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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

TEXAS FLOODS OF 

1938 AND 1939

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 914

TRANSFER CASE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OP THE INTEBIOE 

Harold L. Ickes, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

W. E. Wrather, Director

Water-Supply Paper 914

TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

BY

SETH D. BREEDING AND TATE DALRYMPLE

UNITED STATES

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

WASHINGTON : 1944

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington^5, D. Cj

Price 25, cents
CONTENTS

Page

Abstract ..-_______--__-___-________-------------_-__--_..-___-___ 1

Introduction _______________________-___-__--___-___,.____-_--_.____ 2

Administration and personneI---__-__---------_--------____----_____ 4

Acknowledgments. ________________--___---_---_--____-____-___-___ 5

Determination of flood discharges.__________________________________ 5

Floods of January 1938 in east Texas._______________________________ 6

Precipitation.__ _______________________________________________ 6

Stages, and discharges at river-measurement stations _______________ 6

Sulphur River; near Darden, Tex.___________________________ 1-1

Cypress Creek near Jefferson, Tex___________________________ 12

Sabine River near Gladewater, Tex___________________________ 14

Sabine River at Logansport, La___-______--__--_____________ 16

Flood of June 1938 on Lake Creek, Donley County, Tex_______________ 18

Precipitation._________________________________________________ 19

Discharge records ___________________________________________ 22

Salt Fork of Red River at Mangum, Okla_-___-______________ 22

Floods of July 1938 in Colorado River Basin___________________________ 23s

Meteorologic conditions.... _ ___-__-_-__-___-__---____-__________ 23

Precipitation._____________________________________________ 24

^Colorado River flood_________-_--___-_____---_.______________ 39

Concho River flood_______--___------------_-________________ 39

San Saba River flood_________--__---_--_-----__--______________ 40

Flood at Buchanan Dam.______________________________________ 45

Flood stages and discharges______________________________ _ 46

Crest stages_______________-_-_______-___-_____-___________ 46

Summary of flood stages and discharges._____________________ 49

Stages and discharges at river-measurement stations in Texas.______ 49

Colorado River at Ballinger__.____________________________ 58

Colorado River near San Saba_---_-__---_---__--__________'_ 59

Buchanan Reservoir near Burnet-___________________________ 62

Colorado River at Austin______--__:_-_.__--________________ 65

Colorado River at Smithville ____-------___________________ 67

Colorado River near Eagle Lake__-_--__-----________________ 69

Elm Creek at Ballinger______--_--_-_-__--________,______ 71

South Concho River at Christoval.__________________________ 73

Lake Nasworthy near San Angelo._______________________>____ 74

South Concho River at San AngelO-_________________________ 75

Concho River near San Angelo. _ _________ ________ ^___ _______ 77

Concho River near Paint Rock_______________-___________*.__ 79

Middle Concho River near Tankersly._______________________ 80

Spring Creek near Tankersly-_--__--__------__-_____________ 82

North Concho River near Carlsbad__________________________ 83

Brownwood Reservoir near Brownwood_____^________________ 85

Pecan Bayou at Brownwood._______________________________ 85

San Saba River at Menard_______-_-_-_____________________ 86

San Saba River at San Saba_________________________________ 88 . North Llano River near Junction______________._____________ 90

in
IV . CONTENTS

Floods of July 1938 in Colorado River Basin Continued.

Stages and discharges at river-measurement stations in Texas Con. page

Llano River near Junction__________________________________ 91

Llano River near Castell___________________________________ 93

Pedernales River near Spicewood____________________________ 94

Silt_----__-____---_____-.______--___-_______________ 95

Rainfall and runoff__________________________________________ 98

Discussion of results___________--__________-_-___------___. 101

Colorado River Basin__________________________________ 101

Concho River Basin_______________-___________-____--_ 102

San Saba River Basin___________________________.,_____ 103

Llano River Basin_____________________________________ 103

Flood of June 1939 in upper Colorado River Basin___________________ 104

Discharge records____________________________________________ 108

Colorado River at Robert Lee, Tex__________________________ 108

Previous floods_____________________________^______________________ 109

Records of maximum stage and discharge _____________________ . 110

Index.__________________________________________________________ 115

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page 

PLATE 1. A, River-measurement station on Colorado River afc Austin;

B, Flood of July 1938 at Roy Inks Dam on Colorado River__ 42

2. Flood of July 1938 on Colorado River at Austin._____________ 42

3. Colorado River flood, July 30, 1938: A, Near Wharton; B, At .

Wharton_____________________________,_ 42

4. A, Main street, Menard, flooded by San Saba River, July 22, 

1938; B, Courthouse Square, Brady, flooded by Brady Creek, 

July 23, 1938______________________________ 42

5. San Saba River at San Saba______________________________ 42

6. San Saba River at San Saba: A, Railroad damaged by flood;

B, Part of town damaged by flood________________________ 42

7. Buchanan Dam and Reservoir on Colorado River____________ 42

8. Buchanan Dam spillway, July 24, 1938___________j.__________ 43

FIGURE 1. Map of Texas showing areas experiencing floods described in

this report-__________________-___________-_,________ 3

2. Map of Sulphur River and Cypress Creek Basins and upper 

part of Sabine River Basin, showing isohyetal lines of 

total precipitation. January 19-25, 1938, and places at 

which discharge records were obtained_________________ 7

3. Hydrographs of discharge of Sulphur River near Darden, 

Cypress Creek near Jefferson, Sabine River near Gladewater, and Sabine River at Logansport, January 21 to 

February 13, 1938_________________________ 8

4. Map of Lake Creek Basin and adjacent area, showing isohyetal lines of total rainfall June 15, 1938, location of rain 

gages, and places at which the peak discharge was determined___________________________________________ 20

5. Accumulated rainfall at stations in the San Saba River

Basin, July 18-25, 1938___-_____________r ____ 32
CONTENTS V

Page 

FIGURE 6. Isohyetal map of part of ColOTado River Basin, showing .total

rainfall, July 16-19, 1938_._..______...._______ 33

7. Isohyetal map of part of Colorado River Basin, showing

total rainfall, July 20-21, 1938_______________ 34

8. Isohyetal map of part of Colorado River Basin, showing total

rainfall, July 22-23, 1938..__._._.._..._._.___ 35

9. Isohyetal map of part of Colorado River Basin, showing total

rainfall, July 24-25, 1938___......_..__._.________ 36

10. Isohyetal map of part of Colorado River Basin, showing

total rainfall, July 16-25, 1938 .__.________ 37

11. Map of part of Colorado River Basin, showing places at 

i which discharge records were obtained for flood of July

1938 and for previous floods________________________ 38

12. Map of Concho River Basin, showing isohyetals for total 

rainfall, July 16-25, If38, and places at which discharge 

records were obtained_<_______________________ 41

13. Map of San Saba River Basin, showing isohyetals for total 

rainfall, July 16-25, 1938, and places at which discharge 

records were obtained________________________________ 44

14. Profile of flood-crest stages on the San Saba River and Brady

Creek, July 1938__________________________ 47

15. Hydrographs of discharge at river-measurement stations on

Colorado River, July 18 to August 8, 1938___,_______ 53

16. Hydrographs of inflow, outflow, and storage at Buchanan

Reservoir, on Colorado River, July 21 to August 3, 1938__ 54

17. Hydrographfe of discharge at river-measurement stations on

South Concho and Concho Rivers, July 20-3-1, 1938___ 55

18. Hydrographs of discharge at river-measurement stations on 

San Saba River at Menard and at San Saba, July 18-31, 

1938--__-_-____._________________________________ 56

19. Hydrographs of discharge at river-measurement stations on

North Llano and Llano Rivers, July 20-31, 1938_______ 57

20. Discharge, and silt content in percent and tons per second,

at stations on the Colorado River, July-August 1938____ 96

21. Map of upper Colorado River Basin, showing rainfall stations, 

is'ohyetal lines of total rainfall June 19-20, 1939, and flood 

measuring points___________________________________ 105

TABLES

Page

TABLE 1. Rainfall, in inches, at certain Weather Bureau stations in

east Texas, January 19-25, 1938__ _____ ___ ___ 9

2. Summary of peak discharges at certain river-measurement 

stations in Red and Sabine River Basins; January-Feb- 

- ruary 1938_________________________________ 10

3. Rainfall in Lake Creek Basin and adjacent area, June 1938-- 21

4. Maximum discharge of Lake Creek, June 1938-____________ 22

5. Daily and total rainfall, in inches, July 16-25, 1938, at

points in central Texas_________'_______-i____________--_ 25

6. Total rainfall at miscellaneous points in central Texas,

July 16-25, 1938__---______________________________ 28

7. Flood-crest stages on Colorado River, July 1938________ 48
VI CONTENTS

Page 

TABLE 8. Flood-crest stages on San Saba River and Brady Creek, July

1938-,.-..--....-._____________________._._ 48

9. Summary of flood stages and discharges in Colorado River

Basin, July 1938_______ _ _________________ 50

10. Silt load of Colorado River during indicated periods of

maximum silt movement, July-August 1938.____________ 97

11. Silt content of Colorado River at stations near San Saba, at

Austin, and near Eagle Lake, July-August 1938____.___-- 97

12. Rainfall and runoff of flood of July 1938 in Colorado River

Basin..._______________________^____ 100

13. Rainfall in upper Colorado River Basin, June 19-20, 1939. ._ 106

14. Peak discharges in upper Colorado River Basin, June 1939.___ 109

15. Maximum stages and discharges on streams in Red, Sabine,

and Colorado River Basins, Tex-_--__-__-__-__-__-_____ 111
TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

By SETH D. BREEDING and TATE DALRTMPLE

ABSTRACT

In January, June, and July 1938, and June 1939 parts of Texas experienced 

floods that exceeded previously recorded stages at many places and that were 

unusually high over reaches of several hundred miles on the streams of the State.

The floods were caused by heavy rainstorms that covered a total area of about 

30,000 square miles in three widely separated parts of the State. These storms 

occurred in northeast Texas, in the Panhandle-plains region of nQrth Texas, and 

in the upper Colorado River Basin in northwest-central Texas.

Heavy rains occurred in January 1938 over an area from Texas to Tennessee. 

In east Texas the maximum precipitation recorded for a 24-hour period was 5.35 

inches and for a 7-day period was 10.73 inches. Higher stages occurred on the 

Sulphur River than any previously known on that river. The resulting peak discharge at Darden, for instance, was 92,900 second-feet from a drainage area of 

2,754 square miles, or 33.7 second-feet per square mile. High but not recordbreaking stages occurred on Cypress Creek and the upper Sabine River.

A cloudburst rain that lasted from 1 to 4 hours during the night of June 15, 

1938, fell in Lake Creek Basin in the Panhandle-plains regions and amounted to 

14 inches at one place. The flood was the greatest known in Lake Creek: the 

peak discharge as detecnnined near Hedley was 64,700 second-feet from a drainage 

area of 68.5 square miles, or 945 second-feet per square mile.

During July 16-25, 1938, heavy rains fell in the upper Colorado River Basin 

and centered in the watershed of the San Saba and South Coneho Rivers, with 30 

inches of rain .reported from one place and 20 inches or more from about 70 places. 

More than 15 inches Sell in an area of 5,700 square miles. The greatest 1-day rain 

reported was 13 inches; one observer reported 5.50 inches of rain fell in 1 hour.

The resulting flood in the Colorado River was the greatest on record from the 

mouth of the San Saba River to Buchanan Dam, and the peak discharge just 

below the San Saba River was 224,000 second-feet.

The rainfall over the 434 square miles of the South Coneho River Basin above 

Christoval averaged 19.7 inches. A peak discharge of 100,000 second-feet was 

determined at the Christoval gage, where the stage was about 1 foot lower than 

in August 1906.

The 3,100 square miles drained by the San Saba River received a rain of from 

12 to 25 inches that averaged 18.8 inches over the basin. Richland Creek, tributary to the San Saba River, received a rain of from 20.5 to 22.5 inches that averaged 21.1 inches over the area. . The maximum discharge measured on th& San 

Saba River was 203,000 second-feet at San Saba. The peak discharge of Richland Creek near Richland Springs was 61,000 second-feet from a drainage urea of 

72.4 square miles, or 843 second-feet per square mile. The floods in the San Saba 

River exceeded any since 1899 and were the greatest known at many places on 

streams in the San Saba River Basin.

Measurements of the silt content of the Colorado River during the flood of 

July 1938 show & maximum 24-hour load at Austin of 2,383,000 tons and a total 

load for the flood period of 8,030,600 tons.
2 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

Studies of the rainfall and the associated direct runoff at river-measurement 

stations in the Colorado River Basin show that for the storm of July 1938 an 

average of about 19 inches of rain fell on several areas and the maximum direct 

runoff was 5.05 inches. The difference between the total rainfall and the direct 

runoff, or the basin retention, averaged 14.9 inches for those basins receiving more 

than 18 inches of rain and 10.0 inches for those receiving from 11 to 15 inches.

In June 1939 a rain of from 4 to 19 inchefe fell in from 4 to 10 hours on an area of 

about 1,000 square miles in the upper Colorado River Basin. The resulting flood 

in the Colorado River at Colorado, had a peak discharge of 72,800 second-feet and 

was the greatest known at that station.

This report presents records of precipitation at several hundred places; 10 

isohyetal maps; records of peak stages and discharges and of daily mean discharges 

during the flood period at more than 30 river-measurement stations; hydrographs 

of discharge at 19 stations; records of suspended matter transported in stream 

channels by the flood; results of studies of rainfall and runoff; records of past 

floods in the Red, Sabine, and Colorado River Basins; and other data pertinent to 

the floods in Texas.

INTRODUCTION

Almost every year some part of Texas experiences a flood of exceptional magnitude that usually results from intense rainfall over a 

relatively small area, which may at times act in conjunction with a, 

more widespread storm condition. The exceptional floods that occurred in Texas in 1938 and 1939 and that are described in this 

report resulted from intense rains in four areas, as shown in figure 1, 

namely, Sulphur River, Cypress Creek, and the upper Sabine River 

Basins in east Texas; Lake Creek Basin in the Panhandle-plains region; 

Concho, San Saba, and other river basins tributary to the Colorado 

River in the Edwards Plateau region of central and west-central 

Texas; and the upper Colorado River Basin just below the Cap Rock, 

in northwest-central Texas. These floods occurred in January, June, 

and July, 1938, and July 1939, respectively. At least 12 lives were 

lost, and damage of over $5,350,000 was caused to property.

The flood of January 1938 in east Texas was caused by heavy 

precipitation that was part of a general rain covering a large section 

of several States. The maximum precipitation recorded for a 24-hour 

period ditring this storm was 5.35 inches .and for a 7-day period 10.73 

inches. The floods of June and July 1938 were caused by so-called 

cloudburst storms, for 14 inches of rain was reported ,to have fallen in 

from 1 to 4 hours at one place during the June storm, and 13 inches in 

24 hours at two places and 5.5 inches in 1 hour at another place in the 

July storm.

Cloudburst floods are difficult to describe satisfactorily. Intense 

rains occur usually where there are no rain gages and almost always 

where there is no recording rain gage to give accurate information as to 

intensities. Rainfall information must therefore be compiled from 

available sources, and although it may be reasonably reliable it is 

generally not highly accurate as to. quantity and fails to give tbe 

intensity of precipitation for short periods.
INTRODUCTION!

As there, is of ten*no river-measurement station on the stream most 

affected and as there is seldom an opportunity for direct measurements 

of stage or discharge, the rates of discharge frequently must be computed by indirect methods, such as by formulas for flow over dams, by

26° -2S»

«° IOZ» 100° 98° 9S"

EXPLANATION 

'Areas experiencing floods in 1938 A* Sulphur River, Cypress Creek, and

Area experiencing floods in 1939 upper Sablne River Basins

B = Lake Creek Basin

C = Colorado River Basin

D = Upper Colorado River Basin

FIGURE I, Map of Texas showing areas experiencing floods described fat this report.

the draw-down at contracted openings, or, most commonly, by open 

channel slope formulas.

Although the resulting reports may be inadequate in many respects, 

'any available information of cloudburst floods is valuable because 

such floods are especially disastrous in creeks and small rivers, in 

which they cause record stages and discharges. A record of the magnitude of these floods and a study of the history of previous floods are of 

value in designing engineering structures such as dams, bridges, levees,
4 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1933 AND 1939

and other controlling works, and in planning the complete utilization 

of the water resources of a region.

The most disastrous floods of 1938 and 1939 originated in the relatively small areas of the South Concho and San Saba Rivers in the 

Colorado River Basin. These floods were especially interesting and 

instructive as a test of the effect of recently completed storage works 

marking the beginning of a comprehensive effort toward ultimate 

complete control and utilization of the waters of the Colorado River.

This report presents information that greatly exceeds in scope and 

detail the information customarily obtained under the regular rivermeasurement program. Considerable effort has been expended in 

gathering and analysing rainfall data and in determining the peak 

discharge at places other than regular gaging stations. The report 

includes a tabulation of past flood peaks obtained from records that 

have been gathered at river-measurement stations and miscell°neous 

places in the basins experiencing unusual floods in 1938 and 1939.

The Public Works Administration, acting in accordance with the 

National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933, allotted funds .that aided 

the Geological Survey considerably in conducting the work incident 

to this report.

ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL, ' ,

The field and office work of preparing this report was performed 

by the Water Resources Branch of the Geological Survey under the 

general administrative 4ii?ection Of ^.N. C. Groverr ey^-iydrauBc 

engineer up to the time of his retirement from the Government service 

on January 31, 1939; then under C. G. Paulsen, acting chief hydraulic 

engineer until October 17, 1939; and finally under G. L. Parker, 

chief hydraulic engineer thereafter. The major part of the work 

was performed during Mr. Paulsen's incumbency. The assembling 

of the report, as well as some special work, was carried on by the 

Division of Water Utilization under the general technical direction of 

R. W. Davenport, chief. The field work and the collection and tabulation of basic information with respect to stages and discharges were 

done under the direction of C. E. EUsworth, district engineer.

Data relative to the flood on Lake Creek in June were collected and 

analyzed by W. H. Goines; records for Salt Fork'of the Red River at 

Mangum, Okla., were computed by the office of'the Survey at Fort 

Smith, Ark., J. L. Saunders, district engineer. The special data 

relative to the floods in the Colorado River Ijasin were obtained and 

analyzed under the immediate direction of S. D. Breeding: Special, 

studies and the writing of text were done by Mr. Bspeedmg and Tate 

^Dalrymple.
DETERMINATION OF FLOOD DISCiMB&ES 5 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The river-measurement work of the Geological Surrey is performed 

in Texas in cooperation with the State Board of Water Engineers, 

consisting of C. S. Clark, chairman, A. H. Dunlap, and J. W. Pritchett.

Acknowledgment is made to the United States Weather Bureau for 

many of the data on rainfall and for the discussion of weather conditions during the storm period in July; and to the Corps of Engineers, 

United States Army, for many of the supplemental data on rainfall.

Most of the data relative to Buchanan Reservoir, and other information concerning the flood in the Colorado River, were furnished by the 

Lower Colorado River Authority.

Many miscellaneous rainfall records were obtained from local 

observers to whom no individual acknowledgment is made but to 

whom special credit is due, for these data have added materially to 

the knowledge of the rainfall.

Information in this report has been obtained from many sources, 

including individuals, corporations, city, county, and State officials, 

and newspapers. So far as practicable,, acknowledgments for individual contributions are given at appropriate places in the report.

DETERMINATION OF FLOOD DISCHARGES

The general method employed in determining discharge at rivermeasurement stations consists in determining a stage-discharge 

relation by means of current-meter measurements of discharge at 

various stages from low water to high water and applying this relation 

to the records of stage. The records of stage, unless otherwise 

noted, are obtained either from readings on nonrecording gages or 

from graphs of continuous water-stage recorders. * 'ff- 4j

Plate 1, A, shows a river-measurement station in Texas equipped 

with a water-stage recorder installed in a concrete stilling well.

The determining of flood discharges in many places is very difficult, 

as the accuracy of such discharges often depends on surveys, analyses, 

and computations by various indirect methods for extending the 

curve of stage-discharge relation -beyond the range covered by currentmeter measurements.

At places other than regular river-measurement stations^ peak 

discharges are nearly 'always determined by some indirect method. 

It is usually impossible at such places to obtain sufficient basic informa* 

tion from which the total quantity of water discharged during the flood 

may be computed.

The methods employed in determining the maximum discharge of 

floods described in this report are extension of rating curves for rivermeasurement stations, computation of flow over dams, computation 

of flow through contracted openings, and computation of flow by the 

slope-area method. These methods are outlined in standard text-
6 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

books and manuals on hydraulics l and have been discussed in previous reports of the Geological Survey.2

FLOODS OF JANUARY 1938 IN EAST TEXAS

A period of heavy precipitation, from about January 20 to 25, 1938, 

centered over Arkansas and western Tennessee and extended southwestward to eastern and central Texas. In general, light to moderate 

floods resulted, but on Sulphur Kiver, tributary to Ked River, stages 

occurred that were higher than any previously known. High but not 

record-breaking floods also occurred in Cypress Creek and the upper 

Sabine River. The damage done by the floods has been estimated 

by the Weather Bureau as $39,500 for Sulphur River Basin and $8,150 

for Cypress Creek Basin.3

East Texas is a relatively low forested area of rolling topography 

and sandy soil. The average annual precipitation of about 45 inches 

has developed a well-defined drainage system. Owing to flat gradients and resulting low velocities, stream channels are not eroded 

appreciably even during floods. Streams in this area rise and recede 

slowly, in contrast to the flashy rises of streams in the western part of 

the State that are subject to cloudburst floods.

PRECIPITATION

The available rainfall data for east Texas for the period January 

19-25, 1938, are given in table 1. No records were obtained at places 

other than regular Weather Bureau stations, which are scattered. 

However, as the rains were fairly steady and covered an extensive 

region, a good indication of the total precipitation over the area is 

obtained. Figure 2 is a map of the Sulphur River, Cypress Creek, 

and the upper part of the Sabine River Basins, showing isohyetal 

lines of total precipitation January 19-25, 1938.

STAGES AND DISCHARGES AT RIVER-MEASUREMENT STATIONS

Discharge records for Sulphur River near Darden, Cypress Creek 

near Jefferson, &nd Sabine River near Gladewater, Tex., and at 

Logansport, La., are presented, as all the river-measurement stations 

in the area of heavy rainfall. The locations of these stations are shown

» King, H. W., Handbook of hydraulics, 3d ed., McQraw-Hill Book Co., 1939.

* See Johnson, Hollister, The New York State flood of July 193£: U.S. Qeol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 

773-E, pp. 251-254, 1936. Dalrymple, Tate, and others, Major Texas floods of 1935: U. S. Geol. Survey 

Water-Supply Paper 796-G, pp. 229-232, 252-256,1939. Qrover, N. C., and others, The floods of March 

1936, Part 1, New England rivers: U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 798, pp. 70-77,1937- Dalrymple, 

Tate, and others, Major Texas floods of 1936: U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 816, pp. 12rl8,1937, 

and Troxell, H. C., and others, The floods of March 1938 in southern California: U. S. Geol. Survey WaterSupply Paper 844,1942 [1943].

' Monthly Weather Bev., p. 21, January 1838.
FLOOPS OF JANUART 1S38 IN EAS? TKKAS

in figure 2. - Table 2, which is a summary of peak cfoekarges-at tbese 

stations, also gives, for purposes of comparison, the maximum discharge previously known. Hydrographs of discharge, plotted from

33»

EXTH.ANATION 

*3 s Gaging station

^BL^MTi .-rj^rr ^fr

/ iSgonsportv 

si»

SCALE IN MILES 

tO 0 10 20 30

FIGURE 2. Map of Sulphur River and Cypress Creek Basins and upper part of Sabine River Basin, showing 

isohyetaJ lines of total precipitation January 19-25, 1938, and places at which discharge records were 

obtained,

the station records, are shown in figure 3. For an explanation of the 

station records, see the section of this report.on stages and discharges 

at river-measurement stations in the description of the floods of 

July 1938 in Colorado River Basin. ;

FLOODS OF JANUARY 1938 IN EAST TEXAS

TABLE 1. Rainfall, in inches, at certain Weather Bureau stations in east Texas,

January 19-26, 1938

[T-less than 0.01 inch]

Station

Bonhain *_. _ - _ -... __ .....

Clarksvttle b__ .. . ...... Dallas «

Flint > - _ ,. - . -

Kaufman * ,

Marshall b ... __ . _ . ...........

Latitude

0 /

33 53 

33 34 

31 20 

33 ^6 

32 47 

32 U 

32 45 

33 08 

33 35 

32 45 

32 35 

32 30 

31 58 

32 30 

32 33 

33 09 

31 36 

S3 12 

33 39 

33 22 

33 08 

33 26

Longitude

o /

95 30 

96 11 

94 01 

95 02 

96 47 

95 22 

94 57 

96 07 

95 55 

94 21 

96 20 

95 25 

94 00 

04 45 

 94 24 

94 58 

94 40 

94 40 

95 35 

95 17 

95 37 

94 02

January

19

......

......

 -

......

3.05

20

0.01

"I.~44~ 

.78 

.23 

.13

.99

T

T

......

.66 

1.03

21

1.66

1.25

.06 

2.38 

3.12

""."32"

1.14 

.92

.27

.10 

.21 

.02

.25

.53 

.02 

.38 

1.42 

1.10 

2.51 

5.30

22

0.62 

1.20

.15 

2.80 

.37

Too"

.20

1.12 

.21 

T 

.55

426 

.17 

5.35 

1.82 

2.40

.75

23

0.77 

1.48

.12

1.38 

3.60 

3.59 

1.25 

1.39

1.20 

1.14

.30

.94

1.81 

.06 

.60 

/95

3.15

1.85

24

1.07 

.55

.95 

1.84

.01

" .~44~ 

T 

1.98

1.15 

3.15

1.95 

.25.

3.55 

1.46 4 40

1.15 

1.68

.10

25

___

......

T

0.34 

.10

......

T

19-25

413 

4.48 

1.28 

8.46 

5.66 

3.83 

404 

. 6.83 

3.50 

2.25 

3.57 

471 

.36 

2.90 

1.44 

10.15 

1.71 

10.73 

5.34 

8.33 

6.22 

9.03

» Measured in the morning. 

b Measured at sunset. 

« Midnight to midnight.
TABLE 2. Summary of peak discharges at certain river-measurement stations in Red and 

No. 

on 

fig.

2

1 

2

3 

4

Stream and place of determination

Red River Basin

Sabine River Basin

Drainage 

area 

(square 

miles)

2,754 

848

2,846 

4,858

Period of 

record

1909-38 

1924-38

1932-38 

1903-38

Maximum discharge 

known

Date

May 19, 1930. .. .

May 20, 1930.. . .

A stage 2.5 feet higher occurred May 1884; discharge not determined. 
FLOODS DF JANUARY 193 8 IN EAST 11

.8TOLEHUB RIVER NEAR. DARDEN, TBX.

LOCATION. Lat. t3°15', long. 94°37', at bridge on U. S. Highway 67, 0.5 mile 

upstream from St. Louis Southwestern Ry. bridge and 1 mile southwest of 

Darden, B,owief County. Zero of gage is 220.6 feet above mean sea level.

DRAINAGE AEBA. 2,754 square miles.

GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-stage recorder graph except 1 a. m. Jan. 25 to 

4 p. m. Jan. 26, when it was determined from graph based on two outside 

gage readings and elevation of peak stage shown by watennark in gage well. 

Gage heights used to tenths.

STAGE-DISCHARGE RELATION. Defined by current-meter measurements below 

66,200 second-feet; extended to peak stage. Discharge Jan. 21-23 and 

Feb. 2-11 determined by using rate of change of stage as a factor.

MAXIMA. 1938: Discharge, 92,900 second-feet between 1 and 3 p. m. Jan. 25 

(gage height, 34.9 feet).

1909-37; 4 Discharge, 67,200 second-feet May 19, 1930 (gage height, 

about 33.3 feet at present site, revised 1937).

REMARKS. No diversions or regulation.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 19S8

Day

Jan. 21....

22. 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

Secondfeet

425

4,780

11,800

47,100

89,600

80,800

60,000

40,200

29,000

Acre-feet

843

9,480

23,400

93,420

177, 700

160,300

119,000

79,740

57,520

Day

Jan. 30.-..

31 

Feb. 1 

' 2 

3 .

4. 

5 

6 -

Secondfeet

20,300

14,500

10,300

7,700

5,250

3,400

2,520

1,530

Acre-feet

40,260

28,760

20,430

15,270

10, 410

6,740

5,000

8,030

Day

Feb. 7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 .

13 .

14 

15. 

Secondfeet

945

685

480

412

332

' 325

295

275

255

Acre-feet

1,870

1,360

952

817

659

645

585

545

506

Ronoft, In acre-ieet, for period Jan. 21, to Feb. 15________ _ ___..... 859,200

Gage height, in feet^ and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

Time

Jan. 81

1 a. m __ 

7.. .....

8 -

9.. ..... 

10 

12m. .

Q

I::: ::::::

n ...

12... .......

2- _____ . 

3 __ 

5-.- ... . 

6 .......

7 .......

8 .......

10 .....

12m. 

6 __ ......

9- ___ ..

12 -

Feet

5.12 

5.08 

5.13

5.27 

5.47

7 99

7.85

8.50

10.65 

12.50

14.50 

16.00 

17.40

18. 45 

19.05 

19.65

20.20

20.65

21.33

21: 87

22.33

22.71

23.12

23.67

Secondfeet

201 

197 

204

262 

338

462 '565

653

730

1,050 

1,380

if OQU

2,280 

2,780

,3,200 

3,490 

3,800

4 0QO

4,370

4,780

5,180

5,520

5,870

6,350

6,440

Time

Jim. %8

4 a. m. .... 

8 ......

12m.._ 

3 p. m ..... 

6 ..........

9 _ ... ....

12..........

S a. m .....

9... ___ .

12m-. _ ...

*B. m. . 

6 

12 .......

4 a. m.....

8-. .....

12 m__ 

6 ..

12.........

Feet

24.34 

24.87 

25.38

26.00 

26.39

26.80

27.36

28.05

OQ 09

29.67

30.50

31.35 

32.15 

so on

33.50

34.15

34.72

34.88

34.90

34.86

34.64

Secondfeet

8,060 

8,970

in OHO

13,000 

15,000

17,300

20,900

25,000 

31 400

38,600

46,000

55,000 

63,200 

70,900

77,500

85,200

90,700

92,700

92,900

92,500

89,600

Time

Jan.%8

6 a. m.. ... 

12m . 

12... .......

Jan. 87

8 a. m_, _

12.. .

Jan. $8

4 p. m ...

12 ...

Jim. SO

Jan. SO

12 m ___

12p.m. .

Feet

34.30 

33.90

QQ AQ

32.95

32.25

31.50 

30.80

30.17 

29.65 

29.15

28. 45

Ai. 03

27.30

26.80

Secondfeet

86,300 

81,900

 77 enn

72,000

63,200

56,000 

49,000

43,000 

37,800 

34,600

&ot JUU

4&>, QUU

20,300

17,300

«U. 8. Weather Bur. record, 1909-22. 

463302 44 2
12 TEXAS FLOODS OP 1938 ANB 1939

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938 Continued

Time

Jan. SI 

12m 

12p.m.. 

Feb.l 

12m 

12p.m.....

Feb. H

12m 

12p.m.....

Feb.S 

12mFeb. 4 

12m.. 

12p.m. 

Feb.S 

8 a. m .....

12. 

Feet

26.30

25.85

25.42

25.01

24.12 

23.55

23.03

22.25

21.24

20.43 

19.58

18.65

Secondfeet

14,500

12,000

10,300

9,000

7,700 

6,250

5,150

4,450

3,430

3,030

2,670 

2,380

2,100

Time

Feb. 6 

8 a. m _ ..

4 p. m .....

12 .

Feb. 7

8 a. m. ....

4 p. m .....

12 

Feb.S

8 a. m.. ... 

4 p. m .....

12 

Feb.S 

12 m........

12 p. m_ _

Feb. 10 

12m- ...

12p.m.....

Feet

17.68

16.67 

15.62

14.54

13.51 

12.51

11.61 

10.82

10.10

9 12

8.37

7.77

7.28

Secondfeet

1,650

1,420 

1,210

1,020

870 

750

730 

645

570

470

435 

408

358

Time

Feb. 11 

12m........

12 p. m 

Feb.lt '

12m........

12 p. m 

Feb. IS 

12m. _ ....

Feb. 14

12m 

12 p.m.. ...

Feb. IS

12 p. m .....

Feet

6.65

6 42

6.22

6.08

5.96

5.86 

5.77

5.60

Secondfeet

336

onr

305

295

285

275 

265

245

CYPRESS CREEK NEAR JKFFKRSON, TEX.

LOCATION. Lat, 32°45', long. 94°29', at Farrell bridge on Jefferson-Harleton

highway, 8 miles west of Jefferson, Marion County, and 14 miles upstream

from mouth of Black Cypress Creek. 

DEAINAGE ABBA. 848 square miles. 

GAGE-HEIGHT EECOBD. Water-stage recorder graph. Gage heights used to half

tenths between 2.9 and 4.9 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these

limits. 

STAGE-DISCHABGE BELATION. Defined by current-meter measurements below

15,700 second-feet; extended to peak stage. Discharge for Jan. 21 to 9 a. m.

Jan. 23 determined by use of shifting-control method. 

MAXIMA. 1938: Discharge, 24,800 second-feet 4 a. m. Jan. 26 (gage height,'

24.94 feet).

1924-37: Discharge 26,100 second-feet May 20, 1930 (gage height,

25.37 feet, from floodmarks). 

REMABKS. No diversions or regulations.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 19S8

Day

Jan. 21 

22 .

23 

24 

25 .

26 

27 

28 

29 

Second- 1 

feet

376!

400

752 1,500:

15,600

24,000

18,500

12,600

8,000.

Acre-feet

746

793

1,490

2,980

30,940

47,603

36,893

24,990

15, 870

Day

Jan. 30 .

31 

Feb. l 

2 

3 

4 

5 _

6 

Secondfeet

5,100

3,720

2,820

2,310

1,970

1,720

1,520

1,330

Acre-feet

10,120

7,380

5,590

4,580

3,910

3,410

3,010

2,640

Day

Feb. 7 .

8 

9 

10 

11 

12- 

13 

14 

15 

Secondfeet

. 1,150

958

828

708

632

564

516

484

456

Acre-feet

2,280

1,900

1,640

1, 400

"1, 250

1,120

1,020

960

904

Runoff, in acre-feet, for period Jan. 21 to Feb. 15_______________ .,_____ T ___ 215,200
FLOOB& OF JANUARY 1938 IN JEAS1? -OTXAS 13

Gage h$ight> in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1088

Time

Jan. SI

6-p, m 

12-..- ..

8 a. m _ 

4 p. m _ -. 

12 -

9a.m. - 

12m.- 

8 

12 -

Jem.^4

12m-- 

6p.m..... 

12 

Jan. 8S

2 a. m-. 

4 

6 __ .....

8 ...

10 .. .

12m... 

3 p. m. 

9. ____ ..

19

Jan. 86 ,

4a. tu __ -

8 _ ... - 

12m __ ...

6p. m __

12....

Feet

7.13

7,03

7.04

7.15 

7.39 

7.67-

' 7.1g

.8. S3

9.87

10.38

11.09

11.64

12.16 

13.21

14.20

18.36

20.00

21.32

22.28 

23.42

24.60

24.94

24.85 

24.70

24.26

23.73-

Secondfeet

388

364 

376

388 

414 

456

564 

650

808

981

1,150

1,330

1,460

1,650 

2, 010

2,600

A arjf*

8,750

12,400

15,200

18,000 

20,800

24,000

t)A Kf)f\

24,800

24,600 

24,200

23,100

21,600'

Time- '

Jan. $f?

6 a. m .....

12m... 

6 p. m .....

12 

Jan. 28

4 p. m< . .

12 ......

Jan. 29

12

Jan. SO

12m-. 

12m.. 

12 p. m _ JFeb.l

12 m.-_. ...

12 p. m .....

Feb. i 

12m--_ ....

12 p. m .--

Feb.S 

12m...- 

12 p. m __

. Feb. 4

12 m _ ..

Feet

23.12

22.48

21.86 

21.23

20.46

19.70

19.-03

18.61

17.72

17.16

16.45

16.92

16.42

14.92

14.49

14.10

13.76

13.40

13.08

12.76

12.42

12.10

Secondfeet

20,000 

18,500

17,000 

16,300

13,600

11,700

10,100

8,980

7,230

6,230

4,960

4,270

3,720

3,200

2,820

2,520

2,310

2,100

1,970

1,860

1,720

 1,620

Time

Feb.S 

12m.......

12 p, m _ ..

Feb. 8

12m.......

12p.JH ..... 

 Feb. 7

12m-- 

Feb. 8

12m... 

Feb. 9 

12m-.. ....

12 p. m _ ..

Feb. 10 

12m-.. 

12 p. m .....

Feb. 11 

12m-. .

12 p. m. r

Feb. IS

12m.- .

12 p. m- _ ,. 

FebAS

12m.-- 

12p.m. 

Feb. 14

12m... 

12 p. m _ .-

Feb.'lB

. Feet

11'. 78

11.45

11.12

10.77

10.40

10.02

9.65

9.30

8.98

8.68

8.41

8.18

7.97

7. 78,

7.47,

7.33

7.20

7.09

' 7.00

6.82.

Secondfeet

1,520

1,410

1 ^3A

1,260

1,150

1,050

QCO

QQA

fioc

768

?nft

668

632

596

664 648

516

500

4O1

470

445
14 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

SABESTE RIVER NEAR GLADEWATER, TEX.

LOCATION. Lat. 32°32', long. 94°57', at bridge on U. S. Highway 271, 1 mile

southwest of Gladewater, Gregg County. Zero of gage is 243.85 feet above

mean sea level. (Texas Reclamation Department bench mark based on

Geological Survey datum). 

DRAINAGE AREA. 2,846 square miles. 

GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-stage recorder graph. Gage heights used to half

tenths between 6.9 and 7.3 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these

limits. 

STAGE-DISCHARGE RELATION. Defined by current-meter measurements below

39,800 second-feet; extended above to peak stage. Discharge Feb. 1-15

determined from backwater curve. 

MAXIMA. 1938: Discharge, 40,600 second-feet 9:30 a. m. Jan. 28 (gage height,

38.34 feet).

October 1932 to 1937: Discharge, 16,000 second-feet June 24, 1935 (gage

height, 34.0 feet).

Maximum discharge known, 48,500 second-feet January 1932

height, 39.4 feet, from floodmarks). 

REMARKS. Flood flow not affected by diversions or regulations.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 19S8

Day

Jan. 21. 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 _ ..

28 

29 

Secondfeet

610

676

1,750

6,450 

6,680 

14,800 

36,300 

40,600 

37^100

Acrefeet

1,210

1,340

3,470

10,810 

13, 250 

29,360 

72,000 

80,530 

73,590

Day

31- 

Feb. 1......

2 . .. 

3 ... 

4 

6_ 

6... 

7.. 

Secondfeet

31,000

24 500

19,000

14,600 

11,000 

8,900 

7,550 

' 6,230 

4,660

Acrefeet

61,490

48,600

37,690

28,960 

21,820 

17,650 

14,980 

12,360 

9,240

Day --

Feb. 8 

9 _

10 

11 

12..... 

13. . 

14 

15 

.Secondi feet

3,020

1 OfllY

1,220

850, 

727 

677 

642 

625

" Acrefeet

5,990

3,770

2,420

x 1,690 

1,440 

1,340 

1,270 

1,240

Bunoff, in acre-feet, for period Jan. 21 to Feb. 15_.__________-_____________ 657,50fl
FL00J9S OP JANUARY 1038 IN EAS^ IB^XAS 15 

Gage-heigkt, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, WS8 >

Time

Jan. SI 

12m _ ....

12 p.. m _ 

12m... 

8. _ ......

12- _ .....

4a.m. .... 

6. . _

9 .... 

10 

Hi. ____ .

12m-.. .

1 p. m _ ..

2 ..... ..

3... ... ....

4 ... 

5. ... ...

6 

7. __ .

8... ....

9 

10 

11....... ...

12 -

Jan. 84 

2a.m. ....

4. ... ...

6 - 

8. _ ......

10 

12m.... ...

2 p. m _ .

A

6 

8 .... ...

10 

12 

Jan. US

2 a. m .... .

6 ... 

10 

2p.m..... 4 __ .

6 .... 

8 

10 

12 .. __ .

Jan. £6

2 a. m -. 

4... .......

6 _ 

8 

10 

12m 

Feet

7.S5

7.&2

7.80

7.92

7.98

7.85

T.82

7.98

8.00

8.10

8.70

9.80

11.3

12.fr

13.8

14.9

15.6

16.2

16.8

V.3

17.7

18.2

19.1

20.0

21.3

22.0

22 4

22.7

22.9

23.1

23.2

23.3

23.4

23.6

23.7

23.9

24.1 

24.5

25.0

25.7

26.0

26.5

26.9

27.4

27.9

28.5 

,29.0

29.7

30.5

31.4

32.3

Secondfeet

632

610

676

698

698

676

676

720

720

743

881

1,150

1,520

1,820,

2,150

2,470

2,680

2,860

3 040

3^200

 3, aw,1

- ' 3, 530

3,890

4,250

4,780

5,100

5,280

(5,420

5,500

5,600

5,640

5,680

5,730

5,820

5,860

5,960

6~,040 

6,220

6,450

6,760

-- ,6,90p.

7,120

7,300

7,550

7,800

8,100 

8,350 ft Tfm

9,220

10,400

12,500

Time

Jan. asContinued

2 p. m _ .

5 .

6 . _

7... .......

8 

9 ... ... -

10 

12 

Jan. #7

4 - 

6 

8.- .....

10 

12m... 

19

9:30-. 

12m... 

Jan. 29

4 a. m. .... 

8 

12m-- -

8 ....

12 

12m 

12.. .......

Jan. SI

6 a. m .....

12 m... .....

Feb. 1

\

6 p. m ..... 

12... ........

