UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Harold L. Ickes, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

W. C. Mendenhall, Director

Water- Supply Paper 843

FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 

IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

BY

H. D. McGLASHAN AND R. C. BRIgGS

Prepared in cooperation with the I*? ;* 

FEDERAL EMERGENCY ADMINISTRATION 

OF PUBLIC WORKS, BUREAU OF RECI&MATjON 

AND STATE OF CALIFORNIA -~

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UNITED STATES l*< '.^

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WASHINGTON : 19.39 J* *£.

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For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. - - - Price 60 cents (paper cover)

CONTENTS

Page

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

Introduction .................................. 2

Administration and personnel .......................... 4

Acknowledgments. ................................ 5

General features of the floods ......................... 6

ICeteorologic and hydrologic conditions ..................... 22

Antecedent conditions ........................... 23

Precipitation ............................... 24

General features ............................ 25

Distribution .............................. 44

Temperature ................................ 56

Snow .................................... 65

Sierra Nevada slopes tributary to south half of Central Valley ..... 68

Sierra Nevada slopes tributary to north half of Central Valley ..... 70

Sierra Nevada slopes tributary to the Great Basin ........... 71

Determination of flood discharges ....................... 71

General discussion ............................. 71

Extension of rating curves for river-measurement stations ......... 72

Computation of flow over dams ....................... 74

Computation of flow from .slope-area observations .............. 75

Computation of flow through contracted openings .............. 77

Stages and discharges at river-measurement stations .............. 79

Explanation of data ............................ 79

Miscellaneous flood stages on the San Joaquln River ............ 95

Salinas River Basin ............................. 97

Salinas River near Santa Margarita ................... 97

Salinas River near Spreckels ...................... 98

San Antonio River at Pleyto ...................... 99

Arroyo Seco near Soledad ........................ 100

Pajaro River Basin .............................. 101

Uvas Creek near Morgan Hill ...................... 101

San Lorenzo River Basin .......................... 102

San LorenzO River at Big Trees ..................... 102

San Prancisquito Creek Basin ........................ 103

San Prancisquito Creek at Stanford University ............. 103

San Prancisquito Creek at Palo Alto .................. 104

Los Trancos Creek at Stanford University ................ 1Q5

Stevens Creek Basin ............................ 106

Steveris Creek near Cupertino ...................... Ip6

Guadalupe Creek Basin ........................... 107

Guadalupe Creek at Guadalupe ...................... 107

Guadalupe Creek at San Jose ...................... 108

Alamitos Creek near Edenvale ...................... 109

Los Gatos Creek at Los Gatos ...................... 110

Campbell Creek at Saratoga ....................... Ill

Coyote Creek Basin .............................. 112

Coyote Creek near Madrone ....................... 112

Coyote Creek near Edenvale ....................... 113

Alameda Creek Basin ............................ 114

Alameda Creek near Nlles ........................ 114

Kern River Basin .............................. 116

Kerri River near Kernville ....................... 116

Kern River above Kern Canyon power house ................ 117

Kern River near Bakersfield ...;.................. 118

South Pork of Kern River near Onyx ................... 119

South Pork of Kern River at Isabella .................. 120

Tulare Lake Basin ............................. 121

Tulare Lake in Kings County ...................... 121

Tule River near Porterville ...................... 122

South, Pork of Tule River near Success ................. 123

Kaweah River near Three Rivers ..................... 124

North Pork of Kaweah River at Kaweah .................. 125

Kings River above North Pork ...................... 126

Kings River at Pledra ......................... 127

Presno by-pass, Presno County ..................... 128

North Pork of Kings River near Cliff Camp ............... 129

North Pork of Kings River below Rancheria Creek ............ 130

Los Gatos Creek near Coalinga ..................... 131

San Joaquln River Basin .......................... 132

San Joaquin River above Big Creek ................... 132

San Joaquin River below Kerckhoff power house ............. 133

San Joaquin River near Priant ..................... 134

San Joaquin River below Skaggs Bridge ................. 135

San Joaquin River near Newman ..................... 136

San Joaquin River near Verrialis .................... 137

Florence Lake near Big Creek ...................... 138

South Pork of San Jbaquin River near Florence Lake ........... 139

Bear Creek near Vermilion Valley .................... 140

Mono Creek near Vermilion Valley .................... 141

Huntington Lake near Big Creek ..................... 142

Big Creek below Huntington Lake .................... 143

Pitman Creek below Tamarack Creek ................... 144

Shaver Lake near Big Creek ....................... 145

North Pork of Willow Creek at Crane Valley Reservoir .......... 146

Big Sandy Creek near Auberry ...................... 147

III
Stages and discharges at river-measurement stations Continued

San Joaquin River Basin Continued Page

Pine Gold Creek near Priant ...................... 148

Cottonwood Creek near Priant ...................... 149

Little Dry Creek near Priant ...................... 150

Fresno River near Knowles ....................... 151

Presno River near Daulton ....................... 152

Chowchilla River at Buchanan dam site ................. 153

Bear Creek near Planada ........................ 154

Mariposa Creek near Le Grand ...................... 155

Merced River at Happy Isles Bridge, near Yosemite ........... 156

Merced River at Pohono Bridge, near Yosemite .............. 157

Merced River at Kittridge ....................... 158

Lake McClure at Exchequer ....................... 159

Merced River at Exchequer ....................... 160

Merced River near Livingston ...................... 161

Tenaya Creek near Yosemite ....................... 162

Orestimba Creek near Newman ...................... 163

Hetcli Hetchy Reservoir at Hetch Hetchy ................. 164

Tuolumne River near Hetch Hetchy .................... 165

Don Pedro Reservoir near La Grange ................... 166

Tuolumne River above La Grange Dam, near La Grange ........... 167

Palls Creek near Hetch Hetchy ..................... 168

Cherry Creek near Hetch Hetchy ..................... 169

Lake Eleanor near Hetch Hetchy ..................... 170

Eleanor Creek near Hetch Hetchy .................... 171

South Pork of Tuolumne River near Oakland Recreation Camp ....... 172

Middle Tuolvunne River near Buck Meadows ..... ........... 173

Y^oods Creek near Jacksonville ..................... 174

Middle Pork of Stanislaus River at Sand Bar Plat, near Avery ...... 175

Melones Reservoir at Melones Dam .................... 176

Stanislaus River below Melones power house ............... 177

North Pork of Stanislaus River near Avery ............... 178

South Pork of Stanislaus River at Strawberry Reservoir ......... 179

South Pork of Stanislaus River below Lyons Dam ............. 180

Calaveras River at Jenny Llnd ..................... 181

Cosgrove Creek near Valley Springs ................... 183

Salt Springs Reservoir near West Point ................. 184

North Pork of Mokelumne River below Salt Springs Dam .......... 185

Mokelumne River near Mokelumne Hill .................. 186

Mokelumne River at Lancha Plana .................... 187

Mokelumne River near Clements ..................... 188

Mokelumne River at Woodbridge ..................... 189

Cold Creek near Mokelumne Peak ..................... 190

Bear River at Pardoe Camp ....................... 191

Middle Pork of Mokelumne River at West Point .............. 192

South Pork of Mokelumne River near West Point ............. 193

Sutter Creek near Sutter Creek ..................... 194

North Pork of Cosumnes River near El Dorado .............. 195

Cosumnes River at Michigan Bar ..................... 196

Sacramento River Basin ..................- 197

Sacramento River at Antler ....................... 197

Sacramento River at Kennett ...................... 198

Sacramento River near Red Bluff .................... 199

Sacramento River at Verona ....................... 200

Sacramento River at Sacramento and Yolo by-pass at Lisbon ....... 201

Pit River near Canby .......................... 202

Pit River at Pall River Mills ..................... 203

Pit River below pit No. 4 dam ..................... 204

Pit River at Big Bend ......................... 205

Pit River near Ydalpom ......................... 206

South Pork of Pit River near Likely .................. 207

Hat Creek near Hat Creek ........................ 208

McCloud River near McCloud ....................... 209

McCloud River at Baird ......................... 210

Mill Creek near Los Molinos ...................... 211

Elder Creek near Henleyville ...................... 212

Thomas Creek at Paskenta ........................ 213

Deer Creek near Vina .......................... 214

Chico Creek near Chico ......................... 215

Stony Creek above Stony Gorge Reservoir ................ 216

Stony Gorge Reservoir near Elk Creek .................. 217

Butte Creek near Chioo ......................... 218

Lake Almanor near Prattvllle ...................... 219

North Pork of Feather River near Prattville .............. 220

Feather River near Oroville ...................... 221

Indian Creek near Crescent Mills .................... 222

Spanish Creek at Keddie ........................ 223

Bucks Creek storage reservoir near Bucks ranch ............. 224

Bucks Creek at Bucks Creek storage reservoir .............. 225

Grizzly Creek near Storrie ....................... 226

West Branch of Feather River near Yankee H11J ............. 227

Concow Creek near Yankee Hill ..................... 228

Middle Pork of Feather River near Clio ................. 229

Middle Pork of Feather River at Bldwell Bar .............. 230

South Fork of Feather River at Enterprise ............... 231

Lost Creek near Clipper Mills ..................... 232

Middle Fork of Yuba River at Milton .................. 233

Middle Pork of Yuba River near North San Juan ............. 234

Yuba River at Smartvllle ............. . 235

Oregon Creek near North San Juan .................... 236
Stages and discharges at river-measurement stations Continued

Sacramento River basin Continued Page

North Fork of Yuba River near Sierra City ............... 237

Lake Spaulding near Emigrant Gap .................... 238

South Pork of Yuba River at Lake Spaulding ............... 239

Bowman Lake near Graniteville ..................... 240

Canyon Creek below Bowman Lake ..................... 241

Deer Creek near Smartville ....................... 242

Bear River near Wheatland ....................... 243

North Pork of American River near Colfax ................ 244

American River at Pair Oaks ...................... 245

Middle Pork of American River near Auburn ............... 246

South Pork of American River near Kyburz ................ 247

South Pork of American River near Camino ................ 248

South Pork of American River at Coloma ................. 249

Medley Lakes outlet near Vade ..................... 250

Silver Lake outlet near Kirkwood .................... 251

Silver Pork of South Pork of American River near Kyburz ........ 252

Twin Lakes outlet near Kirkwood .................... 253

Alder Creek near Whitehall ....................... 254

Plum Creek near Riverton ........................ 255

Silver Creek at Union Valley ...................... 256

Silver Creek near Placerville ..................... 257

South Pork of Silver Creek near Ice House ............... 258

Clear Lake at Lakeport ......................... 259

Cache Creek at Yolo .......................... 260

North Pork of Cache Creek near Lower Lake ............... 261

Putah Creek near Guenoc ........................ 262

Putah Creek near Winters ........................ 263

Napa River Basin .............................. 264

Conn Creek near St. Helena ....................... 264

Eel River Basin .............................. 265

Lake Pillsbury at Hullville ...................... 265

Eel River at Hullville ......................... 266

Eel River at Van Arsdale Dam, near Potter Valley ............ 267

Eel River at Scotia .......................... 268

Klamath River Basin ............................ 269

Klamath River at Somesbar ....................... 269

Shasta River near Yreka ........................ 270

Salmon River at Somesbar ........................ 271

Trinity River at Lewiston ....................... 272

Trinity River near Burnt Ranch ..................... 273

Trinity River near Hoopa ........................ 274

Owens Lake Basin .............................. 275

Owens River near Round Valley ..................... 275

Rock Creek at Sherwin Hill, near Bishop ................ 276

Pine Creek at division box, near Bishop ................ 277

Big Pine Creek below Little Pine Creek, near Big Pine ......... 278

Independence Creek at Independence ................... 279

Tuttle Creek at Canyon Road, near Lone Pine .............. 280

Walker Lake Basin ............................. 281

Bridgeport Reservoir near Bridgeport .................. 281

Humboldt-Carson Sink Basin ......................... 282

Carson River at Lahontan Reservoir, Nev. ................ 282

Pyramid and Winnemucca Lakes Basin ..................... 283

Lake Tahoe at Tahoe .......................... 383

Truckee River at Tahoe ......................... 284

Truckee River at Iceland ........................ 285

Dormer Creek near Truckee ....................... 286

Summary of flood discharges .......................... 287

Storage .................................... 300

Examples of effect on storage ....................... 302

San Joaquin River ........................... 302

Sacramento River ............................ 304

Areas outside the Central Valley .................... 305

Rainfall and run-off studies .......................... 306

General discussion ............................. 306

Direct run-off ..... .......................... 325

Residuals ................................. 333

Comparison of rainfall and run-off conditions during floods of record . . . 336

Run-off characteristics .......................... 341

Characteristics of peak discharge ..................... 344

Basin characteristics ........................... 346

High Sierra type ............................ 347

Midslope type ............................. 348

Foothill type ............................. 349

Miscellaneous group .......................... 349

Southern Pacific basins ........................ 350

Los Gatos Creek Basin (near Coalinga) and Orestimba Creek Basin. .... 353

Kern River Basin ............................ 354

Tule and Kaweah River Basins ...................... 357

Kings River Basin ........................... 360

Upper San Joaquin River Basin ..................... 363

Presno and Chowchilla River, Mariposa and Bear Creek Basins ...... 367

Merced River Basin ........................... 370

Tuolumne River Basin ..........I............... 372

Stanislaus River Basin ......................... 376

Calaveras River Basin ......................... 378

Cosumnes River and Sutter Creek Basins ................. 380

Mokelumne River Basin ......................... 383

Upper Sacramento River and McCloud River Basins ............ 385

Pit River Basin ............................ 389

Mill, Deer, Chico, and Butte Creek, and Bear River Basins ....... 392
VI CONTENTS

Rainfall and run-off studies Continued

Basin characteristics Continued Page

Elder, Thomas, Stony, Cache and Putah Creek Basins ........... 395

Feather River Basin ........................... 398

Yuba River Basin ............................ 403

American River Basin .......................... 407

Northern Pacific basins ......................... 410

San Francisco Bay basins ........................ 413

Owens Lake basins ............................ 417

Truckee River Basin ........................... 420

Flood crests .................................. 422

Records of previous floods ..............*. 427

Sources of information ........................... 427

Newspapers ............................... 428

Histories ................................ 429

Miscellaneous reports .......................... 429

Summary of outstanding floods ........................ 430

Floods of 1861-62 ............................ 430

Floods of 1867-68 ............................ 431

Floods of 1881 ............................. 431

Floods of 1889-90 ............................ 432

Floods of 1907 ............................. 432

Southern Pacific basins ........................... 433

San Francisco Bay basins .......................... 434

Kern River Basin .............................. 437

Tulare Lake Basin .............................. 439

San Jbaquin River Basin ........................... 444

Sacramento River Basin ........................... 453

Russian River Basin ............................. 470

Eel River Basin ............................... 471

Klamath River Basin ............................. 473

Smith River Basin .............................. 475

Major streams from the Sierra Nevada tributary to the Great Basin ...... 476

Records of floods in 1938 ............................ 479

Salinas River near Santa Margarita ..................... 482

Salinas River near Spreckels ........................ 482

San Antonio River at Pleyto ......................... 483

San Lorenzo River at Big Trees ....................... 483

South Fork of Kern River near Onyx ..................... 484

Los Gatos Creek near Coalinga ........................ 484

Tulare Lake in Kings County ......................... 485

Fresno by-pass, Fresno County ........................ 486

San Joaquin River near Newman ........................ 4SP7

San Joaquin River near Vernalls ....................... 487

Mono Creek near Vermilion Valley. ...................... 488

Fine Gold Creek near Friant ......................... 488

Fresno River near Knowles .......................... 489

Merced River near Livingston ........................ 489

Woods Creek near Jacksonville ........................ 490

Shasta River near Yreka ........................... 490

Index ...................................... 493

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

Plate 1. Flood damage in Feather River Basins A, Rook slide on Feather River 

highway at Butte-Plumas county line; B, Washout on Main Street, 

Chester, Calif. ........................... B

2. Merced. River upstream from Brioesburg. ................ 8

3. A, Flooded farm north of Marysville; B, Flooded orchard near Anderson . 8

4. Destruction by flood on North Fork of Yuba River at Downievllle .... 9

5. A, Highway flooded by Sacramento River; B, Damaged highway bridge on

Bear Creek south of Los Molinos. .................. 12

6. Sacramento River overflow near Berber ................. 12

7. Flood, scenes on Sacramento River ................... 12

8. Flooded areas in Butte Basin in vicinity of Biggs ........... 12

9. A, Inundated farmlands in Sacramento Valley; B, Town of Gilroy flooded

by water from TJvas Creek ...................... 12

10. Flooded areas along Russian River in vicinity of Healdsburg ...... 12

11. Flood scenes in San Joaquin Valley .................. 12

12. River-measurement station on Kaweah River near Three Rivers ...... 13

13. High water of June 1938 in Tulare Lake Basin ............. 480

Figure 1. Map showing location of area covered by this report .......... 3

2. Map showing the principal river systems and cities mentioned in text . 7

3. Map showing areas flooded in lower Sacramento River Basin,

December 11-14, 1937 ......................... 10

4. Drainage basins of the Salinas River, coastal streams from San Luis 

Obispo Creek to San Francisco Bay, and streams tributary to San 

Francisco Bay from the south .................... 13

5. Drainage basins of Buena Vista Lake and Tulare Lake .......... 14

6. Drainage basin of the San Joaquin River above the mouth of the

Merced River ............................ 15

7. Drainage basin of the San Joaquin River below and including the

Merced River ............................ 16

8. Drainage basin of the Sacramento River, except the Pit, Feather, and

American Rivers ........................... 17

9. Drainage basins of the Pit, Feather, American, and Truckee Rivers ... 18 

10. Drainage basins of the Mad and Eel Rivers, streams tributary to San 

Francisco Bay from the north, and coastal streams between San 

Francisco Bay and Mad River ..................... 19
ILLUSTRATIONS VII

Page 

Figure 11. Drainage basins of the Klamath River, Smith. River, and Redwood

Creek .............................. 20

12. Drainage basins from the Carson River to Owens Lake, inclusive,

along the western boundary of the Great Basin .......... 21

13. Isohyetal map of the drainage basins of the Salinas River,

coastal streams from San Luis Obispo Creek to San Francisco 

Bay, and streams tributary to San Francisco Bay from the south, 

showing the total precipitation, in inches, December 8-13, 1937. . 45

14. Isohyetal map of the drainage basins of Buena Vista Lake and 

Tulare Lake, showing the total precipitation, in Inches, 

December 8-13, 1937 ....................... 46

15. Isohyetal map of the drainage basin of the San Joaquin River above 

the mouth of the Merced River, showing the total precipitation 

in inches, December 8-13, 1937 .................. 47

16. Isohyetal map of the drainage basin of the San Joaquin River below 

and including the Merced River, showing the total precipitation, 

in inches, December 8-13, 1937 .................. 48

17. Isohyetal map of the drainage basin of the Sacramento River, except 

the Pit, Feather, and American Rivers, showing the total precipitation, in inches, December 8-13, 1937 ............ 49

18. Isohyetal map of the drainage basins of the Pit, Feather, American, 

and Truckee Rivers, showing the total precipitation, in inches, 

December 8-13, 1937 ....................... 50

19. Isohyetal map of the drainage basins of the Mad and Eel Rivers, 

streams tributary to San Francisco Bay from the north, and 

coastal streams between San Francisco Bay and Mad River, showing 

the total precipitation, In inches, December 8-13, 1937 ..... 51

20. Isohyetal map of the drainage basins of the Klamath River, Smith 

River, and Redwood Creek, showing the total precipitation, in 

inches, December 8-13, 1937 ................... 52

21. Isohyetal map of the drainage basins from the Carson River to

Owens Lake, Inclusive, along the western boundary of the Great

Basin, showing the total precipitation, in inches, December

8-13, 1937 ............................ 53

22. Section A-B; location shown on figure 2 .............. 57

23. Section C-D} location shown on figure 2 .............. 58

24. Section E-F} location shown on figure 2 .............. 59

25. Section G-H; location shown on figure 2 .............. 60

26. Hourly precipitation, in inches, at various precipitation stations,

Mount Shasta City to Fiddletown, December 8-13, 1937 ....... 61

27. Hourly precipitation, in inches, at various precipitation stations,

Fricot City to Fresno, December 8-13, 1937 ............ 62

28. Daily range of temperature at various places in northern California,

November and December 1937 .................... 64

29. Map, profile of high-water marks, and sections of the slope-area

reach for Little Truckee River near Boca, Calif. ......... 78

30. Typical graphs of stage and discharge at river-measurement stations,

plotted from records in this report ............... 82

31. Graphs of mean daily discharge at various river-measurement stations 

in northern California for the period November 1, 1937, to 

January 31, 1938 ......................... 83

32. Graphs of discharge at various river-measurement stations in the 

Salinas River Basin and on nearby coastal and San Francisco Bay 

streams, December 8-20, 1937 ................... 84

33. Graphs of discharge at various river-measurement stations in Buena

Vista and Tulare Lake Basins, December 8-20, 1937 ........ 86

34. Graphs of discharge at various river-measurement stations on the

San Joaquin River, December 8-20, 1937 .............. 86

35. Graphs of discharge at various river-measurement stations on tributaries to the San Joaquin River, December 8-20, 1937 ....... 87

36. Graphs of discharge at various river-measurement stations on the

Sacramento River, December 8-20, 1937 .............. 88

37. Graphs of discharge at various river-measurement stations in the

Pit River Basin, December 8-20, 1937 ............... 89

38. Graphs of discharge at various river-measurement stations in the

Feather River Basin, December 8-20, 1937 ............. 90

39. Graphs of discharge at various river-measurement stations in the

American River Basin, December 8-20, 1937 ............ 91

40. Graphs of discharge at various river-measurement stations on tributaries to the Sacramento River from the west, December 8-20, 1937. 92

41. Graphs of discharge at various river-measurement stations in the

Eel and Klamath River Basins, December 8-20, 1937 ........ 93

42. Graphs of stage at various river-stage stations on the San Joaquin

River, December 1937 ....................... 96

43. Chart showing the maximum momentary discharge, in second-feet per

square mile, for unregulated streams in California, December 1937,

as given in table 4 ....................... 299

44. Method of analysis used in determining direct run-off associated

with the storm period December 8-13, 1937 ............ 317

45. Chart showing direct run-off, in inches, determined for various 

drainage areas in northern California during flood of December 

1937, as given in table 7 .................... 319

46. Map showing areas of equal run-off in northern California during

floods of December 1937 ..................... 330

47. Key map showing location of southern Pacific basins ........ 350

48. Key map showing location of Los Gator Creek Basin (near Coalinga)

and Orestimba Creek Basin .. .................. 353

49. Key map showing location of Kern River Basin ............ 355

50. Key map showing location of Tule and Kaweah River Basins ...... 358

51. Key map showing location of Kings River Basin ........... 361

52. Key map showing location of upper San Joaquin River Basin ..... 364

53. Key map showing location of Fresno and Chowchllla Rivers, Marlposa

and Bear Creek Basins ...................... 368
VIII ILLUSTRATIONS

Page 

Figure 54. Key map showing location of Merced River Basin ........... 371

55. Key map showing location of Tuolumne River Basin .......... 373

56. Key map showing location of Stanislaus River Basin ......... 377

57. Key map showing location of Calaveras River Basin ......... 379

58. Key map showing location of Cosumnes River and Sutter Creek Basins . 381

59. Key map showing location of Mokelumne River Basin ......... 383

60. Key map showing location of upper Sacramento River and McCloud

River Basins ........................... 386

61. Key map showing location of Pit River Basin ............ 389

62. Key map showing location of Mill, Deer, Chlco, and Butte Creek and

Bear River Basins ........................ 393

63. Key map showing location of Elder, Thomas, Stony, Cache and Putah

Creek Basins ........................... 396

64. Key map showing location of Feather River Basin .......... 399

65. Key map showing location of Yuba River Basin ............ 404

66. Key map showing location of American River Basin .......... 407

67. Key map showing location of northern Pacific basins ........ 411

68. Key map showing location of San Francisco Bay basins ........ 414

69. Key map showing location of Owens Lake basins ........... 418

70. Key map showing location of Truckee River Basin (California part). . 421

71. Profile of crest stages on the San Joaquln River during the flood

of December 1937 ......................... 425

72. Profile of crest stages on the Sacramento River during the flood

of December 1937 ......................... 426

73. Graphs of stage at various river-stage stations on the San Joaquin

River, March 1-20, 1938 ..................... 491

74. Profile of crest stages on the San Joaquin River during the flood

of March 1938 .......................... 492

TABLES

Page 

Table 1. Dally precipitation, In inches, December 1937 ........... 26

2. Rate and duration of precipitation, December 9-12, 1937 ...... 42

3. Snow conditions in November and during the storm of December 1937. . 66

4. Summary of flood discharges in northern California ......... 288

5. Total available storage capacity of reservoirs in northern California, by drainage basins ..................... 300

6. Drainage basin areas, in square miles, between selected altitudes

along western slopes of the Sierra Nevada ............ 307

7. Rainfall and run-off of flood of December 1937 ........... 311

8. Run-off characteristics ...................... 321

9. Comparison of floods of December 1937 with other floods for unregulated streams .......................... 337

10. Flood-crest stages ......................... 423

11. Maximum stage and discharge of recorded floods at indicated places

in Kern River and Tulare Lake Basins ............... 440

12. Maximum stage and discharge of recorded floods at indicated places

on the San Joaquin and Tuolumne Rivers .............. 452

13. Maximum stage and discharge of recorded floods at indicated places

on the Sacramento and Pit Rivers ................. 457

14. Maximum stage, in feet, of recorded floods in the Sacramento River

Basin .............................. 458

15. Maximum stage and discharge of recorded floods at indicated places

on the Feather, Yuba, and American Rivers ............ 459

16. Maximum stage and discharge of recorded floods at Indicated places

on Stony, Cache, and Putah Creeks ................ 468

17. Maximum annual stages, in feet, on the Sacramento River at Sacramento from 1849 to 1938 ..................... 469

18. Maximum stage, in feet, of recorded floods at indicated places in

the northern Pacific basins ................... 472
THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

By H. D. McGlashan and R. C. Briggs

ABSTRACT

During the period December 9-12, 1P37, streams in northern California were subjected to severe floods which, at 80 river-measurement stations, exceeded previously recorded maximum discharges. Flood stages prevailed from the Kaweah River Basin in the south to the Pit and Trinity 

River Basins in the north, and from the Pacific Ocean to the Sierras. 

Farm lands, highways, bridges, and public utility systems were seriously

The floods were caused by an exceptionally intense rainstorm of wide 

extent, whioh formed over the Pacific Ocean and moved rapidly eastward 

into northern California on December 9. It was a well-defined single 

storm, and most of the precipitation fell within a 48-hour period. The 

storm was notable for the accompanying warm temperature, which caused 

precipitation to have the form of rain, rather than snow, up to high altitudes in the Sierras. Other distinctive features were the relatively 

small amounts of rainfall in the lower altitudes of the Central Valley, 

and the large amounts of rainfall in the middle altitudes of the Sierras 

where normally much of the precipitation during December storms is in 

the form of snow.

In general, there was little snow on the ground at the beginning of 

the storm period, and contribution from melting snow was not an important 

factor in the flood run-off.

An interesting characteristic of the floods was the absence of high 

water along the lower reaches of the San Joaquin River, in contrast to 

the flooded areas along the lower Sacramento River. Large volumes of 

flood waters were withheld by the many storage reservoirs on tributaries 

of the San Joaquin River, whereas much smaller volumes were detained by 

the comparatively few storage reservoirs in the Sacramento River Basin.

The extent to which the absorptive capacity of the soil had been 

utilized by antecedent precipitation at the time of the December storm 

had an important influence on the relative magnitude of the flood run-off 

from different areas. In general, this factor tended to make the floods 

in the northern part of the Central Valley more severe than those in the 

southern part. A study of the conditions of antecedent precipitation and 

probable ground moisture associated with previous great floods supports 

the conclusion that the ground storage is generally a. very critical factor in the development of floods in this region.

This water-supply paper presents, for the period that included the 

floods, records of stage and discharge at about 170 river-measurement 

stations and records of storage in all the larger reservoirs. It also 

presents a summary of peak discharges with comparative data for other 

floods at 74 measurement points, and tables and graphs showing crest 

stages along the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers.

The paper includes information about the weather associated with 

the floods; the results of studies of the rainfall and run-off; discussions of flood characteristics; and other pertinent information 

about the meteorologic and hydrologic conditions prior to and during 

the flood period.

The main flood report is followed by a section on floods that occurred before the beginning of systematic stream-flow records. The 

early flood data, although lacking in quantitative information, indicate 

that the floods of the winter seasons of 1861-62 and 1867-68 were the 

most outstanding in magnitude. The peak discharges of the lower San 

Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers in January 1862 appear to have been the 

greatest since early in the nineteenth century at least; those in some 

localities, however, were closely approached in December 1867. In general, the floods of December 1937 were materially less in total volume 

than those just mentioned, but in some places they probably exceeded 

all other known floods in peak discharge.

The final section of the paper presents data on floods that brought 

record stages to some streams in 1938.
2 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

INTRODUCTION

The storm of December 9-12, 1937, in northern California, was notable 

both for its severity and for the extent of the area that it covered. Extreme storm conditions prevailed throughout the Central Valley, from the 

Kaweah River northward, and from the Salinas River Basin northward along 

the coast to Oregon. Figure 1 shows the location of the area covered by 

this report.

Since 1867 there has been no other major flood in northern California 

so early in the season as that of December 1937. The plentiful rainfall 

in October and especially heavy rains during November in Sacramento River 

Basin, associated with temperatures well above normal and an absence of 

snow-cover except at high altitudes, produced conditions favorable for 

high run-off rates at the time of the December storm.

The intensity and speed with which the storm swept across the State, 

and extended to forty-three of the fifty-eight counties, make it one of 

the outstanding storms of record. The precipitation lasted about two and 

one-half days in the affected area as a whole, but in general it lasted 

less than two days at any one place. It resulted in rates and volumes of 

run-off equalling or exceeding those for storms of 6 to 14 days' duration 

in earlier years. The maximum rainfall record for the 2-day period, 

December 10-11, was that of more than 18 inches in Feather River Basin.

in its swift passage across the State, the storm and resulting floods 

left an area of devastation marked by damaged highways, wrecked bridges, 

broken levees, and flooded homes and ranches. Transportation in many 

areas was interrupted or stopped entirely for varying periods, lines of 

communication as well as those for transmission of power were down, and 

many towns were thus isolated. The total damage was estimated by Edward 

Hyatt, State Engineer, at nearly $15,000,000.

The outstanding flood period recorded in California has long been 

considered as the one caused by the storms of 1861-62 which extended from 

Alaska to Mexico. In some sections of the Great Central Valley and especially in the southern half of the San Joaquin Valley, the flood of 1867 

exceeded that of 1861-62. Notable floods in 1881, 1907, 1909, and 1928 

were confined to smaller areas.

Reliable evidence indicates that the highest river stages ever noted 

were reached in December 1937 at certain points on the Sacramento River 

and tributaries in the general vicinity of Red Bluff.

Maximum discharges were recorded in December 1937 on the Sacramento,
INTRODUCTION

25 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 Miles

Figure 1. Map showing location of area covered by this report.
4 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

upper San Joaquin, Kings, and Kaweah Rivers, as well as on many tributaries. On the Feather River the peak discharge was approximately that 

of 1928, whereas on the American River it was considerably less than in 

that record year. The storm was much less severe in the extreme southern part of the San Joaquin Valley, and the crest discharge of the Kern 

River did not equal that of the flood of February 1937. As the storage 

reservoirs on the Mokelumne, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Merced Rivers 

were not filled in December 1937, there was no high water along the 

lower reaches of these streams or on the San Joaquin downstream from 

these tributaries.

As a part of its regular nation-wide stream-gaging program, the 

Geological Survey maintains about 185 river-measurement stations within 

the area covered by the flood of December 1937. These stations have 

been operated by the Geological Survey in cooperation with the State and 

many counties, cities, irrigation districts, public utilities, and 

other agencies, generally for periods beginning many years prior to the 

storm of December 1937. By this program the Survey has obtained continuous records of stage and rates and volumes of flow of the streams, 

covering the range from dry-season flows to major floods.

The records of stage, discharges, and other characteristics of the 

floods of December 1937 are of great interest and importance, and furnish basic information needed in the design and construction of hydraulic 

works and in the study of flood control and land-use measures.

In addition to detailed data concerning the floods of December 

1937, this report includes a section on floods prior to the beginning 

of stream-flow records, and a section on floods in 1938.

ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL

The field and office work incident to the preparation of this report was performed by the water-resources branch of the Geological 

Survey under the general administrative direction of N. C. Grover, chief 

hydraulic engineer, and C. G. Paulsen, chief, division of surface water. 

The field work, the collection and tabulation of the basic Information 

with respect to stages and discharges, and the many other tasks in the 

preparation of the report were done by the personnel of the San Francisco 

district office in the division of surface water, under the direction of 

H. D. McGlashan, district engineer, assisted by R. C. Briggs, hydraulic 

engineer, who were primarily responsible for the authorship. General 

supervision and coordination of the collection of data and the final
ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL 5

assembling of the report were carried on in the division of water utilization, R. W. Davenport, chief. W. G. Hoyt, consulting engineer, conservation branch, has directed and prepared the presentation of information on 

rainfall and other climatologic features and is the author of the section 

on rainfall and run-off studies. He was aided by H. M. Orem, assistant 

engineer. Most of the data in the chapter concerning previous floods was 

collected by P. A. Johnson, assistant engineer. Many other members of the 

Geological Survey's staff have participated in important ways in the collection and preparation of the information in this report including Peter 

Alexander, Jesse Arnold, L. E. Bossen, B- C. Colby, C. J. Emerson, A. B. 

Goodwin, Charles Leidl, H. P. Matthai, and H. J. Sexton in the San 

Francisco office. In carrying on all this work the permanent field and 

office staffs were assisted by temporary employees appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, a part of whom were furnished by the Public Works 

Administration. Office assistance was given by the Works Progress 

Administration.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Geological Survey, acting through its San Francisco district 

office, cooperates with the State and many municipal agencies in 

California. Acknowledgment is made to these cooperating agencies for 

participation in the collection of the systematic records of river discharge that form the broad base on which the specific flood information 

has been placed, also for furnishing a number of complete records of discharge at river-measurement stations which they maintain independently.

Information appearing in this report has been obtained from many 

sources, including individuals, corporations, and governmental organizations, local, State, and Federal. Financial cooperation in connection 

with the regular river-measurement program of the Geological Survey in 

the areas in northern California covered by this report has been received 

from the Bureau of Reclamation, United States Department of the Interior; 

the State of California, through Edward Hyatt, State Engineer; the East 

Bay Municipal Utility District; the Santa Clara Valley Water Conservation District; Stanford University; and the cities of San Francisco, 

Santa Cruz, and San Luis Obispo. In addition to this regular cooperation, special allotments were made by Governor Frank F. Merriam through 

the State Director of Finance, by the United States Bureau of Reclamation, 

and by the Public Works Administration, to supplement the funds available 

for the preparation of this report.
6 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Federal agencies to whom acknowledgments are made for services rendered or data furnished include the United States Weather Bureau; the 

Corps of Engineers, United States Army; the United States Forest Service; 

the National Park Service; and the Works Progress Administration.

Other agencies in California that furnished data or rendered services are the following: Pacific Gas & Electric Co.; San Joaquin Light 

and Power Corp.; Southern California Edison Co., Ltd.; City of Sacramento; Merced Irrigation District; Turlock & Modesto Irrigation Districts; 

Emma Rose & Hobart Estate Co.; and Thermalito and Table Mountain Irrigation District. The city of Los Angeles prepared the complete records 

for their stations in Owens River Basin. Where practicable, acknowledgments for individual contributions of information are given at appropriate places in the report.

GENERAL FEATURES OF THE FLOODS

The rivers and creeks over most of northern California, from the 

Kaweah on the south to the Pit and Trinity on the north, rose rapidly 

to very high stages as a result of the storm of December 9-12, 1937. 

From west to east the storm was severe from the coast of California to 

the State of Nevada, and many streams on both sides of the Coast Ranges 

and the Sierra Nevada exceeded previously recorded maximum flood discharges. Figure 2 is a map showing the principal river systems and 

cities mentioned in the text of this report.

A notable characteristic of the storm was the relatively small 

amount of rainfall on the floor of the Great Central Valley. The rainfall was also of only moderate depth and intensity in the coastal areas 

south of the Salinas Basin, and in Owens Valley on the east side of the 

Sierra Nevada. Consequently, streams in those localities did not reach 

excessive stages.

South of the Kaweah River the intensity of the storm was much less, 

and the peak discharges did not equal those of February 1937. The discharge of the Kaweah and Kings Rivers and tributaries far exceeded previous long-period records. Excessive and record-breaking run-off rates 

were recorded in the foothill and mountain areas in the San Joaquin, 

Merced, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, and Mokelumne Basins but, because of 

available storage in Lake McClure, Hetch Hetchy, Don Pedro, Melones, 

Salt Springs, Pardee, and other, but smaller, reservoirs there was no 

heavy run-off along the lower reaches of these streams.
GENERAL FEATUKES OF THE FLOODS 

22°...

Figure 2. Map showing the principal river systems and cities mentioned in text.
8 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Prom the headwaters of the Sacramento downstream to and including 

the Feather River Basin major flood conditions prevailed. On the 

Sacramento River near Red Bluff the stage was 1.3 feet above that recorded in 1909, but owing to changes in the channel the discharge was 

only slightly greater than the revised maximum for that year.

On the Feather River near Oroville the discharge equalled the revised maximum for 1928, but was less than the revised discharge for the 

record year 1907.

Along the coast from San Francisco Bay to Oregon many new maxima 

were established, but the length of record at these stations is relatively short. The storm was particularly heavy in the Russian River 

Basin and in the upper part of Putah Creek Basin.

The damage resulting from the flood of December 1937 has been estimated at nearly $15,000,000. The principal items were about $4,500,000 

in damage to roads, bridges, and streets; $3,500,000 classed as agricultural; $2,500,000 for river protection works and debris removal; and 

$1,000,000 for public utilities. The damage reported for Butte County 

was more than $2,000,000; the next highest were for Sonoma and Tehama 

Counties, each with damages exceeding $1,000,000. Most of the main 

highways were made passable in three- or four days after the storm, but 

in some areas normal traffic was not restored for a week or more. There 

was heavy damage to Donner Highway, which was opened to normal traffic 

December 20; Walker Canyon Highway, south of Coleville, was opened 

January 3, 1938; and Feather River Highway was opened January 16, 1938. 

(See pi. 1.) The All-year Yosemite Highway, in Merced Canyon, was reopened December 30, 1937, on a one-way schedule which was continued 

through 1938. The Yosemite Valley Railroad grade, on the opposite side 

of the canyon, was also severely damaged. (See pi. 2.)

In the coastal valleys and in parts of the Great Central Valley 

many farms and orchards were damaged. (See pi. 3.) The rains and 

inundation of the land so saturated the soil that the heavy winds 

that followed the storm uprooted the trees.

In San Joaquin Valley the damage was largely limited to the foothill and mountain areas and to the lower lands along the Kings, Kaweah, 

and San Joaquin Rivers where large areas of farm lands were flooded. 

About 15,000 acres in Centerville Bottoms, on the Kings River at the 

edge of the foothills below Piedra, and 30,000 acres in Burris Park, 

Laton, and Lemoore areas were inundated. The "Bottoms" acted as a 

reservoir until the crest of the flood had passed, and then the water
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 843 PLATE 1

A. ROCK SLIDE ON FEATHER RIVER HIGHWAY AT BUTTE-PLUMAS COUNTY LINE. 

Courtesy of Division of Highways, State of California.

B. WASHOUT ON MAIN STREET, CHESTER, CALIF.

Caused by overflow from North Fork of Feather River. Courtesy of Division of Highways, State of

California.

FLOOD DAMAGE IN FEATHER RIVER BASIN.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 843 PLATE 2

A. YOSEMITE VALLEY RAILWAY IN FOREGROUND AND HIGHWAY TO YOSEMITE VALLEY

ON OPPOSITE BANK.

Courtesy of Division of Highways, State of California.

B. YOSEMITE VALLEY RAILWAY AT RIGHT AND HIGHWAY TO YOSEMITE VALLEY AT

LEFT.

' Courtesy of Division of Highways, State of California.

MERCED RIVER UPSTREAM FROM BRICEBURG DURING FLOOD OF 1937.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 843 PLATE 3

A. FLOODED FARM NORTH OF MARYSVILLE. 

Overflow from Feather River, December 12, 1937. Courtesy of the Sacramento Bee.

 k 4..- fcw-^B^

B. FLOODED ORCHARD NEAR ANDERSON. 

New channel cut by Battle Creek. Courtesy of Department of Public Works, State of California.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 843 PLATE 4

A. LOOKING UP NORTH FORK OF YUBA RIVER TO JUNCTION WITH THE NORTH FORK OF

NORTH FORK. 

Courtesy of United States Forest Service.

B. LOOKING DOWN NORTH FORK OF NORTH FORK OF YUBA RIVER TO WRECKED BRIDGE

AND DEBRIS.

Courtesy of United States Forest Service.

DESTRUCTION BY FLOOD ON NORTH FORK OF YUBA RIVER AT
GENERAL FEATURES OP THE FLOODS 9

drained back into the Kings River and thus increased the flow in the 

lower reaches.

The discharge of the Merced River at Pohono Bridge near Yosemite 

was nearly four times the previous maximum recorded in 1922, and about 

one-half of the valley floor in Yosemite Valley was flooded.

From Alturas, on the upper Pit River, to Visalia in the Tulare 

Lake Basin several towns and cities suffered severe damage from overflow, and large areas of agricultural land were covered by flood water. 

At Chester the streets were flooded and seriously eroded, owing to 

debris jams that diverted water from the North Fork of the Feather 

River. (See pi.1, B.)

At the historic town of Downieville, at the junction of the North 

Fork of the North Fork of the Yuba River with the North Fork, there was 

severe damage to both the community and the highway. (See pi. 4.) Many 

homes and business buildings were wrecked or moved from their foundations, but fortunately there was no loss of life. The loss of bridges 

and damage to highways greatly hampered and delayed relief parties that 

were bringing supplies to Downieville, and retarded the rehabilitation 

of public utility services.

In the upper Sacramento Valley, mile after mile of highway was 

inundated, motor vehicles were trapped, and entire towns were isolated. 

(See pi. 5.) Of the 70 miles of State Highway between Gridley and Red 

Bluff, 45 miles were under water. Sacramento River overflowed its banks 

below Red Bluff and flooded the towns of Gerber and Tehama and lands in 

Tehama and Butte Counties. (See pi. 6.)

The 48 gates of Sacramento weir, just above the mouth of the 

American River, were opened about 5 p.m. December 11. (See pi. 7, A.) 

The discharge of the flood waters at this point into Yolo By-pass 

materially reduced the flood height at Sacramento. The situation did 

not become serious in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, outside the Yolo 

By-pass district, for the San Joaquin River was at relatively low stage 

owing to storage on the lower tributaries.

The Sacramento levee system, built to protect the city and agricultural land from floods, was overtaxed and failed at several points, 

(see pi. 7, 13) allowing the flood waters to spread over many thousand 

acres of agricultural land in Glenn and Colusa Counties. (See fig. 3 

and pi. 9, _A.) From Knights Landing south the levee system held.

The Feather River broke through the levee at Hamilton Bend, below 

Oroville, and sent a large flow west across developed farm land into
THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

EXPLANATION

Flooded area 

 H Break in tavae

0 5 10 15 ZD Miles 

 Dixi

Figure 3.--Map showing areas flooded In the lower Sacramento River Basin, 

December 11-14, 1937.
GENERAL FEATURES OP THE FLOODS 11

Butte Basin, north of Marysville Buttes, flooding settled areas including the city of Biggs. (See pi. 8.) There were also serious breaks 

north and south of Marysville that inundated a large acreage of diversified ranch land.

Serious damage occurred in the smaller basins along and adjacent to 

the coast south and north of San Francisco Bay. Gilroy was flooded by 

water from Uvas Creek (see pi. 9, B) and the southern part of Watsonville 

by the overflow from the Pajaro River. The Russian River made practically a clean sweep of the resort areas and flooded part of Healdsburg 

and fertile farm lands in the vicinity. (See pi. 10.) The damage in 

Mendocino County was chiefly to roads and bridges, and in Lake and 

Humboldt Counties to agricultural developments.

High water at or near river-measurement stations is shown in plates 

11 and 12. The latter shows the Kaweah River station at low stage 

(pi. 12, A) and at a high-stage (pi. 12, B) immediately preceding the 

peak of December 11, 1937.

The momentary peak discharge in December 1937 was the maximum for 

the period of record, to December 31, 1937, at the following rivermeasurement stations:

Pajaro River Basin. Uvas Creek near Morgan Hill.

Tulare Lake Basin. Kaweah River near Three Rivers; North Fork of 

Kaweah River at Kaweah; Kings River above North Fork; Kings River at 

Piedra; North Fork of Kings River near Cliff Camp; North Fork of Kings 

River below Rancheria Creek; Los Gatos Creek near Coalinga.

San Joaquin River Basin. San Joaquin River above Big Creek; San 

Joaquin River below Kerckhoff power house; San Joaquin River near Friant; 

Pitman Creek below Tamarack Creek.

Merced River Basin.--Merced River at Happy Isles Bridge, near 

Yosemite; Merced River at Pohono Bridge, near Yosemite; Merced River at 

Kittridge; Tenaya Creek near Yosemite.

Tuolumne River Basin. Tuolumne River near Hetch Hetchy; Falls 

Creek near Hetch Hetchy; Cherry Creek near Hetch Hetchy; Eleanor Creek 

near Hetch Hetchy; South Fork of Tuolumne River near Oakland Recreation 

Camp; Middle Tuolumne River near Buck Meadows.

Stanislaus River Basin. Middle Fork of Stanislaus River at Sand 

Bar Flat, near Avery; North Fork of Stanislaus River near Avery.

Mokelumne River Basin. North Fork of Mokelumne River below Salt 

Springs Dam; Cold Creek near Mokelumne Peak; Bear River at Pardoe Camp.
12 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Sacramento River Basin.--Sacramento River at Kennett; Sacramento 

River near Red Bluff; Sacramento River at Verona.

Pit River Basin.--Pit River at Fall River Mills; Pit River below 

Pit No. 4 dam; Pit River at Big Bend; Pit River near Ydalpom; Hat Creek 

near Hat Creek; McCloud River near McCloud; McCloud River at Baird.

Mill Greek Basin. Mill Creek near Los Molinos.

Elder Creek Basin.--Elder Creek near Henleyville.

Deer Greek Basin.--Deer Creek near Vina.

Chico Creek Basin. Chico Creek near Chico.

Stony Creek Basin.--Butte Creek near Chico.

Feather River Basin. Spanish Creek at Keddie; Grizzly Creek near 

Storrie; West Branch of Feather River near Yankee Hill; South Fork of 

Feather River at Enterprise; Lost Creek near Clipper Mills; Middle Fork 

of Yuba River at Milton; North Fork of Yuba River near Sierra City; 

North Fork of Yuba River below Goodyears Bar; Canyon Creek below Bowman 

Lake; Deer Creek near Smartville.

American River Basin.--North Fork of American River at Rattlesnake 

Bridge; South Fork of American River near Kyburz; South Fork of American 

River near Camino; South Fork of American River at Coloma; Silver Lake 

outlet near Kirkwood; Silver Fork of South Fork of American River near 

Kyburz; Twin Lakes outlet near Kirkwood; Silver Creek at Union Valley; 

Silver Creek near Placerville; South Fork of Silver Creek near Ice House.

Cache Creek Basin. North Fork of Cache Creek near Lower Lake.

Eel River Basin. Eel River at Hullville.

Klamath River Basin. Klamath River at Somesbar; Shasta River near 

Yreka; Salmon River at Somesbar; Trinity River at Lewiston; Trinity 

River near Burnt Ranch; Trinity River near Hoopa.

Smith River Basin.--Smith River near Crescent City.

Owens Lake Basin.--Owens River near Round Valley.

Walker Lake Basin. West Walker River near Coleville.

Humboldt-Garson Sink Basin. East Fork of Carson River near 

Markleeville; Markleeville Creek at Markleeville; West Fork of Carson 

River at Woodfords.

Pyramid and Winnemucca Lakes Basin.--Truckee River at Iceland; 

Donner Creek near Truckee; Little Truckee River near Boca.

The drainage basins of the various streams seriously affected by 

the storm and resulting floods are shown In figures 4 to 12.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 843 PLATE 5

A. HIGHWAY FLOODED BY SACRAMENTO RIVER.

View on WillianiB-Colusa highway 6l/z miles east of Williams, December 14, 1937. Courtesy of United

States Forest Service.

B. DAMAGED HIGHWAY BRIDGE ON BEAR CREEK SOUTH OF LOS MOLINOS. 

Courtesy of Division of Highways, State of California.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 843 PLATE 6

A. SUBMERGED BUILDINGS NEAR TOWN.

B. RIGHT-OF-WAY OF SOUTHERN PACIFIC LINES SOUTH OF TOWN.

SACRAMENTO RIVER OVERFLOW NEAR GERBER.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 843 PLATE 7

A. SACRAMENTO RIVER (IN FOREGROUND) DISCHARGING THROUGH WEIR INTO YOLO

BYPASS.

Courtesy of the Sacramento Bee.

B. ONE OF MANY BREAKS IN RIVER LEVEE.

Courtesy of the Sacramento Union.

FLOOD SCENES ON SACRAMENTO RIVER, DECEMBER 12, 1937.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 843 PLATE 8

A. FLOODWATERS OF FEATHER RIVER IN TOWN OF BIGGS. 

Courtesy of the Sacramento Bee.

B. LOOKING WEST FROM BIGGS OVER BUTTE BASIN. 

Courtesy of the Sacramento Bee.

FLOODED AREAS IN BUTTE BASIN IN VICINITY OF BIGGS.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 813 PLATE 9

A. INUNDATED FARM LANDS IN SACRAMENTO VALLEY, DECEMBER 12, 1937. 

Area north of Colusa, flooded by Sacramento River. Courtesy of the Sacramento Union.

B. TOWN OF GILROY FLOODED BY WATER FROM UVAS CREEK.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 843 PLATE 10

A. INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT IN NORTH SECTION OF HEALDSBURG.

B. HOME NEAR FITCH MOUNTAIN, EAST OF HEALDSBURG.

FLOODED AREAS ALONG RUSSIAN RIVER IN VICINITY OF HEALDSBURG, PECEMBER 11, 1937.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 843 PLATE 11

A. LOOKING LP KINGS RIVER AT HIGHWAY BRIDGE AT PIEDRA.

B. CABLEWAY AT RIVER-MEASUREMENT STATION ON SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BELOW

FRIANT.

Stage about half a foot below peak.

FLOOD SCENES IN SAW JOAQUIN VALLEY, DECEMBER 11, 1937.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 843 PLATE 12

A. LOW-WATER STAGE PRIOR TO FLOOD OF DECEMBER 1937.

B. FLOOD STAGE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING PEAK. 

Courtesy of H. H. Holley.

RIVER-MEASUREMENT STATION ON KAWEAH RIVER NEAR THREE

RIVERS.
GENERAL FEATURES OF THE FLOODS

Figure 4. Drainage basins of the Salinas River, coastal streams from San Luis » 

Obispo Creek to San Francisco Bay, and streams tributary 

to San Francisco Bay from the south.
THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

^_4£Mt Whitney

14,495 feet

Figure 5. Drainage basins of Buena Vista Lake and Tulare Lake.
GENERAL FEATURES OF THE FLOODS
THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
GENERAL FEATURES OF THE FLOODS

0_____10 20 3O 40 Miles

Figure 8. Drainage baa In of the Sacramento River, except the Pit, 

Feather, and American Rivers.
THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

4Z°- 

9_____10 20 30 40 Miles

Figure 9. Drainage basins of the Pit, Feather, American, and Truckee Rivers.
GENERAL FEATURES OP THE FLOODS 19

Figure 10. Drainage basins of the Mad and Eel Rivers, streams tributary

to San Francisco Bay from the north, and coastal streams between

San Francisco Bay and Mad River.
THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

/v.
GENERAL FEATURES OF THE FLOODS

10 0 10 20 30 40 Milts

Figure 12. Drainage basins from the Carson River to Owens Lake, Inclusive, 

along the western boundary of the Great Basin.
22 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

METEOROLOGIC AND HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS

The outstanding characteristics of the storm of December 1937 were 

the speed with which it swept across the northern part of California, the 

relatively small amount of rainfall on the floor of the Great Central 

Valley, and the excessive amount of rainfall and abnormally high temperature at high altitudes. The storm was notable also for the time of its 

occurence, and for causing, during early winters, the largest floods in 

the Sacramento River Basin since 1861-62 and in the San Joaquin since 1867.

In view of these unusual aspects, special effort has been made to 

collect and to compile in this report all available basic information relating to meteorologic conditions that may have had a bearing on the 

characteristics of the floods. The information is analyzed to a moderate extent, and the effects of meteorologic conditions on the run-off 

are discussed.

In connection with the discussion, however, it should be recognized 

that in most of the major and minor drainage basins in California there 

are pronounced and abrupt changes in altitude and in topographic aspect, 

which have a marked effect on the amount of precipitation and on its 

occurrence as rain or snow in different parts of the basin. These factors hamper the translation of limited observations into values that are 

representative of conditions over entire drainage basins. Although thefse 

factors exist in most drainage basins, they are more pronounced in the 

Western States than in the Central and Eastern States, and they are 

probably more pronounced in California than in Mountain States to the 

east, because of its proximity to the Pacific Ocean and the varying ways 

in which the Coast Ranges affect the moisture-laden winds from that 

ocean. A density of precipitation stations, which might be quite adequate for a study of flood characteristics in an area where meteorologic 

and topographic features are more uniform, may therefore be inadequate 

for most basins in California.

Briefly, the unusual meteorologic conditions that affected the 

floods of December 1937 were as follows: Preceding and during the 

48-hour storm there were abnormally high temperatures that caused the 

precipitation in headwater areas to take the form of heavy warm rain instead of the snow that is usual with the normal December temperatures; 

there was a deficiency or a complete absence of snow cover in headwater 

areas where temperatures are normally such that snow melts but slowly 

even during periods of rain; and in the northern part of the area there 

was an excess of antecedent rainfall, which probably was reflected in an
METEOROLOGIC AND HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS 23

increased run-off by reason of a decreased infiltration capacity during 

the storm period.

The meteorologic and related data are here presented in detail, 

with a view to their usefulness to engineers and others who are studying 

the causes of floods and the measures that may be taken for protection 

against them.

Antecedent conditions

During October 1937 there was a tendency for the precipitation to 

be deficient in the San Joaquin River Basin and excessive in the Sacramento River Basin. However, departures from normal were small as compared with those of November 1937, when deficiencies in precipitation 

were recorded at practically all of the stations in the San Joaquin 

River Basin and excesses at all stations in the Sacramento River Basin.

In the northern areas, rains were more or less continuous from 

November 11 to November 24, and the resulting run-off brought record 

November flood stages in many parts of the Sacramento River Basin. The 

mean discharge during November for the Sacramento River near Red Bluff 

was the third highest ever recorded for that month, and was more than 

two and a half times the 42-year average. The rainfall and run-off records in several basins in the northern part of the area indicate that an 

average depth of 10 to 12 inches of water was retained in the basins 

during the November storm period by means of infiltration and surface 

and ground storage. This probably aggravated the December flood conditions in the Sacramento River Basin.

In contrast, the December flood run-off in the San Joaquin River 

Basin and southern Coast Ranges area was probably less than it would 

have been had the November precipitation been normal or excessive. Over 

much of the San Joaquin Basin the November precipitation was only onefourth to one-half of the normal. Mean discharge of the Kings River at 

Piedra, for November, was about half the 43-year average for that month.

A discussion of the meteorologic and hydrologic conditions during 

maximum floods of record as compared with the conditions during the 

flood of December 1937 is found in another part of this report. Comparisons taken up as a part of the discussion of each basin show qualitatively the very important part that antecedent precipitation plays in 

the flood run-off in California.
24 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Precipitation

All available records of precipitation for the period from December 

9 to 13 inclusive, which embraced the storm primarily causing the floods, 

are published in this report. (See table 1.) In addition, records are 

included for 14 places where recording precipitation records are available, showing duration and intensity of the rainfall. (See table 2.) 

The records of daily precipitation in table 1 are grouped by major 

basins covering the area in California where the storm reached significant magnitude.

Unfortunately, there were no recording precipitation stations in 

areas where the total storm precipitation was the heaviest. The duration of the storm period was probably nearly the same at all points in 

the area. The maximum recorded intensity was about one inch per hour at 

an experimental area maintained by United States Forest Service near 

O'Neals. The intensity, at least near the outstanding storm centers, was 

probably greater than any shown by the recording precipitation graphs.

About half of the records of precipitation were obtained from the 

Weather Bureau, and the other half from numerous sources indicated 

in the tables. These additional records have been of great value in 

supplementing the Weather Bureau data. Many supplemental records are 

based on observations in 3-inch gages maintained by ranchers, irrigationiats, and others who have a vital interest in rainfall. In using the 

observations, essentially the same weight has been given to each record 

regardless of its source and but few records have been discarded. In 

the valley areas, where the precipitation was relatively low and conditions were more or less uniform, less attempt was made to collect 

precipitation data than in headwater areas where the precipitation was 

heaviest and where at best there was, and still is, a scarcity of observational data. Such areas were fairly well canvassed to locate available records. In the valley areas, many more precipitation records 

could probably be located.

The figures in table 1 represent the amounts of precipitation as 

reported by observers and are not strictly comparable on individual 

days, because the observations at the various stations are not always 

made simultaneously. The amount recorded for a given day in most cases 

represents the rainfall for the 24-hour period preceding the time of 

observation. Rain falling during the daylight hours may be recorded under the date of fall when observations are made in the late afternoon or 

under the date of the next day when readings are made in the morning.
PRECIPITATION 25

I/ 

General features

On December 7, 1937, when the barometric pressures were relatively 

high in California and in the Pacific northwest, storm disturbances with 

accompanying low barometric observations were reported by ships in the 

Pacific in the vicinity of lat. 30° north, long. 140° west, and in lat. 

50° north, long. 165° west. By Wednesday morning, December 8, when 

these disturbances were more defined, southwest winds accompanied by 

rains were forecast by the Weather Bureau for California. On the morning of December 9, when the disturbance was about 900 miles off the 

coast, storm warnings of gale intensity were being displayed between 

Cape Blanco and Point Conception, and the Sacramento office of the 

Weather Bureau forecast a general rise in all streams in the Sacramento 

river basin. By noon it was raining throughout the western half of the 

State, and by evening over all of the State north of Bakersfield.

The weather map of the next morning (December 10) showed the storm 

to be of record magnitude and almost of hurricane intensity (barometer, 

28.1 inches at its center) off the coast of Washington and Oregon, and 

the Weather Bureau issued additional flood warnings by means of the 

press, radio, and telegraph throughout the Central Valley. During the 

day the maritime tropical air at a record-breaking high temperature for 

December was flowing rapidly across California at gale velocity and converging against the Coast Range and the Sierra Nevada. The cooling of 

this moisture-laden air produced the heavy precipitation forecast for 

December 10. The precipitation continued with little interruption until 

late afternoon on December 11, and there were occasional showers on 

December 12. In the northern part of the State, the rain was nearly 

continuous. In the southern part of the area, there was a tendency for 

the precipitation to be concentrated in two storm periods, apparently 

of about equal intensity and depth.

Bennett Swenson of the River and Flood Division, the Weather 

Bureau, Washington, D. C. describes the storm in part as follows:

The heavy rains of December 9-11, 1937, resulting in floods in the 

Sacramento River Basin, were almost entirely due to orographic effects 

and any fronts which passed over the region during this period played 

a very minor part in the causation of this precipitation. The situation was such that very strong southwesterly winds prevailed over northern and central California from the 9th to the llth importing warm moist 

air from the ocean areas. This moisture laden air was forced to rise 

rapidly over the steep slopes of the mountains forming the eastern and 

northern boundaries of the Sacramento River Basin and resulted in excessive precipitation.

I/ Also see report by Fletcher, E. H., Floods in the Sacramento 

Valley, Calif., December 1937: Monthly Weather Rev., vol. 65, no. 12, 

pp. 441-444, December 1937.
THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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t-5 r-3 .-3 at at
Parkfield (near)

Paso RobleS a/

Pigeon Point lighthouse $J

Pilaroitos a/

Pinnacles

Priest Valley a/

Rancho San Lucas a/

Salinas

San Antonio School a/

San Juan Bautista a/

San Luis Obispo a/

San Lucas &/

Santa Cruz

Santa Margarita a/

Saratoga Summit oj

Shandon pumping station a/

Soledad £/

Soquel

Spence a/

Spreckels a/

Uvas Creek a/

Watsonville Junction a/

35°54'

35°38'

37°11'

37°33'

36°31«

36°12'

36°03«

36°40«

35°58'

36°51'

35°17«

36°08'

36°58'

35°24«

37°15«

35°41«

36°26«

37°00'

36°37«

36°37'

37°04'

36°54«

120°21»

120°43»

123°24'

122°25»

121°08'

130°42'

121°00'

121°39»

1310Q5'

121°32«

120°40*

121°01«

122°02'

120°36»

122°07»

120°21'

121°20'

121°57»

121°34'

121°38'

121°42'

121°45»

1,700

1,019

50

650

1,389

2,400

700

45

1,100

210

300

420

125

980

2,600

1,050

189

80

80

48

430

29

.84

_

2.57

.04

.64

_

b

.55

_

.03

.01

_

2.56

.

-

.71

_

1.46

_

.04

_

-

.68

2.56

1.87

3.90

.42

1.62

b

1.48

2.55

2.95

3.63

1.22

3.55

2.26

7.43

.06

.56

3.59

_

1.64

7.49

4.82

2.08

3.59

1.12

2.53

2.04

2.00

b

1.45

2.59

2.72

1.66

.86

2.76

2.05

8.23

1.27

.54

2.83

.78

1.09

7.99

2.01

.08

1.18

.22

1.24

.41

1.41

b

.50

-

.80

1.93

.46

.32

4.30

2.86

_

.42

.29

_

.43

.72

.15

_

_

_

-

?r.

.06

4.01

-

-

-

.05

.10

-

-

-

_

_

_

.70

.20

.15

.35

3.68

7.33

5.78

7.71

3.51

5.09

4.01

3.98

5.14

6.50

7.28

2.64

9.19

8.61

18.52

2.04

1.52

8.17

1.48

3.40

16.34

7.33

Minor basins tributary to Suisun. San Pablo. and San Francisc

Alroaden Reservoir a/

Alvarado (near) ,§/

Berkeley

Calaveras Dam a/

Campbell

Chabot Observatory

Ohabot Eeservoir a/

Coyote Reservoir

Crockett

Crystal Springs Cottage a/

37°10'

37°34«

37°52'

37°29«

37°17«

37°47«

37°44'

37°07»

38°03'

37°29«

121°50»

122°07«

122°16«

121°50'

121°57«

122°14«

122°07 f

121°33«

122°13»

122°20'

520

3

299

600

195

322

235

790

12

250

0.05

1.71

_

.18

.72

.03

_

.84

-

4.93

1.36

1.85

1.93

1.60

2.54

2.85

2.93

1.42

1.93

8.54

.84

.68

1.69

2.02

.75

1.15

4.50

.14

1.78

0.71

.61

.43

.99

.46

.32

.45

.28

1.38

.74

_

_

0.02

-

_

_

.10

-

-

14.18

2.86

4.67

4.63

4.26

4.33

4.48

7.81

3.78

4.45

a Measured in the morning. b Included in next measurement. c 
Table 1»- Precipitation, in inches, December 1937 Con

(Measured in the afternoon except as noted)

Station Latitude Longitude

Altitude 

(feet)

Date

9 10 11 12 13

Total 

for 

storm

Minor basins tributary to Suisun. San Pablo. and San Francisco Ba

Cupertino

Guadalupe Reservoir a/

Howell Reservoir &/

Kentfield

Lafayette a/

Lake Curry £/

Lake Ranch Reservoir a/

Liok Observatory

Livermore

Los Altos No* 1

Los Altos Ko. Z

Los Gates a/

Los Gat os Reservoir &/

Lower Crystal Springs a/

Uadera Colorado Reservoir a/

MoClay Ranch £/

Milpitas a/

Mountain View

Mapa

Niles a/

Oakland Airport .d/

Palo Alto

Petaluma

Pleasanton pumps &/

Pueblo Reservoir &/

Rancho Yerba Buena a./

Redwood City

St. Helena

St. Helena Pass

San Francisco Airport $J

37°19»

37°12'

37011'

37057.

37°53«

38°21«

37°13'

37° 20'

37°41'

37° 22*

37°21 '

37°14'

37°13«

37°32«

37°12«

37°20'

37°26'

37°24»

38°18«

37°35'

37°47«

370271

38°14'

37°39'

37°16«

37°18«

37°29'

38°30'

38°39«

37°37'

122°02»

121°53»

122°01*

122°33 f

122°07»

122°08'

122°03'

121°39«

121°46«

122°06»

122°06 

121°59'

121°59'

122°22«

121°59»

121°47'

121°52'

122°05»

122°17«

121°58 f

122°17'

122°09f .

122°38'

121°53'

121 °57*

121°45'

122014 1

122028'

122°36'

122°23'

215

530

1,350

65

470

400

1,850

4,209

460

225

275

500

550

300

710

235

180

75

60

100

3

57

10

360

225

650

31

255

2,900

1

0.16

_

.09

1.93

.03

.04

.05

.17

.41

.24

b

_

.10

.02

-

_

.13

.65

-

.54

Tr.

.68

_

-

_

.23

.85

2.00

Tr.

1.67

4.46

6.20

8.04

3.67

3.45

6.40

2.87

1.38

b

b

3.66

5.09

2.27

6.00

1.33

.96

1.22

2.02

1.61

.59

1.78

1.63

2.10

1.55

1.31

2.00

4.42

5.00

1.85

2.42

6.05

6.40

2.15

3.08

2.26

5.35

3.57

1.78

3.75

b

4.54

6.04

1.87

5.95

2.00

1.17

1.44

1.15

.66

.26

1.15

.90

1.10

1.63

1.98

1.42

2.13

4.50

1.50

0.25

.25

1.43

.48

.83

.87

1.69

.82

.77

.31

5.50

.77

.78

.68

1.31

.67

.72

.36

.93

1.14

.32

.53

.78

.91

0.64

.43

.30

.46

1.60

.40

0.03

.19

.07

.31

4.50

10.76

14.12

12.60

7.61

6.62

13.49

7.43

4.34

4.30

5.50

9.00

12.01

4.84

13.26

4.19

2.85

3.15

4.75

3.48

1.71

3.46

3.99

4.11

3.82

3.72

3.95

7.86

13.10

4.06
San Franoisoo £/

San Andreas Reservoir .a/

San Jose £/

San Mateo

San Patolo a/

San Patio Reservoir §J

San Rafael a/

San Tomas s7

Santa Clara

Saratoga Reservoir a/

Seven-mile Reservoir &/

Stevens Reservoir a/

Sunnyvale

Sunol a/

Upper Crystal Springs &/

37047'

37035*

37° 20'

37°34'

37°57 f

37057 1

37058 1

37°16'

37021'

37015'

37°15 '

37° 18'

37023'

37°36'

37°31'

37°46'

37°54'

37°07'

37018'

37008'

1220 25 

122° 25'

121054'

122019'

122021'

122016'

122°31 '

1220QO'

121057'

1220Q3 1

121057'

1220Q5'

122002'

121053'

122021'

122°05'

1220Q4'

121054'

121054'

121057'

52

450

95

22

25

330

5

325

90

675

320

550

97

230

300

475

149

1,250

150

1,600

1.21

.08

.34

.39

Tr.

.02

.27

_

.11

-

_

_

.15

.04

-

.01

_

_

_

1.10

1.03

2.67

1.26

1.38

2.00

3.76

4.90

3.00

1.18

5.35

2.31

2.90

1.19

1.75

2.30

3.51

2.68

7.75

1.26

7.70

.54

2.40

.75

1.13

1.16

1.62

1.55

3.63

1.84

6.05

3.69

3.85

1.54

.96

1.80

1.70

2.17

8.60

1.58

6.65

.22

.68

.14

.66

.60

.85

_

.55

.22

1.37

.34

1.30

.27

1.76

.83

.41

.94

1.10

.39

.35

_

_

_

-

-

_

1.01

_

_

-

_

_

-

-

-

_

-

-

_

-

3.0

5.8

2.4

3.5

3.7

6.2

7.7

7.1

3.3

12.7

6.3

8.0

3.1

4.5

4.9

5.6

5.7

17.4

3.2

15.8

Buena Tlsta Lake Basin

Bakersfield a/ 

Bakersfield (near) a/ 

Borel power house 

Johnsondale sj 

Kern Canyon power house

Kernville a/

Kern No. 1 power house

Kern No. 3 power house

Maricopa

Pattiway

Tejon ranch

a Measured in the morning.

35022'

35025'

35035'

35058

35026*

35044*

35028*

35046*

35004

34056'

35°02*

119001'

119000'

118031'

118031'

118048'

118022'

118047'

118026'

119024'

119023'

118°45*

404

460

2,280

4,545

700

2,565

960

2,700

640

3,790

1,425

0.06

.17

.31

6.38

.07

3.13

.06

.58

.03

Tr.

-

0.12

Tr.

1.98

.20

.12

Tr.

.32

2.96

_

Tr.

-

0.46

.52

.73

2.88

.52

.98

.61

1.03

.36

.86

.70

0.11

.01

.65

.10

.12

_

.47

.20

.02

.20

.55

Tr.

-

0.03

_

-

_

.02

-

-

.08

.43

0.7

.7

3.7

9.5

.8

4.1

1.4

4.7

.4

1.1

1.6

Included in next measurement. o Time of measurement n
Table 1.- Precipitation, in inches, December 1937 C

(Measured in the afternoon except as noted)

Station Latitude Longitude

Altitude 

(feet)

Date

9 | 10 11 12 13

Tot

fo

sto

Tulare Lake Basin

Angiola .a/

Antelope Valley a/

Ash Mountain

Baloh power house

Bitterwater £/

California Hot Springs

Cliff Camp

Corcoran $J

Dinuba

Dudley a/

Dunlap

General Grant National Park

Giant Forest

Qlemville (near) sj

Ranford $J

Kaweah No. 1 power house

Kaweah No. 3 power house

Kettleman sj

Lemon Cove

Lindsay sj

Middlewater

Orange Cove £/

Piedra $J

Pinehnrst ranger station .a/

Porterrille $J

Rector substation

Springville (near)

Springville ranger station sj

Three Rivers

Tr* "3r Experimant station */

35°59'

35°43'

36°29'

36°55»

35°35»

35°53 f

37° 00'

36°06»

36°33«

35°49»

36°44'

36°44»

36°34«

35°42«

36°19'

t

36° 28'

36°29»

36°00«

36°23«

36°13»

35°33»

36°36«

36°48*

36°42'

36° 04'

36ol9'

36°13'

36°08»

36°27«

3S°55'

119°29'

120°10»

118°50»

119°06«

120°09«

118°41«

119°00«

119°33 f

119° 23'

120°03'

119° 07 »

118°58 '

118°46'

118°44f

119°40«

118°51'

118°50'

119°58'

119°01'

119°06'

119°52'

119°18'

119°22'

119°01'

119° 00'

119°15'

11S°40'

118°48'

118°54'

119°16«

208

1,305

1.600

1,750

1,900

3,068

6,150

200

333

595

1,945

6,775

6,360

3,300

249

1,140

1,370

310

600

384

803

431

510

4,000

464

350

4,050

1,000

840

1,9-50

e

-.

0.71

.24

-

_

.60

-

1.38

Tr.

.35

.56

.37

1.18

.01

.10

.IS

Tr.

1.07

-

_

1.55

_

_

-

.38

.52

_

.70

3.^5

0.08

.78

5.75

5.53

.59

3.40

6.09

.51

.09

.53

5.77

7.10

8.26

2.12

.89

5.76

6.40

.34

1.30

1.33

.29

.57

2.50

6.72

1.10

1.13

8.08

2.50

3.80

.77

0.78

.03

3.06

4.00

-

2.24

3.96

.11

1.08

Tr.

2.55

5.68

5.45

.18

.07

2.59

3.25

Tr.

1.35

.05

_

.76

.45

3.90.

.05

1.90

3.70

2.31

2.20

7. 70

1.52

1.35

.50

1.36

.65

1.54

_

.01

.63

.62

1.76

2.20

_

.88

.76

1.22

.24

.31

1.44

.87

_

2.25

1.16

1.25

.35

2.35

.01

.32

.f>3

^

-

0.06

Tr.

-

-98

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1

2

10

10

1

7

12

2

1

9

15

16

3

1

9

11

4

2

1

2

5

11

2

3

14

4

7

\3
PRECIPITATION 31

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Tu Vi
Table 1.- Precipitation, in inches, December 19

(measured in the afternoon except as noted)

Station Latitude Longitude

Altitude 

(feet )

Date

, | » 11 12 I 13

To

f

st

San Joaouin Biver Basin Continued

Minor basins west of

San Joaquin Biver below

Firebaugh, Calif.

Antloch

Los Banos a/

Lcs Banos Valley &/

Los Medanos a/

Mercy Hot Springs

Newnan

Tracy a/

Tracy (near) a/

Sacramento Biver Basin

except Pit, Feather, and

American Biver Basins

Aetna Springs £/

Brooks

Cellier Place 

Centerville power house

Chioo a/ 

Clarksburg 

Clear Lake (near) 

Cobb a/ 

Colusa s/

Corning &/ 

Davis 

Delta d/ 

De Sabla 

Dunsrauir d/

38°00'

37°04«

36°58'

38°00 f

36°45'

37°19'

37°44»

37°46«

121°46'

120°50'

121° 01*

121°51«

120°52'

121° 02 

121°25'

121°29'

46

120

600

133

1,200

91

64

39

0.55

_

_

1.01

1.05

1.21

1.13

.02

0.65

1.23

1.30

.64

1.00

.92

.55

1.25

0.63

.45

.92

.52

.50

.32

_

.57

0.92

.45

.27

.21

?r.

.01

1.00

.37

0.19

_

_

-

_

_

.41

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

Sacramento Biver Basin

38°39 f

40°20«

38°46'

38°48'

390471

39°42'

38°25«

38°57'

38° 49'

39°13«

39°56»

38°32'

40°57*

39°§2 f

41° 13'

122°29«

123°00'

122°08«

122°42'

121°40'

121° 49'

121°32'

122°38»

122°43'

122°00'

122° 11'

121°44'

122°26«

121°35»

122°16 '

800

1,291

350

2,100

490

189

14

1,350

2,600

60

277

51

1,140

2,700

2,290

0.04

.67

6.88

1.40

.79

1.83

.67

.15

-

.01

.20

2.44

.75

-

5.74

3.09

1.83

12.27

3.20

2.58

1.35

3.87

5.81

1.12

1.68

2.01

5.48

6.66

1.95

4.46

2.12

1.25

1.25

4.40

2.00

.40

2.17

13.65

2.50

3.49

1.53

2.08

5.99

5.06

0.38

.15

.05

_

-

_

_

.16

.75

.05

.19

.07

.01

.02

1.62

?r.

_

_

-

_

_

_

_

-

_

_

_

_

-

10

5

3

20

' 9

5

3

6

20

3

5

3

10

13

8
East Park Reservoir 

Guenoo Ranch. &/ 

Hamilton City £/ 

Harbin Springs &/ 

Hobergs jji/

Kelseyville $/

Rennett §J

Kilaro

Knights Landing ,a/

Lakeport &/

Middletown 

Mineral 

Monticellc sj 

Montioello (near) sj 

Mount Shasta

Or land ,a/

Pope Valley (near)

Red Bluff &/

Redding £/

Rio Vista §J

Rocklin sj

Sacramento d/

St. John a/

Stonyford

Stony Gorge Reservoir

Suisun 

Upper Lake 

Vacaville 

Vollmer's ranch .a/ 

Volta

Williams a/ 

Willows £/ 

Winters §J 

Woodland .a/

39°22«

38044'

39045 

38047'

38°50'

38°59'

400441

40041'

38°48'

390Q3 '

38°44'

40021'

38°26'

38°38'

41022'

39°45'

38°35»

40010'

40°35'

38°10'

38°48'

38°35'

39°42«

39°23'

39°35*

38°16'

39°11'

38°23'

40°57»

40° 26'

39°09«

39037'

38°31'

38°41'

122°30'

122°31«

1220 00*

122039'

122°43'

122°50«

122°24'

121°52'

121°43'

122°55'

122°36»

121°34'

122°13'

122°15'

122°18'

122°12'

122°21»

122°15«

122° 24'

121°41'

121°15'

121°30'

122°01»

122°32'

122°33'

122°05 f

122°55'

122°00'

122°26'

121°49«

122°09'

120°12'

121°58'

121°46'

1,205

1,100

162

1,700

3,000

1,390

661

2,642

16

1,450

1,150

4,950

360

350

3,555

254

750

303

718

22

239

25

143

1,205

800

40

1,343

175

1,332

2,200

84

136

136

63

.99

b

2.20

-

.10

_

_

.50

_

2.45

1>

.57

_

_

1.05

.73

_

_

2.63

.02

_

.85

_

2.14

.95

.97

.72

1.00

_

.36

Tr.

.03

_

.03

2.14

b

2.77

6.65

6.30

2.41

3.67

5.95

1.14

5.43

b

6.88

3.18

2.96

3.34

1.59

b

1.82

4.85

2.53

1.54

1.92

2.05

.63

1.98

2.53

5.35

3.05

4.15

1.60

1.21

1.50

2.88

1.39

1.34

b

Tr.

9.60

14.20

4.91

7.75

3.95

1.62

.53

t

7.25

2.72

2.03

1.49

1.97

b

2.72

.66

.77

2.57

.98

2.69

2.19

1.86

1.10

3.30

1.55

4.10

4.05

2.65

2.47

1.91

1.88

_

8.94

-

.65

1.10

.33

1.03

.20

.15

-

b

.18

.41

.33

-

_

9.00

.10

.01

1.02

.06

.21

_

h

.10

.46

.60

.41

.85

4.06

.05

Tr.

.12

.09

_

_

_

-

-

_

_

-

_

-

g

_

_

_

-

_

_

-

_

0.04

_

_

_

h

-

_

_

_

-

-

Tr.

.

_

-

4

8

4

16

21

7

12

10

2

8

15

14

6

5

5

4

9

4

8

4

4

3

4

4

5

9

6

9

10

3

4

4

3

Measured in the morning. 

Included in next measurement!

c Time of measurement not reported, 

d Measured at midnight.

g 

h 
Table 1»- Precipitation, in inches, December 19

(Measured in the afternoon except as noted)

Station Latitude Longitude

Altitude 

(feet)

Date

9 10 11 12 13

To

f

st

Sacramento River Basin Cont inued

Pit River Basin

Alturas

Bieber

Big Bend

Blacks Mountain _£/

Fall River Hills §J

Hat Creek

Jess Valley £/

Lookout

McCloud

"ontgomery Creek %J

Squaw Creek Ranger Station at/

Feather River Basin 

except Yuba River Basin

Brush Creek Ranger Station §J

Bucks Lake

Canyon Dam

Caribou

Challenge Ranger Station a/

Chester

Forbestovm £/

Grass Valley

Greenville Ranger Station £

Howells

Insklp

Intake

Lake Wilenor £/

Las Plumas

Lost Creek Dam a/

41°28'

41°07'

41°01'

400441

41°01'

40°46'

41°14f

41°13'

41°15'

40° 50'

40°49«

39°41 

39°54'

40°11 '

40°05'

39°29«

40°19'

39°32«

39°13'

40° 08'

40°01'

40°00'

39°43'

39° 45'

39° 40'

39° 35'

120°32 f

121°08'

121°55'

121° 15 '

121°28'

121° 30'

120°17'

121°09'

122°08*

121°56*

122°09»

121°20'

121°12'

121° 05*

121° 09*

121°14'

121°13«

121°17«

121°03'

120°58«

121°14'

121°31 

121°28*

121°30'

121°29«

121°08'

4,346

4,200

1,700

5,600

3,340

3,400

5,400

4,296

3,270

2,135

1,130

3,500

5,070

4,570

3,000

2,700

4,550

2,800

2,690

3,600

2,400

4,808

900

2,000

569

3,100

-

1.01

_

1.06

.14

_

.86

.82

-

4.55

.46

.52

.42

-

.22

b

.10

_

.64

.59

.84

_

.87

5.50

1.57

2.40

5.70

.63

3.29

1.36

.97

5.11

3.94

4.58

5.89

6.35

8.04

3.90

5.10

6.12

3.56

11.24

5.88

3.79

7.27

9.32

5.40

3.51

7.54

9.75

3.51

2.55

4.40

3.05

.23

1.61

2.75

.53

2.71

7.92

1.57

11.60

9.04

3.10

3.16

4.00

2.50

6.20

4.46

3.19

5.40

9.05

3.61

6.07

4.46

1.00

0.16

.05

.68

.35

-

.23

.10

.07

Tr.

2.27

-

.96

1.87

.47

.74

6.30

.38

_

.34

.55

.77

.83

_

_

.04

-

-

_

0.52

-

.02

_

_

_

-

-

_

_

_

-

_

_

_

_

-

_

_

_

_

-

5

5

11

4

4

3

3

6

7

14

12

18

19

7

9

16

6

17

10

7

14

19

9

9

12

16
Marysville sJ

Mohawk Ranger Station .£/

Nioolaus sJ

Oroville a/

Portola £/

Prattville 

Quincy 

Seriterre a/ 

Sierraville 

Storrie

Veramont 

West Branch 

Westwood

Yuba River Basin

Bowman Cam 

Chute Camp 

Colgate £/ 

Deer Creek 

Dobbins (near)

Dovnieville $J

Lake Spaulding

Nevada City sJ

Scales

Soda Springs sJ

American River Basin

Auburn .a/

Blue Canyon

Colfax

Eldorado power house

Folsom sJ

Foresthill a/ 

Georgetown sJ 

Placerville 

Placerville (near) 

Repressa

a Measured in the morning.

39006 

39° 47'

38°54'

39°31'

39°48«

40°13«

39°56'

39035 t

39°35'

39°55'

40°06'

39°56«

40°18 1

39° 26'

39°24»

39°19»

39°18'

39°22'

39°34«

39°19«

39°16'

39° 36*

39° 19'

38°53'

39°14«

39° 06'

38° 47'

38°41'

39°01'

38°55'

38°43'

38°44'

38°41 '

121034'

120°38«

121°35'

121°33*

120°28 

121°10«

120°55'

121028'

120° 23'

121°20'

120°50'

121°32'

120°59'

120°39«

121° 09*

121°12'

120°50«

121°10'

120°49'

120° 39'

121°01'

120°59'

120°23'

121°03'

120°41'

120° 58'

120°37«

121°10»

120°50'

120°50«

120°47'

120°44«

121°10 f

67

4,400

47

273

4,832

4,600

3,409

629

5,000

1,760

3,500

3,216

5,000

5,347

1,358

572

3,700

1,235

2,950

5,075

2,570

4,300

6,752

1,360

4,750

2,421

1,900

252

3,200

2,300

1,925

2,750

305

1.11

2.84

_

-

1.50

0.56

_

1.75

.20

.70

.21

.73

.01

.26

.32

_

.30

.20

3.73

.54

_

1.01

-

.58

_

_

-

_

_

.38

.13

-

.86

6.24

1.12

2.23

2.60

3,14

3.10

4.45

4.70

6.47

4.01

8.00

2.46

7.83

4.60

2.23

7.92

2.87

4.45

8.43

3.95

11.48

5.00

1.80

5.27

3.92

4.70

1.28

2.14

3.50

2.80

2.85

1.10

1.86

.75

1.96

3.51

.55

3.18

5.25

Tr.

5.20

6.45

3.10

7.58

3.36

5.31

4.10

3.90

4.59

2.90

1.73

5.20

4.72

7.37

5.80

2.00

3.28

4.65

3.65

1.57

3.58

3.10

3.04

2.00

1.43

.04

_

.24

.01

-

0.32

.75

-

_

.50

.70

.39

.32

.38

.30

.40

.90

.22

_

.60

1.17

.67

2.03

.62

.65

1.40

.70

.10

1.31

1.05

.39

_

.07

_

_

_

-

-

_

-

_

-

-

_

_

~

_

0.02

_

-

_

_

_

_

-

_

_

_

-

.01

_

_

1.37

-

3.8

9.8

3.3

5.7

4.6

7.2

9.1

6.2

10.1

14.1

8.0

16.7

6.1

13.7

9.3

6.5

13.7

6.1

9.9

14.7

9.8

20.5

12.8

4.4

9.7

9.9

9.0

2.9

7.0

7.6

6.6

6.3

2.6

b Included in next measurement.
38 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

s

1-t

B3

0)

PI

40 O O

O <H 40

EH in

to

H

CM

rH

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Pi

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CO

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40 CO

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40 <H

rH ~ 

CO

40

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40

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CO

CM

CO

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a co o 

o o

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rH IO rH CM Cft

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40 40

Cj Cj

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to o o to 10

CM t- rH CO CD

H IO CM CM IO

r- rH o <*

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t- rH IO

CM

O CO rH <* CO 

rH 3" in rH <* 

O O O O O 

<* IO CM to IO 

CM CM CM CM CM

CO t- «O rH «O 

<* CM IO tO O

O O O O O 

O Cft rH CO O

rt)

CO

MM rH \ to co ta rH

tjf C3 fi W «fH 

r< O O >

y o o o cj

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a |

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CO H CO w 3 en

H r.

pt| p>3 Q)

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to 

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fe tO

i-l S t>

IO lO rH O O» <* CO IO

CM CO CM «O

O>

0

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rH Cft CO

in <0 rH

CO rH Cft t- tO 

Cft IO Cft to rH

rH CM CM CM

t- O CM t- CO to ** co in co

T* rH IO IO

S

OD 

 rH

1 rt .0

rH EH

O O O CM O

CD en u> to *d*

t- rH IO rH tO

CM CM rH CM

rH CM rH tO 0 

to IO to CM rH 

O O O O O 

CM CM CM to tO 

CM CM CM CM CM

rH «O O> CO W

to w to '* »

O O O O O

r-l CO rH r-l O 

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rH a rl h

CQ h h CQ CO

t5 C5 t5 W K
Healdsburg &/ 

Healdsburg (near) o/ 

Island Mountain &/ 

Lagunitas Dam a/ 

Macdoel £/

Mad Biver £/ 

Montague 

Mount Hebron gj 

Oriole (near) 

Orleans sj

Point Reyes 

Potter Valley (near) 

Ruth (near) 

Salyer a/ 

Santa Rosa

Sootia £/ 

Steele Swamp 

Tule Lake 

Ukiah 

Upper Jlattole

Weaverville 

Willits a/ 

Yreka a/

Oregon

Broolcings

Ohiloquin

Crater Lake

Keno

Klaiiath Falls

Round Grove 

Sand Creek 

Siskiyou Summit a/

a Measured in the morning.

b Included in next measurement.

38°37'

38°40'

40°02'

37°57«

41°50'

40°28»

 41°44'

41°47*

41° 20'

41°18'

38°00«

39032'

40°22'

40°53'

38°27 f

40°29 f

41°53'

41°52»

39°09«

40°15 t

40°44«

39°25«

41°44«

42°03'

42°35 f

42°53'

42°08'

42°13'

42°20'

42°50'

42°04'

122°52'

122°56'

123°30'

122°36'

122°00'

123°31«

122° 31"

122°00'

124°01»

123°32'

123°01«

123°09'

123°20'

123°35'

122° 43'

124°06'

120°58'

121°32«

123°13«

124° 11 

122° 56'

123°21'

122°38 f

124°17'

121°52»

122°10'

121°56 '

121°47'

120°53'

121°59'

122° 36'

110

160

549

800

4,260

3,175

2,522

4,260

152

401

510

1,014

2,750

600

167

151

5,000

4,036

650

400

2,030

1,363

2,625

120

4,200

6,475

4,040

4,100

4,888

4,682

4,522

1C

5.00

_

4.27

-

b

.17

b

.08

1.47

.50

.76

.96

1.57

.57

.02

Tr.

Tr.

.34

-

2.00

_

1.10

.70

Tr.

.29

.09

.10

.11

.20

.70

5.10

6.00

.40

2.33

.25

b

1.71

2.50

1.33

2.93

1.20

5.22

4.94

3.86

2.39

1.31

1.65

.78

4.26

3.02

1.70

3.09

2.29

2.17

1.40

3.93

1.85

1.48

1.20

4.03

2.00

3.38

.60

3.50

1.10

1.10

b

.67

.28

1.65

.99

.43

4.00

2.76

.35

1.56

4.55

1.22

1.15

3.93

5.65

1.37

7.61

.43

1.88

.96

1.84

1.27

1.05

1.98

1.82

.66

.72

-

1.20

.15

.17

9.41

-

-

.81

-

.05

.84

.48

_

.47

.97

_

_

.54

-

.32

2.40

-

.02

Tr.

_

Tr.

Tr.

_

.30

-

_

-

_

_

-

_

-

-

-

-

_

-

_

_

-

_

_

_

-

0.82

_

_

.06

±r 

-

_

-

_

_

-

9.2

11.6

5.1

7.8

1.5

9.4

2.5

2.7

3.8

5.3

2.1

10.8

9.1

5.7

4.9

6.8

2.8

1.9

9.0

9.4

5.3

13.1

3.8

4.7

2.3

6.0

3.2

2.6

3.2

6.3

3.3

Time of measurement not reported. 

Measured at midnight.

Ho record.

Total rainfall Dec
40 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

ntinued

o

IS

E?

,-t 

<D +>

o a

CO Co

S

CD

in, ternoon

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CO

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Station

CO <n CO CO

tj> 60 M tO

co m mm 

o o o o

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&

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O O> rH IO IO

 H N rH rH

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CS IS <0

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m 

CO

O> ^" <O rH W 

rH N to O O 

O O O O O

o> w in in fr*

O N rH CM CM

o o o o o 

to to to to to

Owens Basin Eiver 

&/ Pine No.-Z house power g

a/ I shop

Creek shop 

a/ )ttonwood Gates

&/ )ttonv/ood housepower 

FQ (Q m o O

CO CO CO

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to to to to to

a/ Creek ooked 

idependence 

Aqaeduota/ Los Angeles itake 

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900 0

m m m m O o O o

O O O O

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to co to o> to

o o o o o is co is co co

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to to to to to

&/ Haiwee >rtha/ Hills )intof^/ Haiwee mth

Lake >uth 

&/ Reservoir inemaha 

Lake Bsin Mono 

£3 PH CO CO EH

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ftp 

 1

CO CO

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0 0

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0 0

CO tO «3* CM O

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1 1 1 1 t

CM to in CT> CT>

TH IO CM N O

rHrH

IO CM IO rH

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o o CM o> o>

IO N IO rH rH

15 . .3?

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o o o i-i in

O CM <O ^ IS

O O> IS P- C-

** o> to o> co

rH O rH in O

tO IO CM O rH m ^> o »^ m 

o o o o o fr- is co is t- to co to co co

 !>« co rt

CO § CM +»

rH S H CO to

M

e

CO

a

!

CO

s

CO

p- is o> m i-i

N IO rH

1 1 1 1 1

in rH rH 

 IS O> O

EH 10 ' ' *

** m cIS O O>

 ft t 

rH

CM O tO 

0 . "> ri

rH

rl r? 1 1 rl

f

o co o ^* is ^o in CM

«>«> * * *

TH IO IS <0 CO 

I-l rH 10 0 * 

O O O O O

o o o o o 

to to to to n

Walker RiverBasin

 idgeport 

sj idgeport Dam 

iwthorne .a/ na 

shurz

flS fiara
i- Shields ranch

S Smith

| Thorne

T Yerington

1 Carson River Basin

Carson City

Fallen

Lahontan a/

Mind en

Truckee River Basin

Boca

Lowers ranch

Marlette Lake

Nixon

Eeno J/

Tahoe £/

Truckee a/

Minor basins

Cedarville

Doyle

Ford Bidwell

Lake City

Susanville a/

38°24'

38°48'

38°36'

38°59'

39010 

39038'

39°30'

38°57»

39°23'

39°14'

39°10'

39°50»

39° 32'

39°10'

39°20«

41°32«

40°01'

41°52«

41°38«

40°25'

119°15'

11 9° 20'

118° 36'

119°10'

119°46'

118°47'

119°05'

119°46'

120°05'

119°51*

119°55'

119°21*

119°49'

120°09'

120°11'

120°10'

120°06«

120°09'

120°13«

120°39'

5,300

4,800

4,200

4,375

4,675

3,965

4,200

4,730

5,535

5,200

8,000

3,910

4,532

6,230

5,818

4,675

4,300

4,735

4,680

4,271

_

-

_

-

_

0.10

-

-

Tr.

_

.05

_

.35

_

2.60

Tr.

_

_

.05

.80

1.80

.55

_

.30

2.23

.35

.29

1.57

1.91

3.70

1.95

.41

.50

3.49

3.10

2.85

1.75

1.25

2.20

3.65

2.40

1.80

.61

1.21

1.60

.45

.60

1.75

1.45

4.37

1.27

.49

.72

4.73

1.08

2.09

1.90

1.87

4.60

1.30

.10

-

_

-

_

.03

_

.47

.40

.60

.50

.16

-

1.52

Tr.

_

.12

_

Tr.

-

_

-

.

-

_

-

-

-

_

0.05

-

_

-

_

-

_

-

-

_

-

4.3

2.3

.

1.5

3.8

.

.

3.7

3.7

8.7

3.7

1.0

1.5

9.7

6.7

4.9

3.7

3.1

6.8

5.7

a Measured in the morning. b Included in next measurement. c Time of measurement no
Table 2. Rate and duration of precipitation at available stations for per

Station

Fresno

O'Keals

North Fork JTo. 1

ITorth Fork No. 4

Bass Lake

San Francisoo

Fricot Oity

Fiddletovm

Sacramento

Georgetown

Redding

Bureka

Vollmers

Mount Sbasta City

Altitude 

(feet)

287

1,200

2,700

2,675

3,000

52

1,900

2,100

25

2,300

718

44

1,332

3,555

Location

Latitude

36°43«

37°08 '

37°14'

37°14«

37°19"

37°47'

38°10'

38°31 '

38°35 f

38°55 f

40°35'

40°48»

40°57«

41°22»

Longitude

119°49'

119°43'

119°31 '

119°31 f

119°35'

122°25'

120°31*

120°41 

121°30 f

120°50«

122°24'

124°10'

122°26'

122°18«

Total 

preoipitation 

(inohes)

2.82

5.75

11.9

12.33

14.96

3.0

6.62

5.2

3.75

7.62

8.15

2.83

9.1

5.88

Total time, in hours, in whio

exceeded indioated rate, in i

0.02

20

35

44

44

50

27

46

40

34

46

46

27

50

46

0.04

18

31

37

37

38

22

34

35

23

40

45

19

44

41

0.06

14

28

34

36

37

19

28

29

19

36

37

16

43

36

0.08

13

25

33

34

35

15

20

27

14

34

33

12

42

30

0.10

10

17

31

33

32

11

18

21

13

25

29

6

35

24
PRECIPITATION 43

The rather simple situation that existed may be illustrated by the 

following brief description: On December 9 an intense disturbance was 

centered about 900 miles off the central California coast. This storm 

was of unusual extent, as well as intensity, covering most of the ocean 

area north of about latitude 20°N. The strong westerly and southwesterly 

currents prevailing in the southern and southeastern portions of the 

disturbance resulted in extensive transport of a large mass of warm 

moist air which was originally Polar Pacific air but had been modified 

considerably in its trajectory over the warm ocean surface in the lower 

latitudes. The disturbance as it moved slowly northeastward, increased 

in intensity, the winds approaching hurricane force. On the morning of 

the 10th it was centered off the coast of Washington and Oregon with 

lowest pressure about 28.10 inches and by December 11 it had reached the 

lower Alaskan Coaat.

The warm moist air mass began invading northern and central 

California on the morning of December 9, the flow of air from the Southwest reaching gale velocity at times. The air as it was forced to rise 

rapidly over the steep slopes of the mountains released its abundant 

moisture, mostly in the form of rain except at extremely high elevations. 

By the night of the llth the disturbance had moved far enough northward 

so that the western coast of the United States was out of the influence 

of the strong southwesterly winds and moderately high pressure prevailed 

over northern California, resulting in a cessation of the rains.

Based on the behavior of the streams as recorded at the rivermeasurement stations, the center of the storm seemed to progress across 

the State in about 48 hours, moving generally eastward and southeastward. 

Most of the streams in the northern part of the area reached peak stages 

beginning late in the evening of December 10 or early in the morning of 

December 11, whereas those along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada 

tributary to the southern part of the Central Valley reached their crest 

stages between three and four in the afternoon of December 11.

The total precipitation during the storm period from December 9 to 

12 was heaviest along the Coast Ranges between the Central Valley and 

the Pacific Ocean, and at altitudes of 4,000 to 6,000 feet along the 

western slope of the Sierra Nevada. At altitudes above 9,000 feet, the 

precipitation was largely in the form of snow.

There were two distinct areas of exceptionally heavy rainfall along 

the Coast Ranges. One area was along the divide between Upper Putah 

Creek and Russian River, where three supplemental records furnished to 

the Geological Survey by private parties at Cobb (altitude, 2,600 feet), 

Cellier Place (altitude, 2,100 feet), and Hoberg's (altitude, 3,000 

feet) indicate a total storm precipitation of 20 to 22 inches and maximum daily depths of 13.65, 12.27, and 14.20 inches respectively. Precipitation was unusually heavy also in the Santa Cruz mountains, the 

headwater areas of Los Gatos Creek, San Lorenzo River, and Uvas Creek. 

In this area, supplemental records indicate a total storm precipitation 

of 18 to 19 inches; a maximum of 18.75 inches was recorded at Little 

Uvas Creek (altitude, 625 feet), and 18.52 inches at Saratoga Summit 

(altitude, 2,600 feet). At several precipitation stations in this area,
44 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

between 9 and 10 inches were recorded on December 10. These high precipitation amounts are largely substantiated by the evidence of flood 

run-off, especially in the Uvas Creek Basin.

Precipitation was heavy and general along the western front of the 

Sierra Nevada at altitudes of 4,000 to 6,000 feet. A storm total of 

17.27 inches was recorded at Central Camp (altitude, 5,364 feet), of 

18.91 inches at Brush Creek (altitude, 3,500 feet), of 19.41 inches at 

Bucks Lake (altitude, 5,070 feet), of 19.79 at Inskip (altitude, 4,808 

feet), and of 20.53 inches at Scales (altitude, 4,300 feet). A maximum 

daily depth of 11.48 inches was recorded at Scales on December 10, and 

many other stations recorded between 9 and 10 inches for approximately 

a 24-hour period.

In view of the sparsity of precipitation stations along parts of 

the Coast Ranges and in the high Sierra, it is probable that there were 

unrecorded variations of precipitation in addition to those defined and 

delineated on the precipitation maps included in this report (figs. 13 

to 21).

On an areal basis, storm precipitation apparently ranged from 11 

to 13 inches over considerable parts of headwater areas in Tulare Lake, 

Kings, San Joaquin, Presno, Merced, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, American, Eel, 

and Russian River Basins; from 14 to 18 inches over considerable parts 

of Pajaro and Guadalupe River Basinsj and from 12 to 19 inches in parts 

of the Feather, Yuba, and Putah Basins.

No figures on the area-depth characteristics of past great storms 

of California are available for comparison. However, the storm of 

December 1937 was unquestionably one of the great early-winter storms 

of which there is record for central and northern California.

Distribution

During the storm period significant amounts of rain fell in an 

area extending from the California-Oregon boundary to the southern 

limits of the Central Valley and from the Pacific Ocean to the eastern 

slopes of the Sierra Nevada. In the northern half of the area the precipitation was almost continuous from about 6 a.m. on December 9 to 

1 p.m. on December 11. In the southern part of the area the storm 

lasted from about noon on December 9 to 6 p.m. on December 11. In the 

northern part of the area there seemed to be more of a tendency for the 

precipitation to be continuous than in the southern part, where there 

was a lull in the storm during the afternoon of December 10.
PRECIPITATION

Figure 13. Isohyetal map of the drainage basins of the Salinas River,

coastal streams from San Luis CTbispo Creek to San Francisco Bay, and

streams tributary to San Francisco Bay from the south, showing the

total precipitation, in inches, December 8-13, 1937.
FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Figure 14. Isohyetal map of the drainage basins of Buena Vista Lak» and Tulare Lake, 

showing the total precipitation, in Inches, December 8-13, 1937.
Figure 15. Isohyetal map of the drainage basin of the San Joaquin 

showing the total precipitation, in inches, 
48 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

F-H B

<D <D

> O

 H m

g-s

at o 

o C

at at (3-P 

 H o 

at -P

T3 <o

3* 

.p M

a

<M «H
PRECIPITATION 

r Mt Shosto

Figure 17. laohyetal map of the drainage basin of the Sacramento River, except the 

Pit, Feather, and American Rivers, showing the total precipitation, In Inches, 

December 8-13, 1937.
THE FLOODS OP DKCEMBER 1937 IN NORTBERH CALIFORNIA

10 0 10 20 30 40 Mid

Figure 18. Isohyetal map of the drainage basins of the Pit, Feather, American,

and Truckee Rivers, showing the total precipitation, In Inches,

December 8-13, 1937.
PRECIPITATION 51

Ip, , . , 9 ip 20 30 40 MilM

Figure 19. laohyetal map of the drainage basins of the Mad and Eel Rivers, streams

tributary to San Francisco Bay from the north, and coastal streams between

San Piwncisco Bay and Had River, shoving the total precipitation,

in inches, December 8-13, 1937.
Figure 20. laohyetal map of the drainage basins of the Klam

showing the total precipitation, in inch
PRECIPITATION

'** \

Figure 21. Isohyetal nap of the drainage basins from the Carson River to

Owens Lake, inclusive, along'the western boundary of the Oreat Basin,

showing the total precipitation, in inches, December 8-13, 1937.
54 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

The entire period, from December 9 to 12 has been treated as a unit 

in the preparation of a precipitation map, although, as indicated, most 

of the precipitation fell during 48 hours. The recorded precipitation 

for the period from December 9 to 12 has been plotted on Geological 

Survey base maps (scale 1:500,000), and an isohyetal map has been prepared. This base map has been transferred and reduced to appropriate 

scales for publication by major drainage basins (figs. 13 to 21).

The areas between the isohyetal lines on the original base map were 

measured by planimeter for the drainage basin upstream from each rivermeasurement station, and a value was obtained for the average total 

precipitation in each basin. The results of these determinations are 

given in the section on "Rainfall and run-off studies" in table 7.

If the storm precipitation were accurately known at every point, 

an isohyetal map might reflect the influence of altitude and topographic 

aspect on the precipitation. In much -of the area it would be hazardous 

to estimate the number of observations that would be required to construct an isohyetal map from which the average precipitation over widespread areas could be determined with reasonable accuracy. In parts of 

the area, especially along the valley floor, distribution of rainfall 

was relatively uniform and sufficient records are available to permit 

the construction of a precipitation map that is fairly accurate. This 

applies also to a limited extent for portions of the Coast Ranges and 

in the foothill area of the Sierra Nevada where, although regular 

Weather Bureau stations are scattered, it has been possible to compile 

a considerable number of supplemental precipitation records and thereby 

fill in the gaps. But many of the Coast Ranges north of Clear Lake and 

all of the higher Sierra Nevada are sparsely inhabited, especially during winter months. In these areas there is a serious deficiency in 

basic meteorologic data, hence the isohyetals as drawn may not reflect 

actual conditions in every particular.

As an aid in constructing the isohyetals in areas where there were 

deficient observations, some attempt has been made to use such relations 

as could be determined between altitude and the total storm precipitation. The available data are sufficient to warrant only the most general 

conclusions. From south to north along the western slopes of the Sierra 

Nevada, the observed precipitation was correlated with the altitude with 

results generalized as follows:

On a line between Visalia and Giant Forest there was an increase of 

6.9 inches per thousand feet up to an altitude of 2,000 feet and an
PRECIPITATION 55

increase of 1.1 inches per thousand feet between altitudes of 2,000 feet 

and 6,300 feet. Between Dinuba and General Grant National Park there 

was an increase of 4.3 inches per thousand feet up to an altitude of 

2,000 feet and an increase of 1.2 inches per thousand feet between 2,000 

and 6,700 feet. Between Friant and Big Creek No. 1 power house the increase was 3.4 inches per thousand feet up to 2,000 feet and 0.5 inch 

between 2,000 and 5,000 feet. There was an increase of 3.7 inches per 

thousand feet up to 4,300 feet on a line between Hamilton City and 

Downieville, and of 2.6 inches up to 4,000 feet between Marysville and 

Lake Spaulding.

It seems evident that, in the storm of December 1937, altitude was 

a dominant but not wholly controlling factor in the determination of 

precipitation; and that, although there was a marked tendency for the 

rainfall to increase with altitude up to a certain limit, the relations 

were not uniform either in a north and south direction along the western 

front or vertically in the same vicinity. A part of the variations disclosed may be due to the location of the precipitation stations in relation to topographic features, or they may have resulted from the inherent meteorologic characteristics of the storm.

There seems to have been a tendency for the rate of increase of 

precipitation with altitude to be somewhat larger in the southern part 

of the area than in the northern, and a tendency for a decreased rate 

of increase at the higher altitudes. As drawn, the isohyetals indicate an average increase in precipitation of about 3 inches per thousand feet up to an altitude of 5,000 feet. What happened at the higher 

altitudes during the storm period is somewhat problematical. At an 

altitude of about 9,000 feet, at least a part of the precipitation took 

the form of snow, and it seems probable, from the available data, that 

at altitudes between 5,000 and 6,000 feet the water equivalent of the 

snow was considerably less than the depth of rainfall. Along the foot 

of the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada the total storm precipitation was between 3 and 4 inches. The isohyetals for areas in the high 

Sierra Nevada (figs. 14 to 16 and 21) have been constructed, without 

definite data, on the assumption that, with some possible exceptions, 

there was a general decrease in precipitation in those areas between an 

altitude of about 6,000 feet and the crest of the Sierra Nevada. This 

assumption apparently conforms with the observation and experience of 

those who are familiar with climatic conditions and life zones along the 

Sierra Nevada as a whole. Along the Coast Ranges, isohyetals have been
56 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

constructed almost entirely from observed data.

Users of the precipitation maps (figs. 13 to 21) and of the precipitation values (see table 7) derived therefrom are referred to the 

discussion relating to "Rainfall and run-off studies" wherein there are 

comments on the probable accuracy of the maps as judged from an analysis 

of the measured run-off from individual drainage basins.

Figures 22 to 25 show graphically the relation of topography and 

altitude to precipitation during the storm of December 1937, on four 

generally east-and-west lines across California. (See fig. 2.) The 

land profiles on these figures are based on topographic maps, and the 

profile of precipitation is based on the isohyetal map of the storm.

Graphs indicating hourly precipitation at various precipitation 

stations between Mount Shasta City and Fresno are shown in figures 26 

and 27.

Temperature

Temperature had a large influence on the characteristics and magnitude of the December floods. This feature has been noted by 

E. H. Fletcher, meteorologist of the United States Weather Bureau at 

Sacramento, in his report previously cited, and by many others who are 

familiar with the meteorologic and hydrologic conditions.

At altitudes up to 3,000 feet or more, along the slopes of the 

Sierra Nevada tributary to the great Central Valley, mean temperatures 

were about 2° F. above normal during November 1937 and nearly 5° F. above 

normal during December. The temperatures did not follow the normal seasonal decline through November and December. Instead, as shown by daily 

maximum and minimum temperature for November and December at Fresno 

(altitude, 287 feet), Lake Sebrina (altitude, 9,100 feet), Marysville 

(altitude, 67 feet), and Soda Springs (altitude, 6,752 feet), there was 

a general tendency (see fig. 28) for the temperatures even to increase 

somewhat beginning about November 15. They culminated in an unusually 

warm period from December 5 to 8, when minimum temperatures even at the 

higher altitudes were above freezing. During the storm period from 

December 9 to 12, mean temperatures ranged from 55° F. on the valley 

floor to 32° F. at the higher altitudes, and averaged 7° to 8° F. above 

normal. The correlation of temperature and altitude along the western 

front of the Sierra Nevada indicates that the rate of decrease in tempereture per thousand feet increase in altitude during the December storm 

period corresponded with the rate of change indicated by the long-time
18

16

14

12

10

80 100 120 

Distance from the coast line in m

Figure 22. Section A-B; location shown 
I

80 100 120 

Distance from coast line In miles

Figure 23. Section C-D; location shown on 
20

18

16

14

r\ 60 80 100 120 

Distance from coast line In mil

Figure 24. Section E-P; location shown 
60 80 100 120 

Distance from coast line in mile

Figure 25. Section G-H; location shown o
Precipitation In Inches per hour
Precipitation in inches per hour

o o 

o o o o 

1*

I!
TEMPERATURE 63

December temperatures, namely, about 2° P. decrease in maximum daily 

temperature, 2^° P. decrease in mean daily temperatures, and 3 P. decrease in maximum temperature, for each increase of 1,000 feet in 

altitude.

One effect, therefore, of the high temperatures during the storm 

period from December 9 to 12 was to increase the area that contributed 

to the December flood run-off by raising the altitude limit at which 

the precipitation took the form of rain. Another effect was to increase 

greatly the amount of precipitation which fell as rain and which, in the 

absence of a deep snow cover, was an immediate source of run-off,

A study was made to determine the approximate number of square 

miles in the drainage area contributing to the Central Valley along the 

western front of the Sierra Nevada which lie between certain contours. 

These values were obtained by sketching the 5,000, 7,000 and 9,000 foot 

contours on the 1:500,000 base map from standard topographic maps where 

available, and by measuring the area between each pair of contours. The 

values are only approximate, but the totals for any major basin should 

be reasonably correct. The results of these determinations are shown 

under "Rainfall and run-off studies" in table 6.

Of the 12,300 square miles of the western front tributary to the 

San Joaquin system, upstream from the several gaging stations, nearly 

2,000 square miles lie above an altitude of 9,000 feet; 2,500 square 

miles between altitudes of 7,000 and 9,000 feet; 2,300 square miles be1 - 

tween altitudes of 5,000 and 7,000 feet; and about 5,500 square miles 

below an altitude of 5,000 feet.

In the area along the western slope, tributary to the Sacramento 

River and above the several gaging stations, only a negligible amount of 

the 16,900 square miles is above an altitude of 9,000 feet, and somewhat 

less than 500 square miles is above an altitude of 7,000 feet. About 

5,200 square miles lie between altitudes of 5,000 and 7,000 feet, and 

about 11,200 square miles are below 5,000 feet.

The Sierra Nevada area contributing to the San Joaquin River contains about 4,500 square miles above an altitude of 7,000 feet whereas 

that tributary to the Sacramento River has only about 500 square miles 

above the 7,000 foot contour. The effect of this factor upon the runoff of the two basins is discussed in other sections of this paper.

Considering the area upstream from gaging stations on the western 

slope as a whole, the areas between the several pairs of 1,000-foot 

contours average about 3,600 square miles each up to an altitude of about
THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Fresno (alt

70 ----- - .- - - 

60 ---____-_-_-__-_-_____-___-

50 ___________________________

30 

Lake Sabrina a

50 ----- -_ -__- 

20 - 

10 

MaiTsviHe ( j

«,-- -J--^-L40 -

30 

Soda Springs (a

(ff\

50 ------ - - 

10 _______ -

10 20

itud«, 887 feet)

III ll|'

It: tud«, 9,100 feet)

iltitude, 67 feot)

lt:.tude, 6,753 feet)

:::::::!::fe:::jj:

30 10 80 3C

November December 

Dally range of temperature

Figure 28. Dally range of temperature at various places In northern California, 

November and December 1937.
TEMPERATURE 65

7,000 feet, and 1,200 square miles above 7,000 feet. At critical temperatures a change of 2° F. might change the character of the precipitation 

from rain to snow or vice versa over more than 3,000 square miles; and an 

increase in temperature of 7° or 8° P., such as occurred during December 

1937, might result in precipitation as rain instead of snow over an area 

of as much as 10,000 to 12,000 square miles, which is roughly 40 percent 

of the contributing area along the western front of the Sierra Nevada.

Snow

In California, as in other western states, snow surveys as an aid in 

forecasting probable spring and summer run-off are systematically carried 

on by State and Federal agencies in cooperation with irrigation, power, 

and other organizations which are vitally interested in the conservation 

and use of water. Thus, in California, the Division of Water Resources 

of the California Department of Public Works, in cooperation with the 

Bureau of Agricultural Engineering, the United States Weather Bureau, 

irrigation districts, and public utilities, makes observations of snow in 

headwater areas and issues monthly bulletins about snow conditions and 

forecasts of probable run-off. However, these observations are normally 

carried on only from January through May, hence at the time of the flood 

of December 1937 there was comparatively little information available 

about snow conditions. Even though data be available concerning the 

amount of snow on the ground there is relatively little quantitative 

information available about the effect of snow on flood discharge and 

run-off.

Studies and observations made by the United States Weather Bureau 

(see report by E. H. Pletcher, previously cited) and by the State 

Engineer's office indicate that the abnormal occurrence of rain rather 

than snow was one of the principal aggravating factors in connection 

with the intensities of run-off in many of the streams draining the 

Sierra Nevada during the flood of December 1937. Special effort has 

therefore been made to collect and compile all readily available information about snow during November and December 1937. The data are

summarized in table 3.

2/ 

The United States Weather Bureau also furnishes the following

information:

Snowfall was negligible prior to November 10, and was generally 

subnormal thereafter (to the end of December). The average fall for

2/ U. S. Dept. Agr., Weather Bur., Climatological Data, vol. 24, 

no. 12, California sec., p. 96, Dec. 1937.
THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Table 3. Snow conditions in November and during storm of December 1937

Station

Johns ondale

Glennville

Springville

Cliff Camp

Gen. Grant Nat.

Park

Sand Bar Flat

Dudleys

North Fork

Crane Valley

Hetch Hetchy

Salt Springs

Yosemite

Lake Eleanor

Big Trees

Spring Gap

Big Creek No. 1

Shaver Lake

Strawberry

Huntington Lake

Florence Lake

Lake Alpine

Badger Flats

Kaiser Pass

Vollmers ranch

Chute Camp

Storrie

Dunsmuir

Howells

Nevada City

Kilarc

Grass Valley

Challenge

De Sab la

Caribou

Forest Hill

West Branch

McC loud

Fall River Mills

Hat Greek

Quincy

Brush Creek

Veramount

Mount Shasta

Deer Creek

Lookout

Scales

Alturas

Chester

Canyon Dam

Prattville

Drum Forebay

Blue Canyon

Ins kip

Sub-basin

Kern

Poso Creek

Tule

Kings

do.

Stanislaus

Merced

Willow Creek

do.

Tuolumne

Mokelumne

Merced

Tuolumne

Calaveras

Stanislaus

Big Creek

Stevenson Cr

Stanislaus

Big Creek

South Fork

Stanislaus

Big Creek

South Fork

Sacramento

Yuba

Feather

Sacramento

Feather

Yuba

Cow Creek

Feather

do.

Butte Creek

Feather

American

Feather

Pit

do.

do.

Feather

do.

do.

Sacramento

Yuba

Pit

Yuba

Pit

Feather

do.

do.

Yuba

American

Feather

Altitude 

(feet)

Total 

snowfall 

for Nov. 

( inches )

Type of 

precipitation 

Dec. 

9-12

Kern River Basin

4,545 0 j Rain

Tulare Lake Basin

3,300

4,050

6,150

6,775

0

0

Tr.

1.5

Rain

do.

b

b

San Joaguin River Basin

2,700

3,000

3,000

3,500

3,530

3,660

3,983

4,650

4,700

4,875

4,900

5,400

5,620

7,000

7,400

7,500

8,300

9,300

0

0

0

0

0

.5

0

1

1 to 2

1.5

Tr.

Tr.

4.5

5

4

27.4

C4.67

-

-

Rain

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

b

Rain

do.

b

b

b

b

-

Snow

Sacramento River Basin

1,332

1,358

1,760

2,290

2,400

2,570

2,642

2,690

2,700

2,700

3,000

3,200

3,216

3,270

3,340

3,400

3,409

3,500

3,500

3,555

3,700

4,296

4,300

4,346

4,550

4,570

4,600

4,653

4,750

4,808

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Tr.

Tr.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

12

Tr.

3

2

3

Tr.

Rain

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

Snow on ground 

( inches }

Nov. 

30

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

13

8

12

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

December a/

9

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Tr.

-

_

-

-

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

12

0

0

0

-

_

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

-

0

0

-

Tr.

-

_

-

-

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Daily 

snowfall 

( inches )

December &/

9

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Tr.

0

2.5

c.46

-

-

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Tr.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Tr.

12

0

0

0

5

b

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

.5

0

0

2

1

5.5

3.2

c.45

-

-

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

a Any snow on ground or additional snowfall on Dec. 

footnotes.

b Rain and snow.

c Water content In Inches.

10 or 11 is indicated by
SHOW 67

Table 3. Snow conditions in November and during storm of December 1937 Continued

Station

Portola

Mineral

Sierraville

Westwood

Bucks Lake

Lake Spauldlng

Bowman Dam

Jess Valley

Soda Springs

Twlr Lakes

Helen Lake

Independence

Cedarville

Lake City

Port Bidwell

Boca

Truckee

Tahoe

Bridgeport

Lundy Lake

Bishop Creek

Lake Sabrlna

Gem Lake

Ellery Lake

South Lake

Sub-bas in

Altitude 

(feet)

Total 

snowfall 

for Nov. 

( inches )

Type of 

precipitation 

Dec. 

9-12

Snow on ground 

(inches)

Nov. 

30

Sacramento River Basin- -Continued

Feather

Battle Creek

Feather

do.

do.

Yuba

do.

Pit

Yuba

American

Mill Creek

Owens

Alkali Lake

do.

do.

Truckee

do.

do.

Walker

Mono

Owens

do.

Mono

do.

Owens

4,832

4,950

5,000

5,000

5,070

5,075

5,347

5,400

6,752

7,920

8,300

0

2.5

2

4

11

10

18.3

1

70

29.5

C4.44

-

Rain

do.

do.

do.

do.

b

b

_

b

b

b

The Great Basin

3,943

4,675

4,680

4,735

5,535

5,818

6,230

6,440

7,760

8,390

9,100

9,120

9,600

9,620

0

8.5

6

8

5.25

10.5

15

5

7

c.76

1

5

c.35

8.5

cl.04

27

C3.13

6

c.28

Rain

do.

do.

do.

b

b

b

b

b

b

b

b

b

b

0

0

0

0

-

Tr.

1

0

SO

11

J96±

0

0

0

0

0

m

Tr.

0

0

0

0

1

5

0

December a/

9

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

d!3

g8

-

0

0

0

0

0

0

Tr.P/

0

0

0

.5

Pi

x2

Tr.

12

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

-

e8

8

60±

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

Tr.q/

2

S3

u7

v7

20

z!2

Daily 

snowfall 

( inches )

December a/

9

0

Tr.

0

0

0

0

Tr.

_

0

.5

c.18

-

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Tr.

.5

c.25

Tr.

2

c.32

Tr.

12

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

_

f5

h6.0

c.84

-

0

0

0

0

k.5

Tr.n/

2

Tr.q/

r2

c,25

tl

u6

c.68

w5

73

c.44

aa5

c.72

a Snow on ground or Additional snowfall on Dec. 10 or 11 is indicated by footnotes.

b Rain and anow.

c Water content In inches.,

d 19 inches Dec. 1; 13 inches Dec. 8.

e 10 inches Dec. 10; 5 inches Dec. 11; 7 inches Dec. 13.

f 4 inches Dec. 10.

g 11 inches Dec. 1; 8 Inches Dec. 8.

h 1 inch Dec. 11 (water content, 0.20 inch).

J Snows of November accumulated to a depth of about 8 feet; warm rains of 

December reduced the snow to about 5 feet of slush, which eubsequently froze into 

granular ice.

k Disappeared same day.

m Patches of snow on ground.

n 1.5 inches Dec. 11; melted by Dec. 12.

p Snow on ground for period Dec. 1-9.

q 2-inch snowfall Dec. 10; disappeared immediately, as did trace Dec, 12.

r Disappeared by Dec. 14.

a 2 inches Dec. 11; 1 inch Dec. 15.

t Trace Dec. 10; 2 Inches Dec. 11.

n 2 inches Dee. 11.

v 3 inches Dec. 10; 2 inches Dec. 11; and 7 inches Dec. 15.

w 2 Inches Dec. 10.

x None Dec. 8; 19 inches Dec. 10; 18 inches Dec. 11; 14 inches Dec. 15.

y 17 inches Dec. 10 (water content, 3.75 inches); 4 inches Dec. 11 (water 

content, 1.92 inches).

z 6 Inches Dec. 10; 11 inches Dec. 11; 7 Inches Dec. 15.

aa 6 Inches Dec. 10 (water content, 3.07 inches); 5 inches Dec. 11 (water content, 2.16 Inches).
68 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

November was 52 percent and for December was 34 percent of the 41-year 

mean (for those months). The November fall occurred over the Modoc 

Plateau, above the 4,500 foot level over the northern and middle Sierra 

Nevada, and above 6,500 foot level over the southern Sierra Nevada. The 

December fall exceeded the normal at low level stations in the Klamath 

basin, but was decidedly deficient elsewhere ....

The total seasonal snowfall to the close of December was 36 percent 

and the average depth of snow on the ground on the last day of December 

was 21 percent of normal. A large part of the November accumulation was 

melted by the warm rains of December 10-11, except over the high Sierra, 

and most of the snow on the ground at the end of December fell after the 

llth of that month .... The snow cover was deficient in all sections 

and at all levels on December 31.

In compiling the data shown in table 3, full use has been made of 

observations and records derived from the following sources:- the United 

States weather Bureau; the Division of Water Resources, California Department of Public 'Works; the United States Forest Service, in connection 

with operations at their experimental stations, ana also the reports of 

forest supervisors and forest rangers to the regional forester; the 

Bureau of Water Works and Supply of the Los Angeles Department of Water 

and Power; public utility companies; postmasters; and others.

The snow observations herein recorded relate largely to conditions 

on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada. In the Coast Ranges to the west of 

the Central Valley there was apparently complete absence of snow, with 

the possible exception of drifts and patches on northern slopes in the 

relatively small areas lying above 6,500 feet north of Clear Lake. The 

records are discussed by major subdivisions of area: namely, the slopes 

of the Sierra Nevada tributary to the southern part of the Central Valley, 

the slopes tributary to the northern part of the Central Valley, and the 

slopes tributary to the Great Basin. The influence of snow, as reflected 

by stream flow records, is discussed to a limited extent by drainage 

basins in the section of this report relating to rainfall and run-off.

Sierra Nevada slopes tributary to south half of Central Valley

Under normal climatic conditions in San Joaquin River Basin, there 

may be precipitation in the form of snow from November to March at altitudes above 3,000 feet. During November 1937, mean daily temperatures 

at altitudes over 3,000 feet averaged from lj° to 2^-° F. above normal, 

and the precipitation, although of substantial amount, averaged from 1 > 

to 3 inches below normal. Very little or no precipitation fell as snow i 

below altitudes of about 4,500 feet, and there was considerably less than 

normal snowfall at altitudes above 4,500 feet.

At stations above 5,600 feet, much of the precipitation took the 

form of snow during four general storm periods, November 6, 11-14, 16-20,
SNOW 69

and 23-24; and at stations above 7,500 feet, snow was reported on the 

ground at the end of the month.

The fragmentary observations of snowfall given in table 3 indicate 

an apparent absence of snow on Sierra Nevada slopes tributary to the 

south half of Central Valley during November at altitudes up to 4,000 

feet. Between altitudes of 4,000 and 5,500 feet, frora a trace to l| 

inches of snow fell, with no snow on the ground at the end of the month. 

Between altitudes of 7,500 and about 9,000 feet, there were appreciable 

snowfalls, and at the end of November there was approximately one foot 

of snow on the ground.

Between November 30 and December 9, preceding the general storrn 

period, there was little if any precipitation in the form of either rain 

or snow recorded in San Joaquin River Basin. Therefore, any snow on the 

ground at the beginning of the general storm period was a remnant of the 

November snowfall, the last of which fell on November 24. During the 

period from November 24 to December 9, maximum temperatures at altitudes 

up to 7,500 feet were well above freezing; and during the period from 

December 4 to 8 the minimum temperatures also were above freezing, a 

condition unusual for December at these altitudes. Below an altitude of 

8,000 feet there was apparently a marked recession in the extent of snow 

cover during the period just preceding the storm.

For the storm period, from December 9 to 12, all the precipitation 

was reported as rain or as snow at certain localities shown in table 3.

From the foregoing records it is indicated that, up to an altitude 

of about 7,500 feet in the south half of the Central Valley, little snow 

fell on December 10 and 11 during the greater part of the storm precipitation, but that in general above an altitude of 5,000 feet snow was associated with the rain on December 12, the last day of the storm. As to 

conditions at altitudes above 7,500 feet, the following observations have 

been furnished by W. A. Lang, chief hydrographer of the Southern California Edison Co., Ltd., based on observations by an employee of that 

company:

December 9, 10, and 11, raining up to altitude of 6,500 feet, with 

storm ending on December 12, with 5-J inches of very wet snow at Florence 

Lake. General observations on December 18 in the vicinity of Kaiser 

Pass, altitude, 9,300 feet, indicate that 100 percent rainfall prevailed 

up to 8,500 feet during the storm period. From 8,500 to 9,000 feet, 

rain and snow combined, with 100 percent snow at altitudes of 9,000 fset

and above. December 19, 19 inches snow on ground at Kaiser Pass and 11

inches of snow on ground at Badger Flats (8,300 feet). Road from Huntington Lake to Kaiser Pass badly washed out but passable to elevation 

8,500 feet where it was closed by washouts.
70 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Mr. W. E. Bonnett, meteorologist, United States Weather Bureau, 

Fresno, concludes in the absence of definite observations that:

At some time near the middle of the storm period, it is highly probable that precipitation|was rain to and even above the 9,000-foot level, 

although the storm began and ended with snow at those altitudes. Aside 

from the initial temperatures of the air mass, the condensation of the 

enormous quantities of moisture released additional heat which undoubtedly was effective in keeping temperatures above the freezing point to 

an unknown altitude above 9,000 feet about the time of maximum precipitation at the known levels. (Letter dated Sept. 19, 1938.)

Sierra Nevada slopes tributary to north half of Central Valley

From November to March in most years, in the Sacramento River Basin, 

precipitation in the form of snow may be expected at altitudes above 

3,000 feet. During November 1937 there was apparently no outstanding 

abnormality with respect to temperatures above an altitude of 3,000 feet, 

for about as many stations recorded mean daily temperatures of 1 to 2 

F. below normal as reported temperatures above normal. The monthly precipitation along the western slopes of the northern Sierra Nevada was 

from 3 to 10 inches above normal.

The records show that in general there was no snow in the north half 

of the Central Valley below an altitude of about 4,500 feet prior to or 

during the flood period from December 9 to 13. The records also show 

there was some snow between 4,500 and 5,500 feet prior to the flood 

period, but that it had generally disappeared before the heavy rains of 

December 10 and 11. The forest supervisor reports that in the Upper Pit 

River Basin there was approximately 3 inches of snow between elevations 

of 5,000 and 6,000 feet which melted and ran off during the flood period. 

Above 6,000 feet there was snow on the ground at the beginning of the 

storm. Below an altitude of about 5,000 feet there was no snow associated 

with the precipitation during this storm. At 7,000 feet a part of the 

precipitation from December 9 to 12 was snow.

E. H. Fletcher, associate meteorologist, United States Weather 

Bureau, Sacramento, reports as follows with respect to snr -mr depths:

The late November storms deposited about 3 feet of snow over the 

headwaters of the American River, but at the beginning of the December 

storm the snow cover above the 6,500-foot level had settled to about 12 

inches. During the first day of the heavy rainfall, December 10, the 

old snow mostly melted, releasing (it is estimated) 2 or 3 inches of 

additional water between 6,500 and 7,500 feet over the American River 

Basin.

The acting superintendent of Lassen Volcanic National Park reports 

as follows with respect to snow observations at an altitude of about 

8,300 feet near Lake Helen at the foot of Lassen Peak.

March 14, 1938--The history of the great snow pack in the park is 

interesting. The first fall storm, October 1 to 5, put down three feet
SNOW 71

of heavy snow at Lake Helen. Most of this melted, but left some in hollows and between rocks. The storms of November built the snow pack at 

Lake Helen to about 8 feet. Then the warm rains of December packed it 

down to about five feet of slush, which subsequently froze into granular 

ice. The pack built up to about 10 feet again in January, settling to 8 

feet by January 26. On January 30, the big snow storm began.

Sierra Nevada slopes tributary to the Great Basin

Along the western margin of the Great Basin, to the east of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Basins, temperatures during November and the 

first part of December 1937 were definitely above normal. Prom Lake 

Tahoe northward the precipitation was materially above normal whereas 

to the south it was subnormal, corresponding with the precipitation 

characteristics in the San Joaquin River Basin. Snow normally accumulates to a considerable extent in this region throughout November. The 

following records indicate that, although there were several falls of 

snow during November 1937, there was also considerable depletion of the 

snow, and that by the end of the month there was appreciable snow cover 

only at the higher altitudes in the central and southern portions. In 

nearly all the area above an altitude of about 6,500 feet, snow was associated with the storm of December 9-12, and in general there was an 

accumulation of snow cover throughout this storm period above an altitude of about 9,000 feet. Below an altitude of 6,500 feet, some precipitation took the form of snow, but melted soon after it fell. A 

forest ranger reports that, in the vicinity of Truckee, southern slopes 

were bare prior to the storm, but that there was some snow on the northern slopes which melted and ran off toward the end of the storm period. 

Although some precipitation fell as rain above an altitude of'9,000 

feet, it appears that much fell as snow.

DETERMINATION OP FLOOD DISCHARGES 

General discussion

In the usual method of determining discharge at a river-measurement 

station, hydraulic engineers of the Geological Survey make current-meter 

measurements to establish a rating curve that will show the discharge for 

any given stage.

Obviously the rating curve can be well defined by measurements for 

the usual range of stage. Its definition is more difficult for high water 

stages, and increasingly difficult for flood stages of rare occurrence 

when conditions for obtaining measurements are most unfavorable.
72 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Complete definition of the rating curve to the highest peak can be 

obtained only by an adequate number of timely measurements and a record 

of channel conditions during the flood. This ideal is difficult to 

realize. Most California streams have very flashy floods and high momentary peaks. They usually carry large quantities of debris and suspended material, and many of their floods rise and pass almost simultaneously, 

and many of them take place during the night. The field engineer is 

further handicapped during flood periods by washed-out or obstructed 

routes of travel and at times by damage to bridges or cableways from 

which discharge measurements are made.

When a current-meter measurement of flood flow is lacking, one or 

more of four different methods is comonly used to determine the maximum 

discharge. The methods are: (1) extension of rating curves for rivermeasurement stations, (2) computation of flow over dams, (3) computation 

of flow from slope-area data, (4) computation of flow through contracted 

openings. The method used depends upon the physical conditions at the 

location and the availability of necessary information. Whenever practicable, the result obtained by one method is one eked by another. Often 

the results of two different methods may be combined so as to produce the 

most probable value.

The methods mentioned are described in standard textbooks and

manuals concerning hydraulics and have been discussed in previous reports

3/ 

of the Geological Survey .

Extension of rating curves for river-measurement stations

When a rating curve is extended beyond the range of discharge 

measurements, proper consideration of all the factors involved is important. Knowledge of channel characteristics upstream and downstream 

from the river-measurement station is required. The changing influence 

of contracted sections downstream and the possibility of backwater from 

lower tributaries should not be overlooked. The channel conditions most 

favorable for the accurate extension of a rating curve consist of a pool, 

or stretch, with comparatively low velocity at the gage, and well-defined 

rapids, riffles, or stable control section not exceeding a few hundred 

feet downstream. If, also, the cross section of the channel increases 

uniformly with stage, then the hydraulic features of the familiar

5/ See Water-Supply Paper 773-E, The New York State flood of July 

1935, pp. 251-254, 1936; Water-Supply Paper 798, The floods of March 1936, 

Part 1, New England Rivers, pp. 70-77, 1937; and Water-Supply Paper 816, 

Major Texas floods of 1936, pp. 12-18, 1937.
EXTENSION OF RATIN3 CURVES FOR RIVER-MEASUREMENT STATIONS 73

rectangular or trapezoidal weir are roughly duplicated, and the shape of 

the extension of the rating curve can be determined within reasonable 

limits.

The cross section of the channel at flood stage, including all overflow and by-pass channels, should be determined by instrumental surveys. 

It may be advisable to obtain such a cross section at more than one point. 

If the measuring section is not at the station gage, rating curves for 

both locations should be extended and the results compared.

When the stream channel at the measuring section is permanent, 

plotting of both area and velocity curves for the measuring section is 

always advisable, using gage height as the ordinate. The area curve is 

developed from field observations. The velocity curve is drawn through 

values of mean velocity, as determined from current-meter measurements, 

and may be extended to peak stage on the basis of knowledge of channel 

conditions. A quantitative study of the variation of the slope and 

channel roughness, as computed from discharge measurements made at a 

standard cross section, will, for some measuring sections, furnish a 

dependable basis for the velocity curve extension. The product of the 

velocity and area at peak gage height gives a check upon peak discharge 

as determined by other methods. In the final result, the product of area 

and velocity, as taken from their respective curves for any gage height, 

must check the discharge indicated by the rating curve for the same gage 

height.

The construction and study of a curve showing the relation of the 

product of the cross-sectional area of the channel and the square root 

of the mean depth (A\/d), to the corresponding discharge, may be helpful. 

The resulting curve will generally approach a straight line.

Plotting of both stage and discharge on logarithmic scales may also 

be useful in making the extension. Before plotting stage, the observed 

gage height should be adjusted, by the addition or subtraction of a 

constant, to the physical conditions of the location. For example, at 

a gaging station with a stable control of uniform elevation across the 

channel, the gage height of zero flow should be subtracted from each observed gage reading. Most logarithmic rating curves tend to be very 

flat curves or straight lines. It is not safe to assume without 

confirmation that a short portion that may be defined as a straight 

line can be extended as a straight line throughout. A difference in 

the upper ends of two curves may appear slight on logarithmic scales 

and yet be surprisingly large in absolute amount. Experience and
74 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

discrimination are essential to the effective use of the logarithmic 

method of extension.

Very often extreme floods will change the channel conditions at 

gaging stations. Discharge measurements made after a peak may define a 

rating curve that Is very different from the one previously developed. 

Both curves must then be extended, and as It is generally assumed that 

the change occurred during the time of maximum flow, the curves are 

merged at or near the maximum stageo

Notwithstanding the application of the best available knowledge 

and experience, the results obtained by extension of the rating curve 

may be subject to considerable error, particularly if the extension Is 

carried far beyond the range defined by current-meter measurements. 

Therefore, special efforts are made to obtain high water measurements 

and to check extensions of rating curves by one or more of the other 

methods of determining discharge.

It should be recognized that, even though the extreme high water 

portion of a rating curve may be somewhat uncertain, the effect upon 

the accuracy of the total measured run-off for a certain storm may be 

relatively slight. This will be readily appreciated when It is considered that many flashy streams in California are at or near peak stage 

for a period of only one to three hours.

Computation of flow over dams

The computation of flow over dams often affords a reliable means 

of determining flood discharge. The common method is use of a weir 

formula, in which the principal factors are length of crest between 

abutments, head on the crest, and a coefficient (C) which varies with 

shape of the crest and the head. The basic formula is commonly expressed as Q=CLHn where Q Is the discharge In second-feet; C, the coefficient for the dam; L, the effective length of the crest In feet; 

H, the head in feet on the crest, measured far enough upstream from 

the dam to avoid surface drawdown; and n, the exponent of H.

The exponent n is usually assumed as 1.5 and then coefficient C 

will generally vary with the head and with different shapes of the 

crest. When several discharge measurements are available, the rating 

may be determined for a sufficient range of stage to define both n and 

C as constants. When C is constant, n will often be somewhat greater 

than 1.5. The velocity of approach In the channel above a dam has an 

influence on the discharge over the dam and in effect increases the
COMPUTATION OP PLOW OVER DAMS 75

head on the crest. The cross-sectional area just upstream from the dam 

should therefore be determined so that the velocity of approach may be 

computed.

Information as to the shape and profile of the crest and other essential features should be obtained from construction plans of the dam 

or by measurement of the dam itself. The head over the dam may be ascertained from gage readings made during the flood or from high water 

marks. Profiles of the high water marks above and below the dam may 

also be desirable.

Data concerning submergence, over-flow channels or other by-passes, 

and diversions through flood gates, sluice ways, and water-wheels should 

be collected. Discharge over a dam may also be affected by an accumulation of logs or other floating debris on the crest. This is especially 

likely to occur if the dam crest carries a bridge or other superstructure, or gates with piers, or if it has equipment for the installation of flashboards.

A large number of dams in California have gates, auxiliary equipment, or superstructures of some kind, so that methods of determination 

required special adaptation to individual conditions. Wherever discharge 

over a dam was used, an effort was made to obtain all pertinent facts 

about the conditions during the flood period.

The exponent n was in general taken as 1.5 and the values for the 

coefficient C were selected from data summarized in Water-Supply Paper

200 or from those contained in recent handbooks. Por some dams the coi/ efficients were determined by Creager's method for ogee sections, for

which the coefficients depend on the ratio of the heads on the crest to 

the head for which the crest was designed. The results obtained are 

believed to be reliable, although many of the determinations were made 

for heads considerably greater than those for which coefficients are 

well established.

Computation of flow from slope-area observations

In the slope-area method, discharge is based upon measurements of 

the slope along a suitable reach of channel and of cross-sectional areas 

at representative points in the reach. The basic formula V^C/RS is that 

of Chezy for the mean velocity of a stream, in which R is the hydraulic 

radius, S the slope (energy gradient), and C a coefficient whose value

4/ Creager, W. P., and Justin, J. D., Hydro-electric handbook,
76 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

depends upon the roughness of the channel and the hydraulic radius. 

This coefficient may be determined by one of several well-known formulas. 

Manning's formula was used In computations for this report. In Its simplified form the Chezy-Mannlng formula becomes V = 1 ' 486 R2/3 S1/2 . The 

coefficient n Is Intended to express the degree of roughness of the 

channel. However, It contains other elements that absorb the energy of 

flowing water. Among these elements are adverse bottom slope, and also 

Irregularities of allnement In banks and stream bed and other physical 

factors that cause cross currents, eddies, and turbulence.

The values of n chosen and used In this report were based upon 

available published data and the experience of engineers of the Geological Survey In preparing earlier flood reports, such as the series 

on the floods of March 1936 In the eastern part of the United States.

Many of the data from which the formulas and coefficients were 

derived were based on observation In stream channels with gentle slopes, 

little turbidity, and uniform beds and cross sections that were free 

from bends or other characteristics that would tend to produce Irregular 

and turbulent flow. The applicability of formulas and coefficients thus 

derived, to streams of steep slope, great turbulence, high silt load, 

and perhaps a large volume of coarser material moving as a bed load, Is 

somewhat doubtful. Unfortunately the flashy streams, which are very 

difficult to reach and measure by current meter at high stages, often 

have these unfavorable characteristics. Therefore, the slope-area 

method was used for such streams only In conjunction with some other 

method or, at a very few locations, because no other method was 

available.

Surveys to obtain slopes and areas were necessarily made after the 

flood had passed. The most favorable reach available was selected and 

the high water line was staked out on both banks, from observation of 

flood marks left by the stream, or as marked by reliable observers. Two 

or more cross sections were obtained for all reaches. After the field 

notes were plotted, an allowance, based on field observation, was made 

for surge and splash of waves on the banks, and slope lines and cross 

sections were appropriately adjusted thereto. If the cross sections 

were not reasonably uniform and symmetrical, or If there was a notlcable 

difference In the character of the two banks, the channel was divided 

Into more than one section, each with Its suitable value of n. By 

selecting a reach with nearly uniform area throughout, It was not 

necessary to compute the velocity head or to correct the surface slope
COMPUTATION OF FLOW FROM SLOPE-AREA OBSERVATIONS 77

to show the energy grade line. For the few locations where it was necessary to consider these factors the correction was very small.

As an example of the application of the slope-area method, the basic 

data used in the determination of discharge of the Little Truckee River 

near Boca, Calif., are shown in figure 29.

Computation of flow through contracted openings

Peak discharge may sometimes be computed from data obtained where a 

stream passes through a contracted opening, such as the space between 

bridge abutments. There is an increase in velocity at the contraction, 

resulting from conversion of potential to kinetic energy. The velocity 

is determined from the increase in velocity head in entering the contraction with appropriate allowance for the influence of friction and velocity 

of approach. The velocity of approach is computed from the cross-sectional 

area of approach channel by using a kind of successive approximations until the contracted-opening formula is satisfied. The determination, from 

flood marks, of the surface profile through the contraction is generally 

subject to considerable error and in some cases is impracticable. An 

accurate estimation of the friction loss, particularly when it is large, 

is likewise subject to considerable error. In northern California, 

opportunities to use this method in a satisfactory way are limited.

Only a few suitable contracted-opening sections were available for 

determining the discharge for inclusion in this report, and they were

used only to verify the results obtained by other methods. The follow5/

ing formula was applied:

V2 

= k A\/2g (H + |g- - hf )

Where Q = discharge in second-feet

k = coefficient of contraction

A = area,in square feet, of most contracted section

H = surface drop, in feet, at entrance to the contracted

section

V = velocity of approach, in feet per second 

hf = head loss, in feet, due to friction.

5/ See Houk, I. E., Calculation of flow in open channels; Miami 

Conservancy Dist. Tech. Repts., pt. 4, p. 262, 1918.
Altitude In feet above assumed datum

Altitude in feet 

above assumed datum

 JSe

1+10

. J

/j

I

\

\

A

1

l\

IV

J

V

-11 

1

Se

/

° '

otior 

3+50

-tion

6+30

I

HC1- 

so

B_

?

1 1

H,

Ct

D'

SO

&

C
STAGES AND DISCHARGES AT RIVER-MEASUREMENT STATIONS 79

One of the principal purposes of this report is to make available 

information about the stages and discharges of streams during the flood 

of December 1937 in more detail than appears in the annual water-supply 

papers of the Geological Survey. Basic information is furnished for use 

in the study of the flood crests, the influence of crests from various 

tributaries, and the progress of flood peaks throughout a river system. 

This information is valuable for comparative studies of the characteristics of floods and for analysis that may lead to reliable forecasting 

of flood stages. The data are useful in planning flood protection and 

control works by reservoirs, levees, and channel improvements. The records should also be helpful in planning future bridge and highway construction as well as in the design and layout of hydraulic structures, 

other improvements, and urban development which may have a relation to 

stream channels or their flood plains.

Records published in this report are for streams on which floods 

occurred in December 1937, or that are situated adjacent to the margins 

of the storm-area and therefore serve to define the extent of the floods.

Explanation of data

The basic data systematically collected at river-measurement stations consist of stage, measurement of discharge, and general information useful in determining the daily flow. The records of stage are 

obtained by water-stage recorders, which give a continuous record of the 

fluctuations, or for a very few river-measurement stations, by direct 

readings on nonrecording gages. Peak stages during flood periods are obtained from flood marks at the station if they have not been previously 

observed or recorded. Measurements of discharge are generally made with 

a current meter according to methods outlined in standard text books on 

the measurement of river discharge. Typical river-measurement stations, 

equipped with water-stage recorder and measuring cable and car, are 

shown in plate 12, _A, on page 12. At a few stations discharge is determined from venturi meters, calibrated gates, or output from hydroelectric plants.

In general the data presented for each river-measurement station in 

this report comprise a description of the station, a table of daily and 

monthly discharge throughout the 3-month period, November 1937 to January 

1938, and a second table of stage and discharge at bi-hourly intervals 

from December 8 to 25, 1937. The presentation of the data has followed 

a uniform plan as far as practicable.
80 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

The description of the station contains in the first paragraph information about the location of the gage and its datum in reference to 

mean sea level, when known. A second paragraph gives the size of the 

drainage area upstream from the station. The next paragraph, about 

gage-height record, describes the method of determining the stage during 

the flood. In a fourth paragraph, on stage-discharge relation, there is 

information about the range to which the rating curve is defined by 

current-meter measurements and the method used to extend the rating curve 

to the peak of the flood. This is followed by a paragraph on maximum 

stages which lists the discharge, time, date, and gage height of the peak 

flow during the December flood. Similar data are included for the 

largest flood that occurred during the period of continuous record preceding December 1937, and also at some stations for floods antedating 

such period of record. The year indicating the beginning of the continuous record is the first year for which flood records are available. 

Therefore the initial year shown may be one year later than that indicated in the annual water-supply papers of the Geological Survey. For 

a few stations, where the December flood was followed by a flood peak in 

February or March 1938 which was higher than any previously recorded, the 

flood peak of 1938 has also been listed. The sixth and final paragraph, 

under the heading of "Remarks", furnishes data about storage or diversions upstream from the station, and other miscellaneous information.

The table following each description shows mean daily discharge in 

second-feet, mean monthly discharge in second-feet, and monthly run-off 

in acre-feet for the period November 1, 1937, to January 31, 1938- This 

covers the flood period and sufficient time before and after it to show 

the relation of flood discharges to the prevalent discharges, and to give 

a general perspective of the December flood. For stations at which the 

records are materially affected by storage or diversions, the natural 

monthly run-off in acre-feet has been computed and added to the table 

when the information necessary for the correction was available.

The table of gage height and discharge at indicated times was 

designed to present the details of the rise and recession of the flood. 

It begins on December 8, one to three days before the start of the flood 

rise, and continues through December 25, when the flood had largely 

passed out of the river system into either the ocean or the lower broad 

reaches of the Central Valley. This table is accompanied by footnotes 

of supplemental records of stage and discharge when needed to define 

accurately subsidiary peaks or valleys in the hydrograph that would
EXPLANATION OP DATA 81

otherwise not be disclosed in the bi-hourly listing. The table is designed to give sufficient data so that complete stage or discharge 

graphs may be plotted. Some streams showed steady or slowly changing 

stages before and after the flood period and so it was not considered 

necessary to list in those records the bi-hourly data for the whole 

18-day period. In reducing the number of items shown for each day, no 

data were omitted that would appreciably affect the accuracy when reproducing a graph of stage or discharge. Figure 30 gives two examples 

of stage and discharge plotted from typical computations of data; figure 

31 shows graphs of mean daily discharge at selected river-measurement 

stations for the 3"-month period; and discharge graphs for various 

streams are shown in figures 32 to 41.

The stages at indicated times were obtained from the water-stage 

recorders so far as such records were available. At a very few stations 

the records consist of a small number of gage readings each day, and at 

several others the water-stage recorders failed to operate or were submerged by high water. At the latter stations the peak stages were determined from flood marks. Where the available information was sufficient, stage graphs were completed by comparison with other records on 

the same stream or on nearby streams. Stages at indicated times were 

then taken from the constructed graphs. At a small number of stations 

the data were so meager that no attempt was made to complete the flood 

record.

The discharges at indicated times were obtained from the gage 

heights by application of the rating table. At some river-measurement 

stations the flood caused a change in stage-discharge relation and two 

rating tables were used, one up to the peak and the other afterwards. 

It is assumed that generally the two rating curves and tables merge at 

the peak. For some stations, such as those with shifting sand channels, 

the stage-discharge relation changed continuously and a graduated correction was applied to the gage heights before computing the discharges. 

For these stations it is explained in the paragraph on stage-discharge 

relation that the shifting control method was used. Where the normal 

stage-discharge relation was affected by backwater from tributaries or 

other cause, proper correction was made in the computation of discharge.

For six stations in Owens River Basin the bi-hourly data, as furnished by the city of Los Angeles, show mean gage height and discharge 

for the two-hour period immediately preceding the hour listed, instead
Gage height,

in feet, at

indicated time

Discharge, in thousands

of second-feet, at

indicated time

7

Mean daily

discharge

in thousands

of second-feet

to to

Gage h

in fee

indicate
Mean dally discharge In thousands of sec

to 01
Discharge In thousands of second-fee
Discharge In thousands of second-fe
THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

San Joaquin River above Big Creek

San Joaquin River near Priant

San Joaquin River near Newman

San Joaqui.n River near Vernalis

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 

December 1937

19 20

Figure 34. Graphs of discharge at various river-measurement stations on 

the San Joaquin Kiver, December 8-20, 1937.
Discharge In thousands of second-fe
Discharge in thousands of seoond-fe
Discharge in thousands of second-fe

I
90 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

225

200

175

150

125

100

75

50

25

0

80

60

40

20

0

15

10

5

0

80

60

40

20

0

10

Feather River 

near Oroville

Middle Fork of Feather River 

at Bidwell Bar

South Fork of Feather River 

at Enterprise

Yuba River 

at Smartville

Bear Rivernear Wheatland

13 14 15 

December 1937

18

Figure 38. Graphs of discharge at various river-measurement stations 

in the Feather River Basin, December 8-20, 1937.
EXPLANATION OP DATA 91

Middle Forlc of American River 

i near Auburn

South Fork of American River 

at Coloma

Silver Greek 

near Placerville

13 14 15 

December 1937

16

Figure 39. Graphs of discharge at various river-measurement stations 

in the American River Basin, December 8-SO, 1937.
92 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 

December 1937

Figure 40.--Graphs of discharge at various river-measurement stations

on tributaries to the Sacramento River from the west,

December 8-20, 1937.
EXPLANATION OP DATA 93

13 14 15 

December 1937

Figure 41. Graphs of discharge at various river-measurement stations In 

the Eel and Elamath River Basins, December 8-20, 1937.
94 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

of gage height and discharge at the hour as for other records in the 

report.

The standardized forms for descriptions and tables have been modified to meet the various types of records for storage reservoirs, and 

for special combinations of records for reservoirs, diversions, and 

river records.

Where a water-stage recorder record was available for reservoirs, 

the stage at midnight of any day was taken directly from the original 

graph. But for many reservoirs a staff gage was read at a regular hour 

each day; for most of these a stage graph was constructed on the basis 

of the regular readings, peak stage, and any additional gage readings 

that may have been made during the flood period. Prom this constructed 

graph the daily midnight stage was obtained and used in computing contents for the day. As daily discharge records are based on the 24-hour 

period from midnight to midnight, reservoir records that are used for 

correction of river discharge records to ascertain natural flow should 

be based on contents at midnight.

The records are arranged in accordance with the regular plan used by 

the Geological Survey in its water-supply papers. The only exception is 

that, in the annual papers, records for the Great Basin in California are 

published in part 10 and those for the remainder of California in part 11 

whereas in this special paper the Great Basin records are included, immediately following those for the North Pacific basins.

The maximum discharges at river-measurement stations for the December flood, the highest flood in previous years, and other related information is summarized in table 4 (pp. 288-298). The momentary peak 

discharges for December 1937 as determined for a number of miscellaneous 

streams and locations have also been included in table 4.

One of the items included in table 4 is discharge for the 24 consecutive hours of highest discharge. This item is listed under the heading of "maximum 24-hour average", and is to be distinguished from the 

maximum mean daily discharge, which is the largest mean discharge for a 

calendar day. The largest discharge for a calendar day may range from 50 

percent to 100 percent of the maximum 24-hour discharge, and always includes the element of chance in the timing of the momentary peak. For 

any given basin the momentary peak may be influenced by such variable 

factors as soil moisture, temperature, frost, snow on the ground, vegetation, direction of storm movement, intensity and distribution of rainfall, and channel storage. The variable influence of many of these
EXPLANATION OP DATA 95

factors will be reduced or offset when maximum 24-hour discharge is used, 

and for some studies it therefore has definite advantages over the momentary peak discharge and maximum calendar day discharge. There are 

unexplored possibilities in the study of the maximum 24-hour discharge 

in comparison with the momentary peak and with the totel and average 

run-off for a storm. These relations are discussed in the section on 

"Run-off characteristics".

Table 4 also gives maximum 24-hour discharge per square mile. This 

term may possibly be more valuable for analysis of flood concentration 

than any other expression of discharge. It is especially useful in comparing the effects of a given storm upon adjacent basins.

Reference should be made to the water-supply papers of the Geological Survey for other records of flow of the streams discussed in this 

report. The records in this report are based on all information available at the time of compilation. Changes in river channels due to 

floods may have affected the stage-discharge relation for some rivermeasurement stations at medium and low discharges, without such changes 

being fully defined at the time these records were compiled. Any revisions found necessary will be published in subsequent water-supply 

papers.

Miscellaneous flood stages on the San Joaquin River

Records of stage have been maintained by the California State Division of Water Resources in cooperation with the United States Bureau of 

Reclamation, and by Miller & Lux, Inc., at several locations on the San 

Joaquin River in addition to those for which discharge has been computed. 

The crest stages at these stations are summarized in table 10 in the 

section entitled "Flood crests".

The total flow of the San Joaquin River is in one channel and can 

be measured at the river-measurement stations near Priant and at Skaggs 

Bridge. Downstream from Skaggs Bridge the river, at flood stages, spreads 

over a wide area of overflow lands and sloughs, and it is not practicable 

to measure the total flow of the river again until the river-measurement 

station near Newman, below the mouth of the Merced River, is reached. 

Between Skaggs Bridge and Newman, records of stage only are available at 

several places. In order to show the relative stages at various places 

along the river, figure 42 has been prepared. It shows graphically the 

flattening effect of natural channel storage as the river spreads out 

downstream from Skaggs Bridge.
THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

350

(near

Mendota Dam

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 

December

Figure 42. Qraphs of stage at various river-stage stations on the San Joaguln Hlver,

December 1937.
SALINAS RIVER BASIN 97

Salinas River near Santa Margarita, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 35°24'20lt , long. 120°34'05", in Hi sec. 15, T. 29 S., R. 13 E., 250 

feet below Calf Canyon highway bridge, 250 feet above Morano Creek, and 2f miles 

northeast of Santa Margarita, San Luis Obispo County. Altitude, about 960 feet 

above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 150 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 1,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of shape of former rating curve defined to 

3,000 second-feet. Shifting-control method used Nov. 1 to Dec. 11. Rating curve 

changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 3,550 second-feet 9:30 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

 10T24 feet).

1932-November 1937t Discharge, 7,260 second-feet Feb. 6, 1937 (gage height, 

14.35 feet), from rating curve extended above 3,000 second-feet on basis of velocityarea study.

January-September 1938: Discharge, about 11,000 second-feet 10 a.m. Feb. 11 

(gage height, 17.0 feet), from rating curve extended above 1,900 second-feet on 

basis of velocity-area study.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversions.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1957 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0

.1

.1

.1

.1

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

Dec.

0.8

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.6

1.6

1.6

2.0

2.4

4.2

Jan.

7

7.5

6.5

6

5.5

5

5

4.9

4.7

4.7

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0.5

.8

.3

.5

.5

.5

3.3

2.4

.8

.5

Dec.

1,400

553

62

34

24

19

15

13

12

11

Jan.

4.7

4.4

4.4

4.4

11

9

8

8

10

9.5

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

0.5

.5

.5

.8

.5

.5

.5

.8

.8

.8

35

Dec.

11

10

10

9

8.5

9

8.5

8

8

7.5

7

4,480

Jan.

8

7

6.5

6.5

6.5

6.5

6

8

10

9

12

429

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

h

3

o

«

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

-

-

-

-

3.96

-

-

-

-

-

3.96

Deceit

-

-

3.83

-

-

3.77

-

-

3.72

-

-

3.67

Decer

-

-

-

-

-

3.35

-

-

-

-

-

3.34

_

-

-

-

-

2.0

-

-

-

-

-

2.0

ber 14

-

-

38

-

-

34

-

-

30

-

-

27

iber 20

-

-

-

-

-

11

-

-

-

-

-

11

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

_

-

3.96

_

-

3.97

-

-

3.99

-

-

3.99

Deceu

-

-

3.63

-

_

3.60

-

-

3.58

-

-

3.56

Decei

-

-

-

-

-

3.34

-

-

-

-

-

3.33

_

_

2.0

_

2.4

-

_

3.3

-

-

3.3

iber 15

-

-

25

-

-

23

-

22

-

_

21

aber 21

-

-

-

-

_

11

-

_

-

-

-

10

Peet Sec. ft.

December 10

_

_

4.02

_

4.02

-

-

4.02

-

-

4.00

_

_

4.6

_

_

4.6

-

_

4.6

-

-

3.7

December 16

-

-

3.54

-

_

3.52

-

-

3o49

_

-

3.48

Decen

-

-

-

-

-

3.32

-

-

-

-

-

3.33

-

-

20

_

_

19

-

-

18

-

_

17

iber 22

-

-

-

-

-

10

-

-

-

-

-

10

Peet Sec. ft.

December 11

4.00

4.00

4.00

4.20

4.50

5.35

8.26

9.35

9.65

9.90

10.20

8.97

Deceit

-

-

3.45

_

_

3.44

-

-

3.43

-

-

3.41

Decen

_

-

-

-

_

3.33

-

-

-

-

-

3.31

3.7

3.7

3.7

23

97

407

2,080

2,870

3,110

3,310

3,550

2,480

ber 17

_

-

16

_

-

15

-

-

14

-

_

14

iber 23

_

_

-

-

-

10

-

_

-

-

-

9.5

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

7.70

6.95

6.50

5.97

5.63

5.34

5.11

4.94

4.79

4.67

4.57

4.47

Dec en

_

-

3.40

_

-

3.40

-

-

3.39

_

_

3.38

Decen

-

-

-

-

_

3.30

-

-

-

-

-

3.29

1,560

1,070

800

516

376

285

226

188

159

138

121

106

ber 18

-

-

13

_

-

13

-

-

13

_

-

12

iber 24

-

-

-

-

_

9

-

-

-

-

-

8.5

Peet Sec. ft.

December 13

_

4.32

_

4.18

_

4.09

_

4.00

_

3.94

-

3.89

Decen

-

-

_

_

-

3.37

-

-

-

-

-

3.36

Deceit -'

-

-

-

_

3.29

-

-

-

-

-

3.29

_

86

_

69

_

59

-

51

-

46

-

42

ber 19

-

-

_

-

_

12

-

-

-

-

-

11

ber 25

-

-

-

-

-

8.5

-

-

-

-

-

8.5

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 9s30 p.m., 10.24 ft., 3,550 sec.-ft.
98 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Salinas.River near Spreckels, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 36°37 t 5011 , long. 1210 40'40n , in El Toro grant, at bridge on SalinasMonterey highway, half a mile above Toro Creek, 2 miles west of Spreckels, and 4 

miles south of Salinas, Monterey County. Altitude, about 50 feet above mean sea 

level.

Drainage area.- 4,180 square miles.

Page-height i-ecord.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements for entire range of 

stage. Subject to large shifts at high stages. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 13,400 second-feet 10 p.m. Dec. 12 (gage height,

 16777 feet).

1930-November 1937: Discharge, about 42,100 second-feet Dec. 29, 1931 (gage 

height, 20.40 feet), from rating curve extended above 26,000 second-feet on basis 

of slope-area determination of flood flow.

January-September 1938» Discharge, about 75,000 second-feet 6:30 a.m. Feb. 12 

(gage height, 25.0 feet), from rating curve extended above 25,800 second-feet with 

aid of area-velocity study, verified by slope-area determination of flood flow. 

1911-38: Maximum stage known, 26.6 feet, Mar. 7, 1911, from floodmai-k (discharge not determined).

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversions.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

2.7

2.5

2.5

2.7

3.0

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.3

3.5

Dec.

3.5

3.5

3.5

3.5

3.3

3.3

3.5

3.6

3.8

5.5

Jan.

66

57

52

44

39

37

33

31

28

27

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

3.5

3.5

3.5

3.8

3.8

3.8

4.3

4.1

3.8

3.6

Dec.

6

7,520

8,500

3,650

1,960

1,290

925

670

508

392

Jan.

24

23

22

21

21

20

29

167

246

309

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet .........................................

Nov.

3.6

3.5

3.5

3.5

3.5

3.5

3.3

3.3

3.3

3.3

201

Dec.

305

252

230

185

158

136

120

104

92

79

72

53,930

Jan.

412

535

602

490

400

340

301

272

266

252

340

i rrn

10,920

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

£

m

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

-

_

-

3.69

_

-

-

-

-

3.69

Decen

11.44

11.14

10.85

10.58

10.31

10.06

9.89

9.69

9.50

9.32

9.13

8.96

Decen

_

5.14

_

5.10

-

5.06

5.02

_

4.98

_

4.96

_

-

-

-

3.6

-

-

-

-

3.6

ber 14

5,030

4,670

4,340

4,040

3,760

3,510

3,350

3,170

3,000

2,860

2,700

2,570

iber 20

_

421

.

404

-

388

-

372

_

356

_

348

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

_

3.69

_

3.67

_

3.68

-

3.72

-

3.73

-

3.74

Decen

_

8.63

-

8.32

-

8.06

-

7.84

-

7.63

_

7.45

Decor

_

_

_

-

_

4.86

_

-

_

-

_

4.79

_

3.6

_

3.3

_

3.5

4.3

-

4.6

_

4.9

iber 15

_

2,320

_

2,100

-

1,940

_

1,800

_

1,680

_

1,570

iber 21

_

_

_

.

_

305

_

-

_

_

_

283

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

_

3.77

_

3.76

_

3.76

_

3.75

3.74

_

3.73

Decen

_

7.24

_

7.08

_

6.92

_

6.80

_

6.67

_

6.54

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

4.70

_

_

_

_

_

4.66

_

5.5

_

5.5

_

5.5

_

5

_

4.9

_

4.6

ber 16

_

1,450

_

1,360

1,280

_

1,210

_

1,140

_

1,070

ber 22

_

_

_

_

_

252

_

_

.

_

_

239

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

_

3.76

_

3.80

_

3.80

_

3.78

_

3.77

_

3.76

_

5.5

_

6.5

_

6.5

_

6

_

5.5

_

5.5

December 17

_

6.44

_

6.32

_

6.22

_

6.12

_

6.01

_

5.95

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

4.63

_

_

_

_

_

4,57

_

1,020

_

960

_

910

_

860

_

810

_

782

ber 23

_

_

_

_

_

230

_

_

_

_

_

210

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 12

7.45

10.20

11.02

11.23

11.60

12.59

13.85

15.11

15.98

16.55

16.77

16.62

Decem

_

5.86

_

5.79

_

5.71

_

5.65

_

5.58

.»

5.52

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

4.49

_

_

_

_

_

4.45

1,570

3,650

4,520

4,780

5,220

6,530

8,380

10,500

12,000

13,000

13,400

13,100

ber 18

_

742

_

710

_

674

_

648

_

616

_

589

ber 24

_

_

_

_

_

185

_

_

_

_

_

173

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

16.15

15.62

15.02

14.41

13.90

13.52

13.17

12.88

12.59

12.32

12.04

11.75

Decem

_

5.45

5.39

_

5.33

_

5.29

5.24

_

5.18

Decen

_

_

_

_

4.40

_

_

_

_

_

4.35

12,300

11,400

10,300

9,300

8,450

7,880

7,360

6,930

6,530

6,150

5,760

5,400

ber 19

_

558

_

530

_

504

_

486

_

464

_

438

ber 25

_

_

_

_

_

158

_

_

_

_

_

144
SALINAS RIVER BASIN 99

San Antonio River at Pleyto, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 35°51'55", long. 120°59'30", In Pleyto grant, at highway bridge at old 

town site of Pleyto, Monterey County, 1.1 miles below Copperhead Creek and 15 miles 

west of Bradley. Altitude, about 720 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 282 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements.

Maxima.- December 1957: Discharge, 6,100 seoond-feet 4:30 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

4.30 feet).

1930-November 1937s Discharge, 7,460 second-feet Dec. 28, 1931 (gage height, 

4.55 feet), from rating curve extended above 7,300 second-feet.

January-September 1938J Discharge, 10,700 second-feet 7 a.m. Feb. 11 (gage 

height, 5.10 feet), from rating curve extended above 7,300 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Uean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

299

Jan.

58

54

50

47

43

43

43

40

38

36

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

3,140

1,660

639

429

326

243

204

194

187

147

Jan.

34

33

30

30

36

40

45

117

117

156

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dee.

130

128

128

125

114

109

96

86

78

72

66

277

17,060

Jan.

136

112

99

89

81

72

66

87

96

114

189

72.0

4,430

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

£oW

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Isee.ft.

December 8

Decei

_

1.86

_

1.81

_

1.77

_

1.73

1.70

_

1.67

Deceu

_

1.17

_

1.13

_

1.07

-

1.03

-

1.04

_

1.04

iber 14

M

476

_

446

_

424

_

402

-

385

_

370

iber 20

_

171

_

159

_

142

_

130

_

133

_

133

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

Decen

^

1.63

_

1.61

_

1.57

_

1.53

-

1.51

_

1.47

Decen

_

_

1.04

_

_

1.03

-

_

1.04

_

-

1.02

her 15

350

-

340

_

322

_

304

294

_

278

iber 21

_

_

133

-

_

130

_

_

133

_

-

128

Feet |sec.ft.

December 10

_

-

_

_

-

1.80

2.08

2.23

2.21

2.28

2.40

Decen

_

1.44

_

1.40

_

1.36

_

1.33

1.32

_

1.31

Decen

«

_

1.02

-

_

1.02

-

_

1.01

-

-

1.02

0

0

0

0

0

0

440

612

718

702

755

850

ber 16

266

_

250

_

236

_

226

-

222

_

218

ber 22

_

_

128

_

_

128

_

_

125

_

-

128

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

2.40

2.32

2.49

2.88

2.93

3.19

4.15

4.23

4.21

4.18

4.18

3.87

850

786

931

1,380

1,460

1,930

5,350

5,750

5,650

5,500

5,500

4,080

December 17

_

1.30

_

1.27

_

1.27

_

1.26

_

1.26

_

1.26

Decen

_

_

1.02

_

_

1.03

_

_

1.03

_

_

1.02

_

215

_

204

_

204

_

201

201

_

201

ber 23

_

_

128

_

_

130

_

_

130

_

_

128

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

3.58

3.41

3.26

3.12

2.98

2.88

2.75

2.67

2.58

2.51

2.43

2.37

2,990

2,480

2,100

1,790

1,540

1,380

1,210

1,120

1,020

950

877

826

December 18

_

_

1.26

_

_

1.24

_

.

1.23

_

_

1.22

Decen

_

_

1.01

_

_

1.01

_

_

1.00

_

_

.99

_

_

201

_

_

194

_

.

190

_

_

187

ber 24

_

_

125

_

_

125

_

_

122

_

_

119

Feet 1 Sec.ft.

December 13

2.32

2.28

2.22

2.19

2.15

2.11

2.07

2.04

2.01

1.98

1.95

1.91

Decen

^

_

1.22

_

_

1.23

_

.

1.22

_

1.19

Decen

_

_

0.98

_

_

.97

_

_

.97

_

-

.96

786

755

710

688

660

632

606

586

566

548

530

506

ber 19

_

_

187

_

_

190

_

-

187

_

_

177

ber 25

_

_

117

-

_

114

_

_

114

_

_

112

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 12:30 p.m., no flow] 1 p.m., 1.50 ft., 290 sec. -ft.

Dec. 11, 4t30 p.m., 4.30 ft., 6,100 sec. -ft.
100 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Arroyo Seoo near Soledad, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 36°16'0511 , long. 1210 19'55", in N«i sec. 21, T. 19 S., R. 6 E., half a 

mile downstream from Yaquero Creek and 11 miles south of Soledad, Monterey County. 

Altitude, about 370 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage are a.- 238 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 7,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage by A\/d method, verified by area-velocity study. Shifting-control method used Nov. 1 to Jan. 5. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 19371 Discharge, about 13,400 second-feet 8 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

height, 15.1 feet).

1901-November 1937: Discharge observed, about 22,000 second-feet Feb. 21, 1917, 

and Nov. 25, 1926 (gage height, 16.5 feet, from nonrecording gage), from rating 

curve extended above 7,500 second-feet.

January-September 1938: Discharge, about 16,000 second-feet Feb. 11 (gage 

height, 16.5 feet), from rating curve extended above 7,000 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

3.3

3.3

3.6

4.3

4.3

4.6

5

5

5.5

5.5

Dec.

12

12

12

12

13

13

13

13

17

1,380

Jan.

67

70

77

70

67

65

63

62

60

59

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

6

10

12

10

11

12

11

15

16

13

Dec.

6,880

1,470

669

426

299

233

190

166

144

132

Jan.

57

56

55

55

72

75

137

142

162

238

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

9 35

556

Dec.

