Floods of December 1966 

in the Kern-Kaweah Area, 

Kern and Tulare Counties, 

California

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1870-C
Floods of December 1966 

in the Kern-Kaweah Area, 

Kern and Tulare Counties, 

California

By WILLARD W. DEAN

fPith a section on GEOMORPHIC EFFECTS IN 

THE KERN RIVER BASIN

By KEVIN M. SCOTT

FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1870-C

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1971
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

ROGERS C. B. MORTON, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

W. A. Radlinski, Acting Director

Library of Congress catalog-card No. 73-610922

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

Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 45 cents (paper cover)
CONTENTS

Page

Abstract_____________________________________________________ Cl

Introduction.____________ _ ________________________________________ 1

Acknowledgments. ________________________________________________ 3

Precipitation__ ____________________________________________________ 5

General description of the floods___________________________________ 9

Kern River basin______________________________________________ 12

Tule River basin______________________________________________ 16

Kaweah River basin____________________________--_-____-_---_- 18

Miscellaneous basins___________________________________________ 22

Storage regulation _________________________________________________ 22

Flood damage.__________________________________________________ 23

Comparison to previous floods___________-_____________--___------_ 25

Flood frequency.__________________________________________________ 27

Geom orphic effects in the Kern River basin, by Kevin M. Scott. __________ 28

Sedimentation and channel changes______________-_--_-___-___------- 30

Determination of flood discharges___________________---_-_-----_ 31

Summary of flood stages and discharges_________-____-___-__------__- 33

Explanation of station data--_--_-_--_-_--_--_---_-_---__----------- 36

Selected references.._______________________________--____----_-_--- 37

Station data.______________________________________________________ 39

Index____________________________.___________ 79

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page 

FIGURE 1. Index map showing area of extreme flooding in December

1966____._____________________________-----.__ C2

2. Map showing location of gaging stations_________________ 4

3. Graph showing hourly precipitation at selected stations.____ 6

4. Map showing isohyets of total precipitation, December 2-6,

1966_.__._._________________-_-___-__----____------- 8

5. Graph showing area-altitude relations upstream from selected

gaging stations or reservoirs____-____-___--__---_------ 10

6. Hydrographs showing daily mean discharge at selected gaging

stations.____________________________________________ 11

7. Hydrographs showing discharge at selected gaging stations

in Kern River basin._________________________________ 13

8. Photographs showing flow at gaging-station site on the Kern 

River at Kernville, before, during, and after flood of 

December 1966____________________________-_---. 15

9. Hydrographs showing discharge at selected gaging stations

in the Tule River basin_______________________________ 17

m
IV CONTENTS

Page 

FIGURE 10. Hydrographs showing discharge at selected gaging stations

in the Kaweah River basin____________________________ C2C

11. Graphs showing cumulative precipitation or runoff in the

Kaweah River basin__________________________________ 21

12. Graphs showing storage regulation and discharge in the Tule

River basin__________________________________________ 24

13. Photograph of Kelso Creek near Weldon; downstream view,

January 1967______-_-__-_-__----__-__--__-________ 29

14. Graphs showing change in river-channel cross section of the 

Kern River at Kernville and the South Fork Kern River 

near Onyx, 1966, 1967, and 1969_______._______ 32

15. Photograph of South Kern River near Onyx; upstream view,

January 1967___.________________________ 33

TABLES

Page 

TABLE 1. Precipitation at selected stations_________________________ C5

2. Peak discharge at selected stations during the floods of 1950,

1955, 1963, and 1966____________________._____-______. 26

3. Runoff at selected gaging stations for 3-day periods during the

floods of 1950, 1955, 1963, and 1966__________________ 26

4. Summary of flood stages and discharges__________________ 34
FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1966 IN THE

KERN-KAWEAH AREA,

KERN AND TULARE COUNTIES,

CALIFORNIA

By WILLARD W. DEAN

ABSTRACT

Past records of peak flow and 3-day storm-runoff volume in the Kern, Tule, 

and Kaweah River basins in California were greatly exceeded by the floods 

of December 1966. 'Streams rose rapidly following precipitation of as much 

as 15 inches in a 24-hour period on December 5-6 during a strong inflow 

of warm moist Pacific air across central California. As heavy rain continued, 

extremely high peak discharges occurred at most gaging 'stations 'between 2300 

hours December 5 and 1800 hours December 6.

Snowmelt was not a major cause of the floods, although some snow that 

had accumulated during minor November and early December storms was melted. 

This snowmelt was offset by snowpack accumulation at high altitudes where 

little runoff occurred during the storm.

This report covers the area of most intense precipitation and runoff. Areas 

of central California to the north and west had severe floods, but these, in 

general, were not nearly as great as previous record floods. The terrain of the 

flood area described in the report ranges from the rolling foothills at the east 

edge of the flat Tulare Lake basin to the steep slopes of the Sierra Nevada where 

considerable area is above an altitude of 9,000 feet. This report includes discussions of the antecedent hydrology and the meteorology of the storm; a 

description of the floods, storage regulation, flood damage, comparison to previous 

floods, sedimentation, channel changes, and flood frequency; a summary of 

flood stages and discharges; and detailed information on stage, discharge, and 

reservoir contents for December 1966.

INTRODUCTION

On December 4-6, 1966, an intense Pacific storm brought heavy 

precipitation to the Kern, Tule, Kaweah, and intervening smaller river 

basins for 48 hours. Storm runoff increased rapidly to peak flows 

greater than those previously experienced at most gaging stations

Cl
C2 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

upstream from storage reservoirs. The stations include one station with 

continuous records since 1912. Peak flows generally were 1.5 to 2 times 

the magnitude of the probable 50-year flood. On the Kern River 

near Kernville the 1966 flood stage was somewhat lower than the 

historic flood of December 1867. The area covered in this report of 

extreme flooding in the Sierra Nevada and the foothills east of the 

valley floor is outlined in figure 1. Severe floods that occured in central 

California to the west and north are not described in the report.

Damage was less than might be expected from a flood of this 

record-breaking magnitude because the mountain and foothill areas 

are sparsely populated. Three reservoirs operated by the U.'S. Army 

Corps of Engineers controlled the floods and prevented catastrophic 

damage to Bakersfield, Porterville, Visalia, and other downstream

124' 122° 120° 118° 116° 114°

FIGURE 1. Area of extreme flooding in December 1966.
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C3

cities. Actual damage is estimated at $13 million in mountain and 

foothill areas upstream from these reservoirs. This total includes 

$4,500,000 damage t>o U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service 

facilities. The three reservoirs are estimated to have prevented a total 

of $81,300,000 in potential downstream damage. Three lives were lost 

in the flood.

This report provides detailed hydrologic data for use in flood-control 

planning and in other studies involving flood hydrology. Flood stage 

and discharge information collected by the U.S. Geological Survey is 

presented for the flood area. This information includes all available 

data on stage and discharge for each gaging station during the period 

of storm runoff, a summary table of flood stages and discharges, a 

comparison to the maximum floods previously known, and the estimated recurrence interval. Information provided by other agencies 

on storm precipitation, flood damage, and storage regulation is 

included.

Pacific standard time on a 24-hour clock basis is used in this report. 

Numbers in figure 2 are assigned to all gaging sites on a downstream 

basis following the order used in U.S. 'Geological Survey publications 

on surface-water supply and quality. National network identification 

numbers are also listed in the summary table and in the station-data 

tabulations for all sites where data are collected on a continuing 

basis.

Special reports have been prepared for other notable floods in the 

area flooded in December 1966. The publications that contain this 

information are U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Papers 843, 

1137-F, 1260-D, 1650-A and B, and 1830-A.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The data in this report were collected as part of the cooperative 

programs between the U.S. Geological Survey and the California 

Department of Water Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Forest Service. Records for several 

stations were furnished by the Southern California Edison Co. and the 

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. Records for the Kern River near Bakersfield were furnished by the Kern County Land Co.

The data were collected and compiled under the supervision of R. 

Stanley Lord, district chief of the California district of the Water 

Resources Division. The field surveys and office computations were 

supervised by Edward J. Jones, Herman A. Ray, and Verrie F. 

Pearce of the Sacramento office.

The cooperation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in providing 

information on storm precipitation, storage regulation, and flood 

damage is gratefully acknowledged.
C4 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

119° 118°

Data-collection site 

/ Number corresponds to 

that in table 4

FIGURE 2. Location of gaging stations.
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA

PRECIPITATION

C5

The primary cause of the floods in December 196'6 was the persistent 

moderate to heavy rainfall that began about 1600 hours on December 4 

and continued until 1800 hours on December 6. Antecedent precipitation had reduced soil-moisture deficiencies. Some melting of accumulated low-altitude snow may have augmented flood peaks slightly. 

The intense precipitation of up to 15 inches in '24 hours would have 

been sufficient to cause record floods without any antecedent precipitation or snow.

Above-normal precipitation occurred during the latter part of November from several small storms. On December 2, a moderate storm 

deposited 2-6 inches of precipitation at mountain stations. Late in 

the afternoon of December 4, an influx of warm moist Pacific air 

began the period of heavy precipitation and runoff that culminated 

in the flood peaks late on December 5 or early on December 6. Hourly 

precipitation at selected stations is plotted in figure 3. The precipitation intensity lessened for a Ifew hours before noon on December 5. 

Very heavy precipitation resumed after noon and increased generally 

to its highest rates during the evening of December 5.

Daily and monthly precipitation totals are listed in table 1. More 

complete data for these and many additional stations are published 

in the December 1966 Climatological Data report of the U.S. Weather 

Bureau (1967). Observations of accumulated precipitation tabulated 

in table 1 are made at 0800 hours at many nonrecording rain gages. 

Thus the amounts recorded for December 7 at Johnsondale, Glennville, 

Giant Forest, Grant Grove, and Ash Mountain actually fell on December !6. Daily observations are made later in the day at Wofford Heights 

(sunset), Kern Eiver powerhouse 1 (1700), Springville (midnight), 

and Three Eivers powerhouse 2 (1400). Amounts for these stations 

more nearly represent precipitation on the dates shown.

TABLE 1. Precipitation, in inches, at selected stations

Station

"ohnsondale -.-..-

'Voflord Heights.. 

Tern Eiver 

powerhouse 1... 

^pringville 

Banger Station . 

Giant Forest...... 

Grant Grove. .... 

.Ash Mountain. ... 

Three Rivers

Altitude 

(ft)

4,680 

3,140 

2,700

970

1,050 

6,412 

6,600 

1,708

November

Total 

for 

month

4.58 

2.07 

1.16

1.28

2.38 

5.83 

5.72 

5.83

Percentage of 

normal

147

158

266

1

0 

0 

0

0

0 

0 

0 

0

2

0.0 

.09 

.04

.02

1.66 

.15 

.17

.09

3

3.15 

.92 

1.14

.57

.02 

5.80 

4.86 

2.46

4

Trace 

0 

1.04

.01

.21 

.06 

.16 

.08

December

5

6.46 

1.52 

2.60

.97

5.04 

5.81 

4.33 

2.98

6

14.94 

4.38 

6.04

1.82

3.85 

12.90 

10.09 

7.33

7

5.90 

1.71 

.14

.07

0 

3.03 

3.43

2.58

Total 

for 

month

30.61 

8.74 

11.03

3.54

10.93 

28.02 

23.33 

15.65

Percentage of 

normal

200

335

316

powerhouse 2... 950 3.72 220 0 .34 1.41 0 2.03 7.90 .17 11.99 310

414-459 O 71-
0.4

0.2 

DAILY TOTALS

FIGURE 3. Hourly precipitat
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA O7

Measurements at the many high-altitude snow courses in the flood 

area are not made until January 1 or February 1 of each year. Therefore, there are few data on snowpack accumulation or loss during the 

storm. Snow depth on the ground is measured daily at Grant Grove 

(alt, 6,600 ft); however, no snow was reported on the ground there 

before the December storm, and the 4 inches reported at 0800 hours 

December 5 was gone December 6. During an inspection of Kern 

River basin gaging stations December 8 and 9, no snow was noted on 

the ground below 7,000 feet altitude, but thin patches of saturated 

snow and snow-ice were noted between 7,000 and 8,000 feet, and continuous snow cover was noted above 8,500 feet. At the Golden Trout 

Creek gaging station (site 1) the snow on the ground at 9,000 feet 

consisted of a 2-foot-deep dense frozen base which was covered with 

1 foot of powder snow. Evidently rain had fallen at that altitude during part of the storm, but the snowpack absorbed most of the rain. 

Above 9,000 feet the storm precipitation caused little runoff in the 

Kern River basin.

The isohyetal map (fig. 4) adapted from data furnished by the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1967, pi. 3) shows the generalized 

total precipitation December 2-6 over the flood area. The map is 

based on all available precipitation data from recording gages, nonrecording daily observation gages, and high-altitude storage gages. 

Precipitation accumulated since September 1966 in storage gages was 

measured December 13 and proportioned on the basis of lower altitude 

daily precipitation records to estimate total December 2-6 storm precipitation for the high altitudes.

To relate precipitation to runoff in the December 1966 flood area, 

it is necessary to determine the altitude above which precipitation 

fell as snow and did not contribute to runoff. Analysis by the U.S. 

Corps df Engineers (1967, chart 1) indicates that the incoming warm 

moist air brought rain as high as 8,000 feet altitude during the evening 

of December 5 and up to 10,000 feet early on December 6. This rainfall 

melted most of the shallow residual snowpack from December 2-4 and 

previous storms. Observation by the Corps of Engineers of the snowpack near high-altitude precipitation gages in the Kern, Tule, and 

Kaweah River basins on December 13 indicated that heavy rain had 

fallen during the December 5-6 storm above 8,000 feet altitude. Personal observation December 9 of snowpack and stream-channel conditions at the Golden Trout Creek gaging station disclosed that little 

storm runoff had occurred above 9,000 'feet in the Kern River basin. 

To the west, runoff probably occurred from all altitudes in the Tule 

River basin (highest alt, 10,042 ft) because practically the entire 

basin was bare, with only patches of snowpack being observed at highest altitudes December 8. No direct observations were made to define
C8 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

119° 118°

EXPLANATION

I ~^2 

jPrecipitation in inches

Isohyetal lines from U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers (1967, pi. 3)

FIGURE 4. Isohyets of total precipitation. December 2-6,1966.
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C9

the upper altitude boundary of the runoff-producing area in the 

Kaweah Eiver basin. The altitude of the snowline in the Kaweah 

Eiver basin probably was comparable to that in the Tule Eiver basin, 

with little snow below 9,000-10,000 feet altitude.

The effect of the altitude of the snowline on runoff is demonstrated 

by use of area-altitude curves (fig. 5). Assuming that there was little 

direct runoff from areas above 9,000 feet altitude, about 80 percent of 

the Kern Eiver drainage area above Isabella Eeservoir contributed 

storm runoff to the peak of the December 1966 flood. Likewise, at least 

90 percent of the Kaweah Eiver drainage area above Lake Kaweah 

contributed runoff, and virtually 100 percent of the Tule Eiver drainage area above Lake Success contributed.

In contrast, a colder storm with snow down to 6,000 feet altitude 

would cause rain and runoff over only 35 percent of the Kern River 

basin, 50 percent of the Kaweah River basin, and 80 percent of the 

Tule River basin. Such a storm occurs often over these areas during 

the period of December through March when Pacific airflow from the 

west or northwest has a temperature as much as 5° Celsius colder than 

the temperature during the storm period of December 5-6,1966. Under 

these conditions the runoff-producing area of the Kern Eiver basin 

would be less than half that during the December 1966 flood and that 

of the Kaweah Eiver basin only a little more than half. Eunoff from 

the Tule Eiver basin is affected less by temperature differences because 

a much smaller part of the drainage area is higher than 6,000 feet 

altitude. In the Kern and Kaweah River basins, however, the precipitation during the relatively warm storm of December 1966 fell as rain 

over a much larger part of the drainage than usual and produced much 

greater runoff than usual during a winter storm.