Feb. S

12 m_..___-_

19

Feet

33.3 

34.0-

34 4

34.8

35.1

35.4

35.6

^IR Q

36.4

36.8

37.1

37.3

«>7 A

37.6

 37.75 OH n

38.18

OJ2 1 OR

38.32

38.34

38.33

38.15

38.02 

37,88

37.76

37.62

. 37.46

37.30

37.05

 >A Kn

36.22

35.94 

35.65

35.35

35.07

34 8

34.5

34.2 

34.0

QO 7

33.4

qo 9

oo o

Secondfeet

15,200 

17,800

19 400

21,000

22,200

23,600

24,500

26,000

28,600

31,000

32,800

34,000

34.600

35,800

37,100

38,500

OQ QAfl

40 1 200

40,400

40 600

40 400

39,900

38,500 

37,800

37, 100

35,800

35,200

34,000

32,200 01 nnn

9Q Olfin

97 enn

26,000 

24,500

* OQ ftOA

22,200

21,000

1Q ttfv\

18,000 

16,700

15,600

14,500

tO QfW\

19 dftft

Time

Feb. 3 

6 a. m _ 

12 m... .....

12 .

Feb. 4

12m ___ ..

12 -_. .

Feb.S

Feb. 8

Feb. 7

12 m..... ...

Feb. 8

12 p. m _ .. 

Feb. 9

12 m .

Feb. 10

Feb. 11

12m........

12 p. m __ 

Feb. IS 

12m. I __ .

Feb. IS

12m .....

Feb. 14

12m........ 

12 p. m .....

Feb. 15

12 m........

Feet

32.«

32.3 

32.1 81 8

31.6

31.3

31.0

30.7

9Q Q

90 n

OC A

OR a

oe R

24.0

nn f

19.8

17.3

1J. ft

19 4

18.*

9 4

8.S 

8.4

8.15

s nn

7 27

7.78 

7.70

7 65

7.60

Secondfeet

,11,800

10,900 

10,400 Q snn

. 9,600

 8,900

8,550

8,200

7,550

6,920

6,250

5,450

4,700

3,870

3,050

2,330

1,900

1J520

1,200

990

840

776 

730

695

675

660

645 

632

620

617
16 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

SABESTE RIVER AT LOGAN8PQRT, iLA.

LOCATION. Lat. 31°58', long. 94°00', at Houston East & West Texas (Southern 

Pacific) Railway bridge in Logansport, De Soto Parish. Zero of gage is 

147.72 feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

DRAINAGE AREA. 4,858 square miles.

GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Graph drawn on basis of one daily reading of chain gage 

during low stages and several -readings daily during higher stages. Gage 

 heights used to tenths. Gage heights Feb. 17-20 possibly affected by 

backwater.

STAGES-DISCHARGE RELATION. Defined by current-meter measurements below 

'35,000 second-feet; extended above to peak stage. Discharge Jan. 26 to 

Feb. 6 and Feb. 17-20 determined by shifting-control method.

MAXIMA. 1938: Discharge, 25,700 second-feet 7 p. m. Feb. 7 (gage height, 31.36 

feet, from graph based on gage readings).

1903-37: Discharge observed, 47,000 second-feet May 5, 1915 (gage 

height, 36.9 feet).

Maximum stage known, 39.4 feet, present datum, in May 1884.

REMARKS. Flood flow not affected by diversions or regulations.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1938

Day

Jan. 26 

27 

28 

29-;.

30 

31. 

Feb. 1 

2 

Secondfeet

5,730

6,060

6,620

7,220

7,700

8,120

8,360

8,600

*& ,

Acre-feet

11,370

12,020

13,130

14,320

15,270

16, 110

16,580

17,060 '

Day

Feb. 3 

4 

5....

6 

7 .

8 

9 

10 

11. 

Runoff, in acre-feet, for period Jan. 26 to Feb. 20

Secondfeet

9,200

11,700

17,900

23,800

25,400

25,000

23,800

22,200

20,400

Acre-feet

18,250

23,210

35,500

47, 210

50,380

49,590

47,210

44,030

40,460

Day

Feb. 12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

'18 

19- 

20 -

Secondfeet

18,800

17,400

16,200

14,800

12,900

9,800

7,700

6,620

6,390

Acre-feet

37,290

34,510

32,130

29,360

25,590

19,440

16,270

13,130

12,670

 _.... . 691,100
FLOODS OF JANTTABY 1938 1SAST TBXAS 17

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1988

Tune

Jon.se

8. .. .

12m.-.- 

Jinn. 87

12m... 

12 p. m _ ,.

4p^m ..... 

12.. ........

Jan. S9

4 p. m _ .

19

1 Jim. SO

8 a. m .....

4p, m. 

12.... .......

Jan. SI

12m ....

12 p.m.....

Feb.l

12m . 

12p.m. .

.Fefr. 0

12m.......

12 p. m..'...

Feb. S 

8 a. m .....

12..........

Feb. 4

4 a. m .....

8__ -

12m.......

' 2 p. m _ .

4...........

6.. .........

Feet

16.30

16.24

16.27

16.48

16.85

17.35

17.64 

17.95 

18.25

18. 55 

18.84 

19.10

19.32

19.55

19.78

20.08

20.30

ai.m 

20.70-

20.90

21.16

21.40

21.80 

22.30

22.60

23.00

23.45

23.75 

24.15

24.60

Secondfeet

 5,730

5,680

5,730

5,840

6,060

6,280

6,500 

6,740 

6,860

7,100 

7,280 

f ifin

7,640

7,760

7,880

8,120

8,240

O^tTOU

8,600

8,780

8,920

9,360

9,800

10,100

10 600

11*200

11,500 

12,000

, 12.600

Time

Feb. 4 

Continued

10- - 

12 . 

Feb. S

2 a. m_ ....

6.... ..

8. . 

10 

12m._. 

2p.m. .... 

4... .. 

6 ..

8 

10 _

12 

Feb. 8

2 a. m. .... 

4. ..... 

6 

8 . ..

10 -----

12m _.__

8 -- 

12

Feb. 7

4 a. m _ .. 

8.. ..... 12m .

4 p. m .....

7. .

12 

Feb. 8

12 m___. 

12 p. m._ ... 

Feb. 9

12m_-. 

12 p. m. .

Feb. 10

12m... 

Feb. 11 

12m. ......

12 D. m... ..

Feet

24.95

25.35

25.75

26.10 

26.50

26.90

27.25

27.65

28.00

28.30 

28.60 

28.85

29.15 

29.40

29.65

29.90 

30.08

30.26

30.42

30.55

30.65

QA OR

31.00

31.10

31.20 

31.26

31.32

31.35

31.36

31.34

31.20

31.02

30.78

30.50

30.20

29 90

29.50

29.18

Secondfeet

13", 100

13,600

14,30a

14,800

16,000

16,600

17,200

18,000

18,600 

19,200 

19,700

20,400 

20,900

21,600

23,200 

22,400

23,000

23,600

23,800

23,800

*)A inn

24,700

25,000

25,000 

25,400

25,400

25,600

25,700

25,400

25,000

24,400

23,800

23,000

22,200

21,400

on <±flfi

19. 700

Tame '

Feb. IS 

12m 

12 p. m .....

Feb. IS

12m 

12 p. m._. 

Feb. 14

12m.... 

Feb. 15

12m... _ . 

12 p.m.. 

Feb. 16 

12m. ......

12 p. m _ 

Feb. 17

4s. m 

8....-1 

12m... ....

4 p. m .....

8--.-. _ .

19

Feb. 1$

12m 

12 

Feb. W

4 a. m.. ...

8 ... .

12 m._ _ .

4 p. m

8.. .....

12 

Feb. gO

8a.m.--..

12 ......

Feet

28.86

28.50

28.12

 27.80

97 Af\

. 27.15

26.30

25.70

24.85

24.45

24.05

23.65

23.20

22.65

22.15

*i. Oil

21.50

21.20

*V. Ov

20.40

20. CO19. 65 

10.36

19.20

19.00 

18.90

18.80

18.70 

'18.65

18.66

Secondfeet

19,000

18,200

17,400

16,800

16,200

15,700

15,000 

14,100

13,100

11, 700

11,200

10,500

9,900

9,360

8,920

8,540

slooo

 . 7,820

, uou

7 340

7,100

6,860 

6,740

6,620

6,500 

6,440

6.340

'6,390 

6,390

6.390
18 . TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

FLOOD OF JUNE 1938 ON LAKE CHEEK, DONLEY 

COUNTY, TEX.

From 1 to 5 inches of rain fell on Donley County between 5 and 12 

p. m., June 14. As the ground was dry previous to this rain, very 

little runoff resulted. On the night of June 15 a heavy rain, amounting 

to 14 inches at one place, fell on Lake Creek Basin, in Donley County. 

This rain is reported to have fallen in from 1 to 4 hours, with an average 

time of about 2 hours. The resulting flood on Lake Creek was greater 

than any known to have occurred on that creek.

Lake Creek drains a rolling area along the. east edge of the high 

plains of the Texas Panhandle. The sandy stream channels are 

usually dry except during periods of rain. As the average annual 

rainfall of about 23 inches has not developed a well-defined drainage 

system, much of the country forms shallow depressions that fill with 

water during rains and form small lakes. It is difficult to determine 

accurately the watersheds of the streams as no sharply defined divides 

exist. There are very few outcroppings of rock or other hard material 

that would tend to cause rapid runoff. Terraces designed to hold a 

5-inch rain had been built on part of the drainage basin. It is 

believed that by failure of the terraces the peak discharge on Lake 

Creek was increased over what the normal peak would have been.

Several persons reported having seen in Lake Creek at the highway 

bridge near Lelia Lake a wall of water about 4 feet high, which in part 

may have been caused by breaking, of terraces.

TheDo'nley County Leader, published at Clarendon, Tex., reported 

in the issue of June 16, 1938:

The Government [rain] gage showed a [rain] fall of 2.65 [inches] last night. The 

[rain] fall the day before was 1.3 [inches]. * * *

Heavy rains fell over the county, but no serious damage was done except by 

hail near Ashtola and near Hedley. * * *

Lightning put the local power plant out of commission after it had disabled 

the high line. * * * Out at the S. A. Pierce farm * * * a bolt followed 

the radio line into the home, doing quite a.damage. A short time later, a bolt 

set fire to the bathroom, burning the paper from one wall and the ceiling. * * *

High wind destroyed the windmill on the Kinch Leathers farm. No other wind 

damage was noted except to shade trees, limbs being torn away. * * *

East of town the greatest damage was noted. The S. W. Butler home was 

marooned on an island for the first time since the home was built more than 20 

years ago. Practically the entire acreage was under water. * * *

Lakes were formed in new places for the first time in years. Lister ridges were 

leveled and galleys washed across fields that a few hours be'fore showed fine crops 

on comparatively level ground. * * *

Traffic between Hedley and Clarendon was virtually at a standstill this morning 

as creeks, and lakes went over the road following the deluge which was estimated" 

to bring the 2-day total in Lelia Lake to within 14 inches.

Train service for Clarendon was expected to be halted for at least 48 hours as 

section crews worked rapidly to repair at least 2 miles of washed-up track. Bridge 

abutments and low fills were leveled by torrents. * * *
FI^OOB Of JDS^I 1 9 3 8 ON "LAKE GBSEK, &QWk^^W?TT)'TKK. 19

The heavy rains covered most of the county, causing an erosion damage running 

well into thousands of dollars. Salt Fork is said to have been out of its normal 

banks about 2 a. m. * * *

The first major tragedy on the Denver and Northern came last night when a 

train reached the Salt Fork Bridge between Wellington and Shamrock. The 

engine went through the bridge weakened by flood waters, carrying with it the 

engineer and fireman, who are still missing. [TheJ brakeman * * * was 

rescued from the river bank 5 miles below the scene of the wreck. * * *

.When the raging waters coming down Windy Valley, some 5 miles south of 

Lelia Lake, reached the windows at the Roy Darnell home, Mr. and Mrs. Darnell 

grabbed quilts and made for a large tree in the yard. An improvised platform 

made from a table enabled them to spend the remainder of the night high above 

flood waters in a tree top.

The muddy waters and treacherous sands of east Lelia Lake Creek refused to 

give up its dead late today as hundreds of searchers probed deep pools and tangled 

underbrush for the bodies of three victims, supposedly drowned when their car 

was swept from the' bridge about 11 o'clock last night. * * * Information 

from Wichita Falls said the victims had left there about 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon. They were within a mile of Lelia [Lake] when the wall of water, which 

reached 5 feet above the car bridge, struck them.

PBECIPITATION

Measurements and estimates of rainfall were obtained at "a number 

of farms and ranches, but part of the area covered by the heavy rain 

is ranch property on which there were no residents to observe the 

precipitation.

The information obtained from farmers and ranchers is consistent. 

Many people spent a sleepless night, partly in storm cellars, and were 

able to note accurately the time the rain began and ended. The 

Weather Bureau rain gage at Clarendon (the only one in the vicinity 

of the storm) and the two gages of the Soil Conservation Service in 

the Windy Valley area, about 10 miles southeast of Lelia Lake, were 

outside the area of most intense precipitation.

All available rainfall data are given in table 3. Figure 4 is a map 

of Lake Creek Basin and adjacent area showing the location of the 

rainfall stations listed in table 3, location of places at which the peak 

discharge was determined, and isohyetals for the precipitation of 

June 15* Owing to inadequate coverage of the area by rain gages, 

the isohyetals shown are subject to considerable error over much of 

the area.'
20 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

100*40*

EXPLANATION 

** = Roln gag* 

 * Flood measuring point 

1 " » Oroinoge-basin outline

SCALE IN MILES

FIGURE 4. Map of Lake Oreek Basin and adjacent area, showing isohyetal lines of total rainfall June 16, 

1933, location of rain gages, and places at which tfae peak discharge was determined.
TABLB 3. Rainfall in Lake Creek Basin and adjacent 

No. 

on 

fiff.4

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

91

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

9Q

30

* 

Location 

.

"Rlnr>Tr P. fi oaf> 43

Block C 6, sec. 71, NWM ;~- ~

BloekC6, see.87, SWM-- ----- -----

Block C 6, sec. 133..........- - ...

Block C 7, sec. 14.. _.-._. .... 

Block Q, sec. 13.. __. ._.._ ._

Blook G7, sec. 20.---... ___ ........

Block 20 sec 48 '

Block 20. sec. 72........................

Type of gage

Wash tub....... .......- .-.--_

Made by C. O. C.... . .-

June 14

(inches)

1.30

2.5

2to3

3

1

°3

"3

4

(d)

2

<= 1

1

«1

4

» 1.5 to 2-

1

.60

«2.9

2.4

Inches

2.55

3.5

6±

8

12

4

«-j6

4.5

11

9.75

12

4.5

7

14

12

12

 10

12±

7

4

10+

12

12

12.5

8

1.50

3.5

4.0

4+

8-8:30 

9 p. m

8 p. m

9 p. m

»-See Texas Land Office map of Donley County. 

*> Hardest rain 9 to 11 p. m.

«Estimated, 

a Good rain.

 M

' A
22 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

DISCHARGE RECORDS

No stream-measurement station is located in the Lake Creek Basin, 

but two slope-area measurements of peak discharge were made at 

reaches located as shown on figure 4. Results of' those measurements, drainage areas, and other data are given in table 4.

Records for the river-measurement station on Salt Pork of the Red 

River at Mangum, Okla., about 70 miles downstream from Lake 

Creek, give some indication of the flow from the creek. Rainfall in 

other parts of the basin was light, and most of the water passing the 

Mangum station probably came from Lake. Creek.

TABLE 4. Maximum discharge of Lake Creek, June 1938

Location

Near Lelia Lake ......

Near Hedley _____

Latitude

O 1

34 53 

34 56

Longitude

O 1

100 43 

100 42

Drainage 

area 

(square 

miles)

48.6 

68.5

Maximum discharge

Time Secondfeet

40,800 

64,700

Secondfeet per 

square 

mile

840 

945

SAI/T FORK OF RED RIVER AT MANGDM, OELA.

LOCATION. Lat. 34°52', long. 99°31', in SW#SE# sec. 34, T. 5 N., R. 22 W., at 

bridge on State Highway 34, half a mile south of Mangum. Zero of gage is 

1,490.78 feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

DRAINAGE AREA. 1,390 square miles.

GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Wire-weight gage read twice daily to hundredths.

STAGE-DISCHARGE RELATION, Defined by current-meter measurements below 

6,530 second-feet; 'extended to peak stage. Stream channel unstable.

MAXIMUM. 1938: Discharge, not determined, occurred 12 m. June 16 

height, 14.7 feet observed).

REMARKS. Records poor.

'Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 19S8

Day

June 14 __

15 __

16 __ .

17 __ .

Secondfeet

14

1,850

11,100

1,390

Acre-feet

28

3,670

22,020

2,760

Day

June 18. _

19 _ .

20

21.....

Secondfeet

664

301

249

235

Acre-feet

1,320

597

494

466

Day

June 22.. _

23 __ .

24 _

Secondfeet

181

133

100

Acre-feet

359

264

198

Runoff in acre-feet for period June 14-24_______________________.________ 32,180
FLOODS Of1 JULY 1938 TJX COLORADO Rlf^R BASIN 23

FLOODS OF JULY 1938 IN COLORADO RIVER BASIN

Destructive floods occurred in the Colorado River Basin in late July 

and early August 1938. Portions of 12 counties were inundated, 6 

people were reported drowned, and property and crop losses have been 

estimated at $5,000,000.5

The floods were caused by heavy rains that centered over the watershed of the San Saba and South Concho Rivers and Brady Creek. 

The heaviest 1-day rain reported was 13 inches at two places, 8 and 10 

miles north of Eldorado, on July 23. The heaviest 1-day rain recorded 

by the Weather Bureau was 8.47 inches at Sloan, also on July 23; the 

total rain July 16-25 at this place was 21.49 inches. Thirty inches of 

rain was reported for the period July 16-25 at a gage near Eldorado, 

and 20 inches, or more at about 70 places for the same period. The 

rainfall, though rather general over the upper Colorado River Basin 

from July 19 to 24, was intense during several periods.

Small streams rose rapidly and caused considerable damage to 

highways, bridges, and crops. Stages in the lower Colorado River 

rose more slowi^fthe peak did not occur at Eagle Lake until July 29. 

Probably 90 percent of tjie losses from the flood occurred along the 

Colorado River below Austin, where the stream passes through the 

relatively flat coastal plain and A large part of the abutting land is 

under cultivation.

Record-breaking floods occurred in the South Concho and San Saba 

River Basins and in the Colorado River from the mouth of the San 

Saba. ta.thejttiauth of the Llano; below the Llano River stages were 

lower than in, 1935. Especially severe floods occurred on the San Saba 

River and on Brady Creek, a tributary, with stages much higher than 

those known to have occurred in the past.

The reservoir formed by Buchanan Dam, located on the Colorado 

River a few miles above the Llano River, was well filled prior to the 

flood. The heavy rains fell from 50 to 75 miles above the reservoir, 

and the floods passed down the stream channels so rapidly that little 

time was available for lowering the reservoir. Although a number of 

gates were opened, no great amount of storage space was available 

when the flood reached .the reservoir.

METEOBOLOGIC CONDITIONS

The following discussion of heavy rains in central Texas has been 

prepared by Mr. C. E. Norquest, senior meteorologist, United States 

Weather Bureau, at Houston:

Phenomenally heavy rainfall occurred in central Texas during the week of 

July_19-25, 1938. Rainfall, in inches, as reported by stations of the United States 

Weather Bureau, equipped with standard rain gages and manned by experienced

 Monthly Weather Eev., p. 28?. September 1938.
24 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

observers, is as follows: Brackettville, Kinney County, 10.06; Substation No. 14, 

Button County, 12.55; Menard, Menard County, 14.13; Eden, Concho County, 

16.44; Brady, McCulloch County, 13.61; Llano, Llano County, 10.19; Sloan, San 

Saba County, 21.24; Goldthwaite, Mills County, 12.39. .

The causes of this prolonged and torrential downpour are not readily discernible 

on the surface weather maps no strongly developed center of disturbance crossed 

the country during this period; no tropical storm moved inland from the Gulf or 

was present on the Gulf; pressure gradients were for the most part very flat.

However, from July 18'to 22 a broad, rather shallow depression trough extended 

from the Middle Atlantic States southwestward across Texas into northern 

Mexico. At the same time a field of high pressure made its appearance in the 

Canadian northwest and moved slowly southward along the eastern slope of the 

Rocky Mountains. This combination set in motion one of the most effective 

processes for the condensation and precipitation of atmospheric moisture about 

which anything is known the raising of a mass of moisture-laden air and thus 

reducing its temperature and carrying capacity. Meteorological observations 

indicate a persistent flow of tropical air for the period July 18-25, and soundings 

of the uppper air show that this air was moist and convectively unstable.

A helpful discussion of air-mass properties and movements is found 

in Civil Aeronautics Bulletin No. 25, "Meteorology for Pilots," by 

B. C. Haynes.

PRECIPITATION

Immediately after the storm an extensive search was made for information regarding rainfall in areas remote from official gages. As 

a result of several years of effort and experience in obtaining additional 

rainfall information many persons are known who regularly maintain 

rain gages. Many of these gages are of standard United States 

Weather Bureau type or are vessels that are suitable for reasonably 

accurate measurement of the rainfall. Many measurements made in 

cans, tubs, troughs, washpots, stock water-tanks, or other vessels are 

perhaps not highly accurate, but they may be used with confidence 

when several such measurements in the same locality are found to 

agree satisfactorily. ' ' ' ' ,

The available records of rainfall for the storm period are given in 

tables 5 and 6'. Table 5 contains the records for, the Weather Bureau 

stations and for others having daily records of rainfall. The stations 

for which only the total rainfall for the period July 16-25 is available 

are given in table 6.
TABLE 5. Daily and total rainfall, in inches, July 16-25, 1938, 

[T «=less than 0.01 inch]

U. S. Weather Bureau 

Brazos River Basin:

Comanche b . _

' Dunlin «... _____ . _ . ______ ... _ _ .._....

Eastland « __.__ .. _ . ___ . _____ _ _ _ .... _ .

HIcoH .. .. . . .. 

Tjampasas o

"Colorado River Basin:

BrownflpM b

Fairlandb......... ....... ..............................

GaiH>_ _ ....:..* .......I....- .-...........

Garden City b.. ...... ..................................

Goldthwaite b._ ......... _ _-__ ......_-..__-._, -__.

Marble Falls «.. ______________ . ______

Paint Rode b__. .................:.....................

Seminole b ------ _ .. ------ . . ..^ ...... .

Sloan b __ . ___ ..---..,- __ ....- _ . ______ ..

0 /

32 27

31 64

31 07

32 05

32 24

31 26

31 43

31 59

31 04

32 23

32 27

31 44

32 14

31 08

33 11

31 43

31 50

29 4'2

31 13

30 39

32 4$

31 52

31 27

32 34

39 55

32 44

30 45

30 34

30- 55

30 13

31 ,30

31 28

32 42

31 07

o r

99 43

98 36

07 t\A.

98 20

98 48

97 45

9S 07

98 01

98 10

99 12

100 31

Q7 44,

99 56

101 28

99 20

102 16

98 59

99 25

96 33

99 51

98 17

101 27

101 29

98 34

101 23

96 52

101 56

98 40

98 17

99 47

99 04

99 55

100 26

102 31

98 57

16

0.15

17

T

0.63

.45

.48

.05

1.34

T

18

0.73

T

T

.13

1.55

1.35

.10

T.

f\4.

1.23

.23

.45

T

.10

.25

1Q

.28

.63

.25

1

0

1

2

1

2

2

1

3

See footnotes at end of table. 
TABLE 5. Daily and total rainfall, in inches, July 16-25, 1938, at poin

[T=less than 0.01 inch]

Station

U. S. Weather Bureau Continued

Colorado Eiver Basin Continued. 

Smithville *> . 

Miscellaneous basins:

Supplementary

Colorado Kiver Basin: 

Art 

Brady-Hext road, 2J6 miles east of and north of San

1 Eldorado _________________________ -

HextLone Grove, 3 miles south, at mouth of Little Llano 

River... _ __ ........ ..i 

Melvia _____ ,.,.. _ .... ___ . ________

Menard, north of. on Dry Creek «. ___ '. _______

Mullta.... _ ........... ., .

Richland Springs ...^........ ...........................

* Bock Springs, 2 miles northeast _____________

San Saba « ____ ; __________________

San Saba _ . _____ i _______________

Latitude

0 /

30 01 

32 44 

31 51 

29 19

30 05 

29 18 

30 01 

29 32 

30 34

30 44 

31 43

30 57 

31 42 

31 36 

31 13 

30 52 

31 35 

30 51 

31 00 

30 53 

30 12

30 46 

30 44 

31 12 

30 56 

31 01 

31 33 

31 16 

30 03 

31 22 

31 12 

31 12

Longitude

o /

97 10 

100 55 

100 59 

96 07

98 25 

100 25 

99 07 

100 01 

100 38

99 07 

99 05

99 23 

98 54 

100 36 

100 29 

100 35 

98 53 

100 02 

99 08 

99 32 

100 05

98 33 

99 14 

99 34 

99 46 

99 45 

98 40 

98 57 

100 12 

100 ,18 

98 44 

98 44

16

1.05

(d)

.10

(d)

2.5

(d)

17

0.03

(d) 

.25

.25 

(d)

1.5

(d)

18

6.20

.37

.20 

1.37 

(d)

.37

.25

1.06 

.35 

(d)

1

0

(d

3

1

1

10

1

2

3

2

1

1
g Winchell , .-. .. ,- . .. 

w Miscellaneous:

31 13

31- 19

31 04

30 44

31 10

31 29

31 13

30 33

98 44

' 98 49

100 04

99 25

99 30

99 09

98 23

100 38

(d)

(d)

3.00

1.75

( »)

.35

» Midnight to midnight.

b Measured at sunset.

«Measured in the morning.

d Daily rainfall not measured.

* Record furnished by Corps of Engineers. IT. S. Army.

t Doubtful.
28 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

TABI/B 6. Total rainfall at miscellaneous points in central Texas, July 16-26, 1&88

Station

Colorado River Basin 

Concho River Basin:

Christoval, 6H miles south on Highway 277 _______ .. . .....

"fldim, 9 miles north on Highway S3

Eldorado, 10 miles north on Highway 277 .........................

Mertzon, 10 miles south on Eldorado road .........................

Paint Rock, 8 miles south on Highway 83... _ .. ___ . _ . .....

San Angelo, 7 miles south on Highway 277 _____________

Water Valley.- _ - ___ . _ . _ ._ __ .. .... . _ ..-_._..._.

San Saba River Basin: 

A Igerita, 1}£ miles southwest. . ... . ........... . ....... ___ .

Brady-Mason highway bridge, 3 miles west of, on San Saba 

River .. __ ....... __ ...-. ..... ___ ....... ____ ...

Calf Creek, south of, on San Saba River _ .... __ . __ .. ......

Calf Creek, southeast of, on San Saba River c _______ . __

Camp San Saba, 2 miles south ______ ___ ___ ___ . .

Oftmp San Saha, 4 miles west c

Camp San Saba, 6 miles west «. ______ . __________ .

Camp San Saba, 7 miles northeast ° ___________ .. ... ...

Eden, 5 miles southeast «. .. __ .. _____ _____

Eden, 2 miles south and 5 miles west __ _ _ __ ... _ _ . .

Eden, 10 miles southeast "... _____________ I__ ____

Eden, 10 miles southeast «...___ __ ___; _____ .. .. ...

Eden, 4 miles south and 10 miles west-. ____ . _ ____ . .....

Eden, 15 miles southeast «.. _______ . ______ . _ ......

Eden, 18 miles west. ____ -T ____ _________ . ___ .

Eldorado, 1 mile south and 5 miles east. . _ _ ...........

Eldorado, 6H miles south on Highway 277 _____ .. _

Fort McKavett. ___ . ________ . _____ _ .

Fort McKavett ° __ ... ... ______ .... ___ ... _ . . . ...

Fort McKavett, 4 miles east « .. _________ ....

Fort McKavett, 4H miles southwest «. __ . ______ .

Fort McKavett, 6 miles east. ___ . ... ...

Fort McKavett, 7 miles north and of 14 miles west of Menard. . . . 

Fort McKavett, 9 miles northeast. _ _____ ...... ...

Fort McKavett, 11 miles north of, on Rocky Creek. .

Fort McKavett, 15 miles north «... ______ . ___ : ..

Fort McKavett, northwest of ......

Fredonia, 3 miles east, and 4>£ miles north <L_

Harkeyville, 2 miles south « _____ . _______ _ .

Hext o. _ , _ ___ -__. ____ _ . ....

g

ext, 3 miles northwest «. ...

ext, 6 miles northeast «. __ . ____ _ .

Katemcy « . ___ . ____ _ ____ ... .. .

Katemcy.... . _ , ... .. ...

Kimble-Kerr County line on Highway 27 __ .. .. .

Mason, 5^4 miles north on Highway 87

Mason, 12 miles north on Highway 87

Melvin °_._ . -..----. . . .

Melvin, south of, at Lisrhttter ° _ Melvin, 4 miles north °. . ..

Melvin, 4 miles south at Marco. ...... . .

Melvin, 12 miles southwest c _____ .... _ . __ . .. .

Menard, H mile west «. ...... __ .... .

Menard, north of °_ _ .. __ .

Menard, north of « _ .. _ ...._ _ .. .. .

Menard, 4 miles east «... _ . __ . __ .... ___ . .

Menard, 4J^ miles east °. . _ _ .

Menard, 6 miles southwest of, on Menard-Junetion highway 

Menard, 6J^ miles southeast °._ ._ ____ . .

Menard, 9 miles east ° . .. .

Menard, 9.6 miles west on Fort McJavett road

Menard, 10 miles east °-..- ,. .

Latitude

31 45

31 06

30 59

31 14

31 19

30 55

30 56

30,56

30 58

30 59

31 01

31 02

31 02

31 27

31 15

31 13

31 17

31 08

31 24

31 21

31 40

31 12

31 12

30 59

30 56

30 57

30 58

30 59

30 57

30 55

31 02

31 10

31 10

31 04

31 04

31 OS

31 09

31 04

31 04

30 51

30 46

30 49

30 50

30 50

30 47

30 51

30 54 

30 56

30 58

30 59

31 01

31 00

31 10

30 53-

30 54

30 56

30 55

30 54

30 16

30 49

31 11

31 06

31 15

31 08

J «M I 1!

30 56

30 56

30 56

' 86 iB6-

30 61 

30 54

30 63

30 58-

30 53

Longitude

0 1

100 52

100 31

100 24

99 57

99 S3

100 36

100 39

100 36

100 36

100 35

100 34

inn M.

100 08

100 48

100 49

100 44

100 47

99 54

100 26

100 44

98 52

99 25

99 13

99 26

99 25

99 15

99 19

99 20

99 20

99 12

99 47

m 51

99 49

100 01

100 01

100 05

100 31

, 100 37

100 06

100 01

100 08

100 02

100 03 

100 03

100 06

100 16

100 13

99 04

 98 48

99 33

99 28

99 15

, 99 15

99 31

99 15

9ft 16

99 36

99 31

00 3fi

99 36

QQ 3ft

99 46

99 45

99 44

9? .45

' 99 43-

99 43

99 '53 

99 44

9» -42'

99 Sfi

W 41

Rainfall 

(inches)

Q r

IB

OK

$1

17. 5,

1C

17

oe

14

"29

t>30

14

3

~

10

10

14

12

O fc

5.5

22.5

19.75

13

20

20

26

20

13.5

9

e

Ifi

16.5

17.62

20

24

22

df25

91

24

20 '

13

20

16

20

24

 22

23 

2J

19

24

23

17

la

IS

18

IS

24

12

 18

14

W

"

tyo

O . <«)

M5.5 (0 ,

17

1*

on '1*

> Oft

' "016.^5 

-4js ' -

"-**.!» %

. m

See footnote at end of table.
FLOODS 'OF BASIN 29

TABLE 6. Jtoto? mif%fatt *£ miscellaneous points in central Texas,

Continued

' Station

Colorado River Basin Continued 

San flaba Elver Ba^in Continued.

Placid, 1 mile south- __ ._.. _ _ .... .... _______ _-. __

San Saba, 4 miles west -._ ___ .-....: __ .. _ ......

San Saba, 4J^ miles north J^ mile west of old Brownwood road... .

San Saba River, 1 mile soiith of and 1 mile west of Colorado Kiver «_

Llano Kiver Basin:

Copperas Creek, 2JtJ mileS north of Highway 290 and northeast of

Doss -_ _.- _ 

Fort Terrett Service Station, 13 mDes west of Roosevelt _ ... __

Streeter, 6H miles' west on highway 29. ___ .--'- __ -, __ --

West Copperas Creek, head of, at northeast comer Sntton County. . Miscellaneous basins:

BrownwoodjSmUessonthwiretA'i^dtBDadyroad-----. _____

Click.... . .. 

Channel, 2 miles southwest.-... 

Latitude

30 62

, 30 52

30 53

31 00

30 -.54

31 03

,31 Iff

 31 18

31 14

31 11

31 10

31 14

31 18

30 89

31 14

31 11

31 15 

31 12

31 10

31 11

31 10

31 04 a* 15

31 01

30 42

31 00

31 01

31 02

30 59

31 04

31 01

31 06

31 13

31 14

31 05

31 03.

30 37

30 57

30 *3fr

30 26

30 39

30 34

30 28

30 25

30 37

 30 38

30 21

30 50

30 52

30 42

30 39

30 51

30 21

30 55

30 05

30 08

30 11

30 29

30 23

. 30 45

30 32

30 38.

30 43

30 19

30 36 

31 39

31 23

31 24

31 39

31 36

31 32

30 33

31 04

31 02

Longitude

0 f

99 41

99 40

99 37

100 03

99 33

99 45

99 11

99 03

99 12

99 15

99 13

99 05

99 02

99 18

98 42

98 48

98 46 

98 4*

98 39

98 49

98 48

98 55,

.-9* 38 

99' 15

100 22

99 11

99 10

99 09

99" 10

99 07

99 11

99 00

. 98 37

99 44

99 25

. 99 29

99 53

98 56

100 01

99 06

100 05

100 08

100 12

99 49

99 37

98 36

99 32

 98 40

98 40

98 29

99 35

99 24

99 23

98 59

100 "21

100 20

100 29

100 02

99 37

99 22

- 100 26

100 1.4

99 28-

99 55

100 15

99 08

99 21

^99 21

99 01

99 02

99 07

98 33

98 SS

98 36

Rainfall 

(inches)

14

17

15

23

15

28

 20

«20.25

20.50

20.00

18

20

25

20

21

, 18 , 22

20

17

 IS

17.5

19

14 . 

16

13.62

15

1« '

1 18 '

11.5

i20

15,

17,5

*29

21..

18.

17.

10. 20

11 

2. £5

7.5

14

12.75

7.5

7 ie.7(S

4 -

 *12

13 10

13

12 i

5

 20

20

21.5

' 15

14

5

 9.5

24

11.75

16

9

18 

15.37

15

2424'

«20

 2j)

1o

17.5

 15

See footnotes at end of table.
30 TEXAS, FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

TABLE 6. Total rainfall at miscellaneous points in central Texas, July 16 25,1938 

Continued

Station

Colorado River Basin Continued 

Miscellaneous basins Continued.

Colorado River, on Highway 16 ________ 

Mills-Lampasas County line, 2 miles south of, on Highway 84_ _

San Saba, 10 miles northeast on Highway 81 ____________

Winchell, 2 miles north _____ __ _____ _______

1 Zephyr, 3}6 miles from, 2 miles north of Highway 84 __ ____

, , Miscellaneous

Latitude

30 59

31 21

31 26

31 35

31 14

30 17

31 25

31 16 

31 25

31 25

Q1 00

31 29

31 17

31 19

Q-t no

31 09

31 44

30 56

31 30

31 42

30 01

30 06

30 30

30 41

30 16

Longitude

98 43

98 39

99 21

99 20

99 24

99 15

99 09

98 27

98 44

98 52

98 52

98 51

99 21

98 43

98 41

OO Qft

98 38

99 18

98 29

99 08

98 60

100 07

100 29

100 40

100 39

100 40

Rainfall 

(inches)

14

15

12

17

o 7c

n

K

15

1ft

*20

e 9°*

15

 20

20

f Q

 24

14.5

15

15.5

">9.52

 26

14

13.5

15

 13 inches fell July 23.

>> 1 inch fell July 17 and 13 inches July 23.

« Record furnished by Corps of Engineers, U. 8. Army.

d 8 inches fell July 23.

 Doubtful.

 4.5 inches fell July 22.

« 6 inches fell July 20, 21, and 22.

b 5.& inches fell July 22.

' 9 inches fell July 21.

j 3:5 laches fell July 19.

k 5.0 inches fell July 24.

» 0.75 inch fell July 20 and 1.75 inches July 21.

As no recording rain gage was located in the storm area, data on 

intensities are meager. The following information was obtained from 

local observers of nonrecording gages:

Eden 

[Observed by Mrs. Spizer]

Date

July 17. 

18....

19 

20 

21 

. Rainfall 

(inches)

0.48

.45

2.10

l.tt>

1.58

Time

Afternoon. 

Do.

1-3 p. m.

12:30 a. m. to 12 m.

1-10 a. m.

Date

July 22 __ . 

23 .

24.. ....

25... ...

17-25 -.

Rainfall 

(inches)

1.39 

6.89

2.86

.02

17.37

Tina*

1 a. m. to 12 m. 

12 p. m. to 3:36 R. m.'

2-4 a. m.

8 Or 4 a.m.
1938 I3ST BASIN 31

Brady

Rain of 2.63 inches on July 21 } 4.39 inches on July 22, and 3.54 

inches on July 23 fell between the hours of midnight and 7 a. m. each

North of Menard on Dry Creek

[Reported by Chas. Wilkerson, observer, II. S. Entomology Station, Menard]

^Date

July 19. _ 

20 

2J.._. 

22 

Rainfall 

(incjies)

2.84 

2.73 

.75 

4.40

4.85

Time

Morning. 

Do. 

Afternoon. 

Morning. 

Do.

Date

July 23 

24 

19-24....

Rainfall 

(inches)

4.50 

'2.63 

.63 

23.33

"Time

Morning.

Afternoon.

Menard 

fLnckenbacb. Motor Co.]

Date

July 19.. 

20.....

21 

22 

1 Rainfall 

(inches)

0.85

1.30

5.50

8.05

Time

7-8 a. m.

Do.

Do.

Date

July 23. .

24-25-

18-25..

Rainfall 

(inches)

2.55

.35

16.60

Time

Sloan

[U. S. Weather Bureau gage]

Date

July 18. _ .

19 .....

20 

f

... ..

.....

Rainfall

(inches)

0.26

1.37

.70

3.70

3.92

Time

4:30-6 p. m.

Intermittently. 

At night.

Intermittently.

All day.

Date

July 23. _ .

24 

25 

18-25--

Rainfall

(inches)

8.47

.22 

2. 86

21.49

Time

All day.

Day and night. 

( Do.

These rainfall .records are shown graphically in figure 5, except that 

the rainfall for July 17 at Eden is not included.

Distribution of the rain with respect to time and area is shown by 

the isohyetal lines in figures 6-9, which give for part of the Colorado 

River Basint the precipitation for 2- and 47day periods from July 16 

to 25. ^ The isojbiyetal map of part of the Colorado River Basin showing tbtal precipitation July 16-25 is given in figure 10. '
32 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 18 19 20 21 22 ,85 34, 25 

July July

FIGURE 5. Accumulated rainfall at stations in the dan Saba River Basin, July 18-25,1938.
FLOODS ,<*F JULY 1938 IN COLORADO BWSE BASIN 33

 SCALE IN MILES 

10 0 10 20 30 4O 50

FKHJRE 6. Isobyetal map of part of Colorado Eiver Basin, showing total rainfall, July 16-19,1938.
34 TEXAg FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

SCALE IN MILES, 

IO 0 IO SO SO .40 50

FJGUEE 7. Isohyetal map of part of Colorado River Basin, showing total rainfall, July 20-21,1938.
FLOODS >©# JULY 1988 IN COLORADO BASIN

. SCALE IN MILES 

10 0 10 2O 30 40 SO

FIGURE 8. Isohyetal map of part of Colorado Eiver Basin, showing total rainfall, July 22-23,1938.
36 TEXAS FLOODSJOF 1938 AND 1939

SCALE IN MILES 

10-0 IO 20 30 40 5O

FIGURE 9. Isohyetal map pt part of Colorado River Basin, showing total rainfall, July 24-25j 1988.
FLOODS ®& JULY 1 6 $ 8 IN COLORADO BASIN 37

SCALE IN MILES 

10 O JO 80 30. , 40 SO

FIGURE 10. Isohyetal map of pant of Colorado River Basin, sbowing total rainfall, July 16-25,1938.
TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 3,939

EXPLANATION

 14"Flood measuring point. Number is item 

number in tables 9,12, and 19

SCALE OF, MILES 

10 0 10 20 30 40 50

FIGURE 11. Map of part of Colorado River Basic, showing plapes at which discharge records were obtained 

for flood of July 1988 and for previous floods.
FLOODS $r'iuLY i»ss IN COLORADO EIVE& BASIN 39

COLORADO RIVEB FLOOD

The flood in the Colorado River came principally from the San 

Saba River. The floodwaters from the Concho River reached the 

mouth of the San Saba River about 30 hours after the peak in that 

stream had passed and, while contributing little to the flood peak, 

caused a longer sustained high discharge in the Colorado River. 

A fairly large flood from the Llano River, with a peak discharge of 

133,000 second-feet at the river-measurement station near Castell, 

entered the Colorado River below Roy Inks Dam and helped to 

maintain the high flow hi the lower reaches of the stream. Other 

tributaries contributed little to the maximum discharge of the Colorado , River.

Buchanan Dam, which forms Buchanan Reservoir, had some regulatory effect on the flood. A succeeding section of this report discusses 

the flood at this place. Other dams on the Colorado River between 

Buchanan Dam and Austin (Roy Inks, Marshall Ford, and Tom 

Miller Dams), have little storage capacity and probably had small 

effect on the flood. Marshall Ford 'Dam, which was under construction at the time of the flood, will have a storage capacity of about 

2,000,000'acre-feet when completed. This dam is located below the 

mouth of the Llano and Pedemales Rivers and in the future will offer, 

a means of preventing floods that originate in the upper part of the 

l^asin from, seriously damaging the property along the river at Austin 

and below. , -

Views of the flood at Roy Inks Dam, at Austin^ and at Wharton are 

shown in plates 1, B, 2, and 3. Views of Buchanan Dam during the 

flood are shown in plates 7 and 8.

Hydrographs of discharge at river-measurement stations on the 

Colorado River (fig. 15) and hydrographs showing computed inflow and 

outflow at Buchanan Dam (fig. 16) are given in the section of 'this 

report on stages and discharges at river-measurement stations.