117

108

105

99

91

86

81

79

76

74

71

25,970

Jan.

170

144

128

114

105

97

91

97

220

181

1,700

1 ^^

9,430

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

&

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

3

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

_

_

_

_

2.25

.

_

_

_

_

2.25

Decen

_

4.16

_

4.07

_

4.00

_

3.92

_

3.83

-

3.75

Decen

_

_

_

-

-

2.91

_

_

_

_

_

2.88

-

_

_

_

_

13

_

_

_

_

_

13

ber 14

_

482

_

450

_

426

_

399

-

368

_

342

iber 20

_

_

_

_

-

130

-

_

_

_

_

124

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

_

2.25

_

2.26

_

2.26

_

2.31

_

2.37

_

2.50

Decen

_

_

3.67

_

-

3.61

-

_

3.54

_

_

3.47

Decen

_

_

-

_

_

2.85

_

_

_

_

_

2.83

_

13

_

14

_

14

_

18

_

23

_

33

iber 15

_

_

317

_

_

299

_

_

278

_

_

258

iber 21

_

_

_

_

_

117

_

_

_

_

_

114

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

5.13

5.91

5.84

6.58

6.52

6.19

5.85

6.10

6.61

6.31

5.95

6.33

Decen

_

_

3.41

_

_

3.38

_

_

3.34

_

_

3.29

Decen

_

_

_

-

-

2.80

_

_

_

_

_

2.78

865

1,300

1,250

1,780

1,740

1,490

1,260

1,430

1,810

1,580

1,320

1,590

ber 16

_

_

841

_

_

233

_

_

222

_

_

210

ber 22

_

_

_

_

_

108

_

_

_

_

_

105

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

6.90

7.48

11.00

15.10

13.78

14.63

13.34

11.93

10.38

9.15

8.20

7.66

Decen

_

_

3.23

_

_

3.21

_

_

3.18

_

_

3.13

Decen

_

-

-

_

_

2.79

_

_

-

_

_

2.77

2,040

2,550

6,850

13,400

11,000

12,600

10,400

8,240

5,980

4,380

3,300

2,760

ber 17

_

_

195

_

_

190

_

_

184

-

_

173

ber 23

_

_

_

_

_

107

-

_

-

_

_

104

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 12

7.21

6.85

6.50

6.16

5.95

5.82

5.70

5.60

5.50

5.38

5.25

5.15

Decen

_

_

-

-

-

3.10

_

_

_

-

_

3.04

Decen

_

-

-

-

2.74

-

_

-

_

_

2.71

2,360

2,040

1,760

1,510

1,370

1,290

1,220

1,160

1,100

1,030

958

905

ber 18

_

_

_

-

-

166

_

_

_

-

-

154

ber 24

_

_

-

-

_

99

-

-

-

_

_

94

Feet

Deoen

_

4.95

4.76

_

4.62

.

4.50

_

4.38

_

4.26

Sec. ft.

iber 13

_

805

_

716

_

656

_

608

_

562

_

518

December 19

_

_

_

-

-

2.98

-

_

-

-

_

2.95

Decem

_

_

_

_

-

2.69

-

-

-

-

_

2.68

_

_

_

_

_

142

_

_

_

_

_

137

ber 25

_

_

-

_

_

91

-

-

_

-

_

90
PAJARO RIVER BASIN 101 

TJvas Creek near Morgan Hill, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°04 l OOn , long. 121°41'30", in Las TJvaa grant, 500 feet above TJvaa 

Dam, 0.6 mile below Eastman Canyon, and 4.8 miles southwest of Morgan Hill, Santa 

Clara County. Altitude, about 390 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 30.2 square miles.

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 11 p.m. Dec. 10 to 

3 p.m. Dec. 14, when stage graph was based on peak stage obtained from floodmark in 

well, partial recorder graph, two staff gage readings Dec. 11, and shape of -stage 

graphs for nearby streams.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 2,750 secondfeet; extended to peak stage with aid of area-velocity study. Rating curve changed 

at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937» Discharge, 8,630 second-feet 1 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

13.7 feet, from floodmark in well).

1930-November 1937: Discharge, 4,340 second-feet Dec. 27, 1931 (gage height, 

10.82 feet), from rating curve extended above 2,100 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.7

.6

.6

.7

Dec.

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.4

12

2,390

Jan.

18

20

18

17

17

16

15

15

15

14

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

2.0

2.0

1.1

1.9

2.2

1.4

4.1

2.4

1.5

1.2

Dec.

3,950

438

194

121

93

74

61

52

46

40

Jan.

14

14

14

14

14

14

28

21

47

37

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

4.9

2.6

1.9

1.7

1.7

1.5

1.4

1.2

1.2

1.2

1 49

89

Dec.

37

33

31

29

27

25

23

22

21

20

19

15,410

Jan.

27

24

21

19

18

17

17

62

66

44

523

 Z Q A

2,420

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

1&

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

10

M

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

-

-

-

-

-

2.29

-

-

-

-

-

2.31

Deceit

_

_

3.52

_

3.48

-

-

3.46

_

3.43

Decei

_

_

2.96

_

2.95

-

_

2. 93

-

-

2.93

.

-

-

-

-

1.2

-

-

-'

-

-

1.5

ber 14

_

_

127

_

119

-

_

116

_

110

iber 20

_

_

42

_

40

-

_

38

-

_

38

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

2.31

2.31

2.31

2.31

2.32

2.33

2.35

2.40

2.45

2.55

2.86

3.98

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.7

1.9

2.2

3.3

4.6

8

26

232

December 15

_

_

3.36

_

3.34

_

_

3.30

_

3.26

Decei

_

_

2.93

_

2.92

-

_

2.91

_

_

2.90

_

_

98

_

95

_

_

88

_

82

iber 21

_

_

38

~_

37

_

_

36

_

_

35

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

7.23

9.78

9.74

7.75

7.83

7.07

5.50

4.84

4.74

6.47

11.00

13.19

1,840

3,930

3,890

2,160

2,220

1,740

845

541

499

1,380

5,290

7,970

December 16

_

_

3.23

_

3.21

_

_

3.18

_

3.16

Decen

_

_

-

~_

2.88

_

_

_

_

_

2.88

_

_

77

2

74

_

_

69

_

66

iber 22

_

_

-

~

33

_

_

_

_

_

33

Feet Sec.f t.

December 11

13.62

11.90

12.00

11.65

10.00

9.35

8.22

7.45

6.69

5.95

5.50

5. 25

Decen

_-

_

3.14

3.12

_

_

3.10

I

3.09

Decei

_

_

-

"

2.86

_

_

_

_

_

2.84

8,530

6,370

6,490

6,070

4,160

3,500

2,510

1,920

1,380

965

760

661

her 17

_

64

^

61

_

_

58

~_

57

iber 23

_

_

-

~

31

_

_

_

_

_

30

Feet Sec.f t.

December 12

_

4.98

_

4.78

_

4.60

4.45

4.30

_

4.17

Decen

_

3.07

"

3.05

_

_

3.04

~

3.03

_

559

487

424

373

324

283

her 18

54

~

52

_

51

50

December 24

_

-

"~

2.83

_

_

_

_

_

2.82

_

-

~

29

_

_

_

_

_

28

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

_

4.00

3.90

3.82

3.75

3.67

3.60

_

234

208

189

173

156

142

December 19

3.01

~

3.00

_

_

2.98

2.97

Decen

-

""

2.81

_

_

_

_

_

2.80

47

"~

46

_

44

4?

ber 25

-

*

27

_

_

_

_

_

26

Supplemental records.- Dec. 9, 11 p.m., 3.32 ft., 86 sec.-ft. Dec. 10, 3s30 a.m., 

10.30 ft., 4,490 sec.-ft.; 5 a.m., 9.23 ft., 3,380 sec.-ft.; 9 a.m., 6.90 ft., 1,640 

sec.-ft.; 10:30 a.m., 8.50 ft., 2,730 sec.-ft,; 5s30 p.m., 4.60 ft., 442 sec.-ft. Dec. 

11, 1 a.m., 13.70 ft., 8,630 sec.-ft.; 5 a.m., 11.50 ft., 5,890 sec.-ft.J 7 a.m., 12.75
102 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

San Lorenzo River at Big Trees, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 370 01'40n , long. 122°03'30", in Canada Del Rincon grant, Santa Cruz 

County, half a mile south of Big Trees and 4 miles north of Santa Cruz. Altitude, 

about 150 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 110 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 2,600 secondfeet; extended to peak stage. Rating curve changed Dec. 10.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 5,590 second-feet 3 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

IT774 feet).

1936-November 1937: Discharge, 8,700 second-feet Feb. 14, 1937 (gage height, 

14.1 feet, from floodmarks), from rating curve extended above 2,600 second-feet.

January-September 1938: Discharge, 12,000 second-feet 3 p.m. Jan. 31 (gage 

height, 16.8 feet from drift marks outside of well; 16.3 feet inside of well, 

affected by drawdown), from rating curve extended above 2,800 second-feet by averaging discharges obtained from extensions by area-velocity and A\/d methods.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage; very slightly affected by 

many small diversions for domestic use above station.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

19

18

17

17

17

17

16

17

18

19

Dec.

24

23

23

23

23

23

23

23

81

1,880

Jan.

52

72

61

55

53

52

51

49

48

47

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

59

38

25

45

32

26

57

39

29

32

Dec.

3,380

688

352

213

152

124

107

94

85

80

Jan.

46

46

45

45

49

51

189

99

197

164

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

47

36

33

34

30

28

26

25

24

24

Q Q Q

1,710

Dec.

74

72

71

66

64

62

59

57

56

55

54

16,090

Jan.

113

96

87

79

74

71

69

104

140

116

4,850

tyzci

14,420

Gage height, In feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at Indicated time, 1937

g

«

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet (Sec. ft.

December 8

1.13

-

1.13

-

-

1.13

-

-

1.14

-

-

1.14

Deceit

3.05

3.02

2.99

2.95

2.92

2.89

2.87

2.85

2.83

2.93

2.78

2.73

Decen

_

_

-

-

-

2.04

-

-

-

-

-

2.00

' 22

-

22

-

-

22

_

-

23

-

23

ber 14

245

237

230

220

213

206

201

197

193

215

182

172

iber 20

_

_

-

-

80

-

-

-

-

-

76

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

1.14

1.13

1.13

1.14

1.21

1.35

1.57

1.76

2.06

2.59

3.46

4.14

Decen

_

2.69

_

2.65

_

2.61

_

2.58

_

2.54

_

2.51

Decen

_

_

-

-

-

1.98

-

-

-

-

-

1.96

23

22

22

23

26

32

45

57

81

140

289

440

ber 15

_

164

_

158

_

152

_

147

-

141

_

136

iber 21

_

_

_

_

_

74

_

_

_

-

-

73

Feet |sec.ft.

December 10

5.88

8.03

9.43

9.38

7.83

7.24

7.14

6.78

6.35

6.00

6.56

9.00

1,150

2,260

3,290

3,240

2,140

1,790

1,740

1,560

1,360

1,200

1,460

2,940

December 16

_

2.48

_

2.45

_

2.43

_

2.40

_

2.38

_

2.36

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

1.95

_

_

_

_

_

1.95

_

132

_

128

_

124

_

120

_

117

_

114

ber 22

_

_

_

_

_

72

_

_

_

_

72

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

11.63

11.60

11.06

11.45

10.92

9.71

8.66

7.79

7.00

6.49

6.04

5.63

5,510

5,480

4,890

5,320

4,730

3,540

2,680

2,110

1,670

1,430

1,220

1,050

December 17

_

2.33

_

2.32

_

2.31

_

2.28

_

2.26

_

2.24

_

110

_

109

_

107

_

104

_

102

_

99

December 23

_

_

1 = 95

-

_

1.95

_

_

1.93

-

_

1.90

_

_

72

_

_

72

-

_

70

-

_

68

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 12

5.28

5.09

4.83

4.79

4.72

4.60

4.52

4.39

4.24

4.08

3.95

3.84

921

853

764

751

727

688

662

621

574

526

490

459

December 18

_

_

_

_

_

2.19

_

_

_

_

_

2.14

_

_

_

_

_

94

_

_

_

_

_

89

December 24

_

_

1.89

-

_

1.88

_

_

1.87

_

_

1.86

_

_

67

-

_

66

_

_

66

_

_

65

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

3.75

3.67

3.60

3.52

3.45

3.39

3.34

3.28

3.23

3.17

3.13

3.09

435

414

396

375

357

341

328

313

297

279

267

255

December 19

_

_

_

_

_

2.10

_

_

_

_

_

2.07

Decem

_

_

1.86

_

_

1.85

_

_

1.85

-

_

1.84

_

_

_

_

_

85

_

_

_

_

_

82

ber 25

_

_

65

_

_

64

_

_

64

_

_

63

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 7 a.m., 9.79 ft., 3,610 sec.-ft.; 11 a.m., 7.31 ft. 

1,830 sec.-ft. Dec. 11, 3 a.m., 11.74 ft., 5,590 sec.-ft. Dec. 14, 7 p.m., 2.99 ft., 

230 sec.-ft.
SAN FRANCISQUITO CREEK BASIN 103 

San Francisquito Creek at Stanford University, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°25 "20" , long. 122°11'25", in Rinconada del Arroyo de San Francisquito grant, at golf course, three-quarters of a mile below junction with Los 

Trancos Creek, and 1.2 miles west of Stanford University post office, Santa Clara 

County. Altitude, about 120 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 37.7 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements for range of stage 

of high water in December.

 feet). Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 940 second-feet 11 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 5.00

1931-November 1937- Discharge, 2,620 second-feet Feb. 4, 1937 (gage height, 

9.15 feet), from rating curve extended above 1,800 second-feet on basis of areavelocity study.

Remarks.- Flood run-off materially affected by artificial storage in Searsville Lake 

(capacity, 952 acre-feet). Los Trancos and Lagunita canals divert above station. 

Monthly summaries adjusted for storage and diversion. Most of basic data furnished by Stanford University.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0.6

.6

.6

.6

.6

.6

.6

.6

.7

147

Jan.

0.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.4

.4

.3

.3

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0.1

.1

.1

.2

.2

.2

.3

.3

.2

.4

Dec.

588

136

19

2.7

.7

.3

.3

.3

.2

.2

Jan.

0.3

.3

.3

.3

.4

.4

3.8

.4

107

34

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

0.3

.3

.6

.6

.6

.6

.6

.6

.6

.6

O pc

41

Dec.

0.2

.2

.3

.3

.2

.2

.2

.2

.3

.3

.3

PQ n

2,620

Jan.

4.3

.3

.3

.2

.2

.2

.2

6.5

31

13

544

24 2

2,100

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

%&2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

A

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

-

0.26

-

.26

_

.26

-

.26

-

.26

_

.26

Deceit

0.52

.50

.49

.48

.47

.46

.45

.47

.47

.44

.39

.36

Deceit

_

_

-

-

_

0.18

-

-

_

-

-

.ia

_

0.6

_

.6

_

.6

_

.6

_

.6

_

.6

iber 14

3.8

3.3

3.2

3.0

2.8

2.7

2.6

2.8

2.8

2.4

1.7

1.4

iber 20

_

_

_

-

_

0.2

-

-

_

_

.2

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

0.26

.26

.27

.27

.27

.27

.27

.27

.28

.31

.35

.35

Deceit

_

0.33

_

.30

_

.27

-

.25

_

.23

_

.22

Decen

_

_

-

_

_

0.18

-

_

_

_

_

.18

0.6

.6

.6

.6

.6

.6

.6

.6

.7

.9

1.3

1.3

iber 15

_

1.1

-

.8

_

.6

_

.6

-

.4

_

.4

iber 21

_

_

-

_

_

0.2

-

_

_

_

_

.2

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

0.39

.32

.27

2.39

2.42

3.38

2.74

2.24

1.92

1.93

2.30

3.16

Decen:

_

-

0.21

-

_

.20

_

_

.20

-

_

.20

Deceit

_

_

0.18

-

_

.18

-

_

.19

_

_

.20

1.7

1.0

.6

179

185

406

247

153

107

108

163

348

ber 16

_

_

0.4

_

_

.3

_

_

.3

_

_

.3

iber 22

_

_

0.2

_

_

.2

-

-

.3

_

_

.3

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

4.12

3.91

4.59

4.73

4.50

4.83

4.00

3.57

3.50

3.45

3.13

2.73

Decem

_

_

0.19

_

_

.19

_

_

.19

_

_

.19

Deceit

_

_

0.21

_

_

.21

_

-

.20

_

_

.19

628

561

786

837

754

875

590

460

440

426

340

245

ber 17

_

_

0.3

_

_

.3

_

_

.3

_

_

.3

iber 23

_

_

0.4

_

_

.4

-

-

.3

_

_

.3

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

2.58

2.47

2.34

2.49

2.43

2.28

2.16

2.02

1.35

1.24

1.18

1.14

Decem

_

_

0.19

_

_

.19

_

_

.19

_

_

.18

Decen

_

_

0.19

_

_

.19

-

-

.19

-

-

.18

215

194

170

197

186

160

141

120

47

38

34

31

ber 18

_

_

0.3

_

_

.3

_

_

.3

_

_

.2

ber 24

_

_

0.3

_

_

.3

_

_

.3

_

-

.2

Feet

Decen

1.12

1.11

1.10

1.09

1.08

.97

.96

.82

.63

.59

.57

.54

Decem

_

_

_

_

_

0.18

_

_

_

_

_

.18

Decem

_

_

0.18

_

_

.18

_

_

.18

_

_

.18

Sec. ft.

iber 13

29

29

28

27

27

21

20

14

6.5

5.5

4.9

4.2

ber 19

_

_

_

_

_

0.2

_

_

_

_

_

.2

ber 25

_

_

0.2

_

_

.2

-

-

.2

_

-

.2

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 6:30 a.m., 0.27 ft., 0.6 sec.-ft.; 7 a.m., 2.41 ft., 

183 aec.-ft.; 9 a.m., 2.28 ft., 160 sec.-ft.; 7$30 p.m., 1.81 ft., 93 sec.-ft. Dec. 11, 

11 a.m., 5.00 ft., 940 sec.-ft.
104 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

San Franclsqulto Creek at Palo Alto, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°27'10", long. 122°08'20n , In Rancho de las Pulgas grant, 175 feet 

above Newell Avenue bridge in Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, and about 2 miles 

above mouth. Altitude, about 5 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 38.6 square miles.

Bage-helght record.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements for range of stage 

of high water in December.

Maxima..- December 1937: Discharge, 840 second-feet 1:30 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

879~0 feet).

1931-November 1937! Discharge, 2,550 second-feet Feb. 4, 1937 (gage height, 

16.05 feet), from rating curve extended above 1,900 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off materially affected by artificial storage in Searsville Lake 

(capacity, 952 acre-feet). Los Trancos and! Lagunita canals divert above station. 

Monthly summaries adjusted for storage and diversions. Most of basic data furnished by Stanford University.

Mean dally discharge, in ,second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

.0

116

Jan.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

544

156

21

1.9

.2

0

0

0

0

0

Jan.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

99

40

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet (adjusted). ............................

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

26

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

27 1

40 5

2,490

Jan.

5

.1

0

0

0

0

0

.3

27

13

510

1,990

Sage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

§o«

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

December 14

0.75

.69

.64

.57

.51

.45

.41

.38

.33

.28

.23

.19

3.8

3.3

2.9

2.4

2.0

1.6

1.4

1.2

1.0

.7

.5

.4

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

Decen

0.27

.24

.19

.15

_

_

-

_

_

-

_

-

ber 15

0.7

.6

.4

.2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

_

-

-

0.46

3.96

4.20

5.94

4.60

3.75

3.20

3.20

3.88

0

0

0

1.7

174

198

389

238

154

108

108

166

December 16

Feet | Sec.ft.

December 11

5. 47'

7.06

7.13

8.13

8.52

8.30

8.65

7.16

6.41

6.32

6.12

5.43

Decem

334

535

547

707

772

734

795

552

445

434

410

329

ber 17

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

4.68

4.38

4.18

3.97

4.20

4.05

3.78

3.53

3.27

2.28

2.08

1.97

247

216

196

175

198

183

157

135

114

50

40

35

December 18

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

1.86

1.80

1.76

1.75

1.74

1.71

1.62

1.48

1.45

1.22

.97

.82

30

28

26

26

26

24

21

17

16

11

6.5

4.7

December 19

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 9:30 a.m., 0.22 ft., 0.5 sec.-ft.; 9 p.m., 3.07 ft., 

98 sec.-ft. Dec. 11, 11:30 a.m., 7.90 ft., 670 sec.-ft.; 1:30 p.m., 8.90 ft., 840 

sec.-ft.
SAN FRANCISQUITO CREEK BASIN 105 

Los Trancos Creek at Stanford University, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°24<35n , long. 122°11'35", in El Corte de Madera grant, about SCO 

feet above mouth and 1.6 miles southwest of Stanford University post office, Santa 

Clara County. Altitude, about 160 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 7.5 square miles.

gage-height Feeord.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 310 secondfeet.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 120 second-feet 8:30 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

 T7§4 feet).

1931-November 1937: Discharge, 399 second-feet Mar. 21, 1937 (gage height, 3.13 

feet), from rating curve extended above 310 second-feet.

Remarks^- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage. Los Trancos canal diverts 

above station. Monthly summaries adjusted for diversion. Most of basic data furnished by Stanford University.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2.2

Jan.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dee.

37

3.8

.7

.3

.1

.1

0

0

0

0

Jan.

0

0

0

0

0

.1

.1

.1

5

.6

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0.11

6.3

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1.43

257

Jan.

0.3

.2

.2

.1

.1

.1

.1

.7

1.6

.4

109

405

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

ow

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |Sec.ft.

December 8

Peet Sec. ft.

December 9

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

0.19

.33

.30

.23

.19

.16

.15

.14

.13

.15

.20

1.42

0

1.4

1.1

.7

0

0

0

0

0

0

.5

44

Feet | See. ft.

December 11

1.58

1.50

1.C7

1.90

1.48

1.24

.90

.65

1.00

.99

.65

.50

60

51

59

112

49

30

12

5.5

16

16

5.5

3.2

Peet Sec. ft.

December 12

0.46

.44

.48

.86

.79

.63

.53

.47

.43

.39

.36

.33

2.7

2.5

3.0

10

8

5

3.6

2.8

2.4

1.9

1.6

1.4

Peet See. ft.

December 13

-

0.27

_

.24

_

.22

_

.20

-

.18

-

.17

_

0.9

_

.7

_

.6

_

.5

-

0

-

0

Supplemental records.- Dee. 10, 11 p.m., 0.7 ft., 6.5 sec.-ft. 

1.94 ft., 120 see.-ft. Dee. 12, 9 a.m., 0.97 ft., 15 sec.-ft.

Dee. 11, 8:30 a.m.

160802 O 39 8
106 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Stevens Creek near Cupertino, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°18'20", long. 122° 04'25", in SWi aec. 22, T. 73., R. 2 W. , at county 

highway bridge, a quarter of a mile below Stevena Creek Dam and about 4 miles weat of 

Cupertino, Santa Clara County. Altitude, about 385 feet above mean aea level.

Drainage area.- 18.1 square miles.

Sage-height Fecord.- Water-atage recorder graph.

Stage-diaeharge re'lat ion.- Defined by current-meter measurements.

Maxima.- December 1957; Diacharge (regulated), 55 second-feet 12:30 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

Height, 2.17 feet).

1930-November 1937: Diacharge (unregulated), 709 aecond-feet Dec. 27, 1931 (gage 

height, 4.57 feet), from rating curve extended above 670 second-feet.

Remarks,- Flood run-off completely regulated by artificial storage in Stevens Creek

Reservoir (capacity, about 4,000 acre-feet). Monthly summaries adjusted for storage.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

Dec.

1.4

1.6

1.7

1.7

1.7

1.7

1.1

.4

1.1

17

Jan.

4.9

7

9.5

7

5.5

4.6

4.4

4.4

4,6

4.6

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0.7

1.4

1.8

1.8

1.8

1.8

2.0

2.2

2.2

2.2

Dec.

24

22

18

21

21

22

20

25

23

24

Jan.

4.4

4.1

4.1

4.1

4.1

4.6

6

8

11

14

Day

21

22

23

24

25

2R

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet (adjusted) . ............................

Nov.

2.2

2.2

2.2

2.2

2.2

2.0

2»0

2.0

2.0

1.7

1 45

86

Dec.

14

12

9.5

8.5

8.5

8.5

8.5

8.5

7

4.6

4.6

22 °

1,410

Jan.

14

12

9.5

9

8.5

7.5

7

9.5

20

26

28

584
GUADALUPE CREEK BASIN 107

Guadalupe Creek at Guadalupe, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37° 13'05", long. 1210 54'35'1 , in SWi sec. 19, T. 8 S., R. IE., half a 

mile northwest of Guadalupe, Santa Clara County, and 3.4 miles upstream from junction with Alamitos Creek. Altitude, about 325 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 12.6 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge re'lation. - Defined by current-meter measurements below 550 secondfeet; extended to peak stage. Shifting-control method used for period Nov. 1 to 

Dec. 9.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 826 second-feet 1 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 3.41 

feet).

1930-November 1937: Discharge (unregulated), 1,160 second-feet Dec. 28, 1931 

(gage height, 4.05 feet, inside of well; about 4.5 feet, outside of well, determined from drawdown relation observed at lower stages), from rating curve extended 

above 850 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by artificial storage in Guadalupe Reservoir (capacity, 3,500 acre feet); unaffected by diversions. Monthly summaries adjusted for 

storage.

Bean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

8

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0.6

.5

.5

.4

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.8

Dec.

0.8

.6

.6

.6

.7

.8

.6

.6

1.7

117

Jan.

4.5

5

5

5.5

5.5

5.5

5.5

5.5

5.5

5

Day

11

12

13

14

15

18

17

18

19

20

Nov.

3.7

1.3

.9

1.2

1.0

.8

.8

1.7

1.0

.9

Dec.

248

49

22

15

11

8

6.5

5.5

4.8

5

Jan.

5

5.5

5.5

5.5

5.5

5.5

5.5

5.5

11

7.5

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet (adjusted) .............................

Nov.

1.7

1.3

1.1

1.1

.9

.8

.7

.8

.7

.7

56

Dec.

5.5

5.5

5.5

5.5

5

5

4.8

4.8

4.5

4.5

4.5

52 4

3.220

Jan.

6.5

6

6

6.5

6.5

6

8

13

15

11

137

838

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

fc

gow

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

_

-

-

-

-

0.50

-

-

-

_

_

.50

Decen

_

-

0.95

_

_

.93

-

-

.90

-

_

.88

Decen

_

0.88

_

.87

_

.87

_

.72

_

.72

_

.72

_

-

-

-

-

0.8

-

_

_

_

_

.8

iber 14

_

-

18

_

_

15

-

-

14

-

_

13

iber 20

_

4.5

-

4.2

_

4.2

_

5.5

_

5.5

_

5.5

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

0.50

.50

.50

.50

.51

.52

.54

.55

.57

.83

.84

.88

Decen

_

-

0.88

_

_

.84

-

-

.82

_

-

-

Decec

_

-

-

-

_

0.71

_

_

-

_

_

.71

0.6

.6

.6

.6

.7

.7

.9

1.0

1.2

2.0

7.5

9

iber 15

_

_

12

_

_

11

_

_

9.5

_

_

8.5

iber 21

_

-

_

_

_

5.5

_

-

-

_

_

5.5

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

1.10

1.30

1.41

1.38

1.84

1.72

1.53

1.43

1.37

1.89

2.75

3.18

26

45

58

52

92

106

74

81

53

142

485

883

December 16

_

_

_

_

_

0.78

-

-

_

-

_

.75

Decen

_

-

-

_

_

0.71

_

-

-

_

_

.72

_

-

_

_

_

8

-

_

_

_

_

6.5

iber 22

_

-

_

_

_

5.5

_

_

_

_

_

5.5

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

2.83

2.36

2.47

2.38

2.38

2.25

2.05

1.93

1.82

1.73

1.84

1.55

505

294

338

302

294

252

185

152

126

108

92

78

December 17

_

_

_

_

_

0.74

_

-

_

_

-

.73

Deceit

_

-

_

_

_

0.72

_

-

_

_

_

.71

_

_

_

_

_

6.5

_

_

_

_

_

8

iber 23

_

-

_

_

_

5.5

_

_

_

_

_

5.5

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

1.50

1.45

1.40

1.44

1.38

1.31

1.28

1.25

1.22

1.20

1.17

1.15

Deceit

_

_

_

_

_

0.71

_

_

_

_

_

.70

70

64

57

62

52

48

43

40

37

35

32

30

ber 18

.

_

_

_

_

5.5

-

_

_

_

_

5

December 24

_

-

_

_

_

0.71

_

_

_

_

_

.70

_

-

-

_

_

5.5

_

-

_

_

_

5

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

_

1.10

_

1.07

_

1.05

_

1.02

_

1.00

_

.98

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

0.89

-

_

_

_

_

.88

_

28

_

24

-

22

_

20

_

19

_

18

ber 19

_

_

_

_

_

4.8

-

_

_

-

_

4.5

December 25

_

-

-

_

_

0.70

_

-

-

_

_

.70

_

-

-

-

-

5

-

-

-

_

_

5

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 5 a.m., 1.50 ft., 70 sec.-ft.; 11 a.m., 1.76 ft., 

114 sec.-ft.; 7 p.m., 1.45 ft., 64 sec.-ft.; 9 p.m., 2.18 ft., 228 sec.-ft.; 11 p.m., 

2.70 ft., 440 sec.-ft. Dec. 11, 1 a.m., 3.41 ft., 828 sec.-ft.
108 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Guadalupe Creek at San Jose, Calif.

itlon.- Lat. 37°20', long. 121°54', 100 feet downstream from junction with Los Gatos 

'reek, in city of San Jose, Santa Clara County. Altitude, about 80 feet above mean 

lea level.

Drainage area.- 131 square miles.

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

1930-November 1937: Discharge (unregulated), 6,700 second-feet Dec. 27, 1931 

(gage height, 11.12 feet), from rating curve extended above 3,200 second-feet on 

basis of area-velocity study.

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by artificial storage in 4 reservoirs on Los Gatos, 

Alamitos, and Guadalupe Creeks (total capacity, about 15,600 acre-feet). Monthly 

summaries adjusted for storage.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

385

Jan.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

3,940

887

218

62

6

.1

0

0

0

0

Jan.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet (observed). ...........

Run-off, in acre-feet (adjusted) .............................

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

177

16,240

Jan.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1,460

47.1

3,460

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

£o

K

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet jSec.ft,

December 8

Deceji

2.08

2.03

1.98

1.97

1.94

1.87

1.82

1.76

1.73

1.69

1.64

1.52

ber 14

103

90

79

77

71

58

51

44

40

36

32

24

Peet Sec. ft.

December 9

December 15

1.41

1.18

1.05

.97

.89

.82

.92

.72

.63

.60

.58

.56

'19

11

7.5

5.5

4.0

2.8

4.6

1.6

.8

.6

.5

.4

Peet Sec. ft.

December 10

_

~

_

3.36

2.87

2.56

2.59

3.31

3.20

2.85

2.94

3.55

Deceit!

0.54

.53

.51

.49

.46

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

0

0

0

772

430

257

270

737

660

417

478

905

ber 16

0.4

.3

.2

.2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Peet Sec. ft.

December 11

5.83

9.80

8.35

7.47

8.15

8.30

7.76

6.95

6.18

5.63

5.10

4.64

2,690

6,660

5,280

4,450

5,090

5,240

4,720

3,960

3,260

2,770

2,290

1,890

December 17

Peet Sec. ft.

December 12

4.25

3.96

3.74

3.57

3.40

3.36

3.20

3.07

2.97

2.90

2.83

2.75

Decem

1,560

1,320

1,140

1,010

870

838

710

612

539

490

441

388

ber 18

Peet Sec. ft.

December 13

2.68

2.62

2.56

2.50

2.44

2.34

2.32

2.29

2.24

2.23

2.19

2.14

Dec en

344

309

280

252

227

187

180

169

152

148

135

120

ber 19

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 6:30 a.m., no flow; 7 a.m., 3.00 ft., 520 sec.-ft.s 

9 a.m., 3.92 ft., 1,170 gee.-ft.} 11 p.m., 3.01 ft., 527 aec.-ft. Dec. 11, 3 a.m., 

6.80 ft., 3,550 sec.-ft.I 7 a.m., 7.15 ft., 4,140 sec.-ft.
aUADALUPE CREEK BASIN 10S 

Alamitoa Creek near Edenvale, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37 0 14'20", long. 121°52'15n , in SKfi sec. 16, T. 8 S., R. 1 E., 0.4 

mile above junction with Quadalupe Creek and 4 miles southwest of Edenvale, Santa 

Clara County. Altitude, about 200 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 35.0 square miles.

Sage-height Fecord.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-dlscharKe relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 1,750 secondfeet; extended to peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 2,280 second-feet 1:30 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

6.35 feet).

1930-November 1937: Discharge (unregulated), 2,670 second-feet Dec. 27, 1931 

(gage height, 6.60 feet).

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by artificial storage in Almaden and Calero Reservoirs (capacities, 2,000 and 9,500 acre-feet, respectively)5 not appreciably affected by diversion. Monthly summaries adjusted for storage.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

28

Jan.

24

15

14

12

10

4.8

15

9

6.5

8.5

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

1,340

307

100

51

27

29

32

39

34

36

Jan.

7.5

7

7

7

7

7

7.5

7.5

17

21

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

?,9

30

31

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

39

36

31

35

34

33

38

37

32

22

31

7,940

Jan.

15

12

11

10

11

10

11

16

32

15

358

1,800

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

&i

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

Decen

3.24

3.23

3.22

3.22

3.21

3.21

3.20

3.20

3.04

2.95

2.91

2.87

Deceit

_

_

2.99

_

_

2.99

_

_

3.04

_

_

3.04

ber 14

65

63

62

62

60

60

59

59

39

30

26

22

iber 20

_

_

34

_

_

34

_

_

39

_

_

39

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

December 15

2.85

2.83

2.82

2.80

2.79

2.96

3.03

3.06

3.07

3.00

2.94

2.89

Decei

_

_

3.04

_

_

3.05

_

_

3.04

_

_

3.03

21

19

18

16

16

31

38

42

43

35

29

24

iber 21

_

_

39

_

_

40

_

_

39

_

_

38

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

-

_

_

_

_

-

_

_

_

-

3.42

5.13

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

93

824

December 16

2.87

2.85

2.85

2.84

2.83

2.83

3.01

3.03

3.04

3.05

3.05

3.05

Deoen

_

_

3.03

_

_

3.03

_

_

2.99

_

_

2.97

22

21

21

20

19

19

36

38

39

40

40

40

iber 22

_

_

38

_

-

38

_

_

34

-

-

32

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

6.27

5.63

5.01

5.58

6.30

6.23

5.91

5.61

5.38

5.15

4.93

4.75

Deceit

3.06

3.06

3.06

2.91

2.83

2.80

2.77

2.97

3.02

3.03

3.04

3.05

Decen

2.97

2.97

3.96

2.96

2.96

2.96

2.86

2.96

2.99

3.00

3.00

3.00

2,160

1,310

737

1,250

2,200

2,100

1,650

1,280

1,040

840

684

570

ber I1?

40

42

42

26

19

16

15

32

37

38

39

40

iber 23

32

32

31

31

31

31

22

31

34

35

35

35

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

4.60

4.47

4.33

4.26

4.25

4.21

4.12

4.02

3.96

3.87

3.74

3.64

485

420

355

326

322

306

273

240

222

196

160

136

December 18

_

3.05

_

3.06

_

3.06

_

3.02

_

3.00

-

3.00

Deoen

_

_

3.00

-

-

3.00

_

-

3.00

-

_

3.00

_

40

_

42

_

42

-

37

_

35

_

35

ber 24 .

_

_

35

_

_

35

_

_

35

-

35

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

3.56

3.51

3.46

3.48

3.50

3.50

3.49

3.47

3.45

3.39

3.32

3.27

Deceit

_

-

2.99

_

_

2.99

_

_

2.99

_

_

2.99

Decen

_

_

2.99

_

-

2.99

-

-

2.98

-

-

2.97

119

109

100

103

107

107

105

102

98

87

76

69

ber 19

_

_

34

_

_

34

-

_

34

_

_

34

ber 25

_

_

34

_

-

34

_

-

33

-

-

32

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10 9s3Q p.m., no flow} 11 p.m. 

Dec. 11, 1:30 a.m., 6.35 ft., 2,280 sec.-ft.

4.17 ft., 291 sec.-ft.
110 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN"CALIFORNIA

Los Gatos Creek at Los Oatos, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 370 13'15", long. 1210 59'00", In SW£ sec. 21, T. 8 S., R. 1 W., about 700 

feet upstream from highway bridge at Los Oatos, Santa Clara County. Altitude, about 

360 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 40.0 square miles.

Qage-helght record.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge re'latlon.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 2y600 secondfeet; extended to peak stage with aid of area-velocity study. Shifting-control 

method used for period Nov. 1 to Dec. 8.

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 4,800 second-feet 2 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

 12720 feet).

1930-November 1937: Discharge, 5,500 second-feet Feb. 13, 1937 (gage height, 

12.90 feet), from rating curve extended above 2,600 second-feet with aid of areavelocity study.

Remarks.- Flood run-off slightly affected by artificial storage in four small reservoirs and by small diversions above station.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day^

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0.6

.6

.3

.3

.4

3.4

3.1

.4

.4

.4

Dec.

0.8

.7

.6

.6

.6

1.0

.6

.6

29

1,250

Jan.

17

31

23

16

15

14

14

14

13

11

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

24

10

6.5

11

8

1.7

22

8.5

1.7

4.8

Dec.

2,460

480

200

131

88

65

55

48

43

38

Jen.

11

12

11

11

13

14

39

26

81

47

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

19

7

3.9

7.5

1.8

1.2

1.0

.8

1.4

.8

5 no

302

Dec.

35

33

31

28

28

27

23

22

20

18

18

167

10,270

Jan.

33

27

24

18

16

16

16

75

90

56

1,590

1717 n

4,750

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at Indicated time, 1937

fc2

o

«

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

-

-

_

-

1.23

-

_

-

_

_

1.23

Deceit

_

3.42

_

3.36

-

3.31

-

3.25

_

3.22

_

3.18

Decen

_

_

-

-

-

2.50

-

-

-

-

-

2.47

_

_

-

_

_

0.6

-

_

_

_

_

.6

ber 14

_

149

_

138

-

129

-

118

_

113

_

107

ber 20

_

_

-

-

_

38

-

_

-

_

-

36

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

1.23

1.23

1.23

1.23

1.25

1.27

1.34

1.37

1.93

2.31

3.80

3.95

0.6

.6

.6

.6

.8

.9

1.5

1.8

12

25

214

251

December 15

3.17

3.16

3.13

3.12

3.10

3.04

3.02

3.01

2.96

2.95

2.93

2.92

Decen

_

_

_

-

_

2.45

-

-

-

_

-

2.43

106

104

100

98

95

87

85

83

77

76

74

72

tber 21

_

_

_

_

_

35

-

-

-

-

_

34

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

4.95

6.43

7. 82

7.70

7.34

7.55

6.95

6.23

5.78

5.70

8.05

10.99

Decen

2.90

2.88

2.87

2.86

2,84

2.83

2. 82

2.81

2.86

2.85

2.83

2.82

Decen:

_

_

_

_

_

2.41

-

_

-

-

_

2.42

528

1,050

1,630

1,580

1,420

1,510

1,260

977

811

782

1,740

3,690

ber 16

70

68

67

66

64

63

62

61

66

65

63

62

ber 22

_

_

_

_

_

33

_

_

-

_

-

33

Feet { Sec. ft.

December 11

12.20

10.78

10.00

10.66

9.66

9.28

8.50

7.95

7.53

6.85

6.22

5.86

4,800

3,520

2,940

3,430

2,700

2,460

1,990

1,700

1,500

1,220

974

840

December 17

2.81

2.80

2.79

2,78

2.73

2.72

2.72

2.71

2.70

2.70

2.69

2.69

Deceit

_

_

_

-

-

2.38

-

-

-

-

_

2.35

61

60

59

58

54

53

53

52

51

51

50

50

ber 23

.

_

-

-

_

31

-

-

-

_

30

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

5.56

5.40

5.18

5.10

4.83

4.64

4.52

4.38

4.30

4.20

4.11

4.03

Decen

_

2.68

_

2.67

_

2.66

.

2.63

_

2.62

_

2.61

732

678

603

576

490

430

396

357

336

312

290

273

ber 18

_

50

_

49

-

48

-

46

_

46

_

46

December 24

_

_

_

_

_

2.33

-

-

-

-

2.32

-

.

_

-

_

28

-

-

-

-

-

28

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

3.95

3.88

3.82

3.77

3.72

3.67

3.62

3.58

3.53

3.50

3.48

3.46

Decen

_

'2.60

_

2.58

-

2.57

-

2.56

-

2.53

_

2.52

Decen

-

-

_

-

_

2.32

-

-

-

-

-

2.30

255

240

226

216

206

196

186

178

169

163

159

156

ber 19

_

44

_

43

42

-

42

-

40

-

39

ber 25

_

_

_

-

_

28

-

-

-

-

-

27

Supplemental records.- Dec. 9, 9 p.m., 2.70 ft., 48 sec.-ft.
QUADALUPE CREEK BASIN 111

Campbell Creek at Saratoga, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37° 15 '15", long. 122°02'25", in Quito grant, half a mile southwest of

Saratoga post office, Santa Clara County. Altitude, about 500 feet above mean sea

level.

Drainage area.- 8.8 square miles. 

Qage-height Fecord.- Water-stage recorder graph. 

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements for range of stage of

high water in December. Shifting-control method used for period Dec. 12 to Jan. 4. 

Maxima. - December 1937: Discharge, 534 second-feet 1 a.m. Dec, 11 (gage height, 3.57

feet; no drawdown of water level in well).

feet.

January-September 1938: Discharge, 611 second-feet 8 a.m. Feb. 2 (gage height, 

3.71 feet; no drawdown of water level in well). 

Remarks . - Flood run-off not materially affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean dally discharge, in second-feet, November 1957 to January 1958

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0.8

.8

.8

.5

.4

.5

.7

.8

.6

.5

Dec.

1.2

1.2

1.3

1.1

.9

1.2

1.2

1.2

5

156

Jan.

3.7

4.2

3.7

3.6

3.6

3.2

3.2

3.2

3.2

3.1

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

3.9

1.6

1.1

2.8

1.5

.9

3.8

1.9

1.0

1.8

Dec.

275

77

30

17

13

11

9.5

9

8

7.5

Jan.

3.0

2.7

3.0

3.0

3.3

3.5

9.5

7.5

17

12

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

2.6

1.8

1.8

1.8

1.6

1.3

1.0

1.1

1.3

1.3

84

Dec.

7

7

6.5

6

5.5

5.5

5

4.8

4.5

4.2

4.0

1,360

Jan.

9

8

7.5

7

7

7

6.5

11

15

12

224

820

Qage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

o

W

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

0.81

-

_

_

_

.81

-

-

-

_

-

.82

Decea

_

1.62

_

1.59,'

-

1.57

-

1.57

_

1.56

1.53

Decen

_

-

-

-

-

1.34

_

_

_

_

_

1.33

1.2

_

_

-

_

1.2

-

-

_

_

_

1.3

ber 14

_

19

_

18

_

17

_

17

_

16

_

15

iber 20

_

_

_

-

-

7,5

_

_

_

_

_

7.5

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

0.82

.82

.82

.82

.82

.84

.86

.87

.92

1.00

1.45

1.92

Decen

_

_

1.51

_

_

1.49

_

_

1.48

_

_

1.47

Decei

_

_

_

-

-

1.33

_

_

_

_

_

1.33

1.3

1.3

1.3

1.3

1.3

1.5

1.6

1.7

2.2

3.2

12

41

iber 15

_

_

14

_

_

13

_

_

13

-

_

12

iber 21

_

_

_

-

-

7

_

_

_

_

_

7

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

2.35

2.83

2.85

2.62

2.58

2.52

2.46

2.36

2.30

2.40

2.95

3.45

Decen

_

_

_

_

-

1.44

_

_

_

_

_

1.42

Deceit

_

_

-

-

-

1.32

.

_

_

_

_

1.34

100

213

219

155

145

132

119

101

91

108

252

470

ber 16

_

_

_

_

-

11

_

_

_

_

_

10

ber 22

_

_

-

_

-

7

_

_

_

_

_

7

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

3.44

3.35

3.25

3.42

3.02

2.92

2.74

2.65

2.65

2.57

2.50

2.40

Decem

_

_

_

_

-

1.41

_

_

_

_

_

1.39

Decen

_

_

-

-

-

1.32

_

_

_

_

_

1.32

465

420

372

455

278

242

186

162

162

143

127

108

ber 17

_

_

_

-

-

ID

_

-

_

-

_

9.5

ber 23

_

_

-

-

-

6.5

_

_

_

_

_

6.5

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

2.36

2.35

2.28

2.29

2.26

2.18

2.13

2.11

2.06

2.02

1.97

1.94

Decem

_

_

_

_

,.

1.38

_

_

_

-

_

1.37

Decen

_

_

-

_

-

1.31

_

_

_

_

_

1.31

106

105

93

94

89

77

69

67

60

55

49

46

ber 18

_

_

_

_

_

9

_

-

_

_

_

8.5

ber 24

_

_

_

-

-

6

_

_

_

_

_

6

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

1.88

1.82

1.80

1.78

1.76

1.72

1.69

1.66

1.66

1.66

1.65

1.64

43

37

36

34

33

30

28

25

25

25

25

24

December 19

_

_

_

_

_

1.36

_

_

_

-

_

1.35

_

_

_

-

-

8

-

-

-

-

-

8

December 25

_

_

-

, 

-

1.29

_

_

_

_

_

1.29

_

-

-

-

-

5.5

_

«.

_

_

_

5.5

Supplemental records.- Dec. 9, 11 p.m., 1.93 ft., 42 sec.-ft. Dec. 10, 12:30 a.m., 

1.89 ft., 38 sec.-ft. Dec. 11, 1 a.m., 3.57 ft., 534 aec.-ft.; 5 a.m., 3.07 ft., 

298 eec.-ft.S 7 a.m., 3.47 ft., 480 sec.-ft.
112 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Coyote Creek near Madrone, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°10'00", long. 121°37 T 40M , in northwest corner of San Jose grant, a 

quarter of a mile above highway bridge at mouth of canyon, a quarter of a mile below Las Animas Creek, and 2.8 miles northeast of Madrone, Santa Clara County. Altitude, about 420 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 193 square miles.

Sage-height Fecord.- Water-stage recorder graph. Record unreliable in periods Jan. 

4-6, 20, when record was determined from partial recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements.

Maxima.- December 1937; Discharge, 2,750 second-feet 4 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

9TT9 feet).

1902-12; 1917-November 1937: Discharge, about 25,000 second-feet (unregulated) 

Mar. 7, 1911, furnished by Duryea, Haehl & Oilman.

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by artificial storage in Coyote Reservoir (capacity, 

30,000 acre-feet). Monthly summaries adjusted for storage.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

55

55

52

52

52

51

51

51

51

50

Dec.

1.2

1.3

1.2

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.1

6 .

70

Jan.

6.5

7

6.5

6

5.5

5.5

5.5

5.5

5

5

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

51

50

50

51

50

46

6.5

3.2

2.5

2.1

Dec.

1,230

129

39

17

9.5

7

6

5.5

5

5

Jan.

7.5

19

19

21

27

28

29

27

31

34

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

1.9

1.7

1.7

1.6

1.4

1.4

1.4

1.3

1.3

1.2

O Q O

-

Dec.

10

11

10

9.5

9

9.5

9.5

9

9.5

9

9

15,410

Jan.

31

30

30

29

23

32

32

52

81

69

312

 Xff fl

2.030

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

b

2

OW

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

-

-

-

-

-

2.02

-

_

-

_

-

2.02

Decen

_

3.09

_

3.01

_

2.97

_

2.90

_

2.83

-

2.79

Decen

_

_

-

-

-

2.43

_

_

-

-

-

-2.43j

-

-

-

-

_

1.1

-

_

-

_

-

1.1

iber 14

_

21

_

18

_

17

-

15

-

13

-

12

iber 20

_

_

-

_

-

5

-

_

-

-

-

5

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

2.02

2.40

2.41

2.42

2.43

2.44

2.45

2.45

2.47

2.52

2.65

2.70

1.1

5.5

5.5

6

6

6

6

6

6.5

7.5

10

11

December 15

_

_

2.73

_

_

2.69

_

_

2.64

-

_

2.59

Decen

2.42

2.63

2.75

2.76

2.76

2.76

2.75

2.75

2.75

2.75

2.75

2.75

_

_

11

_

_

10

_

_

9

_

_

8

aber 21

4.8

8.5

11

12

12

12

11

11

11

11

11

11

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

2.75

3.01

3.09

3.02

3.13

3.47

3.46

3.27

3.42

4.72

5.02

6.04

Decen

_

_

2.57

_

_

2.56

_

-

2.53

_

_

2.51

Deceit

_

-

-

-

-

2.74

-

_

-

-

-

2.73

12

20

23

20

24

40

39

30

37

158

212

526

ber 16

_

_

7.5

_

_

7

_

_

6.5

_

_

6.5

ber 22

_

_

_

_

_

11

-

_

_

-

-

11

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

8.01

9.19

7.96

8.55

8.80

7.72

6.78

6.18

5.77

5.55

5.53

5.27

1,670

2,750

1,630

2,120

2,350

1,450

880

587

415

339

333

267

December 17

_

_

_

_

_

2.50

_

_

_

-

_

2.47

Decen

_

-

-

_

-

2.70

_

_

-

.

_

2.67

_

_

_

_

_

6

-

_

_

-

_

5.5

ber 23

_

-

-

-

-

10 

-

_

-

_

-

9.5

Peet Sec.ft.

December 12

5.03

4.82

4.67

4.53

4.54

4.53

4.49

4.36

4.23

4.11

4.01

3.93

Decem

_

_

_

_

_

2.46

-

_

_

-

_

2.45

Decen

_

-

_

.

-

2.67

-

-

-

-

-

2.66

214

174

148

129

130

129

124

107

92

80

71

64

ber 18

_

_

_

_

_

5.5

-

_

_

-

_

5.5

ber 24

_

-

-

-

-

9.5

-

-

-

-

-

9

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

_

3.77

_

3.62

_

3.50

-

3.38

_

3.26

_

3.16

_

53

_

43

_

37

_

31

_

26

_

23

December 19

_

_

_

_

_

2.44

_

_

_

-

_

2.43

Decen

_

-

-

_

-

2.66

-

-

-

-

-

2.66

_

_

_

_

_

5

-

_

_

_

_

5

ber 25

-

-

-

-

-

9

-

-

-

-

-

9

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 7 p.m., 3.99 ft., 72 sec.-ft.; 9 p.m., 4.78 ft., 

169 sec.-ft.5 11 p.m., 5.47 ft., 316 sec.-ft.
COYOTE CREEK BASIN 113

Coyote Creek near Edenvale, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°16'15", long. 121°47 "55", at east boundary of Santa Teresa grant, 

at "The Narrows", lj miles northeast of Edenvale, Santa Clara County, and 7 miles 

south of San Jose. Altitude, about 190 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 25J9 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 1,200 seeondfeet; extended to peak stage parallel to rating curve for 1937, which la defined by 

current-meter measurements to 3,500 second-feet.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 3,060 second-feet 8 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 6.00 

feet).

1917-November 1937: Discharge (unregulated), 10,000 second-feet Feb. 10, 1922 

(gage height, 12.8 feet, from floodmarks), from rating curve extended above 4,900 

second-feet parallel to curve for 1917 which was defined by current-meter measurements 

to 8,400 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off materially affected by artificial storage in Coyote Reservoir 

Tcapaclty, 30,000 acre-feet).

Mean dally discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

9.5

9

8

5

3.6

4.6

6

6

6

4.9

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Jan.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

7.5

5

4.9

8

8

8

3.5

0

0

0

Dec.

1,370

365

150

75

32

12

2.3

0

0

0

Jan.

0

0

0

0

0

0

.8

7

9

.6

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, In acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

213

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

64.7

3,980

Jan.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3.0

30

278

651

Gage height, In feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

g

£

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

N

S

4

6

8

10

H

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

Decen

_

3.13

_

3.09

_

3.05

_

3.02

-

2.99

_

2.95

iber 14

_

96

_

83

-

72

_

64

-

57

_

50

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

December 15

_

2.91

_

2.88

_

2.84

_

2.81

2.78

2.75

_

42

_

37

_

32

_

27

_

24

-

22

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

December 16

_

2.71

-

2.67

-

2.64

_

2.60

-

2.55

_

2.51

_

18

-

15

_

13

_

10

~

8

-

6.5

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

_

2.66

4.20

6.00

5.75

5.72

5.67

5.15

4.69

4.39

4.17

4.00

Decen

_

2.45

_

2.40

-

2.33

-

2.26

-

2.21

-

2.19

0

14

705

3,060

2,650

2,600

2,520

1,780

1,200

880

681

550

ber 17

_

4.6

-

3.0

_

1.6

_

.7

_

.3

-

.2

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

3.91

3.85

3.77

3.70

3.65

3.65

3.64

3.62

3.60

3.61

3.55

3.48

492

455

407

365

335

335

329

317

305

311

278

240

December 18

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

_

3.37

-

3.30

-

3.26

-

3.22

-

3.20

-

3.16

Decen

-

188

158

-

143

-

128

120

-

106

ber 19

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 3:30 a.m., no flow.
114 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IH HORTHBRH CALIFORNIA

Alameda Creek near Nlles, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 57°55'15", long. 121°57'35n , In Arroyo de la Alameda grant, an eighth

of a mile above highway bridge and lj miles northeast of Hiles, Alameda County.

Altitude, about 100 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 633 square miles, 

flage-height Feeord.- Water-stage recorder graph. 

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements for entire range of

stage.Shifting-control method used for period Nov. 20 to Dec. 9. 

Maxima.- December 1937* Discharge, 5,180 second-feet 9 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

8.85 feet).

1917-November 19371 Discharge, 13,900 second-feet Feb. 10, 1922 (gage height,

12.44 feet, former site and datum, 800 feet upstream), from rating curve extended

above 7,600 second-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by artificial storage in Cilaveras Reservoir

(capacity, 100,000 acre-feet) and by diversions for San Francisco watsr supply and

other diversions above station. Table on following page gives storage in Calaveras

Reservoir, diversions, and adjusted daily discharge for Alameda Creek. Most of

basic data furnished by city of San Francisco.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

11

Dec.

1.6

1.8

2.1

2.4

2.4

2.4

2.5

2.8

17

77

Jan.

148

148

148

148

148

148

148

151

151

151

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

11

13

15

17

16

17

19

18

17

9

Dec.

2,750

2,040

688

265

95

172

172

160

154

151

Jan.

151

151

151

136

105

101

115

110

115

136

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

8.5

6

6

6

4.3

2.5

2.1

1.8

1.6

1.6

636

Dec.

148

148

148

148

145

145

148

148

148

148

148

16,620

Jan.

133

112

108

105

108

112

112

142

172

160

631

9,230

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

9o

«

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

_

-

2.09

_

-

2.09

_

_

2.09

_

-

2.09

_

_

2.8

_

_

2.8

_

_

2.8

_

_

2.8

December 14

_

4.12

_

4.00

_

3.85

-

3.77

_

3.71

_

3.62

Deeen

_

-

3.57

-

-

3.57

_

-

3.57

_

.

3.57

_

360

-

305

_

245

-

214

_

194

_

166

iber 20

_

-

151

-

-

151

_

_

151

-

-

151

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

2.09

2.35

2.55

2.60

2.62

2.65

2.66

2.67

2.69

2.70

2.72

2.74

2.8

10

16

18

19

20

21

22

22

22

2.4

25

December 15

_

3.50

-

3.40

-

3.33

-

3.27

_

3.22

_

3.18

Dec en

_

-

3.57

-

-

3.57

-

-

3.56

_

_

3.56

_

130

_

105

_

91

-

80

_

71

_

65

iber 21

_

_

151

-

_

151

_

_

148

_

_

148

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

2.80

2.85

2.89

2.93

2.96

2.92

3.96

3.66

3.41

3.S4

3.15

3.10

28

32

34

38

40

37

289

178

108

75

62

55

December 16

3.64

3.67

3.67

3.67

3.66

3.66

3.65

3.65

3.66

3.66

3.66

3.66

Decen

_

_

-

_

_

3.56

_

_

_

_

_

3.56

172

181

181

181

178

178

175

175

178

178

178

178

her 22

_

_

-

-

_

148

_

_

_

_

_

148

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

3.10

3.05

5.25

6.51

6.50

6.35

7.75

8.33

8.66

8.84

8.65

7.97

55

50

1,100

2,290

2,280

2,120

3,760

4,520

4,980

5,180

4,970

4,050

December 17

_

_

3.65

-

-

3.63

-

_

3.62

_

_

3.61

Decen

_

_

-

-

-

3.56

_

-

-

-

_

3.56

_

_

175

-

-

169

-

-

166

_

_

163

her 23

_

-

-

-

-

148

_

-

-

_

-

148

Feet 1 Sec.ft.

December 12

7.52

6.95

6.49

6.35

6.25

6.42

6.07

5.75

5.61

5.56

5.42

5.28

Decem

_

_

3.60

-

_

3.60

-

-

3.59

_

_

3.59

Decen

_

-

-

-

-

3.56

_

-

_

_

-

3.56

3,470

2,780

2,270

2,120

2,010

2,190

1,830

1,520

1,400

1,350

1,240

1,120

her 18

_

_

160

-

-

160

-

-

157

-

_

157

her 24

_

-

-

-

-

148

-

-

_

-

-

148

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

5.17

5.08

4.94

4.81

4.70

4.60

4.51

4.47

4.47

4.39

4.31

4.25

Decen

_

_

3.58

-

-

3.58

-

_

3.58

_

_

3.58

Decen

_

-

3.56

-

-

3.55

_

-

3.55

_

-

3.55

1,040

965

860

767

695

630

576

552

552

504

460

428

her 19

_

-

154

-

-

154

-

_

154

_

-

154

ber 25

-

-

148

-

-

145

_

-

145

-

_

145

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 9 p.m., 8.85 ft., 5,180 sec.-ft.
ALAMEDA CREEK BASIH 

Alameda Creek near Hiles, Calif. Continued

(lain or loss in storage, diversions, and adjusted daily discharge, December 1937 to

January 1938

December

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

Calaveras Reservoir

Contents 

(acre-feet)

52 , 817

52,622

52,427

52,232

52 , 037

51,843

51,649

51,455

51,670

56,884

62,667

63,960

64,250

64,467

64,443

64,201

63,936

63,672

63,457

63,193

62,953

62,667

62,288

62,074

61,861

61,578

61,296

60,991

60,710

60,429

60,149

Gain or 

loss 

(acrefeet)

-195

-195

-195

-195

-195

-194

-194

-194

4215

+5,214

+5,783

+1,293

+290

+217

-24

-242

-265

-264

-215

-264

-240

-286

-379

-214

-213

-283

-282

-305

-281

-281

-280

Diversions 

(acrefeet)

225

226

224

223

226

224

223

236

243

240

69

33

6.9

33

28

42

43

43

43

43

39

42

43

43

44

44

45

45

44

44

44

Adjusted 

discharge 

(sec. -ft.)

17

17

17

16

18

18

17

24

248

2,830

5,700

2,710

838

391

97

71

60

49

67

40

47

25

-21

62

60

25

29

17

29

29

29

January

Calaveras Reservoir

Contents 

(acre-feet)

59,869

59,589

59,311

59,058

58,782

58,482

58,161

57,910

57,635

57,360

57 , 065

56,771

56,454

56,341

56,205

56,115

56,003

55,891

56,048

55,981

55,914

55,780

55,623

55,466

55,310

55,108

54,958

55,220

55,578

55,735

59,729

Gain or 

loss 

(acrefeet)

-280

-280

-278

-253

-276

-300

-321

-251

-275

-275

-295

-294

-317

-113

-136

-90

-112

-112

+157

-67

-67

-134

-157

-157

-156

-202

-155

+267

+358

+157

+3,994

Diversions 

(acrefeet)

44

44

44

44

44

44

44

44

44

44

44

44

-16

-89

42

43

42

43

44

44

45

44

44

44

44

44

44

44

43

44

25

December

Adjusted 

discharge 

(see. -ft. )

29

29

30

43

31

19

8

47

35

35

24

25

-17

34

58

77

80

75

216

124

122

67

51

48

52

32

56

299

374

261

2,660

January

150

-420

+1,150

162

9,960
116 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IH HORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Kern River near Kernvllle, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 35°56', long. 118°29', In Nfii sec. 14,T. 23 S. , R. 32 E., 3 miles

above Salmon Creek and 15 miles north of Kernvllle, Kern County. Altitude, about

3,550 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 845 square miles. 

Sage-height Fecord.- Water-stage recorder graph. 

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 6,200 secondreet; extended to peak stage on basis of computation of peak flow of flood of Feb.

6, 1937, over diversion dam 1 mile above gage; verified by area-velocity etudy at

gage. Shifting-control method used for periods Nov. 1 to Dec. 10, Dec. 23 to Jan.

31. 

Maxima.- December 1937! Discharge, 6,800 second-feet 8 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

TTT58 feet).

1912-November 1937t Discharge (unregulated), 9,690 second-feet Jan. 17, 1916

(gage height, 8.8 feet, former datum), from rating curve extended above 4,100

second-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage. Kern River No. 3 canal

diverts above station. Monthly summaries adjusted for diversion. Most of basic

data furnished by Southern California Edison Co., Ltd.

Mean dally discharge, In a

Day

1

2

3

4

6

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

6

9.5

6

1.5

1.4

1.4

1.4

1.3

1.2

1,3

Dec.

1.4

1.5

1.3

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.1

1.2

15

2,110

Jan.

0.6

.6

.6

.7

.8

.8

.8

.8

.7

.7

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

1.4

1.4

1.6

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.3

Dec.

2,120

1,900

718

460

339

269

214

170

135

109

Jan.

0.6

.6

.6

.6

12

9.5

1.7

1.5

1.5

1.5

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

NOV.

1.3

1.3

1.3

1.4

1.4

1.4

1.4

1.3

1.3

1.3

1.97

14,310

Dec.

92

79

45

2.0

1.2

1.1

1.0

.9

.8

.6

.6

284

37,500

Jan.

1.4

1.5

1.4

1.5

1.5

1.4

1.4

1.4

1.5

1.5

1.6

21,190

Gage height, In feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at Indicated time, 1937

1&

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

If

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

_

_

_

_

-

2.66

_

_

_

_

_

2.66

Decea

-

5.90

-

5.82

-

5.71

_

5.60

_

5.53

-

5.49

Decen

_

_

4.31

-

-

4.32

-

_

4.20

-

_

4.16

_

_

_

_

-

1.2

_

_

_

_

_

1.2

ber 14

-

530

498

-

456

_

418

_

396

383

iber 20

_

-

114

-

-

116

-

-

100

-

_

95

Feet [Sec. ft.

December 9

2.66

2.66

2.66

2.66

2.66

2.66

2,67

2.68

2.72

2.80

2.91

6.20

Decea

-

5.45

-

5.41

_

5.35

_

5.28

-

5.23

-

5.19

Decen

_

-

4.17

-

-

4.18

-

-

4.08

_

_

4.05

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.3

1.8

3.1

5.7

650

ber 15

-

371

-

359

_

342

_

322

_

308

-

297

iber 21

_

_

96

_

-

98

-

_

86

-

_

83

Feet |sec.ft.

December 10

9.43

9.45

9.87

9.78

9.28

8.78

8.16

7.55

7.08

6.73

6.47

6.27

Decea

-

_

5.15

_

-

5.08

_

_

5.01

_

_

4.94

Decen

_

4.05

-

4.08

-

4.07

-

4.00

-

3.90

_

3.88

3,220

3,240

3,840

3,710

3,030

2,460

1,870

1,400

1,110

905

775

682

ber 16

-

_

287

_

_

269

_

_

251

_

_

233

iber 22

_

83

-

86

-

85

-

78

-

68

_

66

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 11

6.07

5.87

5.72

5.66

5.63

5.69

6.18

8.57

10.58

11.58

10.86

9.95

Dec em

-

_

4.92

_

_

4.88

_

_

4.80

_

-

4.73

Deceit

3.91

3.95

3.97

4.04

4.05

3.71

3.44

3.25

3.12

3.01

2.94

2.89

598

518

460

438

428

449

642

2,250

4,970

6,800

5,450

3,960

ber 17

-

_

228

_

_

218

_

_

200

-

-

185

ber 23

69

73

75

82

83

49

28

17

10

7

5

3.9

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 12

9.48

9.15

8.85

8.55

8.18

7.88

7.62

7.44

7.30

7.17

7.05

6.93

Deceai

-

_

4.71

_

_

4.67

_

_

4.60

_

-

4.55

Decen

_

-

2.80

-

-

2.75

-

2.74

-

_

2.72

3,280

2,870

2,540

2,230

1,880

1,640

1,450

1,330

1,240

1,160

1,090

1,020

ber 18

-

_

181

_

_

173

_

_

160

_

-

152

ber 24

_

_

2.3

_

1.7

-

1.6

-

_

1.4

Feet

Decea

6.81

6.71

6.61

6.52

6.43

6.33

6.24

6.16

6.10

6.05

6.01

5.97

Sec.ft.

ber 13

946

895

845

800

755

708

668

634

610

590

574

558

December 19

-

_

4.51

_

_

4.46

_

_

4.38

_

_

4.32

Dec em

_

_

-

_

2.70

-

-

-

-

_

2.69

-

_

145

_

_

137

_

_

124

_

-

116

ber 25

_

-

-

-

1.2

-

-

-

_

1.2

Supplemental records.- Dec. 9, 11 p.m., 3.65 ft., 47 sec. -ft.
KERN RIVER BASIH 117

Kern River above Kern Canyon power house, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 35°27', long. 118°47', In sec. 31, T. 28 S., R. 30 E., about threequarters of a mile above Kern Canyon power house, Kern County. Altitude, about 770 

feet above mean sea level.

D r ainage are a.- 2,310 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 4,200 secondfeet; extended to peak stage of February 1937 on basis of computation of flow over 

Kern River No. 1 Intake dam, 11 miles above gage, plus flow through Kern River No. 

1 power house, and by comparison of peak discharge and total runoff of flood with 

records for other stations in Kern River Basin.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 7,900 second-feet 5S30 a.m. Dec. 12 (gage height,

 rBT65 feet).

1929-November 1937: Discharge, 19,200 second-feet Feb. 7, 1937 (gage height, 

22.4 feet, from floodmarks).

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage but by diversion above the 

station for Kern Canyon power house. Monthly summaries adjusted, for diversion. 

Most of basic data furnished by San Joaquin Light & Power Co.

Mean daily discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

4.8

4.4

3.9

3.5

3.3

3.2

3.2

3.2

3.2

3.1

Dec.

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.7

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.6

1,450

Jan.

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

3.2

3.2

3.0

2.9

3.0

2.9

2.8

2.8

2.8

2.8

Dec.

1,060

4,300

1,780

844

545

333

246

181

138

84

Jan.

5

6

5

5

5.5

5

5

23

9

5.5

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet (adjusted). ............................

Nov.

2.7

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.6

16,200

Dec.

49

50

9.5

34

8.5

8.5

7

7

6

5.5

5.5

50,660

Jan.

5

4.9

5

5

4.8

5

5

5

5

5

5

29,130

Gage height, In feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at Indicated time, 1937

Ft

go

n

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 8

-

-

_

_

_

3.10

_

_

_

_

_

3.10

Deceit

9.40

9.24

9.10

8.99

8.85

8.78

8.70

8.57

8.50

8.42

8.35

8.26

Decen

5.64

5.62

5.56

5.52

5.48

5.43

5.35

5.32

5.28

5.20

5.17

5.16

-

_

_

_

_

2.6

_

_

_

_

_

2.6

ber 14

1,090

1,020

964

920

864

836

806

757

730

700

674

642

ber 20

106

104

98

94

90

86

79

77

73

67

65

64

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

-

3.10

_

3.10

_

3.10

_

3.10

_

3.10

-

3.12

Decen

8.18

8.07

7.96

9.36

7.74

7.64

7.69

7.62

7.57

7.53

7.47

7.45

Decen

5.20

5.20

5.10

5.03

4.99

4.96

4.91

4.84

4.76

4.71

4.62

4.55

-

2.6

_

2.6

_

2.6

_

2.6

_

2.6

-

2.8

iber 15

613

576

542

1,070

477

450

463

445

432

422

407

502

iber 21

67

67

60

55

52

51

48

43

39

36

32

29

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

3.13

3.14

3.15

3.20

3.37

5.60

11.50

12.98

13.48

13.12

12.49

11.82

Decen

7.40

7.34

7.28

7.22

7.18

7.14

7.10

7.07

7.03

6.99

6.96

6.95

Deceit

4.52

4.49

4.49

4.48

4.47

4.45

6.90

5.20

4.34

4.16

4.04

3.90

2.8

2.9

3.0

3.4

4.8

102

2,210

3,340

3,810

3,470

2,930

2,430

ber 16

390

376

362

348

340

331

322

316

308

300

294

292

ber 22

28

27

27

26

26

26

282

67

22

17

14

11

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

11.15

10.42

9.80

9.42

9.12

8.87

8.68

8.55

8.45

8.32

8.25

8.25

1,990

1,580

1,270

1,100

972

872

798

749

711

663

638

638

December 17

6.92

6.87

7.02

6.78

6.71

6.66

6.62

6.59

6.55

6.52

6.49

6.46

Deceit

3.84

3.80

3.77

3.75

3.74

3.73

3.81

3.90

3.82

3.78

3.76

3.74

286

277

306

260

248

239

232

226

220

215

211

206

ber 23

10

9.5

9

9

8.5

8.5

9.5

11

10

9

9

8.5

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

9.30

16.40

16.50

15.68

14.80

14.30

13.77

13.12

12.80

12.48

12.14

11.90

Decem

6.42

6.40

6.39

6.34

6.30

6.27

6.22

6.20

6.17

6.11

6.08

6.21

Decen

3.71

3.69

4.76

5.10

5.21

5.11

4.92

4.72

4.56

4.40

4.20

4.01

1,050

7,580

7,740

6,510

5,320

4,720

4,110

3,470

3,180

2,920

2,660

2,490

ber 18

201

198

197

190

184

180

173

170

166

158

155

171

ber 24

8.5

8

39

60

68

61

48

37

29

24

18

13

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

11.66

11.46

11.35

11.30

11.16

11.00

10.70

10.43

10.16

9.90

9.70

9.54

2,320

2,180

2,110

2,080

2,000

1,900

1,720

1,580

1,450

1,320

1,220

1,150

December 19

6.19

6.18

6.16

6.14

5.82

5.88

5.83

5.80

5.73

5.71

5.70

5.68

Decen

3.84

3.73

3.71

3.70

3.67

3.66

3.66

3.66

3.66

3.66

3.73

3.96

169

167

165

162

124

131

125

122

115

113

112

110

ber 25

10

8.5

8.5

8

8

7.5

7.5

7.5

7.5

7.5

8.5

12

Supplemental records.- Dec. 12, 5:30 a.nu, 16.65 ft., 7,900 sec.-ft. Dec. 15, 7 a.m., 

9.40 ft., 1,090 sec.-ft.5 9 a.m., 9.32 ft., 1,060 sec.-ft. Dec. 22, 1130 p.m., 6.88 ft., 

278 sec.-ft.; 3 p.m., 6.90 ft., 282 sec.-ft.
118 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Kern River near Bakersfield, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 350 25'54", long. 118°56 ! 43n , In SWi 3ec. 2, T. 29 S., R. 28 E. , at

mouth, of lower canyon, 5 miles northeast of Bakersfleld, Kern County. Altitude,

about 470 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 2,420 square miles (revised). 

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

Maxima.- December 1957; Discharge, 6,859 second-feet 11:30 a.m. Dec. 12.

1893-November 1937s Discharge, 20,000 second-feet Feb. 7, 1937 (gage height,

9.12 feet). 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not materially affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Complete record, except run-off in acre-feet and monthly summaries, furnished by

Earn County Land Co.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

245

262

253

257

260

255

260

267

259

259

Dec.

272

268

269

270

270

271

277

286

296

926

Jan.

553

552

568

569

540

520

509

495

490

477

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

264

268

270

273

281

282

280

284

300

296

Dec.

2,175

4,227

2,711

1,353

1,158

1,049

940

859

794

753

Jan.

471

471

469

469

471

478

488

536

598

558

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

297

298

294

290

289

288

288

284

279

275

16,380

Dec.

724

707

701

705

656

609

596

589

566

552

554

52,320

Jan.

539

501

507

503

484

467

469

470

491

536

513

31,270

Supplemental records.- Dec. 12, Ils30 a.m., 6,859 sec.-ft.
KERS RIVER BASIS 119 

South Pork of Kern River near Onyx, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 35°44', long. 118°10', In Sll»i sec. 24, T. 25 S., R. 35 E., threequarters of a mile north of Kernville-Walker Pass road, 1.4 miles above Canebrake 

Creek, arid 5 miles northeast of Onyx, Kern County. Altitude, about 2,900 feet 

above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 531 square miles.

Gage-height IFecord.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 9 p.m. Jan. 30 to 

midnight Jan. 31, when it was based on partial recorder graph, shape of stage graph 

for South Fork at Isabella, and range of stage indicated on the recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 1,900 secondfeet. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 1,260 second-feet 8 a.m. Dec. 12 (gage height, 

4.81 feet).

1911-14, 1919-November 1937: Discharge, 3,130 second-feet Feb. 6, 1937 (gage 

height, 6.50 feet), from rating curve extended above 1,900 second-feet.

January-September 1938: Discharge, 3,450 second-feet 6 p.m. Mar. 2 (gage height, 

6.69 feet), from rating curve extended above 1,900 second-feet with aid of areavelocity study.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

27

27

27

27

27

27

29

29

28

29

Dec.

27

29

33

31

29

29

27

27

32

356

Jan.

59

60

61

54

52

45

43

43

41

46

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

29

30

29

30

32

30

31

35

33

32

Dec.

597

864

304

180

145

122

105

96

86

74

Jan.

47

47

42

48

52

47

45

52

45

41

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

34

33

32

32

32

32

32

31

29

28

1,790

Dec.

66

66

69

47

40

49

56

47

44

48

47

7,480

Jan.

38

49

52

45

43

44

44

45

48

40

44

2,900

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

§ow

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

1.49

1.48

1.49

1.53

1.50

1.47

1.46

1.41

1.36

1.35

1.35

1.39

Decea

2.59

2.57

2.55

2.53

2.52

2.51

2.50

2.47

2.45

2.43

2.39

2.36

Decei

1.99

1.98

1.97

1.97

1.97

1.97

1.95

1.89

1.89

1.90

1.91

1.96

30

30

30

33

31

29

29

26

23

23

23

25

ber 14

203

198

193

188

185

183

180

173

168

163

154

147

iber 20

80

78

77

77

77

77

74

67

67

68

69

76

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

1.46

1.46

1.49

1.52

1.51

1.48

1.47

1.47

1.51

1.56

1.66

1.86

29

29

30

32

32

30

29

29

32

35

42

59

December 15

2.34

2.33

2.35

2.36

2.34

2.35

2.37

2.36

2.33

2.31

2.28

2.26

Decei

1.98

1.93

1.91

1.91

1.89

1.88

1.89

1.84

1.82

1.82

1.81

1.82

143

141

145

147

143

145

149

147

141

136

130

126

aber 21

78

72

69

69

67

66

67

62

60

60

59

60

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

2.28

2.72

3.06

3.18

3.25

3.37

3.33

3.18

2.98

3.37

3.52

3.52

124

234

341

383

410

458

442

383

314

458

525

525

December 16

2.24

2.23

2.23

2.23

2.23

2.22

2.24

2.26

2.26

2.23

2.21

2.18

Decen

1.88

1.87

1.84

1.83

1.87

1.94

1.90

1.86

1.83

1.89

1.89

1.93

122

120

120

120

120

118

122

126

126

120

116

110

ber 22

66

65

62

61

65

73

68

64

61

67

67

72

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

3.46

3.38

3.30

3.23

3.19

3.17

3.19

3.36

4.11

4.49

4.48

4.70

497

462

430

402

386

380

386

454

836

1,050

1,050

1,190

December 17

2.16

2.15

2.15

2.15

2.16

2.14

2.15

2.17

2.17

2.16

2.13

2.11

Decen

1.98

1.97

1.93

1.92

1.90

1.88

1.88

1.88

1.86

1.84

1.85

1.88

107

105

105

105

107

103

105

109

109

107

101

98

toer 23

78

77

72

71

68

66

66

66

64

62

63

66

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

4.39

4.14

4.58

4.81

4.72

4.51

4.17

3.88

3.67

3.48

3.36

3.26

994

852

1,110

1,260

1,200

1,070

868

709

600

506

454

415

December 18

2.09

2.07

2.07

2.08

2.09

2.07

2.09

2.13

2.13

2.12

2.09

2.07

Decen

1-87

1.84

1.79

1.76

1.72

1.67

1.62

1.57

1.54

1.51

1.52

1.62

94

92

92

93

94

92

94

101

101

100

94

92

ber 24

65

62

57

54

51

47

43

39

37

35

35

43

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

3.20

3.15

3.10

3.05

3.01

2.96

2.90

2.82

2.76

2.71

2.67

2.63j

Decen

2.04

2.03

2.02

2.03

2.03

2.03

2.01

1.99

2.03

2.03

2.02

2.01

Decen

1.65

1.82

1.79

1.72

1.65

1.58

1.52

1.47

1.43

1.40

1.41

1.71

393

376

358

341

327

311

291

267

250

236

225

214

ber 19

87

86

84

86

86

86

82

80

86

86

84

82

ber 25

45

60

57

51

45

40

35

32

30

28

29

50
120 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

South Pork of Kern River at Isabella, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 35°40', long. 118°28', in HWi sec. 20, T. 26 S., R. 33 E., a quarter of 

a mile above junction with fern River, at Isabella, fern County. Altitude, about 

2,480 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 985 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements for range of stage of 

high water in December. Shifting-control method used for period Nov. 1 to Jan. 31.

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, sbcut 1,140 second-feet 2 a.m. Dec. 13 (gage height, 

4.52 feet).

1929-November 1937s Discharge, about 4,100 second-feet Feb. 7, 1937 (gage height, 

6.92 feet), from rating curve extended above 1,600 second-feet; verified by areavelocity study. Peak gage height is adjusted for estimated effect of back-water fron 

Kern River.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion but by channel 

storage, largely in overflow areas between Onyx and Isabella.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

12

12

12

13

13

13

13

13

13

12

Dec.

16

15

15

15

16

16

16

16

17

32

Jan.

80

82

83

83

83

80

77

77

74

76

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

13

13

13

13

13

10

9

9

11

13

Dec.

249

720

725

303

204

168

145

132

122

114

Jan.

78

78

78

79

82

83

81

84

84

84

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

11

11

12

16

16

16

15

15

16

16

768

Dec.

105

100

98

96

88

85

84

84

81

80

81

8,010

Jan.

79

77

80

79

76

73

72

72

74

72

69

78.4

4,820

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

i

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

1.32

1.32

1.32

1.33

1.32

1.32

1.32

1.32

1.32

1.32

1.32

1.33

Decen

3.27

3.20

3.15

3.10

3.05

3.00

2.96

2.92

2.88

2.85

2.81

2.78

Decen

_

_

-

-

_

2.14

-

_

_

_

_

2.10

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

ber 14

391

364

346

329

313

297

285

273

262

254

243

235

iber 20

_

-

_

-

-

114

_

_

_

_

_

109

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

1.33

1.33

1.34

1.33

1.33

1.33

1.35

1.36

1.36

1.36

1.37

1.38

Decen

2.75

2.73

2.70

2.68

2.66

2.66

2.62

2.59

2.58

2.57

2.56

2.55

Decen

_

_

_

_

-

2.07

-

_

_

_

_

2.04

16

16

16

16

16

16

17

17

17

17

17

17

iber 15

228

222

215

211

206

204

197

191

189

187

185

183

iber 21

_

_

_

_

_

105

_

_

_

_

_

102

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

1.42

1.55

1.59

1.61

1.61

1.60

1.57

1.52

1.48

1.49

2.00

2.29

Decen

_

2.52

_

2.50

-

2.47

_

2.44

_

2.41

_

2.39

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

2.03

_

_

_

_

_

2.02

19

25

27

28

28

28

26

24

22

22

67

120

ber 16

_

177

_

173

-

168

-

162

-

157

_

153

ber 22

_

_

_

_

_

100

_

_

_

_

_

99

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

2.42

2.52

2.56

2.57

2.67

2.77

2.88

2.99

3.07

3.13

3.20

3.22

159

177

185

187

208

232

262

294

319

340

364

372

December 17

_

_

-

-

-

2.35

-

_

_

_

-

2.30

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

2.01

.

_

_

_

_

2.01

_

_

-

-

-

145

-

_

-

_

-

136

iber 23

_

_

_

_

_

98

-

_

_

_

_

98

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

3.27

3.32

3.38

3.53

3.72

3.95

4.14

4.24

4.27

4.33

4.45

4.50

391

410

436

505

601

730

848

922

946

994

1,100

1,140

December 18

_

_

-

-

-

2.27

-

-

-

-

-

2.22

Decen

_

_

_

_

-

1.99

-

_

_

_

_

1.96

_

_

-

-

-

132

-

-

-

_

-

124

ber 24

_

_

_

_

-

96

_

_

_

_

_

92

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

4.52

4.43

4.28

4.12

3.96

3.81

3.69

3.60

3.53

3.46

3.40

3.34

Decen

_

_

_

-

-

2.20

-

-

-

-

-

2.17

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

1.93

_

_

_

_

_

1.90

1,140

1,080

954

834

736

650

585

540

505

472

444

419

ber 19

_

-

_

-

-

122

-

-

-

-

-

118

ber 25

_

_

_

_

-

88

_

_

_

_

_

85
TOLARB LAKE BASIH 121

Tulare Lake In Kings County, Calif.

Location.- Staff gage, lat. 36°05', long. 119°44', at SW corner sec. 31, T. 2.1 S., R. 

21 E., 12 miles southeast of Stratford, Kings County, Calif.

Records available.- March 1906 to September 1920 (incomplete) at various sites. No 

record 1921-23. Lake practically dry 1924-36.

Extremes.- 1906-December 1937. Maximum stage probably occurred June 21, 1907 (gage 

height, 14.0 feet, former site and datum]. lake empty or practically dry part of 

1906, 1914, 1916, 1919, 1920-22, 1924-36.

Remarks.- Qage heights interpolated for periods Dec. 2-7, 9, 12, 19, 25. Tulare Lake 

receives water from Kings, Keweah,and Tule Rivers during high-water periods and occasionally from Kern River, Deer Creek, and smaller intermittent streams. Lake 

boundaries have been greatly altered in recent years by levees and reclamation work. 

About Feb. 10, 1937, water reached lake for first time since April 1923. After 

reaching a stage of 192.28 feet on June 16 (contents,about 420,000 acre-feet) the 

lake receded until Dec. 14,when it began to receive water due to the December flood. 

Later in 1938 a much higher stage was reached. See 1938 annual water supply paper 

for the complete 1937 and 1938 record. Data furnished by Tulare Lake Reclamation 

District Ho. 749.

Daily gage height, in feet, December 1937

Day

1 

2 

3 

4

5

Qage 

height

186.0 

186.0 

186.0 

186.0 

186.0

Day

6 

7 

8 

9 

10

Qage 

height

186.0 

186.0 

185.9 

186.0 

186.0

Day

11 

12 

13 

14 

15

Qage 

height

186.0 

186.0 

186.0 

186.2 

186.4

Day

16 

17 

18 

19 

20

Qage 

height

186.6 

186.7 

186.7 

186.8 

186.8

Day

21 

22 

23 

24 

25

Qage 

height

186.9 

186.9 

186.9 

186.9 

186.9

Day

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31

Qage 

height

186.9 

186.9 

186.9 

186.9 

186.9 

186.9
122 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IK HORTHERN CALIFORHIA 

Tule River near Porterville, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 36°05', long. 118°55', in NWi sec. 25, T. 21 S., R. 28 E., at highway 

bridge 1 mile above South Pork and 6 miles east of Porterville, Tulare County. 

Altitude, about 580 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 266 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined "by current-meter measurements below 3,300 secondfeet; extended to peak stage with aid of area-velocity study and slope-area determination of flood flow. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 11,300 second-feet 6 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

10.3 feet, observed outside of well, and 9.5 feet, inside of well, affected by drawdown ).

1901-November 1937! Discharge, 12,500 second-feet (revised) Feb. 13, 1936 (gage 

height, 10.55 feet, inside of well; 11.4 feet, outside of well, determined from observations of drawdown at lower stages), from rating curve extended above 3,700 second-feet on basis of slope-area determination of flood flow and area-velocity study.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, Kovember 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

15

14

14

15

15

17

21

22

21

21

Dec.

27

27

27

21

21

20

19

20

26

2,200

Jan.

98

100

106

98

96

91

90

88

85

85

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Hov.

23

28

30

28

27

27

27

36

34

29

Dec.

2,880

1,800

545

334

254

214

188

166

152

141

Jan.

84

82

81

79

167

134

150

165

184

210

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

27

28

27

28

30

31

30

28

28

27

1,480

Dec.

130

123

147

134

120

114

111

105

102

102

100

20,570

Jan.

156

148

141

134

125

123

120

118

387

228

182

8,200

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

&i

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

K

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet jsee.ft.

December 8

_

1.80

_

1.82

_

1.82

_

1.83

_

1.84

_

1.85

Decen

3.87

3.81

3.77

3.72

3.68

3.64

3.60

3.57

3.52

3.50

3.48

3.46

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

2.74

-

_

_

_

_

2.71

_

18

_

20

_

20

-

20

_

21

_

22

ber 14

396

379

368

354

343

332

321

314

301

296

291

286

iber 20

_

_

_

-

_

141

_

_

-

-

_

136

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

1.85

1.85

1.85

1.85

1.85

1.85

1.86

1.87

1.92

1.96

2.05

2.30

22

22

22

22

22

22

23

24

28

32

41

71

December 15

_

3.41

_

3.35

-

3.31

_

3.29

-

3.25

_

3.22

Decei

_

_

_

_

.

2.68

_

_

_

-

_

2.65

_

274

_

261

-

252

-

2~48

_

240

-

234

ttber 21

.

-

_

-

_

130

_

_

_

_

_

125

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

5.00

6.80

7.90

8.15

7.95

7.50

6.55

5.70

5.47

5.35

5.15

4.90

Decen

_

3.18

_

3.16

-

3.13

_

3.05

_

3.06

-

3.06

Decen

_

-

_

_

_

2.64

_

_

_

-

_

2.62

860

2,290

4,120

4,810

4,250

3,280

2,020

1,300

1,140

1,070

950

810

ber 16

_

226

_

222

-

216

-

200

-

202

_

202

ber 22

_

_

-

_

123

_

_

_

_

_

120

Peet Sec. ft.

December 11

4.75

4.54

4.41

4.26

4.22

4.34

4.75

7.25

9.50

9.10

8.10

7.47

735

636

584

524

508

556

735

2,880

11,300

9,050

4,660

3,230

December 17

_

-

3.03

-

-

2.98

_

-

2.96

_

-

2.92

Decen

_

2.66

_

2.74

_

2.96

_

2.87

_

2.77

-

2.76

_

-

196

-

-

186

-

-

182

-

-

174

iber 23

_

127

-

141

_

182

_

165

_

147

-

145

Peet Sec. ft.

December 12

7.20

7.15

7.10

6.93

6.45

6.00

5.70

5.50

5.35

5.28

5.08

4.92

2,800

2,730

2,660

2,450

1,920

1,530

1,300

1,160

1,070

1,030

908

820

December 18

_

-

2.91

-

-

2.88

-

-

2.86

_

-

2.84

-

-

172

-

-

166

-

-

163

-

_

159

December 24

_

-

2.74

-

_

2.70

_

_

2.65

-

-

2.65

-

-

141

-

_

134

-

_

125

-

-

125

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

4.77

4.65

4.52

4.41

4.30

4.20

4.16

4.07

4.02

3.96

3.94

3.90

745

685

628

584

540

500

486

457

441

423

417

405

December 19

_

-

-

-

-

2.80

-

-

-

-

-

2.76

Decen;

_

-

_

-

-

2.63

_

_

_

-

-

2.61

-

-

-

-

-

152

-

-

-

_

-

145

ber 25

_

-

-

-

-

121

-

_

-

-

-

118

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 1 a.m., 2.53 ft., 105 sec.-ft. Dec. 11, 3. p.m., 

5.45 ft., 1,130 sec.-ft.; 5 p.m., 9,00 ft., 8,500 sec.-ft.
TOLARE LAKE BASIN

South Pork of Tule River near Success, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 36°03', long. 118°51', in HWi sec. 4, T. 22 S., R. 29 E., 3 miles 

southeast of Success, Tulare County, and 5 miles above mouth. Altitude, about 

750 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 106 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge re'latlon.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 950 secondfeet. iceT,.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 1,060 second-feet 7 p.m. Deo. 11 (gage height, 

4.80 feet).

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affecte'd by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

2.8

2.8

2.3

2.0

1.9

2.0

2*8

3.9

5.5

5

Dec.

7.5

7.5

7.5

7.5

7.5

7.5

7.5

7.5

8

300

Jan.

21

22

23

21

20

19

19

18

17

16

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

5

8

6.5

6.5

6.5

6.5

7

12

8

7.5

Dec.

276

267

99

62

47

39

35

31

28

26

Jan.

16

16

16

16

33

28

38

41

49

55

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

7

6.5

6.5

6.5

7.5

8

8

7.5

7.5

7.5

351

Dec.

25

24

32

27

24

24

24

23

22

22

21

3,070

Jan.

39

37

34

31

29

27

27

27

74

57

49

1,850

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

%&

2

4

6

6

10

N

2

4

6

8

LO

M

2

4

6

.0

N

2

4

6

.0

M

2

4

6

8

0

S

2

4

6

8

0

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

-

-

-

-

-

1.38

-

-

-

-

-

1.38

Deceni

_

_

2.03

_

1.99

-

_

1.95

I

1.91

Deceit

_

-

_

-

-

1.66

-

-

-

-

-

1.65

_

-

-

-

-

7.5

-

_

_

_

_

7.5

ber 14

_

_

67

_

62

_

_

57

I

52

iber 20

-

-

_

-

-

26

-

_

-

-

-

26

Feet Ses.ft.

December 9

.

1.38

_

1.38

-

1.38

-

1.39

_

1.41

-

1.53

Deceni

_

_

1.88

_

1.86

_

_

1.84

~_

1.82

Dec en

_

-

_

-

-

1.64

-

-

-

_

-

1.64

_

7.5

_

7.5

-

7.5

-

8

_

9

-

16

ber 15

_

.

49

_

47

_

_

44

~_

42

iber 21

_

-

-

-

-

25

-

-

-

-

-

25

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

2.75

3.75

3.95

3.80

3.58

3.18

2.84

2.60

2.45

2.32

2.23

2.15

Dec em

_

_

-

_

1.79

_

_

-

~

1.77

Deceit

_

-

_

-

-

1.63

_

-

-

-

1.63

210

550

632

570

482

338

235

170

138

113

97

84

ber 16

_

_

-

_

39

_

_

-

I

37

ber 22

_

-

-

-

-

24

-

_

-

-

-

24

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

2.09

2.05

2.01

1.98

1.96

2.02

2.12

2.48

4.65

4.54

3.86

3.51

Dec em

_

_

-

_

1.75

_

_

-

~

1.73

Deceit

_

1.64

_

1.68

-

1.80

_

1.81

-

1.71

-

1.71

76

70

64

61

58

66

80

144

972

912

594

456

ber 17

_

_

-

_

35

_

_

-

~

33

ber 23

_

25

_

28

-

40

-

41

-

31

-

31

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

3.41

3.35

3.32

3.27

3.02

2.87

2.74

2.64

2.63

2.57

2.55

2.47

Dec em

_

_

-

_

1.71

_

_

-

~

1.70

Deceni

_

-

1.69

-

-

1.67

-

_

1.65

-

-

1.63

418

396

385

368

288

244

207

180

178

163

159

142

ber 18

_

_

-

_

31

_

_

-

~

30

ber 24

_

-

29

-

-

27

-

-

26

_

-

24

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

_

2.37

_

2.29

_

2.23

-

2.17

_

2.12

_

2.08

Decem

_

_

-

_

1.68

_

_

-

~

1.67

Decen

_

-

_

-

1.63

-

-

-

_

-

1.63

_

122

_

107

_

97

-

88

_

80

_

74

ber 19

_

_

-

_

28

_

_

-

~

27

ber 25

.

-

-

-

-

24

-

-

-

-

-

24

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 7 p.m., 4.80 ft., 1,060 sec.-ft.
124 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Kaweah River near Three Rivers, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 36°24 ! , long. 118°57 I , in S«i sec. 33, T. 17 3., R. 28 E., 2& miles be 

low South Fork and 3 miles southwest of Three Rivers, Tulare County. Altitude, 

about 620 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 520 square miles.

Page-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 2 p.m. Dec. 11 to 4 

p.m. Dec. 17, when the record was unreliable. Peak stage determined from observed 

level on outside of gage house; verified by drift-marks on banks.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 5,200 second-

 feet; extended to peak stage with aid of area-velocity study; verified by A\/d" 

method. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, about 33,300 second-feet 3 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

height, about 16.0 feet).

1903-November 1937s Discharge, 18,900 second-feet Feb. 6, 1937 (gage height, 

12.65 feet), from rating curve extended above 5,200 second-feet with aid of areavelocity study.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge 

for period of unreliable gage-height record determined from discharge graph based 

on peak stage, gage readings Dec. 13 and 14, and general shape of recorder graph.

Mean dally discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 19S8

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

66

66

65

59

65

65

66

68

69

69

Dec.

69

71

72

72

71

71

71

71

84

5,870

Jan.

317

354

372

334

313

294

282

276

264

258

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Mean monthly discharge, in secondRun-off, in acre-feet.. ..........

Nov.

71

89

80

76

77

76

86

96

82

79

Dec.

10,800

5,600

1,900

1,000

800

670

578

537

485

440

Jan.

258

252

247

247

410

347

432

460

436

413

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

77

76

74

74

76

74

74

72

71

68

73.5 

4,380

Dec.

409

379

485

405

372

361

347

337

323

320

317

1,077 

66,220

Jan.

372

368

354

344

334

340

334

344

497

432

413

345 

21,220

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at Indicated time, 1937

g

n

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

Feet

Dece

_

_

_

_

.73

_

_

_

_

_

.73

Deem

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

_

.

-

Decei

_

_

1.78

_

1.73

_

1.66

_

_

1.74

See. ft.

mber 8

_

_

_

_

_

71

_

_

_

_

_

71

iber 14

_

_

1,110

_

_

994

_

_

917

_

860

iber 20

_

_

460

_

_

440

_

-

413

_

_

444

Feet (sec.ft.

December 9

0.73

.73

.73

.73

.73

.73

.73

.74

.78

.85

1.05

1.50

Deceit

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

-

_

-

Deceit

_

_

1.70

_

_

1.66

_

_

1.58

_

_

1.65

71

71

71

71

71

71

71

72

79

91

134

262

ber 15

_

_

_

_

_

780

_

_

_

_

715

iber 21

_

_

428

_

_

413

_

_

383

_

_

409

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

6.50

8.60

9.42

9.88

9.50

8.10

6.55

5.62

5.05

4.85

4.55

4.20

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

-

_

-

Decen

_

_

1.62

_

_

1.57

_

_

1.52

_

_

1.59

4,640

8,600

10,600

11,900

10,800

7,550

4,720

3,370

2,660

2,450

2,150

1,830

ber 16

_

_

_

_

_

660

-

_

-

_

_

614

ber 22

_

_

398

_

-

379

_

_

361

_

_

386

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

3.90

3.70

3.52

3.70

5.50

7.60

14.60

_

_

_

-

Decen

_

_

2.10

_

2.05

-

2.01

-

_

2.05

Decen

1.65

1.73

1.83

2.10

2.20

2.08

1.91

1.79

1.72

1.70

1.72

1.79

1,590

1,430

1,300

1,430

3,210

6,570

27,900

29,400

21,900

15,500

11,900

9,760

iber 17

_

_

600

_

_

578

_

_

560

_

578

ber 23

409

440

481

600

645

591

514

464

436

428

436

464

Feet 1 Sec.ft.

December 12

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

_

-

Decen

_

_

2.02

_

_

1.94

-

_

1.90

-

_

1.92

Decen

_

1.80

_

1.72

1.61

_

1.53

_

1.52

_

1.59

_

_

7,150

_

_

5,300

_

_

3,680

-

2,840

ber 18

_

_

564

_

_

528

_

510

-

-

519

ber 24

_

468

-

436

-

394

_

365

_

361

_

386

Feet

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

-

-

Decen

_

-

1.88

_

_

1.82

_

1.77

_

1.84

Decen

_

1.67

1.58

-

1.52

-

1.48

1.47

_

1.55

Sec.ft

iber 13

_

_

2,28C

_

-

1,80C

_

_

1,50C

-

_

1,27(

ber 19

.

_

502

_

_

476

_

456

-

_

485

ber 2E

_

417

_

383

-

361.

347

-

344

_

372

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 1 p.m., 11.30 ft., 16,200 eec.-ft.; 3 p.m., 16.00

ft., 33,300 sec.-ft.
TULAHE LAKE BASIN 125 

North Pork of Kaweah River at Kaweah, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 36°29', long. 118°55', in SEi sec. 34, T. 16 S., R. 28 E., it miles 

above Mannikin Creek, li miles north of Kaweah, Tulare County, and 3 miles above 

mouth. Altitude, about 1,080 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 128 square miles.

Sage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph. For period Jan. 1-14 recorder graph 

unreliable, and record was based on shape of recorder graph for Kaweah River near 

Three Rivers.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 3,200 secondfeet; extended to peak stage with aid of area-velocity study. Rating curve changed 

at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 8,290 second-feet 3 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 11.0 

feet).

1910-November 1937: Discharge, about 7,400 second-feet Jan. 25, 1914 (gage 

height, 10.2 feet, former site and datum, from floodmarks), from rating curve extended above 2,600 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

9.5

9.5

9.5

9.5

9.5

9.5

10

10

10

10

Dec.

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

18

1,280

Jan.

88

100

116

106

100

93

86

83

80

74

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

11

17

14

13

14

14

16

16

15

14

Dec.

2,390

1,100

331

229

189

160

147

129

119

111

Jan.

74

74

74

74

143

129

139

150

141

129

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

13

14

12

13

14

14

14

14

13

12

742

Dec.

104

99

121

104

93

90

89

86

86

86

88

14,570

Jan.

122

124

119

116

118

118

119

126

171

149

149

6,910

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

§

S

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

-

-

1.80

_

_

1.80

-

-

1.78

-

_

1.81

Deceit

_

3.45

-

3.42

-

3.37

-

3.36

-

3.31

-

-

Decen

_

-

2.84

-

-

2.82

-

-

2.80

-

-

2.80

_

_

12

_

_

12

_

_

11

-

_

12

ber 14

_

246

-

238

-

224

_

222

-

209

-

206

iber 20

_

-

114

-

_

111

-

-

108

-

-

108

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

1.80

1.80

1.80

1.80

1.79

1.79

1.78

1.78

1.86

2.00

2.16

2.55

12

12

12

12

12

12

11

11

15

23

35

76

December 15

_

-

3.28

_

-

3.23

-

-

3.19

_

-

3.16

Decen

_

-

2.79

-

_

2.78

_

_

2.76

-

-

2.75

_

-

201

_

-

189

_

-

180

-

_

173

iber 21

_

-

106

_

_

105

_

_

102

_

-

100

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

5.15

5.90

6.12

6.40

6.70

5.95

5.02

4.48

4.18

4.10

3.93

3.75

1,120

1,830

2,070

2,400

2,760

1,880

1,020

700

551

515

438

360

December 16

_

-

3.12

_

-

3.09

_

_

3.07

_

_

3.05

Decen

_

-

2.75

_

_

2.74

_

_

2.71

_

-

2.72

_

-

164

-

-

158

_

_

154

_

-

150

ber 22

_

-

100

_

_

99

_

_

94

_

-

96

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

3.58

3.46

3.37

3.36

3.85

5.18

10.00

10.50

7.78

6.42

7.03

7.05

299

263

237

234

402

1,140

6,990

7,640

4,120

2,480

3,210

3,230

December 17

_

_

3.05

_

_

3.03

_

_

3.00

_

_

2.98

Decen:

2.77

2.84

2.90

3.02

3.09

2.99

2.88

2.82

2.80

2.83

2.90

2.90

_

_

150

_

-

147

-

-

141

-

-

138

ber 23

104

114

124

145

158

139

121

111

108

113

124

124

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 12

6.35

5.91

5.41

5.00

4.80

4.62

4.50

4.37

4.26

4.19

4.11

4.02

2,400

1,900

1,400

1,060

905

779

700

624

565

530

490

449

December 18

_

-

2.95

_

-

2.93

_

-

2.91

_

_

2.90

_

-

132

_

-

129

-

-

126

_

-

124

December 24

_

2.86

_

2.80

_

2.74

_

2.69

_

2.68

_

2.80

_

118

_

108

_

99

_

92

_

90

-

108

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

-

3.89

_

3.77

_

3.65

-

3.60

-

3.56

_

3.51

Deceit

_

-

2.89

_

-

2.87

_

_

2.85

_

-

2.85

Decem

_

2.79

_

2.72

_

2.68

_

2.65

_

2.65

-

2.76

_

396

_

349

_

307

-

290

-

278

_

263

ber 19

_

-

122

-

-

119

_

-

116

-

-

116

ber 25

_

106

_

96

_

90

-

86

_

86

-

102

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 1 a.m., 3.70 ft., 340 sec.-ft. Dec. 11, 3 p.m., 

11.0 ft., 8,290 sec.-ft.; 9 p.m., 6.27 ft., 2,310 sec.-ft.; 11 p.m., 7.50 ft., 3,780 

sec.-ft.
126 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Kings River above North Fork, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 36°52', long. 119°07', in Nj sec. 27, T. 12 S., R. 26 E. (unsurveyed), 

1 mile above North Fork of Kings River and 10 miles southeast of Trimmer, Fresno 

County. Altitude, about 1,020 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 956 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 11,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage with aid of area-velocity study; verified by logarithmic extension. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 42,000 second-feet 4 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

12.02 feet).

1927-28; 1931-November 1937! Discharge, 13,400 second-feet Feb. 6, 1937 (gage 

height, 7.86 feet), from rating curve extended above 10,000 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off very slightly affected by artificial storage. No diversions. 

Part of basic data furnished by Kings River Water Association and San Joaquin Light 

& Power Corporation.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

149

149

147

145

143

141

145

145

145

147

Dec.

147

149

151

143

141

141

141

138

153

3,340

Jan.

390

415

430

400

376

354

354

340

322

322

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

153

200

231

207

187

169

176

183

169

172

Dec.

14,600

5,990

2,120

1,310

1,020

871

780

698

638

590

Jan.

300

296

292

292

430

390

465

460

445

415

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

172

167

161

161

163

161

159

155

149

149

9,720

Dec.

560

525

555

485

470

455

440

420

415

415

425

76,220

Jan.

400

410

381

372

368

368

363

395

460

410

435

23,500

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

SoW

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

0.87

.86

.86

.85

.85

.85

.85

.85

.86

.86

.86

.86

Decea

3.86

3.80

3.75

3.67

3.62

3.59

3.55

3.52

3.49

3.48

3.47

3.47

Dec en

_

2.78

_

2.77

-

2.70

-

2.63

-

2.61

_

2.66

140

138

138

136

136

136

136

136

138

138

138

138

iber 14

1,580

1,500

1,440

1,350

1,300

1,270

1,230

1,200

1,170

1,160

1,150

1,150

iber 20

_

638

_

632

-

590

-

555

_

545

-

570

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

0.86

.85

.85

.86

.85

.85

.86

.87

.95

1.09

1.21

1.49

138

136

136

138

136

136

138

140

155

185

215

295

December 15

3.46

3.43

3.39

3.37

3.33

3.31

3.29

3.27

3.25

3.24

3.24

3.23

Deces

_

2.70

_

2.68

-

2.63

-

2.59

_

2.58

-

2.59

1,140

1,120

1,080

1,060

1,030

1,010

992

976

960

952

952

944

iber 21

_

590

_

580

-

555

-

535

_

530

_

535

Feet [sec.ft.

December 10

2.12

4.29

5.24

5.72

5.88

5.62

5.20

4.84

4.68

4.53

4.25

4.02

Decea

3.23

3.20

3.19

3.16

3.14

3.11

3.08

3.05

3.04

3.04

3.05

3.06

Decen

_

2.61

_

2.60

-

2.58

_

2.52

_

2.50

-

2.55

539

2,450

4,070

5,310

5,850

5,000

3,980

3,290

3,030

2,800

2,390

2,090

ber 16

944

920

913

892

878

857

836

815

808

808

815

822

ber 22

_

545

_

540

_

530

-

500

_

490

_

515

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

3.82

3.62

3.53

3.64

5.07

7.00

9.95

12.02

11.05

9.75

8.80

7.69

Decen

3.06

3.05

3.04

3.02

3.01

2.99

2.98

2.95

2.94

2.93

2.92

2.93

Decea

2.60

2.67

2.72

2.78

2.75

2.68

2.62

2.58

2.56

2.56

2.56

2.57

1,850

1,630

1,540

1,650

3,720

9,920

25,600

42,000

34,200

24,900

19,200

13,600

ber 17

822

815

808

794

787

773

766

745

738

731

724

731

iber 23

540

575

608

638

620

580

550

530

520

520

520

525

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

7.01

6.53

6.17

5.89

5.65

5.40

5.25

5.11

4.98

4.93

4.85

4.74

Deceai

_

2.94

-

2.91

_

2.89

-

2.86

-

2. -82

.

2.81

Decea

2.56

2.56

2.55

2.55

2.53

2.50

2.47

2.43

2.40

2.39

2.41

2.46

10,600

8,750

7,440

6,490

5,730

5,000

4,590

4,230

3,890

3,770

3,580

3,320

ber 18

_

738

_

717

-

704

-

686

-

662

_

656

ber 24

520

520

515

515

505

490

475

455

440

435

445

470

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

4.59

4.48

4.37

4.28

4.18

4.11

4.04

3.98

3.93

3.92

3.91

3.91

2,980

2,740

2,500

2,320

2,120

2,000

1,870

1,770

1,690

1,670

1,660

1,660

December 19

_

2.83 ' _

2.83

-

2.79

-

2.74

-

2.70

-

2.74

Deceai

2.50

2. -52

2,53

2.51

2.48

2.45

2.43

2.40

2.38

2.38

2.39

2.43

_

668

-

668

_

644

-

614

-

590

-

614

ber 25

490

500

505

495

480

465

455

440

430

430

435

455
TO LAKE LAKE BASIN 127

Kings River at Piedra, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 36°49'02n , long. 119°23'08", in HW^ sec. 8, T. 13 S. , R. 24 E. , half a 

mile below highway bridge at Piedra, Fresno County, and 12 miles northeast of Sanger. 

Altitude, about 500 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 1,694 square miles.

Gage-height i-ecord.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 26,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage with aid of area-velocity study. Rating curve changed 

at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 80,000 second-feet 4:30 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

 11794 feet).

1895-November 1937: Discharge, about 59,700 second-feet Jan. 25, 1914 (gage 

height, 21.8 feet, from floodmarks, former site and datum 1,000 feet upstream), 

from rating curve extended above 15,000 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Part of basic 

data furnished by Kings River Water Association.

Mean dally discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

183

187

187

183

180

176

178

185

185

185

Dec.

196

192

196

194

190

187

185

185

194

9,190

Jan.

784

832

1,040

922

838

790

748

725

695

675

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

192

213

274

286

253

259

225

235

238

223

Dec.

37,800

12,900

4,120

2,680

2,160

1,840

1,600

1,460

1,300

1,180

Jan.

665

645

635

635

1,170

1,080

1,000

1,140

1,110

1,110

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

220

220

215

215

220

218

215

208

203

199

12,610

Dec.

1,080

964

1,040

1,000

922

880

862

826

802

790

820

174,400

Jan.

916

910

880

820

790

790

790

927

1,510

1,080

1,000

54,850

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

1

8

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

1.43

1.42

1.42

1.43

1.44

1.44

1.44

1.43

1.43

1.42

1.41

1.41

Dec en

6.20

6.18

6.10

6.00

5.88

5.78

5.70

5.62

5.57

5.53

5.48

5.46

Dec ei

4.26

4.25

4.28

4.32

4.34

4.35

4.34

4.31

4.27

4.24

4.20

4.17

185

183

183

185

187

187

187

185

185

183

180

180

ber 14

3,210

3,180

3,070

2,940

2,780

2,660

2,560

2,460

2,400

2,360

2,300

2,280

iber 20

1.150

1,140

1,170

1,200

1,210

1,220

1,210

1,190

1,160

1,140

1,110

1,090

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

1.41

1.40

1.40

1.41

1.42

1.43

1.43

1.44

1.50

1.54

1.63

1.77

Decer

5.48

5.52

5.52

5.48

5.43

5.37

5.32

5.28

5.25

5.22

5.20

5.17

Decei

4.15

4.12

4.14

4.18

4.21

4.22

4.21

4.20

4.17

4.15

4.14

4.11

180

178

178

180

183

185

185

187

201

211

232

271

iber 15

2,300

2,340

2,340

2,300

2,240

2,180

2,120

2,080

2,040

2,010

1,990

1,960

nber 21

1,080

1,050

1,070

1,100

1,120

1,120

1,120

1,110

1,090

1,080

1,070

1,050

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

1.95

2.28

2.80

8.87

10.92

11.57

10.67

9.82

8.96

8.76

8.71

8.12

328

447

675

9,730

17,300

20,400

16,200

12,900

10,000

9,420

9,280

7,700

December 16

5.16

5.16

5.15

5.14

5.11

5.09

5.06

5.02

4.97

4.93

4.90

4.88

Decen

4.09

4.06

3.99

3.95

3.96

3.98

3.99

3.98

3.97

3.96

3.94

3.92

1,950

1,950

1,940

1,930

1,900

1,880

1,850

1,810

1,760

1,720

1,690

1,670

ber 22

1,030

1,010

964

940

946

958

964

958

952

946

934

922

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

7.45

6.94

6.65

6.95

8.00

16.00

19.87

19.80

19.20

18.75

17.20

15.00

Decen

4.87

4.87

4.88

4.89

4.87

4.85

4.82

4.80

4.77

4.74

4.72

4.70

Decen

3.88

3.83

3.82

3.90

4.14

4.25

4.34

4.39

4.34

4.25

4.18

4.12

6,140

5,130

4,620

5,140

7,400

46,800

79,700

79,000

72,500

68,100

54,200

37,500

ber 17

1,660

1,660

1,670

1,680

1,660

1 , 640

1,620

1,600

1,570

1,550

1,530

1,510

ber 23

898

868

862

910

1,070

1,140

1,210

1,250

1,210

1,140

1,100

1,050

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 12

13.50

12.14

11.37

10.45

9.80

9.35

8.97

8.59

8.28

8.03

7.88

7.78

27,800

20,700

17,100

13,400

11,200

9,820

8,760

7,780

7,030

6,470

6,140

5,930

December 18

4.68

4.67

4.67

4.67

4.68

4.67

4.65

4.63

4.61

4.59

4.56

4.53

1,490

1,480

1,480

1,480

1,490

1,480

1,460

1,450

1,430

1,410

1,390

1,360

December 24

4.08

4.07

4.09

4.12

4.13

4.12

4.10

4.07

4.03

3.97

3.93

3.91

1,030

1,020

1,030

1,050

1,060

1,050

1,040

1,020

991

952

928

916

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

7.59

7.43

7.22

7.01

6.83

6.67

6.54

6.44

6.32

6.24

6.19

6.18

Decen

4.49

4.47

4.47

4.47

4.48

4.49

4.48

4.45

4.43

4.41

4.36

4.30

Decen

3.87

3.85

3.87

3.93

3.98

3.99

3.98

3.96

3.92

3.88

3.34

3.80

5,540

5,230

4,840

4,470

4,170

3,910

3,710

3,560

3,380

3,270

3,200

3,180

ber 19

1,330

1,320

1,320

1,320

1,320

1,330

1,320

1,300

1,280

1,270

1,230

1,180

ber 25

892

880

892

928

958

964

958

946

922

898

874

850

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 3sl5 p.m., 19.57 ft., 76,700 sec.-ft.; 4:30 p.m. 

19.94 ft., 80,000 sec.-ft.; 6s20 p.m., 19.49 ft., 75,500 sec.-ft.
128 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Fresno by-pass, Fresno County, Calif.

Kings River, during flood periods, flows into Tulare Lake but also contributes some 

water to the San Joaquin River by way of Fresno Slough and Fresno by-pass which 

joins the San Joaquin River near Hendota. Data furnished by C. L. Kaupke, water 

master, Kings River Water Association. (See No. 311a on figure 6.)

Daily discharge, in second-feet, December 1937

Day

1 

2 

3 

4 

5

Discharge

0 

0 

0 

0 

0

Day

6 

7 

8 

9 

10

Discharge

0 

0 

0 

0 

0

Day

11 

12 

13 

14 

15

Mean monthly discharge, in secor

Discharge

0 

0 

920 

1,850 

3,070

Day

16 

17 

18 

19 

20

Discharge

2,805 

2,025 

1,650 

1,550 

1,330

Day

21 

22 

23 

24 

25

Discharge

1,100 

915 

830 

790 

760

Day

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31

Discharge

755 

680 

635 

610 

600 

595

757 

46,550
TULARE LAKE BASIN 129

North Pork of Kings River near Cliff Camp, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°00', long. 118°59', in NWi sec. 12, T. 11 S., R. 27 B., at Cliff 

Camp Bridge, 1 mile northeast of Cliff Camp, Presno County, and 2.3 miles below 

Woodchuck Creek. Altitude, about 6,150 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 174 square miles.

Gage-height Jrecord. - Water-stage recorder graph except for period 11 a.m. Dec. 11 to 

11 a.m. Jan. 26, when there was no record. Stage graph for Dec. 11 and Jan. 26 

determined from partial recorder graph, floodmarks, and stage graphs for Kings 

River above North Pork and at Piedra. Peak stage obtained from floodmarks.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 2,800 secondfeet; extended to peak stage with aid of area-velocity study; verified by logarithmic extension.

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 14,000 second-feet about noon Dec. 11 (gage height, 

18.0 feet).

1921-N9vember 1937! Discharge, 6,030 second-feet June 4, 1922 (gage height, 10.6 

feet, former site and datum), from rating curve extended above 4,200 second- fe.et.

Remarks . - Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Mean discharge for period Dec. 12-31 estimated as 300 second-feet; for period Jan. 1-25 estimated as 85 second-feet. Most of basic data furnished by San Joaquin Light & 

Power Corporation.

Mean daily discharge, in

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

8

7.5

7

7

6.5

7

8

7.5

7.5

8.5

Dec.

8.5

9.5

9

8

7.5

8

7.5

7.5

39

1,210

Jan.

_

_

-

-

-

-

-

_

-

-

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Mean monthly discharge, in secondRun-off, in acre-feet. ...........

Nov.

9.5

10

9.5

12

11

10

15

11

10

13

Dec.

6,620

-

_

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Jan.

_

-

_

-

_

-

_

-

-

-

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

13

11

11

13

11

11

10

9.5

9

8.5

9.75 

580

Dec.

_

-

-

_

-

_

-

-

-

-

-

450 

27,640

Jan.

_

-

-

-

-

104

98

95

97

97

95

87.5 

5,380

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

£&

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

2.64

2.73

2.74

2.75

2.75

2.68

2.59

2.51

2.58

2.69

2.67

2.63

7

9

9

9.5

9.5

8

6.5

5

6

8

7.5

7

December 14

Decen ber 20

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

2.65

2.74

2.78

2.79

2.80

2.81

2.81

2.81

2.90

3.14

4.20

5.45

7.5

9

10

10

11

11

11

11

14

24

150

440

December 15

Dec eniber 21

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

6.46

7.08

8.25

8.75

7.98

7.15

7.49

8.25

7.50

6.83

6.42

6.64

804

1,060

1,620

1,920

1,470

1,090

1,240

1,620

1,240

952

788

876

December 16

Decen ber 22

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

7.50

8.60

12.53

14.95

16.69

18.00

17.30

14.50

12.65

11.65

11.00

10.50

1,240

1,830

5,450

8,820

11,700

14,000

12,700

8,140

5,600

4,420

3,720

3,240

December 17

December 23

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

December 18

Decen ber 24

Feet | Sec.ft.

December 13

December 19

Decejnber 25

Supplementary records.- Dec. 9, 9 p.m., 3.26 ft., 33 sec.-ft.
130 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Horth Fork of Kings River below Ranoherla Creek, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 36°56', long. 119°00', in SEi sec. 34, T. 11 S., R. 27 E., 1 mile above 

Balch Diversion Dam and 1 mile below Rancheria Creek, Fresno County. Altitude, 

about 3,400 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 225 square miles.

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph prior to Nov. 30 except for periods 

Hov. 7-8, 10-15, and parts of Nov. 6, 9, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, when stage graph was 

based on partial recorder graph, occasional gage readings, and shape of stage graph 

for North Fork of Kings River near Cliff Camp. No record for period Dec. 1 to Jan. 

31.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 4,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of computation of flow over Balch Forebay Dam 

plus discharge through sluice gates minus estimated inflow; verified by computation 

of flow over Balch Afterbay Dam plus discharge through sluice gates minus estimated 

inflow between gage and dam.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 21,000 second-feet Dec. 11 (gage height, about 23 

feet, from floodmarks).

1927-November 1937: Discharge, 6,510 second-feet May 14, 1937 (gage height, 

13.10 feet), from rating curve extended above 3,800 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Mean discharge 

for period Dec. 12-31 estimated as 450 second-feet; for January, 140 second-feet. 

Most of basic data furnished by San Joaquin Light & Power Corporation.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

16

16

16

16

15

16

16

16

16

17

Dec.

16

15

18

16

15

14

14

14

100

1,500

Jan.

_

_

-

_

_

_

_

_

_

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

19

20

20

22

21

20

22

26

20

22

Dec.

9,000

_

-

_

-

~

_

_

_

_

Jan.

_

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Day

21

22

2!

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. .......................................

Nov.

23

21

21

21

23

20

20

20

18

17

1,140

Dec.

_

-

-

_

-

-

_

-

_

_

-

39,120

Jan.

_

-

-

~

-

-

_

-

_

-

-

8,610
TOLARE RIVER BASIN 131 

Los Gatos Creek near Coalinga, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 36°13', long. 120°27', in SWj sec. 4, T. 20 S., R. 14 E., at mouth of 

canyon, 3 miles below Diaz Creek, and 7-g- miles northwest of Coalinga, Fresno County. 

Altitude, about 1,000 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 105 square miles.

Qage-height Fecord.- Water-stage recorder graph. Affected by variable drawdown of 

water level in well at high stages.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 300 second-feet; 

extended to peak stage on basis of slope-area determination of flood flow. Shiftingcontrol method used for periods Nov. 1 to Dec. 10, Jan. 16-31. Rating curve changed 

at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, about 1,530 second-feet 9:30 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

height, 5.1 feet, from floodmarks on bank; 4.58 feet, inside of well, affected by 

drawdown).

1931-November 1937: Discharge, about 1,050 second-feet Dec. 23, 1931 (gage 

height, 4.66 feet, inside of well, present datum), from rating curve extended above 

15 second-feet on basis of slope-area determination of flood flow.

January-September 1938: Discharge, about 4,520 second-feet Feb. 11 (gage height, 

8.0 feet, from floodmarks on banks; 6.23 feet, inside of well, due to drawdown), 

from rating curve extended above 300 second-feet on basis of area-velocity study.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Sfean dally discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

Dec.

0.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.6

.5

Jan.

0.5

.0

.6

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.3

.3

.3

.3

Dec.

349

49

31

14

7.5

3.4

1.6

1.0

.6

.5

Jan.

0.5

.5

.5

.5

22

2.9

33

31

37

45

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

0.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

15

Dec.

0.5

.5

.6

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

15.1

926

Jan.

31

28

24

23

21

20

20

35

53

40

135

1220

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937 12

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

If

Feet Isec.ft.

December 8

-

-

-

-

-

0.57

-

-

-

-

-

.57

-

-

-

-

-

0.3

-

-

-

-

-

.3

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

_

0.57

_

.57

_

.58

_

.64

-

.61

_

.57

_

0.3

_

.3

-

.5

_

1.5

_

1.0

-

.3

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

_

_

0.56

_

_

.55

_

-

.53

_

-

.64

_

_

0.6

_

_

.5

_

-

.3

-

_

.3

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

0.54

.55

.75

1.35

4.50

3.57

3.67

2.90

2.35

2.10

1.93

1.79

0.3

.5

4.9

56

1,460

862

912

480

265

195

152

119

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

1.69

1.58

1.51

1.47

J.. 43

1.41

1.39

1.36

1.33

1.31

1.30

1.29

97

74

60

53

45

42

38

34

30

26

25

24

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 9 a.m., 2.75 ft., 412 sec.-ft.; 9s30 a.m., 4.58 ft., 

1,530 sec.-ft.; 3 p.m., 3.10 ft., 580 sec.-ft.
132 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

San Joaquin River above Big Creek, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37° 15'00", long. 119°3.9'10", in NWi sec. 11, T. 83., R. 24 E., 3 miles

above mouth of Big Creek, Fresno County. Altitude, about 2,500 feet above mean sea

level.

Drainage area.- 1,042 square miles. 

gage-height Fecord.- Water-stage recorder graph. 

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 16,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage with aid of area-velocity study; verified by comparison

of peak flow and total run-off of flood with record for San Joaquin River near

Friant.

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 52,500 second-feet 3 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

 54705 feet).

1922-November 1937: Discharge, 18,000 second-feet June 5, 1922 (gage height,

17.34 feet). 

Remarks.- Flood run-off slightly affected by artificial storage. Most of basic data

furnished by Southern California Edison Co., Ltd.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

106

106

104

102

101

99

102

106

104

106

Dec.

130

126

130

125

121

119

119

117

158

5,500

Jan.

427

530

555

506

474

438

427

408

379

372

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

119

140

117

126

142

128

177

212

157

157

Dec.

31,700

6,890

2,440

1,590

1,280

1,090

985

885

790

700

Jan.

365

358

348

348

678

589

745

722

655

581

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

159

161

144

146

150

144

144

136

134

132

i iv

7,860

Dec.

655

602

610

539

502

498

482

454

442

442

438

120,300

Jan.

534

581

543

498

506

514

526

539

589

560

572

31,470

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

£

w

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

6.93

6.95

6.96

6.96

6.95

6.94

6.93

6.92

6.91

6.90

6.90

6.89

Deces

10.78

10.67

10.55

10.45

10.37

10.30

10.25

10.20

10.15

10.10

10.10

10.11

Deceit

8.79

8.91

8.90

8.85

8.78

8.71

8.65

8.59

8.54

8.51

8.49

8.51

117

121

123

123

121

119

117

116

114

112

112

110

ber 14

1,890

1,810

1,720

1,660

1,610

1,560

1,530

1,500

1,460

1,440

1,440

1,440

iber 20

740

794

790

768

736

704

678

650

628

614

606

614

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

6.92

6.95

6.96

6.97

6.96

6.95

6.95

6.94

7.01

7.26

7.68

8.35

Decen

10.10

10.06

10.01

9.95

9.90

9.86

9.82

9.77

9.74

9.72

9.70

9.70

Decen

8.55

8.68

8.77

8.73

8.67

8.62

8.58

8.54

8.51

8.48

8.48

8.49

116

121

123

125

123

121

121

119

132

186

300

547

iber 15

1,440

1,410

1,380

1,340

1,320

1,290

1,270

1,240

1,220

1,210

1,200

1,200

iber 21

632

691

732

714

686

664

646

628

612

602

602

606

Feet |sec.ft.

December 10

9.07

9.99

11.92

12.93

13.68

14.18

14.43

14.40

14.46

14.58

14.32

14.15

Decen

9.68

9.65

9.62

9.59

9.55

9.49

9.43

9.40

9.36

9.34

9.34

9.36

Decen

8.52

8.57

8.62

8.61

8.57

8.52

8.47

8.42

8.37

8.34

8.33

8.37

878

1,440

3,070

4,480

6,010

7,220

7,870

7,790

7,950

8,270

7,580

7,140

ber 16

1,190

1,170

1,160

1,140

1,120

1,080

1,050

1,040

1,020

1,000

1,000

1,020

iber 22

619

642

664

660

642

619

597

576

555

543

539

555

Feet | Sec.ft.

December 11

14.44

15.75

17.50

20.00

22.65

23.30

23.95

23.90

22.90

21.13

19.22

17.78

7,890

11,800

18,200

29,600

44,100

48,000

52,200

51,800

44,800

34,000

24,100

17,800

December 17

9.40

9.39

9.37

9.34

9.31

9.28

9.25

9.23

9.21

9.18

9.17

9.17

Decen

8.46

8.62

8.72

8.71

8.67

8.63

8.54

8.46

8.40

8.32

8.27

8.26

1,040

1,030

1,020

1,000

990

975

960

950

940

925

920

920

ber 23

593

664

709

704

686

668

628

593

568

534

514

510

Feet | Sec.ft.

December 12

16.62

15,78

15.11

14.56

14.12

13.76

13.44

13.17

12.93

12.74

12.59

12.41

13,400

10,700

8,750

7,340

6,340

5,620

5,020

4,540

4,160

3,890

3,680

3,440

December 18

9.19

9.18

9.17

9.16

9.14

9.12

9.09

9.06

9.01

8.98

8.99

8.97

Deceit

8.30

8.37

8.44

8.47

8.46

8.40

8.35

8.28

8.24

8.33

8.22

8.21

930

925

920

915

905

895

880

865

840

826

830

822

ber 24

526

555

585

597

593

568

547

518

502

498

494

490

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

12.21

12.01

11.83

11.65

11.49

11.36

11.23

11.12

11.00

10.95

10.93

10.88

Decen

9.03

9.07

9.05

9.00

8.95

8.92

8.86

8.82

8.76

8.73

8.72

8.72

Decen

8.22

8.27

8.33

8.36

8.32

8.27

8.21

8.17

8.15

8.17

8.18

8.20

3,210

2,990

2,810

2,630

2,480

2,360

2,250

2,160

2,060

2,020

2,000

1,960

ber 19

850

870

860

835

812

799

772

754

727

714

709

709

ber 25

494

514

539

551

534

514

490

474

466

474

478

486

Supplementary records.- Dec. 11, 3 p.m., 24.05 ft., 52,500 sec.-ft.
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN 133 

San Joaquin River below Kerckhoff power house, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°05', long. 119°34', In SWi sec. 3, T. 10 S., R. 22 E., threequarters of a mile below Kerckhoff power house, Fresno County, and 2 miles above 

Big Sandy Creek. Altitude, about 605 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 1,480 square miles.

Sage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph prior to noon Dec. 11. Gage house destroyed by flood. Peak stage determined from floodmarks.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 14,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage with aid of area-velocity study; verified by peak discharge computed for flow over Kerckhoff Dam, 7 miles upstream, plus computed discharge through sluice gates at Kerckhoff power house.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 75,000 second-feet about 5 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

4"S75 feet).

1936-November 1937: Discharge, 32,000 second-feet Feb. 6, 1937 (gage height, 

33.6 feet).

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by artificial storage in Florence, Huntington, and 

Shaver Lakes, and in Crane Valley Reservoir. Discharge for period from noon to 

midnight Dec. 11 based on comparison with records at Friant and Kerckhoff Dam. 

Discharge not determined for period Dec. 12 to Jan. 31.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

886

1,060

1,120

1,100

1,130

1,080

648

668

1,110

1,110

Dec.

713

665

721

620

306

907

1,270

1,600

760

5,240

Jan.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

986

1,060

873

691

952

689

903

1,180

1,090

1,010

Dec.

41,800

_

-

-

_

_

_

-

-

-

Jan.

_

_

-

-

-

_

-

-

-

-

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

759

962

1,120

1,090

603

618

515

493

597

646

-

Dec.

_

-

-

-

-

-

_

-

-

-

-

Jan.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

JH 

3 O

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

12.80

13.50

13.50

i3 88

13.76

12.79

11.89

10.42

9.10

7.94

7.36

7.33

2,060

2,460

2,460

2,690

2,620

2,050

1,600

1,030

644

388

284

279

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

7.20

10.00

9.57

8.62

8.02

7.60

7.54

9.00

11.13

11.07

11.60

11.72

258

890

766

530

404

324

313

620

1,280

1,260

1,470

1,520

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

11.23

10.80

10.40

10.00

12.00

12.00

21.65

23.05

22.09

21.50

21.41

20.85

1,320

1,160

1,020

890

1,650

1,650

9,820

11,800

10,400

9,640

9,530

8,860

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

20.06

19.75

21.16

25.20

34.90

44.50

_

_

_

_

_

-

7,970

7,620

9,230

15,000

35,400

67 , 000

69,000

74,000

74,000

68,000

54,000

39,000

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, about 5 p.m., 46.5 ft., 75,000 sec.-ft.
134 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

San Joaquln River near Friant, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°00'32", long. 119° 41'44", In NEt sec. 5, T. 11 S., R. 21 E. , 1 mile 

above Cottonwood Creek and li miles northeast of Frlant, Fresno County. Zero of 

gage is 315.03 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 1,632 square miles.

Page-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period Dec. 13 to Jan. 31, 

when it was based on recorder graphs for stations on river below Friant and on 

Cottonwood Creek.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 25,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of a drift-velocity measurement of 73,500 

second-feet made 2 miles downstream at station below Friant (negligible inflow); 

verified by area-velocity study. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 77,200 second-feet 7 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

23.8 feet).

1907-November 1937: Discharge, about 60,000 second-feet (revised) Jan. 25, 1914 

(gage height, 21.72 feet), from rating curve extended above 13,000 second-feet on 

basis of rating curve for 1938.

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by artificial storage in Florence, Huntington, and 

Shaver Lakes, and in Crane Valley Reservoir. Discharge for period Dec. 13 to Jan. 

31 computed from record of discharge for San Joaquln River below Friant, adjusted 

for flow of Cottonwood Creek. Part of basic data furnished by State of California, 

Division of Water Resources.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

890

1,010

1,070

1,120

1,070

1,100

794

776

1,060

1,120

Dec.

726

677

698

680

452

527

1,360

1,820

524

4,430

Jan.

988

957

1,400

1,380

1,270

1,330

1,220

1,120

1,040

1,270

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

1,030

1,010

1,000

654

877

804

673

1,130

1,120

1,020

Dec.

37,900

19,300

5,100

1,970

2,070

1,870

1,530

1,580

1,370

1,370

Jan.

1,190

1,190

1,190

1,230

2,950

2,400

1,500

2,040

1,950

1,900

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, In acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

830

874

1,120

1,060

778

488

640

498

526

622

QQO

53,090

Dec.

1,460

1,340

1,340

1,380

896

978

1,310

1,140

1,310

1,120

1,170

197,200

Jan.

1,610

1,570

1,390

1,260

1,430

1,430

1,430

1,460

1,870

1,560

1,620

91,530

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

o

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

5.30

6,30

6.42

6.73

7.06

7.10

7.33

7.09

6.57

6.10

5.42

4.83

Dec en

Decen

1,050

1,700

1,800

2,070

2,380

2,420

2,650

2,410

1,920

1,550

1,120

805

iber 14

iber 20

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

4.36

4.03

3.78

3.59

3.53

4.75

4.55

4.27

4.06

3.88

3.80

5.48

Decen

Dec en

594

465

375

313

295

768

678

558

476

411

382

1,150

iber 15

aber 21

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

5.69

6.00

6.08

5.86

5.78

6.06

6.62

7.05

11.43

12.00

11.75

11.44

Decen

Decen

1,270

1,480

1,540

1,380

1,330

1,520

1,970

2,370

10,700

12,200

11,500

10,700

ber 16

ber 22

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

11.33

11.00

10.72

10.56

11.35

14.55

20.88

23.40

23.62

23.70

23.10

21.90

Decen

10,400

9,540

8,810

8,400

10,400

20,200

55,000

74,000

75,600

76,400

71,200

61 , 600

ber 17

December 23

Feet 1 Sec. ft.

December 12

19.26

17.30

15.60

14.43

13.43

12.68

12.10

11.58

11.18

10.83

10.54

10.42

Decen

43,000

31,600

23,800

19,400

16,000

13,800

12,100

10,800

9,720

8,880

8,190

7,910

ber 18

December 24 .

Feet |sec.ft.

December 13

Decen

Decem

ber 19

ber 25

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 7 p.m., 23.8 ft., 77,200 sec.-ft.
SAN JOAQTJIN RIVER BASIH 13& 

San Joaquin River below Skaggs Bridge, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 36°50', long. 120°05', in SE-J sec. 2, T. 13 S. , R. 17 E. , about 2 miles

below Skaggs Bridge and 7 miles west of Herndon, Fresno County. Altitude, about 200

feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 1,760 square miles. 

Sage-height Fe c ord.- Water-stage recorder graph. 

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements to 26,000 second-feet;

extended above.Rating curve changed at peak stage. 

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 55,000 second-feet 7 a.m. Dec. 12 (gage height, 20.90

feet). 

Remarks.- Records furnished by State engineer.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

S21

930

1,050

1,160

1,150

1,160

1,150

813

630

1,130

Dec.

653

759

714

732

705

487

593

1,360

1,780

876

Jan.

1,300

1,030

1,150

1,490

1,480

1,370

1,430

1,310

1,180

1,140

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

1,190

1,110

1,150

1,030

78G

993

831

867

1,240

1,210

Dec.

5,920

36,000

9,450

3,830

2,520

2,340

2,130

1,800

1,800

1,500

Jan.

1,300

1,250

1,240

1,240

1,660

3,420

2,160

1,900

2,080

2,110

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

1,160

948

1,010

1,240

1,220

358

613

653

553

580

58,780

Dec.

1,620

1,560

1,500

1,460

1,420

1,020

1,160

1,370

1,190

1,370

1,210

180,200

Jan.

1,840

1,730

1,600

1,490

1,390

1,610

1,550

1,500

1,800

2,200

1,820

98,720

|ow

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

3.38

3.43

3.44

3.41

3.29

3.12

2.91

2.75

2.70

2.82

3.08

3.38

1,590

1,640

1,650

1,620

1,500

1,340

1,160

1,010

966

1,070

1,310

1,590

December 14

6.47

6.33

6.12

5.80

5.50

5.23

4.97

4.75

4.55

4.42

4.36

4.32

Decen

3.57

3.43

3.27

3.15

3.08

3.09

3.18

3.26

3.32

3.35

3.35

3.32

5,400

5,180

4,860

4,400

3,980

3,620

3,300

3,040

2,800

2,660

2,590

2,550

iber 20

1,770

1,640

1,480

1,370

1,310

1,320

1,400

1,480

1,540

1,560

1,560

1,530

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

3.65

3.87

4.02

4.05

4.00

3.84

3.65

3.45

3.25

3.06

2.90

2.75

Decer

4.29

4.25

4.22

4.21

4.23

4.30

4.35

4.34

1,850

2,080

2,230

2,260

2,210

2,050

1,850

1,660

1,460

1,290

1,150

1,010

nber 15

2,520

2,470

2,440

2,430

2,450

2,530

2,580

2,570

4.34 1 2,570

4.32 2,550

4.29

4.25

2,520

2,470

December 21

3.27

3.23

3.20

3.21

3.28

3.47

3.57

3.62

3.63

3.59

3.53

3.45

1,480

1,450

1,420

1,430

1,490

1,670

1,770

1,820

1,830

1,790

1,730

1,660

Feet |Sec.ft.

December 10

2.61

2.52

2.50

2.52

2.55

2.52

2.46

2.42

2.50

2.72

2.97

3.13

885

804

786

804

831

804

750

714

786

984

1,210

1,350

December 16

4.20

4.18

4.16

4.15

4.15

4.13

4.11

4.10

4.09

4.08

4.05

4.02

2,420

2,400

2,380

2,370

2,370

2,340

2,320

2,310

2,300

2,290

2,260

2,230

December 22

3.37

3.27

3.20

3.18

3.29

3.38

3.45

3.49

3.49

3.43

3.35

3.27

1,580

1,480

1,420

1,400

1,500

1,590

1,660

1,690

1,690

1,640

1,560

1,480

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

3.22

3.30

3.57

4.50

6.00

7.07

7.98

8.45

8.67

8.74

8.90

10.30

1,440

1,510

1,770

2,750

4,680

6,390

8,000

8,890

9,320

9,470

9,790

12,900

December 17

4.00

3.98

3.96

3.95

3.94

3.92

3.91

3.91

3.89

3.87

3.82

3.74

2,210

2,190

2,170

2,160

2,150

2,130

2,120

2,120

2,100

2,080

2,020

1,940

December 23

3.22

3.18

3.17

3.17

3.20

3.28

3.35

3.42

3.45

3.44

3.37

3.29

1,440

1,400

1,390

1,390

1,420

1,490

1,560

1,630

1,660

1,650

1,580

1,500

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

13.80

19.10

20.80

20.87

20.20

19.05

18.00

16.50

15.00

14.00

13.00

12.10

22,800

45,500

54,000

55,000

52,000

45,000

39,500

32,700

27,000

23,500

20,300

17,400

December 18

3.60

3.48

3.40

3.40

3.48

3.57

3.63

3.70

3.74

3.75

3.75

3.72

1,800

1,680

1,610

1,610

1,680

1,770

1,830

1,900

1,940

1,950

1,950

1,920

December 24

3.21

3.15

3.10

3.08

3.14

3.22

3.31

3.37

3.42

3.42

3.34

3.25

1,430

1,370

1,330

1,310

1,360

1,440

1,520

1,580

1,630

1,630

1,550

1,460

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

11.25

10.45

9.78

9.10

8.60

8.24

7.90

7.62

7.28

6.98

6.71

6.57

15,100

13,200

11,700

10,200

9,180

8,490

7,350

7,350

6,740

6,230

5,790

5,560

December 19

3.62

3.52

3.43

3.40

3.43

3.53

3.63

3.70

3.73

3.74

3.72

3.66

1,820

1,720

1,640

1,610

1,640

1,730

1,830

1,900

1,930

1,940

1,920

1,860

December 25

3.19

3.14

3.12

3.12

3.17

3.25

3.31

3.33

3.27

3.17

3.08

3.00

1,420

1,370

1,350

1,350

1,400

1,480

1,530

1,550

1,490

1,400

1,320

1,240

Supplemental records.- E c. 12, 7 a.m., 20.90 ft., 55,000 sec.-ft.
136 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

San Joaquln River near Newman, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°21'02", long. 120°58'34", In SWf sec. 3, T. 7 S., R. 9 E. , at highway bridge on Hills Ferry road, 300 feet below mouth of Merced River and 3j miles 

northeast of Newman, Stanislaus County. Zero of gage Is 51.0 feet (datum of Corps 

of Engineers, U. S. Army).

Drainage area.- 9,990 square miles.

Sage-height Fecord.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements for entire range of 

stage.

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 6,050 second-feet morning Dec. 24 (gage height, 

11.41 feet).

1912-November 1937: Discharge observed (unregulated), 20,700 second-feet (main 

channel only) Jan. 27, 1914 (gage height, 18.0 feet), from rating curve extended 

above 12,400 second-feet.

January-September 1938: Discharge 33,000 second-feet 12s30 a.m. Mar. 7 (gage 

height, 18.50 feet), from rating curve extended above 32,000 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off very materially affected by storage In Lake McClure and other 

storage reservoirs and by natural channel storage.

Mean dally discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

314

304

294

289

282

277

277

279

286

289

Dec.

466

466

483

483

434

434

450

466

483

606

Jan.

3,720

3,640

3,640

3,560

3,400

3,330

3,260

3,330

3,120

3,190

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

296

299

294

284

279

274

282

294

327

419

Dec.

780

960

1,320

2,100

2,700

3,190

3,560

4,040

4,390

4,840

Jan.

3,330

3,330

3,120

3,050

3,050

3,560

3,880

4,120

4,480

4,840

Day

21

22

?,Z

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

450

434

466

500

517

517

483

434

434

434

21,040

Dec.

5,380

5,750

5,950

6,050

5,850

5,290

4,750

4,390

4,120

3,880

3,720

2

Q-TO

174,100

Jan.

5,020

4,930

4,840

4,660

4,480

4,210

3,960

3,800

3,640

3,720

3,640

3

QrtO

233,800

Sage height, In feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at Indicated time, 1937

$

S

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

S

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

B

10

M

Feet |see.ft.

December 8

_

-

_

-

-

2.79

-

-

-

-

-

2.81

_

_

_

-

-

463

-

-

-

-

-

469

December 14

_

6.03

-

6.27

-

6.50

_

6.66

-

6.81

-

6.98

Deceit

_

_

10.02

-

-

10.14

-

-

10.28

-

_

10.43

_

1,880

_

2,020

_

2,160

_

2,260

_

2,350

_

2,450

iber 20

_

_

4,770

-

_

4,880

-

-

5,000

_

_

5,140

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

_

_

2.83

_

-

2.85

-

-

2.92

_

-

2.99

_

_

476

_

_

483

_

-

507

_

-

531

December 15

_

7.12

_

7.25

_

7.40

_

7.52

-

7.64

_

7.74

Dec en

_

_

10.57

_

_

10.71

-

_

10.82

_

_

10.95

_

2,530

_

2,610

_

2,700

_

2,780

-

2,870

_

2,940

iber 21

_

_

5,260

_

_

5,390

-

_

5,490

_

_

5,600

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

_

3.06

_

3.14

_

3.20

_

3.26

-

3.32

_

3.40

Deceit

_

7.84

_

7.95

_

8.08

_

8.19

_

8.29

_

8.37

Decen

_

_

11.04

-

_

11.12

_

_

11.20

_

_

11.26

_

556

_

584

_

606

_

629

-

652

_

682

ber 16

_

3,010

_

3,080

_

3,180

_

3,250

-

3,320

_

3,380

ber 22

_

_

5,690

_

_

5,770

-

_

5,850

_

_

5,910

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

_

3.51

_

3.61

_

3.67

_

3.74

-

3.81

-

3.89

_

724

_

764

_

788

_

816

-

844

-

876

December 17

_

_

8.51

_

_

8.62

_

_

8.76

_

_

8.91

Decen

_

_

11.28

-

_

11.31

-

_

11.33

_

_

11.38

_

_

3,490

_

_

3,580

_

_

3,690

_

_

3,810

ber 23

_

_

5,930

-

_

5,960

-

_

5,980

_

_

6,030

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

_

3.95

_

4.02

_

4.09

_

4.15

_

4.20

-

4.27

_

900

_

928

_

956

_

980

-

1,000

-

1,030

December 18

_

_

9.04

_

_

9.18

_

-

9.30

_

_

9.41

Deceit

_

_

11.41

-

_

11.40

_

-

11.37

_

_

11.34

_

_

3,910

_

_

4,020

_

-

4,120

_

_

4,220

ber 24

_

_

6,050

-

-

6,050

-

-

6,020

_

_

5,990

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

_

4.41

_

4.55

_

4.92

_

5.18

-

5.47

-

5.77

Deeem

_

_

9.51

_

_

9.65

_

_

9.77

_

_

9.90

Decem

_

_

11.29

_

-

11.16

_

-

11.01

-

_

10.91

_

1,090

_

1,160

_

1,320

_

1,450

_

1,600

_

1,740

ber 19

_

_

4,310

_

_

4,440

_

-

4,540

-

-

4,660

ber 25

_

_

5,940

-

-

5,810

-

-

5,660

-

_

5,570
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN 137

San Joaquin River near Vernalis, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°40'34", long. 1210 15'51B , in El Peacadero grant, at Durham Perry

highway bridge, 3 miles below Stanislaus River and 3j miles northeast of Vernalis,

San Joaquin County. Altitude, about 10 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 14,010 square miles. 

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements. Shifting control

method used during November. 

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 7,960 second-feet 2 to 4 a.m. Dec. 26 (gage height,

14.36 feet).

1922-November 1937s Discharge, 28,700 second-feet Feb. 25, 1936 (gage height,

25.47 feet), from rating curve for 1937.

January-September r938s Discharge, 51,200 second-feet 1 a.m. Mar. 16 (gage

height, 26.64 feet). Peak discharge includes measured flow through levee break on

right bank of Stanislaus River, 500 feet upstream from junction with San Joaquin

River and about 3 miles upstream from gaging station. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off very materially affected by artificial storage in Hetch Hetchy,

Don Pedro, and Melones Reservoirs and Lake McClure. Many irrigation diversions

above station.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

1,720

1,720

1,860

1,900

1,900

1,900

1,930

1,930

1,860

1,930

Dec.

2,140

2,210

2,210

2,210

2,210

2,280

2,280

2,210

2,210

2,280

Jan.

6,460

6,170

5,720

5,540

5,810

5,810

5,630

5,630

5,540

5,270

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

1,930

1,930

1,930

1,960

1,930

1,860

1,930

1,960

1,960

2,000

Dec.

2,420

3,260

5,360

6,460

7,060

7,060

7,160

7,260

7,260

7,260

Jan.

5,090

5,270

5,270

5,270

5,180

5,360

5,540

5,720

6,080

6,660

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

2,070

2,140

2,070

2,140

2,210

2,210

2,140

2,140

2,140

2,070

117,800

Dec.

7,160

7,460

7,660

7,860

7,860

7,860

7,660

7,360

7,260

6,960

6,660

5,308

326,400

Jan.

7,160

7,460

7,360

7,160

6,960

7,360

7,360

7,260

7,060

6,860

7,160

6,199

381,200

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

h 

3

&

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet ISec.ft.

December 8

_

-

7.80

-

-

7.80

-

-

7.71

-

-

7.71

Decen

_

12.67

-

12.75

_

12.83

-

12.96

-

13.12

-

13.31

Decen

_

-

13.83

_

13.71

-

-

13.58

-

-

13.55

_

-

2,210

-

-

2,210

-

-

2,150

-

-

2,150

ber 14

_

6,230

-

6,310

_

6,390

-

6,520

-

6,680

-

6,870

iber 20

_

_

7,390

_

7,270

_

-

7,140

-

-

7,110

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

-

-

7.80

-

-

7.83

-

-

7.76

-

-

7.77

_

-

2,210

-

_

2,230

-

-

2,180

_

-

2,190

December 15

_

13.45

-

13.52

_

13.55

-

13.57

-

13.60

-

13.60

Decen

_

_

13.55

_

13.55

-

-

13.67

-

-

13.86

_

7,010

-

7,080

_

7,110

-

7,130

-

7,160

-

7,160

iber 21

_

_

7,110

_

7,110

-

_

7,230

-

-

7,420

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

_

-

7.92

-

-

7.95

-

_

7.89

-

-

7.94

_

-

2,290

_

-

2,320

-

-

2,270

-

_

2,310

December 16

_

-

13.51

-

-

13.40

-

-

13.41

_

-

13.54

Decen

_

_

13.97

_

13.91

_

-

13.92

-

-

14.04

_

_

7,070

-

_

6,960

_

_

6,970

_

-

7,100

iber 22

_

_

7,530

_

7,470

-

_

7,480

-

-

7,600

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

_

8 05

_

8.14

_

8.15

_

8.14

_

8.23

_

8.43

Decem

_

_

13.60

-

_

13.56

-

_

13.64

_

-

13.80

Decen

_

_

14.15

_

14.11

-

-

14.10

_

-

14.25

_

2,380

_

2,450

_

2,460

_

2,450

_

2,510

_

2,650

ber 17

_

_

7,160

_

_

7,120

_

_

7,200

_

_

7,360

ber 23

_

_

7,710

_

7,670

_

_

7,660

-

-

7,810

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

8.55

8.65

8.75

8.85

9.00

9.14

9.27

9.45

9.68

9.95

10.23

10.50

Decea

_

_

13.81

-

_

13.68

_

-

13.67

_

-

13.79

Deceit

_

_

14.34

_

14.30

-

-

14.27

_

-

14.28

2,740

2,820

2,900

2,980

3,100

3,210

3,320

3,460

3,640

3,860

4,080

4,300

ber 18

_

_

7,370

-

_

7,240

_

_

7,230

_

_

7,350

ber 24

_

_

7,900

_

7,860

_

_

7,830

-

_

7,840

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

10.76

11.06

11.30

11.51

11.70

11.85

11.99

12.10

12.23

12.33

12.44

12.53

4,510

4,780

5,000

5,190

5,360

5,500

5,620

5,720

5,840

5,930

6,030

6,110

December 19

_

-

13.79

-

_

13.65

-

_

13.63

_

-

13.77

Decem

_

_

14.34

_

14.34

-

_

14.33

-

-

14.36

_

_

7,350

_

_

7,210

-

_

7,190

_

-

7,330

ber 25

_

_

7,900

_

7,900

_

_

7,890

-

_

7,920
138 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Florence Lake near Big Creek, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°17', long. 118°58', in SEi sec. 36, T. 7 S., R. 27 E., in gatehouse 

of Ward Tunnel, upstream from dam on South. Fork of San Joaquin River, 16 miles northeast of Big Creek, Fresno County. Zero of gage is at mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 171 square miles.

gage-height record 'Water-stage recorder graph.

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely controlled in lake. Elevation of top of spillway 

gates is 7*327.5 feet above mean sea level (capacity, 64,406 acre-feet). See record 

for South. Fork of San Joaquin River at Florence Lake. Records of gage height and 

contents at midnight furnished by Southern California Edison Co., Ltd. Contents 

show amount available fdf release.

Elevation and contents, November 1937 to January 1938

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

November

Elevation 

(feet)

7,315.21

7,315.23

7,315.24

7,315.25

7,315.27

7,313.19

7,312.52

7,311.34

7,310.09

7,308.84

7,307.27

7,305.67

7,305.10

7,304.56

7,303.98

7,303.43

7,302.56

7,300.27

7,296.65

7,292.67

7,288.34

7,283.82

7,279.21

7,276.09

7,275.19

7,274.57

7,271.82

7,266.79

7,261.69

7,256.09

Contents 

(acre-feet)

52,915

52,934

52,943

52,952

52,970

51,101

50,504

49,460

48,363

47,276

45,924

44,562

44,080

43,625

43,138

42,679

41,956

40,071

37,153

34,023

30,707

27,347

24,028

21,846

21,228

20,804

18,954

15,697

12,589

9,501

December

Elevation 

(feet)

7,249.38

7,241.12

7,232.98

7,227.77

7,225.26

7,224.18

7,223.77

7,223.61

7,224.30

7,226.88

7,236.91

7,232.80

7,229.74

7,228.30

7,226.95

7,226.26

7,225.98

7,225.82

7,225.68

7,225.59

7,225.28

7,225.02

7,224.84

7,224.80

7,224.78

7,224.74

7,224.72

7,224.71

7,224.52

7,224.38

7,224.28

Contents 

(acre-feet)

6,386

3,332

1,387

591

306

214

184

116

163

415

2,192

1,355

850

658

489

410

313

297

284

275

245

219

205

202

200

197

196

195

180

169

162

January

Elevation 

(feet)

7,224.28

7,224.28

7,224.24

7,224.24

7,224.21

7,224.16

7,224.13

7,224.09

7,224.09

7,224.06

7,224.03

7,224.02

7,224.01

7,224.03

7,224.02

7,224.20

7,224.28

7,224.33

7,224.28

7,224.23

7,224.30

7,224.26

7,224.2i

7,224.20

7,224.18

7,224.18

7,224.18

7,224.13

7,224.26

7,224.34

7,224.30

Contents 

(acre-feet)

162

162

159

159

157

154

151

149

149

147

144

144

143

144

144

156

162

166

162

158

163

161

157

156

155

155

155

151

161

166

163
SAN JOAftUIN RIVER BASIN 139

South Fork of San Joaquin River near Florence Lake, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°16'20", long. 118°57'5011 , in SEi aec. 36, T. 73., R. 27 E., Just below spillway of Florence Lake Dam, Fresno County, and 6 miles above mouth of Bear 

Creek. Altitude, about 7,200 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 171 square miles.

Gage-height 7ecord.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements.

Maxima.- December 1937; Flood run-off regulated in Florence Lake.

1921-November 1937: Discharge (unregulated), 3,460 second-feet June 4, 1922 (gage 

height, 13.75 feet).

Remarks.- Flood run-off regulated in Florence Lake. See record for Florence Lake. Record 

of adjusted mean daily discharge furnished by Southern California Edison Co., Ltd., 

has been adjusted for storage in Florence Lake and release into Ward tunnel. Most of 

basic data furnished by Southern California Edison Co., Ltd.

Observed mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0.9

.9

.9

.9

.9

.7

.7

.5

.2

.2

Dec.

0.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

14

2.6

2.6

Jan.

0.9

,9

.9

.7

.7

.7

.7

.7

.7

.7

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0.2

.1

.1

.2

.1

.2

.3

.2

.2

.2

Dec.

1.9

.4

.2

.1

.1

.1

15

2.3

1.9

1.7

Jan.

0.7

.7

.7

.7

.9

.9

.9

.9

.9

.7

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

0.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

19

Dec.

1.5

1.3

1.3

1.3

1.1

.9

.9

.9

.9

.9

.9

1 7O

110

Jan.

0.7

.5

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

40

Adjusted mean daily discharge, December 8-25, 1937

Day

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13

Second-feet

14 

60 

302 

1,450 

369 

243

Day

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19

Second-feet

195 

179 

142 

108 

110 

98

Day

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25

Second-feet

91 

83 

78 

75 

65 

63
140 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IK NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Bear Creek near Vermilion Valley, Calif.

Location.- Lat.' 37°20', long. 118°58', in SWj sec. 12, T. 7 S., R. 27 E. , 2 miles above 

mouth of Vermilion Valley, Fresno County. Altitude, about 7,400 feet above mean sea 

level.

Drainage area.- 53.5 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Affected by ice for periods Nov. 9-10, Nov. 12 to Dec. 8, 

Dec. 24 to Jan. 31.Defined by current-meter measurements for range of stage of 

high water in December.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 634 second-feet 1 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 5.47 

feet).

1921-November 1937: Discharge, 1,600 second-feet (revised) July 21, 1936 (gage 

height, 6.90 feet), from rating curve extended above 950 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge for 

periods of ice effect computed on basis of weather records, 3 discharge measurements, 

and records for Mono Creek and Ward tunnel. Most of basic data furnished by Southern California Edison Co., Ltd.

Mean dally discharge, in se

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

6

6

5.5

5

4.9

5

4.9

4.3

4.5

4.5

Dec.

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

5

7

61

Jan.

18

17

17

16

16

16

15

15

15

14

Day

IT

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

4.3

4.5

4.5

5

5

5

5

5

6

6

Dec.

242

79

69

67

52

42

37

33

33

31

Jan.

14

14

14

14

14

15

15

15

16

16

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

319

Dec.

28

28

23

22

22

21

20

20

19

18

18

2,060

Jan.

16

16

17

17

17

18

18

18

20

20

20

998

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

So

«

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

U

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

U

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

Decen

3.80

3.81

3.81

3.81

3.81

3.75

3.73

3.76

3.77

3.76

3.74

3.71

Dec en

3.45

3.45

3.47

3.49

3.53

3.51

3.50

3.49

3.47

3.45

3.43

3.43

ber 14

70

72

72

72

72

64

61

65

66

65

62

58

iber 20

28

28

30

32

36

34

33

32

30

28

27

27

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

3.05

3.04

3.03

3.06

3.12

3.11

3.09

3.09

3.12

3.15

3.22

3.30

Deceit

3.70

3.68

b.67

3.66

3.65

3.65

3.66

3.67

3.68

3.67

3.64

3.61

Decea

3.43

3.44

3.45

3.47

3.49

3.48

3.45

3.46

3o44

3.42

3.40

3.40

5.5

5

4.9

6

8

7.5

6.5

6.5

8

9

12

17

ber 15

57

54

53

52

50

50

52

53

54

53

49

45

iber 21

27

28

28

30

32

31

28

29

28

26

24

24

Feet |sec.ft.

December 10

3.43

3.63

3.81

4.07

3.88

3.79

3.78

3.75

3.72

3.68

3.63

3.60

Deceni

3.58

3.57

3.57

3.58

3.59

3.57

3.57

3.60

3.61

3.60

3.58

3.56

Deceit

3.39

3-. 40

3.43

3.45

3.47

3.50

3.45

3.46

3.46

3.43

3.40

3.39

27

48

72

113

82

69

67

64

60

54

48

44

ber 16

42

41

41

42

43

41

41

44

45

44

42

40

ber 22

23

24

27

28

30

33

28

29

29

27

24

23

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

3.60

3.67

3.80

4.63

5.10

5.33

5.40

4.88

4.54

4.30

4.15

4.06

44

53

70

242

440

556

595

338

215

156

127

111

December 17

3.55

3.54

3.54

3.54

3.55

3.51

3.52

3.55

3.56

3.56

3.55

3.53

Decen

3.29

3.39

3.37

3.38

3.38

3.39

3.40

3.37

3.38

3.37

3.37

3.37

38

37

37

37

38

34

35

38

40

40

38

36

ber 23

23

23

22

23

23

23

24

22

23

22

22

22

Feet [sec.ft.

December 12

4.00

3.93

3.87

3.83

3.78

3.77

3.80

3.88

3.86

3.84

3.80

3.76

101

90

80

74

67

66

70

82

79

76

70

65

December 18

3.52

3.49

3.48

3.47

3.48

3.48

3.52

3.53

3.53

3.51

3.47

3.46

Decen

35

32

31

30

31

31

35

36

36

34

30

29

ber 24

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 13

3.74

3.73

3.73

3.73

3.73

3.71

3.89

3.94

3.90

3.85

3.82

3.80

Deceni

3.45

3.47

3.50

3.53

3.56

3.52

3.51

3.53

3.50

3.47

3.46

3.45

Decem

62

61

61

61

61

58

84

91

85

78

73

70

ber 19

28

30

33

36

40

35

34

36

33

30

29

28

ber 25

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 1 p.m., 5.47 ft., 634 sec.-ft.
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN 141

Mono Creek near Vermilion Valley, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°22', long. 118°59', in SWj sec. 35, T. 6 S., R. 27 E. (unaurveyed),

1 mile below lower end of Vermilion Valley, Fresno County, and 6 miles below mouth

of North Fork. Altitude, about 7,400 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 92.0 square miles. 

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Affected by ice for periods Nov. 9 to Dec. 9, Dec. 24 to

Jan. 31. Defined by current-meter measurements for entire range of stage. 

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 389 second-feet 5 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 6.26

feet).

1921-November 1937: Discharge, 1,420 second-feet June 16, 1927 (gago height,

8.09 feet), June 22, 1932 (gage height, 8.10 feet), from rating curve defined to

1,400 second-feet.

January-September 1938: Discharge, 1,760 second-feet 10:30 p.m. June 2 (gage

height, 8.62 feet) from rating curve extended above 1,500 second-feet with aid of

area-velocity study. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge

for periods of ice effect computed on basis of 2 discharge measurements and flow

of Bear Creek and Ward Ihinnel.

Mean dally discharge, in second-feet, November 1957 to January'1958

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

19

19

18

17

17

18

17

16

16

16

Dee.

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

71

Jan.

40

40

39

38

38

37

36

36

35

34

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

17

17

17

17

17

17

17

17

17

17

Dec.

193

143

116

109

87

72

67

60

64

62

Jan.

34

33

33

33

35

36

36

36

36

36

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

998

Dec.

57

60

50

48

47

46

45

44

43

42

41

3,380

Jan.

36

36

36

36

36

36

36

38

38

38

38

2,230

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

FH 

£Ow

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

Dec en

5.36

5.35

5.36

5.37

5.39

5.45

5.54

5.41

5.36

5.35

5.36

5.34

Decen

5.04

5.03

5.06

5.10

5.12

5.16

5.30

5.30

5.21

5.18

5.15

5.11

iber 14

102

100

102

104

109

123

145

113

102

100

102

98

iber 20

46

45

49

54

57

64

89

89

72

67

62

56

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

Decen

5.32

5.30

5.25

5.25

5.27

5.41

5.30

5.28

5.27

5.27

5.27

5.26

Decen

5.07

5.06

5.06

5.06

5.09

5.14

5.26

5.26

5.17

5.11

5.10

5.03

iber 15

93

89

80

80

83

113

89

85

83

83

83

81

iber 21

50

49

49

49

53

60

81

81

65

56

54

45

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

4.92

5.03

5.12

5.17

5.20

5.32

5.37

5.30

5.24

5.22

5.27

5.27

Decen

5.25

5.15

5.06

5.08

5.14

5.24

5.35

5.32

5.25

5.23

5.22

5.21

Decen

5.04

5.06

5.06

5.08

5.11

5.13

5.29

5.28

5.22

5.17

5.13

5.12

32

45

57

65

70

93

104

89

78

74

83

83

ber 16

80

62

49

51

60

78

100

93

80

76

74

72

ber 22

46

49

49

51

56

59

87

85

74

65

59

57

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

5.24

5.23

5.25

5.33

5.45

5.88

6.03

6.20

6.20

5.92

5.73

5.63

78

76

80

96

123

243

297

365

365

256

197

169

December 17

5.20

5.19

5.11

5.15

5.17

5.30

5.20

5.17

5.16

5.16

5.17

5.17

Decen

5.06

5.03

5.01

4.99

4.99

5.02

5.12

5.11

5.10

5.10

5.11

5.11

70

68

56

62

65

89

70

65

64

64

65

65

ber 23

49

45

42

40

40

44

57

56

54

54

56

56

Feet | Sec.ft.

December 12

5.57

5.55

5.51

5.49

5.49

5.51

5.53

5.53

5.54

5.55

5.53

5.50

153

148

138

133

133

138

143

143

145

148

143

135

December 18

5,16

5.15

5.11

4.98

5.00

5.16

5.27

5.18

5.16

5.16

5.20

5.16

Decen

64

62

56

39

41

64

83

67

64

64

70

64

ber 24

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

5,40

5.36

5.34

5.33

5.33

5.39

5.56

5.58

5.45

5.42

5 -.41

5,37

Decen

5.10

5.06

5.07

5.12

5.16

5.21

5.34

5.29

5.21

5.16

5.10

5.07

Decea

Ill

102

98

96

96

109

151

156

123

116

113

104

ber 19

54

49

50

57

64

72

98

87

72

64

54

50

ber 25

Supplemental records.- Dee. 11, 5 p.m., 6.26 ft., 389 sec.-ft.
THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Huntington Lake near Big Creek, Calif.

.on.- Lat. 37°14", long. 119°13', In SWi sec. 14, T. 8 S., R. 25 E., at dam on Big 

iBk, 2 miles northeast of town of Big Creek, Fresno County. Zero of gage is at 

in sea level.

Drainage area.- 79 square miles.

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

Elevation and contents, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1C

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

November

Elevation 

(feet)

6,856.48

6,852.84

6,848.76

6,843.75

6,839.38

6,844.90

6,845.30

6,844.94

6,845.03

6,845.03

6,846.17

6,848.91

6,851.19

6,853.65

6,855.67

6,857.27

6,858.37

6,860.35

6,865.53

6,870.43

6,875.36

6,879.73

6,883.54

6,885.85

6,886.26

6,885.88

6,887.22

6,891.07

6,894.14

6,896.96

Contents 

(acre-feet)

5,960

4,897

3,844

2,734

1,915

2,971

3,057

2,980

2,998

2,998

3,246

3,879

4,454

5,124

5,714

6,205

6,556

7,215

9,102

11,154

13,517

15 , 884

18,175

19,667

19,941

19,687

20,590

23,336

25,682

27,954

December

Elevation 

(feet)

6,899.62

6,901.88

6,903.25

6,903.58

6,903.47

6,902.84

6,902.20

6,901.59

6,901.08

6,903.06

6,908.72

6,911.05

6,912.62

6,913.67

6,914.58

6,914.57

6,914.32

6,914.07

6,913.88

6,913.46

6,912.91

6,912.32

6,911.78

6,911.16

6,910.77

6,910.41

6,909.77

6,909.03

6,908.25

6,907.56

6,906.84

Contents 

(acre-feet)

30,202

32,186

33,425

33,727

33,627

33,052

32,474

31,929

31,475

33,251

38,615

40,941

42,547

43,636

44,591

44,581

44,317

44,054

43,855

43,417

42 , 845

42,238

41,684

41,053

40,659

40,296

39,655

38,920

38,154

37,483

36,788

January

Elevation 

(feet)

6,906.33

6,906.03

6,905.44

6,904.84

6,904.21

6,903.56

6,902.90

6,902.24

6,901.73

6,901.04

6,900.36

6,899.64

6,898.90

6,898.17

6,897.62

6,897.16

6,896.65

6,896.15

6,895.54

6,894.88

6,894.22

6,893.56

6,893.05

6,892.42

6,891.69

6,890.97

6,890.25

6,889.60

6,888.92

6,888.36

6,887.80

Contents 

(acre-feet)

36,300

36,014

35,457

34,893

34,307

33,709

33,106

32,510

32 , 053

31,440

30,844

30,219

29,583

28,965

28,504

28,120

27,700

27,290

26,797

26,267

25,745

25,229

24,833

24,352

23,800

23,262

22,734

22,262

21,775

21,380

20,989
SAN JOAQ.UIN RIVER BASIN

Big Creek below Huntlngton Lake, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°13'10", long, 119°12'50", in HlSj sec. 23, T. 8 S. , R. 25 E. , 800 f' 

above Grouse Creek and 1 mile below Huntlngton Lake, Presno County. Altitude, aboi 

6,600 feet above mean sea level.

 eet

lOut

Drainage area.- 80.0 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge re'latlons.- Defined by current-meter measurements. Maxima.- December *" *" **-- <-- <->° --- ^ < --*. <-, _ _ ^__ n

feet) represe

for major par

i V -La o XD11O . l^UJ. J.I113U. U y U Hi I Cli Ij U1O LWi UlOtta UiCillOilUCS 

>r 1937: Discharge, 28 second-feet 2 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 3.6 

mts natural run-off for small area between dam No. 1 and gage; runior major part of drainage regulated in Huntlngton Lake.

1925-November 1937: Discharge, 2,040 second-feet June 23, 1925 (gage height,

10.3 feet); siphon spillways operating at dam No. 1.

67 

off

Observed mean daily discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.2

.2

.3

Dec.

0.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.4

6

Jan.

0.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.4

.3

.3

.3

|

Dec.

12

3.7

1.7

1.3

.9

.8

.8

.7

.6

.6

Jan.

0.4

.4

.4

.4

.5

.4

.7

.6

.6

.5

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

0.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.2

.2

.2

.2

17

Dec.

0.6

.6

.6

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

1 19

73

Jan.

0.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.6

.6

.6

.6

.6

.6

.50

31

Adjusted mean daily discharge, in second-feet, Dec. 8-25, 1937

Day

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13

Discharge

15 

123 

639 

1,890 

316 

183

Day

14 

15 

16 

17 

18, 

19

Discharge

145 

127 

104 

95 

79 

70

Day

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25

Discharge

71 

56 

66 

89 

51 

49
144 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Pitman Creek below Tamarack Creek, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°12', long. 119°12', in Nl»i sec. 35, T. 83., R. 25 E., 500 feet below Tamarack Creek, 3 miles above mouth, and 3 miles southeast of Big Creek, Fresno 

County. Altitude, about 7,100 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 22.0 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Affected by ice for period Dec. 13 to Jan. 31. Defined by 

current-meter measurements below 1,000 second-feet; extended to peak stage with aid 

of area-velocity study. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 2,320 second-feet 11:30 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

9.65 feet).

1927-November 1937s Discharge, 885 second-feet May 13, 1937 (gage height, 6.44 

feet).

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge

for period of ice effect determined on basis of one discharge measurement and record 

for Huntington-Shaver Conduit at outlet. Most of basic data furnished by Southern 

California Edison Co., Ltd.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

Dec.

0.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.4

.4

8.5

139

Jan.

17

20

19

17

17

16

16

14

14

14

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

NOV.

0.4

.4

.4

.4

.5

.5

1.4

.9

.7

.7

Dec.

941

143

69

49

43

37

35

31

27

24

Jan.

14

13

13

13

13

16

16

15

14

13

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

0.7

.5

.7

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

39

Dec.

23

21

16

13

17

17

17

17

16

17

17

3,450

Jan.