The area-altitude curves (fig. 5) were approximated on the basis of 

100 or more points selected on a uniform square grid system and were 

arrayed by altitude zones. The curves were smoothed after plotting 

cumulative percentages of points above indicated altitudes.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE FLOODS

The intense 48-hour storm on December 4r-6, 1966, caused recordbreaking floods in the Buena Vis'ta Lake and Tulare Lake basins (fig. 

1). Severe flooding extended over the Kern, Tule, and Kaweah River 

basins in a 60- by 100-mile area in the Sierra Nevada northeast of 

Bakersfield. Moderate flooding occurred in the Kings River basin and 

other basins to the north and in streams draining from the Coast 

Range to the west.

Hydrographs of daily mean discharge at key gaging stations on 

Kern, Tule, and Kaweah Rivers are shown in figure 6. The hydro-
CIO FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

EXPLANATION

Isabella Reservoir near Isabella

Kern River at Kernville

Lake Kaweah near Lemoncove

Lake Success near Success

South Fork Kern River near Onyx

2 -

0 20 40 60 80 100 

PERCENTAGE OF DRAINAGE AREA BELOW INDICATED ALTITUDE

FIGURE 5. Area-altitude relations upstream from selected gaging 

stations or reservoirs.
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA Oil
C12 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

graph shape is remarkably similar for the three rivers. Flood peakr 

were the greatest of record at many gaging stations in the Kern, Tule, 

and Kaweah River basins. Damage was severe in all headwater areas 

Most highway bridges were destroyed or severely damaged. Culverts 

were overflowed or plugged with debris, or usually a combination of 

'both. Sustained discharged in excess of normal channel capacity 

eroded streambeds and streambanks and damaged all adjacent structures. Details regarding the flood in each basin are given in the following sections.

KERN RIVER BASIN

The Kern River basin upstream from the gaging station near 

Bakersfield (site 18), a drainage area of 2,407 square miles, ranges ir 

altitude from 450 feet to 14,495 feet at the summit of Mount Whitney. 

Runoff from 2,074 square miles, 86 percent of the area above the 

Bakersfield gage, is controlled in Isabella Reservoir (site 14). Record? 

are available from 18 gaging stations in the Kern River basin to document the flood. A good sample of different hydrologic conditions is 

provided because runoff is measured from drainage areas with a widerange of size, altitude, and location in the basin. Eleven of the station? 

were installed since the November 1950 and December 1955 floods, 

which were the greatest previous floods of record. Continuous record? 

are available since 1893 for Kern River near Bakersfield and since 1912 

for Kern River near Kernville.

Peak flows of the December 1966 flood exceeded previous maximums 

at all stations except those on Golden Trout Creek, the one at South 

Fork Kern River near Olancha (site 11), and those below Isabella 

Dam (sites 15,17,18). The stations on Golden Trout Creek and South 

Fork Kern River near Olancha are at high altitudes above which 

December 1966 storm precipitation fell mostly as snow. Flows during 

December 1966 at the three stations on Kern River downstream from 

Isabella Dam were less than those during several floods prior to completion of the dam in 1954. Detailed hydrographs during December 4-7, 

1966, at four selected Kern River stations are shown in figure 7. The 

hydrograph of computed inflow to Isabella Reservoir near Isabella 

(site 14) shows unusual fluctuations on December 4; the trend of 

actual inflow probably follows that of the Kern River at Kernville.

The maximum discharge of 60,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) of the 

Kern River near Kernville (site 5) on December 6,1966, was more than 

twice the previous maximum of 27,400 cfs in November 1950 and 

December 1955. The maximum discharge of 28,700 cfs on the South 

Fork Kern River near Onyx (site 12) was eight times as great as the 

previous maximum of 3,460 cfs recorded in February 1963. The computed maximum bihourly inflow of 96,900 cfs to Isabella Reservoir
100,000

O

z

O 

O

UJ

c/>

a- 10,000

1000 

100

Inflow to Isabella 

Reservoir, Calif.

Kern River at 

Kernville, Calif.

Kern River 

Kern River 

ing Aspe

Calif.

Kern River n

Aspen Ca

5 

DECEMBER 1966

FIGURE 7. Hydrographs showing discharge at selected gagi
C14 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

near Isabella was 2.5 times the previous maximum flow of 39,000 cfs 

at the damsite in November 1950 prior to dam construction.

Little storm runoff occurred above 9,000 feet altitude where the 

precipitation fell during part of the storm as snow and during the 

remainder as rain, as the freezing level changed during the storm. 

When inspected on December 9, the channel of Golden Trout Creek 

was nearly full of ice and frozen saturated snow. There was no evidence, 

of substantial high flow during the storm. Snow already on the ground 

apparently absorbed and held most of the rain that fell upstream from 

this gaging station.

The next highest Kern Eiver basin gaging station is at 7,840 feet 

on the South Fork Kern Eiver near Olancha, A moderate peak occurred on December 6, but the yield per square mile was low because 

of a substantial noncontributing area above about 9,000 feet. The relations between drainage area and altitude upstream from the gaging 

stations on the South Fork Kern River near Onyx and the Kern Eiver 

at Kernville are shown in figure 5.

For the December 1966 flood the computed peak runoff per square 

mile at main Kern Eiver gaging stations increases in a downstream 

direction because downstream tributaries drain more area at altituder 

below 9,000 feet. The unit runoff of Kern Eiver tributaries near Fairview and Kernville exceeded 100 cfs per square mile. The greatest 

known unit runoff was 490 cfs per square mile from a 1.21-square-mile 

area above a crest-stage gage (slope-area measurement) at Kern Eiver 

tributary near Miracle Hot Springs (site 16). Heavy precipitatior 

on December 6 caused this peak and the peak discharge of 9,290 cfs 

at Kern Eiver near Bakersfield (site 18) on December 7 that was thfc 

result of storm runoff from the 333-square-mile drainage area downstream from Isabella Dam. The only release from Isabella Dam for 

the first 10 days during and after the flood was the 300-500 cfs released to Borel Canal for power production.

Damage was heavy along stream channels in the Kern Eiver basin. 

The road from Kernville upstream to Johnsondale is close to the river 

at many locations. This road was obliterated at the outside bank of 

many river bends, and the pavement was scoured away in other locations. The modern steel girder and concrete deck bridge at Kernville 

was destroyed by floodflow. Bridge debris, including one 3-foot by 

40-foot steel girder, was moved several hundred feet downstream. A. 

trailer court and other buildings along the river at Kernville were 

badly damaged.

The flood destroyed the water-stage recorder structures and the 

measuring cableways on the Kern Elver at Kernville (site 9) anc1 

South Fork Kern Eiver near Onyx (site 12). The series of four pictures in figure 8, taken by personnel of the U.S. Forest Service or
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C15

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1 I?

§ *|

^ aj- QQ

aT

3 02 

> p

w *ti ^> O

M b

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8 -a V Oj 

0) 0 I
C16| FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

November 27 and December 5, 6, and 7, shows the gaging-station site 

on the Kern River at Kernville before and after the flood. The gaging 

station on the Little Kern Eiver near Quaking Aspen Camp was 

tilted downstream when the riverbank of boulders and cobbles was 

scoured away, but the station remained in operation. The concrete 

recorder structure on the Kern River near Kernville survived the 

flood, although the recorder was submerged and the cableway destroyed. Later this station also had to be replaced because the low-flow 

channel had been scoured during the flood below the altitude of the 

intake pipes to the gage well. The gaging station on Kelso Creek near 

Weldon was put out of service permanently when a sand fill 8 feet 

deep plugged the channel during flow recession on December 6. The 

fill extends on a level plain 200 feet wide from cutbank to cutbank in 

the alluvial terrain. Most gages were destroyed and discharge-rated 

culverts were plugged at small-area crest-stage gage stations in the 

Kern River basin.

The flood caused the loss of two lives in the Kern River basin. One 

woman died from exposure after she and a companion were isolated 

by the flood in the Lament Meadows area on the South Fork Kern 

River. One man cleaning a weir on the lower Kern River fell into the 

river and suffered a fatal heart attack.

TULE RIVER BASIN

The Tule River drains a fan-shaped 391-square-mile area above 

Lake Success east of Porterville. The drainage area extends from an 

altitude of 560 feet at the reservoir to 10,042 feet at the crest of Maggie 

Mountain on the Tule-Kern River basin drainage divide. The relation between drainage area and altitude in the Tule River basin above 

Lake Success is shown in figure 5. Only a very small part of the basin 

is above 9,000 feet altitude and was noncontributing during the 1966 

flood. Steep slopes in the upper part of this basin cause rapid concentration of runoff during all major storms. The basin is heavily timbered above 5,000 feet altitude. Lower slopes are covered with brush 

and scrub timber. Valleys along the North Fork Tule and main Tule 

Rivers have large open cultivated fields.

Records for the December 1966 flood are available from eight gaging stations in the Tule River basin. Detailed hydrographs at three 

selected stations in the basin are shown for the period December 4-7 

in figure 9. The December 1966 maximum flow of 49,600 cfs at the gaging station on the Tule River near Springville (site 30) was the greatest flood of record and more than double the previous record flow of 

22,400 cfs in November 1950. Records at a former gage site inundated 

by Lake Success in 1961 show that the 1950 flood was the greatest during the period of record, from 1901 to 1960. The December 1955 peak
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C17

III I

QNOO3S U3d 133J Nl
CIS FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

discharge was slightly less than that in 1950 and thus was the third 

highest recorded flood on the Tule Eiver. The December 1966 peak 

discharge of 14,300 cfs on the South Fork Tule Eiver near Success 

(site 31) was also more than double the previous record flow of 7,000 

cfs in November 1950. The computed maximum bihourly inflow to 

Lake Success near Success (site 32) of 52,800 cfs on December 6 similarly was 1.7 times the peak flow of 32,000 cfs in November 1950 at a 

former gaging station near the damsite. The 85,400 acre-feet of nominal storage capacity in Lake Success plus 16,000 acre-feet of flood surcharge storage were utilized by the Corps of Engineers to reduce the 

record-high inflow of December 1966 to a peak outflow of 9,050 cfs 

about 18 hours later.

Peak runoff of 430 cfs per square mile from a 39.3-square-mile area 

on the North Fork of Middle Fork Tule Eiver near Springville (site 

27) was the highest in the Tule Eiver basin. Unit runoff exceeded 130 

cfs per square mile throughout the basin.

Damage in the Tule Eiver basin was greatest along headwater 

stream channels, where all manmade structures suffered some degree 

of damage. The concrete bridge across North Fork Tule Eiver at 

Springville and two bridges across the Tule Eiver downstream from 

Springville were destroyed. Houses along the banks of the Tule Eiver 

at Springville were damaged severely by flooding. Many road culverts 

on normally small channels were destroyed when they were plugged 

or overflowed by the record runoff. On the Tule Eiver Indian Eeservation a 6-year-old boy died from exposure when he was isolated after 

a bridge washed out. Some flooding occurred in agricultural areas 

downstream from Lake Success during sustained release of floodwater December 6-11.

Gaging stations were heavily damaged, including total destruction 

of the station on the North Fork Tule Eiver at Springville (site 29) 

adjacent to the bridge that was destroyed. Downstream, the station 

on Tule Eiver near Springville survived the destruction of the bridge 

to which it was attached, but had to be rebuilt at a different site because of channel scour. Upstream, two low-flow gaging stations belonging to the Southern California Edison Co. were badly damaged.

KAWEAH RIVER BASIN

The Kaweah Eiver basin includes 560 square miles of forest, brush, 

and open areas above Lake Kaweah, the Corps of Engineers' floodcontrol and conservation reservoir east of Visalia. Headwater drainage extends up to an altitude of 12,634 feet at the summit of Triple 

Divide Peak on the Great Western Divide, which separates the Kaweah Eiver basin from the Kern Eiver basin to the east. Triple Divide 

Peak lies at the juncture with the Kings Eiver basin to the north. The
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C19

relation between drainage area and altitude in the Kaweah Eiver 

basin above Lake Kaweah is shown in figure 5.

Eleven continuous, partial-record, and crest-stage gaging stations 

provide flood records in the Kaweah Eiver basin. Eight are upstream 

from Lake Kaweah, one is on the reservoir, and two are downstream. 

Detailed hydrographs for December 4-7, 1966, at four selected stations are shown in figure 10.

Adding the hydrograph of Kaweah Eiver at Three Eivers (site 

41) to that of South Fork Kaweah Eiver at Three Eivers (site 42) 

gives an estimated peak discharge of 78,500 cfs on December 6, 1966, 

from the 505-square-mile drainage area upstream from the junction 

of the two streams. The December 6, 1966, peak stages at these two 

stations were slightly higher than the floodmarks for December 23, 

1955. The maximum discharge during the period 1903-60 was 80,700 

cfs December 23, 1955, at a former gaging-station site near Three 

Eivers. The drainage area was 520 square miles at the former site, 

now submerged in Lake Kaweah.

The computed maximum bihourly inflow on December 6 to Lake 

Kaweah near Lemoncove (site 43) was 82,700 cfs. The drainage area 

at Lake Kaweah is 560 square miles. The 1966 maximum flow of 

23,900 cfs at North Fork Kaweah Eiver at Kaweah (site 40) exceeded 

the 1955 peak discharge of 21,500 cfs. The December 1955 and December 1966 floods were of approximately equal magnitude in the 

vicinity of Three Eivers and Kaweah. However, upstream December 

1966 peak discharges at Middle Fork Kaweah Eiver (site 37) and 

Marble Fork Kaweah Eiver near Potwisha Camp (site 36) were 

only about half those of 1955. The maximum discharge of 14,500 cfs 

on December 6, 1966, at Dry Creek near Lemoncove (site 45), tributary to the Kaweah Eiver downstream from Lake Kaweah, was 

more than double the peak discharge of 6,070 cfs on December 23, 

1955, at a slope-area measurement site 2 miles upstream. Thus the 

1966 flood peaks in the Kaweah Eiver basin were about half those of 

1955 in upstream tributaries, equal to those of 1955 in the vicinity 

of Three Eivers, and twice those of 1955 on a downstream tributary.

Figure 11 is a plot of cumulative hourly precipitation at the recording gage at Grant Grove (alt, 6,000 ft) and computed cumulative hourly runoff at the gaging station on the Kaweah Eiver at Three 

Eivers. Eunoff is expressed in equivalent inches of depth over the 

418-square-mile drainage area. The peak hourly precipitation recorded was 0.65 inches, although hourly precipitation probably was 

greater sometime during a 10-hour period when the only record at 

Grant Grove is from a nonrecording gage. A radio-reporting precipitation gage at Giant Forest indicated a total of 4.1 inches of precipitation during the period of 1600 to 2000 hours December 5.
SECOND PER FEET CUBIC IN DISCHARGE, 

II I I I I I 

oso saoo'ii £0 9961 NI am, 
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA 

18

C21

16

14

12

10

Q.

O 8

Cumulative hourly precipitation 

at Grant Grove

Estimated from 

daily total

-Peak hourly precipitation 

recorded, 0.65 inches at 

2000 hours, December 5

Cumulative runoff, Kaweah 

River at Three Rivers

'Maximum = 

73,000 cfs = 

0.27 inches per 

hour at 2300 hours, 

December 5

4567 

DECEMBER 1966

FIGURE 11. Cumulative precipitation or runoff in the Kaweah 

River basin.

414-459 O - 71 - 4
C22 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

The maximum runoff rate of the Kaweah Eiver at Three Eivers 

was equivalent to 0.27 inches per hour at 2300 hours on December 5. 

