Floods of NovemberDecember 1950 in 

Western Nevada

FLOODS OF 1950

Prepared under the direction of J. V. B. WELLS, Chief, Surface Water Branch 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1137-H

Prepared in cooperation with the 

Department of the State Engineer and 

the talker River Irrigation District of 

Nevada, the Department of Public 

ff^orks of California, the Corps of 

Engineers, United States Army, and the 

United States Bureau of Reclamation

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

Douglas McKay, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

W. E. Wrather, Director

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

Washington 25, D. C. - Price 40 cents (paper cover)
PREFACE

This report on the floods of November-December i960 in western Nevada was prepared in the U. 3. Geological Survey, Water 

Resources Division, C. G. Paulsen, chief, under the general direction of J. V. B. Wells, chief, Surface Water Branch. The data 

for the report were collected and prepared for publication under 

the direction of M. T. Wilson, district engineer, Salt Lake City, 

Utah.

The collection of basic records of stage and discharge in the 

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

program with the following agencies: State of Nevada, Department 

of the State Engineer, Alfred Merritt Smith, State engineer, and 

the Walker River Irrigation District; State of California, Department of Public Works, C. H. Purcell, director, and A. D. Edmonston, State engineer; Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army; and the 

U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. Data furnished by individuals, corporation, or Government agencies are acknowledged where they 

appear in the text.

Collection of field data necessary for the determination of peak 

discharges by indirect methods was coordinated by Hollister Johnson, hydraulic engineer. Personnel of the Ground Water Branch, 

Carson City district, assisted in the collection of field data during 

the floods. Personnel of the San Francisco district prepared the 

isohyetal maps. The report was prepared by L. B. Sawyer, 

engineer-in-charge, Carson City, Nev., and W. P. Somers, hydraulic engineer.

Ill

CONTENTS

Page

Abstract ................................................................. 897

Introduction .............................................................. 897

General features of the storms and floods. ................................... 901

Meteorology ........................................................... 901

Precipitation and runoff ................................................. 905

Description of the floods ................................................ 913

Storage................................................................ 919

Damages ................................................................. 921

Measurement of flood discharge ............................................ 921

Stages and discharges at stream-gaging stations. ............................. 923

Explanation of data ..................................................... 923

Walker Lake basin. ..................................................... 924

Walker Lake near Hawthorne, Nev. ................................... 924

Bridgeport Reservoir near Bridgeport, Calif. .......................... 925

East Walker River near Bridgeport, Calif. ............................. 926

East Walker River above Strosnider ditch, near Mason, Nev. ............ 927

West Walker River below East Fork, near Coleville, Calif. ............. 928

West Walker River near Hudson, Nev. ................................ 929

East Fork West Walker River near Bridgeport, Calif. .................. 930

Topaz Reservoir near Topaz, Calif. ................................... 931

Humboldt-Carson Sink basin ............................................. 932

Carson River basin .................................................. 932

East Fork Carson River above Soda Springs ranger station, near

Markleeville, Calif. ............................................. 932

East Fork Carson River near Gardnerville, Nev. .................... 933

Carson River near Carson City, Nev. .............................. 934

Carson River near Fort Churchill, Nev. ............................ 935

Silver King Creek near Coleville, Calif. ............................ 936

Wolf Creek near Markleeville, Calif. ............................... 937

Silver Creek below Pennsylvania Creek, near Markleeville, Calif. .... 938

Markleeville Creek above Grover Hot Springs, near Markleeville, Calif. 939 

Pleasant Valley Creek above Raymond Canyon Creek, near

Markleeville, Calif. ............................................. 940

West Fork Carson River above Woodfords, Calif. .................... 941

West Fork Carson River at Woodfords, Calif. ....................... 942

Clear Creek near Carson City, Nev. ................................ 943

Pyramid and Winnemucca Lakes basin .................................... 944

Pyramid Lake near Nixon, Nev. ...................................... 944

Truckee River near Truckee, Calif. .................................. 945

Truckee River at Reno, Nev. ......................................... 946

Little Truckee River near Hobart Mills, Calif. ........................ 947

Summary of flood stages and discharges ..................................... 948

Records of previous floods ................................................. 952

Floods of 1861-62 ...................................................... 952

Flood of 1867 .......................................................... 953

Flood of 1907 .......................................................... 953

Flood of 1928 .......................................................... 953

Index .................................................................... 955
VI CONTENTS

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

Figure 111. Index map of area covered by this report...................... 898

112. Map of area showing locations of streams and towns ............. 899

113. Histogram of annual floods at selected gaging stations .......... 900

114. Maximum and minimum temperature curves and precipitation,

Reno, Nev. ............................................. 903

115. Surface weather chart for November 18, 1950 ................. 904

116. Comparison of average November precipitation with precipitation

in November 1950 ........................................ 906

117. Isohyetal map of precipitation, November 13-15, 1950 .......... 907

118. tsohyetal map of precipitation, November 16-21, 1950 .......... 908

119. Isohyetal map of precipitation, December 2-4, 1950 ............ 910

120. Isohyetal map of precipitation, December 6-8, 1950 ............ 911

121. Isohyetal map of total precipitation for period November 13 to

December 8, 1950........................................ 912

122. Graphs of discharge at selected gaging stations in Walker River

basin ................................................... 914

123. Graphs of discharge at selected gaging stations in Carson River

basin ................................................... 915

124. Graphs of discharge at selected gaging stations in Truckee River

basin ................................................... 916

125. Sierra Street bridge in Reno during recession of flood .......... 917

126. View at First and Center Streets, Reno ....................... 917

127. Destruction of highway in Truckee Canyon ..................... 919

128. Map of western Nevada and eastern California showing flooddetermination points, November-December 1950 ............ 949

129. Relation of unit runoff to size of drainage basin ................ 952

TABLES

Page 

Table 1. Flood areas and damages, Walker, Carson.and Truckee River

basins, November-December 1950 ......................... 922

2. Summary of flood stages and discharges in Walker, Carson, and

Truckee River basins, November-December 1950 ........... 950
FLOODS OF 1950

FLOODS OF NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1950 

IN WESTERN NEVADA

ABSTRACT

Record-breaking floods in the Walker, Carson, and Truckee River basins during 

November and December 1950 resulted from a rapid sequence of storms and unseasonably high temperatures that melted most of the early snow cover. During the period November 13 to Decembers, 1950, total precipitation ranged from about 5 inches 

at the foot of the Sierra Nevada in Nevada to about 30 inches at the crest in California, near the California-Nevada State line. About half of this total occurred during 

the period November 16-21. The resulting floods were the greatest in more than 50 

years of record. The highest discharge occurred on Truckee River where the greatest damage potential exists--in the urban area of Reno and Sparks.

Notable rates of discharge were 19, 900 cfs, or 36. 1 cfs per square mile, from 

551 square miles in Truckee River at Reno, Nev. ; 7,010 cfs, or 212 cfs per square 

mile, from 33 square miles in Little Truckee River near Hobart Mills, Calif.; and 

3,570 cfs, or 119 cfs per square mile, from 30 square miles in East Fork Carson 

River near Markleeville, Calif.

The estimate of damages compiled by the Corps of Engineers total $4,360, 000 for 

the area; $1, 982, 000 of this was for Reno. Two deaths were reported. The American Red Cross assisted about 200 persons, at an expenditure of about $7,500. Federal aid for city and county rehabilitation in Nevada totaled $75, 000.

This report contains records of stage and discharge at 20 gaging stations and contents of 2 reservoirs, and a summary of peak discharges at 23 points within or adjacent to the flood area. The report contains also a discussion of the storms and floods, 

a section on meteorology prepared by the Weather Bureau, and a brief discussion of 

previous floods.

INTRODUCTION

The floods of November-December 1950 in western Nevada resulted from a series of warm storms after snow had accumulated 

at the beginning of the winter period. The unusually rapid sequence of storms and resulting floods are noteworthy. Antecedent 

precipitation had been high, leaving soil moisture above normal. 

Temperature during much of the runoff period was also high . 

Records of maximum precipitation, peak discharge, and temperature were exceeded in several instances. Figure 111 is a map 

showing the area covered by this report; figure 112 is an enlarged 

map showing locations of the more important streams and towns.

Fall and winter storms ordinarily do not generate annual floods 

in this area. (The term "annual flood "is defined as the maximum 

instantaneous discharge in any one year.) However, if a warm 

storm with heavy precipitation occurs after snow has accumulated 

at high elevations, the combination of factors can produce floods 

greater than those occurring during the spring snowmelt period.

897
898 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

Figure 113, a histogram of annual flood peaks at selected stations, 

shows that the greatest annual flood of record occurred in the 1951 

water year (during the present floods) and the next greatest in the 

1938 water year (December 1937). Annual floods on East Fork Carson River near Gardnerville, Nev. , during the period November - 

February were recorded in water years 1893, 1938, 1942, 1943, 

1945, 1947, and 1951. The first, second, third, fifth, and sixth 

highest annual floods of record are included in this group, which 

shows that winter floods are less frequent but more severe than 

the usual annual spring flood on this stream. The annual flood

Figure 111.--Index map of area covered by this report.
INTRODUCTION 899

Figure 112.--Map of area showing locations of the more important streams and towns.
900 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

WEST WALKER RIVER BELOW EAST FORK 

NEAR COLEVILLE, CALIF

EAST FORK CARSON RIVER 

NEAR, GARDNERVILLE, NEV.

WEST FORK CARSON RIVER 

AT WOODFORDS, CALIF

1891-1900 1901-10 1911-20 1921-30 1931-40 1941-50 

WATER YEAR

Figure 113.--Histogram of annual floods at selected gaging stations 

having relatively long periods of record.
GENERAL FEATURES OF THE STORMS AND FLOODS 901

usually occurs in the spring or early summer as a result of a slow 

rate of snowmelt. It is dependent more upon temperature and the 

amount of snow accumulation than upon precipitation during the 

runoff period.

The potential for extreme flood stages ordinarily decreases as 

the winter season advances. Accumulation of snow by the end of 

December, often exceeding 25 feet at the higher elevations, is 

enough to absorb precipitation developing from any one warm storm, 

thus reducing or eliminating storm runoff from part of the area. 

Preceding a heavy accumulation of snow, however, a warm storm 

may melt the entire snow pack and produce extreme flood stages. 

Records show that winter floods after December have usually been 

preceded by earlier floods that have reduced or completely melted 

the previous snow pack and returned the drainage basin to conditions similar to those before the snow began to accumulate. It is 

not unusual, therefore, to have a repetition of floods during the 

same winter season. In the 1950 series of peaks onthe East Fork 

Carson River those of November 19, 20, and December 3 all exceeded the second highest annual flood, that of December 11, 1937, 

which indicates the quick response the stream made to an exceptionally rapid sequence of heavy storms.

The storms that produced the floods in western Nevada were 

associated with the storms that produced the floods of NovemberDecember 1950 in the Central Valley basin of California. Those 

floods are described in a preceding chapter of this series, WaterSupply Paper 1137-F, Floods of November-December 1950 in Central Valley basin, California.

GENERAL FEATURES OF THE STORMS AND FLOODS

During November and December 1950, floods ofiunusual magnitude occurred over wide areas of California and Nevada exceeding 

those previously recorded at many locations. This report pertains 

to the drainage of the east slope of the Sierra Nevada,particularly 

in the Walker, Carson, and Truckee River basins as outlined in figure 112.

Meteorology 

Prepared by the staff of the United States Weather Bureau

The basins of the Walker, Carson, and Truckee Rivers lie just 

to the east or leeward of the Sierra Nevada, which is usually an 

effective barrier to precipitation from eastward moving air. Strong 

southwesterly flow, however, results in a "spilling over" of precipitation to the leeward side. The greater part of the annual rainfall occurs in winter and is a result of cyclonic activity. Thunderstorms are infrequent in this region.
902 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

The floods in the Walker-Carson-Truckee basin area in November-December 1950 were the result of a combination of factors. 

Precipitation in the area during September and October had been 

about 300 percent of normal. Heavy rainfall in November was accompanied by mild temperatures which greatly reduced the snow 

cover. This not only worked hardship on the region because of the 

record-breaking floods which resulted, but also promised less water for the spring and summer when the region looks to snowmelt 

for water. Precipitation above the normal in December held the 

streams near flood stage.

During the first week of November western Nevada was dominated by high pressure. Skies were clear and temperatures soared. 

The maximum and minimum temperature curves for Reno, Nev. 

(fig. 114), are typical. Marlette Lake, Nev., at an elevation of 

8, 000 feet, had minimum temperatures of freezing or above for 

all but 1 day of the first week of November. On November 8, a 

great polar high-pressure area swept down over the Pacific Northwest from Canada and by morning of the 9th covered the WalkerCarson-Truckee basin area. Temperatures plunged (see fig. 114) 

but recovered by the 12th.

A low-pressure area moved into western Nevada from the Pacific Coast at this time, deepening somewhat as it moved slowly 

eastward. Associated with this pressure area was a trough through 

western California at about 10,000 feet. This trough deepened in 

the next 24 hours, moving slightly westward so that it lay just off 

the California coast. At the same time a strong cold front approached the West Coast at the surface. By evening of the 13th of 

November the cold front lay through central Washington andOregoa 

An area of precipitation in advance of the front covered part of the 

Walker, Carson, and Truckee River basins. The cold front passage on the 14th caused another dip in temperatures and was accompanied by more precipitation over most of the country west of 

the Continental Divide.

A strong low-pressure area developed just west of Vancouver 

Island late on November 14 and continued to deepen rapidly on the 

1.5th. An extremely strong southwesterly circulation was created 

over the northern California-western Nevada region. This circulation extended to the 700-millibar level, so that warm moist air 

was being brought into great heights. Rain was reported over the 

Walker-Carson-Truckee region on the 16th and again on the 17th 

as the circulation was maintained, although in a weaker form.

On November 18 the southwesterly flow was intensified once 

more, but this time by the intrusion of the Pacific high-pressure 

area over the southern half of California. (See fig. 115, Surface 

weather chart for November 18, 1950.) It was on this day and the 

following that the precipitation reached its peak. Many stations in
TEMPERATURE, IN DEGREES FAHRENHEIT
904 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

Douglas, Lyon, Ormsby, and Washoe Counties, Nev., registered 

record-breaking 24-hour totals during this period. At the same 

time, high temperatures greatly reduced the snow cover. As another intense system approached the West Coast on the 20th, the 

flow of warm moist air into California and Nevada was strengthened. Precipitation again became heavy and continued through the 

21st, although at a lesser rate.

On November 19, Carson City, Minden, and Nixon, Nev. , all 

recorded their greatest one-day precipitation for any month, while 

on the 18th, Glenbrook, Nev., received its greatest daily amount 

for November. Truckee Ranger Station, Calif., which normally 

receives alittle more than 2 inches for the entire month of November, recorded alrrost 7 inches during the period November 17-20, 

1950.

OFFICIAL U.S. WEATHER BUREAU MAP 

FOR NOVEMBER IB, 1950 

10:30 A.M., P.S.T.

Figure 115.--Surface weather chart for November 18, 1950.
GENERAL FEATURES OF THE STORMS AND FLOODS 905

High pressure dominated the Walker-Carson-Truckee area for 

the remainder of the month, except for the last day when light rain 

fell over several stations.

Figure 116 compares average November precipitation withprecipitation for November 1950 at 3 stations in Nevada and 3 in California. The amount at Tahoe, Calif., was the greatest November 

total in 41 years of record; at Truckee Ranger Station the amount 

was the greatest November total in 67 years of record.

Temperatures in Nevada during December were even more consistently above normal than they had been during November (fig. 

114). It was the third warmest December of record. In California, December 1950 was the warmest December on record for the 

period 1897 to the present. Warm rains, which continued for the 

first 8 days of the month, were a result of the passage of four successive frontal systems that continuously brought warm moist air 

over the region. These rains kept streams in the Walker, Carson, 

and Truckee River basins near flood stage fromthe 3d to the 10th. 

The peak flows, however, were generally less than during the severe floods of November. Low farmlands east of Reno, Nev., were 

water covered until the middle of the month.

The Walker-Carson-Truckee River basin area was dominated 

by high pressure for most of the remaining part of the month except for the passage of a frontal system during December 13-15 

when small amounts of precipitation were recorded. The month 

closed, however, with the passage of a strong frontal system on 

the 30th.

Northern counties of Nevada averaged near 150 percent of normal December precipitation, with the major part of the precipitation 

falling during the first 8 days of the month and the closing days. 

In the California part of the basins December precipitation averaged about 140 percent of normal.

Precipitation and Runoff

Conditions preceding the periods of heavy precipitation favored 

a high potential runoff. September and October precipitation, about 

300 percent of normal, helped to satisfy soil moisture demands or 

added to high-elevation snow accumulation. During the period 

November 13-15, precipitation to about 1 inch at the divide of the 

Sierra-Nevada was recorded. Figure 117 shows the areal distribution of precipitation during that period.

The warm storms of November 16-21 broke many records of 

precipitation. Totals of more than 15 inches were recorded at 

high elevations. Figure 118 shows the distribution of these storms. 

Simultaneously, much of the snow pack was melted and a large
Z BO 

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EXPLANATION

Average precipitation

i£3 1950 precipitation

Carson City 

(Carson drainage)

Marlette Lake

(Truckee drainage)

NEVADA

Schurz 

(Walker drainage)

Woodfords Truck

(Carson drainage) (Tru

C

Figure 116.--Comparison of average November precipitation with precip

Carson, arid Truckee River basins.
hcj - 
908 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

Figure 118.--Isohyetal map of precipitation, November 16-21, 1950.
GENERAL FEATURES OF THE STORMS AND FLOODS 909

proportion of its water content was added to surface runoff. Water 

content of the accumulated snow at the higher elevations probably 

exceeded 3 inches. This period of storms generated two distinct 

flood peaks about 48 hours apart. At many points the first peak 

approached or exceeded the maximum of record. Streams with 

little valley storage receded rapidly only to rise again to still 

higher stages. The second peak exceeded the first on most streams 

in the Walker, Carson, and Truckee River basins and surpassed 

all previously recorded floods. Because of the unusually short 

interval between storms, probably more than the usual amount of 

precipitation of the second storm appeared as flood runoff. As the 

soil had been saturated and channels filled, there was little opportunity for additional precipitation to infiltrate and recharge 

ground-water reservoirs, fill channels, enter bank storage, or 

disappear as evapotranspiration. At high elevations warm wind 

and rain continued to melt the snow that remained after the first 

warm storm. This snowmelt augmented flood runoff volumes to 

an undetermined extent.

Following the floods of November, streams subsided considerably. Little additional precipitation was recorded until early December.