A more detailed discussion of the floods in the Concho and San 

Saba River Basins is given on the following pages. The flood peak 

in the Llano River, was 133,000 second-feet at Castell, but this was 

much less than the peak of 388,000 second-feet in 1935 and did little 

damage. The flood peak of the Llano River entered the Colorado 

River before the peak of the San Saba River arrived and probably 

conditioned the channel so that the latter peak below the mouth of 

the Llano River traveled faster, produced higher stages, and had & 

more sustained flow than it would otherwise have had. *

CONCHO RIVER FLOOD

The flood in South Concho River was caused by the same storm > 

center that produced.the flood in Brady Creek and San Saba River. 

The flood in Concho River came mostly from South Concho River, :
40 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1,939

with considerable water added in the lower reaches by streams that 

drain the area to the south. The town of Christoval, on South Ooneho 

River about 17, miles by road south of San Angelo, felt the fell force of 

the flood. With less precipitation downstream there was a considerable reduction in the peak discharge and little property damage at 

San Angelo. Lake Nasworthy, on the South Concho River below the 

Middle Concho River and above Sari Angelo, tended to reduce further 

the peak discharge at the latter place. Records of flood flow through 

the lake, as well as records of flow at Christoval, San Angelo, and other 

places in the basin, are given in a succeeding section of this report. 

The following description of the flood at Christoval is quoted from 

the San Angelo Standard-Times for July 24, 1938:

CHKISTOVAL, July 23. The South Concho River, usually an attraction re" 

sponsible for doubling this resort-town's population during the summer from 500 

to 1,000 persons, went on its greatest rampage in history today. Tonight it was 

still out of its banks but slowly receding.

Reaching a record stage of 23 feet, it caused damage estimated at approximately 

$30,000 as it swept away dozens of camp houses, a filling station, hundreds of 

acres of crops along an irrigation belt, inundated hundreds more, and swept some 

livestock down the valley.

The rainfall was estimated at from 3K to 10 inches on the watershed above 

Christoval during the 24 hours preceding the higher flood stage at noon today. 

Ten inches had fallen at Christoval during the week and the (South) Concho had 

swung out across the highway this morning for the fourth successive day.' * * *

Warning came from Eldorado at 6 o'clock this morning, advising campers and 

residents to, vacate the lowlands. Water reached flood stage here by 9 o'clock. 

By 11 o'clock tourist cabins were pounding themselves to splinters against the 

highway and railroad bridges. By 12, residents a quarter mile from the river had 

vacated homes into which the water had risen to a depth of 3 and 4 feet.

Turbulent waters 3 miles hi width were rolling through the valley here by 12:30 

when the flood reached its peak and then began to recede rapidly. * * *

A stob placed on the J. W. Warnock farm as a marker of the peak of the 1936 

flood went out of sight here shortly after noon. The Warnock farm is 3 miles 

north of Christoval. _

Figure 12 is a map of the ,0oncho River Basin showipgkoiiyetial lines 

for the total rainfall for the period July 16-25 and also allowing location of discharge measuring places.

Hydrographs of discharge at river-measurement stations on the 

South Concho and Concho Rivers are shown on figure 17. Data from 

which these hydrographs were drawn, and similar data for other 

river-measurement stations in the Concho River Basin, are given in 

the section of this report on stages and discharges at rivei>fflkeawire;» 

ment stations. r . SAN SABA RIVER FLOOD

The San Saba River rises in Sutton and Sehleicher Counties at an 

elevation of about 2,400 feet and flows in~a generally eastward direction about 130 miles across Menard, Mason, McCulloch, and San 

Saba Counties, and then flows into the Colorado River at an. ele-
FLOODS OP JULY 1938 IN COLOBADO BIVER BASIN

vation of.about 1,130 feet. Its largest tributary r Brady ~G^e«fe, fises 

in Concho and Menard Counties and flows eastward about 80 miles 

and enters the San Saba Biver about 15 miles above the town of. 

San Saba. The area of 3,100 square miles that is drained by the 

San Saba River is about 130 miles long and has a maximum width 

of about 40 miles. The entire basin lies on the Edwards Plateau and 

consists mostly of low hills, which are fairly well wooded with oak, 

cedar, and mesquite trees. The basin is largely devoted to the raising

I00»

100*

SCALE OF MILES 

K) , 20

31*

EXPLANATION 

Gaging station 

Peak-dischorg« determination

12. Map of Concho Elver Basin showing isohyetals for total rainfall July 16-25,1988, and places 

at which discharge records were obtained.

of live stock cattle, sheep, and goats but along the streams and in 

the lower part of the basin, principally north of the river, extensive 

areas are under cultivation. A map of the San Saba River Basin is 

shown in figure 13. >

During the latter part of July, heavy rains fell over the entire San 

Saba River Basin and produced record-breaking stages on most 

streams ,of the area. The jnost damage was done in the towns of 

Menard, San Saba, ancJ'Brady, the first two situated' on the San Saba 

River and the latter on Brady Creek. '. .

The Menard News of July 21, 1938, states:

The heavy rains during the past 3 days came as a needed relief for the crops and 

grazing land of this section. Having received no rains of any consequence in the 

past 2 months this section was fast approaching a drouth-stricken condition.
42 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

The issue of July 28 reports:

After a week of heavy rains and several visitations of flood water the San Saba 

went to the highest flood stage Saturday in 40 years. The river began a rapid 

rise about 4 o'clock Saturday afternoon and in a short time was running down the 

main street. Merchants worked desperately to strengthen the barricades built 

earlier in the week when it became evident that the water was going much higher. 

San Saba Street became flooded, in many places waist deep, and water was about 

a foot deep in the lobby of the Bevans Hotel.

The water gradually crept farther into the town until a peak was reached about 

10 o'clock. From then on it receded rapidly, and by midnight the danger was 

over. * * *

At the highest peak the water was going over the bridge, and the floating span 

of the structure was expected to go out; but it held against the worst flood since 

the bridge was constructed.

The flood at San Saba has been described by the San Saba News for 

July 28 as follows:

The greatest flood ever to visit the San Saba Valley is now history * * * 

leaving in its wake a scene of desolation and destruction that almost beggars 

description. * * *

Many hundreds of our rural and city citizens were made homeless through the 

loss or serious damage to their homes, many thousands of acres of crops washed 

out throughout the valley, quite a little livestock lost, and many narrow escapes 

from loss of lives were recorded in this the greatest San Saba flood of all time, 

being some 5 to 8 feet higher than the previous high marks. * * *

Starting Tuesday of last week, with occasional slight intermissions, the rain 

fell steadily, at times almost in torrents, day after day and night after night until 

Monday morning of this week, when a total fall for the week of eighteen and a 

fraction inches of rainfall was recorded in San Saba. * * * Fed by torrential 

rains up Brady Creek above Brady in the Menard area and aH along the line, 

including Richlarid Creek, and all tributaries, the San Saba began rising here 

rapidly Thursday and gradually spread over the valley, catching many of the 

valley farmers unprepared. By Friday morning the city pump station was 

submerged .at Mill Creek and the water supply shut off, scores of homes in the 

lower parts of the city were inundated and many homes completely cohered. 

Dozens of the smaller homes were washed from their foundations and dislodged, 

some collapsed and were carried downstream, breaking up as they collided with 

trees and fences. * * * '

Harkeyville, Algerita, Richland Springs were all heavy sufferers, and hardly a 

section of the county in which there was a stream was spared from damage and 

loss. * * * . , . f .

Brady, Menard, Eden, and Voca were inundated. * * *

At the height of the flood the width of the river here at San Saba was estimated 

at 1% miles wide, and at Harkeyville it was placed at between 3 and 4 miles at its 

greatest width. * * *

The rain ceased Monday morning'of this week at 10 o'clock, and for the first 

time in 7 days the sun came out from behind the pkmds &t 8;4<3^hjif aftenwxm 

and has shone daily since. The wild San Saba is again back,in i;te banks for, the, 

most part after rising to its greatest height in history, leaving in iis wake a desolation to the valley farming community and valley villages unprecedented. * * *

The one consoling thing about the heavy rains that brought on the flood is that 

the higher ranch lands received enough rains to take care of their grazing needs 

through the winter, some ranchers say. Since a. large part of San Saba County,
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 914 PLATE 1

A. RIVER-MEASUREMENT STATION ON COLORADO RIVER AT AUSTIN. 

Recording gage with silt trap at water's edge. Discharge measurements are made from bridge.

Photo by Boone.

B. FLOOD OF JULY 1938 AT ROY INKS DAM ON COLORADO RIVER. 

I'hoto by Neal Douglas. Courtesy of Lower Colorado River Authority.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 914 PLATE 2

FLOOD OF JULY 1938 ON COLORADO RIVER AT AUSTIN. 

Congress Avenue Bridge, July 26, after stage had fallen about 4 feet from peak. Photo by Bill Nottingham. Courtesy of city of Austin.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 914 PLATE 3

A. NEAR WHARTON.

B. AT WHARTON.

COLORADO RIVER FLOOD, JULY 30, 1938.

Photos by Bill Nottingham.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 914 PLATE 4

A. MAIN STREET, MENARD, FLOODED BY SAN SABA RIVER, JULY 22, 1938. 

Photo from Western Photo Studio.

B. COURTHOUSE SQUARE, BRADY, FLOODED BY BRADY CREEK, JIT LY 23, 1938.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 914 PLATE 5

SAN SABA RIVER AT SAN SABA. 

Overflow on July 24, 1938, about 6 feet below peak. Photo by lllth Photo Sec. A. C., Texas National Guard, Houston, Tex.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 914 PLATE 6

A. RAILROAD DAMAGED BY FLOOD.

Picture made July 24, 1938, ivhen river ivas about 6 feet beloiv peak. Photo by lllth Photo Sec. A. C., 

Texas National Guard, Houston, Tex.

B. PART OF TOWN DAMAGED BY FLOOD. 

Picture made July 22, 1938, before peak of flood.

SAN SABA RIVER AT SAN SABA.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 914 PLATE 7

BUCHANAN DAM AND RESERVOIR ON COLORADO RIVER. 

Picture made July 24, 1938, when dam was discharging 191,000 second-feet. Photo by lllth Photo Sec. A. C., Texas National Guard, Houston, Tex.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 914 PLATE 8

BUCHANAN DAM SPILLWAY, JULY 24, 1938. 

Lake about 2 feet below peak stage. Photo by lllth Photo Sec. A. C., Texas National Guard, Houston, Tex.
FLOOI>9 GF JULY 1988 EST COLORADO RrVER BASIN 43

probably more than 75 percent, is in stock ranches, good fall and wintei* grazing 

will be an important item in recovery.

The Brady Standard in issues for July 26 and 29 describes the flood 

at Brady as follows:

Swirling derelict waters that had menaced the town twice the past week, made 

Brady Creek a veritable mad river Saturday afternoon, as the muddy waters 

inundated three-fourths of the business section of the town, washed away any1 

number of homes and businesses, damaged merchandise, and otherwise left Bradyites suffering from a loss estimated at $500,000. The worst flood in the town's 

history broke over the flood wall which had held waters back on two occasions 

last week Saturday afternoon about 3 o'clock, took out the bridge -on North 

Bridge Street a half hour later, and within a few minutes covered the entire plaza. 

The water was about 14 inches higher than the flood of October 6, 1930, when 

damage estimated at $300,000 was done to Brady property. The town was 

fortunate in one instance, at least, since no lives were lost, though there were at 

least three narrow escapes. * * *

- After the flood, which washed away somei 25 or 30 dwellings in the lowlands, 

rendering about 100 homeless and driving another 200 from their homes, relief 

headquarters were set up * * * where Saturday night coffee and sandwiches were served the stricken persons. They were fed and, clothed by the local 

chapter of the American Red Cross. * * *

During the early stages of the flood, when a person would hardly think about 

venturing into the rampaging waters * * * a Mexican calmly gathered up 

exactly a half dozen floating roosters; and scuttled to safety, carrying them under 

his arms.

An interesting observation was made in the column "Sauce" of the 

Brady Standard: , Why do folks go right back and reestablish themselves upon the very spot where 

disaster has overtaken them? That was answered many years ago ia the saying 

"Home is where the heart is." The sturdy oak tree roots deep. Wind and storm 

may tear at its branches, and twist and gnarl and break them> but the tree lives on. 

So with men of will, of strength and purpose. They continue to make their home 

where their heart is in the "Dust Bowl;" in the frozen wastes of the Arctic; 

upon the storm-bound seacoast; and upon the banks of turgid Brady Creek.

Old-timers recall that the late W. B. White, pioneer settler and ranchman

* * * away back in the Seventies when the town of Brady City was first being 

established, pleaded with his pioneer fellowmen to locate the business section on 

top of the south hill, even offering to give the land for the business district. His 

pleadings were overruled, and Brady 's business district was laid, out upon its 

present site.

Views of the flood at Menard, Brady, and San Sab&a. are shown in 

plates 4-6.

Tbere are on|y two river-measurement stations in the SanlSaba Eiver 

Basin at "MenarcH'and SanJSaba. _ In addition to records at these 

places, slope-a'rea^ determinations of peak discharge were made on San 

Saba River beloW the mouth of Brady Creek near Bichland Springs, on 

Brady Creek, near Brady, and on Richland Creek near Richland 

Springs. The locations of all measuring placejs are shown in figure 13, 

as well as isohyetal, lines for the total rainfall in the basin July 19-25.

463302 44 4
44 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939
FLOODS $f JULY 1938 IN COLORADO RIVBB BASEST 45

Hydrographs of discharge at the river-measurement stations in the San 

Saba River Basin are given in figure 18.

FLOOD AT BUCHANAN DAM

The recently completed Buchanan Dam, on the Colorado River 

at the Llano-Burnet County line about 13 miles upstream from the 

Llano River, was started by private interests as a power project and, 

after failure of the private company, was completed by the Statecreated Lower Colorado River Authority with the aid of Federal funds. 

This dam forms a reservoir with a storage capacity of 992,000 acrefeet at the spillway level of 1,020 feet, which is about the average 

annual runoff of the river at this place. People living along the Colorado River below Austin had come to believe that after completion of 

Buchanan Dam they would be protected from flood overflows that 

periodically visit them and that cause loss of life and property almost 

every year.

The disastrous flood of July-August 1938 destroyed the feeling of 

security from floods held by the people of the lower part of the basin, 

brought public accusation of improper operation of Buchanan Dam, 

and resulted in an investigation by the Senate Investigating Committee 

of the Forty-fifth Texas Legislature. At the direction of this committee, the State Board of Water Engineers made an extensive study of 

the flood, the operation of the dam, and the probable effects on the 

flood if the dam had been operated differently.

In the report of the Board 6 a number of conclusions are given, 

among which are:

1. That this is the largest flood of record occurring above the Buchanan Dam, 

both as to peak flow and duration of flood.

2. That the storm causing this flood covered practically the entire contributing 

drainage area of the Colorado River above the Pedernales River. 

, 3, That, the maximum total rainfall for the period of the storm, July 16-26, 

was on the watershed of the South Concho River above the town of Christoval, 

and*amounted to 25 inches; that a total of 20 inches for the period occurred on the 

drainage basin of the San Saba River and covered practically the entire basin.

4. That the intense rains and resulting flood were so close to the Buchanan 

reservoir that sufficient time was not had in which to materially lower the lake 

level.

5. That Buchanan reservoir is not sufficient to control floods of such volume 

and peak discharge as the flood of July-August 1938, originating in so close 

proximity to the reservoir. * * *

10. That the flood on the Colorado River below the Buchanan Dam was not a 

man-made flood. * * *

13. That the'Rttehanaa and Marshall Ford Dams afford no flood protection to 

the tributaries': *v* * , 26. [That] adequate information should be available and a careful study of the 

information should be made before releasing water from the reservoir in advance 

of a flood, in order not to produce a man-made flood below the dam.

« Colorado River flood, July-August 1938, Report of tbe State Board of Water Engineers to the Senate 

Investigating Committee of the 45th Legislature (mimeographed), {Jept. 19, 1938.
46 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

27. [That] any reservoir of a capacity comparable to Buchanan reservoir 

would b3 a flood-control structure and would reduce and delay the crest of a 

flood if the gates remained fixed in the positions they occupied at the start of the 

flood.

Records of lake levels, capacity tables, and operation of gates were 

furnished by the Lower Colorado River Authority. Inflow .and 

outflow records were computed by the Board of Water Engineers. 

These data are included in the section of this .report on stages and 

discharges at river-measurement stations. Graphs of storage, inflow, 

and outflow for the period July 21 to August 3 are shown in figure 16. 

Views of Buchanan Dam during the flood are shown in plates 7 and 8.

FLOOD STAGES AND DISCHARGES

CREST STAGES

Records of crest stages were obtained at a number of places on the 

Colorado River from Ballinger to Wharton and are given in table 7. 

The observation points along the river channel are at such intervals 

that they do not define a continuous profile of the water surface. 

Stages at Chadwick and places below probably are of the same flood 

peak, but above that point they are for different peaks.

For the crest stages along the San Saba River and I^ra^y Creek, 

which were determined at frequent intervals, accurate flood profiles were prepared by the Corps of Engineers, United States Army. 

The crest stages for the San Saba River and Brady Creek given in 

table 8 were taken from these profiles. The altitudes that have been 

selected for publication have been limited to those that are essential 

for adequate definition of the flood profile. These data are shown 

graphically in figure 14. '

In addition to obtaining flood-crest stages, the-office of Hie Corps 

of Engineers, United States Army, at Galveston made abotit 240 

cross sections along the San Saba River and Brady Creek knd obtained 

sufficient data to define the profiles of the stream bed> low water, 

right bank, and left bank. These data are not incorporated! in tfeis 

report.
level sea mean above Feet 

""Loafer

1 " 

:-f

^

-

Tig and 

Deer

y

,

// 

/

-Sai 

Jerry 

y-Mduth

' ' 

Hi S. F. 

1 Katemc

Creek er 

/

/^'

Cr Dry 

C 

Ranc

87 ;hway 

Creek- ' 

/

/ 3 

of louth 

^

iek

Creek Wallace 

l 

Creek Uchland 

Creek Ina 

I Sfib«_, 

Cree son 

Branc s 

De ecter 

k

i

Cree imp 

- Creek h 

/

A7 0 /-

/

Cr Brady 

m

1

. -/ 

7/

//

/ff 

Cr« nlon 

Ci Brady 

eek

:

d< lenarfl 

£

,P

*i

'/

. ek 

 eek

Cr fwefey 

site- m 

-/ I" 

'/

/

-

r _ _ fQ\r 

>

Y

>

/

SCIOO*M st«i in (KivsQioo msva
48 TEXAS FLOOD& OF 1938 AND 1939

TABLE 7. Flood-crest stages on Colorado River, July 1938

Place of determination

Winchell.. ..... ......... ..........

San Saba-Goldthwaite bridge, 1 mile

Marble Falls, U. S. Weather Bureau 

gage . . .. .

Eagle Lake, Geological Survey gage. __

Wharton, U. S. Weather Bureau gage...

Latitude

O I

31 44

31 33

31 30

31 28

31 25

31 28

31 28

31 27

31 25

31 23

31 21

31 14

31 13

31 05

30 34

30 16

31 01

29 54

29 35

29 18

Longitude

. O 1

99 56

99 40

QQ 41

99 25

99 20

99 10

QQ fifi

98 57

98 51

da 4A

98 40

98 34

98 34

98 32

98 16

97 45

97 10

96 52

96 25

96 06

River 

distance above 

mouth » 

(miles)

643.8

608.6

690.7

672.2

662.6

646.4

641.9

623.3

515.3

606.3

486.6

461.5

459.9

446.0

369.2

280.9

198.7

163.3

99.5

65.3

! | 

Time of crest ]

 j 

July 26, 12m ...

July 24, 9p'. m. 

July 24.. .....

July 23. ..........

July 24, 11:16 p. m...

July 23..-: ...

Jdly25, 6ai m... 

July 26 J- -

July 24 :J .---

July 23.. -i ... ...

July 23, 6p» m. 

July 23 .4 -

 !

... ,.do...-.;- ...

July 26, 6 pi m.- ..

July 27, 6:25 a. m -

July 29, 10:30 p. m-.:

July 30, 12:10 p.m.-

Altitude 

above 

mean sea 

level 

(feet) .

1,611.7

1,494.7

1,425.6

1.380.3

1,349.7

1, 311. 0

1,299.8

1,263.8

1, 249. 7

1, 230. 6

1,190.7

1, 162. 1

1, 158. 6

1,107.6

740.1

454.0

306.1

254.2

167.7

103.1

 Revised since publication in Water-Supply Paper 816. | ! :

TABLE 8. Flood-crest stages on San Saba River and Brady Creek, July] 1938

San Saba River

' !

River

distance

above 

mouth

(miles)

125.0

124.0

122.4

121.0

119.9

119.6 

118.5

117.0 

116.0

113.0

111.1

110.4

109.0

107.0

105.0

102.6

100.0 

98.0

96.0

94.0

92.0

90.0

88.0

86.0

84.5

83.2 

80.7

78.5

76.0

74.0

72.5

70,9 

70.6

69.3

67.5

65.6

64.0

62.0

59.7

Altitude

above

mean sea 

level

(feet)

2,017

2,013

1,997

1,989

1,975

1,973 

Ir963

1,947 

1,930

1,910

1,892

1,886

1,872

1,858

1,840

1,820

1,809 

1,798

1,790

1,783

1,767

1,747

1.730

1,711

1.697

1,681 

1,653

1,630

1,605

1,591

1,580

1,563 

1,560

1,548

1,535

1,521

1,510

1,497

1,478

Location

i

Near Fort McKavett.

Rocky Creek. .

Clear Creek.

Dry Creek.

Menard dam site.

Las Mbras Creek.

Menard, U. S, Highway No. 83.

Camp Greek. 

Ranch Greek.

Bridge, U. 8, Highway No. 87. 

Hudson' Branch.

Katemcy Creek.

Bridge.

Loafer and Tiger Creeks.

River

, distance

above 

mouth

(miles)

58.0

56.0

54.5

52.0

50.0

48.1 

46.7

46.2 

44.0

42.0

40.0

38.0

36.0

34.0

32.5

31.0

' 29.0 

27.6

26.3

25.7

. 25.0

23.3

21.6

20.0

18.3

16.6 

15.4

14.7

13.0

11.2

10.0

9.0

7.7

7.3

6.0

4.0

2.6

i.2

0

Altitude

above

mean sea 

level

(feet)

' 1,461

1,441

1.42S

1,396

1,372

1,349 

1,332

1,324 

1,307

1,297

1,283

1,270

1,262

1.257

1,254

1,246

1,237 

1,234

1,229

1,227

1,226

1,218

1, 21H

1,210 1,205;

1,202 

1,200

1,198"

1,188

1,186 1 1*184

M78 

' 1, 176

1,175

1,172

1,171

1,170

" 1,167

1,164

: i

! !

| Locatioi

i i i

 j ^

' 1

Deer Cre|ek. ! 1

' 1 Deep Crfek. 

Brady Greek.

San Saba dam site}

 i

1

i ;

I Dry Creek. ] '

i i

Wallace (breek. '

Bridge, G. Cf& S.-F. R. R. >

Bridge,*!. S^Highway No. 190.

Riehlarid; Creek. ;\

t '

'China Cijeek. j 1

»

i

JBridge, Sate Highway Njo. $t.

iSaiiSabai Rector Dam.

Reetor BHdge. i .

\ ' i !

SimpfoalQreek. i

^ ' . . t .

Jerrys l&fweb. --

' Rabbit Branch.

Bridge.

Mouth. .
FLOODS iQP JULY 1938 IN" COLORADO RIVER BASH? 49

TABLE 8. ^Flood-crest stages on San Saba River and Brady Creek, J#ff?

Continued

Brady Creek

River

distance

above 

month

(taUes)

"40.6

38.0

36.0

34.0

32.0

30.1

30.1

30.0

20.5

28. 8

28.8

27. S

26,0

24.0

Altitude

above

mean sea 

level

(feet)

1, 761

1,742

1,727,

1,711

1,696

1,680

1,679

1,678

1,675

1,670

1, 667

1,661

1,648

1,634

Location

 t

Bridge, U. S. Highway No. 87.

Do.

Live Oak Creek.

Brady.

Bridge, G. O. & S. F. R. R.

Do.

River

distance

above

mouth

(miles)

22.0

20.0

18.0

16.0

14.0

12.0

10.0

8.8

7.6

6.0

4.0

2.0

.5

0

Altitude

above

mean sea 

level

(feet)

1,614

1,594

1,572

1,553

1,534

1,509

1,485

1,470

1,452

1,428

1,399

1,363

1,335

1,332

Loeatlcp

'

Onion Creek.

Little Brady Creek.

* ,

Mouth.

NOTE. Records obtained by Corps of Engineers U. S. Army. , ' . - 

SUMMARY OF FIXJOD STAGES AND IMOSCHABtGBS ;

Table 9 is a summary of flood stages and discharges in the Colorado 

River Basin during the July flood for all river-measurement stations 

and other places at which the peak discharge was determined. For 

purposes of comparison the previous m.aximunv stage and discharge 

are given where known. The heading "Period of known floods" is a 

summary Nof the periods listed under the heading "Maxima'' for the 

individual stations. Also shown in table 9 is the maximum 24-hour 

discharge at all river-measurement stations. The locations of most 

of the points in table 9 are shown in figure 11, which is a map of the 

part of the Colorado River above Austin that experienced the storm 

and flood of July 1938.

STAGES AND DISCHARGES AT RIVER-MEASUREMENT STATIONS

IN TEXAS

On the following pages are presented stage andf discharge records at 

all river-measurement stations hi the Colorado River Basin. These 

records consist essentially of a station description, a table of daily 

mean, discharges and daily and total runoff foi the flood period, and a 

table of discharges at indicated times dutrog the flood in sufficient 

detail lor a reasonably reliable delineation of the hydrograph.

Under the heading "Drainage area" in the station description for 

some stations the probable noneontributing area is noted. This is 

the area that lies above the Cap Rock 7 and is believed never to contribute any -surface runoff to the lower reaches of the streams. The 

drainage areas were measured from topographic maps that were 

available and from soil maps and county road-maps.

i Bajrymple, Tate, and others, Major Texas floods of 1936: U. 8. Qeol, Survey Water-Supply Paper 816. 

p. 7, fig. 2,1937.
TABLE 9. Summary of flood stages and discharges in Colorado 

Item 

No.

10 

.14

16

18 

19

21 

24 

25

26

27 

28

29

30> 

32

41 

42

43

44

45

48 

49

« 

Stream and place of determination

Colorado ,River at\ /Inflow .... 

Bucnanan Dam./ (.Outflow..

Golorado River near Eagle Lake __

South Concho River at Christoval.. 

South Ooncho Kiver at San Angelo. .

Middle Concho Eiver near Tankersly.

Norta Concho Kiver near Carlsbad. 

Kiekapoo Creek near Paint Rock _ . 

Salt Creek near Doole ________

Deep Creek near Milburn _____

Pecan 5ayou at Brownwood Reservoir,

San Saba River near Richland 

Springs. «

Latitude

o /

31 44 

31 13

} 30 45

36 16 

30 01

29 35 

31 45 

31 13

31 27

31 27 

31 31

31 23

31 22 

31 36 

31 28 

31 24

31 23 

31 50

31 44

30 55 

31 08

Longitude

« » 

99 56 

98 34

98 25

97 45 

97 10

96 25 

99 57 

100 30

100 26 

100 25 

99 55 

100 37

100 32 

100 40 

99 59 

99 25

89 06 

99 00

98 58

99 48 

98 57

Drainage 

area 

(square 

miles) a

5,340 

18,800

19,450

26,350 

27,850

29, 140 

458 

434

2,535

4,217 

5,263

1,128

734 

1,406 

289 

88.2

59.2 

1,535

1,614

1,151

2,757

Period of 

known 

floods

1882-1938 

1878-1938

1938

1843-1938 

1913-38

1913-38 

1906-38 

1882-1938

1854-1938

1854-1938 

1882-1938

1922-38

1930-38 

1922-38 

1938 

1938

1938 

1932

/ 1917-18 

I 1923-38

1899-1938 

1938

Maximum stage and disc

prior to July 1938

Date

Sept. 18, 1936- 

Sept. 25, 1900..

/July?, 1869... 

\Junel5, 1935- _ 

/December 1913 

(June 16, 1935, . 

/December 1913 

\Junel9, 1935. . 

Sept. 3, 1935... 

!Aug. 6, 1906... 

Sept. 17,1936- 

Aug. 6,1906.- 

Sept. 17,1936- 

Aug. 6, 1906 .. 

Sept. 17, 1936 .. 

/Aprill922 . 

\Sept. 26, 1936- 

Sept. 17, 1936 . 

Sept. 26,1936-

July3, 1932...

|Oct. 14,1930.-

/ June 5 or 6, 1899 

\Sept. 16,1936.

Stage 

(feet)

i>28.6 

57.5

43 

42.0 

47.4 

42.5 

32 

29.45 

10.3 

23.1 

20.5 

29.7 

d23.4 

47.5 

43.4 

27.2 

24.2 

«20.3

16. a

16.9

23.7 

21.2

c

(se

f

1

4

3

1

2

1

« 24

3

"3

2
50 

59

60

61 

63 

64

65

77

Richland Creek near Richland 

Spring.

North Llano River near Junction .

Pedernales River near Spicewood ...

31 12 

31 06

31 16

31 03 

30 30 

30 30

30 43 

30 25

98 42 

99 18

98 50

98 34 

99 47 

99 44

98 53 

98 05'

3,046 

595

72:4

149 

914 

1,762

3,514 

1,294

1899-1938 

1930-38

1938

1882, 1938 

1875-1938 

1889-1938

1889-1938 

1869-1938

/June 6, 1899... 

\Apr. 26, 1922...

1882 

Sept. 16,1936.. 

June 14,1935..

.....do ........

May 28, 1929. .

M2.6

(0 

*24.9 

43.3

37.0 

 "40.4

5

9

31

38

15

a Noncontributing area above Cap Kock not included 

i> A stage of about 36 feet occurred in 1884. 

° Not determined.

d Includes about 2.4 feet of backwater from North Concho 

River-

 About. 

* A stage of about 25 feet has been reported (

charge unknown).

« 2 miles below mouth of Brady Creek. 

h May have been affected by backwater.
52 - .TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939 :

/

Under the heading "Maxima" in the station description are two or 

three paragraphs. The first paragraph, headed "1938", gives the 

maximum discharge and gage height during the flood of July 1938; 

the second, headed by the inclusive dates of continuous records, gives 

the maximum discharge and the corresponding gage height during 

the period of continuous records prior to July 1938; the third, when 

included, is headed by inclusive dates, and gives the maximum stage 

and discharge during the period prior to the beginning of continuous 

records, is based mostly on information from local residents, and 

varies in the degree of its accuracy and reliability.

The tables showing stage and discharge at indicated times are 

designed to present the rise and recession of the flood in detail, as 

the rate of rise and fall is usually so rapid that daily mean values do 

not define the hydrographs adequately. Hydrographs of discharge, 

showing characteristics of the flood peaks and conditions of flow 

during the flood period, are shown in figures 15-19.

The discharge at an indicated time is related to the corresponding 

gage height in. accordance with a stable stage-discharge relation, 

.except for those stations where there are changing conditions of 

channel and where certain adjustments have been made. In determining the discharge from the stage, the stage has been used to the 

nearest hundredth, half tenth, or tenth of a foot in accordance with 

certain established limits of refinements, which are indicated in tihte 

station description.

Several storage reservoirs in the basin affect flood flows, but no 

attempt has been made to adjust discharges to show the natural 

flow. Reservoir records, where available, are incorporated in this 

report.

The records are presented in accordance with the regular arrangement used by the Geological Survey in its water-supply papers: the 

stations on the main stem of the stream are treated first, in downstream order, and then stations on the tributaries in similar order 

beginning with the uppermost, and the streams in each tributary 

basin are listed bef6re those of the next basin below. >
second'-feet of thousands in Discharge 

\s

r

saoola: atf iTEnr 8set \ra .oavaoioo aitoa 
second-feet of thousands in outflow and Inflow 

t-> l-J M 

W W O - ~3 tBr 

O» O * 00 K> 
July 

FIGTJBE 17. Hydrographs of discharge at river-measurement stations on South Concho 
56 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939 '

jo
FLOODS OF-JULY 103£ IN COLORADO &RT8& BASIN 57

aeej-puooas jo
58 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

COLORADO RIVER AT BAT.T.TNOER, TEX.

LOCATION. Lat. 31°43'50", long. 99°S6'25", at bridge on U. S. Highway 83 at 

Ballinger, Runnels County, 2,000 feet upstream from Elm Creek. Zero 

of gage is 1,593.7 feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

DBAINAGE ABBA. 16,840 square miles, of which about 11,600 square miles is 

probably noncontributing.

GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-stage recorder graph except 1 p. m. July 23 to 

5 a. m. July 24 and 8 p. m. July 27 to 10 a. m. Aug. 14, when it was determined 

from graph based on records at other stations, local information, and weather 

records. Gage heights used to half tenths between 3.7 and 5.1 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits. t

STAGE-DISCHARGE RELATION. Defined by current-meter measurements below 

' 55,200 second-feet; extended to 75,400 second-feet on basis of one float 

measurement of 65,500 second-feet.

MAXIMA. 1938: Discharge, 21,100 second-feet 12 m. July 26 (gage height, 

17.75 feet).

1907-37: Discharge, 75,400 second-feet Sept. 18, 1936 (gage height, 

28.6 feet).

1882-1906: Stage, about 36 feet, present site and datum, in. 1884. 

A stage of about 32 feet occurred Aug. 6, 1906, present site and datum (discharge not determined, but probably less than in 1936); affected by backwater from Elm Creek.

REMARKS. Small diversions for irrigation above station affect low flow only.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1938

Day

July 19 ..

20 

21.....

22 

23 

24. .

25 

26 

27. _ .

Secondfeet

36

789

933

3,650

2,920

6,520

7,380

16,900

3,610

Acre-feet

71

1,560

1,850

7,040

5,790

12, $80

14,640

33,520

7,160

Day

July 28 

29 

30 

31 

Aug. 1.. .

2. _ .

3. 

4-. 

( 5_ 

Secondfeet

1,400

705

470

348

256

216

186

167

153

Acre-feet

2,780

1,400

944

686

608

428

369

331

303

Day

Aug. 6- -

7 __

8

9 _

10:.- .

ii, _

12 

13- 

HSecondfeet

143

136

130

120

110

100

91

79

62

1

Acre-feet

284

270

258

238

218

198

180

157

123

Runoff in acre-feet, for period July 19 to Aug. 14_________________________ . 94,240
FLOODS Cffl* JULY 1933 m .COJLOBADO EZVJSE BASUC

Ga^e-heighi, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1$&8

Time

July 19 

1 a. m ._

9 -

11 . ..

12. _ . _ ..

July SO

P Id,. .

ii_. ........

3 p. m.--..

12 - .

Jtt(y »i

6:00 ......

12:00 m 

10:00 p.ta.. 

11:00..... ... 

11:60- _ ..

13300U-. .

JriyltS

1:50 a. m~

4:00.... _ 

8:00 :

10:00- .. 

12:OQ m... 

2300 p. m5:00. __ ..

s-ftft

12:00.,. ._

feet

1.40 

I 39

1,82

1 85

L84.

1.70

1.68

1.85

2.®

a '37

3.63 

3.56

3.48

. (JO

3.35

2.85 

2.49 

4.60 

5.18

5.00

5.28

5.00 

4.4fi

4. 76 

5.40

5.82

6.20

S.03

5.20

Beooad- '-Jfcet

23

140

147;

100:

88

150

673

1,180

1, 470 

1,380

1,300

1,190 

I, ISO

689 

438 

2,620 

33,30

,1500

3,480

3,100 

2,440

2,800 

3,600

4,100

4,000

4,220'

3,350

Timfl <

July S3 

3:00 a. ja__,

K.ylC

8.DO. i

12'00

« ...

.8... ...

» _.:

12m ___ .,

4.... __ ..

8 .

10 . __ ..

11. ____ ..,

to

JntfO- '

«... .. 

6 _ ..

12m _..

2p.m..-,. 

3 __ - _ ..

S._ ....

6 - 

7 .... . ...

« . 

12 .

F«*

an

9.68

an

4.48

3.72

" 3.55

4.00

5.25

7.30

9.85

11.60. 

12.30

11.54

8.83"

5.08

4,98 

5.08

. Uj&

5.23

5.33

5.15

6.00 7.63 ' 

8.60

9.87 

10.90

11.90

-10 Oyl

14.64

Second- ,

feet

4480

e oqn

4,480

2,500;

l,660i

1,380|

1,600

3,350

6, 010

9, 110

11, 800 

12.SOO11, 700

5,360

3,220

3,100

Q />OA

3,480 

3, 350

3,480

3 290

4,350

6,410 

7,760

9,520 

10,900

12,200

13.600

14,200

16,000

Time ;

JtolySS

4 a. m _ .

8-» .....

10. _ ......

<* -^

6- - .

8 .... ...

10,. _ .....

12.

Jvttff

12m __ ...

6 p. m... r.

12 

JulySS

12m.._. _.. 

12p.m.. _ J

12ta _ ....

July SO 

12m -

12 p. ni-....

12m . 

«i*-i

15.H 

16.50

 17.08

17.53

17.75

17.58

16. 85

15. 15

11.70,

8.65

7 20

8.3S!

5.14,

4.53

4.15

.

3.53 

8. 13"!

2.87

2.68

2.55

2.43

2.33

2.24

Seeoad- 

" feet

, 17,600 

18,900

10,900

t 20,600

» 91 inn

20,800

19,40)

16,900

11,900

7,760

5,880

4,720

.3,220

2.560

1,360 

917

706

562

476

403

348

304

CCKLCXRADO RIVER NEAR SAN SABA, TJSX,

, Lat. 31°12/45", long. 98°34'00", at Bed Bluflf crosaang, 5.7 miles 

downstream from San Saba River and 9.2 miles east of San jSaba, San Saba 

County. Zero of gage is 1,096.22 feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

AREA. 30,600 square miles, of which about 11,800 square miles is 

probably noncontributing,

 GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-stage recorder graph except 7 p. m. July 22 to 

10 a. m. July 30, when it was determined from graph based on numerous 

staff-gage readings daily, and Aug. 3-14, when it "was partly estimated on 

basis of one staff-gage reading daily. Gage heights used to half tenths 

between 3.9 and 7.5 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits. 

STAGE-DISCHARGE RELATION. Defined by current-meter measurements. 

MAXIMA. 1938: Discharge, 224,000 second-feet 6 p. m. July 23 (gage height, 

62.24 feet, from floodmarks); this is the greatest flood known to local residents, whose knowledge goes back to 1878.

1930-37: Discharge, 179,000 second-feet Sept. 21, 1936 (gage height, 

56.7 feet, from floodmarks),

19,00-1920: Discharge, 184,000 second-feet Sept. 25, 1900 (gage height, 

about 57.5 feet, present site and datum, accord: ng to Information from local 

residents).

463302 M 5
60 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

REMARKS. Small diversions above station for imgation anji municipal use affect 

low flow only. Flood flow subject to some regulation by reservoirs upstream 

(see records for Lake Nasworthy near San Angelo and Brownwood Reservoir 

near Brownwood).

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1938

Day

July 19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

28 

27 

28 

Secondfeet

178

10,600

20,700

87,000

191,000

186,000

175,000

122,000

88,800

61,600

Acrefeet

353

21,020

41,060.

172,600

378,800

368,900

347,100

242,000

176, 100

122,200

Day

July 29 

SO -

SI 

Aug. 1 ~

2- 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Secondfeet

28,700

8,580

9,190

7,500

4,100

2,960

2,380

2,060

1,900

Acrefeet

56,930

17,020

18,230

14,880

8,130

5,870

4,720

4,090

3,770

Day

Aug. 7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

Secondfeet

1,740

1,680

1,570

1,510

1,450

1,510

1,540

1,450

Acrefeet

3,450

3,330

3,110

3,000

2,880

3,000

' 3,050

2,880

Runoff, in acre-feet, for period July 19 to Aug. 14.._._.: _ . . -- 2,028,000

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

Time

July 19

la. m 

12m -

19

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 -

12m 

3 

A.. .......

5 

6 

7 

9 

10 

11 . 

 to

July Si

2- -

4 -

5 

6 -

7 -

9

10 

11 . 

12m 

2 -

4 _ 

Feet

2.61 

2.60

2.68

3.00

4.00

6.50

>7.70

8.50

9.20

9.80

10.1

10.4

10.65

10.9

11.1

11.4

11.6

11.85

12.05

12.3

12.5

12.7

12.9

13.1

13.35

13.55

13.75

140

14.15

14.35

14.6

14.85

15.1

15.45

15.8

16.25

16.45

16.55

16.7

16.75

16.85

16.9

16.95

Secondfeet

172 

169

19*

328

880

9 Qfifl

4 fidf\

6,080

7,370

8,480

9,040

10,000

10,500

10,900

11,500

11,800

12,300

12,600

13,200

13,600

13,900

14,300

14,700

15,300

15,600

16,000 ifi 4nn

16,800

17,200

17,900

18,500

19, 100

19 800

20,200

20,600

21,000

21,300

21,500 91 7f\n

21,700

21,900

22,100

Time

July HI 

Con.

6 

7 

8,~' 

9 __ -

10 

11 

12 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8- -

10 

11 

12m. -

3. 

6 

7 .... -

8 

» .,-

10 -

11 

12_. --

2 

3 

4 -

6 -

7 -

9 

10 

11 -

Feet

17.0

17.05

17.15

17.25

" 17.35

17.5

17.75

18.0

18.6

20.0

22.8

25.6

28.2

30.2

32.2

34.0

35.1

36.0

36.7

37.3

38.0

38.8

40.1

42.0

43.7

44.9

45.9

46.6

47.4

48.2

48.9

49.6

50.95

51.8

52.7

53.9

54.8

65.5

56.1

56.6

. 57.1

, 57.9

Secondfeet

22,100

22,100

22,500

22,500

22,900

23,000

23,600

24 ' 000

25,200

28,200

35,100

43,100

51,800

59,200

67,200

74,400

7Q non

82,800

85,700

88,300

fll,200

94,600

100,000

108,000

115,000

120,000

125,000

128,000

131,00ft

135,000

138,000

141,000

144,000

148,000

156,000

162,000

168,000

172,000

179,000

182,000

187,000

Time

July US 

Con.

12m -

2 

3... -

5-.. -

6 -

7 

9 _ ...

10 

11. 

12 

1 a. m _ -.

2 -

3.. _ 

4 . ___

5.. ____ -

6.. __

7 

8.. 

» . .,

10 

11 __ 

12m 

2 .-

3 -

4 

5 -

6 -

7 

8 _.---

«. --

10 11 

12 -

2 ,

3 ...

4 ___ ..