Total runoff past this gaging station during December 1966 was 

equivalent to 7.59 inches. Total precipitation during December was 

23.33 inches at Grant Grove. Assuming that Grant Grove precipitation data are somewhat representative of the basin mean, then about 

two-thirds of the precipitation that fell in December remained in 

storage in the Kaweah Eiver basin as snow, ground water, and soil 

moisture. Evapotranspiration losses would be small during 

December.

MISCELLANEOUS BASINS

Available records indicate that the December 1966 flood was the 

greatest flood of record on most major streams within the KernKaweah area. These include Poso Creek draining the area, west of the 

lower Kern Eiver basin, Deer Creek draining the area west of the 

Kern Eiver and south of the Tule Eiver, and Sand Creek draining 

the area west of the North Fork Kaweah Eiver. Peak runoff was less 

to the south on Caliente and Tehachapi Creeks, which were close 

to the south boundary of the intense storm precipitation. Poso Creek 

and White Eiver, which is a smaller stream in the western foothills 

between Poso Creek and Deer Creek, had lower peak discharges in 

December 1966 than the estimated maximums during the flood of 

March 9,1943.

The 10,000 cfs peak discharge on December 6, 1966, on Deer Creek 

near Terra Bella (site 26) was particularly destructive. The main 

road to California Hot Springs follows Deer Creek and crosses it 

at several locations. All bridges were destroyed or badly damaged. 

Downstream irrigation diversion structures were washed out and 

were further damaged by deposition of coarse sediment. The damage 

pattern on Deer Creek was very similar to that in the Kern and Tule 

Eiver headwater areas.

STORAGE REGULATION

Three reservoirs were operated by the Corps of Engineers to reduce floodflows and keep flood damage to comparatively low amounts 

downstream from the reservoirs. All inflow from the Kern Eiver 

basin was stored in Isabella Eeservoir during the critical peak runoff period. No releases were made at Isabella Dam until December 17, 

except to Borel Canal for power generation. A peak discharge 

of 9,290 cfs on December 7 on the Kern Eiver near Bakersfield resulted from tributary inflow below Isabella Dam. In contrast, the
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C23

computed peak bihourly inflow to Isabella Eeservoir was 96,900 cfs 

on December 6.

Lake Success filled rapidly during the record-high Tule River basin 

inflow December 5 and 6. Flow began over the spillway crest during 

the afternoon of December 6 and peaked at 8,260 cfs at 0400 hours 

December 7. Releases through Success Dam outlet works were manipulated to obtain 6 feet of surcharge above the ungated spillway crest. 

This caused 16,000 acre-feet of surcharge storage and greatly reduced 

the rate of discharge to the lower Tule River. The combined flow 

through the outlet works and over the spillway reached a peak of 9,050 

cfs. The computed peak bihourly inflow was 52,800 cfs (fig. 12).

Storage in Lake Kaweah was also regulated to provide maximum 

flow reduction downstream. At the time of the peak bihourly inflow 

of 82,700 cfs on December 6, floodflow from Dry Creek entering 

Kaweah River downstream from the reservoir filled all available 

channel capacity, and there was no significant release at Terminus 

Dam. As local flows receded, the release was stepped up to 5,740 cfs on 

December 8. Approximately 99 percent of the available reservoir space 

was utilized, but there was no spill at Terminus Dam.

FLOOD DAMAGE

The recordbreaking floodflows of December 1966 caused severe damage in mountain and foothill areas. Parts of the communities of Kernville, Lamont, Springville, and Three Rivers adjacent to streams were 

damaged heavily by stream overflow, streambank erosion, and deposition of sediment and debris. Roads and bridges were hard hit, and 

some bridges were totally destroyed. Many smaller culverts and 

bridges were damaged to some degree from debris and overflows. Inundation of downstream agricultural areas caused additional damage.

Storage in Isabella Reservoir, Lake Success, and Lake Kaweah 

reduced record inflows to near channel capacity downstream and prevented catastrophic damage to Bakersfield, Porterville, Visalia, and 

smaller downstream cities. Data on the amount of flow reduction are 

given in the preceding section. Flood-damage prevention has been 

estimated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1967, p. A-24, A-16, 

A-12) as $51,300,000 downstream from Isabella Dam, $10,400,000 

downstream from Success Dam, and $19,600,000 downstream from 

Terminus Dam. The benefit by operation of the three reservoirs thus 

was $81,300,000 in a single flood.

Actual flood damage was determined by the Corps of Engineers to 

have totalled $18,003,000. A detailed breakdown by type of damage is
SECOND PER FEET CUBIC OF THOUSANDS IN DISCHARGE, 

Ol £t CO l\3 1 "-

O O O O O 

I ' 'I 1 
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C25

given in a report of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1967) for the 

Kern-Tule-Kaweah area. The damage is summarized below:

Mountain and 

Stream basin foothill area Valley floor Total

Kern River__________________ $4,369,000 $271,000 $4,640,000

Caliente Creek..______._..._____.___ 355,000 774,000 1,129,000

PosoCreek.._________________ 83,000 1,215,000 1,298,000

Tule River.________________________ 4,647,000 1,539,000 6,186,000

Kaweah River._________________ 3,468,000 1,282,000 4,750,000

Total_____._____.______________ 12, 922, 000 5,081,000 18,003,000

The figure for flood damage in mountain and foothill areas include 

$4,457,000 damage to U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service 

facilities.

COMPARISON TO PREVIOUS FLOODS

Descriptions and streamflow data for floods of record in the Kern, 

Tule, and Kaweah River basins are found in Water-Supply Papers 

843, 1137-F, 1260-D, 1650-A and B, and 1830-A. Historic floods of 

1861-62,1867,1875,1879,1884,1890, and 1893 are discussed in WaterSupply Papers 843,1137-F, and 1650-A. No reliable estimates of flood 

discharge can be made for these earlier years. The information available indicates that the flood in December 1867 was the largest on all 

three streams, and the flood in January 1862 probably was the second 

highest, prior to 1900.

Streamflow records began in October 1893 on the Kern River, in 

May 1901 on the Tule River, and in May 1903 on the Kaweah River. 

Records are continuous since those dates. Gaging sites were moved 

upstream on the Tule River in November 1961 and on the Kaweah 

River in February 1962, when new reservoirs inundated former sites. 

The peak discharge of the Tule River near Springville has been estimated for the 1950 and 1955 floods on the basis of the ratio of the 

drainage area at the present site near Springville and that at the 

former site downstream near Porterville. The peak discharge of the 

Kaweah River during the 1963 and 1966 floods has been estimated at 

the former site near Three Rivers by the summation of flow at present 

gaging stations on the Kaweah River at Three Rivers (upstream 

from South Fork) and the South Fork Kaweah River at Three 

Rivers (near mouth). These estimates permit comparison of all major 

floods on the Tule and Kaweah Rivers since records began in 1901 

and 1903, respectively.

Records indicate that the rain-produced floods of 1950, 1955, 1963, 

and 1966 were the greatest since streamflow records began in the Kern, 

Tule, and Kaweah River basins. The peak discharges during the four 

floods at principal long-term gaging stations on these rivers are listed 

in table 2. The December 1966 flood was by far the greatest in the Kern 

and Tule River basins. In the Kaweah River basin the December 1955
C26 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

peak discharge near Three Rivers was about the same in magnitude 

as the estimated peak discharge in 1966. For the South Fork Kern, 

Tule, and Kaweah Rivers, peak discharge during several lesser floods 

prior to 1950 exceeded slightly the fourth highest discharge of the four 

floods listed in table 2.

TABLE 2. Peak dit at selected stations during the floods of 1950, 1955, 1963, 

and 1966

Station

Kern River near Kernville _______

South Fork Kern River near Onyx. 

Tule River near Springville. _

Kaweah River near Three Rivers. _

Peak discharge (cfs)

November 

I960

27, 000 

2, 180 

22, 400 

52, 000

December 

1955

27, 200 

2,050 

21,500 

80, 700

February 

1963

24,000 

3,460 

10, 100 

31, 900

December 

1966

60, 000

28, 700 

49, 600 

78, 500

The 3-day flood runoff volume during the same floods and at the 

same stations is listed in table 3. The December 1966 3-day volume on 

the Kern and Tule Rivers was several times that during previous 

floods. The estimated 3-day volume in 1966 on the Kaweah River 

slightly exceeded that of 1955.

TABLE 3. Runoff at selected gaging stations for 3-day periods during the Hoods of 

1950, 1955, 1963, and 1966

I960

Runoff 

Period (acre-ft)

1955

Runoff 

Period (acre-ft)

1963

Runoff 

Period (acre-ft)

1966

Runoff 

Period (acre-ft)

Kern River near Kernville

Nov. 18 

19 ...

20.......

18-20.......

4,200

25,600

5,890

35,690

Dec. 23.......

24.......

25.......

23-25.......

31,900

11,100

6,270

49, 270

Feb. 1.. ..

2. .........

14,200

25,000

6,960

46,160

Dec. 5.....

6.....

7-....

5-7..-..

23,800

66,600

15,300

... 105,700

South Fork Kern River near Onyx

Nov. 18 

19 

20.....

18-20......

83

2,740

1,020

3,843

Dec. 23.....

24.....

25.....

23-25.....

1,260

*> ofin

1,040

5,260

Feb. 1. ......

2.. ........

2,280

4,800

2,720

9,800

Dec. 5......

6......

7......

5-7-- .

6,900

27,800

4,780

39,480

Tule River near Springville

Nov. 18 

19 

20.. -.

18-20.......

3,020

17,700

2,450

23,170

Dec. 23.....

24.-...

25-....

23-25.....

- 16,000

1 Qlf)

2,220

.- 22,160

Feb. 1- 

2.... ......

8,150

9,780

2,240

20,170

6-- .

7-_ 

5-7--.-.

16,900

59,900

10,200

87,000

Kaweah River near Three Rivers

Nov. 18.....

19 

20 .

18-20 

.. 15,700

.. 31,700

8,330

.. 55,730

Dec. 23... .

24....

25....

23-25....

81 (MYt

30,000

... 16,300

... 131,200

Jan. 31.... -.--

Feb. 1_. ...

2.. ........

Jan. 31-Feb. 2...

26,500

37,900

8,790

73,190

6.- 

7..--

5-7-.--

36,100

89,000

16,800

... 141,900
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C27

Comparison of the historic flood of December 1867 with that of 

December 1966 is possible at two locations. At the gaging station on 

the Kern River near Kernville drift, logs were found in 1938 that are 

believed to have been deposited during the peak of the flood of 1867; 

the logs were 13 feet above the peak stage of the flood of February 

1937. The peak stage for the flood of 1966 was 10.3 feet higher than 

that of February 1937, but whether the peak discharge in 1867 was 

greater than that in 1966 is open to conjecture. In fact, the Kern River 

channel at the gage site was scoured considerably in 1966 and thus 

may have carried a greater floodflow at a given stage than in 1867; 

nevertheless, the peak discharges of 1867 and 1966 may have been 

approximately the same in the Kern River in the vicinity of Kernville.

At the former gaging station on the Kaweah River near Three 

Rivers the maximum stage of the December 1867 flood was about 22.7 

feet, referred to the datum of the December 1955 flood, whose flood 

peak stage was 22.24 feet. As previously explained, the peak discharge 

of the December 1966 flood on the Kaweah River is estimated to have 

been about the same as that in December 1955, but the 3-day flood 

runoff was greater in 1966. Thus the 1867, 1955, and 1966 peak discharges in the Kaweah River basin were about the same; however, 

the 1867 peak near Three Rivers probably was slightly greater than 

the peaks in 1955 and 1966.

FLOOD FREQUENCY

A method for determining the probable magnitude and return frequency of floods for recurrence intervals between 1.2 and 50 years for 

streams in the flood area is presented by Young and Gruff (1967) in 

Water-Supply Paper 1686. On the basis of regional equations presented in that report, the recurrence interval for the December 1966 

flood has been determined (table 4) for all gaging sites with 10 years 

or more of record, unregulated flow, and more than 10 square miles 

of drainage area. The procedure for computing flood magnitude 

given in Water-Supply Paper 1686 is not applicable at sites where 

the drainage area is less than 10 square miles.

A ratio of the 1966 peak discharge to the 50-year flood is given 

whenever the December 1966 flood exceeded the probable 50-year flood. 

Extension of calculated flood-frequency curves beyond 50 years is not 

recommended because of limitations of available flood records. Comparison of the peak discharge for a given flood with the probable 

50-year flood provides an approximate measure of the severity of the 

flood. In general, gaging stations with a lower percentage of highaltitude drainage area had the larger ratios. The highest ratio determined was 3.5 for North Fork of Middle Fork Tule River near 

Springville (site 27).
C28 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

Other methods may be used to analyze flood frequency including 

the uniform technique (log-Pearson type III) described in a U.S. 

Water Kesources Council report (1967). Use of other techniques could 

produce different recurrence intervals for peak discharges of December 1966 from those given in this report.

GEOMORPHIC EFFECTS IN THE KERN RIVER BASIN

By KEVIN M. SCOTT

Effects of the 1966 flood in the Kern Kiver drainage basin were 

impressive, not only in channels, which were radically modified, but on 

sparsely vegetated hillslopes as well. Overland flow clearly occurred 

over much of the basin, in spite of the fact that lower hillslopes are 

mantled by grus, a fragmental accumulation 'formed by weathering 

from granite and having a high infiltration capacity. Much of the 

basin is underlain by vast expanses of bare granitic rock, the effect 

of which was to increase the rapidity of runoff. Local rillwash and 

gulleying occurred on depositional surfaces, 'but rangeland was not 

extensively eroded because of the high infiltration capacity of grus.

Press reports of numerous large landslides in the area referred in 

large part to relatively small failures oif artificial slopes and roadcuts. 

Failures of natural slopes were rare because of the anisotropic nature 

of the bedrock and a thin soil cover rather than a lack of intensity 

of the storm. Small tributaries with steep gradients were locally the 

sites of mudflows which transported large volumes of forest debris 

and boulders to the main channels. The driver of a Corps of Engineers 

truck, attempting the first postflood traverse of the main Kern Kiver 

canyon, reported that he got 2^4 miles into the canyon when a mudslide sent rocks "as big as houses" onto the road in front of his vehicle.

Small tributaries were radically affected by the storm runoff. Most 

striking were the changes in channel configuration in the normally dry 

desert washes of the southeastern part of the Kern River drainage 

basin. Here the effects were those of a widespread desert thunderstorm : overland flow, flashy runoff, widespread rill formation on depositional surfaces, and major changes in main channels. These effects 

are strikingly demonstrated in the Kelso Creek watershed, draining 

into the South Fork Kern River near Weldon. The main channel of 

Kelso Creek has been widened by lateral scour and now is bounded by 

nearly vertical cutbanks. The bed of the channel has undergone appreciable fill, apparently continuously along its entire length. Fill was 

locally at least 12 feet deep, inundating a stunted growth of willows 

along the previous thalweg.

Fill at the site of a former stream-gaging station was about 8 feet 

deep, leaving only the recorder shelter protruding above the surface.
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C29

The fill is almost entirely sand, as is the material exposed in the eroded 

cutbanks. A few coarse fragments are incorporated in the sand and 

were apparently transported during upper regime flow by progressive 

movement into a downstream scour pocket as described by Fahenstock 

and Haushild (1962). Local excavation of the fill reveals that the fill 

is constant in its grain size and that there is a lack of crossbedding with 

depth. Figure 13 shows the Kelso Creek channel at the gaging station 

after the flood. The small white recorder shelter is visible near the 

left bank of the filled channel.

The flood was equally devasting in larger tributaries, such as the 

South Fork Kern River. Where confined, the flood removed much 

vegetation and cut into but did not extensively overtop old terrace 

levels; however, the flood did not consistently fill or scour along its 

course. The flood occupied all the previous flood channel and left extensive sand berms up to a level 2 feet below the high-water mark. Peak 

flow was sufficiently competent to move the coarsest bed material present, as indicated by relationships of deposited boulders to vegetation. 

