

 il 21

1,230 

1,060

-il 27

249 

244 

238

iy3

178 

180 

177

iy9

276 

293 

325 

366 

418 

491

iy 15

1,760 

1,590 

1,420

Gage 

height

Api

9.91 

9.96

10.03 

10.18 

10.46 

10.58 

10.60 

10.73 

10.71 

10.60 

10.59 

10.67

Ap

7.94 

7.70

Ap

5.08 

5.02 

4.96

M

4.60 

4.64 

4.66

Ma

7.04 

7.18 

7.41 

7.92 

8.87 

9.26

Ma

8.54 

8.38 

8.23

Discharge

-il 16

1,260 

1,290 

1,370 

1,480 

1,740 

1,870 

1,940 

2,140 

2,250 

2,340 

2,650 

3,000

ril 22

920 

810

ril 28

223 

216 

210

iy4

173 

177 

179

y 10

588 

630 

704 

905 

1,570 

1,960

y 16

1,280 

1,160 

1,070

hGe!fgt

Ap

10.77 

10.71 

10.58 

10.50 

10.49 

10.49

Ap

7.44 

7.13

Ap

4.86 

4.76

M

4.66 

4.68 

4.65 

4.56 

4.45 

4.30

Discharge

ril 17

4,480 

4,320 

3,990 

3,800 

3,780 

3,780

ril 23

710 

620

ril 29

199 

189

iy5

179 

181 

178 

169 

158 

144

May 11

9.46 

9.70 

10.02 

10.20 

10.30 

10.32

Ma

8.08 

7.96 

7.81

2,180 

2,460 

2,900 

3,180 

3,360 

3,400

yl7

985 

925 

854

Gage 

height

Discharge

April 18

10.54 

10.36 

10.21

Apj

6.88 

6.63

Ap

4.63 

4.55

Ms

4.14 

4.00 

3.96 

3.94 

3.95 

3.98

3,900 

3,490 

3,200

ril 24

543 

479

ril 30

176 

168

y6

129 

116 

112 

111 

112 

114

May 12

10.30 

10.31 

10.34 

10.32 

10.28 

10.18

Ma

7.52 

7.48 

7.50

3,360 

3,380 

3,440 

3,400 

3,320 

3,150

y!8

742 

728 

735

&f&t

Ap

10.01 

9.78

9.50 

9.30

Ap

6.36 

6.03

M

4.49 

4.45

M

4.05 

4.20 

4.39 

4.63 

4.86 

5.08

Discharge

ril 19

2,880 

2,560

2,220 

2,000

ril 25

420 

357

»y i

162 

158

ay 7

120 

134 

153 

176 

199 

223

May 13

10.02 

9.91 

9.80

Ma

7.42 

7.48 

7.57

2,900 

2,740 

2,590

y 19

707 

728 

760
JAMES RIVER BASIN

Elm River at Westport, S. Dak.

Location. Lat. 45°39'15", long. 98°29'45", in SWiHW^ sec. 12, T. 125 N., R. 64 W. , at 

bridge on II. S. Highway 231, a quarter of a mile north of Westport, three-quarters 

of a mile upstream from Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad bridge, 

B miles downstream from Willow Creek, and 22^ miles upstream from mouth.

Drainage area. 1,680 square miles.

Gage-height record. Graph based on once- or twice-daily wire-weight gage readings. No 

gage readings Apr. 17, 25, 23.

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

Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1-13; discharge computed on basis of 

three discharge measurements, gage heights, and weather records. Shifting-control 

method used Apr. 15 to May 4, May 7 to June 30. Gage heights used to half tenths 

between 5.9 and 6.9 feet.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge observed, 1,870 second-feet May 11 (gage height,

 15779 feet).

1945 to March 1950: Discharge observed, 2,370 second-feet Mar. 29, 1948, from 

rating curve extended above 1,800 second-feet; gage height, 14.0 feet, from floodmark, Mar. 25, 1948 (ice jam).

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

i

3

4

S

6

7

8

e

10

April

170

300

450

760

1,050

1,150

750

480

440

400

May

64

68

66

66

194

655

725

1,080

1,510

1,740

.June

39

32

30

28

26

22

21

20

18

16

Day

11

12

IS

14

IS

16

17

16

19

20

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet

April

300

420

436

440

440

314

220

206

219

300

May

1,820

1,420

1,000

690

484

389

272

206

206

194

June

16

15

15

14

14

11

10

11

9

8

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Runoff, in inches ..............................

April

286

232

194

138

105

90

90

80

67

57

-

353 

20,990

0.23

May

206

219

272

194

182

138

96

76

66

54

47

464 

28,560

0.32

June

7

7

6

6 .

6

8

5

3.6

3.2

3.0

-

14.4 

854

0.01

Turtle Creek at Redfield, S. Dak.

location. Lat. 44O 52'55", long. 98°30'45", In SW^SEj sec. 3,-T. 116 N., R. 64 W., at 

bridge on U. S. Highway 281, at north edge of Redfield, and 4-f miles upstream from 

mouth.

Drainage area. 1,540 square miles.

Gage-helght~record. Graph based on once or twice-daily wire-weight gage readings. No 

gage readings on Apr. 10, 29, May 2, 7, 27, June 4, 18.

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

Stage-discharge relation affected by ice Apr. 1, 2; discharge computed on basis of 

one discharge measurement and gage heights. Shifting-control method used Apr. 6 to 

June ?0. Gage heights used to half-tenths between 5.5 and 7.5 feet, hundredths 

below and tenths above.

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge observed, 1,900 second-feet Apr. 3 (gage height, 

10.35 feet).

1945 to March 1950: Discharge observed, 3,160 second-feet Mar. 23, 1948 (gage 

height, 12.38 feet).

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

1,880

1,560

1,760

1,620

1,430

1,360

1,120

805

670

415

May

71

66

66

56

71

90

100

103

110

110

June

61

56

48

45

45

39

33

37

25

17

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

330

370

330

280

235

215

195

195

158

125

May

103

176

318

292

245

205

167

150

133

110

June

12

10

10

10

10

10

9

9

10

10

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

110

96

83

77

56

35

32

31

31

56

-

522

31,060

0.38

May

600

905

590

385

280

225

186

167

125

96

71

206

12,640

0.15

June

8

4.7

2.7

2.7

8

10

10

7

2.7

.7

-

18.8

1,120

0-01
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS 

Vermillion River Basin

Vermillion River near Wakonda, S. Dak.

n SW^HWj sec. 2, T. 94 N., R. 52 W. , at 

tream from Frog Creek, 7^ miles southeast 

Turkey Ridge Creek.

Location. Lat. 42°59'£0", long. 96°57'50",

bridge on State Highway 19, 3-J- miles dow

of Wakonda, and 165 miles downstream fro 

Drainage area. 1,670 square miles. 

Gage-height record. Graph baaed on once-daily wire-weight gage readings. 

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

Shifting-control method used throughout period. Gage heights used to half tenths

between 4.2 and 5.1 feet; hundredths below and tenths above. 

Maxima. April-May 1950: Discharge observed, 875 second-feet May 21 (gage height,

11.15 feet).