5 __ T _

0 __ _ 

Feet

59.0

59.8

60,8

61. 5

62.05

62.2

-62.24

62.15

61.85

61.4

60.8

60.2

59.6

59.0

68.5

58. 06

57.9

57.75 £r.fi5

67.6 87.55-

67.5

57.4

57.36

57.2

. 57.1

KF.Q5

67.Q5

«7.iS

57.2

57.3

57.4

57.5

57.6

57.65

57.7

57.7 J

57.7

57.68

57.6

57.85

57.46

Secondfeet

196^000

202,000

211,000

218,000

222,000

223,000

224,000

22,1,000

220,000

217,000

211,000

206,000

201,000

196,000

192,000

188,000

187,000

187,000

185,000

185,000

185,000

184,-GOO

184,000

184,000

182,000

. 182,000

181,000-

181,001)

182,000

182,000

183,000

184,000

184,000

185,000

185,000

186,000

186,000

>

18fl,0t»

186, 0»

185,800

ISS.OOBf

185,000

184000
FLOODS OF JULY 1038 IK COLORADO Bt¥»B BASIN 61

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 19S8 Continued

Time

JulVtS 

Con.

7 a. m .....

8... _ . .

9.. .

10.......

11 ......

12m.......

2. _ ... .

3...

6 .j 

6

7

,8......_.

Q

10.......

11-

12....

July $6

1 a. m.._.

g

A.

g

Q

10

11- .

12m

1p.m..

2

g

,|

g

7

9 .

10.. 

11 

12.......

July $7

I."-*"-

8 .....

4... '

 5 1 ,.

6..

7 ..

8.....

9. .

10... ' "

11-..

12m. I

2.p;m-r

3 .

4 _

5... ...

6 .

7 

8 

9. .

10......

11-

1912---.-

JulySS

»

2 .

3-1 .. .* -

Feet

57.35

57.25

57.15

57.0

56.8

56.6

56.4

56.15

55.9

55.6

55.3

64.8

, 54.3

53.8

53.3

52.75

52.3

51.7

51.15

50.65

50.1

49.5

49.0

48.5

48.0

47.5

46.9

46.3

45.6

44.9

44.35

43.9

43.4

42.95

42.5

42.1

41.75

41.4

41.05

40.75

4 .45

40.15

39.9

39.65

39.4

39.15

38.9

38.7

38.5

38.3

38.1

37.95

37.75

37.5

37.3 

37.1

36.9

36.7

36.46

35.95

35.7

35.4

35.0

34.75

34.5

34.2

33.9

33.65

33125

Spcondfeet

184,060 

182,000

182,000

181,000

180,000

179,000

177,060

 176,000.

174, 000

173,000

171,000

168,000

165,000

162 000

159,000

156,000

154,000

151,000

148,000 

146,000

143,000

141,000

138,000

136, 000

134,000

132,000

129,000

126,000

123,000

120,000

118,000

116,000

114,000

112,000

110, 000

108,000

107,000

105,000

404,000

wio Ann

101,000

100,000

99,200 | 

97 900

97, ino i

96,200

95,000

<M inn

QO on/w

92,500

91,600

91,200

90,400

89, 100

88,300

87,400

86,609

85, 700

84,500

83,600

82,800

81,500

80,300

7s «nft 1

, 77; 800

76,500

75,200

74 000

TO QAft

71,200

1

Time

July USCon.

5a.m. 

6. _ .

7. _ .

8. __ ..

9-. _ ...

10 

11 "

12m .....

2. ......

, 8 .......

4 .

5 .

6 . ..

I 7.. ..

1 9. __ -

10 ......

11 

12...... . .

July 29

2

3_ 

4 

5 ...

7.. _ ...

8 .

9 

10 

11 ...

12m 

2 ..

3. t:.--

6......

7.........

 8 .......

0

10_ .

11 

1O

July SO

2 3 .......

4 .

[ 5 . .

6 .......

7. 

o

12m._.___ 32p;_m-~-

6 _____

12..........

July SI

2a.m.....

3... ......

5......

6.. ....

9 .......

12 m .... 42p:.m:;.-

6 .......

7.. __ .

8

'

 Feet

32. 95 

32.6

32.3

31.95

31.65

31.3

31.0

30.65

30.3

30.0

29 7

29.2

20.0

28.8

28.5

28.3

28.0

- 27.7

27.3

26.9

26.5

26.0

25.5

*>A O

9A ft

23.6

22.8

22.0

21.2

20.3

19.5

18.6

17 H

16.9

16.2

15.5

15.0

14.4

14.0

13.0

1*> A

12.1

11.7

11.4

11.05

W e

10.5 in >

10.0

a

cn

9 fift

9 7ft

9.80

9

7K

o Aft

9 ift

Q H7

o na 

9.03

9 ft7

9.15

9.50 i

10.0 

10.6 

11.1 1

11.4

11.5

11.6

 ., , , j

SecoridFe0t

70,400 

68,800

67,600

66,400

fid Knfl

63,400

62,400

'60,800 5«,fioa

58,400

57,300

56,500"

55 400

54,600

53,900

eo gnn

52,200

51,100

50,000

48 fiftn

47,300

46,000

AA *mn

An onA

40 900

39^200

37,300

35,100

qq nrtn

31,100

29,900

27,100

25,200

23,600

21 Qfm

.art t*f\f\

IQ *>nn

1C onri

1 7 onn

16,400

15,400

14,500

13,700

12.800

12 nnn

11,500

10, 700

W Qi%ri 1

9,780

9,220

8

QK(\ {

7,920

7 09rt r

8

O/VI

8,480 

8/480

7 74fl

7 ft7A f

7 ISft

7,000

7 nnn 1

7,180

7

07rt

7.920

8,850 

9,960 

10,900

11,500

11,600

11 fifm r

Time,

July SiCon.

9p.m. ... 

ML __ _

12. ___ .

Aus t

2a.-m

g

8

12 ______

Aug.H

12m...... .

Aug. 3 

12 m..... ...

Aug. 4

12m 12 p. mAug.6

,12ml...

12 p. mAug.6

12 m.. ...

12 . .

Aug. 7 .

Aug. 8

12m. ... 

12p.m.:...

Aug. 9

12m- ...

12 p. m.....

Aug. 10

12m 

12 p. m.....

Aug. 11

12m._._._.

18p.m.. 

Aug. IS

12m... 

12p.m. 

Aug. IS

12m. ...

12 p. m __

Aug. 14

12m. .

Feet

11,6 

11.5

11.3

11.1

10.4

9.90

9. 50

9.05

8.67

8.12

 7.68

7.46

7.00

6.62

6.34

6.07

5.87

5.74

5.63

5.56

6.55

5.45

5.32

5.27

5.21 

5.13

5.07

5.02

4.95

4.90 j

187

4.90

4.97

5.02

5.05

4.97

.

4.85

4.78

Second, 

feet

11,800 

11,600 11 $nf\

10,900

9, 890

8,660

7

QOA

7,000

6 260

5 %in

4 640*

4,310-

3,60ft

o 70/1

! 2.460

2,280

' *> 1H/1

! 2,100

1,900

1,900

1,820

1,740

1,710

1,680 

1,600

1 **dU>

1,510

1,480

1,450

1 Ann

1,810

1,540

1,570

1,510

1 jUtfl

1,420
FLOODS OF 1938.AND 1939

BUCHANAN RESERVOIR NEAR BDKNBT, TBX.

LOCATION. Lat. 30°45', long. 98°25', at Buchanan Dam on. Colorado Rivet on 

Llano-Burnet County line, 4 miles upstream from Roy Inks Dam, 10 miles 

west of Burnet, Burnet County, and 13 miles upstream from Llano Blyer. 

Gage heights are elevations above mean sea level.

DRAINAGE AREA. '31,250 square miles, of which 11,800 square miles is probably noncontributing.

GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Float and cloth-tape gage located in well of gate tower 

of dam; gage read at 30-minute intervals July 24 to 4:20 p. m. July 31, and 

at about 1-hour intervals at other tunes. -

STORAGE KBCORD. Capacity table based on survey of reservoir site made before 

storage began.

DISCHARGE RECORD. Based on change in elevation of lake level, capacity table, 

gate and weir ratings, and record of operation of gates and weirs.

MAXIMA. 1938: Inflow, 202,000 second-feet 1 p. m. July 25; outflow, 192,000 

second-feet 12 m. to 3:30 p. m. July 25; storage, 1,003,700 acre-feet 11:50 

a. m. July 27 (elevation, 1,020.48 feet).

KEMARKB. Records of stage and capacity furnished by Lower Colorado River 

Authority. Inflow and outflow records computed by Texas Board of Water 

Engineers. In the table, for those periods where the outflow is shown t6 

be constant, the mean elevation of the reservoir was used in computing the 

discharge.

Elevation, in feet, and contents, in acre-feet, tit indicated time, 19S8

Time

July HO

7 a. m ..... 3 p. m_. _ 1C 1

12... .......

July SI

3 p. m . 

8 ____ ...

12 . 

July i*

4:00 a. m.. 

6:00 _ . 

8:00 

10:00 

12:00 m 

2:20 p. m 

5:20..... ...

8:20 

10:20... .... 

12«0 

July &S

12:20a.m_- 

2:20_ 

4:20 ......

6:20. 

8:20 

11:20 - 

2:20 p. m._

'5:20 

9:20........

12:00... _ -

July 84

12:20. a. m_. 

6:50 ......

8:50 ......

11:50 -

Feet

1,012.02 

1,012.10

l; 012: 42

1,012.45

1,013.42 

1,013.73

1,014.02

1,014.32 

1,014.51

1,014.72

1,015. 02 

1,015.38 

1,016.77 

1,016.00

1, 016. 28

1,016.54 

1, 016. 74

1,016.78 

1,017.03 

1,017.32

1, 017. 68

1,018.04

1,018.44 

-1,018.22 

1,018.36

1, 018. 28

1,018.32

1,018.33

1, 018. 43

1,018,41

1,018.36

Acre-feet

816,800 

818,500 

825, 200

825,800

846,300 

852,900

850,000

865,500 

869,600 

874,100

880,600 

888,500 

897,000 

. 902,000

908,200

914,000 

918,400

919, 300 

924, 90a 

931,400

939,500

947, 600

956,700 

flfel, 780 

954,900

953,000

953,900

954,200 

956,400

954*900

Time

Con.

2:50 p. m.. 

5:50 

8:60 ......

11:50. 

12:00 

July 05

4:60 

8:50 - 

1:50 p. m,. 

4:50 

750. -

11. ZU _ _ 

12:00 

July m

1:50 a. m.-

4:20 

8:20 - 

10:50. 

1:20 p. m._ 

4:50 

7:50 , 

10:50 .

12:00 

4:50 -

6:50 _ .... 

8^8. 

»:«). 

11:58, 

1:50 p. m'.. 

3:60_.- 

6^0 ......

8:20_ 

Feet

1,018.29 

1,018.21

1,018.14

1,018.07

1,018.08

1, UJ.O. la

1,018.20 

1,018.37 

1, 018. 56 

1,018.68 

1,018.83

1,019.00 

1, 019. 03

1, 019. 10 

1, 019. 14

1,019.28 

1, 019. 64 

1, 019. 94 

1, 020. 16 

1,020.09 

1,020.01

1,020.01

1,020.03

1.C20. 14

1,020.2ft 

1,920.35 

1,020.44 

1,020.48

1,020.44 

1,020.39

1,020,34

1, 020. 30

Acre-feet

953,300 

951, 400

949,800

948,300

948,500

955,100 

959,400 

982,100

970^ 100

971, 700 

972,600

075,900 

984,200 

991, 100 

996,200 

994,600 

992,700

9.92,700

993,200

995,700

998, 500 

1,000,600' 

1,002,700 

1,003,708

1,002,700 

1/001,600

1,000.400

999,500

Time

JulyS7 

Con.

9:50 p. m11:50. __

12-.00 ..

July 28

1^20 &* m_ 

2:50

4:20

7:60 -

1250 ».m-

«ao«...... 

ytsoll "

U6WL. ...

2«a. m530-. 

11-JOu. 

2-^0 p. m12'Oft

JufySO

12;20a. m_.

4:30

6:50 

9:20 .. .. 

11:50 .

73tL

9:50

I 12tOO~ ......

Teet

1,020.24 

1,020.20

1,020.19

1,020.16 

1,020.10

1,020.05

1,020.03

1,920.08 

1,020,08 

1,020.^,0 

1,020,08

i^m

i, raft oo

1^19^78

1*. 01»! 67

1,019.64 

1.01».59 

1,019.51 

1,019.35

1,019.32

1,018:97

1,018.10 

1, 018. 08 

1,017. 79

£«7. 1»

1..W6.89

li 016^39

Acre-feet

998,100 

997,100

996,900

996,200 

994,800

963,600

993,200

984,300 

904300

994800 

994,300 

9% 900

, 993,900

995 500

998,200

987,400

866,000 

084930 

984200 

988.00ft 

.981,200 

977,500

976,800 

®®f< 700

* 966J800 

948,500 

841,908

, 92^800

KB, 100

»30,700
JTXJODS <t»P JIILT 1®S 8 Iff 63

f Elevation, in feel, and contents, in acre-feet, at indicated Ume, 1&88 ^Continued

Time

JvfySl

1:50 as m 

&20..... »A.

8:SOL -

12:50 p. m 

4SWL......

11:20.. -

12:OtL. ..

<Aug. 1

6:20 a. m_ 

12:20 p. m6:20 ..

12:OflL, .

Feet,

IfDlltt

1,016.18

1.01&00

1.015.S2

1,015.71

1, 015. S3-

1,016.53

1,015.42 

1,015.28 

1,015.14

1,014.96

Acre-feet

908; 760 

906,000

902,000

898,100

895,700

891,800

801,800

880,400 

886,300 

883,300

85W, SflO

Time

Aug. % '

12:20a,m4:20 .

8:20 .

12:00 _ ....

Aug. S

4:20 a. m_. 

1:20 p. m.. 

10:20 

12:00 k.

feet

1,014.95 

1,014. «0

1,014.55

1,014.28'

1,014.13

1,014.00 

1,013.71 

1,013.42

1,018.37

Acre-feet

879,100 

875,980

870 500

864,600

sfii aufi

858,600 

852,400 

846,300

846,200

Tttte ;

'Avs-4\ 

4:20 a. muuao ^._-

12:00

j4.ug.S

12:80 a. ia__

7:20._-...

1:20 p. m6:20._. _ . 

Il^W . _

i9*nft

 Feet *

l.Oia.23' i.oiaoi i rn9 $n

1,012.67

1,011.66.,

1,012.47*

1,018.30 

1,01113 

1,011.68

1,011:84

Acre-feet

842,200 

637,600

633,400

830,400

830,200 

828, '200

822,700 

81&, 100

815,500

818,100

if M*»n inflow, in second-fe<% and runoff, in acre-feet, 1938

Day

July 22 

23..... 

24 

25 

Secondfeet

63,500 

140,000 

182,000 

192, 000

Acre-feet

106,100 

27T,700 

361,000

880,800

Day

July 26 .

27 

28 

29 

 «B?"

137,000 

89,100

64,500 

37,409

: Aet&fest

271,700 

176,700 

127,900 

74,180

Day 1

July SO..... 31 __ ' 

A««. !._..

Seesndfeet

12*400

7,380 

8,810

Acw^feet

24,600 

14,640 

17,470

a acre-feet, for period July 22 to Aug. 1______..______..._. __ .. 1,833,000 

Inflow, in second-feet, at indicated lime, 1938

. Time

July Si

8.._ r __

12 a. ,.

9,.

12. -

JulyBS

6 ...... .

9 ...

12m 

6 1-. 

9 ....

12 _ -

Secondfeet

16,000

28,000

35,000

42,000

50,000

58,000

67.000

*g,«00

90,000

104,000

119,000

132,000

144,000

154,000

162,000

170,000

177,000

Time

July S4

6. _ ........

9 __

8 .^...

7. _ ........

10- ._

12..

4

8 .........

1 p. JH _____

3

5... ... .

8 .

12. .

6.. .

9 .....

Secondfeet

182,000

184 000

186,' 000

184,000

180,000

178,000

I79,«00

182,000

188,000

193 906

198,000

202,000 

200,000

193,000

184,000

176,000

158,000

146,000

Time

JwXg$& Con.

4 _

7... .......

12 

Jwfy 87 !

6 ...... .

12m ... _

12 \. . ___

JulyW .,

12m 

12 

12m .

Secondfeet

134,000

128,000

121,000

116,000

106,000

100,000

96,000

88,000

82,000

77,000

71, TOO

58,000

'51,000

44,000

38,000

Time

Ju%fi!fc-rGan.

12 ___

12m. .. _

12.- . 

July SI

12 an. 

6p.m. . 

12_.._ . __

Any. 1 ' 

19

Second* 

feet

31,000

22,000

16,000

11,000

8,200

«,«00

6,500

6,200

8,000 

11,000

10,000

9,200

7,600

6,100

outflow, in second-feet, and runoff, in adre-feet, 1938

Day

July 22-,.. 

23 

24 

25 

Secondfeet

19,600 

120,000 

184,000 

182,400

Acre-feet

38,880 

238,000 

365,000 

1 361,000

Day

July 26 

27 

28 

29 

Secondfeet

126,000 

86,100 

66,300 

45,700

Acre-feet

249,900 

170,800 

131,500 

90,640

Day

July 30 

31- ... 

Aug. 1 

Secondfeet

43,400

16,800 

13,800

Acre-feet

86,080 

33,320 

27,370

Runoff, in acre-feet, for period July 22 to Aug. 1____ _ _ - . 1,792,000
&& 

BS

S o 5 

8 SIS 

I » P 

-

S-^ w M^ 

en o 5

-- .. 

s s s S 8

j ! « B P

I | B, \ 0

S w

8 8

B :

01 ot gvcn ot

r ff ?? 5? t

i 
FLOODS OF JULY 1938 IN COLOKADOr EI¥EE BASIN 65

COLORADO RIVER AT AUSTIN, TUX.

LOCATION. Lat. 30° 16', long. 97°45', at Congress Avenue viaduct in Austin, 

;Tr£vis County, 1 mile downstream from Barton Creek. Zero of gage, is 

421.86 feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

DBAINAGE ABE A. 38,150 square miles, of which about 11,800 square miles is 

probably noneontributing.

GAGE-HEIGHT RECOBD. Water-stage recorder graph except July 25 and Aug. 11, 

12, for which a graph was drawn on basis of floodmark and reading On U. S. Weather Bureau gage. For rating used July 22 and 23, gage heights used 

to half tenths between 0.8 foot and 2.5 feet and for rating used July 24 to 

Aug. 25, gage heights used to half tenths between 0.6 foot and 2.1 feet; 

hundredths below and tdnths above these limits.

.STAGE-DISCHARGE BBLATION. Defined by current-meter measurements. Discharge Aug. 1, to 9 a. m., Aug. 3 determined by shifting-control method.

MAXIMA. 193$: Discharge, 276,000 second-feet about 6:30 p. m. July 25 (gage 

height, 324 feet, from floodmark on gage structure at downstream side of 

bridge pier).

1898-1937: Discharge, 481,000 second-feet June 15, 1935 (gage height, 

42.0 feet, from U. S. Weather Bureau wire-weight gage on downstream side 

of bridge at center of first span from left bank; 41.2 feet from floodmarks on 

gage structure at downstream side of bridge pier. Both gages to same 

datum).

1843-97: Stage, about 43 feet July 7, 1869 (discharge not determined).

KEMARKS. Flow partly regulated by reservoirs upstream.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1$88

Day

July 22 

23.....

M 

25 

26 ..

27 -

28 

29.....

SO -

SI ..

Aug. 1-...

Secondfeet .

1,390

53,600

209,000

254,000

202,000

119,000

93,400

67,300

48,900

.45,700

24,,400

Acre-feet

2,760

1 106, 100

414, 500

503,800

400,700

236,000

185,300

133, 500

96,990

90,640

48,400

Day

Aug. 2....

3;...

4....

5. .

6....

7. .

8....

9....

10. 

11....

12....

13....

Secondfeet

20,100

17,500

15,500

13, 200

11,800

11,800

10,000

8,400

4,400

2.,870

2,560

2,480

Acre-feet

39,870

34,7-10

30,740

"26,180

25,400

' 23,400

19,830

16,660

8,730

5,690

5,080

4,920

Bay

Aug. 14....

15....

16....

17....

18...-

19....

20-...

21....

- 22.-..

23....

24-...

" 25....

Secondfeet

2,440

2,210

2,050

2.030

2,070

2,280

2,320

2,070

2,050

1,980

1,980

1,950

Acre-feet

4,840

4,380

4,070

4,010

4,110

4,520

4,600

4,110

4,070

3,930

3,930

3,870

Kunoff, In acre-feet, for period July 22 to Aug. 25..__ '....... . . 2,508,000
66 -TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939 (

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

Time

Jutgt%

9 p. m _ . 

12 .... .

July S3

la. m __ 

7 ..........

8 - ... .

9..........

10 .........

11....... .

12m.. ...

2 ____

3 ..........

11 .. __ ... 

12 ..........

July*4

la. m, ....

4 . ...

6 ..........

8 _ . ....

1Q ...... ..

12m_. ...

3 p. m __

10...... ..

12...... ..

July SB

2a. m __

7 __ .

19-.. ....

12m........

2p.m_.__ 

4 .. _ ..... fc3o~ ... * . ., _ . _

12 ....... .

July i!8

7 a. m ..... 

10 .......... 12 m_... ....

tp.m .....

Ifr ..........

12 ..........

Jfefrtf

2 a. m..._.

5 ..........

8.....

12m.. .. .

2 p.m.....

5 ....

9...... ..

12..........

July S8

1 a. m ..... 

3..........

9. .._-_ __

5..........

Feet

-0.12

-.12 -.09

 .06 

.00

. .20

3.60

6.80

9.20

11.2

12.7

14.0

15.1

343

25.4

36.3

28.3

29.1

39.4

29.4

29.3

29.2 

29.4

29.9

30.1

30.2 

30.4

30.7

31.0

3L4 

31.91

32.1

31.8

31.3

29.7 

29.1

28.6

28.1 

i 27.2

' 26.0

25.1

24.1

23.0

22.4

22.2

22.0 

21.3

19.9

18.9

18.6

18.4

18.7

18.8

18.6

Secondfeet

1,390

1,390 

1,460

1,400 

1,500

1,880

11,800

25,700

38,100

49,400

58,100

65,800

72,300

140,000 

153,000

164000

193,000

210,000

217,000

217,000

215,000

212,000

217,000

228 000

232, 000

234,000 

239,000

246.000

252, 000

261,000 

272,000

276,000

270,000

259,000

223,000 

210,000

199,000

190, 000 

176,000

160,000

149,000

138,000

127,000

122,000

120,000

118,000 

113, 000

103, 000

96,400

94,400

Qo inn

95,000

95, 700

94,400

Time

July 88 

Con.

8 p. m-. ... 

10 -._......

12..........

July t9

S.. ........

£. __ . .

10..........

12m. __ ..

6 .... ......

9...... ..

12...... ..

2 a. m __ 

4. ...... .

6. .

8 ... __ ...

10. .........

12 m_.......

3 ___ . __

4, ... _ 

ft <

8.,. .

10. ......

12..........

J^ily3{ 

4 __ .....

6..........

, 8.. __ . ... 

12m._......

4 ______

6 _____ .

8 _____

10 __ .....

12 .

2 a. m __ . 

4 ______

6 ______

8 ______

10. _____ .

12 m....j...

2 p. m _ .. 

4...... _ .

12 .._..

12 ______

Aug. 3

9 _ . ......

12m_._-.._

Feet

18.2 

17.7

17.0

15.9

15.3

14.6

14.2

13.8

13.5

13.25

13.1

13.0

12.6 

12.2

IL5

W Q

10.4

10.0

9.95

10.1

10.3 

10.7 11 *>

11.5

11.7

11. a

11.65

11.4

11.25 

10.9

10.6

10.3

9.9

9.4

8.7

8.1

7.70

7.20

6.90

6.70

6.46

6.30

6.30 

6.10

6.87

5.68

5.58

5.40

5.28

5.25

5.10

5.05

4.77

Seeondfeet

91,800 

88,600

84,000

77,100

73,500

68,300

67,000

64,600

62,800

62,000

CO, 500

69,900

57,500 

55,200

£1,100

47,600

44,800

42,500

42,200

43,100

44,200 

46,500

49,400

51,100

52,300

51,700

51,400

50,500

49,600 

47,600

45,900

44,200

42.000

39,200

35,400

32,200

30,200 

27,700

26,200

25,300

24,300

23,300

22,900 

22,400

21,400

20,500

20,100

19,200

18,800

18,300

17,900

17,500

16,700

Time

Auff.4 

12m.. ......

12 p. mAug. 6

12 m....-.._

12p.m.- _

12m........

6 p. m _._._

10 ____

12 ....

6 a. m ...

12m........

12 p. m __

Aug. 8

12m........

12 p. m .....

Attg.-tS 

6 a. as.. .

12m ......

6p»m __

12 _____

Aug. 11

12m........

Aug. 12

12m.... _

Kfp. m _ .,

Aug. IS

12 nii ___

Aut.H

12 m. .......

12 p. m .....

12m........

12 p. m _....

12m......_.

12 p.m.. ...

Feet 

4.46

4.19

3.94

3.30

3.45

3.40

3.50

3.67

3.60

3.50

3.25

3.00

2.80-

2.33

1.30

.m

.68

.53

.24

.24

,21

.19

.14

.09

.06

.02

,01

Secondfeet

15.SQO

14,300

15 OAA

12,500

11,400

11,400

11,800

12 ' 200

12 200

11,800

x 10,900

10,000

9,330

8,730

7,780

5,190

4,320

 3,690

3,260

O OOA

2,510

2,440

2,320

O <yin

2,140

2,050

2.-020
FLOODS @f JULY 19318 JN COI4m&»0 MflK BASIN 67

OCMWJEUJiO AT SMJTiTKHJ^, TEX.

LOCATION. Lat. 30°01', long. 97°1D', 1,200 feet upstream from highway bridge

on State Highway 71 at SmMnville, Bastrop County, fero of gage Is 270.14

feet above mean sea, level (general adjustment of J929), 

DRAINAGE AREA. 30,650 square miles, of ,wMeh .about 11,800 square miles is

probably nonconiributing, 

@AffE-HBH3HT BUCORD. Water-stage recorder graph except 4 a. tn. July 26 to

4 a. m. July 28, when it was determined from graph based on staff -gage readIngs by engineer. Gage heights used to half tenths between 3.4 and 5.5 feet; 

- hundredths below and tenths abore these Bmits. 

STAGE-DISCHARGE RELATIONS, Defined by current-meter measurements. Discharge Aug. 17-31 determined tyfH^fting-eontrol method. 

MAXIMA, 1938: Discharge, 209,000 second-feet 4:25 a. m. July 27 (gage height,

36.02 feet).

1930-37: Discharge, -305,000 second-feet June 16, 1935|(gage height,

42.5 feet, from floodmarfcs).

1013-29: Stage, about 47.4 feet December 1913 {discharge not determined) . 

REMARKS. Flow partly regulated by reservoirs upstream,

Mean discharge, in mtond-fedt, and runoff, in &cre~faet, tSS8

Bay

Jn3y23- _

24 

38 

26

27 

28 

29_ 

30.....

31. Aug. l-, 

2 _ -

3. 

*- 

&-...,

Secondfeet

1,570

46,000

118,000

139,000

199,000

152,000

_ 108,000

74,000

52,900

40,800

22,100

18,100

16,200

14,100

Acre-feet

3,110

91,240

234,000

374,900

394,700

301,600

214,200

146, 800

104, 900

80,930

43,830

36,900

S2.130

27,970

Day

Attg.«. .-

7

8

fl

10.-..

11 __ ..

12_._._

13- 

14- __

1R.. 

»-...-

I7_ 

18- 

19. 

Secondfeet

12,800

11,500

11,300

10, 100

8,800

6,890

4,320

3,680

3,440

3,200

5,990

2,780

2,640

2,640

Acre-feet

25,395

22,810

22,410

20,030

17,460

11,680

8,570

7,300

6,828

6,350

5,936

5,510

S,!MO

5,240

Day

Aog.ao 

21- 

22-...

23. 

24.-..

25. 

26- 

27- 

28. 

29 _ .

30....

31. 

Secondfeet

2,640

2,780

2,640

a 520

2,400

3,400

5,340

5,280'

8,280'

2,280

2,220'

2,220'

Aere-reet

6,240

5,510

5,240

5,000

4,760

4.76S

4,640

4,520

4,520

4,520

4,*3fi

4,400

Runoff, in acre-feet, for periefl July 231« Aug. 31_____r_____j_____ ________ 2,314,000
68 , "TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

Time

July 14

1:00 a. m 

2:00.. 

2:30 __ ...

3:00 

3:30. 

4:00 - 

5:00 

6:00 _ - 

7:00 

5.UU-. ...

9:00. 

10:00- 

11:00 . 

12:00 m.. ... 

1:00 p.m.. 

2:00 ___ - 

3:00- . 

4:00 

5:00 

6:00- . 

7:00 

8:00 

9:00 

10:00 

11:00.. __ . 

12:00 

JutySB

1 a. m _ 

2

3- __ -

4- 

5 __ -

6 

7 _ 

8 

9 

10. ___ --

11. ____ -

1 p.m. 

4- _ -

6 __ -

7 _ 

8 ... 

9 _ - __ -

10 

11 

12 

July 86 

1 a. m. 

3- _ - _

4 .... - 

5 __ -----

6 

7 ...

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 m _ _- 

1 p. m 

2.. 

3. _ . _ 

4. __ - 

6 

8 

10 

12. __ ..

Feet

3.65 

4.0 

5.5 

7.7 

9.6 

11.3 

13.3 

14.7 

15.75 

16.45 

17.0 

17.5 

17.9 

18.35 

18.7 

19.15 

19.5 

19.85 

20.2 

20.6 

20.95 

21.3 

21.6 

21.95 

22.25 

22.6

22.85 

23.15 

23.5 

23.75 

24.1 

24.5 

24.9 

25.3 

25.75 

26.2 

26.6 

27,0 

27.35 

27.75 

- 28.15 

28.45 

28.8 

29.15 

29.5 

-- 29/9 

30.2 

30.55 

30.9 

31.15

31.4 

31.7 

31.95 

32.2 

32.5 

32.75 

33.05 

33.35 

33.55 

33.8 

34.0 

34.3 

34.6 

34.95 

35.3 

35.5 

35. 7 

35.8 

35.9 

35.9

Secondfeet

1,570 

1,920 

4,000 

8.000 

12,300 

17,200 

24,000 

29,800 

35,000 

38,400 

42,000 

45,000 

47,400 

50,400 

52,900 

56,000 

58,500 

61,000 

63,400 

66,200 

68,600 

71,100 

73,200 

75,600 

77,800 

80,200

82,000 

84,200 

87,000 

89,000 

91,900 

95,500 

99,100 

103,000 

107,000 

111,000 

114»000 

118,000 

121,000 

125,000 

128,000 

132,000 

135,000 

139,000 

142,000 

146,000 

149,000 

153,000 

156,000 

159,000

161,000 

164,000 

167,000 

169,000 

172,000 

175,000 

177,000 

181,000 

183,000 

185,000 

187,000 

190,000 

194,000 

198,000 

202,000 

205,000 

206,000 

207,000 

208,000 

208,000

Time

July £7

4:25 a. m 

8:00... _ .. 

9:00 -

10:00 

11:00 ___ -- 

12:00 m.-- 

2:00 p. m.- 

4:00 

6:00 

8:00 __ -

10:00 

12:00- __ -

July 88

2 a. m 

4- -

6 

10 - . 

12m 

2p.m ....

6 

8 

10 - 

12 

July 19

2 a. m __ 4 -

a

10 

2 p. m .

10 T -

12. __ 

July SO

2 a. m. 

4 ...

6 .-

10 

12 im 

2 p. m . 

4 . 

6 .... -

 J. ........

8 

10 

July SI

2 a. m... .

4 ...

6 .

8 

10 -

12m 

Ip.m 

2 _ 

3 

6 

8 

10 

12... _ -

Feet

36.02 

35.9 

35.8 

35.65 

35.4 

35.3 

35.0 

34.7 

34.45 

34.05 

33.65 

33.2

32.75 

32.3 

31.85 

31.4 

30.95 

30.5 

30.1 

29.6 

29.15 

28.7 

28.2 

27.75

27.4 

27.0 

26.65 

26.35 

26.1 

25.85 

25.65 

25.35 

25.1 

24.8 

24.5 

24.15

23.75 

23.3 

22.85 

22.4 

22.0 

21.6 

21.25 

21.05 

20.9 

20.7 

20.5 

20.25 

19.85 

19.4

18.9 

18.6 

18.4 

.18.3 

18.4 

18.55 

18.65 

18.7 

18.8 

18.9 

18.9 

18.9 

18.8

Secondfeet

209,000 

208,000 

207,000 

205,000 

202,000 

201,000 

198,000 

195,000 

191, 000 

187,000 

184,000 

179,000

175,000 

170,000 

166,000 

161,000 

157,000 

152,000 

148,000 

143,000 

139,000 

134,000 

129,000 

125,000

122,000 

118,000 

115.000 

112,000 

110,000 

108,000 

106,000 

103,000 

101,000 

98,200 

95,500 

92,000

89,000 

85,400 

82,000 

78,800 

76,000 

73,200 

70,800 

69,400 

68,300 

66,900 

65,500 

63,800 

61,000 

57,800

55,000 

52,200 

50,800 

60,100 

50,80< 

'52,2<X 

52,200 

52,900 

53,600 

54,300 

54,300 

54,300 

53,600

Time

Aug. 1

2 a. m. .... 

4 ... 

6 

0 

12m __ .--

2 p. m.- ...

6 

8 

0 

12 

Aug. I 

2 a. m. .

4 ... :...

6 

8 

10 

12m 

3 p. m 

5. 

8 .... 

12 

Aug.S

2 a. m _ 

5. ____ -

8 

12m 

4 p. m ..... 

8 

12. __ . . 

Aug. 4

3 a. m .....

10 

1-p. m. 

8- __ . 

11-. 

12 

Aug. B

3 a. m. ... 

f> .........

12m 

6 p. m .... 

12 .........

Aug. 6

iia. m .... 

12 m ....

6 p. m io>

Aug.?

6 a. m 

12m. __ 

 6 p. m ....

Aug.S

6 a. m 

12m 

6 p. m 

12 _

Feet

18.65 

18.45 

18.15 

17.85 

17.45 

16.9 

16.4 

15.85 

15.3 

14.8 

14.3 

13.9

13.6 

13.35 

13.15 

13.0 

12.8 

12.7 

12.6 

12.2 

12.1 

12.0 

11.97

11.9 

11.8 

11.7 

11.6 

11.5 

11,4 

11.3

11.25 

. 11. 1 

11.0 

10.9 

10.8 

10.7 

10.7

10.6 

10.5 

10.3 

10.15 

10.0

9.85 

».75 

9.6 

9.5

9.35 

9.25 

9.25 

9.35

9.35 

9.25 

9.15 

9.0

Secondfeet

52,200 SO.SOO' 

49,400 

49,800 

44,400 

41,400 

38,400 

35,000 

32,600 

30,300 

28,000 

26,400

25,200 

24,400 

23,600 

22,900 

22,200 

21,800 

 21,500 

20.100 

19,800 

19,400 

19,400

19,100 

18,800 

18,400 

18,100 

" 17,800 

17,500 

17,200

16,800 

16,500 

16,900 

15,900 

15,600 

15,300 

15,300

15,000 

14,700 

14,100 

13; 900 

13,300

12,800 

12,800 

12,309 

12,000

11,800 

11,300 

11,300 

11,800

11,800 

11,300 

11,30) 

10,800
FLOODS OF JULY 1938 IN COLORADO BIVEE BASIN 69 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1988 Continued

Time

Aug. 9

6 a. m.- ...

12 m........

6 p. m.. ...

12.. ......

Aug. 10

6 a. m__... 

12m._......

6 p. m __ 

9..........

12 ..........

3. a. m.. 

6...... ..

Feet

a 85

8.75 

8.6

8.5

8.35 

8,2

7.9

7.7

7.45

7.2

7.0

Secondfeet

10,300 

10,300 

' 9,840

9,600

9,400 

9,000

8,400 

8,000

7 4flfl

7,000

6,600

Time

Aug. 11 

Con.

9 a. m __

12m........

 6... .......

9 _ 

12..........

A nut 19

,6... ___

12m........

4 p. m ..... 

8 ..........

12

Feet

6.8 

6.6

6.4

6.25

6.1 

6.0

5.9

5.8

5.65

5.6

5.55

5.4

Secondfeet

6,240

5,880

5,520

5,160

4,980 

4,800

4 RA(\

4 480

4,160

4,160 

4,160

0 QAft

Time

AWf. 19

12 m. ___ 

12 p.m. _

Aug. 14

12 m ___ 

12 p. m.. _

. Aug. U

12 m.r 

12m.. 

Feet

5.31 

5.31

6.13 

5.08

5.03

4.98

4.86

4,77

Secondfeet

3,680 

3,520

3,440 

3,330

3,280

3,200

2,990

2,850

COLORADO RIVER NEAR EAGLE T.ATQg, TEX.

LOCATION. Lat. 29°35', long. 96°25', at -Lakeside Irrigation Co.'s pumping 

, plant, 1.2 miles downstream from bridge of Texas and New Orleans R. R. Co. 

and 5 miles southwest of Eagle Lake, Colorado County. Zero of gage is 

139.56 feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

DRAINAGE AREA. 40,940 square miles, of which about 11,800 square miles is 

probably noncontributing.

GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-stage recorder graph except 2 p. m. July 25 to 

3 p. m. July 26, when it was determined from graph based on staff-gage 

readings. For rating used July 24-29 gage heights used to half tenths between 3.2 and 4.8 feet and for rating used July 30 to Aug. 31 gage height? 

used to half tenths between 3.9 and-5.8 feet; hundredths below and tenths 

above these limits.

STAGE-DISCHARGE RELATION. Defined by current-meter measurements. Discharge for July 24, 29, 30 determined by shifting-control method.

MAXIMA. 1938: Discharge, 165,000 second-feet 10 p. m. July 29 (gage height, 

28.1 feet).

193$-37: Discharge, 177,000 second-feet June 19, 1936 (gage height, 

29.45 feet).

1913-29: Stage, about 32 feet December 1913, present site and datum 

(discharge not determined).

REMARKS. Flow partly regulated by reservoirs upstream.
70 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1938

D«y

July 24 

25 

36,....

27 

28 

29 

30 -

31 

Aug. 1 ..

2.....

3.....

4.....

6.....

Secondfeet

2,020

42,500

76,300 

96,500

126,000

161,000

148,000

110,000

64,900

38,100

23,700

19,900

17,900

Awefeet

4,010

84,300

151,300 

191,400

249,900

319,300

293,600

218,200

128,700

75, 570

47,010

39, 470

35,500

Day

8... ._ 

9 -

10 

11 

12_ 

13.. 

14....-

15 

16 ..

17.. 

18. .

Secondfeet

15,900

14,100

13,000 

12,600

11,400

9,930

7,490

5,490

4,540

4,110

3,860

3,520

3,390

Acrefeet

31,540

27,970

25,790 

24,990

22.610

19,760

14,860

10,890

9,000

8,150

7,660

6,980

6,720

Day

Aug. 19.._.

20. 

21 . 

22 .

23.--

24....

25....

26 .

27....

28 .

29 .

30.-..

31 

Seeondfeet

3,160

3,100

3,070 

3,070

3, OS)

2,940

2,790

2,720

2,660

2,620

2,620

2,640

2,730

Aetefeet

ft; 270

6,150

6,<BO 

6,090

6,060

5,830

5,530

5,400

5,280

5,200

5,200

5,240

5,410

Bunofl, in acre-feet, for period July 24 to Aug. 3L_..........._ __.. ..__... 2,129.000

Gage-height, in feet, and discharjfa in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

Time

July 24 

12m.. ___

10... .......

11 _____

12 

July 26

2 ..

3. 

4 _ ... __

5 ____ ...

6 -

T..-. ......

8 

9... ...

10 

11 

12m. ..

1 p. m. .... 

2 

4 - 

5 

6 

7.. . __ 

8 

9__ 

10 __ . 

11 _ . __ -

July 28

3 ...

5 __ . _ .

6.,.....,.-

7. .

8 _ . _ ..

9 _ ......

10 . 

11.. .

12 m ___ .

2 .. _ .

3 __ ....

5 ___ . ...

6- _ ....

7 _ ....

g

g

10 

12 __ . ....

Feet

3.0 

3.14

3.14

3.7

6.1

 8.7

10.5

1J.8

12.9

13.8

14.45

15.1

15.6

16.05

16.5

16.9 

17.25 

17.6 

17.8

18.25 

,18.45 

18.65 

18.85 

19.1

19.3

19.5 

19.7

1Q Q

4M. V

20.1

on o

20.3

20.4

20.5

20.6

20.7

20.8

20.9

21.0

91 1

21.2

21.3

21.4

21.5

21.6

21.65

21.75

21.8

21.9

22.0

22.1

Secondfeet

1,510 

1,680

1,680

2,330

5,370

10,900

16,500

21,300

25,600

29,400

32,100

35,000

37,200

39,200

41,500

43,700 

45,700 

47,900 

49,100

521000 

53,400 

54,700 

56,100 

57,900

59,400 

61,000 

62,700

65,500

flfl RAfl

67,400

68,400

69,300

70,300

71,200

72,200

73,200

74.200

75,200

76,200

77,200

78,300

79,400

80,500

81.600

82,200

83,200

83,800

84,900

86.000

87,200

Time

JulyS7

2 a. m... _ 

4 ......

6 _ -

8 _____ -

10 

12m.-. 

2 p. m _ .

4...... _ -

6 ...

«... . ...

10 

12 

July 28

2 ......

4 __ . 

6 ......

8 

10- 

11. 

12m-_. 

1 p. m _ .- 

2 ... _ .

5...... ..- 

6. _____ 

7 

8 - __ .- 

9- ____ 

10 _ -

12 

2_ 

3. .......

4... . ...

5 .

6 .

7 .....

8 ....

9 ..

10 .

12m 

4-1 ...

5 .. .

6 ......

10 

12.........