On December 2 precipitation began again the forerunner of a 

new series of four warm frontal storms. Figure 119 shows the 

distribution of precipitation totals for December 2-4that were in 

excess of 6 inches on the east slope of the Sierra Nevada. Some 

streams, notably Clear Creek near Carson City, Nev. , and East 

Fork West Walker River near Coleville, Calif., (see fig. 112) 

reached maxima of record on December 3. Distribution of precipitation as shown on figure 119 indicates a high rate of rainfall 

in the local area of Clear Creek during this period. It is very 

likely that there were higher quantities of precipitation at points 

in the East Fork of the West Walker River basin than are shown on 

the map. Not enough precipitation records are available to show 

the many variations in rainfall that would normally develop in an 

area with such large changes in topography. Previously flooded 

areas were alert to the possibility of recurrence of damaging floods 

and were better prepared to meet the threat with temporary 

measures. During the period December 6-8 more than 4 inches of 

precipitation was recorded over parts of the basins (fig. 120), but 

in general the resulting flood peaks were appreciably lower than 

those of November.

Figure 121 shows the areal distribution of total precipitation 

for the period November 13 to December 8. As much as 30 inches 

is shown near the crest of the Sierra Nevada for the 26-day period. 

The quantity of snowmelt for the period is not known, but a sizable 

amount probably was supplied by the melting snow. Water content 

of snow at the higher altitude undoubtedly exceeded 3 inches just 

before the floods began.
910 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

Figure 119.--Isohyetal map of precipitation, December 2-4, 1950.
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912 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

Figure 121.--Isohyetal map of total precipitation for period November 13 to December 8, 1950.
GENERAL FEATURES OF THE STORMS AND FLOODS 913

Discharge hydrographs at selected gaging stations, figures 122- 

124, show time distribution of the discharges during the period 

November 17 to December 13. The effects of reservoir and channel storage and the relative size of the several peaks are represented graphically by these hydrographs.

Description of the Floods

The most concentrated and destructive effects of the flood occurred in Reno. Because of the infrequent occurrence of floods 

of this magnitude, the urban development of the adjacent cities of 

Reno and Sparks has encroached upon Truckee River flood plains. 

Embankments and retaining walls have been gradually narrowing 

the channel through the urban area. Dams forming ponds in park 

areas were considered serious encroachments by some officials 

planning preventive measures. Low bridges with openings inadequate for the passage of floods of this magnitude cross the river 

at many points. Great masses of flood-borne debris reduced the 

effective carrying capacity of bridge openings at several locations 

(see fig. 125).Water was 3 feet deep on some of the main business 

streets of Reno, with velocities high enough to move parked automobiles and several were tipped over by the raging currents.

Hastily erected dikes and sandbag'barriers averted some flooding. News reports tell of a dike built by the city engineer of Sparks 

that prevented flooding of three-fourths of the city. There the 

major damage was inundation of the sewage disposal plant.Municipal improvements damaged in Reno included bridge approaches, 

roadways, sidewalks, parks, sewage disposal plant, and sewer 

mains crossing the river. Largest monetary loss was suffered by 

business establishments adjacent to the Truckee River in Reno. 

Stocks of department stores, furniture stores, automobile agencies, 

and many other businesses were badly damaged. The U. S. Post 

Office, two of the largest hotels in the city, and a bank--all adjacent to the channel were heavily damaged. Water stood almost 

4 feet deep on the main floor of the Riverside Hotel. Garages, 

theaters, and other establishments had extensive damage (see 

fig. 126). As this area is dependent to a great extent on tourist 

and visitor trade, the reduction of travel over a wide area caused 

considerable loss in day-to-day business.

Because of continued stormy weather conditions in early December, protective barriers of sandbags and dikes were left in 

place. On December 15 the materials were removed from streets 

and side walks but were stockpiled nearby for use if the river were 

to threaten again.

The peak on the Truckee River, although greatly reduced by 

natural detention in the Truckee Meadows area just downstream 

from Reno, reached Nixon on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation
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Carson River near Carson City, Nev 

(Drainage oreo ; 876 sq m

^Eost Fork Carson River near Gordnerville, Nev 

(Drainage area- 344 sq mil

West Fork Corson River at Woodfords, Calif' 

(Drainage area: 66 sq mi ]

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 I 2 3 4

0 ==*- 

Figure l23.--Graphs of discharge at selected gaging stations in Carson 
9 20 21 22 23 Z4 25 26 27 28 29 30 I 2

Figure 124.--Graphs of discharge at selected gaging station in Trucke
GENERAL FEATURES OF THE STORMS AND FLOODS 917

Figure 125.--Sierra Street bridge in Reno, looking upstream, during 

recession of flood. Note debris lodged against bridge and highwater 

line on building to right. Photograph by Christensen, Reno, Nev.

Figure 126.--View at First and Center Streets, Reno, after crest 

had passed. Waves indicate velocity of water. Photograph by 

Bennett Photo Co. , Reno, Nev.
918 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

about 36 hours after the crest at Reno. About 3, 500 acres of agricultural land east of Reno were inundated by the Truckee River. 

News reports indicate that between 100 and 200 persons were 

driven from their ranch homes, and at least 15 families were left 

completely homeless.

On other streams fewer persons or structures were affected 

directly by flooding, for principal centers of population are out of 

overflow areas of the larger rivers. Ranches and farms had large 

areas inundated and some fertile agricultural land was covered 

with coarse deposits of deleterious material. Valuable herds of 

livestock were threatened and some losses were reported. Travel 

was materially reduced, and recovery from the devastation was 

hampered by the recurring storms and ensuing floods.

Highways were unusable for extended periods. Sections of transcontinental routes, U. S. Highways 40, 50, and 395 serve a large 

proportion of the traveling public in the area. Roads and highways 

crossing the floor of Carson Valley were inundated too deep for 

fording while the Carson River was at flood stage. Where highways 

are near the base of mountain slopes, heavy deposits of mud, rock, 

and debris were left by ordinarily small streams. Deposits left 

by Ophir Creek closed U. S. Highway 395 between Carson City and 

Reno for several days. Slides and slumps of saturated earth blocked 

other highways, particularly in canyon sections. Two men and 

two vehicles on traffic duty were reported carried off the highway 

and down a steep embankment by a slide in Truckee Canyon. In 

confined reaches of canyons where roads are built close to 

streams, many washouts were reported. (See fig. 127.) U. S. Route 

40 in Truckee Canyon was reopened for limited use after being out 

of service for more than a week. Several sections of highway on 

U. S. Route 395 in the West Walker River Canyon south of Coleville, Calif., were destroyed. Traffic was rerouted through Wellington, Sweetwater, and Bridgeport and also convoyed over sections under repair on all major highways for extended periods.

Many bridges or approaches were reported damaged or destroyed. On November 20 the Reno Gazette reported that at least 

six bridges on county or State secondary routes in the GardnervilleMarkleeville-Coleville area had been washed out and others were 

believed in danger of failing. When the bridge at Floriston, Calif., 

was washed out by the Truckee River, the residents were isolated 

except for a footbridge. At many points repairs to bridges and 

highways were in vain because the rises of early December wiped 

out partly completed work and postponed complete recovery.

Many agricultural facilities, such as diversion dams, headgates, 

drains, and canal sections were seriously damaged or destroyed; 

this loss did not materially interfere with agricultural production, 

for the floods occurred during the nongrowing season. Enough 

time was available for necessary replacements or repairs before 

the beginning of the next season.
GENERAL FEATURES OF THE STORMS AND FLOODS 919

Figure 127.--Destruction of highway in Truckee Canyon on U. S. 

Route 40. At this point, about 300 yards of road was completely 

destroyed. Photograph by U. S. Forest Service, Nov. 23, 1950.

The soil mantle of the water sheds under went considerable change 

in some areas. Dr. L. E. Dunn, of the University of Nevada, in 

a news article reported that fine sediment in the Truckee River 

during the flood carried about three times as much organic matter 

as is present in most Nevada soils. This implies that much of the 

most valuable part of soils eroded by runoff probably was carried 

to Pyramid Lake, whereas less fertile heavier materials were deposited along the way, in some places covering fertile farmland 

with unproductive soil. The removal of organic material from the 

watershed also reduced the ability of the soil mantle to detain 

runoff.

Storage

Streams with adequate storage facilities for irrigation supplies 

were prepared early to meet demands for the next season; streams 

without adequate storage provisions were in an unfavorable positionto supply future irrigation requirements because a large part 

of the winter's total snow accumulation had already been dissipated 

as flood runoff.
920 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

In the Walker River basin Bridgeport Reservoir on East Walker 

River stored runoff until about December 15 when controlled release began. Topaz Reservoir, an off-stream reservoir, similarly 

stored runoff until about December 9. This storage reduced flood 

peaks greatly, delayed high discharge downstream, and conserved 

water for future use. Walker Lake, which had declined an average 

of 2. 1 feet annually during the previous 10 years, showed no net 

change in stage during the period of flood runoff through March 

1951. This decrease in rate of decline is typical of spring runoff 

periods. Upstream storage and detention of flood volumes in the 

basin reduced the waste to Walker Lake.

The Carson River, with little reservoir storage upstream, responded quickly with high peak discharges. Some attenuation of 

peaks resulted from storage in the broad overflow areas of Carson 

Valley. This condition is part of the natural regimen of the stream 

andcouldbe expected to behave similarly with each extreme flood. 

Lake Lahontan on the lower Carson River gained about 70, 000 

acre-feet of storage during the 10-day flood period in November, 

brightening the prospect for irrigation during the coming season 

The storms of December added more volume to the Carson River 

basin; release from Lake Lahontan was begun December 3 in anticipation of the increased inflow. The rate of release was influenced by the degree of flooding of ranch lands downstream and by 

the limitation of the little-used natural channel. According to the 

Reno Gazette all possible means of controlled disposal were used. 

Early in December the reservoir was practically filled and large 

controlled releases were made without excessive damage downstream.

The high rate of runoff from the drainage area above the outlet 

of Lake Tahoe was stored with negligible outflow until December 

15. Dr. H. P. Boardman, emeritus professor of civil engineering, 

University of Nevada, reported in the Reno Gazette that Lake Tahoe 

rose 1.89 feet during the period November 13 to December 6. This 

rise represents a storage increase on about 193 square miles of 

lake surface, or 233, 000 acre-feet. The storage capacity of Lake 

Tahoe is large compared with the yield of the contributing area. 

During all major floods for the period of record, outflow from Lake 

Tahce has been insignificant compared with peak discharge downstream. Boca Reservoir on Little Truckee River, with usable capacity of 41, 000 acre-feet, was filled, and overflowed late on November 19 while the first rise on the Truckee River was in progress. 

Spill continued during the second and larger rise so that this reservoir was not effective in reducing the peak flood on the Truckee 

River, which caused so much damage in Reno. Manipulation of the 

contents of Boca Reservoir was carried out during the recession 

of the second rise to provide storage capacity to reduce peaks on 

the Truckee River. Pyramid Lake at the lower end of the Truckee 

River showed a rapid rise of about 1. 7 feet from November 15 to
MEASUREMENT OF FLOOD DISCHARGE 921

December 10. The rise continued through the winter and on February 26, 1951, the stage had increased an additional 2. 2 feet, a 

total of about 3. 9 feet. Although Pyramid Lake shows moderate 

rises during the spring runoff season, the trend has been downward since 1870; for the past 10 years the average annual decline 

has been 1. 5 feet.

DAMAGES

Damages by the floods have been estimated by several agencies, including a detailed report by the Corps of Engineers, U. S. 

Army. A canvass of the area was made to determine the amount 

of flood damage. Table 1, a copy of the summary tabulation, gives 

details of damages by class and basin. The Soil Conservation 

Service estimated damages along the Carson River between Dayton 

and Weeks as over $120,000. Irrigation ditches and structures, 

highways, bridges, fall feed, fences, baled hay, farm machinery, 

and homes were damaged in that area. According to the State 

highway engineer, western Nevada highways and bridges sustained 

an estimated $250, 000 damage. News reports on December 16 

stated that the Red Cross furnished aid totaling about $7, 500 to 

about 200 persons. Federal funds totaling $75,000 were divided 

among western Nevada cities and counties for flood recovery work.

Two deaths were attributed to the floods, according to news reports on November 21.

MEASUREMENT OF FLOOD DISCHARGE

Current-meter measurements of discharge are the primary 

means of defining the stage-discharge relation at gaging stations. 

Cableways and bridges are the principal structures from which 

discharge measurements are made. However, during floods of 

short duration, high stages, and widespread occurrence it is virtually impossible to make current-meter measurements near the 

peak at all gaging stations in the flood area.

When the stage-discharge relation requires a long extension 

above current-meter measurements, indirect methods of determination of peak flow are used. Among the indirect methods commonly used are slope-area method, contracted-opening method, 

and computation of peak flow over a dam. These methods require 

collection of considerable field data: selection of a suitable site; 

careful surveys of high-water profiles, cross sections, and plans 

of sites; experienced selection of coefficients and analysis of field 

data; and thorough testing of the reasonableness of results. These 

indirect methods for determining flood flows are fully discussed in
Table 1. --Flooded areas and flood damages, Walker, Carson, and Truckee River 

[Compiled by Corps of Engineers]

Stream and reach

Flooded 

areas 

(acres)

Direct flood 

Agricultural Residential

Commer

and 

industr

Truckee River

Lake Tahoe shoreline. ......... 120

Lake Tahoe to Donner Creek . . . 100

Donner Creek to Farad ........ 200

Farad to Reno ................ 500

Reno ........................ 200

Reno to Vista ................ 3,800

Vista to Derby Dam ........... 100

Derby Dam to Pyramid ........ 1, 250

Total, Truckee River. ....... 6. 270

Carson River

East Fork to Centerville ....... 700

West Fork to Centerville. ...... 3, 000

East and West Forks, Centerville to Carson .............. 22,000

Main Carson, Carson to 

Lahontan. ................... 7, 000

Main Carson, below Lahontan . . 300

Total, Carson River. ........ 33, 000

Walker River .................. 2, 000

Grand total................... 41,270

0

0

0

23, 000

0

220,000

42,000

37, 000

5,000

3, 000

0

13, 000

136, 000

0

0

0

5, 

24, 

9, 

580,

322,000 157,000 1, 618, 

72,000

71,000

208, 000

151, 000

35, 000

0

0

6, 000

0

0

537, 000 6, 000 

143,000 5, 000 

1,002, OOC 168,000 1, 618, 
EXPLANATION OF DATA 923

Water-Supply Paper 888. Of the 20 gaging-station records presented in detail in this report, 15 rating curves were extended to 

peak stages on the basis of determination of peak discharge by indirect methods, and 5 rating curves were adequately defined by 

current-meter measurements. Indirect methods were used at 3 

additional locations to determine peak flow.

STAGES AND DISCHARGES AT STREAM-GAGING STATIONS

Explanation of Data

The data presented for each stream-gaging station are as follows: 

A description of the station; a table of (1) daily mean discharges 

for the period November 1 to December 31, 1950, (2) monthly figures 

of mean discharge in cubic feet per second, (3) monthly runoff, in 

acre-feet, and (4) monthly runoff, in inches; and a table of stage 

and discharge at certain intervals during each day of the flood periods November 17-26 and November 30 to December 13, with supplemental records added as footnotes to furnish adequate detail of 

the behavior of each stream during the flood period.

Records of stage and contents of important lakes and reservoirs 

are also presented as completely as possible.

The description of the station gives information on the location, 

datum, effective drainage area above the gage, type and completeness of gage-height record, method of obtaining discharge records, 

the maximum stage and discharge during the flood, the maximum 

flood previously known, and additional details concerning diversions, 

storage, regulation, and other factors of importance to a complete 

description of the record.

The records of stage were obtained mostly by automatic waterstage recorders. Some records were obtained by occasional gage 

readings. Methods and departures from the general procedure 

are noted under "Gage-height record, " in the description of the 

station.

The sequence of presentation is Walker Lake basin, Carson 

River basin, and Pyramid and Winnemucca Lakes basin (Truckee 

River basin). Records are given in downstream order of main stem 

stations, followed by tributaries in downstream order.
924 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

Walker Lake Basin

Walker Lake near Hawthorne, Nev.

5', long lia°42', in ME^NEi sec. 2, T. 3 N., R. 29 E., at United

tates Naval Depot and 2 miles northwest of Hawthorne.

Maxima. --November-December 1950: Elevation observed, 5,935.7 ft Nov. 4.

1923 to October 1950: Elevation

An elevation of 4,073, , adjustment of 1912, ivas observe

Geological Survey,

Cooperation.--Records furnished by United States Navy Department.

Elevation, in feet, above mean sea level, peri
WALKER LAKE BASIN 925

Bridgeport Reservoir near Bridgeport, Calif.

Location. Lat 38°19'30", long 119°12'50", in SE-j sec. 34, T. 6 N., R. 25 E., at

Bridgeport Dam on East Walker River, 4-j miles north of Bridgeport. Datum of gage is 

at mean sea level.

Drainage area.--562 sq mi.

Gage-height record.--Float gage readings made about 8 a.m. daily.

Maxima.--November-December 1950: Contents, 35,960 acre-ft Dec. 13 (elevation, 6,457.68

1926 to October 1950: Contents, 44,580 acre-ft June 12, 1938 (elevation, 6,460.7 

ft).

Remarks.--Reservoir is forced by earthfill,rock-faced dam. Storage began Dec. 8, 1923; 

dam completed in November 1924. Capacity, 42,460 acre-ft between elevations 6,412 ft 

(sill of outlet gage) and 6,460 ft (crest of spillway). No dead storage. Water is 

used for Walker River Irrigation District. Contents correspond to gage readings made 

about 8 a.m. daily. Elevations and capacity table furnished by Walker River Irrigation District.

Elevation, in feet, and contents, in acre-feet, at 8 a.m. of indicated day 1950

November

Elevation

December

Change in contents 

during month.

+11,780
926 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

East Walker River near Bridgeport, Calif.

Location.--Lat 38°19'40", long 119°12'50", in SW-fNE-j sec. 54, T. 6 N., R. 25 E., 1,500 

ft downstream from Bridgeport Reservoir, 5 miles north of Bridgeport, and 10 miles 

upstream from Sweetwater Creek.

Drainage area.--562 sq mi.

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

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

Backwater from aquatic vegatation Nov. 1-12.

Maxima.--November-December 1950: Discharge, 580 cfs 4 p.m. Dec. 14 to 10 a.m. Dec. 16 

[gage height, 2.66 ft).

1921 to October 1950: Discharge, 1,240 cfs Jan. 22, 1943 (gage height, 4.5 ft).

Remarks.--Diversions for irrigation of meadow and pasture lands near Bridgeport. Flow 

regulated by Bridgeport Reservoir (see preceding page).