13

15

14

13

13

14

14

14

15

14

13

14.7

904

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

h

O

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

10

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

1.88

_

1.89

_

1.90

-

1.89

_

1.89

_

1.89

Deceit

Decen

_ -

0.3

_

.4

_

.5

-

.4

_

.4

_

.4

ber 14

ber 20

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

1.89

1.89

1.90

1.90

1.90

1.90

1.90

1.92

1.98

2.42

2.99

3.35

Decen

Decen

0.4

.4

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.9

2.3

18

45

70

ber 15

iber 21

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

4.02

4.25

4.50

4.83

4.64

4.26

3.85

3.65

3.53

3.52

3.47

3.54

Decen

Decen

132

162

204

278

233

164

114

94

83

83

79

84

ber 16

ber 22

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

4.20

4.94

6.00

7.75

9.00

9.44

8.53

6.86

6.38

5.40

4.95

4.67

Decem

Decen

155

305

680

1,470

2,030

2,260

1,780

984

770

412

302

249

ber 17

ber 23

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

4.47

4.32

4.20

4.10

4.01

3.94

3.90

3.82

3.72

3.61

3.53

3.47

Decen

Decen

213

189

170

155

143

135

130

120

109

99

92

87

ber 18

ber 24

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

Decem

Decem

ber 19

ber 25

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 11:30 a.m., 9.65 ft., 2,320 sec.-ft.
SAM JOAQUIH RIVER BASHT 145 

Shaver Lake near Big Creek, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°09", long. 119°18', in SEt seo. 13, T. 9 S., R. 24 E., at dam on 

Stevenson Creek 6 miles southwest of Big Creek, Presno County. Zero of gage is at 

mean sea level.

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

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely controlled in lake. Elevation of crest of spillway is 5,370 feet above mean sea level (capacity, 135,283 aore-feet). Water is received from Huntington Lake and Pitman Creek through Huntington-Shaver Conduit and 

is released through power house 2A on Big Creek. Record of contents and gage height 

at midnight furnished by Southern California Edison Co., Ltd. Contents show amount 

available for release.

Elevation and contents, November 1937 to January 1938

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 

(feet)

5,322.44

5,321.90

5,321.35

5,320.78

5,320.10

5,319.32

5,318.96

5,318.46

5,317.93

5,317.36

5,317.07

5,316.51

5,315.58

5,314.68

5,313.73

5,312.79

5,311.98

5,311.56

5,311.07

5,310.79

5,310.68

5,310.12

5,309.52

5,309.00

5,309.02

5,308.91

5,308.83

5,308.84

5,308.74

5,308.61

Contents 

(acre-feet)

50,098

49,363

48,618

47,848

46,932

45,904

45,432

44,784

44,098

43,368

42,997

42,289

41,123

40,011

38,852

37,720

36,754

36,262

35 , 688

35,364

35,238

34,593

33,912

33,324

33,346

33,223

33,134

33,145

33,034

32,889

December

Elevation 

(feet)

5,308.47

5,308.40

5,308.33

5,308.34

5,308.34

5,308.22

5,308.11

5,308.05

5,308.20

5,309.48

5,312.64

5,313.09

5,313.28

5,313.47

5,313.61

5,313.68

5,313.73

5,313.79

5,313.86

5,313.87

5,313.84

5,313.87

5,313.88

5,313.89

5,313.95

5,313.98

5,313.99

5,313.96

5,313.95

5,313.85

5,313.76

Contents 

(acre-feet)

32,733

32,655

32,577

32,588

32,588

32,454

32,332

32,265

32,432

33,867

37,541

38,079

38,308

38,538

38,707

38,792

38,852

38,925

38,997

39,021

38,985

39,021

39,033

39,045

39,118

39,154

39,166

39,130

39,118

38,997

38,888

January

Elevation 

(feet)

5,313.81

5,314.02

5,313.82

5,313.54

5,313.25

5,312.96

5,312.64

5,312.47

5,312.40

5,312.06

5,311.62

5,311.22

5,310.84

5,310.59

5,310.69

5,310.72

5,310.52

5,310.18

5,309.93

5,309.60

5,309.34

5,309.25

5,309.27

5,308.94

5,308.58

5,308.33

5,307.95

5,307.70

5,307.55

5,307.55

5,307.26

Contents 

(acre -feet)

38,949

39,203

38,961

38,622

38,272

37,922

37,541

37,338

37,255

36,849

36,333

35,864

35,422

35,134

35,249

35,284

35,054

34,662

34,376

34,003

33,708

33,607

33,629

33,257

32,856

32,577

32,154

31,880

31,716

31,716

31,398
146 3BE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

North Pork of Willow Creek at Crane Valley Reservoir, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°17', long. 119°32 f , in SWi sec. 25, T. 73., R. 22 E., at outlet of 

Crane Valley Reservoir and 4.7 miles north of North Pork, Madera County. Altitude, 

about 3,250 feet above mean sea level.

Dra inage are a.- 51.3 square miles.

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely regulated in Crane Valley Reservoir (capacity, about 

45,000 acre-feet). In table, observed discharge is water released down creek channel, plus flow in No. 3 ditch, and evaporation. Adjusted discharge has been adjusted 

for change in storage in reservoir. All data furnished by San Joaquin Light ?c Power 

Corporation.

Discharge, in second-feet, and gain or loss in storage, in acre-feet, 

November 1937 to January 1938

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

Observed 

discharge

14

14

16

19

22

18

20

14

22

21

36

20

21

40

20

18

47

28

38

23

37

36

24

23

20

20

22

22

23

22

Gain or 

loss in 

storage

-16

0

+8

0

-16

-8

-8

0

-8

-8

-16

-8

0

-8

-8

0

+8

-8

-24

0

-16

-40

-24

-24

-8

-8

0

-16

-16

-15

Adjusted

discharge

6

14

20

19

14

14

16

14

18

17

28

16

21

36

16

18

51

24

26

23

29

16

12

10

16

16

22

14

15

14

December

Observed 

discharge

20

21

68

20

21

20

20

90

90

0

0

0

1.6

2.4

2.4

13

3.2

3.2

3.2

84

33

30

33

30

75

51

36

41

51

40

31

Gain or 

loss in 

storage

-16

-16

-94

-15

-8

-15

-15

-162

+77

+1,688

+4,214

+707

+277

+204

+186

+205

+195

+167

+149

-18

+83

+140

+46

+84

-37

+28

+65

+76

0

-10

+66

Adjusted 

discharge

12

13

21

13

17

12

13

8.5

129

851

2,120

356

141

105

96

117

102

87

78

75

75

101

56

73

56

65

69

79

51

35

64

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet (observed). ........

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet (adjusted)

January

Observed 

discharge

61

97

73

39

30

34

36

65

64

54

61

56

54

70

60

75

54

32

49

54

55

53

82

54

74

74

55

56

48

68

40

November

24.0

-287

19.2 

1,140

Gain or 

loss in 

storage

-28

+75

+56

+57

+75

+57

+28

+10

-38

+38

-10

-9

-10

+285

+496

+154

+202

+241

+146

+136

+87

+98

+30

+78

+20

-10

+98

+176

+137

+40

+456

December

30.2

+8,250

164 

10,110

Adjusted 

discharge

47

134

102

68

68

63

50

70

45

74

56

52

49

213

311

152

155

153

123

122

99

102

97

93

84

69

104

145

118

88

270

January

57.3

+3,170

109 

6,700
SAN JOACJUIN RIVER BASIN 147 

Big Sandy Creek near Auberry, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°03', long. 119°33', in SE^ see. 14, T. 10 S., R. 22 E., 2 miles

above mouth and about 5 miles southwest of Auberry, Presno County. Altitude, about 

1,300 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 34 square milea.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements.

Maxima.- December 1937; Dlacharge, 1,850 second-feet 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

 5T4 feet).

Remarks.- Record furnished by State engineer.

Mean daily discharge, in aeoond-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0.2

0

0

.2

.2

.2

.2

.3

.3

.3

Dec.

0.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.4

61

Jan.

3

14

13

7

5

5

5

4.0

4.0

4.0

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

Dec.

511

139

30

16

11

8

6

6

5

4.0

Jen.

5

6

6

11

230

42

43

27

46

52

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

0.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

O n e

16

Dec.

3.3

3.0

12

6

4.0

4.0

3.3

2.8

2.8

2.8

2.8

OI7 "^

1,680

Jan.

23

19

18

15

15

14

14

20

51

28

28

rtC -\

1,540

Sage height, in feet, and discharge, in aeoond-feet, at indicated time, 1937

h 

3

oK

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

Decen

Decen

Uer 14

ber 20

Feet |seo.ft.

December 9

1. OSLOS

1.08

1.08

1.08

1.08

1.08

1.09

1.12

1.17

1.26

1.31

0.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.5

.7

.8

December 15

Dec eniber 21

Feet |seo.ft.

December 10

1.33

1.38

1.44

1.49

1.95

2.48

2.38

2.25

2.14

2.05

1.93

1.84

0.9

1.4

2.4

3.6

48

187

154

117

88

65

45

34

December 16

Deceit ber 22

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 11

1.77

1.80

1.85

1.93

2.12

3.88

4.10

3.75

5.00

4.30

3.50

3.11

Decem

Decen

1.57

1.59

1.60

1.62

1.67

1.69

1.68

1.65

1.63

1.61

1.60

1.59

27

30

35

45

83

808

903

737

1,540

1,050

614

435

ber 17

ber 23

8

9

10

12

17

19

18

15

13

11

10

9

Feet 1 Sec. ft.

December 12

2.77

2.55

2.41

2.30

2.25

2.20

2.22

2.20

2.13

2,04

2.00

1.94

289

210

163

130

117

104

109

104

86

63

57

47

December 18

Decen ber 24

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 13

1.90

1.87

1.85

1.83

1.80

1.78

1.76

1.76

1.75

1.74

1.72

1.71

Decen

Deoem

40

37

35

33

30

28

26

26

25

24

22

21

ber 19

ber 25
148 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Fine Gold Creek near Friant, Calif.

Location.- tat. 37°03', long. 119°39', In NWi sec. 14, T. 10 S., R. 21 E., 1,000 feet 

below Willow Creek, ij mllea above mouth, and 5j miles northeast of Friant, Fresno 

County. Altitude, about 680 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 89.2 square miles.

Sage-height Fecord.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 1,100 secondfeet; extended on basis of drift-velocity determination of 6,300 second-feet. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 4,900 second-feet 6 p.m. Dec. 11 {gage height, 

13.95 feet).

1936-November 1937s Discharge, 6,780 second-feet Feb. 6, 1937 (gage height, 

16.45 feet), from rating curve extended above 6,300 second-feet.

January-September 19381 Discharge, 10,300 second-feet about 9 p.m. Mar. 12 

(gage height, 20.4 feet, from floodmarka), from rating curve extended above 6,300 

second-feet on basis of area-velocity study.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in aecond-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

2.1

2.3

2.3

2.3

2.1

2.1

2.3

2.6

2.7

2.7

Dec.

3.7

3.7

3.7

3.7

3.9

3.9

4.1

4.1

5.5

397

Jan.

12

14

21

14

13

13

12

12

12

12

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

NOV.

3.2

4.3

3.7

3.5

3.5

3.5

4.1

4.6

3.9

3.7

Dec.

1,610

392

91

44

30

24

20

17

16

15

Jan.

11

11

11

67

1,030

181

173

104

100

141

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

3.7

3.7

3.7

3.7

3.7

3.7

3.9

3.9

3.7

3.7

196

Dec.

14

14

23

17

14

14

13

12

12

12

12

91.9

5,650

Jan.

81

66

55

49

44

41

39

58

205

92

100

5,540

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

wi

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

_

_

1.10

_

-

1.12

_

-

1.13

_

_

1.13

Decen

_

2.23

_

2.17

_

2.13

-

2.09

-

2.05

-

2.00

Decen

-

_

1.54

_

-

1.53

-

-

1.51

-

-

1.50

_

_

3.7

_

-

4.1

-

-

4.3

-

_

4.3

ber 14

_

50

-

46

_

43

-

40

_

38

-

35

iber 20

-

-

15

_

-

15

-

-

14

-

-

14

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

1.12

1.12

1.12

1.13

1.13

1.13

1.14

1.15

1.20

1.29

1.46

1.59

4.1

4.1

4.1

4.3

4.3

4.3

4.5

4.6

5.6

7.5

12

15

December 15

_

_

1.95

-

_

1.90

-

-

1.87

-

-

1.84

Dec en

_

_

_

_

-

1.50

-

-

-

-

_

1.49

_

_

32

_

_

30

-

_

28

_

_

27

iiber 21

_

_

_

_

-

14

-

_

-

-

-

14

Feet |sec.ft.

December 10

1.75

2.02

2.60

3.35

5.30

6.98

6.10

5.26

4.75

4.19

3.80

3.35

Dec era

_

_

1.80

_

_

1.76

_

_

1.73

_

-

1.71

Deceit

_

_

_

_

-

1.49

-

-

-

-

-

1.49

21

34

86

212

618

1,060

818

609

497

380

302

212

ber 16

_

_

25

_

_

23

-

-

22

_

-

21

ber 22

_

_

_

_

-

14

-

-

_

-

-

14

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

3.05

2.86

2.81

3.01

3.85

11.08

10.80

10.60

13.95

11.50

8.95

7.25

153

122

114

146

312

2,900

2,730

2,610

4,900

3,160

1,780

1,140

December 17

_

_

1.69

_

_

1.67

-

-

1.65

_

-

1.64

Decen

-

1.60

-

1.73

-

1.80

-

1.85

-

1.84

-

1.74

_

_

21

-

-

20

-

-

19

-

-

19

ber 23

-

17

-

22

-

25

-

28

-

27

-

23

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

5.86

5.13

4.43

4.05

4.05

3.94

3.89

3.80

3.52

3.35

3.19

3.06

756

581

428

352

352

330

320

302

246

212

180

155

December 18

_

-

1.62

-

-

1.61

-

-

1.60

-

-

1.59

_

_

18

-

-

17

-

-

17

-

-

17

December 24

-

1.66

_

1.61

-

1.59

-

1.56

-

1.54

-

1.53

-

19

_

17

17

-

16

-

15

-

15

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

2.97

2.89

2.82

2.74

2.69

2.62

2.55

2.50

2.44

2.39

2.35

2.30

Dec era

_

-

1.58

_

-

1.56

-

-

1.55

-

-

1.54

Decent

-

-

1.52

_

-

1.51

-

-

1.50

-

-

1.50

139

126

116

105

98

89

80

74

68

63

60

56

ber 19

_

_

16

-

-

16

-

-

16

-

-

15

ber 25

-

-

15

-

-

14

-

-

14

-

-

14
SAN JOAQUHJ RIVBR BASIS 149

Cottonwood Creek near Prlant, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°00», long. 119°43", In SEj sec. 6, T. 11 S., R. 21 E., half a mile 

above mouth and about 1 mile northwest of Prlant, Madera County. Altitude, about 

360 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 38 square miles.

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

Stage-dIscharge re latIon.- Defined by current-meter measurements.

Maxima.- December 1957: Discharge, 180 second-feet at 6 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

275~0 feet).

Remarks.- Record furnished by State engineer.

Mean dally discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

6

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

C

0

0

0

.2

Jan.

0.5

.9

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

42

8.5

2.4

1.1

.6

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

Jan.

0.5

0.5

0.5

3.0

74

22

26

17

20

20

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0.5

0.5

1.4

.9

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

127

Jan.

13

12

11

10

9

9

9

18

53

23

50

13.1

805

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at Indicated time, 1937

i2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

5

8

10

H

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

0.76

.76

.75

.75

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

.8

.8

.6

.6

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

0.74

.73

.73

.80

.83

.95

1.00

1.35

2.50

2.35

1.86

1.52

0.5

0.5

0.5

1.4

2.0

5

7

27

180

154

83

44

Feet Sec-ft.

December 12

1.32

1.20

1.13

1.07

1.03

1.00

.97

.95

.94

.92

.90

.88

25

16

12

9.5

8

7

6

5

4.9

4.3

3.7

3.2

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 13
150 EHE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Little Dry Creek near Friant, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 36°56', long. 119°41', in SWi sec. 28, T. 11 S., R. 21 E., about 3.5 

miles southeast of Friant, Fresno County, and 4 miles upstream from mouth. Altitude, about 360 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 58 square miles.

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

St age-discharge re'lat ion. - Defined by current-meter measurements.

Maxima.- December 19378 Discharge, 198 second-feet 2 a.m. Dec. 12 (gage height, 2.81 

feet).

Remarks.- Record furnished by State engineer.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1.6

Jan.

6

9.5

13

8

7.5

7.5

7.5

7

6

6

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

39

85

21

11

9

8.5

8

8.5

8

7.5

Jan.

5.5

5

4.6

19

270

53

56

32

35

39

Day

21

22

23

24

25

2627

28

29

30

31

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

7.5

7

9

8.5

7.5

7

6

6

6

6

6

9 2

563

Jan.

21

17

14

13

11

11

10

25

86

31

42

28.3

1,740

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

«

2

4

6

B

10

N

2

4

6

B

10

M

Feet (Sec. ft.

December 8

Feet (Sec.ft.

December 9

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

_

-

1.00

1.10

1.10

1.10

1.10

1.08

1.06

1.05

1.03

1.03

0

0

1.8

2.5

2.5

2.5

2.5

2.4

2.3

2.2

2.0

2.0

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

1.02

1.02

1.05

1.12

1.16

1.20

1.30

1.65

2.00

2.50

2. .67

2.77

1.9

1.9

2.2

2.7

3.0

3.4

5.5

18

47

122

162

187

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

2.81

2.58

2.40

2.28

2.17

2.10

2.05

2.05

2.04

2.04

1.98

1.92

198

140

104

86

69

59

53

53

52

52

45

38

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN

Fresno River near Knowles, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°14', long. 119°46', In HWi sec. 15, T. 83., R. 20 E., at Fresno

Crossing, 0.1 mile below Bean Gulch and 6 miles northeast of Knowles, Madera County.

Altitude, about 1,140 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage are a. - 132 square miles. 

Qage-helght Fecord.- Water-stage recorder graph. 

Stags-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 6,000 secondfeet.

Maxima.'" December 19371 Discharge, 3,380 second-feet 4 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

 57F7 feet).

1911-13, 1915-November 1937: Discharge, 6,880 second-feet Feb. 6, 1937 (gage

height, 8.16 feet).

January-September 1938J Discharge, 7,630 second-feet 5 p.m. Mar. 12 (gage

height, 8.67 feet), from rating curve extended above 6,000 second-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not materially affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

10

14

18

13

9.5

9.5

9.5

10

10

11

Dec.

18

18

18

17

17

18

18

17

19

517

Jan.

26

30

48

36

33

31

30

29

27

26

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

13

19

19

19

20

19

20

34

25

20

Dec.

1,480

488

136

81

59

50

43

38

34

33

Jan.

26

26

26

95

846

246

232

190

160

164

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

19

19

18

18

18

18

18

17

17

17

16.7

995

Dec.

31

31

40

34

30

29

29

29

27

27

27

111

6,850

Jan.

118

101

90

81

76

70

66

94

43

122

141

107

6,600

Sage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

go

«

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet [Sec. ft.

December 8

1.29

1.29

1.28

1.27

1.27

1.26

1.26

1.27

1.26

1.27

1.26

1.27

Deceit

1.69

1.68

1.67

1.66

1.65

1.64

1.63

1.62

1.61

1.60

1.60

1.59

Decea

_

1.41

-

1.41

_

1.41

-

1.41

_

1.40

_

1.40

18

18

18

17

17

16

16

17

16

17

16

17

ber 14

95

92

90

87

84

81

78

76

73

70

70

68

iber 20

_

33

_

33

_

33

_

33

_

31

_

31

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

1.27

1.27

1.27

1.27

1.27

1.28

1.30

1.33

1.34

1.35

1.37

1.42

Decea

1.58

1.57

1.56

1.56

1.56

1.55

1.55

1.54

1.54

1.54

1.53

1.52

Dec en

_

_

_

_

-

1.40

_

_

_

_

_

1.40

17

17

17

17

17

18

19

23

24

25

27

34

iber 15

66

63

61

61

61

59

59

57

57

57

55

52

iber 21

_

_

_

_

-

31

_

_

_

_

_

31

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

1.46

1.60

1.72

2.01

2.46

2.81

3.12

3.25

3.10

2.90

2.87

2.60

41

70

105

223

461

687

926

1,030

910

750

729

545

December 16

1.52

1.52

1.52

1.51

1.51

1.51

1.50

1.50

1.50

1.50

1.50

1.49

Deceit

_

_

_

_

_

1.40

_

_

_

_

_

1.40

52

52

52

50

50

50

48

48

48

48

48

46

ber 22

_

_

-

_

_

31

.

_

_

_

-

31

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

2.34

2.20

2.16

2.40

2.70

4.00

5.05

5.57

5.00

4.70

4.08

3.45

Decen

_

1.49

_

1.48

_

1.47

-

1.46

_

1.46

_

1.46

Decen

_

1.42

_

1.44

-

1.45

-

1.46

_

1.48

_

1.45

392

315

295

425

610

1,720

2,780

3,380

2,720

2,420

1,800

1,200

ber 17

_

46

_

45

_

43

_

41

_

41

_

41

ber 23

_

34

_

38

_

40

_

41

_

45

_

40

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

3.25

2.89

2.65

2.49

2.41

2.35

2.26

2.20

2.15

2.07

2.01

1.98

1,030

743

578

479

431

398

348

315

290

251

223

209

December 18

_

1.45

_

1.45

_

1.44

_

1.44

_

1.43

_

1.43

_

40

_

40

_

38

_

38

_

36

_

36

December 24

_

1.43

_

1.42

_

1.42

_

1.41

_

1.41

_

1.40

36

_

34

_

34

_

33

_

33

_

31

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 13

1.93

1.90

1.87

1.84

1.82

1.80

1.78

1.76

1.75

1.73

1.72

1.70

Decen

_

1.43

_

1.42

_

1.42

_

1.42

_

1.42

_

1.41

Decen

_

1.40

_

1.39

_

1.40

_

1.39

_

1.39

-

1.38

186

172

160

148

140

132

125

118

115

108

105

98

ber 19

_

36

_

34

-

34

_

34

_

34

_

33

ber 25

_

31

-

30

31

-

30

_

30

-

29
152 IBS FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Fresno River near Daulton, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°06', long. 119*54', In HWi sec. 3, T. 10 S., R. 19 E., half a mile

below mouth of Cottonwood Oreek and 5 miles southeast of Daulton, Madera County.

Altitude, about 390 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 258 square miles. 

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by eurrent-meter measurements. Shifting-control

method used. 

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 3,660 second-feet 6 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

5750 feet). 

Remarks.- Record furnished bj State engineer.

Mean dally discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

_

_

-

Dec.

30

30

30

30

31

33

30

34

33

260

Jan.

31

33

49

49

39

38

38

34

36

34

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Mean monthly discharge, In eecondRun-off, In acre-feet.. ...........

Nov.

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

Dec.

1,400

993

271

143

111

84

60

54

47

44

Jan.

34

33

31

36

1,550

486

338

325

258

348

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

_

-

_

-

-

_

_

Dec.

44

44

46

50

44

36

31

31

30

28

30

134 

8,260

Jan.

215

180

161

148

132

129

129

129

457

271

259

195 

11,960

Oage height, In feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at Indicated time, 1937

1&

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

Decan

1.53

1.48

1.46

1.44

1.45

1.43

1.42

1.44

1.43

1.41

1.40

1.40

feer 14

190

167

161

153

140

145

140

143

137

129

127

121

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

Deceittber 15

Feet jsec.ft.

December 10

1.17

1.17

1.19

1.22

1.28

1.36

1.55

2.05

2.80

3.12

3.34

3.10

Deceit

25

25

28

33

42

55

103

253

579

772

900

759

ber 16

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

3.02

2.98

2.60

2.42

2.30

2.24

2.37

3.30

5.80

5.72

5.36

5.25

Decen

728

778

525

448

405

380

462

1,110

3,660

3,560

3,100

2,980

toer 17

Feet

Decen

4.75

3.97

3.50

3.12

2.80

2.63

2.50

2.43

2.40

2.28

2.15

2.06

Decen

Sec. ft.

iber 12

2,380

1,630

1,240

967

759

659

589

552

536

477

414

376

ber 18

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

2.00

1.95

1.92

1.88

1.85

1.80

1.70

1.65

1.62

1.59

1.57

1.55

Da can

348

328

313

299

285

267

229

211

197

183

177

169

ber 19
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN 153

Chowchllla River at Buchanan dam site, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°13', long. 120°00', in SW£ sec. 22, T. 8 S., R. 18 E., 1.4 miles

above Raynor Creek and 5 miles west of Raymond, Madera County. Altitude, about

390 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- S38 square miles. 

0age-heigh-t 7ecord.- Water-stage recorder graph. 

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 4,600 secondfeet; extended to peak stage. Rating curve changed at peak stage. 

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 7,020 second-feet 4 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

 ICT74 feet).

1921-23, 1930-November 1937: Discharge, about 12,000 second-feet Feb. 6, 1937

(gage height, 13.0 feet), from rating curve extended above 4,600 second-feet. 

January-September 1938: Discharge, about 15,000 second-feet probably Mar. 2,

1938 (gage height, 14.4 feet, from floodmarks), from rating curve extended above

4,600 second-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

3.1

3.2

3.7

3.7

3.6

3.7

3.7

3.8

4.0

4.3

Dec.

8

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

11

615

Jan.

24

26

56

45

33

31

30

29

27

26

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

4.7

6

8.5

7.5

6.5

6.5

8

10

15

12

Dec.

2,340

835

279

152

94

69

53

43

38

36

Jan.

24

24

24

26

2,840

705

457

386

278

386

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, In acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

10

9.5

9

8.5

8.5

8.5

8.5

9

9

9

419

Dec.

32

30

35

47

34

31

28

27

26

26

24

9,840

Jan.

252

196

164

139

122

110

104

100

175

206

172

14,310

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

p,

g«

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

1.37

1.37

1.37

1.37

1.37

1.37

1.37

1.38

1.38

1.38

1.39

1.39

Decen

_

3.21

-

3.13

-

3.05

-

2.97

-

2.90

-

2.82

Decen

_

-

2.06

-

-

2.05

-

-

2.03

_

-

2.02

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7.5

7.5

bar 14

_

177

-

164

-

152

-

139

-

128

-

117

iber 20

_

-

36

-

-

36

-

-

34

-

-

33

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

1.40

1.41

1.42

1.44

1.46

1.47

1.48

1.50

1.60

1.67

1.72

1.78

7.5

8

8

8.5

9

9

9.5

10

12

15

16

19

December 15

_

2.77

-

2.71

_

2.65

-

2.59

-

2.54

» 

2.50

Decei

_

-

2.01

-

-

2.00

-

-

1.99

_

-

1.98

_

110

-

102

-

94

-

87

-

81

-

77

iber 21

_

-

33

-

-

32

-

-

31

_

-

31

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

1.83

1.88

1.95

1.99

2.05

4.30

4.90

7.11

6.40

5,87

5.50

5.25

Decetr

_

2.46

-

2.44

-

2.42

-

2.38

-

2.36

-

2.34

Decen

_

-

1.97

-

-

1.97

-

-

1.96

_

_

1.97

21

24

27

29

33

440

660

2,050

1,500

1,150

940

816

ber 16

_

73

-

70

-

68

-

64

-

62

-

60

iber 22

-

-

30

-

-

30

-

-

30

-

-

30

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

5.05

4.85

4.62

4.50

4.75

5.00

9.50

10.74

9.06

9.02

7.75

7.15

724

640

552

508

601

702

4,910

7,020

4,240

4,190

2,650

2,080

December 17

_

_

2.30

-

-

2.27

-

_

2.24

_

-

2.21

Decen

_

2.00

_

2.01

-

2.02

-

2.04

-

2.06

-

2.25

_

_

56

_

_

53

-

_

51

_

_

48

ber 23

_

32

_

33

-

33

-

35

-

36

-

52

Feet 1 Sec. ft.

December 12

6.35

5.97

5.66

5.29

5.10

4.97

4.94

4.90

4.85

4.81

4.60

4.34

1,460

1,190

996

795

705

646

633

615

595

579

504

425

December 18

_

_

2.18

_

_

2.15

-

-

2.12

_

-

2.10

Decen

_

2.26

-

2.22

-

2.20

-

2.16

-

2.13

_

2.10

_

_

45

_

_

43

-

_

41

_

_

39

ber 24

_

52

_

49

-

47

-

44

_

41

_

39

Feet |sec.ft.

December 13

4.16

4.06

3.96

3.86

3.77

3.70

3.62

3.52

3.47

3.41

3.35

3.30

Decen

_

_

2.09

-

_

2.08

-

_

2.08

-

_

2.07

Decent

_

2.06

_

2.04

-

2.02

-

2.01

-

2.00

-

2.00

376

350

325

303

283

268

252

232

223

212

201

192

ber 19

_

_

38

_

_

38

-

_

38

_

_

37

ber 25

_

36

_

35

-

33

-

33

-

32

-

32
154 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Bear Creek near Planada, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37 0 20', long. 120° 19', In Sl»i sec. 10, T. 73., R. 15 E. , just below

mouth of Burns Creek and 3 miles north of Planada, Merced County. Altitude, about

235 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 161 square miles. 

gage-height r-ecord.- Water-stage recorder graph. 

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements for range of stage

occurring in December. 

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 6,220 second-feet 6 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

12T37 feet). 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Basic data

furnished by Merced Irrigation District.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

_

_

_

-

-

-

_

_

-

-

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

.1

.4

Jan.

_

-

_

_

-

_

-

_

-

-

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

_

-

_

_

-

-

_

_

-

-

Dec.

1,320

376

106

41

24

18

15

13

11

10

Jan.

-

-

-

_

-

-

-

-

-

-

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ..............................;.........

Nov.

-

-

_

_

-

-

-

-

-

-

_

-

Dec.

10

9

10

11

14

12

10

10

9

9

9

66.0

4,060

Jan.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

_

-

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

F<

3

oM

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

10

M

Feet Isec.ft.

December 8

December 14

_

-

1.52

_

1.41

-

-

1.32

_

1.27

Decea

_

-

_

_

~

0.86

-

-

-

_

.84

_

_

48

_

40

-

-

33

_

30

iber 20

_

-

_

_

_

10

-

-

-

_

10

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

-

-

-

_

_

..

-

_

0.47

.48

.49

.49

Decen

-

-

1.21

_

1.17

-

-

1.13

_

1.10

Decec

_

-

_

_

_

0.84

-

-

-

_

.84

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

.2

.3

.4

.4

iber 15

_

-

27

_

24

-

-

22

_

21

aber 21

_

_

_

_

_

10

-

-

-

_

10

Feet jSec.ft.

December 10

_

0.48

-

.49

_

.50

_

.49

_

.48

_

.48

Decem

_

-

1.08

_

1.04

-

-

1.01

_

1.0

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

0.83

-

-

-

_

.83

-

0.3

-

.4

_

.5

-

.4

_

.3

_

.3

ber 16

_

-

20

_

18

-

-

16

_

16

iber 22

_

-

_

_

_

9

-

_

-

_

9

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

0.48

.48

.48

.58

.61

.92

5.90

9.40

12.37

9.00

6.50

5.00

0.3

.3

.3

1.7

2.3

13

1,230

3,340

6,220

3,020

1,500

875

December 17

_

-

0.98

_

.97

-

-

.96

_

.95

-

-

15

_

15

-

-

14

_

14

December 23

_

-

_

-

-

0.84

-

-

-

_

.84

-

-

_

-

_

10

-

-

-

_

10

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

4.15

3.60

3.15

2.87

2.72

2.82

2.97

3.45

4.00

3.45

3.10

2.80

595

434

316

251

218

240

273

393

550

393

304

236

December 18

_

-

-

_

0.92

-

-

-

_

.90

-

-

-

_

13

-

-

-

_

12

December 24

-

-

0.86

u

-

.87

-

-

.91

_

.94

-

-

10

_

-

11

-

-

12

_

14

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

2.58

2.39

2.25

2.13

2.03

1.96

1.89

1.83

1.77

1.71

1.67

1.62

188

152

130

113

100

91

83

76

70

64

60

56

December 19

-

-

-

_

0.88

-

-

-

_

.87

Deceir

_

-

-

-

_

0.96

-

-

-

_

.92

-

-

-

_

11

-

-

-

_

11

ber 25

-

-

-

-

-

14

-

-

-

_

13
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN 

Mariposa Creek near Le Grand, Calif.

155

Location.- Lat. 37°16', long. 1SO°1S ! , in sec. 2, T. 83., R. 16 E., about 4 miles

northeast of Le Grand, Merced County. Altitude, about 310 feet above mean sea

level.

Drainage area.- 111 square miles. 

Sage-height ra cord.- Water-stage recorder graph. 

Stage-discharge re'lation.- Defined by current-meter measurements for range of stage

occurring in December. 

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 3,160 second-feet 2 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

5.17 feet). 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Basic data

furnished by Merced Irrigation District.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

49

Jan.

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

_

_

-

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

_

_

_

_

_

-

_

_

_

-

Dec.

769

285

96

30

17

13

8

6

5.5

4.2

Jan.

_

-

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

_

_

-

_

_

_

-

_

_

_

_

-

Dec.

3.4

3.4

2.4

2.8

5.5

5.5

2.8

2.6

2.8

3.8

3.4

42.6

2,620

Jan.

_

_

-

-

_

-

-

-

_

-

-

_

-

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

3o

K

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

Decen

_

1.63

-

1.60

-

1.57

-

1.55

_

1.53

_

1.50

ber 14

_

37

-

32

-

29

_

26

.

24

_

21

December 20

_

-

-

-

-

1.23

-

-

_

-

-

1.22

_

_

-

-

-

4.2

-

-

-

-

-

3.8

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

December 15

_

1.49

_

1.46

_

1.45

_

1.41

_

1.45

_

1.42

Decen

_

-

-

-

-

1.21

-

-

_

-

-

1.21

_

20

_

18

_

17

_

14

_

17

_

15

iber 21

_

-

_

-

_

3.4

-

-

.

_

_

3.4

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

_

_

_

-

-

_

-

_

_

-

2.46

2.36

Deceit

_

_

1.42

-

-

1.40

_

_

1.38

_

_

1.36

Deceit

_

-

-

-

-

1.20

_

-

_

-

-

1.21

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

351

293

ber 16

_

_

15

_

_

13

_

_

12

_

_

11

ber 22

_

-

-

-

_

3.0

-

-

-

_

_

3.4

Feet 1 Sec. ft.

December 11

2.28

2.20

2.13

2.10

2.26

2.40

5.17

4.24

3.59

3.23

3.25

3.06

Decem

_

_

_

_

_

1.32

_

_

_

_

_

1.30

Decen

_

1.21

-

1.21

-

1.21

-

1.19

_

1.11

-

1.02

250

210

178

165

240

315

3,160

1,930

1,230

904

920

768

ber 17

_

_

_

_

_

8

_

_

_

_

_

7

ber 23

_

3.4

-

3.4

_

3.4

-

2.8

_

1.2

-

.2

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

2.77

2.56

2.38

2.27

2.17

2.11

2.13

2.12

2.07

2.31

2.33

2.23

Decem

_

_

_

_

_

1,28

_

_

_

_

_

1.27

554

408

304

245

196

170

178

174

153

266

276

225

ber 18

_

_

_

_

_

6

_

_

_

_

_

6

December 24

_

1.23

-

1.23

_

1.23

-

1.21

_

1.07

-

1.18

_

4.2

-

4.2

-

4.2

-

3.4

_

.7

_

2.6

Peet Sec. ft.

December 13

-

2.06

_

1.93

-

1.83

_

1.77

-

1.71

.

1.67

-

149

-

103

-

76

-

62

-

50

_

43

December 19

_

_

_

_

1.26

_

_

_

_

_

1.25

Decem

_

_

1.22

-

_ -

1.30

-

_

1.29

-

-

1.28

_

_

_

_

_

5.5

_

_

_

_

_

5

ber 25

_

-

3.8

-

-

7

-

_

6.5

-

-

6

Supplemental records.- Dec. 

2.48 ft., 363 sec.-ft.

10, 9 p.m., 2.49 ft., 369 sec.-ft. Dec. 11, 1 p.m.,
156 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Merced River at Happy lalea Bridge, near Yoaemite, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°43'54", long. 119°33'28", in Yosemite National Park, at Happy lalea 

Bridge, 0.4 aiile below Illilouette Creek and 1-g miles southeaat of Yoaemite Lodge, 

Maripoaa County. Altitude, about 4,000 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage are a.- 181 aquare miles.

Sage-height i-ecord.- Water-atage recorder graph except for period midnight Nov. 16 to 

3 p.m. Nov.19, when there was no record. Stage graph for Nov. 19 based on partial 

recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter meaaurementa below 4,000 aecondfeet; extended to peak atage on basia of area-velocity atudy; verified by contracted 

opening determinationa of flood flow at Happy Isles Bridge and at Clark'a Bridge, 4 

mile below gage. Rating curve changed at peak atage. Shifting-control method used 

for period Dec. 14 to Jan. 31.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 10,600 aecond-feet 1:30 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

10.4 feet).

1915-November 1937: Diacharge, 3,800 aecond-feet May 28, 1919 (gage height, 7.1C 

feet), from rating curve extended above 2,800 aecond-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or dlveraion. Discharge for 

period of miaaing gage-height record determined from comparison with recorda for 

Merced River at Pohono Bridge and Tenaya Creek near Yoaemite.

Mean dally dlaeharge, in

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

4.6

4.6

4.3

4.1

4.3

4.6

4.6

4.9

4.9

4.9

Dec.

14

14

13

12

12

11

11

11

15

960

Jan.

84

92

87

80

78

71

71

69

66

66

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

6.5

7.5

7

8.5

8.5

8.5

16

20

13

17

Dec.

5,380

1,700

644

432

352

288

258

225

193

168

Jan.

64

66

64

68

90

87

98

96

90

81

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

28

21

20

20

18

17

16

16

15

15

11.5

683

Dec.

149

128

118

102

104

99

96

90

90

87

84

383

23,520

Jan.

87

92

84

79

79

83

86

86

88

80

86

80.6

4,950

Gage height, In feet, and dlacharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

£o

K

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

_

0.81

_

.78

_

.72

_

.87

_

.83

-

.83

Decea

_

_

3.68

_

3.58

-

-

3.55

_

3.53

Dec ei

-

-

2.87

-

-

2.83

-

_

2.85

_

2.87

_

12

_

10

_

8

_

14

_

12

_

12

t»er 14

_

_

450

_

414

-

_

403

_

396

iber 20

-

-

168

_

_

158

-

_

163

_

168

Feet jsec.ft.

December 9

0.83

.83

.83

.83

.82

.82

.82

.83

.87

.95

1.05

1.31

Dec en

_

_

3.46

_

3.40

-

_

3.38

_

3.35

Dec en

_

-

2.82

-

_

2.81

-

_

2.80

_

2.79

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

14

19

25

45

iber 15

-

_

365

_

345

-

_

339

_

329

iber 21

_

_

151

-

-

149

-

_

147

_

145

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

2.40

3.03

3.28

4.10

4.67

4.74

4.65

4.60

4.50

4.27

4.20

4.45

Decen

_

_

3.27

_

3.22

-

_

3.20

_

3.22

Decen

_

_

2.60

-

_

2.56

-

_

2.61

_

2.64

232

442

547

980

1,380

1,430

1,360

1,320

1,250

1,090

1,040

1,220

ber 16

_

_

297

_

282

-

-

276

_

282

ber 22

_

-

130

-

-

122

-

_

132

_

138

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

5.15

5.70

6.60

6.92

7.50

8.90

10.25

10.10

9.15

8.55

8.00

7.50

1,790

2,350

3,440

3,860

4,690

7,140

10,200

9,780

7,230

5,810

4,660

3,740

December 17

_

_

3.19

_

3.15

-

-

3.13

_

3.12

Decen

_

-

2.58

-

-

2.47

-

_

2.51

_

2.52

_

_

267

_

256

-

_

250

_

247

ber 23

_

-

126

-

-

106

-

-

113

_

114

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

7.03

6.58

6.35

6.03

5.68

5.45

5.26

5.13

4.98

4.88

4.76

3,020

2,460

2,210

1,900

1,590

1,410

1,270

1,180

1,090

1,020

951

4.63 876

December 18

_

-

3.10

_

3.05

-

_

3.02

_

3.04

Decen

-

-

2.38

-

-

2.38

-

-

2.53

-

2.48

_

-

236

_

222

-

-

214

_

220

ber 24

-

-

92

-

-

92

-

-

116

-

108

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 13

4.52

4.40

4.30

4.20

4.12

4.06

4.00

3.98

3.96

3.94

3.88

3.81

Decen

-

-

2.99

_

2.93

-

-

2.93

_

2.94

Decen

-

-

2.41

-

-

2.42

-

-

2.50

-

2.50

820

760

712

666

631

605

580

572

564

556

532

506

ber 19

_.

-

201

_

186

-

-

186

_

188

ber 25

-

-

96

-

-

98

-

-

Ill

_

111

Supplemental recorda.- Dec. 11, 1:30 p.m., 10.4 ft., 10,600 aec.-ft.
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN

Merced River at Pohono Bridge, near Yosemite, Calif.

Location. - Lat. 37°43'01n , long. 119°39'55", 0.4 mile above Artist Creek and 5 miles 

below Yosemite Lodge, in Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County. Altitude, about 

3,870 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage are a.- 321 square miles.

Sage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 10 a.m. Dec. 11 to 

2:30 p.m. Dec. 22, when there was no record. Stage graph for periods Dec. 11-12, 

22 based on partial graph, peak stage obtained from floodmarks, and shape of atage 

graph of Merced River at Happy Isles Bridge.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 6,800 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of computation of flow over dam about 1 mile 

below gage; verified by contracted opening determination of flood flow at Pohono 

Bridge. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 22,000 second-feet about 3 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

height, 19.10 feet).

1916-November 1937: Discharge, 6,370 second-feet June 5, 1922 (gage height, 

10.0 feet), from rating curve extended above 5,600 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge 

for period of missing gage-height record, Dec. 13-21, determined from record of 

Merced River at Happy Isles Bridge.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

21

21

21

21

21

21

21

21

22

22

Dec.

29

28

27

27

26

25

25

25

43

3,030

Jan.

209

229

215

207

199

185

180

178

169

166

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

25

25

25

26

2525'

36

39

32

30

Dec.

16,000

6,420

3,000

1,200

900

700

600

500

450

400

Jan.

164

161

158

171

249

223

254

243

227

205

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

46

40

36

36

34

32

31

30

30

29

1,670

Dec.

350

300

271

238

236

229

221

215

211

213

207

71,690

Jan.

211

227

207

197

199

205

211

215

211

195

205

202

12,450

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

t,3 

o 

«

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

1.09

1.09

1.08

1.08

1.09

1.10

1.13

1.17

1.24

1.43

1.80

2.50

25

25

25

25

25

26

28

31

36

53

93

214

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

4.30

5.83

6.86

7.47

7.89

8.09

8.38

8.54

8.19

7.65

7.66

8.35

830

1,730

2,520

3,090

3,530

3,760

4,110

4,310

3,880

3,270

3,280

4,070

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

9.35

10.43

11.77

13.99

16.25

18.02

19.06

19.07

18.40

15.80

14.71

13.76

5,470

7,320

10,200

15 , 800

19,400

21,100

22,000

22,000

21,400

18,900

17,500

16,000

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

12.68

11.83

11.05

10.28

9.46

8.68

8.05

7.55

7.03

6.57

6.20

5.87

13,600

11,400

9,480

7,800

6,230

5,000

4,160

3,540

2,970

2,520

2,200

1,940

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, about 3 p.m., 19.10 ft., 22,000 sec.-ft.
158 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Merced River at Kittridge, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°39', long. 120°11', in sec. 26, T. 3 S., R. 16 E., 0.2 mile below 

Whites Guleh, a quarter of a mile below Kittridge, Mariposa County, and 3 miles 

above Horseshoe Bend. Altitude, about 750 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 935 square miles.

Qafie-helght record.- Water-stage recorder graph for period 4 p.m. Dec. 16 to Jan. 31. 

Stage graph for Dec. 16 based on partial recorder graph. Occasional staff gage 

readings were made Nov. 1 to Dec. 14. Peak stage was determined from floodmarks.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 10,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of computations of change in storage in Lake 

McClure, adjusted for inflow between gage and lake. Rating curve changed at peak 

stage.

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 59,000 second-feet about 3 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

height, 31.0 feet).

1922-November 1937: Discharge, 33,200 second-feet Feb. 6, 1937 (gage height, 

22.6 feet, from floodmarks), from rating curve extended above 7,500 second-feet on 

basis of computations of change in storage in Lake McClure.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge 

for period Nov. 1 to Dec. 15 determined from discharge graph based on occasional 

staff gage readings, floodmarks, and records for Lake McClure, Meroed River at 

Pohono Bridge, and Chowchilla River at Buchanan dam site. Most of basic data furnished by Merced Irrigation District.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

_Daj_

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

66

66

66

67

67

68

68

69

69

70

Dec.

98

94

92

92

90

90

89

89

89

4,430

Jan.

482

544

685

580

520

499

457

443

422

409

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

75

85

98

105

110

105

101

130

150

135

Dec.

32,100

12 , 800

4,070

2,300

1,710

1,420

1,230

1,080

975

870

Jan.

397

391

391

391

7,650

2,020

1,660

1,320

1,060

975

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

125

115

110

108

106

105

104

104

102

100

cm n

5,650

Dec.

798

775

798

685

620

600

580

548

502

492

492

2

0 Q">

140,200

Jan.

798

752

708

600

552

540

540

532

640

580

925

cn A

56,460

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

w

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet [sec. ft.

December 8

Feet jSeo.ft.

December 9

Feet jsec.ft.

December 10

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

160

235

305

375

450

1,600

2,750

10,200

10,800

11,500

10,300

9,050

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

_

_

_

-

_

_

_

_

-

-

_

-

8,600

8,650

9,600

12,000

27,500

45,400

58,500

57,500

55,700

46,200

36,800

29,200

Foot Sec. ft.

December 12

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

-

_

-

_

_

15,800

-

_

10,500

_

_

7,580

-

_

5,860

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 13

Supplementary records.- Deo. 11, about 3 p.m., 31.0 ft., 59,000 sec.-ft.
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN 159 

Lake McClure at Exchequer, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°35', long. 120°16', in SWi sec. 13, T. 4 S., R. 15 E., at Exchequer 

Dam on Merced River 5 miles northeast of Merced Palls. Zero of gage is at mean sea 

level.

Drainage area.- 1,020 square miles.

Sage-height record.- Gage read to tenths daily at midnight.

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely controlled in reservoir. Crest of spillway is 693.0 

feet above mean sea level (capacity, 245,600 acre-feet). See record for Merced River 

at Exchequer. Basic data furnished by Merced Irrigation District.

Elevation and contents, November 1937 to January 1938

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 

(feet)

571.1

571.2

571.3

571.3

571.4

571.4

571.5

571.5

571.6

571.6

571.8

571.9

572.0

572.1

572.3

572.4

572.6

572.9

573.1

573.3

573.5

573.6

573.8

574.0

574.2

574.3

574.5

574.6

574.7

574.9

Contents 

(acre -feet)

48,290

48,380

48,470

48,470

48,560

48,560

48,650

48,650

48,740

48,740

48,920

49,010

49,100

49,190

49,370

49,460

49,640

49,910

50,100

50,300

50,500

50,600

50,800

51,000

51,200

51,300

51,500

51,600

51,700

51,900

December

Elevation 

(feet)

575.0

575.1

575.2

575.3

575.5

575.6

575.7

575.8

576.0

584.7

634.8

650.0

654.1

656.4

658.1

659.5

660.7

661.7

662.6

663.4

664.0

663.6

663.1

662.6

662.0

661.3

660.6

660.0

659.2

658.5

657.7

Contents 

(acre-feet)

52,000

52,100

52,200

52,300

52,500

52,600

52,700

52,800

53,000

62,070

129,380

155,000

162,380

166,660

169,890

172,550

174,900

176,900

178,700

180,300

181,500

180,700

179,700

178,700

177,500

176,100

174,700

173,500

171,980

170,650

169,130

January

Elevation 

(feet)

657.0

656.3

655.8

655.2

654.4

653.7

652.9

652.1

651.3

650.4

649.6

648.8

647.9

647.1

656.1

657.4

658.0

658.5

658.5

658.4

658.1

657.8

657.4

656.9

656.3

655.8

655.2

654.7

654.3

655.0

657.0

Contents 

(acre-feet)

167,800

166,470

165,530

164,380

162,920

161,660

160,220

158,780

157,340

155,720

154,280

152,840

151,230

149,870

166,090

168,560

169,700

170,650

170,650

170,460

169,890

169,320

168,560

167,610

166,470

165,520

164,380

163,460

162,740

164,000

167,800
160 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Merced River at Exchequer, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°35', long. ISO0 !? 1 , about on line between sees. 14 and 23, T. 43., 

R. 15 E., at Exchequer, Marlposa County, half a mile below Lake McClure, 0.7 mile 

below Cotton Creek, and 5 miles northeast of Merced Falls. Altitude, about 400 feet 

above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 1,035 square miles.

gage-height 7eeord.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 12,200 secondfeet.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge (regulated), 1,520 second-feet at Intervals during 

period Dec. 22-25 (gage height, 3.74 feet).

1916-November 1937: Discharge observed (unregulated), about 22,000 second-feet 

Jan. 17, 1916 (gage height, 20.0 feet, from nonrecordlng gage, former site and datum), 

from rating curve extended above 8,600 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely controlled In Lake McClure. Monthly summaries adjusted f 

changes In storage. See record for Lake McClure at Exchequer. Most of basic data 

furnished by Merced Irrigation District.

Mean dally discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

38

38

38

39

37

36

36

36

36

36

Dec.

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

36

Jan.

1,190

1,190

1,180

1,180

1,180

1,190

1,190

1,180

1,180

1,170

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

36

36

36

36

36

36

36

36

36

36

Dec.

29

31

30

29

28

17

14

26

27

27

Jan.

1,170

1,160

1,160

1,160

1,200

1,190

1,190

1,190

1,190

1,190

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, In acre-feet (adjusted). .............................

Nov.

36

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

35

5,750

Dec.

49

1,170

1,220

1,210

1,220

1,210

1,210

1,200

1,200

1,200

1,200

25,190

142,400

Jan.

1,190

1,190

1,190

1,200

1,200

1,190

1,190

1,190

1,190

53

26

66,980
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN 161 

Merced River near Livings-ton, Calif.

Location.- lat. 37 0 23'29n , long. 130°47'10", in SEi sec. 20, T. 6 S., R. 11 E., 3i miles 

west of Livingston, Merced County. Altitude, about 82 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 1,245 square miles.

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period noon Dec. 21 to 10:30 

a.m. Dec. 24, when there was no record. Stage graph for Dec. 21 based on partial 

recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements for range of stage of 

high water in December.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 1,470 second-feet 6 p.m. Dec. 31 (gage height, 5.78 

feet).

1922-24, 1926-November 1937: Discharge, 10,900 second-feet (revised) Feb. 24, 

1936 (gage height, 19.24 feet), from rating curve for 1938 extended above 8,500 

second-feet.

January-September 1933: Discharge, 11,100 second-feet 11 p.m. Feb. 12 (gage 

height, 19.44 feet) from rating curve extended above 8,500 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off very materially affected by artificial storage in Lake McClure 

(capacity, about 250,000 acre-feet). Discharge for period of missing gage-height 

record determined from range of stage shown on recorder graph, partial recorder 

graph Dec. 24, and record for Merced River at Exchequer. Most of basic data furnished by Merced Irrigation District.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

114

117

117

112

112

111

111

111

112

112

Dec.

164

137

127

125

124

122

120

119

119

134

Jan.

1,260

1,260

1,260

1,260

1,260

1,260

1,260

1,360

1,260

1,260

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

114

114

112

112

116

116

119

124

122

122

Dec.

153

233

364

245

195

173

209

241

195

175

Jan.

1,260

1,260

1,260

1,260

1,440

2,130

1,500

1,470

1,400

1,470

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

120

119

120

119

119

122

119

117

119

144

6,980

Dec.

161

150

650

1,000

1,160

1,190

1,190

1,220

1,220

1,220

1,260

27,560

Jan.

1,500

1,400

1,360

1,330

1,330

1,330

1,330

1,330

1,400

1,540

762

82,640
162 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Tenaya Greek near Yosemite, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°44'3311 , long. 119°33'2511 , at bridge in Yosemite National Park, 0.7 

mile above junction with Merced River and 1.9 miles east of Yosemite Lodge, Mariposa 

County. Altitude, about 4,000 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 47 square miles.

gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except for period 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. 

Dec. 11, when stage 'graph was based on floodmarks in the well.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 1,400 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study; verified by extension 

of a rating curve for a temporary station upstream. Shifting-control method used 

for period Nov. 1 to Dec. 9. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 5,550 second-feet 4 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

TD70 feet).

1904-9, 1912-November 1937: Discharge, 1,730 second-feet May 28, 1919 (gage 

height, 7.05 feet), from rating curve extended above 450 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.1

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.1

Dec.

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.4

692

Jan.

37

40

38

37

35

34

33

32

30

30

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

1.2

1.1

1.0

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.0

1.0

Dec.

3,430

1,240

416

243

177

136

117

93

83

69

Jan.

29

28

28

28

40

41

48

48

46

42

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

?.R

29

30

31

Nov.

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.1

1.1

1.1

1.1

67

Dec.

65

60

56

53

49

48

43

41

40

40

38

P^A

14,370

Jan.

42

43

40

37

37

33

40

39

33

37

37

iri 0

2,280

Gage height, In feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

h

3

o

w

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

_

_

-

-

_

0.81

-

-

-

-

-

.81

Deceit

-

3.68

-

3.61

-

3.54

-

3.52

_

3.53

_

3.48

_

_

-

-

_

1.2

-

-

_

-

-

1.2

her 14

_

268

-

249

-

229

-

224

_

226

-

213

December 20

_

-

2.72

-

-

2.67

-

-

2.70

_

-

2.67

_

_

72

-

-

66

-

_

69

-

-

66

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

_

0.31

_

.81

_

.32

-

.85

_

.88

_

.96

_

1.2

_

1.2

_

1.2

_

1.5

_

1.9

-

2.9

December 15

_

-

3.38

_

_

3.31

-

_

3.28

_

_

3.24

Decec

_

_

2.65

-

-

2.65

-

_

2.67

-

-

2.67

_

-

188

_

-

172

-

-

166

_

_

158

aber 21

_

_

64

-

-

64

-

_

66

_

_

66

Feet |sec.ft.

December 10

2.13

3.21

3.73

4.24

5.00

5.32

4.98

4.90

4.83

4.61

4.40

4.43

Deceir

_

_

3.15

_

-

3.12

_

-

3.10

_

_

3.10

Decen

_

2.65

_

2.61

-

2.57

-

2.62

_

2.62

-

2.65

82

28?

451

646

995

1,200

984

940

905

801

710

723

ber 16

_

-

140

-

_

134

-

_

130

_

_

130

iber 22

_

64

_

59

-

55

-

60

_

65

-

64

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

4.76

5.38

6.35

6.92

7.17

9.49

9.52

10.00

9.19

8.39

7.50

7.03

871

1,250

2,100

2,760

3,080

5,300

5,320

5,550

5,130

4,540

3,530

2,820

December 17

_

-

3.05

_

-

3.00

-

-

2.99

_

_

2.99

Decen

.

2.63

_

2.54

-

2.50

-

2.55

-

2.64

-

2.62

_

_

121

-

-

112

-

-

110

_

110

iber 23

_

61

_

52

-

48

-

53

_

62

-

60

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

6.65

6.34

6.05

5.77

5.53

5.30

5.13

5.00

4.95

4.82

4.69

4.56

2,280

1,910

1,610

1,360

1,160

995

888

815

788

720

657

598

December 18

_

_

2.95

_

-

2.88

-

_

2.88

-

_

2.88

_

-

104

_

-

93

-

-

93

_

_

93

December 24

_

_

2.56

-

-

2.50

-

_

2.57

_

-

2.55

_

-

54

-

-

48

-

_

55

-

-

53

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

-

4.35

-

4.18

_

4.05

-

3.99

-

3.91

-

3.77

Deceir

_

-

2.83

-

-

2.78

-

-

2.80

_

-

2.79

..

509

_

440

-

389

-

367

-

339

-

295

ber 19

_

-

86

-

_

79

-

-

82

-

_

81

December 25

_

-

2.51

-

-

2.49

-

_

2.54

-

_

2.53

_

-

49

-

-

47

-

-

52

~

-

51
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN 

Orestimba Creek near Kewman, Calif.

163

Location.- Lat. 37°19'09!1 , long. 121°07'14", in NWi sec. 20, T. 7 S., R. B E., 3 miles 

below Oso Creek, at highway bridge 5 miles west of Kewman, Stanislaus County. Altitude, about 190 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 129 square miles.

Bage-helght record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods 5 a.m. Dec. 21 to 

1:30 p.m. Dec. 22, 4 a.m. Dec. 24 to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 24, when there was no record.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 1,200 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of slope-area computations for 1932 peak 

discharges; verified with aid of area-velocity study. Shifting-control method 

for period Dec. 11-17.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 2,040 second-feet I p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

"4.22 feet).

1932-November 1937: Discharge, 3,440 second-feet Feb. B, 1932 (gage height, 

5.15 feet), from rating curve extended above 390 aeeond-feet on basis of slopearea computation of flood flow.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge 

for periods of missing gage-height record based on range in stage indicated on 

recorder graph and on study of rainfall records.

Mean daily discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Jan.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

1,070

197

51

19

7.5

2.5

.7

0

0

0

Jan.

0

0

0

0

1

1

2

2

4

3

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

43.5

2,670

Jan.

2

2

1

.4

.1

0

0

.3

2.5

5.5

54

2.61

160

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

§&

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

Deceit

_

1.23

-

1.19

-

1.15

-

1.11

-

1.07

-

1.04

Deoec

ber 14

_

26

-

22

-

19

_

16

-

13

-

11

iber 20

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

Decen

_

1.01

-

.99

-

.96

-

.93

_

.90

_

.88

Decen

ber 15

_

9.5

-

9.0

-

7.5

-

6

_

5

_

4.5

iber 21

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

Decen

_

0.86

-

.83

-

.80

-

.77

_

.75

_

.72

Decen

ber 16

_

3.9

-

3.0

-

2.5

-

2.0

-

1.7

-

1.3

ber 22

Feet See. ft.

December 11

_

_

3.90

4.00

3.83

4.20

4.15

3.82

3.43

3.10

2.83

2.63

Dec em

_

0.70

_

.68

-

.65

-

.61

_

.55

-

.42

Deoeo

0

0

1,660

1,780

1,580

2,040

1,980

1,560

1,130

810

601

473

ber 17

_

1.1

-

1.0

-

.7

-

.5

_

.2

-

0

ber 23

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

2.46

2,33

2.19

2.10

2.03

1.95

1.89

1.88

1.88

1.84

1.79

1.73

Decora

373

305

241

205

180

154

135

132

132

121

106

92

ber 18

December 24

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

_

1.63

-

1.54

-

1.45

-

1.39

-

1.32

-

1.28

Decen

Decen

_

73

_

59

_

46

-

40

-

34

-

30

ber 19

ber 25

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 5:15 a.ia., no flow; 5:30 a.m., 3.70 ft., 1,420 

sec.-ft.; 1 p.m., 4.22 ft., 2,040 sec.-ft.
164 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Hatch Hetchy Reservoir at Hatch Hetchy, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°57', long. 119°47', in sec. 16, T. IN., R. 20 E. , at 0'Shaughneaay 

Dam on Tuolumne River, Tuolumne County. Zero of gage is at about mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 460 square miles.

Gage-height 7ecord.- Gage read to tenths daily at 7 a.m.

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely controlled in reservoir. Elevation of spillway

crest is 3,796.0 feet above mean sea level (capacity, 340,830 acre-feet). Some water 

released during flood period. See record for Tuolumne River near Hetch Hetchy. 

Basic data furnished by city of San Francisco.

Elevation and contents, November 1937 to January 1938

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 

(feet)

3,651.3

3,650.4

3,649.5

3,648.5

3,647.5

3,646.5

3,645.4

3,644.4

3,643.3

3,642.2

3,641.1

3,640.0

3,638.8

3,637.7

3,636.7

3,635.7

3,634.7

3,633.8

3 , 632 . 8

3,631.8

3,630.9

3,630.2

3,629.5

3,628.7

3,627.7

3,626.8

3,62b.9

3,625.0

3,624.1

3,623.1

Contents 

(acre-feet)

109,720

108,670

107,640

106,520

105,400

104,280

103,050

101,930

100,700

99,460

98,230

97 , 000

95,740

94,580

93,540

92,480

91,440

90,490

89,440

88,390

87,440

86,710

86,000

85,200

84,200

83,300

82 , 400

81,500

80,600

79,600

December

Elevation 

(feet)

3,622.1

3,621.1

3,620.1

3,619.1

3,618.1

3,617.1

3,616.1

3,615.1

3,614.1

3,615.2

3,623.0

3,668.3

3,673.0

3,674.9

3,676.0

3,676.5

3,676.8

3,676.9

3,676.8

3,676.7

3,676.4

3,676.0

3,675.6

3,675.2

3,674.7

3,674.0

3,673.3

3,672.6

3,672.0

3,671.4

3,670.8

Contents 

(acre-feet)

78,600

77,600

76,600

75,640

74,680

73,720

72,760

71,800

70,840

71,890

79,500

130,520

136,750

139,320

140,800

141,480

141,880

142,020

141,880

141,740

141,340

140,800

140,260

139,720

139,040

138,100

137,160

136,210

135,400

134,590

133,780

January

Elevation 

(feet)

3,670.2

3,669.6

3,669.0

3,668.5

3,668.0

3,667.4

3,666.8

3,666.2

3,665.5

3,664.8

3,663.9

3,662.9

3,661.9

3,661.0

3.662.1

3,661.1

3,660.1

3,659.9

3,659.6

3,659.1

3,658.5

3,658.0

3,657.4

3,656.7

3,656.0

3,655.3

3,654.6

3,653.9

3,653.2

3,652.5

3,651.9

Contents 

(acre-feet)

132,970

132,190

131,420

130,780

130,140

129,370

128,600

127,840

126,940

126,040

124,890

123,610

122,330

121,180

122,590

121,310

120,030

119,780

119,430

118,850

118,140

117,560

116,860

116,040

115,220

114,400

113,580

112,760

111,940

111,120

110,420
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN

Tuolumne River near Hetch Hetchy, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°56', long. 119°48', in SEi sec. 17, T. 1 N., R. 20 E., in Yosemite 

National Park, three-quarters of a mile below 0'Shaughnessy Dam and Hetch Hetchy 

Reservoir, Tuolumne County. Altitude, about 3,450 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 462 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge re'latlon.- Defined by current-meter measurements.

Maxima.- December 1957!Discharge (regulated), 715 second-feet 4 p.m. Dec. 24 to 5 

p.m. Dec. 27 (gage height,5.95 feet). Adjusted maximum discharge,about 50,000 

second-feet econd-feet morning morning Dec. 11, based on record of changes changes in storage. storage.

1915-November 1937: Discharge, 12,000 second-feet (reservoir full and spillng) June 16, 1929 (gage height, 13.58 feet), from rating curve extended above 

,300 second-feet.

ng determined from graph ased on reangs at a.m. ee recor or ec 

Hetchy Reservoir at Hetch Hetchy. Part of basic data furnished by city of San 

Francisco.

Discharge, in second-feet, and gain or loss in storage, in acre-feet, 

November 1937 to January 1938

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

Observed 

discharge

552

552

578

628

615

628

655

640

655

670

685

685

670

615

578

590

602

615

615

602

540

520

552

565

565

565

565

540

530

565

Gain or 

loss in 

storage

-1,050

-1,040

-1,090

-1,120

-1,120

-1,200

-1,150

-1,200

-1,240

-1,230

-1,230

-1,250

-1,190

-1,080

-1,050

-1,050

-970

-1,020

-1,050

-980

-800

-710

-780

-940

-930

-900

-900

-900

-970

-1,000

Adjusted 

discharge

23

28

28

63

50

23

75

35

30

50

65

55

70

70

47

61

113

101

86

108

137

162

159

91

96

111

111

86

41

61

December

Observed 

discharge

565

590

602

590

565

565

552

552

578

540

590

602

615

640

655

685

700

700

700

685

670

670

670

700

715

715

715

700

685

685

685

Gain or 

loss in 

storage

-1,000

-1,000

-970

-960

-960

-960

-960

-960

+180

+3,700

H50,700

+9,700

+3,500

+1,500

+880

+480

+220

-60

-140

-320

-500

-540

-540

-640

-870

-940

-940

-850

-810

-810

-810

Adjusted 

discharge

61

86

113

106

81

81

68

68

669

2,400

26,200

5,490

2,380

1,400

1,100

927

811

670

629

524

418

398

398

377

276

241

241

271

277

277

277

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet (observed). .........

Run-off, in acre-feet (adjusted) ...........................

January

Observed 

discharge

685

685

628

628

670

700

730

745

730

700

700

700

700

730

760

745

745

628

640

745

745

745

745

745

745

730

730

730

730

730

745

November 1

598

-31,140

74.5

4,440

Gain or 

loss in 

storage

-790

-780

-670

-640

-740

-770

-760

-860

-900

-1,070

-1,250

-1,280

-1,180

+80

0

-1,200

-550

-320

-510

-670

-620

-670

-780

-820

-820

-820

-820

-820

-820

-740

-610

December

641

+54,320

1,525

93,750

Adjusted 

discharge

287

292

290

305

297

312

347

311

276

161

70

55

105

770

760

140

468

467

383

407

432

407

352

332

332

317

317

317

317

357

437

January

713

-23,200

336

20,660
166 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Don Pedro Reaervoir near La Grange, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37° 42'48", long. 120°24'14n , in SWi aec. 35, T. 2 S., R. 14 E., at Don 

Pedro Dam on Tuolumne River, 1 mile below Rogers Creek and 5.5 milea above La Grange, 

Stanlalaua County. Zero of gage is at mean aea level.

Drainage area.- 1,540 aquare miles.

Gage-height rec ord.- Gage read to tentha daily at 8 a.m.

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely controlled in reaervoir. Elevation of creat of

apillway ia 596.55 feet above mean aea level (capacity, 262,200 acre-feet). Elevation 

of top of apillway gatea Is 605.55 feet above mean aea level (capacity, 290,400 

acre-feet). See record for Tuolumne River above La Grange Dam. Basic data furniahed 

by Turlock and Modeato Irrigation Diatricta.

Elevation and contenta, November 1937 to January 1938

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 

(feet)

513.7

513.3

513.2

513.1

513.0

512.9

512.8

512.4

512.3

512.2

512.1

512.0

512.0

512.1

511.5

511.7

511.9

511.9

512.2

512.3

512.3

512.1

512.3

512.3

512.3

512.3

512.5

512.8

512.6

512.6

Contenta 

(acre-feet)

69,200

68,600

68,500

68,400

68,200

68,100

68,000

67,400

67,300

67,100

67,000

66,900

66,900

67,000

66,200

66,400

66,700

66,700

67 , 100

67,300

67,300

67,000

67,300

67,300

67,300

67,300

67,500

68,000

67,700

67,700

December

Elevation 

(feet)

512.4

512.4

512.7

512.8

512.7

511.8

511.7

511.8

511.8

511.9

534.9

574.6

580.4

582.4

583.4

584.1

584.7

584.8

564.9

584.7

584.7

584.6

584.5

584.4

584.3

584.0

583.8

583.7

583.5

583.3

583.1

Contenta 

(acre-feet)

67,400

67,400

67,800

68,000

67,800

66,600

66,400

66,600

66,600

66,700

103,200

198,200

214,500

220,200

223,100

225,100

226,900

227,200

227,500

226,900

226,900

226,600

226,300

226,000

225,700

224,800

224,300

224,000

223,400

222,800

222,200

January

Elevation 

(feet)

583.1

583.2

583.8

584.4

585.0

585.5

585.8

586.1

586.5

586.7

587.0

587.3

587.7

587.9

589.8

594.0

595.7

596.8

597.4

597.5

597.3

597.2

597.2

597.0

597.1

597.1

597.2

597.1

597.3

597.3

597.2

Contenta 

(acre-feet)

222,200

222,500

224,300

226,000

227,700

229,200

230,100

231,000

232,100

232 , 800

233,600

234,500

235,600

236,200

241,900

254,500

259,600

263,000

264,800

265,100

264,500

264,200

264,200

263,600

263,900

263,900

264,200

263,900

264,500

264,500

264,200
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN 167 

Tuolumne River above La Grange Dam, near La Grange, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°42'35", long. 120°24'45", In NEj sec. 3, T. 3 S., R. 14 E., half a 

mile below Don Pedro Dam, 5-g miles above La Grange Dam, and 5 miles above La Grange, 

Stanislaus County. Altitude, about 330 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 1,540 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge re'latlon.- Defined by current-meter measurements.

Maxima.- December 1937; Flood run-off completely controlled In Don Pedro Reservoir.

1915-November 1937: Discharge (regulated), 38,100 second-feet Mar. 25, 1928 (gage 

height, 29.6 feet), from rating curve extended above 17,000 second-feet.

1895-1915: Discharge (unregulated), about 60,300 second-feet Jan. 31, 1911 (gage 

height, 16.45 feet, from stage graph constructed from frequent gage readings, former 

site and datum at La Grange Dam), from rating curve extended above 18,000 secondfeet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely controlled In Don Pedro Reservoir (capacity, 262,200 

acre-feet at elevation of crest of spillway). See record for Don Pedro Reservoir 

near La Grange. Dally and monthly discharges adjusted for changes In storage in Don 

Pedro Reservoir tut not for storage in Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, Lake Eleanor, or for 

diversions. Contents at midnight in Don Pedro Reservoir determined from graph based 

on daily readings at 8 a.m. Mean monthly diversion through San Francisco Aqueduct: 

November, 12 second-feet; December, 3 second-feet; January, 3 second-feet.

Discharge, in second-feet, and gain or loss In storage, in acre-feet, 

November 1937 to January 1938

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

Observed 

discharge

915

913

923

919

933

938

827

948

954

920

828

909

908

758

850

883

855

869

880

881

740

872

895

880

744

817

838

750

855

884

Gain or 

loss In 

storage

-630

-270

-100

-160

-140

-100

-430

-270

-160

-140

-100

-30

+70

-500

-140

4-270

+100

+270

+260

+70

-200

+100

+100

0

0

+130

+400

-30

-100

-200

Adjusted 

discharge

597

777

873

838

862

888

610

812

873

849

778

894

943

606

779

1,020

905

1,010

1,010

916

639

922

945

880

744

883

1,040

735

805

783

December

Observed 

discharge

867

825

846

866

1,030

882

898

894

910

841

1,110

1,650

1,630

1,630

1,620

1,690

1,680

1,640

1,590

1,660

1,660

1,650

1,650

1,660

1,560

1,560

1,650

1,660

1,650

1,660

1,660

Gain or 

los s in 

storage

-100

+270

+260

-60

-870

-530

+60

+70

+70

+16,830

+99,000

*-28,400

+8,100

+3 , 400

+2,200

+1,700

+800

+300

-300

-200

-200

-300

-300

-300

-700

-630

-370

-500

-600

-600

-200

Adjusted 

discharge

817

961

977

836

591

615

928

929

945

9,330

51,000

16,000

5,710

3,340

2,730

2,550

2,080

1,790

1,440

1,560

1,560

1,500

1,500

1,510

1,210

1,240

1,460

1,410

1,350

1,360

1,560

Run-off, in acre-feet (adjusted). ..........................

January

Observed 

discharge

839

798

885

871

852

865

866

854

794

876

872

859

872

868

832

812

845

1,270

2,200

2,320

2,160

2,040

1,760

1,600

1,760

1,800

1,840

1,760

2,040

1,800

2,200

November

870

-1,930

837

49,810

Gain or 

loss In 

storage

+200

+1,300

+1,730

+1,700

+1,570

+1,100

+900

+1,030

+840

+760

+870

+1,030

+770

+3,300

+11,300

+7,500

+4,000

+2,100

+800

-300

-400

-100

-400

0

+100

+200

-100

+300

+200

-200

+3,030

December

1,380

+154,700

3

OQ"7 f oy f

239,600

Adjusted 

discharge

940

1,450

1,760

1,730

1,640

1,420

1,320

1,370

1,220

1,260

1,310

1,380

1,260

2,530

6,530

4,590

2,860

2,330

2,600

2,170

1,960

1,990

1,560

1,600

1,810

1,900

1,790

1,910

2,140

1,700

3,730

January

1,323

+45,130

2,057

126,500
168 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Palls Creek near Hetch Hetchy, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°58', long. 119°46', in NEj sec. 3, T. 1 N., R. 20 E., in Yosemite 

National Park, a quarter of a mile above Wampana Palls, 1 mile above mouth, and 2 

miles northeast of Hetch Hetchy, Tuolumne County. Altitude, about 5,600 feet above 

mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 45.2 square miles,

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 1,250 secondfeet; extended to peak stage with aid. of area-velocity study. Rating curve changed 

at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 6,300 second-feet 3 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

8.90 feet).

1915-November 1937: Discharge, 1,740 second-feet Mar. 25, 1928 (gage height, 

6.45 feet), from rating curve extended above 1,100 second-feet on basis of 1938 

area-velocity study.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0.2

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

.1

Dec.

11

10

9

9

8.5

9

9

9.5

41

1,300

Jan.

38

50

54

50

44

39

35

32

30

28

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0.1

.2

.5

1.7

3.2

1.8

30

15

11

25

Dec.

3,970

1,960

566

275

191

148

121

104

91

78

Jan.

27

26

25

30

114

81

102

86

78

77

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

31

22

17

21

18

15

14

13

12

11

523

Dec.

78

68

68

68

68

57

52

44

41

40

38

 TrtQ

18,930

Jan.

69

74

66

60

57

64

68

62

62

59

56

3,460

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

§&

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

1.60

1.60

1.60

1.60

1.60

1.60

1.61

1.61

1.60

1.60

1.61

1.61

Decen

4.41

4.34

4.24

4.15

4.10

4.08

4.04

4.01

4.00

4.00

3.98

3.96

Decen

_

3.30

-

3.26

-

3.18

-

3.14

_

3.17

-

3.23

9.5

9.5

9.5

9.5

9.5

9.5

10

10

9.5

9.5

10

10

ber 14

358

334

302

275

260

255

245

238

235

235

230

225

iber 20

_

91

-

85

-

72

_

66

-

70

_

80

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

1.61

1.61

1.61

1.62

1.62

1.62

1.63

1.68

1.72

2.06

2.88

3.68

10

10

10

10

10

10

11

12

14

34

162

388

December 15

_

3.91

_

3.85

_

3.80

-

3.77

_

3.74

_

3.72

Dec en

_

3.26

-

3.24

-

3.22

-

3.19

-

3.17

-

3.18

_

212

_

198

_

186

-

179

_

173

_

168

iber 21

_

85

_

81

-

78

_

74

-

70

-

72

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

4.46

5.15

5.60

5.84

5.82

5.90

6.04

6.06

6.04

6.04

6.10

6.33

Decen

_

3.69

_

3.63

_

3.59

-

3.55

_

3.53

_

3.54

Decen

_

3.20

_

3.18

-

3.15

_

3.12

_

3.10

-

3.11

672

992

1,240

1,370

1,360

1,410

1,500

1,510

1,500

1,500

1,540

1,700

ber 16

_

162

_

150

_

142

-

134

_

131

_

133

iber 22

_

75

_

72

-

68

-

63

_

60

-

62

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

6.60

6.88

7.12

7.36

7.62

8.50

8.80

8.85

8.70

8.55

8.30

8.15

1,930

2,200

2,460

2,760

3,130

5,000

5,960

6,130

5,620

5,140

4,420

4,070

December 17

_

3.54

-

3.52

-

3.48

-

3.45

-

3.44

_

3.43

Decen

_

3.18

_

3.17

-

3.15

-

3.13

_

3.12

-

3.11

_

133

-

129

_

121

-

116

-

114

_

112

ber 23

_

72

_

70

-

68

_

64

_

63

-

62

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

_

7.55

_

7.01

-

6.50

-

6.13

_

5.80

-

5.48

_

2,930

_

2,190

_

1,670

-

1,360

_

1,110

-

892

December 18

_

3.42

-

3.41

-

3.38

-

3.35

_

3.32

_

3.34

_

111

-

109

-

104

-

99

-

94

_

97

December 24

3.12

3.13

3.14

3.20

3.26

3.23

3.13

3.12

3.12

3.12

3.11

3.11

63

64

66

75

85

80

64

63

63

63

62

62

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

-

5.23

-

5.02

_

4.82

-

4.69

_

4.59

-

4.47

-

738

-

625

-

525

-

466

-

426

-

380

December 19

_

?.35

-

3.32

_

3.28

-

3.26

-

3.26

_

3.30

Decem

3.16

3.23

3.27

3.29

3.28

3.15

3.08

3.07

3.07

3.07

3.06

3.06

_

99

-

94

-

88

-

85

-

85

_

91

ber 25

69

80

86

89

88

68

57

56

56

56

54

54

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 3 p.m., 8.90 ft., 6,300 sec.-ft.
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN

Cherry Creek near Hetch Hetchy, Calif.

Location.- caon.-Lat. a.38°00 T , long. 119°54' , in SWj sec. 28, T. 2 N. , R. 19 B., 3 miles 

northwest of Lake Eleanor Dam, 4 miles above Eleanor Creek, and 7-J miles northwest of Hetch Hetchy, Tuolumne County. Altitude, about 4,800 feet above mean s 

level.

Drainage area.- Ill square miles.

Sage -height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 

4 p.m. Dec. 18, when there was no record. Peak stage determin

inside of cabin.

11 a.m. Dec. 10 to 

ed from floodmarks

nse o can.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 3,900 secondfeet; extended to peak stage with aid of area-velocity study. Rating curve chang

at peak stage.

changed

peaK srage. 

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 18,100 second-feet about 2 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage

height, 25.1 feet, from floodmarks).

1910-November 1937s Discharge, about 7,750 second-feet June 16, 1929 (gage

height, 13.57 feet), from rating curve extended above 3,600 second-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge

for period of misaing gage-height record based on floodmarks and record for

Eleanor Creek near Hetch Hetchy.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

5.5

5.5

5.5

5.5

5.5

5

5

5.5

5.5

5.5

Dec.

53

48

41

43

43

46

49

44

266

7,800

Jan.

100

180

180

160

134

115

104

96

86

84

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

9

20

21

31

34

27

273

76

77

248

Dec.

11,600

4,000

1,600

800

600

500

400

300

224

180

Jan.

84

84

79

220

530

292

352

274

227

205

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

144

82

74

119

74

68

66

61

55

53

3,300

Dec.

169

147

157

166

141

122

113

106

100

102

96

59,620

Jan.

211

234

195

174

189

214

214

180

177

157

147

11,260

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

b

3

Ow

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Peet Sec. ft.

December 8

1.79

1.82

1.81

1.80

1.77

1.75

1.71

1.67

1.64

1.62

1.66

1.71

51

55

53

52

49

46

42

38

35

33

37

42

December 14

_

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1,000

950

900

850

800

750

730

715

700

680

665

650

December 20

2.52

2.47

2.41

2.35

2.32

2.28

2.26

2.26

2.32

2.38

2.45

2.46

224

208

189

172

163

152

147

147

163

180

202

205

Peet Sec. ft.

December 9

1.75

1.75

1.73

1.70

1.67

1.66

1.65

1.67

1.77

2.96

4.92

7.30

46

46

44

41

38

37

36

38

49

384

1,240

2,720

December 15

_

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

_

-

-

Decei

2.46

2.45

2.41

2.35

2.31

2.27

2.25

2.24

2.27

2.32

2.36

2.37

-

-

-

-

-

*600

-

-

-

_

_

-

iber 21

205

202

189

172

160

149

144

141

149

163

174

177

Peet Sec. ft.

December 10

9.83

11.75

13.95

15.49

15.86

_

_

-

_

-

-

-

4,520

6,060

7,820

9,140

9,460

10,000

9,000

8,000

8,800

7,000

8,000

9,200

December 16

-

_

_

-

-

-

-

-

_

-

-

Decen

2.35

2.32

2.30

2.27

2.24

2.21

2.18

 2.15

2.16

2.22

2.28

2.37

_

_

_

_

-

*500

-

-

-

_

_

-

ber 22

172

163

157

149

141

134

126

120

122

136

152

177

Peet Sec. ft.

December 11

_

_

_

_

_

_

25.1

_

_

_

_

-

10,400

11,600

13,000

14,200

15,400

16,600

18,100

13,600

7,500

6,400

5,600

5,500

December 17

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

-

-

_

_

-

Decen

2.36

2.32

2.29

2. 26"

2.21

2.17

2.17

2.20

2.31

2.42

2.43

2.43

_

_

_

_

_

*400

_

-

-

_

_

-

iber 23

174

163

154

147

134

124

124

131

160

192

195

195

Peet [ Sec. ft.

December 12

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

5,200

4,950

4,650

4,500

4,250

4,000

3,800

3,600

3,350

3,150

2,850

2,600

December 18

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

2.57

2.57

2.65

2.68

2.67

Decen

2.40

2.33

2.30

2.30

2.27

2.31

2.28

2.32

2.36

2.37

2.36

2.34

370

360

350

340

330

280

250

240

240

268

278

274

ber 24

186

166

157

157

149

160

152

163

174

177

174

169

Peet Sec. ft.

December 13

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

2,400

2,200

2,000

1,750

1,500

1,350

1,300

1,250

1,200

1,150

1,100

1,050

December 19

2.63

2.60

2.56

2.53

2.50

2.46

2.43

2.42

2.44

2.51

2.55

2.54

Deceit

2.30

2.25

2.22

2.22

2.21

2.23

2.19

2.19

2.22

2.25

2.25

2.25

260

250

237

227

217

205

195

192

198

220

234

230

ber 25

157

144

136

136

134

139

129

129

136

144

144

144

Supplemental records.- Dec. 9, 7 p. 

819 sec.-ft.; 11 p.m., 5.98 ft., 1,84 

*Mean for the day.

a., 2.17 ft., 117 sec.-ft.; 9 p.m. 

3 sec.-ft.

4.02 ft.,
170 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Lake Eleanor near Hetch Hetohy, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°58 ! , long. 119°53', in HWi sec. 3. T. 1 N., R. 19 E., at dam on

Eleanor Creek, 1.7 miles above Miguel Creek and 5-J miles northwest of Hetchy Hetchy, 

Tuolumne County. Zero of gage is at about mean sea level.

Drainage area. - 79 square miles.

Sage-height Fecord.- Water-stage recorder graph prior to 1 p.m. Dec. 11; elevations at 

midnight used to determine contents. Staff gage read to tenths daily at 7 a.m. for 

period Dec. 12 to Jan. 31; elevations at midnight determined from graph based on 

readings.

Remarks^.- Flood run-off controlled partially in reservoir. Elevation of crest of spillway is 4,655 feet above mean sea level (capacity, 23,160 acre-feet). Reservoir be- 

?an to spill at 7 a.m. Dec. 11. Maximum elevation, 4,663.4 feet 2 p.m. Dec. 11 

contents, 31,010 acre-feet); water flowing over full length of dam. See record for 

Eleanor Creek near Hetchy Hetchy. Basic data furnished by city of San Francisco.

Elevation and contents, November 1937 to January 1938

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 

(feet)

4,631.4

4,631.0

4,630.6

4,630.4

4,630.2

4,630.0

4,629.7

4,629.5

4,629.4

4,629.3

4,629.3

4,629.2

4,629.2

4,629.1

4,629.1

4,629.1

4,629.8

4,630.0

4,630.1

4,630.4

4,630.8

4,631.0

4,631.0

4,631.3

4,631.5

4,631.4

4^631.2

4,631.1

4,631.0

4,631.0

Contents 

(acre-feet)

4,900

4,680

4,450

4,340

4,230

4,110

3,970

3,870

3,820

3,770

3,770

3,730

3,730

3,680

3,680

3,680

4,020

4,110

4,170

4,340

4,560

4,680

4,680

4,850

4,960

4,900

4,790

4,730

4,680

4,680

December

Elevation 

(feet)

4,631.0

4,631.0

4,630.9

4,630.8

4,630.6

4,630.3

4,630.1

4,629.8

4,630.2

4,647.8

4,661.3

4,659.5

4,658.7

4,658.3

4,658.0

4,657.8

4,657.8

4,657.7

4,657.6

4,657.5

4,657.5

4,657.5

4,657.6

4,657.6

4,657.5

4,657.4

4,657.3

4,657.0

4,656.4

4,655.8

4,655.4

Contents 

(acre-feet)

4,680

4,680

4,620

4,560

4,450

4,280

4,170

4,020

4,230

16,760

29,020

27,340

26,600

26,230

25,950

25,760

25,760

25,670

25,580

25,480

25,480

25,480

25,580

25,580

25,480

25,390

25,300

25,020

24,460

23,900

23,530

January

Elevation 

(feet)

4,655.2

4,655.0

4,654.9

4,654.8

4,654.7

4,654.6

4,654.4

4,654.2

4,654.0

4,653.8

4,653.6

4,653.3

4,653.2

4,653.2

4,653.7

4,654.3

4,654.8

4,655.2

4,655.6

4,656.0

4,656.2

4,656.5

4,656.8

4,657.0

4,657.2

4,657.3

4,657.4

4,657.6

4,657.8

4,657.8

4,657.9

Contents 

(acre-feet)

23,340

23,160

23,070

22,980

22,890

22,800

22,620

22,440

22,260

22,080

21,900

21,620

21,540

21,540

21,990

22,530

22,980

23,340

23,720

24,090

24,280

24,550

24,830

25,020

25,200

25,300

25,390

25,580

25,760

25,760

25,860
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN 171 

Eleanor Creek near Hetch Hetchy, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°58', long. 119°52', In S«i sec. 3, T. IN., R. 19 E., in Yosemlte

National Park, 0.6 mile below Lake Eleanor Dam, 1.1 miles above Miguel Creek, and

54 miles northwest of Hetch Hetchy, Tuolumne County, Altitude, about 4,600 feet

above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 80 square miles. 

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 1,500 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study. Rating curve changec

at peak stage. 

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 10,500 second-feet 3 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

13.95 feet). Incomplete storage record indicates a higher rate of Inflow to Lake

Eleanor earlier in the day.

1910-November 1937: Discharge, 6,400 second-feet Mar. 25, 1928 (gage height,

11.0 faet), from rating curve extended above 1,500 second-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by storage in Lake Eleanor (capacity, 23,160 acrefeet). Lake began to spill at 7 a.m. Dec. 11. No diversions. See record for

Lake Eleanor near Hetch Hetchy. Monthly summaries adjusted for storage.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

137

137

115

47

49

49

49

49

35

26

Dec.

40

40

40

50

84

84

82

84

85

40

Jan.

190

249

152

152

154

152

152

152

152

164

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

26

26

26

26

9.5

8.5

7.5

3.0

24

14

Dec.

4,450

2,910

1,140

630

452

337

256

210

156

122

Jan.

171

158

27

96

65

9

11

10

10

9.5

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet (adjusted) .............................

Nov.

3.2

16

50

30

36

71

85

85

68

41

AC; 1 1

2,120

Dec.

107

88

81

96

92

95

210

152

362

358

351

735

45,200

Jan.

10

14

30

34

39

51

65

66

58

61

66

7,830

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

b 

P

O

K

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet 1 Sec. ft.

December 8

2.88

2.88

2.88

2.89

2.89

2.89

2.89

2.89

2.89

2.89

2.89

2.89

Deceit

4.78

4.72

4.65

4.59

4.53

4.48

4.42

4.37

4.32

4.28

4.24

4.20

Decen

3.00

2.99

2.98

2.98

2.97

2.91

2.90

2.90

2.89

2.89

2.88

2.88

83

83

83

84

84

84

84

84

84

84

84

84

ber 14

760

730

698

670

644

622

598

578

558

542

526

510

iber 20

133

131

129

129

128

117

115

115

113

113

112

112

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

2.90

2.90

2.90

2.90

2.90

2.90

2.90

2.90

2.90

2.91

2.93

2.96

85

85

85

85

85

85

85

85

85

86

90

94

December 15

4.16

4.13

4.10

4.06

4.13

4.11

4.06

4.02

3.99

3.96

3.93

3.90

Decen

2.88

2.87

2.87

2.86

2.86

2.85

2.84

2.83

2.82

2.82

2.81

2.81

494

482

470

456

482

474

456

442

432

421

410

400

iber 21

112

110

110

109

109

107

105

104

102

102

101

101

Feet |sec.ft.

December 10

3.03

3.14

3.15

2.08

1.99

1.96

1.91

1.83

1.87

1.91

2.00

2.12

105

125

127

14

11

9.5

7.5

5.5

6.5

7.5

11

16

December 16

3.87

3.84

3.81

3.78

3.76

3.72

3.68

3.65

3.62

3.60

3.58

3.57

Decen

2.80

2.80

2.79

2.79

2.78

2.78

2.77

2.61

2.62

2.62

2.61

2.64

390

379

368

358

351

337

323

312

302

295

288

285

iber 22

99

99

98

98

96

96

95

74

75

75

74

78

Feet 1 Sec. ft.

December 11

2.13

2.18

2.14

2.26

6.65

10.60

13.70

13.65

12.70

11.55

10.58

9.65

Decen

3.55

3.53

3.51

3.49

3.47

3.46

3.45

3.43

3.48

3.46

3.44

3.42

16

19

17

24

2,040

6,220

10,100

10,000

8,780

7,380

6,230

5,200

ber 17

278

272

265

259

253

250 . 247

241

256

250

244

238

December 23

2.66

2.66

2.67

2.67

2.67

2.67

2.67

2.67

2.67

2.67

2.67

2.67

80

80

81

81

81

81

81

81

81

81

81

81

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

9.00

8.45

8.15

7.95

7.52

7.36

7.00

6.69

6.54

6.43

6.32

6.20

4,490

3,880

3,580

3,380

2,950

2,790

2,430 S-,150

2,020

1,920

1,820

1,710

December 18

3.41

3.39

3.37

3.34

3.32

3.32

3.31

3.30

3.22

3.21

3.20

3.19

235

229

224

215

210

210

207

204

183

181

178

17.6

December 24

2.67

2.67

2.67

2.67

2.66

2.66

2.90

2.93

2.93

2.92

2.92

2.91

81

81

81

81

80

80

115

120

120

119

119

317

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 13

5.99

5.90

5.77

5.65

5.54

5.43

5.34

5.22

5.15

5.05

4.97

4.88

1,540

1,470

1,370

1,280

1,210

1,130

1,070

1,000

960

900

855

810

December 19

3.18

3.17

3.16

3.15

3.14

3.12

3.06

3.06

3.05

3.01

3.01

3.01

173

171

168

166

164

159

146

146

144

135

135

135

December 25

2.89

2.88

2.86

2.85

2.84

2.82

2.81

2.71

2.55

2.55

2.56

2.56

113

112

109

107

105

102

101

86

68

68

69

69

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 3 p.m., 13.95 ft., 10,500 -sec.-ft.
172 THE FLOODS OP DKCBMEER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

South Fork of Tuolumne River near Oakland Recreation Camp, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°49', long. 120°00', in SEj sec. 29, T. IS., R. 18 K., 75 feet below 

highway bridge on Big Oak Flat road, half a mile southwest of Oakland Recreation 

Camp, Tuolumne County, and 0.6 mile above junction with Middle Tuolumne River. 

Altitude, about 2,800 feet above mean sea level

Drainage area.- 87.6 square miles.

Sage-heiRht Record.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge re'lation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 1,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study. Rating curve changed 

at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 6,950 second-feet 4 p.m. Dec. 11 Igage height, 

I5TO feet).

1923-November 1937s Discharge, 2,850 second-feet (revised) Apr. 8, 1935 (gage 

height, 7.07 feet), from rating curve extended above 1,000 second-feet on basis of 

1938 area-velocity study.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

12

12

12

12

12

12

13

13

13

13

Dec.

14

14

14

14

14

14

14

14

17

500

Jan.

50

76

72

60

56

52

50

47

46

45

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

18

18

14

16

16

15

32

24

18

16

Dec.

3,130

542

218

148

117

99

87

79

71

65

Jan.

44

44

43

77

767

222

242

184

151

120

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

18

17

16

19

17

16

16

15

15

15

942

Dec.

62

61

64

53

52

52

52

52

51

51

50

1 fV7

11,470

Jan.

101

96

86

79

77

74

72

73

77

68

95

6,640

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

o

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet See.ft.

December 8

1.32

1.32

1.33

1.32

1.32

1.35

1.36

1.35

1.35

1.34

1.34

1.31

Deeen

_

3.00

-

2.95

-

2.88

-

2.85

_

2.81

-

2.80

Deeen

_

-

-

-

-

2.27

-

-

-

-

_

2.27

14

14

14

14

14

14

14

14

14

14

14

13

ber 14

_

162

-

154

-

143

-

138

-

132

-

130

iber 20

_

-

-

_

-

64

-

-

-

-

-

64

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

1.33

1.35

1.33

1.32

1.35

1.36

1.37

1.40

i.45

1.57

1.71

1.92

Deeen

_

_

_

-

_

2.72

_

.

-

_

_

2.65

Deeen

_

2.26

-

2.25

-

2.24

_

2.23

_

2.22

_

2.23

14

14

14

14

14

14

15

16

17

20

26

37

ber 15

_

_

_

_

_

117

_

_

_

_

_

107

iber 21

_

63

_

62

_

62

_

61

_

60

_

61

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

2.21

2.86

3.28

3.70

3.90

4.13

4.45

4.77

5.11

4.67

4.24

4.08

59

140

231

360

434

529

682

867

1,080

807

578

508

December 16

_

_

_

_

_

2.58

_

_

_

_

_

2.53

Deeen

2.23

2.22

2.22

2.22

2.21

2.21

2.21

2.20

2.20

2.19

2.36

2.45

_

_

_

_

_

98

_

_

_

_

_

92

ber 22

61

60

60

60

59

59

59

58

58

57

73

82

Feet See.ft.

December 11

5.05

5.68

7.18

8.02

8.10

8.85

8.70

10.00

7.55

6.29

5.76

5.48

1,040

1,480

3,010

4,080

4,190

5,240

5,030

6,950

3,260

1,830

1,390

1,200

December 17

_

_

_

_

_

2.49

_

_

_

_

_

2.45

Deeen

2.47

2.45

2.40

2.35

2.30

2.24

2.21

2.18

2.16

2.14

2.16

2.18

_

_

_

_

_

87

_

_

_

_

_

82

ber 23

85

82

77

72

67

62

59

56

55

53

55

56

Feet 1 Sec.ft.

December 12

5,06

4.75

4.55

4.43

4.30

4.18

4.05

3.94

3.85

3.78

3.71

3.64

924

750

648

590

530

478

428

390

360

338

317

297

December 18

.

_

_

_

_

2.42

_

_

_

_

_

2.38

Decen

_

2.15

_

2.10

-

2.07

_

2.20

_

2.17

_

2.18

_

_

_

_

_

79

_

_

_

_

_

75

ber 24

_

54

_

50

-

48

_

58

_

56

_

56

Feet 1 See.ft.

December 13

3.57

3.50

3.44

3.37

3.33

3.28

3.22

3.18

3.15

3.12

3.09

3.07

279

262

249

233

225

214

202

194

189

184

178

175

December 19

_

_

_

_

_

2.34

_

_

_

_

_

2.32

Decem

_

2.13

_

2.06

_

2.05

_

2.19

_

2.20

_

2.21

_

_

_

_

_

71

_

_

_

_

_

69

ber 25

_

52

_

47

_

46

-

57

_

58

_

59

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 11 a.m., 8.05 ft., 4,120 sec.-ft.; 3 p.m. 

ft., 5,100 sec.-ft.
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN 173 

Middle Tuolumne River near Buck Meadows, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°50', long. 120°00', in NWj sec. 28, T. 13., R. 18 E., half a mile

above Junction with South Fork of Tuolurane River and 4 miles east of Buck Meadows,

Mariposa County. Altitude, about 2,800 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage are a.- 71.0 square miles. 

Page -height "record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 5 a.m. Dec. 10 to

4:30 p.m. Dec. 12, when there was no record. Stage graph for Dec. 12 based on

partial recorder graph. Peak stage determined from floodmarks. 

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 950 secondfeet; extended to peak stage with aid of area-velocity study. Rating curve changed

at peak stage. 

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 2,910 second-feet about 4 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage

height, 10.4 feet).

1937-November 1937: Discharge, 1,330 second-feet May 28, 1919 (gage height,

8.15 feet), from rating curve extended above 550 second-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge

for period Dec. 10-11 determined from discharge graph based on record for South

Fork of Tuolumne River near Oakland Recreation Camp.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet> November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

2.2

2.4

2.5

2.5

2.5

2.5

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.6

Dec.

4.2

4.2

4.3

4.0

4.0

4.0

4.0

3.8

5

250

Jan.

45

61

50

43

39

34

36

34

32

32

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

5

6

4.3

4.6

5

5

7.5

10

7

6

Dec.

1,500

320

164

110

90

76

67

58

50

46

Jan.

31

30

29

54

379

94

96

76

64

48

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

7.5

9

7

7

7

6

5

4.8

4.3

4.2

4 91

292

Dec.

49

43

46

29

37

40

42

41

43

47

45

6,410

Jan.

47

50

42

38

41

39

39

38

39

31

69

3,530

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

fc

3

ow

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

1.02

1.07

1.20

1.26

1.23

1.20

1.17

1.16

1.14

1.11

1.08

1.05

Deceit

_

3.20

_

3.15

_

3.09

_

3.06

-

3.02

_

3.01

Dec ea

2.60

2.65

2.61

2.55

2.48

2.41

2.41

2.40

2.37

2.43

2.64

2.59

2.2

2.8

4.8

6

5.5

4.8

4.3

4.2

3.5

3.4

3.0

2.6

ber 14

_

124

_

116

_

108

_

104

_

99

_

97

iber 20

54

58

55

50

43

38

38

37

35

39

58

53

Feet [Sec.ft.

December 9

1.03

1.13

1.26

1.24

1.20

1.19

1.19

1.19

1.20

1.29

1.41

1.51

Deceit

_

3.00

-

2.98

_

2.95

_

2.92

-

2.91

_

2.89

Decen

2.65

2.70

2.63

2.59

2.51

2.44

2.41

2.41

2.40

2.49

2.65

2.55

2.4

3.7

6

5.5

4.8

4.6

4.6

4.6

4.8

6.5

9

12

ber 15

_

96

_

94

_

90

_

86

_

85

_

83

iber 21

58

63

57

53

46

40

38

38

37

44

58

50

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

1.56

1.88

_

-

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

Decen

_

_

2.87

_

_

2.83

_

_

2.80

_

_

2.79

Deceit

2.53

2.62

2.60

2.49

2.40

2.37

2.36

2.35

2.30

2.31

2.74

2.80

13

26

100

170

235

310

380

470

525

410

285

150

ber 16

_

_

81

_

_

76

_

_

73

_

_

72

ber 22

48

56

54

44

37

35

34

34

30

31

67

73

Feet 1 Sec.ft.

December 11

_

_

_

_

-

-

-

10.4

_

_

_

-

Decem

_

_

2.77

-

_

2.74

-

_

2.71

_

_

2.70

Deceit

2.81

2.80

2.75

2.65

2.50

2.40

2.36

2.37

2.36

2.33

2.30

2.25

510

900

1,220

1,520

1,600

2,120

2,100

2,910

2,000

1,400

1,100

800

ber 17

_

_

70

_

_

67

_

_

64

_

_

63

ber 23

74

73

68

58

45

37

34

35

34

32

30

27

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

_

_

_

_

_

-

_

3.97

3.91

3.86

3.80

Deceit!

_

_

2.70

-

_

2.67

-

-

2.64

-

-

2.58

510

380

300

290

280

275

270

265

264

252

242

231

ber 18

_

_

63

_

_

60

_

_

58

-

_

52

December 24

2.22

2.18

2.14

2.13

2.20

2.26

2.29

2.41

2.44

2.41

2.40

2.40

25

23

21

20

24

28

29

38

40

38

37

37

Feet | Sec.ft.

December 13

_

3.64

3.50

-

3.40

-

3.32

-

3.27

-

3.30

_

201

_

175

-

157

-

143

135

_

140

December 19

2.66

2.65

2.62

2.61

2.60

2.58

2.56

2.48

2.45

2.51

2.51

2.50

Decen

2.40

2.38

2.36

2.36

2.39

2.32

2.35

2.46

2.46

2.46

2.45

2.45

59

58

56

55

54

52

50

43

41

46

46

45

ber 25

37

36

34

34

36

21

34

42

42

42

41

41
174 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Woods Creek near Jacksonville, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°51', long. 120°24', in SW£ sec. 12, T. IS., R. 14 E., li miles 

above mouth and 1-J mllea northwest of Jacksonville, Tuolumne County. Altitude, 

about 645 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 98.4 square miles.

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 7 a.m. Nov. 30 to 

2t30 p.m. Dec. 8, when there was no record. Record for Nov. 30 and Dec. 8 based 

on partial recorder graph and study of weather records.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 1,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage with aid of area-velocity study. Shifting-control 

method used for period Nov. 8 to Dec. 10. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 5,500 second-feet Ils30 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

7.65 feet).

1925-November 19371 Discharge, 10,600 second-feet Feb. 6, 1937 (gage height, 

9.12 feet), from rating curve extended above 1,000 second-feet.

January-September 1938: Discharge, 13,500 second-feet 8 p.m. Feb. 9 (gage 

height, 10.5 feet), from rating curve extended above 1,000 second-feet with aid of 

area-velocity study.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge 

for period of missing gage-height record, Dec. 1-7, based on study of rainfall records and stream-flow records for nearby streams.

Mean daily discharge, in s

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

7

6.5

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

Dec.

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

9.5

10

72

Jan.

34

45

64

59

54

51

48

44

39

35

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

8

8

8

8

8.5

11

23

14

4.5

6

Dec.

1,770

610

120

70

46

34

27

22

18

13

Jan.

32

29

32

40

1,490

176

213

155

99

144

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

9.5

9.5

10

11

11

11

11

10

10

10

8 TQ

523

Dec.

12

12

44

56

80

45

35

35

34

34

34

6,570

Jan.

68

45

34

29

25

21

21

22

130

68

501

124

7,630

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

1&

2

4

6

8

10

K

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Pest Sec.ft.

December 8

-

-

-

-

_

1.67

-

-

-

-

-

1.67

Deceu

_

-

-

_

1.01

_

_

-

_

.93

-

-

-

-

-

9.5

-

-

-

-

-

9.5

ber 14

_

-

-

_

72

-

-

-

_

59

December 20

_

-

-

-

-

0.59

_

_

-

-

.58

_

-

-

-

-

13

-

_

_

-

-

12

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

1.67

1.67

1.67

1.67

1.67

1.67

1.67

1.68

1.69

1.69

1.70

1.70

9.5

9.5

9.5

9.5

9.5

9.5

9.5

10

11

11

12

12

December 15

.

_

0.88

_

.85

_

_

.81

_

.80

Deceit

_

_

-

-

-

0.58

-

_

-

-

_

.57

_

_

51

_

46

_

_

40

r

39

iber 21

_

_

-

-

_

12

_

_

_

_

_

12

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

1.70

1.70

1.75

1.87

2.35

3.06

2.80

2.28

2.05

1.78

1.76

1.75

Deceit

_

_

-

_

0.76

_

_

-

_

.73

Deceit

0.57

.57

.57

.57

.57

.57

.57

.57

.57

.57

.57

.63

12

12

16

30

109

292

215

96

57

19

17

16

ber 16

_

_

-

_

34

_

_

-

_

30

ber 22

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

18

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

1.75

1.75

3.35

6.12

7.34

7.42

6.09

4.95

4.12

3.55

3.45

3.04

16

16

404

2,880

4,980

5,140

3,070

1,840

1,190

875

825

646

December 17

_

_

-

_

0.71

_

_

-

~

.68

Deceit

0.72

.75

.77

.80

.82

.85

.88

.90

.92

.93

.93

.93

_

_

-

_

27

_

_

-

^

24

ber 23

29

32

35

39

42

46

51

54

57

59

59

59

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

2.81

2.61

2.34

2.35

3.10

4.62

3.75

3.05

2.60

2.26

2.06

1.84

Deceni

_

_

-

_

0.67

_

_

-

I

.64

Decera

0.93

.92

.91

.90

.89

.87

.87

.85

.84

.83

1.12

1.14

554

484

392

395

670

1,560

975

650

480

368

308

250

ber 18

_

_

-

_

22

_

_

-

I

19

ber 24

59

57

56

54

52

50

50

46

45

44

90

93

Feet Seo.ft.

December 13

1.65

1.52

1.42

1.33

1.25

1.18

1.12

1.07

1.06

1.06

1.06

1.05

Deceit

_

_

-

_

0.63

_

_

-

~

.61

Deceit!

1.13

1.12

1.45

1.28

.98

.97

.97

.96

.95

.94

.92

.91

202

171

148

130

114

100

90

81

80

80

80

78

ber 19

_

_

-

_

18

_

_

-

~

15

ber 25

91

90

155

120

67

65

65

64

62

60

57

56

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 5 a.m., 1.93 ft., 18 sec.-ft,; 11:30 a.m., 7.65 

ft., 5,500 sec.-ft.; 9 p.m., 3.62 ft., 910 sec.-ft. Dec. 12, 11 a.m., 4.82 ft., 1,780 

sec,-ft. Dec. 24, 9s30 p.m., 0.82 ft., 42 sec,-ft.
SAN JOAQJJIN RIVER BASIN 175 

Middle Pork of Stanislaus River at Sand Bar Plat, near Avery, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°11', long. 120°09', in sec. 19, T. 4 N., R. 17 E., about a mile upstream from diversion dam of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. at Sand Bar Plat and 11 miles 

southeast of Avery, Calaveras County. Altitude, about 2,450 feet above mean sea 

level.

Drainage area.- 318 square miles at gaging station; 329 square miles at diversion dam.

Sage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 8 a.m. Dec. 4 to Jan. 

31, when there was no record. Peak stage obtained from floodmarks on banks.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 5,400 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study; verified by computation of peak flow over Sand Bar Dam. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 26,500 second-feet about noon Dec. 11 (gage height, 

21.0 feet, from floodmarks).

1905-November 1937: Discharge observed, 9,760 second-feet Mar. 19, 1907.

Remarks.- Flood run-off probably affected by artificial storage in Relief Reservoir and 

other smaller reservoirs for which no records are available. Discharge for period of 

missing gage-height record computed from discharge graph of flow at Sand Bar Dam 

based on 4 staff-gage readings daily; verified by comparison with shape of discharge 

graph for North Pork of Stanislaus River near Avery. Part of basic data furnished by 

Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

124

123

121

119

118

116

116

115

115

116

Dec.

125

124

123

120

120

120

120

120

140

4,900

Jan.

310

340

330

310

300

280

280

270

270

260

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

121

120

116

130

109

75

118

127

91

115

Dec.

18,500

4,500

1,800

1,350

1,150

1,000

860

660

550

490

Jan.

260

270

270

270

530

390

450

440

410

370

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

204

135

115

132

146

138

132

132

128

127

7.330

Dec.

470

430

410

390

370

350

350

340

330

330

320

81,250

Jan.

360

390

370

350

360

360

340

320

320

330

340

20,730
176 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Melones R636rvoir at Melones Dam, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°57'15", long. 1200 30'45", near center of sec. 11, T. 1 N., R. 13 B., 

at Melones Dam on Stanislaus River, Tuolumne County, 0.1 mile below Bear Creek. 

Zero of gage is at mean aea level.

Drainage area.- 897 square miles.

Sage-height record.- Gage read to tenths daily at 7 a.m.

Remarks.- Flood run-off largely controlled in reservoir (capacity, 91,680 acre-feet at 

elevation of crest of spillway, 723.0 feet; 112,610 acre-feet at elevation of top 

of spillway gates, 735.0 feet). Reservoir began to spill about noon Dec. 11. See 

record for Stanislaus River below Melones power house. Basic data furnished by 

Pacific Gas * Electric Co.

Elevation and contents, November 1937 to January 1938

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 

(feet)

631.1

630.9

630.8

631.8

631.7

631.6

631.6

631.6

631.7

631.7

631.7

631.8

632.3

632.6

632.5

632.5

632.6

632.8

633.4

633.6

634.1

635.5

635.7

636.0

636.0

637.1

637.2

637.3

638.1

638.1

Contents 

(acre-feet)

7,422

7,358

7,326

7,646

7,614

7,582

7,582

7,582

7,614

7,614

7,614

7,646

7 , 812

7,914

7,880

7,880

7,914

7,982

8,186

8,254

8,426

8,930

9,002

9,110

9,110

9,528

9,566

9,604

9,911

9,911

December

Elevation 

(feet)

638.1

638.0

637.8

637.8

637.7

638.4

638.1

639.1

640.1

640.3

672.7

723.2

725.0

725.0

725.5

725.5

724.8

724.7

724.4

724.3

724.0

723.8

723.7

723.8

724.0

724.1

724.2

723.9

723.5

723.5

723.5

Contents 

(acre-feet)

9,911

9,870

9,794

9,794

9,756

10,032

9,911

10,315

10,722

10,807

31,151

92,010

94,985

94,985

95,823

95,823

94,650

94,483

93,980

93,813

93,310

92 , 985

92,823

92,985

93,310

93,478

93,645

93,148

92,498

92,498

92,498

January

Elevation 

(feet)

723.5

723.8

724.2

723.7

723.3

722.8

722.3

722.0

722.2

722.5

722.0

721.8

721.5

721.1

720.8

722.5

723.7

724.0

723.7

723.9

723.9

723.8

724.0

724.1

723.6

723.4

723.4

723.3

723.6

724.2

724.2

Contents 

(acre-feet)

92,498

92,985

93,645

92,823

92,173

91,360

90,548

90,060

90,385

90,873

90,060

39,747

89,278

88,652

88,182

90,873

92,823

93,310

92,823

93,148

93,148

92,985

93,310

93,478

92,660

92,335

92,335

92,173

92,660

93,645

93,645
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN 177 

Stanislaus River below Melones power house, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°56'50", long. 120°31'45", near line between sees. 10 and 15, T. 1 N., 

R. 13 E., 300 feet below power house, half a mile above Bear Gulch, and 1 mile below 

Melones Dam, Tuolumne County. Altitude, about 500 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 898 square miles.

Gage-height re'cord. - Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge reTatlon.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 14,700 secondfeet.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 7,460 second-feet 12:30 p.m. Dec. 12 (gage height, 

10.50 feet).

1931-November 19^7: Discharge, 19,300 second-feet (revised) Feb. 22, 1936 (gage 

height, 16.1 feet), from rating curve for 1938 extended above 15,000 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off largely controlled by Melones Reservoir (capacity, 91,680 acrefeet). Contents at midnight determined from graph based on readings made at 7 a.m. 

Daily and monthly discharges not adjusted for storage In small reservoirs upstream 

from Melones Reservoir. See record for Melones Reservoir at Melones Dam. Most of 

basic data furnished by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Discharge, In second-feet, and gain or loss In storage, In acre-feet, 

November 1937 to January 1938

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

Novembe r

Observed 

discharge

149

160

54

155

156

155

147

148

148

150

144

150

164

164

166

162

168

183

188

184

14

210

215

203

14

210

212

15

208

211

Gain or 

loss In 

storage

-64

-42

+218

+70

-32

 9

0

+23

+9

0

+23

+127

+120

+6

-10

+24

+58

+164

+108

+142

+407

+198

+97

+32

+296

+149

+38

+228

+90

0

Adjusted 

discharge

117

139

164

190

140

150

147

160

152

150

156

214

224

167

161

174

197

266

242

256

219

310

264

219

163

285

231

130

253

211

December

Observed 

discharge

222

220

216

218

15

221

14

2.3

280

346

2,560

6,290

4,610

3,200

2,910

2,920

2,240

1,850

988

1,570

1,060

1,110

805

634

634

648

997

1,020

730

620

508

Sain or 

loss In 

storage

-29

-66

-22

-27

+185

-6

+251

+ 406

+179

+10,218

+65,700

+7, 417

+868

+594

+244

-831

-460

-405

-265

-405

-377

-210

+68

+277

+214

+167

-303

-605

-190

0

0

Adjusted 

^discharge

207

187

205

204

108

218

141

207

370

5,500

35,700

10,000

5,050

3,500

3,030

2,500

2,010

1,650

854

1,370

870

1,000

839

774

742

732

844

715

634

620

508

January

Observed 

discharge

356

419

1,360

1,160

1,020

1,020

988

660

47

1,020

641

790

805

1,020

685

75

902

1,530

890

1,030

902

768

775

1,300

970

845

890

632

324

805

1,370

November

T J.O4 ^4. 

+2 470

T QC J.<73

11.610

Gain or 

loss In 

storage

+345

+610

-390

-700

-766

-812

-583

+88

+441

-434

-459

-423

-580

-516

+1,769

+2, 166

+914

-203

+88

+95

-115

+182

+214

-530

-469

-95

-115

+298

+840

+287

+712

December

I

orrc , & I o

+ OO KQfl ijtjf O9U 

2 cor

, D<5«£

161.200

Adjusted 

discharge

530

727

1,160

807

634

611

694

704

269

801

410

577

513

760

1,580

1,170

1,360

1,430

934

1,080

844

860

883

1,030

734

797

832

782

748

950

1,730

January

839

+Xj 860

!

peo ooy

53.440
178 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Horth Pork of Stanislaus River near Avery, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°14', long. 120°17', in sec. 35, T. 5 N., R. 15 E., 700 feet above 

intake of Utica Mining Co. 's canal, 3-g- miles above Beaver Creek, and 5 miles northeast of Avery, Calaveras County. Altitude, about 3,400 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 163 square miles.

Sage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 7 a.m. Dec. 11 to 

1:30 p.m. Dec. 12, when stage graph was based on peak stage, 4 gage readings, 

partial recorder graph, and comparison with stage graphs for nearby stations.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 3,400 secondfeet; extended to peak stage by A\/d method.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 17,700 second-feet-about 9 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

height, about 14.1 feet, from floodmark).

1914-22; 1928-November 1937: Discharge observed, 5,250 second-feet May 11, 1915 

(gage height, 8.7 feet), from rating curve extended above 2,400 seoond-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not materially affected by artificial storage or diversion. 

ParHf of basic data furnished by Utica Mining Oo.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

40

40

40

40

39

40

41

41

41

44

Dec.

60

60

58

57

56

54

53

53

57

3,240

Jan.

182

220

232

210

194

180

171

163

154

149

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

57

56

52

58

53

49

103

81

59

68

Dec.

12 , 900

3,62D

1,060

700

558

464

400

361

318

280

Jan.

148

145

142

144

290

245

265

254

232

216

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

119

70

60

72

68

61

60

58

60

60

3,430

Dec.

261

245

245

230

220

210

200

193

187

183

183

53,090

Jan.

198

228

224

200

200

214

228

222

218

191

204

203

12,460

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

ow

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

_

-

-

-

-

1.27

-

-

_

-

-

1.25

_

_

-

_

_

53

-

-

-

-

_

51

December 14

-

4.26

-

4.15

-

4.05

-

3.97

-

3.94

-

3.91

Decen

-

-

2.95

-

-

2.82

-

-

2.77

-

-

2.82

_

770

_

722

-

678

_

643

_

631

_

619

iber 20

_

-

305

-

-

273

-

_

261

-

-

273

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

1.25

1.25

1.25

1.25

1.25

1.25

1.26

1.30

1.35

1.44

1.60

1.80

Decen

_

_

3.82

-

_

3.73

_

_

3.68

-

_

3.62

Decen

_

-

2.81

-

-

2.75

-

_

2.72

-

-

2.75

51

51

51

51

51

51

52

55

59

67

82

102

iber 15

_

_

583

-

_

550

_

_

533

_

_

512

iber 21

_

_

270

-

_

256

-

_

250

-

_

256

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

2.06

5.40

7.35

8.32

7.75

6.92

7.23

7.20

6.64

6.40

8.14

9.09

Decen

_

_

3.55

-

_

3.47

_

_

3.40

_

_

3.37

Dec en

_

_

2.72

-

_

2.68

_

_

2.64

-

_

2.78

133

1,560

3,830

5,310

4,420

3,230

3,660

3,620

2,870

2,580

5,020

6,560

ber 16

_

_

488

_

_

460

_

_

438

-

_

428

ber 22

_

_

250

-

_

241

_

_

232

-

_

263

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

11.19

12.76

13.15

13.48

14.07

13.82

13.25

12.54

11.80

10.67

9.79

9.90

Dec em

_

_

3.33

_

_

3.28

-

_

3.23

_

_

3.21

Decen

_

_

2.73

_

_

2.71

_

_

2.65

-

_

2.69

10,600

14,200

15,200

16,000

17,600

16,900

15,400

13,700

12,000

9,540

7,820

8,020

ber 17

_

_

416

-

_

400

_

_

385

_

_

379

ber 23

_

_

252

-

_

247

_

_

234

-

_

243

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

9.55

9.14

8.70

8.20

6.95

6.12

5.84

5.70

5.62

5.56

5.44

5.32

7,390

6,650

5,920

5,120

3,270

2,270

1,980

1,840

1,760

1,700

1,600

1,490

December 18

_

_

3.19

_

_

3.15

_

_

3.10

_

_

3.08

_

_

373

_

_

361

_

_

346

_

_

340

December 24

_

_

2.69

-

_

2.60

_

_

2.63

-

_

2.60

_

_

243

-

_

224

_

_

230

-

_

224

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

_

5.09

_

4.90

_

4.67

_

4.51

_

4.43

_

4.34

_

1,300

_

1,160

_

1,000

_

906

_

862

_

815

December 19

_

_

3.04

_

_

3.00

_

_

2.93

_

_

2.96

Decem

_

_

2.63

-

_

2.59

_

_

2.55

-

_

2.55

_

_

329

-

_

318

_

_

300

_

_

308

ber 25

_

_

230

-

_

222

_

214

-

_

214

Supplemental records,- Dec. 11, 9 a.m., 14.10 ft., 17,700 sec.-ft.
SAN JOAQIJIN RIVER BASIN 179 

South Pork of Stanislaus River at Strawberry Reservoir, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°12', long. 119°59', in W£ sec. 15, T. 4 N., R. 18 E., at dam at 

Strawberry Reservoir, 1 mile northwest of Pine Crest, Tuolumne County. Altitude, 

about 5,600 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 45.5 square miles.

Sage-height record.- One gage reading daily at Strawberry Reservoir and at weir below 

reservoir.

Remarks.- Flood run-off largely controlled in Strawberry Reservoir. Elevation of crest 

of spillway is 5,611.5 feet above mean sea level (capacity, 16,550 acre-feet). Reservoir began to spill 5:30 a.m. Dec. 13. Gain or loss in storage computed from contents at midnight determined from graph based on daily readings at 10 a.m. Record 

of observed daily discharge and other basic data furnished by Pacific Gas & Electric 

Co.

Contents, gain or loss in storage, and mean daily discharge, December 1937

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

Strawberry Reservoir

Contents 

(acre-feet)

5,075

5,045

5,005

4,970

4,930

4,895

4,860

4,825

5,130

10,050

15,320

16,600

16,750

16,710

16,600

16,500

16,470

16,460

16,460

16,420

16,300

16,140

15,990

15,840

15,680

15,520

15,350

15,180

15,020

14,850

14,690

Gain or loss 

in storage 

(acre-feet)

-45

-30

-40

-35

-40

-35

-35

-35

+305

+4,920

+5,270

+1,280

+150

-40

-110

-100

-30

-10

0

-40

-120

-160

-150

-150

-160

-160

-170

-170

-160

-170

-160

River

.Observed 

discharge 

(second-feet)

28

28

28

28

28

28

28

28

28

12

0

0

92

188

151

127 " 39

28

2.0

33

90

107

107

107

107

107

107

107

107

107

107

Adjusted 

discharge 

(second-feet)

6

13

8.5

11

8.5

11

11

11

182

2,490

2,660

645

168

167

95

77

24

23

2.0

13

30

26

31

31

26

26

21

21

26

21

26

Observed mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

53

53

53

53

53

53

53

53

53

' 53

Dec.

28

28

28

28

28

28

28

28

28

12

Jan.

107

107

107

107

107

107

107

107

107

107

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

53

53

53

53

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0

0

92

188

151

127

39

28

2.0

33

Jan.

107

107

107

107

107

107

107

107

107

107

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet (adjusted). ............................

Nov.

0

0

0

28

28

28

28

28

28

28

665

Dec.

90

107

107

107

107

107

107

107

107

107

107

4-Q ^"70

13,700

Jan.

107

107

107

107

107

107

70

50

50

50

50

1,930
180 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

South Pork of Stanislaus River below Lyons Dam, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°05', long. 120°11', in sec. 25, T. 3 N., R. 16 E., about 600 feet below Lyona Dam, Tuolumne County, and 14 miles northeast of Sonora. Altitude, about 

4,100 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 67.2 square miles.

Sage-height Fecord.- Water-stage recorder graph from beginning of record, Nov. 8, 1937.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 1,400 secondfeet.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge (regulated), 342 second-feet 5 p.m. Dec. 12 (gage 

height, 3.30 feet). Maximum discharge, adjusted for changes In storage in Lyona 

Reservoir, about 2,800 second-feet morning Dec. 11.

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by storage in Lyons Reservoir (capacity, 5,500 acrefeet), slightly by diversions into Philadelphia and Tuolumne ditches, and to some extent by storage in Strawberry Reservoir. Daily and monthly discharges adjusted for 

storage and diversion as shown in table but not for storage in Strawberry Reservoir. 

Contents at midnight for Lyons Reservoir determined from graph based on daily readings 

at 10 a.m. Most of basic data furnished by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Storage, diversion, and discharge, December 1937

Day

1

2

3

4

6

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

26

26

27

28

29

30

31

Lyons Reservoir

Contents 

(acre-feet)

394

395

395

395

396

393

392

392

425

1,280

4,350

4,700

4,675

4,675

4,669

4,636

4,611

4,619

4,609

4,690

4,601

4,628

4,625

4,616

4,606

4,601

4,601

4,601

4,601

4,601

4,601

Gain or loss 

in storage 

(acre-feet)

0

+1

0

0

0

-2

-1

0

-(-33

-(-855

-(-3,070

-(-350

-25

0

-6

-33

-25

-(-8

-10

-19

+11

-(-27

-3

-9

-10

-5

0

0

0

0

0

Philadelphia 

Canal 

(sec. -ft. )

27

27

26

26

26

26

26

26

30

40

46

IS

18

31

37

38

38

38

37

38

37

37

41

44

44

43

43

43

43

44

45

Tuolumne 

Canal 

(sec. -ft. )

7

7

7

7

7

6.6

7

6.5

7

7

10

9

5

4.8

4.7

4.8

5

4.8

4.8

9.5

13

16

20

23

24

Z>

24

24

24

24

25

River

Observed 

discharge 

(sec. -ft. )

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

.1

1.6

2.2

250

214

197

186

126

102

79

62

56

59

84

90

67

65

64

63

64

62

62

54

Adjusted 

discharge 

(sec. -ft. )

34

34

33

33

33

32

32

32

54

480

1,610

450

224

233

225

152

132

126

99

94

115

151

149

129

128

128

130

131

129

130

124

Observed mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Hov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

.1

1.6

Jan.

59

73

69

62

60

65

52

52

57

58

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0

0

0

0

.1

.1

.6

.2

.2

.2

Dec.

2.2

250

214

197

186

126

102

79

62

56

Jan.

57

55

53

63

199

109

136

121

111

96

Day

21

22

23

24

26

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

0.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.1

_Q'*C

2,320

Dec.

59

84

90

67

65

64

63

64

62

62

54

64 8

11,080

Jan.

90

88

83

77

77

75

68

25

22

18

22

*7O »

-30

8,660
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN 181 

Calaveras River at Jenny Llnd, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°05', long. 120°52', in SW£ sec. 22, T. 3 N., R. 10 E., at highway 

bridge on Milton road a quarter of a mile south of Jenny Lind, Calaveras County, 

and 6i miles below Cosgrove Creek. Altitude, about 220 feet above mean aea level.

Drainage area.- 395 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 3,400 secondfeet.Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge (regulated), 3,370 second-feet 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 11 

Tgage height, 6.48 feet).

1907-November 1937J Discharge observed (unregulated), about 69,600 second-feet 

Jan. 31, 1911 (gage height, 14.0 feet), from rating curve extended above 32,500 

second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by detention In Hogan flood-control reservoir

(capacity, 76,000 acre-feet); not affected by diversions,. See following page for 

storage record and adjusted river discharge. Contents of reservoir at midnight 

determined from graph based on daily gage readings. Part of basic data furnished 

by city of Stockton.

Mean dally discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

Z

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

19

18

18

17

17

17

16

16

17

28

Jan.

56

57

78

95

83

76

73

69

68

62

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

18

26

27

Dec.

2,040

3,100

2,020

544

211

138

107

89

78

71

Jan.

58

56

54

54

194

444

310

328

270

395

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

28

26

26

25

26

24

21

20

20

20

10.4

619

Dec.

66

62

69

105

93

78

71

66

64

62

57

302

18,590

Jan.

342

245

197

160

138

124

114

127

498

575

1,220

214

13,130

Sage height, in feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

15

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

Deceit

_

4.04

-

3.75

_

3.52

_

3.36

_

3.24

-

3.13

Decen

_

2.43

_

_

2.41

-

-

_

2.39

_

-

ber 14

_

810

-

608

_

471

_

385

_

328

-

278

iber 20

,.

74

_

_

71

-

-

_

68

-

-

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

_

2.03

_

_

_

2.03

_

_

_

2.04

_

-

Decen

_

3.06

-

3.00

_

2.94

-

2.88

_

2.83

-

2.80

Decen

_

2.39

_

_

2.38

-

_

_

2.37

_

-

_

16

_

_

_

16

_

_

_

17

_

-

iber 15

_

249

-

225

_

204

-

184

»

169

_

160

iber 21

_

68

_

_

66

-

-

_

64

_

-

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

2.07

2.12

2.12

2.13

2.14

2.14

2.14

2.14

2.15

2.15

2.17

2.84

Decen

_

2.77

-

-

_

2.72

-

-

_

2.68

-

-

Decen

_

2.36

_

-

2.35

-

-

.

2.34

-

-

19

23

23

24

25

25

25

25

26

26

27

156

ber 16

_

152

-

-

.

138

-

-

127

-

-

ber 22

_

63

_

_

62

-

-

_

60

-

-

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

3.03

3.14

3.43

2.74

5.05

6.24

6.44

6.48

6.48

6.46

6.44

6.43

Decem

_

2.63

-

-

-

2.60

-

-

»

2.57

-

-

Decen

_

2.35

_

-

2.37

-

-

_

2.48

-

-

223

270

410

591

1,620

3,020

3,310

3,370

3,370

3,340

3,310

3,300

ber 17

_

114

-

_

_

107

-

-

101

-

-

ber 23

_

62

_

-

64

-

-

_

C3

-

-

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

6.40

6.39

6.42

6.38

6.40

6.34

6.30

6.26

6.20

6.15

6.10

6.06

Decem

_

2.54

-

-

-

2.51

-

-

2.49

-

-

Decen

-

2.58

_

-

2.60

-

-

_

2.59

-

-

3,250

3,240

3,280

3,220

3,250

3,160

3,100

3,040

2,960

2,890

2,820

2,770

ber 18

_

95

-

-

_

89

-

-

85

-

-

ber 24

-

103

-

-

107

-

-

-

105

-

~

Feet

Decen

5.99

5.91

5.84

5.77

5.61

5.46

5.31

5.15

4.97

4.80

4.57

4.35

Decen

_

2.48

-

-

_

2.45

-

-

2.44

-

-

Decent

-

2.56

-

-

2.52

-

-

-

2.48

-

~

Sec. ft.

ber 13

2,680

2,580

2,500

2,420

2,240

2,080

1,930

1,770

1,600

1,440

1,230

1,050

ber 19

_

83

-

-

-

78

-

-

76

-

-

ber 25

-

99

-

-

91

-

-

-

82

-

~
THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Calaveras River at Jenny Llnd, Calif. Continued

Sain or loss In storage and mean dally discharge, December 1937

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

IS

IS

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Hogan Reservoir

Contents 

(acre-feet)

902

902

902

902

902

902

902

902

902

1,100

8,100

4,330

1,770

1,205

1,000

990

990

990

990

990

990

990

990

990

990

990

990

990

990

990

948

Sain or loss In storage 

(acre-feet)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

+198

+7,000

-3,770

-2,560

-565

-205

-10

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

-42

Calaveraa River

Observed discharge 

(second-feet)

19

18

18

17

17

17

16

16

17

28

2,040

3,100

2,020

544

211

138

107

89

78

71

66

62

69

105

93

78

71

66

54

62

57

Adjusted discharge 

(second-feet)

19

18

18

17

17

17

16

16

17

128

5,570

1,200

730

259

108

133

107

89

78

71

66

62

69

105

93

78

71

66

64

62

36

Mean monthly discharge, In second-feet (adjustec1 ).................,........, 303

............................ 18,640
SAH JOAQUIH RIVER BASIH 183

Cosgrove Creek near Valley Springs, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°09', long. 120°50', in SEi sec. 35, T. 4 K., R. 10 E,, 0.4 mile 

above mouth and 2.5 miles south, of Valley Springs, Calaveras County. Altitude, 

about 580 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 20.6 square miles.

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

Stase-dlacharae relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 800 secondfeet. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 288 second-feet 8:15 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

4.05 feet).

1929-November 1937: Discharge, 2,600 second-feet (revised) Feb. 22, 1936 (gage 

height, 7.80 feet), from rating curve extended above 800 second-feet with aid of 

area-velocity study.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

.1

Jan.

0.3

1.9

4.1

1.9

1.2

1.0

.9

.7

.6

.5

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

70

55

9

3.2

1.5

.9

.6

.5

.4

.3

Jan.

0.5

.5

.5

.5

47

12

17

11

12

19

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Hov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0.3

.3

2.5

1.7

.8

.5

.5

.4

.3

.3

.3

296

Jan.

8

5.5

3.8

2.9

2.5

2.3

1.9

17

144

22

283

1,240

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at Indicated time, 1937

£

£

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

Decen

-

2.30

_

2.29

-

2.27

_

2.25

_

2.24

_

2.22

Decer

_

_

_

_

_

2.06

_

_

_

-

_

2.05

TOOT 14

-

4.1

_

3.8

-

3.2

_

2.7

_

2.5

.

2.1

iber 20

_

-

-

-

_

0.3

_

_

_

_

_

.3

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

December 15

_

-

2.20

-

_

2.19

_

_

2.18

_

_

2.17

Decei

_

_

_

-

_

2.05

_

_

_

_

_

2.05

_

-

1.7

-

-

1.5

_

_

1.4

-

_

1.2

tiber 21

_

_

_

_

-

0.3

_

_

_

-

-

.3

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

December 16

_

-

2.16

_

_

2.14

_

_

2.13

_

_

2.12

Decen

_

2.05

_

2.05

_

2.04

_

2.04

_

2.09

_

2.10

_

_

1.1

_

-

.9

_

_

.8

_

_

.7

iber 22

_

0.3

_

.3

_

.3

_

.3

_

.5

_

.5

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

2.09

2.14

2.87

3.96

3.66

3.30

3.14

3.08

2.95

2.83

2.74

2.66

0.5

1.0

39

260

180

103

75

66

48

34

26

21

December 17

_

-

2.11

-

_

2.11

_

_

2.10

-

-

2.10

Decen

_

2.15

_

2.22

_

2.31

_

2.30

_

2.27

_

2.25

_

-

0.6

-

_

.6

_

_

.5

_

_

.5

iber 23

_

1.0

_

2.1

_

4.4

_

4.1

_

3.2

_

2.7

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

2.60

2.58

3.05

3.74

3.38

3.12

2.96

2.85

2.77

2.70

2.65

2.59

Deceit

_

-

2.09

-

-

2.09

_

_

2.08

-

-

2.08

Deceit

_

_

2.22

-

.

S.19

_

_

2.17

-

_

2.15

17

16

62

200

118

72

50

36

29

23

20

16

ber 18

_

-

0.5

-

-

.5

_

.4

-

_

.4

tier 24

_

-

2.1

-

_

1.5

_

_

1.2

_

-.

1.0

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

-

2.52

-

2.47

_

2.43

-

2.39

-

2.35

-

2.33

-

13

-

11

_

9

-

7.5

-

6

_

5

December 19

-

-

-

-

-

2.07

-

-

-

_

-

2.06

Dec err

_

-

2.14

-

_

2.13

_

_

2.12

_

-

2.11

-

-

-

-

-

0,4

_

_

-

-

-

.3

ber 25

-

-

0.9

-

-

.8

_

-

.7

-

-

.6

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 8sl5 a.m., 4.05 ft., 288 sec.-ft.
184 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Salt Springs Reservoir near West Point, Calif.

Location.- I/at. 38°30', long. 120°12', in SE£ sec. 33, T. 8 N., R. 16 E., at Salt 

Springs Dam on North Fork of Mokelumne River 2 miles above Cold Creak and 18 miles 

northeast of West Point, Calaveras County. Zero or gage is at mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 160 square miles.

Sage-height record.- Sage read to tenths daily at 3 p.m. except on Dec. 11, when it 

was read at 1 p.m.

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely controlled in reservoir (capacity, 129,540 acrefeet at elevation of crest of spillway, 3,947 feet). Small amount of water released 

during flood period. See record for North Fork of Mokelumne River below Salt 

Springs Reservoir. Basic data furnished by Pacific Sas & Electric Co.

Elevation and contents, November 1937 to January 1938

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 

(feet)

3,833.9

3,832.2

3,830.5

3,828.9

3,827.1

3,826.3

3,825.6

3,824.4

3,823.0

3,821.6

3,820.8

3,819.6

3,819.0

3,818.4

3,817.1

3,816.0

3,814.9

3,814.0

3,813.3

3,812.0

3,811.7

3,810.6

3,809.2

3,807.5

3,806.8

3,806.0

3,804.6

3,803.6

3,802.3

3,801.2

Contents 

(acre-feet)

43,347

42,392

41,448

40,568

39,590

39,158

38,782

38,141

37,399

36,663

36,245

35,623

35,313

35,005

34,340

33,783

33,230

32,780

32,433

31,791

31,644

31,107

30,429

29,614

29,280

28,901

28,243

27,776

27,173

26,667

December

Elevation 

(feet)

3,800.0

3,798.6

3,798.3

3,797.6

3,796.6

3,795.5

3,794.5

3,793.5

3,792.5

3,808.2

3,865.0

3,883.8

3,887.3

3,888.5

3,889.6

3,890.0

3,890.2

3, 890. a

3,890.2

3,889.7

3,889.2

3,888.6

3,888.1

3,887.4

3,886.9

3,886.3

3,885.6

3,884.7

3,883.9

3,883.0

3,882.3

Contents 

(acre-feet)

26,119

25,486

25,351

25,038

24,592

24,106

23,668

23,233

22,802

29,948

62 , 849

76,384

79,020

79,933

80,772

81,078

81,232

81,232

81,232

80,849

89,466

80,009

79,628

79,096

78,717

78,264

77,735

77,059

76,459

75,787

75,266

January

Elevation 

(feet)

3,881.5

3,880.7

3,880.2

3,879.1

3,878.2

3,877.4

3,876.4

3,875.4

3,874,4

3,873.4

3 , 872 . 3

3,871.2

3,870.1

3,869.5

3,869.8

3,870.0

3,870.1

3,870.0

3,869.8

3,869.4

3,869.2

3,869.1

3,869.1

3,868.9

3,868.5

3,868.0

3,867.4

3,867.0

3,866.9

3,867.0

3,866.5

Contents 

(acre-feet)

74,672

74,080

73,710

72,900

72,241

71,657

70,929

70,204

69,482

68,763

67,976

67,193

66,413

65 , 990

66,201

66,342

66,413

66,342

66,201

65,919

65,778

, 65,708

65,708

65,567

65,286

64,935

64,516

64,237

64,167

64,237

63,889
SAN JOAQPIN RIVER BASIN 185 

North Pork of Mokelumne River below Salt Springs Dam, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°29', long. 120°13', in SWj sec. 33, T. 8 N., R. 16 E., 0.3 mile below Salt Springs Dam and 1.7 miles upstream from Cold Creek, Calaveras County. Altitude, about 3,600 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 160 square miles.

Sage-height Record.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge re'latlon.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 3,300 secondfeet.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge regulated to maximum of 516 second-feet at times Dec. 

23 and 24 (gage height, 2.85 feet). Maximum discharge adjusted for changes in 

storage, about 21,000 second-feet early morning Dec. 11.

1926-37: Discharge (unregulated), 8,740 second-feet Mar. 25, 1928 (gage height, 

13.62 feet).

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely regulated in Salt Springs Reservoir (capacity,

129,540 acre-feet). Daily discharge for December and all monthly summaries adjusted 

for storage and diversion as shown but not for possible storage in small reservoirs 

upstream. Gain or loss in storage computed from contents at midnight determined 

from graph baaed on daily readings at 3 p.m. See record for Salt Springs Reservoir 

near West Point. Most of basic data furnished by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Storage, diversion, and discharge, December 1937

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

Observed 

discharge 

(second -feet)

2.5

2.5

2.6

2.6 

2.5

2.5

2.5

2.3

2.6

8.5

26

15

316

360

346

401

372

425

425

230

220

205

318

455

410

410

291

313

318

267

242

Gain or loss 

in storage 

(acre-feet)

-630

-440

-140

-380 

-480

-450

-460

-430

+230

+21,200

+27,000

+6,400

+1,510

+880

+640

+230

+70

0

-80

-450

-410

-430

-410

-520

-380

-490

-560

-680

-610

-640

-520

Tiger Creek 

Conduit diversion 

(second-feet)

297

288

178

176 

177

266

245

250

247

36

3.8

130

183

174

178

90

114

5.5

5

259

269

281

164

40

17

17

194

195

187

249

207

Adjusted 

discharge 

(second-feet) ^

 *20

35

366

10,700

13,600

3,370

1,260

978

847

607

521

430

390

262

282

269

275

233

235

180

203

165

197

193

187

Observed mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

4.1

4.1

4.0

4.0

3.8

3.8

3.6

3.6

3.6

3.6

Dec.

2.5

2.5

2.6

2.6

2.5

2.5

2.5

2,3

2.6

8.5

Jan.

374

386

124

42

32

46

126

120

120

62

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

3.6

3.4

3.2

3.2

3.1

3.1

3.4

2.9

2.7

2.9

Dec.

26

15

316

360

346

401

372

425

425

230

Jan.

33

31

11

3.4

6

5

5

4.5

4.3

4.1

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly divers ion, Tiger Creek Conduit, in second-feet....

Nov.

2.7

2.7

2.7

2.7

2.7

2.7

2.7

2.6

2.5

2.5

3 21

325

^7 *

2,221

Dec.

220

205

318

455

410

410

291

313

318

267

242

1,165

71,420

Jan.

4.0

4.0

4.1

3.6

17

71

105

88

102

30

27

-11,190

289 

172

10,550

*Mean for the period.

1MBBO 80 13
186 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Mokelumne River near Mokelumne Hill, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°18'40", long. 120°43'10* , In see. 1, T. 5 N., R. 11 E. , at highway 

bridge 1.2 miles northwest of Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras County, and 8 miles below 

junction of North and South Forks. Altitude, about 650 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 538 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 17,000 secondfeet.Shifting-control method used for period Nov. 1 to Dec. 10. Rating curve 

changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 17,700 second-feet 11:20 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

height, 15.25 feet).

1927-November 1937s Discharge, 23,300 second-feet Mar. 25, 1928 (gage height, 

16.10 feet), from rating curve extended above 10,200 second-feet on basis of areavelocity study.

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by artificial storage in Salt Springs and other reservoirs, and to a alight extent by diversions.

Mean daily discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

278

398

507

498

462

337

154

290

370

390

Dec.

367

327

305

246

130

213

270

315

297

2,170

Jan.

597

557

760

760

732

678

634

624

547

645

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

386

334

203

181

297

444

531

507

394

406

Dec.

11,200

2,770

1,400

1,130

1,060

1,030

842

815

705

732

Jan.

639

645

645

517

639

430

617

613

645

624

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

326

398

540

570

402

272

398

326

355

392

378

22,500

Dec.

732

760

788

732

672

613

639

694

683

661

694

1,097

67,420

Jan.

557

537

405

492

470

547

645

678

678

547

787

609

37,470

Gage height, In feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

£

«

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

December 14

Deceniber 20

Peet Sec.ft.

December 9

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

_

-

-

2.28

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

_

_

220

December 15

Deceniber 21

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

2.30

2.44

2.59

3.15

3.45

7.46

7.98

7.30

5.80

5.30

5.70

5.82

234

278

330

570

731

4,720

5,450

4,500

2,600

2,070

2,490

2,620

December 16

Deceniber 22

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

5.78

6.08

10.51

13.97

14.45

14.80

14.54

13.97

12.75

11.46

9.73

8.11

Decem

Decen

2,580

2,920

9,400

15,400

16,300

17,000

16,500

15,500

13,400

11,300

8,600

6,160

ber 17

ber 23

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

7.49

6.74

6.20

5.73

5.58

5.44

4.86

4.40

4.60

4.46

4.44

4.20

Decen

5,250

4,200

3,480

2,890

2,710

2,550

1,950

1,520

1,700

1,570

1,560

1,360

ber 18

December 24

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

December 19

December 25

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 11 a.m., 7.10 ft., 4,220 sec.-ft.; 1 p.m., 7.53 ft. 

4,820 sec.-ft.; 7 p.m., 5.10 ft., 1,890 sec.-ft.; 11 p.m., 6.02 ft., 2,840 sec.-ft. 

Dec. 11, 5 a.m., 8.00 ft., 5,480 sec.-ft.; 7 a.m., 13.20 ft., 14,100 sec.-ft.; llsSO 

a.m., 15.25 ft., 17,700 see.-ft. Dec. 12, 1 p.m., 5.35 ft., 2,450 sec.-ft.; 3 p.m., 

4.30 ft., 1,440 sec.-ft.; 7 p.m., 4.74 ft., 1,830 sec.-ft.
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN 187 

Mokelumne River at Lancha Plana, Calif.

acatlon.- Lat. 38°13'25", long. 120°53'20", in SWi sec. 4, T. 4 N., R. 10 E., 1 mile 

east of Lancha Plana, Calaveras County, 3 miles downstream from Pardee Dam, and 5 

miles above Camanche Creek. Zero of gage is 158.95 feet above mean sea level, from 

bench mark of East Bay Municipal Utility District.

painage area.- 584 square miles.

age-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph at both gaging stations and at Pardee 

Dam.

tage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements for entire range of 

stage.Shifting-control method used for period Dec. 1-29. Diversion measured by 

Venturi meter.

ixima.- December 1937: Discharge (regulated), 2,150 second-feet 7:30 a.m. Dec. 14 

("gage height, 5.54 feet).

1926-November 1937: Discharge (unregulated), 27,300 second-feet Mar. 25, 1928 

(gage height, 19.65 feet), from rating curve extended above 15,500 second-feet on 

basis of area-velocity study.

3marks.- Observed discharge is that passing river gaging station. Diversion is flow 

into East Bay Municipal Utility District Aqueduct at Pardee Dam, Adjusted discharge 

is obtained by combining observed discharge, change in storage at Pardee Reservoir 

computed from readings at midnight, and diversion. Salt Springs and several smaller 

reservoirs, four hydroelectric plants, and diversions above station.

Storage, diversion, and discharge, December 1937

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

Pardee Reservoir

Elevation 

(feet)

546.35

546.01

545.65

545.25

544.78

544.31

543.98

543.63

543.31

545.05

556.47

557.24

556.53

555.54

554.44

554.27

554.41

554.50

554.48

554.48

554.48

554.57

554.65

554.65

554.60

554.50

554.43

554.39

554.37

554.33

554.32

Contents 

(acre-feet)

165,640

164,991

164,310

163,552

162,666

161,783

161,164

160,512

159,916

163,174

185,746

187,346

185,870

183,826

181,574

181,227

181,513

181,696

181,656

181,656

181,656

181,839

182,002

182,002

181,900

181,696

181,554

181,472

181,431

181,350

181,329

Sain or loss 

in storage 

(acre-feet)

-572

-649

-681

-758

-886

-883

-619

-652

-596

+3,258

+22,572

+1,600

-1,476

-2,044

-2,252

-347

+286

+183

-40

0

0

+183

+163

0

-102

-204

-142

-82

-41

-81

-21

Aqueduct 

divers ion 

(sec. -ft. )

62

62

62

62

62

62

62

62

62

61

63

64

64

64

64

64

64

63

64

63

63

63

64

63

63

64

64

64

64

63

63

Discharge

Observed 

(sec. -ft. )

578

569

569

560

457

574

565

547

556

574

705

2,000

2,110

2,110

2,110

1,210

641

661

656

646

636

631

631

641

636

641

641

646

641

641

641

Adjusted 

(sec. -ft. )

352

304

288

240

72

191

315

280

318

2,280

12,100

2,870

1,430

1,140

1,040

1,100

849

816

700

709

699

786

777

704

648

602

633

669

684

663

693

Observed mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

)ay

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

583

565

560

560

565

543

464

574

574

592

Dec.

578

569

569

560

457

574

565

547

556

574

Jan.

641

646

641

646

646

641

641

641

641

641

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

487

574

583

468

578

592

597

592

588

565

Dec.

705

2,000

2,110

2,110

2,110

1,210

641

661

656

646

Jan.

641

641

641

641

651

641

646

641

646

646

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

464

592

602

569

569

556

560

464

551

574

375

22,340

Dec.

636

631

631

641

636

641

641

646

641

641

641

820

63.0

1,129

69,430

Jan.

631

646

641

646

646

646

646

651

661

646

687

646

-4,820

62.7

630

38,720
188 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Mokelumne River near Clements, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°12'25", long. 121°05'20», in NWi sec. 15, T. 4 N., R. 8 E., 700 fee 

above highway bridge, 1 mile north of Clements, San Joaquin County, and 3 miles below Murphy Creek. Altitude, about 80 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 630 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge re'lation.- Defined by current-meter measurements.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 2,240 second-feet 2 p.m. Dec. 12 (gage height, 

6.82 feet).

1904-November 1937* Discharge (not materially regulated), 25,600 second-feet 

Mar. 25, 1928 (gage height, 22.45 feet, at station below bridge), from rating 

curve extended above 4,600 second-feet; verified by comparison of peak discharge 

and total run-off of flood with record for Mokelumne River at Lancha Flana.

Remarks.- Flood run-off largely controlled by artificial storage in Pardee, Salt 

Springs, and other reservoirs, and affected by diversion into East Bay Municipal 

Utility District Aqueduct.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

555

551

545

545

555

559

472

525

563

589

Dec.

572

589

576

580

480

538

567

572

572

606

Jan.

642

659

650

646

642

642

642

642

642

642

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

500

567

576

504

530

593

602

593

593

576

Dec.

820

1,920

2,180

2,220

2,200

1,570

650

642

642

642

Jan.

642

637

637

637

715

655

682

664

664

616

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

492

538

602

602

551

567

555

484

525

567

32,880

Dec.

637

642

646

646

642

637

642

646

637

637

642

845

51,950

Jan.

637

642

637

642

646

646

646

677

715

664

971

40,700

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

1

s

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

3.99

3.72

3.54

3.52

3.51

3.50

3.63

3.95

3.99

4.00

4.01

4.02

Decen

6.78

6.78

6.78

6.78

6.79

6.79

6.75

6.73

6.75

6.77

6.78

6.76

Decei

664

546

472

464

460

456

509

646

664

668

673

677

iber 14

2,220

2,220

2,220

2,220

2,220

2,220

2,200

2,180

2,200

2,210

2,210

2,200

iber 20

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

3.80

3.57

3.52

3.51

3.51

3.50

3.72

4.00

4.05

4.06

4.05

4.07

Decen

6.77

6.78

6.78

6.78

6.78

6.78

6.75

6.73

6.73

6.73

6.73

6.72

Decei

580

484

464

460

460

456

546

668

692

696

692

701

iber 15

2,210

2,220

2,220

2,220

2,220

2,220

2,200

2,180

2,180

2,180

2,180

2,180

iber 21

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

4.04

3.76

3.66

3.65

3.64

3.60

3.75

4.00

4.04

4.05

4.07

4.10

Decen

6.76

6.77

6.78

6.78

6.78

6.76

5.48

4.30

4.09

4.04

4.01

3.99

Decei

687

563

521

517

513

496

559

668

687

692

701

715

tber 16

2,200

2,210

2,220

2,220

2,220

2,200

1,440

810

710

687

673

664

iber 22

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

4.15

4.10

4.19

4.67

4.58

4.38

4.34

4.24

4.17

4.12

4.35

4.89

Decen

Decen

738

715

757

998

950

850

830

781

748

724

835

1,120

ber 17

iber 23

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

5.05

5.35

5.78

6.00

6.42

6.78

6.82

6.80

6.78

6.77

6.77

6.76

Decen

Decen

1,210

1,370

1,610

1,740

1,990

2,220

2,240

2,230

2,220

2,210

2,210

2,200

ber 18

iber 24

Feet

Decen

6.75

6.75

6.75

6.75

6.75

6.72

6.64

6.69

6.70

6.70

6.71

6.73

Sec. ft

iber 13

2,200

2,200

2,200

2,200

2,200

2,180

2,130

2,160

2,160

2,160

2,170

2,180

December 19

Decenber 25
SAB JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN 189

Mokelumne River at Woodbridge, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°09 I 30", long. 121°18'10", in KBi sec, 34, T. 4 H., R. 6 E., threeeighths of a mile downstream from dam of Woodbridge Irrigation District at Woodbridge, San Joaquin County. Altitude, about 30 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 644 square miles.

Sage-height Record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 5 p.m. Dec. 31 to 

10i30 a.m. Jan. 3, when stage graph was based on range of stage indicated on recorder graph and comparison with graph of Mokelumne River near Clements.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 2,000 secondfeet. Shift ing-control method used for period Nov. 1 to Jan. 2.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 2,010 second-feet 6 p.m. Dec. 16 (gage height,

 14739 feet).

1924-November 1937s Maximum gage height, 26.58 feet Mar. 26, 1928, former site 

and datum) about 30.6 feet, present datum (discharge not determined).

Remarks.- Flood run-off almost completely controlled by artificial storage in several 

reservoirs. Many diversions.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

401

491

485

471

471

458

448

368

428

458

Dec.

591

590

584

595

578

487

572

586

584

614

Jan.

666

673

675

669

666

666

664

664

662

660

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

493

439

906

626

507

595

633

628

622

608

Dec.

691

1,040

1,700

1,840

1,930

1,970

1,160

795

743

721

Jan.

660

658

658

656

684

690

679

681

675

671

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

593

480

601

612

588

595

563

563

485

561

32,090

Dec.

700

683

683

679

675

671

664

669

671

664

660

51,150

Jan.

641

654

660

656

656

656

654

660

698

688

732

41,120

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

tH

O

K

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

8.83

8.98

9.11

9.20

9.24

9.24

9.15

9.01

8.86

8.76

8.68

8.69

557

586

610

628

635

635

618

591

563

545

530

532

December 14

Deceniber 20

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

8.82

8.98

9.12

9.22

9.25

9.22

9.10

8.94

8.81

8.71

8.68

8.73

Decen

_

-

-

_

_

-

-

-

-

-

-

14.25

Decei

556

586

612

631

637

631

608

578

554

536

530

539

iber 15

_

_

-

_

-

_

-

-

-

-

1,950

iber 21

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

8.87

9.09

9.26

9.36

9.40

9.38

9.32

9.20

9.06

8.93

8.87

8.88

Decen

14.26

14.27

14.28

14.29

14.31

14.33

14.35

14.37

14.39

14.37

14.25

13.90

Decea

565

607

639

658

666

662

650

628

601

576

565

567

ber 16

1,970

1,970

1,970

1,980

1,980

1,990

2,000

2,000

2,010

2,000

1,960

1,850

iber 22

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

8.99

9.19

9.33

9.45

9.51

9.55

9.58

9.67

9.81

9.97

10.02

10.01

Decen

13.40

12.76

12.21

11.72

11.37

11.12

10.94

10.79

10.67

10.58

10.51

10.46

Decen

582

620

646

669

681

688

694

711

741

777

788

786

ber 17

1,690

1,500

1,340

1,210

1,110

1,040

996

957

926

903

885

872

ber 23

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 12

9.95

9.93

9.87

9.94

10.22

10.73

11.18

11.66

12.11

12.48

12.79

13.01

Decent

10.37

10.32

10.27

10.22

10.18

10.15

10.13

10.10

10.07

10.05

10.02

10.00

Decen

761

756

743

758

824

952

1,070

1,200

1,320

1,430

1,520

1,580

ber 18

840

828

816

804

795

788

784

777

770

765

758

754

ber 24

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

13.19

13.28

13.35

13.40

13.43

13.47

13.50

13.52

13.55

13.58

13.62

13.66

Decen

Decea

1,620

1,650

1,670

1,690

1,700

1,710

1,720

1,720

1,730

1,740

1,750

1,770

ber 19

ber 25
190 THE FLOOD3 OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Cold Creek near Mokelumne Peak, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°31', long. 120°13', in sec. 28, T. 8 N., R. 16 E., li miles north 

of Salt Springs Dam and 6 miles southwest of Mokelumne Peak, Amador County. Altitude, about 6,000 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 23 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Affected by ice for periods Dec. 1-9, 22-31, Jan. 4-7, 20- 

31.Defined by current-meter measurements below 900 second-feet; extended to peak 

stage on basis of area-velocity study.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 4,100 second-feet 10 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

8758 feet).

1927-November 1937: Discharge, 3,000 second-feet (revised) Mar. 25, 1928 (gage 

height, 7.79 feet).

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge 

for periods of ice effect computed on basis of weather records and flow of nearby 

streams. Part of basic data furnished by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

I

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.3

.3

Dec.

3.5

3.5

3.5

3

3

3

3

3

3

1,610

Jan.

18

21

19

17

16

15

15

15

14

14

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0.2

.3

.3

.3

.4

.4

2.6

.8

.8

31

Dec.

2,440

254

110

73

62

49

43

38

30

23

Jan.

14

14

14

14

21

35

29

28

30

28

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

19

9.5

6.5

7

7

6

6

5.5

5.6

4.9

230

Dec.

22

20

20

20

20

19

19

19

19

18

18

9,870

Jan.

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

12

12

12

12

1 a *7

1,150

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

o

W

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

Decen

_

2.35

_

2.29

_

2.24

-

2.24

2.29

-

2.28

Dec en

-

1.63

-

1.50

-

1.55

_

1.62

1.70

-

1.67

ber 14

_

79

_

73

_

69

-

69

-

73

-

72

iber 20

-

25

-

18

-

20

-

24

_

29

-

27

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

_

_

_

_

_

-

_

-

-

-

_

1.33

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

12

December 15

_

_

2.20

_

_

2.13

_

-

2.10

-

_

2.10

Decei

_

1.60

_

1.55

_

1.57

_

1.60

-

1.61

-

1.60

_

_

65

_

_

59

-

_

57

_

_

57

iber 21

_

23

_

20

-

22

-

23

_

24

-

23

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

5.00

6.19

7.13

7.35

7.19

6.32

5.82

5.63

5.44

5.42

5.68

6.13

Decen

_

_

2.04

_

_

1.98

_

_

1.97

_

-

1.97

Decen

875

1,690

2,430

2,610

2,480

1,790

1,430

1,300

1,170

1,150

1,340

1,650

ber 16

_

_

52

_

_

48

-

_

47

_

_

47

ber 22

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

6.95

7.74

8.03

8.50

8.98

8.34

7.65

7.04

6.11

5.26

4.73

4.35

2,290

2,950

3,210

3,630

4,100

3,490

2,860

2,360

1,640

1,040

708

520

December 17

_

_

1.94

_

_

1.90

_

_

1.88

_

_

1.90

Decen

_

_

45

_

_

42

-

-

41

_

-

42

ber 23

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

4.06

3.79

3.62

3.49

3.35

3.26

3.21

3.20

3.22

3.15

3.05

2.95

412

335

293

262

231

212

202

200

204

190

171

154

December 18

_

_

1.88

_

_

1.82

-

_

1.79

_

-

1.79

Decea

_

_

41

_

_

36

-

-

34

_

-

34

ber 24

Feet | Sec.ft.

December 13

_

2.79

_

2.66

_

2.57

_

2.55

_

2.52

_

2.44

_

131

_

113

_

103

_

100

-

97

_

88

December 19

_

_

1.74

_

_

1.68

-

-

1.73

_

-

1.70

Decent

_

_

31

_

_

28

-

-

31

_

_

29

ber 25

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 1 a.m., 4.15 ft., 445 sec. -ft.; 7 a.m., 7.47 ft.,

2,710 sec. -ft.} 9 a.m., 7.45 ft., 2,690 sec. -ft.
SAN JOAQTJIN RIVER BASIN 191

Bear River at Pardoe Camp, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°32', long. 120°15', in sec. 18, T. 8 N., R. 16 E., at Pardoe Camp, 

Amador County, 2 miles below Bear River Reservoir. Altitude, about 5,650 feet 

above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 33.0 square miles.

Sage-height 7ecord.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods 8s30 p.m. Dec. 1 to 

11:30 a.m. Dec. 8, 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 11, when there was no record. Record unreliable for period noon Dec. 12 to 3 p.m. Dec. 13. Stage graph for periods of 

missing record based on partial recorder graph, range of stage Indicated on recorder graph, and floodmark in well.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 1,400 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study. Rating curve changed 

at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 5,850 second-feet about 9 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

height, 13.0 feet, from floodmarks).

1927-November 1937: Discharge, 4,090 second-feet (revised) Mar. 25, 1928 (gage 

height, 9.75 feet), from rating curve for 1938.

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by artificial storage in Bear River Reservoir (capacIty, about 6,600 acre-feet). Monthly summaries adjusted for storage. Reservoir 

began to spill about 10 p.m. Dec. 10. Discharge Interpolated for period Dec. 2-7. 

Part of basic data furnished by Pacific Gas & Electric Oo.

Mean dally discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

8

10

Nov.

0.7

.6

.6

.6

.6

.6

.7

.8

.8

.8

Dec.

8.5

8

8

7.5

7

7

6.5

6.5

12

385

Jan.

36

49

48

40

35

30

27

26

23

21

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

1.2

1.3

1.4

4.2

6

19

42

26

16

56

Dec.

3,910

429

168

163

137

108

94

82

65

52

Jan.

21

21

21

22

53

46

62

52

49

43

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, In acre-feet (adjusted) .............................

Nov.

49

40

30

22

17

15

12

10

9.5

8.5

779

Dec.

50

46

46

44

42

40

38

36

33

32

33

18,710

Jan.

41

53

50

44

44

48

90

124

123

121

123

51.2

3,150

Oage height, In feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

jj

w

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

1O

K

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

-

-

-

-

0.84

-

-

.85

-

_

.84

Decen

_

2.64

-

2.56

_

2.50

-

2.51

-

2.59

-

2.60

Deed"!

_

1.75

-

1.69

-

1.65

-

1.76

_

1.72

_

1.77

-

6.5

_

_

6.5

-

6.5

_

_

6.5

iber 14

_

175

_

161

_

150

-

152

-

156

_

168

aber 20

_

54

-

49

-

46

-

55

-

52

-

56

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

0.84

.84

.83

.83

.83

.84

.84

.85

.87

.93

1.11

2.78

Deceit

_

2.53

-

2.46

_

2.39

_

2.36

-

2.36

_

2.37

Dec en

_

1.77

-

1.72

-

1.67

_

1.64

_

1.69

_

1.72

6.5

6.5

 .5

6.5

6.5

6.5

6.5

6.5

7

8

12

181

iber 15

_

155

-

144

_

132

_

128

-

128

_

129

iber 21

_

56

-

52

-

48

_

45

_

49

_

52

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

3.40

3.73

4,11

3.75

3.24

3.48

3.25

3.10

3.06

3.27

3.38

7.50

Deceit

_

_

2.27

_

_

2.19

_

-

2.18

_

_

2.20

Decen

_

1.71

-

1.67

-

1.61

_

1.59

-

1.66

_

1.78

304

386

497

391

269

323

271

240

232

275

300

2,390

ber 16

_

.

114

_

_

103

_

-

102

_

104

ber 22

_

51

_

48

_

43

_

41

_

47

_

57

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

9.32

10.53

11.02

11.90

11.95

11.34

10.50

9.47

7.96

6.49

5.56

5.00

Decen

_

_

2.15

_

_

2.10

_

_

2.07

_

_

2.12

Decen

_

1.80

_

1.69

_

1.61

_

1.56

_

1.58

_

1.62

3,710

4,670

5,070

5,770

5,810

5,320

4,650

3,880

2,820

1,800

1,250

925

ber 17

_

_

98

_

_

92

_

_

88

_

_

94

ber 23

_

59

_

49

_

43

_

39

_

40

_

44

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

4.66

4.35

4.09

3.92

3.75

3.61

3.47

3.35

3.22

3.11

3.00

2.90

752

621

529

474

424

387

351

322

292

268

244

224

December 18

_

_

2.09

_

_

2.00

_

_

1.94

_

_

1.99

Decen

_

_

1.62

_

_

1.61

_

_

1.65

_

_

1.65

_

_

91

_

_

80

_

_

73

_

_

79

ber 24

_

_

44

_

-

43

_

_

46

_

-

46

Feet |sec.ft.

December 13

2.79

2.71

2.63

2.53

2.45

2.38

2.33

2.38

2.66

2.76

2.76

2.73

202

188

173

155

148

131

123

131

179

197

197

191

December 19

_

1.90

_

1.77

_

1.75

_

1.84

_

2.03

_

1.78

Decent

^

69

_

56

_

54

_

63

_

84

_

57

ber 25

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 11 p.m., 5.70 ft., 1,230 sec. -ft. Dec. 11, about

9 a.m., 12.0 ft., 5,850 sec. -ft.
192 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Middle Pork of Mokelumne River at West Point, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°23 I 15", long. 120°31'40", in sec. 10 T. 6 N., R. 13 E., 200 feet

below highway bridge, 1 mile south of West Point, Calaveras County, and 3j miles

above junction with South Pork. Altitude, about 2,500 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 67.2 square miles. 

Page-height i-ecord.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 4 a.m. Dec. 19 to

3:45 p.m. Jan. 3, when there was no record and stage graph was based on record for

South Fork of Mokelumne River near West Point. 

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 1,000 secondreetj extended to peak stage by paralleling former curve which was extended on

basis of slope-area computation of flood flow. 

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 1,460 second-feet 9 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

BTS1? feet).

1911-November 1937: Discharge observed, 2,550 second-feet Jan. 23, 1914 (gage

height, 10.0 feet, former site and datum), from rating curve extended above 490

aeoond-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage. Several small diversions

above station.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

7

7

7

7

7

7

8.5

7.5

7.5

7.5

Dec.

10

10

9.5

9.5

9.5

9.5

9

9

11

123

Jan.

22

30

31

26

25

24

23

23

22

22

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

13

13

10

12

13

11

31

20

14

13

Dec.

837

294

122

81

63

50

42

38

35

32

Jan.

22

22

21

21

73

49

59

56

57

51

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

17

13

13

19

14

12

12

11

11

10

-

11.8

704

Dec.

30

31

36

29

26

24

23

23

22

22

22

4,150

Jan..

45

42

39

36

84

33

32

36

48

42

100

2,310

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

§ow

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N 

2

4

6

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

December 14

_

_

1.87

_

_

1.83

-

_

1.79

-

_

1.75

Dec en

_

_

85

_

_

80

-

_

74

_

_

69

iber 20

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

1.03

1.03

1.03

1.03

1.03

1.03

1.03

1.03

1.04

1.07

1.16

1.26

Decen

_

_

1.72

_

_

1.70

_

_

1.66

_

_

1.65

Dec en

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

9.5

11

16

22

ber 15

_

_

65

_

_

63

_

_

58

_

_

57

iber 21

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

1.35

1.60

2.08

2.27

2,41

2.35

2.28

2.20

2.12

2.14

2.19

2.31

28

51

120

154

182

170

156

141

127

130

139

162

December 16

.

_

1.62

_

_

1.61

_

_

1.56

_

_

1.54

Decen

_

_

53

_

_

52

_

_

47

_

_

45

ber 22

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

2.80

3.49

4.47

5.80

5.66

5.42

5.55

5.18

4.80

4.32

3.95

3.65

Dec em

Decen

268

443

733

1,350

1,280

1,160

1,220

1,040

862

683

571

487

ber 17

ber 23

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

3.43

3.26

3.26

3.23

3.04

2.84

2.70

2.59

2.51

2.44

2.38

2.32

427

382

382

374

326

278

245

220

203

188

176

164

December 18

Decen ber 24

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

_

2.23

_

2.14

_

2.08

-

2.02

-

1.97

-

1.93

_

147

-

130

-

120

-

109

-

101

_

95

December 19

December 25

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11. 9 a.m., 5.97 ft., 1,460 sec.-ft.; 1OI50 a.m., 5.75 

ft., 1,320 sec.-ft.} 12:20 p.m., 5.34 ft., 1,120 sec.-ft.
SAN JOAQJJIN RIVER BASIN 193

South Pork of Mokelunme River near West Point, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°22', long. 120°33 I , in SWf sec. 16, T. 6 N., R. 13 E., 600 feet below Sawyer Bridge, 2 miles above junction with Middle Pork, and 2^ miles southwest 

of West Point, Calaveras County. Altitude, about 2,000 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 73.8 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge re'latlon.- Defined by current-meter measurements for range of stage of 

December high water. Shifting control method used for period Dec. 10 to Jan. 31.

Maxima.- December 19371 Discharge, 1,810 second-feet 8 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

 7784 feet).

1933-November 1937: Discharge, 3,600 second-feet Feb. 22, 1936 (gage height, 

8.90 feet), from rating curve extended above 710 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean dally discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

8.5

9

9

9

8.5

8.5

9

9

9

9

Dec.

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

13

160

Jan.

28

36

41

35

34

31

30

29

27

27

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

19

18

14

16

17

14

35

26

17

17

Dec.

1,010

304

128

87

70

58

51

47

41

38

Jan.

27

26

26

26

110

66

80

75

78

73

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

20

16

15

18

17

15

14

14

13

13

866

Dec.

36

35

46

35

34

32

32

30

29

29

29

4,900

Jan.

61

57

53

49

47

45

43

47

74

61

170

3,200

Gage height, In feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

&o

a

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

Decen

Deceit

ber 14

iber 20

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

-

3.31

-

3.31

_

3.31

-

3.31

3.32

3.35

3.45

3.60

-

12

-

12

_

12

_

12

12

14

19

28

December 15

Decetiber 21

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

3.74

4.07

4.66

5.01

4.98

4.91

4.88

4.80

4.75

4.85

4.85

5.01

Decerc

Decen

3.73

_

3.73

_

3.73

_

3.73

_

3.72

3.73

3.81

3.98

37

68

144

238

228

205

196

174

162

188

188

238

ber 16

ber 22

34

_

34

_

34

-

34

34

34

41

56

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

5.57

6.08

7.24

7.84

7.46

7.20

7.38

6.88

6.48

6.18

5.89

5.67

Decen

Decen

4.03

4.01

3.95

3.92

3.90

3.86

3.84

3.83

3.82

3.80

3.78

3.78

440

689

1,370

1,810

1,520

1,350

1,470

1,140

904

740

592

486

ber 17

ber 23

61

59

53

50

48

45

43

42

41

40

38

38

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

5.52

5.41

5.36

5.37

5.31

5.21

5.12

5.04

4.99

4.94

4.89

4.84

427

380

359

363

339

301

269

241

224

208

194

179

December 18

Decen ber 24

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

_

_

4.69

_

_

4.57

_

_

4.47

-

_

4,,38

_

_

146

_

_

125

_

_

111

-

 _

100

December 19

Decenber 25

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 12t40 p.m., 7.08 ft., 1,270 sec.-ft.
194 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Sutter Creek near Sutter Creek, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 380 23'30", long. 120°46'50It , in sec. 9, T. 6 N., R. 11 E., 1.3 miles

east of Sutter Creek, Amadcr County. Altitude, about 1,150 feet above mean sea

level.

Drainage area.- 50.6 square miles. 

Gage-height re e o rd.- One gage reading daily. Record unreliable and net used for period

Dec. 13-25. 

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 1,800 secondfeet. 

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 575 second-feet probably Dec. 11 (gage height, 7.0

feet, from floodmark).

1922-November 1937: Discharge, 3,900 second-feet Feb. 22, 1936 (gage height,

12.0 feet, from floodmark), from rating curve extended above 1,400 second-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge

for period of unreliable gage-height record determined by comparison with reuords

for nearby stations.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

3.1

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.6

2.4

2.4

2.4

2.4

2.4

Dec.