Where the South Fork debouches onto its fan, deposition was widespread, burying many fences and much vegetation.

._<*.

VJa

.3^1. , r 

-^^^

-H^TT^ ^^y :^mm^j^¥

^:!"

FIGURE 13. Kelso Greek near Weldon; downstream view; January 1967.

414-459 O - 71 - 5
C30 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

Effects in the canyon df the main Kern River were similar to those 

in the South Fork drainage, but were of a larger scale. Flow depth was 

at least 25 feet over much of the flood route, and with a relatively high 

gradient, flow was sufficiently competent to move all material previously in the channel, including boulders 10-15 feet in intermediate 

diameter. The pool-and-riffle pattern was modified. Much vegetation 

was lost and transported to Lake Isabella; however, little timber of 

economic value was lost. The pool above a diversion dam on the main 

Kern River near Fairview was completely filled with flood detritus.

Boulder and timber "jams" were formed in both the Kern and South 

Fork Kern Rivers, similar in this respect to other floods of mountain 

rivers (Krumbein, 1942). Such deposits consist of an abrupt front 

composed of boulders and timber. In an upstream direction, material 

becomes progressively finer. The surface of the deposit has a lower 

gradient than that df the reach in which it occurs, and coarse material 

is commonly present on the surface as a lag deposit. The snouts of the 

jams apparently formed at channel constrictions or in areas of reduced competency and acted as dams for the finer material. The lowwater channel then formed laterally to the jam. These deposits, with 

apparently random spacing, do not seem to be related to riffles, which 

show a characteristic spacing related to channel width.

No definite idea of the flood frequency can be obtained from the 

erosional and depositional effects relative to previous deposits. On 

the main Kern River, the flood locally overtopped a terrace level at 

20-25 feet with mature Coulter pines. A second pronounced terrace 

level occurs at a level 40-45 feet above the main Kern River thalweg. 

Some trees in the main channel that were older than 200 years were 

destroyed by the flood. The relative magnitude of the flood on the 

South Fork Kern River was similar the flood locally overtopped a 

terrace 15-18 'feet above the stream thalweg.

SEDIMENTATION AND CHANNEL CHANGES

No direct measurements of fluvial sediment are available for the 

flood area. Hydrographers reported visibly high suspended-sediment 

load and very audible moving bedload at streamflow-measuring stations. Large areas of channel scour and fresh deposits of sand were 

evident in all streams after recession of floodflow.

Reconnaissance surveys by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

Sacramento District, indicate an accumulation of 2,550 acre-feet of 

sediment in headwater reaches of Lake Success on the Tule River between May 19'61 and November 1967. Depth df sediment was as great 

as 12 feet on the ranges surveyed. Surveys show that 2,500 acre-feet 

of sediment up to 25 feet deep was deposited between June 1962 and
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C31

November 1967 in the headwater reaches of Lake Kaweah on the 

Kaweah Eiver. These estimates do not include sediment deposits 

below the reservoir water levels at the time the surveys were made or 

the suspended sediment that passed through the reservoirs.

The sediment accumulation in Lake Success corresponds to an average annual rate of 1.1 acre-feet per square mile for the 1961-67 period 

and in Lake Kaweah to 0.9 acre-foot per square mile for 1962-67. These 

rates are about double the average annual sediment yields in this area, 

which are estimated to be less than 0.5 acre-foot per square mile. Much 

of the sediment in Lakes Success and Kaweah was deposited during 

the December 1966 flood, although part must have accumulated during 

the February 1963 and lesser floods.

There is little documentation olf channel changes except at gagingstation cableways where stream cross sections are surveyed often during streamflow measurements. The greatest changes measured were in 

the Kern River basin, where the 1966 peak flows were most in excess 

of previously recorded maximums. Channel cross sections before and 

after the flood are plotted for two gaging stations in figure 14. The 

cross section on the Kern River at Kernville was widened considerably 

when sand and other small alluvial material was scoured from the left 

bank for a considerable distance. The section on the South Fork Kern 

River near Onyx was enlarged greatly in both width and depth with 

a maximum scour over 5 feet deep. Part of this scour was induced by 

the total destruction of a concrete weir. Figure 15 shows the scoured 

left bank and streambed and the top of the tipped concrete recorder 

shelter and stilling well which stood at the left end of the concrete 

control section before the flood. The A-frame for the former gaging 

cableway upstream from the recorder installation was dropped about 

4 feet vertically when the left bank was eroded.

DETERMINATION OF FLOOD DISCHARGES

The operation of a streamflow-measuriiig station consists principally of the measurement of stage and discharge and the definition of 

the stage-discharge relation from which discharge can be calculated 

for a given stage. The development of a stage-discharge relation is 

based upon current-meter discharge measurements throughout the 

range of stage experienced, or through a sufficient part of the range 

that the discharge corresponding to the maximum stage can be obtained by a reasonable extension of the stage-discharge relation, or 

rating curve. Short extensions of a rating curve are usually made by 

logarithmic plotting, by velocity-area studies, or by use of other 

\ydraulic or hydrologic principles.
C32 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

10 -

5 -

Left bank Right bank

50

LU 5 _.

Z

o 

<

UJ

d o H

100 150

WIDTH,IN FEET

A

200 250

-5 -

-10

Left bank

20 40 60 

WIDTH,IN FEET

B

80 100

FIGURE 14. 'Change in river-channel cross section of the Kern River at Kemville 

(A) and the South Fork Kern River near Onyx (B), 1966, 1967, and 1969.

Because of the record-breaking magnitude of the December 1966 

floods, it was impossible to obtain current-meter discharge measurements at or near peak stage at most of the gaging stations. Most foothill and mountain roads were flooded, washed out, or blocked by 

debris during the flood crests December 6. Stream-gaging cableways 

at several stations were destroyed. Measurements were resumed at 

most Tule and Kaweah Eiver stations December 7; Kern Eiver stations were measured beginning December 8 by utilizing a helicopter 

to transport hydrographers and equipment to the stations.
'DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C33

For most of the gaging stations at which no extremely high-water 

current-meter measurements were made, peak discharges were obtained by slope-area measurements, computation of flow through 

culverts, contracted-opening measurements, critical-depth measurements, and other types of indirect discharge measurements. These indirect measurements are based on channel geometry and high-water 

profiles obtained by field survey and are computed by use of procedures and equations based on established hydraulic principles. They 

are indirect only in the sense that the data are collected subsequent 

to the passage of the peak discharge.

FIGURE 15. South Fork Kern River near Onyx, upstream view, January 1967.

SUMMARY OF FLOOD STAGES AND DISCHARGES

Flood stages and discharges at 46 gaging stations, crest-stage stations, miscellaneous sites, and reservoir stations are summarized in 

table 4. The reference numbers in the table correspond to those on 

the location map (fig. 2) and aid in locating the sites at which peak 

discharges were determined.
TABLE 4. Summary of flood stages and discharges

Maximum previously known

No.

Perma- Drainage nent Stream and place determination area station (sq mi) 11-

O 

CO .1^

Maximum December 1966

Discharge

Period of record Year Gage height (ft) Discharge (cfs) Day Gage height (ft) Cfs Recur- Cfs per rence sq mi interval (yr)

Buena Vista Lake basin

1

2 

3 45 

67 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12

13 14

15 

16 

17 

1819 

20

21

1853 Golden Trout Creek near Cartago, Calif.1853. 5 Kern River near Quaking Aspen Camp, Calif. 

1854 Little Kern River near Quaking Aspen Camp, Calif. 1856 Packsaddle Canyon Creek near Fairview Calif. 

1860 Kern River near Kernville, Calif _ . .....

1863. 4 Salmon Creek tributary B near Fairview Calif. 1863. 6 Salmon Creek tributary C near Fairview, Calif. 1863. 8 Salmon Creek tributary E near Fairview, Calif. 

1870 Kern River at Kernville, Calif. ....... .

1872 Shirley Creek tributary near Alta Sierra, Calif. 

1882 South Fork Kern River near Olancha, Calif. 

1895 South Fork Kern River near Onyx, Calif. 

1897 Kelso Creek near Weldon, Calif. ......... 1905 Isabella Reservoir near Isabella, Calif.... 1910 Kern River below Isabella Dam, Calif...1918 Kern River tributary near Miracle Hot Springs, Calif. 1925 Kern River near Democrat Springs, Calif.

1940. 5 Tumbleweed Creek near Oildale, Calif... 1964 Caliente Creek above Tehachapi Creek, Calif. 

1964. 2 Tehachapi Creek near Tehachapi, Calif.

23.6 

530 132 

4.05

848 

.46

.35 .20 

1,009 

.27 

146 

530

101 

2,074

2,074 

1.21 2,258 

2,407

2.40 

165

53.2

1956-66. 

1960-66. ----..

1957-66 

1955.... .........

1959-66.- ........

1912-66 

1962-66 . 

1962-66 . 

1962-66.... ......

1905-12,1953-66- 

1905-66. ... 

1959-66 . 1956-66 

1911-14,1919-42- 

1947-66 - 1958-66- .

1953-66 . 

1945-53- ..

1954-66.. .... ....

1959-66 

1950-53. 

1954-66____ ... 1893-1953- .

1954-66 

1958-66. 

1961-66.. 

1962-66 ..

1958 

1959 1963

1963 

1955 

1963

1950, 1955 

1963

1963 1965

1955 

1950 

1962, 1963

1958

1963 

1914 

1965 

1958

1950 

1958 

19621950 

1958 1950 

1958 

1963 

1963

1963

5.24 ..

7.98

9.19 

12.4 

9.91

17.55

.87

1.03

.57

16.2 

18.4 

11.57

5.50

6.79

37.2 ..

6.20 

42,594.83

28.6 

15.14 

6.80

30.7 

13.68 

4461.37

4.65

7.48

35.30

182

4,060

7,370 12, 200 223

27,400 3.1

2.7 

1.1

29,400 

38,700 14

1,280 

3,460

1,340 8455,200

39,000 7 4, 870 5.040,000 74,370 

36,000 783,940 

104 

1,410

1.700

6

6 6

6

6

5

6 6 6

6 

6 

6

6 

21,22 

6 

30

6 

6

7

6 

6

6

5.65

10.89 

12.60

12.0

22.77 

1.93

2.71 

22.2

13.70 

4.98 

12.0

11.7 

42,582.32

10.10

13.10 18.55

4454.94

2.25 

6.901.06

40

9,360 

13,100

660

60,000 22.1

60 24 

74,000

60 

1,010 

28,700

85,800 

s 337, 400 

« 96, 900 72,160

593 

7 10, 100 .

1 

1,140

52

1.69 1

17. 7 10 

99.2 11.4

163 ..........

70.8 11.5 

48.0 ..........

171 ..... ... ._ion

73.3 11.6

148 . ....

6.92 4 

54. 2 1 2. 0

57. 4 1 1. 9

4. 67 1 1. 6

490 ..........

42

6.91 5 

.98 ..........

FLOODS OF 1966INTHE UNITEDSTATES
Tulare Lake basin

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31 

32

.S3

34

35

36

37

38

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

1978

1980. 5

1993

1995

2024.5

2031

2032

2045 

2047

2049

2049 5

2065

2080

2085

2087. 3 

2090

2095

2099

2101

2109. 5

2113

2120

Poso Creek near Oildale, Calif. ._._ 

White River near Ducor, Calif.. ------

Calif.

South Fork Tule River near Success, 

Calif.

wisha Camp, Calif.

Camp, Calif.

near Ilammond, Calif. 

East Fork Kaweah River near Three 

Rivers, Calif.

Calif.

Calif.

230

2.38

12.9

92.9

130

39.3

.30

97.6

225

109 

391

393

102

51.4

1 90

85.8 

6.11

129

418

86.7

560

561

80.4

26.8

1959-66-.. .......

1958- 

1958-66 

1959-66

1942-53,1958-66-

1959-66 - 

1957-66. 

1950-66 -

1930-54,1956-66- 

1961-66. --_- --

1950-61 .. .

1962-53 -----.

1959-65

1949-66- 

1950-66 - 

1952-55,1957-66.. 

1959-66 

1910-66 -

1958-66 

1958-66 

1955- 

1961-66

1961-66 

1959-66 

1944-66 

1943...- ------

1964

1958

1964

1960

1943

1950

1963

1963

1950

1950 

1965

1950

193}

1955

1955

1963

1963 

1963

1955

1963

1955

1963

1955

1965

1963

1963

1955

1943

6.38

8.6

5.08

(2)

13.06 .

12. 17

11.66

10.29

11.36 

* 6i2. 74

326

9.25

11.76

3 29. 0

13.4

18.41

11.00

28.85

14.1

13.68

17.9

4.95

9.5

4688.96

8.28

5.08

4.80

1 Ratio of peak discharge to 50-year flood.

2 Unknown.

* Site and (or) datum then In use; see station description.

4 Altitude, in feet.

* Contents, in ac

6 Two-hour aver

7 Affected by sto

8 Maximum dail
C36 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

The derivation of the peak data is explained in the station description for each site. The peak discharges in table 4 are those actually 

determined; that is, no adjustments for upstream storage have been 

made for stations downstream from reservoirs. For reservoir stations the peak stage, contents, and computed peak bihourly inflow 

are given.

Explanation of data in the 13 columns of table 4 follows:

Number. The number by which each station is referenced in this 

report. The numerical order follows the Geological Survey's standard downstream order for listing stations.

Permanent station number. The number used in the Geological 

Survey's Water-Supply Papers of surface-water supply in the United 

States and the annual surface-water basic-data reports for 

California.

Stream and place of determination. The permanent name adopted 

for the site to which the listed data apply; each name is unique.

Drainage area. The gross drainage area, in square miles, above 

the station site as determined by the topography.

The last nine columns of the table give data for all known floods 

at the site:

Period of record. The period of known floods prior to December 

1966.

Tear. The calendar year of the maximum discharge known prior 

to December 1966.

Day. The date of the peak discharge or stage during the flood of 

December 1966.

Gage height and discharge. Data in each pair of columns are associated with the year or day in the preceding column. The 1966 peak 

discharge is also expressed in cubic feet per second per square mile 

of drainage area.

Recurrence interval. The average interval of time in which the 

peak discharge of December 1966 can be expected to be exceeded 

once. When the recurrence interval is greater than 50 years, the ratio 

of the peak discharge to the discharge of the 50-year flood is shown.

EXPLANATION OF STATION DATA

Detailed information on stage and discharge during the floods of 

December 1966 are given in the following section. Many of the data 

are in addition to records published in annual streamflow reports 

of the Geological Survey. The data consist of descriptions of the stations or sites, tables of daily discharge at gaging stations for December 1966, and tables of stages and discharges at indicated times for 

many of the gaging stations.
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C37

The station description gives information relative to the location 

of the gage, size of drainage area above the gage, nature of the gageheight record obtained during the period covered by this report, 

datum of gage, definition of the stage-discharge relation, peak stage 

and discharge during the December 1966 floods and previous maximum of record, maximum data for floods outside the period of record, 

effect of regulation and diversion, and other pertinent general 

information.

The table of daily mean discharge gives data for the month of December 1966 to show discharges during antecedent and recession 

periods. The monthly figures of the table show the monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second; the volume of monthly runoff, in 

acre-feet; and the volume of monthly runoff, in inches, at selected stations. Monthly figures for a few stations downstream from a reservoir 

have been adjusted for change in contents of the reservoir.

The table of stages and discharges at indicated times gives sufficient 

data so that hydrographs of stage and discharge can be drawn. The 

period of time covered is from prior to the start of the major rise to an 

arbitrary cutoff point on the recession and is not the same for all stations. The stages and associated discharges given should not be used 

to prepare a stage-discharge relation (rating curve) for use outside 

the flood period. For many stations the relation used to compute the 

discharge was shifted from the basic rating for various reasons, such 

as backwater from debris blockage or other changes in control 

condition.