Feet

22,25 

22,35

22.4

22.55

22,75

22.9 

23.1

23.3

23.4

23.6

23.7

£&, IO

23.8 

23.95 

24.1 

24.3

24.55 

24.7 

24.8 

24.9

25.26

£t*j, rx

25.7 

25.85 

26.0

26.15 

26.3 

26.5

-26.8

26.9

27.05

27.15

27.25

27.4

27.5

27.6

1 27.7

27.75

27.8

27.95

28.0

27.90

27.95

28.0

28.1

28,05

Secondfeet

89,000 

90,200

90,800

92.600

93,200

95,000

96,800 

99,300

102,000

103,000

106,000

107,000

108,000 

108,000 

110,000 

112,000 

115,000 !

119,000 

121,000 

122,000 

124,000 

128,000

loi.) WJ

135,000 

137k OOO 

139,909

14J.OOO 

143,000' 

146,000

150,000

150,000

152,000

154.000

155.000

158,000

159, 000

159,000

160,000

161,000

162,000

164,000

164,000

162,000

163,000

164,080

165,000

164,000

Time

July SO

3 a. m _ . 

5

7..........

9 __ .

10 ..

12m........

Ip. m~ 

2, ___ ..

4 

 5

6 _ _ ..

8___. __ -

10 .-

12 -

July 31

1a.m..... 

2.. ___ - 

3 _____ - 

4 _____ .

6. - 

7 _____ . 

8 ____ 

Ifl. ____ - 

11 __ -

12m,...-.. 

ip. m _ -

 2 _____

4 ____ ..

5 ______

7 __ i __

9 __ ,

10.. __ .

11..........

12 ___ ....

Aug.l

1 a. m _ ..

2 _____

3 _____

4 _____

5 _ ....

6 _____

7 .........

8 ____ 

9 ___ ...

10 .........

11 __ .. ...

.12m.. -

l p. m-..

Feet

28.0 

27.9

27.7

27.6

27. S

27.4

27.8

27.25

,27.1 a?.o

26.95

26.8

26.7

26.6

26.5 

26.4 

26.3 

26.2

O£ 1

'as. e

26.9 

25. S 

25.6 

35.6 25. as

25.25 

85.1 

2S,0

217& 

24.ft

2435

24.2

28 '8

23,6

23.4

23.2

23.0

22.75

22.55

22.3

22.1

21.9

21.7

31. 4S

21.3

21. If

21.0

20.9

Secondfeet

162,000 

160,000

155,000

153,000

152,000,

150,000

147,008 

146,000

143,000

141, «00

139,000

1S6.000

115,000

133,000

130,000 

128. COO 

126,000 

124,000

1OQ ftnn

,121,000 

119,000 

. 118,000 

HS, 000 

113,008

111, 000 

169,000 K#,eaa

162,000 meoa

TfSJ^wW

97,?0fr

«8»400

98^000

90,600

88,200

85,800

81,400

81,000

78,500

76,560

.74,000

72,000

70,100

68,300

68,000

64,700

63,400

62,200

61,400
. JULY m 71

Gage-height, infeet,-and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated fame, WS8 Con.

Time

Aug. 1~- 

Con.

2 p. ra __ 

3 _____

4

5 _____

6 _

7 ____ ..

8 ___ . _

9 ____ ...

10 _________

11 __________

12 _

Aug. £

la. m_ -

3 __________

4 __________

5 ___ . _

6 ___ ____

7_.________

8 __________

9 ____ ._

10 ____ ...

11 ______ }2m__ ______

2 ____ ...

3 __________

4 _____ .

5__._____~

6, _____ .

7__.______.

8 __________

9___'_______

10 __________

11 __ _____

12 _ , _______

1 a. m __ 

2. _____

3 __ ... 4__.____ _ ' 5 __________

Feet

20.8 

20.65

20.5

20.4

20.25

20.1

mo

19.86

19.7

19.5

19.3

19.15

19.0

18.8

18.6

18.4

18.15

17.95

17.?

17.5

17.3

17.05

16.8

16.6

16.35

16. 1

15.85

15.7 

15.3

16.3

15.1

14.9

14.7

14.55

14.4

14.25 

14.1

14.0

13.9

13.75

Seeondfeet

60,600 

59,600

58,500

. 57,800

56,800

55.700

55,000

&t. 100

53,200

52,000'

50,800

49,900

 47,' 800

46,700

45,600

44,200

43,100

41,800

40,700

39,600

38, m)

37,200

36,300

35,200

34, 100 

33,100

O_5j OUU

31.700

80,900

30.200

29,400

28,700

 28,200

27,600

27,100 

26,600

26,200

 25,800

25,300

Time x

Aug. 3 

Con.

6 a. m _____

8

10 ___ . ___

12m___..___

, 4 __________

7 _____ .

10 ______

12__ __ ___.

Aug. 4

3ft. m. .... 

6 ____ .

9. ___ ....

10 _____ .

12m..,-....

9 __ _ _ .

12 ___ .___

12.___ _ _

Aug. 8

12m. _ _

6p, m ..__.

12 __________

12m. ______ 

6 p. m_.... 

12--_. ___

Aug. 8

12m. ._-__ 

12 ______

Feet

13.65 

13.5

13.35

13.22

13.1

13.0

12.9

, 12.8

12.65

12.5 

12.35

12.15

1-S. 1

12.0

11,95

11.85

11.75

11.55

11.4

11.2

11.0

10.8 

10.6

10.45

10.3

10.1

. 3

9.75 

9.6

9.45

9.35

9.3

9.25

Secondfeet

24,900 

24,400

23,000

23,400

23,000

22,700

22,400

22,100

21,700

21,100 

20,800

20,200 

20,000

Iffj WUU

19,600

19,500

19,200

18,900

18,300

17,900

17,400

16,900

16,400 

14,' 900

15,500

15,100

14,600

14,000 

13,700 

13,300

12,900

12,700

12,600

12,400

Time

Auff.&

12m.... _ 

Bp.m.. _ 

12. ____

12m...--..-

12__ . _

Aug. 11

6 a. m. ....

12m...._..,

6 p. m.. _ 

12 ______

12m... ..

12 ____ _

12 m........

6 p. m _ ..

12 _ - __ __

Aug. 14

12m........

12m _____

12 p. m-..._l

12m._...._J

iteC

9.1 

9.1 

8.95

8.8

8.7

8.6

8.45

8.3

8.15

«.95 

7.7

7.4

7.0

6.7

6.45

6.2

6.0

5.85 

5.70

5.55

5.40

5.30

5.20

5.15

5. H>

SecoBdfeet

12,300 

12,000 

11,700

11,300

11,100

10,800

10,500

10,100 

9,760

9,290 

8,7-tt

a rsftrt

7 ann

6,600

6,100

5,600

5,300

5, 110

4 A3A

4,540

4,290

4,110

3,950

3,860

o iyjn

ELM CBEEK AT BAIil-ESrOEft, TBX.

LOCATION-. Lat. 31°45'00* long. 99°S6'5(F, 1,000 feet akove city water-«upply 

storage dam in Ballinger, Eunnels County, and IK miles upstream from 

mouth. .Zero of gage is 1,617.72 feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1920).

DKAINAGE ABBA. 458 square miles.

GAGE-HJSIGITE RECORD. Water^stage recorder graph. Oage heights used to half 

tenths between 5.7 and 8.5 feet; hundredths below and tenths above, these 

limits. x

STAGB-DISCHABGE BELATION. Defined by eurrent-meter measurements below 

13,800 second-feet; extended above to peak stage. .

MAXIMA. July 1938: Discharge, 2,070 second-feet 7 a. m. July 26 (gage height 

5.26 feet).

1932-Jwne 1938: Discharge, about 26,100 second-feet Sept. 3, 1935 

(gage height, 10,3 feet from floodmarks, probably slightly affected by backwater from Colorado River).

1906-31: Maximum discharge probably less than in 1935.

REMARKS. Flood flow probably not affected by diversions and regulation.
72 _ ' TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, tn acre-feet, 1988

Bay

July 17 . 

18 . 

19 

20....

21.... 

22....

Secondfeet

0 

60 

20 

25

6.4 

28

Acre-feet

0 

119 

40 

50

13

56

Day

July 23.... 

24 

25 

26 

27..- 

28 .

Secondfeet

4.5 

45 

629 

1,060

56 

11

Acre-feet

8.9 

89 

1,250 

2,100

111 

22

Day

July 29 

30 

31 

Aug. 1-....

2-14..

Secondfeet

2.5 

1.0 

.6 

.4

0

Acre-feet

5.0 

2.0 

1.2

0

Runoff, in acre-feet, for period July 17 to Aug. 14___________________________ 3,870 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1988

Time

July 18

1. ........ .

Q

10. -

11 __ ..... 12 m_- 

4.- - -

&10

July 19

12 m. .

6 p. m .....

91... -

10 ____ ... 11 _ .. L.

JulyW

8 _____ -

12 m 

Q

12 __ -

July SI

12m 

10.. .......

11. .........

12. ........

July ^2,

2 a. m ...

6» __ 

10* ___ 

19

Feet

3.50

3.80

4.04

4.09

4:10

4.08

4.05

4.02

3.99

3.97

3.95

3..90

3.88 

3.88

3.93

3.98

3.97

3.94

3.92

3.90

. 3.89

3.89

3.87

3.86

3.90

3.94

3.97

3.98 

3.97

3.96

3.9

3.93

3.9

3.9

3.90

Secondfeet

0

0

0

108

158

169

147

117

90

66

52

39

21

11

4.5 

4.5

27

52

59

52

33

21

11

7.C

7.0

2.5

1.5

11

33

52

59 

52

45

39

27

21

16

11

11

Time

July S3 

12 m __ .

12 p. m 

JulyS4

6 __ ..

7 _ . _ ...

8 

10 

11 ___ .. _

12 _____ -

July 86

4 ___ ....

7 .....

12m 

1 p. m .....

2 _____

3 ___ -

4

5 ______

6. ........

7. -

8. .......

9 ___ ....

10 _ ......

12 

JulySS

3 ........

4

5 - ....

7.... 

g

Feet

3.87

3.87

3.87

3.88

3.88

3.93

4.05

4.11

4.12

4.12

4.10

4.08

4.06

4.05

4.10

4.13

4.09

4.11

4.23

4.37

4.54

4.70

4.8!

5.01

5.06

5.05

5.fo

5. ft

5.05

5.0

5.1'

5.2

5.25

5.2<

5.22

5.14

Secondfeet

2.5

2.5

2.5

4.5

4.5

27

117

180

191

191

169

147

127

117

169

202

158

180

320

502

753

1,000

1,330

1,570

1,660

1,640

1,630

1,630

1,640

1,720

1,820

1,940

2,040

2,070

1,980

1,820

Tune

July 86 

Con.

0 a. m 

1 ..........

2 m _ 

1 p. m. 

2.. ........

3 

4 __ .- ....

5 _____ -

6 _ .. .....

7 ___ ....

8 ___ .....

0 ......

12 ___ -----

July %1

3 a. m. ....

6 ___ ...

9 ___ _ 

12m 

6 p. m .

12 ___ ....

July 88

12 m ...

12 p. m .....

July £9

12 m.. ...

12 p. m ..._

July SO 

12 m 

JvlVSl

12mFeet

5.04

4.88

4.74

4.60

4.48

4.37

4.22

4.18

4.15

4.13

4.10

4.07

4.03

4.00

3.98

3.97

3.94

3 92

3. 8i)

S. 83

8.J

3.S

3.85

3.8

3.*

3.8!

Secondfeet

,630

,330

1,080

843

663

502

384

308

260

224

202

137

99

74

- 59

52

33

21

7.0

4.5

2.5

1.5

1.0

.6

.6

,4
FLOODS OF JULY 1938 IN COLORADO RIVER BASUf 73

SOUTH CONCHO MVER AT CHMSTOVAL, TEX,

LOCATION. Lat. 31° 13', long. 100C30', at Panhandle & Santa "Fe By. bridge 

in Christoval, Tom Green County. Zero of gage is 2,010.22 feet above mean 

sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

DRAINAGE AREA. 434 square miles.

GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-stage recorder graph except for a few hours on 

July 23, when float was against? instrument table; for this period a graph 

was drawn on basis of peak stage determined from floodmarks and shape 

of recorder graph before and after peak. Gage heights used to half tenths 

between 3.7 and 5.2 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits.

STAGE-DISCHARGE RELATION. Defined by current-meter measurements below 

8,300 second-feet; extended to peak discharge on basis of a slope-area measurement of 80,100 second-feet. Discharge July 19 to 9:30 a. m. July 20, July 25 

to 6 p. m. July 26, and July 31 to Aug. 14 determined by shifting-control 

method.

MAXIMA. 1938: Discharge, 100,000 second-feet 12 m. July 23 (gage height, 

21.95 feet, from floodmarks).

1930-37: Discharge, 80,100 second-feet Sept. 17, 1936 (gage height, 

20.5 feet).

1882-1929: Stage, about 23.1 feet Aug. 6, 1906 (discharge not determined).

REMARKS. Flood flows not affected by diversions or regulations.

Mean discharge, in secdnd-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1938

Day

July 19 

20.....

21- 

22 .

23-...

24.....

25 .

26 .

27 

Secondfeet

8.8

7,890

3,990

1.5f>0

29,500

1,210

143

94

63

Acre-feet

17

' 15, 650

7,910

2,980

58,510

2,400

284

186

125

Day

July 28.....

29...'..

30 

31 ....

Aug. 1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Secondfeet

63

63

64

63

63

63

63

62

62

Acre-feet

125

125

127

125

125

125

125

123

123

Day

Aug. 6. .

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14. .

Secondfeet ,

60

57

56

56

56

56

55

54

54

Acre-feet

119

113

111

111

111

111

109

107

107

Runoff, in acre-feet, for period July 19 to Aug. 14_____-_______ . , 90, ISO
' TEXAS FLOODS OF 1S3S ANI» 1039 

Gnge height, $n,feef, «mJ d£seharg», * , 1938

Tjtna

July 19

la. «.;:..

,12, BX __ ....

up. m ok* ~«~ 

Jk&act

8-.35_-..-_,.. 

10:00 -

»M ...

11:00 __ 

11:30. ....

1^>*tf&Tft

I'OO

ISO... ..

2:00 

2:30 

3*0 , .

4*0 

5:00- 

6:30- __ -

8:00 

9:00 

10:00 

11:00 

12:00 

July SI 

.2:00 a. jm..

4:00 

.6:00 

8:20-. _ ..

8;30_ 

. 8:40 

8:50-- .

9:00 

9:30 

10:00 

10:55-. ,.

11:30- 

12:00 m -

1:00 p. m.. 

,2«0 .

3«0 .....

4:00 .

i:00 -r

6:00 

7:00 .-.

8:00 ...

9:00 

10:00-... .

11:00 

12:00-, 

^eat

1 AST 

,83 

.S3

<J»

.84

.97

5.50

i S.W

; 9.40

meo

14.55

14.15

: . 13. 68

12.65 

10.80

9.40

O «A

6.50

S. i6

i'T>\

4.17

3.70

3.11

' 2.6?

2.4O

2 15

4. GO

5.3P

7.«p

9.40

10. m

11.85

12.7*

12.45

11.80

10. W 

8.80

7.15

6.30

5.55'

4.95

4,40

4.00

3.60

3.32

3.08

2.89

Secondftet

n

8.1

Q (

ai

1 st &

i 30 

2,420

5,620

8,520

It, TOO

 i8,a»,

25y300

32,900

34,900

32,900

90 ^nn

27,000

19,000

8,520

3 400

9'iStfl t'sro

900,

 007 

402 302-

1,200

2,420

4,740

8,520

15,800

M jftn

18,100

15,800

10,200 

6,190

4,310

3,180

2,510

1,960

1,520

1,200

920

728

591

496

Tta»

July 82

1:00 a. is..

3*0 ___ . 

5:00 

' &00 - 

11:00, 

2KM _____ 

3:00 

i 3:30 _____

4:00 

' 4:30. .-.

5*0 _. .

5:30 

6*6_ .

7:00 

8:00. -

9jOO- _ ..

10:00 -

11:00.......

12:00 _ .

J«Jy SS

> ,1:00 a. BO 

' 2:15 

3:00 4:00.. 

' 5:60 

5:30 .

6:00 

7«0 __ 

7:45... .

8:30. ..

9*0

9^0. 

MlOO ...

1030 

11:00 'naoI2*0m-..

1*0 

130. 

2:00j. __ . 

2:30_ 

3:00 __

4*0 

5:00 

6:00 . 

7:00-. 

8:00

9:00 

10:00 

11*0- .

12:00 

Feet272

2.4.. 

2.18

1,9S

 t on

1.72 2.oa 3. a)

5.75 

7 30 ' 9. ro

ft SOft 05

8.58

7.30

6.25 f, ift4 70

4.20

3.80

,3.4ff

3.10

3.30

4,05

» ff.80

1O.10

11.10

K.OO 

12.26

11.96

12 46

13.90

17.00

10 fifl

20.50

01 Kf\

91 QK

20.90

20.10

19.50 

19.10

18.50

17.45

16.20

14.85

14.20

12.40

in on

7.60

Secoml-

: feet

423 

305

228

367

roc

122

178 

715

i 3,696 

4 460

7,840

8(300

7; 620

Q.5*

4.460

3,080

2,340.

1,760

1,360

1,060

'

28ft

302

715

1 240

?690

13,300 

10,600 

nqnn

18,109

flC VOH

59 400

80^100

no frtn

100 000

94* 500

85,000

75,200

68, (MO

tv_t ^.ftfV

58,500

4S.900

39,700

on 4jnfl

27,000

22,800

19 Tftn

8,070

Time

: Jteljr^

f M»a. ra..

2*0_.. .. 

3*0 .

sm ._..-

7*0 ..

«MO.._--_-_

12rt»m..... 

12:30 p. m 

l:Ofl ,_ 

1:30 

1 2:30. ;..

. aaou... -L 1 5*0 :

7*BL __

10:00 _ .

J2-00

OAIBu-- ...

8:30--- 

IflrSft 

1 12m. 

'July $8

-7_ 

July 87 

12m 

JulySS^

12m.- 

JuiySS

litm ..

: ,/ttfy SO

9 a. m,... 10 _ _ '._ ri -

4 _

6 . ...

12

July SI

12m 

F«et

6. 60 

&85 

5,27

4.33 

3.72

3.3ff

3.20 

-4.10

i 4.55 

4.78

*.4fl

3.90

3.42

2.96

2.46

2.24

2.07

1. 50

1.48

L98 

1.91

1.75

1.62

1.40

1.36

1.S3

1.31

1.30

1.31

1.31

1.31

t 31

1.30

1 QSt

1.2S i.ssr

1.39

1 30

1.32

1 S_1

1 ^1

1 %f\

Seeondfeet

m

' 1,480

 715

655 

1,280 _,64e» 

1,800

I,S20 M30

7ft_,

525

322

218

196

16 1

85 

82

174 

158

127

88

7O

70

86

63

6_f

63

63

v

 63

&2 

5&

69

64

74

62

63

63

T.AKT. NASWORTETr NEAR SAN ANGML0, TEX.

LocATioN.-^Lat. 31°23'15", long. 100°28'40", on South Concho River 250 feet 

upstream from spillway of Nasworthy Dam, half a jnile downstream from 

mouth of Middle Concho River and 7 miles southwest of San Angelo^ Tom 

Green County. Elevations are feet above mean sea level.

DRAINAGE AREA. 2,65y square miles, of which about 152 square miles is probably 

noncontributing.

GAGE-HEIGHT BECORD. Water-stage recorder graph.

STORAGE RECORD. Capacity curve, obtained from Floyd and Lochridge, designers of dam, dated July 28> 1928.

REMARKS. Capacity of reservoir at spillway level, 10,500 acre-feet (elevation, 

1,870.0 feet above mean sea level). . ' '
FLOODS (m tfUI*Y 1988 IN COLOB^DO BIVSK

Elevation, in feet, and contents, in acre~feetf at indicated time, 19*38

75

Time

July 19.

8 a. m. . 

10,, . .

11 __ .

1 p. m..._.

6 

11 . -,

12 

July ISO

1:00 a.m..

10:00 .

12:00 m 

2:15 p. nK3:00 

3:30 

4«0. ^...

4^0.. --

4:45 .

 S:WL~ 

6:00 - .

7:30- 

8:00_.... t9:00_ ...

10:00 ;..

11:00 ,.. 

11:30. -

12:00 ,..

2:00 .. 

3:00 ......

*«0, ... 

5:00 -----

7:00 .. 

8:00-. _ .. 

9:00 ....

I0a» .. 

11:00.. . 

12:00 m . 

1:00 p. nt-_

A.UU-... --

3:00 .

4:00. ..

8:00 

6:00- 

7:00- 

8:00 -_

Q-tfft

9:00. 

10:00 .

11:00 . .. 

12:00. 

Feet

1,857.63

,867.63

, 867. 66

,867.69

, 887. 70

,867.69

,867.69.

1, 887. 69

1,867.72

1, 867. 76

1, 867. 78

1, 868. 13

1, 868. 43

1,889,16

1,862,32

1, 869. 37

1, 869. 27

1,869.23

1,869-23

1, 869. 18

1, 868. 97

1, 868. 37

1, 867. 45 

. 1,867.24

1, 867. 35

1, 867. 46 

1, 867. 49 

1, 867. 73

.l;-8«7i*«2 

1,868.«7 1 868 19

i, sea 30

1, 868. 39 

1, 86S. 46

1, 868. 53 

1, 868. 58 

1,868.65 

1, 869. 05

1, 869. 47

1, 869. 56 

1, 869. 53

1,869.44 

1, 86t. 12 

1, 86$. 65

1 Rfi7 7ft

1, 867. 10 

1, 867. 07

1, 867. 08

1,867.30

1, 867. 49 

1, 867. 63

Awefeet

7,790 

7,790

7,830

7.860

7,870

7,860

7,8SO

7,860

7,890

7,940

7,960

8,340

8,670

9,480

9,680

9,740

9,620

9,580

9,520

9,270

8,610

7,600 

7,360

7,480

7,610

7,650 

7,900

,8»liO 

.8,280 

8,410

8,930 

8,630 

8,710

8,780 

8,840 

8,920 

9,360

« ouv

9,970 

9,940

9,440 

8,800

7

O*7rt

7,210 

7,180

7,160

7,430

7,640 

7,790

Time

July sn

la. m.....

2-... ..i,

6. .

10- .

12 m ....

3 ...

4 .

5 ...r .

6 

7 .....

8 .

9

10 

11 _ 

2:00 

4:00- 

5:00 

6:00 

7' 00

8:00 ...

Q.jjfi

w .yu------ _ _

«i!e^ ..

44*397 ...

12:00 m.. 

1:00 p. m-. 

2:00 ... .

-3ilfr~

3^0- 

4:00 ... 

-S^fc .... 

6:00. 

7:00 

8;00 .... . Q.An

10:00 

11:00 

4ri'30t-.*_...

12:00 ...

July 84

1:00 a. m.. 

4*3fc. ...

Feet

1, 867. 75 

1,867.85

1, 867. 93

1.86&00

1, 868. 10

1, 868. 20

1,868.27

IV 868.- S3

1, 868. 37

1, 868. 38

1, 868. 42

1,868,50

1, 868. 57

1,868.44

1, 868. 10

1, 867. 25

1,866.45-

1,865.80

1, 866. 10

1, 866. 47 

1, 866. 77 

1, 867. 03

1, 867. 30 

1, 867. 60

1,867.90

1, 869. 20 

1. 869 3&

iJiSrW -Mfife-M

1, 869. 11 

1, 868. 98 

1, 868. 70 

4r868rfl8

1, 868. 90 

1, 869. 50 

4<869r8f1.86S.82

1, 869. 00 

1,868.00

1,867.00 

1.-866. 65 

M6«rS87

1,866.60

1,866.68 

 1__86S^ gg.

Aprefeet

7,920 

a ft£A

8,120

8,200

a QiA'

8,420

8,900

S..560

j,610

j,620

{,660

8,750

8,830

8,680

8,310

7,380

6,500

5,820

6,110

6,520 

6,850

7k 130 

7^430 

7i760

8^090

8^750

9,540

9^430 

9,280 

8,970-

O f^RA

1[l90 

9i900, 

40^346 

10L280

ftWO

9,300 

8.200

71100 

6|,720

jfV&4ft

61660

6,750 -fiLsaft

Time

July $4 

Con.

2aOO- .:_

3:00 ...

4:00-

5:00 .'

8:00_... ..

7:00

A3fc. ......

&00 ...

9:00 .-

10:00.. ......

11:00.... 

12:00 m_.__

1:00 p.m..

2:00

3:00 

4:00........

5:00 

6:00........

7:00........

8:00 

9:00.... .._

10:00.... ._

11:00......

12:00.. -____

July m

1:00 a. m._

3:00 

5:00

5:30 

6:00 6:30 _ ...

M«0 

1±00 m..._

2:00 p.m..

4:00 .. 

6:00. ___ . 7"00

8:00... ._.. 9m..-.. ...

10 :00 __ 

11:00 .-..

12:00 ....

July m

1 a. m __ 

2.-...-.-...

6--..'. . 

8 .....

10- ' ...

12 m 

6 p. m 

12 . ....

Feet

1,866.55

1,866,80

1,864.90

1,863.95

1,862.90

1,861.95

irfP^ iJbLflo

1, 862. 25

1,862.45

1,862.58

1,862.80

1,863,05

1,863.22

1,863.31

^863.48

1,863.25

1,863.07

1,862.85

1,862.60

1,862.30

1,862.00

1, 861. 67

1, 861. 36"

1,861.02

1,860.54

1, 860. 10

1,860.00

1, 860. 10 

1,860.11

l^ttitf& ififcis

1,859.70 

1,859,55 

1,889.38 

1,859.32

1,859.42 

1,859.50 

1,859,68 

1, 859. 95

1,860.35

1,860.65 

1, 860. 93

1,861.70 

1, 861. 95

. 1,862.16

1, 861 32

1,862.71 

1,863.12

Acrefeet

6,600

5,820

5,020

4,270

3,650

S lfiA

3,150

3,320

3,420

3,490

3,600

3,730

3,830

3,890

3,990

3,850

3,740

3,620

3,500

3,350

3,200

3 C\Af\

2,880

2,710 

2,520

2,340

2,300

2,340 

2,340

2,210 

2,160 

2,110 

2,100

2,130, 

2,150 

2,200

2;280

2,440

2,560 

2,670 A oon

3,050 

3,180

3,280

3,360

3,560 

3,770

sotrra CONCHO RIVER AT SAN.ANGHELO,

LOCATION. Lat. 31°26'45", long. 100°25'30", ati bridge on TI. & Highways 87 

and 277 and half a mile south of San Angelo, Tom Green G0uaty, and 1 mile 

upstream from confluence with North Coneho River. Zero of gage is 1,802.94 

feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

DRAINAGE AREA. 2,687 square miles, of which about 152 square miles is probably 

noncojltributing.

GAGE-HEIGHT BECOBD. Water-stage recorder graph. Gage heights used to half 

tenths between 4.4 and U.2 feet; -hundredthis below and tenths above these 

limits.

463302 44 &
76 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND, 1939

STAGE-DISCHARGE RELATION. 1Defined by current-meter measurements below

11,800 second-feet; extended to peak discharge on basis of study of flow over

Nasworthy Dam, 6^ miles upstream. Discharge July 19 determined by

shifting-control method. 

MAXIMA. 1938: Discharge, 80,100 second-feet 8 p. m. July 23 (gage height, 17.15

feet).

1931-37- Discharge, 111,000 second-feet Sept. 17, 1936 (gage height,

23.4 feet, of which about 2.4 feet was caused by backwater from North

Concho River) by slope-area method.

1854-1930: Stage, 29.7 feet Aug. 6, 1906, not affected by backwater

(discharge not determined). 

REMARKS. Flow partly regulated by storage in Lake Nasworthy (capacity at

spillway level, 10,500 acre-feet) 6*4 miles upstream, and by about 500 acre-feet

of storage in small reservoirs below Lake Nasworthy.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1988

Day

July 19 

20..... 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25..... 

26..... 

27 

Secondfeet

8.7 

7,550 

5,470 

2,630 

32,100

9,370 

1,330 

219 

60

Acre-feet

17 

14,980 

10,850 

5,220 

63,670

18,590 

2,640 

434 

119

Day

July 28 

29 

30 

31 

Aug. !.__._

2 

3 .. 

4. . 

5- 

Secondfeet

28 

22 

18 

17 

15

39 

21 

9.2 

8.0

Acre-feet

56 

44 

36 

34 

30

77 

42 

18 

16

Day

Aug. 6-. 

7- 

8 . 

9_... 

10-.-

11..- 

12-.- 

13- 

Secondfeet

11

14 

14 

14 

17

20 

30 

22

Acre-feet

22 

28 

28 

28 

34

40 

60 

44

Runoff, in acre-feet, for period July 19 to Aug. 13._.... r '. 117,200 

Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, '1B&8

Time

July 19

6 a. m ..... 

9 ___ .

10 . _ .

12m........

12... .......

July SO

6:00 a. m..

12:00 mL 

4:30 p.m..

5:00.... .._

5:00 

6:00........

7:00_.......

8:00 .....

8:00 ... _ 

10:00-..-....

11:00 ,.-..

12:00 . 

July SI

12:30 a. m..

1:00- 

2:00 

2:30 ..

3:00. 

5:00 

7:00 

1:30 p. m..

Feet

1.98 

1.94

2.03

2.06

2.09

2.05

2.06

2.08

2.09

5.60

7.20 

8.10

8.80

9. OS

. 8.14 

o us

8,80

7.30

5.40

4.65

4.14

4.10

3.60

2.95

2.72

2.63

2.60

2.58.

Secondfeet.

5 

4

11

15

10

7

9

11

9,920

18,200

26,600

OR Bftft

28,400 

28,000

26,600

18.700

f 8,970

5,750

3,940

3,810

2,800

830

4AA

339

300

276

Time

July */ 

Con.

2:30 -

3:00 . -

4:00 

5:00 . 

6;00 

7:00 . ..

8:00.. 

9:00.. 

10:00.. ....

11:00-. .-

12:00 . 

2:00 

4:00 

6:30 p. m 

7:00.. 

8:00... 

9:00 .

10:00........

IIKM ....

12:00 

2 .......

3 .... -

4 

8 .......

Feet

3.10

4.70

5.80

7.00

7.22

7.20 

7.00

6.70 

4.90

3.70

3.00

2.75

2.64

2.60 

2.68

2.68

3.00 

5.00 

6.«0

7.10

6.60

4.60

3.40

2.90

-2.70

2.63

2.58

Secondfeet

1,120

^ am

10.900

17,200

18,300

18,200 

17,200

15,600 

6,740

2,580

920

505

352

300,

276

276

920 

7,170 

15, 100 '

17,700

5,660-

1,790

740

430

-339

276

Time

JulySS 

Con.

9:00 _-

9:30- . 

10:00 

11:00.. ......

12:00 m_._.. 

1:00 p. m 

2:00. - 

3:00.,. .--

4:00.;......

5:OQ ..

6:00,. _ ..

7,-tML.. .....

8:08^_..-

8:30- __ -

«»-.»-...

10.-00....... 

11.09 .....

12.-00.._...,

July $4

l«0a.m1:30 

2«0 ... ..

3KW ... -

4:00 - ftqo.,....-

6:00._.....L

7«XL .....

8:00.... _ .

9:00.. _ -

10«0..._...

Feet

4.00

5.60

7.00

8.00 1 a»5

9.05 

9.20

9.90 

11.00

12.56

14. BO

16.00

16.90 

17.15

16.95

' 16.85

16.40 

15.40

13.80

11.5

10.0

9.0

7.8

7.3

6.8

6.30

5.85

5.flO

3.70

3.45

Secoadfeet

8,500

8,«20

17,200

23,400

26,600

27,700 

t800

500 

38,300

%«»

5% 700

70,760

77,700 

80,100V

78.800

78..W

7^700 

«2«»

H800

'41, 000

,,88,000

»,?OQ

21,300

18,700

i6»l(«

13,500

11,200

7, 170

' 2,680

1,920
FLOODS 0F JULY 1998 DST COLORADO I^VEE BASIN 77 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, lSi$S Con,

Time

JiOy$4 

,Con.

12:00 m...-

2OO p. m_. 

4:00. 

4:30. ..:, 6:08........

em ......

7KK>.. 

10:«»-... _ . 

12:00 

July $5

5 a. m.. ... 

«--_ .-

7... .. -

9 

Feet

' 3.45

3.81 

§.54

3.46

4.00-

4.18

4.J6

4.00 

3.88

3.57

3.50 

3.05

111)

Second' 

feet

1,920

2,070 

2,140-

1,940

3,500

4,070

4,000

3,500 

3,130

2,220 

2,040 

1,020

1,120

Time

July asCon.

12m. 

7 p. m __

8.. ........

9. _ ......

10.... __ ..

12 _ .......

July 88

8 p. m.._.. 

12 

July 27

Feet

3.08

3.02

2.90

2.72

2.63

2.57

2.56

2.54 

2.45

2.28

2.22

Second-

-feet

1,080

960 

740

460

339

265

253

230 

140

50

35

Time"

July g» 

12m ......

12 p. m....."

July 89

12m. .

12 p.m..-..

JidySO

12m - ...

12p.m.....

Jvl% SI 

12m 

Feet

2.19

2.17

2.16

2.16

2.14

2.13

2.13

2.12

Secondfeet

28

24

, 22

m

18

17

17

15

CONCHO BIVER NEAB SAN ANQKLO, TEX.

LOCATION. Lat. 31°27'10", long. 100°24'40", half a mile downstream from confluence of North Concho and South Concho Rivers and 1% miles southeast 

of San Angelo, Tom Green County. Zero of gage is 1,776.8 feet above mean 

sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

DBAINAGB ABBA. 4,492 square miles, of which about 275 square miles is probably 

noheontributing.

GAGE-HEIGHT EECOKD. Water-stage recorder graph. Gage heights used to half 

tenths between 3.4 and 5.2 feet; nundredths below and tenths above these 

limits.

STAGE-DISCHABGE BBLATION. Defined by current-meter measurements below 

26,400 second-feet; extended to peak discharge on basis of slope-area measurements of 167,000 and 230,000 second-feet.

MAXIMA. 1938: Discharge, 85,100 second-feet 8:30 p. m. July 23 (gage height, 

35.9 feet).

1915-37: Discharge, 230,000 second-feet Sept. 17, 1936 (gage height, 

46.6 feet, from floodmarks).

1854-1914: Discharge, about 2;46,OQO second-feet Aug. 6, 1906 (gage 

heightj 47.5 feet), by extension of 1936 rating curve.

RBMABKS. Flow partly regulated by storage in take Nasworthy and several small 

reservoirs upstream.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1988

Day

July 19 

20 

21 

?2

23-11 1

24 

25 

26 

27.. f _.

Secondfeet

*27

6,230

 6, 750

2,570

31,300

11,200

5,420

1,780

462

Acre-fe*et

54

12,360

13,390

5,100

62,080

22, 210

10, 750

3,530

916

Day

July 28- _ .

29 

30. _ -

31 

Aug. 1. 

2 

3 

4 

Secondfeet

118

71

56

46

39

54

40

28

Acre-feet

234

141

111

81

77

107

79

£6

Day

Aug. 5- .

6 

7 

8. .

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

Secondfeet

25

24

25

23

23

24

26

35

30

Acre-feet

60

48

50

46

46

~ 48

52

60

69

Eunoff^in acre-feet, for period July 19 to Aug. 13. .____- - - 181,800
78 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

Gage-height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

Time

July 19 

1:00 a. m..

Q'tflA

9:00. ___ .

10:00. ..

12:00 m.....

7'00

8:00. ..

12:00. ___ .

July SO

6:00 a. m10:00. .... 

12:00 m . .

1:00 p. m 

5:00 

5:30 

6:00. ______ 

6:00. __ ..

7:00... _____ 

8:00.. __ . 

9:00........ 

10:00.. __.__.

11:00.. __ . 

12:00 ___

July SI

2..........

3 _ __ __ 

4 ___....._.

5 ____ .. 

. ..........

7 _ .. 

8 _____

9 _____ .

12m.- 

-2p.m. _ .

5 "I 

6 

7 ______ 

8 

9 ____ ... 

10_. __ .... 

11 __ . __ . 

12- -

July XX

2..........

4 

9 ...___..__

11- __ ...

Feet

1.05 

1.02

1.10

1.55

1.44

1.25

1.50

1.57

1:35

1.18

1.14 

1.25

1.30 

1.25 

5.0 

14.0 

18.0

20.0 

22.6 

23.5 

23.7

23.6 

22.9

18.0

10.5

7.6 

5.2

3.8 

3.2

iso

2.73

2.59 

2.55

15.0

17.5 

18.3 

18.3 

17.5

15.0 

10.0 

5.5 

3.5

9 Oft

.2.62

2.4S

2.43

2.49

9 4ft

Secondfeet

15 

13

IS

56

44

28

50

58

36

23

20 

28

31 

28 

2,130 

12,200 

17,800

20,600 

24,900 

26, 500 

26,900

26,700 

25,400

17,800

7,760

4,530 

2,310

1,170 

768

610 

52<f 1 487'

405

385

13,600

17,100 

18,200 

18, 200 

17, 100

13, 600 

7,160 

2,580 

960

eon

421

335

325

355

340

Time

Juln &£ 

Coo.

8 

9 __ ___.__

10 ......

11 _.......__

12 ______

JulySS

3:00.-. ....

4:00 

'5:00 _ . 

6:00.-.. ... 

7:00. 

8:00- 

9:00- 

10:00.. . 

11:00... _ . 

12:00 m-._.

2:00... __

O.ftn

4:00.- 

5:00 

6:00 

7:00 

8:00.. 

8:30 ___

10:00--- _ 

11:00- 

July $4

1 a. m __ 

2... _ 

3 ___ . ... 

4 ___ .... 

5 ..__._ 

6 .... ...

7 .... 

8 _____ 

9 ___ 

10 _ ... 

11 ______

4p.m __

6 __ .. .....

7 ..........

8 ...

10 __ ....

12 ..........

Feet

2.37

6.5

12.5

16. 8

17.5

14.0

9.0 

5.5

420

Q. i i

3.65 

3.40 

3.15 

3.00

7.0 

16.5 

21.5 

23.0

_6O. 5

24.3

OR T

27.5 

30.0

33.0

35.0

35.8 

35.9

35.5 

34.4

Q46. /

30.5 

27.5 

23.0 

20.5

18.4 

16.5

14.5 

12.8 

8.5 

5.4 

5.06

5.34 

5.25

7.00

7.M

7.25

6.85

Secondfeet

295

3,480

10,300

16, 100

17, 100

12,200

6,000

1,470

r JLrtU

1,060 

895 

732 

640

of you 

15,700 

23,000 

25,600

_&o, ouu 

28,000

36,800 

47,000

63,000

77,000

84200 

85,100

81,500 

72,800

49,500 

36,800 

25,600 

21,400 

18,400 

15,700

12,000 

10,700 

5,450 

2,490 

2,180

2,400 2,310 3,s«o

4,^

4,150

3,770

3,390

Time

July £5

5:00 a. m_. 

6:00. _____

7:00. ___ .

8:00......

2:00 p. m 

3:00. ___ .

4:00. ___ .

6:00. __ ...

6;00. ___ .

7:00. ___ .

7:30-.... 

9:00 

10:00- __ .

11:00. ___ . 

12:00.... _ -

July m

1:30 a. m_- 

3:30 ___ ..

5:00 ___ ._ 

7:00 

9:00- __ - 

12:00 m .

2:00 p. m-. 

6:00. .....

12:00. __ ..

6 .....

8 _____ 

9 _____ 42m- _ ....

8. ____ 

12 

July $8

6 a. m _ .. 

12m .- 

6p. m 

12 .....

July $9

12m. _ . 

12 p. m _

trftty &f

12 p. m 

July SI

,2m ..

12 p, m __

Feet

5.50 

5.50

4.70

4.10

4.22

7.00

11.0

14.0

15.2

16.1

16.3

15.6

12.0

8.9 

6.60

5.90 

6.10

5.80 

4.70 

3.94 

3.67

3.«7

3.38

2.75

A. <X>

3. 10 \n

a. 27 1 8.17;

2.83

Iw

2.26 

2.13

1.98 

1.90 

1.82 

1.75

l.«8 

1.59

LM

1.50

1.47

1.42

Secondfeet

2,580 

2,580

1.880

1,400

1,470

3,960

8,360

12,200

13,.900

15,100

15,400

13,600

9,640

5,890 

3,580

2,940 

3,120

2.850 

1,880 

1,280 

1,060

1,060

882

492

ooO

700

817

810

538

360

242

187

138 

116

98 

86

74 

61

56

80

47

42
-FLOODS fr* JULY 1938 BST COLORADO BI?3Bm MfeBT 79

CJOBTCHO RIVER NISAR. PAINT ROCK,

LOCATION. Lat. 31°31', long. 99°55', upstream from spillway of masonry 

dam at bridge oa II. S, Highway 83, a quarter of al mile nertfc at Paint Rock, 

Concho County, Zero of gage is 1,574.43 feet above mean sea level (general 

adjustment of 1929). : DRAINA«E ABBA. 5, §38 square miles, of which about 275 square miles is probably

RBCOBD. Graph drawn on basis of several wire-weight gage 

readings daily. Gage heights used to hah* tenths between 11.1 and 13.8 

feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits.

STAGE-DISCHARGE RELATION. Defined by current-meter measurements below 

85,000 second-feet; extended on basis of slope-area measurements of 144,000 

and 301,000 second-feet.

MAXIMA; 1938: Discharge, 86,000 second-feet 10:15 a. m. July 24 (gage height, 

3 1.95 feet).

1915-37: Discharge, 301,000 second-feet Sept. 17, 1936 (gage height, 

43.4 feet, from floodmarks; 41.3 feet, from floodmarks at former recording 

gage site, about 1.5 miles upstream).

1882-1914: Discharge, 201,000 second-feet August' 1882 (gage height, 

38.4; feet, former recorder site and datum) , from 1936 rating carve. 

REMARKS. Flow affected by diversions and storage upstream.

J^eaw discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in aer&feel, 1938

Day

July 18 

19 

20 

21....

22....

23 

24.,..

25....

26 .

27 

Secondfeet

27

598

1,140

8,120

4,980

40,400'

42,600

4,270

4,230

1,040

Acre-feet

54

1,190

2.260

16, 110

9,880

80,130

84,500

8,470

S.3UO

2,060

Day

July 28 

29 

30 

31. 

Aug. 1-..

- . 2 

3 

4 

5 ....

Secondfeet

575

318

200

145

130

118

112

120

94

Acre-feet

1,140

631

897

288

258

234

222

238

186

Day

Aug. 6 ....

7

8 1

9 .