5.5

5

5

4.7

4.4

4.4

4.7

4.7

5.5

88

Jan.

8

9

9

8.5

8.5

8

8

7.5

7.5

7

Day

11

12

13

1.4

15

16

17

18

19

20

Hov.

5.5

5.5

4.4

4.1

3.8

5

9

10

6

5

Dec.

316

192

23

22

19

16

14

12

11

11

Jan.

6.5

6.5

6.5

6.5

55

20

48

25

27

25

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Run-off . in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

5

5.5

6

9

7.5

6

5.5

5.5

5.5

6.5

4.85

287

Dec.

10

16

15

15

13

12

10

9

8.5

7.5

7.5

1.770

Jan.

25

23

23

22

17

15

11

11

61

59

204

QC -I

1.540
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN 

North Fork of Cosumnes River near Kl Dorado, Calif.

195

Location.- Lat. 38°36', long. 120°51', in HEi see. 35, T. 9 N., R. 10 E., 1 mile north 

of Nashville, 2.7 miles above mouth, and 6 miles south of El Dorado, El Dorado 

County. Altitude, about 910 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 202 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 3,900 secondfeet. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 3,880 second-feet 3 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

6.70 feet).

1911-November 1937: Discharge, about 7,600 second-feet Mar. 25, 1928 (gage 

height, 15.2 feet, from floodmarks at former site and datum,l£ miles upstream), 

from rating curve extended above 1,000 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in se uary 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

12

12

12

12

13

13

13

12

13

13

Dec.

27

26

25

25

24

23

23

23

23

328

Jan.

74

80

86

82

76

74

70

68

66

64

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

18

37

33

28

33

30

45

84

50

41

Dec.

2,160

1,320

558

361

268

220

182

158

132

120

Jan.

64

62

60

59

161

145

158

228

189

182

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

51

51

45

64

64

45

38

31

28

28

 zn *z

1,920

Dec.

110

102

145

[107

100

91

86

82

80

76

76

OOQ

14,040

Jan.

148

132

132

122

117

110

107

120

193

151

413

TOO

7,520~

Sage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

3&2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6 ' 8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

-

1.30

-

1.30

_

1.29

_

1.30

-

1.30

1.30

Decen

_

2.56

_

2.52

-

2.47

-

2.43

-

2.39

_

2.35

Decen

-

-

1.87

-

-

1.85

-

1.84

-

-

1.83

_

23

-

23

_

22

_

23

-

23

-

23

ber 14

-

400

_

380

-

356

-

338

-

320

-

302

iber 20

-

-

124

-

120

-

-

117

-

-

114

Fee* Sec. ft.

December 9

_

1.29

_

1.29

_

1.30

_

1.31

-

1.32

_

1.36

Decen

-

_

2.31

-

2.27

_

-

2.24

_

2.18

Decea

-

_

1.82

_

_

1.81

-

-

1.80

-

-

1.79

_

22

_

22

_

23

-

24

_

25

29

iber 15

-

_

284

_

_

268

-

_

256

-

_

232

iber 21

-

_

112

-

_

110

-

107

-

_

105

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

1.39

1.45

1.53

1.62

1.77

1.93

2.86

3.10

3.12

3.09

3.00

3.00

Decen

_

2.17

_

-

2.14

_

-

2.12

_

_

2.10

Deoen

_

-

1.78

_

_

1.77

-

-

1.78

-

1.84

32

40

51

68

100

141

545

675

687

670

620

620

ber 16

_

_

228

_

-

216

-

_

208

-

_

200

ber 22

-

_

102

_

_

100

-

102

-

_

117

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

3.04

3.03

3.27

3.67

5.00

5.96

6.64

6.59

6.23

5.73

5.48

5.19

Decen

_

_

2.07

_

-

2.05

-

_

2.03

-

_

2.01

Deceit

_

1.92

_

2.04

_

1.98

_

1.92

-

1.88

_

1.84

642

636

777

1,040

2,100

3,070

3,810

3,760

3,360

2,840

2,590

2,320

ber 17

_

_

189

_

-

182

_

_

175

_

_

168

ber 23

_

138

_

178

_

158

138

_

127

_

117

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

4.97

4.70

4.45

4.25

4.12

3.94

3.75

3.57

3.43

3.32

3.23

3.18

Decen;

_

_

1.99

_

_

1.97

_

_

1.96

_

_

1.94

Decen

_

_

1.80

_

_

1.80

_

1.79

-

_

1.77

2,120

1,880

1,680

1,520

1,420

1,270

1,140

1,010

911

838

780

748

ber 18

_

_

161

_

_

154

-

_

151

-

_

145

Ber 24

_

_

107

_

_

107

-

_

105

-

_

100

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

3.13

3.07

3.00

2.95

2.88

2.85

2.80

2.75

2.72

2.68

2.65

2.62

Decen

_

_

1.92

_

_

1.90

_

1.89

_

1.88

Decea

_

A

1.78

-

_

1.78

-

_

1.77

-

-

1.73

718

682

640

610

569

552

525

498

481

460

445

430

ber 19

_

_

138

_

_

132

-

130

_

_

127

ber 25

_

102

_

102

-

100

-

_

91

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 3 p.m., 6.70 ft., 3,880 seo.-ft.
196 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Cosumnes River at Michigan Bar, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°30'00", long. 121° 02'45", in SEi aec. 36, T. 8 N. , R. 8 E., at

highway bridge at Michigan Bar, Sacramento County, 5g miles southwest of Latrobe.

North and Middle Porks unite 12 miles above station. Altitude, about 190 feet

above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 537 square miles. 

QaKe-helKht TFecord.- Water-stage recorder graph. 

Stage-discharge re'latlon.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 9,000 secondfeet.Rating curve changed at peak stage. 

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 9,000 second-feet 4 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

7.58 feet).

1907-November 1937: Discharge observed, 23,800 second-feet Feb. 6, 1925 (gage

height, 11.2 feet, from nonrecording gage), from rating curve extended above

10,000 second-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

13

14

15

15

14

14

15

15

17

16

Dec.

48

45

45

45

45

44

43

43

44

410

Jan.

156

177

204

183

168

159

151

148

143

138

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

19

37

63

50

46

54

54

143

108

77

Dec.

4,680

3,030

1,260

808

599

480

396

345

305

273

Jan.

133

128

126

123

517

402

396

487

480

494

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

80

97

82

89

116

89

72

63

63

49

KO Q

3,150

Dec.

243

226

296

251

218

197

183

180

168

169

156

492

30,280

Jan.

360

315

301 287

260

247

243

264

522

396

1,490

19,040

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

£

w

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

-

_

_

_

-

2.39

-

_

_

-

_

2.39

Decea

_

4.23

_

4.17

-

4.12

-

4.07

-

4.01

_

3.97

Decen

-

_

3.33

_

-

3.32

-

3.29

-

-

3.28

-

. -

-

_

-

43

-

-

_

-

-

43

iber 14

_

910

_

853

-

808

_

763

709

_

676

iber 20

_

_

278

-

-

273

-

_

260

_

256

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

-

-

2.38

_

_

2.39

-

_

2.41

-

-

2.46

Decen

_

_

3.92

-

-

3.87

_

_

3.82

_

_

3.77

Decen

_

_

3.26

_

_

3.25

_

2.32

_

_

3.22

_

-

42

_

_

43

_

-

45

-

_

52

iber 16

_

_

636

_

_

599

_

_

564

_

_

529

iber 21

_

_

247

_

_

243

_

_

236

_

_

230

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

2.47

2.49

2.52

2.61

2.73

2.74

2.76

2.83

3.95

4.68

4.72

4.72

Decen

_

_

3.73

_

_

3.70

_

_

3.66

_

_

3.63

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

3.20

_

_

_

_

_

3.21

53

56

60

74

95

97

98

114

645

1,410

1,460

1,460

ber 16

-

_

501

_

_

480

_

_

456

_

_

438

iber 22

-

_

-

_

-

222

-

_

_

-

226

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

4.77

4.77

5.05

5.07

5.37

6.76

7.08

7.58

7.44

7.10

6.80

6.57

1,520

1,520

1,930

1,960

2,490

5,880

7,010

9,000

8,360

7,080

6,040

5,310

December 17

_

_

3.59

_

_

3.56

_

_

3.63

_

_

3.60

Decen

-

3.26

_

3.28

-

3.41

_

3.50

_

3.45

3.38

_

_

414

-

-

396

-

_

378

_

_

360

ber 23

_

247

_

266

-

315

_

360

_

336

-

301

Peet Sec. ft.

December 12

6.35

6.18

6.05

5.87

5.77

5.69

5.54

5.40

5.26

5.11

4.97

4.87

4,680

4,230

3,910

3,490

3,280

3,110

2,810

2,540

2,270

2,030

1,800

1,660

December 18

_

_

3.49

-

_

3.47

_

_

3.45

_

_

3.43

Decen

_

3.32

_

3.28

-

3.25

_

3.24

_

3.23

3.20

_

_

355

-

-

345

_

_

336

_

_

326

ber 24

_

273

_

266

_

243

_

239

_

235

-

222

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

-

4.75

_

4.65

_

4.55

-

4.45

_

4.36

-

4.29

-

1,500

_

1,370

-

1,250

-

1,140

_

1,040

970

December 19

_

_

3.41

-

-

3.39

-

_

3.37

_

-

3.36

Deceit

_

3.18

_

_

3.19

_

_

3.19

-

3.17

_

_

315

-

-

305

_

_

296

_

_

287

ber 25

_

_

215

_

-

218

_

_

218

- ;'

-

211
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 197

Sacramento River at Antler, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 40°53', long. 122°23', in SEi sec. 13, T. 35 N., R. 5 W., a quarter of 

a mile below highway bridge at Antler, Shasta County. Gregory Creek enters 1,000 

feet above gage and Pit River 14 miles below. Zero of gage is 934.4 feet above 

mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 461 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge re'lation. - Defined by current-meter measurements below 6,300 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study; verified by comparison of peak discharge and total run-off of flood with records for other stations 

in Sacramento River Basin.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 24,900 second-feet 10 p.m. Dec. 10 (gage height, 

14.55 feet).

1910-11, 1919-November 1937: Discharge, 34,000 second-feet Mar. 26, 1928 (gage 

height, 19.4 feet, from floodmarks at former site and datum, a quarter of a mile 

upstream), from rating curve extended above 11,600 second-feet on basis of areavelocity study.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

218

215

209

209

209

209

209

209

212

2,780

Dec.

1,210

1,090

1,020

950

880

841

802

770

915

13,100

Jan.

1,060

1,170

1,170

1,130

1,060

1,020

985

950

880

867

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

6,590

1,850

1,380

2,160

1,700

4,820

4,660

2,460

3,530

13,000

Dec.

19,700

9,660

5,520

3,860

3,050

2,460

2,110

1,900

1,700

1,510

Jan.

848

828

808

848

1,210

1,720

4,100

2,980

2,640

2,340

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

5,700

5,670

8,200

5,160

3,470

2,580

2,060

1,750

1,510

1,330

2 QI"1Q

167,100

Dec.

1,420

1,330

1,250

1,250

1,130

1,130

1,130

1,090

1,060

1,130

1,130

170,800

Jan.

2,000

1,850

1,700

1,510

1,420

1,330

1,290

1,330

1,380

1,330

4,600

95,910

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

uo

«

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

11

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

-

-

2.84

-

-

2.82

-

-

2.81

-

-

2.80

Decen

.

.

5.89

-

_

5.70

-

-

5.53

-

-

5.38

Decen

_

_

3.85

-

3.81

-

-

3.76

-

_

3.74

_

-

776

_

_

763

-

-

756

-

_

750

TOOT 14

_

_

4,160

-

_

3,860

-

-

3,590

-

-

3,370

iber 20

_

_

1,560

_

1,520

-

_

1,470

-

_

1,460

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

2.80

2.80

2.79

2.78

2.80

2.83

2.92

3.04

3.23

3.46

3.80

4.18

750

750

744

738

750

770

828

908

1,040

1,220

1,510

1,880

December 15

_

_

5.26

-

_

5.14

-

-

5.00

-

-

4.90

Deeea

_

_

3.71

_

3.68

-

-

3.65

_

_

3.63

_

_

3,200

_

_

3,040

_

-

2,840

-

_

2,700

iber 21

_

_

1,430

_

1,400

-

_

1,380

_

_

1,360

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

4.74

5.52

6.65

7.87

9.00

10.26

11.35

12.07

13.36

14.40

14.55

14.00

2,510

3,570

5,430

7,740

10,100

13,000

15,800

17,700

21,300

24,300

24,900

23,100

December 16

_

_

4.80

-

_

4.73

-

-

4.64

-

-

4.53

Decea

_

_

3.60

_

3.58

-

_

3.59

_

_

3.56

_

_

2,580

_

_

2,500

-

-

2,390

_

_

2,280

iber 22

_

_

1,330

_

1,310

_

_

1,320

_

_

1,300

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

13.00

12.55

12.47

12.73

13.23

13.73

13.58

13.33

12.77

12.12

11.41

10.86

20,300

19,000

18,800

19,500

20,900

22,300

21,900

21,200

19,700

17,800

16,000

14,500

December 17

_

_

4.48

_

_

4.42

-

_

4.35

-

_

4.28

Decen

_

_

3.53

_

3.49

-

_

3.46

_

_

3.44

_

_

2,200

_

_

2,130

_

-

2,060

-

_

1,980

iber 23

_

_

1,270

_

1,240

-

_

1,220

_

_

1,200

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

10.36

9.90

9.53

9.18

8.86

8.59

8.36

8.13

7.92

7.73

7.57

7.41

13,300

12,200

11,300

10,500

9,790

9,200

8,720

8,260

7,840

7,460

7,140

6,820

December 18

_

_

4.23

_

_

4.18

-

-

4.12

_

_

4.07

Decen

_

_

3.48

_

3.55

-

_

3.50

_

_

3.42

_

_

1,930

_

_

1,880

-

_

1,820

_

_

1,770

ber 24 ,

_

1,230

_

1,290

_

_

1,250

_

_

1,190

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

_

7.07

_

6.88

_

6.63

_

6.42

_

6.25

_

6ilO

_

6,190

_

5,840

_

5,390

_

5,220

_

4,740

_

4,500

December 19

_

_

4.02

_

_

3.98

-

-

3.93

_

_

3.88

Deceit

_

_

3.39

_

3.35

-

_

3.33

_

_

3.32

_

_

1,720

_

_

1,680

_

-

1,630

_

_

1,580

ber 25

_

_

1,160

_

1,130

-

_

1,110

_

_

1,110
198 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Sacramento River at Kennett, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 40°44', long. 122°24', in SWj aec. 2, T. 33 N., R. 5 W., at highway 

bridge at Kennett, Shaata County. Zero of gage ia 618.26 feet above mean aea level. 

Gage aet to read 2.0C feet more than U. S. Weather Bureau gage at aame location.

Drainage area.- 6,600 aquare milea (not including Gooae Lake Baain).

Page-height record.- Water-atage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge re'latlon.- Defined by current-meter meaaurementa below 66,000 aeccndfeet; extended to peak atage on baaia of area-velocity atudy and A^a method; verified by comparison of peak diacharge and total run-off of flood with recorda for 

other stations in Sacramento River Baain.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 132,000 aecond-feet 1 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

3076 feet).

1925-November 1937: Diacharge, 94,900 aecond-feet Mar. 26, 1928 (gage height, 

25.1 feet), from rating curve extended above 66,000 aecond-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not materially affected by artificial atorage or diveraion.

Mean daily discharge, in aecond-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

2,910

3,020

3,020

3,130

3,130

2,650

2,500

2,650

2,860

6,210

Dec.

7,050

6,460

6,280

5,750

5,590

5,270

5,120

5,120

5,430

47,000

Jan.

7,460

7,250

7,050

7,670

7,460

7,050

6,850

6,850

6,850

5,750

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

13,900

7,050

5,270

9,920

7,890

13,900

17,000

11,100

10,600

51,200

Dec.

97,200

66,400

49,800

35 , 100

26,500

22; ooo

18,200

14,700

13,100

12,400

Jan.

5,920

5,920

5,920

5,750

7,050

8,770

20,100

16,100

15,300

15,300

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

28,200

17,600

31,800

29,900

18,500,

14,200

11,600

9,680

8,330

7,460

708.5

Dec.

11,100

9,920

9,440

9,210

8,550

8,110

8,330

7,890

7,250

7,250

7,890

1,090

Jan.

12,600

11,400

10,900

10,600

9,680

8,990

8,330

8,770

8,990

8,550

16,300

578.1

Gage height, in feet, and diacharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

&o

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

-

_

2.70

-

-

2.66

-

-

2.63

_

-

2.64

Decem

_

13.85

_

13.30

-

12.80

-

12.40

-

12.00

_

11.55

Decen

6.55

6.60

6.55

6.10

5.70

5.49

5.59

6.00

6.29

6.06

5.95

5.72

_

-

5,120

_

_

5,060

-

-

5,020

_

-

5,030

iber 14

_

39,100

_

36,800

-

34,700

-

33,000

-

31,400

-

29,700

iber 20

13,500

13,700

13,500

12,400

11,400

10,900

11,100

12,100

12,900

12,300

12,000

11,400

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

2.6C

2.60

2.62

2.61

2.62

2.63

2.72

2.90

3.07

3.30

3.63

4.22

Deceit

_

11.20

_

10.95

_

10.65

_

10.45

_

10.27

_

9.80

Deceo

5.90

6.04

5.96

5.65

5.40

5.30

5.06

5.06

5.81

5.59

5.48

5.20

4,970

4,970

5,000

4,980

5,000

5,020

5,150

5,430

5,700

6,100

6,710

7,930

iber 15

_

28,400

_

27,400

_

26,300

-

25,600

_

25,000

_

23,300

iber 21

11,800

12,200

12,000

11,200

10,600

10,400

9,820

9,820

11,600

11,100

10,800

10,200

Feet Isec.ft.

December 10

5.00

5.88

6.90

8.00

10.45

13.40

16.10

18.70

21.50

23.50

26.20

29.70

Decem

9.93

9.70

9.60

9.51

9,45

9.38

9.29

9.18

9.25

9.10

9.08

8.92

Decen

5.49

5.42

5.10

4.87

4.62

4.70

4.75

5.02

5.47

5.31

5.23

5.13

9,680

11,800

14,500

17,600

25,600

37,200

49,300

62,200

77,400

88,800

105,000

127,000

ber 16

23,800

23,000

22,600

22,300

22,100

21,900

21,600

21,300

21,500

21,000

21,000

20,400

ber 22

10,900

10,700

9,920

9,370

8,810

8,990

9,100

9,730

10,800

10,400

10,200

9,990

Feet | Sec.ft.

December 11

30.00

27.20

24.70

23.30

23.40

23.30

23.75

24.20

24.60

24.35

23.60

22.30

Decem

8.75

8.39

8.10

7.81

7.82

7.90

8.05

8.25

8.32

8.11

7.97

7.85

Deceit

5.41

5.45

5.10

4.77

4.49

4.38

4.40

4.48

4.92

5.03

4.99

4.95

128,000

111,000

95,800

87,600

88,200

87,600

90,200

92,900

95,200

93,800

89,400

81,900

ber 17

19,900

18,800

17,900

17,000

17,100

17,300

17 , 800

18,400

18,600

17,900

17,500

17,200

ber 23

10,700

10,800

9,920

9,140

8,530

8,290

8,330

8,510

9,490

9,750

9,660

9,560

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

21.30

20.55

20.00

19.80

19.60

19.35

19.10

18.90

18.70

18.50

18.30

18.05

Decem

7.71

7.57

7.13

6.82

6.70

6.75

6.80

7.03

7.00

6.94

6.87

6.80

Decen

4.94

5.25

5.05

4.86

4.51

4.20

4.12

4.25

5.00

5.20

5.18

5.05

76,300

72,100

69,100

68,000

67,000

65,700

64,300

63,300

62,200

61,200

60,200

58,900

ber 18

16,700

16,300

15,100

14,200

13,900

14,000

14,200

14,800

14,700

14,600

14,400

14,200

ber 24

9,540

10,300

9,800

9,350

8,570

7,890

7,710

8,000

9,680

10,200

10,100

9,800

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

17.80

17.50

17.15

16.80

16.50

16.20

15. 9Q

14,60

15.30

15.00

14.70

14.40

Decen

7.17

7.10,

6.73

6.10

5.94

5.86

5.86

6.10

6.47

6.36

6.27

6.08

Decem

5.25

5.20

4.90

4.63

4.20

3,92

3.87

4.02

4.19

4.25

4.30

4.30

57,600

56,100

54,400

52,600

51,200

49,800

48,300

47,000

45,600

44,200

42,800

41,500

ber 19

15,200

15,000

14,000

12,400

11,900

11,700

11,700

12,400

13,300

13,000

12,800

12,300

ber 25

10,300

10,200

9,440

8,840

7,890

7,290

7,190

7,500

7,870

8,000

8,110

8,110

Supplemental recorda.- Dec. 11, 1 a.m., 30.6 ft., 132,000 aet.-ft.j 9 a.m., 23.1 

ft., 86,500 aec.-ft.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 199

Sacramento River near Red Bluff, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 40°13'5511 , long. 1220 10 I 50", in SEJ sec. 34, T. 28 N., R. 3 W-, at 

lower end of Iron Canyon, half a mile below Sevenmile Creek and 4 miles northeast 

of Red Bluff, Tehama County. Altitude, about 250 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 9,300 square miles (not including Goose Lake Basin).

Qage-helght record.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge re'lation. - Defined by current-meter measurements below 185,000 seeondrest; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study at gage section; verified by slope-area determination of flood flow and logarithmic extension to peak 

stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 262,000 seoond-feet 7:30 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

EeTght, 36.50 feet).

1895-November 1937: Discharge observed, 261,000 second-feet (revised) Feb. 3, 

1909 (gage height, 35.2 feet, from nonreeording gage), from rating curve extended 

above 110,000 second-feet on basis of shape of rating curve for 1937-38.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not materially affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

3,610

3,700

3,700

3,700

3,790

3,700

3,350

3,180

3,520

3,880

Dec.

10,000

9,430

8,870

8,320

7,780

7,510

7,240

6,980

7,240

66,600

Jan.

10,900

10,900

11,200

11,200

10,900

10,600

10,300

10,000

10,000

9,150

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

14,300

13,400

7,780

10,500

13,400

18,100

42,800

20,100

16,000

91,100

Dec.

225,000

134,000

82,400

56,800

41,300

32,900

27,400

22,800

19,800

17,700

Jan.

8,590

8,870

8,870

8,590

11,200

11,800

43,100

32,900

27,400

28,300

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

«R

29

30

31

Nov.

76,200

30,100

37 , 800

51,200

31,000

22,000

17,700

14,300

12,400

10,900

1.165

Dec.

16,700

15,000

14,300

13,700

14,300

12,400

12,100

12,100

11,200

10,600

11,200

1,872

Jan.

21,600

18,400

17,300

16,000

15,300

14,000

13,100

13,400

15,600

13,700

19,800

938.1

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

b

z

o

«

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet ]sec.ft.

December 8

_

2.22

_

_

_

2.21

_

_

_

2.16

-

Decen

15.55

15.22

14.91

14.58

14.26

13.90

13.62

13.36

13.06

12.82

12.58

12.32

Decen

_

6.68

_

5.84

_

6.72

_

5.92

_

5.69

_

5.30

_

6,980

_

_

-

6,980

.

_

_

6,980

_

-

iber 14

66,500

64,000

62,200

60,400

58,600

56,200

54,600

53,400

51,800

50,100

49,000

47,400

iber 20

_

17,700

18,000

-

17,700

-

18,400

_

17,700

_

16,300

Feet |seo.ft.

December 9

2.17

2.16

2.15

2.15

2.15

2.16

2.16

2.17

2.94

2.47 3:00

3.65

Decen

12.10

11.85

11.64

11.44

11.26

11.02

10.85

10.70

10.55

10.40

10.26

10.12

Dec en

_

5.43

5.54

*.

5.36

_

5.41

_

5.28

_

4.98

6,980

6,980

6,980

6,980

6,980

6,980

6,980

6,980

6,980

7,780

9,150

10,900

ber 15

46,300

44,800

43,800

42,800

42,300

40,800

39,800

39,300

38,800

37,800

37,300

36,300

iber 21

_

16,700

*

17,000

_

16,700

_

16,700

_

16,300

_

15,300

Feet See. ft.

December 10

5.00

6.80

8.70

10.00

11.40

12.85

14.50

16.85

19.7

22.7

27.0

30.0

Decen

9.98

9.86

9.73

9.59

9.45

9.36

9.26

9.16

9.03

8.98

8.90

8.80

Decen

_

4.91

.

5.10

-

4.91

4.97

_

4.75

_

4.52

15,300

21,600

29,600

35,000

42,800

50,100

59,800

74,300

94,700

119,000

158,000

188,000

ber 16

35 , 800

35,300

34,400

33,900

32,900

32,900

32,400

32,000

31,000

30,100

30,500

30,100

iber 22

_

15,000

_

15,600

_

15,000

-

15,300

_

14,700

_

13,700

Feet | Sec, ft.

December 11

32.6

34.76

36.2

36.45

35.9

35.25

34.15

32.8

31.4

30.45

29.95

29.25

Decem

8.73

8.66

8.60

8.54

8.43

8.28

8.07

7.84

7.64

7.50

7.48

7.51

Decen

_

4.66

_

4.92

4.84

-

4.90

_

4.61

_

4.28

217,000

242,000

258,000

261,000

255,000

246,000

234,000

219,000

203,000

192,000

188,000

180,000

ber 17

29,600

29,600

29,200

28,700

28,300

27,800

26,900

25,700

24,800

24,400

24,400

24,400

ber 23

_

14,300

~

15,000

_

14,700

-

15,000

_

14,000

-

13,100

Feet 1 See. ft.

December 12

28.4

27.6

26.8

26.05

25.15

24.14

23.35

22.45

21.75

21.0

20.6

20.1

Decem

_

7.60

_

7.45

_

7.22

_

6.89

_

6.49

_

6.41

Decem

_

4.22

_

4.48

_

4.56

_

4.60

_

4.60

_

4.36

172,000

164,000

156,000

148,000

141,000

132,000

125,000

116,000

111,000

104,000

101,000

97,700

ber 18

_

24,800

_

24,000

_

23,200

_

22,000

_

20,500

_

20,100

ber 24

_

12,700

13,700

_

14,000

-

14,000

_

14,000

_

13,400

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

19.7

19.3

19.0

18.7

18.35

18.0

17.7

17.3

16.95

16.6

16.25

15.90

94,700

91,700

89,500

87,400

85,200

82,400

80,400

77,600

75,600

73,000

70,300

68,400

December 19

_

6.48

_

6.44

-

6.36

-

6.48

_

6.00

-

5.67

Decem

.

4.34

4.94

-

4.97

-

4.89

_

4.64

-

4.20

_

20,500

-

20,100

-

20,100

-

20,500

-

18,700

-

17,700

ber 25

-

13,100

15,000

-

15,300

-

15 , 000

-

14,000

-

12,700

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 7:30 a.m., 36.50 ft., 262,000 see.-ft.
200 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Sacramento River at Verona, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°46 I 50B , long. ISl'SS'lS", in SEi sec. 23, T. 11 N., R. 3 E., threequarters of a mile southeast of Verona, Sutter County, and 1 mile downstream from 

mouth of Feather River. Gage is set to datum of Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army.

Drainage area.- 21,400 square miles (not including Goose Lake Basin).

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

Stage-dlseharse relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 57,000 secondreet; extended to peak stage. Backwater corrections used for period Dec. 2-Jan. 31.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 68,400 second-feet 3 a.m. Dec. 14 (gage height, 

38.23 feet).

1929-November 1937: Discharge observed, 61,800 second-feet Feb. 25, 1936 (gage 

height, 36.62 feet), from rating curve extended above 56,000 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not materially affected by artificial storage. At discharges 

above 50,000 second-feet unmeasured flow begins over Fremont weir (1 mile upstream) 

into Yolo by-pass. Elevation of crest of Fremont weir is 33.5 feet, datum of Corps 

of Engineers, U. S. Army.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

6,260

6,260

6,260

6,540

6,400

6,540

6,680

6,540

6,260

6,260

Dec.

40,300

34,400

29,600

26,200

22,700

19,200

17,200

16,100

15,200

16,300

Jan.

27,200

25,300

24,300

23,800

23,400

22,500

21,800

21,000

20,100

19,200

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

6,540

6,840

10,500

14,400

13,100

13,100

15,500

22,500

29,600

31,000

Dec.

41,600

61,600

66,700

68,100

65,600

62,500

60,200

58,300

56,900

55,200

Jan.

18,800

18,300

17,700

17,200

17,000

18,800

22,500

30,800

38,500

43,400

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

34,200

40,500

44,400

49,100

54,100

54,400

53,500

52,500

49,900

45,700

23,510

1,399

Dec.

54,100

52,500

50,700

48,100

45,000

41,600

38,500

35,400

32,700

30,800

29,100

41,690

2,563

Jan.

46,300

47,600

47,600

46,000

42,900

39,500

36,100

33,400

31,300

30,100

28,900

29,070

1,788

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

g

«

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

_

17.84

_

17.74

17.65

_

17.55

_

17.46

-

17.43

Decen

_

38.22

-

38.20

-

38.14

-

38.04

-

37.91

-

37.75

Decen

-

-

33.72

-

_

33.59

-

_

33.47

-

-

33.36

_

16,600

_

16,400

_

16,200

_

16,000

_

15,800

_

15,700

ber 14

_

68,400

-

68,400

-

68,200

-

67,900

_

67,500

_

67,100

iber 20

_

_

55,500

_

_

55,200

-

-

54,800

-

_

54,500

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

_

17.41

_

17.32

_

17.22

_

17.18

_

17.14

_

17.20

_

15,700

_

15,500

_

15,300

_

15,200

_

15,100

_

15,200

December 15

_

37.58

_

37.41

_

37.20

37.00

_

36.82

_

36.60

Decen

_

_

33.23

_

_

33.12

-

-

32.96

_

_

32.84

_

66,600

_

66,100

_

65,600

_

65 , 000

_

64,500

_

63,900

iber 21

_

_

54,400

_

_

54,100

-

_

53,700

_

_

53,400

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

17.25

17.30

17.30

17.28

17.32

17.35

17.40

17.56

17.90

18.60

19.90

21.60

Decen:

_

36.44

_

36.26

_

36.08

_

35.94

_

35.79

_

35.65

Decen

_

_

32.67

_

_

32.52

_

_

32.37

_

_

32.21

15,400

15,500

15,500

15,400

15,400

15,100

15,200

15,700

16,400

16,700

18,500

21,000

ber 16

_

63,400

_

62,900

_

62,400

_

62,000

_

61,000

_

61,200

ber 22

_

_

52,900

_

_

52,600

-

_

52,200

_

_

51,700

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

23,40

24.95

26.35

27.60

28.80

30.90

32.30

33.20

33.85

34.65

35.55

36.20

Decen

_

_

35.45

_

_

35.26

_

_

35.07

_

_

34.90

Decen

_

_

32.05

_

_

31.86

-

_

31.65

_

_

31.44

24,600

27 , 800

31,600

34,600

37,700

43,900

47,600

49,900

51,600

54,200

57,200

59,300

ber 17

_

_

60,700

_

_

60,100

_

_

59,600

_

_

59,100

ber 23

_

_

51,300

_

_

50,800

_

_

50,300

_

_

49,700

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

36.57

36.70

36.66

36.60

36.52

36.46

36.40

36.36

36.34

36.32

36.34

36.44

60,400

60,900

61,100

61,100

61,300

61,400

61,600

61,600

61,900

62,000

62,300

62,900

December 18

_

_

34.75

_

_

34.59

_

_

34.46

_

_

34.33

Decen

_

_

31.16

_

_

30.87

_

_

30.56

_

_

30.27

_

_

58,700

_

_

58,300

_

_

57,900

_

_

57,500

ber 24

_

_

48,800

_

_

48,000

_

47,200

_

_

46,400

Feet (Sec. ft.

December 13

_

36.85

_

37.35

_

37.74

_

37.96

-

38.15

-

38.22

Decen

_

_

34.20

_

34.09

_

_

33.98

_

_

33.85

Dec em

_

_

29.97

-

29.67

-

-

29.38

_

_

29.06

_

64,600

_

66,000

_

67,100

_

67,700

_

68,200

_

68,400

ber 19

_

-

57,200

-

_

56,900

-

_

56,500

_

_

56,200

ber 25

_

_

45,700

_

-

44,900

-

44,100

-

_

43,300

Supplemental records.- Dec. 14, 3 a.m. 38.23 ft., 68,400 sec.-ft.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 201

Sacramento River at Sacramento and Yolo by-pass at Lisbon, Calif.

Location.- Record for Sacramento River at Sacramento obtained from U. S. Weather Bureau 

water-stage recorder at I Street bridge. Record for Yolo by-pass obtained from waterstage recorder of California State Department of Public Works at Lisbon sub-station 

10 miles southwest of Sacramento.

Remarks.- During extreme high water gates are opened in Sacramento weir (on right bank 

of river 5 miles northwest of Sacramento and 4 miles upstream from American River) to 

permit spill into Yolo by-pass. Discharge of Yolo by-pass at Lisbon includes flow 

over Sacramento weir as well as that of Cache and Putah Creeks and other streams entering Sacramento River from the west. Combined flow of Sacramento River at Sacramento and Yolo by-pass at Lisbon gives practically total run-off from Sacramento 

Valley to and including Putah Creek. Complete records furnished by State engineer.

Discharge, in second-feet, December 1937

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

Sacramento River

42,000

36,500

29,500

26,000

24,000

_

_

_

_

25,000

a 70,000

b 73,000

66,200

63 , 600

62,500

60,500

60,000-

59, §00

5 Si'900

SB, 000

/ 56,500

54,000

53,000

1 50,800

; 49,200

1

J 46,000

; 41,000

, 38,000

; 35,000

32,500

| 29,000

Yolo by-pass

-

_

_

_

-

_

_

-

_

-

6,000

56,000

136,000

c 187,100

182,000

142,000

115,000

81,700

66,000

42,000

32,000

22,000

16,000

13,000

11,500

10,000

9,000

7,000

6,500

6,000

5,500

Total

-

-

_

-

-

_

_

_

-

-

76,000

129,000

202,000

251,000

244,000

202,000

175,000

141,000

125,000

100,000

88,500

76,000

69,000

63,800

60,700

56,000

50,000

45,000

41,500

38,500

34,500

48 gates of Sacramento weir opened about 5 p.m. Dec. 11. 

b Peak stage, 27.7 feet 2 a.m. Dec. 11 {discharge, 79,000 second-feet), 

c Peak stage, 20.95 feet 8 p.m. Dec. 14 (discharge, 194,000 seeond-fest).

Miscellaneous discharge measurements made by Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, during 

flood of December 1937 at various points on Sacramento River and adjacent channels

Place of measurement

Colusa weir

Do.

Do.

Sutter by-pass at Long Bridge

Sacramento River at Tisdale weir

Sutter by-pass at Sutter causeway

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Sacramento River at Knights Landing

Do.

Do.

Do.

Knights Landing Ridge cut at highway bridge

Do.

Do.

Do.

Date

12

12

13

13

14

12

12-13

13

13

13

12

13

13

14

15

15-16

16

18

Elevation* 

(feet)

66.08

66.35

67.26

54.05

51.20

39.95

42.45

45.05

46.75

47.25

38.23

39.02

39.69

40.16

33.49

34.70

35.56

36.38

Discharge 

(second-feet)

56,900

59,200

30,800

147,000

16,100

13,000

61,100

106,000

142,000

148,000

20,700

20,300

21,400

23,100

2,780

6,560

11,200

12,700

 Datum of Corps of Engineers, TJ. S. Army.

190802 O-*9 14
202 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Pit River near Canby, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 41°24», long. 120°55', in S«i sec. 10, T. '41 N., R. 9 E., at lower end

of Warm Spring Valley, about 4 miles southwest of Canby, Modoc County. Altitude,

about 4,300 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 1,430 square miles (revised), not including Goose Lake Basin. 

Gage-height 7ecord.- Water-stage recorder graph. 

Stage-discharge re'latlon. - Defined by current-meter measurements below 3,600 secondreetj extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study.

Maxima.- December 19378 Discharge, 8,210 second-feet 5 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

 IS765 feet),

1904-5, 1929-Hovember 1937: Discharge observed, 17,000 second-feet (revised)

Mar. 8, 1904 (gage height, 14.0 feet, nonrecording gage, former datum), from rating

curve extended above 6,000 second-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off slightly affected by artificial storage.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

Z

5

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

26

24

23

22

24

38

31

33

29

26

Dec.

90

90

73

67

63

58

56

52

62

473

Jan.

241

246

241

232

223

205

184

162

144

125

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

NOV.

31

33

33

36

50

40

60

60

83

107

Dec.

6,570

5,950

5,950

4,170

2,800

2,060

1,680

1,400

1,140

932

Jan.

125

122

125

129

140

144

158

184

179

171

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

144

158

260

246

192

171

155

132

116

98

88.7

4,920

Dec.

788

668

521

416

335

295

260

246

241

241

241

1,225

75,330

Jan.

166

223

255

305

290

250

232

205

192

184

179

192

11,880

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

h

3ow

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Z

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

11

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

_

-

2.52

-

2.51

_

_

2.50

_

_

2.51

Deceit

9.5i

9.32

9.16

8.98

8.79

8,63

8.45

8.3C

8.02

7,97

7.88

7.64

Decen

.

4.41

_

4.35

4.29

4.29

_

4.25

_

4.20

_

_

54

-

_

52

-

_

50

_

_

52

ber 14

5,060

4,870

4,710

4,530

4,340

4,200

4,040

3,900

3,740

3,600

3,470

3,310

ber 20

_

986

_

950

914

914

_

890

_

860

Feet ISec.ft.

December 9

_

_

2.50

-

-

2.50

-

_

2.50

_

_

2.51

Deces

_

7.37

-

7,16

-

6.98

-

6.78

~

6.57

6.39

Decei

-

4.12

_

4.06

-

4.04

_

3.97

_

_

50

_

50

-

_

50

_

52

ber 15

_

3,100

_

2,930

-

2,780

_

2,620

_

2,460

_

2,330

ibsr 21

.

_

812

-

776

764

-

722

Feet |sec.ft.

December 10

2.51

2.52

2.53

2.55

2.57

3.10

3.25

3.52

3.74

4.62

5.25

6.45

Decea

_

6.24

_

6.09

-

5.97

_

5.87

_

5.79

_

5.69

Deceit

_

_

3.91

_

_

3.88

_

3.83

_

_

3.76

52

54

56

60

65

250

325

466

587

1,120

1,540

2,380

ber 16

_

2,230

-

2,120

-

2,040

_

1,970

_

1,910

_

1,840

bar 22

_

_

686

_

_

668

-

-

638

-

_

598

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

7.73

8.49

9.14

10.00

11.23

12.12

12.45

12.63

12.61

12.48

12.36

12.17

3,390

4,070

4,690

5,550

6,780

7,680

8,040

8,210

8,210

8,080

7,950

7,740

December 17

.

5.62

_

5.58

-

5.49

_

5.37

_

5.26-

_

5.17

Decen

_

_

3.64

-

_

3.60

-

-

3.60

_

3.49

_

1,790

-

1,770

-

1,700

_

1,620

_

1,540

-

1,480

ber 23

_

-

532

_

_

510

-

-

510

-

_

450

Feet 1 Sec.ft.

December 12

11.84

11.50

11.15

10.75

10.42

10.09

9.78

9.59

9.16

9.66

9.84

10.11

Decen

_

5.05

4.98

-

5.01

_

5.04

_

4.99

-

4.89

Deceit

_

_

3.43

_

3.45

-

3.40

-

-

3.31

7,390

7,050

6,700

6,300

5,970

5,640

5,330

5,140

5,110

5,210

5,390

5,660

ber 18

-

1,400

-

1,360

-

1,380

_

1,400

_

1,360

-

1,300

ber 24

-

-

416

-

-

428

-

400

-

355

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

10.37

10.57

10.69

10.70

10.67

10.60

10.49

10.35

10.20

10.04

9.88

9.69

Deceit

«.

4.79

_

4.71

-

4.63

_

4.57

_

4.52

_

4,46

J3ecem

_

_

3.29

-

3.28

-

3.23

-

3.20

5,920

6,120

6,240

6,250

6,220

6,150

6,040

5,900

5,750

5,590

5,430

5,240

ber 19

-

1,230

1,180

-

1,130

-

1,090

_

1,060

-

1,020

bar 25

-

-

345

-

-

34C

-

$16

« 

300

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 5 p.m., 12.65 ft., 8,210 sec.-ft.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 203

Pit River at Pall River Mills, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 41°00', long. 121°26', in HEi sec. 6, T. 36 N., R. 5 E., 0.8 mile below 

Pall River and town of Pall River Mills, Shasta County. Altitude, about 3,235 feet 

above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 4,150 square miles (not including Goose Lake Basin).

gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 10 a.m. Dec. 10 to 

9 a.m. Dec. 13, when there was no record. Peak stage determined from floodmarka.

Stage-dlseharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 8,800 secondfeet; extended to peak stage by A^ method; verified by area-velocity study.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 28,600 second-feet about noon Dec. 12 (gage height, 

11.8 feet, inaide gage; 12.1 feet, outside gage, from floodmarks).

1921-November 19378 Discharge, 13,000 second-feet (revised) Mar. 28, 1928 (gage 

height, 7.89 feet), from rating curve for 1938.

Remarks.- Flood run-off slightly affected by artificial storage and diversion. Discharge for period of missing gage-height record, Dec. 10-12, determined from discharge 

hydrograph based on record for Pit River below Pit No. 4 dam. Discharge for period 

Dec. 11-12 includes about 800 second-feet from Pall River.which is usually diverted 

around station through Pit No. 1 power house. Most of basic data furnished by 

Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

63

62

62

60

62

63

67

84

71

77

Dec.

322

290

266

243

229

209

191

179

179

750

Jan.

618

660

748

667

618

554

518

476

446

424

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

95

100

96

95

100

146

440

250

243

680

Dec.

10,500

24,500

19,700

11,300

8,900

6,200

4,100

3,040

2,480

2,050

Jan.

402

380

365

360

365

434

606

906

1,080

842

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

740

653

1,380

1,420

1,190

930

695

536

440

360

375

22,330

Dec.

1,730

1,520

1,330

1,120

850

818

740

653

599

573

592

210,600

Jan.

778

882

1,250

1,090

890

802

732

674

640

600

570

40,420

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

£

m

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Peet Sec.ft.

December 8

_

_

1.08

_

_

1.07

_

_

1.09

_

-

1.08

Deceit

8.14

7.95

7.79

7.64

7.50

7.35

7,25

7.12

7.03

6,97

6.94

6.88

Decen

_

_

3.45

-

_

3.39

_

_

3.33

_

_

3.26

_

_

179

_

_

176

-

_

182

_

_

179

ber 14

13,800

13,200

12,600

12,100

11,600

11,200

10,800

10,500

10,200

10,000

9,920

9,740

iber 20

_

_

2,120

_

_

2,040

-

_

1,960

-

1,870

Peet Sec.ft.

December 9

_

_

1.08

_

_

1.07

-

_

1.07

_

-

1.10

Decen

6.84

6.80

6.77

6.74

6.69

6.64

6.59

6.53

6.46

6.40

6.30

6.22

Decei

_

_

3.21

-

_

3.16

_

_

3.11

-

-

3.06

_

_

179

_

_

176

-

_

176

_

_

186

ber 15

9,620

9,500

9,410

9,320

9,170

9,020

8,870

8,690

8,480

8,300

8,000

7,760

ttber 21

_

_

1,800

-

_

1,740

-

_

1,680

-

-

1,620

Peet Sec.ft.

December 10

1.12

1.15

1.24

1.32

1.48

-

_

_

_

 ^

-.

-

Decen

6.12

6.01

5.91

5.80

5.69

5.58

5.48

5.37

5.29

5.20

5.12

5.05

Decen

_

_

3.01

-

2.97

_

2.93

-

2.89

191

200

229

258

326

800

1,000

1,100

1,200

1,300

1,400

1,800

ber 16

7,500

7,220

6,980

6,700

6,420

6,150

5,900

5,630

5,440

5,240

5,060

4,910

ber 22

_

_

1,560

-

1,520

_

1,470

-

1,430

Peet Sec.ft.

December 11

_

_

_

_

.

_

_

_

_

_

-

Decen

4.99

4.91

4.85

4.79

4.72

4.66

4.54

4.49

4.45

4.40

4.35

4.31

Decen

_

_

2.84

-

-

2.80

_

2.76

-

_

2.72

2,600

4,000

6,000

8,200

10,300

12,000

13,200

14,000

14,600

15,100

16,100

17,400

ber 17

4,780

4,620

4,500

4,380

4,240

4,120

3,890

3,800

3,730

3,640

3,550

3,480

ber 23

_

_

1,370

-

1,330

-

1,290

-

-

1,240

Peet 1 Sec.ft.

December 12

_

_

_

_

_

11.80

-

_

_

_

_

-

Decen

_

4.21

4.15

-

4.06

-

3.98

_

3.91

3.85

Decen

_

_

2.68

-

2.60

-

_

2.50

-

_

2.48

18,900

20,300

22,100

24,300

26,800

28,600

28,400

28,000

27,500

26,700

25,600

24,800

ber 18

_

3,310

3,200

3,050

2,920

2,810

2,710

ber 24

.

_

1,200

-

1,120

-

1,020

-

-

1,000

Peet Sec.ft.

December 13

_

_

_

10.10

9.85

9.60

9.33

9.16

8.94

8.73

8.54

8.33

24,100

23,300

22,600

21,300

20,300

19,300

18,200

17,500

16,700

15,900

15,200

14,500

December 19

_

3.79

-

3.73

3,67

-

3.61

3.56

-

3.52

Decen

_

2.42

2.31

2.20

2.17

-

2.24

2.39

-

2,620

-

2,520

-

2,440

2,340

2,270

-

2,220

ber 25

-

948

_

858

-

770

-

748

-

802

-

922
204 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Pit River below Pit No. 4 dam, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 40°59', long. 121°47', in SWj see. 17, T. 36 N., R. 2 E., 1 mile below 

Pit No. 4 dam, Shasta County, and 3 miles below Screwdriver Creek and Pit No. 3 

power house. Altitude, about 2,345 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 4,860 square miles (not including Goose Lake Basin).

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 7,300 seeondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study} verified by computation of flow over Pit No. 3 dam 8 miles above, plus flow through the diversion 

tunnel from Pit No. 3 dam, plus estimated inflow between the dam and the gage, and 

by comparison of peak discharge and total run-off of flood with records for other 

stations on Pit River. Rating curve otaanged at peak stage.

Maxima..- December 1937: Discharge, 30,200 second-feet 6 p.m. Dec. 12 (gage height, 

17790 feet).

1927-November 1937: Discharge, 18,400 second-feet (revised) Apr. 8, 1935 (gage 

height, 14.7 feet), from rating curve Extended above 7,300 second-feet on basis of 

area-velocity study for 1938.

Remarks.- Flood run-off slightly affected by artificial storage and diversion. Part 

of basic data furnished by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

1,900

1,900

1,950

2,000

1,840

1,430

1,380

1,630

1,730

1,730

Dec.

2,300

2,240

2,120

2,000

1,950

1,950

1,950

1,950

1,950

2,680

Jan.

2,920

2,550

3,000

3,080

3,000

3,000

3,000

3,160

2,480

2,150

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

2,120

2,060

1,840

1,780

1,840

1,950

2,500

2,500

2,120

2,500

Dec.

12,000

26,200

25,800

16,500

12,400

10,300

8,100

6,160

5,350

4,970

Jan.

2,480

2,480

2,410

2,340

2,410

2,550

3,000

3,400

3,580

3,490

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

3,590

2,770

2,910

3,750

3,750

3,670

3,130

2,630

2,240

2,240

2

<ZT "Z

137,600

Dec.

4,210

3,930

3,660

3,490

2,780

3,080

3,580

3,000

2,340

3,080

3,000

5

QCQ

367,000

Jan.

3,000

3,000

3,400

3,580

3,240

2,850

2,780

2,920

3,000

2,620

2,620

2

Qorr

177,500

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

g£

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Seo.ft.

December 8

-

7.17

_

7.22

_

7.24

-

7.18

_

7.22

_

7.22

Dec en

15.15

14.86

14.65

14.45

14.28

14.10

13,92

13.81

13.60

13.45

13.34

13.24

Decen

9 21

8^94

9.14

9.57

10.10

9.80

9.70

9.42

9.67

9.85

9.75

9.37

_

1,920

_

1,970

_

1,990

_

1,930

_

1,970

_

1,970

ber 14

19,900

18,900

18,200

17,600

17,000

16,500

16,000

15,600

15,000

14,600

14,200

13,900

iber 20

4,420

3,910

4,290

5,100

6,160

5,550

5,350

4,820

5,290

5,650

5,450

4,720

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

_

7.18

_

7.22

_

7.23

_

7.23

_

7.23

_

7.17

.

1,930

_

1,970

_

1,980

_

1,980

_

1,980

_

1,920

December 15

13.15

13.03

12.96

12.88

12.82

12.76

12.70

12.40

12.30

12.57

12.29

12.21

Decen

9.04

8.84

8.65

9.19

9.65

9.36

9.12

8.98

9.19

9.33

8.92

8.55

13,600

13,300

13,100

12,900

12,700

12,500

12,400

11,600

11,300

12,000

11,300

11,100

iber 21

4,100

3,730

3,400

4,380

5,260

4,700

4,250

3,980

4,380

4,650

3,880

3,240

Feet Seo.ft.

December 10

7.17

7.18

7.18

7.19

7.73

7.75

7.77

7.78

8.26

8.50

8.58

8.61

1,920

1,930

1,930

1,940

2,600

2,630

2,660

2,670

3,370

3,750

3,880

3,930

December 16

12.21

12.19

12.14

12.07

12.00

12.21

12.10

12.00

11.83

11.38

11.10

10.62

Decen

8.35

8.45

8.50

8.98

9.34

9.17

9.08

8.99

9.36

9.40

9.00

8.52

11,100

11,100

10,900

10,700

10,600

11,100

10,800

10,600

10,100

9,010

8,340

7,260

ber 22

2,920

3,080

3,160

3,980

4,670

4,340 .

4,170

4,000

4,700

4,780

4,020

3,190

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

8.63

8.60

11.90

10.95

11.55

12.55

13.12

14.50

14.25

14.60

14.85

15.10

Decen

10.62

10.72

10.91

11.25

11.50

11.40

11.20

11.01

10.91

10.81

10.45

9.95

Deceit

8.26

8.22

8.30

8.60

8.98

9.05

9.02

8.95

9.19

9.30

8.94

8.55

3,960

3,910

10,400

8,180

9,520

12,000

13,600

17,700

17,000

18,000

18,900

19,800

ber 17

7,260

7,480

7,900

8,700

9,300

9,060

8,580

8,120

7,900

7,680

6,900

5,850

ber 23

2,790

2,730

2,850

3,320

3,980

4,120

4,060

3,930

4,380

4,590

3,910

3,240

Feet Seo.ft.

December 12

15.18

15.47

16.00

16.45

16.95

17.37

17.65

17.82

17.90

17.85

17.80

17.73

Decen

9.71

9.78

9.89

10.20

10.29

10.20

10.15

10.10

10.35

10.63

10.45

9.59

20,000

21,000

22,900

24,500

26,400

28,100

29,200

29,900

30,200

30,000

29,800

29,500

ber 18

5,370

5,510

5,730

6,370

6,560

6,370

6,260

6,160

6,680

7,290

6,900

5,140

December 24

8.02

7.85

7.86

8.50

8.93

9.05

9.05

9.00

8.95

9.35

9.17

8.82

2,440

2,220

2,230

3,160

3,890

4,120

4,120

4,020

3,930

4,680

4,340

3,700

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

17.65

17.57

17.51

17.40

17.25

17.00

16.70

16.32

16.13

15.90

15.62

15.39

Decen

9.19

9.12

9.08

9.32

9.78

9.99

9.86

9.56

10.05

10.19

10.35

9.67

Decem

8.37

7.91

7.78

7.90

8.08

8.22

8.29

8.33

8.35

8.53

8.60

8.52

29,200

28,900

28,600

28,200

27,600

26,600

25,400

24,000

23,400

22,600

21,600

20,800

ber 19

4,380

4,250

4,170

4,630

5,510

5,930

5,670

5,080

6,060

6,350

6,680

5,290

ber 25

2,960

2,290

2,120

2,280

2,520

2,730

2,840

2,900

2,920

3,210

3,320

3,190
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 205

Pit River at Big Bend, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 41°01', long. 121°55', in sec. 31, T. 37 N., R. IE., at Big Bend, 

Shasta County. Nelson Creek enters half a mile above and Kosk Creek 1 mile below

station. Altitude, about 1,700 feet above mean sea level. 

Dra inage are a.- 4,920 square miles (not including Goose Lake Basin). 

gage-height 7ecord.- Water-stage recorder graph 

Stage-discharge re la 1 ' --.-.- -- .

water-stage recorder grapii.

,_ _. .__.._ _._tlon.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 10,800 secondfeet; eeextended extended to peak stage on basis orf area-velocity area-velocity study; veririea verified by ocomparmparlon of peak discharge and total run-off of flood with records for other stations 

on Pit River.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 34,200 second-feet 5 p.m. Dec. 12 (gage height, 

16726 feet).

1910-November 1937: Discharge, 20,400 second-feet (revised) Apr. 8, 1935 (gage 

height, 13.96 feet), from rating curve for 1938. 

Remamrks.- Flood run-off slightly affected by artificial storage and diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

1,830

1,830

1,950

1,950

1,830

1,450

1,390

1,660

1,770

1,830

Dec.

2,510

2,440

2,290

2,220

2,080

2,080

2,080

2,080

2,150

4,290

Jan.

3,170

2,750

3,350

3,350

3,260

3,170

3,260

3,350

2,830

2,360

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

2,290

2,220

1,950

1,950

1,950

2,220

2,830

2,830

2,440

4,840

Dec.

17,000

30,300

27,900

18,400

14,100

11,800

8,770

6,970

5,880

5,630

Jan.

2,670

2,750

2,590

2,590

2,670

2,830

3,350

3,820

4,010

3,910

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

6,280

4,520

4,310

5,390

4,840

4,520

3,720

3,080

2,510

2,440

167,800

Dec.

4,730

4,210

3,910

3,820

3,000

3,440

3,910

3,260

2,590

3,350

3,350

417,600

Jan.

3,440

3,350

3,720

4,010

3,620

3,170

3,080

3,350

3,350

2,920

2,920

196,300

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

§oK

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Peet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

8.09

_

8.10

_

8.15

_

8.12

_

8.12

_

8.13

_

2,070

_

2,080

_

2,150

_

2,110

_

2,110

_

2,120

December 14

14.26

14.09

13.91

13.78

13.63

13.45

13.39

13.29

13.19

13.08

13.01

12.95

Decen

9.78

9.47

9.51

9.95

10.45

10.24

10.12

9.88

9.88

10.26

10.18

9.89

21,800

20,900

20,000

19,300

18,600

17,700

17,500

17,000

16,600

16,100

15,700

15,500

iber 20

5,120

4,460

4,540

5,510

6,830

6,250

5,930

5,340

5,340

6,300

6,090

5,370

Peet Sec. ft.

December 9

_

8.09

_

8.10

_

8.16

_

8.17

_

8.20

_

8.22

_

2,070

_

2,080

_

2,160

_

2,180

_

2,220

_

2,250

December 15

12.89

12.80

12.75

12.70

12.66

12.61

12.58

12.44

12.27

12.54

12.27

12.23

Decei

9.56

9.48

9.11

9.17

10.13

9.84

9.73

9.40

9.53

9.92

9.50

9. 12

15,300

14,900

14,700

14,500

14,300

14,100

14,000

13,500

12,800

13,900

12,800

12,700

iber 21

4,520

4,480

3,740

3,850

5,960

5,250

5,010

4,310

4,580

5,440

4,520

3,760

Peet Sec. ft.

December 10

8.22

8.28

8.38

8.38

8.76

9.41

9.36

9.59

9.92

10.40

10.91

10.80

Decen

12.20

12.17

13.13

12.08

12.03

12.21

12.08

12.04

11.91

11.73

11.41

10.90

Decen

8.77

8.92

8.95

9.07

9.81

9.69

9.56

9.48

9.55

9.97

9.54

9.12

2,250

2,330

2,480

2,480

3,100

4,330

4,230

4,710

5,440

6,690

8,180

7,850

ber 16

12,600

12,400

12,300

12,100

11,900

12,600

12,100

12,000

11,500

10,900

9,760

8,150

ber 22

3,120

3,390

3,440

3,660

5,180

4,920

4,650

4,480

4,620

5,560

4,600

3,760

Peet Sec. ft.

December 11

10.81

11.64

12.30

12.53

12.98

13.40

13.75

14.25

14.20

14.42

14.57

14.65

Decem

10.93

11.03

11.14

11.40

11.57

11.57

11.37

11.30

11.20

11.03

10.58

10.20

Decen

8.66

8.60

8.70

8.83

9.41

9.54

9.49

9.45

9.40

9.86

9.55

9.29

7,880

10,500

12,900

13,800

15,600

17,500

19,200

21,800

21,500

22,700

23,500

24,000

ber 17

8,240

8,550

8,900

9,730

10,300

10,300

9,630

9,410

9,090

8,550

7,200

6,140

ber 23

2,930

2,830

3,000

3,220

4,330

4,600

4,500

4,420

4,310

5,300

4,620

4,090

 

Peet Sec. ft.

December 12

14.75

14.99

15.23

15.53

15.77

15.97

16.10

16.20

16..20

16.13

16.12

16.05

Decen

10.14

10.24

10.31

10.62

10.60

10.55

10.50

10.46

10.80

10.86

10.66

9.88

Decen

8.60

8.19

8.21

8.48

9.46

9.57

9.52

9.48

9.42

9.84

9.48

9.14

24,600

26,000

27,500

29,300

30,700

32,000

32,800

33,500

33,500

33,000

33,000

32,500

ber 18

5,980

6,250

6,440

7,320

7,260

7,120

6,970

6,860

7,850

8,030

7,430

5,340

ber 24

2,830

2,210

2,230

2,640

4,440

4,670

4,560

4,480

4,350

5,250

4,480

3,800

Peet Sec. ft.

December 13

15.97

15.83

15.65

15.55

15.41

15.26

15.12

14.96

14.85

14.71

14.60

14.43

32,000

21,100

30,000

29,400

28,6001

22,700

26,800

25,900

25,200

24,400

23,700

22,800

December 19

9.61

9.55

9.58

9.90

10.33

10.42

10.18

10.01

10.15

10.57

10.67

10.27

Decen

8.51

8.15

8.17

8.47

8.66

8.75

8.80

8.83

8.85

9.10

9.11

8.97

4,750

4,620

4,690

5,390

6,490

6,750

6,090

5,660

6,010

7,170

7,460

6,330

ber 25

2,690

2,150

2,180

2,620

2,930

3,080

3,170

3,220

3,260

3,720

3,740

3,480

Supplemental records.- Dec. 12, 5 p.m., 16.26 ft., 34,200 sec.-ft.
S06 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Pit River near Ydalpom, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 40°46», long. 122°14', in NWi see. 32, T. 34 N., R. 3 W., at Sllverthorne Perry, ij miles southwest of Ydalpom, Shaata County. Squaw Creek enters 

half a mile above and MoCloud River 4 miles below station. Altitude, about 735 

feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 5,350 square miles (not including Gooae Lake Basin).

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 21,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study and A\M method; verified by comparison of peak discharge and total run-off of flood with record of Sacramento River near Rennet..

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 65,000 second-feet llp.m. Dec. 10 (gage height,

 51720 feet).

1910-November 1937: Discharge, about 47,000 seoond-feet Dec. 31, 1913 (gage 

height, about 20.7 feet, from floodmarks, present datum), from rating curve extended above 27,200 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off slightly affected by artificial storage and diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

2,000

2,000

2,060

2,160

2,110

1,690

1,540

1,740

1,890

2,220

Dec.

3,600

3,380

3,S40

3,100

2,900

2,840

2,840

2,780

3,100

24,900

Jan.

4,610

4,130

4,210

4,610

4,450

4,S90

4,290

4,370

4,210

3,240

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

3,520

3,100

2,520

3,970

3,670

5,220

6,170

4,610

4,610

21,300

Dec.

41,900

40,400

34,300

24,200

18,600

15,400

11,900

9,340

8,060

7,660

Jan.

3,600

3,670

3,520

3,460

4,050

4,610

9,560

7,660

7,860

7,860

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet .........................................

Nov.

11,900

7,090

10,600

12,400

8,060

6,710

5,630

4,610

3,900

3,600

302,700

Dec.

6,710

5,990

5,630

5,630

4,950

4,780

5,120

4,610

4,210

4,450

4,780

637,300

Jan.

6,530

5,990

5,990

5,990

5,460

4,950

4,780

5,120

5,120

4,780

5,990

5

1 017

315,300

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

1o

Hi

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

5.37

«,

5.37

_

5.33

-

5.37

_

5.37

-

5.32

_

2,800

_

2,800

-

2,750

-

2,800

_

2,800

_

2,740

December 14

15.55

15.29

15.08

14.84

14.58

14.37

14.16

13.96

13.75

13.57

13.36

13.23

Deceit

8.90

9.00

8.38

7.92

7.61

7.70

8.20

8.72

8.40

8.27

7.98

8.18

28,100

27,200

26,500

25,700

24,800

24,100

23,400

22,800

22,100

21,500

20,900

20,500

iber 20

8,900

9, ISO

7,820

6,940

6,370

6,530

7,470

8,500

7,860

7,600

7,050

7,430

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

5.35

5.35

5.36

5.35

5.31

5.34

5.40

5.52

5.70

5.89

6.32

6.91

2,780

2,780

2,790

2,780

2,720

2,760

2,840

3,000

3,240

3,510

4,160

5,140

December 15

13.13

12.99

12.87

12,73

12.63

12.53

12.43

12.34

12.27

12.17

11.80

11.92

Dec en

8.40

8.30

7.95

7.59

7.50

7.18

7,29

8.22

7.90

7.76

7.44

7.65

20,200

19,800

19,400

19,000

18,700

18,400

18,100

17,800

17,600

17,300

16,200

16,600

iber 21

7,860

7,660

7,000

6,330

6,170

5,600

5,790

7,510

6,900

6,640

6,060

6,440

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

7.50

8.05

8,67

9.78

12.20

14.20

15.72

16.38

17.00

17.87

22.85

23.50

Deceit

11.88

11,65

11.59

11.55

11.50

11.43

11.33

11.28

11.35

11.33

11.17

11.00

Deceit

7.90

7.47

7.11

6.80

6.88

6.93

7.12

7.88

7.70

7.58

7.47

7.67

6,170

7,180

8,400

10,900

17,400

23,500

28,700

31,100

33,500

37,000

58,800

61,800

ber 16

16,500

15,800

15,700

15,500

15,400

15,200

14,900

14,800

15,000

14,900

14,500

14,000

ber 22

6,900

6,120

5,480

4,950

5,090

5,170

5,490

6,860

6,530

6,310

6,120

6,480

Feet See. ft.

December 11

21.25

19.47

18.27

18.31

17.81

17.78

18.17

19.18

19.36

18.96

18.54

18.66

51,500

43,700

38,600

38,800

36,700

36,600

38,200

42,500

43,200

41,500

39,800

40,300

December 17

10.57

10.22

9.77

9.75

9.85

10.04

10.40

10.56

10.38

10.19-

10.04

9.89

Deceit]

7.93

7.49

7.06

6.68

6.55

6.61

6.74

7.33

7.46

7.42

7.35

7.34

12,900

12 , 000

10,900

10,900

11,100

11,600

12,400

12,900

12,400

11,900

11,600

11,200

ber 23

6,960

6,150

5,390

4,750

4,530

4,630

4,850

5,860

6,100

6,030

5,900

5,880

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

18.88

18.98

18.78

18.58

18.51

18.60

18.73

18.77

18.78

18.73

18.64

18.48

41,200

41,600

40,800

39,900

39,600

40,000

40,600

40,700

40,800

40,600

40,200

39,500

December 18

9.75

9.25

8.82

8.65

8.74

8.82

9.17

9.15

9.08

9.01

8.95

9.25

10,900

9,670

8,720

8,360

8,550

8,720

9,490

9,450

9,300

9,140

9,010

9,670

December 24

7.76

7.45

7.14

6.60

6.25

6.22

6.46

7.48

7.62

7.58

7.51

7.55

6,640

6,080

5,530

4,610

4,050

4,000

4,390

6,130

6,390

6,310

6,190

6,260

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

18.30

18.11

17.92

17.71

17.50

17.26

17.01

16.79

16.54

16.29

16.04

15.79

Decem

9.43

9.20

8.37

7.92

7.93

7.80

8.02

8.58

8.68

8.52

8.23

8.68

Decem

7.80

7.41

7.06

6.51

6.16

6.11

6.33

6.55

6.64

6.69

6.71

6.73

38,800

38,000

37,200

36,300

35,500

34,500

33,500

32,700

31,700

30,800

29,800

28,900

ber 19

10,100

9,560

7,800

6,940

6,960

6,710

7,130

8,220

8,420

8,100

7,530

8,420

ber 25

6,710

6,010

5,390

4,470

3,910

3,840

4,180

4,530

4,680

4,760

4,800

4,830

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 11 p.m., 24.20 ft., 65,000 sec.-ft.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 207

South Pork of Pit River near Likely, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 41°14', long, 120°25', In NEi sec. 11, T. 39 N., R. 13 E., 1.3 mile below West Valley Creek and 3.5 miles east of Likely, Modoo County. Altitude, about 

4,580 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 248 square miles (revised).

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

Stage-dischargeTelation.- Affected by ice for periods Jan. 6-10, 24-26. Defined by 

current-meter measurements below 600 second-feet; extended to peak stage. Shiftingcontrol method used for period Dec. 12-29.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 746 second-feet 3 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 4.86 

feet).

1928-November 19378 Discharge, 1,060 second-feet Apr. 27, 1932 (gage height, 

5.55 feet), from rating curve extended above 550 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by artificial storage in West Valley Reservoir on West 

Valley Creek, which stored 7,200 acre-feet during storm period Dec. 10-15. Discharge for periods of ice effect computed on basis of weather records and record for 

Pit River near Oanby.

Mean daily discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

14

14

14

14

13

14

14

14

12

12

Dec.

13

11

11

13

16

19

22

21

16

121

Jan.

40

45

43

39

36

32

31

31

31

31

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

16

13

13

12

11

24

40

23

15

19

Dec.

629

428

214

151

132

95

85

74

61

55

Jan.

31

30

30

31

34

33

37

38

33

31

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

25

14

19

20

12

8

6.5

8

12

14

911

Dec.

53

46

47

46

40

44

40

38

37

40

39

5,270

Jan.

33

40

38

38

36

36

34

33

33

31

33

34.6

2,130

Sage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

b 

g

w

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet (Sec. ft.

December 8

1.90

1.94

1.98

1.95

1.87

1.92

1.86

1.90

1.86

1.82

1.81

1.83

Deceit

_

3.09

-

3.02

-

2.96

2.95

-

2.94

-

2.93

Decen

2.41

2.39

2.38

2.37

2.33

2.28

2.35

2.28

2.28

2.30

2.34

2.36

21

S3

26

24

20

22

19

21

19

17

16

18

ber 14

.

171

-

155

-

143

-

141

_

139

-

137

iber 20

62

60

59

68

54

49

56

49

49

51

55

57

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

1.82

1.81

1.80

1.80

1.80

1.80

1.80

1.81

1.81

1.82

1.82

1.83

17

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

17

17

18

December 15

_

2.90

_

2.91

-

2.92

_

2.89

_

2.84

_

2.79

Deceu

2.36

2.34

2.32

2.30

2.29

2.32

2.33

2.27

2.27

2.29

2.31

2.31

_

132

_

134

-

135

_

130

-

122

_

114

iber 21

57

55

53

51

50

53

54

48

48

50

52

52

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

1.84

1.85

1.88

1.88

1.91

2.02

2.12

2.82

2.98

3.50

3.90

4.52

18

18

20

20

22

29

37

123

153

284

406

618

December 16

_

2.74

_

2.67

-

2.61

_

2.62

_

2.64

-

2.67

Decen

2.31

2.27

2.24

2.25

2.22

2.21

2.21

2.23

2.24

2.25

2.27

2.27

_

106

_

95

_

86

_

88

_

90

_

95

iber 22

52

48

45

46

43

42

42

44

45

46

48

48

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

4.84

4.76

4.63

4.38

4.29

4.41

4.62

4.53

4.51

4.41

4.37

4.33

742

710

659

567

535

578

656

621

614

578

563

549

December 17

_

2.63

_

2.59

_

2.56

_

2.59

_

2.62

_

2.61

Decen

2.25

2.25

2.26

2.27

2.27

2.2:6

2.2-4

2.24

2.23

2.29

2.23

2.23

_

89

_

84

_

80

_

84

_

88

_

86

ber 23

46

46

47

48

48

47

45

45

44

50

44

44

Feet See. ft.

December 12

4.29

4.24

4.19

4.15

4.08

4.01

3.94

3.88

3.81

3.75

3.67

3.59

524

507

490

478

454

432

409

390

368

350

326

302

December 18

_

2.57

_

2.53

_

2.48

_

2.45

_

2.45

_

2.51

_

81

_

76

-

70

_

66

_

66

_

74

December 24

2.22

2.25

2.28

2.31

2.31

2.23

2.26

2.22

2.20

2.19

2.17

2.17

43

46

49

52

52

44

47

43

41

40

39

39

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 13

3.51

3.43

3.37

3.31

3.26

3.21

3.16

3.15

3.14

3.15

3.16

3.15

278

256

240

225

212

199

187

185

182

185

187

185

December 19

_

2.47

_

2.40

_

2.36

_

2.34

_

2.36

_

2.41

Decem

2.17

2.17

2.21

2.25

2.24

2.18

2.17

2.17

2.18

2.19

2.19

2.19

_

69

_

61

_

57

_

55

_

57

_

62

ber 25

39

39

42

46

45

40

39

39

40

40

40

40

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 3 a.m., 4.86 ft., 746 sec.-ft. 

2.17 ft., 39 sec.-ft.

Dee. 25, 10t30 a.m.
208 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Hat Creek near Hat Creek, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 40°41', long. 121°25', in SEi sec. 28, T. 33 N., R. 5 E., 5 miles below

Big Springs and 11 miles southeast of Hat Creek, Shasta County. Altitude, about

4,500 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 155 square miles. 

Sage-height- record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 6 a.m. Jan. 6 to Jan.

31, when there was no record. 

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 160 second-feet;

extended to peak stage on basis of slope-area computation of flood flow. Rating

curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, about 2,500 second-feet 2 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

 height, 7.75 feet).

1926-November 1937: Discharge, 450 second-feet June 16, 1937 (gage height, 4.12

feet). 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not appreciably affected by artificial storage or diversion.

DIscharge for period of missing gage-height record determined from discharge graph

based on range of stage shown on recorder graph and record for South Fork of Pit

River near Likely.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

86

86

85

85

86

88

86

85

84

86

Dec.

104

103

101

101

101

101

100

100

102

964

Jan.

118

120

118

118

117

115

114

113

112

112

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

91

86

88

88

86

94

100

91

101

394

Dec.

1,340

331

206

176

163

151

145

135

130

123

Jan.

112

112

112

112

114

114

116

116

115

114

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

186

135

188

135

121

115

110

107

105

104

6,700

Dec.

120

120

118

117

117

120

118

116

116

118

117

12,050

Jan.

113

116

115

115

114

114

113

113

112

112

113

7,030

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

go

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

_

-

2.46

-

_

2.44

_

_

2.51

_

_

2.48

Deceit

_

2.69

_

2.66

-

2.65

-

2.64

-

2.63

_

2.62

Decen

_

-

2.35

_

2.34

-

_

2.34

-

-

2.32

_

_

99

_

_

96

_

_

104

_

_

101

ber 14

_

181

_

176

-

174

-

172

_

170

_

169

iber 20

_

_

124

_

123

-

_

123

-

-

120

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

_

2.48

_

2.47

_

2.47

_

2.48

_

2.50

_

2.56

_

101

_

100

_

100

_

101

-

103

_

110

December 15

_

_

2.60

_

-

2.60

-

_

2.58

_

_

2.56

Decei

_

_

2.32

_

2.32

-

_

2.34

_

_

2.32

_

_

165

_

-

165

_

_

162

_

_

158

iber 21

_

_

120

_

120

-

_

123

_

_

120

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

2.61

2.86

3.30

3.85

4.27

4.62

5.81

6.50

7.15

7.36

7.20

7.48

Decen

_

_

2.54

_

_

2.52

_

_

2.51

_

_

2.50

Deceit

_

_

-

_

2.32

-

_

_

_

_

2.32

115

147

220

340

453

567

1,100

1,520

1,980

2,150

2,020

2,240

ber 16

_

_

155

_

_

151

-

_

150

_

_

148

ber 22

_

_

-

_

120

-

_

-

_

_

120

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

7.75

7.00

6.52

6.05

6.10

5.87

5.77

5.46

5.00

4.43

4.12

3.98

2,500

2,000

1,710

1,450

1,480

1,350

1,300

1,140

918

675

561

514

December 17

_

_

2.49

_

-

2.48

-

2.47

_

_

2.46

Deceit

_

_

2.30

_

2.31

-

_

2.32

_

-

2.31

_

_

146

-

-

145

-

_

143

_

_

142

ber 23

_

_

117

_

118

_

120

-

-

118

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

3.83

3.66

3.53

3.41

3.33

3.27

3.22

3.18

3.13

3.08

3.02

2.97

467

417

380

347

326

310

297

287

275

263

250

238

December 18

_

_

2.44

-

-

2.42

-

-

2.42

_

_

2.41

_

.

138

-

-

135

-

_

135

_

_

134

December 24

_

_

-

_

2.30

_

-

_

_

8.29

_

_

-

_

117

-

-

-

-

116

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

_

2.90

_

2.85

_

2.80

-

2.79

-

2.75

_

2.72

Deceit

_

_

2.40

-

-

2.39

-

_

2.37

_

_

2.37

Decea

_

_

2.28

_

2.27

-

_

2.32

-

-

2.30

_

223

-

212

-

202

_

200

-

192

_

187

ber 19

_

_

132

-

-

130

-

_

128

_

_

128

ber 25

_

_

114

_

113

-

_

120

-

117

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 11 p.m., 6.98 ft., 1,860 sec. -ft. 

7.40 ft., 2,180 sec. -ft. 5 3 a.m., 7.04 ft., 2,020 sec. -ft.

Dec. 11, 1 a.m.,
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 209

McCloud River near McCloud, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 41°11', long. 122°04', in NEi sec. 34, T. 39 N., R. 2 W., half a mile

below Angel Creek and 6 miles southeast of McCloud, Siskiyou County. Altitude,

about 2,750 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 388 square miles. 

Gage-height 7ecord.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 10 p.m. Dec. 1 to 2

p.m. Dec. 22, when there was no record. Peak atage obtained from floodmark in well. 

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 2,400 secondfeet; extended to peak stage by averaging discharges obtained from extensions by

area-velocity study and A\» method. Rating curve changed at peak stage. 

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 4,600 second-feet probably Dec. 10 (gage height,

5.4 feet).

1931-November 1937: Discharge, 2,760 second-feet (revised) Feb. 22, 1936 (gage

height, 3.62 feet), from rating curve extended above 1,200 second-feet on basis of

area-velocity and A\£f studies in 1938. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge

during period of missing gage-height record determined from discharge hydrograph

based on record of McCloud River at Baird.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

587

587

587

587

587

587

587

581

581

639

Dec.

738

730

720

700

690

680

670

660

680

2,500

Jan.

721

721

714

708

702

689

689

683 677"

671

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

706

651

639

682

694

757

795

757

744

1,200

Dec.

3,500

2y500

1,700

1,400

1,200

1,100

1,030

970

920

880

Jan.

671

665

665

671

689

695

695

695

695

683

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

1,200

968

1,320

1,360

1,080

954

880

821

789

763

46,950

Dec.

850

825

806

799

773

766

754

740

728

728

728

64,390

Jan.

677

677

677

671

671

665

665

671

671

671

683

42,050
210 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

McCloud River at Baird, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 40°47', long. 122°18', in SEi sec. 22, T. 34 N., R. 4 W., half a mile 

below Baird post office, Shasta County, and lj miles above junction with Pit River. 

Altitude, about 700 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 668 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 9,200 secondreet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study and comparison with 

extension of rating for former station 1 mile upstream; verified by comparison of 

peak discharge and total run-off of flood with records at other stations in upper 

Sacramento River Basin.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 32,200 second-feet 11 p.m. Dec. 10 (gage height, 

2'5735 feet, possibly affected by backwater from Pit River).

1910-November 1937: Discharge observed, 27,600 second-feet Feb. 25, 1917 (gage 

height, 14.3 feet, from nonrecording gage at former site and datum, 1 mile upstream).

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

750

750

750

750

750

750

750

750

750

1,420

Dec.

1,840

1,740

1,630

1,540

1,480

1,420

1,400

1,370

1,420

12,200

Jan.

1,630

1,700

1,660

1,630

1,600

1,570

1,540

1,510

1,480

1,450

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

2,450

1,570

1,340

2,610

2,050

3,350

3,970

2,610

2,640

11,100

Dec.

22,100

12,200

7,010

5,020

4,080

3,450

3,060

2,790

2,530

2,370

Jan.

1,420

1,400

1,400

1,400

1,630

2,050

3,970

3,450

3,350

3,150

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

6,450

4,080

8,960

8,750

5,020

3,550

2,880

2,450

2,210

1,980

2 940

174,900

Dec.

2,210

2,130

2,050

1,980

1,910

1,840

1,770

1,740

1,700

1,700

1,660

3

RQO

220,800

Jan.

2,790

2,530

2,290

2,130

2,050

1,980

1,910

1,910

1,910

1,840

3,610

126,800

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

&oW

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet jsec.ft.

December 8

_

2,86

_

2.85

_

2.84

_

2.82

_

2.81

_

2.80

Decea

7.33

7.21

7.12

7.04

6.95

6.89

6.76

6.67

6.63

6.52

6.49

6.41

Dec en

-

-

4.32

-

_

4.27

_

4.22

-

-

4.17

_

1,370

_

1,370

_

1,360

_

1,350

_

1,350

_

1,340

ber 14

5,580

5,420

5,310

5,200

5,080

5,010

4,850

4,740

4,700

4,560

4,530

4,430

iber 20

_

_

2,390

_

_

2,350

-

_

2,310

_

_

2,270

Feet ISec.ft.

December 9

2.80

2.80

2.79

2.78

2.79

2.82

2.88

2.98

3.11

3.22

3.40

3.72

Decen

_

6.29

-

6.17

_

6.06

-

5.95

_

5.86

_

5.75

Decei

_

_

4.13

_

_

4.09

_

_

4.04

_

_

4.02

1,340

1,340

1,330

1,330

1,330

1,350

1,380

1,440

1,520

1,580

1,700

1,920

iber 15

_

4,290

_

4,160

_

4,040

-

3,920

_

3,820

-

3,700

iber 21

-

-

2,230

_

_

2,200

_

_

2,160

_

_

2,150

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

4.22

4.64

5.21

5.90

7.40

9.10

11.15

12.75

16.35

21.00

22.75

23.00

2,310

2,650

3,160

3,860

5,670

8,000

11,100

13,600

19,600

27,900

31,000

31,500

December 16

_

5.66

-

5.59

-

5.51

-

5.43

_

5.36

-

5.29

Decen

_

_

4.00

_

_

3.97

_

_

3.96

_

_

3.94

_

3,610

-

3,540

-

3,460

-

3,380

_

3,310

_

3,240

ber 22

_

_

2,130

_

_

2,110

_

_

2,100

_

_

2,080

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

20.80

18.30

17.13

17.15

17.02

17.26

17.85

18.08

17.64

16.86

15.90

15.20

Deceni

_

5.21

-

5.15

_

5.09

-

5.04

_

4.99-

-

4.92

27,500

23,000

20,900

21,000

20,700

21,200

22,200

22,600

21,900

20,500

18,800

17,600

ber 17

_

3,160

-

3,100

-

3,050

-

3,010

_

2,960

-

2,900

December 23

_

_

3.90

_

_

3.86

_

_

3.82

_

_

3.78

_

-

2,050

_

_

2,020

-

_

1,990

_

-

1,970

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

14.66

13.78

13.11

12.56

12.03

11.46

11.00

10.60

10.30

10.06

9.80

9.53

16,700

15,200

14,200

13,300

12,400

11,500

10,800

10,200

9,800

9,440

9,050

8,640

December 18

_

_

4.83

_

-

4.75

-

-

4.68

_

_

4.62

Deceit

_

3.77

-

3.86

3.91

_

3.91

-

3.80

_

3.76

_

_

2,820

_

-

2,740

-

-

2,680

_

_

2,630

ber 24

-

1,960

-

2,020

_

2,060

-

2,060

_

1,980

_

1,950

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

9.35

9.17

8.96

8.75

8.55

8.36

8.18

8.02

7.86

7.70

7.57

7.45

8,380

8,100

7,780

7,500

7,220

6,950

6,700

6,480

6,270

6,060

5,890

5,740

December 19

_

_

4.55

_

_

4.48

-

-

4.43

-

-

4.37

Decea

_

_

3.70

_

-

3.67

_

3.64

_

-

3.62

_

_

2,570

_

-

2,510

-

-

2,470

-

-

2,430

ber 25

-

-

1,910

_

-

1,890

-

-

1,870

-

-

1,850

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 11 p.m., 23.35 ft., 32,200 sec.-ft.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 211 

Mill Oreek near Los Molinos, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 400 03'20", long. 122°01'15", in N^ sec. 6, T. 25 N., R. 1 W., 5 miles 

above mouth and 5 miles northeast of Los Molinos, Tehama County. Altitude, about 

420 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 134 square miles (revised).

Sage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods midnight Dec. 10 to 

4 p.mT Dec. 21, 7 a.m. Dec. 29 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 21. Stage graph for periods Dec. 

11-17, 21, 29, and Jan. 21 based on floodmarks, partial recorder graph, and a few 

outside staff-gage readings. Peak stage obtained from floodmarks on banks.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 3,900 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of slope-area computation of flood flow; verified by area-velocity study. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 23,000 second-feet about 2 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

height, 23.4 feet from floodmarks).

1929-November 1937: Discharge, 6,000 second-feet Dec. 15, 1929 (gage-height, 

10.05 feet), from rating curve extended above 3,900 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood flow not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge for 

periods of missing gage-height record, Dec. 18-20 and Dec. 30 to Jan. 20, determined 

from range of stage indicated on recorder graph, partial recorder graph, a few outside staff-gage readings, weather records, and comparison with records for nearby 

streams.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

90

89

86

86

85

89

104

91

91

103

Dec.

225

208

196

186

172

167

165

162

210

5,660

Jan.

250

280

300

290

290

270

260

250

240

220

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

1,8

19

20

Nov.

420

222

148

233

231

928

1,130

400

440

2,640

Dec.

12,300

4,050

1,920

1,020

655

530

470

460

410

370

Jan.

220

210

210

200

400

500

900

600

500

400

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

1,190

593

1,320

1,260

662

468

364

308

269

244

28,530

Dec.

324

314

314

292

286

270

258

246

246

250

250

64,630

Jan.

305

305

308

279

264

255

246

246

243

236

944

20,670

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, In aecond-feet, at indicated time, 1937

|o

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

_

_

_

_

1.52

_

-

_

-

_

1.50

Decen

_

_

4.7

-

_

4.4

_

_

4.1

-

_

3.9

Decea

_

-

-

-

-

-

-

_

-

-

-

_

_

_

-

-

162

-

_

_

_

158

iber 14

_

-

1,170

_

-

1,020

-

_

880

_

_

790

aber 20

_

_

-

-

_

*370

-

_

_

-

-

-

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

1.50

1.50

1.50

1.49

1.49

1.49

1.50

1.56

1.65

1.97

2.85

3.75

Decen

_

-

3.7

-

-

3.6

_

_

3.5

_

_

3.4

Decea

_

_

-

-

_

-

_

-

-

-

_

-

158

158

158

156

156

156

158

169

186

244

440

732

iber 15

_

_

700

_

_

655

_

_

610

_

_

570

aber 21

_

_

_

-

_

*324

-

_

_

_

_

-

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

3.93

4.00

4.09

4.90

5.95

8.10

11.86

11.86

13.50

14.00

17.10

20.00

Decen

_

_

_

-

_

3.3

_

_

_

_

_

-

Decen

_

_

2.74

-

_

2.73

«

_

2.72

_

2.78

802

830

866

1,210

1,740

3,450

7,510

7,510

9,510

10,200

14,200

18,200

ber 16

_

_

_

-

_

530

_

_

_

_

_

-

iber 22

_

_

. 321

-

_

318

_

_

314

-

_

334

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

23.4

22.0

19.0

16.4

15.2

14.0

12.8

12.2

11.7

11.1

10.7

10.2

Decem

_

_

-

_

3.15

_

_

_

_

_

-

Decen

_

_

2.74

_

_

2.71

_

_

2.67

.

_

2.66

23,000

21,000

16,900

13,500

12,000

10,400

8,960

8,240

7,650

6,990

6,550

6,000

ber 17

_

_

_

_

_

470

_

_

_

_

_

-

ber 23

_

_

321

_

_

311

_

_

298

-

_

295

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

_

_

9.0

_

_

8.2

_

_

7.4

_

_

6.8

_

_

4,750

_

_

3,950

_

-

3,190

_

_

2,650

December 18

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

2.65

_

_

_

_

_

2.65

_

_

-

-

_

*460

_

_

_

_

_

-

bar 24

_

_

-

-

_

292

_

_

_

_

_

292

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

_

_

6.3

_

_

5.8

_

_

5.4

_

_

5.0

_

_

2,240

_

_

1,850

_

..

1,570

_

_

1,330

December 19

_

_

_

-

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

Decem

_

_

-

_

2.63

_

_

_

_

_

2.60

_

_

_

-

_

*410

_

_

_

_

_

-

ber 25

_

_

_

-

_

286

-

_

_

_

276

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 3 p.m. 

*Mean for the day.

12.30 ft., 8,050 sec.-ft.
218 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Elder Creek near Henleyvllle, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 40°02', long. 122°15', in SEi sec. 10, T. 25 N., R. 4 W., at bridge on 

Paskenta-Red Bluff road, 1.2 miles above Spring Branch and 6 miles northeast of Henleyville, Tehama County. Altitude, about 310 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 147 square miles.

Sage-height i-ecord.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 4,900 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study and A\S method.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 10,700 second-feet 10 p.m. Dec. 10 (gage height, 

9.7 feet, from floodmarks on right bank; 10.4 feet, from gage in well at bridge 

pier in midstream).

1930-November 1937: Discharge, about 6,300 second-feet Jan. 1, 1934 (gage 

height, 7.26 feet, In well; outside gage height very nearly the same), from rating 

curve extended above 1,000 second-feet on basis of slope-area determination of flood 

flow.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean dally discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

48

44

41

38

35

34

32

31

71

4,080

Jan.

70

95

95

82

77

74

70

67

62

60

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

54

32

14

42

31

356

584

109

971

4,270

Dec.

4,530

1,300

545

337

253

200

170

146

129

115

Jan.

60

58

58

58

90

172

1,180

253

205

158

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

575

240

220

162

126

101

82

70

62

54

O*7O

16,180

Dec.

109

104

98

95

90

84

82

77

74

72

72

26,050

Jan.

132

129

126

115

107

101

95

98

107

93

1,100

10,410

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

g&2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

_

-

_

_

-

2.52

-

-

_

_

-

2.52

Deceit

_

-

3.37

-

_

3.33

_

_

3.30

_

_

3.27

_

-

_

-

-

31

-

-

-

_

-

31

iber 14

_

-

361

-

-

329

-

-

305

_

-

286

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

2.52

2.52

2.52

2.52

2.52

2.53

2.56

2.59

2.62

2.68

3.10

3.72

31

31

31

31

31

32

36

41

46

58

190

718

December 15

_

-

3.24

-

-

3.22

-

-

3.18

_

_

3.17

-

-

266

-

-

253

-

_

230

-

_

225

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

4.06

3.97

4.03

4.35

4.78

5.00

5.70

6.30

6.60

6.75

10.40

8.00

1,320

1,130

1,250

1,950

2,920

3,380

4,710

5,680

6,130

6,340

10,700

8,010

December 16

_

-

3.14

-

-

3.12

-

_

3.10

_

_

3.08

_

_

210

_

_

200

-

_

190

_

_

182

Feet | Sec.ft.

December 11

7.10

6.60

6.45

6.55

6.00

5.48

5.15

4.95

4.78

4.65

4.50

4.43

6,830

6,130

5,900

6,060

5,200

4,310

3,680

3,280

2,920

2,630

2,?90

2,130

December 17

_

_

_

-

_

3.05

-

-

_

_

_

3.02

_

-

_

-

-

170

-

-

_

-

_

158

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

-

4.26

-

4.15

_

4.03

_

3.92

_

3.83

-

3.73

_

1,750

_

1,510

-

1,250

-

1,040

-

881

-

732

December 18

_

_

_

-

-

2.99

-

-

_

_

-

2.96

_

_

-

_

-

146

-

-

_

-

_

136

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

-

3.67

_

3.61

-

3.55

_

3.51

_

3.47

-

3.43

Deceit

_

656

_

586

_

525

_

485

-

448

-

412

ber 19

Supplemental records.- Dec. 

345 sec.-ft.

9 p.m., 2.80 ft., 87 sec.-ft.; 11 p.m., 3.35 ft.,
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 213 

Thomas Creek at Paskenta, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°52', long. 122°33', In SEi sec. 5, T. 23 N., R. 6 W. , half a mile 

upstream from Paskenta, Tehama County, and 4^ miles below Mill Creek.

Drainage area.- 188 square miles.

Gage-height 7ecord.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 8 p.m. Dec. 10 to 

1 p.mT Dec. 14, when there was no record. Peak stage determined from floodmarks 

In well and on left bank. Stiage graph Dec. 14 based on partial recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 6,900 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study. Rating curve changed 

at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 16,500 second-feet about 10 p.m. Dec. 10 (gage 

height, 16.8 feet).

1921-November 1937: Discharge observed, about 16,600 second-feet Mar. 26, 1928 

(gage height, 10.5 feet, from nonrecordlng gage, former site and datum,half a mile 

downstream), from rating curve extended above 6,000 second-feet on basis of areavelocity study.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge for 

period of missing gage-height record, Dec. 11-13, determined from discharge graph 

based on records of Elder Creek near Henleyvllle and Stony Creek above Stony Gorge 

Reservoir.

Mean dally discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

6.5

7

7

7

6.5

6.5

6

6

6

9.5

Dec.

270

248

228

212

198

188

178

174

215

8,520

Jan.

190

240

248

224

212

200

190

178

164

156

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

156

113

66

204

172

990

1,740

511

3,040

5,990

Dec.

9,700

4,000

2,000

1,260

880

680

530

438

362

310

Jan.

148

140

137

137

209

215

642

530

425

350

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, In acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

1,700

940

1,180

856

674

562

462

388

332

296

40,530

Dec.

276

256

238

230

209

197

190

176

164

203

210

65,340

Jan.

330

515

560

450

400

375

375

388

362

340

488

307

18,880

Gage height, In feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at Indicated time, 1937

h

0

o

K

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

_

-

_

_

2.02

_

_

-

_

_

2.01

Deceit

-

_

7.75

-

_

7.55

-

_

7.35

-

-

7.18

Decen

_

-

5.15

_

5.08

-

_

5.04

-

_

4.99

_

-

-

_

_

172

-

_

-

-.

-.

170

iber 14

.

-

1,400

-

_

1,260

-

-

1,130

-

-

1,030

iber 20

_

_

320

_

306

-

_

298

_

-

288

Feet (Sec.ft.

December 9

2.01

2.00

2.00

2.00

2.01

2.07

2.16

2.24

2.35

2.52

2.79

2.99

Decen

-

-

7.05

-

_

6.92

-

-

6.75

-

-

6.66

Decei

_

_

4.96

_

4.93

-

_

4.90

_

-

4.87

170

168

168

168

170

182

200

217

241

279

345

399

iber 15

-

_

955

-

_

890

-

-

808

-

-

767

iber 21

_

_

282

_

276

-

_

270

_

-

264

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

4.30

5.55

8.35

10.90

12.60

13.75

15.00

14.85

14.08

-

16.8

-

Decen

-

-

6.53

-

_

6.45

-

-

6.34

-

_

6.21

Decen

_

-

4.83

_

4.82

-

_

4.81

_

_

4.83

910

1,740

4,160

6,660

8,510

9,980

12,100

11,800

10,500

12 , 000

16,500

15,200

ber 16

-

-

712

-

_

680

-

-

639

-

-

594

iber 22

_

-

256

_

254

-

_

252

_

_

256

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

_

_

_

_

-

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

Decen

_

_

6.05

-

_

5.98

-

_

5.88

-

_

5.78

Decen

_

_

4.78

_

4.72

-

_

4.67

_

-

4.68

13,100

12,000

11,700

11,800

11,000

9,700

8,800

8,000

7,300

6,800

6,300

5,800

ber 17

_

-

545

-

_

524

-

-

495

-

_

470

ber 23

_

-

246

_

234

_

226

_

_

227

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

Decen

_

_

5.71

-

_

5.63

-

_

5.55

-

_

5.47

Decen

_

_

4.65

_

4.70

-

_

4.75

_

_

4.67

_

-

4,700

_

_

3,900

_

-

3,200

.

_

2,700

ber 18

-

-

452

-

_

432

-

-

412

_

_

392

ber 24

_

_

222

_

230

-

_

240

_

_

226

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

_

-

-

_

-

_

_

-

-

_

_

-

Decen

_

_

5.40

-

_

5.33

-

-

5.27

-

_

5.21

Decen

_

-

4.62

_

4.54

-

_

4.50

-

_

4.52

_

-

2,300

_

_

1,900

_

-

1,700

_

_

1,500

ber 19

-

-

375

-

_

358

_

-

344

-

_

332

ber 25

_

_

218

_

206

-

_

200

_

_

203
214 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Deer Creek near Vlna, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 40°01', long. 121°56', in NE|- sec. 23, T. 25 N. , R. 1 W. , 0.8 mile 

above concrete diversion dam and 9 miles northeast of Vina, Tehama County. Altitude, about 480 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 200 square miles.

Gage-height "record.- Water-stage recorder graph prior to 10 p.m. Dec. 10, when station 

was destroyed. Peak stage determined from floodmarks on banks.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 7,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 23,800 second-feet about midnight Dec. 10 (gage 

height, 16.6 feet, from floodmarks}.

1911-15, 1920-liovember 1937: Discharge, 12,200 second-feet Mar. 26, 1928 (gage 

height, 15.0 feet, from floodmarks, former site and datum,0.8 mile downstream).

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

86

82

80

80

80

83

89

89

86

95

Dec.

202

186

177

168

157

149

144

140

186

5,520

Jan.

_

_

-

_

-

-

-

-

-

-

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

282

212

138

153

212

504

1,060

394

363

2,550

Dec.

_

_

_

-

-

-

-

_

-

-

Jan.

_

_

-

-

-

-

-

_

-

-

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

2R

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

1,100

518

1,190

1,100

630

452

353

295

252

222

25,450

Dec.

_

-

_

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

_

-

Jan.

_

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

_

-

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

'H 

&

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

0.93

.93

.92

.92

.92

.92

.93

.94

.94

.93

.92

.92

140

140

138

138

138

138

140

142

142

140

138

138

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

0.91

.90

.90

.90

.91

.92

.94

.98

1.08

1.26

1.84

2.16

136

134

134

134

136

138

142

151

173

215

394

514

Feet Isec.ft.

December 10

2.24

2.25

2.33

2.61

3.28

5.50

9.45

9.05

10.95

11.15

14.25

16.60

547

551

585

715

1,060

2,600

6,860

6,320

9,020

9,360

15,900

23,800

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

Feet |sec.ft.

December 13
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIH 815 

Chico Creek near Chico, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°46', long. 121°46', in Arroyo Chico grant, 1 mile above golf club-

 house in Municipal Park and 6 miles northeast of Chico, Butte County. Altitude, 

about 400 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 68.3 square miles.

Sage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period midnight Dec. 10 to 

noon Dec. 13, when there was no record. Peak stage determined from floodmarks on 

bank.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 4,200 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of extension of stage-discharge relation at 

cable section; verified by area-velocity study and logarithmic extension. Rating 

curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 8,260 second-feet midnight Dec. 10 (gage height, 

16.6 feet).

1930-Hovember 1937: Discharge, 4,940 second-feet Feb. 21, 1936 (gage height, 

12.70 feet), from rating curve extended above 4,250 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge for 

period of missing gage-height record determined from discharge graph based on records of Butte Creek.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

27

25

24

24

24

24

27

27

25

27

Dee.

75

67

61

57

53

53

44

43

68

3,290

Jan.

83

90

88

83

80

75

73

70

67

64

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Hov.

98

84

49

64

99

153

457

146

107

1,340

Dec.

5,530

1,850

904

564

395

302

238

198

167

147

Jan.

62

61

60

59

136

134

656

428

382

314

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

625

237

406

595

308

198

148

116

99

85

189

11,240

Dec.

129

123

123

113

110

103

96

92

88

86

83

30,250

Jan.

259

233

216

190

167

152

143

156

148

133

681

i *7Q

10,990

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

§oW

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

-

1.87

-

_

1.87

-

_

1.87

-

-

1.86

Deceit

4.71

4.63

4.56

4.49

4.43

4.37

4.31

4.25

4.20

4.15

4.10

4.05

Decen

_

_

2.74

-

-

2.72

-

-

2.69

-

-

2.67

_

_

43

_

_

43

_

_

43

_

_

42

ber 14

659

634

612

591

573

555

537

519

504

490

476

462

iber 20

_

-

150

-

-

147

-

_

141

-

-

138

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

1.86

1.86

1.86

1.86

1.86

1.88

1.89

1.95

2.12

2.32

2.81

3.07

42

42

42

42

42

44

45

52

70

96

174

224

December 15

_

3.97

-

3.88

_

3.81

-

3.74

-

3.67

-

3.60

Decen

_

_

2.64

-

-

2.62

_

-

2.61

-

-

2.59

-

440

_

414

-

395

-

376

_

358

-

340

iber 21

_

_

133

-

-

129

-

-

128

-

-

124

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

3.30

3.65

4.38

5.55

6.95

9.70

12.60

12.50

13.10

14.15

15.90

16.60

276

365

574

952

1,510

2,960

4,870

4,800

5,260

6,100

7,630

8,260

December 16

-

3.54

_

3.49

-

3.45

-

3.39

-

3.35

-

3.30

Decen

_

_

2.58

-

-

2.57

-

-

2.57

-

-

2.60

-

324

_

312

-

302

-

288

-

278

-

266

ber 22

_

-

123

-

-

121

-

-

121

-

-

126

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

_

_

_

-

_

_

-

_

_

-

_

-

8,000

7,500

6,900

6,300

5,800

5,300

4,950

4,550

4,150

3,750

3,450

3,100

December 17

_

_

3.24

_

-

3.19

_

-

3.14

-

-

3.08

Deceit

_

2.65

_

2.60

-

2.57

-

2.55

-

2.54

_

2.53

_

-

252

-

_

240

_

-

229

-

_

216

ber 23

_

134

-

126

-

121

-

118

_

116

-

115

Feet | See. ft.

December 12

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

_

_

_

-

-

2,800

2,500

2,200

2,000

1,820

1,700

1,600

1,500

1,400

1,320

1,260

1,200

December 18

_

-

3.02

-

_

2.99

_

-

2.95

-

-

2.91

Deceit

_

2.52

_

2.50

-

2.50

-

2.52

-

2.55

-

2.53

-

-

204

_

-

198

-

-

190

-

-

182

ber 24

_

113

-

110

-

110

-

113

-

118

-

115

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

-

-

-

-

-

5.38

5.27

5.17

5.06

4.96

4.87

4.78

Decen

-

-

2.87

-

_

2.84

-

-

2.80

-

-

2.77

Decen

_

_

2.53

-

-

2.50

-

-

2.47

-

-

2.46

1,140

1,080

1,020

980

930

883

844

810

772

739

710

682

ber 19

-

-

174

-

-

169

-

-

161

_

-

156

ber 25

_

_

115

-

-

110

-

-

106

-

-

104
216 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Stony Creek above Stony Gorge Reservoir, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 390 30'05n , long. 122°31 l OOn , in sec. 15, T. 19 N., R. 6 W., 700 feet

downstream from road bridge and 6 miles south of Stony Gorge Dam, Glenn County. 

Drainage area.- 266 square miles. 

Page-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period Nov. 20-21, when it

was based on records at diversion dam about 10 miles upstream, and at Stony Gorge

Reservoir. 

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 2,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of study of computed flow into and out of

Stony Gorge Reservoir; verified by area-velocity study. Rating curve changed at

peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 20,800 second-feet Ils30 p.m. Dec. 10 (gage 

 Height, 13.1 feet).

1933-November 1937: Discharge, 7,160 second-feet Feb. 21, 1936 (gage height,

8.6 feet), from rating curve extended above 2,200 second-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off slightly affected by storage in East Park Reservoir. Monthly

summaries adjusted for storage. Part of basic data furnished by Bureau of

Reclamation.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1957 to January 1958

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

18

18

19

19

20

20

20

20

21

24

Dec.

154

141

136

124

116

109

105

101

242

6,830

Jan.

278

414

368

320

292

285

274

260

250

250

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

151

116

64

98

144

484

1,210

391

641

2,950

Dec.

12,100

5,610

2,990

1,920

1,370

1,180

1,080

980

950

890

Jan.

247

241

235

238

268

388

1,770

830

772

615

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

1,060

578

644

590

419

322

260

220

188

168

25,840

Dec.

860

830

800

772

745

734

728

706

690

454

288

1,507

92,660

Jan.

535

530

490

445

41 ^

396

368

364

348

328

1,110

err r\

35,020

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

&£

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

_

_

2.34

_

_

2.33

_

_

2.32

_

_

2.31

Decen

_

5.68

_

5.57

_

5.46

-

5.34

_

5.25

_

5.16

Decen

_

_

_

-

4.25

-

-

-

4.23

_

_

103

_

_

101

_

_

98

_

_

96

iber 14

-

2,130

_

2,000

_

1,880

_

1,740

_

1,650

_

1,560

iber 20

_

-

_

-

-

890

-

-

-

_

_

878

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

2.31

2.31

2.31

2.32

2.32

2.36

2.40

2.46

2.60

3.05

4.10

4.55

Decen

_

5.07

_

5.00

-

4.93

-

4.86

_

4.78

_

4.72

Decei

-

-

-

-

4.21

-

-

-

-

-

4.19

96

96

96

98

98

107

116

131

168

318

930

1,340

iber 15

_

1,470

_

1,410

_

1,350

_

1,300

_

1,240

_

1,190

iber 21

_

_

_

_

-

866

_

_

_

-

_

854

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

4.75

5.40

5.75

6.15

6.45

7.25

8.65

9.15

9.97

10.20

11.45

13.00

Decen

_

4.64

_

4.58

_

4.54

_

4.86

_

4.82

_

4.74

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

4.16

_

-

-

_

_

4.14

1,560

2,340

2,810

3,380

3,820

5,040

7,500

8,530

10,400

11,000

14,700

20,400

ber 16

_

1,140

_

1,100

_

1,070

_

1,300

_

1,270

_

1,210

iber 22

_

_

_

-

-

836

-

_

-

-

_

824

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

12.15

11.35

11.00

10.75

10.55

10.50

10.50

10.35

9.95

9.55

9.25

9.00

Decem

-

4.64

_

4.60

_

4.55

-

4.53

_

4.50

_

4.48

Deceit

_

' 

-

-

-

4.11

-

-

-

-

4.08

17,200

14,400

13,200

12,500

11,900

11,800

11,800

11,400

10,300

9,240

8,520

7,940

ber 17

-

1,140

_

1,110

_

1,080

-

1,060

_

1,040

_

1,030

ber 23

_

-

_

-

806

-

-

-

-

-

789

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

8.80

8.61

8.42

8.22

8.05

7.88

7.72

7.53

7.35

7.20

7.08

6.96

7,490

7,070

6,670

6,250

5,910

5,570

5,260

4,900

4,570

4,300

4,100

3,900

December 18

_

_

4.46

_

_

4.42

_

_

4.41

_

_

4.39

Decen

_

_

-

-

-

4.06

-

-

-

-

4.04

-

_

1,020

_

_

992

-

-

986

-

_

974

ber 24

-

-

-

-

-

778

-

-

-

-

767

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

_

6.74

_

6.53

_

6.32

_

6.15

_

5.98

_

5.82

Decen

-

_

4.34

_

_

4.33

-

_

4.31

-

_

4.30

Decen

_

-

_

-

-

4.02

-

-

-

-

-

4.00

_

3,550

_

3,240

_

2,950

_

2,720

_

2,490

-

2,290

ber 19

-

_

944

_

_

938

-

-

926

-

_

920

ber 25

_

-

-

-

756

-

-

-

-

-

745

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 11:30 p.m., 13.1 ft., 20,800 sec.-ft.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 217

Stony Gorge Reservoir near Elk Creek, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°35', long. 122°32', In NEi sec. 16, T. 20 N., R. 6 W., at Stony Gorge 

Dam on Stony Creek, 1 mile south of Elk Creek, Glenn County. Zero of gage is at mean 

sea level.

Drainage area.- 301 square miles.

gage-height record.- Gage read to tenths daily at 7 a.m.

Remarks.- Flood run-off partly regulated in reservoir. Elevation of crest of spillway 

Is 841 feet above mean sea level (capacity, 50,200 acre-feet). Reservoir began to 

spill about 4 a.m. Dec. 11. Maximum discharge over spillway, about 16,800 secondfeet 5:30 a.m. Dec. 11. Basic data furnished by Bureau of Reclamation.

Elevation and contents, November 1937 to January 1938

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 

(feet)

784.0

784.1

784.1

784.1

784.2

784.2

784.2

784.2

784.0

783.8

783.9

785.1

785.6

786.0

786.2

787.6

792.6

795.8

797.1

802.8

811.0

813.3

814.7

816.4

817.6

818.6

819.2

819.8

820.4

820.8

Contents 

(acre-feet)

5,220

5,250

5,250

5,250

5,290

5,290

5,290

5,290

5,220

5,160

5,190

5,590

5,760

5,900

5,970

6,490

8,650

10,220

10,870

13,840

19,600

21,440

22,560

23,990

25,010

25,860

26,380

26,920

27,460

27,820

December

Elevation 

(feet)

821.2

821.4

821.7

822.0

822.3

822.4

822.6

822.9

823.0

825.0

841.2

838.7

838.3

838.3

837.8

838.5

837.6

836.5

836.0

835.8

835.7

835.6

835.6

835.6

835.5

835.5

835.5

835.5

835.4

835.4

835.0

Contents 

(acre-feet)

28,180

28,360

28,630

28,900

29,200

29,300

29,500

29,800

29,900

31,900

50,460

47,210

46,690

46,690

46,060

46,950

45,820

44,500

43 , 900

43,660

43,540

43,420

43,420

43,420

43,300

43,300

43,300

43,300

43,180

43,180

42,700

January

Elevation 

(feet)

834.8

834.8

834.9

834.8

834.8

834.7

834.7

834.6

834.6

834.6

834.6

834.6

834.6

834.6

834.6

834.6

836.2

836.3

835.8

835.6

835.4

835.2

835.2

835.1

835.0

835.0

834.9

834.9

834.8

834.8

835.2

Contents 

(acre-feet)

42,460

42,460

42,580

42,460

42,460

42,340

42,340

42,220

42,220

42,220

42,220

42,220

42,220

42,220

42,220

42,220

44,140

44,260

43,660

43,420

43,180

42,940

42,940

42,820

42,700

42,700

42,580

42,580

42,460

42,460

42 , 940
218 TEE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Butte Creek near Chico, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°44', long. 121°42', in sec. 25, T. 22 N., R. 2 E., half a mile below junction with Little Butte Creek and 7^ miles east of Chlco, Butte County. 

Altitude, about 350 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 148 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 8,200 secondreet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study; verified by logarithmic extensions at cable and gage sections. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 17,000 second-feet 1:30 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

18«y f*991) 

1930-November 1937: Discharge, 8,660 second-feet Feb. 21, 1936 (gage height, 

13.13 feet), from rating curve extended above 8,200 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not materially affected by artificial storage or diversion, 

but affected by inflow from West Branch Feather River Basin via De Sable and Centerville power plants. Monthly summaries adjusted for inflow.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

121

116

110

110

112

112

117

114

110

117

Dec.

287

267

233

262

246

227

246

235

273

6,210

Jan.

375

400

408

389

364

354

332

332

338

294

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

318

264

197

234

278

326

788

352

305

2,830

Dec.

11,200

3,930

2,260

1,550

1,240

1,030

911

758

660

601

Jan.

305

305

317

302

488

432

1,150

630

675

630

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

1,260

540

1,060

1,160

646

496

414

335

329

319

23,650

Dec.

656

534

520

488

468

436

412

420

382

375

389

70,300

Jan.

556

534

508

460

460

400

420

428

404

382

758

23,800

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

£o

«

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

-

3.05

_

2.96

-

3.02

-

3.05

-

3.05

_

3.05

Decen

_

4.90

-

4.78

-

4.68

-

4.59

_

4.57

-

4.47

Decen

_

3.28

-

_

3.31

-

-

-

3.28

-

-

_

243

-

220

-

235

_

243

_

243

-

243

it)6r 14

_

1,710

-

1,630

_

1,550

_

1,470

-

1,430

-

1,350

iber 20

_

601

-

_

615

-

-

_

601

-

-

Feet jSec.ft.

December 9

_

3.04

-

2.92

-

3.06

-

3.13

_

3.32

-

4.10

Decen

_

4.38

-

_

_

4.32

-

-

_

4.24

-

-

Decen

_

3.17

-

_

3.19

-

_

_

3.19

-

-

-

240

_

209

_

246

-

264

-

322

_

622

iber 15

_

1,310

-

_

_

1,240

_

-

-

1,200

_

-

iber 21

_

552

-

_

560

-

-

-

560

-

-

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

4.55

5.02

5.67

6.34

7.15

10.00

12.50

12,95

13.55

14.72

16.60

18.50

870

1,170

1,640

2,200

2,900

5,500

8,200

8,800

9,600

11,000

13,600

16,400

December 16

_

4.11

-

_

_

4.01

-

-

_

3.93

_

-

Decen

_

3.11

-

_

3.11

-

_

_

3.19

_

-

_

1,100

-

_

_

1,030

_

-

_

995

_

-

iber 22

_

524

-

_

524

-

-

-

560

-

-

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

18.55

17.35

15.90

15.00

14.25

13.80

13.20

12.30

11.40

10.85

10.52

9.65

Decea

_

3.87

-

_

_

3.82

-

-

_

3.79

_

-

Decen

_

3.09

-

_

3.12

-

_

-

3.10

_

-

16,600

15,200

13,400

12,300

11,400

11,000

10,300

9,330

8,340

7,680

7,350

6,420

ber 17

_

939

-

_

_

904

-

_

_

884

_

-

ber 23

_

516

-

_

529

-

-

_

520

-

-

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

9.00

8.50

7.95

7.45

7.23

7.00

6.72

6.48

6.48

6.36

6.2E

6.14

5,700

5,150

4,650

4,050

3,850

3,650

3,350

3,150

3,150

3,050

2,850

2,760

December 18

_

3.63

-

_

_

3.60

_

_

_

3.54

_

- j

Decen

_

2.98

-

_

3.02

-

-

_

3.11

-

-

_

788

_

_

_

770

_

-

_

734

_

-

ber 24

_

472

-

_

488

-

-

-

524

-

-

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

6.04

5.95

5.82

5.67

5.56

5.50

5.42

5.32

5.25

5.16

5.07

5.01

2,670

2,620

2,490

2,360

2,260

2,220

2,130

2,040

2,000

1,910

1,830

1,790

December 19

_

3.42

_

_

_

3.37

_

-

_

3.40

_

-

Decea

_

2.95

-

_

2.98

-

-

-

2.98

-

-

_

670

-

_

_

645

_

-

_

660

_

-

ber 25

_

460

-

_

472

-

-

_

472

-

-

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 1:30 a.m., 18.9 ft., 17,000 sec.-ft.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 219

Lake Almanor near Prattville, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 40°10'30'', long. 121°05'25n , in NWj- See. 28, T. 27 N. , H. 8E., at outlet tower at dam on North Pork of Feather River, 5 miles southeast of Prattville,

Plumas County. Zero of gage Is at mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 506 square miles. 

Page-height record.- Gage read to hundredths daily at 7 a.m. Elevation and contents at

midnight shown in table obtained by interpolation. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely controlled In lake (capacity, 1,532,800 acre-feet at

elevation 4,515 feet). See record for Horth Fork of Feather River near Prattville.

Basic data furnished by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Elevation and contents, November 1937 to January 1938

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 

(feet)

4,459.82

4,459.71

4,459.59

4,459.46

4,459.34

4,459.22

4,459.10

4,458.97

4,458.82

4,458.73

4,458.77

4,458.75

4,458.71

4,458.69

4,458.63

4,458.73

4,458.78

4,458.78

4,458.85

4,459.11

4,459.23

4,459.28

4,459.42

4,459.49

4,459.50

4,459.49

4,459.45

4,459.41

4,459.36

4,459.34

Contents 

(acre-feet)

372,863

370,971

368,911

366,686

364,637

362,594

360,556

358,354

355,820

354,304

354,978

354,641

353,967

353,631

352,622

354,304

355,146

355,146

356,326

360,726

362,764

363,615

366,002

367,199

367,370

367,199

366,515

365,832

364,979

364,637

December

Elevation 

(feet)

4,459.31

4,459.28

4,459.24

4,459.20

4,459.16

4,459.11

4,459.04

4,458.96

4,459.03

4,459.83

4,461.43

4,462.29

4,462.60

4,462.76

4,462.89

4,462.93

4,462.79

4,462.61

4,462.43

4,462.25

4,462.04

4,461.86

4,461.67

4,461.49

4,461.29

4,461.12

4,460.98

4,460.71

4,460.55

4,460.38

4,460.35

Contents 

(acre-feet)

364.126

363,615

362,935

362,254

361,575

360,726

359,539

358,185

359,370

373,035

401,028

416,406

422,001

424,900

427,261

427,988

425,444

422,182

418,929

415,686

411,913

408,690

405,298

402,094

398,546

395,539

393,070

388,327

385,527

382,562

382,040

January

Elevation 

(feet)

4,460.37

4,460.36

4,460.41

4,460.47

4,460.52

4,460.53

4,460.53

4,460.55

4,460.52

4,460.38

4,460.26

4,460.15

4,460.08

4,460.06

4,460.12

4,460.14

4,460.18

4,460.20

4,460.27

4,460.34

4,460.43

4,460.54

4,460.62

4,460.68

4,460.74

4,460.80

4,460.87

4,460.98

4,461.07

4,461.18

4,461.40

Contents 

(acre-feet)

382,388

382,214

383,085

384,131

385,003

385,178

385,178

385,527

385,003

382,562

380,475

378,566

377,353

377,007

378,046

378,393

379,086

379,433

380,649

381,866

383,433

385,353

386,751

387,801

388,853

389,905

391,135

393,070

394,657

396,599

400,496
220 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

North Pork of Feather River near Prattville, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 40°10', long. 121°06', In SUii sec. 28, T. 27 N. , R. 8 E., half a mile be-

 low Almanor Dam, 5 miles southeast of Prattville, Plumas County, and about 9 miles

upstream from mouth of Butt Creek. Altitude, about 4,380 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 507 square milea. 

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements. 

Maxima.- December 1957; Discharge (regulated), 2,620 aecond-feet 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec.

23 (gage height, 7.20 feet).

1905-November 1937: Discharge (unregulated), about 10,000 aecond-feet Mar. 19,

1907 (gage height, 16.2 feet, former site and datum), from rating curve extended

above 3,700 second-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely controlled in Lake Almanor. See record for Lake

 Alianor near Prattville. Daily and monthly discharges adjusted for changes in storage in and diversion from Lake Almanor but not for storage in Mountain Meadows 

Reservoir. Most of basic data furnished by Pacific Gas «: Electric Co.

Discharge, gain or loas in storage, and diversion, December 1937

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

Observed 

discharge 

(second-feet)

2.5

21

52

25

72

121

80

343

155

30

31

190

1,560

1,930

1,960

2,240

2,280

2,280

2,350

2,520

2,520

2,490

2,560

2,520

2,520

2,520

2,490

2,490

2,490

2,070

1,040

Gain or loss 

in storage 

(acre-feet)

-511

-511

-680

-681

-679

-849

-1,187

-1,354

+1,185

+13,665

+27,993

+15,378

+5,595

+2,899

+2,361

+7£7

-2,544

-3,262

-3,253

-3,243

-3,773

-3,223

-3,392

-3,204

-3,548

-3,007

-2,469

-4,743

-2,800

-2,965

-522

Tunnel No. 1 

diversion 

(aecond-feet)

1,020

1,000

990

992

992

993

993

993

999

1,120

850

305

43

55

38

310

1,110

1,100

1,100

1,120

1,120

1,110

1,120

1,120

1,120

1,130

1,140

930

30

21

23

Adjusted 

discharge 

(aecond-feet)

764

763

699

674

722

686

475

653

1,750

8,040

15,000

8,250

4,420

3,450

3,190

2,920

2,110

1,740

1,810

2,000

1,740

1,980

1,970

2,020

1,850

2,130

2,380

1,030

1,110

596

800

Observed mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1958

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

543

543

543

538

538

538

534

534

534

450

Dec.

2.5

21

52

25

72

121

80

343

155

30

Jan.

552

552

552

552

552

552

552

552

552

552

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

31

31

31

31

31

30

13

2.5

2.5

4.4

Dec.

31

190

1,560

1,930

1,960

2,240

2,280

2,280

2,350

2,520

Jan.

552

552

234

43

43

43

43

43

43

43

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

2.5

2.5

3.0

2.8

2.5

2.5

2.5

2.5

2.5

2.5

61,320

Dec.

2,520

2,490

2,560

2,520

2,520

2,520

2,490

2,490

2,490

2,070

1,040

2,507

154,200

Jan.

43

44

44

44

44

44

44

44

44

44

44

57,410
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 221 

Feather River near Oroville, Calif.

location.- Lat. 39°32 T , long. 121°29', in NE£ sec. 2, T. 19 N., R. 4 E., 2 miles below 

junction of North and Middle Porks and 3 miles northeast of Oroville, Butte County. 

Zero of gage is 182.02 feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

Drainage area.- 3,611 square miles.

Qage-height Fecord.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 3 p.m. Dec. 10 to 3 

p.m. Dec.15, when stage graph was based on floodmarks, occasional staff gage readings, and graphs at other stations on Feather River.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 62,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study and A\/d method; verified by slope-area computations of flood flow. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 185,000 second-feet about 6 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

height, 73.6 feet).

1902-November 1937: Discharge, about 230,000 aecond-feet (revised) Mar. 19, 1907 

(gage height, 28.2 feet, former site and datum at Oroville).

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by storage in Lake Almanor and Bucks, Butt Valley, 

and other storage reservoirs.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

2,190

2,490

2,440

2,440

2,440

2,340

2,190

2,290

2,390

2,440

Dec.

3,930

3,690

3,510

3,330

3,150

3,210

3,210

3,150

3,570

77,800

Jan.

5,180

5,500

5,640

4,980

4,790

4,600

4,460

4,280

3,860

3,920

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

2,860

2,980

2,390

2,700

3,620

3,030

10,300

5,570

4,400

20,600

Dec.

145,000

63,400

35,200

24,400

17 , 100

14,800

13,300

12,100

11,000

10,200

Jan.

3,800

3,680

3,680

3,200

5,050

4,860

10,200

9,340

8,080

7,200

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

14,700

7,010

11,100

11,400

7,290

5,610

5,070

4,050

3,930

4,110

5

OT O

310.2

Dec.

9,970

9,700

9,160

8,720

8,400

8,080

7,840

7,680

7,440

7,280

6,190

1,088

Jan.

6,190

5,770

5,640

5,310

4,860

4,660

4,530

4,720

4,460

4,100

5,950

322.3

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

tt3

o

K

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

9.61

9.16

8.66

8.36

8.36

9.98

9.98

9.98

9.98

9.96

9.96

9.95

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

_

-

_

-

-

Decei

19.40

19.45

19.70

19.80

20.40

19.55

19.00

19.80

19.50

20.75

19.40

18.15

3,220

2,960

2,690

2,520

2,520

3,440

3,440

3,440

3,440

3,430

3,430

3,420

ber 14

_

27,100

_

25,700

_

24,400

-

22,700

_

21,100

_

19,900

iber 20

10,100

10,100

10,300

10,400

11,000

10,200

9,700

10,400

10,200

11,300

10,100

8,940

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

10.00

10.00

10.00

10.00

9.60

10.00

10.00

10.05

10.25

10.40

10.80

12.35

3,450

3,450

3,450

3,450

3,210

3,450

3,450

3,480

3,600

3,690

3,930

4,860

December 15

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

25.75

25.80

26.10

25.00

25.30

Decei

19.27

19.27

19.15

19.20

19.80

19.80

19.68

19.55

19.40

19.25

19.15

19.00

19,000

18,300

17 , 800

17,200

16,700

16,200

16,300

16,500

16,600

16,900

15 , 600

16,000

iber 21

9,940

9,940

9,840

9,880

10,400

10,400

10,300

10,200

10,100

9,920

9,840

9,700

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

15.00

17.45

25.60

33.40

40.40

47.45

57.00

64.00

68.00

71.50

69.50

66.60

Decen

25.08

24.75

24.65

24.30

24.40

23.58

23,85

23.88

23.98

23.75

23.72

23.70

Decen

19.05

19.10

19.15

19.20

19.25

19.65

18.65

18.90

18.65

18.95

20.05

18.40

6,520

8,360

16,300

27,400

41,500

60,200

95 , 000

128,000

151,000

172,000

160,000

143,000

ber 16

15,700

15,300

15,200

14,800

14,900

14,100

14,400

14,400

14,500

14,200

14,200

14,200

ber 22

9,740

9,790

9,840

9,880

9,920

10,300

9,380

9,610

9,380

9,660

10,600

9,160

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

65.00

70.20

73.60

72.00

70.30

68.50

67.00

65.00

63.80

62.30

61.00

59.00

134,000

164,000

185,000

175,000

165,000

154,000

145,000

134,000

128,000

120,000

114,000

104,000

December 17

22.30

23.15

23.18

23.05

23.75

22.45

22.90

22.20

22.95

22.92

22.10

22.42

Decen

18.30

18.75

18.42

18.42

18.42

19.75

18.30

17.85

18.00

18.80

18.10

18.00

12,800

13,600

13,700

13,600

14,200

13,000

13,400

12,700

13,400

13,400

12,600

12,900

ber 23

9,070

9,480

9,180

9,180

9,180

10,400

9,070

8,860

8,800

9,520

8,890

8,800

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

56.50

54.10

51.90

50.40

49.00

47.50

46.30

44.80

43.50

42.60

41.90

41.20

93,000

83,400

74,800

69,600

65 , 000

60,300

56,700

52,400

48,900

46,600

45,000

43,300

December 18

22.00

21.32

21.65

21.75

21.95

22.15

20.90

21.15

21.35

22.00

21.20

20.45

Decen

17.80

17.87

17.82

17.82

18.02

18.90

17.85

18.30

17.00

17.75

17.45

17.90

12,500

11,800

12,200

12,200

12,400

12,600

11,400

11,600

11,800

12,500

11,700

11,000

iber 24

8,640

8,700

8,660

8,660

8,820

9,610

8,680

9,070

8,000

8,600

8,360

8,720

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

40.70

40.10

39.30

38.70

38.00

37.30

36.60

36.20

35.50

35.15

34.70

34.40

Decen

20.60

20.70

20.75

20.70

20.65

20.60

20.55

20.40

21.25

20.40

20.05

19.65

Decen

18.50

17.20

17.60

17.60

17.75

17.40

17.30

17.30

17.10

17.40

17.25

17.20

42 , 100

40,800

39,100

37,700

36,200

34,700

33,300

32,500

31,200

30,500

29,700

29,100

ber 19

11,100

11,200

11,300

11,200

11,200

11,100

11,100

11,000

11 , 800

11,000

10,600

10,300

ber 25

9,250

8,160

8,480

8,480

8,440

8,320

8,240

8,240

8,080

8,320

8,200

8,160

Supplemental records.- Dec. 16, 9130 a.m., 24.75 ft., 15,300 sec.-ft. Dec. 18, 3 

a.m., 22.15 ft., 12,600 sec.-ft; 7 p.m., 22.60 ft., 13,100 sec.-ft; 9 p.m., 20.90 ft., 

11,400 sec.-ft. Dec. 23, 1 a.m., 17.85 ft., 8,680 sec.-ft. Dec. 24, 7 p.m., 16.45 ft. 

7,560 sec.-ft. Dec. 25, 1 a.m., 18.55 ft., 9,300 sec.-ft.
222 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Indian Creek near Crescent Mills, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 40°05', long. 120°56', in SWt sec. 25, T. 26 N., R. 9 E., 0.8 mile 

above mouth of Dixie Creek and about li miles below Crescent Mills, Plumas County. 

Altitude, about 3,500 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 746 square miles.

Page-height Record.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 5,500 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study. Rating curve changed 

at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 11,500 second-feet 3 a.m. Dec. 12 (gage height, 

15.00 feet).

1906-9, 1911-18, 1930-November 1937: Discharge, about 11,700 second-feet Mar. 

19, 1907 (gage height, 20.2 feet, from floodmark, former site and datum, 500 feet 

upstream), from rating curve extended above 3,200 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or irrigation diversions in 

Indian and Genesee Valleys.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

33

33

33

33

34

34

36

36

35

34

Dec.

195

180

169

160

148

140

134

131

139

789

Jan.

330

344

379

367

338

304

276

259

256

252

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

64

82

66

76

81

114

357

354

258

454

Dec.

6,970

10,600

6,450

3,170

2,060

1,560

1,240

1,030

855

695

Jan.

243

241

245

245

379

418

520

720

670

580

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

980

860

752

860

729

530

382

300

254

215

16,080

Dec.

600

520

502

434

418

391

367

350

327

322

330

82,070

Jan.

502

468

468

415

397

388

376

373

367

350

418

23,580

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

f.

w

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

10

M

Feet Sec.ffcv

December 8

_

-

2.82

-

-

2.81

_

-

2.81

_

_

2.80

Deceit

8.82

8.60

8.40

8.23

8.08

7.93

7.79

7.68

7.57

7.46

7.34

7.24

Decen

_

-

4.77

-

-

4.72

-

_

4.66

_

4.59

_

-

132

-

-

131

-

_

131

_

 _

129

ber 14

3,990

3,770

3,570

3,400

3,250

3,100

2,970

2,870

2,770

2,670

2,570

2,480

ber 20

_

-

730

-

_

705

-

_

675

_

640

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

_

2.80

_

2.80

_

2.80

_

2.82

-

2.97

_

3.31

_

129

_

129

_

129

_

132

-

157

_

221

December 15

_

7.03

-

6.85

-

6.71

-

6.60

-

6.49

_

6.39

Dec en

_

-

4.52

-

_

4.48

-

_

4.45

_

4.38

_

2,290

_

2,140

_

2,030

-

1,940

-

1,850

_

1,770

iber 21

_

_

609

-

_

592

_

_

580

_

552

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

3.53

3.69

3.85

4.02

4.25

4.51

4.96

5.38

5.74

6.02

6.29

6.57

Deceiu

_

6.29

-

6.19

_

6.11

-

6.03

_

5.96

_

5.88

Decen

_

-

4.32

-

_

4.28

-

_

4.28

_

4.30

267

302

341

388

465

575

808

1,060

1,270

1,440

1,600

1,770

ber 16

_

1,690

_

1,620

_

1,570

-

1,510

_

1,460

_

1,410

ber 22

_

-

528

_

_

513

-

_

513

_

520

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

7.12

7.97

9.00

10.37

11.33

12.24

13.11

13.73

14.22

14.64

14.87

14.96

2,130

2,720

3,580

4,960

6,130

7,340

8,560

9,500

10,300

10,900

11,300

11,400

December 17

_

5.79

-

5.72

_

5.65

-

5.56

-

5.50

_

5.44

Decen

_

-

4.27

-

-

4.26

-

_

4.22

_

4.15

_

1,340

-

1,290

-

1,240

-

1,190

_

1,150

_

1,110

ber 23

_

-

510

-

_

506

-

_

492

_

468

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

14.98

14.98

14.93

14.81

14.68

14.51

14.31

14.07

13.81

13.52

13.25

12.95

11,500

11,500

11,400

11,300

11,100

10,900

10,600

10,300

9,950

9,580

9,220

8,840

December 18

_

_

5.36

_

-

5.28

-

-

5.21

_

_

5.14

_

-

1,070

-

_

1,020

-

-

976

_

-

934

December 24

_

-

4.10

-

_

4.07

-

-

4.02

_

4.00

_

-

450

-

_

440

-

-

424

_

418

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

12.63

12.30

11.95

11.62

11.29

10.96

10.63

10.30

9.97

9.65

9.35

9.09

8,420

8,010

7,590

7,190

6,800

6,400

6,010

5,610

5,240

4,880

4,560

4,270

December 19

_

_

5.06

_

-

4.99

-

_

4.92

_

-

4.84

Dec em

_

-

4.00

-

-

4.00

-

-

4.01

_

3.96

_

-

888

-

-

850

-

-

811

_

-

767

ber 25

_

-

418

-

-

418

-

-

421

_

406

Supplemental records.- Dec. 12, 3 a.m., 15.00 ft., 11,500 sec.-ft.
SACRAlBNfO RIVER BASER 223

Spanish Creek at Keddie, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 40°00'05", long. 120°57'20", in NE^ sec. 27, T. 25 N. , R. 9 E., 200 

feet above Blackhawk Creek and 0.9 mile southeast of Keddie, Plumas County. Altitude, about 3,250 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 184 square miles.

Gage-height 7ecord.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period Nov. 1 to 3J30 p.m. 

Nov. 17, when it was based on occasional gage readings, range of stage indicated 

on recorder graph, and stage-graph for Indian Creek near Orescent Mills.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 4,500 secondfeet; extended to peak stage by A\^T method; verified by area-velocity study. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 11,500 second-feet 11 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

IS.43 feet).

1911-November 1937: Discharge, about 11,000 second-feet Mar. 26, 1928 (gage 

height, 15.5 feet, from floodmarks, former site and datum, 1.2 miles downstream), 

from rating curve extended above 900 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not appreciably affected by artificial storage or diversions.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Kov.

40

40

40

40

40

42

42

40

40

40

Dec.

140

129

121

117

111

106

102

99

108

4,600

Jan.

176

205

208

187

176

168

158

153

149

146

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Sov.

80

88

80

75

80

140

545

237

173

1,190

Dec.

9,610

3,370

1,460

865

649

505

420

361

321

281

Jan.

146

144

142

142

374

305

813

757

532

401

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

845

330

609

736

414

291

234

193

168

151

14,010

Dec.

255

255

266

238

228

208

193

190

181

181

181

51,270

Jan.

337

341

341

289

266

248

241

245

234

214

440

17,210

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

£

£

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

3

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

_

_

_

_

2.22

_

_

_

_

_

2.24

_

_

_

_

_

97

_

_

-

_

_

101

December 14

4.14

4.11

4.07

4.03

3.99

3.95

3.92

3.90

3.86

3.83

3.79

3.76

1,010

984

951

919

888

858

835

820

792

771

744

724

December 20

-

-

2.91

-

_

2.89

_

_

2.88

-

_

2.86

_

-

289

-

_

281

_

-

278

_

_

270

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

2.24

2.24

2.23

2.23

2.22

2.22

2.23

2.24

2.26

2.34

2.47

2.70

Deceit

_

3.71

_

3.67

_

3.64

_

3.59

_

3.54

_

3.49

Decen

_

_

-

-

_

2.81

_

_

_

-

_

2.88

101

101

99

99

97

97

99

101

104

119

146

208

ber 15

_

692

_

667

_

649

-

619

_

589

_

560

iber 21

_

_

-

_

_

252

_

-

_

_

255

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

3.02

3.44

3.87

4.40

4.85

5.45

7.20

9.14

11.67

12.19

11.87

11.52

322

512

776

1,160

1,540

2,120

4,140

6,700

10,400

11,200

10,700

10,200

December 16

_

_

3.42

_

_

3.38

-

_

3.34

_

_

3.29

Decea

_

2.81

-

2.79

-

2.77

-

2.81

-

2.91

_

2.95

_

-

521

_

_

500

-

_

480

_

_

455

iber 22

_

252

-

245

_

238

_

252

_

289

_

305

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

11.42 10,000

11.39

11.64

12.12

12.36

12.37

11.97

11.41

10.57

9 75

8^87

8.29

Decem

_

-

3.25

_

-

3.21

-

-

3.17

_

_

3.15

9,980

10,400

11,100

11,400

11,500

10,900

10,000

8,760

7,590

6,360

5,600

ber 17

_

-

435

_

-

415

-

-

396

-

_

388

December 23

_

-

2.87

_

_

2.83

_

-

2.83

_

_

2.81

-

-

274

_

-

259

-

-

259

-

_

252

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

7.84

7.44

7.05

6.76

6.50

6.31

6.13

5.95

5.78

5.55

5.46

5.32

5,010

4,490

4,020

3,670

3,370

3,160

2,960

2,760

2,580

2,340

2,250

2,110

December 18

_

_

3.12

_

-

3.09

_

_

3.06

_

_

3.04

Decen

_

-

-

-

_

2.76

-

-

-

-

_

2.75

-

-

374

-

361

_

-

349

-

-

341

ber 24

-

-

-

-

-

234

-

-

-

-

-

231

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

5.18

5.04

4.89

4.77

4.64

4.55

4.49

4.43

4.38

4.33

4.S7

4.20

1,970

1,830

1,680

1,570

1,460

1,380

1,320

1,270

1,220

1,180

1,120

1,060

December 19

_

-

3.00

-

-

2.97

-

-

S.96

_

_

2.94

-

-

325

-

-

313

-

-

309

-

_

301

December 25

-

_

-

-

_

2.73

-

-

-

-

-

2.72

-

_

-

_

82 4

-

-

-

-

-

S21

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 11 a.m., 12.43 ft., 11,500 sec.-ft.
224 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Bucks Creek storage reservoir near Bucks ranch, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°54', long. 121°12', in Nffli sec. 33, T. 24 N., R. 7 E., at dam on 

Bucks Creek 2 miles northwest of former Bucks ranch and 15 miles west of Quincy, 

Pluraas County. Zero of gage is at mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 28 square miles.

flage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph. Elevations at midnight used to determine contents.

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely controlled in reservoir (capacity, 101,650 acre-feet 

at elevation of crest of spillway, 5,154.85 feet). See record for Bucks Creek, at 

Bucks Creek storage reservoir. Basic data furnished by Pacific Gas 4 Electric Co.

Elevation and contents, November 1937 to January 1938

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 

(feet)

5,138.00

5,137.75

5 , 137 . 45

5,137.15

5,136.95

5,136.65

5,136.35

5,136.0

5,135.65

5,135.5

5,135.4

5 , 135 . 15

5,135.0

5,135.2

5,135.3

5,135.4

5,135.55

5,135.7

5,136.15

6,137.0

5,137.3

5,137.6

5,137.9

5,138.2

5,138.4

5,138.6

5,138.7

5,138.7

5,138.7

5,138.7

Contents 

(acre-feet)

72,621

72,216

71,730

71,244

70,920

70,437

69,955

69,392

68,833

68,594

68,434

68,035

67,795

68,114

68,274

68,434

68,674

68,913

69,633

71,001

71,487

71,973

72,459

72,947

73,273

73,600

73,763

73,763

73,763

73,763

December

Elevation 

(feet)

5,138.9

5,138.85

5,138.95

5,139.0

5,139.1

5,139.0

5,139.0

5,138.9

5,138.8

5,140.6

5,145.4

5,147.45

5,148.75

5,149.45

5,149.5

5,149.45

5,149.35

5,149.15

5,149.05

5,149.0

5,148.8

5,148.6

5,148.55

5,148.45

5,148.35

5,148.35

5,148.3

5,148.1

5,147.95

5,147.85

5,147.75

Contents 

(acre-feet)

74,089

74,008

74,170

74,252

74,416

74,252

74,252

74,089

73,926

76,886

84,962

88,492

90,755

91,983

92,071

91,983

91,807

91,450

91,280

91,192

90,843

90,494

90,406

90,231

90,057

90,057

89,970

89,621

89,360

89,186

89,008

January

Elevation 

(feet)

5,147.55

5 , 147 . 4

5,147.25

5,147.1

5,146.95

5,146.85

5,146.7

5,146.45

5,146.15

5,145.75

5,145.35

5,145.05

5,144.95

5,145.15

5,145.3

5,145.55

5,145.85

5,145.9

5,146.15

5,146.35

5,146.45

5,146.55

5,146.7

5,146.8

5,146.75

5,146.6

5,146.6

5,146.75

5,146.8

5,146.85

5,146.95

Contents 

(acre-feet)

88,665

88,406

88,145

87,885

87,626

87,454

87,195

86,764

86,248

85,561

84,876

84,362

84,192

84,533

84,791

85,218

85,733

85,818

86,247

86,592

86,764

86,937

87,196

87,367

87,281

87,023

87,023

87,281

87,367

87,454

87,626
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 225

Bucks Creek at Bucks Creek storage reservoir, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°54', long. 121°12', In W»i sec. 33, T. 24 N., R. 7 B., at dam on 

Bucks Creek 2 miles northwest of former Bucks Ranch and 15 miles west of Qulncy, 

Plumas County. Altitude, about 5,000 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 28 square miles.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge regulated to maximum of 238 second-feet. Maximum 

discharge adjusted for changes in storage, about 5,500 second-feet 3 to 6 a.m. Dec. 

11.

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely regulated In Bucks Creek storage reservoir (capacity, 

101,650 acre-feet). Dally records of storage and release (observed discharge) furnished by Pacific Gas 5: Electric Co. Dally and monthly discharges adjusted for 

changes in storage. See record for Bucks Creek storage reservoir.

Discharge and gain or loss in storage, December 1937

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

Observed

discharge 

(sec. -ft. )

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

166

238

76

0

0

0

0

154

Grain or loss

in storage 

(acre-feet)

+326

-81

+162

+82

+164

-164

0

-163

-163

+2,960

+8,076

+3,530

+2,263

+1,228

+88

Adjusted

discharge 

(sec. -ft. )

*41

156

1,570

4,070

1,780

1,140

619

198

Day

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

26

26

27

28

29

30

31

Observed

discharge 

(sec. -ft.)

238

238

238

238

238

238

238

238

238

238

238

238

238

238

238

238

Grain or loss

in storage 

(acre-feet)

-8

-17

3

5

-357

-170

-8 3

-349

-349

-8 3

-175

-174

0

-87

-349

-26 L

-174

-178

Jovember

114

+408

121

7,200

Adjusted

discharge 

(sec. -ft.)

194

149

58

152

194

62

62

194

150

150

238

194

62

106

150

148

December January

143 106

+15,240 -1,380

391 83.1

24,060 5,110

 Mean for the period.
226 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

firlzzly Creek near Storrie, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°52', long. 121°14', in SUSt sec. 5, T. 23 N. , R. 7 E., about 2,000 

feet above outlet of tunnel from Bucks Creek and 6 miles southeast of Storrie, 

Plumas County. Altitude, about 4,900 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 6.2 square miles.

Sage-height i-ecorr1 .- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 8 a.m. Jan. 2 to 9 

a.m. Jan. 5, whan there was no record. Stage graph for Jan. 2 and 5 based on partial recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 150 second-feet; 

extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study; verified by extension of 

rating curve for discontinued station below Bucks Creek Tunnel, which is well defined to 600 second-feet. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 1,570 second-feet 11 a.m. Dec. 10 (gage height, 

772~0 feet).

1929-1932, 1934-November 1937: Discharge, about 1,000 second-feet Dec. 12, 

1929 (gage height. 4.85 feet, from floodmark in well), and Feb. 21, 1936 (gage 

height, 4.86 feet), from rating curve extended above 150 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge 

for period of missing gage-height record, Jan. 3-4, interpolated. Part of basic 

data furnished by Pacific Sas & Electric Co.

Mean daily discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

1.8

1.6

1.5

1.4

1.3

1.4

1.6

1.5

1.5

1.7

Dec.

17

15

14

14

13

13

12

12

106

1,090

Jan.

7.5

14

12

11

10

9.5

9

8

8

8

Day

11

12

13

14

1ft

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

12

8

5

31

20

90

126

38

106

275

Dec.

569

167

84

58

45

37

30

24

16

14

Jan.

7.5

8

8.5

10

46

22

41

34

25

21

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, In acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

81

48

140

68

43

33

26

22

20

18

2,430

Dec.

14

12

13

15

12

12

9.5

9

8.5

8.5

8

4,900

Jan.

19

24

25

21

20

20

20

20

19

19

19

1,080

Gage height, In feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

1&

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

_

_

_

_

1.57

-

_

-

_

_

1.57

Decen

-

2.15

_

2.12

-

2.09

-

2.06

-

2.04

_

2.02

Do can

_

-

-

-

-

1.59

-

-

_

-

_

1.57

_

-

-

-

_

12

-

-

_

_

_

12

iber 14

-

64

_

60

-

57

-

§4

-

52

-

50

iber 20

_

-

-

-

_

14

-

-

-

-

_

14

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

1.57

1.57

1.57

1.57

1.58

1.68

1.97

2.48

2.96

3.43

3.55

4.70

Decen

-

_

2.00

-

_

1.97

_

1.94

_

_

1.93

Decei

_

-

-

-

_

1.58

-

-

_

-

_

1.56

12

12

12

12

12

18

40

95

175

273

300

606

iber 15

_

_

48

_

_

45

_

_

42

_

_

41

aber 21

_

_

-

-

_

14

_

_

-

_

_

13

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

5.91

6.48

6.52

6.13

6.80

6.23

6.10

5.37

6.10

5.70

6.03

5.90

Decen

_

_

1.90

-

_

1.88

_

_

1.86

_

_

1.84

Decen

_

-

-

-

_

1.55

_

-

_

_

_

1.56

1,020

1,250

1,270

1,110

1,390

1,150

1,100

824

1,100

940

1,070

1,020

iber 16

_

_

38

_

-

36

_

_

34

_

-

33

iber 22

_

-

_

_

_

12

_

_

_

-

_

13

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

5.68

5.20

5.36

5.48

5.28

4.12

3.93

3.66

3.61

3.60

3.53

3.38

933

766

821

863

793

443

394

328

316

314

299

266

December 17

_

-

1.83

-

1.81

_

1.79

_

-

1.77

Decen

_

-

_

-

_

1.56

_

_

_

-

_

1.55

_

-

32

-

-

30

-

_

28

_

-

27

ber 23

_

-

-

-

_

13

_

-

_

-

_

12

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

3.55

3.16

3.08

3.00

2.91

2.85

2.78

2.71

2.65

2.60

2.56

2.51

Decen

_

-

1.76

-

-

1.74

-

_

1.73

_

-

-

Decen

-

-

1.53

-

-

1.60

-

_

1.65

-

1.66

240

222

206

190

174

163

151

140

130

122

116

109

ber 18

_

-

26

-

_

24

_

_

23

_

_

-

ber 24

_

_

12

_

_

15

_

-

18

-

_

19

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

_

2.43

2.37

_

2.32

-

2.26

_

2.32

-

2.18

Decen

_

-

_

-

-

1.62

_

_

-

_

_

1.59

iDecem

_

1.60

-

1.55

_

1.55

_

1.55

_

1.55

_

1.54

_

98

_

90

_

84

-

77

..

72

-

68

ber 19

-

-

-

-

-

16

-

_

_

_

_

14

ber 2ft

_

15

_

12

_

12

-

12

_

12

_

12

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 11 a.m., 7.20 ft., 1,570 see.-ft.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 227

West Branch of Feather River near Yankee Hill, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°42', long. 121°34', In S1»i sec. 5, T. 21 N., R. 4 E., at highway 

bridge 1.4 miles below Concow Creek and 2 miles west of Yankee Hill, Butte County. 

Altitude, about 1,100 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 145 square miles.

gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods 8 p.m. Dec. 10 to 

9:30 a.m. Dec. 14, 6 p.m. Dec. 21 to about 2 p.m. Jan. 2, when there was no record. 

Gage read at 4 p.m. Dec. 12 and 7 a.m. Dec. 14. Peak stage obtained from floodmark. 

Stage graph for Dec. 14 based on staff gage reading and partial recorder record.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 14,300 secondfeet; extended to peak stage; verified by area-velocity study and comparison of peak 

discharge and total run-off of flood with records on Butte, Chico and Concow Creeks. 

Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 21,400 second-feet about 2 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage

 height, 30.3 feet).

1930-November 1937! Discharge, 14,400 second-feet Feb. 21, 1936 (gage height, 

23.6 feet), from rating curve defined to 14,300 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off probably not materially affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge for periods of missing gage-height record determined from discharge graph based on records for Butte and Concow Creeks.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

11

8.5

7.5

7

7

7

8

8

7.5

8

Dec.

230

203

186

170

154

144

143

128

157

11,400

Jan.

250

270

290

254

234

224

210

196

178

176

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

192

160

52

111

288

368

1,310

379

385

4,120

Dec.

14,500

4,460

2,120

1,450

1,090

930

815

528

640

570

Jan.

165

156

146

146

461

403

1,250

815

510

658

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

1,380

550

1,790

1,260

696

536

412

336

288

254

29,650

Dac.

522

490

470

430

400

360

325

320

280

250

250

1 A0 1*

87,500

Jan.

538

490

474

388

340

309

293

293

282

251

629

22,370

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

s&

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

Feet Isec.ft.

December 8

3.38

3.34

3.32

3.30

3.30

3.29

3.28

3.27

3.26

3.37

3.39

3.39

Decen

_

9.30

-

9.15

-

8.98

8.83

_

8.62

..

8.50

Decen

_

6.83

-

-

6.78

-

6.75

-

136

131

128

126

126

125

124

122

121

134

137

137

bar 14

_

1,600

1,520

-

1,440

_

1,360

_

1,260

1,210

iber 20

_

580

-

564

-

-

«

551

-

"

Feet jsec.ft.

December 9

3.38

3.37

3.36

3.36

3.35

3.35

3.35

3.40

3.60

3.75

4.25

5.30

Decen

_

8.41

8.32

-

8.25

_

8.17

-

8.11

.

8.02

He eel

_

6.70

-

-

-

6.67

-

_

-

-

136

134

133

133

132

132

132

138

164

185

262

484

ber 15

_

1,170

-

1,140

-

1,110

-

1,080

-

1V 050

1,020

iber 21

_

538

-

528

-

500

-

~

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

8.00

10.80

13.30

14.70

17.35

23.50

26.40

25.20

25.00

27.90

29.0

30.0

Decen

_

7.96

-

_

-

7.81

_

_

7.68

«

-

Decen

1,420

2,960

4,840

5,960

8,320

14,300

17,200

16,000

15,800

18,800

20,000

21,100

ber 16

_

994

-

-

-

934

-

-

882

-

ber 22

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

30.3

_

_

-

_

-

-

_

_

-

Decem

_

7.58

-

-

7.50

-

-

7.42

-

Decen

21,400

21,000

19,000

17,000

15,200

13,800

12,600

11,500

10,400

9,400

8,400

7,400

ber 17

_

843

-

-

815

-

_

-

587

-

iber 23

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

_

_

-

_

_

-

_

12,48

-

_

_

-

6,600

6,000

5,400

4,900

4,520

4,180

3,840

3,560

3,380

3,160

2,940

2,720

December 18

_

7.33

-

-

-

7.25

-

-

-

7.17

-

Decen

_

556

-

-

-

528

-

-

_

700

-

ber 24

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 13

_

_

-

_

_

_

_

-

_

-

-

Decen

_

7.10

-

-

-

7.03

-

-

-

6.88

-

Decen

2,560

2,420

2,320

2,220

2,160

2,080

2,000

1,950

1,900

1,850

1,800

1,750

ber 19

-

675

-

-

650

-

-

598

-

ber 25

Supplemental records.--Dec. 9, 11 p.m., 4.55 ft., 316 sec.-ft.
THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Concow Creek near Yankee Hill, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°46', long. 121°32', in M& sec. 16, T. 22 N., R. 4 E., at diversion 

dam for Spring Valley Ditch, 300 feet below Lake Wilenor Dam and 4 miles north of Yankee Hill post office, Butte County. Altitude, about 1,850 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 14.7 square miles.

Oase-height "record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period midnight Dec. 10 to 

10 a.m. Dec.IT, when there was no record.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 500 second-feet; 

extended to peak stage on basis of rating for spillway of Lake Wilenor Dam.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 770 second-feet 10 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 2.44 

feet).

1927-November 1937: Discharge, 1,840 second-feet Mar. 26, 1928 (gage height, 5.9 

feet), from rating curve extended above 300 second-feet on basis of computation of 

peak discharge over Lake Wilenor Dam.

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by storage in Lake Wilenor. Elevation of crest 01' spillway is 1,967.0 feet above mean sea level (capacity, 7,300 acre-feet). Lake started to 

spill about 2 a.m. Dec. 11. Discharge for period of missing gage-height record obtained from discharge graph based on changes in storage in Lake Wilenor and comparison 

with records for nearby streams. Discharge adjusted for storage and diversion. Elevation at midnight and corresponding contents in Lake Wilenor determined from graph 

based on dally readings at about 10 a.m. Part of basic data furnished by Table Mountain and Thermallto Irrigation Districts.

Storage, diversion, and discharge, December 1937

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

Lake Wilenor

Elevation 

(feet)

1,952.7

1,952.8

1,952.9

1,953.0

1,953.1

1,953.1

1,953.2

1,953.2

1,954.0

1,964.8

1,968.0

1,967.5

1,967.3

1,967.2

1,967.2

1,967.2

1,967.1

1,967.1

1,967.1

1,967.0

1,967.0

1,967.0

1,967.1

1,967.1

1,967.1

1,967.1

1,967.0

1,967.0

1,967.0

1,967.0

1,967.0

Contents 

(acre-feet)

3,840

3,860

3,880

3,900

3,920

3,920

3,940

3,940

4,100

6,650

7,600

7,450

7,390

7,360

7,360

7,360

7,330

7,330

7,330

7,300

7,300

7,300

7,330

7,330

7,330

7,330

7,300

7,300

7,300

7,300

7,300

Gain or loss 

(acre-feet)

+20

+20

+20

+20

+20

0

+20

0

+160

+2,550

+950

-150

-60

-30

0

0

-30

0

0

-30

0

0

+30

0

0

0

-30

0

0

0

0

Spring 

Valley Ditch 

diversion 

(sec. -ft.)

0.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.4

2.1

2.0

.5

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

Discharge

Observed 

(sec. -ft.)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

491

223

102

62

45

35

2J9

25

19

19

14

15

17

19

19

17

16

17

16

16

15

Adjusted 

(sec. -ft. )

>

k *7.5

,

81

1,290

972

148

72

47

45

35

14

25

19

43

14

15

32

19

19

17

1.3

17

16

16

15

Observed mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Jan.

14

16

16

15

14

15

14

4.7

.2

0

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

491

223

102

62

45

35

29

25

19

19

Jan.

0

0

0

0

8

24

209

87

77

70

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Mean monthly diversion in Spring Valley Ditch, in 

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet (adjusted).

second-feet.

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

10.4 

41.3 

2,460

Dec.

14

15

17

19

19

17

16

17

16

16

15

^Q 7

 » A on

.46 

96.8 

5,950

Jan.

51

43

35

29

24

17

15

14

14

13

81

8.67 

41.6 

2,560

*Mean for the period.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 229

Middle Pork of Feather River near Clio, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°45', long. 120°36', in Ej sec. 23, T. 22 N., R. 12 E., 0.3 mile

above Prazier Creek and 1^ miles northwest of Clio, Plumas County. Altitude, about

4,350 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 699 square miles. 

Sage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph for period Nov. 1-27. No record Nov.

28 to Jan. 31. Peak stage determined from floodmark. 

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 2,600 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study. 

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 5,320 second-feet probably Dec. 11 (gage height,

10.4 feet).

1925-November 1937: Discharge, 11,000 second-feet Mar. 26, 1928 (gage height,

12.0 feet), from rating curve extended above 4,750 second-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. The following mean discharges for periods of missing gage-height record were determined from

floodmark and discharge graph based on records for Spanish Creek at Keddie and Indian

Creek near Crescent Mills: Dec. 1-9, 80 sec.-ft.; Dec. 10-15, 1,700 sec.-ft.; Dec.

16-31, 170 sec.-ft.

Mean daily discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

25

23

23

23

23

84

24

25

23

23

Dec.

_

-

_

_

_

-

-

_

-

_

Jan.

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

Day

11

IS

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

38

41

31

51

38

43

811

86

68

891

Dec.

_

-

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

Jan.

_

-

-

-

-

-

-

_

_

_

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

351

158

153

199

136

114

107

105

103

100

5,870

Dec.

_

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

440

27,050

Jan.

_

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

150

9,SSO

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 10.4 ft., 5,380 sec.-ft.
230 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Middle Fork of Feather River at Bidwell Bar, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°33', long. 121°26', in NWi sec. 32, T. 20 N., R. 5 E., at highway 

bridge at Bidwell Bar, 2 miles above junction with North Pork and 7 miles northeast 

of Oroville, Butte County. Altitude, about 290 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 1,353 square miles.

Bage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods 3 a.m. Dec. 11 to 1 

p.m. Dec. 12, 4 p.m. Dec. 24 to 7:30 a.m. Jan. 11, when it was based on peak stage, 

range of stage indicated on recorder graph, and stage graphs for nearby stations. 

Peak stage obtained from floodmarks.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 20,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage; verified by area-velocity study and AV3T method. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 93,000 second-feet about 6 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

height, 24.0 feet, from floodmarks).

Mean daily discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

233

247

249

247

244

244

252

249

247

244

Dec.

975

895

846

798

774

726

703

680

717

36,700

Jan.

1,540

1,570

1,600

1,500

1,460

1,430

1,400

1,370

1,370

1,340

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

462

634

450

625

948

822

3,680

1,810

1,210

6,610

Dec.

72,000

22,5QO

12,200

7,920

5,620

4,520

3,690

3,250

2,840

2,500

Jan.

1,340

1,280

1,280

1,250

2,020

1,900

4,160

3,580

3,040

2,740

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

4,890

2,290

3,440

3,610

2,340

1,760

1,440

1,270

1,150

1,060

85,200

Dec.

2,280

2,190

2,140

2,020

1,900

1,860

1,820

1,740

1,710

1,640

1,570

400,100

Jan.

2,460

2,320

2,320

2,100

1,980

1,860

1,820

1,980

1,860

1,740

2,550

1 941

119,300

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second- feet, at indicated time, 1937

g

&

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

-

_

3.41

-

-

3.40

-

-

3.39

-

-

3.38

Deceit

_

10.92

10.63

10.38

-

10.14

9.90

9.68

Deceit

_

-

6.54

-

-

6.47

-

_

6.37

-

_

6.30

_

_

685

-

-

680

_

-

675

_

671

ber 14

_

9,000

8,380

_

7,880

-

7,400

_

6,960

6,560

iber 20

_

_

2,590

-

-

2,520

-

_

2,430

-

-

2,370

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

3.38

3.37

3.36

3.36

3.36

3.36

3.37

3.42

3.50

3.60

3.82

4.45

Decen

_

9.48

_

9.30

_

9.15

-

8.97

_

8.82

.

8.66

Deceit

_

-

6.24

-

_

6.21

-

_

6.10

-

_

6.05

671

666

662

662

662

662

666

689

726

774

880

1,240

ber 15

_

6,230

 .

5,940

_

5,700

_

5,440

M

5,230

H

5,000

ibar 21

_

-

2,320

-

_

2,290

-

_

2,190

-

_

2,140

Feet |sec.ft.

December 10

5.55

6.72

9.90

12.05

13.05

14.42

16.65

20.60

21.65

21.38

22.07

22.25

Decen

_

8.51

_

8.37

_

8.26

_

8.14

..

8.03

«,

7.92

Deceit

_

_

6.04

-

_

6.02

_

_

6.15

_

_

6.31

2,140

3,510-

8,960

15,000

18,800

25,200

38,200

65,800

74,200

72 , 000

77,600

79,000

ber 16

_

4,790

_.

4,600

_

4,470

_

4,330

_

4,200

4,060

ber 22

_

.

2,140

-

_

2,120

_

_

2,240

_

_

2,380

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 11

21.70

_

24.0

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

Dec em

_

7.82

_

7.73

7.64

_

7.56

_

7.49

..

7.42

Deceit

_

6.18

.

6.08

_

6.01

_

5.95

_

5.90

_

5.88

74,500

86,500

93 , 000

89,500

81,000

75,500

70,500

68,000

63,500

55,000

46,500

39,500

ber 17

_

3,940

_

3,840

_

3,730

_

3,650

_

3,570

_

3,490

ber 23

_

2,260

_

2,170

_

2,110

_

2,060

_

2,020

_

2,000

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

_

_

_

_

_

_

13.97

13.64

13.37

13 = 11

12.92

12.83

33,500

30,000

27,500

24,500

22,500

20,500

19,300

18,000

16,900

15,800

15,100

14,800

December 18

_

7.34

_

7.28

_

7.17

_

7.08

_

7.01

_

6.94

Deceit

_

5.84

_

5.84

_

5.96

-

5.96

_

_

_

-

_

3,400

_

3,340

_

3,220

3,120

3,050

_

2,980

ber 24

_

1,970

_

1,970

_

2,070

_

2,070

_

2,030

_

1,950

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

12.75

12.64

12.51

12.35

12.22

12.09

11.92

11.79

11.65

11.50

11.35

11.19

Deceit

_

6.88

_

6.82

6.78

6.71

6,64

_

6.59

Deceit

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

14,500

14,100

13,600

13,100

12,600

12,200

11,700

11,300

10,800

10,400

10,000

9,630

ber 19

_

2,920

2,860

2,820

2,750

2,680

_

2,630

bar 25

_

_

1,930

_

_

1,920

_

_

1,910

_

_

1,900

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 11 p.m., 22.4 ft., 80,200 sec.-ft.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 231

South Fork of Feather River at Enterprise, Calif.

Location. - Lat. 39°32', long. 121°21', In S«fi sec. 6, T. 19 N., R. 6 E., 0.8 mile above 

MoCabe Creek and 1 mile above highway bridge at Enterprise, Butte County. Altitude, 

about 550 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 134 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 4,500 secondfeet; extended to peak stage; verified by area-velocity study and A\/d method. RatIng curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 17,300 second-feet 5 p.m. Dec. 10 (gage height, 

2T574 feet).

1911-November 1937: Discharge (regulated), about 15,200 second-feet Mar. 26, 

1928 (gage height, 16.0 feet, from floodmarks at former site and datum,half a mile 

downstream), from rating Curve extended above 2,000 second-feet on basis of computed 

flow over Palermo Canal diversion dam about 1 mile above station.

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by artificial storage In Lost Creek Reservoir (capacity, about 5,700 acre-feet) and by diversions Into Forbestown ditch and Palermo 

canal. Monthly summaries adjusted for storage and diversion.

Mean dally discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

11

29

28

28

28

28

30

29

28

28

Dec.

147

137

130

124

117

110

99

93

114

8,360

Jan.

276

306

316

286

276

267

258

240

232

229

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

70

72

57

104

138

118

768

283

184

1,310

Dec.

12,900

3,760

1,900

1,300

940

740

610

545

470

430

Jan.

223

220

217

213

380

347

890

628

530

470

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet (adjusted). ............................

Nov.

760

372

614

622

424

314

260

217

191

167

rrA'Z

20,430

Dec.

392

392

392

369

347

326

306

306

306

286

286

I

T QC

73,800

Jan.

418

405

405

369

358

336

336

358

347

326

628

rZCO

riftO

22,610

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at Indicated time, 1937

ow

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

-

-

3.25

-

-

3.24

_

-

3.23

_

-

3.22

Decen

-

8.65

-

8.85

-

8.40

_

8.30

_

8.18

-

8.05

Decei

_

6.46

-

_

6.40

-

-

_

6.34

_

-

_

-

94

-

-

93

_

-

92

_

_

91

ber 14

-

1,420

-

1,360

_

1,270

_

1,210

_

1,140

_

1,060

nber 20

_

445

-

_

430

-

-

-

415

_

-

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

3.22

3.22

3.23

3.24

3.25

3.26

3.27

3.34

3.48

3.60

3.90

4.50

91

91

92

93

94

95

96

103

120

134

177

292

December 15

-

7.95

_

_

7.77

_

_

_

7.60

_

-

Dace.!

_

6.30

-

_

6.27

-

-

_

6.23

-

-

-

1,020

-

-

_

925

_

_

_

845

_

-

aber 21

_

405

-

I

398

_

_

-

388

_

-

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

5.50

6.95

10.00

11.30

12.10

13.50

17.40

20.10

19.90

18.50

18.10

18.20

558

1,110

3,000

4,180

5,060

6,790

12,300

16,800

16,400

14,000

13,300

13,500

December 16

-

7.45

_

_

_

7.32

_

_

_

7.22

_

-

Decen

_

6.20

-

~_

6.17

_

_

-

6.39

_

-

-

780

-

_

_

728

-

_

_

688

_

-

ber 22

_

380

-

I

373

_

_

-

428

_

-

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

18.50

19.70

20.30

19.60

19.00

18.90

18.60

17.70

16.30

14.90

14.20

13.60

14,000

16,000

17,100

15,900

14,800

14,700

14,200

12,600

10,300

8,150

7,130

6,290

December 17

-

7.10

_

_

_

7.02

_

_

_

6.92

_

-

-

645

-

_

_

617

_

_

_

582

_

-

December 23

_

6.35

-

~_

6.20

_

_

-

6.13

_

-

_

418

-

~

380

_

_

_

365

_

-

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

13.00

12.50

12.20

11.85

11.60

11.30

11.05

10.80

10.60

10.45

10.30

10.10

Decen

-

6.85

-

_

_

6.77

_

_

_

6.70

_

-

Decen

_

6.08

-

"

6.18

_

_

-

6.18

_

-

5,500

4,880

4,520

4,140

3,860

3,560

3,310

3,080

2,900

2,760

2,640

2,480

ber 18

-

560

_

_

_

536

_

_

_

515

_

-

ber 24

_

354

-

376

_

_

-

376

_

-

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

9.95

9.80

9.65

9.50

9.40

9.30

9.20

9.10

9.00

8.90

8.85

8.80

2,360

2,240

2,120

2,000

1,930

1,860

1,790

1,720

1,650

1,580

1,540

1,510

December 19

-

6.63

_

_

_

6.57

_

_

_

6.50

_

-

Decen

_

6.05

-

~

6.03

_

_

_

6.02

_

-

-

494

.

_

_

476

_

_

_

455

_

-

ber 25

_

347

-

I

343

-

_

-

340

_

-

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 5 p.m., 20.40 ft., 17,300 sec.-ft.
THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Lost Creek near Clipper Mills, Calif.

, 1,000 feet below 

Altitude, about

Location.- Lat. 39°34', long. 121°09', in sec. 24, T. 20 N., R. 7 E 

Lost Creek Dam and 2 miles north of Clipper Mills, Butte County. 

3,050 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 30.1 square miles.

Gage-height Feeord.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 10:30 a.m. Dec. 23 to 

10:30 a.m. Jan. 20, when there was no record. Stage graph for Dec. 23 and Jan. 20 

based on partial recorder graph.

Stage-dlscharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 450 second-feet; 

extended to peak stage on basis of computed flow over Lost Creek Dam. Rating curve 

changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 3,380 second-feet 4 p.m. Dec. 10 (gage height, 6.80 

feet).

1927-November 1937; Discharge, 2,900 second-feet Mar. 26, 1928 (gage height, 

6.10 feet).

Remarks.- Discharge for period of missing gage-height record, Dec. 24 to Jan. 19, determined from staff-gage readings at and corresponding flow over Lost Creek Dam. 

Flood run-off affected by artificial storage in Lost Creek Reservoir (capacity, 

about 5,700 aore-feet) and by diversion into Forbestown ditch. Reservoir began 

to spill about 6 a.m. Dec. 8. Monthly summaries adjusted for storage and diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

Dec.

0.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

2.7

40

1,490

Jan.

90

100

100

90

95

95

90

90

85

85

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0.4

.2

.2

.4

.2

.7

1.1

.2

.2

2.5

Dec.

2,040

738

426

310

246

202

175

155

137

124

Jan.

80

80

80

80

170

110

300

210

170

110

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

0.4

.2

.6

.5

.3

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

O

-rrr

4,970

Dec.

117

120

117

110

105

100

90

90

90

85

85

232

15,210

Jan.

100

103

100

91

84

81

84

103

96

82

144

109

119

7,310

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

I

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

0.08

.08

.10

.22

.58

1.06

1.22

1.30

1.34

1.37

1.39

1.40

Deceit

_

3.16

-

3.11

-

3.07

-

3.03

-

2.99

-

2.96

Decea

_

3.18

2.46

-

2.46

-

2.45

_

2.45

-

2.44

0.2

.2

.2

.2

.3

1.3

2.8

4.2

5.5

6.5

7.2

7.5

ber 14

_

342

-

324

-

310

-

296

-

283

-

272

iber 20

_

127

_

124

-

ia.4

-

122

_

122

-

120

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

1.40

1.42

1.43

1.43

1.44.

1.47

1.49

1.60

1.74

1.95

2.35

2.80

7.5

9

10

10

10

13

14

24

39

68

143

252

December 15

_

2.92

-

2.89

-

2.87

-

2.84

_

2.82

_

2.79

Decen

_

2.43

2.43

-

2.42

-

2.43

-

2.42

-

2.41

_

259

-

249

_

242

-

233

_

226

_

217

iber 21

_

117

117

-

115

-

117

-

115

-

112

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

3.15

3.70

4.06

4.33

4.65

5.00

5.80

6.80

5.80

5.40

5.30

5.40

375

610

806

971

1,200

1,470

2,250

3,380

2,250

1,840

1,740

1,840

December 16

_

2.77

-

2.76

_

2.72

-

2.72

-

2.70

_

2.69

Decen

_

2.41

2.40

-

2.40

-

2.47

_

2.52

-

2.50

_

211

-

208

-

196

-

196

-

190

_

187

iber 22

_

112

110

-

110

-

127

-

139

-

134

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

5.54

6.08

6.37

6.14

5.98

5.98

5.78

5.55

5.22

4.90

4.77

4.62

1,980

2,560

2,880

2,620

2,450

2,350

2,230

1,990

1,670

1,390

1,290

1,170

December 17

_

2.67

-

2.66

-

2.64

-

2.63

-

2.62

-

2.61

Decen:

_

181

-

178

_

172

-

169

-

166

_

163

ber 23

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

4.41

4.29

4.20

4.10

4.00

3.94

3.85

3.77

3.72

3.66

3.60

3.57

1,030

943

880

815

750

713

659

614

587

556

526

512

December 18

_

2.59

-

2.58

_

2.56

-

2.55

-

2.54

-

2.52

_

157

-

155

_

150

-

147

-

144

_

139

December 24

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

_

3.50

_

3.42

_

3.36

_

3.30

_

3.25

-

3.21

Decem

_

2.52

-

2.51

_

2.51

-

2.50

-

2.49

_

2.49

Decem

-

478

-

443

_

418

-

394

-

375

-

360

ber 19

_

139

-

137

-

137

-

134

-

132

_

132

ber 25
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIS 2; 

Middle Pork of Yuba River at Milton, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 390 31'SS", long. lSO°35'Ol", in SWj sec. IS, T. 19 N., R. 12 E., at 

diversion dam of Nevada Irrigation District at old town site of Milton, Sierra 

County, 8 miles above South Pork of Middle Pork of Yuba River. Altitude, about 

5,700 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 41 square miles.

Sage-height Record.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 1,500 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of computed flow over diversion dam.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 6,800 second-feet 10 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

 4TT8 feet).

19S5-November 1937: Discharge (regulated), 4,070 second-feet Mar. 25, 1928 

(gage height, 9.45 feet, former site and datum,0.2 mile downstream).