SELECTED REFERENCES

Fahnestock, R. K., and Haushild, W. L., 1962, Flume studies of the transport of 

pebbles and cobbles on a sand bed: Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. v. 73, p. 1431-1436.

Hofmann, Walter, and Rantz, S. E., 1963, Description, pt. 1 of Floods of December 1955-January 1956 in the Far Western States: U.S. Geol. Survey WaterSupply Paper 1650-A, 156 p.

 1963, Streamflow data, pt. 2 of Floods of December 1955-January 1956 

in the Far Western States: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1650-B, 

580 p.

Krumbein, W. C., 1942, Flood deposits of Arroyo Seco, Los Angeles County, 

California: Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. v. 53, p. 1355-1402.

McGlashan, H. D., and Briggs, R. C., 1939, Floods of December 1937 in northern 

California: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 843, 497 p.

Rantz, S. E., !and Stafford, H. M., 1956, Floods of 1952 in California: U.S. Geol. 

Survey Water-Supply Paper 1260-D, p. 531-575.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1967, Report on floods, Central Valley of California, 1966-67 flood season: Sacramento District. 44 p.

U.S. Weather Bureau, 1967, Climatological data : v. 70, no. 12, p. 379-420.

U.S. Geological Survey, 1953, Floods of November-December 1950 in the Central 

Valley basin, California. U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1137-F, p. 

505-789.
C38 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

U.S. Water Resources Council, 1967, A uniform technique for determining 

flaodflow frequencies: U.S. Water Resources Council Bull. no. 15.

Young, L. E., and Gruff, R. W., 1967, Magnitude and frequency of floods in the 

United States, Part 11, Pacific slope basins in California, Volume 2, Klamath 

and Smith River basins and Central Valley drainage from the east: U.S. 

Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1686, 308 p.

Young, L. E., and Harris, E. E., 1966, Floods of January-February 1963 in 

California and Nevada: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1830-A, 

472 p.
STATION DATA
C40 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

BUENA VISTA LAKE BASIN 

(1) 11-1853. Golden Trout Creek near Cartago, Calif.

Location. Lat 36°22'20", long 118°17'15", in NW^SWj sec.10, T.18 S. , R.34 E. , on 

right bank 0.5 mile upstream from Tunnel Ranger Station, and 15 miles west of 

Cartago.

Drainage area. 23.6 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph. Altitude of gage is 8,940 ft 

(from topographic map).

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

affected by ice Dec. 5-11, 22-25, 27-31.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, about 40 cfs 1330 hours Dec. 6 (gage height, 

5.65 ft, backwater from ice).

1956 to November 1966: Discharge, 182 cfs May 31, 1958 (gage height, 

4.05 ft); gage height, 5.24 ft Feb. 12, 1959 (backwater from ice).

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Day

1.....

 2... . .

3-....

k.....

 }.....

6.....

7.....

&.....

Runoff, i

Discharge

9-7

9-5

13

22

28

35

27

20

n acre-feet. . .

Day

9.....

10 .....

11. ....

12.....

13.....

Ut.....

15.....

16.....

Discharge

12

11

11

10

10

10

10

10

Day

17. ....

18.....

19.....

20.....

21.. ...

22.....

23.. ...

2k.....

Discharge

10

10

9-7

9-7

9-7

9-7

9-7

9.5

Day

25.....

26.....

27.....

28.....

29-....

30.....

31.....

Discharge

9-5

9.7

10

9.7

9.5

9-5

9.5

12.7

.6k

801
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C41

(2) 11-1853.5. Kern River near Quaking Aspen Camp, Calif.

Location. Lat 36°08'05", long 118 0 24'45", in SW^SWj sec.32, T.20 S. , R.33 E., on

right bank 0.4 mile upstream from Little Kern River, and 6.8 miles east of Quaking 

Aspen Camp.

Drainage area. 530 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph. Datum of gage is 4,693 ft above 

mean sea level (river-profile survey).

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

below 5,000 cfs and by slope-area measurement at 9,360 cfs.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 9,360 cfs at 1000 hours Dec. 6 (gage height. 

10.89 ft, in gage well; 12.9 ft, from floodmarks).

1960 to November 1966: Discharge, 4.060 cfs June 18. 1963 (gage height, 

7.98 ft). '

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December

Day

1.....

2.....

3.....

It.....

5.....

6.....

7.....

8.....

Discharge

258

296 itoi

273

1,710

6,kkO

2,030

1,120

Day

9.....

10.....

11. ....

12 .....

13.....

lit. ....

15-....

16.....

Discharge

890

768

673

619

570

5lt2

51*2

518

Day

17.....

18. ....

19-....

20. ....

21.....

22. ....

23.....

2k.....

Discharge

1*98

It80

1*62

1*52

1*1*1*

k2k 1*10

396

Day

25.....

26.....

27.....

28..... 29.....

30.....

31. ....

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

Discharge

3«3

378

3kk

31*7

357

357

31*1

1.66

1*7,050

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

Date

Dec. 3

1*

5

Hour

2UOO

1600

2000

21*00

0400

0600

0800

1100

1300

1500

1600

1800

Gage 

height

2.73

2.68

2.73

2.87

3.1*0

k.ko

1*.92

l*.l*5

it. 18

it. 65

5-50

7.10

Discharge

277

261

277

322

515

980

1,310

1,010

865

1,130

1,750

3,290

Date

Dec.. 5

6

Hour

1900

2100

2300

2ltOO

0100

0300

0600

0700

0800

0900

1000

1300

1500

Gage 

height

6.QO

7-05

8.10

8.20

8.37

8.30

9.08

9.85

10.50

10.57

10.89

9-92

10.68

Discharge

3,070

3,21(0

It, 1(50

It, 580

kj,800

It, 710

5,790

7,100

8,it60

8,610

9,360

7,2kO

8,860

Date

Dec. 6

7

8

Hour

1800

2100

21+00

0600

1200

1800

2UOO

0600

1200

1800

2UOO

Gage 

height

9-58

8.28

7-57

6.kk

5-71

5A5

5-16

it. 92

it. 80

it. 66

it. 57

Discharge

6,580

it, It 90

3,560

2,370

1,750

l,5itO

1,31*0

1,180

1,110

1,030

975
C42 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

(3) 11-1854. Little Kern River near Quaking Aspen Camp, Calif.

Location. Lat 36 G 08'05", long 118°26'10", in SE^SEj sec.31, T.2O S., R.33 E., on 

left bank 600 ft upstream from mouth, and 5 miles east of Quaking Aspen Camp.

Drainage area. 132 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph. Datum of gage is 4,682 ft above 

mean sea level (river-profile survey).

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

below 1,200 cfs and by slope-area measurements at 7,370 and 13,100 cfs.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 13,100 cfs 0600 hours Dec. 6 (gage height, 

12.60 ft, from recorder graph; 13.0 ft, from flood profile).

1957 to November 1966: Discharge, 7,370 cfs Feb. 1, 1963 (gage height, 

9.19 ft, from recorder graph; 10.05 ft, from floodmarks).

Flood of Dec. 23, 1955, reached a stage of 12.4 ft, from floodmarks (discharge, 12,200 cfs).

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Discharge Day

826

516 

4?0 

412 

381 

361

Monthly 

Runoff, 

Runoff,

mean discharge, in cubic feet per second. 

in inches. ...............................

in acre-feet .............................

746

6.52

^5,900

ge height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time. 1966

Hour

Gage 

height

Discharge

Gage 

height

Discharge Date Hour height charge

2400

0800

1400

1800

2100

2400

0200

0300

0400

0500

0600

0700

0800

1100

1330

1500

2.17 1200

1300

1400

1630

1800

2100

2400

1200

1800

2400

0600

1200

1800

2400
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA

(4) 11-1856. Packsaddle Canyon Creek near Fairview, Calif. 

(Crest-stage station)

Location. Lat 35°56'40", long 118 0 28'30", in sec.12, T.23 S. , R.32 E., at culvert 

on county road, Sequoia National Forest, 1.8 miles northeast of Fairview.

Drainage area. 4.05 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Crest stages only; gage and culvert destroyed by flood. 

Altitude of gage is 3,600 ft (from topographic map).

Discharge record. Peak discharge by computation at critical-depth section.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 660 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, 12.0 ft, from 

floodmarks).

1959 to November 1966: Discharge, 223 cfs Jan. 31, 1963 (gage height, 

9.91 ft, in gage well; 10.6 ft, from floodmarks).
C44 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

(5) 11-1860. Kern River near Kernville, Calif.

Location. Lat 35°56'00", long 118°29'10", in NE$ sec.14, T.23 S., R.32 E., on 

left bank 3 miles upstream from Salmon Creek, and 15 miles north of Kernville.

Drainage area. 848 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except 2300 hours Dec. 5 to 1530 

hours Dec. 14. Datum of gage is 3,542.3 ft above mean sea level (river-profile 

survey).

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

below 6,000 cfs and by slope-area measurement at 60,000 cfs; relation indefinite 

Dec. 14-31. Discharge Dec. 6-31 estimated on basis of weather records and 

records for nearby stations.

Maxima (river only). December 1966: Discharge, 60,000 cfs about 0200 hours Dec. 6 

(gage height, 22.77 ft, from floodmarks).

1912 to November 1966; Discharge, 27,200 cfs Dec. 23, 1955 (gage height, 

17.55 ft).

(river and canal). December 1966: Discharge, 60,000 cfs about 0200 hours 

Dec. 6.

1912 to November 1966: Discharge, 27,400 cfs Nov. 19, 1950, Dec. 23, 1955.

Remarks. Kern River No. 3 Canal diverts up to 630 cfs 1 mile upstream from station. 

Figures of mean discharge and discharge at indicated times represent the combined flow of Kern River and Kern River No. 3 Canal.

Mean discharge, in .cubic feet per second. December 1966

Discharge Day Discharge Day Discharge Discharge

1,100

1,100

1,000

750

650

Discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time. 1066

Hour Hour Date

Discharge

2400

1200

2000

2200

0200

ohoo

309 0500

0700

0800

1000 

1100 

1^00 

2000 

2200 

2kOO

1000

1700

2100

2300

Dec. 5
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA 

(6) 11-1863.4. Salmon Creek tributary B near Fairview, Calif.

Location. Lat 35°54'05", long 118°23'05", in SEjNEj sec.26, T.23 S., R.33 E., on 

left bank 0.15 mile upstream from junction with Salmon Creek, 6.3 miles east of 

Fairview, and 10.3 miles north of Kernville.

Drainage area. 0.46 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except 2400 hours Dec. 5 to 

1430 hours Dec. 9. Altitude of gage is 7.360 ft (from topographic map).

Discharge record. Stage-discharge relation defined by computation of flow over 

120° V-notch weir and by slope-area measurement at 22.1 cfs. Discharge 

Dec. 5-9 based on partial record, slope-area measurement, weather records, and 

records for Salmon Creek tributaries C and E.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 22.1 cfs 2400 hours Dec. 5 (gage height, 

1.93 ft, result of release of stored water from debris Jam).

1962 to November 1966: Discharge, 3.1 cfs Feb. 1, 1963 (gage height, 

0.87 ft).

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Day Discharge Day Discharge

0.00^ 

.03

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second. 

Runoff, in inche s................................

Runoff, in acre-feet.............................
C46 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

(7) 11-1863.6. Salmon Creek tributary C near Fairview, Calif.

Location. Lat 35°54'15", long 118°23'30", in NE^NWj sec.26, T.23 S., R.33 E., on 

left bank 0.1 mile upstream from junction with Salmon Creek, 6.0 miles east of 

Fairview, and 10.5 miles north of Kernville.

Drainage area. 0.35 sq mi.

_Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph Dec. 1 to 0600 hours Dec. 6. 

Altitude of gage is 7,200 ft (from topographic map).

Discharge record. Stage-discharge relation defined by computation of flow over 

120 V-notch~weir and by slope-area measurement at 60 cfs. Discharge Dec. 6-31 

estimated on basis of records for Salmon Creek tributary B, and weather records.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 60 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, 2.71 ft, from 

floodmarks).

1962 to November 1966: Discharge, 2.7 cfs Feb. 1, 1963 (gage height, 

1.03 ft).

chai-ge Day Discharge Discharge Discharge

1.370 

It.51 

8U.2
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA

(8) 11-1863.8. Salmon Creek tributary E near Fairview, Calif.

Location. Lat 35°54'15", long 118°23'45", in NWjNWj sec.26, T.23 S., R.33 E., on 

left bank 0.2 mile upstream from junction with Salmon Creek, 5.7 miles east of 

Fairview, and 10.5 miles north of Kernville.

Drainage area. 0.20 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph Dec. 1 to 1000 hours Dec. 6. 

Altitude of gage is 7,200 ft (from topographic map).

Discharge record. Stage-discharge relation defined by computation of flow over 

120° V-notch weir and by slope-area measurement at 24 cfs. Discharge Dec. 6-31 

estimated on basis of records for Salmon Creek tributary B, weather records, 

and slope-area measurement.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 24 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, unknown).

1962 to November 1966: Discharge, 1.1 cfs Apr. 29, 1965 (gage height, 

0.57 ft).

C47

Day

1..... 

2..... 

3-....

k.....

6..... 

7..... 

8.....

Runoff, i

Discharge

0.008 

.01 

.03 

.008 

.69

10.0 

5.40 

2.50

a acre-feet. .

Day

9-.... 

10. .... 

11. .... 

12 ..... 

13.....

lit..... 

15..... 

16.....

Discharge

1.40 

 72 

.51 

.42 

.36

.32 

.2Q 

.26

Day

17..... 

18. .... 

19..... 

20. .... 

21.....

22. .... 

23..... 

2k.....

Discharge

0.24 

.22 

.21 

 19 

.18

.17

.17 

.16

Day

25.....

26..... 

27..... 

28..... 

29. ....

30..... 

31.... .

Discharge

0.16 

.15 

.15 

.14

.12 

.12

0.821

4.73

50.5
C48 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

(9) 11-1870. Kern River at Kernville, Calif.

Location. Lat 35°45'15", long 118°25'25", in NE^SffJ sec.15, T.25 S., R.33 E., on 

right bank 300 ft downstream from highway bridge at Kernville, 1.1 miles 

upstream from Caldwell Creek, 8.9 miles upstream from Isabella Dam, and 41 miles 

northeast of Bakersfield.

Drainage area. 1,009 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph Dec. 1 to 2400 hours Dec. 5;

station destroyed by flood. Datum of gage is 2,621.57 ft above mean sea level 

(levels by Corps of Engineers).

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

below 6,400 cfs and by slope-area measurements at 28,800 and 74,000 cfs. Discharge Dec. 6-31 estimated on basis of records for Kern River and Little Kern 

River near Quaking Aspen Camp, South Fork Kern River near Onyx, Kern River near 

Kernville, and inflow into Isabella Reservoir.

Maxima. December 1966; Discharge, 74,000 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, 22.2 ft, from 

floodmarks).

1905-12, 1953 to November 1966: Discharge, 29,400 cfs Dec. 23, 1955 (gage 

height, 16.20 ft, in gage well; 16.8 ft, from floodmarks).

Maximum stage known prior to December 1966 since at least 1912, 18.4 ft 

Nov. 19, 1950 (discharge, 38,700 cfs).

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Day

1. ....

2.... .

3.....

k.....

 5.....

6.....

?.....

8.....

Discharge

330

334

1,310

589

16,900

44,500

10,600

4,890

Day

9.....

10. ....

11. ....

12.....

13.....

lit.....

15.....

16.....

Discharge

3,120

2,600

2,210

2,020

1,820

1,690

1,600

1,380

Day

17.....