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

Secondfeet

84

76

71

71

67

67

76

' 67

76

Acre-feet

167

151

141

141

133

133

151

133

151

Runoff, in acre-feet, for period July 18 to Aug. 14.. . . *. 217,900
80 TNEXAS FI-OODS OP 1938 AND 1939

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

Time

July 19

1 a. m __ 

9 _____

10 __ .____

11 _____

12 m ___

12. _____

July SO

10 a. m. __

12m. ......

12 ______

July SI

2:00.. ___ 

3:00.. 

4:00 ...... 

5:00.. ......

6:00... __ .

7:00.. __ . 

7:30...-- 

9:00.. ...... 

ft:30.. ...... 

10:00... .....

11:00 ___ . 

12:00 m -- 

1:00 p. m._ 

2:00.. ......

3:00.. ......

4:00 ___ .

6:00.. ......

8:00.. ......

10:00.. ......

12:00... .....

July ii

1'30

2*0 ......

2:30 ____ 

3:00 _... _

3:30... .....

4:00 _......

5:00 _..._..

5:30 .....

6:00.. ......

6:30.. __ .. 7*nn

8:00 _..._ 

9:00- .___..

10:00.. ...... 11:00.. ......

12:00 m 

Feet

10.6 

10.4

13.1

14.6

14.1

13.1

12.8

12.7

12.4

13.0

13.9

14.0

14.0 

14.3 

15.2

16.8 

18.6

20.3

22.0 

22.2

22.3 

22.3

21.85

O1 Q

19.9 

18.45 

16.9 

15.6

15.2 

15.0

14.6

14.3

14.1

14.0

i_. *>

15.4

16.6

17.8

19.0

20.3

20.7

20.4

19.6

18.7

 to A

16.7

 15.6

14.7

14.3

14.0

13.8

Secondfeet

22 

12

880

2,820

2,090

880

575

485

290

775

1,820

1,950

1,950 

2,370 

3,810

6,930 

11,500

17,000

21,700 

22,200

22,400 

22,400 

21,200 

IQ son

15,700 

10,900 

7,130

A Ken

3,810 

3,450

2,370

2,090

1,950

2

oqn

4,170

6,530 

9,260

12,800

17,000

18,200

17,300

14,700

11,800

9 800

6,730 

4 530

2,970

2,370

1,950

1,690

Time

July SS 

Con.

2:00 p. m 

4:00.. ......

6:00 _.... 

7:00 _......

8:00 _ ....

9:00 _......

10:00 _._....

11:00.. __ 

12:00...-..--

JulygS

1:00 a. m_-

2:00 ......

3:00.. _____

4:00 _______

5:00 __ ... 

6:00 _______

7:00 _......

8:00 _______ 

9:00 _______

10:00.. 

11:00 ......

12:00 m -

3:00.. __ . 

3:30 ......

5:00... __ . 

6:00 _______

7:00.. __ .

8:00 __..... 

9:00 _______ 

10:00 _______ 

11:00.. ...

12:00 _______ 

July $4

4:00_. _ ... _ 

5:00 _______

6:00 _______ 

7:00_ _ ...

8:00 ______ 

9:00 _______ 

10:00.. ______

10:15.. ______

11:00.. ______

12:00 m_..- 

1:00 p. m2:00 _______

3:00 _...___

4:00 _......

5-CO- ...___

5:30.: ______

6:00 _______

6:30.. ______

7:00 ___ - 

8:00 ___ .

9:00 _.. __

10:00.. ___ 11:00 ..

12:00 _._....

Feet

13.6

13.35

13.1

13.1

13.3

13.9

15.1

16.4

17.6

18.8

20.0

21.1

22.3

23.4 

24.5

25.7

26.8 

27.9

29.0

_so. o

28.75 

28.6 

29.7

30.0 

29.8 

29.7

29.55 

29.15 

28.4 

27.6

27.15

£M. O

27.2 '

28.3 

29.4

30.5 

31.6 

31.9

31.95

31.8

31.0 

30.3

( 29.5

2S.8

28.0

26.8

25 2

23.2

O1 A

20.0 

19.2

18.7

18.3

18.0

17.6

Seeond- 

. feet

1,440

1,100

880

880

1,100

1,820

3,630

6,130

8,760

12,200

16,000

19,300

22,400

25,000 

27,700

31,500

36,000 

42,300

50,000

48,600

4o. QUO

47.200 

66,400

60,000 

57,600 

56,400

55,400 

51,600 

45,800 

40,300

38,000

36,000

38,000

45, 100 

53,400

66,600 

80,800 

84,700

86,000

83,400

73,000 

-63,900

54,400

48,600

43,000

36,000

29,600

24.500

20,100

16,000 

13,400

11,800

10,600

9,800

8,<760

Time

July US

1 a. m. .... 

2 .________.

4 __________

6 __________

8 .. ..____

10 __________

12 m.. ......

4 ._____.___

6 __________

8 __________

10 _______.._

12. __ _____

2:00 a. m._

4:00 _______ 

4:30- ______

5:00.. ______ 

5:30.. ______

6:00.. ______

7:00. .. 

8:00.. ______

10:00 ___ . 

11:00.. _.-. 

12:00 m..--

2:00 p. m6:00 _. -. 

8:«) ______ 

12:00 . 

j«fy*r

13m.... 

6 p. m._ 

12. ____ .

JulyiS

12m 

July 89

12m.. 

12 p. m._ _

July SO

12 p. m 

July Si

13 m ___ -

12p.m...-.

Feet

17.4 

17.1

16.6

16.2

15.8

15.5

15.2

14.9

14.6

14.4

14.2

14.0

13.8

13.8

13.9

15.1 

16.4 

17.6

18.6 

19.0

18.7

18.0 

17.4

16. 3 

15.6 

15.4

 IK 0

14.9 

14. « 

14/2 

13. «6

13.6

12! 9

12.8

12.6

12.45

12.3

12 2

12.12

. 11.96

11.93

Seeondfeet

8,260> 

7,570

6,53a

5,730

4 Q^rt

4,350

3,810

3,290-

2,820

2,520

2,23»

1,950

1,69»

1,690

1,820

3,630 

6,130 

8,760

11,500 

12,800

11, 800

9,800 

8,260

5,930 

4,530. 

4,170 

3,810

3,290 

2,820 

2,230 

1,690

1,440 

990

775 

675

575

405

318

240

200

165

138

138

MHMMJ3 CONCHO RIVER NEAR TANKERSLY, TEX.

LOCATION. Lat. 31°22'35", long. 100°36'50", at Twelvemile Bridge, 3 miles 

northeast of Tankersly, Tom Green County, and 9J4 miles upstream from 

Spring Creek. Zero of gage is 1,919.5 feet above mean seal level (general 

adjustment of 1929).

DRAINAGE AKEA. 1,280 square miles, of which about 152 square iniles is pmbftbly 

noncontributing.
FLOODS OF JULY 1938 IN COLORADO RIVER BASEST §1

GAGE-HEIGHT KECORD. Water-stage recorder graph. _ Gage heights used to half 

tenths between 4.7 and 5.5 feet; hundredths below and tenths above thege 

limits.

STAGE-DISCHAKGE RELATION. Defined by current-meter measurements below 

11,000 second-feet; extended on basis of study of flow over Lake Naswwthy 

Dam.. 

MAXIMA, July 1938: Discharge, 1,280 second-feet 8:30 p. m. July 20 (gage 

height, 6.70,feet).

1930-June 1938: Discharge about 35,000 second-feet Sept. 26, 1936^ 

(gage height, 24.2 feet), computed on basis of record of flow over Nasworthy 

Dam, 12 miles downstream, corrected for inflow and storage.

1922-29: Stage, 27.2 feet in April 1922 (discharge not determined).

REMARKS. Small diversions above station affect low flow only. .

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 19S8

Day

July 19. 

20. 

21. 

22.....

23. 

24. 

25 

26.....

27 

Secondfeet

0 

170 

165 

107 

90

166

187

94

88

Acrp-feet

0 

337 

327

212 

179

329

371

186

75

Day

July 28 

29 

30 

31.. 

Aug^l2.-...

3-_ 

4. 

5-. 

Secondfeet

19 

11

6.7 

4.5 

3.2

2.8

1.5

1.0

.6

Acre-feet

38 

22 

13 

8.9 

6.3

5.6

3.0

2.0

1.2

Day

Aug. 6.... 

7- 

8 

»-... 

10....

11-..-

12....

13. 

14-__.

Secondfeet .

0.5 

.3 

.1 

0 

0

0

0

0

0

Acre-feet

1.0 

.6 

.2 

0 

0

0

0

. 0

0

RunoS, in acre-feet, for period July 19 to Aug. 14_____________. _ . . 2,120

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

Time

July SO

12:00 m 

7:00 p. m_.

7:30.......

8:00...

8:30 .....

9iOO. ....... 

10:00..... ... 

11:00........

12:00..... _.

July 81

4 a. m __ 

8.. "... ...

12 m ...

6 __ __ 

7. ......

8 

9...........

12-... ..

July 22 

7:60 p. m..

7:30........

8:00..... ...

9:00........ 

10:00.. ......

11:00.. .

12:00.. ....

Feet

1.4« 

1.40

4.00

6.50

6.70

6.35 

5.50 

4.90

4.60

4.12 

3.68

3.44

3.27 

3.35 

3.38

3.38 

3.30

2.96

4.20

4.85

4.50 

4.20

4.00

3.90

Secondfeet

0 

0

265

1,220

1,280

1,190 

875 

645

525

308 

164

99

60 

63

78 

85

85 

68

28

340

625

480 

340

265

230

Time

July US

6 a. m .....

12m._......

10 U- 11. _t

12 ........

J^yS4

7

8,. , 

9.. , ...._.

10........... 

12 mr ...

5p.m.. ... 

9.... ....

10...........

11..... __ .

12........ ...

July US

2 a. m ..... 

4.. .........

7........ ...

9 ..

12 m. ..

7-_._ ....

8-

Feet

3.50 

3.25

3.15

3.08

3.35

3.60 

3.58

3.55 

3.60

3.79

3.88

3.72

3.50 

3.37

4.00

4.60 

4.50

4.18 

3.90

3.68

3.74

3.65

" 3.48

o oft

3.50

Secondfeet

114 

60

46

QQ

78

141 

136

128 

141

197 

224

215 

176

114 

83 

265

525 

480

332 

230

' 164

182

156 

109

87

114

Time

July USCon.

 9 p. m.. ...

10. ......

12- _ .. ...

July 86 

4 a. m .....

8 ..- .

4 p.m.. ... 

12

Julys?

1 a. m._ _

12m ....

12 p.m.....

July #S 

12m..._._

July 29

12m. ___ 

12 p. nu..._.

JutgSO

12m .

July SI

Feet

3.85

3.92

3.82

3.55 

3.38

3.34 

3.23

3.22 

3.06

2.94

2.79 

2.68

2.58 

2.50

2.42

2.34

2.29

2.23

Secondfeet

215

237

206

128 

85

76 

57

66 

36

27

19 

14

11

8.4

6.7

5.3

4.5

3.6
82 TEXAS FLOODS OF '1938 AND 1939

SPRING CREEK NEAR TAKKER8LY, TEX.

LOCATION. Lat. 31°21'30", long. 100°32/05", 2% miles upstream from mouth

and 6% miles east of Tankersly, Tom Green County. Zero of gage is 1,874.6

feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929). 

DRAINAGE AREA. 734 square miles. 

GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-stage recorder graph. Gage heights used to -half

tenths between 3.6 and 6.0 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these

limits. 

STAGE-DISCHARGE RELATION. Defined by current-meter measurements below

17,000 second-feet; extended logarithmically to peak stage. Discharge 1 a.

m. to 3 p. m. July 20 and July 29 to Aug. 14 determined by shifting-control

method. 

MAXIMA. 1938: Discharge, 12,000 second-feet 8 p. m. July 23 (gage height, 15.15

feet).

1930-37: Discharge, 23,900 second-feet Sept. 17, 1936 (gage height, 20.3

feet).

A stage of about 25 feet has been reported (date and discharge unknown). 

REMARKS. Small diversions upstream affect low flow only.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1938

Day

July 19...

20...

21...

22...

23 

24 

25...

26 _

27 

Secondfeet

1

1,460

350

280

2,610

926

222

414

106

Acre-feet

2

2,900

694

555

5,180

1,840

440

821

210

Day

July 28.....

29 

30.....

31 

Aug. 1 ..

2.....

3 

4. .

5.....

Secondfeet

66

60

57

51

54

48

47

46

41

Aero-feet

131

119

113

101

107

95

93

91

81

Day

Aug. 6.....

7 -

8_...

9.....

10 

11 

12._.-

13 .

14 

Secondfeet

34

38

3Q

25

30

18

20

20

18

Acre-feet

67

65

60

50

40

36

40

40

32

Runoff, in acre-feet, for period July 19 to Aug. 14..._________ -- ~ -. . 14000

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1988

Time

July SO

1:00 a. m._ 

3:00 p. m._ 

4:00. 

4:30

5:00.. .... ..

5:10. 

6:00 .....

7:00 . .

8:00.- 

9:00 

10:00 . 

11:00 

12:00 .....

July 81

la.m. .... 

3 

3 .

4... . _

6.. 

6 __..

7 

8... ...

9 _ .

Feet

1.21 

1.24 

1.6Q

9.00

13.40

13.50

12.95

11.00

9.10

7.90

6.85

6.00

5.45

490 

4.50

4.20

3.98

3.78

3.64

3.53

3,42

3.32

Secondfeet

0.9 

1.1

5.8

3,760

9,100

9,250

8,500

5,870

3,850

2,800

2,040

1,640

1,210

935

765

654

585

519

470

430

394

362

Time

July SiCon.

10 a. m.. ... 

11....... ...

12m 

3...... ....

4.. ........

6,, 

6

' 1.. ........ 8 - ..

9.. ........

10 

11 

12 

2... .......

3 ... ....

4.... ..

6... 

Feet

3.21 

3.12

3.02

9 Qf\

2.90

2.83

2.77

2.72

2.68

2.60

2.56

2.51

2.49

2 47

9 -H

2.42

2.40

2.39

Secondfeet

327

298

266

244

228

206

187

171

159

144

135

124

115

110

105

100

95

93

88

83

81

Time

Jvly%® 

Con.

7 a. m.. 

8 .....

» .- ...

* --

§

7 . ..

8 9 __

10

11 , 

12 ..... ...

 JutygS

1:00 a. m..

£00.. 

3:00 -

4:50 . -

5550 

 6:00- _ -

7:00 - ._

8:00 _ ..

feet

2.37 

2.38

2.35

2.84

2.50

4.75

6.19

4.83

4.35

3.9S

- 3.68

3.47

3.39

3.30

3.75

3.87

3.82

4.00

429

3.96

3.95

Seeoadfe&£

78 

76

74

74

107

SOS

1,080

«2

708

5S5

486

410 m

3SB 'm

536

519

5§§

654

668

56S
FLOODS OF JULY 1988 IH COLORADO MVEE BASIN 83

Gage heiffM? in feet,? and discharge, m. second-feet, at indicated &««, ;H?&§ Cos.

Time

July 2S 

Con.

9:60,.. .....

16:00 ....

11 -Of)

18:00 m... .

1:00 p. m,.

2:OQ-'. 

3:00 

4#0_-_. ,

5:60 

'«*,._.__.

7 "00

7:50 

8:00..^.

9:00... __

»*» ,.

11:00 _..

«M»-T -....

i

juim

a...... _

3,., ....

*.... .._.

SL. I.

«... 

7.,...-...

8.... ......

8 __ .....

10 _ . _

11.-. ....

12m... _ .

1 p.m _ .

2

S . ....

4 __ ......

5 __ .....

6. ___ .

7 _

8 .......

9 __ .....

10..........

11. 

12,..- 

Feet '

6.00

7 fi£

7.45

6.20

5.25

4.47

4. OS

3.80

3.58

3 40

4.50

13.70

15.10

15.15

14.20

12 00

10.50

9 7n

8.75

7.85

7 00

6.35

5.80

5.40

6.00

4.60

4. 38

4.08

q QQ

3.78

3.58

3.46

3.35

3.26

i 3.19

3.12

3.07

3.05

2.99

2.92

2.87

2.82

Second- 

 - feet

1 540

2,440

1,660

1,110

746

619

519

446

388

765

9,650

11,800

12,000

10,300

7,100

5,300

4,440

, 3,570

2,730

2,170

1,780

1,420

1,180

983

805

-708

619

552

502

446

407

343

321

298

282

276

257

234

218

202

Time '

July 25

la. m. .... 

2.... ...

3

4 .......

5..... __ .

6 i.

7 . .

8 _ 

9

10. _____

11 

12m... ,_

2 ...

g,

4

5

6 ... ..

7 .... ...

 8 .......

9 _ .._

10 

11 .

12.. ........

July 26

2.. ....... .

3... .......

4....... ...

5 

6... .

7....... ...

8 ..... ..

9 .

10.. 

11 

12m

lp. m .....

2..........

3

4 

5.... ......

6_. __ ....

7. _ ......

8,.

Feet

2.78 

2 74

2.71

2.68

2.66

2.63

2.62

2.60

2.58

2.56

2.55

2.55

2.65

2.54

2 53

2.52

2.51

2.49

2

AQ

2.47

3.10

4.24

5.10

5.70

5 40

5.00

4.56

4.2S

4.03

3.83

3.65

3.50

3.38

3.26

3.16

3.08

3.00

2.94

2.88

2.84

2.82

O GO

2.85

2.85

Secondfeet

190

177

168

159

153

144

141

135

129

124

121

121

121

118

115

113

110

105

100

292

»72

1,030

1,360

1,180

983

785

690

602

536

470

420

382

343

311

286

260

241

222

209

202

206

212

212

Time v ,

July 26 

Con.

10 

11

12 .... ....

July®!

I a. m ..

2

I::::!:::::

4. .........

8. .........

6

7 .... ..

8 ....... _ 

9

10--

11 ...... .

12 m,. ..

!#.«* .

2 ...

3

4

5... ... ....

6 

7

8 ....

9 . ' .

10 _ ..

11. _ -

12, 

July 28

12m.-. -.

July 89

12m ..._

12 p. m .._.

July SO

12m.. ...

12 p.m.. .

July SI

12m........

12 p. m.....

v - part'

' 2.88

2.80

2.76

2.73

2.70

2.67

2.65

2.52 2,m

2.58

2.57

2.55

2.53-

2.51

2.50

2.49

..2.47

2:49

2.44

2.43

2.42

2.40

2.39

2.39

2.38

2.37

2.36

2.35

2.30

2.28

2.25

2.23

2.22

2.20

2.17

2.20

Seefflnd-

- iK6&

Oflft

19B

1M

174

165 \m

. 150

141

135

129

127

121

115

110

107

105

180iK

93

90

88

83

81

81

80

78

76

74

06

60

60

' 57

67

54

49

54

NORTH CONG33O RI^EER NEAR

LOCATION. Lat. 31°36', long. 100°40', just upstream from spillway of State

Sanatorium Dam, 2 miles upstream from Carlsbad, Tom Green County.

Zero of gage is 2,000.8 feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929). 

DBAINAGE ABEA. 1,529 squaare miles, of which, about 123 square miles is probably

noBwmtributing. 

GAGE-HEIGHT HECQRIK Water-stage recorder graph. Gage heights used to half

tenths between 7,5 and 10.8 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these

limits. 

STAGE-DISCHABGB BEitATiON. Defined by current-meter measurements below

4,600 second-feet; extended on basis of slope-area measurements of 15,000,

55,200, and 94,600 second-feet. Discharge for part or all of July 20, 22, 25-

27, determined by shifting-control method. 

MAXIMA. July 1938: Discharge, 4,870 second-feet 11:30 a. m. July 25 (gage

height, 8.98 feet).

1924-June 1938: Discharge, 94,600 second-feet Sept. 26, 1936

height, 16.0 feet, from highest floodmarks ever known).

1922-23; Stage, 14.0 feet Apr. 1, 1922. 

REMABKS. Small reservoir above gage affects low flow only.
84 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1988

Day

July 19 

20...

21 

22....

23 .

24 

25....

26 

27 _ .

28 .

Secondfeet

2.4

207

24

253

60

88

1,470

554

197

46

Acre-feet

5

411

48

502

119

175

2,920

1,100

391

91

Day

July 29 

30-..

31 

Aug. 1 .

2 

3 

4.,..

5.,..

6 

Secondfeet

28

20

16

16

14

12

10

8.6

7.8

Acre-feet

56

40

32

32

28

24

20

17

15

Day

Aug. 7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

Seoondfeet

6.3

5.7

6.3

6.3

6.3

5.7

7.0

5.7

Acrerfeet

12

11

12

12

12

11

14

11

Runoff, in acre-feet, for period July 19 to Aug. 14_ _ . . 6,120

Gage height, injeet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

Time

July 19 

12 m.._ ....

July SO

12m 

2 p. m _ 

3 -

4. 

5... __ -

.6 -

7_ 

8 

9 

10 

11. .. _ .

12 

July SI

4 a. m _ . 

12m

12 p. m .

July 88

8 a. m __

9 _ 

10 _

12m. ___ . 

3 p.m. .... 

4 ___ -

5 . 

6 .....

7. ____ .. 

8 _ -

9... __ -

10 

12..........

JulySS

3 a. m ..... 

6 .......

9 

Feet

4.19

4.19

4.20

4.20

5.50

7.44

7.00

6.00

5.50

5.20

5.00

4.86

4.77

4.70

4.50 

4.40

4.30

4.27

4.50

4.85

4.78 

4.63 

5.38

5.04

7.00

7.30 

6.70

5.90

 5.50

5.00

4.75 

4.70

4.65

Secondfeet

2.4

2.4

2.8

2.8

310

1,760

1,360

540

321

216

150

112

89

73

37 

22

9.2

6.7

37

112

94 

60

275

168

1,230

1,570 

1,050

491

318

156

84 

73

64

Time

July 8S 

Con.

12m... _ .

6p.m. ._.

8 . __ .

12.. ___ ..

July 84

12m ....

5 _ ...

6-. -

7 ...

8 .-

9... ..... ..

10 ......

12 .-

July $5

2:00 __

3:00 .- 

5:00 .-

9:00 -.- 

10:00 .--

11:00- .... 

11:30 

12:00 m_...

2:00- __ . 

3:00 ..- 

4:00-.--

5:00.. _ .

6:00. _ ..

7:00- __ . 

8:00 ..

9:00- ....

10:00 

11:00 

12:00 ___ ..

July 26

1 a. m .....

2 __ ..

3 __ ..

Feet

4.55

4.44

4.66

4.55

4.38

4.38

4.50

5.10

5.50

5.65

5.45

5.20

5.10

5.05 

5.15

5.38 

5.25

4.95 

5.60

8.98

8.95

7.95

8.45 

8.35 

7.80

7.40

7.15

7.10 

7.30

 7.70

7.90

7.95

7.80

7.30 

6.70

6.25

Secondfeet

4.A

28

65

46

19

19

37

180

310

367

293

210

180

165 

201

275 

232

359

4,870

4,760

2.600

3,570 

3.360 

2,340

1,720

1,400

1,340 / 

1,580

2,170

2,510

2,600

2,340

1,580 

1,060

684

Time

Julyge 

Con.

8. _____ .

10 . _ -

12m 

6 _ ....

7... .......

8 ___ .

10. 

12.. 

2 

3 -

4... _ ....

5 . -

6 . ...

7. - 

8J. .

10. 

12m,. 

6 p. m _ .. 

12. 

July 88

12m _ ....'. 

12 p. m.. ...

July $9

12m 

12 p, m .....

12 tn .....

12 p. m.. 

JutySl 

12m 

12p. m .....

Feet

6.05

6.15

6.00

5.70

5.35

5.10

5.20

5.50

6.06

6.20

6.10

5.95

5.78

5.60

5.47

5.35

5.23 

5.14

5.02 

4.93

475 

4.65

. ',

4.55 

4,47

' 4.44

*41

4. QQ

4.36 

4.36

4.35

Secondfeet

565

620

535

399

265

186

216

318

565

644

586

506

424

348

300

258

220 

192

156 

132

84 

64

-

32

28

23

20

16 

16

15
FLOODS OF JULY 1938 DT COLOKADO RIVEK BASEST

BBOWNWOOD RESERVOIR NEAR BROWHWQOtl, 13KK.

LOCATION. Lat. 31°50', long. 99°00', on Peean Bayou at gate &>wer just upstream 

from dam, a quarter of a mile downstream from moutji of-Jim Ned Creek 

and 7 miles north of Brownwood, Brown County. Elevations are feet above 

mean sea level.

DBAINAGE AREA. 1,535 square miles.

<JAGE-HEIGHT BEcoBD. Staff gage read once daily. Reading made between 7 and 

8 a. m. on days shown.

.STOBAGE BECOBD. Capacity table, obtained from Brown County Water Improvement District No. 1, dated Nov. 9, 1932.

MAXIMUM. Flood of July 3, 1932, probably the greatest known, reached a discharge of about 235,000 second-feet as it entered Brownwood Reservoir 

(computed from rate of storage in reservoir).

REMABKS.' Records furnished by Herman Bettis, manager, Brown County Water 

Improvement District No. 1.

Elevation, in feet, (md contents, in acre-feet, 19SS

Date

July 17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22. .

23 

24 

25 

26 

Feet

1,418.9

1,418.8

1, 419. 1

1, 419. 2

1,419.3

1, 419. 4

1, 419. 5

1, 421. 6

1, 427. 5

1,427.5

Acrefeet

107,200

106,600

108,400

109,000

109,600

V0.200

110, 800

120,100

169,000

169, 000

Date

July 27 

28. _ -

29 

30 

31 

Aug. 1 

2. ...

3. ...

4.-.-

5 __ .

Feet

1, 426. 9

1, 426. 3

1, 426. 1

1, 425. 7

1, 425. 1

1, 425. 1

' 1, 425. 1

1, 425. 1

1, 425. 0

1, 424. 9

Acrefeet

163,900

158, UOO

157,200

154,000

149,300

149,300

149,300

149,300

148,500

147,800

Date

Aug. 6 

7 _ -

8- 

9. 

10_ 

11- 

12. 

13. 

14- 

15. 

Feet

1, 424 9

1,424,8

1,424.7

1,424.6

1,424.5

1, 424. 4-

1, 424. 3

1, 424. 2

1,424.1

1, 424. 0

Acrefeet

147,800

147,000

146,200

145,500

144,800

144,000

143,200

142,500

141, 800

141, OOd

PECAN BAYOU AT BROW1STWOOD, TEX.

LOCATION. Lat. 31°44'10", long. 98°58'30", 7 at Fort Worth & Rio Grande 

Ry. bridge, 1 mile north of Brownwood, Brown County, and 10 miles downstream from Brownwood Reservoir. Zero of gage is 1,318.58 feet above mean 

sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

DBAINAGE ABEA. 1,614 square miles.

GAGE-HEIGHT EECOBD. Water-stage recorder graph. Gage heights used to half 

tenths between 3.1 and 4.6 xfeet; hundredths below and tenths above these 

limits.

STAGE-DISCHABGE BELATION. Defined by current-meter measurements below 

38,000 second feet; extended above to peak discharge reached in 1930.

MAXIMA. 1938: Discharge, 5,290 second-feet 4:30 a. m. July 26 (gage height, 

5.72 feet).

1917-18, 1923-37: Discharge, 52,700 second-feet Oct. 14, 1930 (gage 

height, 16.9 feet).

REMABKS. Flow regulated by storage in Brownwood Reservoir.
86 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 19S8

Day

July 20 

21 

22 

23 

24 -

25 

26 

27- .

28 

Secondfeet

0

0

0

128

1,100

2,310

4,410

2,540

1,620

Acre-feet

0

0

0

254

2,180

4,580

8,750

5,040

3,210

Day

July 29 

30 

31 

Aug. 1.....

2 

3 -

4. _ .

5 -

6.....

Secondfeet

1,020

830

820

647

481

383

330

317

317

Acre-feet

2,020

1,650

1,630

1,280

954

760

655

629

629

Day

Aug. 7- 

8-- 

9 .. .

10- 

11.- 

12 

13- 

14- 

Secoadfeet

324

317

317

317

317

317

317

317

A«re-feet

643

629 '629

629

629

629

629

629

Runoff, in acre-feet, for period July 20 to Aug. 14

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated lime, 19S8

39,270

Time

July US

6 a. m ... 

8.. ...

10

12m2 .. .. .

3

4 . _ 

6- _ . 

8... . .

10.. ...

12_

July 84.

5 -.-

6

7 _ 

8 

9. .........

10 -

11 

12 m _

2

3 - 

4 . . . .

8 _.

6

1 ..........

8 ._.. .-

9 -

10 . .

11

12 .

July 25

2 .

Feet

0.86 

1.00

1.19

1.35

1.47

1.80

1.90

1.80

1.58

1.42

1.31

1.22

1.12

1.25

1.41

1.65

2.28

3.50

4.20

4.40

4.25 

3.90

3.50

, 3.20

2.'«5

2.60

2.30

2.12

1.98

2.00

1,98

LS5

 1.75

1.60

1.55

Secondfeet

0 

11

64

129

190

396

466

396

255

163

111

75

41

87

158

298

790

2,190

3.070

3,340

3,140 

2,680

2,190

1,830

I'.SSO

1,120

810

638

525

840

525

431

363

267

237

Time

July SB 

Con.

3 a. m .....

4 -

5 ....

6 .- __ 

7 -

8 

g

10 

11 .......... 12m. .

3 ____ .. 

4 _ . ___ j 

5... ...

6...... 

7

8 ___ ..

9 .. __ -

10 

11 ........

July 26

2...-. __ .

«.: . 

4 . _ ......

6

7.. .....

8 -.. -

10 ..........

12JBU ..

6 _ ......

8... .-.

10 .........

12.........

Feet

1.47

1.40

1.50

2.12

3.00

3.65

4.10

4.27

4.15

3.96

3.90

3.90 

3,92 

4.02 

4.17

4.33

4.50

4.70

4.85

5.05

5.20

5.35

5.50

S.66

8.72

5.68

5.60

5.52

5.33

5.15

4.98

4.82

4.70

4.57

4.46

4.35

Secondfeet

190

152

207

638

1,590

2,370

2,940

8,140

3,000

2,750

2,680

2,680 

2,680 

2,810

3,270

3,480

3,760

3,910

4,210

4,520

4,840

, 4,990

5,MJ

5,290

' 5,240

5,140

4,990

4,680

4,520

4i2l6

3,916

3,760

3,550

3,410

3,270

Time

July $7

2 a. m ... 

4 .. 

6.. ......

8. ........

10. ......

12m.... .

4.. ....... .

«... .-. -

8 . , . _ ,

ie_. ..- 

12- ___ ...

jvi&m

8^- -

12 .......

JulyM

12 m. 

18 H, W .,

r

,dfe%««W

6 a. jn _ 

10 

10... .......

12.... .,-

JtolySl

8 a. m.. ...

ll .l .....

12 .......

Feet

4.24 

4.14

4.04

3.93

3. S3

3.76

3.68

3.60

3.52

3.46

3.40

3.34

3.20

3.08

3.00

2.90

2.80

2.73

2.50

2, S3

'

' 2.2f

2.28

2.43

2.28

2.88

2.34

2.25

2.35

2.25

Secondfeet

3,140 

3,000

2,880

2,750

2,620

2,500

2,440

2,310

2,190

2,130

2,07©

2,010

1,830

1,690

1,590

1,470

1,350

1,270

1,020

i£»

800

790

942

790

860

850

760

860

760

SAN SABA RIVER AT MENARD, TBX.

LOCATION. Lat. 30°55', long. 99°48', 1,000 feet upstream from bridge on U. S.

Highway 83 at Menard, Menard County, and half a mjle downstream from

Las Moras Creek. Zero of gage is 1,865.05 feet above mean sea level (general

adjustment of 1929). 

DHAINAGE AKEA. 1,151 square miles. 

GAette-H»mHT Biw0»D. Graph draswn from two or mtwe^staff-'gs^'M^telprdaily

and peak stage determined from floodmarksl Gage heights used to half
K.OODS ©r COLOBABO m

tenth* between 4.8 and 5.4 feet; hundredths below and tenthsabovfe these 

limits.

STAQE-DISCHAROE KJH^ATION. Defined by current-meter meastuPSBaeats below 

55,400 second-feet; extended to peak stage by weighting results^ of t;wo Mopearea measurements, Discharge July 28 to 4 a. m. July 30 and July 31; to 

Aug. 14 determined by shifting-control method.

MAXIMA. 1938: Discharge, 117,000 second-feet 9 p. m., July 23 (gage height, 

22.7 feet).

1915-37: Discharge, 68,600 second-feet Sept. 16, 1936 (gage height, 

21.2 feet, from floodmarks) based on slope-area measurement.

1899-1914: Stage, 23.7 feet, present site and datum, June 5 or 6, 1899 

(discharge not determined). ,

REMARKS. -Small diversion^ above affect low flow only.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-Jegt, -

Day

July 19 

20.. 

21. 

22-. -

23., ..

24-. -

25., ,-

26.. _ T

27.. ..

Secondfeet

17

3,640

23,200

44,400

53,300

26,000

3,290

2,740

730

Acre-feet

34

7,220

46,020

88,070

105,700

51,750

6.530

5.430

1,450

Day

July 28 

29 

30. .

31 

Aug. 1--...

2 

, 3 

4.. 

5 

Secondfeet

220

156

1,290

220

147

147

116

107

100

Acre-feet

436

309

2,560

436

292

292

230

212

198

Day

Aug. 6 .-

7. -

8- _ .'

9 

10.,~-

11 

12 1.

13 

14 

Becondfeet

96

 88

84

82

86

116

116

114

109

Acre-feet

190

175

167

163

171

230

230

226

216

Runoff, in acre-feet, for period July 19 to«Aug. 14_ __.___ ._ . 818,800

Gagv,height, in feet, and discharge, in seeond-fe&t, at indicated time, 19S8

Time

12:00 m....- 

12:20 p.m.~ 

12:40 ......

!«) _ -

1:20.... 

2:20 

3:50 

4:40. 

5;50 ____

12:00 ... 

July n

1:00 a, m^.

2:40 

6:10 1 

7:10 __ ...

8:30

10:10 

2:001). nl3:40 

6:00. 

6:50-.. _ .- 

8:00.... .....

12:00 

JulySt

2:40 a, m 

4:30 ..-.

Feet

2.6 

4.0 

6.0

8.0

10.0 

12.0 

12.9

12.0

10.0 ao7.8

7.75* 

8.0

10.0 

12.0

14.0

16.0

18.0

. 19.08

18.0 

, 16.6

16.25

16.75

16.0 

14,0

12.0

10.05

12.0

14.0

Secondfeet

43

450 

2,300

4,800

7,400 

10,800 

13,400

10,800

7,400 

4,800

4,550 

4.550

7,400 

10,800

17,600

28,000

43,500

54,000

43,500 

32,200

29,400

33,600

28,000 

17,600

10,800

7,400

13,000

22, |M

Time

Con.

6:00 a.m.,

7:10.. _ ...

8:40 _ ....

10:30... - 

12:00 m.._._

6:20 

,.10:20 

12;00 ...

July S3

1:50 a,m4:00 

5:20_._._ .-

7:00 

8.-00 -

9«0_. -

10:30 .-- ..

11:50 

1:50 p. m_-

2:30 

4:30 -

6:10 .-

7:30. .,.

10:30 111-

12.-00 ....

1:00 a. m.. 

2:20.. ...

5:20. _ ...

Feet

16.0 

18.0

20.0

20.9 

20.0 

18.0

16.0

14.0 

13.05

12.3 

13.0

16.0

18.0

18.0

16.0

14.35

16.0 

18.0

20.0

22.0

22.7 

22.0

20.0

18.0 

16.0

14.9

Secondfeet

36,600 

55,000

79,000

91,600 

79,000 

55,000

36,600

22,700 

17,400

14,200 

17,400

99 7ftft

36,600 

56,000

66,500

55,000

36,600

 25, 100

36,600 

'65,000

107,000

117,000 

107,000

79,000

55,000 

36,600

28,300

Time

July StyCon.

7:30 a. m..

9:10 - __

12:0am. 

1:00 p. m._

4:30 .-

SiBfl - 

7:00_.. -

.lam. ..

EROft.. -

jviv as

7,30 

8:40 --

10:10.

12:00 -

July g6

4:30....... 

9:40 . 

3;00 p. m..

6:00... .....

12:00 -

July 87

12:00 p. m..

Feet

16.0

16.05

14.0 

13.9 

14.0

14.25

14.0 

12.0

1B.O* 

9.d

8.0

6.0 

4.7

. 6.0.

8.0

10.0

10.45

10.0

8.0 

6.0

5.0

5.2

5.2

4.3

Secondfeet

36,600

41,800

22,700 

22,100 

22,700

23,900

22,700 

13,000

7,400 

6, lOO

4,800

2,300 

730

2,300

4,800

7,40fr

8,100

7,400

4,800 

2; 300

1,080

1,320

1,320

370
88 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 19S8 -Con.

Time

July 28

7:00 a. m.. 

5:30 p.m.. 

12:00 .......

July 29

12:00 ... .

Feet

4.2 

4.0 

3.97

3.99

3.90

3.90

Secondfeeet

265 

180 

171

168

142

142

Time

July SO

2 a. m .... 

4 .... _ .

6.. ......

8

10...........

12m... ..

4 ....

6...........

8

Feet

4.0 

4.1

4.4 '4.8

5.2

5.0

5.2

5.6

6.3

6.4

Seeondfeeet

171 

242

440

840

1,320

1,080

1,320

1,800

2,680

2,800

Time

July SoCon.

10 p. m .....

12... _.__..__

Jut9Sl

4.. 

6....... ..

10....... ..

Feet

5.9

4.8

4.6

4.5

4.3

4.2

3.94

Secondfeet '

2,180 

840

570

440

315

265

162

SAN SABA RIVER AT SAN SABA, TBX.

LOCATION. Lat. 31°12'10", long. 98°42'15", at bridge on San Saba-Chadwick 

Mill highway, three-quarters of a mile northeast of San Saba, San Saba 

County, and 15 miles upstream from mouth. 

Zero of gage is 1,153.3 feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

DRAINAGE AREA. 3,046 square miles.

GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Water-stage recorder graph except for 10 a. m. July 22 

to 11 p. m. July 23 and 2 a. m. to 9 p. m. July 24, when recorder was submerged and gage-height record obtained from graph based on numerous 

water-surface elevations observed by engineers, and peak stage determined 

from floodmarks. Gage heights used to half tenths between 4.8l and 6.5 feet; 

hundredths below and tenths above these limits.

STAGE-DISCHARGE RELATION. Defined by current-meter measutemeiits below 

30,000 second-feet; extended to peak discharge as determined by slope-area 

method. Discharge July 19 and July 26 to Aug. 14 detenniaed by shiftingcontrol method.

MAXIMA. 1938: Discharge, 203,000 second-feet 11 a. m. July 23 (gage height, 

45.18 feet, from floodmarks).

1904-6, 1915-37: Discharge, 57,000 second-feet Apr. 26, 1922 (gage 

height, 42.1 feet, present site and datum, from floodmarks, affected by backwater) .

1899-1903, 1907-14: Stage, 42.6 feet June 6, 1899 (discharge not determined) ; may have been affected by backwater. t

REMARKS. Diversions above station affect low flow only.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feett 1&38

Day

July 19....

20 

21....

22....

23 .

, 24 

25 

26 

27 

28- 

Secondfeet

115

574

11,500

95,900

117, 000

84,700

40,200

7,980

4,640

2,330

Acrefeet

 228

1;140

22, 810

190,200

232,100

168,000

79,740

15, 830

9,200

4,620

Day

July 29..*.

30....

31 

Aug. 1. "2 

3 

4 

5 .

6....

7 

Secondfeet

1,620

1,900

4,180

2,200

1, 310

1,070

935

845

785

745

Acrefeet

3,210

3,7|&

8,280

4,360

2,600

2,120

1,850

1,680

1,560

1,480

Day

Aug. 8 ....

9 .

10....

'i 11 

12 

13 

1,4 

Secondfeet

705

1 6t>6

626

605

692

830

605

Acrefeet .

11^400

1,320

1,240

1,200

1 1,370

1,650

1,200

Runoff, in acre-feet, for period July 19 to Aug. 14__________________________, __ 784,200
JPLOOBS -OP JULY 1938 ENT COLOKADO EIV1MB BASIN 89 

height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated tfane, 1938

Time

July 19

10 a.m.. _ 

11. . .

12m _ .... 

lp. m..-_.

2.. __ ....

3..... ....

6.. .. 

6...........

7. .......

8. _

9...... .

10..... ....

11.. ___ . 

12. ___ .

July HO 

1:00 a. m.. fcoo _____

3:00..... ..

5:00... _ .

fi.'flf\

8:00.... ..

9:00.. 

10:00.... ..

' 11:00........ 

12:00 m _ .. 

1:00 p. m.. 

.2:00.... ..

3:00........

4:00......

6:00........ 

6:00..... .

7:00.... .. 

8:00........ 

8:30_. ......

9:30........

10:00........ 

10:30.... . 

11;00..._ ..

11:30.... .. 

12:00.... ..

July SI

12:30 a. m.. 

1:00........

1:30........

2:00... . ..

3:00.... 

6:00.... ._

a.nn

7:00_..._. 

8:00.. _...._ 9'00

10:00 

11:00.... ..

12:00 m_.___ 

1:00 p. m.. 

2:00........

3:00........ 

4:00........

6:00........ 

6:00... _ .

7:00.. __ ..

7:30........

8:00....... 

8:30... _ .

9:00.... .. 

9:30.. .____

10:00.. _ ...

10:30........

11:00........

11:30........

12-M.^.^..

Feet

3.55 

, 3.75

4.00 

4.12 

4.12 

4.03 

3.90 

3.90 

4.05 

4.66 

6.30 

6.76 

6.00 

6.00

5.90 

6.76 

fi.65 

6.36 

6.15 

5.00 

4.70 

4.63 

4.70 

5.30 

6.95 

6.65 

6,80 

6.95 

6^96 

6,85 

6.70 

6.65 

120 

7.90 

8.70 

9.90 

11.60 

1180 

13.90 

14.60 

16.10

16.90 

17.70 

18.35 

18.85 

19.60 

19.97 

20.06 

20.00 

19.94 

20.00 

20.32 

20.86 

21.60 

22.30 

23.25 

24.25, 

25.20 

, 26.10 

27.10 

28. IQ 

29.45 

30.20 

31.10 

32.00 

32.70 

33.50 

34.16 

34.85 

35.30 

35.60 

36.10

Secondfeet

52 

74 

104 

120 

120 

108 

92 

92 

110 

177 

285 

352 

391 

391

360 

338 

308 

278 

248 

226 

184 

' 174 

184 

270 

368 

473 

509 

545 

545 

609 

491 

473 

585 

725 

885 

1,180 

1,650 

2,010 

1 2,340 

2,650 

3,030

3,300 

3,560 

3,800 

3,940 

4,250 

4,430 

4,430 

4,430 

4,380 

4,430 

4,670 

4,820 

5,240 

6,630 

6,170 

6,810 

7,610 

8,300 

9,660 

11, 180 

13,700 

15,700 

18,400 22,000' 

24,800 

29,000 

33,600 

39,600 

46,200 

50,400 

57,600

Time

July 88

1:00 a. m.. 