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

fi

7

8

November

3.8

5.8

5.8

3.8

3.8

3.8

5.8

5.8

December

5.0

5.0

5.5

5.4

5.4

5.4

5.5

5.9

Day

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

November

5.8

5.8

5.8

2.9

.7

.6

1.5

3.0

December

55

182

210

296

424

514

580

535

Day

17

18

19

20

21

?,?,

23

24

November

5.0

5.2

5.4

5.6

4.1

4.6

4.7

4.7

December

449

558

244

154

122

122

119

119

Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Monthly mean discharge, in cfs. . . . . . . ... .........................

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

November

4.9

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

3.72

222

-

December

119

117

117

117

117

117

117

172

10,600

-

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

E*

a

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

10

12

4

N

4

12

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

10

12

4

N

4

12

Gage 1 Disheight | charge

November 17

0.15

.15

3.0

3.0

November 23

0.22

.22

Dec en

0.25

.25

Dece

0.27

.25

.25

4.7

4.7

iber 2

5.0

5.0

mber 8

6.4

5.8

5.8

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 18

0.16

.16

3.2

3.2

November 24

0.22

.22

 Dec en

0.24

.24

Dece

0.25

1.27

4.7

4.7

nber 3

5.4

5.4

mber 9

5.8

147

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 19

0.17

.17

3.4

3.4

November 25

0.23

.25

Decei

0.24

.24

Dece]

1.53

1.55

5.0

5.0

nber 4

5.4

5.4

nber 10

210

210

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 20

0.18

.18

3.6

3.6

November 29

0.23

.23

Decer

0.24

.24

Decei

1.53

1.53

5.0

5.0

nber 5

5.4

5.4

nber 11

210

210

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 21

0.19

.21

.21

5.8

4.4

4.4

November 30

0.23

.23

Decei

0.24

.24

5.0

5.0

nber 6

5.4

5.4

December 12

1.53

2.21

210

421

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 22

 0.22

.22

4.7

4.7

December 1

0.23

.23

5.0

5.0

December 7

0.25

.24

.24

Decei

2.22

2.22

5.8

5.4

5.4

nber 13

425

425

Supplemental record.--Dec. 9, 2:30 p.m., 0.25 ft, 5.8 cfs; 3:45 p.m., 1.10 ft, 111 cfs; 

6 p.m., 1.27 ft, 147 cfs; Dec. 10, 10 a.m., 1.27 ft, 147 cfs; 11 a.m., 1.53 ft, 210 cfs; 

Dec. 12, 1 p.m., 1.53 ft, 210 cfs; 3 p.m., 2.13 ft, 394 cfs; 4:30 p.m., 2.13 ft, 394 

cfs; 5 p.m., 2.23 ft, 428 cfs; Dec. 14, 4 p.m. to Dec. 16, 10 a.m., 2.66 ft, 580 cfs.
WALKER LAKE BASIN 927

n. --Lat 38°49', long 119°03', in sec. 14, T. 11 N., R. 26 E., 0.9 mile upstream 

head of Strosnider ditch, 12 miles southeast of Mason, and 13^ miles southeast

Locatio 

from 

of Yerington.

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

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

Maxima . --November-December 1950: Discharge, 479 cfs 5 p.m. Dec. 16 (gage height, 3.38 

1947 to October 1950: Discharge, 246 cfs May 28, 1947 (gage height, 2.30 ft).

Remarks . --Diversions above and below station for irrigation. Flow regulated by Bridgeport Reservoir (see p. 925).

Mean discharge in cubic feet per second. 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

November

33

32

28

27

26

26

25

25

December

28

27

28

91

73

52

47

55

Day

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

November

23

23

22

22

21

21

20

20

December

60

59

163

202

266

369

450

474

Day

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

November

20

20

22

48

46

42

39

37

December

462

414

336

267

200

166

146

141

Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Monthly mean discharge in cfs .......... . . ....... . . .........

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

November

37

32

31

30

31

31

28.7

December

133

133

131

131

133

133

133

178

10,920

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

tc 3 0

E

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12'

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 17

0.95

.95

20

20

November 23

1.18

1.18

1.17

1.16

1.16

1.16

40

40

39

38

38

38

December 2

1.04

1.04

Dece

1.29

1.33

1.35

1.33

1.31

1.33

27

27

mber 8

52

57

60

57

54

53

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 18

0.95

.96

20

21

November 24

1.16

i.ie

1.15

1.15

1.15

1.15

Decer

1.05

1.05

38

38

37

37

37

37

nber 3

28

28

December 9

1.28

1.37

1.39

1.37

1.35

1.33

51

63

66

63

60

57

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 19

0.96

1.23

21

45

November 25

1.15

1.15

1.15

1.15

1.15

1.15

37

37

37

37

37

37

December 4

1.05

1.05

1.05

1.06

1.06

1.90

2.04

1.98

1.87

1.78

1.69

1.64

Dece

1.31

1.30

1.38

1.27

1.27

1.68

28

28

28

29

29

152

180

168

146

129

113

105

mber 10

54

53

51

50

50

112

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 20

1.28

1.28

1.27

1.26

1.24

1.22

1.21

1.25

1.27

1.27

1.27

1.27

51

51

50

48

46

44

43

45

50

50

50

50

November 29

1.09

1.09

1.09

1.10

1.10

1.10

Decer

1.53

1.46

1.41

1.38

1.36

1.33

31

31

31

32

32

32

nber 5

87

76

68

64

61

57

December 11

1.79

1.36

2.01

2.06

2.10

2.12

131

144

174

184

192

196

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 21

1.25

1.23

1.22

1.20

47

45

44

42

November 30

1.10

1.10

1.10

1.09

1.07

1.06

Decei

1.31

1.30

1.29

1.28

1.27

1.26

Decei

2.13

2.14

2.15

2.16

2.16

2.17

32

32

32

31

30

29

nber 6

54

53

52

51

50

48

nber 12

198

200

202

204

204

206

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 22

1.19

1.20

1.21

1.20

41

42

43

42

December 1

1.05

1.05

1.05

1.05

1.04

1.04

Dece

1.25

1.25

28

28

28

28

27

27

Tiber 7

47

47

December 13

2.18

2.19

2.38

2.70

2.80

2.84

208

210

248

318

341

350

Supplemental record. --Nov. 19, 11 p.m., 0.96 ft, 21 cfs; Dec. 4, 11 a.m., 1.45 ft.

74 cfs; Dec. 10, 10 p.m., 1.61 ft, 100 cfs; Dec. 13, 10 a.m., 2.20 ft, 212 cfs; Dec. 16,

5 p.m. , 3.38 ft, 479 cfs.
928 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

West Walker River below East Fork, near Coleville, Calif.

Location. Lat 38°22'45", long 119°27'00", in SEj see. 9, T. 6 N. , R. 23 E., 75 ft 

downstream from East Fork, 200 ft upstream from bridge on U. S. Highway 395, and 13 

miles southeast of Coleville.

Drainage area. 182 sq mi.

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

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

1,800 cfs and extended above on basis of slope-area determination at peak stage. 

Shifting-control method used Nov. 18-20.

Maxima.--November-December 1950: Discharge 6,220 cfs 11 p.m. Nov. 20 (gage height, 8.10

1938 to October 1950: Discharge, 2,490 cfs June 9, 1938 (gage height, 4.90 ft, 

site and datum then in use), from rating curve extended above 1,600 cfs.

Discharge known prior to 1938, 5,800 cfs Dec. 11, 1937, by slope-area determination.

Remarks. Station is above diversions except a few small ranch ditches. Flow very 

slightly regulated by Poor Lake Reservoir (capacity unknown), 7 miles upstream.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

November

77

80

93

102

100

93

85

85

December

231

216

1,220

842

516

543

1,140

1,700

Day

9

in

11

12

13

14

15

16

November

83

71

70

66

67

58

56

75

December

923

663

555

480

421

446

380

337

Day

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

November

79

786

3,010

2, 750

3,800

1,250

709

525

December

310

293

282

254

239

221

211

211

Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Monthly mean discharge, in cfs. . . ........................................

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

November

439

380

334

293

266

278

539

32,050

3.30

December

201

186

177

180

179

169

161

448

27,540

2.84

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

LH 

3 

O

a

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 17

1.60

1.58

1.56

1.55

1.55

1.56

1.60

1.64

1.67

1.68

1.70

1.71

77

74

71

70

70

71

77

83

88

90

93

95

November 23

3.37

3.25

3.17

3.12

3.06

2.97

Decen

1.74

1.68

1.65

1.65

1.74

1.92

1.95

1.96

2.02

2.04

2.03

2.07

799

732

690

664

635

592

iber 2

186

173

167

167

186

228

236

239

254

260

257

268

December 8

4.73

5.18

4.93

4.53

4.21

3.98

1,800

2,270

2,000

1,620

1,360

1,200

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 18

1.76

1.87

2.19

2.50

2.71

2.98

3.35

3.80

4.35

4.88

5.36

5.88

103

123

194

279

346

443

597

828

1,210

1,660

2,190

2,820

November 24

2.90

2.84

2.80

2.77

2.74

2.70

Decen

2.24

2.50

2.82

3.20

3.60

4.03

4.43

4.83

5.04

5.15

4.82

4.42

Dece

3.79

3.63

3.53

3.46

3.37

3.28

561

535

518

506

493

477

iber 3

316

401

527

705

939

1,230

1,530

1,900

2,110

2,240

1,890

1,530

tnber 9

1,060

958

895

852

799

748

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 19

6.61

7.16

7.26

7.01

6.51

6.06

5.63

5.28

5.02

4.80

4.58

4.38

3,860

4,680

4,850

4,460

3,690

3,070

2,510

2,100

1,820

1,600

1,400

1,240

November 25

2.65

2.62

2.59

2.57

2.55

2.54

Decer

4.04

3.77

3.59

3.39

3.36

3.33

3.29

3.24

3.17

3.10

3.02

2.97

Dece

3.21

3.15

3.11

3.08

3.02

2.97

458

446

434

427

420

416

nber 4

1,240

1,050

933

810

793

776

754

727

690

654

616

592

 nber 10

710

680

659

644

616

594

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 20

4.21

4.13

4.12

4.30

4.69

5.16

5.70

6.21

6.86

7.51

7.98

8.07

1 ,110

1,060

1,050

1,190

1,500

1,940

2,590

3,280

4,210

5,240

6,000

6,170

November 29

2.10

2.06

2.04

2.03

2.06

2.03

Decer

2.90

2.85

2.81

2.76

2.74

2.75

2.79

2.83

2.80

2.76

2.71

2.68

Decei

2.92

2.92

2.85

2.87

2.86

2.81

276

265

260

257

265

257

nber 5

561

540

522

502

493

498

514

531

518

502

481

469

nber 11

570

570

540

548

544

522

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 21

8.06

7.86

7.42

6.94

6.50

6.08

5.74

5.61

5.41

5.21

5.04

4.84

6,160

5,850

5,190

4,520

3,900

3,350

2,920

2,760

2,520

2,300

2,110

1,910

November 30

2.03

2.11

2.23

2.13

2.10

2.03

Decer

2.65

2.64

2.62

2.61

2.61

2.61

2.64

2.72

2.85

3.20

3.52

3.78

257

279

313

284

276

257

nber 6

458

454

446

442

442

442

454

485

540

705

889

1,060

December 12

2.76

2.71

2.70

2.69

2.66

2.62

502

481

477

473

461

446

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 22

4.65

4.46

4.30

4.15

4.08

3.97

3.89

3.81

3.73

3.65

3.57

3.50

1,720

1,560

1,430

1,320

1,270

1,190

1,130

1,080

1,020

972

920

876

December 1

1.97

1.93

1.88

1.93

1.96

1.80

Dece

3.95

4.18

4.33

4.23

4.08

3.90

3.78

3.68

3.61

3.57

3.60

3.80

241

231

218

231

239

199

Tiber 7

1,180

1,340

1,450

1,370

1,270

1,140

1,060

991

946

920

939

1,070

December 13

2.58

2.54

2.53

2.56

2.54

2.51

431

416

412

423

416

405

Supplemental record. Nov. 19, 5:30 a.m., 7.30 ft, 4,910 cfs; Nov. 20, 11 p.m., 8.10 

ft, 6,220 cfs; Dec. 2, 12:30 p.m., 1.99 ft, 246 cfs; 1:30 p.m., 1.99 ft, 246 cfs; Dec. £ 

2 a.m., 4.22 ft, 1,370 cfs; 6 a.m., 5.06 ft, 2,140 cfs; 10 a.m., 5.10 ft, 2,180 cfs.
WALKER LAKE BASIN 929

West Walker River near Hudson, Nev.

Location. Lat 38°49', long 119°14', In SW£ seo. 18, T. 11 N., R. 25 E., half a mile 

upstream from Wilson Canyon and 3 miles southeast of Hudson.

Page-height record. Water-stage recorder graph.

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

Shifting-control method used Nov. 19-22, Dec. 18-31.

Maxima. November-December 5T36" ft). 1950: Discharge, 1,690 cfs 1 a.m. Dec. 10 (gage height, 

1921-25, 1947 to October 1950: Discharge, 2,530 cfs June 7, 1922 (gage height, 

6.35 ft, at approximately same site but different datum).

Remarks. Plow somewhat regulated by storage In Topaz Reservoir (see p.93l) Many 

diversions above station for Irrigation.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, 1350

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

November

60

58

50

50

49

47

47

46

December

67

61

70

415

340

248

578

811

Day

9

10

11

T?.

13

14

15

16

November

43

45

45

45

47

47

47

47

December

1,380

1,540

1,270

1,090

942

614

566

542

Day

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

November

46

49

162

806

828

1,250

587

211

December

498

263

290

372

356

336

325

313

Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

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

November

140

116

108

96

91

86

178

10,610

-

December

309

302

283

272

272

275

272

493

30,290

-

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

3 

O

K

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

S

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 17

1.05

1.05

46

46

November 23

3.63

2.69

2.36

2.19

2.04

1.93

Decen

1.14

1.14

Dece

3.13

3.20

3.22

3.24

3.35

3.62

973

590

458

391

333

290

iber 2

60

60

tnber 8

768

797

805

813

858

969

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 18

1.05

1.05

1.06

1.08

1.10

1.14

46

46

47

50

53

60

November 24

1.85

1.76

1.68

1.63

1.58

1.55

Dec en

1.14

1.14

1.15

1.18

1.27

1.37

Dece

3.92

4.30

4.64

5.05

5.25

5.35

260

228

200

184

168

159

nber 3

60

60

61

67

85

108

mber 9

1,090

1,250

1,390

1,560

1,650

1,690

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 19

1.18

1.20

1.20

1.20

1.42

2.00

2.13

2.25

2.40

67

70

70

70

122

317

336

426

490

November 25

1.48

1.44

Decer

1.40

1.41

1.40

1.57

2.18

2.42

2.57

2.72

2.87

2.96

2.99

2.88

Dece

5.28

5.15

5.02

4.86

4.72

4.65

138

127

nber 4

116

119

116

165

387

482

542

602

662

699

711

666

nber 10

1,660

1,600

1,550

1,480

1,420

1,390

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 20

2.50

2.65

2.83

2.95

3.08

3.20

3.31

3.41

3.48

3.58

3.60

3.57

534

598

678

736

789

838

883

924

953

994

1,000

990

November 29

1.30

1.29

Decer

2.61

2.35

2.18

2.08

2.00

1.94

1.90

1.86

1.83

1.80

1.77

1.76

91

89

nber 5

558

454

387

348

317

294

279

264

253

242

232

228

December 11

4.53

4.45

4.35

4.25

4.17

4.09

1,340

1,310

1,270

1,230

1,190

1,160

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 21

3.43

3.20

3.04

2.97

2.95

2.95

3.01

3.10

3.20

3.34

3.44

3.56

932

838

772

744

736

736

760

797

838

887

920

969

November 30

1.28

1.25

Decei

1.72

1.68

1.65

1.62

1.82

2.76

2.45

Decei

3.99

3.95

3.92

3.89

3.86

3.72

87

80

nber 6

214

200

190

181

249

618

494

nber 12

1,120

1,100

1,090

1,080

1,170

1,010

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 22

3.67

3.83

3.94

4.08

4.25

4.41

4.59

4.69

4.72

4.70

4.55

4.37

1,010

1,070

1,110

1,160

1,230

1,290

1,370

1,410

1,420

1,410

1,350

1,280

December 1

1.20

1.18

1.18

1.16

1.16

70

67

67

63

63

December 7

2.57

2.61

2.62

2.66

2.79

2.96

542

558

562

578

630

699

December 13

3.64

3.62

3.59

3.58

3.54

2.98

977

969

957

953

936

707

Supplemental record. Nov. 19, 3 p.m., 1.20 ft, 70 cfs; 

1,160 cfs; 6 a.m., 3.07 ft, 744 cfs; 10 a.m., 2.49 ft, 510 

116 cfs; 9:45 p.m., 3.00 ft, 715 cfs; Dec. 6, 7 p.m., 1.61 

3.25 ft, 818 cfs; Dec. 10, 1 a.m., 5.36 ft, 1,690 cfs.

Nov. 23, 2 a.m., 4.09 ft, 

cfs; Dec. 4, 7 a.m., 1.40 ft, 

ft, 177 cfs; Dec. 8, 6 p.m.,
930 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

East Fork West Walker River near Bridgeport, Calif.

Location. Lat 38°21'30", long 119°26'30", In NWvNWi sec. 22, T. 6 N., R. 23 E., threequarters of a mile north of Sonora Junction, 1-j miles upstream from mouth, and 14 

miles northwest of Bridgeport. Altitude of gage is 6,790 ft (from topographic map).

Drainage area.--65 sq mi.

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

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

300 cfs and extended to peak stage on basis of slope-area determinations at gage 

heights, 2.24 and 2.60 ft. Shifting-control method used Nov. 1-9, 12, 13. Stagedischarge relation affected by ice Nov. 10, 11, 14-16, Dec. 31.

Maxima.--November-December 1950: Discharge, 650 cfs 3 p.m. Dec. 3 (gage height, 2.60 

FtfJT

1944 to October 1950: Discharge, 660 cfs Feb. 2, 1945 (gage height, 2.69 ft), 

from rating curve extended above 270 cfs on "basis of velocity-area study.

Remarks.--Small diversions above station.