1945 to March 1950: Discharge observed, 3,010 second-feet June 13, 1947 (gage

height, 16.63 feet), from rating curve extended above 1,400 second-feet.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

555

499

457

340

£56

201

161

143

126

110

May

68

68

68

71

74

83

83

92

171

234

June

96

89

83

77

77

71

64

58

46

42

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

103

83

96

96

83

83

89

89

89

83

May

212

152

us

110

110

96

89

83

83

114

June

44

61

161

56

58

56

56

567

230

126

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Runoff, in inches ..............................

April

83

77

74

71

68

68

68

66

68

68

-

148

0.10

May

702

732

431

256

181

143

126

110

110

110

110

167

10,290

0.12

June

110

143

89

61

48

39

32

30

27

24

-

90.7

0.06

Big Sioux River Basin

Big Sioux River at Akron, Iowa

Location. Lat. 42°49'40", long. 96°33'50", in Wj- sec. 31, T. 93 N. , R. 48 W. , 300 feet 

downstream from county highway bridge in Akron, and 2f miles upstream from Union 

Creek. Datum of gage is 1,118.90 feet above mean sea level, datum of 1929.

Drainage area. 8,851 square miles.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph.

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

Shifting-control method used May 4 to June 23. Gage heights used to half tenths 

below 5.0 feet and to tenths above.

Maxima. April- June 1950: Discharge, 5,450 second-feet June 18 (gage height, 13.40 

feet) .

1928 to March 1950: Discharge, 21,400 second-feet June 4, 1942 (gage height, 

19.23 feet).

Mean discharge, in second-feet, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

April

2,560

2,720

2,840

2,840

2,890

2,840

2,410

2,010

1,600

1,310

May

719

719

704

690

704

734

795

858

956

1,160

June

826

795

826

826

764

719

675

646

604

576

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

April

1,130

1,020

923

890

923

923

923

923

923

989

May

1,390

1,470

1,430

1,390

1,390

1,310

1,270

1,200

1,130

1,060

June

536

550

774

1,130

1,020

764

685

4,030

1,560

1,020

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

April

1,060

1,200

1,240

1,240

1,130

989

858

795

764

749

-

86,500

0.18

May

1,160

1,470

1,350

1,200

1,130

1,090

1,060

1,020

956

923

858

66,040

U.14

June

795

985

764

618

550

497

446

420

396

370

-

49,920

0.11
MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS 81

SUMMARY OF FLOOD STAGES AND DISCHARGES

The results of the determinations of maximum flood flows at existing stream-gaging stations and other places on streams in the area 

covered by this report are summarized and presented in table 5. The 

time of day in this table is for standard time. The reference number 

in this table is applicable to figure 2 and will aid in identifying the 

place where the discharge was determined. Figure 11 shows the 

comparative size of the 1950 floods with those of 1943 at four gaging 

stations west of the Missouri River. The 1943 floods were the maximum previously known for many areas west of the Missouri.

The discharges for the existing stream-gaging stations were determined by methods described in greater detail in the records for the 

stations in the section, Stages and discharges at stream-gaging 

stations. For existing stream-gaging stations the method of determination is designated "stage-discharge relation" because the determination is based on comprehensive studies of that subject that 

are conducted at such stations. When the recorded discharge was 

measured at miscellaneous points, a brief reference is generally 

made to the method of determination.

Figure 12 shows the flood discharges, in second-feet per square 

mile, which are listed in table 5, plotted against the corresponding 

drainage areas. In this connection it should be understood that except for a small number of items as indicated in the table, the discharges are given as observed and some may be affected by artificial 

storage, release of water resulting from failure of dams, or other 

similar factors, about which available information is presented in the 

preceding section, Stages and discharges at stream-gaging stations.

The basic data and computations for the determinations of discharge are filed in the district offices of the Geological Survey in the 

several districts where the floods occurred and may be examined in 

those offices.
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'able 5* Summary of flood stages and discharges Continued

No. 

on

fig. 

2

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

U

Stream and place of determination

HEART RIVER BASIN Continued

Government Creek near Richardton, N. Dak.

Antelope Creek near Carson, N. Dak.

Muddy Creek near Almont, N. Dak.

Sweetbriar Creek near Sweetbriar, N. Dak.

APPLE CHEEK BASIN

Apple Creek near Menoken, N. Dak.

LITTLE HEART RIVEH BASIN

Little Heart River near St. Anthony, N. Dak.

CANNONBALL RIVER BASIN

Cannonball River at Regent, N. Dak.

Cannonball River near New Leipzig, N. Dak.

Cannonball River near Wade, N. Dak.

Cannonball River near Tiomer, N. Dak.

Cannonball River at Breien, N. Dak.

Thirty liile Creek near Bentley, N. Dak.

Cedar Creek at Hettinger damsite, N. Dak.

Drainage 

(sq. mi.)

30.5

221

456

157

1,520

190.

590

1,180

1,650

3,650

4,066

258

530

Period 

of 

record

-

1948-50

1945-50

-

1945-50

-

-

1943-50

-

1903-08 

1911-18 

1921-24 

1928-34

1934-50

-

~

Uaxljnum previously known

Date

-

Mar. 25, 1943 

Mar. 28, 1949

Mar. 24, 1948

-

Apr. 7, 1948

-

-

Mar. 25, 26 

1943

-

June 10, 1932

Mar. 27, 1943

-

-

Gage 

height 

(feet)

-

17.1 

13-84

19.20

-

15.80

-

-

26.9

-

12.66

17.4

-

-

Discharge 

(sec. -ft.)

-

1,300

2,250

-

2,340

-

-

15,000

-

8,600

d 28,200

-

~

Sec. -ft. 

per 

sq. mi.

-

5.88

4.93

-

1.54

-

-

12.7

-

2.36

6.94

-

~

Maximum during April-May 1950

Date and hour

After 5 p.m. 

Apr. 16

11:30 p.m. Apr. 16

12 m. Apr. 17

Apr. 17

2 p.m. Apr. 18

9 p.m. Apr. 16

Apr. 16

12 p.m. Apr. 17

Apr. 18

Apr. 18

2 a.m. Apr. 19

Apr. 16

Apr. 16

Gage

height 

(feet)

-

17.95

30.7

-

17.07

-

-

34.0

-

22.6

22.30

-

~

Discharge 

(sec.-ft.)

4,300

11,100

20,200

5,910

6,750

8,770

20,300

51,800

44,000

f 90,000

94,800

11,400

26,900

Sec.-ft. 

per 

sq. mi.

141

50.2

44.3

37.6

4.44

46.2

34.4

43.9

26.7

24.7

23.3

44.2

50.8

Method of determination

Contracted opening

Slope area

Slope area

Contracted opening

Stage-discharge relation

Contracted opening

Slope area

Slope area and 

contracted opening

Slope area

Stage-discharge relation

Slope area and 

contracted opening

Contracted opening

Slope area
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90 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

FLOOD-CREST STAGES

Records of flood crest stages collected by the Corps of Engineers 

are presented in table 6. Data on a few crest stages collected by the 

Northern Pacific and the Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault Ste. Marie 

Railways have been inserted into the table.

The stage records of table 6 are of particular interest to those 

responsible for projects to be located above the maximum known flood 

level. Points of measurement are located both by distance above 

river mouth and by distance and direction from local features; this 

information is considered adequate for proper reference.