18.....

19. ....

20.....

21.....

22. ....

23..-..

?k.....

Discharge

1,260

1,2k)

1,080

1,040

1,000

950

920

890

Day

25.....

26.....

27.....

28.....

29.....

30.....

31.-...

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second. ........................................

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

Discharge

860

820

780

770

770

760

750

217,800

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1966

Date

Dec. 4

5

Hour

0600

1200

1900

2200

2400

0300

o4oo

Gage 

height

5.25

5.07

4.91

4.99

5.15

5.65

6.00

Discharge

635

552

480

516

588

850

1,080

Date

Dec. 5

Hour

0500

0600

0700

0800

0900

1100

1400

1600

Gage 

height

7.90

11.25

12.65

13.32

13.42

13.26

12.71

12.94

Discharge

2,900

8,780

12,600

14,600

14,900

14, 400

12,700

13,400

Date

Dec. 5

Hour

1700

1800

1900

2000

2100

2200

2300

2400

Gage 

he i girt

13.30

14.10

15.35

17.00

18.50

19.60

20.15

20.65

Discharge

14,500

17,200

22,000

30,200

39,400

48,200

52,800

57,500
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C

(10) 11-1872. Shirley Creek tributary near Alta Sierra, Calif. 

(Crest-stage station)

Location. Lat 35°43'15", long 118 0 29'55", in SWj sec.25, T.25 S. , R.32 E., at culvert on Evans road, Sequoia National Forest, 3 miles east of Alta Sierra.

Drainage area. 0.27 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Crest stages only. Altitude of gage is 4,120 ft (from topographic map).

Discharge record. Stage-discharge relation defined by computation of flow through 

culvert.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 60 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, 13.70 ft).

1959 to November 1966; Discharge, 14 cfs Feb. 8, 1962 and Feb. 1, 1963; 

gage height, 11.57 ft Feb. 1, 1963.

(11) 11-1882. South Fork Kern River near Olancha, Calif.

Location. Lat se'll'OO", long 118°07'40", in NWjSWj sec.18, T.20 S., R.36 E., on 

left bank 50 ft upstream from small unnamed left bank tributary, 2.0 miles 

downstream from Snake Creek, and 9.7 miles southwest of Olancha.

Drainage area. 146 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph. Altitude of gage is 7,840 ft 

(from topographic map).

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

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 1,010 cfs 2000 hours Dec. 6 (gage height, 

4.98 ft).

1956 to November 1966; Discharge, 1,280 cfs May 10, 1958 (gage height, 

5.50 ft).

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December

Day

1. ....

2.....

3.....

k. ....

5.....

6.....

1.....

8.....

Discharge

25

2k

2k

17

42

613

664

440

Day

9.....

10.....

11. ....

12.....

13.....

14.....

15..-..

16.....

Discharge

311

258

199

157

128

111

102

9k

Day

17.....

18.....

19.....

20.....

21.....

22.....

23.....

2k.....

Discharge

88

78

6Q

64

6k

56

^7

k6

Day

25.....

26.....

27.....

28..... 29.....

30.....

31.....

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

Discharge

k3

k2

36

35

3k

33

32

128

1.01

7,890

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1966

Date

Dec. k

5

6

Hour

24-00

0600

1600

2000

2400

0200

o4oo

Gage 

height

1.07

1.45

1.82

2.29

2.50

2.55

2.90

Discharge

k.6

17

40

87

115

123

186

Date

Dec. 6

7

Hour

0600

0900

1200

1500

1900

2000

2400

0600

Gage 

height

3.kk

4.10

4.40

4.59

4.90

4.98

4.79

4.38

Discharge

317

550

600

785

960

1,O10

894

680

Date

Dec. 7

8

Hour

1200

1800

2400

0600

1000

1200

1600

2400

Gage 

height

4.15

4.37

4.14

3-95

3.87

3.61

3.69'

^.66

Discharge

570

675

566

490

460

368

396

386
FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

(12) 11-1895. South Fork Kern River near Onyx, Calif.

Location (revised). Lat 35"44'22", long 118°10'33", T.25 S., R.35 E. , (unsurveyed), 

on left bank 0.8 mile north of State Highway 178, 1.6 miles upstream from Canebrake Creek, and 5 miles northeast of Onyx.

Drainage area. 530 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph Dec. 1 to 2000 hours Dec. 5; station 

destroyed by flood. Altitude of gage is 2,900 ft (from topographic map).

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

below 3,000 cfs and by slope-area measurement at 28,700 cfs. Discharge Dec. 6-31 

estimated on basis of records for Kern River at Kernville, Little Kern River near 

Quaking Aspen Camp, and inflow into Isabella Reservoir.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 28,700 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, 12.0 ft, from 

floodmarks).

1911-14, 1919-42, 1947 to November 1966: Discharge, 3,460 cfs Feb. 1, 1963 

(gage height, 6.79 ft) but may have been exceeded by flood of Jan. 25, 1914 

(observed maximum gage height, 7.2 ft and rising, at site then in use).

Mean discharge, in cuMc feet per second, December 1966

Day

1..... 

2.....

3..... 

It..... 

5..... 

6.....

7..... 

8.....

FTonttily me 

Runoff, in 

Runoff, in

Discharge

55 

55 

176 

79 

3,480 

14,000 

2,4-10 

1,200

Day

9.....

10 .....

11 .....

12.. ... 

13..... 

14. .... 

15..... 

16.....

an discharge, in cubic feet 

inches

Discharge

900 

700 

600 

530 

465 

420 

385 

360

Day

17..... 

18. .... 

19.. ...

20..... 

21..... 

22..... 

23..... 

24. ....

Discharge

325 

310 

280 

265 

250 

235 

225 

215

Day

25..... 

26..... 

27..... 

28..... 

29. .. .. 

30. .... 

31.....

acre-feet. .................... . ............................... . .. ..

Discharge

205 

195 

186 

180 

172 

168 

162

942 

2.05

57,890

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

Date

Dec. 1

2

3

Hour

2400

0300

1500

2100

2300

2400

0200

0500

1000

1200

Gage 

height

2.07

2.08

2.03

2.16

2.30

2.50

2.85

3.15

2.81

2.8o

Discharge

52

53

47

62

81

115

192

282

182

180

Date

Dec. 3

4

5

Hour

1800

2400

1200

1500

1800

2200

2400

0200

o4oo

0600

Ontje

height

2.62

2.44

2.22

2.20

2.23

2.25

2.32

2.56

3-52

4.45

Discharge

139

104

70

67

71

74

84

127

424

955

Date

Dec. 5

Hour

0800

0900

1000

1200

1300

1400

1600

1800

2000

Gage 

height

5.00

5.15

5.12

5.26

5.35

5.60

6.78

7.95

8.52

Discharge

1,390

1,520

1,490

1,610

1,700

1,920

3,450

5,880

7.460
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA

(13) 11-1897. Kelso Creek near Weldon, Calif.

Location. Lat 35°34'10", long 118°15'05", in NWj sec.20, T.27 S., R.35 E. , on left 

bank 0.5 mile upstream from Woolstaff Creek, and 7 miles southeast of Weldon.

Drainage area. 101 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph Dec. 1-5; flood-deposited detritus 

destroyed station effectiveness. Altitude of gage is 3,180 ft (from topographic 

map).

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

and weir discharge computations below 7 cfs and by one slope-area measurement 

at 1,180 cfs. Maximum discharge Dec. 6 estimated on basis of field survey of 

site.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, about 5,800 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, 11.7 ft, 

from floodmarks).

1958 to November 1966: Discharge, 1,340 cfs Aug. 15, 1965 (gage height, 

6.20 ft, from floodmarks).
C52 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

(14) 11-1905. Isabella Reservoir near Isabella, Calif.

Location. Lat 35°38'50", long 118°28'50", in SffJ sec.19, T.26 S., R.33 E., in main 

control tower near left abutment of main dam on Kern River, 1.5 miles north of 

Isabella, and 2.8 miles upstream from Erskine Creek.

Drainage area. 2,074 sq mi.

Gage-height record. ffater-stage recorder graph. Datum of gage is at mean sea level 

(levels by Corps of Engineers).

Contents record. Contents computed from capacity table dated June 1966.

Maxima. December 1966: Computed bihourly inflow, 96,900 cfs 1700 to 1900 hours 

Dec. 6; contents, 337,400 acre-ft 2300 hours Dec. 21 to 0930 hours Dec. 22 

(elevation, 2,582.32 ft).

1953 to November 1966: Contents, 455,200 acre-ft June 28, 1958 (elevation, 

2,594.83 ft).

Remarks. Reservoir is formed by earthfill dam, with sidehill spillway and auxiliary 

earthfill dam, completed in 1954; regulation of discharge from reservoir began 

Apr. 15, 1954. Usable capacity, 569,700 acre-ft between elevations 2,470.0 ft 

(invert of main outlet) and 2,605.5 ft (spillway crest) above mean sea level. 

Dead storage, 326 acre-ft. Surcharge flood control storage, 271,800 acre-ft 

between ungated spillway crest and elevation 2,627.0 ft (maximum spillway 

design flood pool). Figures given herein represent total contents. Records 

furnished by Corps of Engineers.

Contents, in acre-feet at 2^00 hours, December 1966

Day Day Contents Day Day

9....

10....

11....

12....

13.... 

Ht....

15....

16....

Change in contents, in acre-feet.

Average Inflow. b: lourlv periods ending at Lcated time. 1066

Hour

0100

0300

0500

0700

0900

1100

1300

1500

1700

1900

2100

2300

0100

0300

0500

Dec. 5

63k 

651 

651 

191 

650 

lf-20

1,3^0 

1,3^0 

1,800
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C53

(15) 11-1910. Kern River below Isabella Dam, Calif.

Location. Lat 35°38'30", long 118°28'55", in SjNWJ sec. 30, T.26 S. , R.33 E., on 

right bank 200 ft downstream from highway bridge, 0.6 mile downstream from 

Isabella Dam, and 1.6 miles southwest of Isabella.

Drainage area. 2,074 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Digital-recorder tape punched at 15-minute intervals and 

auxiliary graphic water-stage recorder graph. Datum of gage is 2,435.07 ft 

above mean sea level (levels by Corps of Engineers).

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

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 2,160 cfs 1730 hours Dec. 30 (gage height, 

10.10 ft).

1945-53 (prior to regulation by Isabella Reservoir): Discharge, 39,000 cfs 

Nov. 19, 1950 (gage height, 28.6 ft from floodmark, present site and datum), 

from rating curve extended above 1,100 cfs on basis of slope-area measurement 

of peak flow.

1954 to November 1966: Discharge, 4,870 cfs June 28, 1958 (gage height, 

15.14 ft).

Remarks . Flow regulated by Isabella Reservoir (see station 11-1905) beginning 

Apr. 15, 1954. Total monthly runoff includes 29,300 acre-ft diverted from 

Isabella Reservoir through Borel Canal and returned to the river downstream 

from this station and 230,500 acre-ft stored in Isabella Reservoir.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Day

1.....

2.....

3.....

IK....

5.....

6.....

7.....

8.....

Discharge

35

25

8.0

5-0

12

31

7-9

8.6

Day

9.....

10 .....

11 .....

12 .....

13.....

llK....

15.....

16.....

Discharge

8.0

5.8

5.0

5-0

5-0

6.0

7-0

7.0

Day

17.....

18.....

19-....

20.....

21.....

22. ....

23.....

2k.....

Discharge

167

651

651

651

711

9kk

1,260

l,VtQ

Day

25.....

26.....

27. ....

28.....

29.....

30.....

31. ....

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

Discharge

1,^0

1,560

1,800

1,960

1,900

1,870

2,130

623

2.70

298,100

(16) 11-1918. Kern River tributary near Miracle Hot Springs, Calif. 

(Crest-stage station)

Location. Lat 35°33'15", long 118°34'45", in SE^NW^ sec.30, T.27 S., R.32 E., at 

culvert on State Highway 178, Sequoia National Forest, 3.5 miles southwest of 

Miracle Hot Springs.

Drainage area. 1.21 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Crest stages only; gage destroyed by flood. Datum of gage is 

2,453.4 ft.

Discharge record. Peak discharge by slope-area measurement.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 593 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, 13.10 ft, from 

floodmarks).

1959 to November 1966: Discharge. 5.0 cfs Feb. 8, 1962 (gage height, 

6.80 ft).
C54 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

(17) 11-1925. Kern River near Democrat Springs, Calif.

Location. Lat 35°31'20", long 118°40'40" J in NE^SEj sec.6, T.28 S. , R.31 E., on 

left bank 1.0 mile southwest of Democrat Springs, and 2.1 miles upstream from 

Cow Creek.

Drainage area. 2,258 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except Dec. 1 to 0200 hours Dec. 6 

and Dec. 7-23. Altitude of gage is 1,850 ft (from topographic map).

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

Discharge Dec. 1-5 and Dec. 7-23 estimated on basis of records for Kern River 

below Isabella Dam, Kern River near Bakersfield, and weather records.

Maxima (river only). December 1966: Discharge, 10,100 cfs 1800 hours Dec. 6 

(gage height, 18.55 ft).

1950-53 (prior to regulation by Isabella Reservoir): Discharge, 40,000 cfs 

Nov. 19, 1950 (gage height, 30.7 ft), from rating curve extended above 8,700 cfs 

on basis of computation of maximum flow over dam (basic data for computation 

furnished by Southern California Edison Co.).

1954 to November 1966: Discharge, 3,960 cfs June 12, 1958 (gage height, 

13.68 ft).

(river and conduit). December 1966: Discharge, 10,100 cfs 1800 hours 

Dec. 6.

1950-53 (prior to regulation by Isabella Reservoir): Discharge, 40,000 cfs 

Nov. 19, 1950.

1954 to November 1966: Discharge, 4,370 cfs June 12, 1958.

Remarks. Flow regulated by Isabella Reservoir (see station 11-1905). Kern River 

No. 1 conduit diverts up to 420 cfs upstream from station. Figures of mean 

discharge and discharge at indicated times represent the combined flow of Kern 

River and Kern River No. 1 conduit.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Day

1..... 

2. ....

1*..... 

5..... 

6..... 

7..... 

8.....

Runoff, in

Discharge

1*18 

359

1*52 

903 

It, 600 

1,090 

601

an discharge 

acre-feet. .

Day

9. ....

10 .....

12 ..... 

13.....

14..... 

15..... 

16.....

in ciibic feet

Discharge

1*63 

1*59

1*68 

1*75 

538 

556 

556

per second.

Day

17. .... 

18..... 

19. ....

20..... 

21..... 

22 ..... 

23.....

Discharge

650 

1,220

1,230 

1,270 

1,500 

1,810 

2,010

Day

25.....

26.....

28..... 29.....

30..... 

31.....

Discharg

2,020 

2,0l*0

2,1*50 

2,500 

2,510 

2,680

79,930

Discharge

2400

0100

0200

0300

0500

0700

1100

1300

1800 

21*00
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA (

(18) 11-1940. Kern River near Bakersfield, Calif.

Location. Lat 35°25'54", long 118°56'43", in NW^SWj sec.2, T.29 S. , R.28 E., on 

left bank 1.9 miles upstream from Sacramento Gulch, 0.8 mile northeast of Oil 

City, and 5.8 miles northeast of Bakersfield Post Office.

Drainage area. 2,407 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph. Datum of gage is at mean sea 

level.

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

below 8,000 cfs.

Maxima. December 1966; Discharge, 9,290 cfs 0100 hours Dec. 7 (elevation, 

454.94 ft); daily discharge, 4,790 cfs Dec. 6.

1893-1953 (prior to regulation by Isabella Reservoir): Discharge, 36,000 cfs 

Nov. 19, 1950 (elevation, 461.37 ft).