T.Iean discharge, in cubic feet per second, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

November

20

19

20

20

19

18

18

18

December

44

49

394

161

103

128

227

335

Day

9

10

1]

12

13

14

15

16

November

18

17

17

17

16

15

15

17

December

166

130

112

99

89

- 100

81

71

Day

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

November

21

192

233

235

286

151

108

88

December

68

64

61

57

53

50

50

53

Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

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

November

75

66

59

54

50

56

65.3

3,880

1.16

December

48

44

44

46

42

40

40

98.4

6,050

1.80

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

3 

O

a

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 17

0.88

.92

20

23

November 23

1.47

1.45

1.45

1.44

1.41

1.39

Deceit

1.04

1.05

1.09

1.14

1.15

1.19

1.21

1.20

1.16

1.15

1.18

1.26

Dece

2.35

2.23

1.96

1.85

1.78

1.69

114

110

110

107

100

95

iber 2

35

36

41

48

50

56

59

57

51

50

54

68

mber 8

512

448

312

263

234

201

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 18

0.94

1.05

1.35

1.47

1.58

1.74

1.87

1.90

2.02

2.05

2.13

2.18

24

36

86

114

145

197

246

258

309

322

359

383

November 24

1.38

1.36

1.35

1.35

1.34

1.33

Decer

1.39

1.58

1.80

2.02

2.23

2.57

2.54

2.55

2.56

2.36

2.12

1.92

93

88

86

86

84

82

nber 3

95

145

219

309

406

622

616

622

628

517

390

293

December 9

1.63

1.59

1.59

1.58

1.54

1.50

180

167

167

164

152

140

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 19

2.17

2.12

2.02

1.93

1.82

1.75

1.72

1.67

1.65

1.58

1.53

1.50

378

354

309

271

227

201

190

173

167

145

131

122

November 25

1.31

1.30

1.30

1.30

1.29

1.28

Decei

1.76

1. 66

1.59

1.54

1.52

1.56

1.56

1.54

1.50

1.45

1.41

1.38

Dece

1.48

1.45

1.46

1.47

1.44

1.42

77

75

75

75

73

71

nber 4

227

190

167

152

146

158

158

152

140

127

117

109

mber 10

135

127

130

132

124

119

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 20

1.48

1.48

1.54

1.61

1.70

1.75

1.85

1.98

2.10

2.18

2.20

2.22

117

117

134

154

183

201

233

292

345

383

392

402

November 29

1.15

1.14

1.15

1.16

1.16

1.15

Decer

1.35

1.32

1.36

1.39

1.35

1.31

50

48

50

51

51

50

nber 5

102

96

105

112

102

93

December 11

1.40

1.39

1.38

1.40

1.39

1.37

114

112

109

114

112

107

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 21

2.20

2.15

2.07

2.00

1.97

1.92

1.90

1.88

1.86

1.83

1.78

1.73

392

368

332

300

287

266

258

250

242

231

212

194

November 30

1.15

1.26

1.24

1.19

1.16

1.12

Decer

1.29

1.29

1.31

1.37

1.44

1.48

1.76

1.76

1.84

50

68

64

56

51

i_ 45

nber 6

89

89

93

107

124

135

227

227

259

December 12

1.34

1.34

1.33

1.34

1.33

1.30

100

100

98

100

98

91

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 22

1.69

1.65

1.62

1.60

1.59

1.60

1.60

1.59

1.57

1.55

1.52

1.50

180

167

157

151

148

151

151

148

142

136

128

122

December 1

1.10

1.09

1.10

1.17

1.11

1.05

42

41

42

52

44

36

December 7

1.87

2.05

1.96

1.83

1.71

1.65

1.63

1.61

1.57

1.58

1.69

1.85

Decer

1.27

1.27

1.29

1.32

1.30

1.28

271

355

312

255

208

187

180

173

161

164

201

263

nber 13

85

85

89

96

91

87

Supplemental record. Nov. 20, 11 p.m., 2.23 ft,

cfs; Dec. 1, 5 p.m.

ft, 611 cfs; 3 p.m.

ft, 127 cfs; 7 p.m..

cfs; Dec. 7, 1 a.m.

cfs; Dec. 8, 1 a.m.

1.17 ft, 52 cfs; Dec. 3, 11:30

2.60 ft, 650 cfs; 5 p.m., 2.54

1.68 ft, 197 cfs; 8:30 p.m., 1

1.82 ft, 250 cfs; 5 a.m., 2.05

1.96 ft, 312 cfs; 2 a.m., 2.21

a.m., 2.27 ft, 469 cfs; 10 a.m., 2.08 ft, 370 cfs

407 cfs; Nov. 30, 9 a.m., 1.28 ft, 71 

a.m., 2.42 ft, 517 cfs; 1 p.m., 2.53 

ft, 616 cfs; Dec. 6, 5:30 p.m., 1.45

.76 ft, 227 cfs; 11 p.m., 1.76 ft, 227 

ft, 355 cfs; 7:30 p.m., 1.56 ft, 158 

ft, 437 cfs; 3 a.m., 2.33 ft, 501 cfs;

i Dec. 9, 10 a.m., 1.57 ft, 161 cfs.
WALKER LAKE BASIN 931

Topaz Reservoir near Topaz, Calif.

Location. Lat 38°41', long 119°31', in sec. 28, T. 10 N., R. 22 E., 6 miles north of 

Topaz. Datum of gage is at mean sea level (levels by Walker River Irrigation 

District).

Gage-height record.--Float and staff gages at outlet works read at unscheduled times.

Maxima.--November-December 1950: Contents, 51,150 acre-ft Dec. 9, 1951 (elevation, 

57501.30 ft) .

1931 to October 1950: Contents, 60,240 acre-ft June 30, 1941 (elevation, 

5,005.35 ft).

Remarks.--Topaz Reservoir, formerly known as Alkali Lake, was formed by the diversion of 

water from West Walker River through a feeder canal and the construction of an outlet 

tunnel through a low saddle in rim of lake. Storage began Jan. 30, 1922. Usable 

capacity, 59,440 acre-ft between elevations 4,972.3 ft (lowest practical elevation 

for diversion through tunnel, bottom of outlet tunnel at elevation 4,970 ft) and 

5,005 ft (3 ft below top of levee). Capacity of reservoir increased from about 

45,000 acre-ft to 59,440 acre-ft in October 1937 by an earthfill , rock-faced levee 

at south end. Water is used for irrigation in Walker River Irrigation District. 

Elevations furnished by Walker River Irrigation District.

Elevation, in feet, and contents, in acre-feet, on 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

November

Elevation

4,981.63

4,981.66

4,981.75

4,981.89

4,982.03

4,982.18

4,982.31

4,982.43

4,982.55

4,982.65

4,982.72

-

4,982.90

_

4,983.09

_

_

_

4,984.60

4,986.46

4,988.46

4,990.82

4,992.00

4,992.91

4,993.56

4,994.18

4,994.65

4,995.09

4,995.50

4,995.87

Change in contents

during month

Contents

14,790

14,840

14,990

15,220

15,450

15,700

15,910

16,110

16,310

16,470

16,590

_

16,880

_

17,200

_

_

_

19,720

22,860

26,290

30,410

32,510

34,160

35,350

36,520

37,420

38,270

39,070

39,810

+25,100

December

Elevation

4,996.22

4,996.52

4,996.93

4,998.78

4,999.58

5,000.15

5,000.43

5,000.96

5,001.30

5,001.15

5,000.74

5,000.48

5,000.21

5,000.20

5,000.29

5,000.29

5,000.27

5,000.45

5,000.52

5,000.52

5,000.52

5,000.52

5,000.53

5,000.53

5,000.54

5,000.54

5,000.54

-

-

5,000.57

5,000.54

-

Contents

40,510

41,110

41,940

45,760

47,450

48,670

49,270

50,410

51,150

50,830

49,940

49,380

48,800

48,770

48,970

48,970

49,920

49,310

49,460

49,460

49,460

49,460

49,480

49,480

49,510

49,510

49,510

-

-

49,570

49,510

+9,700
932 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

Humboldt-Carson Sink Basin 

Carson River Basin

East Fork Carson River above Soda Springs ranger station, near Markleeville, Calif.

Location. Lat 38 30', long. 119 41', in sec. 28, T. 8 N., R. 21 E., half a mile downstream from Murray Canyon Creek, " miles southwest of Soda Springs ranger station,

and 14 miles southeast of Markleeville. Altitude of gage is 6,820 ft (from topoPrainage area.--50 sq mi.

Gagp-neip-ht record.--Water-stage recorder graph.

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

320 cfs and extended, above on basis of slope-area determination at peak stage.

Shifting-control method used Nov. 1-7.

Maxima. November-December 1950: Discharge, 3,570 cfs 9:30 p.m.

1946 to October 1950: Discharge, 852 cfs May 31, 1950 (gage height, 4.27 ft).

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, 1B50

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

November

17

20

23

22

i-1

18

16

16

December

78

77

388

207

131

205

384

593

Day

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

November

16

12

12

12

12

9.6

13

16

December

248

185

157

135

118

124

101

91

Day

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

November

24

795

1,130

1,920

1,220

360

234

184

December

83

76

70

64

60

55

51

50

Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Monthly mean discharge, in cfs . . . ........................

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

November

156

134

114

101

91

95

227

13,510

8.45

December

47

44

41

40

38

36

32

129

7,950

4.97

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

3 

O

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 17

1.34

1.34

1.37

1.41

1.57

1.74

19

19

20

22

32

46

November 23

3.09

3.02

2.96

2.93

2.89

2.84

256

241

229

223

215

206

December 2

1.96

1.98

2.03

2.10

1.96

1.99

2.04

2.02

2.01

2.00

2.04

2.12

Dece

4.62

4.79

4.19

3.80

3.54

3.34

70

72

78

87

70

74

80

77

76

75

80

90

mber 8

824

916

617

461

374

317

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 18

1.82

1.93

2.07

2.49

3.04

3.69

4.32

5.02

5.76

6.05

6.51

6.69

54

67

83

143

245

423

675

1,050

1,530

1,760

2,220

2,420

November 24

2.79

2.74

2.70

2.69

2.68

2.65

Dec en

2.25

2.43

2.63

2.88

3.20

3.79

4.24

4.38

4.38

4.04

3.78

3.53

Dece

3.20

3.09

3.01

2.96

2.91

2.85

196

187

180

178

176

171

iber 3

107

134

167

213

281

458

639

704

704

553

454

371

nber 9

281

256

239

229

219

208

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 19

6.52

6.43

6.25

5.62

4.95

4.52

4.24

4.07

3.95

3.82

3.68

3.58

2,230

2,130

1,950

1,430

1,010

772

639

566

518

468

419

387

November 25

2.60

2.57

2.54

2.54

2.54

2.50

Decer

3.27

3.11

2.98

2.89

2.81

2.74

2.70

2.66

2.62

2.58

2.55

2.52

162

157

152

152

152

145

nber 4

298

260

233

215

200

187

180

173

166

159

154

148

December 10

2.80

2.76

2.71

2.69

2.67

2.63

198

191

182

178

175

167

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 20

3.53

3.55

3.89

5.20

6.03

6.48

6.73

6.85

7.16

7.45

7.55

7.17

371

378

494

1,160

1,750

2,190

2,470

2,610

2,980

3,340

3,480

2,990

November 29

2.16

2.14

2.13

2.12

2.11

2.10

95

92

91

90

88

87

December 5

2.45

2.40

2.37

2.32

Decei

2.60

2.57

2.56

2.57

2.56

2.52

137

129

124

117

nber 11

162

157

155

157

155

148

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 21

6.68

6.24

5.75

5.43

5.10

4.86

4.71

4.59

4.42

4.25

4.07

3.94

2,410

1,940

1,520

1,300

1,100

957

872

808

723

644

566

514

November 30

2.13

2.27

2.20

2.16

2.12

2.08

Decei

2.31

2.30

2.30

2.30

2.32

2.34

2.55

2.70

2.86

3.58

3.96

3.83

91

110

100

95

90

85

nber 6

116

114

114

114

117

120

154

180

209

387

521

472

December 12

2.49

2.45

2.43

2.41

2.40

2.37

143

137

134

131

129

124

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 22

3.83

3.72

3.63

3.55

3.49

3.43

3.39

3.35

3.30

3.26

3.21

3.16

472

433

403

378

359

342

330

320

306

296

284

272

December 1

2.05

2.00

2.03

2.05

2.01

1.99

81

75

78

81

76

74

December 7

3.75

4.05

4.03

3.82

3.59

3.42

3.28

3.21

3.18

3.15

3.30

3.56

444

558

549

468

390

339

301

284

276

270

306

381

December 13

2.35

2.34

2.32

2.31

2.29

2.29

122

120

117

116

113

113

Supplemental record. Nov. 18, 7:10 a.m., 

cfs; 11:30 p.m., 6.73 ft, 2,470 cfs; Nov. 19 

6.47 ft, 2,180 cfs; Nov. 20, 3 p.m., 6.85 ft, 

Dec. 3, 5:15 p.m., 4.44 ft, 733 cfs; Dec. 6, 

a.m., 3.73 ft, 436 cfs; 5 a.m., 4.07 ft, 566

2.44 ft, 135 cfs; 7:20 a.m., 2.31 ft, 116 

, 3:30 a.m. 6.36 ft, 2,060 cfs; 4:30 a.m., 

2,610 cfs; 9:30 p.m., 7.62 ft, 3,570 cfs; 

9:30 p.m., 3.98 ft, 529 cfs; Dec. 7, 1:30 

cfs; Dec. 8, 7:30 a.m., 4.82 ft, 934 cfs.
CARSON RIVER BASIN 933

East Fork Carson River near Gardnervllle, Nev.

Location. Lat 38°51'30", long 119°41'50", In NE-^ sec. 2, T. 11 N./R. 20 E. , 2 mi] 

east of Mud Lake Reservoir, 5 miles downstream from Leviathan Creek, and 7 miles 

southeast of Gardnerville.

Gage-height record.--Water-stage recorder graph except Dec. 20-31 when no gage-height 

record was obtained.

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

6,000 cfs and extended above on basis of slope-area determination at peak stage. 

Discharge for period of no gage-height record estimated on basis of recorded range in 

stage and records for nearby streams.

Maxima.--November-December 1950: Discharge, 12,100 cfs 12:45 a.m. Nov. 21 (gage height, 

9.66 ft) .

1890-93, 1900-1906, 1908-10, 1917, 1924-29, 1935-37, 1939 to October 1950: Discharge, 10,300 cfs (revised) Dec. 11, 1937 (gage height, 9.0 ft, present datura, 

from floodmarks at present site; gage destroyed by flood), from rating curve extended 

as described in discharge record paragraph.

Remarks.--Station is above all diversions in Carson Valley. Diversions above station 

for irrigation. Flow slightly regulated by several small reservoirs (total capacity, 

about 5,000 acre-ft).

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

November

148

148

167

178

164

148

135

128

December

520

463

4,640

2,640

1,330

1,300

2,800

4,520

Day

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

November

123

110

107

107

101

103

83

110

December

2,240

1,560

1,250

1,080

944

1,060

878

770

Day

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

November

156

2,860

6,320

6,350

6,550

2,230

1,450

1,080

December

698

644

604

560

520

480

460

440

Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Monthly mean discharge, in cfs. ..... ...................................

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

November

925

800

710

632

578

591

66,030

3.60

December

420

400

380

360

340

330

320

1,127

69,320

3.78

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

Gage I Dfsheight I charge

Gage Disheight charge

Gage T Disheight [ charge

Gage I Disheight | charge

Gage Disheight charge

Gage Disheight charge

November 17 November 18 November 19 November 20 November 21 November 22

1.43

1.54

1.83

2.56

3.44

3.95

4.73

5.50

4.55

4.47

4.53

5.34

6.62

7.84

8.69

9.31

9.44

9.49

9.62

4.97

4.78

4,54

4.38

4.23

4.08

3.95

2,340

2,180

2,030

1,880

1,760

November 23 November 24 November 25 November 29 November 30 December 1

2.84

2.83

2.81

972

944

917

891

884

872

604

587

570

560

560

560

549

560

592

644

626

592

2.29 560

534

498

478

498

513

December 2 December 3 December 4 December 5 December 6 December 7

478

440

425

440

483

513

2.38

3.03

4.01

4.85

6.17

7.11

8.02

8.67

9.10

6.24

5.79

5.42

4.95

4.70

4.45

4.27

4.12

4.00

3.91

3.84

3.78

3.40

3.33

3.28

3.20

3.18

3.15

3.12

3.11

3.10

3.10

3.18

3.34

3.58

4.42

4.80

5.15

4.86

4.65

4.45

4.34

4.27

4.43

December 8 December 9 December 10 December 11 December 12 December 13

4,140

5,860

5,990

4,680

3,710

5,100

4.83

4.56

4.33

4.18

4.08

4.02

2,630

2,360

2,130

1,980

1,880

1,820

3.89

3.78

3.71

3.65

3.59

3.51

1,700

1,600

1,540

1,490

1,440

1,380

3.45

3.38

3.32

3.29

3.28

1,330

1,270

1,230

1,200

1,200

1,180

3.16

3.11

3.05

3.03

1,140

1,110

1,080

1,040

1,040

1,020

986

958

924

917

917

2.85

Supplemental record. Nov. 19, 2:30 a.m., 9.07 ft, 10,500 cfs; Nov. 20, 7 p.m., 9.53 

ft, 11,700 cfsj Nov. 21, 12:45 a.m., 9.66 ft, 12,100 ofa; Nov. 24, 5 p.m., 2.82 ft, 878 

cfsj 6 p.m., 3.02 ft, 1,010 cfs; Dec.3, 7:45 p.m., 9.14 ft, 10,700 cfs; Dec. 7, 7 a.m., 

5.68 ft, 3,630 cfs; Dec. 8, 2 a.m., 5.10 ft, 2,930 cfs; 6 a.m., 6.71 ft, 5,160 cfs; 

10 a.m., 7.34 ft, 6,320 cfs; 2 p.m., 6.75 ft, 5,220 cfs.
934 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

Location. Lat 39°06'30", long 119°42'30", in NWf sec. 2, T. 14 N., R. 20 E., 2 miles 

downstream from Clear Creek, 2£ miles upstream from bridge on road to Mexican Dam, 

and 5 miles southeast of Carson City. Altitude of gage is 4,620 ft (from riverprofile map) .

Drainage area.-- 876 sq mi.

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

6 p.m. Nov. 20, 6 p.m. Nov. 21 to 12 m. Nov. 24, 6 a.m. Dec. 4 to 2 p.m. Dec. 5, and 

4 to 8 a.m. Dec. 8, when gage heights were obtained from graph based on floodmarks, 

engineers' observations, and information from highway crews.

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

6,100 cfs and extended to peak stage on basis of computation of peak flow over dam, 

measurement made by timing drift at gage height, 9.60 ft, and slope-area determination 

at gage height, 8.40 ft. Shifting-control method used Dec. 11-31.

Maxima.--November-December 1950: Discharge, 15,500 cfs 1-2 a.m. Nov. 22 (gage height, 

11.4 ft, from floodmark).

1939 to October 1950: Discharge, 8,500 cfs Jan. 22, 1943 (gage height, 8.40 ft), 

by slope-area determination.