2:00 .. . .

3:00........

4:00........

5:00_.. ...

6:00........

7 '00

8:00........

9:00.-.. ...

10:00........

10:30........

11:00 a.m.. 

11:30.......

12:00 m

12:30 p. m.. 

1:00........

1:30..

2:00_. ...

2:30........

3:00.. :

4:00

5:00.. . . 

6:00........

7:00_. .... 

8:00.. ...

10:00____.__ 

12:00 _ ......

JulySS

2:00 a. m.. 

4:00.... .... 

5:00 .

6500 ....... 

7:00.. ...... 

8:00.. ______

8:30.... ..__ 

9:00 . ______

9;30_____ ... 

10:00 _...__. 

11:00. 

12:00 m _ .. 

12:30 p.m.. 

1:00 ___ ..

1:30 __ ..

2:00 __ ...

2:30 . __ .

4:00... .....

6:00 __

6:00.. ______

7:00 __ 

8:00 __ ..

9:00 ___ .. 

10:00. 

11:00... 

12;00. __ -- 

July %4 

1 a.m. ....

3 ___ .... 

4.__. .__._.

6 _____ ._ 

7 __ .....

9. ____ ..

10. ...

11. 

i2m____..__

1 p. m. 

2... ___ ..

3. __ .....

6. ___ ..__

6.. ___ ..

7 ____ ..

Feet

36.25 

36.12 

36.00

35.87 

35.78 

,35.80 

35.85 

35.95 

36.05 

36.65 

37.50 

38.10 

38.90 

39.60 

40.40 

41.20 

42.40 

42.65 

42.70 

42.65 

42.25 

41.90 

41.10 

40.60 

40.10 

39.75 

39.25 

38.94

38.86 

38.85 

39.00 

39.35 

39.85 

41.00 

42.00 

'43.00 

44.40 

45.00 

46.18 

46.00 

44.40 

43.40 

 42.30 

41.10 

40.40 

39.86 

39.00 

38.55 

38.10 

37.70 

37.35 

37.10 

36.85 

36.60 

36.50

36.66 

36.75 

37.00 

37.20 

37,60 

37.95 

38.60 

39.10 

39.30 

39.32 

39.30 

39.23 

38.95 

38.60 

38.26 

37.90 

37.50

Secondfeet

59,200 

57,600 

66,000 

64,200 

63,000 

63,200 

54,000 

65,200 

66,800 

65,600 

80,000 

89,600 

102,000 

114,000 

126,000 

139,000 

158,000 

162,000 

163,000 

162,000 

156,000 

161,000 

138. 000 

130,000 

122,000 

117,000 

107,000 

102,000

101,000 

101,000 

104,000 

110,000 

117,000 

136,000 

152,000 

168,000 

. 190,000 

200,000 

203,000 

200,000 

190,000 

172,000 

157,000 

138,000 

126,000 

117,000 

104,000 

97,600 

89,600 

83,200 

78,400 

73,600 

68,800 

65,600 

64,000

65,600 

68,800 

72,000 

75,200 

81,600 

88,000 

97,600 

106,000 

109,000 

110,000 

109,000 

107,000 

104,000 

97,600 

91,200 

86,400 

80,000

Time

July 84 

Con.

8 p. m __ , 

9

10 __________

11 _____ ..

to

July 8S 

1a.m. ....

3

-

5__.___. ...

7 ___ ....

12m.......

Ip. m_. ... 

2 ___ ....

3 ___ ....

4

6 ___ ....

7 .....

10 ____ ... 

12

July $8'

2 a. m _____ 

4 

6 _ __

8 __________

10 ______

12m________

1 p.m. .... 

2

3 ._ _

4. ____

5 ___ ____

6 _,. 

10 ___ ....

11 ___ ....

12.. __ ....

juivnr

1 am...... 

2 __________

3 ______ 

4 _____ .

5 ______ 

6 __._ 

7 _...______

8. _________ 

9 _.._..____ 

10 ___....___

11 _ . ______

12m__-. 

Ip. m __

2.. __ ....

4 ___ .... 

6 ___..__

7 ___ ....

8 ___ ....

10 

12..J .......

July 18

2 a. m..... 

4.. __ ....

6 ___ ....

Feet

37.10 

36. 75 

36.25 

36.00 

35.60

35.30 

36.15 

35.25 

35.65 

36.00 

, 36. 15 

36.16 

36.00 

36.65 

36.15 

34.60 

33.90 

33.36 

32.90 

32.50 

82C 20 

31.90 

31.20 

30.55

29.70 

28.80 

27.90 

27.00 

26.60 

24.40 

23.80 

23.30 

22.90 

22.40 

22.05 

21.70 

21.00 

20.75 

21.00 

21.43

21.90 

22.40 

22.76 

23.10 

,23.26 

23.30 

23.20 

23.06 

22.80 

22.40 

22.00 

21.50 

20.90 

20.66 

20.16 

19.85 

19.40 

19.00 

18.50 

18.16 

17.50 

16.90

16.40 

16.00 

15.65

Secondfeet

73,600 

. 68,800 

59,200 

56,000 

50,400

46,200 

44,100 

45,500 

50,400 

56,000 

59,200 

59,200 

56,000 

50,460 

- 44,100 

37,400 

31,400 

28,400 

25,600 

24,000 

22,800 

21,600 

18,800 

16,800

14,000 

12,100 

10,500 

9,120 

7,670 

'6,810 

6,420 

6,110 

5,870 

6,5YO 

6,350 

5,180 

4,620 

4,620 

4,620 

4,820

5,080 

6, 360 

5,670 

5,750 

6,810 

5,870 

5,810 

5,690 

5,570 

5,350 

6,130 

4,870 

4,570 

4,430 

4,250 

4,090 

3,870 

3,730 

3,660 

3,460 

3,230 

3,030

2,840 

2,700 

2,610
90 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

Gage height? in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1988 Continued

Time

July 88 

Con.

10 _____

12m . -

4... _______

6... _ ____

8. _________

10 __________

12..........

July %9

4a,m _ .

8 __________

12m... .

4 p. m... .

8 __________

12. __ ....

Feet

15.30

14.90

14.56

14.30

14.00

13.80

13.57

13.35

13.17

12.88

12.60

12.30

12.03

11.80

11.70

Secondfeet

2,490

2,370

2,280

2,190

2,100

2,040

1,980

1,920

1,860

1,770

1,680

1,590

1,530

1,440

1.410

Time /

July SO

la. m ..... 

2 ___ ....

4 ___ ....

6 ___ ....

7 __________

8 __________

9 _____

10... ....

12m.-.. ...

4 p. m 

8 ___ ....

10 _____ .

11 ___ . _

12 __________

July SI

la. m .....

2. __ ....

3 ___ ....

4 _____ .

5 __ ......

Feet

11.80 

12.10

12.96

13.65

13.73

13.70

13.57

13.38

13.07

12.70

12.50

12.45

12.48

12.75

13.60

14.00

15.10

16.20

17.50

Secondfeet .

1,590

1,680

1,950

2,160

2,190

2,160

2,130

2,070

1,980

1,860

1,800

1,800

1,800

1,890

2,130

2,250

2,680

2,930

3,360

Time

July 31 

Con.

7 ___ . _

8. _________

9 _____ .

10 ____

11 ___ ....

12 m. ......

2 _________

3. _________

4 ___ . .

5 ___ .....

6.... ______

7 __ .....

8.. __ . _

9...... ____

10 _ . ______

11. ____ ..

12.. ........

Feet

19.00

20.25

21.20

21.75

22.50

22.85

22.90

22.83

22.60

22.20

21.70

21.10

20.40

19.75

19.15

18.40

17.80

17.05

16.40

Saeondfeet

3,870

4,380

4,820

5, 130

5,520

5,750

5,760

5,690

5,570

6,350

5,080

4,770

4,430

4,170

3,940

3,660

3,460

3,230

3,000

NORTH LLANO RIVER NEAR JUNCTION, TEX.

LOCATION. Lat. 30° 30', long. 99° 47', about 1,000 feet upstream from remains 

of old Wilson Dam and 3 miles northwest of Junction, Kimble County. 

Prior to July 22 at site 440 feet downstream. Zero of gages is 1,699,9 

feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

DRAINAGE AREA. 914 square miles. ,

GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD. Graph drawn from one or more stafl-^ge r$f6f|i^fs 

daily; gage read at frequent intervals' during period of flood. For rating 

used July 16-21, gage heights, used to half tenths between 3.5.and 6,5 feet) 

for rating used July 22 to August 10, gage heights used to half tenths between 

2.9 and 4.3 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits,

STAGE-DISCHARGE RELATION. Defined by current-metei1 measurements below 

68,000 second-feet; extended on basis of slope-area measurement of 94,800 

second-feet.

MAXIMA. 1938: Discharge, 68,600 second-feet 4:30 p. m. July 22 (gage height, 

24.4 feet). .

1915-37: Discharge, 94,800 second-feet 12:01 a. m. Sept, 16, 1936 

(gage height, 24.9 feet, from floodmarks at gage 440,feet downstream), 

1875-1914: Stage, about 22,&feet in l£8&ftA gftge dow^steeam).

REMARKS. Diversions above station for irrigation affect low flow only.

Mmn discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 19S8

Day

July 20- 

21__ 

22 

23 

24.....

25 

26 

27 

Sfecondfeet

4

10, 100

31,000

23,400

20,400

1,640

1,160

576

Acrefeet

8

20,030

61,490

46, 410

40,460

3,050

2,280

1,140

Day

July 28 

29 

30 

31 -

Aug. l._...

2 

3 ~

Second- ' 

feet

340

295

945

769

325

267

239

Acrefeet

674

>B86

1,870

1,530

645

530

474

Day

Aug. 4 .

6. 

6 __ .

7 __ -

8 __ _

9 __ .

10 _

Secondfeet

200

187

171

162

144

138

138

Aetefeet

'897

371

339

321

286

274

274

Kunoff, in acre-feet, for period July 20 to Aug. 10____________ ... 188,489
OF JULY 1088 DT COLORADO RIVER BASIN

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in iecond-feet, at indicotdttime, 19S8

Time

July 9O

12 m......,-- 

12 p. m _ .

July 21

6 a. m.. 

8 . -

10_.___....

12m.. ...

3 _____

5 ______

6 ____ *..

8 ___ ._,

10T __ ....

12 __ . __

July IS

1:00 a. m 

3:00 ......

6:00 ___ ..

8:00... ....

9:00 _ ..

9:20... _

10:00 _ _

11:00 _ _ 

11:30... ..

12:00 m12:30 p. m_. 

1:00. __ ..

*:00 

3:00 ___ . 

4:00 ___

4:30 ____

5:00 __ .... 

6:00 _ 

7:00.. _ ... 3-nn

10:00 __ ....

Feet

O.«0 

.90

.92 

1.12

3. 00

6.20

9.00

11.0

11.7

11.4

9.40

6.80

5.65

5.00

6.20

8.10

9.90

11.8

14.0

12.9

11.0 

13.8

16.0 

14.8 

15.2

16.6 

21.8 

24.0

24.4

24.1 

22.7 

21.6

20:0

17.9

15.9

Secondfeet

4 

4

4 

16

1,300

7,300

18,600

27,500

30,600

29,300

20,300

-9,300

5,320

3,200

5,400

9,500

! 14, 100

20,100

27,800

24,000

17,400 

27,100

31,500 

30,800 

32,200

of, 2/w 

58,200 

67k OOO

68,600

67,400 

61,800 

57,000

51,000

42,600

34,800

Time

July iS

4:00 a. m.. 

7.-00. ___ .

9:20. ___ .

10:00. ___ .

12:00 m.. 

2:00 p.m.. 

3:00........

4:30. ___ .

5:00. __ ..

7:00_ ___ .

9:00. ......

11:00... __ .

i9-m

July iU

3 a. m. .... 

5. __ ....

6 ..

7 _____ .

9

10 ..........

12m _ .....

8 _____

12 ..........

6 a. m..... 

12m__.. ..

12 p. m __

1 a. m ..... 

3 .....

6 ..........

9... ___ .

11 ..........

Feet

12.4 

10.1

8.70

9.00

11.3 

14.0 

J5.5

16.3

16.0

14.4

12.9

11.7

12.7

15.8 

17.8

18.4

17.8

16.8

13.5

10.7

7.50

6.16

5.20

4.25 

3.73

3.05

3.03 

3.07

3.36

3.87

4.10

Secondfeet

22,200 

14,700

10,900

11,700

18,400 

27,800 

33,400

36,400

35,200

29,300

24,000

19,800

23,200

34,500 

42,200

44,600

42,200

34;500,

26,000

16,500

8,100

5,400

3 ^fifl

1,980 

1,300

615

615 

815

872

1,420

1,760

Time ,

JtdyW 

Con.

1 p. ni .....

12. ..

July H7

12

July $8

12m-.... .

12 p. m .....

July 89

12m........

6p.m.....

9. ___ ....

12. ___ ...

4:00 a. m.. 

6:30........

12:00 m.- 

6:00 p.m.. 

12:00- __ -

July SI

2:00 a. m-. 

8:00.... __ 

2:00 p.m..

6:30_ ___ _

9:00. ___ .

12:00........

Feet

4.04

3.72

3.40

3.06

2.82

2.73

2.63

2.55

2.48

2.45

2.60

2.90

3.62 

4.07

4.00 

3.60 

3.10 

2.84

,

2.83 

2.94 

3.35

3.83

3.54

3.11

Second- 

.** ._

1,690

1,240

920

616

419

393

340

300

267

255

325

505

1,120 

1,690

1,620 

1,120 

655 

463

456 

540

872

1,420

1,070

655

ULANO RIVER NEAR JUNCTION, T&X.

LOCATION. Lat. 30°30', long. 99°44', 100 feet north of Kerrvllle-Junction road, 

3 miles downstream from confluence of North Llano and South Llano Rivers, 

and 3^ miles east of Junction, Kimble County. Zero of .gage is 1,630.32 

feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929);

DBAINAGE AREA. 1,762 square miles.

GAGE-HEIGHT BECOBD. Water-stage recorder graph except for 5% hours July 

22, 23, when recorder was submerged and gage heights were obtained from 

graph based on peak stage determined from flood marks and on shape of 

recorder' graph before and after peak. Gage heights used- to half tenths 

between 3.5 and 7.1 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these limits.

STAGE-DiscHARajs BELATioN. Defined by current-meter measurements below 

32,000 second-feet; extended on basis of slope-area measurements of 76,900, 

85,500, 154,000, and 319,000 second-feel Discharge July 20, 28-29, and 

Aug. 1-10 determined by shifting-control method.

MAXIMA. 1938: Discharge, 137,000 second-feet about 11 p. m. July 22 (gage 

height, 30.3 feet, from floodmarks).

1915-37: Discharge, 319,000 second-feet June 14, 1935 (gage height, 

43.3 feet, from floodmarks).

1889-1914: No flood as great as that of June 14, 1935,,

REMABKS. Small diversions and storage above station affect low flow only, 

463302 44 7
92 TEXAS FWODS OF 1938 AND 1939

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 19S8

Day

July 20---

21 -

22 

23 

24 

25.- 

26- 

27 -

Secondfeet

«6

5,450

46,800

38,800

27,400

3,830

3,080

1,340

Acre-feet

131

10, 810

92,830

76,960

54,350

7,600

6,110

2.660

Day

July 28.----

29---

30---.

31-. 

Aug. 1 

2... 

3 .

Secondfeet

840

678

759

1,010

635

512

446

Acre-feet

'1,670

1,340

1,510

2,000

1,260

1,020

885

Day

Aug. 4 .

5 -

6 

7 _

8 .

9 

10. 

Secondfeet

426

394

375

350

331

306

288

Acre-feet

845

781

744

694

657

607

571

Runofl, in acre-feet, for period July 20 to Aug. 10 --------- . - .. 266,000

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

Time

JvlyZO 

12m ...

July SI

8:00_- __ .

2:30 .

3:00 *4'00

5:00--.. ,

6:00 

8:00......

9:00.. __ .

10:00.. __ .

11:00 ____

12'00

July us

2 '00

4 '00

7:00- __ -

8:00- 

9:00- .

10:00_ . __ -

11:00.. __

12:00 m -

3:00 - 

4:00 __ .

5:00... _ ..

5:30.. .....

6:00.. __ ..

7:00.... ...

8:00. .. ...

10:00.. ..... 

11:00.. .....

12:00.. 

JulySS

 2:00 

4 '00

5:00 

6:00- ___

7:00 

8.00.. 

9:00. __

Feet

1.49

1 49

1.50

1.55

1.65

1.87

1.85

7.5

8.7

9.7

10.2

10.0

9.3

8.4

7.7

7.2

6.8

6.4

5.95

5.7

6.2

7.0

8.8

9.5

9.05

8.75

10. 0

13.7

14.0 

13.8

13.9

18.2

20.5

21.4

22.2

23.3

25.0

27.3

30.0 

30.3

30.0

27.0

24.5

22.0

19.0

16.3

14.0

12.

10. 10. a

Secondfeet

66

66

70

84

116

208

198

9,650

13,600

17,000

18,900

15,600

12,600

10,300

8,600

7,370

5,120

4,590

5,680

8,000

13,900

16,400

15,000

13,900

18,200

34,200

35,500 

34,600

.35,000

40,000

56,000

72,200

76,600

82,800

109,000

134,000 

137, 000

134,000

90,000

75,500

60,000

46,500

35,500

29,200

20,800

18,200

Time

July USCon.

11:00- 

2:00... _ .

3:00. ......

4:00. ......

6:00.. . -

7:00- 

7:30...- -

8:00- __ -

9:00 

10:00- _ 

12:00 __ .

July $4

2:00_. _.. 

3:00.. __ .

4'00

5:00 ___ ._

7:00- __ ..

9:00 

9:30- __ .

10:00... ....

11:00 ___ -

12:00 m_. _

2:00- ___

3:00 . _ , 

4:00- _ 

5:00- ......

6:00 

7:00- .....

8:00- _ -

10:00 

11:00 

12:00 

July SB

2_ ...

7- ...

9 -

12m 

8 

8 

10 .

12 

Feet

9.8

10.4

10.5

11.8

12.6

13.9

14.8

13.5

11.8

10.6

9 8

9 4

9.2

9.0

10.0

11.2

15.0

16.6

18.3

18.6

18.3

17.3

15.5 

14.3

13.4

12.5

10.9

10. ,4

9.8

9.2

8.6

8.3

7.8

7.5

7.0

6.7

6.2

6.0

5.7

5.3

4.8

4.6

4.4

4.23 4.'K

8.98

3.85

Secondfeet

17,400

18,900

19,700

20,100

22,400

25,600

29,200

31,900

35,000

37,800

39,100

37,800

33,200

25,600

20,400

17,400

16,000

15,300

14,600

18,200

22,900

31,000

40,000

48,000

56,500

58,000

56,500

51,500

,42,500 

36,800

82,300

28,800 

24,280

21,600

19,700

17,460

15,300

13,300

12,300

10,600

9,650

8,000

7,070

5,680

5,220

4,590

3,850

3,140

2.880

2; 630

2,450

2,270

2,150

1,980

Time

July %6 

la. m._ 

2 ~

3 

4 -

6 

«... 

7_. ------

8 --

9 -

10. 

8 ~

12 -

July 27

8 -

12 --

July S8

July $9

10 p. m _ . 

11 

12 -.

July SO

2 a. on. 45 :- 5 -

8 

10 

12m- ..-..

11 

12 -

July SI

1 a. m--_.

3 -

5 - -

12m_..-_.

3

6 --

8 

» . . 

12-.-..-

Feet

3.80

4.50

5.30

5.56

5.56

5.50

5.60

5.66

5.55

5.40

5.00

4.70

4.46

4.30

4.0Q

^3,86

3,72

3.37

3.25

3.14

3.05

2.96

2.78

2.67

2.58

2,52

'-2.75

a. oo

291 235

2< 76

2.70

2.65

2.61

2.49

3.30

3.60

3.5C

3.28

3.12

3.00

2.77

2.90

1 2.98

- Z98i

2.96

, J ^87

2.80

2,74

2.68

Secondfeet

1,920

2,750

3,850

4,280

4,280

4,190

4.380

4,480

4,280

4,010

3,410

- 3,010

2,630

2,190

2,180

1 OSfl

1,810

1,640

. 1,450

1,320

1,190

1,100-

1,000

831

734

' 663

621

804

1,099

950

890

804

750

no

878

503

1,370

1,700

1,590

1,358

1,170

l.tMfl

813

940

1,020

 ' 1,020

690

/910

840 m'

, 734
FLOODS ;INi,COI,OB4i»P<«WMt BASIN

RIVER, NEAR,

LOCATION. Lat, 30°43', long. 98°53', 4 miles upstream from Hickory Creek 

and 4.5 miles east of Castell, Llano County. Zero «f gage'is1 % 121:8 feet 

above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929).,

DRAINAGE AREA, 3j,514 square miles. , ' " . ;

GAGE-HEIGHT RECORD.: Graph drawn from two staff-gage readings daily. Gage 

heights used to half tenths between 1.5 and 4.4,feet; hundredfhs below and 

tenths above these limits. !- STAGE-DISCHARGE RELATION. Defined by current-meter measurements below 

10,000 second-feet; extended on basis of a float measurement of 33,600 

second-feet and slope-area measurements of 135,000 and 388,000 second* 

feet. Discharge July 28 to Aug. 10 determined by shifting-control; method.

MAXIMA. 1938: Discharge, 133,000 second-feet about 8 a. m. July 23 (gage 

height, 21.43 feet, from floodmarks).

1923-37: Discharge, 388,000 second-feet July.14,. 1935 (gage height, 

37.0 feet, from floodmarks), by slope-area method.

1889-1922: Stage, 28.4 feet in 1889 (discharge not determined). ,

REMARKS. Small diversions above station affect low flow only.

# 

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 1988

Day

July 20.-.

21- 

22....

23---.

24--..

25 

26_ 

27 

Secondfeet

70

751

30,100

63,100

30,700

16, 600

3,720

3,300

Acrefeet

139

1,490

59,700

125,200

60,890

32,930

7,380

6,550

Day

July 28 

29 

30 

31 

Aug. 1 

2 -

3 _

Secondfeet

1,840

1,280

1,340

1,160

1,160

820

705

Acrefeet

3,650

2,540

2,660

2,300

2,300

1,630

1,400

Day

Aug. 4 ....

5 __

6 

7 

8 

' 9 

10 .

Secondfeet

590

510

4%

440

420

380

363

, Aerefeet

1,170

1,010

»12

873

833

 754

720

Runoff, in acre-feetj for period July 20 to Aug. 10--_____ -_______ ________ 317,000 

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

Time

July 21

1:00 a. m_. 

8:00 

9:00. 

10:00 ---_

11:00 ...

11:40... __ L

12500m-:.,

1*0 p. m_- 

3:00 

6:00 _ --

9:00. 

12*0 .

July 88

SrGOa.m-- 

7:30.,,.-..

8*0.-, ,.

8:30.-.. ...:

W».. . ..

9:30- -- 

IOS».......

10:30 ......

11*0 .. 

11:30 .....

If :65D<1 ...

12:30 p. m.. 

1:00^..-...

Feet

1.1

1.1

1.2

2.7

4.4

4.6

4.5

4.3 

3.9

3.5

3.2

2.8

2.6

2.4: 3.9-

5.S

7.2

9.0 

16.9

" 12.6

14.5 

15.9

16.0

15.9 

15.7

Secondfeet

80 

80

. 94

460

2,230

2,580

2,400

2,070

990

740

510

420, 

346

1,470

4,590 §,-«»

15,000 

25,000

37,300

53,800 

67,500

68,500

67,500 

65,500

Time

July « 

Con.

5:00 

8:00. 

12:00. .

3:30 -

4:00 

5:00 

5:30 ..

6:30........ 

7«0_. .. 

8:00 

9:00-. _ . ..

«:30.. .._

10:00 . 

10:30 _ ....

11:00 . 

12:00 m.. 

2*0 

3:00 .- 

4*0........

Feet

M.2

 14.^

13.4

12.6

12.3

13.7

15.0

16.2

17.5

18.9

20.1

21.1 

21.3

21.43

21.3

21.1

20.5 

19.9

19.2

18.0

15.6

14.5 

13.fi

Secondfeet

60,500

51, 000

44,000

37,300

34,900

46,500

58,500

70,600

84,600

101,000

116,000

129,000 

131,000

133,000

131,000

129,000

121,000 

113,000

105,000

90,200 

76,900

64,500

53,800 

44.800

Time

Jiavss 

Con.

6tOO -

7*0

8:00.. .-

10*0_ 

12:00 . 

Jniy %4

' 4r40. 

8:00 - ....

S:» 

«.'90i,,-.~

6:30 . 

7*0. -

8:00 

10*0 

11:00 

12S»m.-_ .

4:40 ..

5:00 

5:30-... .

6:00 -.^,-

6:30 

7:00 -

Feet

.12.5

11.6

10.7

10. "2

9.6

9.2

9.0

8.8

9.6

11.0

12.4

12.4 

12.3'

12.0

11.3.

11.0

1ft 8

m4

10.0

10.6 

11.7

12,7

13:9 

14.9

Second- 

' f*et

36,500

29,700

23,800

21,100

18,000

16,000

15,000

14 200

18,000

25,500

35,700

35,700 

34,900

'82,500

,27,fOO

35,500,

24,400

- aarflee20,000

23,300 

30,400

38,100

48,200

57,600.
94 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1038 AND 1939

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938 Continued

Time

 Aft ItCon.

7:30 p. m... 

8:00.. -

8:30 ......

9:00... 

9*30.

10.-00- ...

ll:00_-. 

12rtO_- .

JutySS

3 a. m _ .. 

6 9 1

12 m __ 

Feet

16.2 

16.3

16.2

14.9

14.6

14.4

13.9

13.4

12.0 

10.6

9.4

8.4 

7.6

6.7

Secondfeet

60,600 

61,600

60,600

67,600

64,700

52,900

48,200

43,000

32,600 

23,300

17,000

12,600 

10,000

7,360

Time

July toCon.

9 p. m ..... J 12

Julyte

12m. 

6 p. m __

12... ... ___.

6 a. m .....

12m........

3 p. m _- 

8 ..........

12..........

Feet

6.2 

6.9

5.3 

6.0

4.8 

49

5.2

6.2

S.O

4.5

44

Secondfeet

6,060 

6,310

A, vaU 

3,300

2,940 

3,120

3,720

3,720

3,300 

2,400

2,230

TJme

JvlySS

12m. .-.. 

12 p. m... ..

JulyM

12m..... 

12 p. m .

July SO

12 m... 

6 p. m 

12 

July SI

7:30 a. m.. 

6:20 p. m..

12:00 __. 

Feet

4.16 

3.90

3.80

3.70

o. w 

400 

4.05

3.96 

3.66

3.55

Secondfeet

1,760 

1,400

1 280

1,160

1,340 

1,470 

1,540

1,340 

990

900

PEDERNAUES RIVER NEAR SPICEWOOD, TEX.

LOCATION. Lat. 30°25/ 15//, long. 98°04/50//, in Travis County, 5.4 miles 

upstream from mouth and 8 miles southeast of Spicewood, Burnet County. 

Zero of gage is 624.88 feet above mean sea level (general adjustment of 1929).

DRAINAGE ABEA. -1,294 square miles.

GAGE-HEIGHT BECOBD. Graph drawn from two staff-gage readings daily; flood 

peak determined by levels to high-water marks. Gage heights used to halftenths between 1.8 and 3.0 feet; hundredths below and tenths above these 

limits.

STAGE-DISCHABGE BELATION. Defined by current-meter measurements below 

7,070 second-feet; extended above on basis of one slope-ares measurement and 

velocity-area studies.

MAXIMA. July 1938: Discharge, 6,650 second-feet 8 a. m. July 25 (gage height, 

9.3 feet, from floodmarks).

1923-June 1938: Discharge, 155,000 second-feet May 28, 1929 (g^ge 

height, 40.4 feet, from floodmarks).

1869-1922: Stage, about the same as in'1929, reached in 1S8&

REMABKS. No regulations or diversions.

\

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, 19S8

Day

July 22 

23

24 1

, 25 

26 

27 

28 29.,.:

30 

Secondfeet

29

731

1,900

4,810

251

122

70

£1

66

Acre-feet

58

1,450

3,770

9,540

498

242

139

101

131

Day

July 31 

Aug. 1 .

2 

3 

t:::

6 

7 

Secondfeet

70

56

49

39

34

32

29

25

Acre-feet

139

111

97

77

,6?

63

58

SO

Day

Aug. 8 

9 .

10 

11 

12 .

13 

14 

16 

Second23

22

21

20

19

19

19

19

Acre-feet

46

44

42

40

88

38

38

,38

Runoff, in acre-feet, for period July 22 to Aug. 15
FLOODS Of-JULY 1988 IN COL0BA»0 HIW& BASIN 95

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in second-feet, at indicated time, 1938

Time

JulyW

1 a. m.. ...

12 m.-....-,

July US

7 a. m ..... 

10______.__.

1 p. m ..... 

3 _____

5 _____ .

6 __ __

8 _____

9 

11 ..........

12..........

July $4

1 a. m .....

2 ..........

3 ..........

4 _ ..

5 ..........

7 ...

9 ..........

11 .

1 p. m.. ...

3 .

6 ___ ....

Feet

0.90 

.90 

.92

1.00 

1.20

1.60 

2.00

2.70

3.40

5.60

6.20

6.70

6.63

6.40

6.00

5.30

4.30

3.60

3.00

2.60

2.45

2.60

3.30

6.00

Secondfeet

27 

27 

29

38 

70

160 

280

515

810

2,300

2,860

3,370

3,260

3,060

2,660

2,050

1,320

910

635

480

428

480

765

2,660

Time

July $4-~ 

Con.

7 p. m..... 

8 __ . ....

9.......... 

11. ___ .

12 ..........

2 _

3 ..........

5.... __ ..

6 ..........

8 ______

10 ..........

12 m-_.-.-

3 p. m _ . 

5 ___ .

7 ..........

11 ..........

19

July S8

3...... ....

6

12m---- 

Feet

7.10 

7.45

7.65 

7.40

7.12

6.90

6,90

7.10

8.50

9.00

9.31

9.20

9.00

8.50 

8.00

7.50

4.90

4 00

3.20

2.40

2.00

1.70

1.60

Secondfeet

3,820 

4,240

4,480 

4,180

3,820

3,590

3,590

3,820

5,570

6,230

6,650

6, 510

6,230

5,570 

4,920

4,300

1,740

1,130

720

411

280

188

160

Time

July 88 

Con.

8 p. in __ 

12.. __ ....

JulyM

3 a. m... 

9 . ....

1 p. m-- _

7 

12 . _

Jtay88

2 ._ _

July £9

12m - .

July 80

12m. __ .

JitlySl

8 a. m __

12m..-...-

12 p. m .....

Feet

1.50 

1.50

1.50 

1.60

1.50 

1.30

1.22

1.20

1.20

1.18

1.10

1.10

1.08

1.12

1.30

1.18

1.14

1.16

Secondfeet

134 

134

134 

160

134 

89

74

70

70

66

52

52

49

53

89

66

59

63

SILT

Measurements of the silt content have been made at several places 

on the Colorado River for a number of years by the Bureau of Agricultural Engineering, United States Department of Agriculture, in 

cooperation with the State Board of Water Engineers. A report on 

the silt load of the Colorado River during the flood of July-August 

1938 was prepared by Harry G. Nichols, assistant engineer, Bureau 

of Agricultural Engineering, and is included in the report on the Colorado River flood, July-August 1938, made to the State Senate Investigating Committee by the Board of Water Engineers. The following 

records were taken from that report or were furnished by the Austin 

office of the Bureau of Agricultural Engineering.

Silt-measurement stations are maintained on the Colorado River 

at' the regular river-measurement stations near San Saba, at Austin, 

and near Eagle Lake. Table 10 shows the silt load carried by the 

Colorado River for various periods of maximum sflt movement during 

the flood of July-August 1938, as measured at the above-named places. 

The percentage of silt, by weight, and the silt load, in tons per second, 

have been computed for the flood period in sufficient detail to define 

the ontinuous values of these factors. These data, which are given 

in table 11, are shown graphically in figure 20, together with the 

hydrographs of discharge.
Discharge in thousands of second-feet Discharge in thousands of second-feet

g Percentage of silt by weight

A I

Percentage of silt by weight 

1 1

" C

ote.- Base

a f

data on s

f 1 1

lit ftontent furnishe

§

^ c

d by Unite

0 t>

d States t

3 t

epartraent

f 

of Agr

 

Silt in tons per second' Silt In tons per second 
FtOODS 6J1 JULY 1&38 DC COLORADO BtVllfl BASEST 97

 TABLE 10. Silt load of Colorado Ewer during indicated periods of maximum silt 

movement, July-August 1938

Silt

Maximum average:

.-_ do 

 do 

 . do 

Silt-measurement statkta

San Saba 

(July 20 to 

Aug. S)

1.163 

16.2,

1,256,000 

1,081,000 

886,200 

675,400 

436,100

6,121,800

Austin 

(July 23 to 

"Aug. 5)

" 0.880 

39.6

2,383,000 

1,846,700 

1,418,400 

799,000 

573,600

8,030,600

Eagle Lake 

(July 25 to 

Aug. 12)

0.953 

13.8

1, 130, 000 

1, 053, 300 

979, 800 

695, 100 

521,000

7, 393, 700

NOTE. Base data furnished by U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural Engineering.

TABLE 11. Silt content of Colorado River at stations near San Saba, at Austin, and 

near Eagle Lake, July-August 1938

Time

Day

Near San Saba 

July 19 r 

20 

21 

22.

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

Aug. 1 

2 

3 ... -.

4 

5 

Hour

7 a. m 

12 p. m .

4 

6:15__ -

2 p. m _ .

12 

12 p. m ....

12 

2 .......

12 

8 

12 

12 p. m _ _

12 

2 p. m _ ..

12 

10 p. on _

7:30 a. m__

7:88. 

8 -

6 

7

12 p. m __

Percent

by weight

0.009

.033

.300

fvjn

1.163

1.010 

.613

.429

.330

.288

.264

.247

.238

.231

.225

.215

.208

.188

.171

.149

k 141

.153

.224

.430*

.660

.850

.750

.523

.432

.338

.284

.182 

.108

rtfiQ

.048

.044

Tons per

second

0.0005

.005

.24

1.76

3 ftQ

3.88 

3.16

2.78

2.25

2.18

a OQ

10.88

16.17

13 99

19 HA

10.76

5.63

0 KQ

9 OQ

2.33

2 4.4.

2.75

9 74

2 19

2.06

1 1^1

1.05

1.25

.71

.27 

.10

.056

-.033

.029

Time

Day

At Attstin 

July 22 

23 

25 

26 

97

28 

Hour

10:48 a. m.

8 ... -

9.. ........

10:28 

2 p. m _ .

6 .

8 -

10 -

12. 

4 

6 

8 

10- 

12m..- 

6 -. -

8 

10 

12 --

4 

6 

8 

9:32-. 

6 . .*-*

12 

4:25 p. m._ 

12

1:45-.----

Percent

by weight

0.004

.017

.060

1Q7

.880

.806 

.770

.630

.586

flOO

660

.715

.660

.550

AAf\

.421

.366 <>19

.275

.256

.256

.293

.256

.238

.256

.220

,249

.278

aid

.292

.243

.222 

.214

.191

.170

Tons per

second

0.002

.012

.30

1 ^17

13.48

16.37 

18.89

19 08

19.78

25. 11

31.35

38.54

39.60

35.92

29.81

28.52

Oi K7

20.82

18.36

17.36

17.78

20.83

18.56

17 a

18.94

16.35

18.74

21.20

27.01

27.51

23.45

16.34

12.56 

10.03

7.8ft

5.19

5.07
98 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

TABLE 11. Silt content of Colorado River at stations near San Saba,^at Austin, and 

near Eagle Lake, July-August 1938 Continued

Time

Day

At Austin Con. 

July 29 

30 

31 

Aug. 1 

Z.. .......

3 

4 ... .

6 

Near Bogle Lake

July 24 

25

26 

27 

Hour

11:10 a.m_.

10:40.. 

12 p. m. ... 

2 

11:08 a. m.

10:28. 

2:35.......

ll:15a. m.

6:50 a. m..

4. .

6:10.. .

6:40 

6:15 

Percent

by weight

0.106

.096

.082 

.067

.046

.030 

.021

.018

.010

.001

.075

.550

930

.953

.559

.386

Tons per

second

2 10

1.30

1.33

Q7

.34

.19

.11

.083

.032

.0005

.10

2.84

7.56

9.98

12.46

11.01

Time

Day

Near Eagle LakeCon.

July 28 

29 

30 

31- 

Aug. 1 ----- 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 .

10 

11 

12 

13 

Hour

6:15 

6:30- .

6:15 

6:15. - 

6:15. 

6:15... .

6:15 

6:35 -

6:36-. 

6:35 

6:30 

6:30 

6:20 

6:35 

6:45. 

6:25. 

Percent

by weight

0.390

.234 

.163

.164

.264 

.300

.253

.253

.201

.173 

.132

.104

.075

.062

.054

.048

.025

Tom per

second

13.77

11.59 

7.95 ,

6.19

5.91 

4.12

1.96

1.64

1.16

.88 

.60

.42

.29

.22

.17

.13

.044

NOTE. Base data furnished by U. 8. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural Engineering.

The volume a certain weight of silt will occupy depends on the 

degree of consolidation of the material. It is generally assumed that 

for average conditions of deposition hi reservoirs in Te^as 70 pounds 

of dry material will occupy a volume of 1 cubic foot of silt in place.8 

If the deposited silt is never dewatered and no opportunity is thus 

allowed for the silt to dry and consolidate, the average will not be 

attained. On the other hand, if the reservoir is dewatered frequently 

so that conditions are very favorable for maximum consolidation 

(drying, cracking, and subsequent refilling of these cracks with more 

silt when again submerged), then a higher figure than 70 pounds 

will be attained.

Assuming that 70 pounds of dry material will occupy a volume of 

1 cubic foot, during the flood of July-August 1938 the total volume.of 

silt measured at stations on the Colorado River was 4,015 acre-feet 

near San Saba, 5,267 acre-feet at Austin, and 4,850 acre-feet near 

Eagle Lake.

RAINFALL AND RUNOFF

Analyses of the rainfall and runoff records have been made for the 

purpose of showing the relation between storm rainfall and the 

resulting direct runoff. The differences between rainfall tmd runoff 

give an indication of the volume of water retained hi the drainage 

basins; this retention is a valuable factor hi flood-control and other 

problems.

For the purpose of making a study of the rainfall-runoff relations, 

the storm has been separated into four periods July 16-10, 20-21, 

22-23, and 24-25. Although the rain did not fall uniformly over the

s Faris, O. A., The silt load of Texas streams: U. S. Dept. Agr. Tech. Bull. 382, pp. 49,55, September 1933*
FLOODS OF JULY 1988 IN <!OLOBA»0 «I?»R BASIN 99

entire area, either with respect to amount or time, in general the 

divisions were defined by separate peaks of both rainfall and runoff. 

A small portion of the total rain fell before July 19, but practically 

no increase in stream flow was noted until July 20.

The rainfall for each drainage area was determined by planimeter 

from the isohyetal maps (figs. 6-10, 12, 13), and its accuracy depends 

on that of th&isohyetals. As the South Concho, San Saba, and Llano 

River Basins were well, covered by rainfall measurements, the figures 

derived for these basins can be used with greater confidence than those 

for the other areas,

The figures of rainfall and runoff are given in inches of depth over 

the entire drainage basin, although for some basins most of the rain 

fell over only a small part of the area. Ordinarily the depth of runoff 

in inches for .streams in Texas is not regarded as significant and so is 

not computed, biit for this study the depth is computed as it furnishes 

a practical basis of comparison with rainfall. The small depth of 

runoff me'asured for some areas in which heavy rains fell is due to the 

fact that only a small part of the basin received the heavy rain, 

whereas the remainder of the basin received a light rain. The number 

of square miles of each basin that received different depths of rain, 

computed mostly for 5-inch intervals, is shown in table 12.

The determinations of direct runoff during the storm periods have 

been based on the records of daily mean discharge at stream-measurement stations. A discharge hydrograph covering the flood period was 

constructed for each station. The base flow, attributed to ground 

water, was subtracted from the total flow, shown by the station records, 

to estimate the direct runoff caused by flow over the ground surface or 

through the ground with a, responsiveness approaching that of surface 

'runoff. The base flow was estimated by a consideration of the flow 

before and after the storm period.

As the separation of the hydrograph into peaks corresponding to the 

different storm periods is subject to considerable error when two or 

more flood peaks combine, records at stations on the Colorado River 

were difficult to determine for this reason.

The method of analysis used for computing the direct runoff for 

storm periods has been described in previous reports of the Geological 

Survey.9 A comprehensive study of the relations of rainfall, runoff, 

and related factors has been made by Hoyt. 10

1 X

 See Grover, N. C., and otbers, The floods of March 1936, Part 1, New England rivers: U. 8. Geol. Survey 

Water-Supply Paper 798, pp. 841-345, 1937; and Grover, N. O., and others, Floods of Ohio and Mississippi 

Rivers, January-February 1937: TJ. 8, Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 838, pp, 486-494, 1988.

1(1 Hoyt, W. G., and others, Studies of relations of rainfall and runoff in the United States: TT. S. Geol. 

Survey Water-Supply Paper 772,1936.
TABLE 12. Rainfall and runoff of flood of July 1938 in C

Item

No.

14 

16

18 

25

26

27 

28 

2«

30 

32

48 

49

50 

59 

60

61 

63 

64 

65

Stream and point of measurement

Colorado River near San Saba. . . 

Colorado River at Buchanan

South Concho River at ChrisSouth Goncho River at San

Concho River near San Angelo. 

Concho River near Paint Rock.. 

Middle Concho River near

Spring Creek near Tankersly... 

North Concho River near

San Saba River at Menard...-. 