The flood crest height above or below arbitrary reference points 

at miscellaneous locations selected by the Geological Survey is listed 

in table 7.

RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS

Information on previous floods in the area has been compiled from 

newspaper accounts, government publications, railroad files, state 

and territorial histories, and from oral accounts of eyewitnesses. 

The search for information was not exhaustive and the material presented may be but a part of that available. The greater part of the 

area reported on is of recent settlement; no extensive colonization 

began until the completion of railroads into the area and until the 

subjugation of the Indians. Many sub-basins in the area were not 

settled until after 1890, and accounts of floods in these areas are of 

relatively recent ones. Previous flood data are listed by sub-basins 

in the following paragraphs.

Little Missouri River Basin

The Geological Survey has maintained gaging stations at a few locations and for scattered periods of time in the Little Missouri Basin 

since 1903. The actual gaging records show no outstanding floods for 

the headwater area above the North-South Dakota State line; the maximum peak discharge recorded at the Alzada, Mont. , gage since 1903 

is 6, 000 sec. -ft. in 1944. Other records kept for shorter periods of 

time at locations on the lower river show that the 1947 floods were 

probably the highest basin-wide floods in the Little Missouri subbasin since settlement of the area. Scattered records from the files 

of the Northern Pacific Railway show that floods occurred in 1897 and 

1900 at Medora, with the 1900 flood much the higher of the two.
FLOOD-CREST STAGES 91

Table 6 Flood-crest stages 

(Furnished by Corps of Engineers except as noted.)

Stream and location

Missouri River Main Stem

Missouri River

Williston, N. Dak.

Elbowoods, N. Dak.

Garrison Dam, N. Dak.

Washburn, N. Dak.

Bismarck, N. Dak.

Grand River, S. Dak.

Mob ridge, S. Dak.

Moreau River, S. Dak.

Cheyenne River, S. Dak.

Oahe, 'Gage B', S. Dak.

Pierre, S. Dak.

Bad River, S. Dak.

Joe Creek, S. Dak.

Upper Big Bend, S. Dak.

Ft. Thompson, S. Dak.

Chamberlain, S. Dak.

Geddes, S. Dak.

Ft. Randall, S. Dak.

Greenwood, S. Dak.

Miles 

above 

mouth

1, 650.2

1, 504.0

1,455.0

1,418.5

1,377.8

1, 253.6

1,250.6

1, 230. 5

1, 163.8

1, 122.8

1, 117. 6

1, 116.4

1,076. 1

1,062.3

1,032.6

1,012.9

999.2

997. 5

938.3

921.9

918.2

914.4

912.8

909.5

907.6

904.3

885.0

883.2

882.0

881.2

878.2

875.1

874.1

873.7

870.0

862.0

Day and 

hour 

1950

April 6

April 10

April 15

5: 15 p. m.

April 17

11:00 a.m.

April 17

-

April 19

7:00 p. m.

-

-

-

April 21

Noon

-

-

April 21

-

April 22

1-8 a.m.

-

-

April 22

5:00 p.m.

April 23

7:00 a.m.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Altitude 

in 

feet

1,842.09

1, 737.81

1,693.61

1, 672.0

1,637. 10

1, 548.02

1, 544.4

1, 527.29

1,477.25

1,438.90

1,432. 85

1,431. 57

1, 394.95

1,383.7

1,357.68

1,339.02

1,326.2

1,324. 1

1, 267. 2

1, 251.92

1,250.9

1,245.9

1,245.4

1,243.2

1,238. 5

1,236.6

1, 220.08

1, 217.60

1,216.00

1,216. 15

1,213. 35

1,210.35

1,208.05

1,208.03

1,203.67

1, 193. 58
92 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Table 6. Flood-crest stages Continued

Stream and location

Missouri River Main

Stem Con.

Missouri River Con.

Yankton, S. Dak.

Sioux City, Iowa

Shell Creek Basin

Shell Creek at 'Soo Line 1

Railway bridge

Knife River Basin

Knife River

Marshall, N. Dak.

Dodge, N. Dak. , 14 mi.

south

Golden Valley gage, N. Dak.

Zap, N. Dak., 5 mi.

south

Beulah, N. Dak., 1/4 mi.

west

Beulah, N. Dak.

Miles 

above 

mouth

851.4

846.2

840.4

838. 5

834.6

830.3

824.6

821. 5

816.8

812.6

811. 3

804.2

799.0

792. 1

788.8

784.8

780.4

774.8

762.0

760.0

-

90.0

77. 7

62.2

45.8

34.5

34.0

Day and 

hour 

1950

-

-

April 24

4-7 a.m.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

April 25

-

-

-

April 16

April 16-17

April 17

6:15 a.m.

April 17

Altitude 

in 

feet

1, 185.49

1, 179. 78

1, 171.05

1, 170.29

1, 164.64

1, 161.81

1, 157. 11

1, 152.84

1, 147. 15

1, 143.41

1, 140.98

1, 131. 68

1, 128. 17

1, 120. 53

1, 119.47

1, 113. 76

1, 108.62

1, 103. 30

1,097.01

1,095.38

a 1,823.0

1, 977. 76

1, 925.21

1, 873. 15

1,817.52

1, 777. 59

1, 776.44

See footnotes at end of table, page 98.
FLOOD-CREST STAGES 93

Table 6. Flood-crest stages Continued

Stream and location

Knife River Basin Con.

Knife River Con.

Beulah, ^ mi. east

Hazen, N. Dak. , \ rni. west

Hazen, N. Dak. , gaging

station

Hazen, N. Dak. , l^mi.

east

Hazen, N. Dak., i-i-mi.

east

Stanton, N. Dak. , 4 mi.

west

Spring Creek

Werner, N. Dak.

Halliday, N. Dak.

Golden Valley, N. Dak. ,

ijr mi. west

Zap, N. Dak. , gaging

station

Beulah, N. Dak. , 2 mi.

west

Turtle River Basin

Turtle River at 'Soo Line 1

Railway bridge

Heart River Basin

Heart River

South Heart, N. Dak. ,

2 mi. east

Lehigh, N. Dak.

Gladstone, N. Dak.

Richardton, N. Dak. ,

9^ mi. south

Glen Ullin, N. Dak.,

17 mi. south

Carson, N. Dak., 11 mi.

north

Lark, N. Dak. , 10 mi.

north

Miles 

above 

mouth

33.5

23.0

22.0

19.0

18.9

9.8

56.2

47.3

23.2

11.0

1.6

_

*

210.0

190.0

178.0

151. 5

103.2

71.0

62.0

Day and 

hour 

1950

April 17

10:50 a.m.

April 17

April 17

April 17

4:20 p.m.

April 17

4:45 p. m.

- 

-

-

-

April 17

April 17

12:10 p.m.

_

April 16

April 16

-

April 16

April 17

-

April 17

Altitude 

in 

feet

1, 772.43

1, 739.36

I, 738.24

1, 730. 50

I, 729.66

1, 706.36

2,090. 59

2,044.49

1,902. 15

1,838. 15

1, 786.00

a 1,676.9

2,451. 11

2,346.31

2, 292.48

2, 181.87

2,006.42

1, 877.42

1,823.52

See footnotes at end of table, page 98.
94 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Table 6. Flood-crest stages Continued

Stream and location

Heart River Basin Con.