Remarks.--Many diversions above station for irrigation. Flow slightly regulated by 

several small reservoirs on tributaries.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

November

307

237

224

240

250

237

217

202

December

885

745

1,310

7,280

6,860

2,950

2,400

4,230

Day

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

November

186

180

164

164

158

153

143

138

December

5,770

4,900

 2,820

2,160

1,780

1,600

1,770

1,500

Day

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

November

182

457

2,490

9,480

9,080

11,400

4,850

2,620

December

1,290

1,170

1,100

1,010

942

890

824

782

Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Monthly mean discharge, in cfs , ..... ..................

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

November

1,740

1,370

1,170

1,020

902

838

1,693

100,800

2.16

December

755

729

684

653

653

653

647

1,992

122,500

2.62

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

3 

O

X

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 17

1.29

1.31

1.32

1.34

1.35

1.37

1.39

1.41

1.44

1.47

1.50

1.52

156

161

164

169

172

178

183

189

198

208

217

224

November 23

7.3

6.8

6.3

5.9

5.6

5.35

Decen

2.71

2.68

2.67

2.63

2.59

2.55

6,100

5,350

4,640

4,090

3,700

3,380

iber 2

782

762

755

729

703

678

December 8

5.5

5.9

6.16

6.31

6.35

6.34

3,570

4,090

4,440

4,650

4,710

4,700

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 18

1.54

1.56

1.57

1.59

1.62

1.68

1.78

1.94

2.20

2.73

3.25

3.56

230

237

240

247

257

278

314

375

488

796

1,190

1,440

November 24

5.10

4.88

4.68

4.43

4.29

4.17

Decen

2.55

2.56

2.61

2.72

2.90

3.20

3.49

3.79

4.03

4.23

4.36

4.55

Dece

6.39

6.68

7.15

7.58

7.67

7.52

3,080

2,820

2,600

2,320

2,170

2,040

nber 3

678

684

716

789

920

1,150

1,380

1,650

1,890

2,100

2,250

2,460

mber 9

4,770

5,170

5,880

6,550

6,690

6,450

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 19

3.73

3.88

4.02

4.17

4.28

4.38

4.53

4.76

4.93

5.20

5.77

6.32

1,600

1,740

1,880

2,040

2,160

2,270

2,430

2,690

2,880

3,200

3,920

4,670

November 25

4.07

3.96

3.85

3.78

3.71

3.64

Decer

4.84

5.12

5.55

6.25

7.25

8.20

9.1

9.8

9.94

9.9

9.7

9.4

Dece

7.19

6.87

6.49

6.07

5.71

5.42

1,930

1,820

1,710

1,640

1,580

1,520

nber 4

2,770

3,100

3,640

4,570

6,020

7,580

9,300

11,000

11,300

11,200

10,700

9,980

 nber 10

5,940

5,460

4,910

4,320

3,840

3,470

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 20

8.4

9.65

9.90

9.85

9.8

9.68

9.5

9.2

8.9

8.67

8.44

8.20

7,940

10,600

11,200

11,100

11,000

10,700

10,200

9,520

8,900

8,440

8,010

7,580

November 29

2.91

2.89

2.88

2.86

2.84

2.82

Decei

9.1

8.85

8.55

8.25

8.0

7.7

7.45

7.10

6.88

6.58

6.30

6.03

928

912

905

890

875

860

nber 5

9,300

8,800

8,210

7,670

7,220

6,740

6,340

5,800

5,470

5,030

4,640

4,260

December 11

5.16

4.96

4.83

4.71

4.60

4. '49

3,160

2,920

2,770

2,640

2,520

2,400

Gage

height

.Discharge

November 21

7.94

7.72

7.56

7.40

7.36

7.47

8.28

9.42

10.3

10.8

11.1

11.3

7,120

6,770

6,520

6,260

6,200

6,370

7,720

10,000

12,300

13,700

14,600

15,200

November 30

2.79

2.78

2.78

2.78

2.79

2.81

Decei

5.77

5.53

5.32

5.16

5.00

4.87

4.75

4.64

4.56

4.48

4.41

4.36

838

831

831

831

838

852

nber 6

3,920

3,610

3,340

3,150

2,960

2,810

2,680

2,550

2,470

2,380

2,300

2,250

December 12

4.39

4.32

4.24

4.20

4.14

4.07

2,300

2,220

2,140

2,090

2,030

1,950

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 22

11.4

11.35

11.10

10.8

10.4

9.9

9.5

9.1

8.7

8.4

8.1

7.8

15,500

15,400

14,600

13 , 700

12,600

11,200

10,200

9,300

8,500

7,940

7,400

6,900

December 1

2.87

2.91

2.91

2.87

2.78

2.74

Dece

4.33

4.32

4.31

4.30

4.33

4.37

4.41

4.51

4.63

4.78

4.93

L 5.12

898

928

928

898

831

803

mber 7

2,210

2,200

2,190

2,180

2,210

2,260

2,300

2,410

2,540

2,710

2,880

3,100

December 13

4.01

3.94

3.88

3.84

3.79

3.75

1,900

1,830

1,770

1,730

1,680

1,640

Supplemental record. Nov. 22, 

11,300 cfs.

1 a.m., 11.4 ft, 15,500 cfs; Dec. 4, 7 p.m., 9.94 ft,
CARSON RIVER BASIN 935

Carson River near Fort Churchill, Nev.

Location. Lat 39°17', long 119°18', in SEi sec. 32, T. 17 N., R. 24 E., 2 miles west of 

Fort Churchill and 6 miles east of Clifton. Altitude of gage is 4,200 ft (from 

t op ographi c map).

Drainage area.--1,450 sq mi.

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

Discharge record.--Daily mean discharge record furnished by Truckee-Carson Irrigation 

District.

Maxima.--November-December 1950: Daily discharge, 7,850 ofs Nov. 23.

1911 to October 1950: Daily discharge, 6,300 cfs, Jan. 24, 1943 (at site then in 

use).

Remarks.--Several diversions above station for irrigation.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, 1950

Day

1

2

a

4

5

6

7

8

November

366

330

286

277

286

299

286

272

December

1,890

1,780

1,850

3,630

7,100

6,670

2,840

4,020

Day

R

10

1 1

151

13

14

15

16

November

255

232

228

223

223

219

210

203

December

5,650

6,880

4,020

3,670

2,740

2,280

2,200

2,140

Day

17

1R

1R

510

?,1

22

?.3

24

November

193

290

722

2,320

6,600

7,560

7,850

5,110

December

1,720

1,550

1,450

1,430

1,420

1,390

1,320

1,240

Day

25

26

?,7

?,R

?,9

30

31

Monthly mean discharge, in cfs. .................... ................ .......

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

November

2,900

2,640

2,440

2,440

2,280

2,040

1,653

98,340

1.27

December

1,230

1,190

1,160

1,100

1,070

1,050

1,0/0

2,540

156,200

2.02

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

3 

0

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

10

12

4

N

4

12

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

10

12

4

N

4

12

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 17

November 23

December 2

Dece mber 8

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 18

November 24

December 3

Dece mber 9

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 19

November 25

December 4

Dece)mber 10

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 20

November 29

Decernber 5

December 11

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 21

November 30

Decernber 6

December 12

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 22

December 1

December 7

December 13
936 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

Silver King Creek near Coleville, Calif.

Location. Lat 38°31 r , long 119°36', in sec. 30, T. 8 N., R. 22 E., a quarter of a mile 

downstream from Poison Valley, 2| miles east of Soda Springs ranger station, and 

6-5 miles southwest of Coleville. Altitude of gage is 7,650 ft (from topographic map).

Drainage area. 30 sq mi.

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

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

180 cfs and extended above on basis of slope-area determination at peak stage. 

Shifting-control method used Nov. 1-15. Stage-discharge relation affected by ice 

during parts of Nov. 30 and Dec. 2.

Maxima. November-December 1950: Discharge, 748 cfs-8:30 p.m. Nov. 20 (gage height,

1946 to October 1950: Discharge,220 cfs May 31, 1950 (gage height, 2.62 ft). 

Remarks. No diversion or regulation above station.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

November

15

15

15

15

14

13

13

13

December

71

74

339

196

140

185

274

342

Day

9

in

11

1?,

13

14

15

16

- ' 

November

14

13

18

16

15

14

31

24

December

208

172

153

133

121

127

106

96

Day

17

18

19

20

?,}

?.?.

23

24

November

37

284

415

494

397

229

176

146

December

90

84

81

74

68

66

62

59

Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

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

November

126

111

96

89

81

78

101

5,980

3.74

December

54

53

52

52

50

45

45

118

7,280

4.55

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

3

O

B

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage

height

Discharge

November 17

1.56

1.53

1.47

1.49

1.51

1.53

41

38

32

34

36

38

November 23

2.67

2.63

2.61

2.62

2.36

2.53

185

178

174

176

164

159

December 2

2.06

2.15

2.20

2.09

2.03

2.26

Dece

4.02

3.91

3.48

3.24

3.05

2.94

83

74

109

mber 8

454

432

346

298

260

238

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 18

1.59

1.69

1.86

2.11

2.45

2.38

3.00

3.38

4.16

4.37

5.00

4.88

44

57

81

123

188

174

292

364

512

550

663

641

November 24

2.49

2.47

2.46

2.47

2.43

2.40

Decer

2.57

2.81

3.05

3.25

3.64

4.04

4.35

4.13

3.78

3.52

3.37

3.18

151

147

145

147

140

134

nber 3

166

212

260

300

378

458

520

476

406

354

324

286

December 9

2.86

2.79

2.77

2.78

2.72

2.67

222

208

204

206

195

185

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 19

5.17

5.02

4.66

4.03

3.51

3.26

3.12

3.00

2.87

2.75

2.67

2.62

694

667

602

490

389

341

315

292

267

244

229

220

November 25

2.38

2.36

2.35

2.36

2.33

2.31

Decer

3.02

2.90

2.82

2.74

2.69

2.69

2.68

2.65

2.59

2.55

2.51

2.48

Dece

2.63

2.61

2.59

2.61

2.57

2.53

130

127

125

127

121

118

nber 4

254

230

214

199

189

189

187

182

170

162

155

149

mber 10

178

174

170

174

166

159

Gage 1 Disheight 1 charge

November 20

2.62

2.62

2.88

3.38

3.97

4.29

4.65

4.77

5.14

5.44

5.42

5.07

220

224

269

364

476

535

600

622

688

742

736

664

November 29

2.08

2.06

2.06

-2.11

2.08

2.06

Decer

2.44

2.41

2.45

2.44

2.40

2.37

Decei

2.50

2.48

2.48

2.55

2.50

2.45

81

78

78

86

81

78

nber 5

142

136

144

142

134

129

nber 11

153

149

149

162

153

144

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 21

4.68

4.32

4.02

3.81

3.66

3.57

3.48

3.41

3.33

3.25

3.18

3.11

586

514

454

412

382

364

346

332

316

300

286

272

November 30

2.08

2 '.28

2 . 29

2.18

2.11

2.03

Decei

2.37

2.36

2.36

2.37

2.38

2.43

2.58

2.69

2.93

3.29

3.34

3.20

74

nber 6

129

127

127

129

130

140

168

189

236

308

318

290

December 12

2.41

2.39

2.38

2.42

2.38

2.35

136

132

130

138

130

125

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 22

3.02

2.92

2.88

2.89

2.86

2.78

2.71

254

234

226

228

222

206

193

December 1

2.01

1.97

2.02

2.08

1.98

1.96

Dece

3.31

3.54

3.48

3.28

3.10

2.97

2.93

2.90

2.86

2.84

3.02

3.25

71

66

72

81

67

64

mber 7

312

358

346

306

270

244

236

230

222

218

254

300

December 13

2.33

2.31

2.31

2.36

2.33

2.31

121

118

118

127

121

118

Supplemental record . --Nov . 18. 11:30 a.m., 2.67 ft, 229 cfs; 1 p.m., 2.58 ft, 212 cf

1:30 p.m., 3.15 ft, 320 cfs; 11 p.m., 4.78 ft, 623 cfs; Nov. 19, 3 a.m., 5.27 ft, 712

cfs; Nov. 20, 3 p.m., 4.78 ft, '623 cfs; 8:30 p.m., 5.47 ft, 748 cfs; Dec. 3, 1 p.m.,

4.33ft, 516 cfs; Dec. 6, 9 p.m., 3.38 ft, 326 cfsj Dec. 7, 1 a.m., 3.18ft, 286 cfs;

5 a.m., 3.57 ft, 364 cfs; Dec. 8, 2 a.m., 3.57 ft, 364 cfs; 5 a.m., 4.07 ft, 464 cfs;

6 a.m., 3.96. ft, 442 cfs; 10 a.m., 3.68 ft, 386 cfs.
CARSON RIVER BASIN 937

Wolf Creek near Markleeville, Calif.

Location. Lat 38°32', long 119°43', in sec. 24, T. 8 N., R. 20 E., three-quarters of a 

mile downstream from Bull Canyon Creek and 12 miles southwest of Markleeville. 

Altitude of gage is 7,350 ft (from topographic map).

Drainage area.--9.S sq mi.

Gage-height record.--Water-stage recorder graph except for period 4-8 a.m. Nov. 21, for 

which graph was interpolated.

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

160 cfs and extended above on basis of slope-area determination at peak stage.

Maxima. November-December 1950: Discharge, 1,480 cfs 5:30 p.m. Nov. 20 (gage height, 

7.10 ft).

1946 to October 1950: Discharge, 224 cfs May 26, 1948, May 31, 1950; gage height, 

3.95 ft May 31, 1950.

Remarks.--No diversion or regulation above station.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

November

12

12

16

17

14

13

12

12

December

65

64

218

159

111

137

220

308

Day

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

November

11

9.5

9.5

9.0

8.4

7.3

8.7

9.5

December

160

116

94

79

71

65

56

51

Day

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

November

15

329

375

827

458

219

155

125

December

47

42

39

38

37

35

34

34

Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Monthly mean discharge, in cfs. . . . . . ................................

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

November

107

93

83

76

73

73

106

6,330

12.10

December

32

31

30

29

28

28

26

80.1

4,930

9.43

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

^ 3

O

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 17

1.58

1.58

1.63

1.75

1.80

1.91

12

12

13

18

19

24

November 23

2.56

2.47

2.45

2.41

2.35

2.30

167

157

154

150

144

138

December 2

1.46

1.46

1.47

1.48

1.48

1.56

Dece

4.35

4.22

3.63

3.32

3.02

2.86

62

62

63

64

64

69

mber 8

418

397

308

264

225

204

Gage 

height

Discharge

November'18

2.00

2.11

2.30

2.55

3.00

3.55

4.38

5.18

5.44

5.94

6.?2

6.02

28

32

42

60

105

172

290

501

590

784

916

819

November 24

2.25

2.20

2.18

2.17

2.11

2.08

132

127

125

124

118

115

December 3

1.65

1.86

2.14

2.54

3.18

3.60

3.68

3.73

3.58

3.42

3.19

2.98

Dece

2.69

2.54

2.45

2.40

2.31

2.23

76

93

121

165

245

303

315

322

300

278

247

219

mber 9

183

165

154

149

139

130

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 19

5.88

5.69

5.13

4.75

4.47

4.24

4.11

3.98

3.85

3.81

3.70

3.67

759

683

485

373

308

266

246

228

212

206

192

188

November 25

2.04

2.01

2.00

1.99

1.96

1.93

Decer

2.84

2.73

2.62

2.55

2.50

2.44

2.39

2.36

2.31

2.27

2.24

 2.20

111

108

107

106

103

100

nber 4

201

188

174

166

160

153

148

145

139

135

131

127

December 10

2.17

2.11

2.08

2.07

2.01

1.96

124

118

115

114

108

103

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 20

3.79

3.95

4.73

5.92

6.31

6.52

6.26

6.33

6.93

6.71

6.55

6.20

204

224

368

776

966

1,090

938

978

1,360

1,210

1,110

905

November 29

1.60

1.59

1.58

1.58

1.57

1.56

Decer

2.17

2.14

2.11

2.08

2.05

2.03

2.01

1.99

1.97

1.95

1.93

1.92

72

71

71

71

70

69

nber 5

124

121

118

115

112

110

108

106

104

102

100

99

December 11

1.91

1.87

1.85

1.86

1.82

1.76

98

94

92

93

90

85

Gage

height

Discharge

November 21

5.58

5.50

5.08

4.76

4.48

4.34

4.16

3.99

3.81

3.66

3.51

3.38

672

650

552

489

440

416

388

362

334

312

290

272

November 30

1.56

1.69

1.64

1.60

1.56

1.53

Decei

1.90

1.89

1.90

1.92

1.91

1.98

2.17

2.20

2.61

3.15

3.02

3.01

69

79

75

72

69

67

nber 6

97

96

97

99

98

105

124

127

173

242

225

223

December 12

1.72

1.70

1.67

1.66

1.65

1.63

82

80

78

77

76

74

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 22

3.28

3.20

3.11

3.05

3.01

2.96

2.94

2.87

2.82

2.76

2.71

7.66

258

248

236

228

223

217

214

205

199

191

185

179

December 1

1.47

1.49

1.53

1.53

1.50

1.47

Dece

3.40

3.41

3.34

3.09

2.92

2.80

2.73

2.69

2.66

2.64

2.93

3.22

63

64

67

67

65

63

mber 7

275

276

267

234

212

196

188

183

179

177

213

251

December 13

1.61

1.59

1.58

1.57

1.56

1.55

73

71

71

70

69

68

Supplemental record.--Nov. 18, 6:25 a.m., 2.25 ft, 46 cfs; 6:30 a.m., 2.85 ft, 

7 a.m., 2.44 ft, 51 cfs; Nov. 19, 3 a.m., 5.95 ft, 788 cfs; Nov. 20, 11:30 a.m., 6.60 ft, 

1,140 cfs; 1 p.m., 6.56 ft, 1,120 cfs; 3:30 p.m., 6.15 ft, 880 cfs; 5:30 p.m., 7.10 ft,

3, 3:30 p.m., 3.75 ft, 326 cfs; Dec
938 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN'NEVADA

Silver Creek below Pennsylvania Creek, near Markleeville, Calif.

Location.--Lat 38°36', long 119_°47 r , In sec. 28, T. 9 N., R. 20 E., a quarter of a mile 

downstream from Pennsylvania Creek and 6-J miles south of Markleeville.

Drainage area.--20 sq ml.

appearance of recorder graph.

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

350 ofs and extended above on basis of slope-area determination at peak stage. Discharge for period of no gage-height record Nov. 11-13 Interpolated. Shifting-control 

method used Nov. 1-20, Dec. 19-31.

Maxima.--November-December 1950: Discharge, 1,260 cfs 5 p.m. Nov. 20 (gage height, 7.95 

1946 to October 1950: Discharge, 411 cfs May 26, 1948 (gage height, 3.84 ft).