San Saba River near Richland'

San Saoa River at San Saba....

Richland Creek near Richland

Cherokee Creek near Chappel. - 

North LMno River nearJunetion.

Drainage 

area ' 

(square 

miles)

13,460

14, 110 

21,010

434

2,535 

4,217 

5,263

1,128

734

1,406 

1,151

2,757 

3,046 

595

72.4

149 

914 

1,762

3,514

Rainfall, in inches, for indicated 

storm period

July 

16-19

1.3 

1.3

.8

.4 

.4 

1.0

.4 

1.4

1.6 

1.4 

2.7

2.3

.8

------

July 

20-21

3.1

3.0 

2.9

8.4

4.4 

2.8 

2.7

2.3 

6.1

.6 

6.6

6.4 

6.3 

6.4

4.8

3.4 

4.4 

'3.9

3.3

July 

22-23

4.8

4.8 

4.4

9.4

4.3 

3.5 

3.5

2.8 

4.5

2.0 

9.7

9.2 

9.4 

9.0

\0.4

5.1 

8,8 

7.2

5.1

July 

24-25

2.1

2.3 

2.1

1.1

.7 

.8 

.8

.7 

.4

1.2 

1.6

1.5 

1.7 

2.2

3.6

5.7 

1.7 

1.5

1.3

Total, 

July 

16-25

11.3

11.4 

9.4

19.7

9.8 

7.5 

8.0

5.8 

11.0

4.2 

19.3

18.7 

18.8 

20.3

21.1

15.0 

149 

12.6

9.7

Direct runoff, in inches, associated with indicated storm 

period

July 

16-19

......

......

July 

20-21

0.15 

.1

1.05

.2 

.1 

.1

.01 

.1

.01 

.85

.4

.4 

.1 

.02

July 

22-23

1.25

1.15 

1.0

2.65

.65 

.4 

.6

.01 

.2

.oi

3.55

2.55

2.2 

1.8 

1.15

July 

24-25

1.15

.9 

.85

.05

.01 

.05 

.05

.01 

.05

.05 

.65

1.4

.85 

.55 

.3

Total

July 

16-25

2.5

2.1

21.8

3.7

.8

.5

.7

.0

.3

.07 

5.0

4.3

3.4

2.4

1.4

1 Does not include areas above the Oaj> Rock and above Ballinget on the Colorado River. 

1 Adjusted for stor-age in Buchanan Reservoir.
FLOODS OF JULY 1938 Jit'COLORADO «t?l"E BASIN X 101 

DISCUSSION OF RB8CJLT8

The results of the studies of rainfall and runoff are summarized 

, in table 12. This table includes data for the gaging stations in the 

Colorado River Basin for which detailed discharge records are included 

m a previous section of this report. The drainage area given does 

not include the areas above the Cap Rock and above Ballinger on 

the Colorado River, as they contributed very little runoff to the flood, 

and records of rainfall thereon are not plentiful. The average rainfall on the basins for the separate storm periods and the total period 

is that obtained from the isohyetal maps (fig. 6-10, 12, and 13). 

The difference between total rainfall and the associated direct runoff 

for tlie storm period is given in the column "Rainfall minus runoff." 

The mean annual runoff is based on gaging-station records that are 

continuous for periods of from 7 to 40 years, as shown in the descriptions for individual stations presented in a previous section of this 

report.

The difference between rainfall and direct runoff represents the 

basin retention and includes net infiltration, evaporation, and transpiration. The evaporation from free-water surfaces for July may 

average 10 inches or more in this part of the State but as the temperatures during the storm period were lower and the relative humidity 

was higher than average, the average evaporation over the area was 

probably much less than that indicated by free water-surface measurements. The transpiration loss is not known, but as the flood 

area is not heavily covered with vegetation it is believed the transpiration was small during the short period of time considered. 

Probably a small percentage of the total retention represents evaporation and transpiration that took place during the storm period.

COLORADO RIVER BASIBT

The storm of July 16-25 was confined almost entirely to three of 

the upper tributaries of the Colorado River the Concho, San Saba, 

and Llano Rivers. Relatively little rain fell in the basin above Ballinger and practically none in the basin below Austin. At no place 

in the drainage area of the South Concho River above Christoval or 

the San Saba River above San Saba was there a rainfall of less than 

10 inches, and more than 10 inches fell in 90 percent of the drainage 

area of the North Llano River. Fifteen inches or more of rain fell 

in about 90 percent of the drainage area of the South Coneho River 

above Christoval,,and 20 in'ches or more fell in 58 percent of the area. 

The heaviest rain probably fell in Brady Creek, where 75 percent of 

the basin received 20 or more inches of rain.

The mean annual precipitation in the Concho River Basin is about 

20 inches and in the San Saba and Llano River Basins is about 25 

inches. The mean in the area of the Colorado River covered by this
102 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939 ^

/

report is probably about 23 inches, and it varies from 18.60 inches n 

at Garden City, in Glasscock County, in the upper part of the North 

Concho River Basin, to 34.08 inches " at Austin. The mean annual 

runoff of 1.45 inches at Austin is 6.5 percent of the precipitation.

The direct runoff resulting from the rains of July 16-25, as measured 

at 15 stream-gaging stations in the basin, did not exceed 30 percent 

of the rain or 5.05 inches of depth aver any basin.

Peak discharges were determined for San Saba River near Richland 

Springs,Brady Creek near Brady, Richland Creek near Richland Springs, 

and CherokeeCreek near Chappel, but as they were not at regular gaging' 

stations data from which the runoff could be computed were not 

obtained. An indication of the runoff from these areas may be had 

by comparing it with the runoff from adjacent basins. The total 

rainfall in each of these four basins is shown in table 12.

A basin retention of 7.55 inches at Austin is equivalent to 8,460,000 

acre-feet of water and is exclusive of that stored in Buchanan Reservoir.

CONCHO BIVEE BASIN

The main Concho River begins at the town of San Angelo and is 

formed by the confluence of the North and South Concho Rivers, 

which drain areas north and south of the town. Middle Concho River, 

which drains areas west of the town, is tributary to South Concho 

River a few miles above San Angelo. The North and Middle Concho 

River Basins received rainfall in the areas above the gaging stations 

averaging 4.2 and 5.8 inches, respectively, which produced less than 

0.1 inch of direct runoff.

Heavy rains fell in the upper part of the South Concho Itiver Basin 

and part of Spring Creek, which is tributary to the Middle Concho 

River. The average in the basin above Christoval (434 square miles) 

was 19.7 inches, and no part of the basin received less than 10 inches. 

The direct runoff produced by this rain was 3.75 inches, which is 

about 19 percent of the rainfall and is 1.6 times the mean animal runoff 

of 2.3 inches.

The gaging station on the Concho River near San Angelo is immediately below tike confluence of the North Concho and South Concho 

Rivers and gives the combined runoff froman-area that received heavy 

rainfall and on© that received relatively light rainfall. The average 

precipitation of 7.5 inches over the 4,217 square miles produced a direct 

runoff of only 0.55 inch, or about 7 percent; but the mean atonal runoff 

at this station, based on a 23-year record, is 0.65 inch. The runoff at 

this station, as well as at Paint Rock, was but slightly affected l^y 

storage in Lake Nasworthy, records for which are included in this 

report. ,

The river measurement station farthest downstream on the Concho 

River is near Paint Rock. The area above this station received an

11 U, 8. Weather Bur., Cltoatologlcal data, Texas section, 1936-40. ^ >v
FLOODS OF JULY 1938 IN COLORADO RIVUE BASIN 103

average rain of 8.0;.iaehes, which produced a direct mrooff of 0.75 inch, 

or 9 percent of the precipitation and about the same as the mean 

annual runoff.

The basin retention of 7.25 inches for the 5,263 square miles above 

Paint Rock is equivalent to about 2,035,000 acre-feet.

SAN SABA RIVER BASEST

As shown in table 12, the San Saba River Basin received an average 

rain of about i9 inches during the 10-day period July 16-25. ,Tne 

section of this report on "Meteorologie conditions" gives four measurements of rainfall, which are well distributed over the area and which 

partly indicate the intensities. The most intense rains were the 

5.50 inches reported as falling at Menard from 7 to 8 a. m. on July 21 

and the 6.89 inches reported as falling at Eden in the 3K hours after 

midnight on July 22.

The direct runoff for the period July 16-25 at Menard was 5.05 

inches and at San Saba 4.35 inches, and the basin retention was 14.25 

and 14.45 inches, respectively, or about 75 percent of the rainfall. A 

considerable area along the lower reaches of the river was overflowed, 

a condition which likely increased the percentage of evaporation over 

that of the other basins; However, the direct runoff of the1 San . Saba River at Menard was 26 percent and at San Saba was 23 percent 

of the total rainfall, which are the highest percentages of runoff of all 

the basins in the flood area.

River-measurement stations have been maintained»on the San 

Saba River at Menard and at San Saba for 23 years, and the records 

from these stations show the mean annual runoff to be 0.95 and 1.35 

inches, respectively. The corresponding direct runoff during the 

flood of July was 5.3 and 3.2 times the mean annual runoff.

Brady Creek, a tributary of the San Saba River, drains an area of 

785 square miles. During the period July 16-25 the rain in this 

area varied from about 14 to 24 inches, with 20 inches or more falling 

in 70 percent of the area. The average precipitation in the entire 

basin was 19.9 inches. No stream-measurement station, from which 

the runoff could be accurately determined, is maintained on Brady 

Creek. By comparison with the San Saba River at Menard and at 

San Saba, it may be assumed that the retention was 14.35 inches, or 

that the direct runoff from Brady Creek was 5.5 inches. The runoff 

in acre-feet, less a small flow sustained by ground-water, would be 

224,400.

The retention of 14.45 inches for the 3,046 square miles above the 

gaging station at San Saba indicates 2,348,000 acre-feet of water was 

held in the basin.

IIAKO BITER BASIN

At the gaging station on the North Llano River near Junction-a 

direct runoff of 3.45 inches was produced from the drainage area of
104 ',' . TEXAS 'FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

914 square miles by an average rainfall of 14.9 inches. The runoff 

of 3.45 inches is 23 percent of the total rainfall and ife 2;8 times the 

mean annual runoff ^s determined from a 23-year record.

The drainage area of 1,762 square miles upstream from the gaging 

station on the Llano River near Junction received an average of 12.6 

inches of rain during the period July 16-25. This area includes about 

800 square miles of the South Llano River Basin, which received an 

average rainfall of about 10 inches. The resulting direct runoff of 

2.45 inches is about 19 percent of the total rainfall and is 1.3 times the 

mean annual runoff of 1.9 inches, as determined from a record of 23 

years.

An average rainfall of 9.7 inches fell on the drainage area of 3,514 

square miles upstream from the gaging station on the Llano River near 

Castell. This station is the farthest downstream and is about 35 

miles upstream from the mouth of the river. The direct runoff of 

1.47 inches is 15 percent of the rainfall and is 87 percent of the mean 

annual runoff as determined from a 14-year record.

The retention of 8.23 inches, as determined from the records at the 

Castell gaging station, represents 1,542,000 acre-feet of water.

FLOOD OF JUNE 1939 IN UPPER COLORADO RIVER

BASIN

On June 19-20, 1939, a rain of from 4 to 19 inches that lasted from 

4 to 10 hours fell in an area of about 1,000 square miles near Snyder, 

in Scurry County, and in adjoining counties. The resulting flood of 

the Colorado River and its tributaries caused the loss of one life and 

property damage of about $350,000, including a wrecked highway 

bridge. 12

There were no Weather Bureau rain gages in the area of heaviest 

rainfall. This area was visited soon after the flood and all information available from local residents was obtained. This information 

is given in table 13. Figure 21 is a map of the upper Ooloradfr River 

Basin showing isohyetals for total rainfall June!9-20 and locations of 

the rainfall stations listed in table 13 except numbers 1; 6; akd 10.

18 U. S. Weather Bur., Climatologieal data, Texas section, June 1939.
EXPUWATION

**0 Rein gag*. Number refers 

to slotian in table 13 - 

(New, I, 6, ft 10 not on mop)

 » Flood measuring point. 

> *M« i Drainaje-bosin outline

(S

FIGURE 21. Map of upper Colorado Biver Basin, showing rainfall stations, isohyetal lines of total rai
TABLE 13. Rainfall in upper Colorado River Basin

[T=less than 0.01 inch]

Station 

No.

1

2

- 3

4

5

6

7,

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

. 15

16

17

is

 19

20

21

V)

23

24

25

26

' f?

i8i

29

90

5ft

13

.33

* 34

35

36

Location

Aspermont. ___ ,_ ___ __ .. _ ..... __ .

QaU... ........ -.._...- - ---

Tahoka

Snyder. 

Bufora. ..... 

Borden-Seurry County line.

TnsdftV

Ira '- .-.-.--....

Ir*,2f4inileseast^-- 

Ktiapp .. .. ______

Enapp, 2 mites sotrtn and 2 miles west

Loraine -, __ ... ,.. . __ ,

Sayder, 3 mites south and 7 mfles west--, ,...,...,

Rainfall 

(inches)

2.31

.01

2.40

3.43

.06

1.89

2.31

1.07

6.05

T

10

2.50

0 '

2.74

7.50

4

8-10

3.50

2.75

5

7

3.75

.75

3^-4H

450

16

15-I&

15-20

9.50

19.25

1.50

7-8

6.50

3.91

16

15

Observer

U. S. Weather Bureau..

-...do...... ... ......

.....do..... ... .

_. do........ ... .......

. ....do. ....... ........ ..

.. do -- -

-. . .do.. ...... ..........

_. do...... ... .... -

 - do.... .....

._ do..... .... 

Lower Colorado River

Authority.

L. L. Eubanks- ____

J. W. Meiner .

O. W. Palmer... ........

John Lain ____ - __

Standard non

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Estimated. L

June 20.

Standard non

No measurem

Several cans in 

and the rest 

8-inch bucket

Straight-sided 

June 19.

p. m., June 

Concrete tank
37

38

39

40

41

42

43

School.

Spade _______________________

Union Church, 7 miles West of Snyder ______

14

4.80

7

1

2.61

10

1.50

E.E. Oarlite-- .--.....

IVTr OeTflsfov

lasted 7-8 

p. m., June 

Estimated b
108 TEXAST: FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

Peak discharges were computed by slope-area methods at reaches 

on the Colorado River 2.5 miles above and 4.9 miles below the town 

of Colorado and on Deep Creek 0.5 mile below Snyder. The first 

river-measurement station downstream at which a record of total discharge was obtained is at Robert Lee, on the Colorado River. The 

runoff at this station is indicated by the records that follow. As 

Robert Lee is about 70 miles downstream from the town of Colorado, 

considerable water was probably lost between the two places. Peak 

discharges as measured at miscellaneous places and for all rivermeasurement stations above Lake Buchanan are given in table 14.

The flood resulting from this rainfall was the largest known on the 

Colorado River at Colorado, according to Mr. C. C. Thompson of 

Colorado. Long-time residents state that a flood in 1908 or 1909 

reached nearly the same stage as in 1939. Local residents state that 

the peak on Deep Creek, near Snyder, was 7 or 8 feet lower than in 

1892.

DISCHARGE RECORDS

COLORADO RIVER AT ROBERT LJSE, TEX.

LOCATION. Lat.'31°54', long. 100°29', at highway bridge at Robert Lee. Zero

of gage is 1,771.7 feet above mean sea level.

DEAINAGE AREA. 15,770 square miles, of which about 1 11,500 is probably noncontributing.

GAGE-HEIGHT BECOBD. Graph drawn from numerous gage readings daily.

STAGE-DISCHABGE BELATION. Defined by current-meter measurements below 

11,200 second-feet; extended to peak discharge on basis of surface-velocity 

readings at peak stage.

MAXIMA. 1939: Discharge, 31,700 second-feet 2:30 a. m. June 22 (gage height, 

21.7 feet).

REMARKS. Records furnished by the Bureau of Reclamation.

Mean discharge, in second-feet, and runoff, in acre-feet, June WS9

Day

17.... 

18. .

19 __ ......

Second-

 feet

1

1,080

909

Acre-feet

2

2,140

1,800

Day '

20

21 

22 .

23 

Secondfeet

6,200

22,600

19,200

2,390

Acre-feet

10,310

44830

38,080

4,740

Day

24. __ . _

25 ........

26. 

97

Secondfeet

966

402

307

m

Acre-feet

1,010

797

609

466

Runoff, in acre-feet, for period June 17 to57____________________.,4_____ 105,700
PREVIOUS. FLOODS 109

TABLE 14. Peak discharges in upper Colorado River Basin, June 1989

Stream and place of deter* 

initiation

Colorado Eiver, 2.5 mites 

above Colorado. 

Colorado River, 4.9 miles 

below Colorado. 

Colorado Eiver at Robert LeeColorado River at Ballinger 

Colorado River at WinchelL... 

Colorado River near San Saba. 

Deep Creek, 0.5 mile below 

Snyder. 

i.

Latitude

0 /

32 25 

32 20

31 54 

31 44 

31 28 

31 13 

32 43

Longitude

0 /

100 53 

100 51

100 29 

99 56 

99 10 

9& 34 

100 56

Drainage 

area 

(square 

miles)

 1,759 

 1,848

b4,270 >>5,340 

* 12, 780 

dig, 800 

120

Peak discharge

Time

June 20, 10 a. m .>. 

June 20, 10:30 a. m.. 

June 22, 2:30 a. m...

June 19, 11:30 p. m..

Secondfeet

66,600 

72,800

« 31, 700 

29,200 

i24,300 

20,400 

36,400

Secondfeet per 

square 

mile

37.8 

39.4

7.42 

5.47 

1.90 

1.09 

303

 Does not include 2,440 square miles of noncontributing area. 

>> Does not include 11,500 square miles of noncontributing area. 

0 Record furnished by Bureau of Reclamation. 

 d Does not include 11,800 square miles of noncontributing area.

PREVIOUS FLOODS

Data pertaining to previous floods in Texas have been presented in 

the following publications of the Geological Survey:

Water-Supply Paper 488. The flpodS in central Texas in September 1921, by 

G. E. Ellsworth. Contains precipitation and discharge records for the floods of 

September 1921 and previous floods in the Brazos, Colorado, Guadalupe, and 

San Antonio River Basins.

Water-Supply Paper 771. Floods in the United States, magnitude and frequency, by C. S. Jarvis and others. Gives the gage height, peak discharge, 

daily mean discharge, and other pertinent information relative to all floods of 

record above a certain selected base flow for river-measurement stations on the 

.Brazos River at Waco, Colorado ]liver at Austin, Eio Grande near El Paso, 

and Pecos River near Comstock.

Water-Supply Paper 796-G. Major Texas floods of 1935, by Tate Dah-ympie 

and others. Contains precipitatipn and discharge records for the flood.in May 

on Seco Creek in the Nueces River Basin, the floods of June in the Colorado, 

Nueces, and Rio Grande Basins, and the flood of December on Buffalo Bayou 

p,t Houston. Short discussions of previous floods in these basins axe also given.

Water-Supply Paper 816. Major Texas floods of 1036, by Tate Dalrymple and 

others. Presents detailed information on rainfall and flood discharges of the 

floods of June-July in the Guadalupe, San Antonio, and Neches River Basins and 

of the floods of September hi the Trinity, Brazos, and Colorado River Basins; 

detailed data on previous floods in Texas; special data about precipitation and 

discharge during the floods of May 1929 in the Colorado and Guadalupe River 

Basins and during the floods of July 1932 in the Llano, Guadalupe, and Nueces 

River Basins; also, in tabular form, -records of maximum floods on streams over 

the entire State.

Water-Supply Paper 847. Majjoaum discharges at stream-measurement 

stations, through December 31, 19oif, by G. R. Williams and L. C. Crawford, 

with a supplement including additions and changes through September 30, 1938, 

by W. S. Eisenlohr, Jr. Contains, In tabular1 form, records of maximum discharges at practically all stream-mea.urement stations that have been operated in 

the State and also peak discharges c< rnputed at miscellaneous places in the State.

Water-Supply Paper 850. Sumn j,ry of records of surface waters of Texas, 

1898-1937, by C. E. Ellsworth. Contains, hi tabular form, records of maximum
110 TEXAS FLOODS OF 1938 AND 1939

discharges at practically all stream-measurement stations that have been operated in the State and also peak discharges computed at miscellaneous places 'in 

the State.

RECORDS OF MAXIMUM STAGE AND DISCHARGE

Table 15 shows the peak stages and discharges at places in the 

Ked and Sabine River Basins that have been discussed in this report 

and at gaging stations and all other places where records have been 

obtained in the Colorado River Basin. The locations of most of these 

points are shown in figure 11. The latitude and longitude, drainage 

area, period of record, and date, stage, and discharge of the maximum 

flood of record are given for each station.

Discharge figures were taken fcom published reports of the Geological Survey or were computed from unpublished data in the files of the 

Geological Survey or the Texas Board of Water Engineers at Austin.- 

Many of the records of stage were obtained from reports of the 

Weather Bureau.

The drainage areas represent the best measurements thai, could 

be made from available sources, which include topographic maps of the 

Geological Survey and Texas Reclamation Department, maps of the 

United States Army, maps of soil surveys of the United States Department of Agriculture, county road maps, and airplane pictures. 

All noncontributing areas above the Cap Rock are^ excluded from the 

areas given.

The heading "Period of known floods" in table 15 shows the year 

or period for which information regarding floods is available but 

does not always indicate the period for which continuous and systematic records of flow have been kept. Some of the earlier records are 

based on information obtained from local residents and are believed to 

be reliable.

At certain places no data are available concerning floods other 

than the flood given. Although many records of flood stages are 

available, no discharge can be determined for them because of lack of 

discharge measurements for earlier dates. Changing channels and uncertain conditions of flow preclude the application of these earlier 

discharge mea@UFem.ents to stage-discharge ratings based on later 

measurements.
TABLE 15. Maximum stages and discharges on streams in Red, Sdbine, 

Item 

N#.

1 

2 

3

4

5 

6

7 

8

9

10 

11 

12 

13

14 

15

16 

17

Sei

Stream and place of determination

Red Rwer Basin

Colorado River Basin

Colorado River at Buchanan Dam.....

s footnotes at end of table.

Latitude

34 63 

34 56 

33 15

32 45

32 32 

31 58

32 23 

31 54

31 52

31 50 

31 44 

31 31 

31 28

31 13 

30 52

30 45 

30 34

Longitude

o /

100 43 

100 42 

94 37

94 29

94 57 

94 00

100 51 

100 29

100 23

100 17 

99 56 

99 40 

99 06

98 34 

98 27

98 25 

98 16

Drainage 

area 

(square 

miles)

48.6. 

" 68.5 

2,754

848

2,846 

4,858

b 1, 835 

b4,270

>>4,360

b4,440 

h5,340 

bll,660 

b!2, 800

b!8,800 

b!9,320

b!9, 450 

»24,320

Period of 

known 

floods

1938-39 

1938-39 

1909-39

1924-39

1932-39

f 1884 

\ 1903-39

1910-39 

1939

f 1883-1939 

\ 1923-27

1896-1939 

f 1882-1939 

\ 1907-39 

1936-39 

f 1882-1938 

\ 1923-34

1878-1939 

1900-1936

1938 

1907-39

Peak sta

Date

June 15-16. 1938 »-.* 

..... do..........-.'...

Jan. 25, 1938 .......

May 20, 1930 ___.. .. 

Jan. 1932. __

May 1884--- ....... 

Mays, 1915..... .... .

June 20, 1939 ___ ...

June 22, 1939- .........

Unknown ____ .

Sept. 6, 1926.. 

In 1896 and 1908..... .

1884 _____._ _.... -...

Sept. 18, 1938 

Sept. 18, 1936 » 

Sept. 19, 1936 - -

Oct. 15, 1930 ..... 

July 23, 1938--... .

/April 1900 -- 

(Sept. 21, 1936 

July 25, 1938 

June 15, 1935.... .
TABLE 15. Maximum stages and discharges on streams in Red, Sabine, and Co

Item 

No.

18 

19

20

n

22 

23 

24

25

26

27 

28 

29

«f

31 

32 

33 

34

35 

36

37

Stream and place of determination

Colorado River Basin-- Continued

South Coneho River at ChristovaL. _ 

South Concho River at San Angelo __

Middle Concho River near Tankersley.

Korth Coneho River near Carlsbad __ 

North Concho River at San Angeto.,.. 

Bast fork of Grape Creek near Carlsbad.

Grape -Creek at railroad bridge near 

Carlsbad. 

West Fork of Grape Creek near Carlsbad.

Latitude

30 16 

30 01

29 43

29 35 

29 18 

32 43 

31 45

31 13

81 ~27

31 27 

31 31 

31 19

31 23

. 31 22 

31 36 

31 27 

31 89

' 31 88 

31 34

31 40

Longitude

97 45 

97 10

96 32

96 25 

96 06 

100 55 

99 57

100 30

100 36

100 25 

99 57 

JOO 27

100 37"

100 32 

,100 40 

100 26 

100 34

100 34 

100 34

100 35

Drainage 

area 

(square 

miles)

b 26, 350 

fc27,850

b29,040

b29,140 

b29,350 

120 

458

434

b2,585 . 

b 4, 217 

b5,263 

81

b 1,128 

734 

bl,406 

b 1,675 

32

53 

79

17

Period of 

known 

floods

1843-1938 

1913-39

1869-1939

1913-39 

1913-39 

1892-1939 

1906-39

1882-1939

1854-1939

1854-1939 

1882-1839 

1936-39

1922-39

1930-39 

1922-39 

1854-1939 

1936-39

1936-38 

1936-39

1936-39

Peak stag

Date

fJuly 7, 1869...... 

\Junel5, 1935 ...

! December 1913... ....--

June 16, 1935..- 

July 1869 > . -_- 

Dec. 6, 1913-. ..... .

June 18, 1935.... . ..

/December 1913..- .....

\June 19,- 1935 ..... 

/1892-. ................

\ June 19, 1939- .........

Sept. 3, 1935 ... .....

! 

Aug. 6,1906 . 

July 23, 1938.-. ..

Aug. 6, 1906 ... .... .

Aug. 6, 1906-- ....

Sept. 17, 1936..... ..

Sept. 15, 1936 .........

/April 1922 ... ..._

\Sept.26, 1936 . 

Sont 17 IQSfi

Sept. 28, 1936 » - 

Sept* 17, 1936 ......

.....do.- .........

 .do."-..... -~~ .
fW

39 

4n

41

42

48

44

45

46

47 

4ft

49 

<ai

51 

52 

53 

54 

55

«1T 

57

>3J

59

60 

61

62 

63

fi4

6S

66

67

68

69 

70

71

73

73

74

75

Dry Creek at railroad bridge near San

Salt Creek near Doote ________ 

Pecan Bayou at Brownwood Reservoir '.

San Saba River near Fort McKavett _

San Saba River near Rtehland SpringsNorth Valtey Prong of San Saba River 

near Fort McKavett. 

Middle Valley Prong of San Saba River 

near Fort McKavett. 

East Fork of Terrett Draw above Coal 

Kiln Draw near Fort McKavett. 

East Fork of Terrett Draw below Coal 

Kiln Draw near Fort McKavett. 

Terrett Draw near Fort McKavett __

West Fork of Terrett JJraw near Fort 

McKavett. 

Colston Draw near Fort McKavett __

Rtehland Creek near Richland Springs -

North Llano River near Roosevelt- ....

West. Fork of Copperas Creek near 

Roosevelt.

South Llano River near Telegraph __

East Fork of James River at Old Noxville.

Sandy Creek near Marble Falls... .....

Hamilton Creek near Marble Falls. _ ,

31 40

31 33 

31 41

31 28

31 24

31 23

31 50 

31 44

31 48

30 52 

30 55

31 08 

31 12

30 51 

30 50 

30 41 

30 43 

J5& 50.

30 45

30 47 

31 09

31 06

31 16 

31 03

30 30 

30 30

30 30

30 43

30 33 

30 31

30 32

30 15 

30 18

30 22 

30 35

30 34

30 32

30 38

100 29

100 32 

100 26

99 59

99 25

99 06

99 00

98 58

99 02

100 01 

99 48

98 57 

98 42

100 08 

100 08 

100 11 

100 10 

JDO OZ.

100 10

100 07 

99 20

99 18

98 50 

98 34

100 03

99 47

99 44

98 53

100 03 

100 00

99 50

99 57 

99 53

99 24 

99 19

98 28

. 98 27

98 14

14

48 

.76

289

88.2

59.2

1,535 

1,614

668

688 

1,151

2,757 

3,046

328 

188 

19 

33 

O03

21

24

KCJ

595

72.4 

14Q

443 

914

1,762

3,514

81 

118

155

540 , 

218

60.8 

336

344

24

67

1836-39

1936-39 

1936-39

1938-39

1938-39-

1938-39

1932 

/ 1917-18

L 1923-39

1039

1899-1936 

1899-1939

1938-39

1HQQ_1CMQ

1936 

1920-36 

1936 

1936 

1S99-1936

1936

1936 

1930

1930-39

1938-39 

1882, 1938

1936 

1875-1939

1889-1939

1889-1939

1879-1939 

1936 39

1936-39

1935-39 

1923-39

1915-39 

1932

1886-1939

1936

1885-1939

.....do.*.... . . .-.-

__ do." ___ . ____ 

July 23, 1938... .....

.....do..... ...-

.... .do- - - 

Julys, 1932 » _ 

}Oct. 14, 1930... ....

July 3, 1932 "_ _ -

Sept: 16, 1936 

(June 5 or 6, 1899 ........

\July 23, 1938 

July 22, 1938 

July 23, 1938 __

Sept. 16, 1936 

 do .. 

 ^___ 

Sept. 15 or 16, 1936 i .

Sept. 16, 1936 i... .....

Oct. 6, 1930-, . 

July 23, 1938 » 

__ do .. __ _

Sept. 25, 1938.. ... 

Sept. 16, 1936 i... ...

... ..do ..............

June 14, 1936- .

 .do

Sept. 16, 1936 .... ..

Sept. 15 or 16, 1936 » 

Sept. 16, 1936 i - 

June 14, 1935 » 

June 14, 1935- 

Julyl, 1932 .........

July 2, 1932... .... ..

Sept. 15, 1936 

Sept. 26, 1936. ......

See footnotes at end of table.
TABLE 15. Maximum stages and discharges on streams in Red, Sabine, and Col

Item 

No?

76

77 

78 

79 

80 

81 

82 

83 

84

Stream and place of determination

Colorado River Basin Continued

Little Barton Creek near Bee Cave -

Onion Creek near Dripping Springs. . 

Latitude

30 14

30 25 

30 12 

30 15 

30 18 

30 13 

30 10 

30 05 

30 11

Longitude

08 40

08 05 

98 18 

97 49 

97 58 

97 40 

98 06 

97 51 

97 42

Drainage 

area 

(square 

miles)

647 

1,294 

56.3 

114 

6,3 

12 

54.8 

151 

337

Period of 

known 

floods

( 1900 

\ 1924-34 

1869-1939 

1929 

1929- 

1880-1939 

1921-26 

1881-1939

1929 

1870-1939

Peak stage 

Date

April 1900_- ... ...

May 28, 1929.... .____.. .

.....do........ ..-_-.-...

do..... _.- ...

.---do.......-- -... 

May 28, 1929...... ......

.....do. _ ........ __ ..

Sept. 10, 1921...........

» Greatest flood known to local residents. 

> Excluding noncontributing area.

e Measured 4.9 mites below Colorado; effective drainage area, 1,848 square miles, 

a Outflow from reservoir*

 To datum of gage used after Aug. 21,1934, which is 3 feet higher datum than gage used prior to that time.

*j£bout. '

s Not affected by backwater.

h 2.4 feet caused by backwater.

1 Record furnished by Brown County Water Improvement District 1.

j Higher stages known to have occurred.

k flood of 1882 reached a stage about 10 feet higher than in 1938,
INDEX

Pkee

Abstract.-.. . ..- 1-2

Acknowledgments _ -------- _ ---------- _ 5

Austin, Colorado Eiver at. ------ 65-66, 96, £1. 1

flood at _ -. . ____ ._-- ____ 1. 2

flood-crest stage at --------- _ .

hydrograph of discharge at.-.--. 

rainfall at..__ ___ - ..-. __ . 

silt content of Colorado River at 

summary of flood stages and discharges at..

Ballinger, Colorado River at.. -- - 

ElmCfeekat- . _- 71-72 

flood-cresfrstage at _ .-. 48

rainfall at ___ .. .-. _ ____ 25 

summary of flood stages and discharges at. 50

jBrady, flood at-.. ---_----.------_. --_-43, pi. 4, -B

rainfall at,- ___ - _ . .. ____ _ 25,31

Brady Creek, at Brady ____ ......... __ . pi. 4

flood-crest stages on . _ 46-47,49

Brady Standard, quotations from. _ __ _ ._. 43

Brownwood, Brownwood Reservoir near. . . . . . 85

PecanBayoaat - - 85-86 

summary of flood stages and discharges at. 50

Brownwood Reservoir, near Brownwood . . _ _ 85

Buchanan Dam and Reservoir, flood at _ 39, 

45-46, 62-64, pis. ! 7, 8

Burnet, Buchanan Reservoir near. _.. . 62-64, pis. 7, 8

Carlsbad, North Concho River near. . .. __ _ . 83-84 

summary of flood stages- and discharges '

near___- ______ _ _. _ -_.__..____ 50

Castell, hydrograph of discharge near.. __ .... 67 

Llano River near... __ .. _ . ___ ... .. 93-94 

summary of flood stages and discharges

near.... _ _ .... 51

Central Texas, meteorologic conditions in __ . 23J-24 

rainfallin ... 25-30

Christoval, flood at. __ . ... _ _ __ .. 40 

hydrograph of discharge at. _ _ ----- _ 55

South Concho Riverat... ----------- __ . 73-74

summary of flood stages and discharges at. 50

Colorado River at and near Wharton. _ _ _ .. pi. 3 

at Austin...... -------- 65-66, 96, pis. 1, A, 2

at BalllngBT ... 58^59

at Buchanan Dam. ., _ .... _____ pj. 7

at Robert Lee... _ . _ . _ ... _ .. ___ H08 

at Roy Inks Darn..... ___ . _ ... __ . pi. 1, B

at Smlthvflle .. 67t-69

flood-crest stages on. .. ____ . _ _ . 48 

flood on, general features of-... _ __ __ 39 

hydrograph of discharge of _ ... _ _... J53

near Eagle Lake.--..-!-.----------- 69-71J

near San Saba.--.--i.---------- 59-61J

silt in....---___--... +.-_ -----

summary of flood stages and discharges on 50 

Colorado River Basin, flood stages and discharges to------__._-___..___ 46+51

floods in._........_. ___..._. _ 23-J09

maximum stages and discharges on streams

in..... 46-52,109,111-114

rainfall in -..... 24-37,98-^07

Page

Colorado River Basin, run-off in._____ 98-104 

stages and discharges at river-measurement

stations to...... . 46-95,108-109

Concho River, flood to...__......____ 39-40

hydrograph of discharge on... .___.. 55 

near Paint Rock.__.__........___. 79-80

near San Angelo..__ ____...____ 77-78

summary of flood stages and discharges on 50

Concho River Basin, rainfall to__.... 28,102-103

run-off in..-_-_-.r ._--- -- 102-103 

Cypress Creek, near Jefferson..... __. _ 8,12-13

peak discharges of......._..._..__ 10

Cypress Creek Basin, rainfall in. _______ 7 

Darden, Sulphur River near.______ 8,10,11-12 

Discharge, hydrographs of... _. __.. _ .8,53-57

See also particular streams. 

Donley County, flood in....______.__ 18-22

Donley County Leader, quotation from....-- 18-19

Dry Creek, north of Menard, rainfall on__ - 32 

rainfall records for-........._______ 31

Eagle Lake, Colorado River nea»__.__ 69-71,96 

flood-crest stage near...__....._____ 48

hydrograph of discharge near. ___ _. 53

silt content of Colorado River near._.__._ 96,98 

summary of flood stages and discharges

near _._._............. 50

East Texas, floods to.,_. _... ____ 6-17 

rainfall In . _...._____.___ 6,9

stages and discharges at river-measurement stations in_______. _ 6-17 

Eden, rainfall at........................... 25,30,32

Elm Creek, at Ballinger.- 71-72

summary of flood stages and discharges on. 50 

Flood discharge, determination of....__.... 5-6

Flood stages and discharges in Colorado River

Basin, summary of.._.__-.... 46-57

See also particular strearns.

Floods, areas experiencing__.._. ___. 3 

of January 1938, to east Texas.___ _ __ 6-17 

rairifall during__.-.-.- - -.- -- 6 

stages and discharges at river-measurement stations during....__ __. 6-17

of July 1938, flood-crest stages in .- 46-49 

in Colorado River Basta .- 23-104 

meteorologic conditions during....... 23-37

rainfall during..--.-..-"...-----.-. 24-37

stages and discharges at river-measurement stations during. _.________ 49-95

of June 1938, discharge records during_ _ - 22 

on Lake Creek.. . ..... 18-22

rainfall during - .. - 19-21

of June 1939, discharge records during_ 108-109

to upper Colorado River Basin.... 104-109

previous....------ -- -- .____... 109-114

Gladewater, Sabine River near-. .... 8,10,14-15

Introduction__...__ ...__._...:_... 2-4 

Jefferson, Cypress Creek near__....... 8,10,12-13

rainfall near..__.__...__... 9

115 ,
116 INDEX

Page

Junction, hydrograph of discharge near 57 

Llano River near._ . . .... . 91-92

North Llano River near..-------- - 90-91

summary of flood stages and discharges

near. ___ ..- 51

Lake Creek, Donley County, flood on___ 18-22

Lake Creek Basin, discharge records in 22

rainfall in 19-21

Lake Nasworthy, near San Angelo ___ 74-75

Llano River, flood peak on . 39

hydrograph of discharge on 57

near Castell .____ _ 93-94

summary of flood stages and discharges

on 51

near Junction ±. 91-92

Llano River Basin, rainfall in .. 29,103-104

runoff in ___... ... 103-104

Logansport, La., rainfall at____.__ 9

Sabine River at_.___. _____ 8,10,16-17

Mangum, Okla., Salt Fork of Red River at 22

Menard, flood-crest stages at-. 48

hydrograph of discharge at_.._... 66

rainfall at ........ ... 25,26,31,32

San Saba River at . 86-88, pi. 4

summary of flood stages and discharges at. 50

Menard News, quotations from....... . 41-42

Middle Concho River, near Tankersly.-- 80-81

summary of flood stages and discharges on. 50

North Concho River, near Carlsbad... _ 83-84

summary of flood stages and discharges on. 50

North Llano River, hydrograph of discharge

on___.___.______ 57 

near Junction______ ^ ___. ____ 90-91 

summary of flood stages and discharges on. 51 

Paint Rock, Concho River near__.. ____ 79-80 

hydrograph of discharge near____ . 55 

summary of flood stages and discharges

near_____________1... 50 

Peak discharges-. _ . 10,50-51,109 

Pecan Bayou, at Brownwood.._______ 85-86 

summary of flood stages and discharges on. 50 

Pederaales River, near Spicewood.^..___ 94-95 

summary of flood stages and discharges on. 51 

Precipitation. See Rainfall. 

Rainfall, causing floods.. 6,18-19,23,24,42,45,98-10 

isobyetal maps of.__... 7, 20, 33-37, 41, 44,10 

records of. .. . 9,21,25-31,100,106-10, 

runoff resulting from_____.____'98-10 

Red River, Salt Fork of, at Mangum, Okla... 2 

Red River Basin, maximum stages and discharges on streams iu______ 10, 111 

River-measurement stations. See particular

Robert Lee, Colorado River at.... 108

Roy Jnks Dam, flood at...-. ------- 39, pi. 1

Runoff, relation of, to rainfall-. 98-104

See also particular streams.

Sabine River, at Logansport, La. .. 8,16-17 

near Gladewater__._ - 8,14-15 

peak discharges of.._.. . 10

Page 

Sabine River Basin, maximum stages and

discharges on streams in___.. _ 10,111 

rainfall in__.._..._____.....__ 7

Fork of Red River, at Mangum Okla__ 22 

San Angelo, Concho River near._______ 77-78 

hydrographs of discharge at and near..... 55

Lake Nasworthy near._______. 74-75

South Concho River at _._......_ 75-77

summary of flood stages and discharges

at and near ____________ 60 

San Angelo Standard-Times, quotation from. 40 

San Saba, Colorado River near. ..... 48,59-61,96

hydrographs of discharge at and near __ 53,56 

San Saba River at.-. 42-43,88-90, pis. 5, 6 

silt content of Colorado River near.... 96,97

summary of flood stages and discharges at

andnear._...... . .... 60,51

San Saba News, quotation from_______ 42-43

San Saba River, at Menard_________ 86-88

at San Saba...- . 88-90

floodin-^--- - -.-__._.. 40-45,pis.4-6

flood-crest stages on...______ 46-47,48-49

profile of__._.______._.. 47

hydrograph of discharge of..... ... 56

summary of flood stages and discharges

on.__.' . .__......... 50,51

San Saba River Basin, rainfall in...... 28-29,44,103

runoff in. ....__ __-_..__... 103

Silt, in Colorado River. . 95-98

Sloan,rainfaflat -- -.- 25,31,32

Smithville, Colorado River at.. 48,50,67-69

hydrograph of discharge at....... , 53

rainfall at 26

South Concho River, at ChristovaL__. _ 73-74 

at San Angelo.. . - 7&-T7 

floodin ..._. .. 39-40

hydrograph of discharge op. .. - 55 

summary of flood stages and discharges '

on . . 6f^ 

Spicewood, Pedernates River near. 94-95 

summary of flood stages and discharges

near.....___'........_.__._ 51

SpringCfeek, nearTaakersly__... . 82-83 

summary of flood stages and discharges

on ..... -., .- 60

Sulphur River, near Darden.. .__ _ 8,11-12

peak discharges of..-. ..: 10

Sulphur RiverBasin, rainfall tou..1. ...., 7

Tankersly, Mid'dte'Concho!Bi'?sria«ir.. «0-S1 

Spring Creek near._ , ' ... 82-83 

summary of flood stages and discharges

near _ __j, _...1___._,. 50 

Texas State Board of Water ^n^&ears, report on Buehanan Barn._-.1 4M6 

Upper Colorado River Basin, discharge rfrcordsfor . ' 108-109 

floodin..._~ T _.__ -__-. 104-109 

peak discharges In. ....... U- 109

ratofaflto 104-107

Water Engineers, Texas State Board of, report on Buchanan DsiJft..-.-__ 46-48 

Wharton, flood at. .. _- .-.,- pi. 3

o