1954 to November 1966: Daily discharge, 3,940 cfs June 18, 1958.

Remarks. Flow regulated by Isabella Reservoir beginning in 1954 (see station 

11-1905). Mean discharge is computed for 24-hour period from noon on date 

listed to noon on following day. Records furnished by Kern County Land 

Company.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Day

1.....

2. ....

3.....

It.....

5.....

6.....

7.....

8.....

Discharge

¥*Q

!t08

!t27

V/6

951

It, 790

1,150

668

Day

9.....

10. ....

11.....

12 .....

13.....

lit. ....

15.....

16.....

Discharge

503

!t87

lt9U

lt93

501

566

585

585

Day

17.....

18.....

19.....

20. ....

21.. ...

22.....

23.....

2 It. ....

Discharge

600

1,280

1,290

1,280

IjSto

1,560

1,820

2,080

Day

25.....

26.....

27.....

28.....

29.....

30.....

31.....

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

Discharge

2,080

2,150

2,380

2,5ltO

2,^90

2,^50

2,710

1,3^1

height, in feet, and charge at indicated t^'me, 1°66

Discharge

Gage 

height Hour

Discharge

1000 

1200 

2^00

1000 

1200 

1230 

1800 

2!)-00

0200 

0800 

1100 

1200 

1300 

1800 

2300 

2ltOO

0100

0300

1100

1200

2200

1200 

1700 

2100 

2 It-00

1,620

1,510

1,160

1,160

713

729

707
C56 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

(19) 11-1940.5. Tumbleweed Creek near Oildale, Calif. 

(Crest-stage station)

Location. Lat 35°27'55", long 119°01'30", in NWj sec. 25, T.28 S., R.27 E., at culvert on county road 3.2 miles north of Oildale.

Drainage area. 2.40 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Crest stages only. Altitude of gage is 765 ft (from topographic map).

Discharge record. Peak discharge by computation of flow through culvert.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 1 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, 2.25 ft).

1958 to November 1966: Discharge, 104 cfs Feb. 13, 1963 (gage height, 

4.65 ft).

(20) 11-1964. Caliente Creek above Tehachapi Creek, near Caliente, Calif.

Location. Lat 35°18'40", long 118°34'10", in SEjSffi sec.17, T.30 S., R.32 E., on 

right bank 0.5 mile upstream from Harper Canyon, 1.0 mile upstream from Oiler 

Canyon, and 3.6 miles northeast of Caliente.

Drainage area. 165 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except 1830 to 2030 hours Dec. 6. 

Altitude of gage is 1,575 ft (from topographic map).

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

below 61 cfs and by slope-area measurement at 1,410 cfs. Discharge 1830 to 

2030 hours Dec. 6 estimated on basis of floodmarks at the station.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 1,140 cfs 2000 hours Dec. 6 (gage height, 

6.90 ft, from floodmarks).

1961 to November 1966; Discharge, 1,410 cfs Aug. 8, 1963 (gage height, 

7.48 ft, from floodmarks).

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Day

1. ....

2. ....

3.....

1*.....

5.....

6.....

7.....

8.....

Discharge

0

0

0

0

.90

196

81*

22

Day

9.....

10.....

11.....

12.....

13.....

l»t. ....

15.....

16.....

Discharge

14

lit

9-9

7.6

^.9

2.6

1.5

1.5

Day

17.....

18.....

19-....

20.....

21.....

22....,

23.....

2i*.....

Discharge

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.6

1.6

1.2

1.3

1.5

Day

25.....

26.....

27.....

28..... 29. ....

30.....

31.....

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

Discharge

1.3

1.3

1.2

1.5

1.5

l.l*

1.2

12.3

.086

75*t

Gage heig

Date

Dec. 5

6

Hour

0000

0830

0830

1100

1500

1800

2000

2200

21*00

0200

01*00

ht, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1966

Gage 

height

-

-

1.22

1.33

1.22

1.20

1.25

1.35

1.57

1.61*

1.82

Discharge

0

0

.7

1.7

.7

.6

,Q

1.9

5.8

7.6

13

Date

Dec. 6

Hour

0700

0730

0800

0830

0900

0930

1000

1200

ll*00

1530

1630

Gage 

height

1.83

2.35

2.22

2.65

2.75

2.50

2.66

2.38

2.30

2.37

3.85

Discharge

lit

1*2

33

66

75

53

66

1*1*

38

^3

221

Date

Dec. 6

7

Hour

1700

1800

2000

2200

2 1*00

0200

oi*oo

0700

0900

21*00

Gage 

height

3-70

it. 78

6.90

it. 52

3.85

3.70

2.90

2.56

2.1*0

2.33

Discharge

196

1*15

1,11*0 371*

21*1*

219

109

75

61

1*9
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C57

(21) 11-1964.2. Tehachapi Creek near Tehachapi, Calif.

Location. Lat 35°10'25", long 118°28'45", in NE$SW$ sec.6, T.32 S., R.33 E., on 

right bank 1.3 miles downstream from Brite Creek, and 3.2 miles northwest of 

Tehachapi.

Drainage area. 53.2 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except Dec. 17-21. Datum of gage 

is 3,534.48 ft above mean sea level.

Discharge record. Stage-discharge relation defined by computation of flow over 

weir. Discharge Dec. 17-21 estimated as no flow based on recorded range in 

stage.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 52 cfs 1830 hours Dec. 6 (gage height, 

1.06 ft).

1962 to November 1966: Discharge, 1,700 cfs Aug. 8, 1963 (gage height, 

5.30 ft, in gage well; 6.40 ft, from floodmarks, site and datum then in use), 

from slope-area measurement of maximum flow.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Day

1.....

2.....

3.....

k. ....

5.....

6.....

7.....

8.....

Discharge

0

0

0

0

.10

8.2

.50

0

Day

9. ....

10 .....

11.....

12. ....

13.....

ll+. . . . .

15.....

16.....

Discharge

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Monthly mean discharge in cubic feet per second

Day

17.....

18.....

19.....

20.....

21.....

22.....

23.....

2k.....

Discharge

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Day

25.....

26.....

2.1.....

28. ....

29.....

30.....

31.....

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

Discharge

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0.28

.006

17

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1966

Date

Dec. k

5

Hour

21+00

0300

oi+oo

1700

1800

1900

2000

2200

Gage 

heiccht

0.32

 32

.36

.33

.38

 35

.35

.ko

Discharge

0

0

.10

0

.20

.10

.10

.50

Date

Dec. 5

6

Hour

2300

21+00

0500

1000

ii+oo

1600

1700

l&OO

1800

Gage 

height

0.38

.1+0

.kk

.38

.kk

 52

.81+

1.01+

.99

Discharge

0.20

 50

1.1

.20

1.1

2.7

23

1+9

1+2

Date

Dec. 6

7

Hour

1830

1900

2100

2200

21+00

0300

0600

0900

21+00

Gage 

height

1.06

1.00

.76

.70

.57

.1+5

.38

.36

.33

Discharee

52

1+3

16

11

1+.2

1.3

.20

.10

0
C58 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

TULAEE LAKE BASIN 

(22) 11-1978. Poso Creek near oildale, Calif.

Location. Lat 35°30 t 50", long 118°54'15", in SWjSWj sec.6, T.28 S., R.29 E., on 

downstream side of highway bridge opposite mouth of Hillvale Canyon, 10 miles 

northeast of Oildale, and 12 miles northeast of Bakersfield.

Drainage area. 230 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Digital-recorder tape punched at 15-minute intervals except

Dec. 1 to 1400 hours Dec. 10. Altitude of gage is 700 ft (from topographic map).

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

below 300 cfs and by contracted opening measurement at 4,300 cfs. Discharge 

Dec. 1-10 estimated on basis of weather records and records for South Fork Tule 

River near Success.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 4,300 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, 11.57 ft).

1959 to November 1966: Discharge, 359 cfs Dec. 28, 1964 (gage height, 

6.38 ft).

Flood of Apr. 4, 1958, reached a stage of 8.6 ft, from floodmarks (discharge, 

2,750 cfs, furnished by Kern County Land Company).

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Day

1... .. 

2..... 

3.....

k..... 

"}..... 

6.....

7..... 

8.....

Monthly m 

Runoff, i 

Runoff, i

Discharge

4.0 

4.0 

43 

12 

547 

2,130 

750 

200

Day

9..... 

10..... 

11..... 

12..... 

13..... 

14..... 

15..... 

16.....

ean discharge, in cubic feet 

n inches

Discharge

120 

76 

56 

42 

37 

33 

33 

31

Day

17..... 

18..... 

19..... 

20.. ... 

21. .... 

22. .... 

23..... 

2k.....

Discharge

30 

29 

29 

29

29 

28 

28 

28

Day

25..... 

26..... 

27..... 

28..... 

29..... 

30..... 

31.....

n acre-feet .....................................................................

Discharg

28 

29 

29 

28 

28 

29 

28

147 

.74 

9,020

(23) 11-1980.5. Mon Canyon Creek near Oildale, Calif. 

(Crest-stage station)

Location. Lat 35°31'45", long 118°58'25", in NW^NWj sec.4, T.28 S., R.28 E., at 

culvert on county road, 8 miles northeast of oildale.

Drainage area. 2.38 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Crest stages only. Altitude of gage is 640 ft (from topographic map).

Discharge record. Peak discharge estimated on basis of water surface profiles in 

culvert.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 9 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, 3.90 ft).

1958 to November 1966: Discharge, 35 cfs Apr. 1, 1964 (gage height, 

5.08 ft).
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA

(24) 11-1993. Coho Creek near White River, Calif. 

(Crest-stage station)

Location. Lat 35°49'50", long 118°51'35", in NE^NE^ sec.20, T.24 S., R.29 E., at 

culvert on county road, 1.6 miles northwest of White River.

Drainage area. 12.9 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Crest stages only. Altitude of gage is 1,090 ft (from topographic map).

Discharge record. Peak discharge by computation of flow through culvert.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 221 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, 7.72 ft).

1959 to November 1966: Discharge, 1 cfs Nov. 11, 1960 (gage height not 

determined).
FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

(25) 11-1995. ffhite River near Ducor, Calif.

Location. Lat 35°48'54", long 118°55'47", in SE^NEj sec.27, T.24 S., R.28 E., on 

right bank 0.2 mile downstream from Tyler Gulch, and 8.3 miles southeast of 

Ducor.

Drainage area. 92.9 sq mi.

Gage-height record. ffater-stage recorder graph. Altitude of gage is 685 ft (from 

topographic map).

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

below 660 cfs.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 1,080 cfs 1340 hours Dec. 6 (gage height. 

4.58 ft).

1942-53, 1958 to November 1966: Discharge, about 2,300 cfs Mar. 9, 1943 

(estimated by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation).

Remarks. Records furnished by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Mean discharge, in cuMc feet per second, December 1966

Day

1..... 

2..... 

3.....

1+..... 

 }..... 

6.....

7..... 

8.....

Monthly m

Runoff, i

Discharge

16.0 

622.0 

119.0 

36.0

n acre-feet. . .

Day

9..... 

10. .... 

11..... 

12..... 

13..... 

14. .... 

15..... 

16.....

Discharge

20.0 

12.0 

10.0 

8.5 

7-9 

6.5 

5.2 

4.5

Day

17..... 

18..... 

19..... 

20..... 

21..... 

22..... 

23..... 

2k.....

Discharge

3-5

3-5 

4.2 

4.2 

3.8 

3.8 

3-5 

3-3

Day

25-.... 

26..... 

27. .... 

28..... 

29..... 

30..... 

31-....

Discharge

3.3 

3.3 

3.3 

3.3 

3.3 

3.5 

3.1

29-7

.37

1,830

;e height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated t

Date

Dec. 4

5

6

Hour

2itOO

1800

1830

1930

2kOO

0300

0330

o4oo

0500

0600

Gage 

height

-

-

2.51

2.66

2.56

2.53

4.33

3.98

4.23

4.33

Discharge

0

0

54

72

60

57

850

559

756

850

Date

Dec. 6

Hour

OB30

1000

1130

1230

1340

1500

1600

1800

1930

2100

2400

Gage 

height

3.«9

4.08

3.83

4.16

4.58

4.37

4.20

4.22

4.50

4.25

3.75

Discharge

496

632

457

700

1,080

880

732

748

990

772

410

Date

Dec. 7

8

Hour

0300

0600

0900

1200

l&OO

2400

0600

1200

1800

2400

Gage 

height

3.33

3.07

2.87

2.74

2.54

2.42

2.34

2.28

2.24

2.21

Discharge

233

154

110

87

60

48

41

33

26

22

(26) Deer Creek near Terra Bella, Calif. 

(Miscellaneous site)

Location. Lat 35°58'42", long 118°52'26", in NEjNEj sec.31, T.22 S., R.29 E.,

0.3 mile upstream from county road bridge, 4 miles upstream from U.S. Bureau of 

Reclamation gaging station, and 9.6 miles east of Terra Bella.

Drainage area. 130 sq mi, approximately.

Discharge record. Maximum discharge by slope-area measurement.

Maximum. December 1966: Discharge, 10,000 cfs Dec. 6.
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C61

(27) 11-2020. North Fork of Middle Fork Tule River near Springville, Calif.

Location. Lat 36°10'29", long 118°41'41", T.20 S. , R.30 E. (unsurveyed), on right 

bank 1.2 miles upstream from mouth, 2.2 miles downstream from Hossack Creek, and 

7.4 miles northeast of Springville.

Drainage area. 39.3 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Digital-recorder tape punched at 15-minute intervals except 

2045 hours Dec. 5 to 1900 hours Dec. 6. Altitude of gage is 2,920 ft (from 

topographic map).

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

below 270 cfs and by critical-depth determinations at 5,460 and 12,400 cfs. 

Discharge 2045 hours Dec. 5 to 1900 hours Dec. 6 estimated on basis of floodmarks, weather records, and records for nearby stations.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 16,900 cfs 0600 hours Dec. 6 (gage height, 

13.83 ft, from floodmarks).

1939 to November 1966: Discharge, 12,400 cfs Dec. 23, 1955 (gage height, 

12.47 ft, from floodmarks), from rating curve extended above 300 cfs on basis 

of critical-depth determination; gage height, 13.06 ft Nov. 19, 1950, from 

floodmarks.

Remarks. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. conduit diverts part of flow 2.5 miles 

upstream from station. Figures given herein represent combined flow of North 

Fork of Middle Fork Tule River and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. conduit; 

diversion is minor during floods.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Day Discharge Day Discharge Day Discharge Day Discharge

320 

25 1* 

213 

185

129

120

109

101

9k

73

69

Monthly 

Runoff, 

Runoff,

Gage height, in feet, and discharge

Date

Dec. 5

Hour

0100

0200

0300

0500

0600

0700

0800

0900

1200

Gage 

height

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Discharge

te

55U

1,080

1,670

2,020

1,980

2,100

1,860

1,300

Date

Dec. 5

6

in cuMc feet per second, at indicated time, 1966

Hour

1500

1700

1800

2000

2100

2lK>0

0600

1900

2kOO

Gage 

height

-

_

-

-

-

_

13.83

11.92

10.61

Discharge

1,270

2,l6o

4,050

11,000

11,200

13,600

16,900

11,100

7.9UO

Date

Dec. 7

Hour

0300

0600

0900

1200

1500

1800

2100

2UOO

Gage 

height

-

_

-

-

.

.

_

-

Discharge

6,280

U,780

3,650

2,810

2,220

1,800

1,1+70

1,220
C62 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

(28) 11-2024.5. Winding Creek near Camp Nelson, Calif. 

(Crest-stage station)

Location. Lat 36°09'35", long 118°40'30", in sec.25, T.20 S., R.30 E.,(unsurveyed), 

at culvert on State Highway 190, 4 miles northwest of Camp Nelson.

Drainage area. 0.30 sq mi.