Remarks.- Flood run-off slightly affected by storage in diversion reservoir and diversion through Milton-Bowman tunnel. Monthly summaries adjusted for diversion. 

Most of basic data furnished by Nevada Irrigation District.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2,240

Jan.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

4,010

450

126

19

0

0

0

0

.1

0

Jan.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet (adjusted). ............................

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

on o

1,200

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

221

19,220

Jan.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

ATI 0

2,900

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time> 1937

£

£

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

Dec en

0.22

.20

.18

.16

.13

.12

.11

.09

.07

.04

.02

.00

ber 14

50

42

34

26

16

13

11

7

3.7

1.0

.4

0

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

Decen ber 15

Feet Sac. ft.

December 10

0.00

.06

1.56

2.10

2.22

2.20

2.61

2.86

2.69

2.64

2.68

2.58

Deceit

0

2.4

1,360

2,210

2,420

2,380

3,140

3,650

3,300

3,200

3,280

3,080

ber 16

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

2.67

3.67

3.75

3.87

4.18

3.79

3.40

2.79

2.10

1.69

1.47

1.29

Decen

3,260

5,490

5,680

5,980

6,800

5,780

4,840

3,500

2,210

1,560

1,230

987

ber 17

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

1.14

1.01

.90

.81

.75

.75

.72

.69

.66

.62

.57

.53

Decen

798

651

535

450

397

397

371

346

323

292

256

228

ber 18

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

0.49

.46

.42

.40

.38

.35

.34

.33

.31

.29

.26

.24

Deceit

201

181

156

143

132

116

110

104

94

83

68

58

ber 19

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 5 a.m., 1.08 ft., 728 sec.-ft. Dec. 11, 5 a.m. 

3.84 ft., 5,900 sec.-ft.
234 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1957 IS HORTHERH CALIFORNIA

Middle Fork of Tuba River near North San Juan, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°23', long. 121°06', in NEi sec. 32, T. 18 N., R. 8E., 1 mile below 

Oregon Creek and 1 mile north of North San Juan, Nevada County. Zero of gage is 

1,400.62 feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

Drainage area.- 207 square miles.

Page-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph. Affected by drawdown of water level 

in well.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 23,000 secondreet.Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 24,000 second-feet 7:30 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

13.7 feet, from floodmarks on bank} 13.3 feet, in well, affected by drawdown).

1911-November 1937: Discharge, about 26,000 second-feet Mar. 25, 1928 (gage 

height, 15.3 feet, from floodmarks at former site and datum,0.4 mile upstream), 

from rating curve extended above 1,200 aecond-feet on basis of slope-area determination of flood flow.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not materially affected by artificial storage. Milton-Bowman 

tunnel diverts water above station. Monthly summaries adjusted for diversion.

Mean dally discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

 2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

41

40

39

39

39

59

39

39

39

39

Dec.

107

100

94

89

84

81

78

75

84

7,300

Jan.

190

209

220

201

192

181

171

166

156

151

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

92

97

67

150

132

149

639

244

148

429

Dec.

16,100

3,840

1,600

965

688

541

445

377

325

284

Jan.

144

141

139

136

298

261

1,180

748

586

475

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

488

220

400

522

295

212

167

144

126

115

194

11,570

Dec.

258

258

264

246

234

218

206

206

201

195

192

1,152

1,244

76,500

Jan.

398

385

377

333

305

288

280

291

288

267

501

312

22 , 050

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

§

w

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

8

10

N

2

4

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

2.79

2.79

2.78

2.78

2.78

2.78

2.78

2.78

2.78

2.78

2.77

2.77

Decea

_

4.98

4.87

-

4.78

-

4.70

4.61

4.54

Decea

_

3.57

-

3.56

-

3.54

-

3.52

-

3.51

3.50

77

77

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

74

74

ber 14

_

1,100

1,020

-

946

_

890

827

784

iber 20

_

294

_

291

-

284

-

277

-

274

270

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

2.77

2.77

2.77

2.76

2.75

2.76

2.77

2.81

2.86

2.93

3.03

3.30

Deoen

_

4.48

4.42

_

4.37

_

4.32

4.27

_

4.23

Dec en

_

3.48

-

3.47

-

3.46

-

3.45

_

3.44

-

3.43

74

74

74

72

71

72

74

80

86

99

115

172

ber 15

_

748

712

-

682

_

652

624

_

602

iber 21

_

264

-

261

_

258

-

255

-

252

-

2-49

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

3.98

5.55

7,42

8.17

8.63

9.12

9.31

9.88

10.07

9.80

9.51

9.47

Deoen

_

4.19

4.15

_

4.11

_

4.08

4.04

_

4.01

Decea

3.42

3.42

3.42

3.41

3.41

3.40

3.42

3.46

3.48

3.51

3.57

3.61

396

1,500

4,440

6,260

7,520

8,960

9,530

11,400

12,000

11,100

10,200

10,000

ber 16

_

580

558

_

536

_

520

500

_

485

iber 22

246

246

246

243

2243

240

246

255

264

274

294

309

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

9.60

10.28

12.28

13.20

12.49

12.30

12.25

11.25

10.10

9.23

8.53

8.01

Decea

_

3.98

3.95

_

3.93

_

3.90

3.87

_

3.84

Decen

3.63

3.59

3.55

3.51

3.48

3.46

3.44

3.42

3.41

3.40

3.40

3.40

10,500

12,700

20,100

24,000

22,700

21,900

21,800

18,000

13,800

10,800

8,460

6,930

ber 17

_

470

455

_

445

_

430

416

_

403

ber 23

317

302

288

274

264

258

252

246

243 2'40

240

240

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

7.70

7.44

7.23

7.07

6.85

6.66

6.47

6.34

6.25

6.16

6.08

5.97

Decen

_

3.82

3.80

_

3.78

_

3.76

3.72

_

3.71

Decea

_

3.39

_

3.38

_

3.41

_

3.45

_

3.46

_

3.44

6,080

5,400

4,870

4,490

3,970

3,550

3,160

2,910

2,740

2,580

2,450

?,270

ber 18

_

394

386

_

377

_

369

353

..

349

ber 24

_

237

_

234

_

243

_

255

_

255

_

252

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

5.87

5.77

5.69

5.61

5.53

5.45

5.38

5.30

5.24

5.19

5.13

5.08

Decen

_

3.68

3.66

_

3.65

_

3.62

3.61

_

3.59

Decea

_

3.40

_

3.37

_

3.36

_

3.35

3.35

3.36

2,120

1,970

1,860

1,750

1,660

1,560

1,490

1,400

1,340

1>290

1,240

1,190

ber 19

_

337

329

_

325

_

313

309

_

302

ber 25

_

240

232

_

229

_

226

226

226

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 7J30 a.m., 13.3 ft., 24,000 sec.-ft.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 235

Yuba River at Smartville, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°13', long. 121°18', in SWj sec. 22, T. 16 N., R. 6 E., at Narrows, 

1 mile below Deer Creek and 1 mile north of Smartville, Yuba County. Zero of gage is 

264.17 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 1,201 square miles.

gage-heiRht record.- Water-stage recorder graph..

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 30,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study; verified by A\£F method. 

Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 95,000 second-feet 9 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 26.0 Feet).

1903-November 1937s Discharge, about 120,000 second-feet Mar. 26, 1928 (gage 

height, 31.2 feet, present datum, from floodmarks), from rating curve extended above 

6,500 second-feet on basis of slope-area computation of flood flow. Maximum gage 

height, 29.2 feet Mar. 19, 1907, former datum! equal to 34.4 feet present datum.

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected somewhat ty artificial storage and diversions. Lake 

Spaulding (capacity, 70,500 acre-feet), Bowman Lake (capacity, 67,400 aere-feet), 

anil Fordyee Lake (capacity, 42,000 acre-feet).

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

318

297

297

304

304

311

270

285

304

318

Dec.

842

808

819

808

753

786

786

808

878

34,900

Jan.

1,290

1,310

1,470

1,320

1,220

1,180

1,080

1,030

980

910

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

530

630

518

705

855

755

2,480

1,670

1,320

3,350

Dec.

74,200

24,900

11,800

7,460

5,720

4,460

3,730

3,240

2,860

2,560

Jan.

862

817

781

772

1,860

1,800

6,200

5,960

4,170

3,240

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

5,970

2,520

2,980

4,210

2,650

1,890

1,500

1,240

1,070

938

80,900

Dec.

2,340

2,270

2,340

2,130

2,060

1,930

1,800

1,740

1,660

1,580

1,400

405,600

Jan.

2,560

2,340

2,270

2,060

1,860

1,670

1,670

1,800

1,930

1,640

3,240

121,600

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

£

«

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

-

_

3.44

-

-

3.47

-

3.50

-

-

3.50

Decen

.

10.06

-

9.84

-

9.54

-

9.42

-

9.19

-

9.10

Dec«a

_

-

7.20

_

7.16

_

_

7.12

_

_

7.09

_

-

764

-

-

797

-

_

830

-

-

830

toer 14

_

8,730

-

8,110

-

7,300

6,990

6,420

-

6,200

iber 20

_

-

2,630

-

_

2,570

_

_

2,510

_

_

2,470

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

-

3.49

_

3.49

-

3.47

-

3.51

-

3.61

_

3.80

Decen

_

9.19

_

9.02

-

8.89

_

8.76

_

8.64

-

8.53

Decen

_

_

7.06

_

_

7.02

_

_

7.00

_

_

6.96

-

819

_

819

-

797

-

842

_

962

_

1,190

ber 15

_

6,420

_

6,010

-

5,700

_

5,410

_

5,150

_

4,920

iber 21

.

_

2,420

_

_

2,370

_

2,340

_

_

2,280

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

4.7

6.0

7.5

9.4

12.3

16.2

18.3

20.0

22.8

24.6

22.5

21.0

Decen

-

_

8.40

_

_

8.30

-

_

8.18

-

-

8.04

Decen

_

_

6.91

_

_

6.90

_

_

6.91

_

_

7.08

2,270

3,950

6,000

9,090

15,600

31,000

42,300

53,000

71,600

84,500

69,500

59,500

bar 16

_

_

4,660

_

_

4,460

_

_

4,220

_

-

3,970

ber 22

_

_

2,210

_

_

2,200

_

_

2,210

_

_

2,450

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

20.6

21.8

23.4

24.6

25.9

25.8

25.3

24.8

24.0

21.5

19.6

18.3

Decen

_

_

7.97

_

_

7.90

_

_

7.81

_

_

7.80

Decen

_

_

7.14

_

_

7.00

_

_

6.91

_

_

6.86

56,900

64,700

75 , 800

84,500

94,200

93,500

89,800

86,000

80,000

62,800

50,600

43,000

ber 17

_

_

3,850

_

_

3,730

_

3»580

_

_

3,560

ber 23

_

_

2,540

_

_

2,340

_

_

2,210

_

2,140

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

17.14

16.37

15.80

15.27

14.76

14.31

13.76

13.36

13.01

12.53

12.43

12.24

Decen

_

_

7.63

_

_

7.56

_

7.52

_

_

7,46

Deceit

_

_

6.81

_

_

6.83

6.96

_

_

6.98

36,700

32,800

30,100

27,700

25,400

23,500

21,300

19,800

18,500

16,800

16,400

15,800

ber 18

_

_

3,290

_

_

3,180

_

_

3,110

_

_

3,020

ber 24

_

_

2,070,

_

_

2,100

_

_

2,280

_

_

2,310

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

12.04

11.81

11.63

11.47

11.26

10.90

10.83

10.77

10.56

10.28

10.30

10.25

Decen

_

_

7.40

_

_

7.36

_

_

7.31

_

_

7.27

Decen

_

_

6.89

_

_

6.80

_

_

6.78

_

6.76

15,100

14,300

13,700

13,200

12,400

11,300

11,000

10,800

10,200

9,340

9,400

9,260

ber 19

_

_

2,930

_

_

2,870

_

_

2,800

_

_

2,740

ber 25

_

_

2,190

_

_

2,060

_

_

2,030

2,010

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 9 a.m., 26.0 ft., 95,000 sec.-ft.
236 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Oregon Creek near North. San Juan, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°24', long. 121°05', In SWi see. 22, T. 18 N., R. 8 E., 1 mile above

mouth and 3 miles northeast of North San Juan, Nevada County. Altitude, about 1,500

feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 35.1 square miles. 

Sage-height Feeord.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 6:30 a.m. Jan. 22 to

Jan. 31, when there was no record. 

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 2,100 seeondfeet; extended to peak stage. 

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 2,750 second-feet 6 a.m. Dee. 11 (gage height,

9~72~5 feet).

1911-November 1937: Discharge observed, about 4,000 second-feet (revised) Mar.

25, 1928 (gage height, 9.5 feet, from nonreeording gage, former site and datum),

from rating curve extended above 250 second-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge for

period of missing gage-height record determined from discharge graph based on record

for Middle Fork of Yuba River near North San Juan.

Wean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

4.8

4.5

4.3

4.3

4.3

4.1

4.1

3.8

3.8

3.8

Dec.

16

14

13

12

11

10

9.5

9

15

832

Jan.

35

42

46

42

40

37

35

33

31

30

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

14

15

8.5

25

20

27

112

36

23

107

Dee.

1,540

560

268

179

130

102

81

68

58

52

Jan.

28

27

27

26

72

65

571

289

194

149

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

76

34

90

110

54

37

29

24

20

18

 zr\ 17

1,830

Dee.

46

47

49

46

42

39

37

36

36

34

35

1 A^

8,780

Jan.

125

115

110

105

90

82

76

76

74

72

160

93 7

5,760

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

§&

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet See. ft.

December 8

-

-

1.82

-

_

1.83

-

_

1.82

-

-

1.82

Deceit

_

4.18

-

4.10

-

4. OS

-

3.95

-

3.87

_

3.81

Deoen

_

_

2.80

_

-

2.78

-

_

2.75

-

-

2.73

-

-

9

-

-

9.5

_

_

9

-

-

9

ber 14

_

201

-

189

-

178

_

168

-

157

_

149

iber 20

_

_

53

-

-

52

_

_

50

-

-

40

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

1.82

1.82

1.82

1.82

1.82

1.82

1.84

1.88

1.95

2.09

2.35

3.10

9

9

9

9

9

9

10

11

14

19

30

74

December 15

_

3.75

-

3.70

-

3.65

_

3.60

-

3.55

_

3.50

Decen

_

_

2.70

-

-

2.69

_

_

2.67

-

_

2.65

_

142

_

136-

_

130

_

124

-

118

_

113

iber 21

_

_

47

-

-

46

_

_

46

_

-

44

Feet See. ft.

December 10

4.30

6.30

6.88

6.88

6.40

6.41

6.70

6.41

6.33

6.20

6.06

6.04

Deceit

_

-

3.45

_

_

3.39

_

_

3.34

_

_

3.27

Decen

_

2.64

_

2.63

-

2.63

_

2.70

_

2.80

_

2.94

220

860

1,150

1,150

910

915

1,060

915

875

815

752

743

ber 16

_

_

108

_

_

101

_

_

96

_

_

89

ber 22

_

44

_

44

_

44

_

47

_

53

_

62

Feet See. ft.

December 11

6.19

7.95

9.25

8.24

7.94

8.30

8.15

7.64

7.18

6.75

6.42

6.20

Deoen

_

_

3.23

-

_

3.19

_

_

3.15

_

_

3.11

Deceit

_

2.85

_

2.75

_

2.70

_

2.66

_

2.64

_

2.63

810

1,820

2,750

2,020

1,810

2,060

1,960

1,600

1,330

1,080

920

815

ber 17

_

_

86

-

_

82

_

-

78

_

_

75

ber 23

_

56

_

50

_

47

_

45

_

44

_

44

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

6.08

6.01

5.93

5.82

5.66

5.56

5.44

5.34

5.23

5.12

5.00

4.89

761

730

694

648

584

541

500

467

433

402

370

344

December 18

_

_

3.07

_

-

3.03

_

_

2.99

_

_

2.95

Deeen

_

2.62

_

2.61

_

2.65

_

2.72

-

2.71

-

2.66

_

_

72

_

_

68

_

_

65

_

_

62

ber 24

_

43

_

42

_

44

_

48

_

48

-

45

Feet ] See. ft.

December 13

_

4.75

_

4.62

_

4.51

_

4.41

_

4.35

_

4.26

_

311

_

282

_

260

_

240

_

229

_

214

December 19

_

-

2.92

_

_

2.89

_

_

2.86

_

_

2.83

Dec em

_

_

2.62

_

_

2.58

_

_

2.57

_

_

2.57

_

_

60

_

_

58

_

_

57

_

_

55

ber 25

_

_

43

_

-

41

_

_

40

_

_

40

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 3 a.m., 6.64 ft., 1,030 see.-ft.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN

Horth Fork of Yuba River near Sierra City, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°34', long. 120°40', in HWi sec. 32, T. 20 H., R. 12 E., lj miles 

west of Sierra City, Sierra County, and 2j miles below South Fork of Horth Fork 

of Yuba River. Altitude, about 4,100 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 91.3 square miles.

gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 7:30 a.m. Dec. 26 

to 3 p.m. Dec. 28, when it was based on range of stage indicated on recorder graph. 

Gage heights shown are gage heights inside of well. At high stages gage inside of 

well usually reads lower than gage outside of well because of effect of drawdown, 

but near peak stage water entered well through ventilators, causing outside and 

inside gages to read about the same.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 2,500 secondfeet; extended to peak stage by averaging discharges determined on basis of areavelocity study and A\£T method; verified by logarithmic extension. Rating curve 

changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 9,800 second-feet about 4 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

Height, about 10.0 feet).

1911-13, 1923-Hovember 1937: Discharge, 5,920 second-feet Mar. 25, 1928 (gage 

height, 8.50 feet), from rating curve extended above 600 second-feet on basis of 

area-velocity study. 

Remaiarka.- Flood run-off not materially affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

46

45

45

44

44

45

45

45

45

45

Dec.

87

85

82

79

76

74

73

73

136

4,310

Jan.

148

153

148

142

138

132

132

128

127

125

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

57

50

54

70

61

97

191

105

103

304

Dec.

5,300

1,300

810

565

448

374

322

286

250

227

Jan.

124

122

122

122

135

128

155

148

140

135

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

NOV.

218

136

160

148

127

114

107

100

94

90

5,620

Dec.

211

200

191

188

183

166

162

157

153

151

149

544

33,460

Jan.

133

138

133

127

130

128

128

130

128

125

135

8,210

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

§ow

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

_

_

1.84

_

_

1.84

-

_

1.84

_

_

1.84

Dec en

_

2.75

-

2.70

-

2.65

-

2.63

-

2.57

_

2.52

Deceit

_

_

1.85

_

1.84

-

_

1.87

-

-

1.83

_

_

73

_

_

73

-

_

73

_

_

73

ibor 14

_

608

_

580

_

555

_

546

_

515

_

490

iber 20

_

_

224

-

-

221

_

_

230

_

_

218

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

1.83

1.83

1.83

1.83

1.83

1.84

1.87

1.96

2.15

2.47

2.83

4.04

Deceit

_

_

2.47

-

_

2.42

-

-

2.39

_

_

2.33

Decei

_

_

1.80

-

-

1.80

_

1.84

-

_

1.81

72

72

72

72

72

73

76

87

110

159

254

966

iber 15

_

-

466

_

-

444

_

-

430

_

_

404

iber 21

_

_

208

-

208

_

.

221

-

_

211

Feet |sec.ft.

December 10

4.60

5.53

5.83

6.08

6.30

7.02

7.30

6.90

6.85

6.96

6.95

7.25

Decen

_

_

2. 89

-

-

2.S5

_

_

2. S3

_

_

2.19

Decen

_

_

1.77

-

-

1.77

-

_

1.81

-

_

1.70

1,560

2,840

3,320

3,750

4,130

5,480

6,050

5,240

5,140

5,360

5,340

5,940

ber 16

_

_

386

_

-

370

-

_

36S

-

_

346

iber 22

_

_

200

-

200

-

_

211

-

_

180

Feet ] Sec.ft.

December 11

7.96

10.00

8.16

7.71

7.16

6.66

5.50

5.52

5.25

4.90

4.66

4.45

Decen

_

_

2.15

_

_

2.12

-

-

2.12

_

_

2.09

Decen

_

_

1.74

_

_

1.76

-

_

1.78

-

_

1.74

7,470

9,800

8,120

7,280

6,290

5,390

3,500

3,530

3,130

2,640

2,310

2,060

ber 17

_

_

330

_

-

318

_

-

318

-

_

306

ber 23

_

_

191

-

-

197

_

_

2 OS

_

-

191

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

4.20

4.02

3.90

3.81

3.76

3.70

3.69

3.67

3.61

3.52

3.47

3.42

Decen

_

_

2.05

_

-

2.02

-

-

2.02

_

_

1.98

Decen

_

_

1.74

-

-

1.74

-

-

1.72

_

-

1.72

1,760

1,560

1,440

1,360

1,310

1,260

1,250

1,240

1,190

1,120

1,080

1,040

ber 18

_

-

292

_

-

282

_

-

282

_

_

268

ber 24

_

_

191

-

-

191

_

186

_

-

186

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 13

-

3.30

-

3.18

_

3.09

-

3.02

_

2.91

_

2.83

_

950

_

866

-

804

-

762

-

696

_

652

December 19

-

-

1.95

-

_

1.93

_

-

1.93

_

L.89

Decetn

-

_

1.71

-

1.71

-

1.71

_

_

1.68

_

-

258

-

-

250

_

-

250

-

-

237

bar 25

-

_

183

-

-

183

-

_

183

-

-

176
238 OBE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN KOROHERN CALIFORNIA 

Lake Spaulding near Emigrant Gap, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°20 ! , long. 120°38', in see. 20, T. 17 N., R. 12 E., at dam on South

Pork of Yuba River 2^ miles northeast of Emigrant Gap, Placer County. Zero of gage

is 4,621 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 118 square miles.

Sage-height record.- Gage read to tenths daily at 5 p.m. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off largely controlled in lake (capacity, 71,000 acre-feet at elevation of crest of spillway, 4,821 feet). Reservoir spilled for period 8 a.m. Dec.

11 to 11 a.m. Dec. 15. See record for South Pork of Tuba River at Lake Spaulding.

Basic data furnished by Pacific Gas if Electric Co.

Gage height and contents, November 1937 to January 1938

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

Gage height 

(feet)

166.4

165.5

164.6

163.6

162.6

161.7

161.1

160.1

159.3

158.1

157.4

156.7

156.1

156.1

156.1

156.0

157.1

157.0

156.6

157.4

158.0

159.7

160.1

161.1

161.9

162.2

161.4

160.4

159.3

158.6

Contents 

(acre-feet)

50,116

49,603

49,090

48,528

47,978

47,483

47,153

46,603

46,163

45,521

45,151

44,780

44,462

44,462

44,462

44,409

44,992

44,939

44,727

45,151

45,468

46,383

46,603

47,153

47,593

47,758

47,318

46,768

46,163

45,876

December

Gage height 

(feet)

157.8

156.7

155.8

154.7

153.6

152.8

151.9

150.6

149.5

175.0

205.2

201.7

201.2

200.7

199.7

199.0

198.0

1T6. 8

195.5

194.0

192.9

191.5

190.0

188.2

187.0

185.5

183.7

182.1

180.2

178.8

178.0

Contents 

(acre-feet)

45,363

44,780

44,304

43,721

43,138

42,714

32,237

41,548

40,965

55,102

74,626

72,197

71,850

71,503

70,809

70,323

69,678

68,905

68,067

67,100

66,396

65,500

64,540

63,372

62,580

61,590

60,415

59,426

58,252

57,390

56,908

January

Gage height 

(feet)

177.8

177.6

177.6

177.5

177.3

177.0

176.3

176.0

175.5

175.0

174.5

174.0

173.3

172.9

173.5

173.7

174.0

174.0

173.9

173.8

173.4

173.2

173.6

174.1

173.8

173.7

173.2

172.9

172.8

172.7

172,6

Contents 

(acre-feet)

56,788

56,667

56,667

56,607

56,487

56,306

55,885

55,704

55,403

55,102

54,801

54,500

54,094

53,861

54,210

54,326

54,500

54,500

54,442

54,384

54,152

54,036

54,268

54,560

54,384

54,326

54,036

53,861

53,803

53,745

53,687
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 239 

South Pork of Yuba River at Lake Spauldlng, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°20', long. 120°38', In sec. 20, T. 17 N., R. 12 E., at Lake Spauldlng 

Dam, Nevada County.

Drainage area.- 118 square miles.

Page-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph (lake and spillway record) for period 

8 a.m. Dec. 11 'to 11 a.m. Dec. 15. Staff gage on lake read dally at 5 p.m. Waterstage recorder graph for Bowman-Spaulding canal. Record of dally discharge furnished 

for spill and release.

Maxima.- December 1937: Greatest outflow, 19,600 second-feet about 12sl5 p.m. Dec. 11, 

computed from records of spill and release. Maximum inflow to reservoir probably occurred earlier, while It was rising rapidly.

Remarks.- Computed river discharge has been adjusted for items shown in table but not for 

storage in Lake Pordyce or other upstream reservoirs. Gain or loss in storage computed from contents at midnight determined from graph based on dally readings at 5 

p.m. See record for Lake Spaulding near Emigrant Gap. Most of basic data furnished 

by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Storage, release, inflow, and discharge, December 1-20, 1957

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Lake Spaulding

Contents 

(acre-feet)

45,193

44,641

44,134

43,551

43,014

42,575

42,036

41,378

41,900

59,500

73,200

72,130

71,800

71,295

70,667

70,135

69,453

68,661

67,785

66,895

Gain or loss 

In storage 

(acre-feet)

-470

-552

-507

-583

-537

-439

-539

-658

+522

+17,600

+13,700

-1,070

-330

-505

-628

-532

-682

-792

-876

-890

Spill 

(sec. -ft. )

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4,830

1,580

507

255

30

0

0

0

0

0

Release 

(sec. -ft. )

550

550

549

550

535

551

551

550

537

359

626

797

696

781

894

902

924

944

944

944

Inflow from 

Bowman-Spaulding 

canal 

(sec. -ft. )

229

229

229

229

229

229

229

229

206

39

.2

26

106

130

135

126

106

112

111

111

Computed river 

discharge 

(sec. -ft. )

>*49

594

9,190

12,400

1,810

931

651

472

508

474

433

391

384

*Mean for the period.
240 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Bowman Lake near Granltevllle, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°27', long. 120°39', In SWi sec. 5, T. 18 N., R. 12 E., at Bowman Dam, 

on Canyon Creek, 4 miles east of Granltevllle, Nevada County. Zero of gage Is at 

mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 30 square miles.

Bage-helght record.- Gage read to tenths dally at 4:30 p.m. except on days for which no 

record is shown.

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely controlled In lake (capacity, 62,400 acre-feet at 

elevation of crest of spillway of concrete dam, 5555,75 feet). Elevation of top of 

rock-fill dam Is 5,567 feet. Water Is brought Into the lake from Middle Fork of 

Yuba River through Milton-Bowman tunnel and Is released through Bowman-Spauldlng 

canal- See record for Canyon Creek below Bowman Lake. Basic data furnished by 

Nevada Irrigation District.

Elevation and contents, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1C

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

November

Elevation 

(feet)

5,509.9

5,509.1

5,508.3

5,507.4

5,506.6

5,505.8

5,505.0

5,504.1

5,503.2

5,502.4

5,501.6

5,500.8

5,500.0

5,499.2

5,498.5

5,497.9

5,498.1

5,497.9

5,497.5

5,497.4

5,497.5

5,497.2

5,497.1

5,497.0

5,496.7

5,496.4

5,495.9

5,495.4

5,495.0

5,494.5

Contents 

(acre-feet)

29,940

29,460

28,980

28,440

27,960

27,480

27,000

26,460

25,920

25,440

24,960

24,480

24,000

23,520

23,150

22,850

22,950

23,850

22,650

22,600

22,650

22,500 

22,450

22,400

22,250

22,100

21,850

21,600

21,400

21,150

December

Elevation 

(feet)

5,493.9

5,493.3

5 , 492 . 9

-

-

5,491.2

5,490.5

5,489.8

5,489.1

5,493.7

5,511.2

5,516.0

-

5,518.0

5,518.9

5,519.8

5,520.4

_

_

5,521.1

_

5,521.6

5,521.7

5,521.8

5,521.9

5,522.0

5,522.0

5,522.0

5,521.9

5,521.8

5,621.6

Contents 

(acre -feet)

20,850

20,550

20,350

-

-

19,500

19,150

18,800

18,450

20,750

30,720

33,600

-

34,800

35,340

35 , 880

36,240

_

_

36,660

_

36,960

37,020

37,080

37,140

37,200

37,200

37,200

37,140

37,080

36,960

January

Elevation 

(feet)

5,521.4

_

_

5,520.8

5,520.6

5,520.3

-

-

-

5,518.9

5,518.4

5,518.0

5,517.5

5,517.0

5,516.8

5,516.4

5,516.2

5,515.9

5,515.7

-

5,414.8

5,514.4

_

5,513.6

5,513.1

5,512.7

5,512.3

5,511.9

5,511.5

5,511.0

5,510.5

Contents 

(acre-feet)

36,840

_

_

36,480

36,360

36,180

-

_

-

35,340

35,040

34,800

34,500

34,200

34,080

33,840

33,720

33,540

33,420

-

32 , 880

32,640

_

32,160

31,860

31,620

31,380

31,140

30,900

30,600

30,300
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 241 

Canyon Creek below Bowman Lake, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°26', long. 120°40', in SE^ sec. 7, T. 18 N., R. 12 E., 1 mile below 

Bowman Lake, Nevada County, and 3 miles upstream from mouth of Texas Creek. Altitude, about 5,100 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 31.7 square miles.

Gage-height Fecord.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period Dec. 3 to 11, when record was furnished by Nevada Irrigation District.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements for range of stage occurring in December.

200

JJecemoer.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge (regulated), 88 second-feet 9:30 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

height, 2.20 feet). Maximum discharge computed from increase in storage, about 5,2 

second-feet early morning Dec. 11.

1927-November 1937: Discharge (reservoir spilling), 1,460 second-feet June 6, 

1936 (gage height, 5.98 feet), from rating curve extended above 700 second-feet.

storage, iniiow, ana diversion as snown, OUT; not lor possible storage in smalj. 

reservoirs upstream. Gain or loss in storage computed from contents at midnight determined from graph based on daily readings at 4:30 p.m. See record for Bowman Lake 

near Graniteville. Most of basic data furnished by Nevada Irrigation District.

Discharge, gain or loss in storage, inflow, and diversions, December 1937

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

Observed 

discharge 

(second-feet)

0.8

.8

.8

.8

.8

.8

.8

.8

5

40

65

32

.4

.2

1.4

1.4

1.3

1.2

1.0

.9

.9

.8

.9

.9

.9

.9

.9

.9

1.0

1.0

1.0

Gain or loss 

in storage 

(acre-feet)

-290

-280

-200

-280

-300

-310

-370

-350

-70

+5 , 600

+8,000

+1,600

+600

+570

+550

+520

+230

+140

+140

+170

+160

+100

+60

+60

+60

+40

0

-20

-60

-70

-130

Milt on-Bowman 

Tunnel inflow 

(second-feet)

17

16

15

15

14

13

12

13

14

120

200

276

232

227

211

200

121

88

103

100

96

91

81

79

77

74

76

72

67

62

61

Bowman-Spaulding 

Canal diversion 

(second-feet)

229

229

229

229

229

229

229

229

206

39

.2

26

106

130

135

126

106

112

111

111

142

155

154

152

152

152

159

174

195

204

207

Adjusted 

discharge 

(second-feet)

67

73

114

74

65

61

31

41

162

2,780

3,900

589

176

190

202

189

102

96

80

98

128

115

104

104

106

99

84

93

99

108

81

Observed aeon daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0.5

.5

.5

.4

.4

.4

.4

.4

.5

.5

Dec.

0.8

.8

.8

.8

.8

.8

.8

.8

5

40

Jan.

1.0

1.9

1.6

1.2

1.0

1.0

.9

.9

.9

.9

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

1.4

1.2

.8

4.3

2.5

12

19

2.9

3.1

11

Dec.

65

32

.4

.2

1.4

1.4

1.3

1.2

1.0

.9

Jan.

0.9

.8

.8

.8

1.6

1.2

3.1

2.0

1.6

1.4

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Run-off, in acre-feet (adjusted). .............................

Nov.

3.5

2.0

4.1

3.5

2.5

2.0

1.8

1.4

1.3

1.0

Q QO A

2,780

Dec.

0.9

.8

.9

.9

.9

.9

.9

.9

1.0

1.0

1.0

5.36

<zp Q

20,250

Jan.

1.6

2.4

2.4

1.8

1.6

1.8

1.8

1.8

1.8

1.8

2.0

1.49

e won

3,850
242 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Deer Creek near Smartville, Calif.

Location. - Lat. 39°13'20n , long. 121°16'00n , in sec. 23, T. 16 N., R. 6 E., 1 mile

 above mouth and 2 miles northeast of Smartville, Yuba County. Altitude, about 500 

feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 83.5 square miles.

Sage-helKht record.- One gage reading daily. A stage graph was drawn for period Dec. 

8 to 14 based on gage readings, floodmark, and comparison with stage graphs at nearby stations.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 3,500 secondfeet; extended to peak stage by Av f method; verified by area-velocity study. Rating 

curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 19378 Discharge, 10,800 second-feet about 9 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

height, 13.2 feet, from floodmark).

1935-November 1937s Discharge, 7,520 second-feet Feb. 4, 1937 (gage height, 11.5 

feet), from rating curve extended above 3,500 second-feet on basis of area-velocity 

study and A\^T method.

Remarks.- Flood run-off probably not materially affected by diversion or artificial 

storage In Deer Creek Reservoir.

Mean daily discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

I

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

33

45

31

55

65

65

76

76

82

82

Dec.

36

65

15

45

40

40

36

35

88

2,420

Jan.

70

72

68

66

63

59

53

57

57

55

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

88

88

88

76

76

76

500

67

41

460

Dec.

6,620

1,930

455

170

138

138

101

88

82

66

Jan.

55

53

53

51

272

154

1,100

420

285

248

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

715

1,290

500

198

162

115

36

28

19

14

10,410

Dec.

70

94

101

68

72

82

75

70

72

68

77

26,690

Jan.

138

130

122

115

108

88

94

138

130

130

990

177

10,900
SACRAMENfO RIVER BASIN 243 

Bear River near Wheatland, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°00', long. 121°25 T , in sec. 3, T. 13 N., R. 5 E., 1 mile southeast

of Wheatland, Yuba County, 6g miles below Rock Creek, and 12 miles above mouth.

Altitude, about 85 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 295 square miles. 

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements. Eating curve changed

at peak stage. 

Maxima.- December 1937i Discharge, 11,000 second-feet 2830 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

11.32 feet).

1928-November 1937: Discharge, 21,600 second-feet Apr. 8, 1935 (gage height,

15.15 feet), from rating curve extended above 16,100 second-feet.

1904-28: Discharge, about 29,600 second-feet Jan. 14, 1909 (gage height, 18.9

feet, from nonrecording gage, former site and datum,8 miles upstream; drainage

area, 263 square miles), from rating curve extended above 1,900 second-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off slightly affected by artificial storage and many diversions

into and out of drainage basin. Camp Par West Reservoir (capacity, 5,000 acre-feet)

and Combie Reservoir (capacity, 9,000 acre-feet).

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

33

36

36

34

36

36

38

36

38

39

Dec.

168

176

176

180

180

153

143

102

100

2,460

Jan.

518

513

491

452

385

252

272

345

268

244

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

56

81

60

88

88

74

426

234

284

446

Dec.

8,180

3,390

1,570

962

746

674

649

631

625

613

Jan.

248

212

191

194

573

442

827

799

714

720

Day,

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

542

464

908

870

613

516

398

234

197

184

14,130

Dec.

601

595

613

589

601

589

571

571

559

547

541

911

56,040

Jan.

619

571

589

530

502

486

469

464

486

447

876

29,160

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

1&

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

10

H

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

-

_

1.05

_

_

1.05

-

-

1.05

_

_

1.04

Decen

_

2.90

_

2.81

-

2.73

-

2.66

_

2.61

_

2.55

Deeea

-

-

2.23

_

2.22

-

-

2.22

_

2.22

_

-

102

_

_

102

-

-

102

_

_

100

iber 14

_

1,080

-

1,010

-

948

-

897

_

862

_

820

iber 20

-

_

613

_

607

_

607

_

607

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

_

1.02

_

1.02

_

1.01

-

1.02

-

1.05

_

1.19

Decea

_

2.5Q

-

2.47

-

2.43

-

2.41

_

2.39

_

2.37

Decen

_

-

2.21

-

2.21

-

-

2. -20

_

2.20

_

94

_

94

_

91

_

94

_

102

_

146

iber 15~1

_

785

-

766

_

740

-

726

_

714

_

700

iber 21

_

_

601

_

601

-

-

595

_

595

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

1.25

1.32

1.70

4.05

4.85

5.26

5.34

5.88

6.42

6.13

5.50

5.22

Decen

_

-

2.35

_

.-

2.32

-

-

2.31

_

_

2.31

Decen

_

_

2.20

_

2.20

-

-

2.20

_

2.20

168

197

410

2,080

2,790

3,200

3,280

3,850

4,440

4,120

3,440

3,160

ber 16

_

-

688

_

-

668

-

_

662

-

_

662

ber 22

_

-

595

_

595

-

_

595

_

595

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

5.22

6.12

8.36

9.47

10.65

11.14

11.30

11.28

11.03

10.42

9.26

7.99

Deeem

_

-

2.30

-

-

2.29

-

-

2.28

_

2.28

Decem

-

-

2.25

_

2.25

-

-

2.22

_

2.21

3,160

4,110

6,680

8,160

9,940

10,800

11,000

11,000

10,600

9,570

7,860

6,240

ber 17

_

-

655

-

-

649

_

643

-

_

643

ber 23

-

-

625

625

-

-

607

_

601

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

7.00

6.39

5.97

5.94

5.58

5.32

5.00

4.73

4.53

4.25

4.05

4.02

5,080

4,410

3,950

3,910

3,520

3,260

2,940

2,680

2,500

2,240

2,060

2,040

December 18

_

-

2.27

_

_

2.26

-

-

2.25

-

_

2.26

Decem

-

-

2.20

_

2.19

-

_

2.19

2.19

_

-

637

-

-

631

-

-

625

-

_

631

ber 24

-

-

595

_

589

-

-

589

_

589

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

3.93

3.84

3.76

3.66

3.56

3.45

3.33

3.24

3.20

3.16

3.09

3.03

1,960

1,880

1,800

1,710

1,620

1,520

1,420

1,350

1,320

1,290

1,230

1,180

December 19

_

-

2.26

-

-

2.25

-

-

2.24

-

_

2.24

Decem

-

-

2.21

-

2.22

-

-

2.21

_

2.20

_

-

631

-

-

625

-

-

619

-

-

619

ber 25

-

-

601

_

607

601

-

595

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 2:30 p.m., 11.32 ft., 11,000 sec.-ft.
244 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

North Fork of American River near Colfax, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°02', long. 120°54', In NW^ sec. 30, T. 14 N., R. 10 E., 50 feet 

downstream from bridge on Colfax-Forest Hill road, 200 feet below mouth of Shirttail Canyon Creek, and 5 miles southeast of Colfax, Placer County. Zero of gage 

Is 897.29 feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929),

Drainage area.- 308 square miles.

Bage-helght Fecord.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 20,300 secondfeet; extended to peak stage by A\AT method; verified by area-velocity study and by 

comparison of peak discharge and total run-off of flood with records for other stations in American River Basin. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 26,700 second-feet 11:30 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

18.2 feet, inside gage; 19.4 feet, outside gage, determined from drawdown relation 

curve).

1911-November 1937: Discharge, about 37,000 second-feet (revised) Mar. 25, 1928 

(gage height, 25.2 feet, from floodmarks, present datum), from rating curve extended 

above 2,650 second-feet on basis of slope-area determination of flood flow.

Remarks.- Flood run-off slightly affected by artificial storage and diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

57

57

55

54

54

54

54

54

52

51

Dec.

198

186

177

163

155

155

149

146

157

9,710

Jan.

415

450

470

425

390

364

346

332

310

296

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

100

133

85

160

157

128

907

468

248

437

Dec.

16,5001

4,980

2,550

1,740

1,340

1,160

1,020

895

799

715

Jan.

287

274

269

260

506

470

960

1,060

895

799

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

751

357

369

710

441

341

290

255

234

214

14,530

Dec.

649

627

676

616

594

495

512

490

440

425

425

96,880

Jan.

715

721

704

616

578

566

561

566

583

522

853

32,850

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

s&2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

S

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

-

1.96

_

1.95

_

1.95

-

1.95

_

1.94

_

1.94

Deceit

4.90

4.85

4.78

4.72

4.67

4.62

4.58

4.53

4.48

4.43

4.38

4.35

Decen

_

3.24

-

3.23

-

3.21

-

3.16

_

3.14

-

3.11

_

149

_

146

-

146

_

146

_

144

_

144

ber 14

1,970

1,920

1,860

1,810

1,760

1,720

1,680

1,640

1,600

1,560

1,520

1,500

iber 20

.

739

-

733

-

721

-

693

_

682

-

666

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

1.94

1.94

1.94

1.93

1.93

1.93

1.93

1.94

1.98

2.03

2.15

2.46

144

144

144

141

141

141

141

144

155

169

204

311

December 15

_

4.30

_

4.22

_

4.16

_

4.10

_

4.03

_

3.97

Dec en

_

3.10

_

3.09

-

3.09

-

3.06

_

3.05

_

3.04

_

1,460

_

1,400

1,350

-

1,300

_

1,250

-

1,210

iber 21

_

660

_

654

-

654

-

638

632

_

627

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

3.07

4.65

10.12

11.00

11.53

11.09

12.20

13.26

12.87

11.83

11.17

11.18

575

1,540

9,100

10,700

11,700

10,800

13,000

15,200

14,300

12,300

11,000

11,000

December 16

_

3.94

_

3.96

_

3.91

_

3.87

_

3.82

_

3.78

Decen

3.04

3.03

3.02

3.02

3.01

3.01

3.00

3.00

3.00

3.07

3.15

3.25

_

1,190

-

1,200

-

1,170

_

1,140

_

1,100

_

1,080

ber 22

627

622

616

616

610

610

606

605

605

644

688

745

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

11.89

13.23

15.07

15.58

16.80

17.48

16.07

14.56

12.79

11.13

10.10

9.35

Deoem

_

3.75

_

3.71

-

3.68

3.66

_

3.62

-

3.58

Decen

3.32

3.32

3.29

3.21

3.14

3.08

3.05

3.04

3.03

3.02

3.02

3.02

12,400

15,100

19,200

20,400

23,300

25,000

21,600

18,000

14,200

10,900

9,060

7,820

ber 17

_

1,060

_

1,030

-

1,010

-

999

_

973

-

947

ber 23

787

787

769

721

682

649

632

627

622

616

616

616

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

8.90

8.53

8.19

7.88

7.58

7.29

7.06

6.82

6.67

6.56

6.40

6.24

Decen

_

3.56

_

3.54

-

3.52

_

3.50

-

3.46

-

3.41

Decen

3.02

3.02

3.02

3.01

3.00

2.99

2 . 99 3! oo

3.03

3.04

3.04

3.03

7,100

6,510

5,980

5,520

5,090

4,690

4,380

4,070

3,870

3,730

3,540

3,350

ber 18

_

936

_

921

-

908

895

_

871

-

841

ber 24

616

616

616

610

605

600

600

605

. 622

627

627

622

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

6.10

5.95

5.81

5.67

5.56

5.44

5.32

5.23

5.15

5.06

5.00

4.97

Decen

_

3.38

_

3.35

3.34

-

3.32

-

3.29

3.26

Deoem

3.01

2.99

2.99

2.97

2.97

2.96

2.95

2.95

2.94

2.94

2.94

2.94

3,190

3,020

2,870

2,720

2,610

2,490

2,370

2,280

2,200

2,110

2,060

2,030

ber 19

_

823

805

-

799

-

787

769

-

751

bar 85

610

600

600

588

588

583

578

578

572

572

572

572

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 11:30 a.m., 18.20 ft., 26,700 sec.-ft.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 245 

American River at Pair Oaks, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°38'15n , long. 1210 15'55B , just above highway bridge at Pair Oakfl, 

Sacramento County, and 10 miles below South Pork. Altitude, about 72 feet above 

mean aea level.

Drainage area.- 1,921 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 102,000 secondfeetj extended to peak stage; verified by area-velocity study and by comparison of 

peak discharge and total run-off of flood with records for other stations In 

American River Basin. Shifting-control method used for period Dec. 12-20.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 114,000 second-feet 6 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

57706 feet).

1904-November 1937s Discharge, 140,000 second-feet (revised) Mar. 19, 1907, 

and Mar. 25, 1928 (gage height, 31.4 feet, present datum), from rating curve extended above 75,000 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not materially affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean dally discharge, In second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

585

604

560

585

585

595

595

590

600

604

Dec.

1,040

970

970

925

902

880

880

880

858

24,300

Jan.

1,870

1,940

2,010

2,010

1,800

1,800

1,600

1,570

1,630

1,470

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

658

835

880

858

995

970

1,430

2,810

1,630

1,290

Dec.

81,100

37 , 000

13,600

8,240

5,820

4,920

4,300

3,760

3,410

3,000

Jan.

1,470

1,470

1,440

1,380

2,010

2,540

3,100

4,920

3,890

3,760

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

2,730

2,150

1,600

2,220

2,080

1,500

1,290

1,200

1,100

1,070

I

T '7'^

69,820

Dec.

2,720

2,540

2,900

2,540

2,460

2,300

2,010

2,010

1,940

1,870

1,800

442,000

Jan.

3,000

2,720

2,810

2,630

2,380

2,300

2,220

2,300

2,810

2,630

3,200

144,200

Gage height, In feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at Indicated time, 1937

fn

|

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

_

2.82

-

2.69

-

2.83

_

2.88

-

2.60

-

2.85

-

889

-

830

-

894

-

916

-

790

-

902

December 14

_

9.66

-

9.45

_

9.25

_

9.16

_

8.99

-

8.79

Dec em

_

6.10

-

5.93

_

5.89

_

5.84

_

5.79

_

5.80

_

9,160

_

8,610

-

8,120

_

7,900

_

7,500

_

7,040

ber 20

_

3,200

_

3,030

_

2,990

2,940

_

2,890

_

2,900

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 9

_

2.78

-

2.79

-

2.81

-

2.71

-

2.76

-

2.93

Decei

_

8.64

_

8.49

_

8.35

_

8.32

_

8.22

_

8.13

Decei

_

5.76

_

5.56

_

5.50

5.44

_

5.45

_

5.51

_

871

_

876

-

884

_

840

-

862

-

938

iber 15

_

6,300

_

6,000

_

5,720

_

5,660

_

5,480

_

5,310

ber 21

_

2,860

_

2,680

_

2,630

.

2,580

_

2,580

_

2,640

Feet |3ec.ft.

December 10

3.03

3.18

3.26

3.50

3.69

7.43

13.87

17.59

20.00

21.30

22.23

[21.92

985

1,060

1,100

1,230

1,340

4,970

24,300

41,100

54,200

61,800

67,500

65,500

December 16

_

7.98

_

7.86

_

7.72

_

7.67

_

7.58

_

7.55

Decen

_

5.47

_

5.33

-

5.34

5.31

_

5.30

_

5.36

_

5,400

_

6,190

_

4,950

_

4,870

_

4,730

_

4,680

ber 22

_

2,600

_

2,480

_

2,490

2,470

-

2,460

_

2,510

Feet |3ec.ft.

December 11

20.96

19.94

19.47

20.00

22.21

25.02

27.00

28.24"

29.06

28.54

27.28

25.05

Decen

_

7.42

_

7.29

_

7.11

_

7.06

_

6.99

_

7.04

Decen

_

5.58

_

5.75

_

6.11

.

6.02

_

5.30

_

5.69

59,800

53,900

51,200

54,200

67,400

85,600

99,000

108,000

114,000

110,000

101,000

85,800

ber 17

_

4,630

_

4,430

_

4,170

_

4,100

_

4,010

4,080

ber 23

_

2,700

_

2,860

_

3,210

_

3,120

_

2,900

_

2,800

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

22.60

20.10

18.33

17.08

16.19

15.40

14.75

14.15

13.57

13.17

12.77

12.44

Decei

_

6.90

_

6.78

_

6.66

_

6.64

_

6.60

_

6.66

Decei

_

5.55

-

5.36

_

5.35

_

5.24

_

5.21

_

5.23

69,900

54,800

45,000

38,500

34,300

30,800

28,000

25,400

23,100

21,600

20,100

18,900

iber 18

_

4,020

_

3,860

_

3,710

_

3,690

_

3,640

_

3,710

ber 24

_

2,680

_

2,510

_

2,500

2,410

_

2,390

_

2,400

Feet |3ec.ft.

December 13

12.12

11.85

11.62

11.38

11.16

10.96

10.73

10.60

10.44

10.27

10.10

9.95

17,400

16,400

15,700

14,900

14,200

13,500

12,900

12,400

11,900

11,400

10,900

10,500

December 19

_

6.55

_

6.42

_

6.29

_

6.23

_

6.18

_

6.20

Decen

_

5.39

-

5.33

_

5.46

< 

5.41

_

5.22

_

5.16

_

3,640

_

3,490

_

3,340

_

3,280

_

3,230

_

3,250

ber 25

-

2,530

-

2,430

-

2,590

2,550

-

2,400

_

2,350
246 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Middle Fork of American River near Auburn, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°55', long. 121°00', in KWi sec. 5, T. 13 N., R. 9 E., at Mountain 

Quarry Co. 'a plant 1.7 milea above Junction with North Fork of American River and 

3tf miles northeast of Auburn, Placer County. Altitude, about 580 feet above mean 

aea level.

Drainage area.- 619 aquare miles.

aage-helght record.- Water-atage recorder graph.

Stage-dlacharge relation.- Defined by current-meter meaaurements below 28,800 secondfeet; extended to peak atage on basia of area-velocity study and by AVd method; 

verified by compariaon of peak discharge and total run-off of flood with records 

for other stations in American River Basin. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 47,900 second-feet 2 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

5773 feet).

1911-November 1937s Discharge, 62,008 second-feet (reviaed) Mar. 25, 1928 (gage 

height, 35.6 feet, former site and datum, from floodmarks), from rating curve extended above 4,000 second-feet on baais of slope-area determination of flood flo».

Remarks.- Flood run-off not materially affected by artificial atorage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

82

82

79

79

78

76

78

79

79

80

Dec.

238

224

213

204

195

188

185

185

190

18,100

Jan.

581

640

700

640

581

539

502

481

452

418

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

112

169

149

172

219

195

743

840

388

360

Dec.

37,700

12,700

4,710

2,920

2,25C

1,800

1,540

1,340

1,110

975

Jan.

404

394

384

384

660

700

1,200

1,590

1,290

1,160

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

1,510

650

462

800

580

416

347

308

273

254

19,320

Dec.

846

804

909

783

783

720

680

660

620

581

581

188,300

Jan.

975

952

1,060

930

846

804

804

846

975

888

1,290

776

47,740

Sage height, in feet, and discharge, in aecond-feet, at indicated time, 1937

£

w

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

_

2.28

2.28

_

2,28

_

2.28

_

2.28

-

2.28

Decen

8.55

8.42

8.33

8.22

8.10

8.03

7.92

7.80

7.70

7.60

7.50

7.40

Decei

-

4.56

_

4.52

_

4.50

-

4.44

_

4.40

_

4.30

_

185

_

185

_

185

_

186

_

186

-

185

ber 14

3,380

3,260

3,180

3,100

3,000

2,940

2,860

2,770

2,700

2,630

2,560

2,490

iber 20

-

1,000

_

984

_

975

_

948

_

930

_

888

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

2.29

2.30

2.30

2.30

2.30

2.30

2.30

2.30

2.31

2.36

2.45

2.54

Decen

_

_

7.20

_

_

7.00

_

_

6.80

_

-

6.57

Deceu

_

4.24

_

4.20

_

4.11

_

4.14

_

4.13

_

4.16

186

188

188

188

188

188

188

188

190

199

215

232

ber 15

_

_

2,370

_

_

2,250

_

_

2,130

_

_

2,000

iber 21

_

863

_

846

_

808

_

821

_

817

_

829

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

2.83

3.25

4.20

6,90

17.40

19.65

20.65

21.60

22.25

21.96

20.88

20.00

Decen

_

_

6.38

_

_

6.25

_

_

6.10

_

-

5.93

Decen

_

4.13

_

4.08

_

4.07

_

4.10

_

4.20

_

4.37

293

402

720

2,010

19,600

25,400

28,200

30,900

32,800

31,900

28,900

26,400

ber 16

_

_

1,900

_

_

1,830

_

_

1,740

_

_

1,660

iber 22

_

817

_

796

_

791

_

804

_

846

_

917

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

19.79

20.00

21.80

24.00

25.11

26.40

27.30

26.99

26.40

24.90

22.45

20.35

25,800

26,400

31,460

38,000

41,300

45,200

47,900

47,000

45,200

40,700

33,400

27,400

December 17

_

_

5.74

_

_

5.67

_

_

5.56

_

_

5.46

_

_

1,560

_

_

1,520

-

_

1,470

_

-

1,420

December 23

_

4.57

_

4.60

_

4.44

_

4.30

_

4.06

_

3.93

-

1,010

_

1,020

_

948

_

888

-

787

_

733

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

18.56

17.30

16.20

15.30

14.45

13.70

13.10

12.60

12.10

11.78

11.50

11.20

22,600

19,300

16,700

14,500

12,600

11,000

9,800

8,800

7,880

7,310

6,860

6,380

December 18

_

5.38

-

5.31

-

5.27

_

5.19

_

5.16

_

5.10

_

1,380

-

1,340

_

1,320

_

1,290

-

1,270

_

1,240

December 24

-

3.94

_

4.04

_

4.06

_

4.06

-

4.06

_

4.11

-

737

_

779

_

787

_

787

_

787

_

808

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

11.00

10.80

10.60

10.31

9.95

9.68

9.52

9.33

9.16

8.98

8.84

8.68

Decen

_

4.91

-

4.88

_

4.77

_

4.74

_

4.70

_

4.60

Decen

-

4.13

_

4.10

4.06

_

4.02

-

3.98

3.96

6,100

5,820

5,540

5,190

4,760

4,460

4,300

4,110

3,940

3,760

3,640

3,490

ber 19

_

1,160

-

1,150

-

1,100

_

1,080

_

1,060

_

1,020

ber 25

-

817

_

804

_

787

_

770

-

754

_

745

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 6S30 a.m., 22.37 ft., 32,300 aec.-ft. }

1800 p.m., 20.95 ft., 29,100 aec.-ft.
SACRAMBHTO RIVER BASIS 

South Pork of American. River near Kyburz, Calif.

247

Location.- Lat. 38°46', long. 12Q°19', in Sj sec. 29, T. 11 N., R. 15 E., beside 

Lincoln Highway, 0.5 mile below Silver Fork of South Fork of American River, and 

2 miles west of Kyburz, Eldorado County. Altitude, about 4,030 feet above mean 

sea level.

Drainage area.- 196 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 3,900 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study; verified by comparison of peak discharge and total run-off of flood with records for other stations In American River Basin.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 9,700 second-feet 6 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

 57F5 feet).

1922-November 1937: Discharge, 5,020 second-feet Mar. 25, 1928 (gage height, 

7.60 feet), from rating curve extended above 2,200 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not materially affected by artificial storage. Monthly summaries adjusted for diversion into Eldorado canal. Part of basic data furnished 

by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

2.1

2.2

2.1

2.0

2.5

2.4

2.2

3.1

2.2

2.1

Dec.

3.0

3.0

2.5

2.2

2.0

4.2

2.4

1.7

3.7

2,850

Jan.

112

121

110

104

98

89

79

76

71

68

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

3.4

2.6

2.1

4.2

1.7

2.6

53

7

2.5

78

Dec.

6,470

1,960

904

538

416

322

275

238

207

174

Jan.

67

64

63

64

92

78

101

89

85

74

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

51

2.4

2.4

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.5

2.2

2.2

2.2

110

6,550

Dec.

165

154

136

144

136

130

128

117

114

110

109

36,620

Jan.

78

88

83

74

75

79

82

82

79

67

75

10,720

Cage height, in feet, and discharge, in secona-feet, at indicated time, 1937

o tc

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

_

1.28

_

1.29

-

1.20

_

1.12

_

1.10

-

1.09

_

2.7

_

2.9

-

1.7

_

1.1

_

.9

-

.9

December 14

_

3.98

-

3.90

_

3.84

_

3.81

-

3.80

3.77

Decen

_

2,93

_

2.85

_

2.86

-

2.93

_

2.95

-

2.95

_

599

-

555

_

522

_

506

_

500

-

484

iber 20

_

179

-

161

_

163

-

179

_

184

_

184

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

1.09

1.08

1.08

1.08

1.08

1.08

1.08

1.08

1.10

1.16

1.65

2.15

Decen

_

3.71

-

3.65

_

3.60

_

3.56

_

3.54

-

3.51

Decex

_

2.90

-

2.87

_

2.85

_

2.85

_

2.88

_

2.88

.9

.8

.8

.8

.8

.8

.8

.8

.9

1.4

13

46

iber 15

_

453

-

425

_

402

385

_

377

_

364

iber 21

_

172

_

165

_

161

_

161

_

168

_

168

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

3.90

5.33

6.10

6.70

6.65

6.40

6.73

6.75

6.60

6.40

6.70

6.83

Deeea

_

3.46

-

3.42

_

3.38

_

3.35

_

3.33

_

3.33

Decen

_

2.85

_

2.81

_

2.78

_

2.80

_

2.85

_

2.91

506

1,580

2,590

3,700

3,600

3,100

3,770

3,810

3,490

3,100

3,700

3,990

ber 16

_

345

_

330

_

315

_

304

_

296

_

296

iber 22

_

161

_

152

_

146

_

150

_

161

_

174

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

7.72

8.35

8.55

8.00

7.91

7.76

7.51

7.50

7.15

6.71

6.38

6.11

Decen

_

_

3.29

-

_

3.25

_

-

3,23

_

_

3.22

Decen

_

2.76

_

2.64

_

2.67

_

2.74

_

2.80

_

2.72

6,420

8,680

9,700

7,920

7,670

7,250

6,550

6,520

5,550

4,450

3,730

2,160

ber 17

_

_

282

_

_

268

_

_

262

_

-

259

ber 23

_

142

_

119

_

125

_

138

_

150

_

134

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

5.93

5.80

5.65

5.52

5.40

5.30

5.22

5.18

5.11

5.00

4.94

4.85

Decen

_

_

3.19

_

_

3.13

_

_

3.12

_

_

3.10

Decen

_

2.69

_

2.71

_

2.81

_

2.91

_

2.86

_

2.78

2,820

2,600

2,360

2,160

1,990

1,850

1,750

1,690

1,600

1,470

1,400

1,300

ber 18

_

_

249

_

_

232

_

_

229

_

_

223

ber 24

_

128

_

132

_

152

_

174

_

163

_

146

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

4.78

4.70

4.64

4.57

4.50

4.45

4.31

4.27

4.23

4.19

4.13

4.07

1,230

1,150

1,090

1,020

960

920

808

779

751

724

688

652

December 19

_

_

3.06

_

_

3.02

_

_

3.01

_

_

3.00

Deceit

_

2.71

_

2.65

_

2.74

_

2.83

_

2.79

_

2.70

_

_

212

_

_

201

_

199

_

_

196

ber 25

_

132

_

121

_

138

_

157

_

148

_

130

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 1 a.m., 2.35 ft., 66 see.-ft.
248 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

South Fork of American River near Camino, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°46', long. 120°42', in SWi sec. 25, T. 11 N., R. 11 E., 300 feet 

above mouth of Iowa Canyon Creek, I mile below intake of American River flume, and 

3 miles northwest of Oamlno, Eldorado County. Altitude, about 1,640 feet above 

mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 497 square miles.

gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 11:40 a.m. Dec. 3 to 

12t40 p.m. Dec. 12. Stage graph for period 1H40 a.m. Dec. 3 to 7 a.m. Dec. 10 based 

on several daily readings taken from the recorder graph before it was destroyed. 

Stage graph for period 7 a.m. Dec. 10 to 12i40 p.m. Dec. 12 based on floodmarks, occasional readings at a dam 1 mile above gage, and comparison with stage graphs for 

South Fork of American River at Coloma and Silver Greek near Placerville.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 8,000 second-feet 

extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study; verified bj AVff method, computed flow over a dam 1 mile above gage, and comparison of peak discharge and total 

run-off of flood with records for other stations in American River Basin. Rating 

curve changed Dec. 10.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 25,800 second-feet about noon Dec. 11 (gage height, 

2575 feet, from floodmark).

1922-November 1937: Discharge, 24,100 second-feet (revised) Mar. 25, 1928 (gage 

height, 24.4 feet, from floodmark).

Beaarks.- Flood run-off not materially affected by artificial storage. American River 

flume diverts above station. Monthly summaries adjusted for diversion. Part of 

basic data furnished by Pacific Oas & Electric Co.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

18

78

94

119

112

118

114

124

124

114

Dec.

100

142

112

112

95

112

125

98

132

7,340

Jan.

341

35?

386

341

319

308

300

304

252

268

Day

11

12

Z3

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

164

202

162

184

192

171

364

356

205

goo

Dec.

18,500

6,580

2,640

1,650

1,260

1,020

802

702

630

502

Jan.

252

256

248

248

386

352

564

630

532

448

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet (adjusted)

Nov.

454

309

252

338

272

242

218

160

121

125

1 Qfl

223 

13,280

Dec.

488

461

461

398

410

374

363

374

352

352

341

1

c -117

1,610 

98,990

Jan.

422

435

448

386

398

374

386

398

410

374

532

476 

29,240

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

£

«

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

2.40

-

2.16

-

2.09

-

2.01

_

2.04

_

2.20

Decen

7.05

7.06

6.99

6.88

6,85

6.82

6.49

6.60

6.69

6.51

6.49

6.17

Decei

4.21

4.20

4.20

4.35

4.62

4.64

4.25

4.35

4.30

4.47

4.05

3.91

_

123

-

96

_

89

-

82

_

85

-

100

iber 14

1,860

1,870

1,820

1,760

1,740

1,720

1,520

1,590

1,580

1,640

1,520

1,330

iber 20

477

474

474

517

570

610

488

517

502

554

435

400

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

2.26

2.32

2.36

2.40

2.40

2.40

2.40

2.40

2.48

2.67

2.89

3.10

Decen

6.17

6.16

6.11

6.06

6.30

6.27

5.89

6.09

5.89

6.00

5.95

5.52

Decei

3.97

4.00

4.29

4.30

4.32

4.54

4.15

4.29

4.3Q

4.43

4.42

3.86

107

113

118

123

123

123

123

123

133

160

194

230

her 15

1,330

1,330

1,300

1,270

1,410

1,390

1,160

1,280

1,160

1,230

1,200

980

iber 21

416

422

499

602

508

577

461

499

502

542

538

388

Feet |sec.ft.

December 10

3.50

6.00

10.50

14.1

15.9

16.0

15.5

14.8

14.0

13.3

12.8

12.4

Decen

5.70

5.73

5.70

5.70

5.73

5.71

5.67

5.64

5.57

5.60

5.17

Decen

3.84

3.84

3.84

3.88

4.30

4.41

4.17

4.18

4.25

4.42

4.36

4.07

308

1,230

4,730

9,180

11,700

11,800

11,100

10,100

9,050

8,140

7,490

6,970

bar 16

1,070

1,080

1,070

1,070

1,080

1,080

1,060

1,040

1,000

970

811

780

ber 22

384

384

384

393

502

535

466

469

488

538

520

449

Feet 1 Sec.ft.

December 11

13.8

16.5

19.4

22.5

25.3

25.5

25.0

23.2

21.4

19.8

18.6

17.3

Decen:

5.07

5.05

5.03

5.00

5.35

5.35

5.20

5.18

5.15

5.17

5.04

4.89

Decen

4.08

4.08

4.09

4.24

4.32

4.42

4.14

4.19

3.99

4.11

3.94

3.67

8,790

12,500

16,600

21,200

25,400

25 , 800

25,000

22,300

19,600

17,200

15,400

13,600

ber 17

768

760

752

740

895

895

824

815

802

811

756

698

ber 23

443

443

445

485

508

538

458

471

420

451

408

346

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

16.0

14.8

13.6

12.6

11.7

11.0

10.70

10.35

10.10

9.90

9.67

9.45

Deeem

4.79

4.77

4.76

4.91

5.14

5.15

6.13

6.00

4.50

4.89

4.84

4.84

Decem

3.58

3.59

3.63

3.63

3.76

4.15

4.11

3.85

3.89

4.29

4.39

4.43

11,800

10,100

8,530

7,230

6,100

5,280

4,950

4,570

4,320

4,120

3,890

3,680

ber 18

662

655

652

706

798

802

793

740

564

698

680

680

ber 24 .

326

328

337

337

365

461

451

386

396

499

429

642

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

9.20

8.93

8.70

8.46

8.27

8.07

7.90

7.72

7.56

7.46

7.26

7.16

Decen:

4.84

4.84

4.83

4.83

4.92

4.84

4.81

4.56

4.55

4.76

4.60

4.23

Decen

4.33

3.87

3.82

3.77

3.75

3.80

3.77

3.70

3.68

4.12

4.25

4.31

3,460

3,220

3,040

2,850

2,700

2,550

2,430

2,300

2,190

2,120

1,990

1,930

ber 19

680

680

677

677

710

680

670

583

680

652

596

482

ber 25

511

391

379

367

363

374

367

352

348

453

488

605
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 249

South Fork of American River at Coloma, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°48', long. 120°53', in SWi sec. 17, T. 11 N., R. 10 E., at highway 

bridge at Coloma, Eldorado County, 0.6 mile below Irish Creek. Altitude, about 740 

feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 635 square miles.

Gage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period Dec. 29-30, when there 

was no record.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 13,200 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study; verified by comparison of peak discharge and total run-off of flood with records for other stations in 

American River Basin. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 27,000 second-feet 2 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

20.5 feet).

1929-November 1937: Discharge, 13,300 second-feet Apr. 8, 1935 (gage height, 

16.85 feet), from rating curve extended above 9,400 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not materially affected by artificial storage or diversion. 

Discharge for period of missing gage-height record determined from record of South 

Fork of American River near Camino.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

138

114

148

146

148

143

146

151

156

148

Dec.

214

250

235

229

235

214

235

232

235

7,280

Jan.

524

551

569

533

512

491

465

478

436

444

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

203

282

212

235

268

229

440

508

313

282

Dec.

18,100

7,030

3,000

1,900

1,500

1,220

1,010

916

824

741

Jan.

428

432

420

424

647

612

884

981

854

768

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

2ft

29

30

31

Nov.

565

416

328

436

360

285

264

268

217

241

260

15,450

Dec.

688

662

741

602

632

593

560

564

560

540

529

1,686

103,700

Jan.

662

688

688

622

602

588

593

622

714

652

1,030

610

37,520

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

tt pi

ow

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

6

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

7.63

7.62

7.59

7.49

7.42

7.35

7.32

7.37

7.36

7.35

7.36

7.38

296

292

282

247

226

206

198

212

209

206

209

214

December 14

10.43

10.36

10.35

10.32

10.25

10.17

10.18

10.12

10,03

10.03

9.98

9.95

Decen

8.77

8.56

8.54

8.53

8.53

8.54

8.65

8.77

8.63

8.58

8.59

8.66

2,120

2,050

2,040

2,010

1,940

1,870

1,880

1,830

1,750

1,750

1,700

1,680

iber 20

807

693

683

678

678

683

741

807

730

704

709

746

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

7.36

7.40

7.40

7.40

7.40

7.44

7.47

7.50

7.53

7.55

7.57

7.59

Decen

9.82

9.73

9.72

9.71

9.68

9.66

9.82

9.77

9.67

9.69

9.64

9.64

Decen

8.55

8.40

8.37

8.40

8.50

8.57

8.57

8.70

8.60

8.55

8.57

8.65

209

220

220

220

220

232

241

250

260

268

274

282

iber 15

1,560

1,480

1,480

1,470

1,440

1,430

1,560

1,520

1,440

1,450

1,410

1,410

iber 21

688

612

598

612

662

698

698

768

714

688

698

741

Feet [sec. ft.

December 10

7.60

7.63

8.20

8.32

14.25

15.95

16.68

16.45

16.17

16.05

15.62

15.25

Deceit

9.47

9.36

9.34

9.32

9.29

9.27

9.45

9.44

9.42

9.38

9.35

9.30

Decen

8.64

8.50

8.33

8.33

8.33

8.34

8.45

8.64

8.62

8.65

8.67

8.84

285

296

530

590

7,540

11,700

13,700

13,100

12,300

11,900

10,800

9,810

ber 16

1,280

1,190

1,180

1,160

1,140

1,130

1,260

1,250

1,240

1,210

1,180

1,150

iber 22

736

662

578

578

578

583

637

736

725

741

752

848

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

14.95

15.45

16.45

18.00

18.98

20.10

20.50

20.00

19.15

18.35

17.35

16.32

9,080

10,300

13,100

17,800

21,200

25,400

27,000

25,100

22,000

19,300

16,200

13,100

December 17

9.15

9.05

9.03

9.02

9.01

9.00

9.20

9.21

9.13

9.11

9.10

9.10

Decen

8.85

8.65

8.68

8.65

8.63

8.60

8.66

8.75

8.67

8.58

8.50

8.53

1,050

981

968

961

955

948

1,080

1,090

1,030

1,020

1,010

1,010

ber 23

854

741

757

741

730

714

746

796

752

704

662

678

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

15.60

15.05

14.60

14.20

13.83

13.50

13.12

12.86

12.63

12.45

12.31

12.15

11,200

9,840

8,760

7 , 880

7,110

6,470

5,780

5,330

4,950

4,660

4,440

4,200

December 18

9.00

8.95

8.85

8.84

8.84

8.93

9.07

9.08

9.06

9.02

8.96

9.00

948

916

854

848

848

903

994

1,000

988

961

922

948

December 24

8.50

8.36

8.23

8.24

8.27

8.28

8.25

8.54

8.54

8.40

8.39

8.50

662

593

533

538

551

555

542

683

683

612

607

662

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

12.03

11.85

11.68

11.52

11.37

11.23

11.11

10.95

10.82

10.72

10.65

10.50

Decem

8.95

8.74

8.70

8.68

8.67

8.66

8.80

8.92

8.89

8.74

8.72

8.85

Decen

8.65

8.68

8.68

8.42

8.38

8.35

8.33

8.32

8.37

8.30

8.26

8.35

4,020

3,760

3,530

3,330

3,140

2,980

2,830

2,660

2,510

2,410

2,340

2,190

ber 19

916

790

768

757

752

746

824

897

878

790

779

854

ber 25

741

757

757

622

602

588

579

574

598

564

546

588

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 9 a.m., 8.45 ft., 658 sec.-ft.
250 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Medley Lakes outlet near Vade, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°51', long. 120°08', in SW-J- sec. 29, T. 12 N. , R. 17 E., 1 mile below 

main dam at Medley Lakes and 5 miles northwest of Phillips, Vade post office, Eldorado County. Altitude, about 8,100 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 6.2 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Affected by ice for period Dec. 23 to Jan. 31. Defined by 

current-meter measurements below 120 second-feet; extended to peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 166 second-feet 9 a.m. Dec. 10 (gage height, 3.06 

feet).

1922-November 1937: Discharge, 202 second-feet June 15, 16, 1929 (gage height, 

3.42 feet).

Remarks.- Flood run-off materially affected by storage in Medley Lakes during storm 

period in December but little, if any, net retention for period Nov. 1 to Jan. 31. 

No record of storage. Discharge for period of ice effect computed on basis of 

weather records. Part of basic data furnished by Pacific Gas % Electric Co.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day_ I 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

15

15

14

14

14

14

13

13

13

12

Dec.

12

12

11

10

9

7.5

7

6.5

7

102

Jan.

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

14

12

11

12

11

11

13

12

13

14

Dec.

100

30

25

24

24

28

34

34

33

32

Jan.

_

-

-

_

_

_

_

_

_

-

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

12

-| -z n

772

Dec.

32

32

31

31

31

30

30

30

29

29

29

1,750

Jan.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1,540

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

S

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6 

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

_

_

_

_

_

0.74

-

_

_

_

-

.73

Dec an

_

_

-

_

-

1.29

-

-

-

-

_

1.29

Dec en

_

_

-

_

1.45

-

_

-

_

1.45

_

_

_

_

_

6.5

-

_

_

_

-

6.0

ber 14

_

_

_

_

-

24

_

_

-

-

-

24

iber 20

_

-

-

_

32

-

_

-

_

32

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

0.73

.72

.72

.72

.72

.72

.72

.74

.77

.84

.95

1.14

Dec en

_

_

_

_

-

1.28

-

_

-

-

-

1.28

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6.5

7

8.5

12

18

iber 15

_

_

_

_

-

24

-

_

_

_

-

24

December 21

_

-

-

_

1.45

-

-

-

_

1.45

_

_

-

_

32

_

_

-

_

32

Feet [Sec.ft.

December 10

1.53

2.06

2.85

2.99

3.00

2.69

2.52

2.36

2.24

2.18

2.17

2.20

37

74

145

159

160

129

114

99

89

83

83

85

December 16

_

1.28

_

1.28

-

1.29

-

1.44

-

1.46

_

1.47

Decen

_

24

_

24

_

24

_

32

-

33

-

34

ber 22

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

2.30

2.42

2.49

2.64

2.84

2.83

2.63

2.41

2.10

1.86

1.70

1.59

94

105

111

125

144

143

124

104

77

58

47

40

December 17

_

_

_

-

-

1.47

_

_

-

-

-

1.47

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

34

-

-

-

-

-

34

ber 23

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

_

1.45

-

1.39

_

1.35

-

1.34

-

1.32

-

1.31

_

32

.-

30

_

28

-

27

-

26

-

26

December 18

_

_

-

_

_

1.47

-

-

-

-

-

1.46

Decen

_

_

_

_

-

34

-

.

-

-

-

33

ber 24

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

-

-

-

-

_

1.30

-

-

-

-

-

1.29

-

-

-

-

-

25

-

_

-

-

-

24

December 19

-

_

_

-

-

1.46

-

-

-

-

-

1.45

Decani

-

_

-

-

-

33

-

-

-

-

-

32

ber 25

Supplemental records.- Dec. 10, 9 a.m., 3.06 ft., 166 sec.-ft.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 351 

Silver Lake outlet near Kirkwood, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°40', long. 120°08', in SW^- sec. 32, T. 10 N. , R. 17 E. , 1,000 feet 

below Silver Lake Dam and 3 miles southwest of Kirkwood, Amador County. Altitude, 

about 7,200 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 14.9 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 200 second-feet; 

extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge (regulated), 504 second-feet 3 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

height, 5.10 feet).

1922-November 1937: Discharge, 374 second-feet July 1, 1932 (gage height, 4.28 

feet).

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by storage in Silver Lake (capacity, about 4,700 acrefeet, without flashboards; 8,700 acre-feet, with flashboards). Discharge over spillway (without flashboards) began about 5 a.m. Dec. 11. Probably very little storage 

in lake before Dec. 9. Peak stage and run-off of about 4,500 acre-feet must have 

occurred between Dec. 9 and 5 a.m. Dec. 11. Storage record for Silver Lake (incomplete) shows 261 acre-feet Nov. 29 and 5,231 acre-feet Dec. 14.

Mean daily discharge, in

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

6.5

5.5

5

4.5

3.9

3.0

2.6

2.2

1.8

1.4

Dec.

3.9

3.3

3.0

2.4

2.0

2.4

2.4

2.2

2.8

40

Jan.

34

34

34

33

32

31

31

30

28

28

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

1.8

2.0

2.0

2.0

2.0

2.2

3.6

3.6

3.6

4.2

Dee.

349

376

255

156

110

83

64

55

53

50

Jan.

27

27

26

26

26

26

26

26

26

26

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

4.8

4.8

4.8

5

5

5

4.8

4.5

4.5

4.2

220

Dec.

46

43

40

40

39

38

38

37

36

36

35

4,050

Jan.

26

26

26

25

25

25

25

25

25

25

25

1,700

Sage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

t,3

o 

«

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

S

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

-

-

_

-

-

0.66

-

_

-

_

_

.66

Dec en

_

2.87

-

2.75

-

2.65

-

2.57

_

2.48

-

2.40

Decen

-

-

1.53

-

1.52

-

_

1.50

_

_

1.48

-

-

-

-

_

2.2

-

-

_

-

_

2.2

ber 14

_

181

-

168

-

156

-

148

-

138

-

130

ber 20

-

-

50

-

_

50

_

_

48

_

_

46

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

_

0.66

-

.66

_

.66

-

.68

_

.73

-

.80

Decen

_

2.32

_

2.25

-

2.19

-

2.14

_

2.08

-

2.03

Decen

-

-

-

-

_

1.48

-

_

_

_

_

1.46

_

2.2

-

2.2

_

2.2

-

2.6

_

3.9

_

6

iber 15

_

122

_

115

_

109

_

105

-

99

_

95

iber 21

-

-

_

-

_

46

-

_

_

_

_

45

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

0.90

1.02

1.22

1.30

1.40

1.49

1.55

1-56

1.58

1.62

1.65

1.73

9.5

15

26

32

40

47

52

53

54

58

68

December 16

_

1.98

_

1.93

-

1.88

-

1.85

-

1.81

-

1.78

Deceit

-

-

-

-

_

1.43

_

_

_

_

_

1.42

_

90

_

86

-

81

-

78

_

75

_

72

iber 22

-

-

-

_

-

42

_

_

_

_

_

42

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

1.80

1.84

2.70

3.88

4.52

4.82

5.00

5.09

5.03

4.96

4.87

4.80

74

78

162

315

411

459

488

502

493

482

467

456

December 17

_

_

1.73

_

_

1.69

-

_

1.65

_

_

1.62

Decen:

-

-

-

-

_

1.40

_

_

_

_

_

1.40

_

_

68

_

_

64

_

-

60

_

-

58

ber 23

-

-

-

-

_

40

_

_

_

_

_

40

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

4.70

4.61

4.52

4.47

4.39

4.30

4.22

4.14

4.07

4.00

3.92

3.86

440

426

411

403

390

376

363

352

342

332

321

312

December 18

_

_

1.60

.

-

1.59

-

-

1.57

_

-

1.57

Deceit

-

-

-

-

_

1.40

-

_

_

_

_

1.40

_

_

56

_

-

55

-

-

54

-

-

54

ber 24

-

-

_

_

40

-

_

_

_

_

40

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

_

3.72

-

3.57

_

3.44

_

3.27

_

3.14

-

3.00

_

293

-

272

_

254

-

230

_

213

-

196

December 19

_

_

1.57

_

-

1.56

-

_

1.54

_

-

1.53

Decent

-

-

=

-

_

1.39

_

_

_

_

_

1.39

_

_

54

_

_

53

-

_

51

_

_

50

ber 25

-

-

-

-

_

39

_

_

_

_

_

39

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 3 p.m., 5.10 ft., 504 sec.-ft.
858 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Silver Pork of South Pork of American River near Kyburz, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°45", long. ISO0 !?', In NEi sec. 34, T. 11 N., R. 15 E., 8 miles 

above mouth and 2 miles southeast of Kyburz, Eldorado County. Altitude, about 

4,850 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 108 square miles.

Sage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period Dec. 89 to Jan. 2, 

when there was no record.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 2,250 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study; verified by comparison of peak discharge and total run-off of flood with records for other stations in 

American River Basin.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 5,450 second-feet 10:30 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

8.30 feet).

1984-November 1937: Discharge, 3,680 second-feet Mar. 25, 1928 (gage height, 

6.54 feet), from rating curve extended above 950 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by storage in Twin Lakes and Silver Lake (combined 

capacity, 86,000 acre-feet). Monthly summaries adjusted for storage. Discharge 

for period of missing gage-height record based on comparison with record for South 

Pork of American River near Kyburz. Part of basic data furnished by Pacific Gas 

& Electric Co.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

73

78

79

78

78

78

78

84

84

84

Dec.

82

81

79

81

81

91

98

89

74

1,330

Jan.

115

112

109

103

99

93

88

86

81

79

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

80

Nov.

98

86

78

85

70

70

108

69

61

105

Dec.

3,840

1,470

701

393

310

250

814

194

176

161

Jan.

78

75

75

74

88

85

96

98

92

86

Day

81

22

83

24

85

86

87

88

89

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet (adjusted) . ............................

Nov.

91

47

41

48

43

51

68

68

61

74

73 3

1,480

Dec.

156

149

135

147

148

138

136

130

186

188

118

30,570

Jan.

89

93

98

86

89

91

93

95

93

88

84

90 3

5,070

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

I

£

8

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

8

4

6

8

10

N

8

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

_

8.09

-

-

8.09

-

-

8.09

_

-

8.03

Decen

_

3.46

-

3.40

-

3.35

-

3.31

-

3.30

-

3.87

Decen

_

_

8.55

-

-

8.50

_

_

8.49

-

-

8.56

_

-

91

_

-

91

-

-

91

-

-

82

ber 14

_

439

-

410

-

389

-

372

-

368

-

357

iber 20

_

_

165

-

-

156

_

_

154

-

-

167

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

8.05

8.03

1.98

1.91

1.91

1.90

1.90

1.98

1.97

1.97

8.01

8.19

Decen

_

3.82

-

3.18

-

3.13

-

3.09

_

3.07

_

3.04

Decei

_

_

8.51

_

.

2.48

_

_

2.48

-

_

2.49

85

88

75

66

66

65

65

75

74

74

79

105

iber 15

_

339

-

386

_

310

-

297

_

291

-

882

iber 21

_

_

158

-

-

158

_

_

152

_

_

154

Peet |sec.ft.

December 10

3.33

4.11

4.50

4.90

5.08

4.53

4.87

5.80

5.10

4.83

4.80

5.14

Dec en

_

3.00

_

8.96

_

8.93

-

2.90

_

8.88

-

8.86

Decen

_

_

8.48

_

_

8.45

_

_

8.43

_

_

8.50

381

878

1,800

1,560

1,740

1,830

1,530

1,860

1,760

1,500

1,470

1,800

ber 16

_

870

-

859

_

850

_

848

_

837

_

838

iber 22

_

_

152

_

_

147

_

_

143

-

-

.56

Feet 1 Sec. ft.

December 11

5.95

 .74

 .70

6.94

8.88

8.88

8.01

7.77

7.08

6.40

6.00

5.78

Dec em

_

-

8.83

-

_

8.79

-

_

8.76

_

-

2.75

Decen

_

8.43

_

8.35

_

8.35

_

8.38

_

8.39

-

8.36

8,640

3,540

3,490

3,780

5,420

5,350

5,070

4,770

3,870

3,130

8,690

8,380

ber 17

_

-

884

-

-

814

_

_

807

-

_

805

ber 23

_

143

_

130

_

130

_

135

_

136

_

138

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

5.45

5.23

5.05

4.95

4.85

4.73

4.64

4.55

4.50

4.41

4.34

4.85

8,110

1,890

1,710

1,610

1,580

1,410

1,330

1,840

1,200

1,120

1,060

990

December 18

_

_

8.78

-

_

8.70

_

_

8.67

-

-

8. 6

Decen

_

8.36

_

8.40

-

2.49

_

8.55

-

8.48

-

8.42

_

-

198

-

_

194

-

-

188

-

-

186

ber 24

_

138

_

138

-

154

_

165

-

158

-

142

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 13

4.18

4.11

4.05

3.96

3.90

3.84

3.77

3.74

3.71

3.66

3.61

3.55

Decem

_

_

8.64

-

-

2.61

-

-

2.59

-

-

8.59

Deceit

_

8.38

_

8.36

-

2.45

_

8.46

_

2.42

-

2.38

934

878

830

760

715

673

624

603

588

550

518

485

ber 19

_

_

182

_

-

176

-

_

178

_

-

172

ber 25

_

135

_

132

-

147

_

149

_

148

-

135

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 10:30 a.m., 8.30 ft., 5,450 sec.-ft.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 253

Twin Lakes outlet near Kirkwood, Calif.

Location. - Lat. 38°42', long. 120°03', In SWi sec. 18, T. 10 N., R. 18 E., 500 feet 

below main dam and outlet gate of Twin Lakes and 1 mile east of Kirkwood, Amador 

County. Altitude, about 7,900 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 12.4 square miles.

Qage-helght 7ecprd.- Defined by current-meter measurements for stages reached during 

period November to January (completely regulated).

Maxima.- December 1937: Outlet gates closed 8s45 a.m. Dec. 10 and flood flow completely 

regulated. Maximum discharge computed from increase in storage, about 2,200 secondfeet early morning Dec. 11.

1922-November 1937: Discharge (regulated), 176 second-feet May 25-28, 1928 (gage 

height, 1.95 feet).

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely controlled in Twin Lakes (capacity, 21,200 acrefeet). No flow over Twin Lakes spillway for period Nov. 1 to Jan. 31. Gain or loss 

in storage computed from contents at midnight determined from graph based on dally 

readings at 4 p.m. Most of basic data furnished by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Discharge, in second-feet, and gain or loss in storage, in acre-feet, 

November 1937 to January 1938

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

Observed 

discharge

61

66

66

66

66

66

70

72

71

71

71

70

66

58

54

55

45

40

40

40

25

17

17

17

26

40

45

45

50

68

Gain or 

loss in 

storage

-115

-125

-115

-141

-158

-157

-139

-113

-137

-137

-112

-128

-118

-101

-102

-84

-50

-59

-67

-49

-41

-25

-17

-17

-50

-58

-82

-100

-106

-123

Adjusted 

discharge

"

> *1.3

5.5

6.5

7

2.6

13

20

10

6

15

4.3

4.4

8.5

1

8.5

*2.1

December

Observed 

discharge

68

67

69

71

74

76

76

66

52

22

2.2

1.0

1.4

1.4

1.4

1.4

1.5

1.4

1.4

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.4

1.4

1.4

1.4

1.1

1.0

1.1

1.2

Gain or 

loss in 

storage

-123

-123

-129

-145

-153

-169

-151

-132

-50

+1,600

+2,510

+440

+225

+138

+100

+83

+74

+56

+46

+27

+28

+47

+65

+27

+28

+28

+28

+27

+28

+28

+19

Adjusted 

discharge

-

 *3.0

8S9

1,270

223

115

71

52

43

39

30

25

15

16

25

34

15

16

16

16

15

15

15

11

Mean monthly discharge, in second-feet (observed). .........

January

Observed 

discharge

1.4

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

November

CO O£ T 

. X

o o^n

 <c , OOU

4.64

276

Gain or 

loss in 

storage

+9

+28

+19

+9

+29

+19

+9

+19

0

+9

+19

0

+10

+47

+56

+29

+66

+76

+38

+19

+9

+19

+9

+19

+10

+19

+10

+19

0

+29

+105

December

OT ( 

&X. O

+4,480

94.5

5,810

Adjusted 

discharge

6

16

11

6

16

11

6

11

1.5

6

11

1.5

6.5

25

30

16

35

21

25

11

6

11

e

11

6.5

11

6.5

11

1.5

16

54

January

1.50

+

170 Q / &O

1 <z <z J.O* O

820

 Mean for the period.
254: THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Alder Creek near Whitehall, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°45', long. 120°22', in Sl«i sec. 36, T. 11 N., R. 14 E., threequarters of a mile above mouth and 2 miles southeast of Whitehall, Eldorado County. 

Altitude, about 4,000 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 22.8 square miles.

flage-helght i-eeord. - Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 250 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study; verified by comparison of peak discharge and total run-off of flood with records for other stations 

in American River Basin.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 710 second-feet 9:30 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

4.50 feet).

1922-November 1937: Discharge, about 2,060 second-feet Mar. 25, 1928 (gage 

height, 7.1 feet, from floodmark).

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage. Alder Creek feeder flume 

diverts immediately above station. Monthly summaries adjusted for diversion. Part 

of basic data furnished by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.3

.1

.1

.1

Dec.

0.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.5

.9

196

Jan.

14

15

16

14

13

13

11

11

10

9.5

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0.6

.8

.5

1.8

1.5

.6

13

5

.3

1.6

Dec.

509

262

152

110

81

63

51

41

34

29

Jan.

9

8

7.5

8

14

11

22

20

20

17

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre feet (adjusted). ............................

Nov.

6

.8

.6

2.2

.7

.2

.1

.1

.1

.3

1

-ZT

3 m

179

Dec.

26

23

21

20

18

18

15

15

14

14

13

3,780

Jan.

17

18

18

15

15

16

17

18

18

15

13

14 3

on t.

1,310

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

h

12

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |sec.ft.

December 6

-

-

1.04

-

-

1.04

-

-

1.04

_

-

1.04

Decen

_

_

2.15

_

_

2.11

-

-

2.08

-

_

2.04

Decen

-

-

1.60

-

_

1.59

-

-

1.58

_

-

1.57

-

-

0.5

_

-

.5

-

_

.5

_

-

.5

t>er 14

_

_

115

_

-

108

-

-

102

-

~

95

iber 20

_

_

30

-

_

29

-

-

28

-

_

27

Feet |sec.ft.

De'cember 9

-

1.03

_

1.03

_

1.03

_

1.04

_

1.05

_

1.35

Decen

_

_

2.00

_

_

1.96

_

-

1.93

-

_

1.90

Decec

-

_

1.56

-

_

1.55

-

-

1.55

-

_

1.54

-

0.4

_

.4

_

.4

_

,5

_

.6

_

11

iber 15

_

-

88

-.

_

81

-

-

76

-

_

71

aber 21

-

_

26

-

_

26

-

-

26

_

_

25

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

1.57

2.35

2.80

2.87

2.70

2.56

2.68

2.69

2.63

2.64

2.64

2.87

Decen

_

_

1.87

_

_

1.85

_

_

1.83

-

_

1.81

Decen

-

_

1.53

-

_

1.51

-

_

1.51

_

_

1.55

27

154

252

269

228

197

224

226

213

215

215

269

ber 16

-

_

66

_

_

63

_

 -

60

-

_

57

ber 22

_

_

24

-

_

22

-

22

_

_

26

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

3.31

3.50

3.81

4.30

4.42

4.15

4.04

3.97

3.80

3.74

3.53

3.35

377

426

509

650

686

605

573

554

506

489

434

387

December 17

-

-

1.79

_

_

1.77

_

-

1.76

_

_

1.74

Decen

-

_

1.50

-

_

1.51

-

_

1.50

_

_

1.46

-

-

54

_

_

51

-

-

49

_

_

47

ber 23

_

-

21

-

_

22

-

_

21

_

_

18

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

3.20

3.08

2.98

2.90

2.83

2.78

2.74

2.70

2.65

2.60

2.56

2.52

Decen

_

-

1.72

-

_

1.70

-

-

1.69

-

_

1.67

Decen

_

-

1.41

-

_

1.55

-

_

1.50

_

_

1.48

348

319

295

276

259

247

238

228

217

206

197

188

ber 18

_

_

44

_

_

41

-

-

40

-

_

38

ber 24

_

_

15

-

_

26

-

-

21

-

-

20

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

-

2.45

_

2.37

_

2.32

_

2.27

-

2.24

_

2.20

Decem

-

-

1.66

-

_

1.65

-

-

1.63

_

-

1.61

Depeai

-

_

1.39

-

_

1.45

-

_

1.49

-

_

1.45

-

174

_

158

_

148

_

138

-

132

-

124

ber 19

_

-

37

_

-

36

-

-

33

-

_

31

ber 25

-

-

13

-

_

18

-

-

80

-

_

18

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 9«30 a.m., 4.50 ft., 710 sec. -ft.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 255 

Plum Creek near Riverton, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°45', long. 120°26', in SEi sec. 32, T. 11 N. , R. 14 E., 1^ miles

above mouth and 2 miles southeast of Riverton, Eldorado County. Altitude, about

4,100 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 6.8 square miles. 

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 120 second-feetj

extended to peak stage; verified by comparison of peak discharge with that of Alder

Creek and by area-velocity study. Rating curve changed at peak stage. 

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 315 second-feet 7 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 3.10

feet).

1922-November 1937s Discharge, 535 second-feet Mar. 25, 1928 (gage height, 4.10

feet), from rating curve extended above 75 second-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Part of basic

data furnished by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0.8

.9

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.1

Dec.

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.1

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.4

54

Jan.

2.7

3.4

3.7

3.2

3.0

2.8

2.7

2.6

2.4

2.2

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

4.0

2.1

1.5

2.1

2.1

2.1

6.5

3.6

2.2

2.8

Dec.

195

75

30

16

12

8.5

6.5

5

4.3

3.7

Jan.

2.1

2.1

2.1

2.0

5

4.5

20

20

15

12

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

3.0

2.4

2.2

3.8

3.0

2.4

2.0

1.7

1.4

1.3

123

Dec.

3.4

3.2

3.2

3.0

2.8

2.8

2.8

2.8

2.7

2.7

2.7

14.6

897

Jan.

10

10

11

9

8

7,5

6.5

6.5

6

5.5

9

6.53

402

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

o

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

_

_

-

_

-

0.56

_

_

_

-

-

.56

Deceit

_

1.16

_

_

-

1.10

_

_

_

1.06

_

-

_

_

_

-

-

1.0

_

_

-

-

-

1.0

ber 14

_

18

-

_

_

16

-

_

_

14

_

-

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

0.56

.56

.56

.56

.56

.56

.56

.57

.61

.66

.78

.92

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.1

1.5

2.2

4.4

7.5

December 15

_

1.02

_

_

-

.99

_

_

_

.96

_

-

_

13

_

_

_

12

_

_

_

10

_

-

Feet |sec.ft.

December 10

1.20

1.75

2.14

1.92

1.73

1.64

1.61

1.54

1.47

1.47

1.54

1.84

Decen

_

0.93

_

_

_

.90

-

_

_

.88

_

-

18

66

117

86

63

53

50

43

36

36

43

76

ber 16

_

9.5

_

_

-

8

_

_

_

7.5

_

-

Feet 1 Sec. ft.

December 11

2.15

2.40

3.04

3.08

2.81

2.63

2.67

2.51

2.48

2.54

2.34

2.20

Decem

_

0.87

_

_

_

.85

_

_

_

.83

_

-

118

160

300

310

244

205

213

180

174

186

149

126

ber 17

_

7.5

_

_

_

6.5

_

_

_

6

_

-

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

2.12

2.02

1.99

1.90

1.85

1.79

1.74

1.69

1.64

1.62

1.55

1.51

Decen

_

0.81

_

_

_

.79

_

_

_

.78

_

-

114

100

96

83

77

70

64

59

54

52

46

42

ber 18

_

5.5

_

_

_

5

_

_

_

4.8

_

-

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

-

1.45

-

1.38

-

1.33

-

1.26

-

1.24

-

1.19

_

37

_

32

-

28

-

24

_

22

-

20

December 19

_

0.77

-

_

-

.76

-

_

_

.75

_

-

_

4.5

_

_

-

4.3

_

_

_

4.1

_

-

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 7 a.m., 3.10 ft., 315 sec.-ft.
256 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Sliver Greek at Union Valley, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°52', long. 120°26', in SEi sec. 20, T. 12 N., R. 14 E., 1 mile below

junction of North and Middle Porks of Silver Creek, near lower end of Onion Valley,

El Dorado County. Altitude, about 4,530 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 82.7 square miles. 

Gage-height i-ecord.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 8 a.m. Dec. 30 to Jan.

31, when there was no record. 

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 3,000 second-feet;

extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study. Rating curve changed at peak

stage. 

Maxima.- December 1937J Discharge, 8,560 second-feet 10 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 15.28

feet).

1924-November 1937: Discharge. 8,050 second-feet (revised) Mar. 25, 1928 (gage

height, 14.7 feet, from floodmark). 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge for

period of missing gage-height record based on range of stage indicated on recorder

graph and record for Silver Creek near Placerville.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

6.5

6.5

6.5

6.5

6.5

6.5

6.5

7

7

7

Dec.

38

36

32

32

32

35

36

38

51

3,840

Jan.

_

_

_

_

-

_

-

_

-

-

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

17

20

15

33

25

29

121

63

42

109

Dec.

5,560

1,070

487

331

285

236

206

183

158

134

Jan.

_

-

-

_

_

_

_

_

-

-

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

121

63

63

75

55

48

44

41

40

40

37 7

2,240

Dec.

128

121

104

131

121

114

111

106

104

114

110

27,940

Jan.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

6,150

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

fn

W

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

1.10

_

1.08

_

1.10

_

1.07

_

1.13

_

1.10

Decen

_

3.05

-

2.96

_

2.89

-

2.86

-

2.90

-

2.92

_

38

_

36

_

38

_

36

_

40

_

38

bar 14

_

354

_

333

_

318

-

311

_

320

_

324

December 20

_

1.96

-

1.89

_

1.87

-

1.95

-

2.00

_

1.96

-

138

-

127

-

124

-

136

-

144

_

138

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

1.10

1.08

1.07

1.06

1.06

1.06

1.06

1.08

1.19

1.42

1.71

2.40

Decen

_

2.86

_

2.78

_

2.72

_

2.66

_

2.63

_

2.62

Decer

_

1.92

-

1.88

_

1.85

_

1.90

_

1.89

_

1.88

38

36

36

35

35

35

35

36

45

66

101

216

iber 15

_

311

_,

294

_

280

-

268

-

262

_

260

aber 21

_

131

-

125

_

121

-

128

_

127

_

125

Feet ISec.ft.

December 10

5.40

8.27

10.31

12.11

12.15

11.28

10.49

9.72

8.91

8.24

8.15

9.26

1,260

2,990

4,450

5,890

5,920

5,220

4,590

4,000

3,440

2,970

2,900

3,680

December 16

_

_

2.56

_

_

2.48

_

_

2.43

-

_

2.42

Decen

_

1.87

-

1.82

_

1.75

-

1.83

_

1.92

_

1.83

_

_

248

_

_

232

_

222

_

_

220

ber 22

_

124

-

117

_

107

-

118

_

131

_

118

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

10.85

12.16

13.29

14.62

15.28

14.30

13.12

12.03

10.00

8.32

7.36

6.77

4,880

5,930

6,850

7,980

8,560

7,700

6,700

5,820

4,200

3,020

2,380

2,020

December 17

_

_

2.38

_

_

2.34

-

_

2.31

-

_

2.31

Decen

_

1.70

-

1.65

_

1.65

_

1.71

_

1.85

_

1.90

_

_

212

_

_

204

-

_

198

-

_

198

ber 23

_

100

_

94

_

94

-

101

_

121

_

128

Peet Sec. ft.

December 12

6.18

5.70

5.46

5.17

4.90

4.74

4.62

4.54

4.51

4.41

4.28

4.14

Decen

_

_

2.29

_

_

2.23

-

_

2.19

-

-

2.15

1,680

1,420

1,290

1,140

1,010

933

879

843

830

789

737

685

ber 18

_

_

194

_

_

183

-

_

176

-

-

169

December 24

_

1.92

-

1.96

_

1.93

-

1.93

_

1,90

_

1.86

_

131

-

138

_

133

_

133

_

128

-

122

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

4.01

3.87

3.75

3.64

3.55

3.47

3.41

3.36

3.33

3.28

3.22

3.16

638

590

550

515

487

464

447

433

424

411

395

380

December 19

_

_

2.11

-

_

2.07

-

_

2.07

-

-

2.02

Decea

_

1.83

-

1.83

-

1.85

-

1.88

_

1.87

-

1.82

-

_

162

_

_

155

-

-

155

-

-

147

ber 25

_

118

-

118

-

121

-

125

_

124

-

117
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 257 

Silver Greek near Placerville, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°47', long. 120°35', in SWi sec. 13, T. 11 N., R. 12 E. , a quarter 

of a mile above mouth and 12 miles northeast of Placerville, Eldorado County. 

Altitude, about 2,250 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 176 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge re'latlon. - Defined by current-meter measurements below 4,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage with aid of area-velocity study; verified by comparison of peak discharge and total run-off of flood with records at other stations in 

American River Basin.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 14,600 second-feet 12:30 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

height, 13.8 feet).

1921-November 1937: Discharge, 12,400 second-feet (revised) Mar. 25, 1928 (gage 

height, 12.8 feet, present site and datum, from floodmarks; 18.0 feet, former site 

and datum, from gage-height comparison).

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

15ean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

34

35

35

34

33

33

32

32

32

32

Dec.

90

93

84

83

82

79

82

87

94

5,220

Jan.

208

233

236

213

198

174

176

174

170

174

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

53

74

52

76

80

64

237

172

101

118

Dec.

9,500

2,730

1,160

770

632

526

450

407

352

305

Jan.

172

172

172

170

254

233

407

400

352

299

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

287

151

134

202

152

118

109

100

98

94

O'Z F.

5,560

Dec.

280

268

246

241

246

220

218

215

206

210

206

50,340

Jan.

288

299

329

266

280

271

274

288

285

241

308

15,300

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

0

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

S

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

-

2.15

-

2.24

-

2.23

-

2.16

-

2.17

-

2.17

_

83

-

96

_

94

-

84

-

86

-

86

December 14

- 1 -

4.60

-

4.48

-

4.38

-

4.30

-

4.21

-

4.19

870

-

810

_

760

-

720

_

680

_

672

December 20

_

-

3.26

-

-

3.19

-

-

3.12

-

_

3.15

_

_

320

-

_

299

-

_

280

_

_

288

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

_

2.17

-

2.21

_

2.18

-

2.18

-

2.26

-

2.56

_

86

_

91

-

87

-

87

-

98

~

149

December 15

_

_

4.20

-

_

4.10

_

_

4.00

_

_

3.94

_

_

676

_

_

632

-

_

590

-

_

566

December 21

_

_

3.17

-

_

3.13

-

_

3.09

_

_

3.10

_

_

294

_

_

282

_

_

271

_

_

274

Feet jSec.ft.

December 10

3.32

6.16

8.60

9.85

10.45

10.60

10.30

9.95

9.52

9.10

8.25

8.80

332

1,840

4,810

6,800

7,860

8,130

7,590

6,960

6,240

5,570

5,040

5,110

December 16

_

_

3.90

-

_

3.83

-

_

3.76

-

-

3.70

Dec en

_

_

3.10

-

_

3.07

_

_

3.00

_

_

3.19

_

_

550

_

_

522

_

_

495

_

_

472

ober 22

_

_

274

_

_

266

_

_

246

_

_

299

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

9.40

10.30

11.02

11.70

12.35

13.70

13.45

12.60

11.70

10.75

9.65

8.95

6,050

7,590

8,890

10,200

11,500

14,300

13 , 800

12 , 000

10,200

8,400

6,460

5,340

December 17

_

_

3.67

_

_

3.65

_

_

3.60

_

_

3.56

Deceit

_

_

3.19

_

_

2.96

_

_

2.87

_

_

2.90

_

_

461

_

_

454

_

_

436

_

_

422

ber 23

_

_

299

_

_

236

_

_

213

_

_

220

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

8.40

7.95

7.60

7.30

6.90

6.62

6.40

6.25

6.11

6.03

5.94

5.80

4,510

3,880

3,420

3,060

2,620

2,340

2,130

2,000

1,870

1,800

1,730

1,620

December 18

_

_

3.55

_

_

3.53

_

_

3.47

_

_

3.43

_

_

418

_

_

411

_

_

390

_

_

376

December 24

_

_

2.96

_

_

2.95

_

_

3.04

_

_

3.09

_

_

236

_

_

233

_

_

257

_

_

271

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

5.66

5.50

5.40

5.27

5.15

5.05

5.00

4.90

4.82

4.78

4.75

4.69

1,520

1,410

1,340

1,260

1,190

1,130

1,100

1,040

992

969

952

920

December 19

_

_

3.39

_

_

3.35

_

_

3.31

_

_

3.28

_

_

363

_

_

349

_

_

335

_

_

326

December 25

_

_

3.05

_

_

2.96

_

_

2.90

_

_

3.02

_

_

260

_

_

236

_

_

220

_

_

252

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 12:30 p.m., 13.8 ft., 14,600 sec.-ft.
258 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERS CALIFORNIA 

South Fork of Silver Creek near Ice House, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°49', long. 120°22', in SWj sec. 1, T. 11 N., R. 14 E. , li miles northeast of Ice House, Eldorado County, and 8 miles northeast of Riverton. Altitude, 

about 5,300 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 28.4 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Affected by ice for periods Nov. 29 to Dec. 8, Dec. 24 to Jan. 

3^Jan.6-9,15-31.Defined by current-meter measurements below 550 second-feet; extended to peak stage on t>asis of area-velocity study; verified by comparison of peak 

discharge and total run-off of flood with records for other streams in American River 

Basin. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 2,200 second-feet 12:30 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height. 

5.30 feet).

1924-November 1937: Discharge, 1,620 second-feet Mar. 26, 1923 (gage height, 5.35 

feet), from rating curve extended above 550 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge for 

periods of ico effect computed on basis of weather records and flow of nearby streams.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

1,3

1.8

1.8

1.3

1.8

1.3

1.8

1.3

1.3

1.8

Dec.

9

9

8

8

8

9

9

9

12

900

Jan.

20

20

20

20

20

19

19

19

19

19

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

3.2

2.6

3.5

8

7.5

3

24

15

12

20

Dec.

1,620

442

149

37

70

54

47

43

38

33

Jan.

If.

13

17

17

17

17

17

17

17

17

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-of f , in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

30

22

21

21

18

16

14

12

11

10

9 89

539

Dec.

31

30

26

27

25

24

23

22

21

20

20

124

7,600

Jan.

16

16

16

16

16

15

15

15

15

15

15

IV 3

1,070

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

oW

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

December 14

-

1.57

_

1.51

-

1.46

-

1.42

-

1.40

-

1.41

_

:oo

_

92

-

84

-

79

-

76

-

77

December 20

_

-

1.01

~

_

.96

-

-

.97

-

_

.98

_

_

35

-

_

31

-

-

32

_

_

33

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

_

0.66

-

.65

-

.65

-

,65

-

.70

-

.85

Deceir

_

-

1.40

-

-

1.35

-

-

1.30

-

_

1.29

Decen

_

-

0.97

-

_

.96

-

-

.95

-

_

.96

_

12

-

12

-

12

-

12

-

14

_

23

iber 15

_

_

76

-

-

70

-

_

63

_

_

62

iber 21

_

_

32

-

_

31

-

_

30

-

_

31

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

l.OOi 35

1.30

2,30

3.50

4.20

4.88

5.12

4.93

4.74

4.64

4.46

4'.33

59

212

625

990

1,440

1,630

1,470

1,340

1,270

1,150

1,100

December 16

_

_

1.25

_

_

1.21

-

_

1.19

_

_

1.18

Deceir

_

_

0.95

_

_

.90

_

_

.93

_

_

.96

_

_

58

_

_

53

_

_

51

_

_

50

ber 22

_

_

30

_

_

27

_

_

29

_

_

31

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

4.45

4.58

4.90

5.22

5.60

5.78

5.74

5.59

5.45

5.02

4.45

4.05

1,140

1,230

1,450

1,710

2,020

2,180

2,150

2,010

1,900

1,560

1,130

942

December 17

_

_

1.16

_

_

1.15

_

_

1.13

_

_

1.13

Deceir

_

_

0.37

_

_

.81

_

_

.85

_

_

.98

_

_

43

_

_

47

_

_

45

_

_

45

ber 23

_

_

25

_

_

21

_

_

24

_

_

33

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

3.73

3.53

3.25

3.05

2.90

2.78

2.63

2.51

2.43

2.36

2.29

2.21

775

634

564

435

430

339

340

303

230

262

244

224

December 18

_

_

1.12

_

_

1.11

_

_

1.09

_

_

1.08

Decem

_

_

44

_

_

43

_

_

41

_

_

40

ber 24

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

2.12

2.06

1.98

1.92

1.33

1.82

1.77

1.73

1.70

1.66

1.65

1.63

203

139

172

160

152

142

133

126

121

113

113

110

December 19

_

_

1.06

_

_

1.05

_

_

1.03

_

_

1.03

Decem

_

_

39

_

_

38

_

_

36

_

_

36

ber 25

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 12:30 p.m., 5.80 ft., 2,200 sec.-ft.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 359 

Clear Lake at Lakeport, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°03', long. 122°55', in SEi sec. 24, T. 14 N., R. 10 W., at municipal 

wharf on north side of Third Street in Lakeport, Lake County. Zero of gage is 

1,318.59 feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

Drainage area.- 420 square miles including water surface of lake (65 square miles).

Gage-height 'record.- Staff gage read once daily to hundredths.

Maxima.- December 1937; Gage height, 5.67 feet Dec. 16.

1913-November 1937: Gage height, 11.12 feet Jan. 28, 1914. 

January-September 1938: Gage height, 10.25 feet Feb. 15-16.

Remarks.- Flood run-off largely controlled in lake. Basic data furnished by Clear Lake 

Water Co.

Gage height, in feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

1.10

1.10

1.10

1.10

1.10

1.10

1.10

1.10

1.10

1.10

Dec.

2.35

2.35

2.35

2.35

2.35

2.35

2.35

2.35

2.35

2.80

Jan.

4.97

4.97

5.07

5.07

5.07

5.07

5.10

5.10

5.10

5.15

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

1.10

1.17

1.17

1.20

1.22

1.40

1.45

1.47

1.50

1.70

Dec.

3.40

5.35

5.52

5.65

5.65

5.67

5.65

5.62

5.60

5.50

Jan.

5.17

5.20

5.20

5.20

5.20

5.27

5.37

5.50

5.65

5.72

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

1.97

2.00

2.07

2.17

2.20

2.25

2.27

2.30

2.30

2.32

Dec.

5.45

5.45

5.45

5.40

5.35

5.25

5.17

5.10

5.00

5.00

4.97

Jan.

5.80

5.87

5.92

5.92

6.00

6.00

6.00

6.05

6.10

6.20

6.30
260 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Cache Creek at Yolo, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°43'30", long. 121°48'25n , in Rio Jesus Maria grant, 800 feet above 

highway bridge and half a mile south of Yolo, Yolo County. Altitude, about 60 feet 

above mean sea level.

Drainage area.-- 1,150 square miles (revised).

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

Stage-discharge re'latlon. - Defined by current-meter measurements below 15,200 secondfeet; extended to peak stage; verified by area-velocity study. Rating curve changed 

at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 19.37: Discharge, 19,300 second-feet 4 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

29.10 feet).

1905-November 1937: Discharge observed, 21,100 second-feet Feb. 2, 1915 (gage 

height, 29.8 feet, present datum, from nonrecording gage), from rating curve extended 

above 12,300 seoond-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off materially affected by storage in Clear Lake.

Mean daily discharge, in seoond-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

£

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

57

46

41

36

33

32

30

28

29

1,030

Jan.

376

336

316

300

279

251

223

195

171

144

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

10

374

121

65

Dec.

17,300

9,760

3,760

3,200

2,680

2,500

2,320

2,160

1,990

1,880

Jan.

138

135

132

130

130

138

465

1,140

890

1,060

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

2,000

525

237

262

304

200

150

115

91

73

151

8,980

Dec.

1,820

1,820

1,770

1,770

1,720

1,720

1,660

1,600

1,600

1,550

975

2,159

132,700

Jan.

740

586

510

444

396

360

332

328

328

308

996

396

24,350

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

0

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

_

_

1.84

-

-

1.83

_

-

1.82

-

-

1.82

_

_

28

-

-

28

-

-

27

-

-

27

December 14

7.85

8.80

9.35

8.48

8.12

7.98

7.88

7.78

7.68

7.61

7.55

7.46

Decen

_

-

5.79

_

5.78

-

_

5.77

_

_

5.77

3,070

3,640

3,970

3,450

3,230

3,150

3,090

3,030

2,970

2,930

2,890

2,840

aber 20

_

_

1,870

_

1,870

-

_

1,860

_

_

1,860

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

_

1.82

_

1.81

-

1.81

-

1.86

_

1.88

_

2.05

_

27

_

27

-

27

-

30

_

31

_

44

December 15

_

7.33

-

7.22

_

7.11

-

7»05

-

7.04

-

7.04

Decen

_

-

5.75

_

5.74

-

_

5,73

_

_

5.71

_

2/760

*.

2,690

-

2,630

_

2,590

_

2,580

_

2,580

aber 21

_

_

1,850

_

1,850

-

_

1,840

_

_

1,830

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

2.05

2.11

2.19

2.18

2.25

2.37

3.03

5.00

6.50

7.63

8.88

10.85

44

49

56

55

62

76

209

1,190

2,090

2,770

3,520

4,800

December 16

_

_

6.99

_

_

6.94

_

_

6.86

-

-

6.79

Deceit

_

_

5.69

_

5.68

-

_

5.66

_

_

5.64

_

_

2,550

_

_

2,520

_

_

2,480

_

_

2,430

ber 22

_

_

1,820

_

1,810

-

_

1,800

_

_

1,790

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

18.00

25.69

27.78

27.99

27.93

28.26

28.90

29.10

29.05

28.84

28.36

27.45

10,100

16,400

18,200

18,400

18,300

18,600

19,200

19,300

19,300

19,100

18,700

17,900

December 17

_

_

6.71

-

_

6e64

_

_

6.57

-

_

6.51

Decen

_

_

5.61

_

5.61

-

_

5.60

_

_

5.60

_

_

2,390

_

_

2,340

_

_

2,300

-

_

2,270

ber 23

_

_

1,780

_

1,780

-

_

1,770

_

_

1,770

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

26.00

24.25

22.50

20.00

17.50

15.40

14.11

13.27

12.51

12.00

11.44

11.00

Decem

_

-

6.40

-

_

6.30

-

_

6.22

_

-

6.14

Decen

_

_

5.59

_

5.56

-

_

5.55

_

_

5.53

16,700

15,200

13,700

11,700

9,700

8,110

7,140

6,550

6,020

5,660

5,300

5,010

ber 18

_

_

2,210

-

_

2,160

-

_

2,110

-

-

2,070

ber 24

_

_

1,760

_

1,750

-

_

1,740

_

_

1,730

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

10.55

10.05

9.66

9.36

9.09

8.84

8.60

8.40

8.21

8.06

7.87

7.71

4,720

4,390

4,160

3,980

3,810

3,660

3,520

3,400

3,290

3,200

3,080

2,990

December 19

_

-

6.06

-

_

5.99

-

_

5.92

-

-

5.84

Decem

_

_

5.53

_

5.52

-

_

5.51

_

_

5.50

_

-

2,020

-

_

1,980

-

-

1,950

-

-

1,900

ber 25

_

-

1,730

_

1,730

-

-

1,720

_

_

1,720
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 261 

North Fork of Cache Creek near Lower Lake, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°01', long. 12S°33', in NEi sec. 31, T. 14 N., R. 6 W., 500 feet above 

Sweet Hollow Creek, 3 miles above mouth, and 7 mile? northeast of Lower Lake, Lake 

County. Altitude, about 1,050 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 214 square miles.

Gage-height "record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period 2 a.m. Nov. 23 to 8 

a.m. Dec.16, when there was no record. Stage graph for period midnight Dec. 15 to 

8 a.m. Dec. 16 based on shape of stage graph for Putah Creek near Guenoc.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 7,300 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study. Rating curve changed 

at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 16,000 second-feet about 3 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

height, 12.98 feet).

1930-November 1937: Discharge, about 11,000 second-feet Dec. 26, 1931 (gage 

height, 9.65 feet).

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge for 

period of missing gage-height record estimated from record for Putah Creek near 

Guenoc.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.2

.3

Dec.

120

110

100

95

90

85

80

75

150

9,500

Jan.

120

170

174

145

132

120

114

106

96

92

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0.4

29

11

40

136

301

901

209

149

2,210

Dec.

8,000

3,000

2,000

1,100

750

534

439

378

323

280

Jan.

86

86

86

88

114

106

838

576

628

580

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

644

318

700

600

400

300

250

200

160

130

256

15,250

Dec.

256

240

222

205

198

179

163

150

141

134

126

943

57,960

Jan.

472

418

365

326

294

269

253

256

243

222

1,060

279

17,130

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

fn

O

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

e

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

Deceit

Decen

-

-

2.05

-

-

2.02

-

_

2.00

-

-

1.96

iber 14

iber 20

_

_

288

-

-

280

-

_

274

-

-

264

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

Dec en

Decen

_

_

1.94

-

-

1.93

_

_

1.91

-

_

1.89

ber 15

aber 21

_

_

258

-

-

256

-

_

251

-

-

245

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

December 16

_

-

_

2.82

-

2.78

-

2.74

-

2.68

-

2.65

Decen

-

_

1.88

-

-

1.87

_

_

1.86

_

-

1.85

_

574

-

550

-

534

_

518

-

494

-

483

iber 22

_

_

243

_

_

240

_

_

238

-

_

235

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

December 17

_

-

2.58

-

-

2.53

-

-

2.49

-

-

2.44

Deceir

_

_

1.83

_

-

1.80

_

_

1.78

-

-

1.76

-

-

457

-

-

439

-

-

425

-

-

408

ber 23

_

_

230

-

-

222

_

_

217

-

_

212

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

December 18

-

-

2.39

-

-

2.35

-

-

2.29

-

-

2 = 24

Decen

_

_

1.74

_

_

1.74

_

_

1.75

-

_

1.75

-

-

391

-

-

378

-

-

359

-

-

344

ber 24

_

_

208

-

-

208

_

_

210

-

_

210

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

December 19

-

-

2.20

-

-

2.17

-

-

2.13

-

-

2.08

Decem

_

_

1.73

_

-

1.71

_

_

1.69

-

-

1.66

-

-

332

-

-

323

-

-

311

-

-

296

ber 25

-

_

205

-

-

200

_

_

196

-

_

188

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, about 3 a.m. 12.98 ft., 16,000 sec.-ft.
262 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Putah Creek near Guenoc, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°46', long. 122°31', in sec. 22, T. 11 N., R. 6W., just above dam 

site and 3g- miles downstream from highway bridge at Guenoc, Lake County. Altitude, 

about 925 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 112 square miles.

Gage-height Record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10 

to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 11, Dec. 20 to Jan. 13, when there was no record. Stage graph 

for periods 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 11, Jan. 13 based on floodmarks, 

range of stage indicated on recorder graph, and shape of stage graph for Putah Creek 

near Winters.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 7,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study. Rating curve changed 

at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 24,100 second-feet about 3 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage 

height, 22.7 feet).

1904-6, 1930-November 1937: Discharge observed, 24,600 second-feet Mar. 10, 1904 

(gage height, 20.1 feet, former datum), from rating curve extended above 14,500 

second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion. Discharge for 

period of missing gage-height record, Dec. 21 to Jan. 12, determined from discharge 

graph based on range of stage from recorder graph and record for Putah Creek near 

Winters.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

2.7

2.7

2.8

2.8

2.7

2.7

2.7

2.8

2.9

3.4

Dec.

94

 86

79

74

68

65

61

58

210

13,600

Jan.

90

180

180

130

90

85

85

80

80

75

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

61

46

13

82

97

120

705

148

138

3,780

Dec.

11,600

2,420

1,160

770

558

432

344

287

240

207

Jan.

75

75

72

72

90

142

2,400

910

950

662

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

811

376

890

750

366

246

184

146

122

107

18,280

Dec.

180

160

150

140

130

120

110

100

90

90

80

66,970

Jan.

461

361

292

24S

212

190

176

198

194

171

2,160

22,180

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

fn

3

oW

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

_

2.20

-

-

2.20

-

_

2.19

_

_

2.19

_

_

58

_

-

58

_

_

57

_

_

57

December 14

_

5.39

-

5.27

-

5.15

-

5.03

-

4.89

-

4.80

_

866

_

818

-

770

-

726

-

676

-

645

December 20

_

-

3.21

-

-

3.17

_

_

3.14

-

_

3.10

_

_

214

_

_

207

_

-

201

_

_

194

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

2.19

2.18

2.18

2.19

2.20

2.23

2.26

2.30

2.36

2.85

4.35

8.40

Decen

_

4.70

_

4.60

-

4.53

-

4.45

-

4.37

_

4.30

Decen

57

56

56

57

58

61

65

69

76

148

491

2,700

iber 15

_

610

_

575

-

550

_

523

-

497

_

476

iber 21

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

11.05

13.30

14.90

15.49

15.18

15.14

18.07

21.90

20.75

19.70

19.25

19.45

5,560

8,420

10,800

11,700

11,200

11,100

15,900

22,600

20,600

18,700

17,900

18,300

December 16

_

4.25

_

4.18

_

4.12

_

4.06

-

4.01

_

3.95

Decen

_

461

-

440

-

424

_

408

-

395

-

379

ber 22

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

22.00

21.25

18.70

17.00

15.40

14.20

13.20

12.45

11.70

10.95

10.22

9.60

Decen

_

3.90

-

3.85

_

3.81

-

3.77

-

3.72

_

3.68

Decen

22,800

21,400

17,000

14,100

11,500

9,700

8,280

7,280

6,340

5,440

4,560

3,860

ber 17

_

366

-

354

-

344

_

332

-

323

-

314

ber 23

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

9.23

8.95

8.68

8.50

8.22

7.94

7.67

7.42

7.22

7.04

6.87

6.73

3,480

3,200

2,950

2,790

2,560

2,330

2,130

1,950

1,810

1,700

1,600

1,520

December 18

_

3.63

_

3.59

-

3.56

-

3.52

-

3.47

-

3.44

-

303

-

294

-

287

-

278

-

267

-

261

December 24

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

6.59

6.47

6.34

6.25

6.14

6.04

5.95

5.85

5.77

5.68

5.60

5.53

1,430

1,360

1,300

1,260

1,200

1,150

1,110

1,060

1,030

986

950

922

December 19

_

3.40

-

3.37

-

3.34

-

3.31

-

3.28

_

3.24

Decem

_

252

-

246

-

240

-

234

-

228

-

220

ber 25

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, about 3 a.m., 22.7 ft., 24,100 sec.-ft.
SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN 263 

Putah Creek near Winters, Calif.

Location.- tat. 38°31', long. 122°05', in NEj sec. 28, T. 8 N., R. 2 W., 6 miles west of 

Winters, Yolo County, and 8 miles below Capell Creek. Altitude, about 160 feet above 

mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 614 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 16,700 secondfeet; extended to peak stage of 1937 on basis of area-velocity study. Rating curve 

changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 39,200 second-feet 8:30 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

24.8 feet).

1930-November 1931?: Discharge, 41,100 second-feet Feb. 4, 1937 (gage height, 25.4 

feet).

1905-30: Discharge, about 60,000 second-feet Dec. 31, 1913 (gage height, about 

39.0 feet, from floodmarks, former site and datum,6 miles downstream), from rating 

curve extended above 20,000 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

7

7

7

7

7.5

7.5

7

7

7.5

7

Dec.

146

132

118

108

100

94

89

84

88

20,000

Jan.

174

196

276

218

188

174

164

157

147

137

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Hov.

11

12

10

10

10

15

223

460

188

3,160

Dec.

29,300

7,120

2,730

1,560

1,100

840

664

560

470

400

Jan.

132

129

125

124

137

163

3,560

1,970

2,260

1,890

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

f>9

30

31

Nov.

3,340

800

593

1,130

760

445

322

244

199

168

24,140

Dec.

348

312

296

276

271

252

228

212

198

188

180

2,209

135,800

Jan.

1,100

820

664

529

456

400

361

428

544

428

4,550

729

44,830

Cage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

o

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

_

_

4.01

_

_

4.00

_

_

3.99

_

_

3,97

Decen

_

8.99

_

8.78

_

8.61

-

8.44

_

8.30

_

8.16

Decen

-

_

5.95

_

5.88

-

..

5.82

_

_

5.78

_

_

85

_

_

84

_

_

83

_

_

81

iber 14

_

1,840

-

1,690

_

1,570

_

1,450

_

1,370

-

1,290

iber 20

_

_

414

_

395

-

_

379

_

_

369

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

_

3.97

_

3.97

_

4.00

_

4.06

_

4.10

_

4.21

_

81

-

81

_

84

_

90

_

94

_

106

December 15

_

8.03

-

7.90

_

7.79

_

7.67

_

7.58

_

7.48

Decen

_

_

5.73

_

5.69

-

_

5.65

_

_

5.62

_

1,220

-

1,150

_

1,100

_

1,040

_

1,000

-

956

iber 21

_

_

356

_

346

-

_

336

-

_

329

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

4.30

4.43

7.65

17.00

19.95

20.91

20.82

20.57

21.00

23.25

23.95

23.50

Decen

_

7.38

_

7.29

_

7.20

-

7.11

_

7.05

-

6.96

116

132

1,100

16,200

24,400

27,300

27,100

26,300

27,600

34,400

36,400

35 , 100

ber 16

_

912

-

876

_

840

-

804

_

780

~

744

December 22

_

_

5.60

_

5.57

_

5.55

-

_

5.53

_

_

324

_

317

"

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

22.45

21.95

23.70

24.75

24.40

23.53

22.25

20.80

19.64

18.40

17.12

15.95

Decen

_

6.90

-

6.83

_

6.77

-

6.70

-

6.64

-

6.59

32 , 000

30,400

35,700

39,000

37,900

35,200

31,400

27,000

23,500

19,900

16,500

13,500

ber 17

_

720

-

693

-

671

-

646

-

624

-

607

December 23

_

_

5.51

_

5.49

~

312

-

_

307

5.46

-

_

5.44

-

_

302

_

298

-

291

-

_

287

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

15.05

14.41

13.88

13.35

'13.00

12.73

12.47

12.17

11.90

11.65

11.36

11.10

11,300

9,900

8,760

7,700

7,000

6,510

6,050

5,570

5,140

4,740

4,290

3,950

December 18

_

6.53

-

6.47

-

6.42

-

6.36

-

6.31

-

6.26

Dec en

-

-

5.40

_

5.39

-

5.38

-

_

5.37

_

586

-

566

-

550

-

532

-

517

-

502

ber 24

-

-

278

_

276

-

274

-

-

271

Feet [Sec. ft.

December 13

10.84

10.64

10.44

10.24

10.08

9.92

9.78

9.63

9.50

9.38

9.26

9.16

3,640

3,410

3,190

2,970

2,810

2,650

2,510

2,380

2,260

2,150

2,060

1,980

December 19

-

6.21

-

6.18

-

6.13

-

6.09

-

6.04

-

6.00

Decem

-

-

5.36

_

5.37

-

5.38

-

-

5.35

-

487

-

478

-

464

-

453

-

439

-

428

ber 25

-

-

269

_

271

-

274

-

-

267

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 8:30 a.m., 24.8 ft., 39,200 sec.-ft.
264 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

NAPA RIVER BASIN

Conn Creek near St. Helena, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°S9', long. 12S°S4', in NWi sec. 3, T. 7 N., R. 5 W., a quarter of a 

mile upstream from highway bridge, 4 miles southeast of St. Helena, Napa County, and 

6 miles above mouth. Altitude, about 180 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 52.0 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 1,350 secondfeet; extended to peak stage. Rating curve changed on Dec. 10, 1937.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, about 2,660 second-feet 4:30 a.m. Dec. 11 (gape 

height, 7.90 feet).

1930-November 1937: Discharge, about 4,600 second-feet Feb. 4, 1937 (gage height, 

10.3 feet), from rating curve extended above S,200 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Dec.

1.8

1.8

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.8

1.5

3.8

975

Jan.

8

14

12

10

9.5

9

8.5

8.5

7.5

7

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

53

Dec.

1,270

276

100

61

42

31

26

21

18

14

Jan.

6.5

6.5

6.5

7

10

8

84

50

168

88

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

27

9

8.5

12

8.5

6

3.9

3.3

2.7

2.7

271

Dec.

12

12

12

12

12

10

9.5

8.5

8

7.5

7.5

5,870

Jan.

57

4S

34

28

25

22

21

37

34

25

678

3,040

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

§

£

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

3.05

3.05

3.05

3.05

3.06

3.06

3.06

3.07

3.07

3.07

3.07

3.07

Decen

_

3.52

_

3.50

_

3.48

_

3.46

-

3.42

_

3.39

Decen

_

3.05

_

3.04

_

3.03

-

3.03

_

3.01

_

3.00

1.3

1.3

1.3

1.3

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.8

1.8

1.8

1.8

1.8

ber 14

_

67

-

64

_

61

_

58

_

53

-

49

iber 20

_

16

-

15

_

14

_

14

_

13

_

12

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

3.07

3.07

3.07

3.07

3.07

3.08

3.09

3.10

3.11

3.13

3.17

3.24

1.8

1.8

1.8

1.6

1.8

2.2

2.7

3.3

3.9

5.5

8.5

16

December 15

_

3.36

_

3.34

_

3.35

-

3.32

_

3.29

-

3.27

Decen

_

3.00

_

3.00

_

3.01

_

3.01

_

2.99

_

2.99

_

45

_

42

_

44

_

40

_

36

_

34

iber 21

_

12

_

12

_

13

-

13

_

12

_

12

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

4.89

6.01

7.45

6.40

5.81

6.17

5.63

5.32

5.11

5.22

5.30

5.49

520

1,170

2,260

1,440

1,040

1,280

928

746

630

691

735

844

December 16

_

3.26

_

3.24

_

3.25

-

3.24

_

3.22

-

3.21

Decen

_

-

-

-

-

3.98

-

-

_

_

-

2.97

_

33

_

31

_

32

-

31

_

29

-

28

ber 22

_

-

-

-

-

12

-

-

_

_

_

11

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

6.39

7.49

7.38

7.58

6.66

6.20

5.66

5.35

5.10

4.99

4.77

4.60

1,430

2,290

2,SOO

2,370

1,630

1,300

946

762

625

570

462

385

December 17

_

3.19

-

3.19

_

3.20

-

3.19

_

3.16

-

3.16

_

26

-

26

-

27

-

26

-

24

-

24

December 23

_

-

-

-

_

2.98

-

-

_

-

-

2.97

_

-

-

_

-

12

-

-

-

-

-

11

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

4.56

4.49

4.38

4.61

4.61

4.41

4.27

4.16

4.08

4.01

3.95

3.91

367

336

292

390

390

304

252

214

188

167

151

141

December 18

_

3.15

-

3.13

-

3.13

-

3.13

-

3.10

-

3.09

_

23

-

21

-

21

-

21

-

19

-

18

December 24

_

S.96 -'

2.96

-

2.96

-

3.00

_

3.00

-

3.01

_

10

-

10

-

10

-

12

-

12

-

13

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

3.86

3.82

3.78

3.75

3.74

3.72

3.70

3.67

3.63

3.61

3.58

3.56

Dec em

_

3.08

-

3.08

-

3.09

-

3.08

-

3.07

-

3.06

Decem

-

3.02

-

3.01

-

3.00

-

2.97

-

2.97

129

120

111

106

104

100

96

91

85

82

77

74

ber 19

_

18

-

18

_

18

-

18

-

17

-

16

ber 25

_

14

-

13

-

12

-

11

-

11

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 4s30 a.m., 7.90 ft., 2,660 sec.-ft.
EEL RIVER BASIN 265

Lake Pillsbury at Hullville, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°24 ! , long. 122°57 ', on line between sec. 14 and 23, T. 18 N., R. 

10 HI. , at Scott Dam on Eel River at Hullville, Lake County, 0.? mile below Rice 

Fork. Zero of gage is at mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 288 square miles.

Sage-he1ght ree ord.- Gage read to tenths daily at 4 p.m. except on days for which no 

record is shown.

Remarks.- Flood run-off partly controlled in reservoir (capacity, 72,040 acre-feet at 

elevation of crest of spillway, 1,900 feet; capacity increased by slide and radial 

gates to 93,720 acre-feet at elevation 1,910 feet). Reservoir was at spillway 

level at beginning of flood. Maximum elevation, 1,911.8 feet 12:30 a.m. Dec. 11 

(contents, 97,980 acre-feet). See record for Eel River at Hullville. Basic data 

furnished by Pacific Gas 4 Electric Co.

Elevation and contents, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

3

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 

(feet)

1,385.4

-

1,384.8

1,334.7

-

_

-

-

1,884.6

1,834.4

1,886.3

1,887.1

1,837.2

1,333.0

-

1,838,5

_

_

1,399.0

1,905.6

1,903.7

_

1,902.6

_

-

_

_

_

_

.

Contents 

(acre-feet )

46,140

_

45,220

45,070

-

_

_

_

44,920

44,610

47,550

48,320

48,930

50,270

-

51,090

_

_

70,060

83,770

79,630

-

77,360

-

-

_

_

_

_

_

December

Elevation 

(feet)

1,900.5

-

-

_

-

_

_

_

1,900.2

1,908.3

1,908.9

1,904.5

1,902.9

1,902.1

1,901.7

1,901.4

1,901.2

1,901.0

1,900.9

1,900.7

1,900.6

1,900.6

1,900.7

1,900.7

1,900.6

1,900.5

1,900.4

1,900.4

1,900.4

1,900.4

1,900.3

Contents 

(acre-feet)

73,050

-

-

-

-

_

_

-

72,450

90,950

91,180

81,390

77,990

76,320

75,500

74,880

74,470

74,060

73,860

73,460

73,260

73,260

73,460

73,460

73,260

73,050

72,850

72,850

72,850

72,850

72,650

January

Elevation 

(feet)

1,900.3

1,900.7 '

1,900.7

1,900.7

1,900.6

1,900.5

1,900.4

1,900.3

1,900.3

1,900.3

1,900.3

1,900.2

1,900.2

1,900.2

1,900.4

1,900.7

1,902.7

1,902.1

1,901.8

1,901.5

1,901.3

1,901.3

1,901.2

1,901.1

1,900.9

1,900.8

1,900.8

1,900.8

1,900.8

1,900.8

1,901.7

Contents 

(acre-feet)

72,650

73,460

73,460

73,460

73,260

73,050

72,850

72,650

72,650

72,650

72,650

72,450

72,450

72,450

72,850

73,460

77,570

76,320

75,700

75,090

74,680

74,680

74,470

74,270

73,860

73,660

73,660

73,660

73,660

73,660

75,500
266 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Eel River at Hullville, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°24', long. 122°58', in NEi sec. 22, T. 18 N., R. 10 W., half a mile 

below Scott Dam, half a mile above Soda Creek, and half a mile west of Hullville, 

Lake County. Altitude, about 1,800 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 289 square miles.

Sage-height record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for periods 1:20 p.m. Dec. 1 to 

4:30 p.m. Dec. 14, 9 a.m. Dec. 17 to 10:15 a.m. Dec. 20, 4:15 p.m. Dec. 20 to 2s30 

p.m. Dec. 29, and 3 p.m. Dec. 30 to 1:00 p.m. Jan. 1, when there was no record. 

Stage graph for Dec. 1, 14, 17, 20, 29, 30 based on partial recorder graph and gage 

readings. Peak stage obtained from floodmarks on left bank.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 2,900 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of computed flows over Scott Dam. Rating 

curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, about 38,000 second-feet about 12:30 a.m. Dec. 11 

(gage height, 22.9 feet, from floodmarks).

1922-November 1937: Discharge, about 32,600 second-feet Mar. 26, 1928 (gage 

height, 21.0 feet, from floodmarks, present datum), from rating curve extended above 

3,700 second-feet on basis of computed flow over Scott Dam.

Remarks. - Flood run-off only slightly affected by storage in Lake Pillsbury at Scott; 

DamT See record for Lake Pillsbury. Discharge for periods Dec. 2-13, 18-19, 21-28, 

and 31 determined from discharge graph based on partial stage graph, gage readings, 

peak stage, and record for Eel River at Van Arsdale Dam, near Potter Valley. Monthly summaries adjusted for storage. Most of basic data furnished by Pacific Gas * 

Electric Co.

3an daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

174

178

178

161

66

31

29

29

55

84

Dec.

393

350

320

300

280

260

240

220

280

12,800

Jan.

459

679

820

711

572

516

480

438

401

377

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

46

31

S9

38

34

40

39

35

91

5,390

Dec.

29,000

12,000

5,800

3,450

2,280

1,700

1,380

1,180

1,020

842

Jan.

354

341

325

325

462

674

3,660

3,330

2,580

2,140

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

4,500

2,480

2,390

2,230

1,610

1,210

920

708

572

466

I

p-Z Q

73,690

Dec.

630

560

590

640

640

570

553

500

462

452

456

158,800

Jan.

1,730

1,620

1,530

1,380

1,230

1,110

1,040

1,040

1,060

1,010

1,950

1,108

1 1 R4-

70,970
EEL RIVER BASIH 267 

Eel River at Van Arsdale Dam, near Potter Valley, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°23', long. 123°07', in KEi sec. 30, T. 18 M., R. 11 W., 500 feet be-

 low Van Arsdale Dam and 5 miles north of Potter Valley, Mendocino County. Altitude, 

about 1,400 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 347 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 16,100 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of computed flow over Van Arsdale Dam. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 39,300 second-feet 2 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

 3079 feet). ,

1910-Movember 1937: Discharge, about 40,000 second-feet Mar. 26, 1928 (gage 

height, 27.0 feet, from floodmarks), from rating curve extended above 1,100 secondfeet on basis of computed flow over Van Arsdale Dam.

Remarks.- Flood run-off affected by storage in Lake Pillsbury and Van Arsdale Reser-

 voTr, and by diversion to Potter Valley power house. Monthly summaries adjusted 

for diversion only. Part of basic data furnished by Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

1.0

1.1

1.6

2.6

2.6

80

34

30

17

2.4

Dec.

270

379

200

166

153

97

81

66

109

13,300

Jan.

264

494

692

580

494

427

388

355

262

295

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

3.4

2.3

2.2

2.6

4,6

378

710

204

547

7,100

Dec.

31,100

13,300

6,610

4,020

2,730

2,060

1,560

1,220

997

816

Jan.

276

256

246

248

379

639

3,880

3,500

2,730

2,380

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Mov.

5,880

2,930

2,930

2,670

1,930

1,320

952

728

520

273

QT ^

65,840

Dec.

692

616

580

461

580

511

494

324

325

370

373

2 728

177,600

Jan.

1,830

1,620

1,500

1,220

1,020

882

752

752

794

712

1,920

72,960

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

FH

2

O 

W

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

-

4.30

_

_

4.29

_

-

4.28

-

-

4.24

Decen

_

12.24

-

11.94

_

11.68

-

11.35

-

11.14

-

10.94

Decen

-

-

7.53

-

-

7.44

-

-

7.37

-

-

7.30

_

-

67

_

_

66

_

-

64

-

-

59

iber 14

_

4,630

-

4,280

_

4,000

_

3,650

_

3,440

-

3,240

iber 20

-

-

851

-

_

812

_

-

781

-

-

752

Feet |sec.ft.

December 9

4.24

4.23

4.22

4.21

4.24

4.23

4.24

4.36

4.46

4.71

5.19

6.39

Decen

_

10.72

-

10.57

_

10.40

_

10.24

-

10.09

_

9.94

Decen

_

-

7.23

-

_

7.16

_

-

7.10

-

_

7.05

59

57

56

54

59

57

59

77

94

144

259

652

iber 15

_

3,020

-

2,880

-

2,730

-

2,590

-

2,450

-

2,330

iber 21

_

-

724

-

-

696

_

-

672

-

-

653

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

7.83

9.15

10.61

12.24

13.65

16.78

19.10

20.75

22.90

25.90

28.95

30.12

1,200

1,960

3,120

4,720

6,340

10,800

14,600

17,600

21,700

27,900

34,700

37,400

December 16

_

9.82

-

9.67

_

9.55

_

9.43

-

9.30

-

9.20

Decen

_

-

6.99

-

_

6.98

_

-

6.96

-

-

6.91

_

2,240

-

2,120

_

2,020

_

1,920

-

1,830

_

1,760

ber 22

_

-

630

-

-

627

_

-

620

_

-

602

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

30.90

30.58

30.30

29.46

28.63

27.80

26.82

25,85

24.83

23.70

22.79

21.85

Decen

_

-

9.04

_

_

8.89

_

_

8.74

_

-

8.59

Decen

_

-

6.86

-

-

6.84

-

-

6.80

-

-

6.79

39,300

38,500

37,800

35,900

33,900

32,100

29,900

27,800

25,600

23,300

21,500

19,600

ber 17

_

-

1,650

_

_

1,550

_

-

1,460

_

-

1,380

ber 23

_

_

584

-

-

576

_

-

562

_

_

559

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

21.03

20.39

19.82

19.22

18.63

18.09

17.49

16.95

16.48

16.08

15.77

15.45

18,100

16,900

15,900

14,800

13,800

12,900

11,900

11,100

10,300

9,, 690

9,240

8,790

December 18

_

-

8.44

_

_

8.30

_

_

8.20

-

-

8.08

Decen

6.79

6.80

6.80

6.80

6.80

6.81

6.81

6.25

5.66

5.67

5.70

6.89

_

-

1,300

_

_

1,220

_

_

1,170

_

_

1,110

ber 24

559

562

562

562

562

566

566

385

220

222

230

594

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

15.11

14.79

14.50

14.18

13.91

13.70

13.49

13.30

13.10

12.93

12.74

12.58

8,310

7,870

7,460

7,010

6,630

6,380

6,130

5,900

5,600

5,460

5,230

5,040

December 19

_

-

7.96

-

_

7.85

_

-

7.76

-

-

7.65

Decem

-

6.97

_

6.90

_

6.84

-

6.76

-

6.70

-

6.65

_

-

1,050

_

_

997

_

-

956

-

-

905

ber 25

-

623

-

598

_

576

_

548

-

528

_

511
268 ESL RIVER BASIN

Eel River at Scotia, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 40°29', long. 124°06<, in sec. 7, T. 1 N., R. 1 E. , at Wildwood Bridge, 

half a mile north of Scotia, Humboldt County. Altitude, about 50 feet above mean 

sea level.

Drainage area.- 3,070 square miles.

Gage-height i-ecord.- Two gage readings daily; occasional extra readings during high 

stages. Graph constructed from gage readings for periods Nov. 16-27, Dec. 10-16.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 49,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 257,000 second-feet 10:45 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

55.1 feet, from gage reading).

1911-15; 1916-November 1937: Discharge observed, about 290,000 second-feet Feb. 2, 

1915 (gage height, 55.5 feet, from nonrecording gage), from rating curve extended 

above 114,000 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not materially affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

194

203

240

234

234

212

223

212

316

574

Dec.

8,340

7,220

6,420

5,640

5,140

4,900

4,660

4,420

3,980

50,800

Jan.

6,940

8,060

11,200

9,460

7,500

6,680

6,420

5,640

5,140

4,660

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

4,900

11,500

6,420

9,180

14,700

12,500

56,200

36,500

43,400

163,000

Dec.

240,000

152,000

72,100

41,500

27,900

20,900

16,000

13,100

10,900

9,180

Jan.

4,200

3,980

3,760

3,760

8,060

14,700

35,600

41,000

34,700

36,000

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

91,100

41,000

42,900

49,800

35,600

25,100

17,700

13,700

11,200

9,460

1,385

^Dec.

8,060

7,220

6,680

6,420

6,680

6,940

6,680

6,680

6,680

6,420

7,220

1,549

Jan.

26,300

22,800

23,500

15 , 7QO

14,100

12,800

10,900

10,300

14,700

12,500

17,000

, 868.9

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

sow

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

December 14

25.0

24.65

24.2

23.85

23.4

22.85

22.5

22.05

21.7

21.5

21.2

21.0

51,300

49,600

47,300

45,600

43,400

40,800

39,200

37,100

35 , 600

34,700

33 , 400

32,500

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

December 15

_

20.6

-

20.45

-

19.9

-

19.5

-

19.15

-

18.8

_

30,800

_

30,100

-

27,900

_

26,300

-

24,900

-

23,500

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

12.65

12.75

13.0

13.3

14.5

17.0

21.3

26.7

33.25

37.9

42.5

46.1

4,310

4,540

5,140

5,900

9,180

17,000

33,800

60,300

99,000

129,000

160,000

186,000

December 16

_

18.55

_

18.3

-

18.0

_

17.7

_

17.6

_

17.5

_

22,600

-

21,600

-

20,500

_

19,400

-

19,100

-

18,700

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

49.0

51.4

53.5

54.8

55.1

55.1

55.1

54.8

54.3

53.1

51.7

50.2

208,000

227,000

244,000

255,000

257,000

257,000

257,000

255,000

251,000

241,000

230,000

218,000

December 17

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

48.7

47.1

45.4

44.1

42.7

41.2

39.6

38.3

37.0

35.9

34.8

33.7

206,000

194,000

181,000

172 , 000

162,000

151,000

140,000

132,000

123,000

116,000

109,000

102,000

December 18

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

32.7

31.7

30.65

29.65

29.0

28.3

27.6

27.2

26.7

26.25

25.8

25.45

Dec en95,500

89,400

83,100

77,100

73,300

69,200

65,300

63 , 000

60,300

57 , 800

55,500

53,600

ber 19

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 10:45 a.m., 55.10 ft., 257,000 sec.-ft.
KLAMATS RIVER BASIN 269

KLamath River at Sornesbar, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 41°23', long. 123°29' s in HEi sec. 4, T. 11 N., R. 6 E., 300 feet below 

mouth of Salmon River and 1 mile west of Somesbar post office, Sisklyou County. Altitude, about 450 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 8,480 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 49,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study. Rating curve changed 

at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 73,700 second-feet 3:30 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

32 .3 feet).

1927-November 1937: Discharge, 60,300 second-feet Mar. 26, 1928 (gage height, 

27.9 feet), from rating curve extended above 49,000 second-feet on basis of areavelocity study. Maximum stage known, about 50.8 feet Feb. 21, 1927, from floodmarks 

(discharge not determined).

Remarks.- Flood run-off somewhat affected by artificial storage and diversions.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

1,900

2,740

2,780

2,780

2,780

2,780

2,560

1,780

2,360

6,090

Dec.

8,160

7,600

7,190

6,670

5,300

5,080

5,780

5,540

5,540

27,000

Jan.

10,300

9,130

8,850

9,130

8,850

8,290

7,730

7,470

6,820

6,070

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

10,000

6,150

6,020

11,300

7,880

8,720

12 , 800

11,800

35,500

56,800

Dec.

68,600

57,000

33,700

25,600

21,000

16,300

13,100

11,300

9,410

8,570

Jan.

6,560

6,820

6,560

10,000

15 , 800

14,000

14,000

18,300

16,600

14,900

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

28,900

18,500

25,300

21,300

16,700

14,600

12,600

10,800

9,520

8,720

718,900

Dec.

8,570

8.290

8,010

8,010

7,470

6,430

6,820

8,010

7,730

13,700

12,500

880,600

Jan.

14,300

20,700

21,000

16,600

15,500

14,900

13,400

13,400

13,400

11,900

11,900

12,040

740,200

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

s

£

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

7.75

7.61

7.50

7.41

7.33

7.29

7.83

7.87

7.92

7.95

7.86

7.76

5,660

5,320

5,080

4,880

4,710

4,620

5,850

5,950

6,070

6,150

5,920

5,680

December 14

15.35

15.92

16.15

16.00

15.75

15.73

15.62

15.45

15.20

14.95

14.50

14.20

Decen

9.64

9.56

9.51

9.48

9.45

9.42

9.39

9.37

9.34

9.45

9.62

9.55

25,200

26,800

27,400

27,000

26,300

26,200

25,900

25,500

24,800

24,100

22 , 800

22,000

iber 20

8,960

8,740

8,600

8,510

8,430

8,320

8,260

8,210

8,120

8,430

8,900

8,710

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

7.68

7.58

7.47

7.37

7.30

7.50

7.86

7.85

7.96

8.00

7.94

7.90

Decen

14.00

13.75

14.10

14.25

14.05

14.10

13.98

13.85

13.65

13.40

13.15

12.75'

Dec en

9.43

9.34

9.27

9.23

9.68

9.66

9.68

9.72

9.72

9.65

9.53

9.38

5,490

5,260

5,010

4,790

4,640

5,080

5,920

5,900

6,180

6,280

6,120

6,020

iber 15

21,500

20,800

21,800

22,200

21,600

21,800

21,400

21,100

20,600

19,900

19,200

18,100

iber 21

8,370

8,120

7,930

7,810

9,070

9,020

9,070

9,190

9,190

8,990

8,650

8,230

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

7.96

8.15

8.55

9.65

11.40

14.40

16.60

18.90

21.90

25.00

27.40

28.83

6,180

6,670

7,740

10,700

15,100

22,900

28,800

35,100

43,500

52,200

59,000

63,300

December 16

12.50

12.35

12.30

12.75

12.50

12.35

11.87

11.82

11.66

11.55

11.35

11.15

Decen

9.23

9.14

9.07

9.03

9.48

9.53

9.58

9.70

9.68

9.60

9.50

9.40

17,400

17 , 000

16,900

18,100

17,400

17 , 000

15 , 700

15,500

15,100

14,700

14,200

13,600

iber 22

7,810

7,570

7,390

7,290

8,510

8,650

8,790

9,130

9,070

8,850

8,570

8,290

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

29.10

89.40

29.75

30.00

30.30

31.30

32.10

32.28

31.65

30.95

30.48

30.30

Decen

11.03

10.90

11.35

11.35

11.25

11.18

11.05

11.00

10.90

10.75

10.56

10.45

Decen

9.26

9.10

9.00

8.93

9.48

9.46

9.50

9.53

9.50

9.40

9.33

9.23

64,100

65,000

66,000

66,800

67,700

70,700

73,100

73,600

71,800

69,600

68,200

67,700

ber 17

13,200

12,800

14,200

14,200

13,800

13,600

13,200

13,100

12 , 800

12,400

11,800

11,400

ber 23

7,900

7,470

7,210

7,030

8,510

8,460

8,570

8,650

8,570

8,290

8,090

7,810

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 12

30.00

29.70

29.40

28.70

2Y 88

27.10

26.10

25.25

24.25

23.20

22.30

21.60

Deceit

10.40

10.25

10.20

10.40

10.50

10.50

10.59

10.58

10.40

10.38

10.25

10.15

66,800

65,900

65,000

62 , 900

60,400

58,100

55,300

52,900

50,100

47,200

44,600

42,700

ber 18

11,300

10,800

10,600

11,300

11,600

11,600

11,900

11,800

11,300

11,200

10,800

10,500

December 24

9.10

8.98

8.93

8.92

9.45

9.50

9.56

9.63

9.61

9.55

9.46

9.33

7,470

7,160

7,030

7,000

8,430

8,570

8,740

8,930

8,880

8,710

8,460

8,090

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

20.90

20.30

19.65

19.15

18.60

18.05

17.60

17.30

16.95

16.55

16.10

15.75

40,700

39,000

37,200

35 , 800

34,300

32,700

31,500

30,600

29,700

28,500

27,300

26,300

December 19

9.98

9.86

9.80

9.76

9.74

9.71

9.68

9.63

9.86

9.98

9.83

9.71

Decen

9.18

9.03

8.88

8.82

9.28

9.27

9.20

9.24

9.30

9.25

9.15

9.05

9,950

9,590

9,410

9,300

9,240

9,160

9,070

8,930

9,590

9,950

9,500

9,160

ber 25

7,680

7,290

6,900

6,740

7,950

7,930

7,730

7,840

8,010

7,870

7,600

7,340

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 3:30 p.m., 32.3 ft., 73,700 sec.-ft.
270 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Shasta River near Yreka, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 41°49', long. 122°35', in HEi sec. 24, T. 46 N., R. 7 W., 0.6 mile above

 mouth and 6 miles north of Yreka, Siskiyou County. Altitude, about 2,000 feet above 

mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 804 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 570 second-feet} 

extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study; verified by slope-area computation of flood flow. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 1,860 second-feet 4 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 6.17 

feet).

1933-November 1937: Discharge, 1,000 second-feet Jan. 15, 1936 (gage height, 4.80 

feet), from rating curve extended above 240 second-feet on basis of slope-area computation of flood flow.

January-September 1938: Discharge, 1,940 second-feet 5:30 p.m. Mar. 23 (gage 

height, 6.24 feet).

Remarks.- Flood run-off somewhat affected by artificial storage in Shasta River Reservoir 

(capacity, 72,000 acre-feet). Many irrigation diversions above station.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

135

126

126

126

126

126

126

124

124

126

Dec.

169

166

163

160

160

160

160

160

160

407

Jan.

209

311

311

295

279

263

250

234

224

221

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

150

172

172

169

160

180

210

186

177

219

Dec.

1,400

1,460

800

488

372

348

295

266

244

228

Jan.

221

218

218

240

334

321

450

411

358

324

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

231

201

338

298

234

204

189

177

174

172

~t rj £ 

10,470

Dec.

218

215

212

215

218

231

276

247

221

215

215

20,330

Jan.

304

317

355

311

298

288

298

311

301

282

285

17,930

Sage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

3

oW

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

_

_

_

_

2.83

_

_

_

_

_

2.83

_

_

_

_

160

_

_

_

_

_

160

December 14

_

4.10

_

3.99

..

3.89

-

3.79

_

3.72

_

3.68

_

570

_

526

_

488

-

450

-

425

_

411

December 20

_

_

_

_

_

3.13

_

_

-

_

3.11

_

_

_

_

_

228

-

_

-

I

221

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

_

_

_

_

_

2.83

_

_

_

_

_

2.84

_

_

_

_

_

160

_

_

_

_

_

163

December 15

_

3.64

-

3.59

_

3.56

_

3.54

_

3.52

_

3.48

Decea

_

_

_

_

-

3.10

-

_

-

_

3.09

_

396

-

379

_

368

_

362

-

355

_

341

iber 21

_

_

_

_

_

218

_

-

-

_

215

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

2.85

2.88

2.90

2.90

2.95

3.07

3.21

3.55

4.20

4.79

4.97

4.85

166

174

180

180

195

231

275

389

638

917

1,010

949

December 16

3.46

3.45

3.43

3.42

3.41

3.40

3.52

3.79

3.61

3.49

3.42

3.40

Deceit

_

_

_

_

_

3.09

_

_

~

_

3.09

334

331

324

321

317

314

355

450

386

345

321

314

ber 22

_

_

-

-

-

215

-

-

-

_

215

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

4,89

4.81

5.00

5.32

5.40

5.56

6.03

6.17

6.11

5.94

5.75

5.87

Decem

_

3.36

-

3.35

_

3.34

-

3.34

-

3.35

_

3.29

Deceir

-

-

-

-

-

3.07

-

-

-

_

3.09

971

927

1,030

1,230

1,290'

1,400

1,760

1,860

1,830

1,690

1,540

1,640

ber 17 ^

_

301

-

298

295

-

295

-

298

_

279

ber 23

-

-

-

-

-

209

-

-

-

_

215

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 12

6.15

6.05

5.88

5.74

5.65

5.64

5.60

5.52

5.42

5.31

5.20

5.06

1,860

1,780

1,640

1,530

1,460

1,460

1,430

1,370

1,300

1,230

1,150

1,070

December 18

_

-

-

-

3.25

-

-

-

-

-

3.22

Jecea

-

-

3.08

-

-

5.09

-

-

3.10

_

3.08

-

-

-

-

266

-

-

-

-

-

256

ber 24

-

-

212

-

-

215

-

-

218

-

212

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 13

_

4.85

_

4.69

_

4.58

-

4.44

_

4.33

_

4.21

-

940

-

850

-

790

-

720

-

668

-

614

December 19

-

-

-

-

3.17

-

-

-

_

3.15

Decem

-

-

-

-

_

3.10

-

-

-

_

3.12

-

-

-

-

240

-

-

-

-

-

234

ber 25

-

-

-

-

-

218

-

-

-

_

224
KLAMATH RIVER BASIN 271

Salmon River at Somesbar, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 41°23', long. 123°28', In NWi sec. 2, T. 11 N. , R. 6 E., half a mile east

of Somesbar post office, Siskiyou County, and 1-g- miles above mouth. Altitude, about

500 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 737 square miles. 

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 7,000 second-feet;

extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 27,000 second-feet 1:30 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

 15780 feet).

1927-November 1937: Discharge, 21,600 second-feet Jan. 14, 1936 (gage height, 13.0

feet), from rating curve extended above 9,200 second-feet. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversions.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

255

235

225

215

210

215

215

215

215

441

Dec.

1,770

1,590

1,460

1,320

1,240

1,180

1,140

1,070

1,040

9,890

Jan.

2,490

2,420

2,240

2,100

1,990

1,880

1,780

1,680

1,600

1,530

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

1,760

1,070

965

2,200

1,620

2,170

3,700

2,810

9,880

17,000

Dec.

85,200

13,900

8,250

6,040

4,840

4,040

3,480

2,950

2,620

2,320

Jan.

1,460

1,420

1,390

2,430

3,590

3,050

3,590

4,150

3,920

3,480

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

7,750

5,440

8,250

5,920

4,500

4,040

3,160

2,630

2,250

1,970

181,500

Dec.

2,100

1,970

1,800

1,820

1,680

1,590

1,560

1,490

1,450

3,480

2,950

3,782

232,500

Jan.

3,480

6,520

6,520

5,080

4,260

3,700

3,480

3,370

3,160

2,850

3,050

3,021

185,800

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

oM

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

-

_

-

-

-

4.34

-

-

-

-

-

4.32

Decen

_

7.09

-

6.97

-

6.85

-

6.76

-

6.66

_

6.58

_

_

-

-

-

1,070

-

_

-

-

-

1,040

iber 14

_

6,500

-

6,210

-

5,920

-

5,700

-

5,460

-

5,270

December 20

_

-

5.23

-

_

5.20

-

_

5.16

_

5.13

_

-

2,370

-

_

2,380

-

_

2,250

_

2,200

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

_

4.31

-

4.30

-

4.30

-

4.31

-

4.34

-

4.41

Decen

_

6.51

-

6.48

-

6.41

_

6.35

-

6.28

_

6.22

Decen

_

_

5.10

_

_

5.07

-

_

5.04

_

5.02

_

1,030

-

1,020

-

1,020

-

1,030

_

1,070

-

1,150

iber 15

_

5,100

_

5,030

-

4,860

_

4,720

-

4,560

_

4,430

iber 21

_

_

2,150

_

_

2,100

-

_

2,050

_

2,020

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

4.50

4.65

5.06

6.00

6.59

7.45

8.55

9.49

10.86

12.65

14.16

14.75

Decen

_

6.13

-

-

6,05

_

_

5.99

_

_

5.91

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

4.99

_

_

-

_

4.96

1,260

1,460

2,090

3,920

5,300

7,380

10,100

12,500

16,100

20,900

25,100

26,800

ber 16

_

_

4,220

_

-

4,040

_

_

3,900

_

3,780

iber 22

_

_

-

_

_

1,970

_

-

_

1,930

Peet Sec. ft.

December 11

14.76

14.60

14.71

14.43

14.24

14.46

14.66

14.58

14.18

13.45

12.88

12.24

26,800

26,400

26,700

25,900

25,400

86,000

26,600

26,300

85,000

23,800

21,600

19,800

December 17

_

5.84

_

-

5.78

_

_

5.72

_

_

5.66

Decen

_

_

_

_

_

4.88

_

_

-

_

4.84

_

_

3,570

_

_

3,440

_

.

3,300

_

_

3,180

ber 23

_

_

_

_

_

1,800

_

_

-

~_

1,740

Peet Sec. ft.

December 12

11.65

11.20

10.78

10.42

10.08

9.81

9.58

9.26

9.06

8.90

8.69

8.50

Decen

_

_

5.60

_

_

5.55

_

_

5.50

_

_

5.46

Decen

_

_

4.88

_

_

4.93

_

_

4,92

~

4.86

18,800

17,000

15,900

15,000

14,100

13,400

12,600

11,900

11,400

11,000

10,500

10,000

ber 18

_

_

3,050

_

_

2,950

_

_

2,850

_

_

2,780

ber 24

_

_

1,800

_

_

1,880

_

_

1,860

I

1,770

Peet Sec.ft.

December 13

_

8.17

_

7.95

_

7.71

_

7.52

_

7.38

_

7.23

_

9,180

_

8,620

_

8,020

_

7,550

_

7,200

_

6,830

December 19

_

_

5.41

_

_

5.37

_

_

5.33

_

_

5.28

Deceo

_

_

4.83

_

_

4.79

_

_

4.76

I

4.75

_

_

2,690

_

_

2,620

_

_

2,540

_

_

2,460

ber 25

_

_

1,720

_

_

1,660

_

_

1,620

2

1,600

Supplemental record.- Dec. 11, 1830 a.m., 14.80 ft., 27,000 sec.-ft.
272 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Trinity River at Lewiston, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 40°42', long. 12S°48', In KSi see. 19, T. 33 N., R. 8W., at highway 

bridge at Lewiston, Trinity County, 0.8 mile "below Deadwood Creek. Zero of gage is 

1,794.72 feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

Drainage area.- 724 square miles.

Qg^"-height 7eeord.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge re'lation. - Defined by current-meter measurements below 12,400 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity studyj verified by comparison 

of peak discharge and total run-off of flood with records for other stations on 

Trinity River. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 37,000 second-feet 1:30 a.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

I*FT90 feet).

1911-November 1937: Discharge, about 31,900 second-feet Nov. 30, 1926 (gage 

height, 18.3 feet, from floodmark), from rating curve extended above 6,100 secondfeet on basis of slope-area computation of 28,700 second-feet for flood of March 1928.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not appreciably affected by artificial storage or by diversions 

above stations for irrigation, power, and mining.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

239

219

210

207

195

195

Dec.

1,430

1,310

1,200

1,120

1,050

996

962

930

978

14,400

Jan.

1,440

1,620

1,630

1,530

1,470

1,390

1,350

1,290

1,230

1,200

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

2,700

1,440

1,000

1,280

1,160

2,120

2,800

1,850

4,250

20,000

Dec.

32,400

15,500

7,560

5,240

4,280

3,550

3,040

2,630

2,320

2,110

Jan.

1,170

1,140

1,130

1,290

1,950

2,000

3,120

3,120

2,790

2,470

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

7,610

5,030

10,400

5,400

3,560

2,880

2,330

2,000

1,750

1,550

2 793

166,200

Dec.

1,930

1,790

1,680

1,630

1,530

1,440

1,380

1,330

1,270

1,560

1,540

238,200

Jan.

2,140

2,470

2,630

2,320

2., 160

2,020

1,990

2,110

2,060

1,950

2,470

116,300

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

fc

3

o

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

-

-

-

-

-

5.85

-

-

-

-

-

5.82

-

-

-

-

-

930

-

-

-

-

-

906

December 14

9.98

9.90

9.83

9.76

9.69

9.64

9.58

9.53

9.48

9.43

9.40

9.35

Decen

_

7.90

-

7.87

-

7.86

-

7.83

-

7.80

-

7.77

5,920

5,740

5,600

5,460

5,320

5,220

5,100

5,000

4,900

4,800

4,750

4,640

iber 20

_

2,170

-

2,130

_

2,110

-

2,070

-

2,030

-

1,990

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

5.83?

5.81

5.81

5.80

5.81

5.81

5.83

5.85

5.94

6.05

6.19

6.40

898

898

898

890

898

898

914

930

1,000

1,100

1,220

1,410

December 15

_

9.28

-

9.23

-

9.17

_

9.10

_

9.02

_

8.93

Decen

_

_

7.75

-

_

7.73

-

_

7.70

_

'_

7.67

_

4,520

_

4,430

_

4,310

_

4,180

_

4,040

_

3,870

iber 21

_

_

1,960

_

_

1,930

_

_

1,890

_

_

1,850

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

6.62

6.92

7.42

8.56

10.43

12.00

13.63

15.00

16.65

17.90

19.11

19.65

1,620

1,920

2,470

4,020

7,370

11,200

15,600

19,800

25,500

29,800

34,200

36,100

December 16

_

8.86

8.79

_

8.72

_

8.67

_

8.62

8.57

Decen

_

_

7.65

_

_

7.63

_

_

7.62

_

_

7.60

_

3,750

_

3,620

_

3,500

_

3,410

_

3,320

_

3,240

iber 22

_

_

1,820

_

_

1,790

_

_

1,780

_

_

1,750

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

19.89

19.40

18.82

18.58

18.63

18.78

18.82

18.66

18.38

17.96

17.30

16.55

37,000

35,200

33,200

32,300

32,500

33,000

33,200

32,600

31,600

30,100

27,800

25,100

December 17

_

8.53

_

8.48

_

8.43

_

8.39

_

8.35

_

8.32

_

3,170

_.

3,090

_

3,000

_

2,930

_

2,870

_

2,820

December 23

_

_

7.58

_

_

7.55

_

_

7.51

_

_

7.48

M

_

1,720

_

_

1,680

_

1,630

_

_

1,590

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

15.77

15.20

14.61

14.15

13.68

13.24

12.92

12.60

12.32

12.06

11.85

11.64

22,400

20,500

18,600

17,200

15,700

14,400

13,500

12,600

11,800

11,100

10,500

9,940

December 18

_

8.28

_

8.24

_

8.20

_

8.16

_

8.13

_

8.10

_

2,760

_

2,690

_

2,630

_

2,570

_

2,520

2,470

December 24

_

_

7.49

_

_

7.55

_

_

7.53

_

_

7.46

_

_

1,610

_

1,680

_

_

1.660

_

1,570

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

11.43

11.26

11.08

10.94

10.80

10.68

10.55

10.44

10.34

10.25

10.15

10.07

Decen

_

8.07

8.03

8.01

_

8.00

_

7.96

_

7.93

Decem

_

_

7.45

_

7.43

_

_

7.40

_

_

7.38

9,400

8,960

8,490

8,140

7,800

7,510

7,200

6,940

6,710

6,510

6,290

6,110

ber 19

_

2,420

2,360

2,340

_

2,320

2,260

2,220

ber 25

_

_

1,560

_

1,530

_

_

1,490

_

1,470

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, Is30 a.m., 19.90 ft., 37,000 sec.-ft.
KLAMATH RIVER BASIN 273

Trinity River near Burnt Ranch, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 40°47", long. 123°25', in sec. 29, T. 5 N., R. 7 E., 2 miles above highway bridge at Cedar Plat and 7 miles above Burnt Ranch, Trinity County. Zero of gage 

is 1,007.98 feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

Drainage area.- 1,429 square miles (revised).

Sage-height "record.- Water-stage recorder graph except for period noon Dec. 11 to 4 p.m. 

Dec. 19, when there was no record.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 23,800 second- 

?eet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study; verified by A\« method 

and comparison of peak discharge and total run-off of flood with records for other 

stations on Trinity River. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 71,800 second-feet about 2 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

31.4 feet, from floodmarks on bank).

1931-November 1937J Discharge, 31,000 second-feet Jan. 15, 1936 (gage height, 

19.27 feet), from rabing curve extended above 7,000 second-feet on basis of areavelocity study.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage; perhaps slightly affected by 

regulation and di ersions above station. Discharge for period of missing gage-height 

record obtained from discharge graph based on peak stage, partial recorder graph, and 

record for Trinity River near Hoopa.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

6

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

364

367

347

334

328

3S5

316

316

313

620

Dec.

2,650

2,420

2,200

2,000

1,850

1,760

1,660

1,620

1,530

4,120

Jan.

2,720

2,840

3,080

2,900

2,780

2,660

2,540

2,380

2,270

2,170

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

2,720

3,420

1,800

1,950

2,150

2,360

6,240

4,450

6,560

27,800

Dec.

50,400

33,000

19,000

12,000

8,500

6,800

5,600

4,700

4,000

3,600

Jan.

2,120

2,020

1,970

2,120

3,210

3,470

5,560

6,740

6,230

5,560

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

21,300

8,830

13,200

11,700

7,480

5,900

4,920

4,000

3,420

2,960

291,100

Dec.

3,340

3,080

2,900

2,780

2,660

2,490

2,380

2,320

2,220

2,720

3,020

395,100

Jan.

4,760

5,720

6,400

5,560

4,920

4,460

4,310

4,310

4,310

4,020

4,310

234,900

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

t,

o

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

_

_

5.49

-

-

5.47

-

-

5.44

_

_

5.45

Dec en

_

_

1,610

-

_

1,590

_

_

1,570

_

_

1,580

ber 14

December 20

-

_

7.36

_

_

7.31

-

_

7.29

_

7.18

_

.

3,680

-

_

3,610

_

_

3,590

_

3,440

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

_

_

5.41

-

_

5.39

-

_

5.38

_

_

5.47

Decen

Decen

_

.

7.12

-

_

7.07

_

_

7.02

_

6.97

_

_

1,540

-

_

1,520

_

_

1,510

_

_

1,590

iber 16

iber 21

_

_

3,370

-

_

3,300

_

_

3,240

_

3,170

Feet |sec.ft.

December 10

5.47

5.48

5.55

5.64

5.75

5.91

6.17

6.75

8.45

9.60

11.30

15.15

Decen

Decen

_

-

6.91

-

-

6.91

-

_

6.89

_

6.85

1,590

1,600

1,660

1,750

1,850

2,010

2,280

2,960

5,480

7,480

10,900

20,000

iber 16

iber 22

_

_

3,090

-

_

3,090

_

_

3,070

_

3,020

Feet | Sec. ft.