Remarks.--No diversion above station. Flow partly regulated by three small reservoirs 

(total capacity, about 1,700 acre-ft).

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

November

16

18

25

20

18

15

14

13

December

47

46

290

174

101

171

291

420

Day

9

10

1 1

12

13

14

15

16

November

11

9.2

8.6

7.9

7.2

6.6

8.9

10

December

210

155

123

103

88

96

80

72

Day

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

November

16

474

388

742

516

308

215

156

December

63

59

57

57

49

45

42

40

Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Monthly mean discharge, in cfs

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

November

117

92

74

61

54

54

116

6,890

6.46

December

39

35

33

32

31

29

25

6,150

5.77

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

ti 3 

o

W

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 17

1.61

1.61

1.64

1.73

1.79

1.83

1.94

12 2.07

4

8

N

4

8

12

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

12

12

13

17

19

21

26

34

November 23

2.65

2.55

2.5

2.4

2.35

2.3

Decen

1.15

1.18

1.22

1.20

1.21

1.34

Dece

4.32

4.30

3.70

3.49

3.03

2.81

240

224

216

200

192

185

iber 2

41

44

47

46

46

59

mber 8

541

537

426

388

305

268

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 18

2.29

2.56

2.88

3.09

5.68

4.13

4.85

5.57

6.16

6.25

6.05

5.60

49

73

123

174

337

459

594

766

914

930

890

770

November 24

2.2

2.15

2.1

2,05

2.0

1.95

Decer

1.48

1.74

1.96

2.38

3.12

3.65

3.70

3.78

3.85

3.45

3.23

2.93

Dece

2.64

2.50

2.42

2.37

2.29

2.24

170

162

155

148

141

134

nber 3

74

105

135

197

322

417

426

440

453

381

341

288

mber 9

239

216

203

196

184

176

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 19

5.32

5.30

4.68

4.28

3.83

3.48

3.40

3.28

3.15

2.98

2.93

2.86

708

700

575

497

379

278

262

236

210

166

154

137

November 25

1.9

1.85

1.85

1.8

1.75

1.7

Decer

2.69

2.51

2.37

2.29

2.23

2.17

2.12

2.07

1.99

1.92

1.88

1.83

Decei

2.18

2.12

2.07

2.10

2.02

1.94

127

120

120

113

106

100

nber 4

247

218

196

184

174

166

158

151

140

130

124

117

 nber 10

167

158

151

155

144

133

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 20

2.98

3.04

3.61

4.92

5.64

6.30

7.43

7.25

7.30

7.42

6.10

5.5

166

181

317

614

782

942

1,160

1,120

1,130

1,150

890

770

November 29

1.17

1.16

1.14

1.28

1.27

1.26

Decer

1.77

1.72

1.69

1.67

1.64

1.62

Dec el

1.89

1.87

1.89

1.88

1.83

1.78

57

56

54

53

52

51

nber 5

109

103

99

96

93

90

 nber 11

126

123

126

124

117

110

Gage

height

Noven

5.1

4.8

4.6

4.4

4.2

4.1

3.9

3.8

3.7

3.6

3.5

3.4

Discharge

nber 21

690

632

594

556

518

499

462

444

426

408

390

372

November 30

1.29

1.34

1.30

1.29

1.27

1.25

Decei

1.61

1.61

1.61

1.64

1.65

1.75

2.14

2.12

2.96

3.31

3.14

3.18

54

59

55

54

52

50

nber 6

89

89

89

93

94

106

161

158

293

356

325

332

December 12

1.75

1.74

1.73

1.72

1.68

1.66

106

105

104

103

98

95

Gage 

height

'Noven

3.3

3.2

3.0

2.9

2.8

2.7

Discharge

nber 22

354

336

300

283

266

249

December 1

1.20

1.20

1.25

1.24

1.20

1.17

Dece

3.68

3.50

3.32

3.08

2.82

2.68

2.58

2.53

2.51

2.45

2.84

3.24

Decer

1.63

1.61

1.60

1.59

1.57

1.57

46

46

50

49

46

43

mber 7

422

390

358

314

269

246

229

221

218

208

273

343

nber 13

92

89

88

87

84

84
CARSON RIVER BASIN 939

Markleeville Creek above Grover Hot Springs, near Markleeville, Calif.

Location.--Lat 38°42', long 119°51', in SE^NE^ sec. 23, T. 10 N., R. 19 E., half a mile 

upstream from Buck Creek, 4 miles upstream from mouth, and 4 miles west of Markleeville. Altitude of gage is 5,880 ft (from river-profile map, extended).

Drainage area.--14 sq mi.

Gage-height record.--Water-stage recorder graph except for periods, 10 p.m. Nov. 19 to 

2 a.m. Nov. 20, 12 p.m. Nov. 21 to noon Nov. 25, for which graph was drawn based on 

appearance of chart and engineer's notes.

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

330 cfs and extended above on basis of slope-area determination at peak stage. 

Shifting control method used Nov. 1-18, 21-25, Nov. 29 to Dec. 3, Dec. 17-31.

Maxima.--November-December 1950: Discharge, 1,740 cfs 2 p.m. Nov. 20 (gage height, 8.49

1946 to October 1950: Discharge, 399 cfs Hay 26, 1948 (gage height, 5.17 ft). 

Remarks.--No diversion above station.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

November

6.3

7.6

10

9.7

9.0

6.7

5.9

5.9

December

39

39

282

152

83

142

258

537

Day

9

10

1 1

12

13

14

15

16

November

5.6

4.7

4.5

4.3

4.3

3.4

2.9

5.2

December

168

114

96

79

66

70

59

51

Day

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

November

8.3

370

568

1,100

582

187

134

105

December

45

42

38

36

33

31

28

28

Day

25

2fi

27

28

29

30

31

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

November

81

58

50

45

47

47

116

6,900

9.24

December

26

23

22

21

20

19

20

86.0

5,290

7.08

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

§M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 17

2.14

2.13

2.13

2.19

2.31

2.50

6.5

6.3

6.3

7.7

11

17

November 23

4.0

3.9

3.8

3.8

3.7

3.7

151

138

131

131

119

L 119

December 2

2.80

2.82

2.90

2.93

2.88

2.92

35

36

41

43

40

42

December 8

6.08

6.56

6.10

5.58

5.04

4.62

642

834

650

475

340

243

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 18

2.70

2.96

3.20

3.37

3.68

4.09

4.50

5.28

5.97

6.97

7.34

7.40

25

38

54

70

106

158

220

400

538

998

1,160

1,190

November 24

3.7

3.6

3.6

3.5

3.5

3.5

119

107

107

95

95

95

December 3

3.05

3.23

3.40

3.65

4.17

5.00

5.53

5.72

5.82

5.57

5.27

4.93

Dece

4.36

4.19

4.09

4.06

3.98

3.90

50

65

82

.111

176

335

462

516

546

472

398

312

mber 9

197

171

157

152

141

131

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 19

7.25

7.14

6.68

6.12

5.68

5.35

5.17

5.02

4.85

4.66

4.5

4.4

1,120

1,070

882

658

504

418

372

335

293

251

220

203

November 25

3.4

3.4

3.36

3.36

3.35

3.32

Decer

4.60

4.34

4.17

4.06

3.97

3.92

3.88

3.84

3.79

3.73

3.68

3.64

Decei

3.83

3.76

3.72

3.74

3.70

3.65

83

83

79

79

78

74

nber 4

239

193

168

152

140

134

129

124

118

111

105

100

Tiber 10

123

114

109

112

107

101

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 20

4.6

4.81

5.42

6.64

7.62

8.43

8.49

8.18

8.10

7.79

7.77

7.71

239

283

435

866

1,300

1,700

1,740

1,580

1,540

1,380

1,380

1,340

November 29

3.02

3.00

2.98

3.01

2.99

2.97

Decer

3.61

3.58

3.54

3.52

3.50

3.49

3.48

3.46

3.45

3.42

3.40

3.39

Decei

3.61

3.59

3.60

3.65

3.60

3.54

48

47

45

48

46

45

nber 5

96

93

88

85

83

82

81

79

78

74

72

71

nber 11

96

94

95

101

95

88

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 21

7.42

6.92

6.47

6.03

5.67

5.46

S.30

5.16

4.97

4.79

4.66

4.5

1,200

978

798

622

501

445

408

375

330

286

259

230

November 30

2.96

3.02

3.05

3.06

3.00

2.94

44

48

50

51

47

43

December 6

3.38

3.37

3.38

3.38

3.40

3.45

3.62

3.93

4.20

4.95

5.08

5.05

70

69

70

70

72

78

97

135

172

318

350

342

December 12

3.50

3.47

3.45

3.46

3.43

3.39

83

80

78

79

75

71

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 22

4.4

4.3

4.2

4.2

4.1

4.0

212

195

180

180

165

151

December 1

2.87

2.76

2.92

3.02

2.85

2.82

Dece

5.29

5.38

5.18

4.84

4.55

4.40

4.30

4.23

4.17

4.12

4.24

4.64

38

33

42

48

38

36

mber 7

402

425

375

291

230

203

187

176

168

161

178

247

December 13

3.36

3.34

3.33

3.34

3.31

3.30

68

66

65

66

63

62

Supplemental record. --Nov. 18, 11 p.m., . 

1,680 cfs; 3 p.m. , 8.22 ft, 1,600 cfs; 9 p.m.,

7.43 ft, 1,200 cfs; Nov. 20, 1 p.m., 0.39 ft

, cs; p.m. , . , , cs; p.m., 7.84 . ft, , 1,410 , cfs;s; Dec. 1, , 11 a.m.,2.

ft, 35 cfs; 1:30 p.m., 2.92 ft, 42 cfs; Dec. 3, 5:30 p.m., 5.86 ft, 558 cfs; Dec. 8,

2 a.m., 5.31 ft, 408 cfs; 6 a.m., 6.50 ft, 810 cfs; 10 a.m., 6.43 ft, 782 cfs.
940 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

Drainage area.--16 sc[ mi.

Mean dischar e, in cubic feet per second, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

November

10

14

22

16

IE

12

10

1 J

December Day

9

10

1 1

12

13

14

15

16

November

8.5

6.6

6.1

5.5

5.Z

4.2

5.0

5.2

December Day

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

November

12

685

347

-

-

-

-

-

December Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Monthly mean discharge, in cfs. ......... . ..... ...................

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

November

-

-

-

-

-

-

_

-

December

Gage heignt, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1950

i

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage 1 Disheight | charge

November 17

1.73

1.73

1 .74

1.76

1.80

1.84

1.87

1.91

1.99

2.07

2.17

6.9

6.9

7.2

7.8

9.2

11

12

14

18

23

31

November 23

Decen

Dece

iber 2

mber 8

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 18

2.23

2.38

2.58

2 . 92

3.21

3.66

4.14

4.32

4.73

5.48

5.96

4.11

39

61

100

203

322

553

816

920

1,170

1,650

1,970

800

November 24

Decen

Dece

nber 3

mber 9

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 19

3.73

3.68

3.51

3.42

3.23

3.10

3.00

2.90

2.86

2.84

2.83

2.87

590

564

475

430

340

283

243

206

192

136

182

196

November 25

Deceinber 4

December 10

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 20

2.94

3.37

4.35

-

_

-

-

_

_

-

-

-

221

406

937

-

_

-

-

_

-

-

-

-

November 29

Decer

Decei

nber 5

nber 11

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 21

November 30

Deceinber 6

December 12

Gage

height

Discharge

November 22

December 1

Dece mber 7

December 13

Supplemental record. Nov. 18, 3 p.m., 4.27 ft, 891 cfs; 3:30 p.m., 4.40 ft, 966 

cfsj 5 p.m., 4.65 ft, 1,120 cfs; 5:30 p.m., 4.80 ft, 1,210 cfs; 11 p.m., 4.82 ft, 

1,220 cfs; Nov. 19, 3 a.m., 3.76 ft, 606 cfs; 5 a.m., 3.46 ft, 450 cfs; Nov. 20, 

7 a.m., 5.29 ft, 1,520 cfs.
CARSON RIVER BASIN 941

Drainage area.--55 sq mi.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

November

36

36

40

38

36

32

30

29

December

118

113

1,850

639

302

599

1,080

1,350

Day

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

November

28

24

24

23

23

21

24

20

December

490

329

283

244

214

290

223

188

Day

17

IB

19

20

21

22

23

24

November

47

1,160

1,630

2,540

1,670

460

287

227

December

170

159

152

139

131

123

114

112

Day

25

26

2-7

28

29

30

31

Monthly mean discharge, in cfs . ...... ... ... ..... ...... .........

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

November

193

168

148

135

123

164

314

18,680

6.61

December

108

99

92

92

90

79

81

324

19,940

7.05

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

§

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 17

1.52

1.54

1.54

1.55

1.57

1.65

1.31

1.97

1.37

1.36

2.08

2.17

30

51

51

52

55

58

50

64

64

63

75

85

November 23

3.66

3.54

3.49

3.51

3.43

3.35

Decen

2.16

2.15

2.16

2.21

2.58

2.43

2.45

2.54

2.49

2.46

2.64

3.33

313

288

278

282

267

252

iber 2

84

83

84

89

108

114

116

127

121

117

141

248

December 8

6.55

7.32

6.92

6.23

5.66

5.14

1,440

2,010

1,690

1,250

952

751

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 18

2.52

2.65

3.16

3.49

4.28

4.99

5.73

6.56

7.48

8.10

8.47

8.77

101

142

219

278

461

676

985

1,450

2,130

2,700

5,070

3,390

November 24

3.27

3.21

5.18

5.19

5.15

3.10

Decen

4.38

5.08

5.85

6.54

7.04

7.54

8.11

8.41

8.54

8.08

7.40

6.78

238

228

223

224

218

209

aber 3

488

708

1,040

1,430

1,780

2,190

2,710

3,010

3,140

2,680

2,070

1,600

December 9

4.69

4.45

4.28

4.19

4.08

3.95

577

501

461

438

410

378

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 19

8.65

8.11

7.80

7.47

6.95

6.38

5.88

5.51

5.26

5.01

4.78

4.63

3,230

2,710

2,420

2,130

1,700

1,540

1,060

884

779

684

604

559

November 25

3.05

3.01

2.98

2.98

2.95

2.92

Decer

6.09

5.52

5.15

4.81

4.61

4.50

4.45

4.34

4.24

4.10

3.98

3.86

Decei

5.84

3.75

3.70

3.72

3.63

3.57

201

195

190

190

186

181

nber 4

1,160

889

727

614

555

521

501

477

450

415

585

557

nber 10

552

332

321

325

506

294

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 20

4.67

4.84

5.12

5.79

7.12

8.13

8.69

9.20

9.60

9.78

9.72

9.51

571

624

723

1,020

1,850

2,750

5,300

3,860

4,340

4,560

4,480

4,250

November 29

2.52

2.47

2.49

2.53

2.52

2.49

125

118

121

126

125

121

December 5

5.77

5.68

3.64

3.58

5.55

5.58

5.65

3.63

3.58

3.53

3.47

3.43

356

317

308

296

290

296

510

506

296

286

274

267

December 11

3,50

3.47

3.55

3.57

3.51

3.42

280

274

290

294

282

265

Gage 

height

Noven

8.88

8.33

7.59

7.06

6.62

6.23

5.88

5.67

5.49

5.33

5.07

4.88

Discharge

iber 21

3,510

2,930

2,250

1,800

1,480

1,250

1,060

956

876

807

704

658

November 30

2.61

3.16

2.97

2.80

2.70

2.60

Decei

5.40

5.37

3.42

3.50

3.60

3.66

3.98

4.44

5.11

6.11

6.89

7.06

136

219

188

163

149

135

nber 6

261

256

265

280

300

313

385

504

719

1,180

1,670

1,800

December 12

3.36

3.50

3.28

3.52

3.26

3.18

254

243

240

247

256

225

Gage

height

Discharge

November 22

4.72

4.60

4.49

4.40

4.32

4.23

4.16

4.08

4.01

3.93

3.86

5.78

586

550

518

493

471

448

430

410

592

373

357

539

December 1

2.50

2.57

2.42

2.54

2.52

2.26

122

107

112

127

125

95

December 7

6.98

6.96

6.87

6.48

5.91

5.44

5.11

4.90

4.80

4.77

4.81

5.14

1 J740

1,720

1,660

1,400

1,080

853

719

645

610

601

614

731

December 13

3.12

3.10

5.12

5.18

3.13

3.09

212

209

212

223

214

207

Supplemental record. Nov. 19, 12:15 a.m., 8.79 ft, 3,410 cfs; Nov. 20, 1 a.m., 4.62

ft, 556 cfs; 8:45 p.m., 9.82 ft, 4,600 cfs; Dec. 3, 5:30 p.m., 8.59 ft, 3,190 cfs; Dec.

6, 11:50 p.m., 7.08 ft, 1,810 cfs; Dec. 8, 2 a.m., 5.76 ft, 1,000 cfs; 6 a.m., 7.18 ft,

1,890 cfs; 7:30 a.m., 7.33 ft, 2,010 cfs; 2 p.m., 6.57 ft, 1,450 cfs; 6 p.m., 5.96 ft,

1,100 cfs; 10 p.m., 5.40 ft, 835 cfs.
942 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

West Fork Carson River at Woodfords, Calif.

°46' long 119°50'00", In 34, T. 11 N. , R. 19

0.3 mile downstream from bridge on State Route 8, 0.8 mile west of Woodfords,

and 3 3/4 miles downstream from Willow Creek. Altitude of gage Is 5,760 ft (from

river-profile mat) .

Gage-height, record. --Water-stage recorder graph except for period 4 p.m. Nov. 18 to 

2 p.m. Mov. 22 during which graph was drawn on basis of fragmentary gage-height 

record, high-water marks, engineer's notes, and records for station above Woodfords. 

Graph for period Noon to 12 p.m. Dec. 3 corrected for intake lag on basis of record 

at station above Woodfords.

Maxima.--November-December 1950: Discharge, 4,730 cfs 10 p.m. Nov. 20 (gage height, 

8.35 ft, from floodmarks).

1900-20, 1938 to October 1950: Discharge, 1,570 cfs May 9, 10, 1906 (gage 

height, 6.8 ft, datum then in use).

Flood of Dec. 11, 1937, reached a stage of 9.0 ft (present datum), from floodmarks (discharge, 3,500 cfs, by slope-area method).

Renarks.--One small diversion above station for irrigation. Flow slightly regulated 

by several small reservoirs (total capacity, about 1,500 acre-ft).