Heart River Con.

Flasher, N. Dak., 10 mi.

north

Sweetbriar, N. Dak. ,

5 mi. southeast

Mandan, N. Dak. , 3 mi.

west

Apple Creek Basin

Apple Creek, N. P. Ry.

Bridge 190

Apple Creek, 'Soo Line 1

Ry. bridge X-415-A

McKenzie Slough

Cannonball River Basin

Cannonball River

New England, N. Dak. ,

-^ mi. south

Havelock, N. Dak. , ^ mi.

northeast

Regent, N. Dak. , i mi.

northeast

Mott, N. Dak. , 1 mi.

southwest

Mott, N. Dak. , Hwy. 8

bridge

Mott, N. Dak. , ^ mi.

south

Burt, N. Dak. 2 mi. east

New Leipzig, N. Dak. ,

2^ mi. south

Elgin, N. Dak., 4 mi.

southwest

Elgin, N. Dak. , 6 mi.

south

Leith, N. Dak., 6 mi.

southwest

Leith, N. Dak., 7 mi.

south

Brisbane, N. Dak. , 9 mi.

Miles 

above 

mouth

48.0

26.0

13.7

-

-

-

250.0

235.5

220.2

202.0

200.7

200.0

181.5

168.0

154.0

140.0

130.0

123. 5

117.0

Day and 

hour 

1950

-

-

April 19

-

-

April 19

April 16

8:45 a.m

-

April 16

-

April 17

-

-

April 17

-

-

-

-

-

Altitude 

in 

feet

1, 780.76

1,692. 79

1,662.34

b 1, 645.2

a 1,642.93

b 1, 705.5

2, 557.89

2,498.80

2,444.34

2, 386.05

2, 378.07

2,376. 58

2, 304.60

2, 256. 91

2, 197.66

2, 139. 17

2,095.31

2,068. 76

2,036.02

southwest

See footnotes at end of table, page 98.
FLOOD-CREST STAGES 95

Table 6. Flood-crest stages Continued

Stream and location

Cannonball River Basin Con.

Cannonball River Con.

Brisbane, N. Dak. , 8 mi.

south

Raleigh, N. Dak., 15 mi.

southwest

Raleigh, N. Dak., 16 mi.

south

Shields, N. Dak., 7 mi.

southwest

Porcupine, N. Dak.

Timmer, N. Dak. , 4 mi.

south

Breien, N. Dak.

N. P. Ry. Bridge 17

Solen, N. Dak.

N. P. Ry. Bridge 7

N. P. Ry. Bridge 6

Cannonball, N. Dak. , 2 mi.

northwest

Cedar Creek

Reeder, N. Dak., 12 mi.

north

Haynes, N. Dak., 13 mi.

north

Haynes, N. Dak., 11 mi.

northeast

Lemmon, S. Dak. , 8 mi.

northeast

Pretty Rock, N. Dak. , 10

mi. south

Leith, N. Dak. , 24 mi.

south

Watanga, S. Dak. , 6 mi.

north

Swastika, N. Dak. , 2 mi.

west

Raleigh, N. Dak. , 19 mi.

south

Beaver Creek Basin

Beaver Creek at 'Soo Line'

Railway bridge X-347

Miles 

above 

mouth

99.7

86.0

77.8

65.2

53.8

38. 5

29.5

-

19.6

-

-

4. 5

194.0

146.0

118.0

99.0

68.0

47.0

37.0

17.0

6.0

-

Day and 

hour 

1950

-

-

-

-

-

-

April 18

-

April 19

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

April 17

-

-

April 17

-

-

Altitude 

in 

feet

1, 979. 70

1,917. 12

1,879.37

1, 833.31

1, 789.97

1, 734. 89

1,698. 94

b,c 1,690.5

1, 663. 11

b,c 1,650. 5

b,c 1,639.4

1,622.01

2, 673. 52

2,491.45

2, 398.46

2, 315.61

2, 181,68

2, 102.66

2,063.48

1,982. 14

1,899.49

a 1, 968. 63

See footnotes at end of table, page 98.
96 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Table 6. Flood-crest stages Continued

Stream and location

James River Basin

ames River

New Rockford, N. Dak.

Brantford, N. Dak. , 2 mi.

west

Grace City, N. Dak. , 1^

mi. southwest

Carrington, N. Dak., 15

mi. east

'Soo Line 1 Railway bridge

Bordulac, N. Dak. , 8 mi.

east

Arrowood Lake Spillway,

N. Dak.

DePuy Spillway, N. Dak.

Buchanan, N. Dak. , 3i=r

mi. east

Jamestown, N. Dak. , 6 mi.

north

Jamestown, N. Dak. ,

Nickeus Park

Jamestown, N. Dak. ,

5th St., N. W.

Northern Pacific main line

Jamestown, N. Dak. ,

2nd St. , S. W.

Jamestown, N. Dak. ,

U. S. Hwy. 10

Miles 

above 

mouth

661.0

650.0

634.5

625.0

-

617.0

609.0

598.0

592.2

584.0

579.4

578. 8

578.3

578.2

577.4

Day and 

hour 

1950

-

-

-

April 20

8:00 a.m.

May 12

3:45 p.m.

a May 15

April 20

7:00 p.m.

May 13

10:00 p. m.

April 20

May 13

April 21

8:10 a.m.

May 14

4:30 p. m.

April 21

1:00 p.m.

May 15

7:15 a. m.

April 22

8:40 a.m.

May 15

6:45 a.m.

April 21

8:00 p.m.

May 15

9:00 a.m.

April 21

April 17

3:00 p.m.

May 13

April 17

8:00 p.m.

May 13

5:45 a. m.

Altitude 

in 

feet

1, 512.81

1,483.7

1,466. 10

1,456.26

1,454.65

a 1,444. 51

1,443.7

1,443.00

1,441.75

1,439. 13

1,438. 57

1,434.94

1,434.25

1,411. 16

1,410.32

1, 399.81

1, 399. 15

1, 398.62

1, 397. 77

b 1, 396.9

1, 396.79

1, 396.97

1,395. 19

1,395.24

See footnotes at end of table, page 98.
FLOOD-CREST STAGES 97

Table 6 Flood-crest stages Continued

Stream, and location

James River Basin Con.

James River Con.

Jamestown, N. Dak. ,

Asylum gage

Reeves, N. Dak. , i mi.

east

Ypsilanti, N. Dak. ; i mi.

northwest

Montpelier, N. Dak.

Adrian, N. Dak. , .2 mi.

north

Adrian, N. Dak. , g-| mi.

south

Dickey, N. Dak., 1-|- mi

southeast

Grand Rapids, N. Dak. , ^

mi. east

LaMoure, N. Dak. , f

mi. west

LaMoure, N. Dak. , 2%

mi. southeast

Oakes, N. Dak. , li

mi. west

Ludden, N. Dak. , 1 mi.

west

North-South Dakota State

Line

Pipestem Creek

Dover, N. Dak. , 1 mi.

east

Melville, N. Dak., 4-g- mi.

WSW

Miles 

above 

mouth

576.0

568.0

562.0

555.0

550. 7

545.9

539.4

532.0

523.0

519.0

496.0

486.2

481.0

61.0

47.3

Day and

hour 

1950

April 17

May 13

10:00 a.m.