December 11

18.00 | 27,500

20.70

22.70

24.00

25.76

_

_

-

-

_

_

-

Decem

Decen

_

_,

6.76

_

_

6.76

_

_

6.69

_

6.65

35,500

41,700

46,000

52,000

59,600

71,800

66,800

60,900

56,900

51,400

47,700

ber 17

ber 23

_

_

2,910

_

_

2,910

_

_

2,830

2,780

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

December 18

Decen

_

_

6.61

_

-

6.65

-

-

6.69

_

6.70

iber 24

_

_

2,730

-

_

2,780

-

_

2,830

_

2,840

Feet |sec.ft.

December 13

Decea

_

-

-

_

_

-

-

7.55

_

7.60

-

7.41

Decem

_

-

6.63

-

_

6.51

-

_

6.46

.

6.44

ber 19

-

-

-

_

-

*4,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

ber 25

-

-

2,760

-

-

2,610

-

-

2,560

_

2,530

«Mean for the day.
274 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Trinity River near Hoopa, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 41°02', long. 123°39', ill SE^- sec. 31, T. 8 N., R. 5 E. , on Hoopa Indian 

Reservation, half a mile below Campbell Creek and 2 miles southeast of Hoopa, Humboldt County. Altitude, about 315 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 2,840 square miles (revised).

Sage-height Feeord.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 32,800 secondfeet; extended to peak stage on basis of area-velocity study; verified by Avd" method 

and by comparison of peak discharge and total run-off of flood with records for other 

stations on Trinity River. Rating curve changed at peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 105,000 second-feet 2 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

28.70 feet).

1911-14, 1916-18, 1931-IIovember 1937: Discharge observed, about 89,000 secondfeet Dec. 31, 1913 (gage height, 28.1 feet, from nonrecording gage, former site and 

datum,2 miles downstream), from rating curve extended above 12,000 second-feet.

Remarks.- Flood run-off not affected by artificial storage or diversion.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

641

646

632

596

582

574

564

560

560

765

Dec.

5,530

4,980

4,480

4,120

3,870

3,640

3,430

3,290

3,220

15,100

Jan.

6,300

6,740

6,960

6,520

6,300

6,100

5,700

5,500

5,210

5,030

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

3,760

6,080

3,720

4,380

5,420

5,310

14,900

10,600

16,900

53,100

Dec.

93,400

69,300

39,500

28,800

21,400

16,500

12,800

10,500

9,120

8,120

Jan.

4,850

4,580

4,490

4,670

6,740

7,400

13,100

18,700

16,500

14,100

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet .........................................

Nov.

35,900

18,500

22,200

22,200

15,200

11,900

9,820

8,300

7,050

6,320

9

C QQ

570,600

Dec.

7,180

6,740

6,300

6,100

5,900

5,500

5,500

5,300

5,120

6,520

6,960

849,400

Jan.

11,900

15,100

17,900

14,400

12,200

10,700

9,900

9,900

9,640

8,860

9,900

567,100

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

o

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet See.ft.

December 8

7.26

7.26

7.25

7.23

7.21

7.20

7.20

7.19

7.18

7.17

7.16

7.16

3,370

3,370

3,360

3,330

3,300

3,290

3,290

3,280

3,260

3,250

3,230

3,230

December 14

_

16.30

-

15.93

_

15.60

-

15.31

-

14.98

-

14.70

Decen

_

9.88

_

9.78

-

9.75

-

9.72

_

9.66

-

9,61

_

32 , 000

-

30,300

-

28,800

-

27,500

-

26,000

-

24,800

iber 20

_

8,310

-

8,070

-

8,000

~

7,930

_

7,780

-

7,660

Feet See.ft.

December 9

7.16

7.15

7.15

7.14

7.13

7.12

7.12

7.12

7.14

7.16

7.18

7.21

3,230

3,220

3,220

3,210

3,190

3,180

3,180

3,180

3,210

3,230

3,260

3,300

December 15

_

14.42

-

14.15

-.

13.89

_

13.67

-

13.44

_

13.24

_

23,600

-

22,400

-.

21,400

_

20,500

-

19,600

_

18,800

December 21

_

9.54

-

9.46

_

9.40

_

9.36

_

9.30

_.

9.24

_

7,500

_

7,310

_

7,180

_

7,090

_

6,960

_

6,830

Feet Sec-.ft.

December 10

7.27

7.40

7.57

7.79

7.98

8.35

9.11

11.05

13.88

16.93

20.05

22.86

Decen

_

13.03

..

12.80

_

12.59

_

12.42

-

12.23

_

12.01

Decen

_

9.81

_

9.17

_

9.14

_

9.13

_

9.11

_

9.09

3,390

3,570

3,820

4,180

4,530

5,310

7,080

12,000

20,600

33,700

49,500

65 , 800

ber 16

_

18,000

-

17,200

_

16,400

_

15 , 800

_

15,200

_

14,400

iber 22

_

6,760

_

6,670

_

6,610

_

6,590

_

6,540

_

6,500

Feet See.ft.

December 11

24.75

25.46

26.03

26.52

27.25

28.05

28.70

28.40

28.25

27.89

27.45

27.05

Deceit

_

11.82

-

11.66

_

11.48

_

11.31

-

11.16

_

10.97

78,000

82,700

86 , 600

90,000

95,200

101,000

105,000

103,000

102,000

99,600

96,600

93,800

ber 17

_

13,800

-

13,300

_

12,700

_

12,200

-

11,800

-

11,200

December 23

_

9.05

_

9.01

_

8.96

_

8.93

_

8.91

_

8.85

_

6,410

_

6,320

_

6,220

-

6,160

_

6,120

_

6,000

Feet See.ft.

December 12

26.57

26.05

25.40

24.75

23.85

23.05

22.35

21.75

21.15

20.65

20.15

19.75

90,500

86,900

82,600

78,400

72,700

67,700

63,500

60,000

56,500

53,700

51,000

48,900

December 18

_

10.88

_

10.75

_

10.66

_

10.57

_

10.52

_

10.45

Deeeiu

_

8.84

_

8.87

_

8.88

_

8.90

_

8.97

_

8.94

_

11,000

_

10,600

_

10,400

.

10,100

-

9,960

_

9,770

ber 24

_

5,980

_

6,040

_

6,060

_

6,100

_

6,240

-

6,180

Feet See.ft.

December 13

19.35

18.95

18.65

18.35

18.10

17.85

17.60

17.40

17.20

16.95

16.80

46,800

44,800

43,200

41,800

40,500

39,300

38,100

37,100

36,200

35,000

34,300

16.65 33J600

December 19

_

10.33

_

10.25

_

10.16

_

10.10

-

10.02

_

9.96

Deceit

^

8.91

_

8.87

_

8.81

_

8.75

_

8.71

_

8.67

_

9,460

_

9,250

_

9,020

_

8,860

-

8,650

_

8,500

ber 25

_

6,120

_

6,040

_

5,920

_

5,800

_

5,720

_

5,640
OWENS LAKE BASIN 275

Owens River near Round Valley, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37C 26'25", long. 1180 g3 l 20", in SEi sec. 10, T. 63., R. 31 E., below 

Sheep Bridge, 700 feet above mouth of Rock Creek and 2 miles north of Round Valley, 

Inyo County. Altitude, about 4,450 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- About 450 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 883 secondfeet; extended to peak stage.

Maxima.- December 1937s Discharge, 1,560 second-feet 8 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 4.87

1903-23, 1927-November 1937s Discharge, 1,190 second-feet June 30, 1907 (gage 

height, 4.0 feet).

Remarks.- Discharge at indicated time is the mean for the two-hour interval prior to 

the indicated hour. Record furnished by city of Los Angeles.

Day

1

2

5

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

146

146

146

146

143

150

148

148

152

152

Dec.

142

144

146

146

146

146

146

150

152

340

Jan.

176

182

178

176

172

162

160

160

158

164

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

156

166

166

168

160

160

166

154

160

160

Dec.

734

901

491

285

257

241

227

215

213

185

Jan.

162

162

152

156

164

152

166

166

166

150

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

160 '

160

160

162

160

156

154

152

150

144

9,230

Dec. j Jan.

185

181

176

160

155

157

155

157

150

160

167

O'Z'S

14,300

150

164

154

150

150

156

156

156

154

150

158

161

9,880

Gage height, In feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at Indicated time, 1937

S-,

3

om

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

K

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

K

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

December 14

2.85

2.80

2.73

2.67

2.63

2.60

2.52

2.55

2.50

2.57

2.63

2.64

365

346

319

297

281

270

239

251

232

256

281

285

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

December 15

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

2.18

2.19

2.20

2.22

2.35

2.40

2.70

3.05

3.30

3.40

3.43

3.35

166

168

170

174

204

216

300

426

534

577

590

556

December 16

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

3.20

3.05

2.95

2.92

2.93

3.00

3.25

3.65

3.95

4.65

4.82

4.65

491

426

386

375

379

405

512

704

872

1,370

1,520

1,370

December 17

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

4.50

4.20

4.07

4.15

4.10

4.00

3.92

3.82

3.78

3.76

3.76

3.71

1,250

1,040

949

1,000

970

900

855

799

777

766

766

738

December 18

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

3.68

3.60

3.50

3.40

3.30

3.22

3.18

3.08

3.07

3.02

2.98

2.97

728

683

627

571

515

471

456

419

415

396

381

378

December 19
276 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Rook Creek at Sherwin Hill, near Bishop, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37 0 28'45", long. 118°36'05" , in SWi sec. 29, T. 53., R. 31 E. , at Sherwin Hill, 3 miles above Pine Creek and 14 miles northwest of Bishop, Inyo County.

Altitude, about 4,900 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 51.7 square miles. 

Sage-height 7e c o rd.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Standard rating for 6-foot improved venturi (Parshall) flume. 

Maxima.- December 1957; Discharge, 115 second-feet 6 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 2.60

feet).

1922-November 1937: Discharge, 162 second-feet June 17, 1927 (gage height, 3.04

feet, at former site). 

Remarks.- Discharge at indicated time is the mean for the two-hour interval prior to the

indicated hour. Record furnished by city of Los Angeles.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

_Ji52_

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

11

11

11

10

10

10

10

10

11

10

Dec.

12

13

13

13

13

13

13

12

12

*44

Jan.

17

16

16

15

15

14

14

14

15

15

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

11

10

12

12

12

12

13

13

14

14

Dec.

*60

36

29

24

24

24

23

22

20

17

Jan.

15

15

15

15

15

14

16

15

12

10

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

14

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

12

12

11 9

706

Dec.

19

18

16

11

12

12

13

13

14

16

17

~] Q *

1,190

Jan.

15

16

13

11

14

14

14

15

15

10

16

885

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

1S

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

December 14

1.05

1.03

1.00

.87

.83

.77

.80

1.05

1.47

1.15

1.04

1.02

26

25

24

19

18

16

17

26

44

30

26

25

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

0.67

.67

.67

.65

.65

.65

.65

.65

.65

.66

.67

.72

13

13

13

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

13

14

December 15

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

0.80

.90

1.35

1.60

1.75

1.90

1.80

1.60

1.50

1.40

1.30

1.25

Deceit

17

20

39

51

59

67

61

51

46

41

36

34

ber 16

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

1.15

1.10

1.07

1.10

1.35

1.70

1.90

2.50

2.60

2.50

2.05

1.60

30

28

31

28

39

56

67

104

115

104

75

52

December 17

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

1.35

1.35

1.40

1.41

1.36

1.27

1.23

1.23

1.22

1.22

1.20

1.20

39

39

41

42

39

40

33

33

33

33

32

32

December 18

Feet Sec. ft.

December 13

1.18

1.16

1.14

1.13

1.11

1.08

1.00

.98

1.28

1.09

1.08

1.07

31

30

30

29

28

27

24

23

36

28

27

27

December 19

 Computed from bi-hourly discharge.
OWENS LAKE BASIN 277 

Pine Creek at division box, near Bishop, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 37°24'55n , long. 1180 37'10n , In NW£ sec. 19, T. 6 S., R. 31 E., a quarter of a mile above division box and forks of creek, 4 miles west of Round Valley, 

and 13 miles northwest of Bishop, Inyo County. Altitude, about 5,250 feet above 

mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 37.9 square miles.

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

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements.

Maxima..- December 19578 Discharge, 207 second-feet 3 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 2.88 Feet).

1922-November 1937s Discharge, 350 second-feet July 21, 1936 (gage height, 3.58 

feet).

Remarks.- Discharge at Indicated time Is the mean for the two-hour Interval prior to 

the Indicated hour. Record furnished by city of Los Angeles.

Mean dally discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

17

17

17

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

Dec.

15

15

15

15

15

15

16

15

17

*68

Jan.

22

22

20

20

19

19

19

19

19

19

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

Dec.

*97

46

34

30

30

26

25

22

20

20

Jan.

19

19

19

18

19

18

19

19

18

18

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

15

15

954

Dec.

20

19

19

17

17

16

16

16

16

19

22

1,490

Jan.

18

18

18

18

18

18

18

19

19

18

19

1,160

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at Indicated time, 1937

M1

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

Feet Sec. ft.

December 9

1.09

1.09

1.09

1.09

1.09

1.09

1.09

1.09

1.10

1.13

1.18

1.26

16

15

15

15

15

15

15

15

16

18

21

25

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

1.86

1.99

2.04

2.76

2.30

2.08

1.83

1.74

1.68

1.58

1.53

1.48

62

70

73

180

76

75

60

56

51

45

42

39

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

1.48

1.51

1.60

1.93

2.65

2.70

2.70

2.78

2.30

2.30

2.00

1.89

39

41

46

66

155

166

166

184

88

88

76

64

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

1.77

1.68

1.64

1.58

1.56

1.53

1.53

1.52

1.50

1.48

1.47

1.45

56

51

49

45

44

42

42

41

40

39

38

37

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

_

1.43

_

1.41

_

1.40

_

1.39

_

1.37

-

1.37

_

36

_

35

_

34

_

34

_

32

-

32
278 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHEM CALIFORNIA

Big Pine Creek "below Little Pine Creek, near Big Pine, Calif,

Location.- Lat. 37°09', long. 118°19', Nj sec. 25, T. 93., R. 33 E., below Big Pine 

Creek power house and 2J- miles southwest of BJg pine, Inyo County. Altitude, about 

4,400 feet above mean sea level,

Drainage area.- 39.5 square miles.

5age"^he ight 7ecord.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements.

Maxima.- December 1957; Discharge. 79 second-feet Ss30 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 1.52

1904-5, 1907-10: Mean daily discharge, 268 second-feet July 10-12, 1905. 

Remarks.- Discharge at indicated time is the mean for the two-hour interval prior to 

the indicated hour. Records furnished by city of Los Angeles.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Bov.

16

17

16

16

16

16

12

14

9.5

7.5

Dec.

3.9

4.1

4.3

4.5

4.7

4.9

5

5.5

*6.5

23

Jan.

14

14

13

14

13

13

13

13

12

12

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

8.5

8.5

7

5

4.8

4.8

6

6

6

6

Dec.

*43

26

21

19

18

16

15

15

14

14

Jan.

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

12

11

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Hov.

6

6

5.5

5.5

4.9

4.9

3.9

3.9

3.4

3.9

497

Dec.

14

14

14

15

14

13

14

14

14

14

14

1 7. ft

836

Jan.

12

11

10

9

10

10

10

10

11

8.5

11

719

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

£o

ffi

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

December 14

0.61

.63

.67

.67

.60

.60

.60

.69

.69

.68

.67

.67

18

19

21

21

17

17

17

21

21

21

21

21

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

0.31

.31

.31

.31

.31

.31

.31

.31

.31

.35

.38

.37

Dec en

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

7

9

8

iber 15

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

0.42

.45

.87

.95

1.00

.90

.78

.77

.75

.75

.72

.69

10

12

29

33

35

31

25

25

24

24

23

22

December 16

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

0.68

.67

.69

.85

1.10

1.50

1.50

1.45

1.20

1.10

1.05

1.00

21

21

22

28

40

78

78

73

50

40

35

32

December 17

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

0.95

.90

.85

.82

.80

.78

.77

.81

.75

.75

.73

.72

30

31

29

27

26

25

25

27

24

24

23

23

December 18

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

0.70

.69

.68

.75

.67

.82

.70

.70

.67

.70

.60

.61

22

21

21

24

21

27

22

22

21

22

17

18

December 19

Supplemental records.- Dec. 11, 2:30 p.m., 1.52 ft., 79 sec.-ft. 

*Computed from bi-hourly discharge.
OWENS LAKE BASIN 27 

Independence Creek at Independence, Calif.*

Location.- Lat. 36°48', long. 118°12', in SSi NWj sec. 19, T. 13 S., R. 35 E., above

intake for town water supply, half a mile southwest of Independence, Inyo County.

Altitude, about 4,200 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 17.6 square miles. 

Sage-height orifice. 7eeord.- Water-stage recorder graph at combination weir and submerged

Stage-discharge relation.- Based on formulas for weir and submerged orifice. 

Majcima.- December 1937; Discharge, 31 second-feet 6 p. m., Dee. 11 (gage height,

1756 feet).

1905-lls Daily discharge (estimated), 226 second-feet in June 1906. 

Remarks.- In the second table gage height and discharge given are the mean for the

two-hour interval preceding the indicated hour. Record furnished by city of Los

Angeles.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

5

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

3.8

. D

3.8

3.8

3.8

3.6

3.4

3.4

3.6

3.6

Dec.

3.3

3.3

3.1

3.1

3.1

3.1

3.1

3.1

3.1

tl4

Jan.

4.5

4.5

4.3

4.3

4.3

4.3

4.1

4.1

4.1

4.1

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

3.6

3.6

3.6

3.6

3.6

3.6

3.6

3.6

3.6

3.6

Dec.

t!5

10

8

7

6.6

6

5.6

5.5

5.5

6

Jan.

4.1

3.9

3.9

3.9

3.9

3.9

3.9

3 Q 

 y

3.9

4.1

Day

21

22

23

24

26

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ........................................

Nov.

3.6

3.6

3.6

3.4

3.4

3.4

3.4

3.3

3.3

3.3

212

Dec.

4.8

4.8

5

4.8

5.5

8

4.8

4.6

4.6

4.6

4.6

342

Jan.

4.1

3.8

3.6

3.8

3.9

3.9

3.8

3.6

3.6

3.4

3.6

3

QfT

244

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

S-, 

3 

o

a

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |sec.ft.

December 8

Feet jsec.ft.

December 9

3.83

3.83

3.83

3.83

3.83

3.83

3.83

3.83

3.82

3.81

3.77

3.62

3.0

3.0

3.0

3.0

3.0

3.0

3.0

3.0

3.1

3.3

3.9

6.6

Feet Sec. ft.

December 10

3.43

3.00

2.80

2.50

2.16

3.00

3.30

3.42

3.60

3.64

3.67

3.68

11

18

20

23

26

18

14

11

9.6

8.6

8

7.5

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

3.60

3.62

3.62

3.63

3.58

3.65

3.00

2.00

1.96

2.60

2.82

3.00

7

6.6

6.5

6.6

7.6

8

18

29

31

23

20

18

Feet Sec. ft.

December 12

3.20

3.30

3.40

3.46

3.47

3.48

3.49

3.50

3.61

3.52

3.53

3.64

16

14

12

10

10

10

9.6

9.6

9

9

8.6

8.5

Feet jsec.ft.

December 13

3.52

3.63

3.63

3.64

3.66

3.66

3.66

3.66

3.67

3.67

3.67

3.68

9

8.5

8.6

8.5

8

8

8

8

8

8

8

7.6

*Publish9d as Independence Creek near Independence, 1906-9, and as Little Pine Creek 

near Independence, 1910-11.

tComputed from bi-hourly discharge.
280 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Tuttle Creek at Canyon Road, near Lone Pine, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 36°35', long. 118°05', in NEi SEi sec. 32, T. 15 S., R. 36 E., above

division box, at base of Alabama Hills, about li=f miles southwest of Lone Pine, Inyo

County. Altitude, about 4,000 feet above mean sea level. 

Drainage area.- 8.5 square miles. 

gage-height Fecord.- Water-stage recorder graph.

Stage-discharge relation.- Standard rating for 3 foot improved venturi (Parshall) flume. 

Maxima.- December 1937* Discharge, 41 second-feet about 4 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height,

2.20 feet). 

Remarks.- Discharge at indicated time Is the mean for the two-hour interval prior to the

Indicated hour. Record furnished by city of Los Angeles.

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

5

5

5

5

5

5

4.8

5

5

5

Dec.

4.7

4.7

4.7

4.7

4.7

4.6

4.6

4.6

4.8

15

Jan.

5.5

5.5

5.5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Mean monthly discharge, In secondNov.

5

5

5

5

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.7

4.8

5

Dec.

21

8

6.5

6.5

6.5

6

6

6

6

6

Jan.

5

5

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.8

4.7

4.6

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

5

4.8

4.7

4.4

4.4

4.4

4.6

4.6

4.7

4.7

4.83 

288

Dec.

6

6

6

6

6

6

5.5

5.5

5.5

5.5

5.5

6.42 

395

Jan.

4.7

4.7

4.6

4.6

4.6

4.7

4.6

4.6

4.6

4.7

4.6

4.86 

299

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at Indicated time, 1937

u

&

2

4

6

8

10

N

 2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

December 8

Peet Sec. ft.

December 9

0.55

.55

.55

.55

.55

.56

.56

.55

.55

.55

.56

.64

4.7

4.7

4.7

4.7

4.7

4.8

4.8

4.7

4.7

4.7

4.8

6

Peet Sec. ft.

December 10

0.80

1.00

1.35

1.31

1.42

1.22

1.20

1.20

1.20

1.21

1.21

1.21

8.5

12

19

18

21

16

16

16

16

16

16

16

Feet Sec. ft.

December 11

1.21

1.21

1.21

1.21

1.21

1.21

1.40

2.20

2.00

1..70

1.40

1.20

16

16

16

16

16

16

20

41

36

28

20

16

Peet Sec. ft.

December 12

1.12

.90

.73

.72

.71

.71

.71

.70

.70

.70

.71

.71

14

10

7.5

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

7

Peet Sec. ft.

December 13
WALKER LAKE BASIN 281

Bridgeport Reservoir near Bridgeport, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 38°19'30", long. 119°12'501', in SEi sec. 34, T. 6 N., R. 25 E. , at dam

on East Walker River, 4g miles north of Bridgeport, Mono County. Altitude, about

6,500 feet above mean sea level. 

Gage-height record.- Gage read once daily. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely controlled in reservoir (capacity, 42,500 acrefeet). Gage-height record and capacity table furnished by Walker River Irrigation

District.

Contents, in acre-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

15,470

15,630

15,710

15,790

15,870

15,950

16,030

16,180

16,260

16,420

Dec.

18,350

18,520

18,700

18,780

18,780

18,870

18,960

18,960

19,050

19,150

Jan.

30,120

30,360

30,610

30,850

30,970

31,210

31,330

31,570

31,700

31,950

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

16,500

16,500

16,580

16,580

16,660

16,740

16,740

16,880

16,880

16,900

Dec.

19,330

19,610

19,880

20,250

21,600

22,790

24,040

25,100

25,980

26,530

Jan.

32,080

32,330

32,460

32,590

32,840

32,960

33,090

33,220

33,480

33,600

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

17,060

17,230

17,580

17,750

17,920

18,000

18,000

18,090

18,090

18,180

Dec.

27,200

27,780

28,010

28,240

28,470

28,880

29,160

29,400

29,520

29,640

29,880

Jan.

33,860

34,110

34,240

34,380

34,510

34,640

34,740

35,040

35,170

35,440

35,570
282 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHKRN CALIFORNIA

HUMBOLDT-CARSON SINK BASIN 

Caraon River at Lahontan Reservoir, Nev.

Location.- Lat. 39°28', long. 119°04', in SEi aec. 33, T. 19 N., R. 26 E., at Lahontan 

Dam, Lyon County, Nevada.

Drainage area.- About 1,200 square milea.

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely regulated in Lahontan Reservoir. Elevation of spillway crest la 4,162.0 feet above mean sea level (capacity, 273,600 acre-feet). Daily 

change in atorage adjusted for release and inflow to show natural run-off. All data 

furniahed by Truekee-Carson Irrigation Diatrict.

Storage, releaae, inflow, and discharge, December 1937

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

Lahontan Reaervoir

Contenta 

(acre-feet)

136,422

136 , 830

137,136

137 , 493

137,901

138,360

138,717

139,074

139,431

139,992

140,920

142,342

145,600

151,000

160,818

165,733

168,133

170,072

171,864

173,336

174,808

176,564

177,856

179,216

180,304

181,525

182,525

183,620

184,600

185,720

186,700

Gain or loas 

in atorage 

(acre-feet)

+469

+408

+306

+357

+408

+459

+357

+357

+357

+561

+928

+1,422

+3,258

+5,400

+9,818

+4,915

+2,400

+1,939

+1,792

+1,472

+1,472

+1,756

+1,292

+1,360

+1,088

+1,221

+1,000

+1,095

+980

+1,120

+980

Release 

(second-feet)

85

87

41

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

3.5

Inflow from 

Truckee Canal 

(aecond-feet)

222

232

192

151

142

136

120

115

122

216

445

505

480

442

445

109

41

68

51

59

136

141

134

131

136

122

128

121

138

143

152

Computed 

natural run-off 

(second-feet)

99

61

3

34

69

100

65

70

63

72

28

217

1,170

2,290

4,510

2,370

1,170

915

857

688

611

749

522

560

418

499

381

436

361

427

346
PYRAMID AND WINKBMaCCA LAKES BASIN 283

Lake Tahoe at Tahoe, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°05'55", long. 120°08'25n , in SWi sec. 7, T. 15 N. , R. 17 E., near

outlet of lake at Tahoe, Placer County. Zero of gage is 6,219.01 feet above mean

sea level (general adjustment of 1929). 

Drainage area.- 519 square miles (including water surface of lake, which is 193 square

miles >~

Sage -height record.- Gage read to hundredths daily about 7 a.m. 

Maxima.- December 1937 t Gage height, 4.81 feet Dec. 19.

19T5b-November 1937: Gage height, 11.26 feet July 14, 15, 17, 18, 1907. 

Remarks . - Flood run-off completely controlled in lake. See record for Truckee River at

Tahoe. Records furniahed by Truckee-Carson Irrigation District and H. C. Dukes,

Federal water master.

Gage height, in feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

4.12

4.11

4.10

4.10

4.09

4.08

4.06

4.04

4.02

3.99

Dec.

4.01

4.01

4.00

3.99

3.97

3.97

3.96

3.95

3.95

4.13

Jan.

4.72

4.72

4.71

4.70

4.70

4.70

4.70

4.68

4.66

4.66

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

4.01

4.02

4.01

4.00

3.99

3.97

4.03

4.04

4.04

4.05

Dec.

4.46

4.72

4.75

4.77

4.78

4.80

4.80

4.80

4.81

4.79

Jan.

4.65

4.65

4.64

4.63

4.67

4.80

4.70

4.71

4.71

4.72

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

4.08

4.07

4.04

4.07

4.06

4.05

4.04

4.03

4.02

4.02

Dec.

4.77

4.77

4.79

4.78

4.77

4.76

4.74

4.73

4.72

4.72

4.72

Jan.

4.71

4.71

4.70

4.70

4.69

4.69

4.69

4.70

4.70

4.69

4.74
284 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Truckee River at Tahoe, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39°09'55", long. 120°08'45", in NW^ sec. 7, T. 15 N., R. 17 E., at

Tahoe, just below dam at outlet of Lake Tahoe, Placer County. Altitude, about 6,20C

feet above mean sea level. 

Dra inage are a.- 519 square miles. 

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

Maxima.- December 1937: Flood run-off completely controlled in Lake Tahoe.

1895-96, 1900-December 1937: Discharge observed, 1,340 second-feet July 13-20,

1907. 

Remarks.- Flood run-off completely controlled in Lake Tahoe. See record for Lake

Tahoe. Record of daily discharge furnished by Truckee-Carson Irrigation District.

Discharge records not adjusted for storage because of uncertain, but relatively

large effect of evaporation.

iflean daily discharge, in second-feet, November 1957 to January 1958

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

115

113

111

111

109

108

104

101

97

93

Dec.

96

96

94

93

90

90

88

87

87

42

Jan.

159

159

176

186

186

186

186

186

212

234

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

96

97

96

94

93

90

99

101

101

103

Dec.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Jan.

206

186

186

170

161

161

150

128

128

128

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

108

106

101

106

104

103

101

99

97

97

6,060

Dec.

0

0

93

159

159

159

159

159

159

159

159

4,420

Jan.

128

128

128

128

128

128

128

128

128

128

128

1 ^7

9,680
PYRAMID AND WINNEMUCCA LAKES BASIN 285 

Truckee River at Iceland, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 390 22'35", long. 120°01'35" , in SWi sec. 31, T. 18 N., R. 18 E., above 

dam of National Ice Co. at Iceland, Nevada County. Altitude, about 5,420 feet above 

mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 937 square miles.

Page-height "record.- Water-stage recorder graph at regular station site prior to Jan. 65 

at Farad Camp 3£ miles downstream for period Jan. 7-31. Gage heights not used to determine discharge for period Dec. 12 to Jan. 6.

Stage-discharge relation.- Defined by current-meter measurements below 4,000 secondfeet; extended to peak stage by formula for flow over Iceland Dam at Iceland station; 

defined by current-meter measurements below 5,000 second-feet and extended to peak 

stage at Farad Camp station.

Maxima.- December 1937: Discharge, 15,500 second-feet 4 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 

11.59 feet), by averaging results from extensions of rating curves for stations at 

Iceland and Farad Camp; verified by slope-area determination of flood flow".

1899-November 1937: Discharge observed, 15,300 second-feet Mar. 18, 1907 (gage 

height, 11.5 feet, from nonrecording gage).

Remarks.- Flood run-off reduced by flow from 519 square miles stored at Lake Tahoe. 

Daily discharge estimated for period Dec. 12 to Jan. 6. Basic data furnished by 

Truckee-Carson Irrigation District and H. C. Dukes, Federal watermaster.

Mean dally discharge, in second-feet, November 1957 to January 1958

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

176

172

168

168

168

164

157

160

160

157

Dec.

176

187

179

176

172

172

168

172

176

4,000

Jan.

430

430

430

430

400

370

326

390

394

437

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

183

179

172

191

183

183

352

275

253

424

Dec.

12,300

7,200

4,000

2,400

1,500

1,100

950

800

750

700

Jan.

464

464

444

444

452

433

480

429

413

386

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

483

320

285

290

253

226

217

204

196

179

QO"Z

13,290

Dec.

650

550

500

430

430

430

430

430

430

430

430

84,130

Jan.

421

382

370

382

340

333

340

329

296

329

24,590

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1937

fcEl

Ow

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

H

Feet Sec.ft.

December 8

3.13

3.14

3.15

3.13

3.12

3.11

3.15

3.25

3.20

3.17

3.17

3.16

Decen

_

7.55

-

7.45

-

7.40

_

7.36

_

7.35

-

7.32

DeceB

_

6.26

-

6.18

-

6.11

_

6.20

_

6.17

_

6.13

160

164

168

160

157

153

168

208

187

176

176

172

ber 14

.

.

-

-

-

*2,400

-

-

-

-

-

-

iber 20

_

-

-

.

.

*700

_

-

.

_

-

-

Feet Sec.ft.

December 9

3.16

3.15

3.12

3.10

3.10

3.18

3.16

3.16

3.16

3.20

3.29

3.42

Decen

7.30

7.28

7.27

7.27

7.26

7.24

7.22

7.21

7.20

7.12

6.85

6.73

Decen

_

6.03

-

5.90

_

5.89

-

5.96

-

6.05

_

6.02

172

168

157

149

149

179

172

172

172

187

226

285

ber 15

_

-

-

-

-

*1,500

_

_

-

-

-

-

iber 21

_

_

-

_

_

*650

_

-

-

_

_

-

Feet Sec.ft.

December 10

3.80

4.80

5.90

6.50

7.00

7.30

7.60

7.90

8.15

8.35

8.45

8.50

495

1,220

2,350

3,060

3,740

4,200

4,760

5,380

5,930

6,370

6,600

6,720

December 16

_

6.66

-

6.61

-

6.58

_

6.54

-

6.52

_

6.50

Decen

_

5.95

_

5.85

_

5.88

_

5.93

_

5.93

5.85

5.78

_

_

_

_

-

*1,100

_

_

_

-

-

-

ber 22

_

_

_

_

_

*550

_

_

-

_

_

-

Feet Sec.ft.

December 11

8.80

9.25

9.90

10.35

10.80

11.17

11.54

11.59

11.55

11.10

10.73

10.25

7,440

8,610

10,400

11,600

13,000

14,100

15,300

15,500

15,300

13,900

12 , 800

11,400

December 17

_

6.45

_

6.40

-

6.36

_

6.33

_

6.34

-

6.33

Decen

_

5.62

_

5.83

_

5.50

_

5.50

_

5.56

_

5.52

_

_

_

-

-

*950

_

_

_

-

_

-

ber 23

_

_

_

_

_

*500

_

_

_

_

_

-

Feet Sec.ft.

December 12

9.87

9.56

9.38

9.16

9.05

8.90

8.77

8.68

8.57

8.48

8.38

8.30

_

_

-

_

-

*7,200

_

_

-

_

_

-

December 18

_

6.30

_

6.29

-

6.28

_

6.27

_

6.21

6.26

6.57

Decen

5.65

5.83

_

5.90

_

6.05

_

6.10

_

6.05

_

5.95

_

_

-

_

_

*800

_

_

_

-

-

-

ber 24

_

-

_

_

_

*430

_

-

-

_

_

-

Feet Sec.ft.

December 13

8.22

8.13

8.05

7.99

7.94

7.87

7.82

7.78

7.75

7.72

7.68

7.64

Decem

_

6.57

_

6.49

-

6.41

_

6.40

-

6.40

_

6.35

Deceit

_

5.84

_

5.78

_

5.87

-

6.02

-

5.97

_

5.90

_

_

_

_

-

*4,000

_

_

-

_

_

-

ber 19

_

_

_

-

*750

_

_

_

-

_

-

ber 25

_

_

-

_

_

*430

_

-

_

_

_

-

*Mean for the day.
286 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Dormer Creek near Truckee, Calif.

Location.- Lat. 39° 19'15", long. 1200 12'10", in SE£ sec. 16, T. 17 N., R. 16 E., 1 mile 

below Cold Creek, lj miles southwest of Truckee, Nevada County, and 2 miles below 

Donner Lake. Altitude, about 5,800 feet above mean sea level.

Drainage area.- 29.2 square miles.

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

Maxima.- December 1957; Discharge, 1,800 second-feet 2 p.m. Dec. 11 (gage height, 5.40 

feet, Inside gage; 6.2 feet, outside gage, from floodmarks), determined by slopearea computation.

1902-15, 1928-November 1937: Discharge observed, 980 second-feet Mar. 18, 1907 

(gage height, 5.5 feet, former datum, from nonrecording gage).

Remarks.- Flood run-off partly controlled by outlet gates at Donner Lake. Record of 

changes in storage in lake for period Dec. 1-11 shown below. No record subsequent 

to 8 a.m. Dec. 11; recorder destroyed. Dally discharge for period Dec. 1-11 adjusted for changes in storage in Donner Lake. Most of basic data furnished by 

Truckee-Carson Irrigation District and H. C. Dukes, Federal water master.

Observed mean dally discharge, in second-feet, November 1937 to January 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nov.

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

5

5

Dec.

7

7

6

6

6

7

8

7

6

366

Jan.

31

32

32

31

28

20

14

15

13

13

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Nov.

4

4

4

5

5

5

7

6

5

9

Dec.

1,600

980

715

628

505

243

166

130

101

78

Jan.

13

12

12

16

24

31

32

31

31

41

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Nov.

17

12

9

9

8

7

7

7

6

6

365

Dec.

55

43

40

40

38

34

33

32

30

30

31

11,850

Jan.

54

54

52

52

40

15

13

11

11

12

18

1,590

Contents of lake, gain or loss in storage, and dally discharge, Dee. 1-11, 1937

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Donner Lake

Contents 

(acre-feet)

4,317

4,325

4,334

4,342

4,342

4,350

4,359

4,359

4,565

6,278

6,870

Gain or loss 

(acre-feet)

+8

+8

+9

+8

0

+8

+9

0

+206

.+1,713

+592

Donner Creek

Observed discharge 

(second-feet)

7

7

6

6

6

7

8

7

6

366

1,600

Adjusted discharge 

(second-feet)

11

11

11

10

6

11

13

7

110

1,230

1,900
THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 287 

SUMMARY OF FLOOD DISCHARGES

In table 4 of this report are assembled the results of the determinations of maximum flood flows at existing river-measurement stations and at a few other places on streams in the basins of northern California. Table 4 gives the following information:

1. Map reference number, applicable to figures 4 to 12 on pages 

13-21, to aid the reader in locating the place where the discharge was 

determined.

2. Name of stream and place of determination of discharge.

3. Drainage area, in square miles, tributary to the stream at the 

place of determination of discharge.

4. Period of record. In general, this information is given only 

for existing river-measurement stations and the initial year is the first 

calendar year for which high water records are available.

5. The date of the maximum discharge previously known and its magnitude in second-feet.

6. The average discharge for the 24 consecutive hours of maximum 

flow, total and per square mile.

7. The day, time of day, and the rate in second-feet, total and per 

square mile, of the maximum momentary peak discharge associated with the 

floods of December 1937. A notation as to the method of determination is 

also included.

For existing river-measurement stations the method of determination 

Is designated "Stage-discharge relation" and is described in greater detail in the records for the respective stations.

Where the maximum discharge was not measured at a regular station, 

a brief reference is made to the method of determination and a discussion 

of each method will be found in the section of this report entitled 

"Determination of flood discharges."

The reader should consult the section "Records of previous floods" 

for possible additional references to notable floods not included in the 

summary table.

The basic data and computations for the determinations of discharge 

are filed in the San Francisco district office of the Geological Survey 

and may be examined there.

Figure 43 shows the maximum peak discharges of the floods of December 

1937 in second-feet per square mile, as given in table 4, plotted against 

the corresponding drainage area.
THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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SUMMARY OP FLOOD DISCHARGES 289

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290 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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Meroed Birer Basin

Itereed Elver at Happy Isles Bridge, near 

Tosemite

Meroed Blver at Pehono Bridge, near Yosemite 

Meroed Blver at Kittrldge 

Meroed Blver at Exchequer 

Meroed Biver near Livingston

Tenaya Creek near Tosemite

Orestlmba Creek Basin 

Orestimba Creek near Neman

tuolnmne River Basin 

Tuolwone Biver near Hetoh Hetehy

Tuolutme Biver above La Orange Dam, near 

La Orange

Falls Creek near Hetoh Hetohy 

Cherry Creek near Hetoh Hetohy 

Eleanor Creek near Hetoh Hetehy

South Fork of Tnolnmne Blver near Oakland 

Beoreatlon Camp

Middle Juolumne Blver near Book Meadows 

Woods Creek near Jacksonville

Stanislaus River Basin

Middle Fork of Stanislaus Blver at Sand Bar 

Flat, near Avery

a Stage-disoharge relation.

b Begulated; not adjusted for storage.

d Flow over dam.

Ill

181

321

935

1,035

1,245

47

129

462

1,540

45.2

111

e80

87.6

71.0

98.4

6318

-

1915-1937

1916-1937

1922-1937

1915-1937

1922-1924 

1926-1937

1904-1909 

1912-1937

1932-1937

1915-1937

1915-1937

1915-1937

1910-1937

1910-1937

1923-1937

1917-1937

1925-1937

1905-1937

-

May 28, 1919

June 5, 1922

Feb. 6, 1937

Jan. 17, 1916

Feb. 24, 1936

May 28, 1919

Feb. 8, 1932

Jane 16, 1929

liar. 25, 1928

liar. 25, 1928

June 16, 1929

liar. 25, 1928

Apr. 8, 1935

May 28, 1919

Feb. 6, 1937

liar. 19, 1907

-

3,800

6,370

33,200

22,000

helO,900

1,730

3,440

1)12,000

b38,100

1,740

7,750

b6 ,400

62,850

1,330

10,600

9,760

915

5,500

17,400

36,000

p

b

3,690

1,190

b

b

4,260

12,200

b6 ,020

3,220

1,520

1,910

b

e Bevlsed.

f Slope-area computation.

g Ho record.

h H

1 C

j C

k C
THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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SUMMARY OP FLOOD DISCHARGES 293

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294 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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Middle Fork of Tuba Hirer near North San Joan

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Oregon Creek near North San Joan

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North Fork of American Hirer at Rattlesnake 

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699

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134

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207

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118

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6.2

1925-1937

1911-1937

1911-1937

1927-1937

1925-1934 

1935-1937

1911-1937

1903-1937

1911-1937

1911-1913 

1923-1937

1930-1937

-

1927-1937

1935-1937

1928-1937

1911-1937

1930-1937

1904-1937 

1911-1937

1922-1937

 1922-1937

1929-1937

1922-1937.

Mar. 26, 1928

Mar. 26, 1928

Mar. 26, 1928

Mar. 26, 1928

Mar. 25, 1928

Mar. 25, 1928

Mar. 26, 1928

Mar. 25, 1928

Mar. 25, 1928

Feb. 21, 1936

|

June 6, 1936

Feb. 4, 1937

Apr. 8, 1935

Mar. 25, 1928

Apr. 8, 1935

liar. 25, 1928 

Mar. 19, 1907 

Mar. 25, 1928

Mar. 25, 1928

Mar. 25, 1928

Apr. 8, 1935

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296 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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300 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

STORAGE

Run-off of many California streams is affected by storage. The 

effect in terms of inches in depth over various drainage areas is discussed in the section on "Rainfall and run-off studies'1 . Basic data 

for practically all important storage reservoirs in northern California 

are given in the section on "Stages and discharges at river-measurement 

stations". Table 5 lists the total available storage capacity of 

reservoirs in northern California. (Footnotes to table 7 in the section on "Rainfall and run-off studies" explain adjustments for storage.)

Table 5.--Total available storage capacity of reservoirs 

in northern California, by drainage basins

Available storage 

Basin and stream capacity

(acre-feet)

San Joaquin Basin

Kern River ................. a205,000

Kaweah River ................ 1,150

Kings River ................. 4,720

San Joaquin River (above Friant)....... 339,100

Merced River. ................ 289,600

Tuolumne River ............... 684,700

Stanislaus River. .............. 170,800

Calaveras River ............... 89,700

Mokelumne River ............... 385,600

Cosumnes River. ............... 1,200

Sacramento Basin

Pit River .................. 232,000

Stony Creek ................. 101,200

Feather River (including Yuba and Bear) . . . 1,792,300

Cache Creek (Clear Lake). .......... 375,000

Putah Creek ................. 1,700

American River ............... 57,400

Miscellaneous ................ 14,500

North Pacific Basins

Eel River .................. 74,600

Shasta River. ................ 72,000

Trinity River ................ 1,200

The Great Basin

Truckee River (including Lake Tahoe). .... 759,000

Carson River ................ 7,900

Walker River ................ 51,000

Owens River ................. 99,300

a Buena Vista Reservoir, former natural terminus of 

river.

Storage reservoirs in California regulate surface run-off for many 

purposes, including municipal use, irrigation, hydro-electric power, flood 

control, navigation, replenishment of underground reservoirs at a controlled rate, assistance in salinity control near tide water, and various 

combinations of these uses. Some of the uses may be harmoniously combined, others are in conflict, but whatever the use some advantage
STORAGE 301

generally accrues for flood control. Even if a reservoir is full at the 

time of a flood peak there will generally be some reduction in momentary 

maximum owing to increased channel storage in the section of the river 

channel occupied by the reservoir.

Daily gage height (or elevation) and daily contents for the threemonth period November 1, 1937, to January 31, 1938, are presented in 

this report for the following reservoirs:

San Jpaquin River Basin. Florence Lake on South Pork of San Joaquin 

River; Huntington Lake on Big Creek; Shaver Lake on Stevenson Creek; Lake 

McClure on Merced River; Hetch Hetchy Reservoir on Tuoluxnne River; Don 

Pedro Reservoir on Tuolumne River; Lake Eleanor on Eleanor Creek; Melones 

Reservoir on Stanislaus River; Salt Springs Reservoir on North Fork of 

Mokelumne River.

Sacramento River Basin.--Stony Gorge on Stony Creek; Lake Almanor on 

North Pork of Feather River; Bucks Creek Storage Reservoir on Bucks Creek; 

Bowman Lake on Canyon Creek; Lake Spaulding on South Fork of Yuba River.

Eel River Basin. Lake Pillsbury on Eel River.

Less complete data are given for the following reservoirs not listed 

above: Clear Lake on Cache Creek; Lake Tahoe on Truckee River; Bridgeport 

Reservoir on East Walker River.

Data for the foregoing two groups are presented under the names of 

the respective reservoirs in the same order as the river-measurement stations. Some reservoir information for the flood period is also given in 

connection with following stream-flow records:

San Joaquin River Basin. North Fork of Willow Creek near Crane 

Valley Reservoir (Crane Valley Reservoir); South Fork of Stanislaus River 

at Strawberry Reservoir (Strawberry Reservoir); South Fork of Stanislaus 

River below Lyons Dam (Lyons Reservoir); Calaveras River at Jenny Lind 

(Hogan Reservoir); Mokelumne River at Lancha Plana (Pardee Reservoir).

Sacramento River Basin. Concow Creek near Yankee Hill (Lake 

Wilenor); Twin Lakes Outlet near Kirkwood (Twin Lakes Reservoir); Silver 

Lake Outlet near Kirkwood (Silver Lake).

San Francisco Bay. Alameda Creek near Niles (Calaveras Reservoir).

The Great Basin.--Carson River at Lahontan Reservoir (Lahontan 

Reservoir); Dormer Creek near Truckee (Dormer Lake).
302 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Examples of effect of storage 

San Joaquin River

The most notable effect of storage during the flood of December 1937 

was on the lower San Joaquin River. At the river-measurement station on 

the San Joaquin River near Friant, there was on December 11 a momentary 

peak of 77,200 second-feet, by far the highest during the past 30 years 

of record. Friant gaging station is at the edge of the foothills, 278 

miles by river upstream from Collinsville at the junction of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers.

At the gaging station near Vernalis, just upstream from the effect of 

tide and 202 miles by river downstream from Friant, there was practically 

no immediate effect from the upstream flood and a very moderate and 

flattened peak of only 7,960 second-feet on December 26. Between the two 

stations the San Joaquin is joined by many tributaries, including three 

large streams, the Merced, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Rivers. The remarkable reduction of the momentary peak discharge from 77,300 second-feet to 

7,960 second-feet was associated with a similar falling-off in flood 

volume. The reduction was caused by a combination of natural and artificial storage. Four large reservoirs on three main tributaries were 

practically empty on December 9, as were many miles of channels and 

sloughs and many square miles of lowlands between Friant and Vernalis, 

hence they supplied a large volume of storage capacity to hold the flood 

waters.

Lake McClure on the Merced River has a capacity of 282,000 acrefeet; Melones Reservoir on the Stanislaus River, 113,000 acre-feet; Hetch 

Hetchy Reservoir on the Tuolumne River, 360,000 acre-feet; Don Pedro 

Reservoir on the Tuolumne River, 290,000 acre-feet. None of these filled 

during the December storm but they showed a gain in storage of 446,000 

acre-feet. Many smaller reservoirs stored their proportional part of the 

flood.

Although the peak at Friant was by far the largest for the 30 years 

of record, it also was reduced by storage. Florence Lake, Huntington 

Lake, Shaver Lake, and Crane Valley Reservoir, in the headwaters of the 

San Joaquin, gained a total of 30,000 acre-feet during the flood period.

The eight largest reservoirs upstream from Vernalis therefore detained 476,000 acre-feet of water. It appears, therefore, that very 

material contribution to flood control was furnished by the eight large 

reservoirs in San Joaquin River Basin, although they were built primarily 

for ower and irrigation use and not for flood nont:T«r.i.
EXAMPLES OP EFFECT OF STORAGE 303

The total available artificial storage in reservoirs upstream from 

Vernalis is about 1,500,000 acre-feet. The natural storage available 

in channels, sloughs, and overflow areas, plus seepage loss to underground basins, is unknown in amount but without doubt was very large and 

was a major factor in avoiding a serious flood on the lower San Joaquin. 

The flow past Vernalis during the period December 8 to 25 was only 

208,000 acre-feet.

Past records show that most major storms come later in the season 

than the storm of December 9-13, 1937, and it is reasonable to assume 

that at times of floods these reservoirs would ordinarily be at least 

partly full and so contribute less toward reducing the flood damage in 

the San Joaquin Valley.

It is now a matter of record, that the lower San Joaquin River did 

receive the highest water in many years during March and again in June, 

1938. Many reservoirs were filled by the middle of March, most of them 

were overflowing by June, and the San Joaquin River then resembled a 

lake for the 244 miles from Skaggs Bridge to mouth.

Another example of effect of storage worthy of mention was at Hogan 

Reservoir on the Calaveras River, which has a capacity of 76,000 acrefeet. This is one of very few reservoirs in California constructed 

primarily for flood control, and open ports were built into the dam. 

Its effect is shown by the record at the river-measurement station on 

the Calaveras River at Jenny Lind. While neighboring streams were experiencing high and sharp flood peaks on December 11, the maximum at 

Jenny Lind was only 3,370 second-feet. The peak would have been even 

lower except for unregulated inflow along several miles of channel between the reservoir and Jenny Lind. The mean discharge for December 11 

was 2,040 second-feet, and for December 12, 3,100 second-feet. After 

adjusting for storage effect the respective mean discharges are 5,570 

and 1,200 second-feet. The peak discharge, adjusted for storage, is 

problematical. Before construction of the reservoir there was a peak 

flow of 36,800 second-feet on February 6, 1925, and 17,300 second-feet 

was recorded on March 25, 1928. A discharge of about 69,600 second-feet 

was reported for January 31, 1911.

Reservoirs on the Mokelumne River prevented a flood of considerable 

size, although they were built for purposes other than flood control. 

Salt Springs Reservoir (capacity, 130,000 acre-feet) and Pardee Reservoir (capacity, 210,000 acre-feet) did not spill. Together, they detained 85,000 acre-feet during the flood period. Smaller reservoirs in
304 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

the Mokelumne Basin stored some additional water. Consequently, peak 

discharge at the river-measurement station on the Mokelumne River near 

Lancha Plana was only the 2,150 second-feet released at Pardee Dam.

Sacramento River

In contrast with the fortunate situation on the lower San Joaquin 

River, serious flood conditions prevailed during December 1937 throughout the length of the Sacramento River. The ratio of available storage 

to volume of run-off is much lower in the Sacramento Basin than in the 

San Joaquin. In addition, the antecedent period had been very wet in 

the northern part of the Sacramento Valley, but relatively dry in the 

San Joaquin.

Lake Almanor on the North Pork of Feather River gained 69,800 acrefeet during the storm period; Lake Spaulding on the South Fork of Yuba 

River, 31,000 acre-feet from 5 p.m. December 9 to 8 a.m. December 11, 

when it started to spill, and Bucks Creek storage reservoir on Bucks 

Creek, 18,100 acre-feet. These were the only instances of comparatively 

large storage detention. Many small reservoirs, especially in the 

Feather River Basin, filled and spilled during the flood period.

The total capacity of all reservoirs in the Sacramento Basin is 

about 2,600,000 acre-feet, but far less than this amount was actually 

available, for three reasons. Many reservoirs were partly filled at 

the beginning of the December Ltorm. Some of the "hold over" or cyclic 

reservoirs are never filled by any one flood. Several reservoirs, in Pit 

River Basin particularly, are in areas that seldom contribute surface 

run-off to the Basin's main stream.

The effect of storage on each of the principal tributaries of the 

Sacramento River is summarized as follows.

On the Pit River there are 83 reservoirs with combined capacity of 

232,000 acre-feet. However, it is estimated that only about 93,000 acrefeet of flood waters had been detained at the end of the flood period, 

and consequently storage had relatively little effect on either the flood 

peak or the total flood run-off of the Pit River.

The Feather River, upstream from the Yuba River, has 31 reservoirs 

with a combined capacity of 1,522,000 acre-feet. This includes Lake 

Almanor with a capacity of 1,308,000 acre-feet, which has never been 

fully utilized. It is estimated that about 80,000 acre-feet were detained above Oroville between December 9 and 20. The effect on the peak 

discharge of the Feather River was very slight.
EXAMPLES OP EFFECT OF STORAGE 305

The Yuba River has 39 storage reservoirs with a capacity of about 

256,000 acre-feet and the Bear River, five with 15,000 acre-feet. It is 

estimated that 82,500 acre-feet was detained on the Yuba and 7,000 on 

the Bear during the December storm. Storage upstream from the gaging 

station on Yuba River at Smartville was proportionately larger than on 

some of the other Sacramento tributaries and probably reduced the peak 

by an appreciable amount.

In Cache Creek Basin, Clear Lake with a capacity of about 375,000 

acre-feet at a gage height of 9 feet, held 131,000 acre-feet more on 

December 20 than on December 10 and therefore materially affected the 

flow at the gaging station on Cache Creek at Yolo.

The American River has 16 reservoirs, including minor ones, with a 

combined capacity of about 57,000 acre-feet. It is estimated that they 

detained 28,000 to 30,000 acre-feet during the high water period.

The Sacramento River upstream from the Pit River has practically 

no storage.

Minor basins from the Pit down to the Feather have storage amounting to 114,000 acre-feet. Minor basins from the Feather to the American 

have reservoirs with capacities of about 1,800 acre-feet, and Putah Creek 

Basin about 1,700 acre-feet. The amount detained in these is problematical but was certainly small in comparison with the total flood runoff.

On December 20 there was possibly 480,000 acre-feet more in storage 

in artificial reservoirs in the Sacramento River Basin, than on 

December 10.

Run-off past Sacramento in the main channel of the Sacramento River, 

plus flow in Yolo by-pass December 10 to 20, was 3,100,000 acre-feet. 

Therefore, artificial storage was only about 15 per cent and played a 

small part in the results in the lower Sacramento Valley.

Areas outside the Central Valley

In Santa Clara Valley, storage on streams tributary to San Francisco 

Bay played an important part. During 1935 and 1936 the Santa Clara 

Valley Water Conservation District constructed reservoirs on Coyote, 

Guadalupe, Stevens, Los Gatos, and Almaden Creeks, and Calero Reservoir, 

holding foothill storage supplied by a. canal from Almaden Reservoir. 

These reservoirs were built to detain storm waters and release them at a 

rate slow enough to replenish natural underground storage. None of these 

reservoirs filled during the December flood and therefore the run-off of
306 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

none of the streams named approached previous flood peaks at gaging 

stations downstream from the reservoirs. At the end of the flood period 

they contained 19,200 acre-feet more than at the beginning.

In the North Pacific area, flood discharge at gaging stations was 

not appreciably affected by storage.

In the Great Basin area, Lake Tahoe is the outstanding storage 

reservoir. The gates in the dam at the outlet of the Lake were closed 

throughout the December storm period. Without this regulation of the runoff from 519 square miles of the Upper Truckee Basin, the flood would have 

been much more serious at Iceland and points farther downstream.

RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 

General discussion

In connection with the outstanding floods of March 1936 in northeastern United States and of January 1937 in the Ohio and Mississippi 

Rivers, detailed analyses were made in order to develop some of the significant features of the relation between rainfall and run-off.

The results of these studies are published in Water Supply Papers 

798, 799, 800, and 838. A second objective, probably of equal importance, was to use the results of the analyses, so far as practicable, 

in checking the accuracy or reasonableness of the basic data published 

ir) the reports and in furnishing a background of information that is 

useful in consideration of the deficiencies in the basic meteorologic 

and hydrologic data and of measures to supply them. The analyses 

herein, relating to the storm and floods of December 1937 in northern 

California, have been carried on with the same objectives in view.

As it is evident that altitude, especially along the western face 

of the Sierra Nevada, was a factor of major importance in affecting the 

magnitude of the precipitation and its occurrence as rain or snow, the 

drainage basins have been broken down into altitude zones and the areas 

in each zone determined approximately. Table 6 shows for each basin the 

approximate number of square miles lying above an altitude of 9,000 feet, 

between 7,000 and 9,000 feet, between 5,000 and 7,000 feet, and below 

5,000 feet. These determinations are useful in explaining rainfall and 

run-off characteristics and may be of value in future studies relating 

to the run-off and flood potentialities of the Sierra Nevada. For detail studies in any individual basin, large scale topographic maps 

should be used, as the areas given in table 6 are only approximate.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES

Table 6. Drainage areas, in square miles, between selected altitudes 

along western slope of the Sierra Nevada

No. 

on 

fig5-7

301

302

303

304

305

306

307

308

309

310

311

312

313

315

317

318

322

323

324

326

327

329

330

331

332

333

334

335

336

337

338

339

340

341

343

344

345

348

350

351

352

354

355

356

357

Stream and point of measurement

Kern River Basin

Kern River near Kernvllle

Kern River above Kern Canyon power house

Kern River near Bakersfield

South Fork of Kern River near Onyx

South Fork of Kern River at Isabella

Tulare Lake Basin

Tule River near Porterville

South Fork Tule River near Success

Kaweah River near Three Rivers

North Fork Kaweah River at Kaweah

Kings River above North Pork

Kings River at Pledra

North Fork of Kings River near Cliff Camp

North Pork of Kings River below Rancherla

Creek

San Joaquin River Basin

San Joaquin River above Big Creek

San Joaquin River near Prlant

San Joaquin River below Skaggs Bridge

South Fork San Joaquin River near Florence

Lake

Bear Greek near Vermilion Valley

Mono Creek near Vermilion Valley

Big Creek below Huntlngton Lake

Pitman Creek below Tamarack Creek

North Fork of Willow Creek at Crane Valley

Reservoir

Big Sandy Creek near Auberry

Pine Gold Creek near Frlant

Cottonwood Creek near Friant

Little Dry Creek near Friant

Presno River Basin

Fresno River near Knowles

Fresno River near Daulton

Chowchllla River Basin

Chowchllla River at Buchanan dam site

Bear Creek Basin

Bear Creek near Planada

Mariposa Creek near Le Grand

Merced River Basin

Merced River at Happy Isles Bridge, near

Yosemlte

Merced River at Pohono Bridge, near Yosemite

Merced River at Kittrldge

Merced River at Exchequer

Merced River near ELvTHgston

Tenaya Creek near Yosemlte

Tuolumne River Basin

Tuolumne River near Hetoh Hetchy

Tuolumne River above La Grange Dam, near

La Grange

Falls Creek near Hetch Hetchy

Cherry Creek near Hetch Hetchy

Eleanor Creek near Hetch Hetchy

South Pork of Tuolumne River near Oakland

Recreation Camp

Middle Tuolumne River near Buck Meadows

Woods Creek near Jacksonville

Total 

area*

845

2,310

2,420

531

985

266

106

520

128

956

1,694

174

225

1,042

1,632

1,760

171

54

92

80

22

51

34

89

38

58

132

258

238

161

111

181

321

935

1,035

1,245

47

462

1,540

45

111

80

88

71

98

Partial area*

Above 

9,000 

feet

361

455

455

92

92

4

0

65

Z

424

547

98

102

440

463

463

140

43

70

23

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

96

117

124

124

124

6

220

254

19

22

7

0

0

0

7,000 

to 

9,000 

feet

252

590

590

260

288

40

12

126

30

258

397

70

87

300

401

401

31

11

22

53

21

9

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

69

168

262

262

262

36

165

340

20

59

42

17

26

0

5,000 

to 

7,000 

feet

185

661

666

160

338

71

32

129

37

172

262

6

19

219

338

338

0

0

0

4

0

19

0

0

0

0

14

14

5

0

0

16

27

166

166

166

4

55

313

6

23

26

44

19

0

Below 

5,000 

feet

47

604

709

19

267

151

62

200

59

102

488

0

17

83

430

558

0

0

0

0

0

23

34

89

38

58

118

244

233

161

111

0

9

383

483

693

1

22

633

0

7

5

27

26

98

* Area given to the nearest square mile.
THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Table 6. Drainage areas In square miles between 

along western slope of the Sierra Nevadaselected altitudes 

-Continued

No. 

on 

fig. 

7-9

358

360

361

362

363

364

365

367

368

369

370

371

372

373

374

375

376

377

378

401

402

404

406

407

408

409

410

411

412

413

414

417

420

421

424

426

423

429

430

432

433

434

Stream and point of measurement

San Joaquln River Basin Continued

Stanislaus River Basin

Middle Fork of Stanislaus River at Sand Bar

Flat, near Avery

Stanislaus River below Melones power house

North Fork of Stanislaus River near Avery

South Fork of Stanislaus River at

Strawberry Reservoir

South Fork of Stanislaus River below Lyons

Dam

Calaveras River Basin

Calaveras River at Jenny Llnd

Cosgrove Creek near Valley Springs

Mokelumne River Basin

North Fork of Mokelumne River below Salt

Springs Dam

Mokelumne River near Mokelumne Hill

Mokelumne River at Lancha Plana

Mokelumne River near Clements

Mokelumne River at Woodbrldge

Cold Creek near Mokelumne Peak

Bear River at Pardoe Camp

Middle Fork of Mokelumne River at West Point

South Fork of Mokelumne River near West Point

Sutter Creek near Sutter Creek

North Fork of Cosumnes River near El Dorado

Cosumnes River at Michigan Bar

Sacramento River Basin

Sacramento River at Antler

Sacramento River at Kennett

Sacramento River near Red Bluff

Pit River Basin

Pit River near Canby

Pit River at Fall River Mills

Pit River below Pit No, 4 dam

Pit River at Big Bend

Pit River near Ydalpom

South Fork of Pit River near Likely

Hat Creek near Hat Creek

McCloud River near McCloud

McCloud River at Baird

Mill Creek Basin

Mill Creek near Los Molinos

Deer Creek Basin

Deer Creek near Vina

Chico Creek Basin

Chioo Creek near Chico

Butte Creek Basin

Butte Creek near Chico

Feather River Basin

North Fork of Feather River near Prattville

Feather River near Oroville

Indian Creek near Crescent Mills

Spanish Oreek at Keddie

Bucks Creek at Bucks Creek storage reservoir

Grizzly Creek near Storrie

West Branch of Feather River near Yankee Hill

Total 

area*

318

898

163

46

67

395

21

160

538

584

630

644

23

33

67

74

51

202

537

461

6,600

9,300

1,430

4,150

4,860

4,920

5,350

248

155

388

668

134

200

68

148

507

3,611

746

184

28

6

145

Partial area*

Above 

9,000 

feet

57

63

0

5

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

9

9

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

5

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

7,000 

to 

9,000 

feet

130

239

76

30

30

0

0

119

154

154

154

154

14

19

0

0

0

4

9

7

103

121

77

77

83

83

83

42

17

6

13

14

0

0

0

9

23

0

0

0

0

0

5,000 

to 

7,000 

feet

101

214

67

11

19

0

0

35

137

137

137

137

9

14

20

20

0

46

79

107

2,308

2,374

932

1,908

2,082

2,082

2,082

206

101

106

119

24

44

4

47

307

1,907

577

51

28

6

46

Below 

5,000 

feet

30

382

20

0

13

395

21

6

247

293

339

353

0

0

47

54

51

152

449

343

4,180

6,796

421

2,165

2,695

2,755

3,185

0

37

274

531

96

156

64

101

191

1,681

169

133

0

0

99

» Area given to the nearest square mile.
RAINFALL AUD RUN-OFF STUDIES 309

Table 6. Drainage areas, in square miles, between selected altitudes 

along western slope of the Sierra Nevada Continued

No. 

on 

fig. 

9-12

435

436

437

438

439

440

441

442

443

444

445

447

449

450

451

452

454

455

456

457

458

459

460

461

462

463

464

465

466

467

601

602

603

604

605

606

Stream and point of measurement

Sacramento River Basin Continued

Feather River Basin Continued

Concow Creek near Yankee Hill

Middle Fork of Feather River near Clio

Middle Fork of Feather River at Bidwell Bar

South Fork of Feather River at Enterprise

Lost Creek near Clipper Mills

Yuba River Basin

Middle Fork of Yuba River at Milton

Middle Fork of Yuba River near North San Juan

Yuba River at Smartville

Oregon Creek near North San Juan

North Fork of Yuba River near Sierra City

North Fork of Yuba River below Ooodyears Bar

South Fork of Yuba River at Lake Spaulding

Canyon Creek below Bowman Lake

Deer Creek near Smartville

Bear River near Wheatland

American River Basin

North Fork of American River near Colfax

American River at Fair Oaks

Middle Fork of American River near Auburn

South Fork of American River near Kyburz

South Fork of American River near Camino

South Fork of American River at Coloma

Medley Lakes outlet near Vade

Silver Lake outlet near Kirkwood

Silver Fork of South Fork of American River

near Kyburz

Twin Lakes outlet near Kirkwood

Alder Creek near Whitehall

Plum Creek near Riverton

Silver Creek at Union Valley

Silver Creek near Placerville

South Fork of Silver Creek near Ice House

The Great Basinf

Owens River Basin

Owens River near Round Valley

Rock Creek at Sherwin Hill, near Bishop

Pine Creek at division box, near Bishop

Big Pine Oreek below Little Pine Creek, near

Big Pine

Independence Creek at Independence

Tuttle Creek at Canyon Road, near Lone Pine

Total 

area*

15

699

1,353

134

30

41

207

1,201

35

91

244

118

32

84

295

308

1,921

619

196

497

635

6

15

108

12

23

7

83

176

28

450

52

38

40

18

9

Partial area*

Above 

9,000 

feet

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5

0

0

0

4

3

0

0

0

1

1

96

36

30

26

10

4

7,000 

to 

9,000 

feet

0

10

10

0

0

14

14

80

0

16

16

50

4

0

0

20

242

76

114

146

146

6

15

58

9

0

0

21

32

10

264

8

6

8

3

1

5,000 

to 

7,000 

feet

0

492

769

61

5

27

79

435

3

70

150

68

28

0

2

114

545

242

76

189

189

0

0

43

0

21

5

49

91

17

89

8

2

5

3

2

Below 

5,000 

feet

15

197

574

73

25

0

114

686

32

5

78

0

0

84

293

174

1,134

301

6

157

300

0

0

3

0

2

2

13

52

0

1

0

0

1

2

2

* Area given to the nearest square mile, 

t Eastern slope of Sierra Nevada.
310 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

In certain respects the characteristics of the storm of December 

1937 and resulting flood run-off were simple. The storm period was 

short and relatively isolated from antecedent and subsequent storm 

periods, making it possible to determine definitely the precipitation 

associated with the flood. There had been little precipitation for 15 

days prior to December 9, and the stream discharges at the beginning 

of the storm consisted largely of outflow from ground water. The rise 

in stages was pronounced, and the recession limbs of the hydrographs 

were not influenced by precipitation that fell after the storm period 

and were influenced only in the higher Sierra Nevada by run-off from 

melting snow, which may have been on the ground on December 12. All 

the direct run-off, not artificially stored, had passed out of the 

basins either into the ocean or into the broad flat reaches of the 

Central Valley by December 20, eight days after the end of the storm.

The determination o_ the direct run-off resulting from the storm 

was, therefore, not complicated either by a lar^e ground-water flow at 

the beginning of the flood rise or by run-off from subsequent 

precipitation.

The method used in arriving at an estimate of the average precipitation in each basin is described under "Meteorologic and hydrologic conditions". (See table 7 and figs. 13-21 for results of the 

determinations.) No attempt has been made to present in tabular form 

any estimates of the water content of the snow that may have been on 

the ground at the beginning of the storm and that may have contributed 

to the flood run-off. Comments about possible contributions from 

melting snow are, however, included in the discussion by drainage 

basins.

The records of mean daily discharge as presented in the section 

entitled "Stages and discharges at river-measurement stations" have 

been used as a basis for the determination of the direct run-off 

resulting from the storm.

A discharge hydrograph was constructed for the record at each rivermeasurement station for the period November 15 to December 31, 1937. 

The hydrograph for the Middle Fork of Feather River at Bidwell Bar 

(fig. 44) shows the general shape of the hydrographs at most of the 

river-measurement stations.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES

Table 7. Rainfall and run-off of flood of December 1937 

(Mean depth, In Inches, over drainage basin)

Ho.

on 

fig. 

4-5

101

102

103

104

105

106

201

202

203

204

205

206

207

208

209

210

211

212

301

302

303

304

305

306

307

308

309

310

Stream and point of measurement

1

Sallnas River Basin

Sallnas River near SantaMargarlta

Sallnas River near Spreckels

San Antonio River at Pleyto

Arroyo Seco near Soledad

Pajaro River Basin

Uvas Creek near Morgan Hill

San Lorenzo -River Basin

San Lorenzo River at Big Trees

San Franclsqulto Creek Basin

San Franclsqulto Creek at

Stanford University

San Franclsqulto Creek at Palo

Alto

Los Trancos Creek at Stanford

University

Stevens Creek Basin

Stevens Creek near Oupertlno

Quadalupe Creek Basin

Ouadalupe Creek at Quadalupe

Quadalupe Creek at San Jose

Alamltos Creek near Edenvale

Los Oat 03 Creek at Los Oatos

Campbell Creek at Saratoga

Coyote Creek Basin

Coyote Creek near Madrone

Coyote Creek near Edenvale

Alameda Creek Basin

Alameda Creek near Nlles

Kern River Basin

Kern River near Kernville

Kern River above Kern Canyon

power house

Kern River near Bakersfield

South Fork of Kern River near

Onyx

South Fork of Kern River at

Isabella

Tula re Lake Basin

Tule River near Portervllle

South Fork of Tule River near

Success

Kaweah River near Three Rivers

North Fork of Kaweah River at

Kaweah

Kings River above North Fork

Drainage

area 

(square 

miles)

2

150

4,180

282

238

30.2

110

37.7

38.6

7.5

18.1

12.6

131

35

40

8.8

193

229

633

845

2,310

2,420

531

985

266

106

520

128

956

Precipitation 

Dec. 9-12

3

3.3

4.8

7.7

10.6

18.0

17.1

6.7

6.6

6.8

11.2

12.1

10.9

11.9

14.5

14.9

7.2

7.4

5.2

7.8

5.3

5.1

4.3

3.7

9.4

6.7

11.9

12.4

8.1

Direct run-off

associated

with total

storm period

Observed

4

0.5

.25

.9

1.75

8.9

2.25

.9

.8

.2

.3

1.3

1.55

1.9

4.15

2.35

.3

.35

.4

.4

.15

.25

.15

.1

1.1

.35

1.85

1.6

1.1

Adjusted 

for

storage

5

0.5

.25

.9

1.75

8.9

2.25

al.3

al.2

b.6

cl.3

d4.35

82.45

f4.0

4.15

2.35

gl.45

gl.3

h.75

1.65

J.25

.25

.15

.1

1.1

.35

1.85

1.6

1.1

Col. 3

minus 

col. 5

6

2.8

4.55

6.8

8.85

9.1

14.85

5.4

5.4

6.2

9.9

7.75

8.45

7.9

10.35

12.55

5.75

6.1

4.45

7.15

5.05

4.85

4.15

3.6

8.3

6.35

10.05

10.80

7.0

a Adjusted for storage in Searsvllle Lake plus diversions into Los Trancos 

and Lagunita canals.

b Adjusted for diversion into Los Trancos canal.

c Adjusted for storage In Stevens Creek Reservoir.

d Adjusted for storage in Guadalupe Creek Reservoir.

e Adjusted for storage in Calero, Almaden, Vasona, and Guadalupe Reservoirs.

f Adjusted for storage In Calero and Almaden Reservoirs.

g Adjusted for storage in Coyote Reservoir.

h Adjusted for storage In Calaveras Reservoir plus diversions for San 

Francisco water supply.

i Adjusted for flow through Kern River No. 3 canal.

J Adjusted for flow through Kern Canyon power house.
THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Table 7. Rainfall and run-off of flood of December 1937 Continued 

(Mean depth, in Inches, over drainage basin)

No.

on 

fig. 

5-7

311

312

313

314

315

317

318

322

323

324

326

327

329

330

331

332

333

334

335

336

337

338

339

340

341

345

346

348

350

351

352

354

Stream and point of measurement

1

Tulare Lake Basin Continued

Kings River at Plectra

North Pork of Kings River near

Cliff Camp

North Pork of Kings River below

Rancheria Creek

Los Gatos Creek near Coalinga

San Joaquin River Basin

San Joaquin River above Big Creek

San Joaquin River near Priant

San Joaquin River below Skaggs

Bridge

South Pork of San Joaquin River

near Florence Lake

Bear Creek near Vermillion Valley

Mono Creek near Vermillion Valley

Big Creek below Huntington Lake

Pitman Creek below Tamarack Creek

North Pork of Willow Creek at

Crane Valley Reservoir

Big Sandy Creek near Auberry

Pine Gold Creek near Priant

Cottonwool Creek near Priant

Little Dry Creek near Priant

Presno River Basin

Presno River near Knowles

Presno River near Daulton

Chowchilla River Basin

Chowchilla River at Buchanan

dam site

Bear Creek Basin

Bear Creek near Planada

Mariposa Creek near Le Grand

Merced River Basin

Merced River at Happy Isles

Bridge

Merced River at Pohono Bridge,

near Yosemite

Merced River at Kittridge

Tenaya Creek near Yosemlte

Orestimba Creek Basin

Orestimba Creek near Newman

Tuolumne River Basin

Tuolumne River near Hetoh Hetchy

Tuolunme River above La Grange

Dam, near La Grange

Palls Creek near Hetch Hetchy

Cherry Creek near Hetch Hetchy

Eleanor Creek near Hetch Hetchy

Drainage

area 

(square 

miles)

2

1,694

174

225

105

1,042

1,632

1,760

171

54

92

80

22

51

34

89

38

58

132

258

238

161

111

181

321

935

47

129

462

1,540

45.2

111

80

Precipitation 

Dec. 9-12

3

9.7

13.4

13.2

4.2

8.8

9.3

9.0

8.4

6.4

6.0

9.9

12.7

15.5

8.7

8.4

4.4

6.3

11.0

8.7

7.7

3.8

5.5

12.1

12.2

11.7

12.7

4.7

10.0

9.5

11.4

11.8

12.9

Direct run-off

associated

with total

storm period

Observed

4

1.5

-

-

.15

1.85

1.6

1.15

0

.45

.4

0

2.35

-

.85

1.05

.05

.1

.75

.45

0.65

.45

.4

2.0

3.55

2.25

4.95

.4

.45

.4

6.75

9.05

4.6

Adjusted 

for

storage

5

1.5

-

-

.15

k2.05

ml. 85

ml. 45

nl.15

.45

.4

03.05

2.35

p3«0

.85

1.05

.05

.1

.75

.45

0.65

.45

.4

2.0

3.55

2.25

4.95

.4

q3.3

r3.4

6.75

9.05

s9.6

Col. 3

minus 

col. 5

6

8.2

-

-

4.05

6.75

7.45

7.55

7.25

5.95

5.6

6.85

10.35

12.5

7.85

7.35

4.35

6.2

10.25

8.25

7.05

3.35

5.1

10.1

8.65

9.45

7.75

4.3

6.7

6.1

4.65

2.75

3.3

k Adjusted for storage In Florence Lake Reservoir and flow of Ward tunnel 

at outlet.

m Adjusted for storage in Florence Lake, Shaver Lake, Huntington Lake, and 

Crane Valley Reservoir.

n Adjusted for storage in Florence Lake Reservoir plus diversion to Ward 

tunnel at Intake.

o Adjusted for storage in Huntington Lake and for diversions.

p Adjusted for storage In Crane Valley Reservoir and for diversions.

q Adjusted for storage In Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

r Adjusted for storage In Don Pedro, Hetch Hetchy, and Eleanor Reservoirs, 

but not for some negligible diversions.

s Adjusted for storage In Lake Eleanor.
RAINFALL AND ROT-OFF STUDIES

Table 7. Rainfall and run-off of flood 

(Mean depth, in inches, over

of December 1937 Continued 

drainage basin)

No.

on 

f7lg "

355

356

357

358

360

361

362

363

364

365

367

368

369

370

371

372

373

374

375

376

377

378

Stream and point of measurement

1

San Joaquin River Basin Continued

Tuolumne River Basin Continued

South Pork of Tuolumne River

near Oakland Recreation Camp

Middle Tuolumne River near Buck

Meadows

Woods Creek near Jacksonville

Stanislaus River Basin

Middle Pork of Stanislaus River

at Sand Bar Plat, near Avery

Stanislaus River below Melones

power house

North Pork of Stanislaus River

near Avery

South Pork of Stanislaus River

at Strawberry Reservoir

South Pork of Stanislaus River

below Lyons Dam

Calaveras River Basin

Calaveras River at Jenny Lind

Cosgrove Creek near Valley

Springs

Mokelumne River Basin

North Pork of Mokelumne River

below Salt Springs Dam

Mokelumne River near Mokelumne

Hill

Mokelumne River at Lancha Plana

Mokelumne River near Clements

Mokelumne River at Woodbridge

Cold Creek near Mokelumne Peak

Bear River at Pardoe Camp

Middle Pork of Mokelumne River

at West Point

South Pork of Mokelumne River

near West Point

Sutter Creek near Sutter Creek

North Pork of Cosumnes River

near El Dorado

Cosumnes River at Michigan Bar

Drainage

area 

(square 

miles )

2

88

71

98

316

898

163

45.5

67

395

20.6

160

538

584

630

644

23

33

67

74

51

202

537

Precipitation 

Dec. 9-12

3

11.1

10.9

6.4

9.3

9.4

9.8

11.4

11.1

6.0

3.6

7.9

8.6

8.2

7.8

7.7

9.2

9.4

9.1

10.0

5.5

8.3

7.0

Direct run-off

associated

with total

storm period

Observed

4

1.9

1.3

1.0

3.8

1.0

5.05

-

.45

.75

.25

0.6

1.25

.5

.5

.45

7.35

5.9

.8

.85

.45

.9

.8

Adjusted 

for

storage

5

1.9

1.3

1.0

t4.3

u3.4

V6.0

W5.25

X5.65

y.75

.25

Z9.35

aa3.85

ab3.65

ab3.35

ac3.25

7.35

ad9.65

.8

.85

.45

.9

.8

Col. 3

minus 

col. 5

6

9.2

9.6

5.4

5.0

6.0

3.8

6.15

5.45

5.25

3.35

-1.45

4.75

4.55

4.45

4.45

1.85

-0.25

8.3

9.15

5.05

7.4

6.2

t Adjusted for storage in Relief Reservoir on basis of an estimate that 60 

percent of reservoir capacity was filled during period Dec. 9-20. Not adjusted for 

small inflow in Philadelphia ditch.

u Adjusted for storage in Melones Reservoir plus 60 percent of combined 

capacities of Relief, North Pork, Big Dam, Upper Strawberry, Strawberry Lake, Herring 

Creek,and Lyons Reservoirs.

v Adjusted on basis of an estimated change in storage amounting to 60 percent 

of the capacities of Union, Silver Valley, Spicer Meadow, and Hunters Reservoirs. 

Utlca Reservoir was full at the beginning of the storm.

w Computed from change in storage in Strawberry Reservoir for period Dec. 8-19.

x Adjusted for diversions in Tuolumne and Philadelphia ditches and observed 

storage in Lyons and Strawberry Lake Reservoirs plus 60 percent of capacity of Big 

Dam, Upper Strawberry, and Herring Creek Reservoirs.

y Hogan Reservoir detained some run-off and reduced peak but did not change 

total run-off.

z Adjusted for observed storage in Salt Springs Reservoir, estimated storage 

in Blue Lake, Lower Blue, Meadow, and Twin Lake Reservoirs, and diversion to Tiger 

Creek power house conduit.

aa Adjusted for observed storage in Salt Springs Reservoir, estimated storage 

in 4 small reservoirs, and total capacity of Bear River Reservoir.

ab Adjusted for observed storage in Salt Springs and Pardee Reservoirs, diversions to East Bay Municipal Utility District aqueduct, estimated storage in 4 small 

reservoirs, and capacity of Bear River Reservoir.

ac Same as ab. Plow in Woodbridge canal negligible for this period, 

ad Adjusted for storage capacity of Bear River Reservoir.
314 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 193V IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Table 7. Rainfall and run-off of flood of December 1937 Continued 

(Mean depth, In Inches, over drainage basin)

No.

on

fig.

8-9

401

402

404

406

407

408

409

410

411

412

413

414

417

418

419

420

421

422

424

426

428

429

430

432

433

434

Stream and point of measurement

1

Sacramento River Basin

Sacramento River at Antler

Sacramento River at Eennett

Sacramento River near Red Bluff

Pit River Basin

Pit River near Canby

Pit River at Fall River Mills

Pit River below Pit Ho. 4 dam

Pit River at Big Bend

Pit River near Ydalpom

South Fork of Pit River near

Likely

Hat Creek near Hat Creek

McCloud River near McCloud

McCloud River at Balrd

Mill Creek Basin

Mill Creek near Los Mollnos

Elder Creek Basin

Elder Creek near Henleyville

Thomas Creek Basin

Thomas Creek at Paskenta

Deer Creek Basin

Deer Creek near Vlna

Chlco Creek Basin

Chlco Creek near Chlco

Stony Creek Basin

Stony Creek above Stony Gorge

Reservoir

Butte Creek Basin

Butte Creek near Chico

Feather River Basin

North Fork of Feather River

near Prattvllle

Feather River near Orovllle

Indian Creek near Crescent Mills

Spanish Creek at Keddle

Bucks Creek at Bucks Creek

storage reservoir

Qrlzzly Creek near Storrle

West Branch of Feather River

near Yankee Hill

Drainage

area

(square

miles)

2

461

6,600

9,300

1,430

4,150

4,860

4,920

5,350

248

155

388

668

134

147

188

200

68

266

148

507

3,611

746

184

28

6.2

145

Precipitation

Dec. 9-12

3

8.3

6.3

6.7

4.6

4.9

5.1

5.1

5.7

3.4

6.8

7.0

8.3

13.5

4.8

5.8

14.2

14.2

7.0

15.0

7.1

9.8

5.9

11.2

18.2

19.5

15.0

Direct run-off

associated

with total

storm period

Observed

4

4.45

1.9

2.5

.9

.8

.8

.95

1.4

.25

.65

1.0

3.15

6.8

2.75

5.05

-

6.75

4.2

6.3

_

3.55

1.65

4.1

-

12.5

8.7

Adjusted

for

storage

5

4.45

ae2.15

af2.7

agl.9

ahl.2

all. 15

all. 3

all. 70

aj2.35

.65

1.0

3.15

6.8

2.75

5.05

-

6.75

ak4.8

am6.05

an3.1

ao3.95

1.65

4.1

ap!2.6

12.5

aq9.7

Col. 3

minus

col. 5

6

3.85

4.15

4.0

2.7

3.7

3.95

3.8

4.0

1.05

6.15

6.0

5.15

6.7

2.05

.75

-

7.45

2.2

8.95

4.0

5.85

4.25

7.1

5.6

7.0

5.3

ae Adjusted for an estimated storage of 92,880 acre-feet In Pit River Basin.

af Adjusted for estimated storage of 100,000 acre-feet, Including 2 reservoirs 

on Battle Creek.

ag Adjusted on basis of fragmentary records and estimated storage In West 

Valley and Big Sage Reservoirs, Tule Lake, and other reservoirs for a total of 78,500 

acre-feet.

ah Same as ag plus 10,000 acre-feet additional storage.

al Same as ah plus storage In Lake Brltton.

aj Adjusted for estimated storage In West Valley Reservoir and Tule Lake.

ak Adjusted for storage In East Park Reservoir.

am Adjusted for diversion from West Branch of Feather River.

an Adjusted for storage In Lake Almanor.

ao Adjusted for storage In Lake Almanor, Butt Valley and Bucks Creek 

Reservoirs, and Lake Wllenor.

ap Computed from changes In storage in Bucks Creek Reservoirs.

aq Adjusted for storage In Lake Wllenor, estimated storage In 3 small , 

reservoirs, and for diversions in Spring Valley ditch and Miocene canal.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 315

Table 7. Rainfall and run-off of flood 

(Mean depth, In inches, over

of December 1937 Continued 

drainage basin)

No.

on 

fig.

9

435

436

437

438

439

440

441

442

443

444

447

449

450

451

452

454

455

456

457

458

459

460

461

462

463

464

465

466

467

Stream and point of measurement

1

Sacramento River Basin Continued

Feather River Basin Continued

Concow Creek near Yankee Hill

Middle Fork of Feather River

near Clio

Middle Fork of Feather River at

Bidwell Bar

South Fork of Feather River at

Enterprise

Lost Creek near Clipper Mills

Tuba River Basin

Middle Fork of Tuba River at

Milton

Middle Fork of Tuba River near

North San Juan

Tuba River at Sraartville

Oregon Creek near North San Juan

North Fork of Tuba River near

Sierra City

South Fork of Tuba River at Lake

Spaulding

Canyon Creek below Bowman Lake

Deer Creek near Smartville

Bear River near Wheatland

American River Basin

North Fork of American River

near Coif ax

American River at Fair Oaks

Middle Fork of American River

near Auburn

South Fork of American River

near Kyburz

South Fork of American River

near Camino

South Fork of American River at

Coloma

Medley Lakes outlet near Vade

Silver Lake outlet near Kirkwood

Silver Fork of South Fork of

American River near Kyburz

Twin Lakes outlet near Kirkwood

Alder Creek near Whitehall

Plum Creek near Riverton

Silver Creek at Union Valley

Silver Creek near Plaeerville

South Fork of Silver Creek near

Ice House

Drainage

area 

(square

miles )

2

14.7

699

1,353

134

30.1

41

207

1,201

35.1

91

118

31.7

84

295

308

1,921

619

196

497

635

6.2

14.9

108

12.4

22.8

6.8

83

176

28.4

Precipitation 

Dec. 9-12

3

11.0

6.6

10.8

18.2

19.1

13.0

11.5

12.4

10.4

13.3

12.8

13.5

9.8

8.8

10.3

9.0

10.3

9.5

9.7

9.2

_

8.8

9.5

8.2

10.4

10.1

10.3

10.0

10.1

Direct run-off

associated

with total

storm period

Observed

4

2.4

-

4.35

7.85

6.2

6.2

5.25

4.75

3.75

5.0

-

_

7.1

1.9

4.3

3.2

4.7

2.5

2.85

2.2

-

3.2

2.65

_

2.25

2.0

5.1

4.15

4.25

Adjusted

for

storage

5

ar6. 65

-

as 4. 35

7.85

6.2

at7.65

at5.6

au6.0

3.75

5.0

av!2.2

awll.9

7.1

ax2.35

ay4.55

az3.5

ba4.8

bb3.6

bc3.35

bd2.6

_

be8.85

bf4.65

bg7.9

2.25

2.0

5.1

4.15

4.25

Col. 3

minus 

col. 5

6

4.35

-

6.45

10.35

12.9

5.35

5.9

6.4

6.65

8.3

.6

1.6

2.7

6.45

5.75

5.5

5.5

5.9

6.35

6.6

-

-.05

4.85

.3

8.15

8.1

5.2

5.85

5.85

ar Adjusted for storage in Lake Wilenor.

as Adjusted for estimated storage in 13 small reservoirs amounting to 10,400 

acre-feet.

at Adjusted for diversion to Milton-Bowman tunnel.

au Adjusted for storageiin Lake Spaulding, Bowman Lake, and Bullards Bar 

Reservoir, and for estimated storage in French Lake and Lake Fordyce.

av Computed from storage, inflow, and release at Lake Spaulding.

aw Computed from storage in Bowman Lake minus diversion in Milton-Bowman 

tunnel plus diversion in Bowman-Spaulding canal minus run-off from 6 square miles 

above French Lake, which did not overflow.

ax Adjusted for storage estimated as 50 percent of the capacity of Combie 

and Camp Far West Reservoirs, amounting to 14,000 acre-feet.

ay Adjusted for storage estimated as 50 percent of the capacity of Lake 

Valley and two smaller reservoirs.

az Adjusted for storage estimated as 50 percent of the capacity of 14 small 

reservoirs, including Twin Lakes.

ba Adjusted for storage estimated as 50 percent of the capacity of Loon Lake.

bb Adjusted for storage, partly estimated, in Twin and Silver Lakes plus 

diversion in Eldorado canal.

be Adjusted for storage, partly estimated, in Twin and Silver Lakes plus 

30 percent (estimated) of the capacity of Medley Lakes plus diversion in American 

River flume.

bd Same as be plus 1,000 acre-feet (estimated) between Camino and Coloma.

be Adjusted for storage in Silver Lake.

bf Adjusted for estimated storage in Twin and Silver Lakes.

bg Computed from storage in Twin Lakes.
THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Table 7. Rainfall and run-off of flood of December 1937 Continued 

(Mean depth, in inches, over drainage basin)

No.

on 

fig. 

9-12

469

470

471

472

501

504

505

506

507

508

509

510

511

512

601

602

603

604

605

606

611

613

616

617

Stream and point of measurement

1

Sacramento River Basin Continued

Cache Creek Basin

Cache Creek at Yolo

North Fork of Cache Creek near

Lower Lake

Putah Creek Basin

Putah Creek near Guenoc

Putah Creek near Winters

Nana Creek Basin

Conn Creek near St. Helena

Eel River Basin

Eel River at Hullville

Eel River at Van Arsdale Dam

Eel River at Scotia

Klamath River Basin

Klamath River at Somesbar

Shasta River near Yreka

Salmon River at Somesbar

Trinity River at Lewiston

Trinity River near Burnt Ranch

Trinity River near Hoopa

The Great Basin

Owens Lake Basin

Owens River near Round Valley

Rock Creek at Sherwin Hill, near

Bishop

Pine Creek at division box, near

Bishop

Big Pine Creek below Little Pine

Creek, near Big Pine

Independence Creek near Big Pine

Tuttle Creek at Canyon Road

Carson River Basin

Carson River at Lahonton

Reservoir

Pyramid and Winemucca Lake Basins

Truckee River at Tahoe

Truckee River at Iceland

Dormer Creek near Truckee

Drainage

area 

(square 

miles )

2

1,150

214

112

614

52

289

347

3,070

8,480

804

737

724

1,429

2,840

450

51.7

37.9

39.5

17.6

8.5

1,200

519

937

30

Precipitation 

Dec. 9-12

3

7.3

7.3

14.1

8.4

8.1

11.8

11.6

9.9

_

4.4

5.8

6.4

6.3

6.6

4.0

4.6

5.5

5.4

5.0

3.1

_

6.8

7.2

10.5

Direct run-off

associated

with total

storm period

Observed

4

1.45

4.15

9.7

3.7

1.95

8.65

7.8

7.3

1.05

.2

3.55

4.15

3.65

3.75

.2

.15

.25

.1

.1

.15

_

_

1.25

6.7

Adjusted 

for

storage

5

bh3.6

4.15

9.7

3.7

1.95

bi8.7

bj8.05

bj7.35

bk -

bmO.35

3.55

4.15

3.65

3.75

.2

.15

.25

.1

.1

.15

bn.45

_

_

-

Col. 3

minus 

col. 5

6

3.3

3.15

4.4

4.7

6.15

3.1

3.55

2.55

_

4.05

2.25

2.25

2.65

2.85

3.8

4.45

5.25

5.3

4.9

2.95

_

_

_

-

bh Adjusted for storage (estimated) in Clear Lake,

bi Adjusted for storage in Lake Pillsbury.

bj Adjusted for storage in Lake Pillsbury and for diversion to Potter Valley 

power house.

bk No attempt made to determine natural run-off.

bm Adjusted for storage in Lake Dwinnell.

bn Adjusted for storage in Lahonton Reservoir.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 317

Stream flow on December 8 (point A, fig. 44) was low and, because 

there had been little or no antecedent precipitation since November 24, 

consisted largely of outflow from ground water. On December 9, the 

water-stage recorder indicated Increases in stage and discharge culminating In a peak (B) occurring generally between 10 a.m. December 10 

and 4 p.m. December 11. The peak was followed by a decline in stage

"7P

in thousand discharge second-feet daily Mean 

*> <TJ w01 i 'ro- oocooooc

Middle Pork of Pe 

at Bidwell

^/v^

ather River B 

Bar 1

j__

F

\

A ___ - -

3C 15 3 

November December

Figure 44.--Method of analysis used In determining direct run-off 

associated with the storm period December 8-13, 1937.

which continued without interruption until about December 20, when 

practically all of the direct run-off associated with the flood had 

passed the gaging station. The flow represented by that portion of the 

hydrograph from (B) to (C) represents, to a very considerable extent, 

water draining out of the channel system as a result of the large direct Inflow Into the channel systems, lasting from about noon December
318 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

The total area under the hydrograph represents the direct run-off 

resulting from the storm precipitation plus the stream flow that would 

have been maintained from antecedent sources had there been no Increment 

of direct run-off after point (A).

The Increase In stream flow directly attributable to the rain and 

melting snow has been estimated by making an approximation of the 

position (A-C) of the graph of ground-water flow plus surface run-off 

from antecedent precipitation, which In this example Is negligible, and 

by assuming that the area above that line represents the Increment In 

stream flow resulting from the direct run-off associated with the precipitation that occurred after December 8. The area above line A-C Is 

believed to include essentially all the surface run-off resulting from 

the storm precipitation, and may Include some ground water originating 

from the current storm and discharged into stream channels with a promptness that approached that of the surface run-off. The results of these 

analyses, expressed In Inches of depth over the drainage basins, are 

shown In table 7 and In figure 45. It Is evident that these estimates 

of direct run-off are somewhat less than the total measured flow by 

reason of the exclusion of the flow maintained from antecedent sources, 

an amount generally less than 10 percent of the total run-off. Other 

Investigators, of course, might estimate such maintained flow differently. 

Such differences In judgment, however, would result In differences that 

would be relatively small In relation to the magnitude of the flood 

run-off as a whole.

For river basins where there was artificial storage or diversion, 

the run-off records were adjusted for the effect of the storage or diversions, and the adjusted run-off as well as the observed run-off was 

expressed In Inches of depth over the drainage area and are listed In 

table 7. The difference between these two represents the total net 

storage or diversions during the flood period December 9 to 20. In 

many of the smaller basins, where the quantity of water stored or diverted was a large part of and In some Instances equal to the entire 

flow, the adjusted run-off estimates may not represent the natural runoff as closely as the data given for those basins where there were no 

complications due to storage or diversion.

At those river-measurement stations where the observed stream flow 

represents essentially natural-flow conditions unaffected by artificial 

storage, there were determined (a) the direct run-off expressed In 

Inches over the area for the maximum 24-hour average discharge; (b) the
30.0 

20.0

10.0

5.0 

4.0

3.0 

2.0

1.0

0.5 

0.4

0.3 

0.2

0.1

 Natural run-off. 

X Run-off adjusted 

storage and diver

 o 

si

-

[> 

:>n

*

X

X

X

X

1

\

1

X

X

%

<

-4

M

*

X

^

t

1 

< -1

X

J x 

* 

X

 

2345 10 20 30 40 50 100 

Drainage area in squ

Figure 45. Chart showing direct run-off, In Inches, 

northern California during flood of Decem
320 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

ratio in percentage between the direct run-off during the 24 hours of 

greatest flow and the total direct run-off for the flood period; (c) 

the date and time of occurrence of the momentary peak discharge, the 

time being generally to the nearest hour, but in a few instances, to the 

nearest 15 minutes; and (d) the ratio in percentage between the momentary peak discharge and the maximum 24-hour average discharge. The 

results of these determinations are shown in table 8.

The data relating to rainfall and run-off and the flood characteristics as summarized in tables 7 and 8 are essentially basic in that they 

are all directly derived from observations of rainfall and run-off. 

Engineers and hydrologists will readily appreciate, however, the approximations that may have been necessary with respect to some of the 

individual items. Moreover, the analyses of the records are complicated 

by conditions which, although present in other areas where similar 

studies have been made, were not so pronounced as those that exist in 

that part of California embraced within this flood study. These conditions relate largely to the lack of uniformity in the topographic, 

edaphic, and biologic characteristics of the various drainage basins. 

For example, a typical basin on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada 

is tilted steeply from headwater to the valley floor and may include 

a range in altitude of 10,000 or 12,000 feet. It crosses a series of 

zones differing in precipitation, temperature, cover, and soil. To a 

considerable extent similar conditions apply to most of the river basins 

discussed herein. These conditions may materially affect the interpretation of the results. Although the basic data are necessarily collected by basins, the basins themselves may or may not be natural divisions for the study of precipitation, run-off, or residuals, and 

basins grouped herein on the basis of similar run-off characteristics 

may not necessarily have similar inherent characteristics in other 

important respects.

Because of large differences in altitude and topography, the rainfall, snowfall, and temperature data are applicable to relatively 

restricted areas near the places of observation. The restricted application of the observed data affects the accuracy of the isohyetal 

maps from which the precipitation values given in table 7 were obtained 

and also makes uncertain the delineation of the line of demarcation between areas where the precipitation took the form of rain or snow.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES

Table 8. Run-off characteristics

No.

on

fig.

4-6

101

102

103

104

105

106

208

209

304

306

307

308

309

310

311

314

323

324

327

330

331

332

333

334

335

336

Stream and point of measurement

1

Salinas River Basin

Salinas River near Santa Margarita

Salinas River near Spreckels

San Antonio River at Pleyto

Arroyo Seco near Soledad

Pajaro River Basin

Uvas Creek near Morgan Hill

San Lorenzo River Basin

San Lorenzo River at Big Trees

Guadalupe Creek Basin

Los Gatos Creek at Los Gatos

Campbell Creek at Saratoga

Kern River Basin

South Fork of Kern River near Onyx

Tulare River Basin

Tule River near Porterville

South Fork of Tule River

near Success

Kaweah River near Three Rivers

North Fork of Kaweah River

at Kaweah

Kings River above North Fork

Kings River at Piedra

Los Gatos Creek near Coalinga

San Joaquin River Basin

Bear Creek near Vermillion Valley

Mono Creek near Vermillion Valley

Pitman Creek below Tamarack Creek

Big Sandy Creek near Auberry

Fine Gold Creek near Friant

Cottonwood Creek near Friant

Little Dry Creek near Friant

Fresno River Basin

Fresno River near Knowles

Fresno River near Daulton

Chowchilla River Basin

Chowchilla River at Buchanan

dam site

Total direct

run- off

(inches )

Flood

period

2

0.5

.25

.9

1.75

8.9

2.25

4.15

2.35

.15

1.1

.35

1.85

1.6

1.1

1.5

.15

.45

.4

2.35

.85

1.05

.05

.1

.75

.45

.65

Maximum

24-hour

3

0.45

.1

.5

1.1

5.7

1.15

2.45

1.25

.05

.55

.15

.95

.9

.65

.95

.15

.15

.1

1.6

.65

.75

.05

.05

.45

,U5

.4

Ratio

of

col. 3

to

col. 2

(percent)

4

90

40

56

63

64

51

59

53

33

50

43

51

56

59

63

100

33

25

68

76

71

100

50

60

56

62

Date

and hour

of peak

discharge

5

Dec. 11

9:30 pm

Dec. 12

10 pm

Dec. 11

4:30 pm

Dec. 11

8 am

Dec. 11

1 am

Dec. 11

3 am

Dec. 11

2 am

Dec. 11

1 am

Dec. 12

8 am

Dec. 11

6 pm

Dec. 11

7 pm

Dec. 11

3 pm

Dec. 11

3 pm

Dec. 11

4 pm

Dec. 11

4:30 pm

Dec. 11

9:30 am

Dec. 11

1 pm

Dec. 11

5 pm

Dec. 11

11:30 am

Dec. 11

6:30 pm

Dec. 11

6 am

Dec. 11

6 pm

Dec. 12

2 am

Dec. 11

4 pm

Dec. 11

6 pm

Dec. 11

4 pm

Ratio of

momentary

peak

discharge

to

maximum

24-hour

discharge

(percent)

6

192

124

164

192

186

161

182

177

124

291

235

250

273

241

182

388

247

180

243

317

272

375

185

208

194

272
THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Table 8. Run-off characteristics Continued

No.

on

fig. 6-8

337

338

339

340

341

345

346

351

352

355

356

357

365

372

374

375

376

377

378

401

412

413

414

417

418

Stream and point of measurement

1

San Joaquin River Basin Continued

Bear Creek Basin

Bear Creek near Planada

Mariposa Creek near Le Grand

Merced River Basin

Merced River at Happy Isles Bridge

Merced River at Pohono Bridge,

near Yosemite

Merced River at Kittridge

Tenaya Creek near Yosemite

Orestimba Creek Basin

Orestimba Creek near Nevrman

Tuolunme River Basin

Palls Creek near Hetch Hetchy

Cherry Creek near Hetch Hetchy

South Pork of Tuolunme River

near Oakland Recreation Camp

Middle Tuolunme River near Buck

Meadows

Woods Creek near Jacksonville

Calaveras River Basin

Cosgrove Creek near Valley Springs

Mokelumne River Basin

Cold Creek near Mokelumne Peak

Middle Pork of Mokelumne River

at West Point

South Pork of Mokelumne River

near West Point

Sutter Creek near Sutter Creek

North Pork of Cosunmes River near

El Dorado

Cosumnes River at Michigan Bar

Sacramento River Basin

Sacramento River at Antler

Pit River Basin

Hat Creek near Hat Creek

McCloud River near McCloud

McCloud River at Baird

Mill Creek Basin

Mill Creek near Los Molinos

Elder Creek Basin

Elder Creek near Henleyville

Total direct

run- off 

(inches )

Flood

period

2

0.45

.4

2.0

3.55

2.25

4.95

.4

6.75

9.05

1.9

1.3

1.0

.25

7.35

.8

.85

.45

.9

.8

4.45

.65

1.0

3.15

6.8

2.75

Maximum

24-hour

3

0.35

.3

1.1

2.0

1.4

2.9

.35

3.5

4.05

1.35

.8

.7

.15

4.1

.45

.5

.25

.45

.4

1.65

.4

.25

1.25

3.8

1.6

Ratio 

of 

col. 3

to

col. 2

(percent)

4

78

75

55

56

62

59

88

52

45

71

62

70

60

56

56

59

56

50

50

37

62

25

40

56

58

Date

and hour

of peak

discharge

5

Dec. 11

6 pm

Dec. 11

2 pm

Dec. 11

1:30 pm

Dec. 11

3 pm

Dec. 11

3 pm

Dec. 11

4 pm

Dec. 11

1 pm

Dec. 11

3 pm

Dec. 11

2 pm

Dec. 11

4 pm

Dec. 11

4 pm

Dec. 11

11:30 am

Dec. 11

8:15 am

Dec. 11

10 am

Dec. 11

9 am

Dec. 11

8 am

Dec. 11

Dec. 11

3 pm

Dec. 11

4 pm

Dec. 10

10 pm

Dec. 11

2 am

Dec. 10

Dec. 10

11 pm

Dec. 11

2 am

Dec. 10

10 pm

Ratio of

momentary 

peak

discharge 

to

maximum

24-hour

discharge

(percent)

6

409

345

193

126

164

150

171

148

149

216

191

288

379

160

171

174

182

150

158

116

138

131

132

167

169
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 323

Table 8. Run-off characteristics Continued

No.

on

fig.

8-11

419

421

429

430

433

437

438

439

433

444

450

463

464

465

466

467

470

471

472

501

509

510

511

512

Stream and point of measurement

1

Sacramento River Basin Continued

Thomas Creek Basin

Thomas Creek at Paskenta

Chico Creek Basin

Chico Creek near Chico

Feather River Basin

Indian Creek near Crescent Mills

Spanish Creek at Keddie

Grizzly Creek near Storrie

Middle Fork of Feather River at

Bi dwell Bar

South Fork of Feather River at

Enterprise

Lost Creek near Clipper Mills

Yuba River Basin

Oregon Creek near North San Juan

North Fork of Yuba River near

Sierra City

Deer Creek near Smartville

American River Basin

Alder Creek near Whitehall

Plum Creek near Riverton

Silver Creek at Union Valley

Silver Creek near Placerville

South Fork of Silver Creek near

Ice House

Cache Creek Basin

North Fork of Cache Creek near

Lower Lake

Putah Creek Basin

Putah Creek near Guenoc

Putah Creek near Winters

Napa River Basin

Conn Creek near St. Helena

Klamath River Basin

Salmon River at Somesbar

Trinity River at Lewiston

Trinity River near Burnt Ranch

Trinity River near Hoopa

Total direct

run-off

(inches)

Flood

period

2

5.05

6.75

1.65

4.1

12.5

4.35

7.85

6.2

3.75

5.0

4.95

2.25

2.0

5.1

4.15

4.25

4.15

9.7

3.7

1.95

3.55

4.15

3.65

3.75

Maximum

24-hour

3

2.4

3.45

.55

2.1

6.5

2.1

4.15

2.85

1.65

2.6

2.9

.8

1.05

2.5

2.0

2.1

1.6

5.8

2.0

.95

1.25

1.65

____

1.2

Ratio

of

col. 3 

to

col. 2

(percent)

4

48

51

33

51

52

48

53

46

44

52

59

36

53

49

48

49

39

60

54

49

35

40

32

Date 

and hour

of peak

discharge

5

Dec. 10

10 pm

Dec. 10

12 pm

Dec. 12

3 am

Dec. 11

11 am

Dec. 10

11 am

Dec. 11

6 am

Dec. 10

5 pm

Dec. 10

4 pm

Dec. 11

6 am

Dec. 11

4 am

Dec. 11

9 am

Dec. 11

9:30 am

Dec. 11

7 am

Dec. 11

10 am

Dec. 11

12:30 pm

Dec. 11

12:30 pm

Dec. 11

3 am

Dec. 11

3 am

Dec. 11

8:30 am

Dec. 11

4:30 am

Dec. 11

1:30 am

Dec. 11

1:30 am

Dec. 11

2 pm

Dec. 11

2 pm

Ratio of

momentary

peak

discharge 

to

maximum

24-hour

discharge

(percent)

6

134

* 129

105

108

143

119

115

144

174

152

163

138

160

151

153

134

168

136

117

201

105

111

 

111
THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IK NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Table 8. Run-off characteristics Continued

No.

on

fig.

12

601

602

603

604

605

606

Stream and point of measurement

1

The Great Basin

Owens Lake Basin

Owens River near Round Valley

Rock Creek at Sherwin Hill,

near Bishop

Fine Creek at division box,

near Bishop

Big Pine Creek below Little Fine

Creek, near Big Fine

Independence Creek near Big Fine

Tuttle Creek at Canyon Road

Total direct

run-off

(inches)

Flood

period

2

0.2

.15

.25

.1

.1

.15

Maximum

24-hour

3

0.1

.05

.1

.05

.05

.05

Ratio

of

col. 3

to

col. 2

(percent)

4

50

33

40

50

50

33

Date

and hour

of peak

discharge

5

Dec. 11

8 pm

Dec. 11

6 pm

Dec. 11

3 pm

Dec. 11

2:30 pm

Dec. 11

6 pm

Dec. 11

4 pm

Ratio of

momentary

peak

discharge

to

maximum

24-hour

discharge

(percent)

6

146

180

205

»

176

172

195
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 325

The run-off values in tables 7 and 8, being expressed in inches over the 

drainage basins, are significant for comparison only if the entire basin 

contributed direct run-off. The analyses of the run-off records indicate that there was little contribution to the stream flow in those 

parts of basins lying at altitudes of about 9,000 feet or more, or from 

those parts of the basins where the total storm precipitation was less 

than about 5 inches and in some areas about 8 inches. In basins where 

either or both of these conditions exist, the run-off values in table 7 

are not satisfactorily comparable unless adjusted to the areas lying 

below the 9,000 foot contour or having at least 5 inches of precipitation. 

To a limited extent, these adjustments have been included in the descriptive text relating to each basin. For many basins, inconsistencies in 

the run-off values disappear when the run-off is expressed in depth in 

inches over the approximate net contributing area. For reasons given, 

similar adjustments are necessary in the residuals or differences between rainfall and direct run-off. The interpretation of the data is 

also complicated by the fact that, in a very considerable part of the 

area, the indicated differences between rainfall and run-off are so 

large that they become insensitive as an index of possible discrepancies in the basic data. Considerable error might exist in either the 

rainfall or the run-off values without a negative residual being shown. 

Such a negative residual would be an indication of error, unless runoff was affected by melting snow from previous storms. In some of the 

basins, the adjustments for artificial storage and diversion greatly 

exceed the measured stream flow, and therefore errors in the stagecapacity tables of storage reservoirs or in the estimates of storage 

where no records are available may affect the run-off figures in table 

7. Many of the basic rainfall and run-off cLata in table 7, which appear 

inconsistent, may reflect actual basin characteristics rather than 

errors in observations. To a limited extent the apparent inconsistencies are discussed by individual basins.

Direct run-off

The run-off in table 7 is the total direct run-off during the 

flood period December 9 to 20 expressed in inches over the drainage 

areas. The hydrographs given in the section "Stages and discharges 

at river-measurement stations" (figs. 31 to 41) show, for selected 

river-measurement stations, the distribution of the run-off with respect to time after it had reached the river channels. For consideration
326 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

of problems relating to the retention and storage of water, either in 

reservoirs or through the medium of land use practices, a knowledge of 

the total flood run-off is of major importance. The effect of run-off 

in building up channel storage in the lower reaches of principal river 

systems and in overflowing and submerging natural flood plains is also 

of direct interest in flood-control studies. The degree to which the 

flood run-off is concentrated with respect to time is of paramount importance in studies relating to the capacities of spillways, by-passes, 

bridge openings, or channels designed to carry momentary peak discharges, 

and is a measure of the dynamic destructive force of stream flow. When 

the observed run-off is adjusted for channel storage and thus synchronized more clearly with the precipitation, it furnishes information of 

immediate value in problems relating to direct surface run-off before 

it reaches stream channels.

As is to be expected, the areas from which there was high run-off 

coincide with the areas in which the precipitation was the greatest. 

The adjusted total direct flood run-off was generally in excess of 8 

inches, and was in excess of 12 inches from three basins where the storm 

rainfall averaged from 12 to 18 inches, and where there were maxima in 

excess of 20 inches at individual places.

Analyses of the run-off of major floods in the United States (including the floods of March 1913, which were extreme on the Miami River 

in Ohio; the floods of March 1936, which embraced all of the northeastern United States from Virginia to Maine; the great Ohio and Mississippi River floods of January 1937; and certain other floods caused by 

intense local storms) indicate that, over a considerable part of the 

country, the direct run-off during a flood period has ranged between 8 

and 10 inches. The character of the storms associated with these floods 

has varied greatly, between short intense storms for small drainage 

basins and widely extended general rainfall covering many days and marked 

by several comparatively intense storm periods. Similarly, the flood 

rises varied from sharp peaks for small basins to relatively flat rises 

extending over many days for the largest basins. By comparison, therefore, with standards elsewhere in the country, extreme flood conditions 

seemingly prevailed during December 1937 in those basins in California 

where the total direct run-off was 8 inches or more.

The areas in which the adjusted total direct flood run-off exceeded 

10 inches (see table 7) include the drainage basins of Bucks Creek and 

Grizzly Creek in the Feather River Basin, and the South Fork of the Yuba
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 327

River and Canyon Creek in the Yuba River Basin. Drainage basins in which 

the adjusted direct run-off was between 8 and 10 inches include those of 

Uvas Creek, Upper Putah Creek, and the Eel River above Hullville and 

above Van Arsdale Dam, draining parts of the Coast Ranges, Eleanor Creek 

and Cherry Creek in the Tuolumne River Basin, the North Fork of the 

Mokelumne River, the West Branch of the Feather River, the Bear River 

above Pardoe Camp, and Silver Lake, draining parts of the Sierras. In 

parts of the Pit River Basin downstream from Big Bend, including Squaw 

Creek and possibly the area tributary to the lower McCloud River, the 

direct run-off also apparently exceeded 8 inches. The run-off in parts 

of the drainage basins immediately adjacent to the basins just mentioned 

probably also exceeded 8 inches. In addition, drainage basins in which 

river-measurement stations were inoperative or were not being maintained 

during the flood period, such as the basins of the Russian River, the 

Smith River, Grindstone Creek, the North Fork of the Kings River, and 

possibly others, may have experienced flood run-off of more than 8 inches.

Areas in which the adjusted total direct flood run-off was between 

6 and 8 inches include those upstream from river-measurement stations 

on Falls Creek in the Tuolumne River Basin; the North Fork of the Stanislaus River; Cold Creek in the Mokelumne River Basin; Concow Creek, Lost 

Creek, and the South Fork of the Feather River in the Feather River 

Basin; the Middle Fork of the Yuba River at Milton, and Deer Creek near 

Smartville in the Yuba River Basin; Twin Lakes outlet in the American 

River Basin; Mill Creek; Chico Creek; Butte Creek; and the Eel River at 

Scotia.

It seems evident that in all the basins mentioned above the water 

available for run-off exceeded the capacity of the basins to retain or 

absorb water by an amount sufficient to produce flood run-off comparable 

with the run-off during great floods elsewhere in the United States. 

Many other basins from which the flood run-off was less than 6 inches 

appear to fall into three more or less well defined groups.

One group includes basins where the storm rainfall and the direct 

run-off were relatively low, yet where momentary peak discharges reached 

on December 10 or 11 have not been equalled or exceeded during the period 

of record which in many cases exceeds 20 years. The storm precipitation 

in December 1937 averaged less than 7 inches over the basin, the total 

adjusted direct run-off was generally less than 2 inches, and yet the 

momentary peak discharge on December 10 or 11 was considerably more than
328 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

has been recorded, since the river-measurement stations have been in operation at the following places: Pit River at Fall River Mills, Pit River 

below pit No. 4 dam, Pit River at Ydalpom, and Hat Creek near Hat Creek. 

The basins upstream from these points of measurement are underlain in part 

by lava, drainage at many places is poorly defined, and some of the areas 

have no visible outlets to stream channels. The Upper Pit River country 

is normally an area of low rainfall. By comparison with the floods of 

other regions, neither the total run-off nor the momentary peak discharge 

during December 1937 can be considered as either a medium or a large 

flood. However, on the basis of the flood history of these streams as 

disclosed by the stream-flow records, the records of December 1937 are a 

measure of large floods for these particular basins.

The second group of basins includes those in which the storm precipitation was greater than that which took place over some basins where 

the run-off was in excess of 6 inches and no snow was involved, yet by 

reason of a high retentive and absorptive capacity during the storm 

period the run-off was relatively small. In the basins of the following 

rivers the average storm precipitation was 10 inches or more but the 

adjusted total direct run-off was generally less than 3 inches: San 

Lorenzo River, Guadalupe Creek (at San Jose), Campbell Creek, Stevens 

Creek, Fresno River, Arroyo Seco, South Fork of Mokelumne River, Plum 

Creek, and Alder Creek. Other peak discharges of record in these basins 

have materially exceeded the peak discharge during December 1937, and 

the other maxima on San Lorenzo Creek, Campbell Creek, Arroyo Seco, and 

the Fresno River resulted from storms of less intensity than that of 

December 1937. (See table 9 on pp. 337-339.) Brief analysis seems to 

indicate that the large residual shown for many of these basins during 

December 1937 does not necessarily reflect a high retentive and absorptive capacity during all storms.

The third group of basins includes those where by reason of high 

altitudes and low temperature some of the precipitation fell as snow 

that did not contribute immediately to the flood run-off, and also 

those basins in which there was snow on the ground at the beginning of 

the storm period that did not melt materially and perhaps actually retained some of the rainfall. The net effect was that direct surface 

run-off took place in only a part of these drainage areas. Consequently, 

for basins in this group, a high storm precipitation is indicated, but 

the run-off expressed in inches over their areas as a whole is low and 

not indicative of run-off contributions from those parts of basins where
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 329

» 

no snow was involved. Typical basins of this type include the upper

Merced, Kings, and Kaweah Rivers. In parts of these basins, although 

the total run-off was low, it was concentrated with respect to time 

and momentary peaks greatly exceeded prior peaks of record. The unusually high peak discharge in these basins as compared to all other peaks of 

record would seem to be a measure of the unusual character of the storm 

of December 1937 with respect to rain at high altitudes.

On the other hand, some of the smaller basins like Bear and Mono 

Creeks near Vermilion Valley are at such high altitudes that neither 

their total run-off nor the momentary peak discharges approached those 

for floods from melting snow in the spring and early summer.

Based on observations of run-off, precipitation, snow, and the relation between these factors and altitude, a generalized map (fig. 46) 

has been prepared showing areas from which the direct run-off during the 

flood period in December was greater than 8 inches, between 4 and 8 

inches, between half an inch and 4 inches, and less than half an inch. 

In preparing this generalized map an attempt was made to balance areas 

above and below lines of equal run-off so that mean run-off for a 

given basin equals the measured run-off. In areas where the run-off was 

not measured, the lines of equal run-off are based to a large extent on 

precipitation and on general relations between rainfall and run-off observed in adjacent areas. There is also shown in figure 46 the approximate location of the 9,000-foot contour which for the December storm and 

flood represents approximately the upper limit of the area in much of 

the Sierra Nevada that contributed materially to the flood run-off. As 

indicated in this figure, areas in which there were 8 inches or more of 

direct run-off include most of the headwater basins of the Eel River and 

Putah Creek and parts of the Russian River Basin in the northern Coast 

Ranges; Uvas Creek Basin in the Santa Cruz Mountains area; Squaw Creek 

and adjacent areas tributary to the lower Pit River and headwater areas 

of Mill, Deer, Chico and Butte Creeks; the West Branch, South Fork, and 

lower parts of the North and Middle Forks of the Feather River; the South 

Fork of the Yuba River; parts of the North and South Forks of the American River; and parts of the headwater areas in the Mokelumne, Stanislaus 

and Tuolumne River Basins. Areas in which there was less than about half 

an inch of direct run-off include all the San Joaquin Valley floor and 

adjacent foothill areas, the western half of the central Sacramento and 

all of the lower Sacramento Valley, much of the area immediately tributary to San Francisco Bay, and most of the drainage areas on the eastern
THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

EXPLANATION

^F^HJ Less than i inch 

* to 4 inches 

4to8inch«s 

More than 8 inches 

_J 9,000 foot contour

20 0 20 40 60 80 100 Miles

Figure 46. Map showing areas of equal run-off in northern California 

during floods of December 1937.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 331

slopes of the Sierra Nevada. The storm covered about 109,000 square 

miles. The areal extent of the run-off was approximately aa follows:

Run-off 

(inches)

Little or none

Less than 1/2

1/2 to 4

4 to 8

More than 8

Tributary area 

(square miles)

I/ 3,900

56,400

28,300

16,400

3,800

\J It is assumed that above an altitude of 9,000 feet there wag little if any 

run-off.

Of the 56,400 square miles where the direct run-off was less than 

half an inch, about 35,000 square miles are located in the Central Valley and foothill area tributary to the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers 

and Tulare and Buena Vista Lakes. The question arises: to what extent 

may this great area be considered as one that will rarely, if ever, contribute large amounts of flood run-off to the San Joaquin and Sacramento 

Rivers? Local areas may be subject to the cloudburst type of storm with 

resultant intense run-off from relatively small areas. However, the area 

would seem to be so located with respect to the Pacific Ocean and mountain ranges as to be more immune to widespread occurrence of heavy rainfall than much of the area in the Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada. 

Moreover, the topographic and edaphic conditions in much of the area 

are conducive to a relatively high absorptive capacity, at least at the 

beginning of the rainy season. On the other hand, storms such as those 

in February 1936 and February 1937 did occur in foothill areas with resultant large flood run-off.

During the flood of December 1937, there were 44,700 square miles 

from which the run-off was between half an inch and 8 inches; of this 

area, 28,300 square miles had less than 4 inches and 16,400 square miles 

had between 4 and 8 inches. How subject are these areas to flood runoff greater than took place during December 1937? Consideration should 

be given especially to the flood-producing potentialities of the areas 

in which the run-off during the flood of December 1937 was between 4 

and 8 inches with a view to determining whether, by reason of their 

altitude and topography, these areas may be subject to storm precipitation of a magnitude that would produce run-off considerably in excess 

of that during December 1937. Relatively little is known about the 

absorptive capacity of much of these areas under different storm
332 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

conditions, but in general their absorptive capacity under normal conditions is probably less than that of the valley floor, which is composed 

largely of alluvium. In the absence of specific information to the contrary, it would appear that much of the 16,400 square miles from which 

there was between 8 and 4 inches run-off during the December storm must 

be regarded as subject to run-off considerably in excess of the peaks of 

1937. During the flood of December 1937, the 9,000-foot contour was 

about the upper limit of appreciable run-off, but there is considerable 

evidence that the heavy rain extended above the 9,000-foot altitude in 

the headwaters of the Tuolumne River, notably in Cherry, Eleanor, and

i/ Fall Creek Basins. Matthes states:

Owing to low air temperatures all the year round . . . but a small 

proportion of the snowpack in the Alpine zone is transformed into meltwater. .... Above altitudes of 11,000 to 12,000 feet, according to 

latitude, melt-water is so scanty that it forms no channel-making 

streams or streamlets. Above 13,000 feet the snow-fields yield but 

small trickles that do not reach the valley below.

It would appear that the area between altitudes of 9,000 and 11,000 

feet may at times contribute flood run-off to some extent. On the other 

hand, as discussed herein, the abnormally high temperatures prevailing 

during the storm of December 1937 had the effect of raising the altitude 

of the rainfall limit to only about 9,000 feet.

The flood-producing potentialities of the high Sierra Nevada offer 

a field for an interesting study of snow in relation to flood run-off. 

Because of their high altitudes, many of the snow fields in the Sierra 

Nevada, especially in the southern part, are apparently not subject to 

unusually high winter temperatures and to the accompanying warm winds 

of the Chinook type, which occur in the Pacific northwest and which result in the release of large volumes of water in sharp and violent floods 

similar to those from rain storms of high intensity. However, the runoff from the higher snow fields of the Sierra Nevada is influenced by 

the seasonal trends of temperature. The higher spring temperatures, 

either with or without rain, release large amounts of water which may 

or may not produce major flood stages in tributaries of the San Joaquin 

River, depending upon the abnormality of the temperature, but which may 

accumulate, as during May and June, 1938, in the channel of the lower San 

Joaquin and result in major flood stages and long continued occupancy of 

the natural flood plains.

6/ Matthes, F. E., Evaporation and runoff from snow in the Alpine 

zone of our western mountains, Am. Geophys. Union Trans., pt. 3, August 

1938, p. 662.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OPP STUDIES 333

If rain falls on snow there is a tendency for some retention, the 

amount depending on the associated temperatures and the depth of the 

snow and its water content. However, an analysis of winter and spring 

floods in the San Joaquin River Basin may show that during long continued periods of rain associated with high temperatures, snow cover, 

even at the higher altitudes, may constitute a distinct flood hazard. 

In the basins draining the northern parts of the Sierra Nevada there 

is relatively less area of high altitude than in the southern basins. 

Therefore, snow fields on the western slopes tributary to the Sacramento 

River are subject to higher temperatures and more precipitation in the 

form of rain, and hence constitute a greater flood hazard than snow 

fields on higher slopes tributary to the San Joaquin River.

Although the rains of December 1937 produced widespread floods of 

high intensity, a brief analysis indicates that, in many basins, the 

run-off of some prior floods which were associated with melting snow 

exceeded the run-off during the December flood, even though the degree 

of concentration and the momentary peak discharge may have been less. 

The floods of March 1928 in parts of the Sacramento River basin are an 

example of this type of flood. The direct run-off in some of the 

basins, especially of the American and Feather Rivers, was larger than 

the direct run-off during the flood of December 1937. The flood period 

in March 1928 was generally longer than that in 1937, and run-off was 

less concentrated with respect to time.

Residuals

If the run-off and the precipitation records are correct and there 

was no snow on the ground at the beginning of the storm period, the differences between the run-off and precipitation, herein called residuals, 

represent the amount of water that was retained in the basin in the form 

of snow or as surface storage and absorption, or was transpired and 

evaporated during the flood period. Negative residuals are clearly indicative of errors in basic data. Unusually large or unusually small 

residuals represent either unusual basin characteristics or possibilities of error in basic data. Generally, the residuals, if properly interpreted, should represent relative measures of the absorptive capacity 

of the various drainage basins during the December storm.

Analysis of the rainfall and run-off values in table 7 discloses 

only three drainage basins - the North Fork of the Mokelumne River (above
334 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Salt Springs Dam), the Bear River (above Pardoe Camp In the Mokelumne 

River Basin), and Silver Lake outlet (near Kirkwood in the American 

River Basin) - where negative residuals are indicated. All these 

basins are at an altitude above 5,000 feet, and the flood run-off may 

have been augmented by snow on the ground at the beginning of the flood 

period or affected by inaccuracies in the large storage adjustments that 

were made to determine the natural run-off. In six other basins - 

upstream from river-measurement stations on Cold Creek near Mokelumne 

Peak, the South Fork of the Pit River near Likely, Thomas Creek near 

Paskenta, the South Fork of the Yuba River at Lake Spaulding, Canyon 

Creek below Bowman Dam, and Twin Lakes outlet near Kirkwood - the 

residuals are less than 2 inches and possible sources of discrepancies 

in results are indicated as follows. In three of the basins, large 

storage adjustments were necessary, and in all basins except Thomas 

Creek near Paskenta snow melt may have contributed to the flood runoff. Thomas Creek Basin lies on the eastern slopes of the northern 

Coast Ranges where there is a decided sparsity of rain gages and where 

it appears that the isohyetals indicate less storm rainfall than 

actually occurred.

On the other extreme, residuals in four areas upstream from rivermeasurement stations on San Lorenzo River at Big Trees, Campbell Creek 

at Saratoga, North Fork of Willow Creek at Crane Valley Reservoir, and 

Lost Creek near Clipper Mills, exceed 12 inches; and the residual in 

San Lorenzo Creek Basin is nearly 15 inches. The Lost Creek Basin is 

small and lies mostly below an altitude of 5,000 feet in the Feather 

River Basin, and there is a possibility that less rain fell in the basin 

than is indicated by the isohyetals as drawn. For the basin of the North 

Fork of Willow Creek there was a large adjustment for storage and diversions. The other two basins are on the slopes of the southern Coast 

Ranges, where it is believed that the positions of the isohyetals are 

well fixed by supplemental precipitation records. Los Gatos Creek Basin 

(Santa Clara County), also draining a part of the Coast Ranges, has a 

high residual of 10.35 inches. It is believed that the direct run-off 

from these basins has been determined with reasonable accuracy. These 

high values may be due in part to the highly shattered condition of the 

underlying bed rock, and to some extent may be indicative of a tendency 

of areas in the southern Coast Ranges, as well as in much of the semidesert and foothill areas of the southern Central Valley, to absorb
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 335

large quantities of water, at least during the first period of heavy 

rains in the early winter. This view seems to be supported in part by 

the fact that residuals in excess of 8 inches are indicated in the 

basins, in addition to those already named, upstream from gaging 

stations on Uvas Creek near Morgan Hill, Stevens Creek near Cupertino, 

Guadalupe Creek at San Jose, and Arroyo Seco near Soledad, all in the 

Coast Ranges, and for parts of the Tule, Mokelumne, Kaweah, and Fresno 

River Basins, tributary to the southern part of the Central Valley. In 

all these areas, the precipitation was generally in excess of 10 inches, 

and the residual values indicated in table 7 may approach the maximum 

capacity of these areas to absorb water under conditions similar to 

those prevailing during the storm of December 1937. During the period 

December 9 to 12 the residuals were more a measure of total rainfall 

than of infiltration capacity in parts of the Salinas, San Franclsquito, 

Guadalupe, Coyote, Alameda, Lower Kern, Los Giatos (near Coalinga), lower 

San Joaquin, Chowchilla, Bear, Orestimba, Lower Tuolumne, Stanislaus, 

Celaveras, and lower Mokelumne Basins.

Considering the basins in the northern part of the Central Valley 

and in the northern Coast Range, it is evident that during the December 

storm, at least, their absorptive capacity was materially less than that 

in the southern basins described.

In the upper Sacramento, Pit, McCloud, Putah, Elder, Stony, Cache, 

Eel, Shasta, and Trinity Basins, the residuals are consistently less 

than 5.0 inches. It has been pointed out in the discussion of antecedent 

rainfall that during November 1937, there was generally in relation to 

normal an excess of rain in the northern part of the area and a deficiency in the southern part. To antecedent conditions may therefore be 

ascribed some and perhaps a major part of the differences in the absorptive capacities as measured by the residuals, except in basins where 

lava formations are a major influence.

Interpretation of the residuals for basins in the higher parts of 

the Sierra Nevada is uncertain because of snow and relatively sparse 

rainfall data. In parts of the upper Kings, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, 

Feather, Yuba, and American River Basins residuals of 6L to 8 inches are 

indicated. However, as shown in table 7 the residuals for the larger 

number of basins range between 4 and 6 inches. In the absence of other 

information, it may be concluded that the average retention in much of 

the higher Sierra country was between 4 and 6 inches during the flood 

period in December, and that, other things being equal, residuals of
336 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

less than 4 to 6 Inches may indicate contributions to run-off from snow 

on the ground at the beginning of the storm period, and higher residuals 

may indicate either an over-estimate of the rainfall or retention of 

water in the form of snow on the ground at the end of the period studied.

It may be of interest to point out that during the storm of March 

9 to 22, 1936, residuals of less than 3 inches were indicated for nearly 

all river basins in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and New 

England. For the storm of December 1937 In California residuals as small 

as 3 inches are the exception, not the rule.

Comparison of rainfall and run-off conditions during floods of record

A study has been made of the rainfall and run-off conditions during 

the highest floods of record for those basins in which there is no large 

artificial storage, for the purpose of comparison with conditions prior 

to and during the December flood. The study Is of preliminary character and largely qualitative rather than quantitative. Instead of preparing a detailed rainfall map for each of the storms which have resulted in the major floods herein considered, the precipitation data 

concerning major floods were assembled for all available rainfall stations and ratios were determined between the precipitation during the 

storm of December 1937, used as a standard, and the previous or subsequent large storms. The results of these comparisons are shown in 

table 9, which includes symbols and explanatory footnotes to classify 

the characteristics of the precipitation. A more detailed explanation 

of some of the symbols than appears in the table follows.

When the precipitation was within 10 percent of that which occurred 

during the storm of December 1937 the symbol (c) is used. When the 

precipitation was within 10 to 25 percent, plus or minus, of that of 

December 1937 the symbol (b) is used to signify that the difference 

was plus and (d) to signify that the difference was minus. In a 

similar manner the symbol (a) indicates that the precipitation was more 

than 25 percent greater than that which occurred during the December 

storm, and (e) that the precipitation was more than 25 percent smaller. 

The symbol (k) is used to Indicate that there was substantial contribution of melting snow to the flood run-off, and symbol (1) to indicate 

small contributions. When there was an accumulation of snow during 

the storm period the symbol (n) indicates light accumulation and symbol 

(o) heavy accumulation. Most of the storms analyzed were apparently of 

longer duration than the storm of December 1937. When the duration was
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 337

Table 9. Comparison of floods of December 1937 with other floods, 

for unregulated streams

Stream and point of

measurement

Salinas River Basin

Salinas River near Santa

Margarita

Salinas River near Spreekels

San Antonio River at Pleyto

;.rroyo Seco near Soledad

Pajaro River Basin

Uvas Creek near Morgan Hill

San Lorenzo River Basin

San Lorenzo River at Big Trees

Guadalupe Creek Basin

Los Oatos Creek at Los Gatos

Campbell Creek at Saratoga

Kern River Basin

South Fork of Kern River near

Onyx

South Fork of Kern River at

Isabella

Tulare Lake Basin

Tule River near Porterville

South Fork of Tule River

near Success

Kaweah River near Three Rivers

North Fork of Kaweah River

at Kaweah

Singe River above North Fork

Kings River at Piedra

Los Qatos Creek near Coalinga

San Joaquin River Basin

Bear Creek near Vermilion

Valley

Mono Greek near Vermilion

Valley

Pitman Creek below Tamarack

Creek

Pine Gold Creek near Friant

Fresno River Basin

Fresno River near Knowles

Chowehilla River Basin

Chowehilla River at Buchanan

dam site

Merced River Basin

Merced River at Happy Isles

, Bridge, near Yosemite

Merced River at Pohono Bridge,

near Yosemite

Merced River at Kittridge

Tenaya Creek near Yosemite

Date of

other flood

Feb. 11, 1938

Feb. 12,1938

Feb. 11, 1938

Feb. 21, 1917

Dec. 27, 1931

Jan. 3 1,193 8

Feb. 13, 1937

Feb. 13, 1937

Mar. 2, 1938

Feb. 7, 1937

Feb. 13, 1936

Feb. 6, 1937

Feb. 6, 1937

Jan. 25, 1914

Feb. 6, 1937

Jan. 25, 1914

Feb. 11, 1938

July 21,1936

June 2,1938

May 13,1937

Mar. 12, 1938

Mar. 12, 1938

Mar .2, 193 8

May 28,1919

June 5,1922

Feb. 6, 1937

May 28,1919

Momentary

peak discharge

(second-feet)

Flood of

December 

1937

3,550

13,400

6,100

13,400

8,630

5,590

4,800

534

1,260

1,140

11,300

1,060

33,300

8,290

42,000

80,000

1,530

634

389

2,320

4,900

3,380

7,020

10,600

22,000

59,000

5,550

Other 

flood

11,000

75,000

10,700

22,000

4,340

12,000

5,500

910

3,450

4,100

12,500

3,370

18,900

7,400

13,400

59,700

4,520

1,600

1,760

885

10,300

7,630

15,000

3,800

6,370

33,200

1,730

Direct run-off

for

storm period

(inches)

Flood of

December 

1937

0.5

.25

.9

1.75

8.9

2.25

4.15

2.35

.15

.1

1.1

.35

1.85

1.6

1.1

1.5

.15

.45

.4

2.35

1.05

.75

.65

2.0

3.55

2.25

4.95

Other 

flood

2.5

1.8

3.0

4.0

5.9

5.25

2.6

1.7

.3

.2

1.3

1.2

1.6

2,9

.6

1.45

.6

.7

4.8

.25

2.4

2.3

3.6

4.45

1.65

2.05

Remarks*

ch

bh

bh

dh

eg

eh

eh

eh

eh,ol

eh,k

ch,l

eh,k

eh,ki

ch,oi

eh,ol

bh,oi

ch,m

eh,k

h,ki

hi

eh.li

eh, 11

dh.ll

eh.ki

h,ki

dh,ki

eh,ki

* Remarks refer to amount of water available for run-off during other flood as compared with amount available during flood of December 1937. Key letters explained 

belows

a Much more precipitation. f Short storm. k Large snow contribution, 

b Slightly more precipitation, g Prolonged storm. 1 Small snow contribution, 

c Precipitation about same. h Large amount of ante- m No snow contribution, 

d Slightly less precipitation. cedent precipitation, n Light snow accumulation, 

e Much less precipitation. i At high altitudes. o Heavy snow accumulation.

J At low altitudes.
338 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Table 9. Comparison of floods of December 1937 with other floods, 

for unregulated streams Continued

Stream and point of

measurement

San Joaquln River Basin Oon.

Orestimba Creek Basin

Orestimba Oreek near Newman

Tuolumne River Basin

Palls Creek near Hetch Hetchy

Cherry Creek near Hetch Hetohy

South Pork of Tuolumne River

near Oakland Recreation Camp

Middle Tuolumne River near

Buck Meadows

Woods Creek near Jacksonville

Calaveras River Basin

Cosgrove Creek near Valley

Springs

Mokelumne River Basin

Cold Creek near Mokelumne Peak

Middle Pork of Mokelumne

River at West Point

South Pork of Mokelumne River

near West Point

Sutter Oreek near Sutter Creek

North Pork of Oosumnes River

near El Dorado

Cosumnes River at Michigan Bar

Sacramento River Basin

Sacramento River at Antler

Pit River Basin

Hat Creek near Hat Creek

McCloud River near McCloud

McCloud River at Balrd

Mill Oreek Basin

Mill Creek near Loa Mollnos

Elder Oreek Basin

Elder Creek near Henleyvllle

Thomas Creek Basin

Thomas Creek at Paskenta

Chico Oreek Basin

Chlco Oreek near Chico

Feather River Basin

Indian Creek near Clipper

Mills

Spanish Creek at Eeddie

Grizzly Creek near Storrle

Middle Pork of Feather River

at Bldwell Bar

South Pork of Feather River

at Enterprise

Lost Creek near Clipper Mills

Oregon Creek near North Juan

North Fork of Yuba River

near Sierra City

Deer Creek near Smartvllle

Date of

other flood

Feb. 8,1932

Mar. 25, 1988

June 16,1937

Apr. 8, 1935

May 28,1919

Feb. 9, 1938

Feb. 22, 1936

Mar. 25, 1928

Jan.23,1914

Feb. 22, 1936

Feb. 22, 193 6

Mar. 25, 1928

Feb. 6, 1925

Mar. 26, 1928

June 16,1937

Feb. 22, 1936

Feb. 2 5, 1917

Dec. 15, 1929

Jan. 1,1934

Mar. 26, 1928

Feb. 21, 1936

Mar. 19, 1907

Mar. 26, 1928

Feb. 21, 1936

Mar. 26, 1928

Mar. 26, 1928

Mar.26,1928

Mar. 25, 1928

Mar. 25, 1928

Feb. 4, 1937

Momentary

peak discharge 

(seeond-feet)

Flood of

December

1937

2,040

6,300

18,100

6,950

2,910

5,500

288

4,100

1,460

1,810

575

3,880

9,000

24,900

2,500

4,600

32,200

23,000

10,700

16,500

8,260

11,500

11,500

1,570

93,000

17,300

3,380

2,750

9,800

10,800

Other

flood

3,440

1,740

7,750

2,850

1,330

13,500

2,600

3,000

2,550

3,600

3,900

7,600

23,800

34,000

450

2,760

27,600

6,000

6,300

16,600

4,940

11,700

11,000

1,000

90,000

15,200

2,900

4,000

5,920

7,520

Direct run-off

for

storm period 

( Inches )

Flood of

December

1937

0.4

6.75

9.05

1.9

1.3

1.0

.25

7.35

.8

.85

.45

.9

.8

4.45

.65

1.0

3.15

6.8

2.75

5.05

6.75

1.65

4.1

12.5

4.35

7.85

6.2

3.75

5.0

4.95

Other

flood

1.0

3.65

2.95

1.1

.45

5.65

3.6

6.45

4.05

3.0

3.25

4.15

2.1

4.25

.05

.4

2.75

3.2

.7

4.4

3.6

2.6

3.85

4.95

5.8

11.05

9.4

10.65

5.55

4.45

Remarks*

eh, 11

ch,ni

e,li

ejh.ni

e,li

ah

agh,m

aj,ol

ah, 11

agh,nl

agh,m

aj,kl

ch,kl

6,11

e,ll

og.oi

c,lj,nl

al

cj,ol

e,ll

cg,oi

ag,k

c

cg,ol

c,ki

a.ki

al,li

a,ll

ajfli

d,kj

* Remarks refer to amount of water available for run-off during other flood as compared with amount available during flood of December 1937. Key letters explained 

below:

a Much more precipitation. f Short storm. k Large snow contribution, 

b Slightly more precipitation, g Prolonged storm. 1 Small snow contribution, 

c Precipitation about same. h Large amount of ante- m No snow contribution. 

d Slightly less precipitation. cedent precipitation, n Light snow accumulation. 

e Much less precipitation. 1 At high altitudes. o Heavy snow accumulation.

J At low altitudes.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES

Table 9. Comparison of floods of December 1937 with other floods, 

for unregulated streams--Contlnued

Stream and point of 

measurement

Sacramento River Basin Con.

American River Basin

Alder Creek near Whitehall 

Plum Creek near Rlverton 

Sliver Creek at Union Valley 

Silver Creek near Placervllle 

South Fork of Sliver Creek 

near Ice House

Cache Creek Basin

North Fork of Cache Creek 

near Lower Lake

Putah Creek Basin

Putah Creek near Suenoc 

Putah Creek near Winters

Napa River Basin

Conn Creek near St. Helena

KLamath River Basin

Salmon River at Somesbar 

Trinity River at Lewlston 

Trinity River near Burnt Ranch 

Trinity River near Hoopa

Smith River Basin

Smith River near Crescent City

The Great Basin

Owens Lake Basin

Owens River near Round Valley 

Rock Greek at Sherwin Hill, 

near Bishop 

Pine Creek at division box, 

near Bishop

Date of 

other flood

Mar. 25, 1928 

Mar. 25, 1928 

Mar. 25, 192 8 

Mar. 25, 1928 

Mar. 26, 1928

Dec. 26, 1931

Mar. 10, 1904 

Feb. 4, 1937

Feb. 4, 1937

Jan. 14 ,193 6 

Nov. 30, 1926 

Jan. 15, 1936 

Dec. 31, 1913

Apr. 13, 1937

June 30,1907 

June 17,1927

July 21,1936

Momentary 

peak discharge 

(second-feet)

Flood of 

December 

1937

710 

315 

8,560 

14,600 

2,200

16,000

24,100 

39,200

2,660

27,000 

37,000 

71,800 

105,000

78,900

1,560 

115

207

Other 

flood

2,060 

635 

8,050 

12,400 

1,620

11,000

24,600 

41,100

4,600

21,600 

31,900 

31,000 

89,000

70,100

1,190 

162

350

Direct run-off 

for 

storm period 

( Inches )

Flood of 

December 

1937

2.25 

2.0 

5.1 

4.15 

4.25

4.15

9.7 

3.7

1.95

3.55 

4.15 

3.65 

3.75

_

.2 

.15

.25

Other 

flood

7.15 

4.55

2.35

8.85 

2.0

1.5

3.55 

4.55 

1.75 

4.55

9.1

.3

.5

.45

Remarks*

aj,ol 

aj,k 

aj,oi 

aj,oi 

aj,nl

e,li

a

d

ag,oi 

ag,m 

ag,ol 

ag,l

d

ki 

e,ki

e,kl

* Remarks refer to amount of water available for run-off during other flood as compared with amount available during flood of December 1937. Key letters explained 

below:

f Short storm, 

g Prolonged storm, 

h Large amount of antecedent precipitation. 

1 At high altitudes. 

J At low altitudes.

Much more precipitation. 

Slightly more precipitation. 

Precipitation about same. 

Slightly less precipitation. 

Much less precipitation.

k Large snow contribution.

1 Small snow contribution,

m No snow contribution,

n Light snow accumulation,

o Heavy snow accumulation.
340 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

much longer the symbol (g) is used, and where shorter the symbol (f). 

If no indicating time length is given it may be inferred that the 

duration was somewhat longer than for the storm of December 1937.

The amount of antecedent rainfall seems to be a very influential 

factor in California floods. The great majority of floods which exceeded that of December 1937 were preceded by more precipitation, although the actual flood-producing precipitation may have been less.

Some of the earlier maxima are not based on recording-gage 

records and the accuracy of the momentary peaks may not approach that 

of the more recent records.

Analysis indicates that, in six basins where apparently no snow 

was involved, storms of less rainfall produced larger peaks than were 

recorded during December 1937. These basins drain parts of the Coast 

Ranges and are upstream from gaging stations located on Arroyo Seco 

near Soledad, the San Lorenzo River at Big Trees, Los Gatos Creek at 

Los Gatos, Cnmpbell Creek at Saratoga, Putah Creek near Winters, and 

Conn Creek near St. Helena. All the highest peaks occurred later in 

the rainy season than the flood of December 1937 and were preceded by 

much more precipitation. On Arroyo Seco and the San Lorenzo River the 

maximum peaks were accompanied also by a greater total direct run-off 

than occurred during December 1937. At the other four gaging stations 

the total direct run-off associated with the storm of February 1937 

was less than in December 1937.

If floods are considered in basins where snow was involved, storms 

of less rainfall produced higher peaks than in December 1937 in 19 

basins, and produced more direct run-off in 12 basins. In nearly all 

of these floods there was more antecedent precipitation and the storm 

period was longer than in December 1937.

In general it may be said that, with the exception of a few floods 

due wholly or primarily to melting snow, the floods that exceeded those 

of December 1937 were associated with storms that were more prolonged 

or that had more antecedent precipitation.

In comparison with floods of the eastern part of the United States, 

it seems evident that in semi-arid regions the available absorptive 

capacity of the basin at the time of the flood may be a major determining 

influence, whereas in more humid regions the available absorptive capacity 

is likely to be subject to less variation due to regularly recurring 

rainfalls and the maximum floods are associated very commonly with 

maximum storm precipitation.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 341 

Run-off characteristics

In the area covered by this report there are approximately 250 

river-measurement stations at which continuous records of stage and 

discharge are obtained. However, as a result of artificial storage 

for irrigation, power, municipal water supplies, and flood prevention, 

and of diversions of water upstream from some of the gaging stations, 

the observed discharge represents natural flow conditions at only about 

81 river-measurement stations.

The hydrographs of the flow at these 81 stations have been analyzed to show the characteristics of the natural run-off during the 

floods of December 1937. Where groups of basins had similar run-off 

characteristics, it has been assumed that some general deductions could 

be drawn.

An important characteristic of flood run-off is the degree to which 

it is concentrated with respect to time. For basin-wide storms not associated with snow, Sherman Vpresented the idea that surface run-off 

from rainfalls occurring within the same time interval will produce

similar hydrographs whose ordinates will very with the volume of sur8/ 9/ IO/ 

face run-off. The studies by Bernard, Hoyt, Snyder, the Corps

of Engineers, U. S. Army, and others, have substantiated the general 

idea. It would appear that if, during an isolated storm such as occurred during December 1937, the storm characteristics were similar 

over the affected area, the degree to which the run-off was concentrated with respect to time may be related largely to inherent basin 

characteristics, except in those basins where snow was involved. Concentration is usually evaluated in the form of a ratio between discharge 

for a short interval of time and discharge for a relatively long interval 

of time. Some investigators have chosen the ratio between the average 

discharge for the calendar day of greatest flow and the average discharge 

for the period of flood run-off (both computed above a base representing 

contribution from ground water and surface run-off from antecedent 

precipitation). Others have used the ratio between momentary peak discharge and discharge for the highest calendar day (with or without

7/ Sherman, L. K., Stream flow from rainfall by the unit graph 

method; Bng. News-Record, vol. 108, pp. 500-501, 1952._____________

8/ Bernard, M. M., An approach to determinate stream flow: Am. Soc. 

Civil Bng. Trans., vol. 100, pp. 547-562, 1955._____________________

9/ Hoyt, W. G. and others, Studies of relations of rainfall and runoff in the United States: U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 772, 1936.

10/ Snyder, F. P., Synthetic unit-graphs: Am. Geophys. Union 

Trans., pp. 447-454, 1938.
342 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

correction for ground-water contribution). It may be readily appreciated 

that any ratio involving the calendar day is not desirable because it is 

only by accident that the average discharge for the highest calendar day 

will coincide with that for the maximum 24-hour discharge.

In this report two separate measures of the concentration are used. 

The first Is the ratio between the run-off during the 24 hours of greatest discharge and the total direct run-off during the storm period. This 

ratio Is listed In table 8, column 4.

The second ratio computed Is that between the momentary peak discharge and the maximum 24-hour discharge. This ratio Is listed In table 

8, column 6.

For the 81 unregulated streams listed In table 8 for which complete 

data are available, the ratio between the run-off during the 24 hours of 

greatest discharge and the total direct run-off during the storm period 

will be discussed first. It Is realized that, because of the relatively 

small size of many of the basins and the extreme flashiness of the runoff, the 24-hour period Is too long for any except very general 

comparisons.

As Indicated In table 8, column 4, In 12 of the basins less than 

40 percent of the total run-off occurred during the 24 hours of greatest 

discharge. In 14 other basins the ratios of concentration were between 

40 and 49 percent. In 33 basins, the largest number for any one group, 

between 50 and 59 percent of the total run-off occurred during a 24-hour 

interval. In 11 basins, ratios were between 60 and 69 percent, and in 

qnly 10 basins were the ratios 70 percent or more.

An examination of the grouping of the stations with respect to the 

degree of concentration of the flood run-off Indicates that in general 

those basins In which less than 50 percent of the total direct run-off 

occurred during 24 hours fall Into two groups. One group, including the 

upper Kern River, Bear, Mono, Indian, Cherry, and Silver Creeks, and the 

Middle Feather River drains parts of the high Sierras where melting snow 

may have contributed to the run-off. The other group Includes some 

streams In the Klamath and upper Sacramento River Basins where there was 

but little contribution to the run-off from melting snow.

Basins in which there was an unusually high concentration of flood 

run-off with respect to time - that Is, In which 70 percent or more of 

the total run-off occurred during a 24-hour period - are located principally In the semi-arid and lower foothill areas where the stream flow 

Is not well sustained and the flood run-off takes place following periods
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 343

of high rainfall intensity as a sudden and flashy peak of relatively 

small volume but with a high maximum rate. Such basins include the 

areas upstream from the river-measurement stations on Orestimba Creek, 

Los Gatos Creek near Coalinga, the Salinas River near Santa Margarita, 

Woods Creek, Fine Gold Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Big Sandy Creek, Bear 

Creek near Planada, Mariposa Creek, and the South Fork of the Tuolumne 

River. The basins seem to group between these limits with some degree 

of consistency. Those that drain the upper foothills, including the 

Fresno, Chowchilla, lower Kings, Middle Tuolumne, and others, had concentration ratios of 60 to 69 percent. The largest group includes 

basins situated largely on the higher slopes of the Sierra Nevada 

where between 50 and 59 percent of the total run-off occurred during a 

24-hour period. In many of these basins there may have been snow on 

the ground, but the effect was apparently not such as to produce a low 

concentration ratio.

Salinas River near Santa Margarita, Los Gatos Creek near Coalinga, 

Cottonwood Creek near Friant, and Orestimba Creek near Newman show particularly high concentration ratios.

In view of the large number of basins where natural run-off 

characteristics could not be determined because of regulation, the relations indicated in table 8, column 4, are subject to modification on 

a basis of detailed studies of other floods and through the use of time 

intervals shorter than 24 hours.

In the area studied, most of the basins with natural flow conditions 

are small and have relatively little channel storage. Flood run-off 

appears at the river-measurement stations soon after the time when rainfall intensity exceeds the infiltration capacity, and crest stages occur 

almost simultaneously over the individual basins. This is in contrast 

to many large river systems where wide channels and overflow areas provide channel storage which retards and reduces the flood crest.

In 68 of the 81 basins in table 8 the momentary peak stages were on 

December 11, and their times were about equally divided between forenoon 

and afternoon. In nine basins, the peaks were on December 10, seven being late in the afternoon or at night. On four streams, the peaks were 

on December 12. During the late afternoon and night of December 10, 

there were peak stages in the northern part of the Sacramento River Basin. 

During the morning of December 11, there were peak stages throughout the 

northern Sierra Nevadas and areas near San Francisco Bay. In the southern Sierra Nevadas, in general, peak stages were reached during the
344 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

afternoon and evening of December 11. The times of occurrence of the 

crest stages may be indicative of the progress of the most intense part 

of the storm, when allowance is made for the elapsed time between the 

falling of the rain and its observed appearance as run-off. It should 

not be overlooked that because of antecedent precipitation, there would 

be a tendency for the run-off to be earlier in the northern part of the 

area than in the southern part, and this may be reflected in the later 

occurrence of peak stages in much of the San Joaquin River Basin. At 

many of the stations there were two peaks, but generally the second peak 

reached the higher stage. With time of occurrence of the maximum peak 

stages so nearly simultaneous, no correlation with basin characteristics 

has been attempted.

Characteristics of peak discharge

In connection with the study of the magnitude and frequency of floods 

in the United States, the Advisory Committee on Flood Protection Data, 

appointed by the American Society of Civil Engineers, suggested that 

significant and valuable information would be developed by investigating 

the magnitude of the maximum 24-hour flows, independent of coincidence

with the calendar day, and by determining the relation between the maxiii/ 

mum 24-hour flow and the momentary peak discharge. In that study 690

flood events were tabulated, but the data did not respond to general 

analysis. Nevertheless, it was suggested that "not only the seasonal 

influence but also the wide variety of soil moisture, directions of storm 

movement, duration and distribution of rainfall on a given river system,

influence of thaws, and shape of drainage basin may be reflected in the

IS/ relative values".

The influences upon the shape of the flood crest, as outlined above, 

may be classified as follows: first, those that relate to the particular 

meteorologic and hydrologic conditions attending a specific storm, and 

second, those that are peculiar to each basin.

In table 4 (see pp. 288-298) there are given in second-feet the 

momentary peak discharge and the maximum 24-hour average discharge, independent of the calendar day. In table 8, column 6, (see pp. 321-324) 

is shown the ratio between momentary peak discharge and the maximum 24- 

hour average discharge for 81 -unregulated streams. These ratios range

ll/ Jarvis, C. S., and others, Floods in the United States magnitude 

and frequency; U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 771, 1956.______

I2/ Idem, p. 94.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 345

all the way from 105 percent for Indian Creek at Crescent Mills, in the 

Feather River Basin, influenced by channel storage, to 409 percent for 

Bear Creek near Planada with little, if any, channel storage. Ten 

basins had ratios of less than 125 percent, and 20 basins had ratios exceeding 200 percent. The largest grouping had ratios between 125 and 

200 percent. As between basins where the discharge for the 24 hours of 

greatest flow was only slightly less than the momentary peak discharge 

and basins where the momentary peak discharge was between two and three 

times greater than the maximum 24-hour average discharge, differences 

in basin characteristics are, in general, pronounced. Among the large 

number of basins where the momentary peak was from 125 to 200 percent of 

the maximum 24-hour average discharge, correlation with basin characteristics is difficult. Snow was involved in many of the basins that 

fall in this grouping, and delayed run-off therefrom probably had an 

effect on the ratio. In general, low ratios prevail in those basins in 

which there were known to be large amounts of channel storage, and 

storage in swamps and lakes, or where lava is present as in the Feather, 

Klamath, and Pit River Bssins. High ratios are indicated in much of 

the semi-arid and foothill areas where flash floods of short duration 

follow closely periods of heavy rainfall intensity, with little flow 

prior to the beginning of the sharp flood rise and rapid recession 

following the peak.

The range in amount of total direct run-off from unregulated 

streams is from 0.05 inch on Cottonwood Creek to 12.5 inches on Grizzly 

Creek. Cottonwood Creek is a small tributary of the San Joaquin River 

lying wholly in the low foothill area where precipitation was light, 

the antecedent period was dry, and the absorptive capacity of a large 

part of the basin was probably not reached. Grizzly Creek is a high 

Sierra basin in a region where the rainfall was heavy, the antecedent 

period was wet, and the run-off was augmented by the melting of snow 

which was already on the ground at the beginning of the storm.

The total direct run-off for each of the river-measurement 

stations listed in table 7 (see pp. 311-316) has been plotted, as shown 

in figure 45 (see p. 319), and the scattered points are evidence of the 

great variety of conditions that were in effect on the different stream 

basins. Cottonwood Creek and Grizzly Creek, cited in the preceding 

paragraph, represent opposite extremes. It should also be kept in mind 

that Cottonwood Creek and Grizzly Creek Basins are sufficiently small 

and compact to be subject to practically uniform conditions over their

1603(12 O 39 23
346 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

respective areas. On the contrary, most of the basins, as mentioned 

elsewhere in this report, are subject to great variations in altitude, 

precipitation, temperature, cover, gradient, and soil, so that run-off 

is the resultant of many variable influences.

As also stated previously, analyses of the run-off of major floods 

in the central and eastern parts of the United States indicate that the 

direct run-off of such floods has rarely exceeded 10 inches, and has 

generally been between 8 and 10 inches. Figure 45 seems to indicate 

that for the floods here studied many of the results conform more or 

less closely to these limits.

The method of plotting results used in figure 45 disregards basin 

differences and, like some other studies in this report, produces results that have a composite character. The method has the advantage 

of showing actual and natural behavior of stream flow. It may be that 

detailed analysis of the long-time rainfall and run-off records by 

large and small basins will show run-off characteristics more comprehensively, and perhaps more accurately for extensive areas, than 

can be shown by the synthetic development of rainfall-run-off experiences on relatively small experimental areas;

Basin characteristics

In this section neighboring stream basins have been grouped for 

convenience in description and in discussion of rainfall and run-off. 

The grouping, and the order of discussion, are not exactly the same as 

used in the annual water-supply papers of the Geological Survey but are 

most suitable to a study of the hydrology associated with the storm of 

December 1937.

The word "basin" is used at many places in this report to refer to 

the area upstream from the gaging station at which the run-off is 

measured. Therefore, under this usage the reference is to the entire 

basin of any given stream only when the gaging station is located near 

the mouth. Few basins in California are subject to uniform conditions 

over their whole areas. On the contrary, most basins possess widely 

varying altitudes and stream gradients, and cross different zones of precipitation, temperature, cover, and soil, so that the run-off is the resultant of the action of many variable influences.

Key maps (figs. 47 to 70) show the relative location of each group 

of basins. A brief description is included for each basin for which 

complete run-off data are available in order to give the reader a general
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 347

idea of the shape, size, altitude, slops, and geologic formation. Basins 

for which run-off data are incomplete are not described. It is recognized that the nature and extent of forest and other vegetative cover is 

one factor in the relation between rainfall and run-off. As the stream

basins show great variation in this feature it is considered beyond the

13/ 

scope of this report to describe cover conditions in the individual

basins or to make a study of the probable effect upon run-off.

Streams in the area covered by this report may be classified approximately into four groups in accordance with different hydrologic 

characteristics. Such a classification can be of only the most general 

nature because, as explained previously, most California streams and 

their drainage basins are subject to great variations in climate, topography, and geology. The examples given are considered typical. Many 

streams contain characteristics of two or more groups and no attempt 

has been made to put every stream arbitrarily into some group.

High Sierra type

A stream may be said to have characteristics of a "typical High 

Sierra stream" when it has its source in long-lived or perpetual snow 

banks, or glaciers, near the crest of the Sierra Nevada, and when a 

large proportion of the precipitation over its basin accumulates in 

the form of snow. As a result it will be a perennial stream even 

though its lower reaches may be in foothill or valley areas that receive no rain from May to October. Its run-off will depend to a large 

extent upon the depth and water content of the snow pack and upon the 

rapidity with which the snow melts.

The discharge hydrograph will be characterized by a diurnal 

fluctuation that will make periodic appearances in March and will 

usually become continuous in April. The diurnal variation will increase in amplitude until the peak of the snow run-off is reached in 

late May or June. At that time the discharge corresponding to the 

warmest part of the day may be two or three times the discharge at 

the low point corresponding to the night period when the least melting 

occurs. After that time the fluctuation gradually decreases.

A typical High Sierra stream may be subject to flood run-off at 

any time from November to June, owing to stones such as those of March 

1928 or December 1937. Occasionally summer thunder storms, which are

15/ See Atlas of American Agriculture: U. S. Dept. Agr., 1936.
348 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

common to the High Sierra from June to August, will cover sufficient area 

and be of long enough duration to cause a very large peak discharge on 

one or more tributaries. In discussing and comparing discharge and runoff from High Sierra streams it is important to know the distribution of 

tne drainage area upstream from the river-measurement station with respect to altitude. A tributary that has a basin wholly above 7,000 feet 

will obviously have a different type of discharge than the main stream 

which is normally measured at the base of the foothills. The maximum 

24-hour average discharge for the tributary would occur during the time 

of greatest snow run-off. That for the main stream would more likely 

be due to heavy rainfall plus snow melt at lower altitudes.

When rivers such as the San Joaquin are classified as High Sierra 

streams it is understood that they are considered from a point upstream 

from man-made works that may change their nature.

Rivers that may be considered to belong to the High Sierra group 

are the Kaweah, Kings, San Joaquin, Merced, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, 

Mokelumne, American, and probably the Feather and Yuba. The Kern River 

at the extreme south end of the Sierras has distinctive characteristics 

but is-also one of this group. On the east side of the Sierra Nevada, 

the group includes such rivers as the Truckee, Carson, Walker, and 

Owens, although they are in a region of much less precipitation than 

the rivers on the west side. Headwater tributaries of all the streams 

named would also belong to the group.

Midslope type

Streams of this type are those that head moderately high in the 

Sierra Nevada, but whose basins have relatively small percentages of 

their areas at high altitudes and therefore do not accumulate a snow 

pack that lasts until summer. They may show very large daily fluctuations during April and May when the snow at lower elevations is melting fast.

Streams in this group would ordinarily have both their highest 

momentary peaks and maximum 24-hour average discharge caused by heavy 

rain storms augmented by some melting snow. Their summer flow may be 

very low and may even become zero in the lower reaches during a dry 

season.

Streams that may be considered to belong to this group are the 

Tule, South Fork of the Tule, Fresno, Cosumnes, North Fork of the 

Cosumnes, West Branch of the Feather, and Bear Rivers, also Plum,
RAINFALL AND RUN-OPP STUDIES 349

Alder, and Spanish Creeks. Mill Creek and Deer Creek (near Vina) come 

nearer to this type than to any other, although they are at the north 

end of the Sierra Nevada and their summer flow is relatively large owing 

to perennial springs and underground storage in lava fields.

Foothill type

In this group are streams that are usually torrential in character 

and intermittent and that depend almost entirely on rain for their runoff. Their basins are in semi-arid regions on which no rain may fall 

from May to October, or even for longer periods, and the streams may 

have no surface flow for many months in some years. The slopes of the 

basins are flatter than those in the preceding groups, and run-off Is 

largely dependent upon the absorptive condition of the soil of the 

basin, which in turn may be determined largely by the amount of recent 

antecedent rainfall.

Streams of this type are: the Salinas River and its tributaries, 

Uvas Creek, Los Gatos Creek (near Coalinga), Fine Sold Creek, the Chowchilla River, Orestimba Creek, Woods Creek, Cosgrove Creek, Sutter 

Creek, Elder Creek, North Fork of Cache Creek, Putah Creek, and Conn 

Creek.

Miscellaneous group

The fourth group, denoted the miscellaneous group, is not marked 

by common characteristics, to any great extent, but constitutes a classification for streams that fall outside the preceding three groups. It 

includes streams that originate around Mount Shasta or in the Siskiyou 

and Klamath mountains and in the Coast Ranges between the Smith River on 

the north and San Francisco Bay on the south. The Trinity and Salmon 

Rivers, in that area, have many characteristics of the High Sierra type 

but are in a region of considerably greater rainfall.

The fourth group also includes the short coastal streams south of 

San Francisco Bay, originating on the westernmost slope of the Coast 

Ranges. San Lorenzo River (Santa Cruz County) is the only one in that 

area discussed in this report.
350 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Southern Pacific baalns

Topographically the Salinas Basin is a long narrow valley (fig. 47), 

walled In by steep mountain slopes which have been greatly eroded and

dissected by stream action. 

There Is a broad mesa or elevated plain along the southeast side. The crests of the 

encircling mountains range In 

altitude from 2,500 to 4,000 

feet above sea level.

The Sallnas River flows 

about 150 miles northwestward 

and for most of the distance 

Is in a broad, flat, alluvial 

valley. Most of the water 

comes from the Arroyo Seco 

and the San Antonio and 

Nacimiento Rivers, on the west. 

San Lorenzo Creek and the Estrella River, on the east, are 

Intermittent streams that carry 

extremely heavy loads of sediments during flashy floods. 

Soda Lake Basin does not drain 

Into the Sallnas River. The base gaging station Is near Spreckels, a few 

miles upstream from the mouth, at an altitude of about 50 feet above sea 

level.

The Sallnas River Is of the foothill type of stream, as described In 

the Introduction to this section.

The basin Is composed of a wide variety of granitic and sedimentary 

rocks. Except In the headwater area the bed of the valley Is alluvium.

Uvas Creek, In the Pajaro Basin, rises on the south side of Loma 

Prieta Mountain (altitude, 3,800 feet), flows southeastward, and drops In 

about 10 miles to an altitude of 390 feet at the gaging station. The 

basin is about one and a half times as long as It Is wide and is underlain largely by sandstone, chert, limestone, and serpentine. Uvas Creek 

Is a foothill type of stream.

Figure 47. Key map showing location 

of southern Pacific basins: 

(a) Sallnas River,(b) San Lorenzo 

River, (c) Uvas Creek.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 351

The San Lorenzo River drains a coastal basin about 16 miles long by 

8 miles wide, has several large tributaries, is bounded on the west and 

east by ranges about 2,000 feet high, and flows in a southerly direction 

through a steep canyon. The basin is underlain by a mixture of greatly 

shattered sedimentary and granitic formations. The river flows parallel 

to a fault line. The gaging station is at an altitude of 150 feet. This 

stream is classified in the miscellaneous group. It is a perennial stream 

and is in a region of heavier precipitation than the foothill type. Precipitation is always in the form of rain and is at times torrential.

Twenty-nine rainfall stations in the Salinas, San Lorenzo, and 

Pajaro River Basins and about an equal number in adjacent territory define the lines of equal rainfall with & fair degree of accuracy. The 

precipitation stations are largely in the valleys, only a few being maintained in the hills where rainfall during the December storm was heaviest. 

There was no snow on the ground before the storm and no snow fell during 

it.

The observed run-off from all the basins is essentially natural. 

Except at the Salinas River near Spreckels, above which there are considerable channel storage, flat slopes, and high absorptive capacity, 

meteorologic conditions were soon reflected at the gaging stations. The 

direct run-off, in inches, above the various gaging stations was (table 

7, see pp. 311-316) 2.25 for the San Lorenzo River, 8.9 for Uvas Creek, 

0.5 for the Salinas River near Santa Margarita, 0.9 for the San Antonio 

River, 1.75 for Arroyo Seco, and 0.25 for the Salinas River near 

Spreckels. The run-off was generally less than 0.5 inch over the 

greater part of the Salinas River Basin.

San Lorenzo River and Uvas Creek Basins received excessive amounts 

of rain, but from only the Uvas Creek Basin was the flood run-off unusually high.

Indicated residuals between rainfall and run-off range from 2.8 

inches in the upper Salinas River Basin to 14.85 inches in the San 

Lorenzo River Basin. It is probable that in the lower part of the 

Salinas River Basin there was insufficient rain to utilize or exceed 

the absorptive capacity of the basin. The ability of the San Lorenzo 

River Basin to absorb rain during the December storm was apparently 

very great, as indicated by the large residual.

There are no recording precipitation stations in the southern 

Pacific area. However, the river and creek gage-height graphs show 

that the storsn traveled generally in a southeast direction. The
352 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

water-stage recorder graphs for Uvas Creek and San Lorenzo River show 

an initial peak about 6 a.m. on December 10 and the highest peak about 

2 a.m. on December 11. The Arroyo Seco had a large inflow into the 

stream channel on December 10 and the highest peak at 8 a.m. on December 

11. The San Antonio River at Pleytc began to flow about noon on December

10 and reached the peak about 4 p.m. on the following day. The Salinas 

River near Santa Margarita did not begin to rise until 8 a.m. on December

11 and reached its peak about 10 p.m. on the same day. The peak did not 

pass Spreckels until 10 p.m. on December 12.

The ratios of the momentary peak flow to the mean during the 24 

hours of highest flow were generally high and ranged from 161 to 192 percent on the smaller basins. On the 4,180 square miles of the Salinas 

Basin above Spreckels this ratio was only 124 percent. The ratios between the run-off during the 24 hours of highest flow and the total storm 

run-off ranged from 40 percent for the Salinas Basin as a whole to 90 

percent for the 150 square miles upstream from the gaging station near 

Santa Margarita.

The momentary peak discharge and the total direct flood run-off of 

Uvas Creek greatly exceeded those for the previous maximum flood of 

record on December 27, 1931. Peaks at other river-measurement stations 

in the southern Pacific area did not approach record discharges, although 

the precipitation during the storm of December 1937 was generally as 

great as or greater than that which occurred during the storms that produced previous maximum peaks of record. However, the previous peaks 

occurred later in the season when the absorptive capacities were probably much less than at the beginning of the rainy period in December 

1937. It appears that if the storm of December 1937 had occurred later 

in the rainy season, the run-off would have been considerably greater.

The precipitation in the storms in January, February, and March 

1938 fell upon ground more fully moistened than in December 1937 and, 

as a consequence, new records for peak discharge and for total direct 

flood run-off were established for the river-measurement stations on 

the Salinas River near Santa Margarita and at Spreckels, on the San 

Antonio River at Pleyto, and on the San Lorenzo River at Big Trees.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 353 

Los Gatos Creek Basin (near Coalinga) and Orestimba Creek Basin

Los Gatos and Orestimba Creeks are short, torrential, intermittent 

streams which drain the eastern slopes of the Coast Ranges and flow out 

i , onto alluvial fans on the western side of the San Joaquin 

Valley. Most of the run-off 

sinks into these fans. These 

streams are examples of the 

foothill type. (See fig. 48 

for location.)

Los Gatos Creek drains an 

approximately square area and 

has three main tributaries 

that originate on the south 

slopes of San Benito Mountain. 