Kean discharge, in cubic feet per second, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

November

45

45

48

48

45

40

37

36

December

130

115

1,880

720

341

580

1,120

1,360

Day

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

November

35

30

30

30

30

29

27

£6

December

558

379

327

280

246

323

253

213

Day

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

November

50

898

1,760

2,380

1,830

523

329

253

December

195

178

169

156

146

136

128

124

Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

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

November

216

186

163

147

139

181

321

19,110

5.27

December

122

111

104

100

100

90

84

347

21,360

5.89

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

In 

3

o

K

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

2

4

6

a

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 17

1.27

1.27

1.29

1.30

1.30

1.31

1.35

1.43

1.60

1.75

1.77

1.77

38

38

39

40

40

40

42

49

63

76

78

78

November 23

3.03

2.94

2 87

2.89

2.83

2.74

Decen

1.64

1.56

1.54

1.55

1.59

1.77

1.82

1.85

1.92

1.S9

1.90

2.12

Dece

5.18

6.24

5.87

5.25

4.77

4.36

357

334

317

322

507

287

iber 2

101

92

89

90

95

117

124

128

138

134

135

169

mber 8

1,240

2,080

1,760

1,280

1,000

808

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 18

1.92

2.05

2.31

2.79

3.14

3.80

4.57

93

107

138

206

267

421

660

950

1,400

2,000

2,900

3,200

November 24

2.65

2.59

2.55

2.55

2.53

L2.48

Decen

3.12

3.90

4.43

5.16

5.71

6.30

6.82

7.15

7.42

7.20

6.67

6.04

Dece

4.00

3.76

3.59

3.53

3.41

3.30

268

255

247

247

243

233

nber 3

380

626

840

1,230

1,630

2,130

2,650

3,020

3,360

3,080

2,490

1,900

mber 9

662

577

521

502

464

431

Gage 1 Disheight | charge

November 19

3,400

3,000

2,600

2,300

1,900

1,500

1,200

1,000

860

750

660

630

November 25

2.43

2.40

2.38

2.37

2.35

2.32

Decei

5.25

4.73

4.35

4.10

3.91

3.78

3.72

3.64

3.55

3.43

3.30

3.21

Dece

3.21

3.13

3.08

3.09

3.03

2.97

224

218

214

213

209

204

nber 4

1,280

985

804

700

630

584

564

537

508

470

431

405

mber 10

405

383

370

372

357

342

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 20

620

700

800

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,700

3,500

4,000

4,400

4,730

4,500

November 29

1.91

1.88

1.85

1.89

1.92

1.88

Decer

3.13

3.07

3.00

2.97

2.93

2.90

2.95

2.97

2.93

2.89

2.83

2.79

Decer

2.90

2.87

2.90

2.97

2.92

2.83

136

132

128

134

138

132

nber 5

383

367

349

342

332

324

336

342

332

322

307

298

nber 11

324

317

324

342

329

307

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 21

3,700

3,200

2,500

2,000

1,600

1,400

1,200

1,050

1,000

920

800

720

November 30

1.91

2.44

2.40

2.22

2. 12

2.03

Decei

2.76

2.74

2.73

2.81

2.87

2.95

3.13

3.48

3.98

4.83

5.58

5.95

136

226

218

186

169

155

nber 6

291

287

285

302

317

336

383

486

655

1,040

1,520

1,820

December 12

2.77

2.70

2.67

2.71

2.67

2.63

293

278

272

280

272

263

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 22

3.42

3.37

3.29

3.23

3.16

660

620

590

560

530

510

490

467

452

428

411

391

December 1

1.93

1.83

1.77

1.88

1.91

1.75

Dece

5.85

5.86

5.79

5.45

5.05

4.61

4.32

4.13

4.04

4.00

4.04

4.22

Decer

2.57

2.51

2.50

2.58

2.55

2.51

140

125

117

132

136

114

mber 7

1,740

1,750

1,690

1,420

1,160

925

791

712

677

662

677

748

nber 13

251

239

237

253

247

| | 1.0UI <JW | O.-Jl/l t*J± | L..3, | wl-tC. | t-.Owl | OWI | t-.Uw, | ..UW, | ~.~*. | """ 239 |

Supplemental record. Nov. 19, 1 a.m., 7.52 ft, 3,490 cfs; Nov. 20, 10 p.m., 8.35 ft, 

4,730 cfs; Nov. 30, 9 a.m., 2.50 ft, 237 cfs; Dec. 1, 10 a.m., 1.74 ft, 113 cfs; Dec. 3, 

6:30 p.m., 7.45 ft, 3,400 cfs; Dec. 8, 2 a.m., 4.65 ft, 945 cfs; 6 a.m., 5.87 ft, 1,760 

cfs; 10 a.m., 6.12 ft, 1,970 cfs; 2 p.m., 5.52 ft, 1,480 cfs; 6 p.m., 5.04 ft, 1,150 cfs
CARSON RIVER BASIN 943

Location.--Sharp-crested weir, lat 39 C 07 ' , long 1

3 miles upstream from mouth and 4 miles southwest of Carson City. Altitude of gage 

is 4,700 ft (from river-profile map).

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

Discharge record.--Stage-discharge relation defined by current-mete 

31 3fs and extended above or._basis of computation of peak flow c

control method used Nov. 1-lb.

Maxima. November-December 1950: Discharge, 56 cfs 5:30 p.n. Dec. 3 (gage height, 1.95

1943 to October 1950: Discharge, 44 cfs tJan. 2?, 1950 (gage height, l.t-S ft).

Remarks q-LKO .--Pour . ~~-T UUI small GUJd.L.L diversions a-L V C J- G-LU[iD for j_Ui irrigation -L J- 0- J-g 3. L _L UI1 of Ul about a u <J U L/ 150 -L ^- w acres a.^J-^o of UJ. hay il^.J rreadows 11'^ ;j.'^l^"i kj and -J

pasture above station. Practically all remaining flow diverted b<=low station f

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

November

5.C

5.0

5.0

4.7

4.5

4.3

4.0

4.0

December

11

10

41

29

20

22

23

29

Day

9

10

11

12

1 3

14

15

16

November

3.8

4.0

4 . 5

4.5

4. i

5 . ?.

5.2

18

December

21

18

18

16

14

18

14

12

Day

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

November

7.2

35

27

23

26

18

14

13

December

12

11

11

10

9.6

9.2

3.9

3.6

Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Monthly mean discharge in cfs ....... ..... ... ... ...... .........

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

November

12

11

11

11

10

12

1C. 8

640

0.80

December

8.6

8.2

7.9

7.9

7 .9

8 .2

7.9

14.6

898

1.12

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second; at indicated time, 1950

3 

O

X

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 17

0.46

.45

. 4:

.44

.44

.44

. 14

. 45

.47

,48

. 53

.64

7 .0

'r . ^

6 . ,'

6.4

6.4

6.4

6.4

6 .7

7.3

7 .6

9 . 2

13

November 23

o , e :- 

.63

.67

.65

. 65

.64

Decen

0.54

. 53

. 53

. 56

. 57

.67

Dece

1.00

1.13

1.20

1.00

.93

.88

15

15

14

14

14

15

-iber 2

9 . p

9.2

9.2

10

11

14

mber 8

28

32

34

28

25

23

P^e 

height

Discharge

November 18

0.69

.36

.96

1.02

1.06

1.44

l.CO

1.6C

1.57

1.68

1.69

1 . 62

15

22

27

28

30

41

45

45

45

43

48

46

November 24

^ . 54

. 63

. £3

. 63

.62

.62

Decen

0.8E

.90 1.0-7

1 . 50

1.64

1 . 72

1 . ""c

1.35

1.90

1.69

1.61

1.48

Dece

0.85

.84

.83

.81

.80

.79

13

13

13

13

12

12

nber 3

21

24

30

43

47

49

50

53

54

48

46

42

mber 9

22

21

21

20

20

19

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 19

1.33

1.15 1.0'

1.01

, 9^

. 92

. 33

.35

. 33

. 82

.75

. 7 7

38

33

30

28

26

25

25

22

21

21

19

19

November 25

C . 62

.60

Decer

1 .37

1.17

1 . 12

1.07

1 . 04

1 . 02

.98

.95

.93

.92

.90

.83

12

12

nber 4

39

33

52

50

29

23

27

26

25

25

24

23

December 10

0.78

.77

.76

.74

.74

.73

19

19

18

17

17

17

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 20

0.7 /

. 77

.77

.88

1.00

1.05

1.10

1.18

1.09

1.33

1.48

1 .42

19

19

19

23

28

29

31

34

31

39

42

40

November 29

O . t- 7

.57

. 5 6

.55

.55

11

11

10

10

10

10

December 5

0.87

.85

.83

.82

.81

.82

.81

.80

.79

.78

.77

.77

23

22

2 1

21

20

21

20

20

19

19

19

19

December 11

0.72

.71

.77

.78

.74

.73

16

16

19

19

17

17

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 21

1.21

1.11

1.05

1.00

.96

.95

.dQ

.86

.85

.84

.82

.81

34

31

29

28

2 6

25

24

22

22

21

2 1

20

November 30

0.53

.68

.63

.59

.58

.58

Decei

0.76

. 76 .7 7

.86

.81

.79

.85

.84

.86

1.09

1.08

1.05

Decei

0.71

.70

.70

.68

.68

.67

11

15

13

11

11

11

nber 6

18

18

19

22

20

19

22

21

22

31

30

29

nber 12

16

16

16

15

15

14

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 22

0. 78

.76

. 7 4

. 7 3

. 70

.70

19

18

li

17

16

16

December 1

0.58

.57

.53

.58

.58

. 55

Dece

1.00

.98

. 97

.84

.83

.82

.31

.82

'.35 . 83

.88

.96

11

11

9.2

11

11

10

mber 7

28

27

27

21

21

21

20

21

21

22

23

26

December 13

0.66

.65

14

14

Supplemental record. Nov. 18, 7 a.m., 1.05 ft, 29 cfs; 10:45 a.m., 1.11 ft, 31 cfs;

3 p.m., 1.64 ft, 47 cfs; Nov. 20, 9:30 p.m., 1.53 ft, 43 cfs; Dec. 3, 5 p.m., 1.95 ft,

56 cfs; Dec. 4, 3:30 a.m., 1.30 ft, 37 cfs; Dec. 6, 7:30 a.m., 0.86 ft, 22 cfs; 9 p.m.,

1.13 ft, 32 cfs; Dec. 8, 7 a.m., 1.22 ft, 35 cfs; Dec. 11, 1. p.m., 0.84 ft, 21 cfs.
944 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

Pyramid and Winnemucca Lakes Basin

Pyramid Lake nea^ Nixon, Nev.

Location.--La t 39°50'30", long 119 °28' 00", in SEiSEj sec. 24, T. 23 N., R. 22 E., at

southwest corner of concrete bridge No. 296 B, 150 ft southwest of milepost 297,

6 miles west of Nixon, and 11.5 miles south along Southern Pacific Railroad from

station at Sutcliffe.

Maxima.--November-December 1950: Elevation observed, 3,

926 to October 1950: Elevation observed, 5, .5 ft, datum of 1929, June 1926.
PYRAMID AND WINNEMUCCA LAKES BASIN 945

Truckee River near Truckee, Calif.

Location. Lat 39°17'30", long 120°12'30", in SW^NEi sec. 28, T. 17 N., R. 16 E., 

1.4 miles upstream from Donner Creek and 2-J miles southwest of Truokee. Altitude 

of gage is 5,920 ft (from topographic map).

Drainage area. --548 sq mi, includes 519 sq mi affected by storage in Lake Tahoe.

Gage-height record . --Water-stage recorder graph except for period 4 p.m. Nov. 22 to 

8 a.m. Nov. 23 when graph was interpolated.

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

2,300 cfs and extended above on basis of slope-area determination at peak stage. 

Shifting-control method used Nov. 18 to Dec. 3.

Maxima. --November-December 1950: Discharge, 6,480 cfs 10:30 p.m. Nov. ZO (gage height, 

7.62 ft) .

1944 to October 1950: Discharge, 1,110 cfs Feb. 2, 1945 (gage height, 3.34 ft); 

gage height, 6.07 ft Jan. 25, 1949 (ice jam).

Remarks. --Plow regulated by Lake Tahoe. Above Lake Tahoe outlet 519 sq mi was noncontributing during peak of November 1950.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

November

157

170

194

194

194

194

194

194

December

131

113

2,010

1,170

601

730

1,070

1,670

Day

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

November

190

167

52

48

52

50

46

67

December

856

578

494

411

350

542

613

882

Day

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

November

152

2,590

1,990

3,920

2,760

820

511

372

December

1,060

1,120

1,150

1,170

1,220

1,270

1,410

1,400

Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Monthly mean discharge, in cfs . ..... .................... ...............

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

November

293

237

204

184

162

164

551

32,770

December

1,380

1,370

1,350

1,350

1,360

1,380

1,370

1,019

62,640

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

SH

O

a

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 17

1.41

1.42

1.43

1.44

1.45

1.46

1.52

1.60

1.69

1.84

2.04

2.26

92

94

97

99

102

105

121

144

173

228

315

425

November 23

2.55

2.45

2.38

2.36

2.31

2.26

Decen

1.49

1.48

1.46

1.45

1.46

1.49

1.47

1.48

1.49

1.50

1.51

1.60

Dece

3.64

4.42

4.44

4.07

3.64

3.32

584

527

489

478

452

426

iber 2

114

111

107

104

107

114

109

111

114

116

119

145

mber 8

1,440

2,100

2,120

1,800

1,440

1,180

Gage

height

Discharge

November 18

2.48

2.76

3.09

3.44

3.77

4.49

5.28

5.86

6.34

6.72

6.75

6.40

546

715

940

1,220

1,490

2,150

3,000

3,780

4,500

5,070

5,120

4,590

November 24

2.22

2.18

2.15

2.13

2.10

2.07

Decen

1.81

2.12

2.46

3.03

3.92

4.24

5.41

5.70

5.89

5.77

5.34

4.59

Dece

3.11

2.96

2.87

2.79

2.72

2.65

402

382

368

359

345

331

iber 3

215

354

532

898

1,630

1,920

3,170

3,570

3,840

3,670

3,080

2,250

 nber 9

1,010

890

824

768

719

672

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 19

5.94

5.42

4.90

4.42

4.05

3.79

3.59

3.49

3.39

3.31

3.34

3.47

3,910

3,190

2,550

2,080

1,740

1,510

1,330

1,250

1,180

1,110

1,140

1,230

November 25

2.04

2.01

1.99

1.96

1.95

1.92

314

301

293

280

276

260

December 4

4.16

3.82

3.59

3.40

3.25

3.14

3.07

2.99

2.92

2.86

2.80

2.75

Decei

2.59

2.53

2.49

2.45

2.41

2.37

1,880

1,590

1,400

1,240

1,120

1,030

976

912

860

817

775

740

 nber 10

633

596

572

550

527

505

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 20

3.65

3.77

4.15

4.92

5.48

5.89

6.32

7.15

7.36

7.45

7.59

7.28

1,380

1,490

1,840

2,570

3,260

3,840

4,470

5,730

6,070

6,210

6,430

5,940

November 29

1.67

1.65

1.65

1.65

1.64

1.64

Decer

2.65

2.58

2.52

2.47

2.42

2.38

168

162

162

162

156

156

nber 5

672

627

590

561

532

510

December 11

2.34

2.31

2.42

2.38

2.32

2.28

489

472

532

510

478

457

Gage 

height

Noven

6.90

6.60

6.01

5.43

4.88

4.51

4.21

3.96

3.75

3.57

3.42

3.30

Discharge

iber 21

5,340

4,890

4,000

3,200

2,530

2,170

1,890

1,660

1,460

1,310

1,200

1,100

November 30

1.67

1.75

1.67

1.64

1.61

1.61

Decei

2.36

2.35

2.36

2.40

2.40

2.44

2.54

2.62

2.92

3.42

3.55

3.54

168

194

168

156

148

148

nber 6

499

494

499

521

521

544

602

652

860

1,260

1,360

1,350

December 12

2.24

2.21

2.19

2.16

2.14

2.12

436

421

411

397

387

378

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 22

3.19

3.10

3.02

2.95

2.88

2.84

2.82

2.90

2.84

2.75

2.70

2.65

1,020

944

890

838

789

768

754

803

768

712

679

646

December 1

1.58

1.54

1.55

1.56

1.54

1.51

Dece

3.71

3.74

3.46

3.20

3.05

2.97

2.93

2.92

2.98

2.95

2.91

3.02

Decer

2.10

2.07

2.05

2.05

2.02

2.03

139

126

129

134

126

119

 nber 7

1,500

1,520

1,290

1,080

960

898

868

860

905

882

852

936

nber 13

368

354

345

345

331

336

Supplemental record. --Nov. 18, 9:30 p.m., 6.76 ft, 5,130 cfs; Nov. 20, 5:15 p.m., 7.4

ft, 6,160 cfs; 6:30 p.m., 7.32 ft, 6,000 cfs; 10:30 p.m., 7.62 ft, 6,480 cfs; Dec. 6, 9:3
946 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

Truckee "River- at Renc, Nev.

Location. Lat 39°32', long 119°47<, in sec. 12, T. 19 N. , h. 19 

of Reno and 5 miles upstream from Strearr/boat Creek. Altitude c 

(from topographic map).

drainage area. --1,070 sq mi, includes 519 sq mi affected ty storage in laxe Tar.oc.

of stage as a factor.

Maxima. November-December 1953: Discharge, 19,900 cfs 1 

13.55 ft); gage height, 13.83 ft 3 a.m. llov. 21.

1906-19, 1947 to October 1950: Discharge observed, 14,r'GO at

V -

Rernai

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second. ibjO

Day November December Day November Day November

Monthly mean discharge, in cfs. 

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

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

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

Gage 

height

Discharge

Gage Disheight chargeGage I Disheight [ charge

Gage Disheight charge

Gage pisheight charge

Gage Disheight I charge

November 17 November 18 November 19 November 20 November 21 November 22

405

390

415

4.78

5.61

6.51

7.02

7.91

8.84

9.33

9,010

9,490

9,570

8,010

6,820

5,770

4,770

4,210

4,380

4,110

3,830

3,320

6.24

6.15

6.19

6.38

6.99

7.63

8.24

9.46

10.59

11.13

11.82

13.10

November 23 November 24 November 25 November 29 November 30 December 1

5.94

5.87

2,630

2,550

2,470

2,410

2,380

2,740

5.15

5.19

5.23

5.19

5.22

5.35

5.28

5.15

5.34

5.46

5.34

December 2 December 3 December 4 December 5 December 7

5.15

5.02

4.89

4.81

4.79

4.76

4.74

4.71

4.66

2,220

2,170

2,130

2,040

1,930

1,810

1,750

1,730

1,710

1,690

1,670

1,630

4,63

4.61

4.62

4.74

5.56

6.37

7.38

9.07

10.00

10.51

10.82

10.67

10.41 

1C.01 

9.31 

8.60 

8.05 

7.63 

8.00

8.50

8.34

8.07

3,950

3,790

3,650

3,530

3,410

3,300

3,220

3,170

3,120

3,090

3,060

3,010

7.32

7.54

7.62

7.67

7.72

7.65

7.38

7.10

6.92

6.83

6.77

6.84

4,620

4,810

4,870

4,940

5,000

4,780

4,370

4,070

3,880

3,800

3,730

3,850

December 8 December 9 December 10 December 11 December 12 December 13

7.56

4,060

4,500

4,510

5,330

5,320

4,620

4,020

3,580

3,780

4,110

4,140

4,260

4,410

4,360

4,270

4,180

4,110

4,080

4,080

4,080

4,270

4,100

3,950

3,770

6.59

6.42

6.25

6.15

6.03

5.93

3,520

3,320

3,140

3,020

2,890

2,790

5.