-

-

April 19

May 13 or

14

April 19

10:37 a.m.

May 14

10:20 a.m.

-

-

May 15

1:00 p.m.

April 25

12:45 p.m.

May 16

7:00 p.m.

-

April 28

12:50 p.m.

May 20

3:40 p.m.

April 30

Midnight

May 20

Midnight

May .3

May 21

-

-

Altitude 

in 

feet

1,391.01

1, 391. 10

1, 375. 60

1, 366.72

1, 354. 18

1, 355.07

1, 345.47

1, 345.61

1, 339.30

1, 327.44

1, 313.90

1, 304.89

1,305.34

1, 304.59

1,295.06

1,295. 65

1,293.77

1,294.30

1,293.62

1,293. 90

1, 572. 90

1, 539.65
98 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Table 6. Flood-crest stages Continued

Stream and location

James River Basin Con.

Pipestem Creek Con.

N. P. Ry. Wilton Br.

Bridge 3

Pingree, N. Dak. , 3 mi. ~WNW

Buchanan, N. Dak. , 4 mi.

west

Buchanan, N. Dak. , 4 mi.

south

Jamestown, N. Dak. , 4 mi.

southwest

N. P. Ry. Main Line

Jamestown, N. Dak.

Maple Creek

'Soo Line' Railway bridge

3 mi. west of Fullerton

Miles 

above 

mouth

-

32.0

22.0

19.3

5.7

0. 9

-

Day and 

hour 

1950

April 18

-

April 9

(ice jam)

April 16

May 12

-

April _1 7

6: 15 p. m.

May 12

5:20 p.m.

April

May 12

8:00 p.m.

-

Altitude 

in 

feet

b,c 1, 520.69

1, 520. 50

1,478.78

1,477.80

1,477.40

1,458.22

1,415. 14

1,415.03

b 1,404. 1

1, 399.67

a 1,423. 54

a Furnished by Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault Ste. Marie Railway,

b Furnished by Northern Pacific Railway,

c Northern Pacific Railway datum.
.3 CO 

o 

 §* W)

o

d ^

9 t^

CM 

cooU

&

COOCOOCOO

*O T3T3 Q Q T3CUT3CUT3CUQ 'rH - T-l -rH i I 'rH i I -rH i I

pq 

r

mm

U

o o

G C

bo 

C 

bo

cu

948847 O - 51 - 8
100 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Scattered records from the files of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul 

and Pacific Railway show that the Little Missouri River at Marmarth 

reached about the same stage in the following flood events: Mar. 31, 

1913; May 17, 1920; May 29, 1929; and Mar. 23, 1930. One outstanding flood resulted from heavy local rains in June 1929. Runoff 

was heaviest on Beaver Creek; the peak discharge was estimated as 

33, 000 sec.-ft. at Wibaux, Mont.

The towns of Wibaux, Mont. , and Marmarth, N. Dak. , have suffered flood damages in the past. Marmarth was flooded,in 1913, 1920, 

1921, and 1929 by the Little Missouri River, according to the "308 

Report" on the stream (Congressional reports). Wibaux suffered 

heavy damage from the June 1929 flood on Beaver Creek. The 'Milwaukee' Railway records of floods at bridge AA-240 across Little 

Beaver Creek 2. 3 miles west of Marmarth are as follows:

1920 3. 8 feet below base of rail

May 29, 1929 3. 2 feet below base of rail

1938 5. 8 feet below base of rail

1950 5. 4 feet below base of rail

Knife River Basin

Geological Survey records for the main stream of Knife River exist from 1903 to the present, with minor breaks. According to these 

records the only severe, basin-wide flood previous to the 1950 one 

was in 1943. The gaging records show the 1943 flood reached slightly 

higher stage and discharge than did the 1950 event. Northern Pacific 

Railway records taken on the bridge one mile east of Hazen show 

floods in 1913, 1930, and 1943; the 1913 flood reaching a stage practically the same as that of 1943. A flash flood over a small area at 

Hazen in July 1938, caused damage reported to be $300,000. Interviews with old settlers living near Hazen and Golden Valley indicate 

that the 1943 flood was the highest since 1884, which was as far back 

as they could remember. The only outstanding flood known on Spring 

Creek, tributary of Knife River, was in 1943, according to Northern 

Pacific Railway records.

Heart River Basin

The Heart River sub-basin has a longer recorded history than adjacent areas in western North Dakota because of the early settlements 

along the Northern Pacific Railway that paralleled the Heart River 

between Mandan and Dickinson. Accounts show that an outstanding 

flood occurred in the Heart River Basin in 1881. It caused severe 

damage to Mandan and destroyed 40 bridges along the newly built 

Northern Pacific line between Mandan and Medora. This flood was 

the result of snow-melt runoff from an exceptionally severe winter.
RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 101

Mandan has been subjected to severe flooding many times. After 

the big flood of 1881 the next mention found of serious flooding in 

Mandan was in news accounts for April 1912, when the entire southern 

part of the city was covered with water. News accounts tell of track 

washouts along the Northern Pacific Heart River line in 1893 but no 

reference to the size of the flood could be found. Intermittent gaging 

records kept since 1924 of the Heart River at or near Mandan are 

available; the highest-gaged flood occurred in 1943. There is little 

doubt that the 1950 flood would have exceeded this except for the operation of Heart Butte Reservoir.

The 1950 floods on Heart River tributaries were the greatest since 

settlement of the area. News accounts of the 1950 flooding of Almont 

on Muddy Creek relate that the flooding of April 1950 was the first 

since the founding of the town. News reports and statements from old 

settlers indicate that this was true also for Sweetbriar Creek, Green 

River, and Antelope Creek.

Apple Creek Basin

Records furnished by the Northern Pacific Railway show that previous floods occurred on Apple Creek in 1887, 1897, and 1943. The 

railroad records show the 1887 flood to have reached 0.2 foot higher 

elevation than the 1950 flood at bridge 190 about 6 miles east of Bismarck. McKenzie Slough, which drains into Apple Creek, was high 

in 1893, 1894, 1897, and 1902, according to railroad records; the 

1902 level, the previous high, was 1.0 foot below the maximum reached 

in 1950. Newspaper accounts relate that traffic on the Northern 

Pacific main line was suspended from March 25 to April 1, 1902 because of high water at McKenzie Slough, and that a track washout on 

Apple Creek closed the line again on April 7. The elevation of the 

tracks was raised 3. 5 feet between 1902 and 1950; so, the current 

flood did not overtop the tracks.

Cannonball River Basin

Scattered periods of record for the Cannonball River near the mouth 

have been maintained by the Geological Survey since 1903. Figure 5, 

(see page 15) shows graphically the magnitude of annual floods, as 

gaged by the Geological Survey from 1903-50. News accounts mention severe flooding due to snow-melt runoff in 1912 at the towns of 

Mott and New England, N. Dak. Reportedly, two'Milwaukee'Railway 

bridges were taken out near Mott by ice jams during this flood. No 

early news accounts of Cannonball River floods other than the one in 

the spring of 1912 and another on the upper reaches of the river on 

July 4 of the same year could be found. Apparently, the July 4, 1912 

flood in the New England area, exceeded the 1950 flood if memory can 

be trusted. A flood in July 1937 reached about the same stage at New 

England as the 1950 flood.
102 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Interviews with old settlers along the river disclosed no significant 

information. The Ed Sept residence on the left bank of the Cannonball 

River south of Heil was built in 1897. The 1950 flood was the first one 

to overtopthe terrace on which the house stands, and it did so by about 

three feet. Old settlers at Breien stated the 1950 flood was the highest 

yet, but no information on floods before 1900 was available.