The mountain rises to an altitude of more than 5,000 feet 

and is composed of serpentine 

and other intrusive rocks. 

The three main tributaries 

of Los Gatos Creek flow 

through formations of marine 

sediment for most of the 14 

miles above the gaging station,

and drop from altitudes of 3,000, 4,000, and 5,000 feet, respectively, 

down to an altitude of 1,000 feet at the gaging station.

Orestimba Creek drains a triangular area which is about 18 miles 

long and which has a watershed line that follows the crest of the Diablo 

Range for about 15 miles. The tributary from the north rises at an altitude of about 3,000 feet and the main tributary from the south rises at 

an altitude of about 2,000 feet, whereas the gaging station is at an 

altitude of 190 feet. The headwater area is underlain by sedimentary 

and metamorphic rocks, the raidsection lies in marine sediments, and just 

upstream from the gaging station the channel is cut in alluvium.

There are no rainfall stations in either basin and the lines representing equal rainfall in these areas are not well defined.

There was no snow on either drainage basin before the storm and 

none fell during the storm. The observed flow from both streams is not 

affected by artificial storage.

Figure 48. Key map showing location 

of (a) Los Gatos Creek Basin 

(near Coalinga) and (b) Orestimba 

Creek Basin.
354 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

The run-off for both streams (see table 7, pp. 311-316) was very 

small, being only 0..4 inch for Orestimba Creek and 0.15 inch for Los 

Gatos Creek. These basins are in an area of low precipitation, and the 

precipitation during the storm was comparatively light. The differences 

between rainfall and direct run-off were slightly greater than 4 inches 

in each basin and probably do not reflect their greatest absorptive 

capacities. The ratios between the momentary peak flow and the average 

for the 24 hours of highest flow were very high, reaching 388 percent 

for Los Gatos Creek, indicating a type of flashy run-off perhaps to be 

expected from small semi-arid basins where there is no sustained flow. 

In Orestimba Creek basin the ratio was 171 percent. The ratios between 

the run-off during the 24 hours of highest flow and the total run-off 

for the storm were also very high, being 88 and 100 percent on Orestimbs 

and Los Gatos Creeks, respectively. These ratios were 89 and 87 percent, 

respectively, before the component figures of the ratios were rounded off 

to the nearest half-tenth of an inch. Run-off began on both creeks on 

the morning of December 11 and the peaks were reached about noon on the 

same day.

The momentary peak discharge on Los Gatos Creek exceeded the 

previous peak of record but was itself greatly exceeded when the rains 

of the storm of February 11, 1938, fell upon ground previously moistened.

The highest records on Orestimba Creek both for momentary peak and 

total direct run-off occurred in connection with the storm of February 

8, 1932. Although the storm of 1932 apparently produced less rainfall 

than that of 1937, the rainfall from the former fell upon more moist 

ground and possibly was augmented by melting snow in the higher parts of 

the basin.

Kern River Basin

The Kern River Basin, the largest stream basin in the Sierra tributary to the San Joaquin Valley, occupies the southeast end of that valley 

and differs from any of the other tributary basins in that its main axis 

lies north and south instead of east and west. The basin, which is long 

and comparatively narrow, lies west of the main Sierra divide, but is 

east of the secondary parallel crest, called the Great Western Divide, 

which separates this basin from the basins of the Kaweah and Tule Rivers 

and the southern foothill streams on the west. (See figure 49.) It is 

separated from the Kings River Basin on the north by a cross range 

about 15 miles in length, known as the Kings-Kern Divide. The Kern River
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 355

and its main tributary, the South Fork, rise in numerous small glacial 

lakes at the north end of the basin among very high peaks and flow southward for many miles. About 70 

percent of the basin upstream 

from Bakersfield is at an altitude of more than 5,000 feet. 

It is a High Sierra river, although in a region of less precipitation than the High Sierra 

rivers to the north.

The basin of the South 

Fork of the Kern River upstream 

from the gaging station near 

Onyx is about 50 miles long 

and increases in width southward, from about 6 miles in 

the headwater area to about 18 

miles near the mouth. The 

headwaters are at an altitude 

of about 10,500 feet and the 

gaging station is at 2,900 

feet. The basin is characterized by low, flat, and irregular hills, separated by meadows. Granitic 

rocks are predominant, but there are also limestones, slates, and schists 

in the basin. Between the upper and lower gaging stations, near Onyx 

and at Isabella, the river flows for 18 miles on alluvium at flat slopes. 

In this reach the floods are much affected by channel or ground-water 

storage. This intermediate area drains granitic rocks but the rainfall 

is normally low and the contribution to the flow of the river is small. 

The run-off of the South Fork is much less than that of the main branch, 

and the peak of the snowmelt normally comes earlier than from the Sierra 

streams to the north. The part of the basin of the Kern River upstream 

from the gaging station near Kernville is about 55 miles long and 

averages about 18 miles in width. From the headwaters in the north, at 

an altitude of about 13,000 feet, the river flows in an almost straight 

line southward through a deep canyon, with a steep slope to the gaging 

station at an altitude of about 3,550 feet. The upper part of the 

basin is characterized by high glaciated peaks and ridges and by deep 

canyons. Below this part the basin is underlain by granitic and

Figure 49.--Key map showing location 

of Kern River Basin.
356 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

metamorphic rocks, but the river flows on alluvium for about 10 miles 

above and below the junction with the South Fork at Isabella. Downstream from Isabella the river again flows through a canyon over granitic 

rocks, then through marine sediments along the edge of the foothills, 

and finally through alluvium for the last few miles above the gaging 

station near Bakersfield, which is at an altitude of about 470 feet.

Lines of equal precipitation in the Kern River Basin have been 

based on five records in the southern part of the basin and on scattered 

records in adjoining basins to the east and west, which may not be 

closely indicative of the precipitation in the headwater areas. As indicated by the isohyetals (see fig. 14, p. 46), the precipitation during 

the storm period, December 9 to 13, is assumed to have decreased from a 

total of 12 inches along the upper portions of the higher mountain areas 

lying between the headwaters of the upper Kern and Kaweah River Basins 

to about 4 inches along the eastern boundary and to less than 2 inches 

along the southern part of the basin,. There was probably some snow on 

the ground on December 9 in the headwater areas, but the small total 

run-off indicates that there was little contribution from melting snow 

to the flood run-off.

An analysis of the direct run-off, as measured at five places 

within the basin, indicates that practically all of the stream flow at 

the gaging station on the Kern River near Bakersfield originated in the 

area above Kernville and in the South Fork of the Kern River above Onyx. 

These basins have a combined area of nearly 1,400 square miles, of which 

95 percent lies above an altitude of 5,000 feet, 70 percent above 7,000 

feet, and 33 percent above 9,000 feet. Based on the isohyetals as drawn, 

the storm precipitation over the drainage area above Kernville averaged 

7.8 inches and above Onyx 4.3 inches. The total direct run-off was 0.65 

and 0.15 inch, respectively. If it is assumed that the area above 9,000 

feet did not contribute direct run-off to the stream channels because 

the precipitation had the form of snow, the total direct run-off from 

the contributing areas below 9,000 feet was 1.15 inches above Kernville 

and 0.2 inch above Onyx. In the absence of exact information as to the 

precipitation and run-off for the higher altitudes, it seems reasonable 

to assume that the representative run-off from the area which actually 

contributed may lie somewhere between 0.35 and 1.15 inches for the basin 

above Kernville and 0.15 and 0.2 inch for the basin above Onyx. From a 

study of differences in the measured stream flow, there was apparently 

little run-off from areas where the total storm precipitation was 5 inches
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 357

The maximum 24-hour direct run-off from the South Fork of the Kern 

River above Onyx was 0.05 inch, or 33 percent of the total direct runoff. This relatively low ratio may indicate some run-off from melting 

snow. The ratio between the momentary peak flow and the mean for the 

24 hours of highest flow was 124 percent.

The determinations of the magnitude of the precipitation seem consistent insofar as rainfall is concerned. There may have been more 

precipitation in the head'water areas than is shown by the isohyetals, 

but if so, it apparently was in the form of snow and did not contribute 

materially to the flood run-off.

The heavy rainfall began to be reflected in the stage of the South 

Fork of the Kern River near Onyx on the morning of December 10 and high 

flows continued during all of that day and the next. The first of two 

small peaks came about midnight of December II, and the second and 

higher one came about 8 a.m. on December 12.

None of the momentary peak discharges at the river-measurement 

stations on the South Fork of the Kern River and on the Kern River near 

Kernville approached the highest peaks on record. However, on March 2, 

1938, a new peak of record was established on the South Fork of the Kern 

River near Onyx. All the peaks of record probably resulbed from less 

total precipitation than in December 1937, but they occurred later in 

the rainy season after absorptive capacity of the ground had been considerably utilized. Also run-off from melting snow may have been a 

large factor associated with some of the storms that brought the record 

peaks. In these basins, as in many others, the storm of December 1937 

undoubtedly would have produced greater peaks and more total run-off 

if there had been preceding rains to moisten the soil.

Tule and Kaweah River Basins

The Tule River rises at an altitude of about 9,300 feet above sea 

level near the top of the Great Western Divide, which is a secondary 

crest roughly paralleling the crest of the Sierra Nevada. The river 

flows westward and southwestward, and during flood periods reaches 

Tulare Lake. (See fig. 50.)

The eastern two-thirds of the basin is an eroded mountain region 

whose rather steep slopes have been carved by the action of primary 

and secondary stream systems. The western third is a region of rounded 

foothills. Granitic and metamorphic rocks predominate in the basin.
358 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

The basin upstream from the gaging station (altitude, 580 feet) is 

approximately triangular in shape, is about 24 miles long, and its watershed line follows the Sierra 

crest for 18 miles. About 43 

percent of the basin is above 

an altitude of 5,000 feet. It 

is classed as a midslope stream. 

The South Pork of the Tule 

River is not included in the 

basin upstream from the gaging 

station on the main river. The 

South Pork originates at an 

altitude of about 8,000 feet 

and flows generally westward. 

The gaging station, at an altitude of 750 feet, is about 

16 miles from the source and 

about 5 miles upstream from 

the junction with the Tule 

River. About 40 percent of 

the basin upstream from the 

gaging station is at an altitude of more than 5,000 feet. Both granitic and metamorphic rocks are 

found in its basin. It is of the midslope type of Sierra Nevada stream.

The Kaweah River rises in Lion Lake, at altitude of 10,900 feet 

above sea level, and follows a general southwestward course. During 

flood periods it reaches Tulare Lake through various channels across 

its ancient delta. The upper parts of the basin are very rugged and 

contain many domes and ridges, interspersed between upland meadows and 

small glacial lakes. Granitic rocks predominate in the headwater areas, 

and there are some limestone and schist in the lower portions. The 

river and main tributaries have fairly well developed canyons and moderately steep slopes. The basin upstream from the gaging station near 

Thrae Rivers (altitude, 620 feet) is about 22 miles long and borders 

the crest of the Great Western Divide for about 20 miles. The average 

altitude of the basin is much higher than that of the Tule River Basin, 

62 percent of its area being above an altitude of 5,000 feet. The Kaweah 

River is a typical High Sierra river.

Figure 50.--Key map showing location 

of (a) Tule and (b) Kaweah River 

Basins.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 359

The lines of equal precipitation are fairly well defined by observations in ths Tule River Basin, excluding the South Fork, and in the 

Kaweah River Basin, excluding the North Fork. In the higher parts of 

the basins the isohyetals are based largely on observations near Springville (14.68 inches; altitude, 4,050 feet), Giant Forest (16.28 inches; 

altitude, 6,360 feet), and General Grant National Park (15.10 inches; 

altitude, 6,775 feet). The isohyetals have been constructed on the assumption that these observations indicate the precipitations that may 

have occurred over relatively small areas and that there was a reduction 

in the amount of rainfall at higher altitudes.

The observed run-off at all four gaging stations is not affected 

by artificial storage. The total storm precipitation was in excess of 

11 inches in the Kaweah River Basin and it is probable that nearly all 

of the drainage area contributed direct run-off during the storm period. 

The lower parts of the Tule River Basin and the South Fork of the Tule 

River Basir had less than 5 inches of rainfall and probably contributed 

but little to the flood run-off. The direct run-off (table 7, pp. 

311-316) from the four areas was 0.35 inch for the South Fork of the 

Tule, 1.1 Inches for the Tule, 1.85 inches for the Kaweah, and 1.6 

inches for the North Fork of the Kaweah River Basins.

On the* asstunption that there was no direct run-off from the areas 

above an altitude of 9,000 feet and that there was negligible contribution from those areas in the Tule and South Fork of the Tule River 

Basins where the precipitation was less then 5 inches, the adjusted 

direct run-off would be 0.35 inch for the South Fork of the Tule, 1.15 

inches for the Tule, 2.15 inches for the Kaweah, and 1.6 inches for the 

North Fork of the Kaweah River Basins. The differences for those basins 

between adjusted rainfall and adjusted run-off are 7.45 inches, 9.95 

inches, 9.95 inches, and 10.8 inches respectively.

The total direct run-off during the 24 hours of greatest flow 

ranged from 0.15 inch in the South Fork of the Tule River Basin to 0.95 

inch in the Kaweah River Basin and the degree of concentration of run-off, 

as expressed by the ratio between the maximum 24-hour run-off and the 

total run-off during the flood period ranged from 43 percent to 56 percent. The momentary peak discharge was from 2.35 to nearly 3 times 

greater than the average discharge for the 24 hours of greatest flow. 

The recording rain gage at Fresno indicated heavy rain during the afternoon of December 9 and a few hours of lighter rain in the forenoon of 

December 13. Then there was a heavy rain in the forenoon of December 11
360 THE FLOODS OF DECEVBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

with a maximum intensity about 7 a.m., and a short sharp peak of great 

intensity between 4 and 5 p.m. on the same day. These periods of high 

rainfall were reflected in high flow during the whole forenoon of December 

10, followed by a recession during the afternoon of that day and the 

early morning hours of the next day. Then there was a second and higher 

peak between 4 and 7 p.m. on December 11 at all four stations.

Momentary peak discharges on the Kaweah River near Three Rivers 

and the North Fork of the Kaweah River at Kaweah in December 1937 exceeded the previous peaks of record on those streams, whereas the momentary peaks on the Tule River near Porterville and on the South Fork 

of the Tule River near Success did not exceed the highest peaks on 

record. The total direct run-off for the storm reached a new record 

only at the gaging station on the Kaweah River.

Kings River Basin

The Kings River has its source in many small glacial lakes at altitudes of 12,000 feet and more, near the crest of the Sierra Nevada. 

(See figure 51 for location of the basin.) The topography is very rough 

and irregular, being characterized by sharp peaks and ridges, precipitous canyons, and granite domes. Many small lakes and meadows are 

scattered through the upper part of the basin. The middle portion is 

the most rugged area in the entire Sierra Nevada. The canyon of the 

main river below the junction of the Middle and South Forks is more than 

5,000 feet deep, and thus is one of the deepest canyons in the continental United States. Nearly all the tributaries also run in deep canyons cut through solid granite, and those on the South Fork and the 

Middle Fork (Tehipite Valley) are noted for their resemblance to 

Yosemite Valley. The basin is largely underlain by granitic rocks, but 

a broad belt of metamorphic rocks traverses the area from northwest to 

southeast, crossing in the vicinity of the junction of the Middle and 

South Forks. The Kings River is a typical High Sierra river. During 

flood periods the river reaches Tulare Lake. The basin upstream from 

Piedra has a radial distance of about 40 miles to the north and 60 

miles to the east. The altitude at this gaging station is about 500 

feet, but 71 percent of the basin is above 5,000 £eet.

The portion of the basin upstream from the gaging station located 

on the main stream just above the mouth of the North Fork, is fanshaped with a radial distance of 32 to 40 miles. The gaging station is 

at an altitude of 1,020 feet, and 89 percent of the basin is above 5,000
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 361

The highest precipitation stations within the Kings River Basin and 

also the places where the greatest precipitation was recorded are Cliff

Gamp (altitude, 6,150 feet) and 

General Grant National Park 

(altitude, 6,775 feet) where 

the total precipitation was 

12.19 inches and 15.10 inches, 

respectively. Half of the 

Kings River Basin upstream from 

Piedra lies at an altitude 

above 7,000 feet and 30 percent 

lies at an altitude above 9,000 

feet. In this large high area 

between Cliff Camp, General 

Grant National Park, and the 

eastern boundary of the basin, 

there is little, if any, basic 

information that will definitely locate the isohyetals, and 

the computed precipitation may 

not be indicative of actual 

conditions.

No complete record showing the distribution of the precipitation 

with respect to time is available within the basin. At the experimental 

station of the United States Forest Service in the Big Creek area near 

Trimmer, where the total storm precipitation was somewhat more than 12 

inches, partial failure of recording apparatus made it impossible to determine accurately the maximum intensities. The partial precipitation 

record and also the recording graphs of river stages indicate that there 

were two periods of great rainfall intensity about 12 hours apart, and 

that probably the period of maximum intensity was during the last storm 

period, during the morning of December 11. The peak discharge on the 

Kings River at Piedra was reached between 4 and 4:30 p.m.

River-measurement stations of the San Joaquin Light & Power Corporation on the North Fork of the Kings River at Cliff Camp and below 

Rancheria Creek, and on Dinkey Creek did not operate during the entire 

flood period as a result of failure of the water-stage recorders caused 

by over-topping or other difficulties.

Figure 51. Key map showing location 

of Kings River Basin
362 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

In these areas the storm precipitation may have exceeded the 12 to 

14 inches indicated by the isohyetals. As indicated by differences in 

the flow of the Kings River above the North Fork and at Piedra, the 

total direct run-off in inches from the intermediate areas of the North 

Fork, Dinkey Creek, and a small foothill area was about twice that of 

the Kings River above the mouth of the North Fork.

There is very little artificial storage within the basin and the 

observed records represent natural flow. The direct run-off (table 7, 

pp. 311-316) for the Kings River Basin above the North Fork was 1.1 

inches; for the Kings River above Piedra, 1.5 inches; and for the 

intermediate area, about 2 inches. If it is assumed that there was a 

negligible contribution to the run-off from areas lying above 9,000 

feet, the direct run-off below 9,000 feet would be 1.95 inches for the 

area above the North Fork and 2.25 inches for the entire basin above 

Piedra.

The differences between rainfall and direct run-off are 7.0 inches 

and 8.2 inches for the Kings River above the North Fork and at Piedra, 

respectively. These differences do not indicate that there was any 

material contribution to the run-off from snow on the ground prior to 

the storm. In fact, the low run-off values, expressed in inches over 

the area, may indicate an over-estimation of the area that actually contributed flood run-off, and the high residuals may indicate that some of 

the precipitation fell as snow that did not melt. Assuming no run-off 

above 9,000 feet, the adjusted average precipitation would be 11.1 and 

11.4 inches, the adjusted run-off would be 1.95 and 2.25 inches, and 

thus the adjusted residual would be 9.15 inches in each instance for 

the areas on the Kings River above the North Fork and above Piedra. 

Somewhat more than 60 percent of the total run-off passed the rivermeasurement stations during the 24-hour period of greatest flow. This 

high ratio signifies that there may have been but little run-off from 

melting snow during the flood period. The peak discharge of the Kings 

River above the mouth of the North Fork was 2.41 times the maximum 24- 

hour average and at Piedra 1.82 times the maximum 24-hour average.

Momentary peak discharge and total direct run-off from the Kings 

River above the North Fork and the Kings River at Piedra exceeded the 

previous record. At Piedra there was slightly more precipitation in 

the storm of January 1914 than in December 1937 and it fell on ground 

previously moistened. However, there was heavy snow at an altitude of 

about 6,000 feet at the beginning of the storm of 1914, and the snow
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 363

line lowered about 2,000 feet In altitude during the storm, making the 

amount of precipitation available in the form of water approximately 

equal to that in 1937.

Upper San Joaquin River Basin

The San Joaquin River rises in the High Sierra south of Yosemite 

National Park and flows southwestward to the trough of the San Joaquin 

Valley, whence it takes a northwestward course to its mouth. (See 

figure 52.) Near the headwaters numerous small glacial lakes and 

smooth bare domes and ridges bear testimony to the former presence of 

great glaciers, and near the highest peaks small glaciers still exist. 

The region between the crest and the edge of the valley is cut Into 

canyons by many long perennial streams. About 68 percent of the area 

upstream from Skaggs Bridge is above an altitude of 5,000 feet. Downstream from Skaggs Bridge the river becomes a winding stream of flat 

gradient. Much of the area in the lower valley is subject to overflow.

The South Fork of the San Joaquin River, Bear Creek, and Mono Creek 

all rise in glacial lakelets along the crest of the Sierra Nevada at 

altitudes of 11,000 to 12,000 feet and flow in a general westerly direction. They are typical High Sierra streams. The gaging stations 

are at altitudes of 7,200, 7,400 and 7,400 feet, respectively. Florence 

Lake reservoir is on the South Fork, just upstream from the gaging 

station.

There are metamorphic formations in each basin, but granitic rocks 

are predominant. Each basin has several small tributaries, but the South 

Fork has two main branches which unite half-way from the source to the 

gaging station.

Big Creek and Pitman Creek rise at altitudes between 9,000 and 

10,000 feet, and flow in a general westerly direction among granitic 

rocks. The gaging stations are at altitudes of 6,600 and 7,100 feet, 

respectively. They are small High Sierra streams. Huntington Lake 

reservoir is in the Big Creek Basin.

The basin of the North Fork of Willow Creek, upstream from the gaging station below Crane Valley Reservoir, is approximately rectangular 

in shape and extends about 12 miles north and south and about 5 miles 

east and west. Granitic rocks predominate in the basin, but quartzite, 

limestone, slate, and schist are found around Crane Valley Reservoir. 

The longer' of the two main branches rises at an altitude of about 8,000 

feet. The run-off is measured at an altitude of about 2,900 feet.
364 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

123° 121°

The two upper branches of Pine Gold Creek rise at an altitude of 

about 4,000 feet and flow in a general southerly direction. The gaging

station is at an altitude of 

about 680 feet. It is a 

typical foothill stream. 

Formations are similar to 

those in the Willow Creek 

Basin and granite predominates.

Big Sandy, Cottonwood, 

and Little Dry Creeks have 

small basins tributary to the 

San Joaquin River in the 

vicinity of Friant. They may 

be considered foothill streams. 

Cottonwood and Little Dry 

Creeks rise at altitudes between 1,000 and 2,000 feet, 

and each drops to about 360 

feet at the gaging stations, 

whereas Big Sandy Creek rises 

at about 4,000 feet and drops 

to 1,300 feet at the gaging 

station. Granite predominates in all three basins.

The San Joaquin River Basin upstream from the gaging station near 

Friant, which contains all the previously mentioned basins, is shaped 

approximately like an equilateral triangle, about 55 miles on a side, 

with one side following the crest of the Sierra Nevada. The intermediate 

area not included in previously mentioned basins is underlain by granitic 

and volcanic rocks. The gaging station near Friant is at an altitude of 

315 feet. Four large reservoirs - Florence, Huntington, and Shaver Lakes, 

and Crane Valley Reservoir - are in the basin upstream from Friant. Between the gaging stations near Friant and at Skaggs Bridge the San 

Joaquin River flows over sedimentary rock formations for about 10 miles 

and over alluvium on the valley floor for about 20 miles.

The San Joaquin River, considered as a whole from any point upstream 

from Skaggs Bridge, clearly falls into the class of High Sierra rivers. 

Downstream from that point its nature is changed by works of man.

There- are 15 precipitation records in the San Joaquin Basin upstream 

from Friant. Most of these are concentrated in the southwest third of

Figure 52.--Key map showing location 

of upper San Joaquin River Basin.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 365

the area, and here the lines of equal rainfall are well defined. The 

only precipitation stations at notably high altitudes are those at 

Florence Lake (altitude, 7,400 feet) and Huntington Lake (altitude, 

7,000 feet). There are also records at an altitude of about 5,400 feet 

at Shaver Lake and Central Camp. There are no precipitation data in 

areas with altitudes above 9,000 feet. Such areas comprise 42 percent 

of the drainage area of the San Joaquin River above Big Creek and about 

80 percent of the drainage area above the river-measurement stations on 

Bear Creek, Mono Creek, and the South Fork of the San Joaquin River 

near Florence Lake. Records at Bishop Creek, Lake Sabrina, South Lake, 

Gem Lake, and Ellery Lake are of considerable aid, although they are on 

the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. In the high altitudes and in 

the northwest two-thirds of the basin the lines of equal rainfall are 

poorly defined.

Prior to the storm in December there was no snow on the ground at 

Huntington Lake or Florence Lake, but there was 12 inches of snow at 

Kaiser Pass (altitude, 9,300 feet) on November 30, some of which probably distppeared by December 9. At the beginning of the storm there was 

no snow on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada at South Lake (altitude, 9,620 feet), Lake Sabrina (altitude, 9,100 feet), Bishop Creek 

(altitude, 8,390 feet), and Gem Lake (altitude, 9,120 feet). As nearly 

as can be determined, all the precipitation was in the form of rain on 

December 9, 10, and 11 up to an altitude of 8,500 feet, B mixture of 

rain and snow between altitudes of 8,500 and 9,000 feet, and mostly 

snow above an altitude of 9,000 feet. On December 12, the last day of 

the storm, an inch of snow fell at Huntington Lake, and 5-J- inches of wet 

snow fell at Florence Lake. There was probably an accumulation of snow 

at Kaiser Pass during the storm, as 19 inches remained on December 19. 

On the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, at South Lake 6 inches of 

snow fell on December 10, 5 inches on the llth, and 5 inches on the 

12th; at Lake Sabrina half an inch fell on the 9th, 2 inches on the 

llth, and 6 inches on the 12th; at Bishop Creek, 2 inches fell on the 

llth, and 1 inch on the 12th; at Gem Lake, 7 inches were on the ground 

on December 12. All this snow was very wet.

The observed run-off of Bear, Mono, Pitman, and Fine Gold Creeks 

is unregulated. The run-off of the South Fork of the San Joaquin River 

near Florence Lake and the Sen Joaquin above Big Creek is affected by 

artificial storage in Florence Lake and by diversion to Ward tunnel. 

This storage and diversion amounted during the flood period to 1.15
366 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

inches over the basin of the South Pork of the San Joaquin above the 

gaging station near Florence Lake and 0.2 inch over the basin of San 

Joaquin above Big Creek. The run-off of Big Creek below Huntington 

Lake was affected by storage In Huntington Lake and diversion into and 

out of the basin. The net total of this storage and diversion amounted 

to 3.05 inches. The run-off of the North Pork of Willow Creek at Crane 

Valley Reservoir was affected by storage in the reservoir and by some 

diversions, all of which amounted to 3.0 inches. The run-off of the 

San Joaquin River near Priant was affected by storage in Florence Lake, 

Shaver Lake, Huntington Lake, and Crane Valley Reservoir, amounting to 

0.25 inch over the drainage area. The observed run-off from the abovementioned basins has been adjusted on the basis of changes of storage 

in the reservoirs to show natural run-off. (See table 7, cols. 4, 5.)

The adjusted total run-off, in inches, from the drainage areas upstream from the gaging stations on the San Joaquin River above Big Greek, 

Mono Creek, Bear Creek, and the South Pork of the San Joaquin River near 

Florence Lake were 2.05, 0.40, 0.45, and 1.15 inches, respectively. If 

it is assumed that the area above an altitude of 9,000 feet did not contribute to the stream flow, the run-off, in inches, from the areas below 9,000 feet would be 3.55, 1.6, 2.35 and 6.45 inches, respectively. 

These latter figures are more consistent and are believed to represent 

more nearly the conditions existing during the storm.

The differences between rainfall and run-off range from 5.6 and 

5.95 inches on Mono and Bear Creeks to 10.35 and 12.5 inches on Pitman 

Creek and the North Pork of Willow Creek. On the assumption that there 

was no run-off above 9,000 feet, the residuals for Mono and Bear Creeks 

are about 5.0 and 4.2 inches respectively. The residuals for the North 

Pork of Willow Creek and for Pitman Creek appear to be large. However, 

there was a residual of 7.35 inches for the pine Gold Creek Basin where 

the precipitation was less than that in either the Willow or the Pitman 

Creek Basin by more than 4 inches.

There are four recording rain gages in the basin above Priant - 

one each at O'Neals and at Bass Lake and two at North Pork. All of 

them indicated (fig. 27, p. 62) continous rainfall of high intensity 

during the afternoon and evening of December 9 and the morning of the 

10th. There was one peak in the rainfall rates just before midnight, 

and another about 4 a.m. on the 10th. This heavy rain produced moderate 

rises on the San Joaquin River above Big Creek and on Pine Gold Creek. 

Bear, Mono, and Pitman Creeks rose only slightly. There was another
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 367

rainfall of short duration but of the highest recorded Intensity between 

2 and 3 p.m. on the llth. Pitman Creek reached its highest stage at 

noon on the llth, and the San Joaquln River above Big Creek and Fine 

Gold Creek reached their maximum stages at 4 and 6 p.m., respectively, 

on December 11. Bear and Mono Creeks were highest In the afternoon of 

December 11, but they did not reach extreme stages. The snow cover at 

these high altitudes was apparently heavy enough so that it absorbed 

most of the precipitation that fell as rain. The ratios between the 

run-off during the 24 hours of highest flow and the total run-off for 

the storm are 33, 25, 68, and 71 percent for Bear, Mono, Pitman, and 

Fine Gold. Creeks, respectively. The low ratios for Bear and Mono 

Creeks probably indicate the Influence of snow In the basins. Ratios 

between the rates of flow at the momentary peak and for the 24 hours of 

highest flow are 247, 180, 243, and 272 percent, respectively, for the 

same streams.

The momentary peak and total direct run-off for Pitman Creek greatly exceeded the previous records, but subsequent highest peaks of record 

were established on Fine Gold Creek and Mono Creek in 1938. The peak on 

Pitman Creek on May 13, 1937, and the peaks on Mono Creek in 1927 and 

1938 resulted from melting snow and not from direct precipitation.

Fresno and Chowchllla River, Marlposa and Bear Creek Basins

The Fresno and the Chowchllla Rivers and Mariposa and Bear Creeks 

all rise among foothills or low mountains, part way up the western slope 

of the Sierra Nevada, and flow southwestward. (See fig. 53.) The 

Fresno River belongs to the mldslope type of Sierra streams. The others 

belong to the foothill group.

One branch of the Fresno River rises at an altitude of about 8,000 

feet and the other at about 6,000 feet. Both flow in a general southwesterly direction half-way to the gaging station, then unite and flow 

southward. The gaging station near Knowles is at an altitude of about 

1,140 feet. Only a few square miles of the drainage area are at an 

altitude of more than 5,000 feet. The basin Is about 18 miles long, 12 

miles wide In the middle, and 6 miles wide at the upper and lower ends. 

Granitic rocks predominate, but limestone, slate, and schist are in the 

area. The drainage area between the gaging stations near Knowles and 

near Daulton Is about 20 miles long and 6 miles wide, although the airlines distance between the stations Is only about 12 miles. The altitude of the lower gaging station Is about 390 feet. The rocks in this
368 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

The five branches of the Chowchilla River rise at altitudes ranging 

from 2,000 to 4,000 feet, and the gaging station is at an altitude of

about 390 feet. The length of 

the basin is about 24 miles to 

the gaging station, and the 

width is 10 to 12 miles. The 

geologic formations are similar to those in the Fresno 

River Basin, but the lower end 

of the stream above the station 

flows through slate formations.

Mariposa and Bear Creeks 

rise at an altitude of about 

2,000 feet and flow in a general southwesterly direction. 

The gaging stations are on the 

floor of the San Joaquin 

Valley. Mariposa Creek Basin, 

upstream from the gaging station, is about 24 miles long Figure 53.-- Key map showing location 

of (a) Fresno River, (b) Chowchilla 

River, (c) Mariposa Creek, and (d) 

Bear Creek Basins.

and 2 to 8 miles wide, whereas 

Bear Creek Basin is about 20 

miles long and 10 miles wide. Both basins contain granitic rocks and a 

variety of metamorphic rocks, but Mariposa Creek flows among non-marine 

sediments for several miles upstream from the gaging station, whereas 

for the lower 5 miles Bear Creek flows over alluvium.

Although there are no precipitation stations in the Fresno or 

Chowchilla River Basins and only one each in the Mariposa and Bear Creek 

Basins, it is believed that precipitation records in adjacent basins 

may be fairly Indicative of precipitation within the four basins mentioned. There was no snow in these drainage areas during the storm 

period.

The total precipitation over the areas ranged from 2.5 to 14 inches. 

The precipitation record at the San Joaquin Experimental Station of the 

United States Forest Service near O'Neals (fig. 27, p. 62) should be 

fairly indicative of the distribution of the storm rainfall with respect 

to time in the headwater areas- At O'Neals the precipitation fell In 

two principal storms, lasting from noon December 9 to about 7 a.m. 

December 10 and from 6 p.m. December 10 to 8 p.m. December 11, with
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 369

maximum intensities during the afternoon of December 11. The maximum 

stage was recorded on December 11 at 2 p.m. at the Mariposa Creek gaging 

station, at 4 p.m. at the Fresno and Chowchilla Rivers gaging stations, 

and at 6 p.m. at the Bear Creek gaging station.

The total direct surface run-off from these basins was very small 

in comparison with other basins herein considered, being 0.75 inch from 

the Fresno River near Knowles, 0.65 from the Chowchilla River, 0.4 inch 

from Mariposa Creek, and 0.45 inch from Bear Creek. The difference between rainfall and run-off, assuming that all of the drainage area was 

contributing, was 10.25 inches in the Fresno and 7.05 inches in the 

Chowchilla River Basins, 5.1 inches in the Mariposa and 3.35 inches in 

the Bear Creek Basins. The low residual in the Chowchilla River, 

Mariposa Creek, and Bear Creek Basins probably indicates that there was 

an amount of rain insufficient to utilize all their absorptive capacity. 

Assuming that there was run-off only from areas having total storm precipitation of more than 5 inches, the mean precipitation on such areas 

would be 8.35 inches for the Chowchilla River, 7.1 inches on Mariposa 

Creek, and 5.95 inches on Bear Creek. The run-off adjusted for corresponding areas would be 0.8, 0.75, and 2.3 inches, and the corresponding 

residuals would be 7.55, 6.35, and 3.65 inches, respectively. Examination of these figures suggests that the indicated precipitation on Bear 

Creek Basin may be lower than the actual and that the area above the 

5-inch isohyetal should be larger.

There is no material storage in these basins and the observed flow 

at the river-measurement stations represents natural run-offo The maximum run-off during a 24-hour period was 0.45 inch for the Fresno and 0.4 

inch for the Chowchilla River, 0.3 inch for Mariposa and 0.35 inch for 

Bear Creek. These run-offs represent about 61 percent of the total runoff from the Fresno and Chowchilla River Basins and about 76 percent of 

the total run-off from Mariposa and Bear Creek Basins. Ratios between 

the momentary peak discharge and the maximum 24-hour averages are 208, 

272, 345, and 409 percent for the Fresno and Chowchilla Rivers, and 

Mariposa and Bear Creeks, respectively.

The momentary peak discharges of the Fresno and Chowchilla Rivers 

did not equal the previous peaks of record, but new maxima were established on each in March 1938 

There was much less rain during the storm of March 12, 1938, on the 

Fresno Basin and slightly less rain during the storm of March 2, 1938, 

on the Chowchilla Basin than during the storm of December 1937. However,
370 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

the storm of March 1938 occurred toward the end of the rainy season and 

there was apparently much less capacity for absorption than during 

December 1937.

Merced River Basin

The Merced River drains a part of the western slope of the Sierra, 

but touches the crest of the Sierra only at Mount Lyell (altitude, 13,090 

feet) which is common to the upper San Joaquin Basin on the south, the 

Tuolumne Basin on the north, and the Great Basin on the east. The river 

has its sources in numerous small glacial lakes at altitudes of 10,000 

feet and above. It flows in a general southwesterly course and joins 

the lower San Joaquin River on the floor of the Great Valley. The 

mountainous portion of the basin is about 65 miles long and 20 to 25 

miles wide. (See fig. 54.)

The outstanding topographic feature is Yosemite Valley, less than 

a mile wide and about 7 miles long. The almost flat valley floor (altitude, about 3,900 feet) is margined by cliffs that rise almost vertically 2,000 to 3,000 feet. In the upper basin are other smaller valleys, 

but the surrounding topography is very rough and broken and is characterized by jagged peaks, precipitous walls, and bare granite domes. In 

parts of the basin there are large areas of massive, ice-smoothed granite. Although the percentage of rainfall that runs off from such areas 

must be high, there is a compensating effect in the talus slopes, mountain meadows, and lakes found nearby.

Of the part of the basin upstream from the gaging station at 

Exchequer, 53 percent is above an altitude of 5,000 feet. The Merced 

River and its headwater tributaries are typical High Sierra streams.

The basin upstream from Yosemite Valley is underlain almost entirely by granitic rocks. The floor of Yosemite Valley consists of glacial 

deposits and alluvium. Downstream there is a mixture of granitic, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.

Lake McClure, an artificial storage reservoir, occupies the channel 

of the Merced River for most of the distance between the gaging stations 

at Kittridge and at Exchequer.

Lines of equal rainfall in the Merced River Basin (fig. 16) are 

based on observations at Yosemite (altitude, 3,983 feet) with some weight 

given to the observations at Ellery Lake (altitude, 9,600 feet) and Gem 

Lake (altitude, 9,120 feet) lying in Mono Lake Basin east of the divide.

In view of the scarcity of the observations, computed areal rainfall
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 371

may be considerably in error. In the absence of snow observations, it 

is assumed that above an altitude of 9,000 feet all of the precipitation

took the form of snow, and 

that between 7,500 and 9,000 

feet there was snow on the 

ground prior to the storm 

period. Some or all of the 

snow at the lower altitudes 

probably melted during the 

flood. The precipitation was 

partly as snow on December 9 

and 12, but largely as rain 

on December 10 and 11. About 

90 percent of the Merced 

drainage basin above Yosemite 

lies at an altitude above 

7,000 feet, and 10 percent of 

the area lies above 9,000 feet.

The observed flow at the 

river-measurement stations upstream from Kittridge was 

essentially natural. Practically all of the direct run-off was impounded in Lake McClure, downstream from Kittridge.

Probably somewhat more than 12 inches of precipitation fell over 

each of the headwater basins. There was, however, considerable variation in the total direct run-off during the flood period expressed in 

inches over the drainage basins. The indicated amounts (table 7, see 

pp. 311-316) were 2.0 inches for the Merced River above Happy Isles, 

4.95 for Tenaya Creek, 3.55 inches for the Merced River above Pohono 

Bridge, and about 5.95 inches for the area between Happy Isles Bridge 

and Pohono Bridge. If it is assumed that the area above an altitude of 

9,000 feet was essentially non-contributing, the total direct run-off 

in Inches for the parts of the basins below 9,000 feet would be 4.2 

inches for the Merced River above Happy Isles Bridge, 5.55 inches for 

Tenaya Creek Basin, and 5.2 inches for the Merced River above Pohono 

Bridge. These run-off values are more consistent, although considerably less, than the higher run-off values indicated in the upper 

Tuolumne River Basin.

Figure 54. Key map showing location 

of Merced River Basin.
372 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Using these adjusted run-off values and revised precipitation 

over the contributing area, the difference between rainfall and runoff would be about 9.3, 7.6, and 8.3 inches for basins above the Happy 

Isles Bridge, Pohono Bridge, and Tenaya Creek gaging stations, respectively. These relatively high residuals indicate that there was apparently little contribution to run-off from snow, which may have been on 

the ground prior to the storm period, and suggests the possibility that 

part of the indicated precipitation had the form of snow and remained 

on the ground. Based on differences betweem the stream flow at Pohono 

Bridge and that at Kittridge, the direct run-off for the intervening 

area was 1.6 inches and the residual 9.85 inches, the results being 

comparable with those for the adjacent basins of the South and Middle 

Forks of the Tuolumne River. The maximum peak stages in the headwater 

areas were between 1:30 and 4:00 p.m. on December 11. On an average, 

60 percent of the total run-off was during the 24-hour period of maximum flow. The instantaneous peak discharge was 50 to 90 percent 

greater than the mean of the 24-hour maximum discharge, except at 

Pohono Bridge, where it was only 26 percent greater. The latter figure 

probably reflects the effect of the channel and overflow storage in 

Yosemite Valley, where about half the valley floor was inundated.

The momentary peak discharges for the flood of December 1937 

greatly exceeded the previous maxima for the Merced River at Happy 

Isles Bridge, the Merced River at Pohono Bridge, and Tenaya Creek near 

Yosemite. (See table 9, p. 337.) The total direct run-off for the 

storm was also greater for the flood in December 1937 than for the previous largest flood on the Merced River at Kittridge and on Tenaya 

Creek near Yosemite. The total direct run-off for the flood of December 

1937 was less than that for the previous high flood for the Merced River 

at Happy Isles Bridge and Pohono Bridge, but the previous floods at 

these gaging stations were due mostly to melting snow in May and June.

Tuolumne River Basin

The Tuolumne River has its source in Lyell, Maclure, and other 

glaciers and in extensive snow fields and snow drifts on the upper portions of the Sierra Nevadao It flows westward through upland meadows 

and then through a deep canyon nearly 80 miles long cut in solid granite. 

The upper part of this canyon, 3,000 to 4,000 feet deep, is one of the 

notable topographic features of the State and is known as the Grand
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 373

Canyon of the Tuolumne. At the lower end of the Grand Canyon is Hetch 

Hetchy Valley, which is smaller than Yosemite Valley but in every other

way greatly resembles it. 

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir now 

occupies the floor of the 

valley. Finally the river 

passes through the lower canyon, through Don Pedro Reservoir, and into the San 

Joaquin Valley, which it enters near La Grange. (See 

fig. 55.)

Typical features of the 

basin are lai-ge areas of bare 

glaciated granite and rugged 

domes and cliffs. The granite 

formation typical of this and 

many other Sierra basins does 

not necessarily mean that 

they are lacking in absorptive 

capacity. Meadows, lakes, and 

glacial deposits are numerous.

The granite contains many cracks, and many of the cliffs have extensive 

talus slopes at their feet. Limestone is present in the lower part of 

the basin.

The Tuolumne River Basin, considered as a whole upstream from the 

base river-measurement station near La Grange (altitude, 330 feet), is 

roughly trapezoidal in shape and lies on the western slope of the Sierra 

Nevada. It has a width of more than 40 miles along the crest and a 

length of about 70 miles from the crest to La Grange. About 59 percent 

of the area upstream from La Grange is above an altitude of 5,000 feet. 

The Tuolumne River and its headwater tributaries are typical High Sierra 

streams.

Cherry Creek and its tributary, Eleanor Creek, are alike in many 

respects. The Cherry Creek gaging station is upstream from the junction 

with Eleanor Creek and measures the flow from a basin about 20 miles 

long, ranging in altitude from 9,500 to 4,800 feet. The Eleanor Creek 

gaging station is just downstream from Lake Eleanor, and the basin above 

it is also about 20 miles long and ranges in altitude from 10,000 to

Figure 55.--Key map showing location 

of Tuolumne River Basin.
374 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

4,600 feet. The geology of these basins is practically the same as 

that of the upper Tuolxunne River Basin.

The basins of the Middle Tuolumne River and the South Fork of the 

Tuolumne River, upstream from their respective gaging stations, are 

about 25 and 20 miles long, and 5 to 6 miles wide at the widest parts. 

Each stream rises at an altitude of about 8,000 feet and flows westward 

without important tributaries. Each gaging station is 2,800 feet above 

sea level. The basins are almost exclusively underlain by granitic 

rock, but the South Fork flows over metamorphic formations for a few 

miles upstream from the gaging station. These two streams do not 

originate at the Sierra crest. They are of the midslope type of Sierra 

streams. About two-thirds of the basin areas are over 5,000 feet In 

altitude and a very small portion is over 7,000 feet.

Woods Creek is a characteristically foothill type of stream with 

three principal branches. It flows in a generally southerly direction 

among various formations that include granite and metamorphic rocks. 

It heads at an altitude of about 2,000 feet and the gaging station is 

at 645 feet.

The only precipitation observations in the headwater areas are 

those at Hetch Hetchy (altitude, 3,530 feet) and Lake Eleanor (altitude, 

4,600 feet). Prom 60 to 84 percent of the Tuolumne River, and of Falls, 

Cherry, and Eleanor Creek Basins upstream from Hetch Hetchy are above 

an altitude of 7,000 feet, and from 10 to 50 percent of these basins 

lie above 9,000 feet.

In view of the scarcity of observations, the lines of equal rainfall in the headwater areas are subject to error.

There was no snow on the ground at Lake Eleanor and at Hetch 

Hetchy prior to the storm period, and all of the precipitation had the 

form of rain. It is assumed that precipitation fell as snow above an 

altitude of 9,000 feet, and as rain and snow between 7,500 and 9,000 

feet altitude.

During the flood period the observed discharge of Falls Creek, 

Cherry Creek, the Middle and South Forks of the Tuolumne River, and 

Woods Creek was essentially natural. The flow of the Tuolumne River at 

Hetch Hetchy was materially modified by storage in Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, amounting to 2.85 inches over the area; of Eleanor Creek by storage in Lake Eleanor, amounting to 5.05 inches; and of the Tuolumne 

River near La Grange by storage in Don Pedro Reservoir, in addition to 

that In Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and Lake Eleanor, amounting to a total
RAINFALL AND RUN-OPP STUDIES 375

equivalent to 3.0 inches over the drainage area. The natural run-off 

for the flood period has been determined by adjusting the observed runoff for changes in storage in the above-mentioned reservoirs.

The adjusted total direct run-off expressed in inches over the 

drainage areas is (table 7, pp. 311-316) 3.3, 6.75, 9.05, and 9.6 

inches for the basins of the Tuolumne River near Hetch Hetchy, Palls 

Creek, Cherry Creek, and Eleanor Creek upstream from the river-measurement stations. If it is assumed that the run-off from the area above 

9,000 feet did not contribute greatly to the stream flow, the flood 

run-off expressed in inches over the area below 9,000 feet would be 6.3, 

10.7, 12.0, and 10.6, respectively.

The indicated differences between rainfall and run-off for the 

four upper stations, assuming the entire area was contributing, range 

from 2.75 to 6.7 inches. On the assumption that there was no material 

contribution to the stream flow from areas above 9,000 feet, the differences range from about 0.3 to 2.3 inches for the basins of Palls, 

Eleanor, and Cherry Creeks, to 4.8 inches for the upper Tuolumne River 

Basin. These values would indicate that there was either a substantial 

contribution from melt of antecedent snow or more rain than is indicated by the isohyetals. Although some of the headwater areas of the 

South and Middle Porks are at an altitude of more than 7,000 feet and 

the lines of equal rainfall (fig. 16, p. 48) show about the same total 

precipitation as for other headwater areas, the total direct run-off 

is only 1.9 inches for the South Pork of the Tuolumne River and 1.3 

inches for the Middle Tuolumne River, with indicated differences between rainfall and run-off of 9.2 and 9.6 inches, respectively. These 

differences compare favorably with those for adjacent drainage areas 

to the south and indicate considerably less run-off and considerably 

more difference between rainfall and run-off than for the higher Sierra 

areas. In Woods Creek Basin there was probably little direct run-off. 

In the lower part of the basin, where the precipitation was less than 

5 inches, the indicated total direct run-off of 1.0 inch is probably 

somewhat less than the actual amount from the contributing areas.

There were no recording precipitation stations within the basin, 

but the graphs of river stages indicate that the precipitation was 

marked by two storm peaks about 12 hours apart, the period of maximum 

intensity being probably during the morning of December 11. In the 

basins at high altitudes the maximum stages were between 2 and 4 p.m.
376 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

In the Woods Creek area the maximum stage was at 11:30 a.m. In the 

high basins the maximum peak discharge was about 50 percent greater 

than the average for the 24 hours of maximum run-off; In the South Fork 

and Middle Tuolumne, twice as large; and In the Woods Creek area three 

times as large. The ratio for Woods Creek is typical of that for the 

lower foothill areas where the precipitation rate materially exceeded 

the Infiltration rate for only a short time, causing high Intensity of 

run-off for a portion of the 24-hour period of maximum run-off and a 

relatively low flow for the remainder of that period. From 45 to 71 

percent of the total direct run-off was during a 24-hour period.

The momentary peak discharges and total direct storm run-off for 

Falls Creek, Cherry Creek, the South Fork of the Tuolumne River, and 

the Middle Tuolumne River greatly exceeded the previous record.

The momentary peak on Woods Creek was only about half the previous 

peak of record. A new record peak was subsequently established on 

February 9, 1938, when direct run-off was also much greater and resulted from much more precipitation on wetter ground.

Stanislaus River Basin

The Stanislaus River drains a basin on the western slope of the 

Sierra Nevada, which ranges in width from about 20 miles along the 

crest of the Sierra to 10 miles near the lower end, and Is about 55 

miles long from the crest to the base gaging station below Melones 

power house. The river has Its source In small glacial lakes at altitudes close to 9,000 feet, In rough and broken country. The three main 

branches flow southwestward In well developed canyons from 500 to 2,000 

feet deep. They are typical High Sierra streams. About 57 percent of 

the area upstream from the base gaging station (altitude, about 500 

feet) Is at an altitude of more than 5,000 feeto (See fig. 56.)

The three main branches, referred to gaging stations, are the 

North Fork of the Stanislaus River near Avery, the Middle Fork of the 

Stanislaus River at Sand Bar Flat near Avery, and the South Fork of the 

Stanislaus River below Lyons Dam. The flow of the South Fork was measured also at the dam for Strawberry Reservoir, about 12 miles upstream 

from Lyons Dam. Granitic rocks and andeslte are prevalent In the upper 

basins, but volcanic formations are also found. The downstream portion 

of the basin Includes similar rocks, and also a variety of metamorphlc 

rocks.

Lines of equal rainfall (fig. 16, p. 48) are fairly well defined
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 377

by precipitation observations in the Stanislaus River Basin except in 

the headwater areas where the isohyetals are based on observations

only at Lake Alpine (altitude, 

7,500 feet), Strawberry (altitude, 5,720 feet), Spring Gap 

(altitude, 4,875 feet), and 

Sand Bar Flat (altitude, 4,875 

feet). About 10 percent of 

the area upstream from Melones 

is above an altitude of 9,000 

feet and 35 percent is above 

7,000 feet. Up to an altitude 

of 5,600 feet there was no 

snow on the ground at the beginning of the storm, and all 

of the precipitation on 

December 9, 10, and 11 had the 

form of rain, but snow was 

associated with the rain on 

December 12.

Above an altitude of 

7,500 feet there was considerable snow on the ground, as indicated by the record at Lake Alpine of 13 

inches on the ground on November 30. At these altitudes a portion of the 

precipitation on December 9 and 12 had the form of snow, although it appears that most of the precipitation on December 10 and 11 was rain.

The flow at all the river-measurement stations in the Stanislaus 

River Basin is modified by storage; that in the Middle Fork Basin by 

storage in Relief Reservoir, amounting to 0.5 inch over the drainage 

area; in the North Fork Basin by storage in Union, Silver Valley, 

Spicer Meadows, and Utica Reservoirs, amounting to 0.95 inch; in the 

South Fork by Lyons and Strawberry Reservoirs, amounting to 5.2 inches 

over the area above the lower station; and in the main stream by additional storage in Melones Reservoir for a total retained storage 

amounting to 2.4 inches over the drainage area. These estimates of 

storage have been based on observations at the larger reservoirs, 

Melones, Lyons, and Strawberry, and on estimated values for Relief 

Reservoir and all the smaller reservoirs, the total capacity of which

160302 O 39 'X,

Figure 56.--Key map showing location 

of Stanislaus River Basin.
378 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

comprises but a small part of the total.

The adjusted direct run-off (table 7, see pp. 311-316) for the 

Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River Basin above Sand Bar Flat was 4.3 

inches, compared to almost 6 inches for the North and South Porks. It 

is possible that the differences result from inadequate adjustments for 

storage.

Melting snow may have contributed to the run-off of the Middle and 

North Forks of the Stanislaus River. The indicated differences between 

rainfall and run-off of 5.0 inches and 3.8 inches, respectively, would 

be increased somewhat if the total amount of water available for runoff (rainfall plus water content of the snow cover) were taken into 

account, making them more in conformity with the 5.45 inches for the 

South Fork and 6.0 inches for the Stanislaus River Basin as a whole.

Because of the necessary large adjustments for storage, no attempt 

was made to determine the natural maximum run-off during a 24-hour 

period or to determine the degree to which the natural run-off was concentrated with respect to time.

Calaveras River Basin

The basin of the Calaveras River upstream from the gaging station 

at Jenny Lind is about 36 miles long and 16 miles wide at the middle. 

(See fig. 57.) Only a very small part of the basin is above an altitude of 4,000 feet. There are six branches that rise at altitudes ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 feet along the lower western slope of the 

Sierra Nevada. The gaging station is at an altitude of about 220 feet. 

The geologic formations include granitic rocks, andesite, and metamorphic rocks in the headwater regions, and a variety of metamorphic 

rocks in the lower region. As the headwaters of the Calaveras River do 

not reach the higher slopes of the Sierra Nevada and as most of the 

basin is below an altitude of 4,000 feet, snowfall is an unimportant 

factor and the stream has the hydrologic characteristics of foothill 

streams.

Cosgrove Creek Basin is a very small area among low foothills and 

is a part of the Calaveras Basin. The headwaters originate at an altitude of about 1,200 feet and the gaging station is about 580 feet above 

sea level. The flow of the stream is very flashy, in common with all 

foothill streams. The geologic formations are extremely varied and include most of those listed for the Calaveras River, and also some sedimentary rocks.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 379

All of the Calaveras River drainage basin is at an altitude of less 

than 5,000 feet. There was apparently no snow on the ground prior to

the storm period and all of 

the precipitation during the 

storm period had the form of 

rain. The total precipitation 

ranged from 9 to 14 inches. 

As indicated by the recording 

precipitation gage at Fricot 

City, the precipitation was 

nearly continuous from 1 a.m. 

December 9 to 8 p.m. December 

11 followed by showers between 

4 a.m. and 8 a.m. December 12. 

Maximum intensities during the 

storm were reached early on the 

morning of December 11.

At Cosgrove Creek near 

Valley Springs, where the flow 

was unaffected by storage but 

upstream from which the total 

rainfall was less than 4 inches,

there was no appreciable run-off until morning of December 11 when the 

creek rose rapidly to its peak stage at 8:15 a.m., about 2 hours after 

the maximum rain intensity of 0.84 inch per hour at Pricot City and of 

0.36 inch per hour at Piddletown. The flow of the Calaveras River at 

Jenny Lind was materially modified by storage in Hogan Reservoir. Instead of a major peak stage and a large concentration of flow on December 

11, the discharge was spread comparatively uniformly over a period of 

three days. Little storage was retained in Hogan Reservoir at the end 

of the flood period, and the total observed direct run-off approximates 

natural-flow conditions. In Cosgrove Creek Basin, where the flow was 

not affected by storage, 60 percent of the total direct run-off was during a 24-hour period and the instantaneous peak was 3.79 times the maximum discharge in a 24-hour period.

The indicated difference between rainfall and run-off was 3.35 

inches for the Cosgrove Creek Basin and 5.25 inches for the Calaveras 

River Basin as a whole. It is evident that, except for a short period 

during the morning of December 11, the greater part of the precipitation

Figure 57. Key map showing location 

of Calaveras River Basin.
380 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

in Cosgrove Creek Basin fell at intensities very little more than the 

capacity of the basin to absorb it. A similar condition probably 

existed in the lower portions of the Calaveras River Basin where the precipitation was less than 5 inches. Assuming no run-off below the 5-inch 

isohyetal, the precipitation for the net area in the Calaveras River 

Basin would be 7<,55 inches, the adjusted run-off 1.4 inches, and the 

residual 6.15 inches.

The momentary peak and the total direct run-off for the storm for 

Cosgrove Creek near Valley Springs did not approach the record for the 

storm of February 22, 1936. The storm in 1936 produced much greater precipitation in this locality than the storm of December 1937, was more 

prolonged, and occurred later in the rainy season after other storms had 

partly utilized the absorptive capacity of the ground. There was no snow 

in either storm.

Cosumnes River and Sutter Creek Basins

The headwaters of the Cosumnes River rise at altitudes of about 

7,000 feet on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada and flow in a 

westerly direction. The basin upstream from the gaging station (altitude, 

190 feet) is about 45 miles long. (See fig. 58.) Only about a sixth of 

the Cosumnes Basin is above 5,000 feet, and the basin is separated from 

the crest of the Sierra by the American and Mokelumne Rivers. It is of 

the midslope type of Sierra Nevada rivers. The basin contains granitic 

rock, andesite, quartzite, limestone, slate, and shale.

The North Fork of the Cosumnes River Basin is similar to that just 

described. The basin upstream from the gaging station (altitude, 910 

feet) is about 33 miles long.

Sutter Creek is essentailly a single stream that rises at an altitude of about 4,000 feet and flows southwestward. The basin upstream 

from the gaging station (altitude, 1,100 feet) is about 18 miles long, 

and has the characteristics of a foothill creek. The upper basin contains andesite, and the lower portion is underlain by quartzite, limestone, slate, and shale.

In these two basins, which are a part of the Mokelumne River Basin, 

precipitation for the storm is fairly well defined up to 8 or 9 inches 

by observations within and adjacent to the basins. The nearest recording precipitation gages are at Sacramento and Fiddletown (fig. 26) where 

the storm period extended from about 6 p.m. December 9 to 7 p.m. 

December 11, the period of maximum intensity being between 4 and 5 a.m.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 381

125° 123*

December 11. All of the Sutter Creek drainage basin and 84 percent of 

the Cosumnes River basin above Michigan Bar are below an altitude of

5,000 feet and 98 percent of 

the area is below 7,000 feet. 

Observations Indicate that 

there was probably no snow on 

the ground prior to the storm 

period and that practically all 

of the flood-producing precipitation had the form of rain.

As there is no storage or 

diversion, the observed streamflow records represent natural 

flow conditions. Continuous 

records show pronounced increases in the river stage at 

noon December 10 and noon 

December 11 and crest stages 

between 3 and 4 p.m. December 

11, thus reflecting two periods 

of high intensity in precipitation.

The direct run-off during the flood period was 0.9 inch over the 

basin of the North Fork of Cosumnes River above El Dorado, 0.7 inch over 

the area between El Dorado and Michigan Bar, and 0.8 inch from all the 

drainage basin above Michigan Bar. The average precipitation over the 

basin was about 7.0 inches, leaving a difference between rainfall and runoff of 6.2 inches. Of the total direct run-off about 50 percent flowed 

past Michigan Bar during the 24-hour period of greatest flow, ending at 

noon on December 12. The instantaneous peak discharge was about 50 percent greater than the average for the 24 hours of greatest flow. In the 

Sutter Creek Basin the storm precipitation averaged only about 5.5 inches 

and the storm run-off was but 0.45 inch.

In all probability there was little direct run-off in the lower part 

of the basin where the total storm precipitation was less than 5 inches 

and the actual run-off.from the contributing area was probably somewhat 

greater than is indicated by the rate of 0.45 inch for the areas as a 

whole. On this assumption, the precipitation for the area within the 5- 

inch isohyetal would be 7.9 inches, the adjusted run-off for the

Figure 58. Key map showing location 

of (a) Cosumnes River and (b) 

Sutter Creek Basins.
382 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

corresponding area, 1.05 inches, and the residual, 6.85 inches.

Neither the momentary peak discharges nor the total direct run-off 

for the flood of December 1937 approached those resulting from previous 

floods of record on Sutter Creek, the North Pork of the Cosumnes River, 

and the Cosumnes River. This was as expected, inasmuch as the larger 

floods were the result either of very much more rain, or of about the 

same amount of rain augmented by melting snow or falling upon ground 

that had already received sufficient recent precipitation to utilize 

the absorptive capacity to a considerable degree.

Mokelumne River Basin

The Mokelumne River Basin, on the western slopes of the Sierra 

Nevada, is about 85 miles long from the crest of the Sierra to the downstream gaging station at Woodbridge (altitude, 30 feet). It has a width 

of about 20 miles along the crest and of only 2 to 5 miles in the lower 

half. (See fig. 59.) The source of the river is in glacial lakelets at 

altitudes between 8,000 and 9,000 feet, and the course is generally in a 

southwesterly direction. The main branch, the North Frrk, has cut a deep 

canyon, a part of which is now occupied by Salt Springs Reservoir. The 

upper part of the basin is marked by parallel ridges separated by canyons, 

and the lower part is a rolling, hilly region. Nearly half of the area 

upstream from the gaging station at Woodbridge is above an altitude of 

5,000 feet, and 54 percent of the basin upstream from the gaging station 

near Mokelumne Hill is above an altitude of 5,000 feet.

The river channel for most of the distance between the gaging stations near Mokelumne Hill and at Lancha Plana is filled by Pardee Reservoir.

The North Pork of the Mokelumne River is clearly a High Sierra 

river. The Mokelumne River as a whole is in the same classification as 

far downstream as the gaging station near Mokelumne Hill. Below that 

point its character is affected by control and diversions.

Granitic rocks and andesite predominate in the upstream areas. Limestone, shale, and slate are found in the lower portions, and alluvium containing gravel, sand, silt, and clay mark the area downstream from 

Clements.

Bear River and Cold Creek rise at altitudes of about 9,000 to 10,000 

feet and flow in a southwesterly direction. The gaging stations, at 

altitudes of 5,650 and 6,000 feet respectively, are 10 and 8 miles downstream from the headwaters. The high altitude of these small basins
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 383

causes snowfall to be the prevailing form of precipitation and gives 

them hydrologic characteristics different from the nearby South and

Middle Forks of the Mokelumne 

River.

The South and Middle Fork 

Basins upstream from the gaging stations are each about 20 

miles long and 6 miles wide at 

the widest place. Each of 

these streams has two main 

branches, rises at an altitude 

of around 7,000 feet, and 

flows in a westerly direction. 

The gaging stations are at 

altitude of 2,500 and 2,000 

feet respectively. The streams 

are relatively much smaller 

than the North Fork and may be

Figure 59. Key map showing location 

of Mokelumne River Basin.

classed with the midslope type 

streams, but have some characteristics of foothill creeks.

The isohyetals for the

Mokelumne River Basin (fig. 16, p. 48) seem fairly well defined by observations. The high precipitation indicated in the headwaters of the 

Middle and South Forks of the Mokelumne River Basin is predicated on the 

high precipitation recorded at Big Trees (altitude, 4,700 feet). The 

indicated precipitation in the other high headwater areas is based largely on observations at Salt Springs (altitude, 3,600 feet), Lake Alpine 

(altitude, 7,500 feet), and Twin Lakes (altitude, 7,920 feet).

It would appear that these three stations should indicate the precipitation in the upper basins with & fair degree of accuracy. Somewhat 

more than 290 square miles of the Mokelumne River Basin lies above an 

altitude of 7,000 feet and 150 square miles lies above 9,000 feet.

On the basis of observations at Lake Alpine and Twin Lakes there was 

possibly 5 to 8 inches of snow prior to the storm over a considerable 

part of the drainage basins of the North Fork of the Mokelumne River upstream from the gaging station below Salt Springs, Gold Greek, and the 

Bear River and some of the precipitation on December 9, 11, and 12 may 

have had the form of snow. Recording precipitation records at Fiddletown
384 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

and Pricot City (figs. 26 and 27, see pp. 61, 62) should show the distribution of the precipitation within these basins. The tendency for the 

precipitation to be marked by two periods of heavy intensity is indicated by decided increases in river stage early in the mornings of 

December 10 and 11. There was some decrease in stage after the first 

period of heavy intensity and before the second.

At only three of the river-measurement stations is the flow essentailly unaffected by artificial storage - those on Cold Creek and on 

the Middle and South Porks of the Mokelumne River. The flow at the 

other gaging stations is modified by storage in several reservoirs, at 

the largest of which (Salt Springs and Pardee) records of storage are 

available. At the smaller reservoirs, Blue Lake, Lower Blue Lake, 

Meadow Lake, Twin Lake, and Bear, the total capacity of which is but a 

small part of the total, no records of storage are available. The 

storage retained above or diverted around the gaging stations amounted 

to 8.75 inches for the North Pork of the Mokelumne River below Salt 

Springs Dam, 2.6 inches for the Mokelumne River near Mokelumne Hill, 

3.15 inches for Lancha Plana, 2.85 inches for Clements, 2.8 inches for 

Woodbridge, and 3.75 inches for the Bear River at Pardoe Camp.

The rainfall and run-off relations seem fairly consistent in areas 

where there was no snow. The total residuals (table 7, see pp. 311-316) 

were 7.75 inches, 8.3 inches, and 9.15 inches respectively in the areas 

between Salt Springs Dam and Mokelumne Hill, and in the Middle and South 

Pork Basins.

In the North Pork of the Mokelumne River Basin upstream from the 

gaging station below Salt Springs Dam and in the Bear River Basin the 

indicated direct run-off is somewhat more than the computed rainfall. 

In both of these areas large storage adjustments were made, and the 

direct run-off values shown in table 7 may be in error.

In Cold Creek Basin, where the observed run-off represents natural 

flow conditions, the indicated direct run-off is 7.35 inches as compared 

to adjusted values of over 9 inches in adjacent basins. The indicated 

differences between rainfall and run-off was nearly 2 inches in Cold 

Creek Basin, and there may have been a contribution to the flood run-off 

of 1 to 2 inches resulting from melting snow. Based on the total amount 

of water available for run-off the indicated residual would be between 3 

and 4 inches.

In basins where natural flow conditions prevailed, the peak stages 

were reached December 11 between 8 and 10 a.m. about 2 hours after the
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 385

period of heaviest rainfall intensity at Fricot City and about 6 hours 

before the end of the storm period. Between 56 and 59 percent of the 

total direct run-off was during a 24-hour period and the peak discharge 

was between 60 and 74 percent greater than the mean for the 24 hours of 

greatest discharge.

The momentary peak discharge and the total direct run-off for the 

flood exceeded all previous records on Cold Creek, but did not approach 

previous records on the Middle and South Forks of Mokelumne River. 

These results are in keeping with the characteristics of the storm of 

December 1937, notable for extremely heavy rainfall at altitudes of 

3,000 to 7,000 feet and above, and relatively light rainfall in the 

lower areas. The gaging station on Cold Creek is at an altitude of 

about 6,000 feet.

The larger former floods on the Middle and South Forks of the 

Mokelumne River were caused by heavier rainfall following preliminary 

storms which had lessened the absorptive capacity of the basins.

Upper Sacramento River and McCloud River Basins

The upper Sacramento River Basin as treated herein includes the 

area that drains into the Sacramento River upstream from the base gaging station near Red Bluff except the Pit River Basin. (See fig. 60=) 

The part of the basin upstream from the junction with the Pit River is 

very much smaller in area and in volumne of stream flow than the Pit 

River Basin. The McCloud River flows into the Pit River downstream 

from Ydalpom and a few miles upstream from the confluence with the 

Sacramento and is similar to the Pit River in many respects<, A large 

area in the upper McCloud River Basin is occupied by volcanic formations 

that regulate the water supply. The McCloud is probably the least flashy 

of the large rivers in California. The summer flow is particularly well 

sustained.

The basin of the McCloud River upstream from the gaging station 

near McCloud (altitude, 2,750 feet) is roughly a square which is about 

20 miles long on each side and the northwest corner of which occupies 

the slope of Mount Shasta (altitude, 14,161 feet). Springs in the lava 

formation southeast of Mount Shasta are large and steady contributors, and 

additional flow comes from the southern and eastern slopes of the mountain through Cold and Ash Creeks. Almost the entire basin upstream from 

McCloud is underlain by volcanic rocks. Mud and Squaw Valley Creeks also 

rise on the southern slope of the mountain in similar volcanic formations
386 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

and flow southward to contribute to the main river downstream from the 

gaging station near McCloud and upstream from the gaging station at

Baird (altitude, 700 feet). 

The area between these gaging 

stations is about 45 miles 

long and has a maximum width 

of 12 miles in the middle. 

During the summer, mud flows 

associated with the recession 

of glaciers come from the 

slopes of Mount Shasta. The 

lower part of the basin is 

underlain by marine sediments 

and to a lesser extent by volcanic and granitic formations. 

About 30 percent of the area 

upstream from the upper gaging 

station is above an altitude 

of 5,000 feet whereas only a 

few square miles of the intermediate area is above 5,000 

feet.

The basin of the Sacramento River upstream from the gaging station 

at Antler (altitude, 934 feet) is about 35 miles long and 15 miles wide. 

One corner drains the southwestern slopes of Mount Shasta and is underlain by formations similar to those of the upper McCloud Basin. About 

25 percent of the area is above an altitude of 5,000 feet. The lower 

part of the basin is underlain by metamorphic formations and granite. 

The small intermediate area downstream from the gaging stations on the 

Pit River near Ydalpom, the McCloud River at Baird, and the Sacramento 

River at Antler and upstream from the gaging station at Kennett (altitude, 618 feet) is underlain by a wide variety of formations.

The large drainage area between the gaging station at Kennett and 

the one near Red Bluff (altitude, 250 feet) is 70 to 80 miles from east 

to west and 25 to 35 miles from north to south. This area is notable 

for its large contribution to the run-off of the Sacramento River during 

periods of winter rain. Cow, Battle, and Cottonwood Creeks are the most 

important tributaries in this reach. Battle Creek drains the western 

slope of Lassen Peak and Cow Creek rises at an altitude of about 6,000

Figure 60.--Key map showing location 

of (a) upper Sacramento River and 

(b) McCloud River Basins.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 387

feet, but most of this area is in the foothills or in the valley. Although there are some volcanic materials in the headwaters of Cow and 

Battle Creeks, various sedimentary formations occupy most of the area. 

Alluvium is very prominent along the branches of Cow Creek and along the 

Sacramento River between Redding and the mouth of Cottonwood Creek.

The upper Sacramento, McCloud, and Pit River Basins have peculiarities, as described, that put them into the miscellaneous group of streams.

The precipitation map is comparatively well defined for the 

Sacramento River Basin above Antler and Kennett by rainfall stations at 

Mount Shasta City, Dunsmuir, Vollmer's ranch, Bayles, and Kennett. Isohyetals in the McCloud River Basin are based on one record at McCloud 

and those in adjacent basins. Twenty to twenty-five percent of the area 

upstream from Baird and Antler is above an altitude of 5,000 feet and 

without precipitation records. Lines of equal rainfall are not well defined in the McCloud River Basin upstream from McCloud.

Except on small areas on Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak, there was 

no snow on the ground at the beginning of the storm and no snow fell during the storm. There was about 8 feet of snow at Lake Helen (altitude, 

8,300 feet) on the slopes of Lassen Peak at the end of November, and 

this was reported to have been reduced to about 5 feet of slush during 

the rains in December. Probably the snow absorbed the rain above altitudes of about 8,500 to 9,000 feet and there was little run-off above 

these altitudes. There probably was snow ranging from a few inches to 

a few feet in depth between altitudes of 6,500 and 8,000 feet which 

melted and ran off during the December storm. The area between these 

altitude limits, however, amounts to only a few square miles around 

Lassen Peak and v;as even smaller around Mount Shasta.

The observed discharge during the flood period was essentially natural on the Sacramento River at Antler, the McCloud River near McCloud, 

and the McCloud River at Baird. The run-off at the river-measurement 

station on the Sacramento River at Kennett was adjusted for a considerable amount of storage on the Pit River, and the run-off for the 

Sacramento near Red Bluff was adjusted for additional storage in reservoirs on Battle Creek. The total adjustment for storage amounted to 

0»25 inch above Kennett and 0.20 inch above Red Bluff.

The adjusted total direct run-off expressed in inches over the 

drainage areas is (table 7, see pp. 311-316) 4.45, 2.15, 2.7, 1.0, and 

3.15 for the areas above Antler, Kennett, Red Bluff, McCloud, and Baird, 

respectively. The low run-off on the upper McCloud River Basin was
388 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

probably due to a combination of large absorption in very porous lava 

beds and slightly lower precipitation than occurred over the other headwater areas. The intermediate area between the Sacramento River gaging 

stations at Kennett and Red Bluff produced a run-off of about 4.0 inches.

The residuals seem consistent in these basins- In the upper 

McCloud River Basin, which is composed of large areas underlain by lava 

beds, the residual was 6.0 inches. Other residuals were 5.15 for the 

McCloud River at Baird, 3.85 for the Sacramento River at Antler, 4.15 

for the Sacramento River at Kennett, 4.0 for the Sacramento near Red 

Bluff, and about 3.7 for the area between Kennett and Red Bluff. The 

precipitation in these areas during November 1937 was much larger than 

that in the southern part of the Central Valley.

Recording-gage precipitation records at Mount Shasta City and 

Vollmer's ranch in the basin above Antler (fig. 26, p. 61) indicate 

continuous rainfall from about 9 a.m. December 9 to 4 p.m. December 11, 

high intensities being recorded in the forenoon and afternoon of 

December 10 and the forenoon of December 11. The McCloud River at Baird 

and the Sacramento River at Antler show peak run-off about four hours 

after the peak precipitation of the afternoon of December 10, and neither 

shows any appreciable rise until midnight December 9 following 15 to 16 

hours of continuous rain. Most of the precipitation of December 9 

apparently was absorbed. Peak stages were reached at 10 p. m. on 

December 10 at Antler, and at 11 p.m. on December 10 at Baird, and a 

second peak of considerable magnitude was recorded in the afternoon of 

December 11, following a period of high rainfall intensity at about 

10 a.m.

The ratios between the run-off during the 24 hours of greatest flow 

and the total storm run-off are 37 percent for Antler, 25 percent for 

the McCloud River near McCloud, and 40 percent for the McCloud River at 

Baird. Corresponding ratios between the maximum momentary discharge and 

the maximum 24-hour average discharge are 116, 131, and 132 percent, 

respectively.

At the three river-measurement stations in this area where the flow 

is not regulated, the Sacramento River at Antler, and the McCloud River 

near McCloud and at Baird, the total direct run-off for the flood was 

higher, and, except at the Antler station, the momentary peak discharge was 

higher than for previously recorded floods. At Antler the momentary peak 

of March 26, 1928, remains as the maximum of record. Melting snow contributed to that flood.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 389

Pit River Basin

The Pit River upstream from the base gaging station near Ydalpom 

drains an area of 5,350 square miles, not including the Goose Lake Basin 

L .1 which does not now drain into

the Pit River. (See fig. 61.) 

The Pit River rises near the 

eastern border of California 

in the Warner Mountains, which 

reach an altitude of 9,900 

feet, and flows generally westward to the gaging station 

which is near Ydalpom at about 

an altitude of 735 feet. Twofifths of the area is at an 

altitude of more than 5,000 

feet; for the most part it is 

underlain by lava beds in the 

north and consists of numerous 

meadow valleys, flat and marshy, 

in the south. The area also 

contains many volcanic buttes 

and peaks, of which Lassen 

Peak is the most conspicuous. 

The Pit River Basin is noted for its large springs!!/ and for the 

marked regulating effect of the volcanic formations upon stream flow. 

The lava fields act as great underground storage basins that reduce flood 

flows and increase dry season flows. Because of the uncertainly in locating watershed lines, discharges expressed in second-feet per square mile 

may have little significance. The vagueness of drainage boundaries and 

the large time lag between rainfall and its appearance as run-off caused 

by underground storage, render it difficult or impracticable to formulate 

relations between precipitation and run-off. It is probable that storage 

in lava beds holds over from season to season and that the effect of 

either an extremely dry or an extremely wet season may extend over several years.

14/ Meinzer, 0. E., Large springs of the United States: U. S. Geol. 

Survey Water-Supply Paper 557, pp. 55-62, 1927.

Figure 61. Key map showing location 

of Pit River Basin.
390 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

The North and South Forks of the Pit River head in the Warner Mountains. The gaging station on the South Fork near Likely is about 4,680 

feet above sea level, and the gaging station near Canby below the junction of the Forks is about 4,300 feet. This whole area is underlain by 

volcanic rocks, but andesite is more common in the Warner Mountains and 

basalt and other types in the large, relatively flat plain the center of 

which is near Alturas.

Most of the large area between the gaging stations near Canby and 

Fall River Mills (altitude, 3,235 feet) is very flat, and the drainage 

boundaries on the sides of the basin are very indefinite. Volcanic 

andesite and basalt are predominant, but there are large areas of alluvium around Bieber and Fall River Mills.

The area between the gaging stations at Fall River Mills and below 

Pit No. 4 dam (altitude, 2,345 feSt), which includes the area upstream 

from the Hat Creek gaging station (altitude, 4,500 feet), also contains 

volcanic plateaus, although the river flows in a canyon in this reach. 

Headwater areas of Hat Creek around Lassen Peak contain volcanic ash 

and porous lava, but most of the area is underlain by other volcanic 

material such as andesite, rhyolite, and basalt. Drainage areas are not 

well defined in parts of this region.

The small area between the gaging stations below Pit No. 4 dam and 

at Big Bend (altitude, 1,700 feet) is chiefly underlain by volcanic 

rocks, but there is a small amount of marine sediments along the river 

near Big Bend. This reach of the river is in a deep canyon.

The intermediate area below the Big Bend gaging station and above 

the Ydalpom station forms a crude triangle about 25 or 30 miles on a 

side. Part of this area is above an altitude of 5,000 feet, and the surface is very rough and irregular. In general, the part of the drainage 

area to the southeast of the river is underlain principally by volcanic 

rocks and to a lesser extent by marine sediments and granite, whereas 

the main river and Squaw Creek, the important tributary from the west, 

flow through areas of more dense metamorphic rocks. The Pit River is in 

the miscellaneous group of streams. (See p. 349.)

The precipitation map of the Pit River Basin is defined by nine 

rainfall stations in the basin and by a few stations in adjacent basins. 

About 40 percent of the entire basin lies above an altitude of 5,000 

feet. The percentage increases toward the headwaters to 65 percent near 

Canby and 100 percent for the South Fork of the Pit River basin above 

Likely. A small percentage lies above 7,000 feet.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 391

With the exception of the heavy snow cover around Mount Lassen in 

the headwaters of Hat Creek, there was very little snow on the ground 

below an altitude of 5,000 feet at the beginning of the December storm 

and apparently only a few inches over most of the area above an altitude 

of 6,000 feet. Indications are that nearly all of this snow melted and 

ran off during the early part of the storm. A slight amount of snow 

fell at the higher altitudes during the last hours of the storm. The 

lower fringe of the snow pack around Lassen Peak may have melted and 

run off, but the general effect was probably for the deep snow blanket 

on the peak to absorb the rain without producing run-off.

In the Pit River Basin only the gaging station on Hat Creek shows 

natural run-off. Observed run-off at the other river-measurement 

stations was adjusted for estimated and observed storage in the reservoirs as follows: The South Fork of the Pit River near Likely for 

storage in West Valley and Tule Lake reservoirs; the Pit River near 

Canby for Big Sage Reservoir and other small reservoirs in addition to 

those on the South Fork; the Pit River at Fall River Mills for 10,000 

acre-feet in addition to that above Canby; the Pit River below Pit No. 

4 dam for Lake Britton in addition to that above Fall River Mills; and 

the Pit River at Big Bend and year Ydalpom for the same storage as at 

Pit No. 4 dam.

The results of adjusted direct run-off in inches (table 7, see 

pp. 311-316) from the drainage areas above the stations near Likely, 

Canby, Fall River Mills, Pit No. 4 dam, Big Bend, and Ydalpom are 2.35, 

1.9, 1.2, 1,15, 1.3, and 1.7, respectively, of which it is estimated 

that 2.1, 1.0, 0.4, 0.35, 0.35, and 0.3 inches, respectively, were held 

in the storage reservoirs during the flood period. The decrease in runoff downstream as far as Pit No. 4 dam is probably due mostly to large 

areas contributing relatively little or no flow, the percentage of such 

area being especially high upstream from the Fall River Mills gaging station. Natural run-off for Hat Creek has the low value of 0.65 inch. 

The surface drainage in the Hat Creek Basin is poorly defined, the lava 

is exceptionally porous, and it is probatle that comparatively little of 

the area contributes to the surface run-off. Therefore the result stated 

has little significance.

There was a storm center of considerable magnitude below Big Bend, 

as indicated by the precipitation record of 14«77 inches at Montgomery 

Creek and by the large inflow into Pit River between Big Bend and 

Ydalpom. For this intermediate area the average storm rainfall was about
392 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

12.0 inches, the direct run-off 8.4 inches, and the residual 3.6 inches. 

The residuals in the basin range from 1.05 inches for the gaging station 

near likely to 4.0 inches for the station near Ydalpom.

A recording precipitation gage at Redding shows almost continuous 

rain from 9 a.m. December 9 to 1 p.m. December 11, greatest intensities 

being reached between 9 and 10 a.m. and between 5 and 6 p.m. December 10. 

(See fig. 26, p. 61.) These latter periods apparently correspond to discharge peaks on Hat Creek at 7 p.m. December 10 and 2 a.m. December 11. 

The flow of Hat Creek showed no rise for about 16 hours after the storm 

began. The ratio of the run-off during the 24-hours of highest flow to 

the total run-off for the storm is 62 percent, and the ratio between the 

maximum peak flow and the maximum 24-hour average flow is 138 percent.

Hat Creek is notable for its relatively steady, spring-fed flow, and 

from the beginning of record in 1926 until December 1937 there had been 

no record of a flood on the stream. For reasons stated in the basin description, the peak run-off per square mile or the total direct flood 

run-off in inches has little significance in this area. The momentary 

peak discharge of 2,500 second-feet on December 11, 1937, is considered 

remarkably high when the past record of this stream and the characteristics of its basin are considered.

Mill, Deer, Chico, and Butte Creek, and Bear River Basins

Mill, Deer, Chico, and Butte Creeks and the Bear River all have long 

narrow basins that head at fairly high altitudes on the western side of 

the Sierra Nevada and flow in a southwesterly direction to the Sacramento 

Valley. (See fig. 62.) The first four streams, in their relatively 

sudden approach to the floor of the valley, have the common characteristics of deep canyons cut down through old lava flows.

Mill and Deer Creeks are very similar, although Mill Creek rises on 

the slopes of Lassen Peak (altitude, 10,453 feet) and Deer Creek originates at an altitude of about 5,000 feet in the broad Deer Creek Meadows 

which are fed from an adjacent drainage area having altitudes as high as 

7,000 feeto The gaging station on Mill Creek is at an altitude of about 

420 feet and that on Deer Creek about 480 feet. Mill Creek Basin upstream from the gaging station is about 40 miles long and has a width of 

about 4 miles at its upper end, whereas Deer Creek Basin is only 35 

miles long but is about 8 miles wide at the upper end. The upper part 

of each basin is underlain by volcanic materials such as rhyolite and 

andesite, whereas the lower parts are underlain by sedimentary materials.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OPP STUDIES 393

Chico and Butte Creek Basins are very much alike. Butte Creek 

Basin upstream from the gaging station is a little over 30 miles long

and Chico Creek Basin a little 

less, but each is only 2 to 5 

miles wide. Butte Creek rises 

at an altitude of about 6,000 

feet and Chico Creek at about 

5,000 feet. The gaging stations are about 350 and 400 

feet, respectively, above sea 

level. Both streams originate 

in volcanic material, and flow 

on marine sediments through 

most of their length.

The Bear River Basin has 

characteristics quite different 

from the four basins just described. The Bear River originates at an altitude of only a 

little more than 5,000 feet, 

and nearly all of the drainage 

area is below 5,000 feet. The 

gaging station is on the 

main valley floor at an altitude of about 85 feet. The basin is about 

45 miles long and 10 miles wide in the middle, and narrows at the ends. 

The basin materials vary greatly, but metamorphic rocks are most common. 

In the lower reaches the bed is filled with debris resulting from hydraulic mining in the headwaters. The Bear River is called a beheaded 

stream, the South Pork of Yuba River having stolen its ancient headwaters. It belongs to the midslope type of streams. (See p. 348.)

There are only three rainfall stations in these minor basins, all 

located on the east side of the Sacramento Valley, but there are enough 

stations in adjacent basins to define the precipitation map comparatively well.

There was no snow on the ground at the beginning of the storm and 

none fell during the storm, except on 6 square miles in the headwaters 

of Mill Creek on the slopes of Lassen Peak. In this small area there 

was heavy snow above an altitude of about 8,000 feet, which probably 

absorbed all the rain., A narrow fringe of snow between 7,000 and 6,000

160WC () 3(1 2<i

Figure 62. Key map showing location 

of (a) Mill Creek, (b) Deer Creek, 

(c) Chico Creek, (d) Butte Creek, 

and (e) Bear River Basins.
394 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

feet probably contributed some direct run-off.

The observed discharge on Mill Creek and Chico Creek is natural. 

The record on Deer Creek is incomplete, as the gaging station was destroyed by the flood. The run-off on Bear River was adjusted on the 

assumption that storage in Combie and Camp Par West Reservoirs occupied 

50 percent of their capacity. Such storage amounted to 0.45 inch over 

the area. The run-off of Butte Creek was adjusted for diversions received from the Feather River Basin.

The adjusted total direct run-off in inches over these basins 

(table 7, see pp. 311-316) is 6.8, 6.75, and 2.35 for Mill Creek, Chico 

Creek, and the Bear River, respectively. The run-off for the Bear River 

!.s low because a considerable part of its drainage area is on the valley 

floor in a region that received comparatively little rainfall. The direct run-off from headwater areas of Deer, Butte, Battle, Antelope, and 

Cow Creeks probably equalled or exceeded the observed run-off from Mill 

and Chico Creeks.

Residuals for Mills Creek, Chico Creek, and the Bear River are 

fairly consistent at 6«7, 7.45, and 6.45 inches, respectively.

The rain gage at Redding recorded almost continuous precipitation 

from 9 a.m. December 9 to noon December 11, and there were periods of 

especially high intensity about 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. December 10. These 

peaks were reflected in a rapid increase in the stages of Mill and Chico 

Creeks at about 2 p.m. December 10 and peaks at midnight on December 10 

for Chico Creek and 2 a.m. on December 11 for Mill Creek. Neither Mill 

Creek nor Chico Creek showed any appreciable rise in stage until 8 p.m. 

December 9 after it had been raining at Redding for about 10 hours at an 

average rate of about 0.2 inch per hour. The ratio between the peak 

flow and the maximum 24-hour flow is 167 percent for Mill Creek and 

129 percent for Chico Creek. Mill Creek also had a greater concentration 

of run-off in the 24 hours of greatest flow in relation to the run-off 

of the entire storm, the ratio being 56 percent compared with 51 percent 

for Chico Creek.

Mill and Chico Creeks are the only streams of this group with complete records of the flood run-off unaffected by storage or diversions. 

Both the momentary peak discharges and the total direct run-offs for the 

flood period greatly exceeded previous records.

It appears probable that the storm of December 1929 brought much 

more precipitation to the Mill Creek area, over a seven-day period, than 

the storm of December 1937. However, the period preceding the storm in
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 395

1929 was much drier than the corresponding period in 1937. This appears to be one more confirmation of the probability, previously mentioned, that antecedent conditions are very important and may be more 

influential than basin characteristics.

Elder, Thomas, Stony, Cache, and Putah Greek Basins

Elder, Thomas, Stony, Cache, and Putah Greeks all rise on the eastern slope of the Coast Ranges at altitudes of 4,000 to 8,000 feet and 

flow in a general easterly direction. (See fig. 63.) The gaging stations are on the west side of the Sacra.nento Valley. Unless artificially 

regulated, these streams go wholly or nearly dry in the summer and fall, 

and are subject to flashy floods in the winter and spring.

One of the two main branches of Elder Greek rises at an altitude of 

about 7,000 feet. The main stream generally flows in a easterly direction. The gaging station on the floor of the valley is at an altitude 

of about 310 feet. The basin is about 27 miles long above the station 

and 8 miles wide near the upper end, and narrows near the gaging station. 

Most of the basin is at relatively low altitude. It is a very flashy 

stream of the foothill type. (See p. 349.)

Thomas Greek rises at a similar elevation, but a much larger proportion of the drainage area is at comparatively high altitudes and the 

gaging station is at a little higher altitude on the edge of the foothills. The basin is about 25 miles long and 12 miles wide near the 

middle. At times snowfall is a factor in the stream's behavior. Geological conditions at the headwaters of both Thomas and Elder Greeks are 

unmapped, but the region contains sedimentary rocks and both streams 

cross bands of sedimentary material of various kinds.

The four upper branches of Stony Creek rise at altitudes ranging 

from 4,000 to 6,000 feet near the crest of the Coast Ranges, and flow 

eastward out of the hills and then northward through a broad valley. 

The basin upstream from the gaging station is roughly a square of about 

16 miles on each side, and is only a small part of Stony Greek Basin. 

The formations are chiefly sedimentary but there is granitic rock in 

some of the headwater area.

The three main branches of the North Fork of Cache Greek rise at 

altitudes of about 4,000 to 5,000 feet and flow eastward and southward. 

The gaging station is at an altitude of about 1,050 feet. The basin is 

roughly diamond-shaped, its major axis being 25 miles in length and its 

minor axis 15 miles. Almost the entire basin is underlain by
396 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

35°-

sedlmentary formations. It is a foothill type of creek.

Clear Lake, which 'is surrounded by hills, is the principal topographic feature of upper Cache 

Creek. The area in Cache 

Creek Basin upstream from the 

gaging station at Yolo includes, 

in addition to the North Fork 

Basin, a 40-mile strip along 

the divide on the west, 2,000 

to 3,000 feet high, a flat 

district around the margin of 

Clear Lake, and a 40-mile strip 

of low valley land. The whole 

basin upstream from Yolo is 

about 80 miles long and about 

35 miles wide near the upper 

end. The basin is underlain 

by sedimentary formations, 

alluvium, and limited amounts 

of volcanic material.

Putah Creek Basin is long 

and narrow. Several branches 

rise along the east side of the 

Coast Ranges at altitudes of 3,000 to 5,000 feet and converge a few miles 

west of the gaging station near Guenoc which is at an altitude of about 

925 feet. The basin upstream from Guenoc,which is only about 16 miles 

long and 10 miles wide, is in an area that has heavy precipitation. It 

is underlain mostly by sedimentary rocks, but there is volcanic material 

in the mountains and alluvium in the downstream valleys. Some of the 

intermediate drainage area downstream from Guenoc and upstream from the 

gaging station near Winters (altitude, about 160 feet) is as high as 

2,000 feet, but a large part is under 1,000 feet in the valleys near Pope 

Valley and Monticello. Various kinds of sedimentary formations predominate. Putah Creek is a foothill type of stream. (See p. 349.)

There are no precipitation stations in Elder, Thomas, or the North 

Fork of Cache Creek Basins and the lines of equal rainfall are therefore 

poorly defined by stations in adjacent basins. Two precipitation stations in Stony Creek Basin above Stony Gorge Reservoir tend to fix the 

position of the isohyetals, but the locations are indefinite in the

Figure 63.--Key map showing location 

of (a) Elder Creek, (b) Thomas 

Creek, (c) Stony Creek, (d) Cache 

Creek,and (e) Putah Creek Basins.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OPP STUDIES 397

higher altitudes. A systematic search was made for supplemental precipitation data in the Putah Creek Basin, and the rainfall map is considered well defined in that basin and for Cache Creek Basin, except for 

the North Pork.

There were probably patches of snow in small areas lying above 

6,500 feet in the Coast Ranges, but in general there was little, if any, 

contribution from snow melt.

The run-off is natural for Elder and Thomas Creeks and North Fork of 

Cache Creek and at the two gaging stations on Putah Creek. The run-off 

of Cache Creek at Yolo is materially affected by storage in Clear Lake, 

amounting to about 2.15 inches over the drainage area; and on Stony Creek 

above Stony Gorge Reservoir by storage in East Park Reservoir, amounting 

to 0.6 inch over the drainage area. The observed run-offs at the latter 

two gaging stations were adjusted to show natural run-off. The adjusted 

total run-off in inches from the drainage basins (see table 7, pp. 311- 

316) is 2.75 for Elder Creek, 5.05 for Thomas Creek, 4.8 for Stony Creek, 

4.15 for North Pork of Cache Creek, 3.6 for Cache Creek at Yolo, 9.7 for 

Putah Creek near Guenoc, and 3.7 for Putah Creek near Winters. The lower 

parts of Elder and Putah Creek Basins received less than 5 inches of 

rainfall, and the run-off from the contributing areas in these basins was 

in excess of the indicated rates for their entire areas.

The area upstream from Putah Creek near Guenoc had much heavier 

rainfall and run-off than did neighboring areas.

The difference between rainfall and run-off, in inches, is 2.05 for 

Elder Creek, 0.75 for Thomas Creek, 2.2 for Stony Creek, 3.15 for North 

Pork of Cache Creek, 3.3 for Cache Creek at Yolo, 4.4 for Putah Creek 

near Guenoc, and 4.7 for Putah Creek near Winters. The low residuals 

for Thomas Creek, Elder Creek, and Stony Creek probably indicate that 

there was more rain in these areas than is shown by the lines of equal 

rainfall.

There are no recording gages in these basins, but the one at Redding 

may be fairly indicative of conditions on Elder and Thomas Creeks and the 

one at Sacramento may be indicative of the rainfall distribution in Cache 

and Putah Creek Basins. The rain fell at maximum intensity between 5 and 

6 p.m. December 10 at Redding and maximum peaks were reached on Elder and 

Thomas Creeks at 10 p.m. on that date. At Sacramento, as is generally 

true for much of the southern storm area, there were two periods of heavy 

rainfall intensity, one in the forenoon of December 10 and the other during the early hours of December 11. (See fig. 36, p. 61.) These periods
398 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

were followed by double peaks of almost equal magnitude on Cache and 

Putah Creeks.

The ratios between the momentary peak discharge and the discharge 

during the 24 hours of greatest flow range from 117 percent for Putah 

Creek near Winters to about 168 percent for Elder Creek and North Fork 

of Cache Creek. The lower ratio at Winters probably reflects the 

smoothing of the peak by channel storage. Ratios between the run-off 

during the 24 hours of greatest flow and the total run-off for the storm 

range from 40 to 60 percent.

The momentary peak discharges and total direct run-off for the 

storm period were the highest on record for Elder Creek and the North 

Fork of Cache Creek. Previous momentary peaks were slightly higher 

than those for December 1937 on Thomas Creek, Putah Creek near Guenoc, 

and Putah Creek near Winters. However, the total direct run-off for 

the storm in 1937 was probably a maximum of record at all three measuring 

points.

Feather River Basin

The Feather River Basin upstream from the base gaging station near 

Oroville is a large fan-shaped area having a radial distance of 70 to 80 

miles from the gaging station to the north and east perimeter along the 

crest of the Sierra. The distance around the perimeter is about 110 

miles. (See fig. 64.) The crest of the Sierra in this region ig lower 

and not as well defined as it is to the south, and the North and Middle 

Forks of the Feather River flow through high and relatively flat valleys 

in their upper reaches before they enter deep canyons in the middle 

reaches. About 53 percent of the basin upstream from Oroville is above 

an altitude of 5,000 feet. There is a rather sharp line of demarcation 

running near Doyle, Susanville, Westwood, Almanor, Caribou, Sterling 

City, and Oroville between the greatly varied granites, andesites, and 

metamorphic rocks to the south and the more recent volcanics, andesite, 

rhyolite, and sediments to the north.

There are two significant characteristics of the Feather River 

Basin. One is the regulating action upon stream flow of the volcanic 

formations in the northern part of the basin. In this respect it resembles the Pit River Basin where areas of lava act as huge underground 

reservoirs, reducing flood flows and augmenting dry season discharge. 

The other characteristic is the sharp distinction between the relatively 

low water-yield of the upper areas such as the Sierra, Indian, and
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 399

Genesee Valleys, and the high yield of the Intermediate areas further 

downstream. There are two reasons for the marked differences the reduced precipitation in the 

upper valleys, which are east 

of the high ridges through 

which the Feather River and 

Its branches have cut deep 

canyons; and the Increased 

seepage, evaporation, and 

other losses where streams 

flow through flat alluvial 

valleys. Although the Feather 

River has Its own peculiar 

characteristics, It resembles 

the High Sierra type of streams 

In many respects.

The South Fork of the 

Feather River rises at an altitude of about 7,000 feet and 

flows about 30 miles through a

Figure 64. Key map showing location narrow basin. The gaging staof Feather River Basin.

tlon Is at an altitude of about

550 feet. Lost Creek Is tributary to South Fork, and has a narrow basin 

about 11 miles long which descends from an altitude of more than 5,000 

feet at the head to 3,050 feet at the gaging station. The geologic formations are rather varied In this area. Granite is most prominent, particularly In the Lost Creek Basin, but there are also volcanic materials.

About half of the area of the Middle Fork Is at altitudes between 

5,000 and 7,000 feet, and the rest ranges from 5,000 feet down to 290 

feet at the gaging station. A prominent feature Is the large amount of 

comparatively flat terrain just below 5,000 feet In the Sierra Valley, a 

mountain meadow. The Sierra Valley and the surrounding country are very 

dry In summer. The western part of the basin Is a crescent-shaped area 

about 50 miles long and 6 to 15 miles wide, and the river flows In a 

canyon. Granitic rocks and andeslte volcanlcs are more prevalent than 

metamorphlc rocks. Indian Creek Basin, which Is about 40 miles long and 

25 miles across, ranges In altitude from about 8,000 feet along the 

divide on the north and east to 3,500 feet at the gaging station. A 

large part of the area Is relatively high and flat, three-quarters being
400 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

over 5,000 feet. The stream has a flat gradient, especially in the 

swampy Indian Valley, Granite and andesite are most prevalent in the 

headwater areas, but there are large patches of metamorphic rocks and 

auriferous gravels as well as numerous small areas of various formations in the western end, and the stream flows over alluvium for several 

miles in Indian and Genesee Valleys.

Spanish Creek Basin also is relatively flat; it ranges in altitude 

from about 7,000 feet on some of the surrounding hills to 3,250 feet at 

the gaging station, and two-thirds of the area is below 5,000 feet. 

The two main branches flow 12 and 15 miles from the east and west, respectively, unite, and flow northward a few miles to the gaging station. 

The stream may be considered as of the midslope type. (See p. 348.) 

Metamorphic rocks occupy most of the area, but the stream flows through 

several large patches of alluvium.

The North Fork of the Feath~er~ River Basin upstream from the gaging 

station near Prattville has altitudes of about 5,500 to 10,453 feet 

(Mount Lassen) along the north side and of 4,380 feet at the gaging station. There are many perennial springs in the headwater area, which also 

contains the large Lake Almanor and Mount Meadows Reservoirs. For the 

greater part of its course the North Fork flows through a deep canyon, 

and most of the tributaries are short streams that drain precipitous 

slopes. Most of the area is underlain by more recent volcanic andesite, 

rhyolite, and basalt, but there is alluvium around Mount Meadows Reservoir. There are several fault lines north of Lake Almanor.

Grizzly and Bucks Creek Basins are two small areas lying between 

altitudes of 7,000 and 5,000 feet. The Bucks Creek Basin, a large portion of which is occupied by Bucks Creek storage reservoir, is underlain 

almost entirely by granite, whereas Grizzly Creek Basin contains mostly 

metamorphic rocks and only a minor amount of granite.

The basin of the West Branch of the Feather River upstream from the 

gaging station is about 27 miles long and 3 to 7 miles wide. It ranges 

in altitude from about 6,000 feet at the headwaters to 1,100 feet at the 

gaging station. Basalt and metamorphic rocks are most common. It is a 

midslope type stream. Concow Creek flows into West Branch of Feather 

River and has a very small drainage area which ranges in altitude from 

about 4,000 feet in the upper part to 1,850 feet at the gaging station. 

Granite and metamorphic rocks are most common.

The intermediate area in the basin of the North Fork of Feather 

River between all these tributary basins and the base gaging station
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 401

near Oroville Is about 50 miles long from north to south and 10 to 20 

miles wide. The altitude ranges from about 7,000 feet at the peaks to 

182 feet at the gaging station. Granite and metamorphic rooks are most 

common*

The lines of equal rainfall (fig. 17, p. 49) In Feather River Basin 

are well defined by 22 rainfall stations above Oroville and by some In 

adjacent basins. About half the basin Is above an altitude of 5,000 

feet. However, only two of the rainfall stations are above an altitude 

of 5,000 feet, which may cause some Inaccuracies In the location of the 

Isohyetals In headwater areas.

Snow data In the basin are meagre. There was heavy snow on a few 

square miles around Mount Lassen In the drainage of the North Fork of 

the Feather River near Prattvllle; the lower fringe of this snow melted. 

The heavier snow at highest altitudes probably absorbed all the rain 

that fell. A small part of the area upstream from the Middle Fork of 

the Feather River near Clio Is above 7,000 feet, and It Is presumed 

that In this and adjacent areas snow conditions were similar to those 

at Soda Springs (altitude, 6,752 feet), where there was 13 inches of 

snow on the ground on December 8, 13 inches on the 9th, 10 inches on 

the 10th, a trace on the llth, 8 inches on the 12th, and 7 inches on 

December 13. At Soda Springs, 13 inches of snow melted and ran off 

during the storm, and 8 inches of new snow fell during the last phases 

of the storm. At the beginning of the storm the snow generally ranged 

in depth from a trace to about 1 foot at altitudes of 6,000 to 7,000 

feet. A considerable part of the North Fork of the Feather River Basin 

above Prattville and small parts of the drainage areas of Spanish Creek, 

Indian Creek, and the Middle Fork of the Feather River near Clio are 

within these limits, and there was probably contribution to the flood 

run-off from melting snow.

The observed discharge is essentially unregulated at the rivermeasurement stations on Indian Creek, Spanish Creek, Grizzly Creek, 

Lost Creek, the Middle Fork of the Feather River at Bidwell Bar, and 

the South Fork of the Feather River near Enterprise. The flow on the 

North Fork of the Feather River near Prattville is controlled at Almanor 

Dam. The record for Bucks Creek is derived from storage records in 

Bucks Creek storage and diversion reservoirs. Flow on the West Branch 

of the Feather River near Yankee Hill was materially modified by storage in Lake Wilenor and in smaller reservoirs and by diversions into 

Spring Valley ditch and Miocene canal, amounting to 2.0 inches during
402 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

the storm. The flow of Concow Creek was modified by storage in Lake 

Wilenor, amounting to 4.25 inches; and that of the Feather River near 

Orovllle, by storage in five large reservoirs having a total retention 

during the storm equivalent to 0.40 inch over the area. The observed 

run-off has been adjusted to give natural run-off. Changes in storage 

on Lost Creek and in the South Fork of the Feather River Basin above 

Enterprise were so small that run-off was assumed to be natural. No 

detailed run-off data for the flood period are available for the station on the Middle Fork of the Feather River near Clio.

At the gaging station on the Feather River near Orovllle the 

water-stage recorder was overtopped at the peak, and the record is 

therefore incomplete.

The indicated direct run-off in inches (see table 3, pp. 311-316) 

was 1.65 for Indian Creek, 4.1 for Spanish Creek, 12.5 for Grizzly 

Creek, 6.2 for Lost Creek, 7.85 for the South Fork of the Feather River 

near Enterprise, and 4.35 for the Middle Fork of the Feather River at 

Bidwell Bar. The run-off adjusted for storage is 12.6 inches for Bucks 

Creek, 9.7 for the West Branch of the Feather River, 6.65 for Concow 

Creek, 3.1 for the North Fork of the Feather River near Prattvllle, and 

3.95 for the Feather River near Orovllle. There was probably a limited 

contribution from melting snow in the basin above Prattville and in 

some of the others. The result for Indian Creek reflects the comparatively low rainfall of less than 6 inches. The indicated run-offs for 

Grizzly and Bucks Creeks exceed those for any drainage basin for which 

complete records of these floods are available. Lack of information to 

determine accurately the drainage area for Grizzly Creek casts some doubt 

upon the run-off values expressed in inches over the area. The adjusted 

values for Bucks Creek, however, support the high value for Grizzly Creek.

Differences between rainfall and run-off range from 4.0 inches for 

the North Fork of the Feather River near Prattville to 12.9 inches for 

Lost Creek. All but Lost Creek and South Fork of Feather River near 

Enterprise show less than 7.1 inches.

There are no recording rainfall gages in or near the Feather River 

Basin. The gage-height graphs of the natural flow stations seem to 

indicate that the precipitation was generally continuous throughout the 

storm period. With the exception of those on Indian Creek, all the 

peak stages occurred between noon December 10 and noon December 11. The 

ratios between the rate of flow at the peak and the maximum 24-hour
RAINFALL AMD RUN-OFF STUDIES 403

average flow are very low for Indian Creek, Spanish Creek, Middle Fork 

of the Feather River, and South Fork of the Feather River, ranging from 

105 percent to 119 percent. The small drainage areas on Grizzly Creek 

and Lost Creek show ratios of 143 and 144 percent, respectively. The 

ratios between the run-off during the 24 hours of greatest flow and the 

total storm run-off were close to 50 percent, except that for Indian 

Creek which was 33 percent. The flow of Indian Creek responded comparatively slowly to the storm rainfall, the crest stage not being 

reached until 2 p.m. December 12, whereas the crest stages on most of 

the other streams occurred on December 11. The delayed run-off and 

lower ratios for Indian Creek are probably related to the flat meadows 

above the point of measurement, which act as natural detention reservoirs that smooth the peaks and delay the run-off.

The momentary peak discharges during December 1P37 exceeded previous 

high peaks at all gaging stations in the Feather River Basin except those 

with records going back to the flood of March 1907. There seems little 

doubt that the flood of 1907 was the largest in the Feather River Basin 

thus far in this century.

Yuba River Basin

The basin of the Yuba River upstream from the base gaging station at 

Smartville is fan-shaped, and has a radial distance of 45 to 52 miles from 

Smartville and an outer periphery of about 50 miles, 30 miles of which is 

along the 7,000 to 8,000-foot crest of the Sierra Nevada. (See fig. 65.) 

The topography is rugged and mountainous, and about 43 percent of the 

area is above an altitude of 5,000 feet. The tributaries have cut deep 

canyons, which head well up in the mountains. There are perennial 

springs in parts of the basin and many small glacial lakes at higher 

altitudes. In the lower reaches of the river the stream bed is filled 

with debris from hydraulic mining washed down from upper parts of the 

basin.

The headwaters of the South Fork of the Yuba River are measured at 

gaging stations on the South Fork at Lake Spaulding, and on Canyon Creek 

below Bowman Dam. The former stream rises at an altitude of about 8,000 

feet on the crest of the Sierra Nevada and drops to around 5,200 feet at 

the gaging station; the latter rises at about 7,000 feet and drops to 

about 5,100 feet at the gaging station. Glacial deposits, andesites, 

granite, granodiorite, metamorphic rocks, and lesser amounts of basalt,
404 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

limestone, slate, and shale are some of the varied formations in the 

areas.

The Middle Pork of the 

Yuba River heads along the 

crest of the Sierra Nevada 

at an altitude of a little 

more than 7,000 feet and 

drops to about 5,700 feet 

at the gaging station near 

Milton. Glacial deposits, 

andesite, and metamorphic 

rocks are among the varied 

formations. Oregon Creek, 

which has a basin 15 miles 

long and 2 miles wide, is also 

tributary to the Middle Pork. 

This stream rises at an altitude of about 5,000 feet and 

drops to about 1,500 feet at 

the gaging station. The exposed formations include andesite, metamorphic rocks, serpentine, and some granodiorite. The basin of the Middle Pork upstream 

from the gaging station near North San Juan, which includes the two 

areas just mentioned, is about 35 miles long and 4 to 7 miles wide. 

The altitude at the gage is about 1,400 feet. Geologic formations include all the types found in the upper basins.

The North Pork of the Yuba River rises at about 7,000 feet and, in 

about 14 miles, drops to an altitude of about 4,100 feet at the gaging 

station near Sierra City. Most of the basin is underlain by granodiorite, glacial deposits, and andesite. The Yuba River and its higher 

tributaries have the characteristics of a High Sierra stream. (See p. 

347.)

Deer Creek drains a basin about 28 miles long and 3 to 5 miles wide 

which heads at an altitude of about 4,000 feet and drops to about 500 

feet at the gaging station near Smartville. It can be classed as a 

foothill stream, although snowfall may be a factor at times.

The drainage area between the previously mentioned gaging stations 

and the base gaging station at Smartville is V-shaped, has legs 35 to

Figure 65. Key map showing location 

of Yuba River Basin.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 405

45 miles long, and reaches altitudes as high, as 7,000 feet. Formations 

include all of the types enumerated for the tributary basins, except 

glacial deposits.

There are ten precipitation stations in the Yuba River Basin. 

Three of these, including the important station at Soda Springs (altitude, 6,752 feet) are above an altitude of 5,000 feet. The greater 

part of the area above Smartville is below an altitude of 5,000 feet, 

36 percent is between 5,000 and 7,000 feet, and 7 percent is above 

7,000 feet. The topography is more complex than that of the basins to 

the north, and the lines of equal rainfall are probably not as well defined as in areas where the conditions are more uniform.

The snow depth at Soda Springs was 13 inches on December 8, 13 

inches on December 9, 10 inches on December 10, a trace on December 11, 

8 inches on December 12, and 7 inches on December 13. There was no 

snow on the ground on December 9 at Lake Spaulding (altitude, 5,075 feet) ; 

and only a trace at Bowman Dam (altitude, 5,347 feet). There was, however, an inch of snow at each place after the storm on December 12. 

From these and other data it is assumed that all precipitation in this 

basin was in the form of rain during the early days of the storm and 

turned to snow at altitudes above 5,000 feet during the last part of 

the storm period. It is concluded that there was snow on the ground 

at the beginning of the storm, ranging in depth from a trace at an altitude of about 5,500 feet to a few inches at 6,000 feet, and about a 

foot at 7,000 feet. Much of this snow probably melted during December 9 

and 10, and contributed to the run-off.

The observed discharge at the river-measurement stations on Deer 

Creek near Smartville, Oregon Creek near North San Juan, and the North 

Fork of the Yuba River near Sierra City is essentially natural. The observed direct run-off at the following stations was adjusted for artificial storage and diversions: at the Middle Fork of the Yuba River 

near North San Juan and near Milton for diversions to Milton-Bowman 

tunnel, amounting to 1.55 inches on the area above Milton and 0.35 inch 

on the area above North San Juan; the South Fork of the Yuba River at 

Lake Spaulding for storage in Lake Spaulding, Fordyce Reservoir, and 

other reservoirs; Canyon Creek below Bowman Dam for storage in Bowman 

Lake, minus inflow from Milton-Bowman tunnel, plus diversions into 

Bowman-Spaulding canal, and for some storage in French Lake; and the 

Yuba River near Smartville for storage at Bullards Bar Reservoir,
406 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Fordyce Lake, French Lake, Lake Spaulding, and Bowman Lake, amounting 

to 1.3 inches over the drainage area.

The total direct run-off, in Inches, for the flood periods (see 

table 7, pp. 311-316} is 5.0 Inches for the area upstream from the 

gaging station on the North Fork of the Yuba River near Sierra City, 

11.9 inches for Canyon Creek, 12.2 Inches for the South Fork of the 

Yuba River at Lake Spaulding, 3.75 Inches for Oregon Creek, 5.6 inches 

for the Middle Fork of the Yuba River near North San Juan, 7.1 Inches 

for Deer Creek near Smartvllle, 7.65 Inches for the Middle Fork of the 

Yuba River at Milton, and 6.0 Inches for the Yuba River at Smartville. 

The high run-off for Canyon Creek and the South Fork of the Yuba River 

at Lake Spaulding are probably partly due to snow melt.

The residuals range from 8.3 Inches for the area of the North Fork 

upstream from Sierra City to 1.6 for Canyon Creek and 0.6 for the area 

of the South Fork above Lake Spaulding. The latter two figures are obviously low and it Is probable that the rainfall map in this area would 

show more rain if there were additional data in the higher altitudes. 

However, the reason may be found in contribution from melting snow, as 

previously mentioned.

There are no recording precipitation gages In the basins where the 

run-off was essentially natural, but Oregon Creek shows a first peak in 

rainfall at 7 a.m. December 10, the main peak at 6 a.m. December 11, and 

a third peak at noon December 11. The North Fork of the Yuba River near 

Sierra City shows the first peak at noon December 10, and the main peak 

at 4 a.m. December 11. Precipitation that caused the third peak on 

Oregon Creek may have fallen as snow above Sierra City. The run-off 

during the 24 hours of greatest flow was 44 percent of the total runoff for Oregon Creek and 52 percent for the area of the North Fork above 

Sierra City. Near Sierra City the flow during the main peak was about 

50 percent greater than the maximum 24-hour average flow and on Oregon 

Creek about 75 percent greater.

Of the three basins where the run-off is natural, two, the North 

Fork of Yuba River near Sierra City and Deer Creek near Smartvllle, had 

highest momentary peak discharges for their periods of record. On the 

third, Oregon Creek, the storm in 1937 seemed considerably less severe 

than the storm in 1928 and the peak in 1928 is still the maximum. It 

is possible that in that basin melting snow was a larger factor in 1928 

than in 1937.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 407

American River Basin

The American River Basin, upstream from the base gaging station at 

Fair Oaks, is triangular in shape, is about 65 miles long, and has a

maximum width of 50 miles 

along the crest of the Sierra 

Nevada. (See fig. 66.) The 

American River is formed by 

the union of the South, 

Middle, and North Forks, 

which flow in deep canyons 

down the western slope of the 

Sierra. A few miles upstream 

from Fair Oaks the river 

emerges from its canyon and 

flows over cobble bars. In 

the lower reaches the river 

bed is practically filled with 

debris that was started downstream by early hydraulic 

mining operations.

About 41 percent of the

Figure 66. Key map showing location basin is above an altitude of 

of American River Basin.

5,000 feet and 13 percent is

over 7,000 feet. The river is classed with the High Sierra streams. 

Generally speaking, the American River Basin will have a greater depth 

of snowpack, at like elevations, than the Sierra basins near the southern 

end of the Sierras.

Granite and andesite predominate in the upstream portion of the 

basin. Quartzite, limestone, shale, slate, and glacial deposits are 

common in the lower areas 0

The American River Basin contains many subdivisions, but the area 

upstream from each gaging station is not described in detail. A brief 

description of the outstanding features of some of the smaller basins 

follows.

Silver Creek, a tributary of the South Fork of the American River, 

rises at an altitude of about 9,000 feet and flows westward. The basin 

upstream from the gaging station (altitude, 2,250 feet) near Placerville 

is about 22 miles long and 10 miles wide, and 18 percent of it is above
408 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1P37 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

an altitude of 7,000 feet. Of the basin upstream from South Pork of Silver Creek near Ice House, 39 percent is above 7,000 feet.

Plum and Alder Creeks are in two small basins tributary to the 

South Pork of the American River but at lower altitudes than Silver 

Creek. Both basins lie between altitudes of 4,000 and 7,000 feet. They 

flow northwestward between steep ridges that shut out a part of the sunlight and some of the rain from the southwest. They belong to the midslope type of streams. (See p. 348.)

There are 11 precipitation stations in the American River Basin, 

but only one, Twin Lakes (altitude, 7,920 feet), is above 5,000 feet, 

and the stations are otherwise poorly distributed. There may be considerable inaccuracy in the lines of equal rainfall at high altitudes.

The snow on the ground at Twin Lakes was reported as 8 inches on 

December 8 and 8 inches on December 12, but the original 8 inches 

melted and ran off -on December 9 and 10 and was replaced during the 

closing hours of the storm. Reports indicate that there was about 2 

feet of snow on Echo Summit at the beginning of the storm and not more 

than 2 feet at Desolation Valley (altitude, 8,200 feet). Any snow cover 

greater than about 2 feet would probably have had a tendency to absorb 

rain rather than to contribute to the run-off. Estimates of the United 

States Weather Bureau place the snow cover at 12 inches between altitudes 

of 6,500 and 7,500 feet. The melting of the snow would contribute about 

2 or 3 inches to the run-off. There must have been some snow on the 

area between altitudes of 5,500 and 6,500 feet. It is assumed that all 

precipitation in this area was rain on December 9 and 10, except that 

there were a few hours of snow during the last hours of the storm at 

the higher elevations.

Alder Creek, Plum Creek, and the three stations on Silver Creek show 

natural discharge. The flow at the other river-measurement stations was 

materially modified by storage in reservoirs as follows: the flow on 

the North Pork of the American near Colfax by the contents of three reservoirs amounting to 0.25 inch over the drainage area; the Middle Pork of 

the American River by storage estimated as 50 percent of the capacity of 

Loon Lake, amounting to 0.1 inch over the area; the Silver Pork of the 

South Pork of the American River by storage in Twin Lakes and Silver Lake 

amounting to 1.7 inches; the South Pork of the American River near Kyburz 

by the last items and by diversions to El Dorado canal, the total adjustment amounting to 1.1 inches; the South Pork of the American River near 

Camino by the last items plus diversion to the American River flume,
RAINFALL AND RUN OFF STUDIES 409

totaling 0.5 inch; the South Fork of the American River at Coloma by the 

last items plus some small storage, amounting to 0.2 inch; and the American River at Fair Oaks by 14 reservoirs with a net retention during the 

flood period amounting to 0.3 inch over the drainage area. The discharge 

at Silver Lake outlet and Twin Lakes outlet is controlled and the observed 

run-off has been adjusted to give natural run-off based on observations of 

changes of storage in the lakes.

The adjusted total direct run-off expressed in inches over the drainage areas (see table 7) varied from 8.85 and 7.9 above Silver Lake outlet 

and Twin Lakes outlet to 2.25 and 2.0 on Alder Creek and Plum Creek. The 

two higher figures include some run-off from snow. The low run-off on 

Alder and Plum Creeks is explained by the basin characteristics previously 

cited and by the probability that rainfall in those local areas was less 

than indicated by the general isohyetals.

Differences between rainfall and run-off range from 8.15 to 8.1 

inches on Alder and Plum Creeks to 0.30 and 0.05 inches above Twin and 

Silver Lake outlets. The difference is largely explained by the drainage 

basin characteristics, but the negative value for Silver Lake outlet indicates an error probably either in the adjustment for storage or in drawing 

the isohyetals. All the other run-offs and residuals in the American 

River drainage appear reasonably consistent.

There are recording rainfall gages at Georgetown in this basin and at 

Fiddletown just to the south. Both of these records show high rainfall 

intensities in the early morning hours of December 10 and also on December 

11, although Georgetown had the highest peak on December 10 and Fiddletown 

on December 11. These high intensities seem to correspond to the peaks 

about noon on December 10 and on December 11 in the gage-height graphs at 

the three gaging stations on Silver Creek. Peaks on the short drainage 

areas on Alder and Plum Creeks occurred three or four hours after the 

highest rainfall intensities. The second peak was the higher on all five 

of the streams where the run-off is unaffected by storage. The ratios between the greater of the peak flows and the maximum 24-hour average flow 

range from 134 percent on the South Fork of Silver Creek to 160 percent on 

Plum Creek. The ratios between the run-off during the 24 hours of greatest flow and the total run-off for the storm are very nearly 50 percent 

for all the streams having natural flow, except that for Alder Creek, 

which is 36 percent.

Of the five basins with unregulated flow in this area, the momentary 

peak discharges in two, Alder Creek and Plum Creek, were much lower than 

the peaks of March 1928. At the three gaging stations on Silver Creek
410 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

the peaks in December 1937 were moderately higher than those of March 

1928.

The storm in 1928 was unusually heavy in the lower altitudes of 

some of the Sierra basins, such as Plum and Alder Creek Basins, and was 

accompanied by considerable contribution from melting snow at low and 

intermediate altitudes. The storm in 1P37 was relatively less severe 

at the lower altitudes and probably was not augmented by melting snow 

in basins such as those of Plum and Alder Creeks.

Northern Pacific basins

The northern Pacific basins for which data are given in this report are those of the Russian, Eel, Klamath, and Smith Rivers, and 

three tributaries of the Klamath, the Shasta, Salmon, and Trinity 

Rivers. (See fig. 67.) They belong to the miscellaneous group of 

streams. (See p. 349.)

The Klamath River heads far to the northeast, in southern Oregon. 

The others drain parts of the California Coast Ranges, a region subject 

to heavy precipitation. The northern Pacific basins, including those 

not mentioned herein, yield more than one-third of all the run-off in 

the State.

The three main branches of the Eel River rise at altitudes of 

about 5,000 to 6,000 feet, 15 to 20 miles to the north, south, and 

east of the gaging station at Hullville, just downstream from Lake 

Pillsbury (altitude, about 1,800 feetK The intermediate drainage 

area between the gaging stations at Hullville and below Van Arsdale 

Dam is very small. The river drops about 400 feet in the intervening 

8 miles. The tributary drainage area downstream from the Van Arsdale 

gaging station and upstream from the gaging station at Scotia is about 

90 miles long, is 50 miles wide in the middle, and narrows as it approaches Scotia. Most of the water comes from tributaries draining 

mountains 5,000 to 6,000 feet high along the Coast Ranges, and the 

river flows generally northwestward. The gaging station at Scotia 

is at an altitude of about 50 feet. The rocks of this region are 

nearly all sedimentary.

The Shasta River Basin is roughly 25 miles square. The river 

rises on the north slopes of Mount Shasta and moderately high mountains to the east, and flows northward through the broad alluvial 

Shasta Valley and then through several miles of canyon to the junction with the Klamath River. The gaging station is at an altitude of
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 411

about 2,000 feet. The rocks on the east side of the river are mostly 

volcanic; those on the south are chiefly volcanic, granitic, and metamorphic; and those on the 

west are largely limestone. 

La^ge springs are found in 

the volcanic areas= There may 

be corresponding losses at 

other places. Discharge expressed in second-feet per 

square mile has little meaning in the Shasta Basin because 

of undefined limits of surface 

drainage and lava beds.

The Salmon River and its 

main branches rise along one 

of the crests of the Coast 

Range at about 6,000 feet 

and i'lovi in a westerly direction. The gaging station near 

the mouth is at an altitude of 

about 500 feet. Salmon River 

flowsi into the Klamath just upstream from the gaging station 

on the Klamath. It drains a 

mountain area that is subject to heavy snowfall in winter, and it has 

many characteristics of a High Sierra river. This region is mostly unmapped geologically, but it probably contains ti great variety of formations.

The Trinity River Basin includes some of the roughest and least 

populated mountain areas in California. Some of the mountain peaks are 

more than 8,000 feet above sea level. The river rises at an altitude of 

about 7,000 feet about 20 miles west of Mount Shasta, and flows southwestward for about 60 miles and then generally northwestward for about 

70 miles to its junction with the Klamath River. There are three gaging 

stations on the river, one at Lewiston (altitude, about 1,800 feet), one 

near Burnt Ranch (altitude, 1,010 feet), and one near Hoopa (altitude, 

315 feet). The geological formations vary widely and include granite, 

metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, and alluvium«

Figure 67. Key map showing location 

of northern Pacific basins: 

(a) Eel River, (b) Shasta River, 

(c) Salmon River, (d) Trinity 

River, (e) Smith River, (f) 

Klamath River between Copco 

and Somesbar.
412 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Branches of the Smith River rise at altitudes of about 5,000 feet 

along 40 miles of the crest of the westernmost Coast Range, and converge a short distance upstream from the gaging station, which is at an 

altitude of a few hundred feet. This is a region of very heavy rainfall 

and little snow, and the river is extremely responsive to storms. It 

may have the highest average discharge per square mile of any basin in 

California.

On the Russian River the only information available is the momentary 

peak discharge. A description of the basin is therefore not given.

The flow of the Klamath River at Somesbar is controlled to such an 

extent by upper Klamath Lake, by other storage reservoirs, and by power 

plants that no attempt has been made to adjust the observed run-off. A 

description of the basin is not given.

There are about 30 precipitation records in the northern Pacific and 

adjacent basins. However, these records are very unequally distributed 

among the basins, and there are no available records in the upstream portion of the Eel, Salmon and Trinity Basins. In general there are no 

records at high altitudes along the crests of the Coast Ranges. Therefore the isohyetal lines as drawn are subject to error.

Snow data are scarce, but the information available in records of 

the United States Forpst Service indicates that there were patches of 

snow on the shaded slopes on the comparatively small areas above an altitude of 6,500 feet. This small amount undoubtedly melted on December 

9 and 10, but added very little to the run-off.

The observed run-off at the three river-measurement stations on 

the Trinity River and at the Salmon River station is natural. Plow at 

some of the other stations is materially affected by storage in reservoirs and diversion: the Eel River at Hullville by retained storage in 

Lake Pillsbury, amounting to 0.05 inch over the drainage area; the Eel 

River at Van Arsdale Dam and at Scotia by storage in Lake Pillsbury and 

Van Arsdale Reservoir and by diversions to the Potter Valley power house, 

amounting to 0.25 inch on the upper area and 0.05 inch on the whole area 

above Scotia; and the Shasta River near Yreka by storage in Shasta Reservoir, amounting to 1.65 inches over the area. The run-off at these stations has been adjusted to show natural run-off.

Indicated direct run-off in inches of the natural flow streams (see 

table 7, pp. 311-316) was 3.55 for the Salmon River, and 4.15, 3.65, and 

3.75 for the Trinity River at Lewiston, Burnt Ranch, and near Hoopa, respectively.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 413

The record of stage on the Smith River is incomplete, owing to stopping of the water-stage recorder. The momentary peak run-off was 129 

second-feet per square mile, although the only nearby rainfall records 

indicated not to exceed 4 or 5 inches of rain.

The run-off adjusted for storage amounts to 8.7, 8.05, and 7.35 

inches for the Eel River at Hullville, below Van Arsdale Dam, and at 

Scotia, respectively, and 0.35 inch on the Shasta River near Yreka. The 

storm was evidently not so heavy in the northern end of the State, generally, although the Smith River had a very high momentary peak.

Differences between rainfall and run-off range from 2.25 for the 

Trinity River at Lewiston and the Salmon River to 4.05 inches for the 

Shasta River near Yreka.

A recording rainfall gage at Eureka registered high intensities 

atout noon December 10, noon December 11, and about 8 p.m. December 11. 

Gage-height graphs at stations on the Salmon River at Somesbar and the 

Trinity River at Lewiston showed peaks about midnight December 10, but 

high stages continued during December 11. The peak occurred at noon 

December 11 at the lower gaging station on the Trinity River.

The ratios between the momentary peak discharge and maximum 24- 

hour average flow are very low, averaging about 110 percent. Ratios 

between the run-off during the 24 hours of highest flow and the total 

run-off for the storm range from 32 to 40 percent. At all of the four 

river-measurement stations where flow is unregulated the momentary peak 

discharges were the highest on record.

San Francisco Bay basins

The San Francisco Bay basins as discussed here include those of San 

Francisquito, Stevens, Guadalupe, Campbell, Coyote, and Alameda Creeks, 

and also of Conn Creek in Napa River Basin. (See fig. 68.) They resemble the foothill type of streams. (See p. 349.)

Alameda Creek is the largest stream draining into the southern part 

of San Francisco Bay, and has a basin about 50 miles long and 10 to 20 

miles wide. The long lateral tributaries from the south, which drain 

from sedimentary formations at altitudes of 3,000 to 4,000 feet, are the 

most important. Most of the laterals from the north flow through a broad 

sedimentary valley, but there are some volcanic rocks interbedded with 

the sediments. The gaging station is at an altitude of about 100 feet.
414 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Calaveras Reservoir is on Calaveras Creek, a tributary of Alameda 

Creek.

Coyote Creek and its 

tributaries rise on the southern slope of Mount Hamilton 

and flow southward for about 

15 miles, draining sedimentary 

formations at altitudes of 

3,000 to 4,000 feet. There 

the creek turns northwestward 

and flows in a canyon along 

th.K Hfiyward fault line until 

it passes out of the hills 

near the upper gaging station 

near Madrone into the flat 

Santa Clara Valley. It then 

flows in a comparatively flat 

chsiiael between hills on the 

east and an alluvial valley 

on the west, and finally 

through a flat delta to the 

bay. The downstream gaging 

station near Edenvale is 190 

feet above sea level.,

Alamitos, Guadalupe, and Los Gates Creeks rise on the north slopes 

of Loma Prieta Mountain at altitudes of more than 3,000 feet, and flow 

generally northward 4 to 10 miles through sedimentary formations. The 

gaging stations are at the edge of the hills at altitudes between 200 

and 360 feet. From here the streams flow through channels cut in alluvium. Guadalupe and Los Gatos Creeks unite immediately upstream from 

the gaging station in San Jose.

Campbell and Stevens Creeks drain sedimentary and serpentine rock 

formations as they drop from altitudes between 2,000 and 3,000 feet to 

sea level. The gaging stations are at altitudes of 400 or 500 feet at 

the edge of the hills, 5 to 6 miles from the headwaters.

San Francisquito Creek and its tributary, Los Trancos Creek, rise on 

a 2,000-foot ridge southwest of Stanford University, and drop nearly to 

sea level in a few miles. The gaging stations are a few miles from the 

source at altitudes of 120 and 160 feet. The upper basins contain a

Figure 68. Key map showing location 

of San Francisco Bay basins:

(a) San Francisquito Creek,

(b) Stevens Creek, (c) Guadalupe 

Creek, (d) Coyote Creek, (e) 

Alameda Creek, (f) Conn Creek.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 415

variety of sedimentary formations, which are probably badly shattered, 

and the stream courses seem to have a relation to the San Andreas fault. 

San Francisquito Greek flows for about 4 miles between the upstream and 

downstream gaging stations in a channel cut in alluvium higher than the 

bordering areas.

Conn Creek, in Napa County on the north side of San Francisco Bay, 

originates in hills some 2,000 feet above sea level. It takes a general 

southeasterly course and, in times of flood, unites with Napa River 

(tributary to San Pablo Bay, an arm of San Francisco Bay). The gaging 

station is at the edge of the foothills and is about 180 feet above sea 

level. The basin contains a variety of sedimentary, intrusive, and volcanic formations.

Rainfall data are more plentiful around San Francisco Bay than in 

any other locality in northern California. There are 23 rainfall stations 

within this drainage area and numerous other stations in adjacent territory. A great majority of these gages are unofficial, being maintained 

by private individuals or quasi-public institutions. Most of the records 

collected are at points in the valleys, and few data are available at 

the higher altitudes where the precipitation was generally heavy. Lines 

of equal rainfall are believed to be fairly well defined, however, in 

spite of the steep gradients of variation in precipitation.

There was no snow on the ground at the beginning of the storm, and 

none fell during the storm.

Basins in which the run-off is natural are those of Conn Creek, Los 

Gatos Creek, and Campbell Creek. The observed run-off from the other 

basins has been adjusted for storage. The flow of Los Trancos Creek was 

adjusted for diversions to Los Trancos canal, such adjustment amounting 

to 0.4 inch over the drainage area. San Franciaquito Creek at Stanford 

and at Palo Alto were adjusted for storage in Searsville Lake and for 

diversions to Los Trancos and Lagunita canals, amounting to 0.4 inch 

for each station. Stevens and Guadalupe Creeks were adjusted for 

Stevens and Guadalupe Reservoirs, amounting to 1.0 and 3.05 inches, respectively. Alamitos Creek was adjusted for storage in Calero and 

Almaden Reservoirs, totaling 2.1 inches. Guadalupe Creek at San Jose 

was adjusted for storage in Calero, Almaden, Vasona, and Guadlupe Reservoirs, totaling 0.9 inch. Coyote Creek near Madrone and at Edenvale was 

adjusted for storage in Coyote Reservoir, amounting to 1.15 inches on the 

upper drainage area and 0.95 inch on the lower. Alameda Creek was
416 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

adjusted for storage In Calaveras Reservoir and diversions for San Francisco water supply amounting to 0.35 inch over the drainage area.

The adjusted run-off In inches (see table 7, pp. 311-316) ranges 

from 0.6 and 0.75 on Los Trancos and Alameda Creeks to 4.15 and 4.35 on 

Los Gatos and Guadalupe Creeks at Guadalupe, respectively. The precipitation was definitely lighter on the northern basins in this group 

and exceeded their absorptive capacity by comparatively small amounts. 

There were centers of heavy precipitation along the divide between the 

coast and the bay drainage area from Saratoga Gap to and south of Loma 

Prieta, a large mountain on which lie the headwater areas of Los Gatos, 

Guadalupe, Alamitos, and Uvas Creeks. The rainfall was much lighter on 

the second range of hills, which is drained by Alameda and Coyote Creeks.

The differences between rainfall and run-off are generally high. 

This Is particularly true of Stevens, Campbell, and Los Gatos Creek 

Basins in which residuals of between 10 and 12 Inches are indicated. 

These values are partially substantiated by the extremely high value 

of 14.85 inches for San Lorenzo River, just over the ridge, and 9.1 

inches for Uvas Creek, to the south.

The recording rain gage (see fig. 27, p= 62) at San Francisco may 

be indicative of the distribution of the storm precipitation In the San 

Francisco Bay and Santa Cruz Mountain areas, although the total amount recorded Is much less than that in much of the area. The precipitation of 

greatest Intensity, about 10 a.m. December 9, is not reflected in discharge peaks at any of the stream-measurement stations. Later periods of 

high intensity at about 2 p.m. on the 10th and the early morning of the 

llth seem to be reflected in peaks on Conn and Los Gatos Creeks at 6 a.m. 

on the 10th and In the morning of the llth. A short, sharp storm about 

6 a.m. on December 12 must have been local to San Francisco, there being 

no effect on the run-off of Los Gatos Creek and only a slight effect on 

Conn Creek.

The ratios between the flow at the momentary peaks and the maximum 

24-hour average flows are high, as Is to be expected on short creeks with 

high gradients and draining steep hills, like Los Gatos, Campbell, and 

Connj these ratios were 182, 177, and 201 percent, respectively. The 

ratios between the highest 24-hour run-off and the total run-off for the 

storm range from 49 to 59 percent.

Maximum momentary peaks on Los Gatos, Campbell, and Conn Creeks were 

considerably lower than the peaks of February 1937. However, total direct
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 417

run-off during the storm of December 1937 exceeded the total direct runoff of the February storm. This behavior is apparently accounted for by 

the double peak and the broader hydrograph of the flood of December 1937.

Owens Lake basins

The streams in Owens Lake Basin discussed in this report are Owens 

River and Rock, Pine, Big Pine, Independence, and Tuttle Creeks. (See 

fig. 69.)

The Owens River rises along the crest of the Sierra Nevada immediately east of the headwaters of the San Joaquin River around Mount Lyell, and 

the smaller streams on the west side of Owens Valley rise along this crest 

between Mount Lyell and Mount Whitney. The sources are small glaciers or 

snow banks that lie on the shady side of the peaks and crests. The 

streams emerge from the mouths of the canyons at the eastern base of the 

Sierra upon talus slopes and detrital cones, and cross a broad alluvial 

plain. In this belt of debris the streams lose a large amount of water, 

part of which reappears in springs in the valley.

The large underground water storage in Owens Valley is directly related to the small surface run-off and to the porous surface that characterizes both the detrital cones and the lava fields. Parts of the 

Owens Basin are non-contributing to surface run-off, owing to their volcanic (lava) formation. This region is semi-arid, desert in parts, on 

the lower western slopes of the Sierra Nevada and Coast ranges. The 

streams in Owens Valley, to an even greater extent than streams on the 

west side of the Sierra Nevada, depend upon melting of winter snows for 

run-off. It therefore is evident that these streams do not show and can 

not be expected to show either a large surface discharge per square mile 

or a large total run-off for a given storm. As in the Pit River Basin, 

discharge per square mile has little significance.

The Owens River upstream from the gaging station near Round Valley 

has a basin roughly 25 miles long and 18 miles wide, in which the two 

main tributaries rise at altitudes of 8,000 to 12,000 feet, flow eastward 

to unite in Long Valley at about 6,800 feet, and then flow southward 

through a comparatively flat valley. The gaging station is at an altitude of 4,450 feeto Almost the whole basin is at an altitude of more 

than 5,000 feet. The headwater areas on the escarpment of the Sierra 

Nevada contain chiefly metamorphic rocks and granite overlain locally 

by volcanic deposits. The middle and lower parts of the basin are alluvium and an old lake bed. The upper part of Owens Valley and the
418 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

volcanic rock fields at its head are traversed by a network of small 

faults. There are numerous hot springs in the region west of Long Valley.

Rock Creek and Pine Creek 

rise at very high altitudes of 

about 11,000 to 12,000 feet on 

the granitic escarpment of the 

Sierra Nevada, and drop sharply 

for a few miles in a northeasterly direction, Rock Creek 

among glacial deposits, and 

Pine Creek among metamorphic 

rocks, moraines, and terrace 

deposits. Pine Creek has a 

particularly high proportion 

of its area at high altitudes, 

and is associated with a fault 

line in its middle course. The 

gaging station on Rock Creek is 

at an altitude of about 4,900 

feet, and the station on Pine 

Creek is at about 5,250 feet. 

Big Pine Creek heads in 

a row of small glaciers, of 

which Palisade Glacier is the 

largest, at an altitude of about 12,500 feet, and drops sharply eastward 

through glacial and terrace deposits. The gaging station is at an altitude of about 4,200 feet. The length from source to gaging station is 

only about 10 miles.

Independence and Tuttle Creeks also rise at very high altitudes on 

the granitic escarpment and plunge eastward for a few miles before reaching comparatively gentle slopes on terrace deposits. The gaging stations 

are at altitudes of about 4,000 feet.

The only rainfall records available in the Owens Basin are those at 

Big Pine Creek power house No. 3, and the only ones available in Big Pine 

Creek Basin are those at Crooked Creek. However, there are about 12 nearby rainfall stations that help to define the lines of equal rainfall in 

the drainage areas of Owens River and Rock, Pine, Big Pine, Independence 

and Tuttle Creeks with a fair degree of accuracy. The extremely steep

Figure 69. Key map showing location 

of Owens Lake basins: 

(a) Owens River upstream from 

Round Valley, (b) Rock Creek, 

(c) Pine Creek, (d) Big Pine 

Creek, (e) Independence Creek, 

(f) Tuttle Creek.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 419

slopes of these basins add to the difficulties of definition of the rainfall. The records at Ellery Lake (altitude, 9,600 feet), Gem Lake (altitude, 9,120 feet), Bishop Creek (altitude, 9,390 feet), Lake Sabrina 

(altitude, 9,100 feet), and South Lake (altitude, 9,620 feet) were very 

useful in defining the precipitation at high altitudes. Most of the 

other rainfall stations are located along the Owens River.

With the exception of 1 inch at Gem Lake, there was practically no 

snow at any of the five high precipitation stations at the beginning of 

the storm on December 9. The following new snow was reported: at Ellery 

Lake, 2 inches on December 9, 17 inches on the 10th, 4 inches on the 

llth, and 3 inches on the 12th, the accumulation on the 12th being 20 

inches; at Gem Lake, an accumulation of 7 inches on December 12; at 

Bishop Creek, 2 inches on the llth, and one inch on the 12th; at Lake 

Sabrina, 1/2 inch on December 9, 2 inches on the llth, and 6 inches on 

the 12th, the accumulation on the 12th being 7 inches; at South Lake, a 

trace on December 9, 6 inches on the 10th, 5 inches on the llth, and 5 

inches on the 12th, the accumulation on December 12 being 12 inches. 

The water content of the snow added up to 6.43 inches at Ellery Lake, 

0.92 inch at Lake Sabrina, and 5.95 inches at South Lake. As the total 

precipitation during the storm was reported to be 6.84 inches at Ellery 

Lake, 4.66 at Gem Lake, 6.75 at Bishop Creek, 8.72 at Lake Sabrina, and 

5.40 at South Lake, it is obvious that almost all of the precipitation 

was snow above an altitude of 9,500 feet, and partly snow and partly 

rain at 9,000 feet, at which altitude there was no run-off. At Lundy 

Lake (altitude, 7,760 feet), 2 inches of snow was reported on December 

12, but this was gone on December 14. From this record and that at 

Bishop Creek, it would seem that at an altitude of 8,500 feet the precipitation fell as rain during December 9 and 10 and changed to snow on 

the last days of the storm, and that practically all the precipitation 

was rain below about 7,500 feet.

Run-off was unregulated at all the six stream-measurement stations 

in this area, and amounted to 0.2 inch over the drainage area on the 

Owens River, 0.15 inch on Rock Creek, 0.25 inch on Pine Creek, 0.1 inch 

on Big Pine Creek, 0.1 inch jon Independence Creek, and 0.15 inch on 

Tuttle Creek. Assuming that only the area below 9,000 feet contributed, 

these figures would be 0.25, 0.45, 1.1, 0.25, 0.15, and 0.25 respectively. The Pine Creek Basin has a particularly high percentage of its area 

above an altitude of 9,000 feet.
420 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

The differences between precipitation and run-off were 3.8 Inches 

for the Owens River, 4.45 for Rock Creek, 5.25 for Pine Creek, 5.3 for 

Big Pine Creek, 4.9 for Independence Creek, and 2.95 for Tuttle Creek. 

These values seem consistent. Assuming that only the area below 9,000 

feet contributed and using the precipitation for this area, the respective residuals would be 3.55, 3.35, 4.1, 4.55, 4.25, and 2.35 

Inches*

Ratios between the run-off during the 24 hours of highest flow and 

for the entire storm range from 25 to 53 percent. Ratios between the 

momentary peak discharge and the maximum 24-hour average discharge range 

from 146 percent on Owens River to 205 percent on Pine Creek. Both sets 

of ratios are consistent.

There are no recording rainfall records available in this region, 

but all the stream-stage records show rises beginning in the early morning of December 10, and all the streams except the Owens River near Round 

Valley reached low peaks in the forenoon of the same day. The Owens 

River reached the first peak just before midnight. After a 12 to 14- 

hour recession, a second rise started, and the five smaller streams 

reached a higher peak in the afternoon of December 11. The Owens River 

reached its higher peak at 10 p.m. the same evening.

The momentary peak of 1,560 second feet on the Owens River exceeded 

the previous peak of 1,190 second feet on June 30, 1907. The momentary 

peaks of 115 and 207 second feet on Rock and Pine Creeks did not exceed 

the previous record peaks of 162 and 350 second feet on June 17, 1927, 

and July 21, 1936, respectively.

Truckee River Basin

Truckee River has its source in Lake Tahoe, the dominating feature 

of the basin. The lake, which has a surface area of about 193 square 

miles, occupies part of an elongated valley between the steep east front 

of the Sierra Nevada and the west front of the Carson Range. Glacial 

lakes occupy small valleys along the east front of the Sierra, at altitudes of more than 9,000 feet, and are drained by small streams entering 

Lake Tahoe. The gaging station on the upper Truckee River is immediately downstream from the lake outlet, at an altitude of about 6,200 feet 

above sea level. (See fig. 70.)

The Sierra Nevada and Carson Ranges are made up chiefly of granitic 

rocks, and the Sierra has been extensively glaciated. Volcanic rocks, 

alluvium, and glacial deposits occupy the valley tract.
RAINFALL AND RUN-OFF STUDIES 421

 4-f

The tributaries of Donner Creek rise at about 7,000 feet near 

Donner Summit, in granite, and flow eastward through glacial Donner

Lake. The gaging station 

is not far from the confluence 

of the creek with Truckee River 

and is at an altitude of about 

5,800 feet.

The intermediate drainage 

area between the Truckee River 

gaging stations at Tahoe and 

Iceland is about 22 miles long 

from north to south and 18 

miles wide from east to west. 

The mountains are composed mostly of volcanic material, and 

there are considerable amounts 

of glacial deposits in the 

valleys. After leaving Lake 

Tahoe, the Truckee River flows 

northward to the junction with 

Donner Creek, then northeastward past the Iceland gaging 

station, at an altitude of about 5,420 feet, and finally northward and 

northwestward and discharges into Pyramid and Winnemucca lakes.

There are four rainfall stations in the Truckee River basin upstream 

from Iceland, and some in adjacent territory, but the lines of equal rainfall are poorly defined. The steep rainfall gradient and the rapid change 

in altitude add to this uncertainty.

A considerable part of the drainage area along the western side of 

the basin is above 7,000 feeto Snow conditions at Soda Springs were 

probably typical of the high area. At Soda Springs (altitude, 6,752 

feet) there were 13 inches of snow on the ground on December 8, 13 inches 

on the 9th, 10 inches on the 10th, a trace on the llth, 8 inches on the 

12th, and 7 inches on December 13th. The original 13 inches of snow 

melted and ran off during the early days of the storm and was followed 

by a lighter cover during the closing hours of the storm. There was 

probably some snow at all altitudes above 6,000 feet at the beginning of 

the storm.

Figure 70. Key map showing location 

of Truckee River Basin (California 

part.)
422 TEE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Run-off at all three gaging stations is controlled by large lake 

storage upstream: the two Truckee River stations by Lake Tahoe, and 

Conner Creek by Donner Lake. Storage quantities in these lakes were 

relatively so large and uncertain that no attempt has been made to adjust the observed flow for storage in order to compute the total flood 

run-off.

FLOOD CRESTS

Various agencies of the Federal and State governments, together 

with public-service and other companies, obtained records of the crest 

stages reached by the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers during December 

1937« Some of the records were obtained at regular river-measurement 

stations for which additional data appear in this report. Other records 

are at places for which only the crest stage is available. All these 

records of crest stages for the two rivers have been assembled in table 

10, which shows both the gage height in feet and the altitude above mean 

sea level.

The profile of crest stages on the San Joaquin River is shown graphically in figure 71 and for the Sacramento River in figure 72. For comparison, the profile of crest stages in the San Joaquin River during the 

flood of March 1938 is shown in figure 74 on page 492.

It should be noted that the table and graphs show the absence, rather 

than the presence, of a peak on the lower San Joaquin River in December 

1937. The "peak" that reached the Geological Survey gaging station near 

Newman on December 24, 1937, was only 6,050 second-feet, and the small 

rise that appeared at the Vernalis gaging station on December 26 had 

little relation to the record peak that passed the Friant gaging station 

on December 11.
FLOOD CRESTS 423

Table 10. Flood-crest stages

Stream and gaging station

San Joaquin River

Friant, U. S. Geological Survey gage, 1 mile

upstream from Cottonwood Creek

Skaggs Bridge, Southern California Edison Co. gage,

2 miles downstream from bridge, near Herndon

Gravelly Ford, Miller & Lux gage, 150 feet downstream from intake of Gravelly Ford canal

Whitehouse, Miller !e Lux gage, 400 feet upstream

from head of Lone Willow Slough

Mendota Dam, Miller & Lux gage, 25 feet upstream

from dam

Firebaugh, Miller !e Lux gage, highway bridge

Temple Slough, Miller % Lux gage, headgate of

slough

Santa Rita Bridge, Miller & Lux gage

Lucerne, Miller & Lux gage, l|r miles east of

Lucerne farm

Chamberlain Slough, State Division of Water

Resources gage, 65 miles west of El Nido

Turner Island Bridge, State Division of Water

Resources gage, 1 mile downstream from Turner

ranch

Fremont Road bridge, State Division of Water

Resources gage, 5 miles northeast of Gustine

Newman, U. S. Geological Survey gage, 300 feet

downstream from mouth of Merced River

Grayson, city of San Francisco gage, Laird Slough,

1-J miles east of Grayson

Tuolumne River, city of San Francisco gage, on

Tuolumne River, 2,000 feet upstream from

function with San Joaquin River

Vernalis, U. S. Geological Survey gage, 3 miles

downstream from mouth of Stanislaus River

Lathrop, U. S. Weather Bureau gage

Sacramento River

Antler, U. S. Geological Survey gage, right bank,

0.2 mile downstream from highway bridge

Kennett, U. S. Geological Survey gage, highway

bridge

Keswick, U. S. Geological Survey gage, left bank,

0.5 mile downstream from Spring Creek

Red Bluff, U. S. Geological Survey gage, left

bank, 4 miles upstream from Red Bluff

Red Bluff, U. S. Weather Bureau gage, bridge

Hamilton City, U. S. Weather Bureau gage, Gianelli

Bridge

Ord's Ferry, State Division of Water Resources

gage, right bank, ferry crossing

Butte City, U. S. Geological Survey gage, left

bank, 0.2 mile downstream from highway bridge

Moulton Break, State Division of Water Resources

gage, right bank, Gordon's pump house

Colusa, State Division of Water Resources gage,

weir

Colusa, U. S. Geological Survey gage, right bank,

highway bridge

Meridian, Sacramento Northern Ry. gage, bridge

Tisdale weir, State Division of Water Resources

gage, pumping plant, 1,000 feet downstream from

weir

Wilkins Slough, TJ. S. Geological Survey gage,

right bank, 1,500 feet downstream from pumping

plant of reclamation district No. 108

Knights Landing, U. S. Geological Survey gage,

left bank, just above Southern Pacific Co.

bridge

Fremont weir, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army,

gage, upstream end

Fremont weir, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army,

gage, downstream end

Miles 

above 

mouth

278.4

244.5

241.2

227.8

216.6

205.1

192.4

184.1

180.7

178.3

166.8

135.6

128.3

96.3

91.1

76.7

59.1

337.5

319.0

307.3

254.2

249.6

204.5

185.6

170.6

158.5

146.2

144.7

134.8

119.6

118.9

89.4

83.4

81.7

Day 

and 

hour

Dec. 11

7 pm

Dec. 12

7 am

Dec. 12

9 am

Dec. 13

1 am

Dec. 14

5 am

Dec. 15

Dec. 15

1 pm

Dec. 16

6:30 am

bDec. 17

4 pm

Dec. 16

Dec. 16

Dec. 22

4 pm

Dec. 24

8 am

Dec. 25

3 pm to

midnight

Dec. 25

midnight

Dec. 26

2 am

Dec. 23

3 pm

Dec. 10

10 pm

Dec. 11

1 am

Dec. 11

Dec. 11

7:30 am

Dec. 11

8s35 am

Dec. 11

5 pm

Dec. 11

5 pm

Dec. 12

7 am

Dec. 12

11 am

Dec. 13

7 pm

Dec. 12

2 pm

Dec. 13

6 pm

Dec. 14

6 am

Dec. 14

6 am

Dec. 14

4 am

Dec. 14

4 am

Dec. 14

4 am

Gage 

height 

in feet

23.8

20.9

12.2

10.8

15.0

147.2

131.8

13.2

113.7

9.95

8.55

-

11.41

-

-

14.36

C5.2

14.55

30.6

37.0

36.5

31.95

22.8

120.9

95.4

83.4

67.4

67.2

61.5

51.1

50.7

40.4

38.4

37.8

Altitude 

in 

feet a/

333.8

218.0

205.8

177.8

162.0

147.2

131.8

120.1

113.7

110.5

95.2

64.8

58.8

34.4

29.4

19.2

c7.1

949.0

648.9

537.0

289.1

268.8

147.1

118.1

92.6

80.6

64.6

64.4

58.6

d48.2

47.8

37.4

635.5

634.9

a Above mean sea level, 

b Gage height practically unchanged, Dec. 16 and 17.

Probably affected by tide.

Elevation of crest of weir, 39.4 feet.

Elevation of crest of weir, 30.6 feet.
THE FLOODS OP D3CEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Table 10. Flood-crest stages Continued

Stream and gaging station

Sacramento River Continued

Verona, U. S. Geological Survey gage, Garden

Highway bridge, left bank, 1 mile downstream

from mouth of Feather River

Sacramento weir, State Division of Water Resources

gage, upstream end

Sacramento, U. S. Weather Bureau gage, I Street

bridge

Freeport Bridge, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army,

gage

Clarksburg, State Division of Water Resources gage

Greens Landing, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army,

gage, near Courtland

Walnut Grove, State Division of Water Resources

gage

Rio Vista, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, gage

Miles 

above 

mouth

78.7

63.5

59.4

46.6

42.2

34.5

26.6

12.5

Day 

and 

hour

Dec. 14

3 am

Dec. 12

3 am

Dec. 12

2 am

Dec. 12

3 am

Dec. 12

3 am

Dec. 12

3 am

-

Dec. 16

1 pm

Gage 

height 

in feet

38.23

31.4

27.7

23.3

21.2

18.8

12.7

8.8

Altitude 

in 

feet a/

35.3

f28.4

27.8

20.3

18.2

15.8

9.7

5.8

a Above mean sea level.

f Elevation of crest of weir, 22.0 feet.
120 140 160 

Miles above Collinsville

Figure 71. Profile of crest stages on the San Joaquin River dur
THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIPORHIA

100 150 200 250 

Miles above Collinsville

350

Figure 72. Profile of crest stages on the Sacramento River during the flood

of December 1937.
RECORDS OP PREVIOUS FLOODS 427

Information is very meager about floods in northern California 

prior to about 1850, when extensive settlement of the State began. 

There were several great floods in the region between 1850 and about 

1890, the time when systematic records of stream flow began. With regard to those floods, authentic data are available on the rainfall conditions and crest stages in some localities. The data are supplemented 

by accounts in local histories and newspapers, which give much general 

information on the duration and areal extent of the largest floods. Prom 

1890 to 1907 flood data on the larger rivers have been published in watersupply papers of the Geological Survey, and since 1907 the published records have continuously increased in comprehensiveness and accuracy.

Comprehensive and reliable comparisons of the magnitude of early 

floods cannot be made, because of complicated and variable artificial 

conditions and the lack of complete data. Mining, reclamation, flood 

protection, and other works have greatly altered the regimen of the 

rivers and at some places to such an extent that the crest stages of 

recent minor floods were higher than those of early major floods.i-/ 

Comparisons of available flood data for some streams are shown in 

tables 11 to 17.

Further on in this chapter detailed information about floods is 

given for each major stream basin, or group of basins.

Sources of information

Some of the principal sources of published information about previous floods are the newspapers, the county histories and other historical writings, and the Federal, State, and private reports describing 

floods or flood control problems. Of these sources the newspapers generally have the most detailed descriptive accounts of the early floods 

and the special reports generally have the most specific data. In addition, it is possible in many cases to obtain eye-witness accounts of 

previous floods from local residents, sometimes supplemented by wellauthenticated high-water marks. Many of these eye-witness accounts are 

not specific as to dates but may be verified by newspaper reports.

IS/ Discussions of changes in conditions of several California 

streams due to artificial causes are published in U. So Geolo Survey 

Prof. Paper 105, Water-Supply and Irrigation Papers 17, 18, and 19, 

several reports of the Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, and reports 

and publications of the State of California.,
428 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

It is not practicable to give in this report detailed references to 

all sources of information of former floods. More specific data about 

sources than are here supplied are available in the files of the San 

Francisco district office of the Geological Survey.

Newspapers

There is given below a partial list of the newspapers consulted to 

obtain descriptions of the floods that are discussed in this report. 

These are grouped according to the basins to which the local news was related, although the State-wide accounts found in newspapers of the principal cities were the only news sources consulted for some localities and 

floods- The papers are listed, alphabetically by cities, with the latest 

names and places of publication. Many of them have had Various names, 

and a few were published at other places in the earlier years. The cities 

are in California unless otherwise designated.

San Francisco Bay basins. Napa Daily Register, Napa; San Francisco 

Chronicle, San Francisco.

Kern River Basin. Bakersfield Californian, Bakersfield.

Tulare Lake Basin. Fresno Expositor, Fresnoj Fresno Morning 

Republican, Fresno; Visalia Delta, Visalia.

San Joaquln River Basin. Mariposa Gazette, Mariposa; Stockton 

Morning Independent, Stockton.

Sacramento River Basin. Folsom Telegraph, Folsom; Marysville AppealDemocrat, Marysville; Red Bluff Beacon, Red Bluff; Rsd Bluff Sentinel, Red 

Bluff; Tehama County People's Cause, Red Bluff; Sacramento Bee, Sacramento; 

Daily Sacramento Placer Times, Sacramento; Sacramento Daily Union, Sacramento,,

Northern Pacific basins. Del Norte Record, Crescent City; Humboldt 

Standard, Eureka; Humboldt Times, Eureka; Healdsburg Enterprise, Healdsburg; Russian River Flag, Healdsburg; Sonoma County Tribune, Healdsburg; 

Trinity Journal, Weaverville.

Great Basin.- Ssmeralda Union, Aurora, Nevada; Carson City AppealNews, Carson City, Nevada; Gold Hill Daily News, Gold Hill, Nevada; Inyo 

Independent, Independence.

In addition to accounts in these newspapers, a collection of miscellaneous news clippings was reviewed at the Bancroft Library, University of 

California, Berkeley. This collection is assembled in a volume called 

"California Floods", and covers the period 1861-1879. Another collection
RECORDS OP PREVIOUS FLOODS 429

of news clippings at this library is assembled in a volume called "Sacramento River Floods of 1878 and 1881".

Detailed information about the issues available and the locations of 

these and other newspapers is given in "American Newspapers 1821-1936, A 

Union List of Files Available in the United States and Canada", edited by 

Winifred Gregory and published by the H. W. Wilson Co., New York, 1937. 

The most complete files in Northern California are those of the California 

State Library, Sacramento, and of the Bancroft Library, University of 

California, Berkeley. Some newspapers are available only in local collections such as those of the publisher's, or of the city and county 

libraries.

Histories

The following list of histories includes those that were found to be 

most complete and apparently most accurate in their accounts of early 

floods. Although county histories were found not to be a very satisfactory 

source of flood information, they furnished some valuable fragmentary data 

that were not obtainable elsewhere«

History of Fresno County, Calif., Lilbourne Alsip Winchell, under the

editorial supervision of Ben R. Walker, published by A. H. Cawston, 

Fresno, 1933.

History of Kern County, Calif., by Wallace M. Morgan and others, published 

by Historic Record Co., Los Angeles, 1914.

History of Sacramento County, Calif., Thompson & West, Oakland, Calif., 

1879.

History of Siskiyou County, Calif., D. J. Stewart & Co», Oakland, Calif., 

1881.

History of Stanislaus County, Calif., by L. C. Branch and others, published 

by Wallace W. Elliott & Co., San Francisco, Calif., 1881.

Illustrated atlas and history of Yolo County, published by De Pue & Co., 

San Francisco, Calif., 1879.

Miscellaneous reports

The following list records some of the miscellaneous reports that 

were consulted, with a brief statement of the flood information obtained*

Annual Report of the Surveyor-General of California for the year 1862.

Contains special reports from several county surveyors, listing 

flood heights above low water in 1862 at a few places in the Central 

Valley.

Engineers Report on the Northern Boundary of Swamp Land District No. 2; 

B. P. Leet, Engineer, and George H. Goddard, Consulting Engineer; 

Sacramento, Calif., May 13, 1862. (Part of this report is published 

in the Sacramento Union of May 16, 1862.)

Contains high-water elevations and areas of cross-sections for 

the flood of January 10, 1862, at several points on the American 

River from Folsom to Sacramento.
430 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Report of the State Engineer to the Legislature of the State of California - Session of 1880. Part III; Sacramento, Calif., 1880. 

Presents high-water elevations for 1878-79 at a number of 

points in the Yuba River Basin and for 1861-62 on the South Pork 

of Yuba River at Edwards Bridge. Detailed descriptions of the 

channel conditions are given.

Report of the Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army, 1882. Appendix MM.

Contains miscellaneous high-water elevations of the floods of 

1879-80, and comparisons with the flood of 1861-62 on the Cosumnes, 

Calaveras, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Rivers. Compares the floods of 

1861-62 and 1881 on the Feather River at and near Oroville.

Physical Data and Statistics of California; compiled in the State Engineering Department of California. Wm. Ham. Hall, C. E., State 

Engineer; Sacramento, Calif., 1886.

Presents many early meteorological records, and monthly and 

yearly stream flow data for the period 1878-84.

Report of the Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army, 1891. Appendix W«

Lists data on the high water of 1861-62, for the South Fork of 

Yuba River at Edwards Bridge. Maximum and minimum gage heights for 

the Feather and Yuba Rivers near Marysville are given for the years 

1881-89, and gage heights are listed for several days during the 

high-water period March-May 1890. The peak stages of April 1853 and 

December 1889 for the Feather River at Nicolaus are referred to the 

low-water plane. Damages in the lower Sacramento Basin caused by the 

floods of 1889-90 are discussed. Detailed descriptions of channel 

conditions are given for the Feather, Yuba, Bear, and American 

Rivers, and for the large tributaries of the lower San Joaquin River.

Report of the Commissioner of Public Works to the Governor of California; 

Sacramento, Calif., 1895»

Contains graphs of rainfall at Red Bluff, October 1877 to June 

1887, and October 1887 to June 1894; and at Sacramento, October 1861 

to June 1862; October 1877 to June 1887; and October 1887 to June 

1894. Stage-graphs for the Sacramento River at Red Bluff are given 

for most of the winter months during the period December 1878 to 

August 1894, excepting the seasons of 1888-89 and 1889-90. Stagegraphs for the Sacramento River at Sacramento are given for the 

periods September 1849 to August 1862; and September 1874 to 

November 1894. Miscellaneous high-water elevations are listed for 

points in the Sacramento River Basin and on the lower San Joaquin 

River, especially for the years 1878 and 1879. References are 

given to sources of information about the channel dimensions and 

water surface elevations of many rivers of the Central Valley.

Report of the Commissioner of Public Works to the Governor of California, 

1895-1896; Sacramento, Calif., 1896.

Contains a list of maximum and minimum gage heights on the San 

Joaquin River near Lathrop, for the years 1879-94 and the high-water 

gage height of 1895. The flood profile of the Sacramento River from 

Cache Slough to Collinsville is given for 1896, and is compared with 

flood profiles for 1878 and 1879.

Summary of outstanding floods

The following summary of the most outstanding and wide-spread floods 

for the period 1861 to 1907 affords a brief general description of their 

magnitude and areal extent. Unless otherwise stated, the observations 

refer to foothill localities on streams tributary to the great Central 

Valley and to places near the mouths of the coastal streams.

Floods of 1861-62

The winter season of 1861-62 was remarkable for the exceptionally 

high stages reached on nearly every stream, for the repeated occurrence
RECORES OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 431

of large floods, and for the prolonged and widespread inundation in the 

San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys. During the period December 7-9, 

1861, exceptionally high or record-breaking stages were observed in the 

Klamath River Basin, and large floods were reported throughout the 

Sacramento River Basin, During the latter part of December 1861, moderate or large floods occurred from the Kern River to the upper Sacramento 

River Basin, and on some of the coastal streams.

In the period January 10-11, 1862, extremely high or record-breaking 

stages were observed on the larger streams in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys, on coastal streams from the Salinas to Eel River, and on 

streams in the Great Basin from the Walker to the Truckee River.

In the period January 12-18, floods occurred several times on foothill streams in the San Joaquin Valley and, about January 18, in the Kern 

and Tulare Lake Basins, and probably in the South Pacific Basins. There 

was another important flood period, January 22-24, in the Sacramento and 

lower San Joaquin River Basins. The peak discharges of the lower San 

Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers in January 1862 appear to have been the 

greatest since early in the nineteenth centuryo

Floods of 1867-68

The floods of 1867-68 were especially severe on streams in the 

Sierra Nevada in the southern part of the Central Valley. Peak stages 

in this region in the period December 24-26 were generally the highest 

of record. There were floods of great magnitude also on the main tributaries of the lower San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers, where the crest 

stages at many points approached or equalled those of 1861-62. Floods 

also occurred in the Great Basin from the Truckee River south to the 

Walker River, and possibly as far as the Owens River. Apparently at 

some points in the Walker and Carson River Basins the floods were the 

greatest of which there is knowledge. High stages were observed 

several times during December 1867 on the foothill streams of the 

Sierra Nevada, and moderate or large floods occurred during the latter 

part of this month on streams in the upper Sacramento River Basin and on 

some of the coastal streams.

Floods of 1881

The floods in 1881 were outstanding in the upper part of the Sacramento River Valley. The Sacramento River upstream from Cow Creek reached
432 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

early in February the highest stage of which there is record. Floods of 

considerable magnitude occurred throughout the Sacramento River Basin from 

January 30 to February 4. Peak stages along the lower Feather and 

Sacramento Rivers equalled or exceeded those of 1861-62, but the maximum 

discharges probably were less. There were notable floods at some points 

in the San Joaquin River Basin and on coastal streams from San Francisco Bay north to the Smith River. The peak stage of 1881 on the 

Klamath River at Weitchpec, although considerably below that of 1861, 

was one of the highest known.

Floods of 1889-90

The winter season of 1889-90 was remarkable for the exceptionally 

heavy and widespread precipitation which produced floods of considerable 

importance throughout northern California in January and February 1890, 

and moderate floods at other times from December 1889 to May 1890. The 

floods of January and February were especially heavy on coastal streams 

from the Salinas River north to the Smith River. Several of these 

rivers were reported to have been, during the first part of February, 

the highest since 1861-62. The crests near the mouths of the Klamath 

and Smith Rivers were about the same as the record peaks of 1861-62. 

The peak discharges from streams of the Sierra Nevada were, in general, 

not very great* In this region the season was unusual because of exceptionally low temperatures and heavy snowfall at high altitudes resulting in very high stages owing to ice and snow gorges at some places.

Floods of 1907

The flood season of 1907 was one of the most outstanding for which 

fairly adequate stream-flow data are available. During the period March 

18-21, major floods occurred on the main tributaries of the lower San 

Joaquin River, in the Sacramento River Basin, on many of the coastal 

streams, and on the Truckee River in the Great Basin. The peak stages 

on some of the larger tributaries of the lower San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers were possibly the highest since 1867-68, but in general were 

lower than the record peaks of 1861-62. Exceptionally high stages on 

the Trinity, Eel, and Russian Rivers were reported, and moderate floods 

occurred in the basins tributary to San Francisco Bay, and southward 

to the Salinas River Basin.
RECORDS OP PREVIOUS FLOODS 433 

Southern Pacific basins

Floods of 1861-62. A flood of major proportions occurred on 

Salinas River during the winter season of 1861-62. According to Juan 

Arajo, resident near Paso Robles since 1855, the channel, which prior 

to 1862 was narrow and meandering, was widened considerably in places 

by this flood. Prom statements of Charles Bardin, a witness of the 

flood of 1862 near Salinas, the height of the flood referred to the 

datum of the gage at the present river-measurement station near 

Spreckels was recently determined as about 31 feet, or about 5 feet 

higher than the stage of any other known flood at this point. The 

river overflowed beyond the channel and practically covered the site 

of the present town of Salinas°

In 1861-62 the Pajaro River at the present railroad crossing upstream from Watsonville reached a stage about 15 feet above the peak 

stage of 1937, 32 feet above the high water of 1932, and 26.5 feet above 

the high water of 1900. The stages for 1862, 1900, and 1932 were reported at a public hearing conducted by the Corps of Engineers, U. S« 

Armyo It was also brought out at this hearing that the Pajaro River 

channel was Wider in 1870 than in 1862. The date of the maximum of 

1862 was probably January 11, but major floods also occurred between 

January 17 and 24.

There were major floods on Soquel Creek and the San Lorenzo River 

on January 11, 1862.. The overflow from Soquel Creek destroyed several 

buildings in the town of Soquel, and the flood on the San Lorenzo River 

destroyed buildings at Santa Cruz. It was noted that the great quantity 

of rain kept the San Lorenzo River at high stage for two weeks after 

January !! There was another major rise on streams in this vicinity 

during the latter part of this period,,

Floods of 1867 and subsequent floods. It appears from newspaper 

accounts and statements of residents that notable floods occurred on the 

Salinas River in the periods 1867-68, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1884, 

1889-90, 1907, 1911, and 1913-14. Residents near Santa Margarita in the 

upper part of the basin mention the floods of 1881, 1889-90, and 1911 as 

especially large. At Paso Robles the flood of 1913-14 was described by 

residents as the highest observed in recent years until 1938. It washed 

out the highway bridge at Paso Robles and the railroad bridge 12 miles 

downstream.
434 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

At the gaging station at Spreckels on the lower river the peak of 

1911 reached a stage of 26.1 feet as compared with stages of 25.2 in 

1914 and 25.0 in 1938. Mr. Charles L. Pioda, who has studied these 

floods in the lower Salinas Basin, found that the flood of 1914 was 

higher than that of 1911 at many places. The magnitude of these and 

earlier floods cannot be closely compared from the relation of the 

stages at this point, as it is probable that channel changes have tended 

to lower the flood profiles.

In the Pajaro River Basin stages resulting in overflow occurred 

near Watsonville in the years 1890, 1894, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1914, 1915, 

1916, 1922, 1927, 1931, 1933, and 1937. This record, furnished by the 

City Engineer, probably included some minor floods. Outstanding floods 

occurred in the period 1913-14, when five inundations were noted at 

Watsonville, and possibly in 1911 when very high stages were recorded in 

adjacent basins. Uvas Creek flooded the city of Gilroy in 1913-14.