5.54

5.47

5.44

2,680

2,580

2,480

2,400

2,330

2,310

Supplemental record. Nov. 19, 5:30 p.m., 7.09 ft, 4,130 cfs; 6:30 p.m., 7.2C ft, 4,350 

cfs; Nov. 21, 1 a.m., 13.55 ft, 19,900 cfs; 3 a.m., 13.83 ft, 19,000 cfs; Nov. 22, 5 p.m., 

6.92 ft, 3,910 cfs; 9 p.m., 6.90 ft, 3,900 cfs; Nov. 24, 9 p.m., 5.52 ft, 2,380 cfs; 10 

p.m., 5.79 ft, 2,650 cfs; 11 p.m., 6.22 ft, 3,100 cfs; Nov. 29, 3 p.m., 5.25 ft, 2,140 

cfs; 11 p.m., 5.23 ft, 2,120 cfs; Nov. 30, 2 p.m., 5.04 ft, 1,950 cfs; Dec. 1, 2 p.m., 

5.05 ft, 1,960 cfs; 6 p.m., 5.29 ft, 2,170 cfs; 7 p.m., 5.31 ft, 2,190 cfs; Dec. 3, 9:15 

p.m., 10.78 ft, 11,700 cfs; 9:30 p.m., 10.81 ft, 11,200 cfs; Dec. 4, 12:30 p.m., 7.59 ft, 

4,810 cfs; 5 p.m., 8.73 ft, 6,670 cfs; Dec. 7, 11 p.m., 6.75 ft, 3,710 cfs; Dec. 8, 2 

a.m., 7.02 ft, 4,070 cfs; 6 a.m., 7.12 ft, 4,220 cfs; 10 a.m., 7.42 ft, 4,570 cfs; 2 p.m., 

7.55 ft, 4,940 cfs; 6 p.m., 7.91 ft, 5,290 cfs; 7 p.m., 7.96 ft, 5,370 cfs; 10 p.m., 7.80 

ft, 4,970 cfs; Dec. 9, 2 a.m., 7.30 ft, 4,300 cfs; 6 a.m., 6.84 ft, 3,790 cfs; 10 a.m., 

6.50 ft, 3,410 cfs; 2 p.m., 7.02 ft, 4,070 cfs; 6 p.m., 7.10 ft, 4,140 cfs; 10 p.m., 7.14 

ft, 4,190 cfs; Dec. 10, 6 a.m., 7.33 ft, 4,440 cfs; Dec. 11, 10 a.m., 6.98 ft, 3,990 cfs; 

2 p.m., 7.25 ft, 4,340 cfs.
PYRAMID AND WINNEMUCCA LAKES BASIN 947

Little Truckee River near Hobart Mills, Calif.

Location.--Lat 39°30', long 120°16', in sec. 14, T. 19 N., R. 15 E., half a mile

upstream from Independence Creek and 7|- miles northwest of Hobart Mills. Altitude 

of gage is 6,330 ft (from topographic map).

Drainage area.--55 sq mi.

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

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

1,100 cfs and extended above on basis of slope-area determination at peak stage. 

Shifting-control method used Nov. 26-28, Dec. 19-31.

Maxima.--November-December 1950: Discharge, 7,010 cfs 10 p.m. Nov. 20 (gage height, 

7.53 ft).

1946 to October 1950: Discharge, 792 cfs May 24, 1950 (gage height, 4.49 ft).

Remarks.--One transmountain diversion to Sierra Valley above station.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, 1950

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

November

40

39

54

58

49

39

32

30

December

110

91

832

920

377

414

888

958

Day

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

November

28

22

22

20

19

19

21

17

December

674

376

338

307

240

456

328

240

Day

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

November

70

675

1,380

3,130

2,850

658

343

244

December

200

176

166

149

138

125

114

107

Day

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

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

November

204

176

155

136

122

129

359

21,380

12.15

December

104

95

82

78

80

74

69

300

18,460

10.49

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

3 

O

S3

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

12

4

8

N

4

8

12

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 17

1.66

1.74

1.73

1.81

1.85

1.92

1.95

1.99

2.04

2.13

2.24

2.40

32

41

46

50

56

67

72

78

87

102

121

151

November 23

3.45

3.32

3.25

3.22

3.13

3.05

Decen

1.98

1.97

2.10

2.18

2.14

2.10

2.10

Dece

4.39

4.74

5.00

5.08

5.00

4.84

397

355

334

326

298

278

iber 2

77

75

97

111

104

97

97

mber 8

760

920

1,060

1,120

1,060

972

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 18

2.55

2.73

2.97

3.30

3.59

3.89

4.23

4.57

4.88

5.24

5.45

5.63

180

218

273

364

455

558

692

842

994

1,230

1,420

1,600

November 24

2.98

2.93

2.90

2.88

2.85

2.82

2*61

247

240

235

229

222

December 3

2.21

2.45

2.78

3.27

3.79

4.28

4.73

5.20

5.50

5.70

5.75

5.70

Dece

4.57

4.35

4.13

3.93

3.77

3.62

116

160

229

355

523

712

915

1,200

1,470

1,680

1,740

1,680

 nber 9

842

742

652

573

516

465

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 19

5.76

5.71

5.66

5.60

5.53

5.43

5.30

5.19

5.08

4.98

4.91

4.88

1,750

1,690

1,640

1,570

1,500

1,400

1,280

1,190

1,120

1,050

1,010

994

November 25

2.78

2.75

2.72

2.71

2.68

2.65

Decer

5.53

5.30

5.10

4.88

4.69

4.53

4.41

4.28

4.16

4.03

3.89

3.77

215

209

203

200

194

190

nber 4

1,500

1,280

1,130

994

896

824

770

712

664

612

558

516

December 10

3.49

3.39

3.33

3.25

3.19

3.13

423

391

373

349

331

314

Gage 1 Disheight | charge

November 20

4.92

5.06

5.31

5.48

5.70

6.07

6.43

6.73

7.13

7.42

7.53

7.47

1,020

1,100

1,290

1,450

1,680

2,180

2,860

3,630

5,050

6,410

7,010

6,680

November 29

2.28

2.25

2.24

2.27

2.25

2.23

Decer

3.66

3.56

3.46

3.38

3.33

3.29

3.28

3.24

3.19

3.14

3.11

3.08

125

119

119

125

121

118

nber 5

478

445

413

388

373

361

358

346

331

317

309

301

December 11

3.07

3.05

3.36

3.30

3.28

3.26

298

293

382

364

358

352

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 21

7.32

7.16

6.93

6.65

6.32

6.03

5.79

5.60

5.40

5.23

5.00

4.87

5,900

5,170

4,240

3,380

2,600

2,100

1,780

1,560

1,350

1,210

1,050

978

November 30

2.27

2.34

2.29

2.28

2.27

2.28

Decei

3.05

3.03

3.02

3.03

3.05

3.10

3.23

3.49

3.76

4.02

4.34

4.67

125

140

130

128

127

128

nber 6

293

288

285

288

293

306

343

423

512

608

738

886

December 12

3.23

3.15

3.10

3.04

2.99

2.93

343

320

306

290

278

263

Gage 

height

Discharge

November 22

4.72

4.58

4.45

4.33

4.20

4.10

4.02

3.94

3.86

3.77

3.69

3.50

900

837

774

720

668

628

596

566

537

502

475

413

December 1

2.21

2.12

2.18

2.20

2.18

2.05

Dece

4.92

5.01

5.00

4.93

4.81

4.67

4.55

4.44

4.39

4.38

4.32

4.23

116

100

111

114

111

88

 nber 7

1,020

1,070

1,060

1,020

956

886

832

783

760

756

729

692

December 13

2.87

2.83

2.80

2.83

2.78

2.79

249

240

233

240

229

231

Supplemental record. Nov. 19, 1:45 a.m., 5 

692 cfs; 5 p.m., 5.09 ft, 1,120 cfs.

79 ft, 1,790 cfSj Dec. 8, 1 a.m., 4.23 ft,
948 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

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 2, "Summary of flood stages and discharges. " The numbers 

in the first column of this table refer to those on figure 128, and 

will aid in identifying the places where the discharge was determined.

In addition to the flood peak data for the flood of OctoberNovember 1950, table 2 includes data for the maximum flood previously experienced except at discontinued stations where the maximum during the period of record or other determinations of maximum flow were not significantly high.

The discharges for the existing stream-gaging stations were 

determined by methods described in greater detail in the presentation of the individual stations under the section "Stages and discharges at stream-gaging stations. " For stream-gaging stations 

where records have been systematically collected for several 

years, the method of determination of the flood flows is based on a 

comprehensive study of the stage-discharge relationship during 

the complete period of record. Where the maximum discharge 

was recorded other than in the usual manner, reference is made 

to the method of determination. Supplementary information is 

shown by a footnote when warranted.

Figure 129 shows the November-December 1950 flood discharges 

(listed in table 2) in cubic feet per second per square mile, plotted 

against the corresponding drainage areas. The flood discharges 

are given as observed and may have been affected by artificial 

storage change, by release of storage of water resulting from 

natural channel changes upstream--such as the damming and releasing of debris, by diversions, or by similar factors. The drainage area used in the computations does not include the noncontributing area where known. The detailed information is presented 

under "Remarks" in the station description found in the preceding 

section, "Stages and discharges at stream-gaging stations. "

The basic data and computations are filed in the district office 

or suboffices of the Salt Lake City district.
SUMMARY OF FLOOD STAGES AND DISCHARGES 949

Stream-gaging station at which 

systematic records of stage 

and discharge are available

Figure 128.--Map of western Nevada and eastern California showing flood-determination points, November-December 1950.
Table 2. --Summary of flood stages and discharges in Walker, Carson, and Truckee River basins in 

[Maximum discharges for the floods of November-December 1950 were obtained from gaging station records

D, Computed flow over dam or weir; S, Slope-area determ

No. on 

figs. 

128, 

129

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Stream and place of determination

WALKER LAKE BASIN

Walker River Basin

East Walker River near Bridgeport, Calif.

East Walker River above Strosnider ditch,

near Mason, Nev.

West Walker River below East Fork, near

Coleville, Calif.

West Walker River near Hudson, Nev.

East Fork West Walker River near

Bridgeport, Calif.

HUMBOLDT -CARSON SINK BASIN

Carson River Basin

East Fork Carson River above Soda Springs

ranger station, near Markleeville, Calif.

East Fork Carson River near Gardnerville,

Nev.

Carson River near Carson City, Nev.

Carson River near Fort Churchill, Nev.

Silver King Creek near Coleville, Calif.

Drainage 

area 

(square 

miles)

362

-

182

-

63

30

344

876

1,450

30

Period 

of 

record 

(to 1950)

a!911-14, 1921-

1947-

1938-

1921-25,1947-

1944-

1946-

1890-93,

1900-1906,

1908-10,1917,

1924-29,

1935-37, 1939-

1939-

1911-

1946-

Maximum flood previously know

Date

Jan. 22, 1943

May 28, 1947

Dec. 11, 19d7

June 9, 1938

June 7, 1922

Feb. 2, 1945

May 31, 1950

Dec. 11, 1937

Jan. 22, 1943

Jan. 24, 1943

May 31, 1950

Gage

height 

(feet)

4.5

2.30

.

d4. 90

e6.35

2.69

4.27

f9.0

8.40

-

2.62

Discharge 

(cfs)

bl,240

b246

c5, 800

2,490

2,530

660

652

10,300

8,500

g6,300

220
SUMMARY OF FLOOD STAGES AND DISCHARGES 951

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2 < o S <u

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952 FLOODS OF 1950 IN WESTERN NEVADA

300

100

50

10

Note-. Numbers refer to table 2 

and fig. 128

10 50 100 

DRAINAGE AREA, IN SQUARE MILES

50O 1000

Figure 129.--Relation of unit runoff to size of drainage basin, November-December 1950.

RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS

Notable floods on major streams from the Sierra Nevada tributary to the Great Basin occurred in December 1861 to January 

1862, December 1867, January 1886, January-February and May 

1890, December 1892, March 1907, January 1914, March 1928, and 

December 1937. Brief descriptions of these floods (except the 

flood of 1937), based largely on newspaper and pioneer accounts, 

are presented in Water-Supply Paper 843, p. 476-479. Probably 

the greatest of these floods were those of 1861-62, 1867, 1907, 1928, 

and 1937. The following descriptions are abstracted from Water - 

Supply Paper 843.

Floods of 1861-62

Rain or snow fell every day for 54 consecutive days after December 24. Owens River at overflow was from a quarter of a mile 

to 1 mile wide in places. It was reported that the level of Owens 

Lake rose 12 feet as a result of the flood waters.There was reported loss of life on Bodie Creek in the Walker Lake basin.
RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 953

Floods occurred in the Carson River basin in December, but 

the greatest runoff evidently took place in January. Several persons were reported to have been drowned and a number of buildings 

washed away at Empire and Dayton, Nev. Water in Empire was 

said to have been from 6 to 8 feet deep; at Dayton and on the river 

downstream the flood was called the greatest known to that time.

Floods of 1867

The East Walker River was said to have been higher than ever 

before known, as a result of almost continuous storms on December 8 and 9, and December 16-31. There were also damaging 

floods on the West Walker River. The Carson River flooded the 

town of Empire and Dayton. It remained at flood stage for several 

days, reaching a height at Empire reported to have been within 2 

feet of the maximum stage of 1861-62. The Truckee River was 

reported to have overflowed beyond its channel for miles and 

washed out bridges on the main river and its tributaries.

Flood of 1907

This flood was more severe on the Truckee River than on the 

other streams. The maximum observed discharge of the Truckee 

River at Iceland, Calif., was 15,300 cfs on March 18; since that 

time the flood has been closely approached only in 1928 and 1937 

until it was likely surpassed in 1950. A news dispatch from Reno 

called the 1907 flood the highest in Nevada for 37 years. The relative ranking of the 1907 and 1950 floods cannot be accurately determined, for, in early years, observations were made only once 

or twice daily, whereas instantaneous peaks were recorded in 1950.

Flood of 1928

As in 1907, the flood of 1928 was more severe in the Truckee 

River basin than in the other basins. The maximum daily discharge 

of the Truckee River at Iceland, Calif., was 12, 000 cfs on March 

25, as compared with a mean of 12, 300 cfs on December 11, 1937, 

when the peak discharge was 15, 500 cfs.

INDEX

Page 

Abstract............................. 897

Bridgeport, Calif., Bridgeport Reservoir near. .................... 925

East Fork West Walker River near... 930 

East Walker River near. ............ 926

Bridgeport Reservoir near Bridgeport,

Calif............ ............. 925

Carson City, Nev., Carson River near . . 934

Clear Creek near .................. 943

Carson River near Carson City, Nev.... 934

near Fort Churchill, Nev............ 935

Clear Creek near Carson City, Nev. .... 943

Coleville, Calif ..Silver King Creeknear . 936 

West Walker River below East Fork

near......................... 928

Damages............................. 921

Discharge, measurement of flood....... 921

Description of the floods ............... 913

East Fork Carson River above Soda 

Springs ranger station, near 

Markleeville, Calif............ 932

near Gardnerville, Nev.... .......... 933

East Fork West Walker River near

Bridgeport, Calif.............. 930

East Walker River above Strosnider

ditch, near Mason, Nev........ 927

East Walker River near Bridgeport,

Calif.... ..................... 926

Explanation of data.................... 923

Floods, description of................. 913

records of previous ................ 952

Flood discharge, measurement of ...... 921

Flood stages and discharges, summary of 948

Fort Churchill, Nev., Carson River near . 935

Gardnerville, Nev., East Fork Carson

River near ................... 933

General features of the storms and

floods ....................... 901

Grover Hot Springs, near Markleeville, 

Calif., Markleeville Creek 

above ....................... 939

Hawthorne, Nev., Walker Lake near .... 924

Hobart Mills, Calif., Little Truckee

River near ................... 947

Hudson, Nev., West Walker River near.. 929

Introduction.......................... 897

Little Truckee River near Hobart Mills,

Calif......... ................ 947

Page

Markleeville, Calif., East Fork Carson 

River above Soda Springs 

ranger station, near ........... 932

Markleeville Creek above Grover

Hot Springs, near............. 939

Pleasant Valley Creek above Raymond

Canyon Creek, near. .......... 940

Silver Creek below Pennsylvania

Creek, near. ................. 938

Wolf Creek near ................... 937

Markleeville Creek above Grover Hot 

Springs, near Markleeville, 

Calif........... .............. 939

Mason, Nev., East Walker River above

Strosnider ditch, near......... 927

Meteorology.......................... 901

Nixon, Nev., Pyramid Lake near ....... 944

Pleasant Valley Creek above Raymond 

Canyon Creek, near Markleeville, Calif. .................. 940

Precipitation and runoff ............... 905

Previous floods, records of. ........... 952

Pyramid Lake near Nixon, Nev......... 944

Records of previous floods ............ 952

Reno, Nev., Truckee River at ......... 946

Silver Creek below Pennsylvania Creek,

near Markleeville, Calif....... 938

Silver King Creek near Coleville, Calif. 936

Soda Springs ranger station, near

Markleeville, Calif., East Fork 

Carson River above ........... 932

Stages and discharges at stream-gaging

stations ..................... 923

Storms and floods, general features of. . 901

Storage.............................. 919

Summary of flood stages and discharges. 948

Topaz Reservoir near Topaz, Calif. .... 931

Truckee River at Reno, Nev............ 946

near Truckee, Calif... .............. 945

Walker Lake near Hawthorne, Nev...... 924

West Fork Carson River above Woodfords, Calif... ................ 941

at Woodfords, Calif................. 942

West Walker River below East Fork,

near Coleville, Calif... ........ 928

near Hudson, Nev... ................ 929

Wolf Creek near Markleeville, Calif. . . . 937

Woodfords, Calif., West Fork Carson

River above ................... 941

West Fork Carson River at .......... 942

955

6U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1954 O - 295166