Northern Pacific Railway records for bridges across the Cannonball 

River along the Mandan-Mott branch line show the following:

Bridge 33, near Cannonball junction

1883 1,603.5 (N. P. datum) 

June 26, 1909 1, 595.8 " 

April 1912 1, 597.08 " 

April 1943 1,600.2 "

Bridge 6, five miles east of Solen

April 1912 1,622.6 " 

April 1950 1,639.4 "

Bridge 7, four miles east of Solen

April 1912 1,628.4 " 

April 1950 1,650. 5 "

Bridge 17, one mile east of Breien

April 1912 1,678.2 " 

April 1950 1, 690.5 "

Records taken by the Northern Pacific at bridge 77 across Thirty 

Mile Creek show high water as follows:

1912 and 1916 2,259.0 (N. P. datum) 

1930 2,253.0

Records furnished by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific 

Railway show the following observed flood heights on points on the 

Cannonball branch line:

 Bridge AA-560, one mile south of Shields

1902 9. 2 feet below base of rail 

1950 2. 1 feet above base of rail

Bridge AA-628, three miles west of New Leipzig 

March 24, 1947 16. 3 feet below base of rail 

April ] 950 11.0 feet below base of rail

Bridge AA-648, 0. 9 mile west of Mott

July 9, 1938 9. 5 feet below base of rail 

March 26, 1943 4. 0 feet below base of rail 

April 1944 9. 5 feet below base of rail
RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 103

Bridge AA-656, 0.4 mile west of Mott, N. Dak. 

July 1937 3. 8 feet below base of rail

Bridge AA-688, 1.0 mile east of New England, N. Dak.

July 1937 14. 2 feet below base of rail

April 1950 14. 5 feet below base of rail

Grand River Basin 

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railway records:

Grand River:

Bridge AA-902, 3.2 miles west of Moreau Junction,

S. Dak.

June 1937 13. 3 feet below base of rail 

April 1950 7.7 feet below base of rail

Flat Creek:

Bridge AA-170, 0.6 mile east of Haynes, N. Dak. 

1944 1.4 feet below base of rail 

April 16, 1950 0. 8 feet below base of rail

Bridge AA-172, 0. 3 mile east of Haynes, N. Dak. 

1929 3. 5 feet below base of rail 

April 16, 1950 1.25 feet above base of rail

Bridge AA-174, 1.0 mile west of Haynes, N. Dak. 

1929 3. 1 feet below base of rail 

April 16, 1950 2. 2 feet below base of rail

Bridge AA-178, 3. 7 miles west of Haynes, N. Dak.

Highest prior to 1928 7.0 feet below base of rail

1928 7. 7 feet below base of rail

April 16, 1950 3.0 feet below base of rail

Bridge AA-180, 5.4 miles west of Haynes, N. Dak. 

Sept. 1928 6. 5 feet below base of rail 

April 16, 1950 5. 9 feet below base of rail

Bridge AA-182, 6.0 miles west of Haynes, N. Dak. 

April 1944 6. 5 feet below base of rail 

April 16, 1950 5. 0 feet below base of rail

Moreau River Basin 

'Milwaukee' Railway records:

Bridge AA-1110, 1.0 mile east of Promise, S. Dak. 

1916 2.2 feet below base of rail

(ice jam)

1927 6. 7 feet below base of rail 

April 19, 1950 6.0 feet below base of rail
104 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

James River Basin

Records at Jamestown show that before 1950 serious flooding occurred on the James River in 1876, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1897, 1902, 

1919, 1943, and 1948. Records of the relative stages of the floods 

are not all available; those that could be found or deduced are as follows:

Year

1883

1894

1897

1902

1919

1943

1950

Elevation at N. P.

bridge 93

*(mean sea level, 1929 datum)

1,400.3

1, 392.8

1, 398. 1

-

-

1, 395.3

1,396.9

Gage Reading

U. S. G. S.

_

_

15.8 ±0.2

13.8 ±0.3

14.9

_

15.8

Furnished by Northern Pacific Railway.

A search through newspapers showed that the crest dates of some 

of the floods listed above were March 27, 1902, April 27, 1897, April 

11, 1919, April 11, 1882, April 9, 1883. Mr. Horace Picard, one of 

the oldest inhabitants of Jamestown, recalled that the stages of the 

1882 and 1883 floods were about the same. Accounts state the breakup 

of ice that took place April 10, 1881, drove many townspeople out of 

Jamestown; except for that, no information on the size of the 1881 

flood is available.

The causes of flooding along the James River at cities in South 

Dakota, such as Huron, bear very little relationship to causes of 

floods in North Dakota. Apparently, the years of heavy flooding in 

North Dakota were just average flow years in South Dakota. The 

highest floods in the James River Basin in South Dakota, according 

to a report published in 1934 by the Corps of Engineers, were in 1881 , 

1920, and 1922 (Congressional reports). An account of the 1881 flood 

says that the James River rose 20 feet at Huron. Flood records furnished by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railway for 

points along the James River in South Dakota are:

Bridge O-418, 1. 8 miles west of James, S. Dak.

1897 4. 6 feet below base of rail

(base of rail 1, 284. 6 feet above mean sea level) 

April 1922 5. 6 feet below base of rail 

May 1950 3. 9 feet below base of rail
FLUCTUATIONS OF GROUND-WATER LEVELS 105

Bridge Q-1156, 0.7 mile east of Forestburg, S. Dak.

1897 9. 9 feet below base of rail

1950 14. 0 feet below base of rail

Bridge R-916, 3.1 miles east of Mitchell, S. Dak.

March 1950 2. 4 fee t below base of rail

Missouri River, Main Stem

According to records kept by the U. S. Weather Bureau since 1881 of 

the Missouri River at Bismarck, floods on the main stem occurred in 

1881, 1883, 1884, 1887, 1888, 1894, 1896, 1897, 1899, 1908, 1912,

1913, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1929, 1938, 1939, and 1943(Bavendick,1946). 

Floods on the Missouri River at Bismarck are generally associated with ice 

jams and occur frequently. The outstanding floods on the Missouri main 

stem in North Dakota were in 1852, 1866, 1867, 1881, 1887, 1897,1899, 

1910, 1917, 1938, 1939, and 1943 according to accounts and to records 

kept since 1881 at Bismarck.