Newspaper accounts mention floods of considerable size on the San 

Lorenzo River in 1869, 1890, 1895, and 1907, and floods probably occurred in other years when there were major floods in the San Francisco 

Bay and Pajaro River Basins. The San Lorenzo River at Santa Cruz was 

said to have been the highest since 1862 on February 10, 1869. Another 

major flood was that of January 25, 1890, called "the highest ever 

known" in a newspaper dispatch from Santa Cruz. Again in January 1895 

there was a flood of such magnitude that railroad tracks were washed out 

at points between Santa Cruz and Boulder Creek. The San Lorenzo River 

was at flood stages several times between March 19 and 25, 1907, causing 

damage to or loss of bridges along its channel, and damage to buildings 

in Santa CruZo

San Francisco Bay basins

Early floods. Severe storms near San Francisco during the period 

1787-1820 are listed in a history of California by Theodore E. Hittell. 

Heavy rains in January and February 1819 caused floods that changed the 

courses of many streams. Another series of storms, which probably caused 

floods, was that of December 1798 and January 1799, which was reported 

to have lasted for 28 daysFloods of 1849-50. Reference to the flood season of 1849-50 was 

made in a history of Santa Clara County published in 1881. Julius 

Martin of Gilroy, a pioneer of 1843, was cited as authority for the
RECORDS OP PREVIOUS FLOODS 435

statement that there were heavy rains from November 1849 to April 1850, 

which culminated in an inundation in Santa Clara Valley that remained 

for weeks. Another account stated thst there was an extensive flood in 

Napa Valley during this season.

Flood of 1852-55. During the flood of 1852-53 a bridge on the Napa 

River at Napa was washed out. The river overflowed into the town, and 

flooded all lowlands in Napa County.,

Floods of 1861-62o Part of the town of Napa was flooded on December 

8, 1861, and several houses were washed away. Again on December 28 part 

of the town was flooded. Exceptionally severe floods occurred throughout the San Francisco Bay basins on January 11, 1862. The towns of Alvarado, San Leandro, Napa, and Pacheco were flooded. The floods of 

January 1862 destroyed many bridges and mills in San Mateo and Santa 

Clara Counties.

Flood of 1867. Heavy rains occurred throughout this drainage area 

in December 1867. It is said that on December 31 Petaluma Creek at 

Petaliima was the highest since the town was settled. Railroad tracks 

and buildings were flooded.

Flood of 1869. It is recorded in a history of Santa Clara County 

that Los Gatos and Guadalupe Creeks overflowed in San Jose and caused 

the greatest flood known since settlement of the town by Americans. 

Newspaper accounts state that water covered the valley in every direction from San Jose, February 9-10. Floods of considerable proportions 

also occurred at this time in the Napa Valley, where railroad tracks 

were washed out below Calistoga and below Napa.

Floods of 1871. There was also a flood in San Jose from overflow 

of Los Gatos and Guadalupe Creeks in December 1871. It is noted in the 

historical account that widening and improvement of the channels has 

lessened the flood hazard since that date.

Floods of 1874 and 1878. A history of Sonoma County records that 

there were floods in November 1874 caused by excessive rains. January 

1878 was also listed as a period of unusual and damaging floods.

Floods of 1879.--Floods on the Napa River at Napa, about March 5-8, 

1879, were called the greatest since 1862, and possibly approached or 

exceeded the floods of that year. Parts of the town were flooded and 

several houses washed away.

Floods of 1881. The floods on the Napa River and Petaluma Creek 

on January 31, 1881, were said to have exceeded any other known. A
436 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

stone bridge was destroyed and the railroad bridge at Napa was damaged.

Floods of 1889-90. Precipitation for the winter season 1889-90 was 

the greatest of record at many points in the San Francisco Bay region. 

There were floods on January 24-25, apparently nearly as high as any 

known<> The Napa River at Napa was reported to have been on January 24 

only a foot below the record height of 1881, and the flood in the Santa 

Clara Valley near San Jose was said to have been the greatest since 

1862. An observer of the flood of 1890 at Mountain View near San Jose 

stated recently that it has not since been equalled. Bridges were destroyed at several points in the San Francisco Bay region, railroad 

tracks were washed out, towns and farms were flooded, and at least two 

persons were drowned.

Floods of 1892 to 1906. Stream-flow records on Alameda Creek began in 1891. There was a flood of great magnitude on November 30, 1892, 

which possibly has not been exceeded since. Mean daily discharge at 

Niles Dam for this date is listed as 16,200 second-feet, the highest 

for the period of record at this station, and higher than any daily discharge recorded at nearby comparable stations since 1900. Moderate 

floods occurred in January and February 1894, November 1900, March 1903, 

and January 1906; and an outstanding flood, January 18, 1895, indicated 

by a mean daily discharge of 10,900 second-feet at Niles Dam. On the 

Napa River at Napa there was a flood of considerable magnitude on January 21-22, 1895, noted as the second within 3 weeks at that point. The 

stream-flow record for Coyote Creek near Madrone, started in 1902, shows 

a high peak discharge of 15,000 second-feet on March 31, 1903, exceeded 

only in March 1911 for the periods of record 1902-12, and 1916-38. Moderate peaks were recorded in January and December 1906.

Flood of 1907. There were floods on streams in the Santa Clara 

Valley on March 19 and 23, 1907, those of March 19 on Los Gatos Creek 

and adjacent streams apparently were especially severe. Railroad 

bridges were washed out and farm lands were damaged in that region. 

There was a moderate peak on Coyote Creek near Madrone on March 19, and 

floods on Alameda Creek, March 19 and 23, of the same magnitude as those 

of 1895o Country adjacent to San Jose was flooded on both days, especially from overflow of Guadalupe Creek.

Floods of 1909. There were floods on Alameda and Coyote Creeks on 

January 21, 1909, of the same magnitude as those of 1907.

Flood of 1911. There was another flood on Alameda Creek March 7, 

1911, which was about the same magnitude as that of 1892. The maximum
RECORDS OP PREVIOUS FLOODS 437

recorded discharge at the gaging station on Coyote Creek near Madrone was 

in 1911, probably on March 7. This gaging station has been operated 

since 1902, except for the period 1913-15.

Floods of 1914 and subsequent floods. Several floods have occurred 

on streams in Santa Clara Valley since 1911. Alameda Creek reached high 

stages on January 25, 1914, February 25, 1917, February 10, 1919, and 

February 10, 1922. Storage on this creek has affected the flood discharges since 1916. There were moderate floods on Coyote Creek near 

Madrone on February 21, 1917, February 10, 1919, February 10, 1922, 

February 13, 1927, and December 28, 1931. Since 1934 some flood waters 

have been impounded in a reservoir.

Kern River Basin

Floods of 1861 and 1862. There was a notable flood on the Kern 

River about December 25, 1861, which resulted in a change in the channel 

at the site of the present city of Bakersfield, and flooded all but the 

higher knolls in that vicinity. A prolonged flood period followed the 

initial rise. Definite information is lacking as to the stage the 

river reached in its foothill channel, or the dates of the peak stages, 

but it is probable that there were other floods about the middle of 

January 1862, when the rivers in Tulare Lake Basin and in southern 

California reached their peak stages.

Flood of 1867. The greatest flood on the Kern River of which there 

is knowledge lasted from about December 25, 1867, to January 1, 1868. 

Cedar logs believed to have been deposited by this flood were recently 

found by the Corps of Engineer, U. S. Army, in the rocky canyon two 

miles downstream from Fairview (13 miles upstream from Kernville). 

These logs and other evidences of the early flood were about 13 feet 

above the highest of recent flood marks, which were about 10 feet above 

low water and which probably were left by the flood of February 1937. 

The river at Kernville was reported to have been at an extremely high 

stage for a period of three days in December 1867, and at its peak to 

have covered practically the entire site of the present town of Kernville. The South Fork of the Kern River overflowed the lowlands in 

South Fork Valley between Onyx and Isabella, keeping ranchers from 

their homes for four days. According to information from the Corps of 

Engineers, U. S. Army, drift logs were found at a height of about 40 

feet above the high-water line of February 1937 on the Kern River, in
438 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

a narrow rock canyon two miles downstream from the South Fork of Kern 

River. Drift marks of this early flood still exist at several places in 

this canyon. At the same place the peak of February 1937 was about 30 

feet above present low water. Near Borel power house, about 9 miles 

downstream from the South Fork of the Kern River, several drift logs and 

fragments were found about 25 feet above the high-water line of February 

1937, which was about 23 feet above low water. Many of the logs and 

pieces of wood were of cedar and redwood, and must have been carried down 

from the high mountains. Local residents believe that these floodmarks 

in Kern Canyon were undoubtedly left by the flood of 1867. As reported 

to the Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, by an eye witness of the flood of 

1867 on the Kern River at Rio Bravo ranch, 3/4 mile below Cottonwood 

Creek, the flood stage in 1867 was 6.4 feet above that of February 1937. 

The peak stage of 1937 was about 16 feet above low water at this ranch. 

The flood profile in 1937 may have been modified by the present bridge, 

the floor of which was submerged in 1937. In 1867 the Kern River overflowed beyond its channel for a considerable distance, near the present 

site of Bakersfield, and was reported to have covered knolls not flooded 

in 1861-62. A remarkable feature of the flood of 1867 was the large 

quantities of logs carried down from the mountains and deposited on the 

overflowed lands near Kernville and Bakersfield. Saw mills were established at Kernville and Bakersfield to cut these logs into lumber. 

Trees along the channel near Kernville were said to have been entirely 

washed away by the flood of 1867, from which fact it was inferred that 

the flood was the greatest for a long period. 'The flood of 1867 on the 

Kern River was certainly much greater than any that have occurred since 

that t ime.

Flood of 1890. The Kern River near Bakersfield was reported to 

have been the highest on January 26, 1890, since 1867-68. The flood 

apparently was not of major importance, although structures were damaged 

on the river at Kernville and near Bakersfield.

Flood of 1895. There was a flood on the Kern River at Bakersfield 

on February 10, 1893, which, according to a Bakersfield newspaper, was 

the first of importance since the flood season of 1867-68. According 

to this account, the flood of 1893 did not quite reach a place in 

Bakersfield which had been flooded to a depth of 2 feet in 1867-68. 

Residents along the Kern River downstream from Kernville, who witnessed 

the flood of 1893, describe it as having been several feet below the 

floodmarks of the early flood, but much higher than the floods of 1916
RECORDS OP PREVIOUS FLOODS 439

and 1937. From the best Information available the flood stage In 1893 at 

the mouth of the South Fork of the Kern River was about 4 feet above the 

peak of February 1937, which was about 11.5 feet above low water. The 

flood of 1893 was of comparatively brief duration, but it caused extensive 

flooding of farm lands along the lower Kern River and washed out railroad 

tracks near Bakersfield. In general, the flood of 1893 on the Kern River 

was not as great as that of 1867, but appears to have exceeded any other 

since 1867.

Floods of 1909 and subsequent floods. Floods occurred on the Kern 

River In January 1909, January 1914, January 1916, and February 1937. 

The flood of 1909 was of minor proportions and resulted in comparatively 

little damage, although It was relatively high on the upper river. The 

floods of January 1914, January 1916, and February 1937 were about the 

same magnitude, and all caused considerable property damage along the 

lower river. Highways, farm lands, and homes were flooded by the overflow from the river. (See table 11 for a comparison of floods In Kern 

River and Tulare Lake Basins from 1867 to 1938.)

Tulare Lake Basin

Floods of 1861 and 1862. The first heavy storm of the season occurred on December 23-25, 1861. It was reported that there was a flood 

on the White River and a damaging flood on the Tule River which overflowed farms to a depth of several feet. The Kaweah and Kings Rivers 

apparently did not reach exceptionally high stages.

Then on January 11, 1862, there was an exceptionally great flood, 

which probably has since been equalled or exceeded only in December 1867. 

The flood followed a general storm, which resulted in record-breaking 

stages on tributaries of the lower San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers. 

The town of Visalia, an early settlement in the lower Kaweah River Basin, 

was flooded on Main Street to a depth of about 2 feet on January 11. The 

town was again flooded to about the same depth on January 17-18, and the 

water again rose on January 20 to a stage slightly greater than on either 

of the previous dates. This Information serves chiefly to establish the 

dates of the larger floods, but because of the probable variable Influence of extensive overflow below the foothills, It Indicates only very 

roughly their magnitude. The lowlands along the tributaries of Tulare 

Lake were probably flooded continuously from January 11 until about the 

end of the month. It is not clear, from the contemporary accounts, when 

the maximum stages occurred in the foothills. It Is probable, however,
440 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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that the Kings River reached its greatest stage on January 11, the day 

when the highest stage was observed on the adjacent San Joaquin River. 

The White River and Poso Creek, in the southeastern part of Tulare Lake 

Basin, were reported to have been at their highest on January 18. During 

these floods, the Tule River changed its channel for a considerable distance downstream from the foothills. Prom the number of large trees 

washed down from the mountains by the floods on the Kings, Kaweah, Tule, 

and White Rivers it was inferred by the settlers that this was the greatest flood for many years.

Flood of 1867. Following an exceptionally heavy rain in the period 

December 21-25, 1867, which extended throughout northern California, 

there were major floods on all the main tributaries of Tulare Lake. 

The town of Visalia was partly flooded by water from the Kaweah River 

on December 23, and by December 24 the flood stage in the town had exceeded the record of 1862 by 4 inches. After receding about 2 feet, the 

water again rose to about the same stage on December 26. The stage of 

the Kaweah River in its channel downstream from the foothills was reported to have exceeded the stage in 1862 by 2 feet. As determined by 

the position of the redwood and cedar logs deposited by this flood, the 

maximum stage on the Kaweah River near Three Rivers referred to the datum 

of the present gage was about 20.0 feet. So far as known, this stage has 

not since been approached, except in December 1937 when the peak stage 

was 16.0 feet.

Descriptions of the flood of 1867 on Kings River do not given a 

definite comparison with the flood of 1862. A settlement known as Scottsburg on the Kings River, near the present town of Centerville, was 

flooded in 1862. The town, rebuilt at a new site, was destroyed by 

the flood of 1867. Prom this fact it appears that the later flood was 

at least as severe as that of 1862, and probably reached a greater height. 

Prom reliable accounts by an eye-witness of the flood of 1867, the Kings 

River reached a stage about 3 feet greater than in 1937 at a point one 

mile downstream from Piedra. At Pine Plat dam site on Kings River, about 

three miles upstream from Piedra, it was recently determined from the position of cedar and other drift logs deposited along the channel that a 

previous flood had exceeded that of 1937 by at least 7 feet. The rise in 

December 1937 was about 18 feet above low water. Prom statements of 

ranchers who settled in this vicinity about 1875 it is believed that 

these logs were deposited either in 1862 or in 1867. An outstanding 

characteristic of the flood of 1867 on the Kings and Kaweah Rivers, as
442 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

well as on the Kern and upper San Joaquin Rivers, was the tremendous 

quantity of timber brought down from the Sierra and deposited on the 

plains. That there were exceptionally heavy storms in the Sierra Nevada 

in December 1867 is indicated by the record precipitation of 12.19 

inches measured at Camp Independence in Owens Valley, east of the headwaters of the Kaweah River. From the meagre reports available it is 

probable that the Tule and White Rivers and Deer and Poso Creeks reached 

exceptionally high stages in December 1867. Newspaper accounts stated 

that the Tule River was higher than in 1862. Downstream from the foothills it flooded farm lands and, as in 1862, cut a new channel for a 

portion of its course. The low lands between the Tule and Kern Rivers 

were described as having been almost completely flooded.

In general, the flood of 1867 in Tulare Lake Basin was the greatest 

of which there is knowledge. In 1868 Tulare Lake reached about the same 

height as in 1862-63 when it overflowed to the north into the San Joaquin 

River.

Floods of 1875 and subsequent floods. Floods occurred in the Tulare 

Lake Basin in the years 1875, 1879, 1884, 1893, 1906, 1914, and 1916.

Historical writings mention high water at Visalia in 1875 and 1879 

as having flooded parts of the city. The floods were undoubtedly of 

minor proportions in Tulare Lake Basin. The State Engineer in 1886 

lists the high water of 1879 on Kings River near Kingsburg as only 6.7 

feet above the low water of 1878, as compared with the height of 17.3 

feet in 1867-68 at the same place.

In 1884 there was a prolonged season of high water that caused much 

damage to the farms in the lowlands. There is no information available 

as to peak stages of the rivers during this period. The State records of 

stream flow for this season, listed in Water-Supply Paper 299, show very 

high snow run-off on the Kings, Kaweah, and Tule Rivers.

There were floods in the northern part of the Tulare Lake Basin on 

January 25-27, 1886. Judging from later comparisons, the Kings River did 

not reach an extremely high stage at this time, although there was an extensive inundation in the city of Fresno from streams in that vicinity.

There were floods of considerable proportions in the Kaweah and 

Kings River Basins in January 1890. Overflow from the Kaweah River 

caused damage in Visalia where it was reported that boats were used on 

Main Street. Railroad tracks were washed out in the vicinity of Visalia. 

About January 25, 1890, ths Kings River reached a stage reported to have 

been the highest since 1867-68, although it may have been exceeded in
RECORDS OP PREVIOUS FLOODS 443

1914 and 1937 at foothill points. The crest at the railroad bridge near 

Kingsburg was reported in a Presno newspaper as 16 feet above low water, 

exceeding by 2.5 feet any since construction of the bridge. This stage 

possibly is comparable with the peak stage of 1867-68 which was 17.3 

feet above low-water of 1878 as mentioned above. The stage of 1890 probably was referred to the same gage datum used by the State Engineer at 

this railroad bridge, from 1878 to 1884, as described in Water-Supply 

Paper 299. The relative heights of the crests at this point, however, 

do not necessarily indicate, even roughly, the relative heights of the 

crests in the foothill channel.

A flood occurred on the Kaweah and Tule Rivers on February 9, 1893. 

Bridges and roads were washed out or damaged in the Kaweah River Basin and 

it was reported that the Kaweah River was higher than it had been for 20 

years. Evidently the rainfall was especially heavy in the southern part 

of Tulare Lake Basin, where the Tule River was said to have been as high 

as in 1867. Highway and railroad bridges were washed out, and parts of 

the city of Porterville were flooded. The height of this flood on Tule 

River is not known at a point that would be comparable with recent recorded peak stages. The flood of 1893 was of brief duration and in general does not rank as a major one throughout the Tulare Lake Basin. The 

gage height on the Kings River at Kingsburg on February 10, 1893, was 

11.5 feet, not an exceptionally high stage.

Visalia was flooded by the Kaweah River in March 1906 and again in 

June 1906. The flood in June followed unusually high flows from melting 

snow. At the height of this flood the water in the town was about 1 

foot deep on Main Street, apparently 1 or 2 feet below the height of 

1867. The floods on streams in the Tulare Lake Basin were of minor 

proportions. For a comparison of this flood with later peak stages in 

this basin see table 11.

On January 25, 1914, stages were recorded on the Kings River at 

Piedra and on the Kaweah River near Three Rivers that were considerably 

higher than any others that have occurred since the establishment of 

the river-measurement stations. A resident on the Kings River at 

Trimmer reported in 1914 that the flood of that year had exceeded by 3 

feet any others that had occurred since the season of 1867-68, when the 

Kings River at that point was 6 feet higher than in 1914. The flood of 

1914 caused considerable damage to roads and farm lands along the Kings 

River. An exceptional feature of this flood was the high precipitation 

in the Sierra Nevada. A total precipitation of 22 inches was reported
444 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

for the storm period at Hume Lake in the upper Kings River Basin. In 

the southern part of Tulare Lake Basin the floods were not of major proportions.

A flood similar to that of 1914 occurred on January 17, 1916, in 

the Tulare Lake Basin. The stages were higher than in 1914 on the 

Kaweah River near Three Rivers and on the Tule River near Porterville, 

but were not exceptional. On the Kings River at Piedra the peak in 

1916, although lower than in 1914, was among the highest recorded at 

that station.

See table 11 for a comparison of floods in Kern River and Tulare 

Lake Basins during the period 1867 to 1938.

San Joaquin River Basin

Floods of 1847 and 1852. The earliest flood mentioned in historical accounts of the settlement of the San Joaquin River Basin is that of 

January 1847. It was reported that the Stanislaus River, at a point 

about 1-g miles upstream from its mouth, overflowed the country for miles 

beyond its channel, and that the San Joaquin River near the mouth of the 

Stanislaus River was about 3 miles wide at the crest of the flood. Apparently this flood did not attract much attention at other places in 

the basin and was proLably of minor magnitude. As in the Sacramento 

River Basin, the extent of overflow in the lower reaches of these rivers 

in the early days scarcely gives any indication of the discharge, as the 

minor floods would have spread, in many places, beyond the normal channels almost as far as the major ones. Brief mention is made of a flood 

in 1852 that inundated parts of Stockton and was considered the highest 

known flood in the lower San Joaquin River Basin until 1862. Rainfall 

and run-off in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada were reported to have 

been excessive.

Floods of 1861-62. At the time of the first flood of the winter 

season of 1861-62 in the Sacramento River Basin on December 9, the San 

Joaquin River and its lower tributaries, with the possible exception 

of the Cosumnes River, did not rise to extremely high stages.

The first exceptionally high run-off from the tributary basins of 

the lower San Joaquin River occurred on December 26, 1861, when according to reports, the Mokelurnne River slightly exceeded its previous 

record of 1852 and the Merced River was at about the flood stages of 

1849 and 1852-53. The storm that caused the flood of December 26 was 

general from the Kern River to the upper Sacramento River. During this
RECORDS OP PREVIOUS FLOODS 445

storm, snow fell continuously in the upper basin of the Stanislaus 

River, so it is probable that the heaviest run-off was from comparatively low altitudes in the Sierra Nevada. Foothill creeks were extremely 

high, and frequent rains during the latter part of December 1861 prolonged the flood conditions in the lower San Joaquin Valley. Stockton 

was first flooded on December 26, and by December 28 the surrounding 

country was inundated for many miles.

The upper San Joaquin River and all of its important tributaries 

reached record-breaking stages on January 11, 1862. The heavy rainstorm that caused this flood was general throughout northern California, 

as was also the preceding snowfall on January 5. It was reported that 

in the upper Mokelumne River Basin, at an altitude of about 9,000 feet, 

there was 18 feet of snow on the ground preceding the storm. Rain fell 

from January 9 to 11 and the snow settled to a depth of 15 feet. At 

Big Trees in the Stanislaus River Basin (altitude, about 5,000 feet) the 

snow, which was reported to have been 3-J feet deep preceding the storm, 

all melted. The flood of January 11 on the upper San Joaquin River at 

old Millertown, upstream from Friant, was determined by the Fresno 

County Surveyor to have been 26 feet above low water. This rise was 

several feet higher than ever known before, but it was exceeded by 

several feet in 1867. At this same place on December 11, 1937, the 

river reached a stage about 21 feet above low water.

According to the Mariposa Gazette, the Merced River near Kittridge 

on January 11, 1862, exceeded the record height of December 1861 by about 

10 feet. Mariposa Creek was reported as being very high for two weeks 

before and after January 11, but apparently the highest stage was 

reached about that date. It was said that the whole country about lower 

Mariposa Creek and the Fresno and Chowchilla Rivers, as seen from the 

foothills, was one vast sheet of water. Reports about the Merced River 

were too vague to permit the determination of the stage of the 1862 flood 

at most locations that would afford a comparison with recent flood stages. 

Reported stages reached in 1862 at points upstream and downstream from 

Kittridge are in general much greater than the stage of the flood of 

1937 at Kittridge. It is believed that the flood of 1862 was higher 

than that of 1937 at Kittridge, but probably was not as high as the 

flood of 1937 in the Yosemite Valley. The Merced River, downstream 

from the mouth of its canyon, flooded the town of Snelling on January 

11, 1862, and the channel was widened and changed considerably by the 

flood.
446 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

On the Tuolumne River at Branch's Ferry, about 4 miles below La 

Grange, the crest stage on January 10, 1862, was about 30 feet above 

low water and about 7 feet above the previous record in 1852. Near the 

La Grange dam site on the Tuolumne River above La Grange, high-water 

marks of the flood of 1862 were found by Wagoner.i§/ From the flood 

profile thus determined he computed the peak discharge of 1862 as 

130,000 second-feet. Most of the flood water of the Tuolumne River 

in December 1937 watf impounded in reservoirs upstream from La Grange, 

so a comparison with the flood of 1862 cannot readily be made.

The Stanislaus River at Knights Ferry, after flooding part of 

the town on January 10, 1862, and washing away buildings and the 

bridge, rose to its greatest height on January 11 and washed away 

almost the entire business part of the town, which was later rebuilt 

on higher ground. This flood was said to have been 12 feet higher than 

any previously known. Its crest was recently determined by the Corps 

of Engineers, U. S. Army, as 33 feet gage height, referred to the datum 

of the former gaging station at Knights Ferry, compared with a peak 

stage of 27 feet on March 19, 1907, and 26 feet on January 31, 1911. 

In December 1937 reservoirs impounded most of the flood water.

In 1862 the Mokelumne River near Mokelumne Hill reached a maximum 

stage corresponding to about 23.4 feet at the present river-measurement 

station, as determined from a mark pointed out by Mr. C. F. Kelton, 

whose grandfather observed the flood. The crest stage of 1907, possibly the greatest since 1867, was observed by Mr. Kelton at a point 

that corresponds to a gage height of 20.3 feet. The maximum stage 

since the establishment of the gaging station in 1927 was 16.1 feet 

on March 25, 1928. The discharge corresponding to the latter stage 

was 23,300 second-feet.

After the peak stage of January 11, 1862, there were frequent 

storms that resulted in almost incredible amounts of rain in the period 

January 12-23 in parts of the Sierra Nevada tributary to the San Joaquin 

Basin. A total of 21 inches of rain was reported to have fallen from 

January 12 to 23 at Mariposa, and 30 inches from January 14 to 23 at 

Sonora.

Newspapers of Stockton and Mariposa stated that the Stanislaus 

River equalled its flood of January 11 during this period, and that 

the Tuolumne and Merced Rivers exceeded the records of January 10 and

16/ Wagoner, Luther, Flood of March, 1907, in California rivers: 

Am. Soc. Civil Eng. Trans., vol. 61, p. 353, 1908.
RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 447

11. The earlier floods of the season destroyed nearly all of the 

bridges, mills, and other structures along the channels. On January 17 

the water rose in Stockton about half a foot above its previous record 

of January 11; on January 23 it slightly exceeded this mark; and on 

January 24 it established a record for the season. The flood height of 

January 24, 1862, was determined by the San Joaquin County Surveyor to 

have been 12.1 feet above low tide of December 3, 1862, at Stockton, and 

3.5 feet above the flood of 1852. He reported that the San Joaquin 

River west of Lathrop, on January 24, 1862, was 12 feet above the summer 

low tides and 5 feet above the highest water of 1852.

The magnitude of the flood of 1862 on the upper San Joaquin River 

has probably been exceeded only in 1867. The floods in 1862 on the main 

tributaries, including the Merced, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, and Mokelumne 

Rivers, were undoubtedly major floods and were equalled, if at all, only 

in 1867. An outstanding feature of the floods of 1861-62 on these tributaries was that record-breaking stages were reached two or three times 

during the season. The flood period of 1861-62 in the lower San Joaquin 

River Basin was probably the greatest of which there is definite knowledge.

Floods of 1867 and 1868. On December 11, 1867, the Merced River at 

Snelling reached its highest stage since 1862, owing to heavy rains during 

the previous week. On the same day the Mokelumne River overflowed its 

banks near Woodbridge and reached a stage described as 2 feet below the 

record of 1862.

In the period December 21-25, 1867, an extremely severe storm, 

which was general throughout northern California, caused the upper San 

Joaquin River to reach a record-breaking stage on December 24, 1867. 

Near Temperance Flat, about 12 miles upstream from Friant, the stage as 

recently determined from floodmarks was about 19 feet higher than that of 

December 1937, which was about 33 feet above low water. At Millerton, 

then the county seat, the water rose to a point on the court-house, 

identified by eye witnesses, 12 feet above the floodmark of 1937, which 

was about 21 feet above low water. News accounts stated that the flood 

of 1867 exceeded that of 1862 by 10 feet in Millerton, and that many 

buildings were destroyed. On the San Joaquin River about 15 miles 

downstream from the present town of Friant, the flood of 1867 was reported to have been 6 feet higher than in 1862. On January 2, 1868, 

the flood stage on the San Joaquin River near Newman, as observed in a 

building still standing, was 21.7 feet (datum of present gage). The
448 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

highest stage noted since 1868 was 19.8 feet in 1886. At very high 

stages the river overflows beyond the channel for a considerable distance. The known stages at Newman are tabulated in table 12.

The Merced River in its foothill channel reached a peak on 

December 24, 1867, said to have been higher than ever seen before. The 

Merced River did not again flood the town of Snelling, as in 1862, although according to the local newspaper the river was 2 feet higher than 

in 1862. The Tuolumne and Stanislaus River wers reported to have 

slightly exceeded their record stages of 1862 on December 26, 1867. 

Houses were washed away at Knights Ferry on the Stanislaus River. The 

Mokelumne River was reported variously to have been within 4 inches of 

the stage of 1862, or to have exceeded it, on December 26, 1867. These 

accounts presumably refer to the lower Mokelumne River. The maximum in 

1867 at Mokelumne Hill was reported to have been 3 feet lower than in 

1862 and roughly at the same height as was reached in 1907.

The San Joaquin at Kasson's Landing, downstream from the present 

gaging station near Vernalis, was said to have risen on December 24, 

1867, to within 1.5 feet of the stage of 1862. On December 26, the 

Tuolumne, Stanislaus, and Mokelumne Rivers reached their peaks, and 

on January 2, 1868, the San Joaquin River near Newman reached its maximum stage. On January 11, 1868, the San Joaquin River was falling 

rapidly and, upstream from the Stanislaus River, was within its banks. 

A map published by the State Engineer in 1886 lists the high water of 

1867-68 at Durham's Ferry on the San Joaquin River as 1.8 feet lower 

than in 1862.

The flood of 1867-68 was one of major importance throughout the 

San Joaquin River Basin. In the foothills the flood on the main river 

exceeded considerably any other known flood, and was probably higher 

than any known flood at all points upstream from the mouth of the Merced 

River. The San Joaquin River downstream from the mouth of the Stanislaus 

River was not as high in 1867-68 as in 1861-62. Flood stages of the 

lower river for this early period cannot be compared with those of recent floods, because of extensive changes in the channel. It is probable, 

however, that the peak discharge of the lower San Joaquin River has not 

been equalled since 1868.

Floods from 1869 to 1878.--A flood of considerable proportions occurred in the lower part of the San Joaquin Basin about February 10-11, 

1869, at the time of the large floods in the San Francisco Bay area. 

The city of Stockton was partly flooded, mainly from the Calaveras
RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 449

River, which was said to have been the highest known to that date.

Historical writings mention a flood on the Mokelumne, Stanislaus, 

and Tuolumne Rivers in the winter of 1871-72. The accounts state that 

there was comparatively little damage.

A disastrous flood occurred on Sutter and Jackson Creeks on February 16 or 17, 1878. It was said that several persons were drowned 

in Jackson, and that buildings and bridges were destroyed. The streets 

of Woodbridge were flooded by the Mokelumne River. Streams had been 

high for several weeks preceding the flood of 1878 in the lower San 

Joaquin Basin, and the peak resulted from an intense, brief rainfall 

in the foothills. Important floods also occurred in Woodbridge in 

1862, 1868, and 1872.

Flood of 1881. The flood of 1881 was apparently not disastrous 

in the San Joaquin Valley, although major floods occurred in the northern part of the State in January and February 1881. The State records 

of stream-flow show that there may have been an exceptionally high peak 

in January 1881 on the San Joaquin River near the present town of 

Friant. News accounts state that the heaviest rainfall since 1867 occurred at Mariposa about the end of January 1881, and that mining 

equipment was damaged by the flood on the Merced River that resulted 

from this storm. Other accounts state that bridges, dams, and levees 

in Stanislaus County in the lower San Joaquin Basin were not damaged 

by the flood in 1881. An extensive flood was observed in the country 

adjacent to the lower Mokelumne River, and may have been caused by 

overflow from the Sacramento River. Historical writings, however, do 

not mention the flood in 1881 as outstanding in the San Joaquin Valley, 

and in general it probably was not of great importance.

Floods of 1884 to 1904. Floods occurred in March 1884, JanuaryFebruary 1886, and during the seasons 1889-90 and 1892-93. There is 

little definite information, but it appears that exceptionally high 

stages on the Sierra Nevada streams were reached at various times 

during this period. Outstanding peaks observed on the lower San Joaquin 

River at the railway crossing near Lathrop, March 11, 1884, January 27, 

1886, and May 30, 1890, were roughly 16 feet above low water, about the 

same height as on February 6, 1881. This stage was exceeded during 

several years after 18PO, indicating that channel changes probably had 

an increasing effect on the flood profiles.

The town of Hill's Ferry on the San Joaquin River near the present 

town of Newman was flooded to a considerable depth in February 1886. As
450 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

determined from a floodmark pointed out by an eye witness, this flood was 

1.9 feet lower than the record flood of 1867. According to the person 

who observed the flood of 1886, it has not been equalled since. Tributaries of the lower San Joaquin River from the Stanislaus to the Cosumnes 

River were reported to have been at exceptionally high stages about the 

end of January 1886.

Large floods occurred throughout the San Joaquin River Basin during 

the latter part of January 1890. The upper San Joaquin River possibly 

reached an extremely high stage. The Merced, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and 

Mokelumne Rivers were at dangerously high stages, and some of the foothill tributaries of these rivers were said to have been the highest known. 

Several towns were flooded and railroad and highway structures washed out. 

The maximum stage of the season, however, was reached, at least on the 

lower San Joaquin, during the snow run-off period in May 1890.

The few stream flow records available indicate that there were no 

extremely high floods from 1895 to 1907. Farm lands adjacent to lower 

Mokelumne River were reported to have been flooded in 1904 to the greatest extent since 1881. The flood, however, was attributed to a rush of 

water from overflow of the Sacramento River. The records for tributaries of the lower San Joaquin River indicate that only moderately high 

flows occurred in February and March 1904.

Flood of 1907. The flood of March. 1907 was outstanding in the San 

Joaquin River Basin. Only a moderate rise on the upper river was observed during this flood, but there were exceptionally high stages on 

the large tributaries in the lower part of the basin. From the Merced to 

the Mokelumne River the peak stages occurred on March 19 and were followed 

by high stages for several days. The San Joaquin River downstream from 

Mendota was at or above flood stage from March 19 to about the end of the 

month. A description of the flood of 1907 is given in the transactions 

of the American Society of Civil Engineers (vol. 61, p. 281, 1908), and 

there is a brief discussion of this flood and attendant weather conditions 

in Bulletin 43 of the United States Weather Bureau.

Floods of 1909. There were moderate rises on the upper San Joaquin 

River and its tributaries from the Merced to the Mokelumne Rivers on January 14 and 15, 1909, and again on January 21. The peak stages were not 

exceptionally high except on the Calaveras River which, on January 21, 

overflowed near Bellota and flooded parts of Stockton and adjacent lands. 

The lower San Joaquin River reached a stage of 19 feet at Lathrop on 

January 23 and 24, which was about the same stage as occurred in 1907.
RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 451

The flood of 1909 is discussed in Bulletin 43 of the United States 

Weather Bureau.

Flood of 1911. The flood of 1911 was the greatest that has occurred 

in the lower San Joaquin Valley in recent times. During this flood the 

upper San Joaquin River near Friant reached high stages on January 30 and 

31. (See table 12.) The flood was relatively higher downstream, and 

near Newraan at the mouth of the Merced River the peak stage of 1911 has 

not been equalled since. High stages were reached on January 30 and 31 

on the Calaveras, Mokelumne, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Merced Rivers. 

The floods on these tributaries combined to raise the San Joaquin River 

at Lathrop to a record-breaking stage of 22 feet on February 1. It was 

estimated that 75,000 acres of land were flooded from the overflow of 

the San Joaquin, Mokelumne, and Calaveras Rivers. Extensive reclamation 

works and other improvements affecting the capacity of the channel make 

it impossible to estimate from the flood heights the relative magnitude 

of the flood flows in the lower San Joaquin Basin. For a discussion of 

the flood of 1911 and attendant weather conditions see the report entitled "Flood problems of Calaveras River", published by the Department 

of Engineering, State of California, and Bulletin 43 of the United 

States Weather Bureau.

Floods of 1914 and subsequent floods.- The San Joaquin River near 

Friant attained a peak on January 25, 1914, which was not exceeded until 

December 1937. On the upper river this flood was probably the greatest 

for a long period prior to 1914 but was much lower than the recordbreaking flood of 1867. The Tuolumne River nearly equalled its record 

of 1911, but the Stanislaus and Calaveras Rivers reached only moderately 

high peaks. The San Joaquin River near Newman reached a peak on January 27, 1914, which was not exceeded until 1938, but which was considerably lower than the reported peaks of 1868, 1886, and 1911. In 1914 

the lower San Joaquin River at Lathrop reached its crest on January 27 

at a stage that was about the same as the peaks of 1907 and 1909, but 

considerably below the record stage of 1911.

See table 12 for a comparison of floods at certain localities in the 

San Joaquin River Basin during the period 1867 to 1938.
THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIPORHIA

Table 12. Maximum stage and discharge of recorded floods at Indicated places on 

San Joaquln and Tuolumne Rivers

Date

1867-8

1886, February

1899, Mar. 25

1901, Feb. 19

1906, Mar. 24

1907, Mar. 19

1909, Jan. 14

1909, Dec. 9

1909, Dec. 31

1911, Jan. 31

1911

1914, Jan. 25

1914, Jan. 27

1916, Feb. 6

1917, Feb. 21

1918, Mai-. 7

1928, Mar. 25

1928, Mar. 31

1935, Apr. 8

1935, Apr. 18

1936, Feb. 22

1936, Feb. 26

1937, Feb. 6

1937, Feb. 20

1937. Dec. 11

1938, Mar. 2

1938, Mar. 7

San Joaquln River--

near Frlant a/

Gage height 

Ifeet)

_

-

_

_

-

_

d!5.0

_

d!5.3

dlS.O

_

21.72

_

-

-

_

12.35

_

13.16

-

15.7

_

18.2

-

23.8

18.95

-

Discharge 

(sec. -ft.)

_

-

-

_

-

_

26,800

_

27,900

38,800

_

54,000

_

-

-

_

13,100

_

15,700

-

25,000

-

36,400

-

77,200

41,400

-

near Hewman

Gage height 

(feet)

o21.7

ol9.8

-

_

-

_

-

_

_

-

c!9+

-

dlS.O

d!7.0

-

_

-

d8. 95

-

14.02

_

16.80

_

15.96

-

_

18.50

Discharge 

(sec. -ft.)

_

-

-

-

-

_

-

-

-

-

_

-

20,700

18,200

-

_

-

4,500

_

8,820

_

14,400

_

12 , 800

-

_

f33,000

Tuolumne River 

above La Grange Dam 

near La Grange To/

Gage height 

(feet)

_

-

d!2.5

dll.7

d!2.45

d!5.75

d9.5

dS.l

-

d!6. 45

_

16.0

_

-

27.6

22.47

-

-

-

-

_

_

-

-

-

_

-

Discharge 

(see. -ft.)

_

-

e26,800

e22,500

e26,200

e50,400

26,500

20,900

-

60,300

_

57,900

-

-

e33,800

23,300

-

-

-

-

_

-

-

-

-

_

-

a Record prior to Nov. 9. 1913, obtained at former site, 2 miles upstream.

b Record prior to Apr. 1, 1908, obtained at gage at bridge below La Grange Dam; 

record from Apr. 1, 1908, to Mar. 18, 1915, obtained at La Grange Dam; record subsequent 

to Mar. 18, 1915, obtained at present site, 3^ miles upstream from La Grange Dam. 

Storage on Tuolumne River began In Lake Eleanor In June 1918, In Don Pedro Reservoir In 

November 1922, and In Hetch Hetchy Reservoir In May 1923.

c Observed In a building 500 feet upstream and referred to gage datum.

d Maximum recorded; may not be the peak.

e Supersedes previously published discharge. Prior to 1909, discharge records also 

Include diversions not previously Included,to make all entries comparable.

f Adjusted for measured flow In by-pass channels around gage; discharge records for 

previous years were not adjusted.
RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 453 

Sacramento River Basin

Floods from 1825 to 1847. County histories and journals of pioneers mention floods in the lower Sacramento River Basin during the 

seasons 1825-26, 1839-40, and in the year 1847. The flood of 1839-40 

was experienced by the pioneer settler John A. Butter, who described 

the country as a vast expanse of water. His small boat was delayed for * 

several weeks in making the trip between his fort at the site of the 

present city of Sacramento and the base of supplies at Yerba Buena, 

now San Francisco. This flood was evidently of considerable duration, 

but the widespread flooding of the lowlands does not necessarily indicate that it was of extreme magnitude,, Until levees were constructed 

even minor floods would have spread far beyond the channel of the 

lower Sacramento River. Histories of the early settlements state that 

the Indians recalled the flood of 1825-26 as an outstanding one, and 

that they had knowledge of a great flood, supposed to have occurred 

about the beginning of the nineteenth century, which caused thousands 

of deaths.

Floods of 1850. The first flood on the lower Sacramento River of 

which there are fairly accurate descriptions is that of January 1850. 

The city of Sacramento was flooded on January 10 for a distance of a 

mile back from the Embarcadero. Newspaper accounts state that most of 

the houses were flooded, and that many were washed from their foundations. Some loss of life was caused by this flood, and there was great 

damage to provisions and other property. Lowlands west of the Sacramento River were flooded, but without great damage. The maximum stage 

at Sacramento on January 10 has been determined as 20.2 feet, referred 

to a datum that is at about mean sea level. Subsequent reference to the 

stage of the Sacramento River at Sacramento refer to this same datum. 

(See list of flood stages at Sacramento on page 469.)

An eye witnessiZ/ of the flood of 1850 wrote as follows under date 

of January 10, 1850s

This morning I went upon the foretop of a store-ship anchored near 

our steamer, to take a survey of an entire city under water. I could not 

discover a single speck of land in sight, except a little spot of a few 

feet on the levee near our boat. The boatmen were navigating the 

streets in whale boats in every direction.

Further on he stated:

 the valley, for the width of several miles, and in length for 

more than a hundred miles, was an unbroken sea of waters.

IT/ Taylor, William, California life illustrated, p. 114, 116, 1858.
454 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

On February 23, 1850, a Sacramento newspaper stated that there were 

accounts from all quarters of tremendous floods and continued rains. 

Again in April there was another flood at Sacramento "within a foot of 

the great inundation11 .

The few available precipitation records support the conclusion that 

the season of 1849-50 must have been one of heavy run-off. However, the 

floods of 1850 were exceeded at Sacramento in 1852, and greatly exceeded 

in 1862.

Floods of 1852 and 1855. The flood of 1852 on the Sacramento River 

is described in a Red Bluff newspaper of 1861 as the highest known to 

the oldest residents prior to December 1861. As reported in this account, 

the crest stage of 1852 was only slightly exceeded on December 8, 1861.

The lower Sacramento River and its tributary, the American River, 

reached high stages after a prolonged rain that began on March 5, 1852. 

The city of Sacramento was flooded during the period March 7-11, chiefly 

from overflow of the American River east of the city. The Sacramento 

River at Sacramento was not extremely high during this flood, reaching 

a gage-height of only 18 feet.

On December 31, 1852, after a short, sharp rise of the American 

River that flooded the city on December 19, the Sacramento River reached 

a gage-height of 21.7 at Sacramento, higher than any previously observed. 

The city was reported to have been completely flooded on January 1, 1853, 

but rapid recession followed the peak. The brief duration of the flood 

in Sacramento suggests that it was due mainly to overflow from the 

American River which remains at flood stages for relatively brief periods. 

The lowlands of the Sacramento River downstream from Colusa were flooded, 

and it was reported that all places along the right bank of the river 

were under water except the Indian mounds, and that thousands of cattle 

were drowned. The flood had subsided by the end of January 1853.

There was a flood at the junction of the Yuba and Feather Rivers on 

March 28, 1853, which was said to have been 8 inches higher than that of 

the preceding January. It was noted that this was the fourth and last 

flood of the season at that place. The Sacramento River at Sacramento 

rose from a low stage on March 25 to 19.4 feet on April 3.

Floods of 1861 and 1862. A series of floods occurred in December 

1861 and January 1862, which months constitute the greatest flood period 

in the history of California. At Red Bluff the first flood on the Sacramento River occurred on December 8, 1861, when, it was reported, there 

was a rapid rise from a comparatively low stage to a height probably of
RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 455

about 28 feet, as determined by comparison with the record flood of 

January 1862. The tributary creeks in the vicinity of Red Bluff were 

not notably high, the greatest rise being in the mountain regions in 

the northern part of the basin. On December 23, 1861, after a two-day 

storm, the river at Red Bluff was at bank-full stage, and on December 

28 and 29, 1861, another hard rain caused tributaries upstream from 

Red Bluff to rise to very high stages. Cottonwood Creek was reported 

to have been higher than ever before known. The Sacramento River at 

Red Bluff apparently did not reach exceptionally high stages during 

either of these storms. On January 10, 1862, after a rainstorm that 

had been preceded on January 5 by a snowfall of 8 inches at Red Bluff, 

the Sacramento River had the second notable flood of the season, described as being within 1.5 feet of the flood of December 8, 1861. 

Cottonwood Creek was reported to have exceeded its previous record by 

3 feet. Again on January 15 and 17 there were snowstorms at Red Bluff, 

followed by a heavy rain that began on January 19. After a gradual rise 

of several days the river reached on January 23 a record height of 29 

feet, which according to Bulletin 43 of the United States Weather 

Bureau was the highest stage at Red Bluff until February 4, 1881.

The storm that caused the flood of December 8, 1861, on the upper 

Sacramento River was general throughout the Sacramento River Basin. 

The lower Sacramento River and its tributaries, the Feather, Yuba, 

Bear, and American Rivers, rose from high stages on December 7 to 

flood crests on December 9. The American River at Folsom was described 

as having exceeded the flood of 1852 by 8 feet on the latter date, and 

it is probable that the other tributaries were correspondingly high. 

Overflow from the American River, east of Sacramento, flooded that city 

on December 9, causing loss of life and much destruction of property. 

The lower Sacramento River continued to rise until December 14, flooding 

considerable areas in the lowlands downstream from Colusa. After the 

river gradually subsided from a gage height of 22.0 feet on December 13 

to 18.8 feet on December 23, there was a second rise to about 22.2 feet 

at Sacramento on December 25, and after another subsidence there was a 

rise to 22.6 feet on December 27 and 31. A notable feature of this 

flood period in the lower Sacramento Valley was the prolonged high 

stages that existed from December 13, 1861, to about the first of February 1862. During this period there was an outstanding storm, general 

throughout central California, beginning on January 8, that caused record floods on several of the rivers in the Sierra Nevada on January 10
456 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

and 11. The American River at Folsom attained a stage considerably 

greater than any other known, except possibly that of 1867. At all of 

the lower points on the Feather, Yuba, Bear, and American Rivers, the 

flood stages were much greater than had been previously observed.

The Sacramento River at Sacramento reached a stage of 24.0 feet on 

January 11, 1862, which was the highest of record to that time, and 

caused additional loss of life and destruction of property. Many of the 

reports published during this period describe the lower Sacramento 

Valley as one vast sea of water. Thousands of cattle were drowned or 

died from starvation in the overflowed regions, and many ranch buildings were destroyed.

Throughout the month of January the lower Sacramento River was at 

flood stage, ranging in height from about 21 to 24 feet. There was a 

fourth notable rise of the tributaries in the Sierra Nevada on January 

22, although the floods of the Yuba River at Marysville and probably also 

of the American River at Folsom were lower than the floods of December 9, 

1861, and of January 11, 1862. The lower Sacramento River did not reach 

its former record, and by the end of January it was receding gradually. 

Another minor rise occurred about the end of February on the American 

River, causing another flood in Sacramento. The Sacramento River at 

Sacramento reached a height of about 21 feet on March 2, 1862.

The known stages for the floods of 1861-62 in the Sacramento River 

Basin are given in tables 13-15 and in the list on page 469.

Floods of 1867 and 1868. In December 1867 the storms that resulted 

in the record-breaking floods in the San Joaquin River Basin also caused 

floods in the lower Sacramento Valley. Streams of the Sacramento River 

Basin upstream from Red Bluff probably did not reach exceptionally high 

stages, although floods on the Sacramento River upstream from the Pit 

River and on Cow Creek were reported. An outstanding feature of this 

flood period in the lower Sacramento River Basin was the extremely heavy 

precipitation reported for December 1867. At Nevada City, in the Yuba 

River Basin, 41.95 inches of rain was measured in that month. Heavy 

storms occurred in the periods December 8-9, 17-18, and 21-25, 1867, 

and from December 29, 1867, to January 2, 1868, and were followed by excessive run-off from the foothills. Foothill tributaries of the Yuba 

and American Rivers were reported to have reached record stages on 

December 22, 23, and 25. The American River near Sacramento was higher 

on December 24, 1867, than during the flood of January 10, 1862, and by 

December 26 it was at its crest, reported variously to have been 2 to
RECORDS OP PREVIOUS FLOODS

Table 13. Maximum stage and discharge of recorded floods at indicated places on 

Sacramento and Pit Rivers

Date

1862, Jan. 23

1881, Feb. 4

1896, Jan. 27

1900, Jan. 3

1902, Feb. 10

1902, Feb. 24

1902, Nov. 10

1903, Jan. 25

1903, Nov. 22

1904, Feb. 16

1905, Jan. 23

1906, Mar. 31

1906, Apr. 1

1907, Feb. 2

1907, Feb. 4

1907, Mar. 20

1909, Jan. 16

1909, Jan. 21

1909, Feb. 3

1911, Mar. 7

1913, Dec. 31

1914, Jan. 1

1914, Jan. 2

1915, Feb. 2

1916, Feb. 10

1916, Feb. 11

1926, Feb. 4

1926, Feb. 5

1927, Feb. 21

1928, Mar. 26

1928, Mar. 27

1935, Apr. 7

1935, Apr. 8

1936, Jan. 15

1936, Feb. 21

1936, Feb. 22

1937, Dec. 10

1937, Dec. 11

Sacramento River--

at Kennett

Gage 

height b/ 

(feet)

_

_

-

-

-

_

-

_

-

-

_

-

_

e23.2

-

35.2

e34.5

e32.0

e34.5

e!9.0

628.6

-

e27.0

e31.5

e23.0

_

19.5

-

24.66

25.1

_

15.65

-

_

23.3

_

_

30.6

Discharge 

(sec. -ft.)

_

_

-

-

-

_

_

-

-

-

_

_

-

_

-

-

-

_

-

_

_

-

_

-

_

66,000

-

92 , 800

94,900

_

47,000

-

-

85,500

_

-

132,000

near Red Bluff

Gage 

height 

(feet)

_

_

_

_

e23.6

624.8

621.4

622.8

621.5

e31.0

620.3

623.4

_

-

e23.1

629.4

e28.4

627.1

e35.2

622.7

_

e27.6

_

634.0

-

e!9.4

_

20.5

26.0

-

26.1

_

_

_

-

24.5

_

36.5

Discharge 

(sec. -ft.)

_

_

-

_

140,000

151,000

118,000

131,000

119,000

f 207, 000

108,000

137 , 000

_

_

134,000

f 191, 000

181,000

f 168, 000

f 252 , 000

130,000

_

f 173, 000

_

f 239, 000

-

101,000

_

110,000

f 152, 000

-

f!53,000

_

_

_

-

133,000

_

262,000

at Red Bluff

Gage 

height o/ 

(feet)

29

29.5

e24.1

e24.7

e24.7

e24.7

e23.3

e24.4

e24.5

e28.2

e24.5

e25.5

e25.5

-

e24.4

e26.8

e27.9

626.0

e30.5

e25.5

628.0

629.0

_

630.4

-

e24.0

_

e23.5

626.5

-

e26.9

_

e23.6

-

_

_

32.0

Pit River 

near Ydalpom a/

Gage 

height 

(feet)

_

d28±

-

-

-

_

_

_

_

-

_

_

-

_

-

_

_

_

e!3.3

620.7

_

_

e!7.1

618.9

_

14.75

_

20.8

18.5

_

_

16.00

18.5

-

_

24.2

-

Discharge 

(sec. -ft.)

_

_

-

_

-

_

_

_

_

-

_

_

_

_

-

_

_

_

20,600

47,000

_

_

33,900

40,300

_

26,000

_

45,700

37,800

_

_

29,400

37,900

-

_

65 , 000

-

a Records prior to 1924 from staff gage, 400 feet downstream from present gage? gage 

heights prior to 1924 adjusted to present datum by adding 2.50 feet to staff-gage 

readings.

b Records prior to 1926 furnished by U. S. Weather Bureau and adjusted to datum of 

present U. S. Geological Survey, which is 2.00 feet lower.

c Records furnished by U. S. Weather Bureau.

d From floodmark referred to present datum.

e Maximum recorded; may not be the peak.

f Supersedes discharge previously published.
458 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

to CM m

to u> «o o

to 5F to n

0 rt

tf S

0 0

r-1 r-1

i-l i-l

S B

se0 o

iH O

0 U)

fl I- fl

IB tO (H O

IB CD 0 0

IB N O O IB CM

|> O *> <H t> O

fl H t* " & H

O O (H O

O CO -H 0 O 00

*> r-1 (H fl *> r-1 

	Pi O

 d "*-l 60 -d *H

CD O W 6p O O

o M o o 6p

Pi ra o Pt cj

IB -P 0 ^ O -P

<H o ^J fj o O> S *" fl ri

001-1 » 

re pr

ecord aximu

Sta Sta

rt^iodTdCD cn-p
RECORDS OP PREVIOUS FLOODS

Table 15. Maximum stage and discharge of recorded floods at indicated places on 

Feather, Yuba, and American Rivers

Date

1862, Jan. 10

1879, Feb. 12

1881, Jan. 30

1881, February 

1883, Mar. 29

1884, Mar. 9

1884, Dec. 23

1885, Dec. 25

1886, Jan. 24

1904, Feb. 22

1904, Feb. 24

1907, Mar. 19 

1909, Jan. 14

1909, Jan. 15

1909, Jan. 16

1911, Jan. 31

1913, Dec. 31 

1914, Jan. 1

1914, Jan. 25

1915, May 11

1915, May 12 

1917, Feb. 25

1919, Feb. 11

1925, Feb. 6

1927, Feb. 21

1928, Mar. 25 

1928, Mar. 26 

1935, Apr. 8 

1936, Feb. 22

1937, Dec. 11

Feather River 

at Orovllle

Gage 

height a/ 

(feetr

_

fll.7

_

f25

f!3.0

f!3.8

f!5.7

flS.l

-

f!9.5

28.2

_

fse.o

_

20.5

_

16.3

16.15

_

_

18.34

h26.5

h26.4

Discharge 

(sec. -ft.)

_

-

_

-

_

_

_

-

-

106,000

g230,000

_

g!80,000

_

g!22,000

-

g81,400

g80,400

_

-

g94,000

g!85,000 

J58,600

J185,000

Yuba River 

at Smartville

Discharge 

(sec. -ft.)

_

_

_

-

_

_

_

_

59,800

59,900

100,000

111,000

-

39,000

61,200

_

-

46,500 

45,800

29,400

43,800

49,000

120,000 

41,200 

44,500

95,000

American River 

at Folsom

Gage 

height b/ 

(feet)

d42

f24.0

f23.5

f!9.7

f26.0

_

f23.8

f29.0

-

_

f26.8 

f24.5

_

-

_

-

f!8.8

-

f!5.4

f!7.2

_

-

f26.8 

fl8.8

23.9

at Fair Oaks

Gage 

height c/ 

(feet)

e39±

-

_

-

_

_

_

-

-

_

f31.4 

f27.7

_

-

f22.9

f21.7

-

-

-

20.4

f26.0

-

31.45

20.73 

20.7

29.06

Discharge 

(seo.-ft.)

-

-

_

-

_

_

_

-

-

_

g!40,000 

101,000

_

-

82,000

74,100

-

-

-

67,500

99,500

-

g!40,000

60,900 

58,300

114,000

a Referred to datum of TJ. S. Weather Bureau gage.

b Record furnished by TJ. S. Weather Bureau. Prior to 1907 gage was located 1,000 

feet upstream from present gage (high-water gafce heights not comparable with subsequent records).

c Datum lowered 1.00 foot in 1930; all gage heights adjusted to present datum.

d Recent investigation indicates that flood crest of 1862 was about 33 feet at 

present site.

e From reported floodmark; verified by comparison with flood crests of 1862 and 

1907 at other points.

f Maximum recorded; may not be the peak.

g Supersedes discharge previously published.

h Gage height outside of well.

J At station 5 miles upstream.
460 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

5 feet above the record of 1862 at different places near Sacramento. The 

flood profile of the American River at Sacramento was undoubtedly raised 

by channel constrictions made after 1862. The levees protecting Sacramento were raised after the flood of 1862 and the city has not been 

seriously flooded since that time. The American River at Folsom on 

December 26 was reported in news accounts from Folsom to have been as 

high as, or slightly higher than, the record peak of 1862. It was also 

reported that on the same date the South Fork of the American River near 

its mouth rose to within a few inches of the peak of 1862. The North and 

South Forks of the Yuba River were reported to have exceeded the stage of 

1862. The Feather River at Oroville was considerably below the flood 

crest of 1862 but, according to varying reports, downstream from the 

mouth of the Yuba River it equalled or exceeded the crest of 1862. The 

flood profiles of the lower Feather and Yuba Rivers had probably been 

raised somewhat by the deposition of mining debris in the channels since 

1862. Cache and Putah Creeks, tributaries of the Sacramento River from 

the Coast Ranges, were reported to have been at unusual stages on 

December 22, 1867. Either on this date or about December 31, Cache 

Creek reached the highest stage since 1853, and Putah Creek was higher 

than ever before known. On December 26, 1867, the Sacramento River at 

Sacramento rose to a stage of 24.1 feet, which was about the same as its 

previous crest of January 1862.

The tributaries of the lower Sacramento River again rose to high 

stages on December 31, 1867, or on January 1, 1868, but did not equal 

the flood stages of December 26. The Yuba River at Marysville was reported to have risen on January 1 to within a few inches of its peak of 

December 26. The American River at Folsom on December 31, 1867, it was 

said, lacked 6.5 feet of reaching its previous peak. The American River 

at Brighton, near Sacramento, was reported to have attained on January 1, 

1868, a height some 2 feet below its previous record. Cache Creek near 

Yolo was again at overflow stage. The Sacramento River at Sacramento 

rose to 23.4 feet on January 1, 1868. It was reported that during the 

flood of 1867-68 the peak at Maine Prairie, in the flood basin below 

Sacramento, was very close to that of 1862.

Floods of 1878. The Sacramento River at Red Bluff reached a flood 

height of about 26 feet above low water on January 17, 1878, the highest 

stage since January 1862. Rainfall for the period January 14 to 16 was 

9.40 inches at Red Bluff. Tributaries in the vicinity of Red Bluff, including Read, Grasshopper, Dibble, and Cottonwood Creeks, were at very
RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 461

high stages, and washed out or damaged railway trestles and highway 

bridges. Cache and Putah Creeks reached notably high stages. Continued 

rains resulted in prolonged inundation of the lowlands on the west side 

of the river from Colusa to Knights Landing.

On January 28, 1878, after minor rises on January 22 and 25 to stages 

of about 20.5 feet above low water, the Sacramento River at Red Bluff 

reached a stage of 25.5 feet. Elder, Thomas, and Stony Creeks were at 

extremely high stages and flooded the lowlands for miles beyond their 

channels. The relative magnitudes of the floods on these creeks cannot 

be determined from the information available, but the actual magnitudes 

were apparently great.

The Sacramento River at Sacramento on February 1, 1878, reached a 

gage height of 25.2 feet, the highest stage known at that point up to 

that time, but at Maine Prairie the stage was about 2 feet lower than in 

1862. As a result of a break in the levee below Sacramento, the south 

part of the city and adjacent lands were flooded. Lowlands upstream from 

Knights Landing and at other places along the lower river were inundated 

during the entire month of February. On February 19, Knights Landing 

was partially flooded when the levees protecting the town were overtopped. On February 20 the Sacramento River at Sacramento again exceeded the previous record, rising to 26.0 feet. As previously mentioned, continued levee building tended to raise the flood profile at 

Sacramento. Several breaks in the levees above and below the city 

caused flooding of the lowlands west of the river. Cache and Putah 

Creeks were again at exceptionally high stages, causing extensive overflow and damage to railroad structures, but streams in the upper Sacramento River Basin were not at exceptionally high stages.

Floods of 1881. The Sacramento River at Red Bluff reached on 

January 14-15, 1881, a stage of about 24 feet. This rise was followed 

by high stages on the lower Sacramento River, and it was reported that 

there were numerous breaks in the levees.

On January 30, after a three-day storm that extended throughout the 

Sacramento River Basin, the river attained a stage of about 25 feet at 

Red Bluff. The storm that caused this rise was followed almost immediately by another general storm. The Sacramento River at Red Bluff, already at a high stage on January 31, continued to rise and reached a 

peak of 29.5 feet (present datum of the gage of the United States 

Weather Bureau) on February 4, the highest known to that date. An exceptional feature of this flood was the prolonged period of high stages
462 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

preceding the peak. At the present river-measurement station on the Pit 

River near Ydalpom the floodmark of 1881, as pointed out by an eye witness, 

was found to be about 4 feet above the peak of 1937. This witness said 

that the flood of 1881 had been described to him as the greatest for at 

least 30 years prior to and including that year. He stated also that the 

flood in 1937 was the highest since 1881. The Sacramento River immediately upstream from the mouth of Cow Creek attained in 1881 a stage that 

is considered by local residents to have been the highest since the 

settlement of this region in about 1850. A cedar drift log, which is a 

high-water mark of the flood of 1881 at this point, was reached but not 

disturbed by the flood of 1937. Cow Creek was at a notably high stage in 

1881 and washed out bridges and roads, but the flood of that year was 

considerably exceeded by the one in 1937, when the creek was at the 

highest stage known to local residents. Cottonwood Creek was reported 

not to have been exceptionally high in 1881. On the Sacramento River 

at Bloody Island, near the junction with Cottonwood and Battle Creeks, 

the floods of 1881 and 1937 were at about the same stage; at Jelley's 

Perry the stage of 1881 was exceeded in 1937; and at Red Bluff the 

stage of 1881 was exceeded by 2.5 feet in 1937o

There were notable floods on the Feather, Yuba, and American 

Rivers in the period January 30-31, 1881. The Feather and Yuba Rivers 

near Marysville were reported to have risen higher than ever before 

known, although the Feather River at Oroville did not exceed its 

previous record stage until February 4. The relatively high stages 

along the lower channels of these rivers were undoubtedly due in part 

to changed channel conditions that resulted from mining activities and 

reclamation work. The American River at Folsom was reported to have 

reached a stage of 23.5 feet on January 30, not an exceptionally high 

stage. The Sacramento River at Sacramento reached a flood stage of 

about 26 feet on January 31.

Beginning on February 2 the Feather and Yuba Rivers rose gradually 

to the highest stages of the year on February 4. The Feather River at 

Oroville exceeded the record stage of 1862 by about half a foot, but 

it was reported that at Longs Bar, upstream from Oroville, the crest was 

several feet below that of 1862. The relatively high stage at Oroville 

was attributed to deposition of mining debris in the channel since 1862. 

On the Middle Fork of the Feather River at Bidwell Bar, where flood 

stages are more nearly comparable, the stage of 1881 was reported to 

have been 8 feet below the record stage of 1862. On the North Pork of
RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 463

the Feather River near Pulga the crest in 1881 was about 2 feet higher 

than that in 1862, both floods being considerably higher than any other 

floods observed at that place. The American River apparently did not 

attain a second notably high stage.

The Sacramento River at Sacramento, which was at high stages since 

January 31, established a new record stage of 26.5 feet on February 4. 

Several breaks occurred in the levees on both sides of the river downstream from Sacramento during this period. Railroad tracks in the lower 

Sacramento River Basin were submerged and washed out at several places. 

At Maine Prairie the peak stage was the same as that in 1862.

Floods of 1886. There were moderate floods in this basin in January 1886. Maximum stages on the tributaries of the lower Sacramento 

River, occurring about January 24, probably were the highest during the 

period 1882-88. On some of these tributaries, notably the American 

River and Cache Creek, the floods apparently were of considerable proportions, and resulted in overflow of farm lands and railroad tracks. 

The maximum reached on the Sacramento River at Sacramento was 25.6 feet 

on January 28, the highest between 1882 and 1888.

Floods of 1889-90. The winter of 1889-90 was notable for the prolonged rainy season, which produced damaging floods in the Sacramento 

River Basin in December 1889 and in January, February, and March 1890. 

The Sacramento River reached flood stages from Tehama to Sacramento on 

December 12, 1889. The peak stages at Colusa and Sacramento on this 

date were the highest yet observed. The storm was evidently very general 

throughout the lower Sacramento River Basin, but caused only a minor 

rise on the main river at Red Bluff. The crests at Colusa and Sacramento were higher than they would have been if no reclamation work had 

been done along the rivers. There were many breaks in the levees from 

Colusa downstream, and considerable damage was done to grain lands. 

A large break on the right bank below Sacramento about December 12 

probably helped to reduce subsequent flood stages at Sacramento. By 

December 21 the river downstream from Sacramento was rapidly receding.

On January 25, 1890, tributaries of the Sacramento River were again 

at high stages. The American River at Folsom was reported to have 

reached on this date a gage-height of 30 feet, possibly not the crest. 

This stage probably is comparable with the readings at the former 

Weather Bureau gage site given in table 15. Stony, Cache, and Putah 

Creeks were at extremely high stages on January 24 or 25. Stony and 

Putah Creeks were said to have been at the highest stages known to local
464 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

residents, and there was a considerable overflow from Cache Creek near 

Yolo, which flooded farms and caused washouts along the railroad. The 

lower Sacramento River reached only a moderately high crest about January 31.

In February 1890 there was a flood on the upper Sacramento River 

that resulted in the greatest rise of the season at Red Bluff, the river 

reaching a stage of about 26.5 feet on February 4. The Sacramento River 

at Redding washed out part of a highway bridge constructed about 1885. 

The lower Sacramento River, at a fairly high stage since January, 

reached another moderate crest about February 11. The stage at Sacramento was above 21 feet for most of the period from February to June. 

Again in March 1890 there was a prolonged period of high water on the 

upper Sacramento River, although the peak stages at Red Bluff were 

not exceptionally high. Stony Creek and possibly other tributaries 

from the Coast Ranges were at flood stage on March 5, 1890. The lower 

Feather River on about March 7 apparently reached its highest stage of 

the season. The crest on the Sacramento River at Sacramento on March 

11 was about 2.5 feet below the maximum of December 12. The peak of 

1889 at Sacramento exceeded that of 1881, chiefly because of changed 

channel conditions, but the maximum at Maine Prairie during 1889-90 

was roughly 3 feet lower than the record heights of 1881 and 1861-62.

The season of 1889-90 Was featured by an exceptionally heavy snowfall in the mountains, and the snow run-off period was one of the 

heaviest and longest of record. Lowlands in the lower Sacramento River 

Basin were flooded for many weeks.

Floods of 1891 to 1905. There were no outstanding general floods 

in the Sacramento River Basin from 1891 until 1904, although the Sacramento River at Sacramento reached high stages in 1891, 1892, 1893, 1895, 

1896, 1900, 1901, 1902, and 1903. The maximum during this period occurred on December 27, 1892, when there was a crest at Sacramento higher 

than in December 1889. The crest in the flood basin at Maine Prairie 

for the season of 1892-93, however, was about 2 feet lower than that in 

1889-90. At Red Bluff the Sacramento River was at or above a stage of 

25 feet from about December 24 to 27, 1892. This flood in the Sacramento Valley followed a heavy rainfall, December 22-25, which evidently 

extended to the eastern slope of the Sierra, causing a flood in the 

Carson River Basin. The flood of January 1895, which was particularly 

severe on some of the coastal streams, also appears to have been of 

major proportions on Cache Creek, January 22-23. The crest at Rumsey
RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 465

w&s stated to have been 2 feet higher, and that at Capay, 10 inches higher 

than ever known. In the lower part of the basin there was an extensive 

inundation of farm lands, destruction of bridges, and damage to railroad 

rights of way.

Floods of 1904. The Sacramento River at Kennett was reported in a 

newspaper dispatch to have reached on February 15, 1904, a peak stage of 

23 feet, the highest yet observed at that comparatively recent settlement. 

Cottonwood and Clear Creeks, tributaries between Kennett and Red Bluff, 

were said to have been higher than ever before known, and on February 16 

the river at Red Bluff reached a stage of 28.2 feet, which was reported 

to have been the highest since February 1881. From February 15 to the 

end of March the flood period was almost continuous in the lower Sacramento River Basin. During this time there were several rises on the 

Sacramento River near Red Bluff. There was a severe flood on the Pit 

River at Alturas about March 10, when it was reported that boats were 

rowed through the main part of the town.

For a discussion of the flood of 1904 reference is made to WaterSupply Paper 147. In general, it was considered to have been the most 

destructive flood in the history of the lower Sacramento Valley up to 

that time, but it was believed that the peak discharge of the lower 

Sacramento River had been much greater in 1862. Exceptionally high 

stages were reached only on tributaries of the upper Sacramento River.

Flood of 1907. In March 1907 there was a very destructive flood 

in the Sacramento River Basin.2Jy The flood was caused by a severe rain 

in the period March 16-20, and was preceded and followed by a period of 

comparatively high run-off.

Exceptionally high stages were reached on streams throughout the 

basin. On the Feather River at Oroville the flood height was the 

greatest ever observed, although it was believed that the flood profile 

at that place had been raised since 1862 by deposition of mining debris. 

On the American River at Folsom and Fair Oaks the peak of March 19 was 

exceeded in 1862 and possibly also in 1867. A report by A. Givan and 

C. E. Grunsky to the State Reclamation Board lists the flood profile of 

1862 as about 7.5 feet above the high water of 1907 at Fair Oaks, and 

4.0 feet above the high water of 1907 near Mills, where the river has a

18/ The flood of 1907 is discussed in the following publications i

w. B., Murphy, E. C., and Martin, W. P., The flood of March, 1907, 

in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Basins, Californiat Am. Soc. 

Civil Eng. Trans., vol. 61, p. 281, 1908. Taylor, N. R., The rivers and 

floods of the Sacramento and San Joaquin watersheds: Bull. 43, U. S. 

Weather Bur. 1913.
466 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

wide overflow. Prom investigations near Polsom it seems probable that 

the peak of 1907 at the present gage at Polsom was about 6 feet below 

that of 1862.

Flood of 1909. In the period January 14-27, 1909, there were 

floods at several places in the Sacramento River Valley from Red Bluff 

to the mouth of the Sacramento River. The flood of 1909, in general, 

was believed to have been as great as that of 1907. The Sacramento 

River had reached high stages at Red Bluff by the period January 7-10. 

Again on January 17 the river was at a very high stage, and on February 

3 it reached the highest stage theretofore observed at Red Bluff, which 

has since been exceeded only by the record-breaking stage of December 

11, 1937.

The lower river at Sacramento reached the maximum stage of record 

on January 17, and exceptionally high stages were recorded between 

January 14 and 19 on nearly all of the main tributaries of the river. 

Flood conditions prevailed until January 27 in the lower basin, and 

were followed again by damaging floods during the first part of 

February.

The floods of 1909 are discussed in Bulletin 43 of the United 

States Weather Bureau. They are the most disastrous of any of which 

there is an authentic account, although it is believed that the flood 

discharge from the Sacramento River Basin in 1862 was probably far in 

excess of that in the floods of either 1907 or 1909.

Flood of 1911. A minor flood occurred in the Sacramento Valley 

in March 1911. Sacramento River near Red Bluff reached a high stage 

on March 7, and Stony, Cache, and Putah Creeks had high peak stages on 

March 6 or 7, 1911. The Feather, American, and lower Sacramento Rivers 

did not reach exceptionally high stages. Damaging floods were confined 

mainly to the lowlands on the west side of the Sacramento River downstream from Colusa, and were the result of heavy run-off from the foothills of the Coast Ranges.

Flood of 1915-14. On December 31, 1913, and during the first week 

of January 1914, high stages were recorded on some of the tributaries of 

the upper Sacramento River. The Sacramento River at Red Bluff, although 

not rising to the flood crests of 1881 and 1909, was at a very high 

stage for three days after December 31, and there was an outstanding 

peak of 29 feet on January 1, 1914. Putah Creek at Winters attained a 

record-breaking peak on December 31, 1913. The main tributaries of the 

lower Sacramento River did not reach exceptionally high stages during
RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 467

this period, and the flood was of little importance in the lower basin.

During the latter part of January 1914 there was a prolonged period 

of high water on the Sacramento River near Red Bluff and on nearly all of 

its downstream tributaries. High stages were recorded on the Feather and 

American Rivers on January 25, at the time that notable floods were observed in the San Joaquin River and Tulare Lake Basins. The floods on 

the main tributaries of the Sacramento River were of small magnitude 

but, occurring at a time of prolonged high water, caused the Sacramento River at Sacramento to rise to a stage of 27.8 feet on January 27, 

the highest since 1909.

Flood of 1915. On February 2, 1915, the upper Sacramento River 

reached a height at Kennett of 29.5 feet (datum of United States Weather 

Bureau) which, although not as high as the floods of 1907 and 1909, has 

not been exceeded since. The crest stage at Red Bluff almost equalled 

that of 1909. The discharge of Cache Creek at Yolo on February 2, 1915, 

was the greatest of record, and that of Putah Creek at Winters was exceptionally high, although considerably less than the record flood of 

1913. The Feather and American Rivers did not reach notably high stages 

and the flood was of little importance on the lower Sacramento River.

Flood of 1928.- High stages were recorded on several streams of the 

Sacramento Basin in 1916, 1917, 1919, 1925, 1926, and 1927, but few of 

these were exceptionally high, and no general or outstanding floods 

occurred. In March 1928 there was a severe flood in the Feather and 

American River Basins and moderate floods throughout the Sacramento 

River Basin. A notable feature of the flood of 1928 was that it occurred during a relatively dry season and was preceded and followed by 

comparatively low stages, whereas most of the important floods in this 

basin have occurred during seasons of heavy precipitation. The flood of 

1928 occurred during a period (March 22-28) of heavy precipitation in the 

Sierra Nevada. Temperatures were unusually high and the rainfall was 

especially heavy in the period March 24-25 at altitudes up to 7,000 feet. 

On March 25 the American River at Fair Oaks equalled its maximum recorded discharge of March 19, 1907, and the Feather River at Oroville 

was exceptionally high. The Sacramento River at Sacramento on March 

26 nearly reached its record stage of 1909, mainly as a result of the 

run-off from the American River. The greatest damage during the flood 

of 1928 was from overflow of the American River near Sacramento. Several thousand acres, including the town of North Sacramento, were flooded.
468 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

For a record of stage associated with the flood of 1928 reference ia 

made to a publication of the State of California, Department of Public 

Works, entitled "Stream flow data for flood season of 1928".

Table 13 on page 457 gives a comparison of floods at two points on 

the Sacramento River and on Pit River near Ydalpom from 1862 to 1937.

Table 14 on page 458 furnishes a comparison of floods at several 

points on the Sacramento River during the period 1861 to 1937. Similar 

information is given, for the Feather, Yuba, and American Rivers, in 

table 15 on page 459.

Table 16 shows a comparison of floods on Stony, Cache, and Putah 

Creeks for the period 1904 to 1937.

Table 16. Maximum stage and discharge of recorded floods at 

indicated places on Stony, Cache, and Putah Creeks

Date

1904, Mar. 10

1907, Mar. 19

1909, Jan. 8

1909, Jan. 26

1909, Feb. 3

1909, Feb. 4

1911, Mar. 7

1913, Dec. 31

1914, Jan. 1

1914, Feb. 21

1915, Feb. 2

1916, Jan. 3

1917, Feb. 24

1917, Feb. 25

1921, Jan. 30

1925, Feb. 11

1925, Feb. 12

1927, Feb. 18

1927, Apr. 2

1928, Mar. 27

1931, Dec. 27

1935, Mar. 6

1936, Feb. 21

1937, Feb. 4

1937, Dec. 10

1937. Dec. 11

Stony Creek

at 

St. Johnjy

Gage 

height 

(feet)

_

13.2

-

dll.O

-

12.6

-

-

10.0

dlO.3

dll.5

-

dlO.O

-

_

-

-

-

d7.6

_

-

-

-

12.0

-

Cache Creek

at 

Yolo

Gage . 

height^/ 

(feet)

30.2

-

-

-

29.8

_

29.8

29.4

-

-

29.8

28.9

-

27.1

26.7,

_

05 .7

24.0

-

22.3

_

-

-

-

-

29 n l

Discharge 

(sec. -ft. )

_

-

-

-

20,800

_

20,800

20,500

-

-

21,100

20,300

-

18,800

18,000

_

18,400

17,200

-

15,100

_

-

-

-

-

19,300

Putah Creek

near , 

Winters^/

Gage 

height 

(feet)

_

29.0

27.5

-

-

_

-

39.0

-

-

30.0

35.0

29.0

-

29.2

35.1

-

-

29.2

31.0

21.0

23.2

22.85

25.4

-

24.8

Discharge 

(sec. -ft.)

_

37,000

33,400

-

-

_

-

60,000

-

-

40,400

53,300

37,300

-

33,500

53 , 600

-

-

31,300

34,700

30,000

34,200

33,000

41,100

-

39,200

a Record furnished by U. S. Weather Bureau.

b Records prior to June 1930 are for former Geological Survey gage 

at Winters, 6 miles downstream.

c Gage datum lowered 2.0 feet in 1P30; gage heights prior to 1930 

adjusted to present datum.

d Maximum recorded; may not be the peak.
RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 469

Table 17 is a list of maximum annual stages observed on Sacramento 

River at Sacramento from 1849 to 1938. The record for periods 1849-79 

and 1888-91, was taken from Commissioner of Public Works Report, State of 

California, 1894-95; the entire record from 1849 to 1929 was compiled and 

furnished by Department of Public vtforks, State of California. Record for 

the period 1930-38 was furnished by United States Weather Bureau.

The zero of present Weather Bureau gage is 0.12 foot above mean sea 

level. All stages given in the table are presumably referred to the 

present Weather Bureau gage datum.

These data are to be used with caution. The stage is often not a 

true indication of discharge or the magnitude of a flood since it has 

been affected by building of levees, bypasses, and overflow channels. The 

data should not be used or quoted except with proper qualification.

Table 17.--Maximum annual stage, in feet, on the Sacramento River 

at Sacramento from 1849 to 1938

Date

1849

1850, Jan. 10

1851, Apr. 7

1852, Dec. 31

1853, Apr. 3

1854, Mar. 23

1855, Mar. 14

1856, May 8

1857, Febo 18

1858, Feb. 26

1859, May 27

1860, Apr. 21

1861, Apr. 11

1862, Jan. 11

1867, Dec. 26

1874, Nov. 27

1875, Jan. 27

1876, Mar. 9

1877, Mar. 19

1878, Feb. 20

1879, Mar. 16

1880, Apr. 22

1881, Feb. 4

1882, Apr. 11-12

1883, May 24

1884, Dec. 27

1885, Dec. 30-31

1886, Jan. 28

1887, Mar. 29, Apr. 11

1888, Feb. 16

1889, Dec. 12

1890

1891, Mar. 5

1892, Dec. 27

1893, Mar. 22

1894, Apr. 12

1895, Jan. 27

1896, Jan, 29

1897, Feb. 9-10

1898, Mar. 1-4

Stage

18.8

20.2

9.8

21.7

19«4

20. ?.

20.3

12.4

18.2

18.9

19.0

15.2

21.8

24.0

24.1

19.1

22.2

24.7

18.1

26.0

23.7

24.4

26.5

21.2

20.7

24.6

23.9

25.6

20.5

20.0

27.0

24.6

26.9

28.6

26.5

22.6

26.6

26.7

24.2

16.7

Date

1899, Apr. 1-2

1900, Jan. 9

1901, Feb. 25

1902, Mar. 1

1903, Apr. 4

1904, Feb. 26

1905, Feb. 6

1906, Feb. 2

1907, Feb. 7, Mar. 20

1908, Feb. 13

1909, Jan. 17

1910, Mar. 24-25

1911, Feb. 2

1912, May 31

1913, Apr. 27

1914, Jan. 27

1915, May 11

1916, Mar. 21

1917, Feb. 25

1918, Apr. 2

1919, Feb. 11

1920, Nov. 23

1921, Jan. 20

1922, Dec. 14

1923, Apr. 11

1924, Feb. 11

1925, Febc 6

1926, Apr. 9

1927, Feb. 19

1928, Mar. 26

1929, Dec. 17

1930, Mar. 6

1931, Dec. 29

1932, Jan. 1

1933, Apr. 1

1934, Jan. 4

1935, Apr. 8

1936, Feb. 22

1937, Dec. 12

1938, Feb. 11

Stage

24.2

27.0

28.2

28.2

27.6

27.9

22.0

27.4

27.2

20.4

29.6

22.8

26.9

16.7

17.9

27,8

26.8

25.9

26.4

20.6

28.6

23.8

26.3

25.4

21.3

18.4

28.0

24.8

27.4

29.5

23.2

24.4

22.9

22.6

14.0

21.2

28.6

28.7

27»7

27.7
470 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Russian River Basin

Floods of 1861-62. The Russian River near Guerneville, after 

rising to flood stages in December 1861, reached a stage in January 

1862 which, so far as known, has not been equalled since.

Floods from 1867 to 1881. Floods occurred on the lower Russian 

River in 1867, 1871, 1878, 1879, and 1881. During January and February 

1878 the river between Ukiah and Healdsburg reached flood stages several 

times, the highest being near Healdsburg on February 21, 1878. There 

was an outstanding flood during the first part of March 1879, reported to 

have been the highest at Ukiah for eleven years. Disastrous floods occurred on coastal streams west of the Russian River, which were, at some 

points, the highest known to old inhabitants. Another flood on January 

30, 1881, was noted at Guerneville as the third in three years in that 

city. The peak stage was reported in a news account as 41 feet 8 inches 

above low-water. This flood probably was somewhat lower than those of 

1878 and 1879.

Flood of 1890. A major flood occurred on January 24-25, 1890, which 

evidently was nearly the highest known at many points along the river. 

The crest at Ukiah was said to have been the highest for 20 years, and 

that at Cloversdale, the highest for 40 years. The river changed its 

course upstream from Geyserville, destroying a portion of the railroad. 

In Alexander Valley, upstream from Healdsburg, the water was reported to 

have overtopped the highway bridge by 5 feet, and apparently it was about 

6 feet above the floodmark of 1878 at that place. The river at Healdsburg in the period January 24-25 was described in the Healdsburg Enterprise as the highest for 25 years. It was stated that a resident who 

had kept a record of the height of the river for that period had found 

the 1890 peak to be 2^ feet higher than any other. Another account 

stated that the river at Healdsburg was higher than ever before known, 

even surpassing the peak of 1862. Downstream at Guerneville the crest 

on February 25 was reported to have been within 9 inches of the flood of 

1879, and higher than any between 1880 and 1889.

Floods from 1895 to 1957. Floods of considerable magnitude have 

been recorded by residents along the river at different times subsequent 

to 1890. Outstanding floods were reported for the years 1893, 1895, 1907, 

1914, 1915, and 1937, and it is possible that floods of similar magnitude 

have also occurred in other years. An observer of the flood of 1895 at 

Guerneville stated that it was the highest flood of which he had
RECORDS OP PREVIOUS FLOODS 471

knowledge during the period 1885-1939. Newspaper accounts, January 

23-24, 1895, describe this flood at Healdsburg and at Guerneville as 

the greatest for a long period prior to 1895 - evidently it was considered higher than the flood of 1890 at these points. For a comparison of maximum stages on the Russian River near Guerneville see table 

18. Several of the listed stages are so nearly the same that it would 

be misleading to make exact comparisons, especially as channel changes 

may have affected the flood profiles.

Eel River Basin

Flood of 1852. The flood of 1852 on the lower Eel River was apparently one of the greatest known. At the time of the flood of 1890 

residents mentioned that of 1852 as having been outstanding.

Floods of 1861-62. Floods occurred on the lower Eel River during 

the latter part of November and the first part of December, on December 

22, 1861, and on January 11, 1862. Residents along the lower Eel River 

stated at the time of the January flood that the crest was a foot higher 

than ever known, and about eighteen inches higher than the previous record of the season. At the time of the great flood of 1915 old residents 

at Metropolitan, on the river 4 miles below Scotia, recalled that of 

1862 as having been higher.

Floods of 1877, 1878, and 1879. There were floods during the 

season of 1877-78, and a major flood on the lower Eel River about March 

6, 1879. Accounts indicate that the crest heights in 1879 from Scotia 

to the mouth were the highest for at least about 12 years, and probably 

were nearly as high as any known. Major floods occurred at upper 

points in the Eel River Basin, on the Van Duzen River, and on the Mad 

River, north of the Eel River Basin.

Floods of 1881. An outstanding flood occurred on the Eel River, 

January 12-15, 1881, as described in the Humboldt Times of January 14 

and 15. The crests on the lower river, on its tributary, the Van Duzen, 

and on the adjacent Mad River apparently were somewhat higher than those 

in 1879. It is probable that other floods occurred on the Eel River 

later in January and in February, when the rivers to the north and south 

reached their highest crests.

Floods of 1890. There was a flood on the Eel River on February 3, 

1890, and another about the first of March 1890. From newspaper accounts 

it appears that the two floods had about the same stage and that the 

stage was somewhat lower than that of 1881.
472 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 473

Flood of 1907. It was reported that on March 18, 1907, the Eel 

River at places downstream from Scotia was the highest known for 30 

years. The peak stage at Scotia was roughly established by comparisons with the flood of 1914 at Scotia, Rio Dell, and Rohnerville, 

where the two floods were reported to have reached about the same stage. 

(See table 18.)

Flood of 1915-14. A flood that reached its highest stages on 

December 31, 1913, and January 1, 1914, followed a period of several 

days of warm rainfall. For comparison with later floods see table 18.

Flood of 1915. On February 2, 1915, the Eel River from Scotia 

to Loleta rose to its highest recorded stage, possibly exceeded only in 

1862. At Shively, 10 miles upstream from Scotia, the peak of 1915 was 

described as 14 inches above that of 1907. It was 3 feet higher than 

the peak of 1914 at Scotia, and was reported as 18 inches higher at 

Fortuna, 12 miles downstream. Homes and ranch buildings along the lower 

river were flooded.

The peak of 1915 at Scotia has not been exceeded since, but was 

nearly equalled in December 1937. The latter flood was variously described as from 8 inches lower to 5 feet higher than that of 1915 at 

other points along the river. The two floods may be classified as approximately of the same magnitude.

Floods of 1917-57. An outstanding flood occurred at Scotia on 

February 25, 1917, and minor floods were recorded in 1926, 1927, 1928, 

and 1936.

For a comparison of floods on Eel River from 1861 to 1957 see table 

18.

Klamath River Basin

Floods of 1852-55. The first large floods in the Klamath River 

Basin after the settlement of the country are mentioned in a history of 

Siskiyou County. During the season of 1852-55 there were four floods, 

which washed out the few bridges that had been built and caused damage 

in the settlements of Scotts Bar, on the Scott River, and in Yreka, on 

Yreka Creek.

Floods of 1861-62. A flood of great magnitude occurred about 

December 8, 1861. Rainfall had been heavy throughout November, and the 

rains at the end of that month were extremely heavy. On November 30 the 

Shasta and Scott Rivers flooded large tracts of land. On December 7 and 

8, these rivers and their tributaries were at flood stages that evidently

J 60302 <) 39 31
474 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

were higher than the previous rises. Buildings were washed away or 

damaged at Yreka, Etna, and Fort Jones. Along the Salmon and Trinity 

Rivers, the water washed out bridges, mills, and mining equipment. The 

main Klamath River from Happy Camp downstream to the Trinity River 

reached stages that have not been equalled since. A suspension bridge 

across the river near Martins Ferry, downstream from the mouth of the 

Trinity River, described as 98 feet above the river, was washed out. The 

peak of 1861 at Martins Ferry was recently determined to have been about 

102 feet above the low water of 1937-38.

There was a third flood on December 22 which, according to a history 

of Siskiyou County, was the final one of the season of 1861-62. This 

third flood was apparently of lesser magnitude at least in the upper 

part of the basin. Based upon the history of this flood season in other 

basins, it is possible that there were floods again in January 1862 on 

the lower Klamath River.

Flood of 1864. A flood described as "nearly as great as that of 

1861" occurred in the Scott River Basin on December 26, 1864. Precipitation in the Scott River Valley for the month of December exceeded the 

large amount measured during December 1861. The flood was probably of 

little importance on the main Klamath River.

Flood of 1867. Floods occurred in the Shasta and Scott River 

Basins in December 1867. The Klamath River near the junctions with 

these tributaries was described as approaching the record flood of 1861. 

The flood of 1867 on other tributaries and on the lower Klamath River 

evidently was of much less magnitude.

Floods of 1881. After a heavy rainfall, the Klamath River near 

the Shasta and Scott Rivers was at a stage on January 14, 1881, that 

was described in a historical account as equalling that of 1861. The 

tributaries washed out bridges and caused extensive damage to farms and 

roads.

During the first part of February these rivers were again at flood 

stages, described as even higher than in January. The upper Trinity 

River at Lewiston nearly equalled its peak of 1861. The Klamath River 

downstream from the Trinity River was reported to have been highest in 

February since 1861, but was considerably below that record peak.

Floods of 1890. On February 3-4, 1890, the Klamath River from 

Happy Camp to below Weitchpec reached stages nearly as high as those in 

1861, and the river from Blue Creek to its mouth reached record-breaking, 

stages, which were somewhat above those in the flood of 1861. On the
RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 475

upper Trinity River at Lewiston the flood did not attract attention. 

The season of 1889-90 was notable for the quantities of snow deposited 

in the mountains of northern California, and for the exceptionally heavy 

rainfall at lower altitudes.

Floods of 1904. Floods in the Shasta and Scott River Basins on 

February 22, 1904, were described as the greatest since 1861. The Scott 

River washed out a bridge at Scotts Bar and flooded Fort Jones. As in 

the Sacramento River Basin, these floods evidently were relatively high 

on the smaller streams of the basin. The Klamath River at Happy Camp 

reached only a moderately high stage, as compared with those of 1890 and 

1861. Its peak of February 22 was slightly exceeded again on March 8, 

1904.

Floods of 1914 and subsequent years. The lower Klamath River was 

reported to have been on January 1, 1914, at the highest stage for a 

number of years, but the flood apparently did not do much damage.

In February 1915 the Klamath River at Weitchpec probably exceeded 

the rise of 1914 and possibly was at its highest since 18PO. Mining 

structures along the lower river were damaged.

The Klamath River near Requa reached an exceptionally high stage 

on February 19-20, 1927. The flood was fairly high at Weitchpec and 

higher at Somes Bar than at any time since. It was apparently of much 

less magnitude in the upper part of the Klamath Basin. On the upper 

Trinity River at Lewiston it was lower than a previous rise in the same 

season,,

Floods occurred on the Klamath River in 1928, 1936, and 1937. 

These were moderate floods, except at upper points in the basin. For a 

comparison of floods during the period 1861 to 1937 see table 18.

Smith River Basin

Flood of 1861. The flood of December 1861 damaged farms in the 

Smith River Valley and carried down great quantities of timber. There 

is little definite information but, so far as known, this flood has not 

been equalled since.

Flood of 1881. The Smith River reached an exceptionally high stage 

in February 1881.

Flood of 1890. A flood on the Smith River below the mouth of the 

Middle Fork on February 3, 1890, almost equalled the flood of 1861, as 

determined by the depth of water in a ranch house. An account of this
476 THE FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

flood period in Crescent City mentioned the occurrence of rain throughout January and of heavy snows in the mountains, followed by general 

rains from January 29 to February 3. It was believed that the snowfall 

in this basin during the winter of 1889-90 was the heaviest since 

settlement of the country. As in the Klamath River Basin, the flood 

run-off in 1890 probably came chiefly from the lower altitudes.

Flood of 1927. A flood of great magnitude occurred on the lower 

Smith River in the period February 19-20, 1927, and resulted in considerable overflow of the lowlands. This flood was of about the same 

magnitude as those in 1890 and 1861, and was much greater than the 

recent floods of 1936 and 1937.

For a comparison of floods during the period 1861 to 1937, see 

table 18.

Major streams from the Sierra Nevada tributary to the Great Basin

Floods of 1861-62. Pioneer accounts furnish information about floods 

of the winter season of 1861-62 on the Owens River and other major streams 

of the Sierra Nevada tributary to the Great Basin. It is stated that 

there was rain or snowfall on each of 54 consecutive days after December 

24, 1861. Creeks became impassable and the Owens River at overflow 

stages was from one-fourth to one mile wide in places. The level of Owens 

Lake was reported to have been raised 12 feet by the flood waters.

In the Walker Lake Basin there was a rainstorm that combined with 

melting snow to cause heavy run-off during the period January 8-11, 1862. 

At Aurora, Nevada, in the Bodie Creek Basin tributary to the East Walker 

River, several buildings were destroyed by the flood of January 11, and 

there was reported loss of life on nearby Bodie Creek.

There were floods in the Carson River Basin in December 1861 at the 

time of the first large floods of this season in the lower Sacramento 

River Basin. The greatest run-off, however, evidently took place from 

January 9 to 12, 1862, as a result of the general warm rainfall. There 

was a disastrous flood on the Carson River at the towns of Empire and 

Dayton, Nevada, where several persons were reported to have been drowned, 

and a number of buildings were washed away. Water in Empire was said to 

have been from 6 to 8 feet deep. The flood at Dayton and on the river 

downstream was called the greatest known to that time.

Severe floods also occurred north of the Carson River Basin in January 1862. Washoe Lake was described as appearing to be twice its usual 

size. There was an extensive inundation in the Steamboat Creak Basin,
RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 477

tributary to the Truckee River.

Floods of 1867-68. Floods similar to those of 1861-62 occurred in 

December 1867. At Independence, in the Owens River Basin, precipitation 

during this month was greater than the total for any of the 50 seasons 

after 1867-68 for which complete records have been obtained.

In the Walker Lake Basin there were storms on December 8 and 9, and 

almost continuously from December 16 to 31. The East Walker River was 

said to have been higher than ever before known, and it washed out or 

destroyed farm buildings along its channel. There were also damaging 

floods on the West Walker River and in the upper Carson River Basin.

The Carson River flooded the towns of Empire and Dayton on December

24. 1867, and was at flood stage for several days, reaching a height at 

Empire on December 26 reported to have been within 2 feet of the maximum 

stage of 1861-62. Floods on local tributaries occurred on December 23,

25. and 31.

The Truckee River was reported to have overflowed beyond its channel 

for miles on December 26, 1867, flooding many ranches. This account presumably refers to places near present Reno, Nevada, in Truckee Meadows, 

which were described on January 1, 1868, as having been flooded for the 

10 days preceding. Bridges on the main river and on its tributaries 

were washed out.

Flood of 1886. A notable flood occurred in the Truckee River Basin 

near Reno during January 23-24, 1886, as the result of heavy rainfall. 

Railroad tracks were washed out at several points.

Floods of 1889-90. The season of 1889-90 was featured by the great 

amount of snow deposited in the Sierra Nevada and throughout the Walker, 

Carson, and Truckee River Basins. At many points in this region the 

precipitation was probably the greatest since 1867-68.

The rainstorm of January 25, which caused floods in central 

California, extended into the Great Basin, and although the run-off 

evidently was not extremely heavy, there were exceptionally high stages 

as a result of ice gorges at several points. Damaging floods were noted 

especially on the Owens River at Lone Pine and near Independence, on the 

East Fork of the Carson River, and on the Carson River near Genoa, 

Nevada. The floods in the Carson River Basin at this time resulted 

chiefly from ice gorges, and were followed during the first part of 

February 1890 by floods on the lower Carson River after a period of warm 

weather that caused release of the ice dams and melting of snow. The 

lower part of Empire was flooded on February 6, and mills along the
478 THE FLOODS OP DECEMBER 1937 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

river were put out of operation by the high water.

There were floods again during the first part of May 1890, caused 

by heavy snows in the Walker, Carson, and Truckee River Basins. The 

Truckee River near Reno was reported to have been higher about May 8 

than for many years, and its overflow covered a number of ranches. 

Stream-flow records for the Truckee River near Boca, California, show 

that the mean discharge for May 1890, which was 5,275 second-feet, was 

greater than the maximum daily discharge for most of the seasons during 

the period of record, 1899-1937, at comparable stations downstream. The 

maximum daily discharge during May 1890 was 7,172 second-feet. Corresponding records for May 1890 show somewhat greater mean and maximum 

discharges at Vista, Nevada, below Truckee Meadows.

Flood of 1892. On the East Fork of the Carson River near Gardnerville there was on December 25, 1892 a peak discharge estimated as 5,540 

second-feet, which is the maximum recorded for the periods of record: 

1890-93, 1900-06, 1908-10, 1917, 1924-29, and 1935-37; but which was 

considerably exceeded in December 1937 by an estimated peak discharge of 

11,000 second-feet.

Flood of 1907. The flood of March 18-19, 1907, was one of the 

greatest, from the Owens to the Truckee River Basin, for which quantitative information is available. There were moderate floods on the Owens 

River near Big Pine, California, on the East Walker River near Yerington, 

Nevada, and on the Carson River near Empire, Nevada, and a major flood on 

the Truckee River 

The mean daily discharge of the Truckee River at Iceland, California, 

about 4 miles downstream from Boca, on March 18, 1907, was 15,300 secondfeet, which, for the period of record 1899-1938, was relatively closely 

approached only in March 1928 and December 1937. There were extensive 

washouts of the railroad along the Truckee River near Floriston, California, and Verdi, Nevada. The flood of 1907 was called in a news dispatch from Reno the highest in Nevada for 37 years. The peak discharge 

of the Truckee River at Iceland in 1907 apparently was considerably more 

than that of 1890, and probably was somewhat higher than those in 1928 

and 1937.

Floods of 1914. There were floods of considerable magnitude from 

the Owens to the Truckee River Basin during January 23-27, 1914, notably 

at lower points on the rivers. The Owens River near Big Pine reached a 

peak discharge of about 3,220 second-feet on January 26, the highest for 

the period of record, 1906-38. The Carson River near Empire had on
RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS 479

January 23, 1914, a maximum recorded discharge of 5,160 second-feet, the 

highest for the period, 1900-22. This flow was nearly equalled again 

during January 26-27, 1914. The Carson River near Fort Churchill, 

Nevada, reached a peak discharge of 6,150 second-feet on January 26, 

1914, the highest for the period of record, 1911-37. Heavy run-off 

caused extensive washouts on several of the railroad lines at lower 

points in the basins, but run-off from the high mountains was comparatively small. The peak discharge of the Truckee River at Reno during 

this season was 7,520 second-feet on December 31, 1913, apparently considerably higher than that during the January flood.

Flood of 1928. In March 1928 there was an outstanding flood on 

Truckee River at Iceland, with a mean discharge of 12,000 second-feet 

on March 25, and of 11,000 second-feet on March 26. This is comparable 

with the mean discharge of 12,300 second-feet on December 11, 1937, when 

there was a peak discharge of 15,500 second-feet. There were moderate 

floods in th6 Carson River Basin during March 1928, and only minor rises 

on streams in the Walker and Owens River Basins.

RECORDS OF FLOODS IN 1938

The floods of December 1937 in northern California were forerunners 

of other notable floods in California, especially those of March 1938 in 

southern California on which a separate report (Water-Supply Paper 844, 

Floods of March 1938 in southern California) has been made.

A series of storms passed over northern California during January, 

February, and March 1938. During those months momentary peak discharges 

higher than those of December 1937, and in fact the highest on record, 

occurred at 14 river-measurement stations. Three were in the Salinas 

River Basin, one in a coastal basin, one in the Kern, eight in the San 

Joaquin, and one in the Klamath River Basin. Later, during the period of 

snow run-off early in June 1938, Mono Creek (San Joaquin River Basin) 

reached the highest peak discharge on record. Of the 15 maxima of record, only two, those on the South Fork of the Kern River near Onyx and 

on the Chowchilla River, were associated with the storm of March 2, 

1938, which caused major floods in southern California.

For 11 of the 15 streams that experienced maximum peak discharge, 

gage heights and discharge for bi-hourly periods during the flood, and 

also mean daily discharge for a 25-day period including the flood, are 

given in this chapter. The 11 are: Salinas River near Santa Margarita, 

Salinas River near Spreckels, San Antonio River at Pleyto, San Lorenzo
480 RECORDS OP FLOODS IN 1938

River at Big Trees, South Fork of Kern River near Onyx, Los Gatos Creek 

near Coalinga, Mono Creek near Vermilion Valley, Fresno River near 

Rnowles, Merced River near Livingston, Woods Creek near Jacksonville, and 

Shasta River near Yreka.

At three of the 15 river-measurement stations - San Joaquin River 

near Newman, San Joaquin River near Vernalis, Fine Cold Creek near 

Friant - mean daily discharge only for the month of March 1938 is given 

herein. The floods at the first two stations of this group rose and 

fell so gradually and were so prolonged that bi-hourly records do not 

add information of special significance. On Fine Gold Creek bi-hourly 

data are not given because the water-stage records are incomplete.

At the fifteenth gaging station, Chowchilla River at Buchanan dam 

site, there is no record for the period March 2-31, and neither bihourly or daily discharge data are given. The peak gage height, probably 

on March 2, was determined from floodmarks, and the corresponding discharge was computed as 15,000 second-feet (gage height, 14.4 feet). The 

mean monthly discharge for March 1938 was estimated to be 2,000 secondfeet.

During February and March 1938, and also during -June 1938, serious 

flood conditions prevailed on the lower San Joaquin River and considerable 

damage was done to farm lands and homes.

This is in strong contrast to the situation during December 1937 

when there was no flood on the San Joaquin downstream from the Merced 

River, because of storage in reservoirs on the principal tributaries 

and storage in the natural channels and overflow areas downstream from 

Mendota. The reservoirs upstream from Vernalis, which stored large 

volumes of water during the flood of December 1937, were Hetch Hetchy 

and Don Pedro on the Tuolumne River, Lake McClure on the Merced River, 

and Melones on the Stanislaus River. By February 11 these reservoirs 

were filled sufficiently so that large volumes of water were passing 

down the three rivers, and the natural channels and lower overflow areas 

of the San Joaquin were also filled. The San Joaquin River also received 

some flood flow from the Kings River through Fresno by-pass (Fresno 

Slough). The record of discharge of Fresno by-pass for the period January 1 to July 31, 1938, is included in this section.

On figure 73 are shown the graphs of stage at various river-stage 

stations on the San Joaquin River for the period March 1-20, 1938. 

This may be compared with figure 42 on page 96 which shows similar data 

for December 1937.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 843 PLATE 13

A. NORTHEAST END OF TLLARE LAKE.

B. AGRICULTURAL LANDS NEAR LATON ON FRESNO-HANFORD HIGHWAY FLOODED BY 

OVERFLOW FROM KINGS RIVER.

HIGH WATER OF JUNE 1938 IN TULARE LAKE BASIN.

RECORDS OF FLOODS IN 1938 481

On figure 74 is shown a profile of crest stages on the San Joaquin 

River during the flood of March 1938. See figure 71 for a similar graph 

for the flood of December 1937.

Tulare Lake rose substantially during the floods of December 1937, 

but was affected to a greater extent by the floods of February and March 

1938 and experienced very serious overflow conditions in the period of 

the summer snow melt. Daily gage heights for Tulare Lake for the 

period, May 1937 to September 1938, are given in this section.

Views of high water of June 1938 in Tulare Lake Basin are shown on 

plate 13.
482 RECORDS OF FLOODS IN 1938

Sallnas River near Santa Margarita, Calif.

Location.- See page 97.

Maxlma.~ February 1938: Discharge, about 11,000 second-feet 10 a.m. Feb. 11 (gage

Height, 17.0 feet).

1932-January 1938: Discharge, 7,260 second-feet Feb. 6, 1937 (gage height, 14.35

feet).

Mean dally discharge, In second-feet, 1958

Day

1

2

3

4

5

February

485

329

1,670

732

312

Day

6

7

8

9

10

February

154

99

75

315

881

Day

11

12

13

14

15

February

7,190

1,730

569

1,700

815

Day

16

17

18

19

20

February

536

408

571

476

288

Day

21

22

23

24

25

February

241

215

197

184

172

Gage fcelght, In feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at Indicated time, 1938

£

M

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet | Sec.ft.

February 8

4.60

4.58

4.57

4.56

4.55

4.54

4.52

4.52

4.51

4.51

4.51

4.52

82

80

78

77

76

75

72

72

71

71

71

72

Feet | Sec.ft.

February 9

4.58

4.65

4.95

5.46

5.40

5.35

5.50

5.95

6.50

6.38

6.28

6.33

80

89

140

259

242

229

270

412

625

577

537

557

Feet 1 Sec.ft.

February 10

6.40

6.36

6.26

6.10

5.95

5.88

5.78

5.81

6.25

7.65

9.80

11.13

585

569

529

465

412

388

354

364

525

1,210

2,890

4,190

Feet Sec.ft.

February 11

12.55

12.95

13.30

14.90

17.00

16.56

15.90

14.45

13.05

11.72

10.80

9.95

5,700

6,140

6,560

8,480

11,000

10,500

9,740

8,140

6,600

5,240

4,320

3,560

Feet | Sec.ft.

February 12

9.22

8.60

8.25

8.05

7.74

7.39

7.05

6.82

6.59

6.38

6.28

6.10

2,940

2,440

2,200

2,060

1,840

1,590

1,380

1,240

1,100

980

900

840

Feet

Febru

5.97

5.84

5.74

5.63

5.56

5.46

5.43

5.35

5.29

5.25

5.22

5.31

Sec.ft.

.ary 13

775

713

668

618

487

544

532

500

476

460

448

484

Sallnas River near Spreckels, Calif.

Location.- See page 98.

Maxima.~ February 1938: Discharge, about 75,000 second-feet 6*30 a.m. Feb. 12 (gage

 EeTght, 25.0 feet).

1930-January 1938: Discharge, about 42,100 second-feet Dec. 29, 1931 (gage 

height, 20.40 feet).

Mean dally discharge, In second-feet, 1938

Day

1 

2 

3 

4 

5

February

1,730 

7,180 

6,700 

16,600 

14,900

Day

6 

7 

8 

9 

10

February

8,520 

5,740 

4,310 

3,700 

7,720

Day

11 

12 

13 

14 

15

February

44,800 

69,900 

31,500 

17,200 

20,700

Day

16 

17 

18 

19 

20

February

11,900 

8,780 

7,310 

7,100 

8,990

Day

21 

22 

23 

24 

25

February

6,700 

5,500 

4,620 

3,680 

2,960

Gage height

h

w

2

4

6

8

10

H

2

4

e

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

February 9

8.57

8.47

8.50

8.45

8.45

8.51

8.50

8.49

8.45

8.36

8.35

8.38

3,770

3,670

3,700

3,650

3,650

3,710

3,700

3,690

3,650

3,660

3,550

3,580

In feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at Indicated time, 1938

Feet

Febn

8.80

9.70

10.35

10.77

10.92

11.00

11.05

11.19

11.60

12.20

13.20

14.40

Sec.ft.

lary 10

4,080

5,210

6,200

6,910

7,160

7,300

7,400

7,680

8,500

9,800

12,400

16,300

Feet Seo.ft.

February 11

15.60

16.54

17.18

17.70

18.60

20.52

21.90

23.05

23.56

23.72

23.69

23.83

21,100

25,300

28,400

31,000

35,500

46,100

54,400

61,800

65,100

66,200

66,000

66,900

Feet Sec.ft.

February 12

24.28

23.74

24.99

24.97

24.90

24.72

24.52

24.53

23.86

23.07

22.10

21.15

70,000

73,200

74,900

74,800

74,500

73,500

72,400

71,400

68,800

64,600

59,500

54,800

Feet Sec.ft.

February 13

19.90

18.56

17.45

16.60

15.83

15.16

14.54

14.07

13.60

13.00

12.55

12.25

48,700

42,700

37,900

34,500

31,600

29,100

26,900

25,200

23,700

21,700

20,400

19,500

Feet Sec.ft.

February 14

11.98

11.64

11.36

11.22

11.16

11.18

11.20

11.23

11.24

11.25

11.32

11.64

18,700

17,900

17,100

16,800

16,600

16,700

16,700

16,800

16,800

16,800

17,000

17,900
RECORDS OP FLOODS IN 1938 483 

San Antonio River at Pleyto, Calif.

Location.- See page 99.

Maxima.- February 1938: Discharge, 10,700 second-feet 7 a.m. Feb. 11 (gage height, 

5.10 feet).

1930-January 1937s Discharge, 7,460 second-feet Dec. 28, 1931 (gage height, 

4.55 feet).

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, 1938

Day

1 

2 

3 

4 

5

February

922 

667 

3,130 

1,830 

1,040

Day

6 

7

a

9 

10

February

778 

612 

524 

1,330 

5,670

Day

11 

12 

13 

14 

15

February

9,200 

3,740 

1,980 

4,650 

2,200

Day

16 

17 

18 

19 

20

February

1,460 

1,110 

1,170 

1,290 

920

Day

21 

22 

23 

24 

25

February

824 

749 

678 

585

515

Qage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

fnZ

oW

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet |Sec.ft.

February 9

1.94

2.00

2.05

2.06

2.15

2.42

2.55

2.63

2.79

3.45

3.90

3.74

524

560

592

599

660

868

990

1,070

1,260

2,600

4,200

3,560

Feet Sec.ft.

February 10

3.50

3.38

3.36

3.55

4.00

4.45

4.48

4.70

4.60

4.66

4.79

4.71

2,750

2,400

2,350

2,900

4,650

6,920

7,090

8,300

7,750

8,080

8,840

8,360

Feet Sec.ft.

February 11

4.88

5.03

4.94

5.00

4.91

4.92

4.95

4.85

4.84

4.66

4.55

4.35

9,380

10,300

9,740

10,100

9,560

9,620

9,800

9,200

9,140

8,080

7,480

6,380

Feet Sec.ft.

February 12

4.18

4.08

3.98

3.90

3.80

3.72

3.65

3.56

3.50

3.45

3.40

3.35

5,500

5,010

4,560

4,200

3,800

3,480

3,220

2,930

2,750

2,600

2,450

2,320

Feet Sec.ft.

February 13

3.30

3.26

3.21

3.17

3.12

3.11

3.10

3.11

3.15

3.24

3.30

3.45

2,200

2,100

1,980

1,900

1,800

1,780

1,760

1,780

1,860

2,060

2,200

2,600

Feet Sec.ft.

February 14

San Lorenzo River at Big Trees, Calif.

Location.- See page 102.

Maxima.- January J.938: Discharge, 12,000 second-feet 3 p.m. Jan. 31 (gage height, 

16.8 feet, from drift marks outside of wellj 16.3 feet Inside of well, affected 

by drawdown).

1936-December 1937$ Discharge, 8,700 second-feet Feb. 14, 1937 (gage height, 

14.1 feet, from floodmarks).

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, 1938

Day

22 

23 

24 

25 

26

January

96 

87 

79 

74 

71

Day

27 

28 

29 

30 

31

January

69 

104 

140 

116 

4,850

Day

1 

2 

3 

4 

5

February

2,590 

1,520 

2,320 

1,950 

1,280

Day

6 

7 

8 

9 

10

February

1,100 

748 

574 

1,090 

1,650

Day

11 

12 

13 

14 

15

February

2,320 

1,550 

2,720 

2,970 

1,350

Sage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

frw

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet JSec.ft.,

January 31

2.30

2.37

2.71

5.60

10.00

13.32

16.00

16.15

13.53

11.90

10.90

10.10

106

116

168

1,040

3,800

7,610

11,550

11,800

8,340

6,390

5,300

4,500

feet Sec.ft.

February 1

9.72

9.38

9.15

8.54

8.18

7.70

7.32

7.06

6.86

6.61

6.36

6.18

4,120

3,780

3,580

3,030

2,700

2,320

2,030

1,870

1,750

1,600

1,480

1,390

jFeettlSec.ft.

February 2

6.05

5.90

5.78

5.60

5.45

5.35

5.38

5.70

6.50

7.35

8.40

9.55

1,330

1,260

1,210

1,120

1,060

1,020

1,030

1,170

1,550

2,060

2,900

3,950

Feet

Febi

9.00

8i55

8.10

7.88

7.62

7.65

7.50

7.30

7.10

6.85

6.58

6.80

Sec.ft'.

 uary 3

3,440

3,040

2,640

2,460

2,260

2,280

2,160

2,020

1,890

1,740

1,590

1,710

Feet|Sec.ft.

February 4

7.25

7.80

8.15

7.90

7.62

7.32

7.08

6.85

6.60

6.36

6.25

6.07

1,980

2,400

2,680

2,480

2,260

2', 030

1,880

1,740

1,600

1,480

1,420

1,340

Feet

Febi

5.90

5.80

5.65

5.55

5.50

5.50

5.75

6.17

6.35

6.55

6.50

6.35

Sec.ft.

 uary 5

1,260

1,220

1,150

1,100

1,080

1,080

1,190

1,380

1,480

1,580

1,550

1,480
484 RECORDS OP FLOODS IN 1938

South Fork of Kern River near Onyx, Calif.

Location.- See page 119.

Maxima.- March 1938: Discharge, 3,450 second-feet 6 p.m. Mar. 2 (gage height, 6.69 

feet).

1911-14, 1919-February 1938: Discharge, 3,130 second-feet Feb. 6, 1937 (gage 

height, 6.50 feet).

Mean daily discharge, in second-j.'eet, 1938

Day

19 

20 

21 

22 

23

February

67 

77 

82 

94 

105

Day

24

25 

26 

27 

28

February

112 

107 

103 

110 

176

Day

1 

2 

3 

4 

5

March

430 

1,710 

1,100 

580 

407

Day

6 

7 

8 

9 

10

March

331 

289 

266 

232 

217

Day

11 

12 

13 

14 

15

March

226 

540 

531 

373 

334

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

fn 

2 

O

03

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

February 28

2.20

2.23

2.28

2.34

2.42

2.54

2.52

2.54

2.57

2.67

2.76

2.91

114

320

130

143

161

190

185

190

198

225

250

294

Feet Sec. ft.

March 1

3.28

3.64

3.58

3.55

3.45

3.31

3.20

3.14

3.15

3.14

3.13

3.11

423

585

555

540

492

434

393

372

376

372

368

362

Feet Sec. ft.

March 2

3.12

3.25

3.51

3.98

4.63

5.05

6.28

6.65

6.69

6.30

5.78

5.39

365

412

520

764

1,140

1,480

2,880

3,380

3,450

2,940

2,360

1,950

Feet Sec. ft.

March 3

5.03

4.79

4.67

4.52

4.39

4.27

4.20

4.16

4.07

3.99

3.91

3.83

1,610

1,390

1,300

1,180

1,090

1,010

965

939

882

834

790

746

Feet Sec.ft.

March 4

3.76

3.68

3.63

3.56

3.50

3.45

3.42

3.38

3.37

3.35

3.32

3.28

710

670

645

610

580

558

544

526

522

513

500

482

Feet Sec.ft.

March 5

3.25

3.21

3.16

3.13

3.08

3.04

3.04

3.03

3.02

3.01

3.00

2.98

470

452

432

419

399

384

384

380

377

373

369

362

Loa Gatos Creek near Coalinga, Calif.

Location.- See page 131.

Maxima.- February 1938: Discharge, about 4,520 second-feet 3 a.m. Feb. 11, (gage 

height, 8.0 feet, from floodmarks on banks; 6.23 feet, inside of well, affected 

by drawdown).

1931-January 1938: Discharge, about 1,530 second-feet Dec. 11, 1937 (gage 

height, 5.1 feet, from floodmarks on bank; 4.58 feet, inside of well, affected by 

drawdown).

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, 1938

Day

1 

2 

3 

4 

5

February

220 

88 

296 

194

117

Day

6 

7 

8 

9 

10

February

80 

53 

38 

227 

386

Day

11 

12 

13 

14 

15

February

1,170 

219 

127 

206 

131

Day

16 

17 

18 

19 

20

February

95 

75 

77 

72 

54

Day

21 

22 

23 

24 

25

February

48 

43 

40 

38 

35

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

fn

g

W

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

11

Feet See. ft.

February 9

0.95

.96

1.20

1.81

1.82

1.80

1.77

1.92

2.30

2.28

2.23

2.12

37

38

84

233

236

230

220

265

404

394

374

332

Feet Sec.ft.

February 10

1.95

1.74

1.64

1.55

1.51

1.54

1.68

1.95

3.51

3.55

3.55

3.28

274

214

188

165

155

162

198

274

816

840

840

679

Feet Sec.ft.

February 11

3.55

5.95

5.80

4.20

3.25

2.23

2.43

2.65

2.65

2.58

2.42

2.23

840

3,890

3,590

1,390

748

320

390

470

470

443

387

320

Feet Sec.ft.

February 12

2.10

2.01

1.96

1.94

1.94

1.94

1.87

1.81

1.76

1.72

1.69

1.65

280

253

239

233

233

233

214

199

186

177

170

160

Feet Sec.ft.

February 13

1.62

1.58

1.56

1.54

1.51

1.48

1.46

1.45

1.44

1.44

1.44

1.48

154

145

140

136

129

123

119

116

114

114

114

123

Feet Sec.ft.

February 14
RECORDS OP FLOODS IN 1938 485 

Tulare Lake in Kings County, Calif.

Location.- Staff gage, lat. 36°05', long. 119°44 T , at SW corner sec. 31, T. 21 S. , R. 

21 E., 12 miles southeast of Stratford.

Records available.- May 1937 to September 1938. March 1906 to September 1920 (incomplete ) at several other sites.

Extremes.- Maximum stage recorded during period May 1937 to September 1938, 195.5 feet 

June 5, 1938. Maximum amount in storage, about 1,160,000 acre-feet, June 30, 1938. 

1906-38: Maximum stage probably occurred June 21, 1907 (gage height, 14.0 feet, 

former site and datum); lake dry or practically so for parts of 1906, 1914, 1916, 

1919, 1920-22, 1924-36, and 1937.

Remarks.- Tulare Lake receives water from Kings, Kaweah, and Tule Rivers during highwater periods and occasionally from Kern River, Deer Creek, and several small intermittent streams. Its boundaries have been greatly altered in recent years by the 

construction of levees and other reclamation work. Water reached lake from tributaries about Feb. 10, 1937, for first time since April 1923, and lake attained a 

stage of 192.3 feet June 16, 1937 (contents about 420,000 acre-feet). It then receded until Dec. 14, 1937, when it began to receive flow from flood of Dec. 11. It 

continued to rise slowly through March 1938, with occasional periods of falling 

stage due to breaking of levees. The spring rise began about Apr. 15, 1938, and 

continued to the peak stage of June 5, 1938.

The amount of water in storage continued to increase, due to more levee breaks, 

until June 30, 1938. Gage-height record furnished by Tulare Lake reclamation 

district No. 749.

Gage height, in feet, 1937-38 

1937

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

May

_

_

_

_

-

_

_

_

-

186.0

186.1

186.4

186.5

186.6

186.8

June

190.4

190.7

191.0

191.2

191.3

191.4

191.6

191.8

191.8

192.0

192.1

192.2

192.2

192.2

192.2

July

191.8

191.8

191.7

191.7

191.6

191.6

191.5

191.5

191.4

191.3

191.2

191.2

191.1

191.0

191.0

Aug.

189.5

189.4

189.3

189.2

189.2

189.1

189.0

188.9

188.8

188.7

188.6

188.5

188.4

188.4

188.3

Sept.

186.9

186.8

186.8

186.7

186.7

186.6

186.6

186.5

186.5

186.4

186.4

186.4

186.4

186.4

186.3

Day

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

May

187.1

187.4

187.8

188.4

189.0

189.2

189.4

189.6

189.8

190.0

190.2

190.6

190.9

191.0

191.2

190.4

June

192.3

192.2

192.2

192.2

192.2

192.2

192.2

192.1

192.1

192.1

192.1

192.0

192.0

191.9

191.9

-

July

190.9

190.8

190.7

190.7

190.6

190.6

190.5

190.4

190.3

190.2

190.1

190.0

190.0

189.8

189.7

189.6

Aug.

188.2

188.1

188.0

187.9

187.8

187.7

187.6

187.5

187.5

187.4

187.3

187.2

187.2

187.1

187.0

187.0

Sept.

186.3

186.3

186.2

186.2

186.2

186.1

186.1

186.1

186.0

186.0

186.1

186.1

186.1

186.1

186.2

-

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

Oct.

_

186.2

_

186.2

186.2

186.2

186.2

-

_

186.2

186.3

_

_

186.3

186.4

_

186.4

186.4

_

186.4

186.3

186.3

186.3

_

186.3

186.3

186.3

186.2

_

_

186.2

Nov.

_

186.2

186.2

186.2

-

_

186.2

186.1

186.1

186.1

186.1

186.1

186.1

186.1

186.1

186.1

186.0

186.0

186.0

186.0

186.0

186.0

186.0

186.0

186.0

186.0

186.0

186.0

186.0

186.0

-

Dec.

186.0

_

_

-

-

_

_

185.9

_

186.0

186.0

-

186.0

186.2

186.4

186.6

186.7

186.8

-

186.8

186.9

186.9

186.9

186.9

-

186.9

186.9

186.9

186.9

186.9

186.9

Jan.

186.9

_

186.9

186.9

186.9

186.9

186.9

186.9

_

186.9

187.0

187.0

187.0

187.0

187.1

187.1

187.1

187.1

187.1

187.1

187.1

187.1

187.1

187.1

187.1

187.1

187.1

-

_

_

-

Feb.

_

-

-

-

-

187.4

_

187.5

-

187.7

187.8

187.9

#187.9

188.2

188.3

188.5

188.6

188.7

188.5

188.4

188.4

-

188.2

188.2

188.2

188.2

188.2

188.2

_

-

-

Mar.

188.3

188.3

188.5

188.6

188.9

189.2

189.6

190.0

190.3

190.5

190.7

190.9

191.0

191.2

191.5

191.8

192.1

192.3

192.8

192.9

193.1

193.3

193.5

193.6

193.7

*193.8

193.7

193.7

193.8

&193.9

193.7

Apr.

193.4

193.1

192.9

192.7

192.6

192.5

192.5

192.6

192.6

192.6

192.6

192.6

192.6

192.6

192.6

192.7

192.7

192.7

192.8

192.8

192.8

192.8

192.9

#193.0

193.0

192.9

192.8

192.9

*193.0

192.9

-

May

192.6

192.3

192.1

192.1

192.2

192.2

192.2

192.3

192.4

192.4

192.5

192.5

192.5

192.6

192.8

192.9

193.0

193.2

193.4

193.6

193.8

194.0

194.2

194.4

194.5

194.5

*194.6

194.7

194.8

194.9

195.0

June

195.1

195.2

195.3

195.4

»195.5

195.3

#195.1

194.6

*194.2

193.7

193.3

#193.1

193.0

192.8

192.8

192.7

192.8

192.8

192.8

192.9

192.9

192.9

192.9

192.9

193.0

193.0

193.0

193.0

193.0

193.0

-

July

193.0

193.0

193.0

193.0

193.0

193.0

193.0

193.0

192.9

192.9

192.9

192.9

192.8

192.8

192.8

192.8

192.7

192.7

192.7

192.7

192.7

192.6

192.6

192.6

192.5

192.5

192.4

192.4

192.4

192.3

192.3

Aug.

192.2

192.2

192.2

192.2

192.1

192.1

192.1

192.0

192.0

192.0

192.0

191.9

191.9

191.9

191.8

191.8

191.8

191.8

191.8

191.7

191.7

191.7

191.6

191.6

191.6

191.5

191.5

191.5

191.5

191.4

191.4

Sept.

191.4

191.4

191.3

191.3

191.3

191.2

191.2

191.2

191.2

191.2

191.1

191.1

191.1

191.1

191.1

191.1

191.0

191.0

191.0

191.0

191.0

191.0

191.0

191.0

191.0

190.9

190.9

190.9

190.9

190.9

-

#Levees broke, flooding additional areas.
486 RECORDS OP FLOODS IN 1938

Fresno by-pass, Fresno County, Calif.

Kings River, during flood periods, flows into Tulare Lake but also contributes some 

water to the San Joaquln River by way of Fresno Slough and Fresno by-pass which 

joins the San Joaquln River near Mendota. Data furnished by C. L- Kaupke, water 

master, Kings River Water Association. (See No. 311a on figure 6 and p. 128.)

Daily discharge, in second-feet, January to July 1938

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

January

590

570

455

445

510

505

360

355

345

S90

270

S20

180

145

130

145

145

410

465

480

485

490

400

310

S65

185

75

45

40

40

145

February

280

210

410

960

1,080

1,470

1,680

1,490

1,235

1,045

1,025

1,600

1,880

2,455

2,860

2,540

2,410

2,295

2,100

1,900

1,950

2,310

2,235

1,905

1,710

1,550

1,470

1,380

_

_

-

March

1,345

1,380

1,750

2,380

3,380

3,930

3,730

3,250

2,940

2,790

2,750

2,600

2,500

2,540

3,170

3,630

3,380

3,050

2,935

2,880

2,770

2,680

2,650

2,610

2,535

2,490

2,580

2,500

2,375

2,300

2,235

April

2,170

2,085

1,960

1,815

1,630

1,595

1,695

1,820

1,635

1,410

1,275

1,225

1,075

965

1,275

1,310

1,050

980

1,035

1,310

1,740

2,090

2,410

2,580

2,740

2,840

2,940

2,980

2,810

2,710

-

May

2,700

2,730

2,590

2,310

2,100

1,670

1,535

1,565

1,615

1,710

1,820

1,950

2,190

2,660

2,990

3,450

4,150

4,680

4,700

4,280

4,010

3,720

3,335

2,975

2,890

3,110

3,600

3,900

4,210

4,360

4,360

June

4,230

4,190

4,400

4,710

4,940

5,100

5,230

5,120

4,830

4,480

4,300

4,250

4,120

3,950

3,500

3,065

2,920

3,110

3,350

3,490

3,290

2,880

2,330

1,900

2,020

2,435

2,850

3,050

3,080

3,040

-

July

2,655

1,600

1,470

1,580

1,650

1,430

1,005

265

385

530

540

315

105

45

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Monthly discharge, January to July 1938

Month

Max*ch

Mov

Julv.... .............

Mean 

( second-feet)

3 /1OQ

438

Run- off in 

acre-feet

18 .800

89,961

26,878
RECORDS OP FLOODS IN 1938 487

San Joaquin River near Newman, Calif.

Location.- See page 136.

Maxima. March 1938: Discharge, 33,000 second-feet 12:30 a.m. Mar. 7 (gage height, 

15750 feet).

1'312-February 1938: Discharge observed (unregulated), 20,700 second-feet (main 

channel only) Jan. 27, 1914 (gage height, 18.0 feet).

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, February to April 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

:*eb.

5,560

i,840

i,930

5,380

3,550

7,420

3,080

3,450

3,010

3,690

Mar.

10,800

11,300

13,300

16,800

22 , 100

31,700

33,000

31,700

30,400

28,100

Apr.

15,000

14,100

13,000

12,300

11,600

11,300

11,600

11,100

11,100

10,500

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Feb.

11,300

14,100

20,100

23,600

23,600

24,400

24,400

24,400

22,800

21,400

Mar.

27,100

27,100

26,100

25,200

25,200

27,100

29,200

28,100

28,100

27,100

Apr.

10,300

10,500

10,300

10,100

10,100

9,880

9,880

9,690

9,510

10,100

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Feb.

20,800

19,500

17 , 800

15,400

14,100

13,000

11,900

11,300

14,350

797

Mar.

25,200

S4,400

23,600

22,100

20,800

20,100

20,100

20,100

19,500

17,300

15,800

23,500

1,445

Apr.

10,800

11,100

10,800

10,800

11,300

11,900

13,000

13,700

14,500

14,500

11,480

683

San Joaquin River near Vernalis, Calif.

Location.- See page 137.

Maxima.- March 1938: Discharge, 51,200 second-feet 1 a.m. Mar. 16 (gage height, 26.64 

feet).

1922-February 1938: Discharge, 28,700 second-feet Feb. 25, 1936 (gage height, 

25.57 feet).

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, February to April 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Feb.

7,560

10,400

12,400

13,800

16,200

17,700

16,300

14,400

13,500

14,100

Mar.

19,800

20,500

21,800

26,500

33,600

35 , 100

36,700

38,400

38,400

39,300

Apr.

24,200

22,600

21,400

20,800

20,200

20,500

21,800

21,800

21,400

20,500

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Feb.

17,300

28,000

34,000

40,000

39,300

36,700

35,100

33,600

31,500

29,400

Mar.

39,300

36,700

35,900

40,200

50,000

50,000

43,200

41,200

39,300

37,500

Apr.

20,500

20,500

20,800

21,400

21,800

21,800

21,400

21,100

21,100

21,400

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Feb.

28,200

27,100

26,000

25,500

24,200

22,600

20,800

20,200

1,301

Mar.

35,900

35,900

34,300

32,900

30,800

30,100

28,800

27,600

S7,100

26,500

S5,500

2,100

Apr.

22, ZOO

23,400

24,200

24,200

24,600

25,100

25,500

26,500

25,100

S5,500

1,333
488 RECORDS OF FLOODS IN 1938

Mono Creek near Vermilion Valley, Calif.

Location.- See page 141.

Maxima.- June 1938: Discharge, 1,760 second-feet 10:30 p.m. June 2 (gage height, 

8.62 feet).

1921-May 1938: Discharge, 1,420 second-feet June 16, 1927 (gage height, 8.09 

feet), June 22, 1932 (gage height, 8.10 feet).

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, 1938

Day

22

23

24

25

26

May

446

570

712

828

910

Day

27

28

29

30

31

May

1,030

1,030

970

1,060

1,210

Day

1

2

3

4

5

June

1,410

1,520

1,550

1,520

1,410

Day

6

7

8

9

10

June

1,380

1,380

1,340

1,410

1,340

Day

11

12

13

14

15

June

1,270

1,030

800

828

1,000

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1958

^

oW

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

June 1

8.16

8.11

8.02

7.95

7.85

7.77

7.74

7.85

8.15

8.44

8.56

8.59

1,450

1,420

1,350

1,300

1,240

1,190

1,170

1,240

1,440

1,650

1,730

1,750

Feet Sec. ft.

June 2

8.51

8.39

8.27

8.15

8.04

7.94

7.92

8.05

8.30

8.49

8.61

8.60

1,700

1,610

1,530

1,440

1,370

1,300

1,280

1,380

1,550

1,680

1,760

1,760

Feet Sec. ft.

June 3

8.55

8.44

8.33

8.22

8.11

8.00

8.01

8.11

8.27

8.41

8.47

8.47

1,720

1,650

1,570

1,490

1,420

1,340

1,350

1,420

1,530

1,630

1,670

1,670

Feet Sec. ft.

June 4

8.42

8.34

8.26

8.16

8.07

7.98

7.98

8.18

8.34

8.40

8.41

8.38

1,630

1,580

1,520

1,450

1,390

1,330

1,330

1,470

1,580

1,620

1,630

1,610

Feet Sec. ft.

June 5

Feet Sec. ft.

June 6

Fine Gold Creek near Friant, Calif.

Location.- See page 148.

Maxima.- March 1938: Discharge, 10,300 second-feet about 9 p.m. Mar. 12 (gage height, 

20.4 feet, from floodmarks).

1936-February 1938: Discharge, 6,780 second-feet Feb. 6, 1937 (gage height, 

16.45 feet).

9an daily discharge, in second-feet, 1938

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Feb.

524

274

738

808

452

237

174

154

440

270

Mar.

1,100

3,200

3,000

1,510

780

603

500

1,040

590

452

Apr.

142

137

131

133

306

174

152

138

133

133

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Feb.

3,950

1,320

616

1,140

603

428

306

350

792

361

Mar.

405

2,460

3,200

1,200

800

650

615

43d

305

567

Apr.

133

134

194

164

143

137

131

121

118

114

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Run-off, in acre-feet. ....................

Feb.

282

237

201

192

174

170

157

210

30,860

Mar.

385

240

206

447

255

185

170

177

170

154

149

837

51,460

Apr.

109

107

103

107

186

133

117

109

109

114

139

8,260
RECORDS OF FLOODS IN 1938 489 

Fresno River near Knowles, Calif.

Location.- See page 151.

Maxima.- March 1938: Discharge, 7,630 decond-feet 5 p.m. Mar. 12 (gage height, 8.67 

feet).

1911-13, 1915-February 1938: Discharge, 6,880 second-feet Feb. 6, 1937 (gage 

height, 8.16 feet).

san daily discharge, in second-feet, 1938

Day

1 

2 

3 

4 

5

March

1,270 

3,280 

2,670 

1,590 

1,050

Day

6 

7 

8 

9 

10

March

814 

694 

1,140 

743 

617

Day

11 

12 

13 

14 

15

March

638 

2,890 

4,020 

1,570

1,140

Day

16 

17 

18 

19 

20

March

1,090 

1,020 

766 

680 

998

Day

21 

22 

23 

24 

25

March

736 

604 

552 

1,050 

687

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

fc

3 

o

W

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec. ft.

March 11

2.66

2.65

2.64

2.63

2.62

2.62

2.62

2.70

2.78

2.90

3.13

3.29

584

578

571

564

558

558

558

610

666

750

934

1,060

Feet Sec. ft.

March 12

3.41

3.54

3.65

3.77

3.87

3.98

4.16

5.00

6.82

7.10

7.70

6.90

1,170

1,290

1,380

1,490

1,590

1,700

1,880

2,720

4,930

5,320

6,160

5,040

Feet Sec.ft.

March 13

6.33

7.67

8.00

7.15

6.15

5.80

5.82

5.50

5.19

4.90

4.65

4.41

4,270

6,120

6,580

5,390

4,040

3,620

3,640

3,270

2,930

2,620

2,370

2,130

Feet Sec.ft.

March 14

4.25

4.11

4.02

3.95

3.87

3.82

3.75

3.70

3.67

3.65

3.62

3.60

1,970

1,830

1,740

1,670

1,590

1,540

1,480

1,430

1,400

1,380

1,360

1,340

Feet Sec.ft.

March 15

Feet Sec.ft.

March 16

Merced River near Livingston, Calif.

Location.- See page 161.

Maxima.- February 1938: Discharge, 11,100 second-feet 11 p.m. Feb. 12 (gage height, 

1^744 feet).

1922-24, 1926-January 1938: Discharge, 10,900 second-feet (revised) Feb. 24, 

1936 (gage height, 19.24 feet).

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, 1938

Day

1 

2 

3 

4 

5

February

2,020 

1,720 

846 

1,760 

2,140

Day

6

7 

8 

9 

10

February

1,760 

1,610 

1,540 

1,610 

2,420

Day

11 

12 

13 

14 

15

February

3,830 

8,950 

9,570 

7,650 

8,150

Day

16 

17 

18 

19 

20

February

7,080 

6,450 

5,890 

5,510 

5,440

Day

21 

22 

23 

24 

25

February

5,370 

4,060 

2,530 

2,130 

2,000

Qage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

fc

gw

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet jSec.ft.

February 9

5.18

5.40

5.80

6.14

6.38

6.54

6.62

6.68

6.68

6.54

6.33

6.46

1,250

1,330

1,470

1,590

1,680

1,740

1,770

1,790

1,790

1,740

1,660

1,710

Feet Sec.ft.

February 10

7.10

7.94

8.54

8.81

8.84

8.80

8.81

8.79

8.66

8.37

8.02

7.85

1,950

2,280

2,520

2,620

2,640

2,620

2,620

2,620

2,560

2,450

2,310

2,240

Feet JSec.ft.

February 11

8.14

8.85

9.58

10.21

10.60

10.85

11.16

11.79

12.62

13.38

14.14

14.69

2,360

2,640

2,960

3,270

3,480

3,620

3,800

4,170

4,700

5,220

5,760

6,200

Feet Sec.ft.

February 12

15.10

15.40

15.85

16.30

17.00

17.72

18.35

18.83

19.14

19.33

19.43

19.43

6,540

6,810

7,220

7,650

8,350

9,140

9,870

10,400

10,800

11,000

11,100

11,100

Feet |Sec.ft.

February 13

19.33

19.12

18.85

18.56

18.26

17.97

17.72

17.50

17.30

17.13

16.96

16.82

11,000

10,800

10,500

10,100

9,760

9,420

9,140

8,900

8,680

8,490

8,310

8,170

Feet Sec.ft.

February 14

16.69

16.55

16.43

16.34

16.20

16.09

15.99

15.95

15.99

16.10

16.26

16.45

8,040

7,900

7,780

7,690

7,550

7,440

7,340

7,300

7,340

7, -450

7,610

7,800
490 RECORDS OP FLOODS IN 1938

Woods Creek near Jacksonville, Calil'.

Location.- See page 174.

Maxima.- February 1938: Discharge, 13,500 second-feet 8 p.m. Feb. 9 (gage height, 

1575 feet).

1925-January 1938: Discharge, 10,600 second-feet Feb. 6, 1937 (gage height, 

9.12 feet).

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, 1938

Day

1 

2 

3 

4 

5

February

1,460 

414 

2,280 

1,190 

476

Day

6 

7 

8 

9 

10

February

248 

178 

142 

3,160 

5,250

Day

11 

12 

13 

14

15

February

5,440 

1,220 

530 

1,180 

566

Day

16 

17 

18 

19 

20

February

366 

279 

252 

418 

232

Day

21 

22 

23 

24 

25

February

192 

190 

180 

170 

160

Bage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

h

gW

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet | See. ft.

February 8

1.44

1.41

1.41

1.40

1.39

1.38

1.37

1.36

1.36

1.36

1.41

1.47

153

146

146

144

142

140

138

136

136

136

146

159

Feet Sec. ft.

February 9

1.51

1.60

1.82

2.35

2.88

3.05

2.80

3.76

9.61

10.50

8.22

6.65

168

190

245

395

582

650

550

980

10,500

13,500

7,740

4,780

Feet Sec. ft.

February 10

5.21

4.48

4.59

6.37

7.62

8.19

7.93

8.59

8.40

7.38

6.34

6.04

2,800

2,030

2,140

4,360

6,540

7,680

7,160

8,580

8,100

6,060

4,310

3,870

Feet Sec. ft.

February 11

7.00

7.13

6.90

7.57

8.09

8.02

8.13

7.82

6.59

5.69

5.13

4.75

5,300

5,560

5,150

6,440

7,480

7,340

7,560

6,940

4,680

3,380

2,710

2,300

Feet Sec.ft.

February 12

4.45

4.18

3.91

3.61

3.35

3.18

3.12

3.16

3.17

3.15

2.94

2.76

2,000

1,740

1,510

1,270

1,090

988

952

976

982

970

860

770

Feet Sec.ft.

February 13

2.59

2.46

2.34

2.24

2.18

2.08

2.04

2.00

1.96

1.95

2.03

2.58

686

634

586

546

522

482

466

450

436

432

462

682

Shasta River near Yreka, Oalif.

Location.- See page 270.

Maxima.- March 1938: Discharge, 1,940 second-feet 5:30 p.m. Mar. 23 (gage height, 6.24 ISet).

1933-February 1938: Discharge, 1,860 second-feet 4 p.m. Dec. 11, 1937 (gage 

height, 6.17 feet).

Mean daily discharge, in second-feet, 1938

Day

7 

8 

9 

10 

11

March

477 

447 

422 

400 

382

Day

12 

13 

14 

15 

16

March

582 

443 

454 

432 

500

Day

17 

18 

19 

20 

21

March

511 

496 

500 

570 

550

Day

22 

23 

24 

25 

26

March

530 

1,470 

1,260 

970 

800

Day

27 

28 

29 

30 

51

March

750 

725 

655 

610 

570

Page height, in feet, and discharge, In second-feet, at indicated time, 1958

F-. 

I

2

4

6

8

10

N

2

4

6

8

10

M

Feet Sec.ft.

March 22

5.95

5.95

5.95

3.95

5.95

3.95

3.96

3.97

4.08

4.11

4.13

4.24

511

511

511

511

511

511

515

519

562

574

582

628

Feet |Sec.ft.

March 25

4.45

4.70

5.08

5.54

5.84

5.95

6.08

6.18

6.22

6.13

5.98

5.82

725

855

1,080

1,390

1,610

1,700

1,800

1,880

1,920

1,840

1,720

1,600

Feet Sec.ft.

March 24

5.66

5.54

5.45

5.57

5.32

5.28

5.29

5.51

5.30

5.27

5.28

5.16

1,470

1,390

1,320

1,270

1,250

1,210

1,210

1,230

1,220

1,200

1,160

1,130

Feet Sec.ft.

March 25

5.09

5.03

4.99

4.94

4.88

4.86

4.81

4.78

4.76

4.74

4.72

4.71

1,080

1,050

1,020

994

958

940

916

899

888

877

866

860

Feet Sec.ft.

March 26

Feet | Sec. ft.

March 27
RECORDS OP FLOODS IN 1938 491

340

=3^330

n <210

110 fi 100

30

WhitehouseMendota Dam

1 'emple

a Bridge

Slough^

Turner Is!.and Bridge

an»

alia*.

J I

1234567 9 10 11 12 13 114 15 16 17 18 19 20 

March

Figure 73.--Graphs of stage at various river-stage stations on the San Joaquin River

March 1-20, 1938.
RECORDS OF FLOODS IN 1938

~[9A9"[ B9S UB9OI 9AOq8
Page 

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

Acknowledgments ........... 5

Administration and personnel ..... 4-5

Alameda Creek near Niles ....... 114

Alameda Creek Basin, rainfall and

run-off in ........... 311

stage and discharge records in . . .114-115 

Alamitos Creek near Edenvale ..... 109'

Alder Creek near Whitehall ...... 254

American River at Fair Oaks ..... 245

maximum stages and discharges on . . 459 

Middle Pork of, near Auburn .... 245

Horth Pork of, near Colfax ..... 244

South Pork of, at Coloma ...... 249

South Pork of, near Camino ..... 248

South Pork of, near Kyburz ..... 247

Silver Pork of .......... 252

American River Basin, rainfall and

run-off in ..... 309, 315, 323, 339

Anderson, Calif., scene of flooded

orchard near ......... .pi. 3,Bi

Antler, Sacramento River at ..... 197

Arroyo Seco near Soledad ....... 100

Auberry, Big Sandy Creek near .... 147

Auburn, Middle Pork of American River

near .............. 246

Avery, Horth Pork of Stanislaus River

near .............. 178

Baird, McCloud River at ....... 210

Bakersfield, Kern River near ..... 118

Bear Creek near Planada ....... 154

near Vermilion Valley ....... 140

scene of damaged highway bridge on .pi. 5,B 

Bear Creek Basin, rainfall and runoff in ......... 307, 312, 322

Bear River at Pardoe Camp ...... 191

near Wheatland ........... 243

Bidwell Bar, Middle Pork of Feather

River at ............ 230

Big Bend, Pit River at ........ 205

Big Creek below Huntington Lake ... 143 

Big Creek, Florence Lake near .... 138

Huutington Lake near ........ 142

San Joaquin River above ...... 132

Shaver Lake near .......... 145

Big Pine Creek below Little Pine

Creek, near Big Pine ...... 278

Big Sandy Creek near Auberry ..... 147

Big Trees, San Lorenzo River at . . .102,483 

Bishop, Pine Creek at division box

near .............. 277

Rock Creek at Sherwin Hill near . . 276

Bowman Lake, Canyon Creek below . . . 241

near Oraniteville ......... 240

Bridgeport Reservoir near Bridgeport . 281 

Buchanan dam site, Chowchilla River at 153 

Buck Meadows, Middle Tuolumne River

near .............. 173

Bucks Creek at Bucks Creek storage

reservoir ........... 225

Bucks Creek storage reservoir near

Bucks ranch .......... 224

Bucks ranch, Bucks Creek storage

reservoir near ......... 224

Burnt Rancn, Trinity River near . . . 273 

Butte Creek near Chico ........ 218

Butte Creek Basin, flood scene in . . pi. 8 

rainfall and run-off in ..... .308,314

Cache Creek at Yolo ......... 260

maximum stages and discharges on . . 468 

North Pork of, near Lower Lake ... 261 

Cache Creek Basin, rainfall and runoff in ........ 316, 323, 339

Calaveras River at Jenny Lind . . 181, 182 

Calaveras River Basin, rainfall and

run-off in ..... 308, 313, 322, 338

Camino, South Fork of American

River near .......... 248

Campbell Creek at Saratoga ..... Ill

Canbya Pit River near ....... 202

Canyon Creek below Bowman Lake ... 241 

Carson River at Lahontan Reservoir,

Nev. ............. 282

Page 

Carson River Basin, rainfall and

run-off in .......... 316

Cherry Creek near Hetch Hetchy . . . 169 

Chester, Calif., scene of flood

damage ........... .pi. 1,B

Chico, Butte Creek near ....... 218

Chico Creek near Chico ....... 215

Chico Creek Basin, rainfall and runoff in ...... 308, 314, 323, 338

Chowchilla River at Buchanan dam

site ............. 153

Chowchilla River Basin, rainfall and

run-off in .... 307, 312, 321, 337

Clear Lake at Lakeport ....... 259

Clements, Mokelumne River near ... 188 

Cliff Camp, North Pork of Kings

River near .......... 129

Clio, Middle Fork of Feather River near 229 

Clipper Mills, Lost Creek near . . . 232 

Coalinga, Los Oatos Creek near . . 131, 484 

Cold Creek near Mokelumne Peak ... 190 

Colfax, North Pork of American River

near ............. 244

Coloma, South Fork of American River

at .............. 249

Concow Creek near Yankee Hill .... 228

Conn Creek near St. Helena ..... 264

Cosgrove Creek near Valley Springs . 183

Cosumnes River at Michigan Bar . . . 196

North Fork of, near El Dorado . . . 195

Cottonwood Creek near Priant .... 149

Coyote Creek near Edenvale ..... 113

near Madrone ........... 112

Coyote Creek Basin, rainfall and runoff in ............ 311

stage and discharge records in . .112-113 

Crane Valley Reservoir, North Fork

of Willow Creek at ...... 146

Crescent Mills, Indian Creek near . . 222 

Cupertino, Stevens Creek near .... 106

Daulton, Fresno River near ..... 152

Deer Creek near Smartville ..... 242

near Vina ............. 214

Deer Creek Basin, rainfall and runoff in ........... 308, 314

Donner Creek near Truckee ...... 286

Don Pedro Reservoir near La Grange . 166 

Downieville, scene of flood damage in pi. 4

Edenvale, Alamitos Creek near .... 109 

Coyote Creek near ......... 113

Eel River at Hullville ....... 266

at Scotia ............. 268

at Van Arsdale Dam, near Potter

Valley ............ 267

Eel River Basin, rainfall and runoff in ............ 316

stage and discharge records in » .265-268 

Elder Creek near Henleyville .... 212

Elder Creek Basin, rainfall and runoff in ........ .314, 322, 338

El Dorado, North Pork of Cosumnes

River near .... . ... 195

Eleanor Creek near Hetch Hetchy . . . 171 

Elk Creek, Stony Gorge Reservoir near 217 

Emigrant Oap, Lake Spaulding near . . 238 

Enterprise, South Fork of Feather

River at ........... 231

Exchequer, Lake McClure at ..... 159

Merced River at .......... 160

Pair Oaks, American River at .... 245

Fall River Mills, Pit River at ... 203

Falls Creek near Hetch Hetchy .... 168

Feather River, maximum stages and

discharges on......... 459

Middle Fork of, at Bidwell Bar . . 230

Middle Pork of, near Clio ..... 229

near Orovllle ........... 221

North Fork of, near Prattville . . ' 220

South Fork of, at Enterprise . . . 231

West Branch of, near Yankee Hill. . 227 

Feather River Basin, rainfall and

run-off in. 308-309, 314-315, 323, 338

493
Page 

Feather River Basin Continued

scenes of flood damage in ..... pi. 1

Pine Gold Creek near Friant .... 148, 488

Flood discharges, determination of . . 71-79 

summary of ............ .287-298

Floods', crest stages of, on Sacramento River ....... 422-424, 426

on San Joaquin River .... 422-423, 425

determination of discharges of, from

rating curves ......... 72-74

from slope-area observations . . . 75-77 

general discussion of ...... 71-72

over dams ............ 74-75

through contracted openings . . . 77-79 

general features of the ...... 6-21

miscellaneous stages of, on San

Joaquin River ......... 95

previous, in Kern River Basin . . .437-440 

in Sacramento River Basin . . . .453-470

in San Francisco Bay basins . . .434-437 

in San Joaquin River Basin . . . .444-453

in southern Pacific basins ... 433, 434 

in Tulare Lake Basin ...... .439-444

records of, in 1938 ....... .479-490

stage and discharge records of ... 79-286 

summary of outstanding ...... .430-433

Florence Lake near Big Creek ..... 138

Florence Lake, South Fork of San

Joaquin River near ....... 139

Fresno by-pass, Fresno County ... 128, 486 

Fresno River near Daulton ...... 152

near Snowies ........... 151, 489

Fresno River Basin, rainfall and

run-off in . . . . . 307, 312, 321, 337

Friant, Cottonwood Creek near . . . . 149

Fine Gold Creek near ....... 148, 488

Little Dry Creek near ....... 150

San Joaquin River near ....... 134

Gerber, Calif., flood scene near . . . pi. 6 

Gilroy, Calif., flood scene in ... pi. 9,B 

Graniteville, Bowman Lake near .... 240

Great Basin, rainfall and run-off in

the ........ 309, 316, 324, 339

Grizzly Creek near Storrie ...... 226

Ouadalupe Creek at Guadalupe ..... 107

at San Jose ............ 108

Guadalupe Creek Basin, rainfall and

run-off in ....... 311, 321, 337

stage and discharge records in . . .107-111 

Guenoc, Putah Creek near ....... 262

Happy Isles Bridge, near Yosemite,

Merced River at ........

Hat Creek near Hat Creek .......

Healdsburg, Calif., flood scenes near 

Henleyville, Elder Creek near ....

Heteh Hetchy, Cherry Creek near ...

Eleanor Creek near .........

Falls Creek near ..........

Lake Eleanor near .........

Tuolumne River near ........

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir at Hetch Hetchy 

Hoopa, Trinity River near ......

Hullville, Eel River at .......

Lake Pillsbury at .........

Humboldt-Carson Sink Basin, stage and 

discharge records in ......

Huntington Lake, Big Creek below ... 

Huntington Lake near Big Creek ....

Hydrologic conditions ........

Ice House, South Fork of Silver Creek 

near ..............

Iceland, Truckee River at ......

Independence Creek at Independence . . 

Indian Creek near Crescent Mills ... 

Introduction .............

Isabella, South Fork of Kern Rivei> at.

Kaweah River near Three Rivers ....

North Fork of, at Kaweah ......

scenes at river-measurement station 

on...............

Keddie, Spanish Creek at .......

Keimett, Sacramento River at .....

Kerckhoff power house, San Joaquin

River below ..........

Kern Canyon power house, Kern River

above .............

156 

208 

pi. 10 

212 

169 

171 

168 

170 

165 

164 

274 

266 

265

282

143

142

22-71

258

285

279

222

2

120

124

125

pi. 12 

223 

198

133

117

Kern River above Kern Canyon power 

house ...........

near Bakersfield ........

near Kernville .........

South Fork of, at Isabella

Page

117

118 

116 

120 

South Fork of, near Onyx ..... 119, 484

Kern River Basin, previous floods in .437-439 

stage and discharge records in . . .116-120 

rainfall and run-off ........ 307,

311, 321, 337, 354-357 

Kernville, Kern River near ...... 116

Kings County, Tulare Lake in .... 124, 485

Kings River above North Fork ..... 126

at Piedra ............. 127

Korth Fork of, below Rancheria

Creek ............. 130

near Cliff Camp. ......... 128

Kirkwood, Silver Lake outlet near. . . 251 

Twin Lakes outlet near ....... 253

Kittridge, Merced River at ...... 158

Klamath River at Somesbar ...... 269

Klamath River Basin, rainfall and runoff in ......... .316, 323, 339

stage and discharge records in . . .269-274 

Knowlea, Fresno River near ..... 151, 489

Kyburz, Silver Fork of South Fork of

American River near ...... 252

South Fork of American River near. . 247

Jacksonville, Woods Creek near 

Jenny Lind, Calaveras River at

174, 490

181, 182

La Grange, Don Pedro Reservoir near. . 166 

Tuolumne River above La Grange Dam

near .............. 167

Lahontan Reservoir, Nev., Carson

River at ............ 282

Lake Almanor near Prattville ..... 219

Lake Eleanor near Hetch Hetehy .... 170

Lake MeClure at Exchequer ...... 159

Lake Pillsbury at Hullville ..... 265

Lakeport, Clear Lake at ....... 259

Lake Spaulding near Emigrant Gap ... 238 

Lake Spaulding, South Fork of Yuba

River at ............ 239

Lake Tahoe at Tahoe ......... 283

Lancha Plana, Mokelumne River at ... 187 

Le Grand, Mariposa Creek near .... 155

Lewiston, Trinity River at ...... 272

Likely, South Fork of Pit River near . 207 

Lisbon, Yolo by-pass at ....... 201

Little Dry Creek near Friant ..... 150

Livingston, Merced River near. . . . 161, 489

Lone Pine, Tuttle Creek at Canyon

Road, near ........... 280

Los Gatos Creek at Los Gatos ..... 110

near Coalinga .......... 131, 484

Los Molinos, Mill Creek near ..... 211

Los Trancos Creek at Stanford

University ........... 105

Lost Creek jiear Clipper Mills. .... 232

Lower Lake, North Pork of Cache Creek

near .............. 261

Lyons Dam, South Fork of Stanislaus

River below .......... 180

McCloud River at Baird ........ 210

near McCloud ............ 209

Madrone, Coyote Creek near ...... 112

Mariposa Creek near Le Grand ..... 155

Marysville, Calif., flood scene

north of ........... .pi. 3,A

Medley Lakes outlet near Vade .... 250

Melones power house, Stanislaus River

below ............. 177

Melones Reservoir at Melones Dam . . . 176 

Merced River at Exchequer ...... 160

at Happy Isles Bridge, near

Yosemite ............ 156

at Kittridge ............ 158

at Pohono Bridge, near Yosemite . . 157 

flood scene of, near Briceburg ... pi. 2 

near Livingston ......... 161, 489

Merced River Basin, rainfall and

run-off in .307, 312, 322, 337, 370-372 

Meteorologic conditions ...... 22-71

Michigan Bar, Cosumnes River at . . 196 

Middle Tuolumne Kiver near Buck

Meadows ........... 173
495

Page 

Mill Creek near Los Molinos ..... 211

Mill Creek Basin, rainfall and runoff in . .308, 314, 322, 338, 392-393 

Milton, Middle Fork of Yuba River at. 233 

Mokelumne Peak, Cold Creek near . . . 190 

Mokelumne River at Lanoha Plana . . . 187 

at Woodbridge ........... 189

near Clements ........... 188

nea'r Mokelumne Hill ........ 186

Middle Fork of, at West Point . . . 192 

North Pork of, below Salt Springs

Dam .............. 185

South. Fork of, near Weat Point. . . 193 

Mokelumne River Basin, rainfall and

run-off in.308, 313, 322, 338, 383-385 

Mono Creek near Vermilion Valley . 141, 488 

Morgan Hill, tfvas Creek near .... 101

Napa River Basin, rainfall and runoff in ........ 316, 323, 339

stage and discharge records in . . 264 

Newman, Orestimba Creek near .... 163

San Joaquin River near ..... 136, 487 

Niles, Alameda Creek near ..... 114, 115 

North Pork, Kings River above .... 126 

North San Juan, Middle Fork of Yuba

River near .......... 234

Oregon Creek near ......... 236

Oakland Recreation Camp, South Fork

of Tuolumne River near .... 172 

Onyx, South Fork of Kern River near 119, 484 

Oregon Creek near North San Juan . . 236 

Orestimba Creek near Newman ..... 163 

Orestimba Creek Basin, rainfall and

run-off in . . 312, 322, 338, 353-354 

Oroville, Feather River near .... 221 

Owens Lake Baain, rainfall and runoff in ... 309, 316, 324, 339, 417 

stage and diacharge records in . .275-280 

Owens River near Round Valley .... 275

Pajaro River Basin, rainfall and runoff in .... 311, 321, 337, 350-352

stage and discharge records in . . 101 

Palo Alto, San Francisquito Creek at. 104 

Pardoe Camp, Bear River at ..... 191

Paskenta, Thomas Creek at ...... 213

Personnel, administration and .... 4-5

Piedra, Kings River at ....... 127

Pine Creek at division box, near

Bishop ............ 277

Pitman Creek below Tamarack Creek . . 144 

Pit River at Big Bend ........ 205

at Pall River Mills ........ 203

below Pit No. 4 dam ........ 204

maximum stages and discharges of. . 457 

near Canby ............ 202

near Ydalpom ........... 206

South Fork of, near Likely .... 207

Pit River Basin, rainfall and runoff in . .308, 314, 322, 338, 389-392 

Placerville, Silver Creek near . . . 257 

Planada, Bear Creek near ...... 154

Pleyto, San Antonio River at. . . . .99, 483

Plum Creek near Riverton ...... 255

Pohono Bridge, near Yosemite, Merced

River at ........... 157

Porterville, Tule River near .... 122

Potter Valley, Eel River at Van

Arsdale Dam near ....... 267

Prattville, Lake Almanor near .... 219

North Fork of Feather River near. . 220 

Precipitation, duration of ..... 44-56

f

eneral features of........ 25-44 

sohyetal maps of......... 45-53

rate and duration of....... 42

records of ............ 26-41

studies of ............ 24-56

Putah Creek, maximum stages and discharges on .......... 468

near flue no c ............ 262

near Winters ........... 263

Putah Creek Basin, rainfall and runoff in ........ .316, 323, 339

Pyramid and Winnemucca Lakes Basin,

stage and discharge records in.283-286 

Pyramid Lake Basin, rainfall and

run-off in .......... 316

Page 

Rancheria Creek, North Fork of

Kings River below ...... 130

Red Bluff, Sacramento River near . . 199 

Riverton, Plum Creek near ..... 255

Rock Creek at Sherwin Hill, near

Biahop ............ 276

Round Valley, Owens River near . . . 275 

Run-off. See Rainfall and run-off 

Russian River, flood scenes on ... pi. 10 

Rainfall. See Precipitation; Rainfall and run-off studies 

Rainfall and run-off studies . . . .306-422

comparison of conditions during

floods of record ...... .336-340

general discuasion of ...... 306

results of, in Alameda Creek

Basin ............ 311

in American River Baain. .... 309,

315, 323, 339

in Bear Creek Baain . . .307, 312, 322 

in Butte Creek Basin ..... 308, 314

in Cache Creek Basin . . .316, 323, 339 

in Calaveras River Basin .... 308,

313, 322, 338 

in Carson River Basin ..... 316

in Chico Creek Basin 308, 314, 323, 338

in Chowchllla River Basin . . . 307,

312, 321, 337

in Coyote Creek Basin ..... 311

in Deer Creek Basin ..... 308, 314

in Eel River Basin ....... 316

in Elder Creek Basin . . .314, 322, 338 

in Feather River Basin .... 308-309,

314-315, 323, 338 

in Fresno River Basin ..... 307,

312, 321, 337

in Great Basin . . . 309, 316, 324, 339 

in Guadalupe Creek Basin 311, 321, 337 

in Kern River Basin ...... 307,

311, 321, 337, 354-357

in Klamath River Basin . .316, 323, 339 

in Merced River Basin ..... 307,

312. 322, 337

in Mill Creek Basin. 308, 314, 322, 338 

in Mokelumne River Basin .... 308,

313. 322, 338

in Napa River Basin . . .316, 323, 339

in Orestimba Creek Basin .... 312,

322, 338, 353

in Owena River Basin 309, 316, 324, 339 

in Pajaro River Basin ..... 311,

321, 337, 350-352

in Pit River Basin . 308, 314, 322, 338 

in Putah Creek Basin 316, 323, 339 

in Pyramid and Winemucca Lake

Basins ............ 316

in Sacramento River Basin . . 308-309,

314-316, 322-323, 338-339

in Salinas River Basin ..... 311,

321, 337, 350-352

in San Francisquito Creek Baain. 311

in San Joaquin River Basin . . 307-308,

312-313, 321-322, 337-338

in San Lorenzo River Basin . . . 311,

321, 337, 350-352 

in Smith River Basin ...... 339

in Stanislaus River Basin . . 308, 313 

in Stevens Creek Basin ..... 311

in Stony Creek Basin ...... 314

in Thomas Creek Basin. . .314, 323, 338 

in Tulare Lake Basin ...... 307,

311-312, 321, 337 

in Tuolumne River Basin .... 307,

312-313, 322, 338 

in Yuba River Basin. . . .309, 315, 323

Sacramento River at Antler ..... 197

at Kennett ............ 198

at Sacramento and Yolo by-pasa at

Lisbon ............ 201

at Verona ............ 200

crest stagea on ...... 422-424, 426

effect of storage on....... 304

flood scenes near Gerber ..... pi. 6

flood scenes on ......... pi. 5

maximum stages and discharges of . 457 

near Red Bluff .......... 199

Sacramento River Basin, maximum

stages of recorded floods in . 458
496

Page 

Sacramento River Basin Continued

previous floods in ....... .453-469

rainfall and run-off in . 308-309, 314-316, 

322-323, 338-339

stage and discharge records of . .197-263 

Sacramento Valley, flood scenes in. .pi. 9,A 

St. Helena, Conn Creek near ..... 264

Salinas River near Santa Margarita .97, 482 

near Spreckels ......... .98, 482

Salinas River Basin, rainfall and

run-off in . . 311, 321, 337, 350-352

stage and discharge records in . . 97-100

Salmon River at Somesbar ...... 271

Salt Springs Dam, North Fork of

Mokelumne River below ..... 185

Salt Springs Reservoir near West Point 184 

San Antonio River at Pleyto .... .99, 483

Sand Bar Flat, near Avery, Middle

Fork of Stanislaus River at . . 175 

San Francisco Bay basins, previous

floods in .......... .434-437

rainfall and run-off in ..... .413-417

San Francisquito Creek at Palo Alto . 104 

at Stanford University ...... 103

San Francisquito Creek Basin, rainfall and run-off in ...... 311

stage and discharge records in . .103-105

San Joaquin River above Big Creek . . 132

below Kerekhoff power house .... 133

below Skaggs Bridge ........ 135

crest stages on ....... 422-423, 425

effect of storage on ....... 302

maximum stages and discharges of. . 453 

miscellaneous flood stages on ... 95 

near Friant ........... 134, 487

near Newman ...........136, 487

near Vernalis ........... 137

South Fork of, near Florence Lake . 139 

San Joaquin River Basin, previous

floods in .......... .444-453

rainfall and run-off in ..... 307-308,

312-313, 321-322, 337-338

stage and discharge records in . .132-196 

San Joaquin Valley, flood scenes in . pi. 11 

San Jose, Guadalupe Creek at .... 108

San Lorenzo River at Big Trees . . 102, 483 

San Lorenzo River Basin, rainfall

and run-off in. 311, 321, 337, 350-352

stage and discharge records in . . 102

Santa Margarita, Salinas River near .97, 482

Saratoga, Campbell Creek at ..... Ill

Scotia, Eel River at ........ 268

Shasta River near Yreka ...... 270, 490

Shaver Lake near Big Creek ..... 145

Sherwin Hill, near Bishop, Rock

Creek at ........... 276

Sierra City, North Fork of Yuba River

near ............. 237

Silver Creek at Union Valley .... 256

near Placerville ......... 257

South Fork of, near Ice House . . . 258 

Silver Lake outlet near Kirkwood . . 251 

Skaggs Bridge, San Joaquin River below. 135 

Slope-area observations, computation

of flow from ......... 75

Smartville, Deer Creek near ..... 242

Yuba River at ........... 235

Smith River Basin, rainfall and runoff in ............ 339

Snow, relation of, to floods .... 65-71

Soledad, Arroyo Seco near ...... 100

Somesbar, Klamath River at ..... 269

Salmon River at.......... 271

Southern Pacific basins, previous

floods in . ......... 433, 434

rainfall and run-off in ..... .350-353

Spanish Creek at Keddie ....... 223

Spreckels, Salinas River near ... .98, 482

Stanford University, Los francos Creek

at .............. 105

San Francisquito Creek at ..... 103

Stanislaus River below Melones power

house ............. 177

Middle Fork of, at Sand Bar Flat,

near Avery .......... 175

North Fork of, near Avery ..... 178

South Fork of, at Strawberry

Reservoir ........... 179

South Fork of, below Lyons Dam . . 180

Page 

Stanislaus River Basin, rainfall

and run-off in ....... 308, 313

Stevens Creek near Cupertino .... 106

Stevens Creek Basin, rainfall and

run-off in .......... 311

stage and discharge records in . . 106 

Stony Creek above Stony Gorge

Reservoir ........... 216

maximum stages and discharge on . . 468 

Stony Creek Basin, rainfall and

run-off in .......... 314

Stony Gorge Reservoir near Elk Creek. 217 

Stony Creek above ......... 216

Storage, effects of, on run-off . . .300-306 

on Sacramento River ....... .304-306

on San Joaquin River ...... .302-304

outside the Central Valley . . . .305-306

Storrie, Grizzly Creek near ..... 226

Strawberry Reservoir, South Fork of

Stanislaus River at ...... 179

Success, South Fork of Tule River

near ............. 123

Sutter Creek near Sutter Creek . . . 194

Tahoe, Lake Tahoe at ........ 283

Truekee River at ......... 284

Tamarack Creek, Pitman Creek below. . 144 

Temperature, relation of, to floods . 56-65 

Tenaya Creek near Yosemite ..... 162

Thomas Creek at Paskenta ...... 213

Thomas Creek Basin, rainfall and

run-off in ...... .314, 323, 338

Three Rivers, Kaweah River near . . . 124 

Trinity River at Lewiston ...... 272

near Burnt Ranch ......... 273

near Hoopa ............ 274

Truekee, Dormer Creek near ..... 286

Truekee River at Iceland ...... 285

at Tahoe ............. 284

Tulare Lake in Kings County .... 121, 485

Tulare Lake Basin, flood scene in

June 1938 ........... pi. 13

previous floods in ....... .437-440

rainfall and run-off in . . .307, 311-312,

321, 337

stage and discharge records in . .121-131 

Tule River near Porterville ..... 122

South Fork of, near Success .... 123

Tuolumne River above La Grange Dam,

near La Grange ........ 167

maximum stages and discharge of . . 452 

near Hetch Hetchy ......... 165

South Fork of, near Oakland

Recreation Camp ........ 172

Tuolumne River Basin, rainfall and

run-off in . . 307, 312-313, 322, 338 

Tuttle Creek at Canyon Road, near

Lone Pine ........... 280

Twin Lakes outlet near Kirkwood . . . 253

Union Valley, Silver Creek at . .

Uvas Creek near Morgan Hill ...

scene of flood in Gilroy from . Pi.

Vade, Medley Lakes outlet near ... 

Valley Springs, Cosgrove Creek near . 

Van Arsdale Dam, Eel River at ....

Vermilion Valley, Bear Creek near . . 

Mono Creek near ......... 141,

Vernalis, San Joaquin River near. . 137, 

Verona, Sacramento River at .....

Vina, Deer Creek near ........

Walker Lake Basin, stage and discharge in...........

West Point, Middle Fork of Mokelumne 

River at ...........

Salt Springs Reservoir near ....

South Fork of Mokelumne River near. 

Wheatland, Bear River near .....

Whitehall, Alder Creek near .....

Willow Creek, North Fork of, at

Crane Valley Reservoir ....

Winemucca Lakes Basin, Pyramid and,

rainfall and run-off in ....

stage and discharge records in .283- 

Winters, Putah Creek near ......

Woodbridge, Mokelumne River at ... 

Woods Creek near Jacksonville . . . 174,

256 

101 

9,B

250

183

267

140

488

487

200

214

281

192

184

193

243

254

146

316 

 286 

263 

189 

490
INDEX:

Page

Yankee Hill, Concow Creek near ... 228

West Branch of Feather River near . 227

Ydalpom, Pit River near ....... 206

Yal© by-pass at Lisbon ....... 201

3olo, Cache Creek at ........ 260

Yosemite, Merced River at Happy

Isles Bridge near ....... 156

Merced River at Pohono Bridge near. 157 

Tenaya Creek near ......... 162

Yreka, Shasta River near ..... .270, 490

Yuba River at Smartville ...... 235

Page 

Yuba River Continued

maximum stages and discharges on . 459 

Middle Pork of, at Milton ..... 233

near North San Juan ....... 234

North Pork of, at Downieville, 

scene showing destruction by 

flood on ........... pi. 4

near Sierra City ........ 237

South Pork of, at Lake Spaulding . 239 

Yuba River Basin, rainfall and runoff in ........ 309, 315, 323

160302 O 39 33 O