The greatest known flood in the entire Missouri River Basin above 

Sioux City, Iowa, was that of 1881. The winter of 1880-81 was possibly 

the most severe experienced in North and South Dakota; it began with a 

blizzard on October 15, 1880. The snow from this October storm did not 

entirely melt before the next snowstorm added to the cover even in so far 

south an area as Yankton. By mid-winter deep snow covered much of the 

Dakotas, and by normal break-up time in March, the depth ranged from 

two to four feet. Indians with memory dating to 1800 could not recall 

any winter approaching that of '81 in severity. Trains stopped operating 

altogether on many lines; corn was substituted for coal in firing the boilers of the locomotives on the few that did operate. The breakup began 

at Fort Buford, N. Dak. , on March 6 with a 20-foot rise. By March 27 

the flood waters were flowing overbank at Yankton. Severe ice jams, 

associated with the mass of flowing water, caused a vast lake to submerge the town of Vermillion, S. Dak. , and nearly every house in town 

was destroyed. For great severity and areal coverage the 1881 flood is 

unmatched; yet the 1950 flood probably exceeded it in a smaller area of 

intense flooding in North Dakota.

FLUCTUATIONS OF GROUND-WATER LEVELS

(Prepared by Geo. LaRocque, Jr. , district engineer, 

Ground Water Branch)

The Ground Water Branch, U. S. Geological Survey, as part of its 

program in the Missouri River Basin, has established numerous observation wells in the Grand River Valley of South Dakota and in the Heart,
106 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Knife, and James River Valleys of North Dakota. Periodic measurement of the water level in most observation wells was begun in the fall 

of 1946; in many instances water-level measurements were made once 

in the spring, summer, and the fall of each of the succeeding years. 

Figure 13 shows the location of 25 typical observation wells. Figures 

14, 15, and 16 show water-level fluctuations in these wells.

The area drained by the Grand, Cannonball, Heart, and Knife 

Rivers is predominantly underlain by soft sandstone or shale. Appreciable deposits of sand and gravel occur, however, in the alluvium 

that underlies the flood plains and in the unconsolidated materials that 

underlie the stream-built terraces above the flood plains. Commonly 

the alluvial deposits are coarse sand or finer materials. The James 

River rises in central North Dakota and drains an area that is almost 

wholly underlain by materials of glacial origin. The flood plain of the 

James River Valley and the immediately adjacent terraces are commonly underlain by sands and silts that in turn are underlain by gravel. 

In a few places the river is entrenched in glacial till; and large outwash plains, extensive lake deposits, kames, eskers, and minor depositional features occur in some places. The water-bearing deposits 

of the James River Valley generally have a much greater permeability 

than the water-bearing deposits of the Knife, Heart, and Grand River 

Valleys.

In general, the trend of ground-water fluctuations was upward during the period from the fall of 1946 to July 1950. Maximum groundwater levels were reached during or following the floods of the spring 

of 1950. (See figs. 14, 15, and 16.) In nearly all the observation 

wells the rise in ground-water level between the measurement in the 

fall of 1949 and the measurement made in July 1950 was greater than 

any previously recorded rise during a like period--fall to spring or 

summer. Rises in ground-water level in the James River Valley were 

generally greater than rises in the Grand, Heart, and Knife River 

Valleys. Maximum measured rises in ground-water levels were:

James River Valley 12.9 feet

Knife River Valley 7. 1 feet

Heart River Valley 6. 5 feet

Grand River Valley 9. 1 feet

The observation wells in the James River Valley tap alluvial or 

glacial water-bearing deposits that are largely recharged by, and that 

largely discharge to, the James River by nearly direct lateral percolation. The observation wells in the Grand, Heart, and Knife River 

Valleys tap water-bearing alluvial or terrace deposits largely recharged by infiltration of seasonal precipitation and runoff from minor 

tributary areas, some recharge coming from the river during extremely high stages. The ground-water discharge from these deposits 

is in part regulated by river stage. In the James River Valley there 

was quantitatively less water available for the recharge of the groundwater bodies, but the period of possible recharge was much longer.

WATER LEVEL, IN FEET, BELOW LAND-SURFAC

o "'

Q _. 

3T 3

o 9.
FLUCTUATIONS OF GROUND-WATER LEVELS 109

137-84-Idd I

!43-88-l4bb

I44-88-25CC

136-84-32bd

1946 1947 1948 1949 1950

Figure 15. Water-level fluctuations in six typical wells in 

Heart and Knife River Valleys, N. Dak., 1946-50
110 MISSOURI BASIN FLOODS OF 1950 IN THE DAKOTAS

Figure 16. Water-level fluctuations in nine typical 

wells in Grand River Valley, S. Dak., 1946-50
REFERENCES CITED 111

Thus, in the James River Valley, the greater rises in ground-water 

levels are believed to have been the result of the favorable combination of three of the primary factors controlling recharge: higher porosity and permeability, direct recharge from the river, and a longer 

period of recharge.

Because the Cannonball River is between the Grand and Heart Rivers, 

and because the flood in the Cannonball River was relatively greater, 

rises in the ground-water level in the Cannonball River Valley were 

probably greater than in the Grand and Heart River Valleys.

REFERENCES CITED

Bavendick, F. J. , 1946, Climate and weather in North Dakota: North 

Dakota Water Cons. Comm. , p. 19.

Congressional documents: 73d Cong. , Istsess., H. Doc. 64, p. 18.

(Little Missouri River)

- 73d Cong., Istsess., H. Doc. 83, p. 23.

(James River)

Page 

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

Acknowledgments ....................... 3

Administration and personnel ............ 3

Akron, Iowa, Big Sioux River at .......... 80

Almont, N. Dak., flood damages near 12, pi. 1, A 

Muddy Creek near .................... 52

Apple Creek, near Menoken, N. Dak. ..... 53

Apple Creek Basin, N. Dak., previous

floods ........................... 101

Ashton, S. Dak., James River at ......... 75

Bad River, near Fort Pierre, S. Dak. .... 70

Bad River Basin, S. Dak., gaging-station

records ......................... 70

Beaver Creek, at Linton, N. Dak. ........ .57-58

Beaver Creek Basin, N. Dak., gagingstation records .................. .57-58

Big Sioux River, at Akron, Iowa .......... 80

Big Sioux River Basin, S. Dak. -Iowa,

gaging-station records ............ 80

Bismarck, N. Dak., Missouri River at ... 34 

Bixby, S. Dak., Moreau River at ........ .64-65

Breien, N. Dak., Cannonball River at ..... 55

Buchanan, N. Dak., Pipestem Creek near .' 78

Cannonball River, near New Leipzig,

N. Dak. ......................... 54

at Breien, N. Dak .................... 55

Cannonball River, bridges damaged

by ................. 16, 17, pi. 5, pi. 6, A

damage to Mott, N. Dak. ........ 13, pi. 2, B

silt carried by ................. 17, pi. 6, B

Cannonball River Basin, N. Dak. ,

gaging-station records ........... .54-56

previous floods .................... 101-103

Cash, S. Dak. , Grand River, South

Fork near ....................... 63

Cedar Creek, near Pretty Rock, N. Dak. . . 56 

Chamberlain, S. Dak. , Missouri River at . 37 

Cheyenne River, near Eagle Butte, S. Dak. 70 

Cheyenne River Basin, S. Dak., gagingstation records ................... 70

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific

Railway, records of floods ......102-105

Columbia, S. Dak., James River at ...... 74

Data, explanation of ..................... 27

Damages, flood ........................ .16-20

Discharges, measurement of flood ........ 26

summary of flood .................... .82-87

Eagle Butte, S. Dak., Cheyenne River near 70 

Moreau River near ................... 68

Elbowoods, N. Dak. , Missouri River near .32-33 

Elm River, at Westport, S. Dak. ......... 79

Explanation of data ...................... 27

Faith, S. Dak., Moreau River near ...... .66-67

Flood damages ......................... .16-20

Flood discharges, measurement of ....... 26

summary of......................... .82-87

Flood stages, summary of .............. .82-87

Flood stages and discharges, summary of . 81 

Floods, general description of ............ 3-14

Forestburg, S. Dak., James River near . . 77 

Fort Pierre, S. Dak. , Bad River near .... 70

Fort Randall Dam, S. Dak., Missouri

River below...................... 38

Garrison Dam, N. Dak., Missouri River

below............................ 33

General description of floods ............. 3-14

Gladstone, N. Dak., Green River near .... 51

Glen Ullin, N. Dak., Heart Butte Reservoir

near ........................... .46-47

Heart River below Heart Butte Dam,

near ............................ 48

Page 

Golden Valley, N. Dak., Knife River

near ........................... 40

Grand River, North Fork, at Haley,

N. Dak. ........................ 59

North Fork, near White Butte, S. Dak. 60 

at Shadehill, S. Dak. ................. 61

near Wakpala, S. Dak. ............... 62

South Fork, near Cash, S. Dak. ....... 63

Grand River Basin, N. Dak.-S. Dak.,

gaging-station records .......... .59-63

previous floods ...................... 103

Green River, near Gladstone, N. Dak. ... 51

Ground-water levels, fluctuations of ... 105-111

Haley, N. Dak., Grand River, North

Fork at ......................... 59

Hazen, N. Dak., Knife River near ....... 41

Heart Butte Reservoir near Glen Ullin,

N. Dak. ....................... .46-47

Heart River, near South Heart, N. Dak. . . 43 

at Lehigh, N. Dak. .................. 44

near Richardton, N. Dak. ............ 45

below Heart Butte Dam, near Glen

Ullin, N. Dak. .................. 48

near Lark, N. Dak. ................. 49

near Mandan, N. Dak. ............... 50

Heart River Basin, N. Dak., gagingstation records ................ .43-52

previous floods ..................... 100

Highway damage from local drainage 18, pi. 7, A 

Huron, S. Dak., James River at ......... 76

Ice jams, damage from ............. 14, pi. 3

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

Jamestown, N. Dak., flood scenes .... 19, pi. 8 

James River at...................... 72

James River, at Jamestown, N. Dak. .... 72

at LaMoure, N. Dak. ............... .73-7.4

at Columbia, S. Dak. ................ 74

near Stratford, S. Dak. .............. 75

at Ashton, S. Dak. .................. 75

near Redfield, S. Dak. ............... 76

at Huron, S. Dak. ................... 76

near Forestburg, S. Dak. ............ 77

near Scotland, S. Dak. ............... 77

James River Basin, N. Dak. -S. Dak.,

gaging-station records .......... .72-79

previous floods .................. .104-105

Knife River, near Golden Valley, N. Dak. 40 

at Hazen, N. Dak. ................... 41

Knife River Basin, N. Dak., gagingstation records ................. .40-42

previous floods ...................... 100

LaMoure, N. Dak., James River at..... .73-74

Lark, N. Dak., Heart River near ........ 49

Lehigh, N. Dak., Heart River at ........ 44

Linton, N. Dak., Beaver Creek near .... .57-58

Little Missouri River, near Watford

City, N. Dak. ................... 39

Little Missouri River Basin, N. Dak.,

gaging-station records ........... 39

previous floods ...................... 90

Mandan, N. Dak., Heart River near. ..... 50

Measurement of flood discharges. ........ 26

Menoken, N. Dak., Apple Creek near .... 53

Meteorology .......................... .21-25

Missouri River, near Williston, N. Dak. . 32 

near Elbowoods, N. Dak. ........... .32-33

below Garrison Dam, N. Dak. ........ 33

at Bismarck, N. Dak. ............... 34

near Mobridge, S. Dak. ............. 35

at Pierre, S. Dak. .................. 36

at Chamberlain, S. Dak. ............. 37

113
Page 

Missouri River below Fort Randall Dam,

S. Dak. ........................ 38

at Yankton, S. Dak. ................. 38

at Sioux City, Iowa .................. 39

Missouri River main stem, N. Dak. - 

S. Dak. -Iowa, gaging-station 

records......................... 32-39

previous floods ..................... 105

Mobridge, S. Dak., Missouri River near . 35 

Moreau River, at Bixby, S. Dak. ........ 64-65

near Faith, S. Dak. ................. 66-67

near Eagle Butte, S. Dak. ............ 68

at Promise, S. Dak. ................. 69

Moreau River Basin, S. Dak., gagingstation records ................. 64-69

previous floods ..................... 103

Mott, N. Dak., damage to. . 13, 14, pi. 2, B, pi. 3 

Muddy Creek, near Almont, N. Dak. ..... 52

New Leipzig, N. Dak., Cannonball River

near ............................ 54

gage damaged ................... 12, pi. 1, B

Niobrara River, near Spencer, Nebr. .... 71

Niobrara River Basin, Nebr. gagingstation records ................. 71

Northern Pacific Railway, records of

floods .......................... 102

washouts ............... 13, 15, pi. 2, A, pi. 4

Oacoma, S. Dak., White River near ..... 71

Personnel ............................. 3

Pierre, S. Dak., Missouri River at ..... 36

Pipestem Creek, flooding in Jamestown 19,pl.8,A 

near Buchanan, N. Dak. ............. 78

Pretty Rock, N. Dak., Cedar Creek near 56 

Promise, S. Dak. , Moreau River at ..... 69

Records of previous floods ......... 90, 100-105

Redfield, S. Dak., James River near 76 

Turtle Creek at ..................... 79

Page 

References, list ...................... Ill

Richardton, N. Dak. , Heart River near. . 45

Scotland, S. Dak., James River near.... 77 

Shadehill, S. Dak., bridge damage .. 18, pi. 7, B

Grand River at ..................... 61

Sioux City, Iowa, Missouri River at..... 39

South Heart, N. Dak., Heart River near . 43 

Spencer, Nebr., Niobrara River near ... 71 

Spring Creek, at Zap, N. Dak.. ......... 42

Stages and discharges at stream-gaging

stations. ....................... 27

Stages, flood-crest ................... 90

table of............................ 91-98

Stages, table of maximum at miscellaneous points .................. 99

Stratford, S. Dak., James River near ... 75

Turtle Creek, at Redfield, S. Dak.

Vermillion River, near Wakonda, S. Dak. 

Vermillion River Basin, S. Dak., gagingstation records ................

Wakonda, S. Dak., Vermillion River near

Wakpala, S. Dak., Grand River near ....

Watford City, N. Dak., Little Missouri 

River near .....................

Westport, S. Dak., Elm River at .......

White Butte, S. Dak., Grand River,

North Fork near ................

White River, near Oacoma, S. Dak. ....

White River Basin, S. Dak., gagingstation records .................

Williston, N. Dak., Missouri River

near ..........................

Yankton, S. Dak., Missouri River at ... 

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

79

80

80

80

62

39

79

60

71

71

32

38

42

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : O 1951