Gage-height record. crest stages only. Altitude of gage is 3,500 ft (from topographic map).

Discharge record. Peak discharge by computation of flow through culvert.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 48 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, 12.71 ft).

1959 to November 1966: Discharge, 19 cfs Feb. 1, 1963 (gage height, 11.66 ft).

(29) 11-2031. North Fork Tule River at Springville, Calif.

Location. Lat 36°08'22", long 118°48'15", in SEj sec.35, T.20 S., R.29 E., on left 

bank 0.1 mile upstream from Middle Fork Tule River, 0.8 mile northeast of Springville, and 12.9 miles northeast of Porterville.

Drainage area. 97.6 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Digital-recorder tape punched at 15-minute intervals Dec. 1; 

station destroyed by flood. Altitude of gage is 1,040 ft (from topographic map).

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

below 3,900 cfs and by slope-area measurement at 24,200 cfs.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 24,200 cfs about midnight Dec. 5 (gage height, 

about 23 ft).

1957 to November 1966: Discharge, 4,600 cfs Jan. 31, 1963 (gage height, 

10.29 ft).

Cooperation. Records furnished by California Department of Water Resources and 

reviewed by Geological Survey. December 1966 record estimated by Geological 

Survey.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Day

1..... 

2.....

3..... 

4.....

(,'.'.'.'.'.

7.....

a.....

Monthly me 

Runoff, in 

Runoff, in

Discharge

7.3 

5.8 

294 

60 

4,230 

14,200 

2,090 

73^

Day

9. .... 

10.....

11. ....

12..... 

13..... 

14..... 

15..... 

16.....

an discharge, in cubic feet

Discharge

405 

310 

230 

185 

165 

145 

130 

118

Day

17..... 

18. .... 

19..... 

20. .... 

21..... 

22..... 

23..... 

24.....

Discharge

107 

97 

88 

81 

75 

70 

65 

60

Day

25..... 

26..... 27.....

28..... 29.....

30..... 

31.....

acre-feet. ...................................................................

Discharge

56 

53 

50

48 

^7 

^ 

44

784 

9.26 

48,190
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C63

(30) 11-2032. Tule River near Springville, Calif.

Location. Lat 36°05'41", long 118°50'09", in SE^SWj sec.15, T.21 S., R.29 E., on 

left bank 15 ft upstream from highway bridge, 2 miles southwest of Springville, 

and 4 miles downstream from North Fork.

Drainage area. 225 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph. Altitude of gage is 800 ft (from 

topographic map).

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

below 3,500 cfs and by slope-area measurement at 49,600 cfs.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 49,600 cfs 0030 hours Dec. 6 (gage height, 

17.18 ft, from recorder graph; 19.7 ft, from flood profile).

1950 to November 1966: Discharge, 22,400 cfs (revised) Nov. 19, 1950 (gage 

height, unknown).

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Day

1..... 

2.. ... 

3..... 

U. .... 

5..... 

6..... 

7-.... 

8.....

Monthly me 

Runoff, ir 

Runoff, ir

Discharge

^7 

1A 

812 171

8,510 

30,200 5,150

1,590

Day

9..... 

10..... 

11. .... 

12..... 

13..... 

1U. . . . . 

15..... 

16.....

an discharge, in cubic feet ]

Discharge

990 

770 

620 

532 

U27 

360 

3U 

285

Day

17..... 

18..... 

19-.... 

20..... 

21..... 

22..... 

23..... 

2U.....

Discharge

266 

25U 

2U3 

235 

225 

212 

200 

191

Day

25.....

26..... 

27..... 

28..... 29.....

30..... 

31.....

acre-feet ....................................................................

Discharge

185 

185 

17U 

170 

168 

16U 

156

1,737 

8.90 

106,800

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1966

Date

Dec. If

5

Hour

0600

1200

1800

2UOO

0200

OliOO

0500

0600

0800

1000

1500

1700

Gage 

height

3-97

3.86

3.80

3-75

3.76

U.03

5-73

8.81

10.32

10. fk

9.1A

9.16

Discharge

194

158

Ik)

126

129

215

1,390

5,820

8,960

9,920

7,050

6,U90

Date

Dec. 5

6

Hour

1900

2000

2100

2200

2300

2toO

0030

0230

01*00

0600

0800

0900

Gage 

height

9.70

10. U5

12.29

13.02

15.00

16.57

17.18

15.79

15. lU

lU.05

13.82

13.07

Discharge

7,600

9,260

lU,500

17,600

29,000

U2,700

119,600

1|2,000

38,700

33,200

32,100

28,900

Date

Dec. 6

7

Hour

1000

1200

1300

lUOO

1700

1900

2100

2ta>

0200

0600

1200

1800

2UOO

Gage 

height

14.02

1U.59

13.57

12.37

13.79

11.1)2

9.82

8.27

7.67

6.75

6.16

5.5U

5.28

Discharge

33,100

36,000

30,900

26,100

32,000

22,300

15,900

10,800

9,010

6,270

U,7^0

3,120

2,ll50
FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

(31) 11-2045. South Fork Tule River near Success, Calif.

Location. Lat 36°02'30", long 118°51'25", in NWjSffJ sec. 4, T.22 S. , R.29 E., on 

left bank 0.5 mile upstream from Crew Creek, 4 miles southeast of Success, and 

5 miles upstream from mouth.

Drainage area. 109 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph. Altitude of gage is 770 ft (from 

topographic map) .

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

below 3,100 cfs and by si ope- area measurements at 7,100 and 14,300 cfs.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 14,300 cfs 1100 hours Dec. 6 (gage height, 

12.50 ft, from recorder graph; 13.3 ft, from f loodmarks) .

1930-54, 1956 to November 1966: Discharge, 7,100 cfs Nov. 19, 1950 (gage 

height, 11.36 ft).

Mean discharge

Day

1..... 

2..... 

3.....

k..... 

5..... 

6.....

7-.... 

8.....

Monthly me 

Runoff, in 

Runoff, in

Discharge

9-9

9.1* 

137 

36 

1,710 

6,660

1,110 

575

Day

9..... 

10.....

11. ....

12..... 

13..... 

lit. .... 

15....-

16.....

an discharge, in cubic feet

in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Discharge

377 

2l*7 

171 

133 

111* 

log 

95 

77

Day

17..... 

18..... 

19..... 

20..... 

21..... 

22..... 

23-.... 

21*.....

Discharge

66

51 

1*3 

51 

59 

60 

60

62

Day

25.....

26..... 27.....

28..... 29.....

30..... 

31.....

acre-feet ....................................................................

Discharge

58 

57 

52 

1*8 

1*8 

1*6 

1*5

399

It. 22 

2l*,550

Gage hei

Date

Dec. 1

2

3

1*

Hour

21*00

1200

1800

2200

21*00

0100

0200

0500

0900

1300

1800

21*00

0900

1530

1600

21*00

ght, in feet, and discharge

Gage 

height

3.56

3.55

3.55

3.60

3.67

3.77

1*.1*0

5.1*3

l*.92

1*.50

1+.25

1*.10

3.97

3.90

3.81*

3.83

Discharge

9.5

8.7

8.7

11

15

21

95

31*0

201

112

7»*

51*

39

32

26

25

Date

Dec. 5

6

in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1966

Hour

01*00

0500

0600

0800

0930

1300

1800

2100

2200

2300

21*00

0130

0300

0500

0600

0800

0900

Gage 

height

3.88

It. 00

6.00

8.15

8.1*6

8.06

7.51

8.15

8.80

9.90

10.70

11.61

11.1*0

10.20

10.11

9-30

9.50

Discharge

30

1*2

575

2,11*0

2,1*50

2,050

1,560

2,ll*0

2,820

i*,68o

6,750

10,200

9,310

5,380

5,130

3,530

3,900

Date

Dec. 6

7

Hour

1000

1100

1200

1300

11*00

1800

2000

2200

21*00

0300

0600

1200

1630

1800

2000

21*00

Gage 

height

10.70

12.50

11.65

10.20

9.85

10.1*3

q.io

7.85

7.20

6.Uo

6.03

5.56

5.1*0

5.33

5.32

5.15

Discharge

6,750

lit, 300

11,600

7,360

6,510

7,930

1*,950

3,020

2,300

1,550

1,21*0

91*1*

860

821*

818

71*0
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C65

(32) 11-2047. Lake Success near Success, Calif.

Location. Lat 36°03'40", long 118°55'18", in SEjNWj sec.35, T.21 S., R.28 E., in 

control tower near right abutment of Success Dam on Tule River, 5 miles east of 

Porterville.

Drainage area. 391 sq mi.

Gage-height record. water-stage recorder graph. Datum of gage is at mean sea level, 

datum of 1929 (levels by Corps of Engineers).

Contents record. Contents computed from capacity table dated June 1966.

Maxima. December 1966: Computed bihourly inflow, 52,800 cfs 0300 to 0500 hours 

Dec. 6; contents, 101,300 acre-ft 0425 hours Dec. 7 (elevation, 658.63 ft).

1961 to November 1966: Contents, 66,100 acre-ft June 22-26, 1965 (elevation, 

642.74 ft).

Remarks. Lake is formed by earthfill dam and dike. Storage began November 1961. 

Usable capacity, 85,400 acre-ft between elevations 559.0 ft (invert of outlet 

structure) and 652.5 ft (spillway crest). Surcharge flood-control storage, 

117,400 acre-ft between ungated spillway crest and elevation 686.8 ft (maximum 

spillway design flood pool). Dead storage, 720 acre-ft. Figures given herein 

represent usable contents. Records furnished by Corps of Engineers.

..____Contents, in acre-feet at 2UOO hours. December 1966

Day Day Contents Day Day

70,000 

67,900 

66,200 

65,100 

6U,300 

63,500 

62,700 

61.900

Change in contents in acre-feet.

Average inflow, in cubic feet per second, for bihourly periods ending at indicated time, 1966

Date

Dec. k

5

Hour

0100

0300

0500

0700

0900

1100

1300

1500

1700

1900

2100

2300

0100

0300

0500

Inflow

370

33U

296

290

22U

260

22U

22U

22U

22U

260

230

11(6

152

266

Date

Dec. 5

6

Hour

0700

0900

1100

1300

1500

1700

1900

2100

2300

0100

0300

0500

0700

0900

1100

Inflow

2,930

9,830

11,000

11,900

10, too

9,U20

8,010

10,UOO

21,1(00

1^3,100

51,100

52,800

ia, 100

ia, 200

52,000

Date

Dec. 6

7

Hour

1300

1500

1700

1900

2100

2300

0100

0300

0500

0700

0900

1100

1300

1500

1700

Inflow

52,000

37,900

U5,500

36,300

25,300

16,900

13,500

10,300

8,580

7,380

6,390

5,660

U,700

U,720

3,910

Date

Dec. 7

8

9

Hour

1900

2100

2300

0100

0300

0500

0700

0900

1100

1300

1500

1700

1900

2100

2300

0100

Inflow

3,910

3,600

3,290

2,980

3,010

2,UlO

2,1(60

2,380

2,150

1,860

2,010

2,030

1,620

1,810

1,520

1,620
C66 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

(33) 11-2049. Tule River below Success Dam, Calif.

Location. Lat 36°03'23", long 118°55'22", in SWj sec.35, T,21 S., R.28 E., on

right bank 1,000 ft downstream from Success Dam, and 5 miles east of Porterville.

Drainage area.-'-393 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Digital-recorder tape punched at 15-minute intervals. Datum 

of gage is 536.00 ft above mean sea level, datum of 1929 (levels by Corps of 

Engineers).

Discharge record. Stage-discharge relation at gaging station defined by currentmeter measurements below 4,100 cfs. Stage-discharge relation through spillway 

checked by current-meter measurement at 7,330 cfs.

Maxima. December 1966; Discharge, 9,050 cfs 2230 hours Dec. 6 (includes flow 

through spillway).

1950-61 (prior to regulation by Lake Success): Discharge, 32,000 cfs 

Nov. 19, 1950 (gage height, 26 ft, from floodmarks, at site 0.5 mile downstream 

at datum then in use), estimated from discharge records for upstream stations.

1961 to November 1966: Discharge, 2,980 cfs Jan. 31, 1963 (gage height, 

9.25 ft).

Remarks. Flow regulated by Lake Success (see station 11-2047) beginning Nov. 23, 

1961. Discharge figures Dec. 6-10, 1966, include flow over spillway that 

bypassed gaging station. Monthly runoff figures include 47,370 acre-ft stored 

in Lake Success.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Day

1. ... . 

2..... 

3.....

4..... 

5..... 

6..... 

7. .... 

8.....

Discharge

0.50 

.50 

.50 

.50 

180 

3,760 

7,250 

^, 360

Monthly mean discharge, 

Runoff, in inches, ad jus 

Runoff, in acre-feet, ad

Day

9..... 

10 .....

11.....

12..... 

13..... 

lit..... 

15..... 

16.....

i_n cubic feet 

n ed

Discharge

4,040 

4,020 

4,010 

2,440 

98 

>t35 

1,040 

1,200

Day

17..... 

18..... 

19. .... 

20 ..... 

21..... 

22..... 

23..... 

24.....

Discharge

1,320 

1,410 

1,280 

922 

690 

690 

690 

690

Day

25..... 

26..... 

27..... 

28..... 

29..... 

30. .... 

31. ....

lister-. ...........................................................

Discharge

690 

690

754 

810 

805 

798 

798

1,480 

6.60 

138,400

Discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time

Date

Dec. 4

5

Hour

2400

0200

0400

0600

0800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

2400

Discharge ;

0.50

 50

.60

.60

 90

39

217

251

335

370

375

382

399

Date

Dec. 6

Hour

0200

0400

0600

0800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

2230

2300

2400

Discharge

423

444

^59

2,040

3,240

3,290

5,470

6,000

6,060

7,300

8,850

9,050

7,970

7,700

Date

Dec. 7

Hour

0200

0400

0600

0800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

2400

Discharge

8,130

8,260

8,220

8,060

7,820

7,560

7,240

6,860

6,560

6,240

5,900

5,580

Date

Dec. 8

Hour

0200

0400

0600

0800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

2400

Discharge

5,280

4,990

4,710

4,470

4,240

M30

4,110

4,090

4,010

3,920

3,870

3,990
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C67

(34) 11-2049.5. Tule River tributary near Success, Calif. 

(Crest-stage station)

Location. Lat 36°03'27", long 118°54'48", in NEjSEj sec.35, T.21 S., R.28 E., at 

culvert on State Highway 190, 1.8 miles south of Success.

Drainage area. 1.13 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Crest stages only. Altitude of gage is 630 ft (from topographic map).

Discharge record. Peak discharge by computation of flow through culvert.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 219 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, 14.63 ft).

1959 to November 1966: Discharge, 8 cfs Mar. 6, 1962 (gage height, 11.76 ft).
C68 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

(35) 11-2065. Middle Fork Kaweah River near Potwisha Camp, Calif.

Location. Lat 36°30'45", long 118°47'25", in NWj sec.25, T.16 S., R.29 E., on right 

bank 0.7 mile southeast of Potwisha Camp, and 0.9 mile upstream from confluence 

with Marble Fork Kaweah River.

Drainage area. 102 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph. Altitude of gage is 2,100 ft 

(from topographic map).

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

below 1,000 cfs and by slope-area measurement at 46,800 cfs.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 23,300 cfs 0800 hours Dec. 6 (gage height, 

17.7 ft).

1949 to November 1966: Discharge, 46,800 cfs Dec. 23, 1955 (gage height, 

29.0 ft, from floodmarks, at datum 0.70 ft higher), by slope-area measurement 

of maximum flow.

Remarks. Middle Fork Kaweah River No. 3 conduit diverts 0.5 mile upstream from 

station. Figures given herein represent combined flow of Middle Fork Kaweah 

River and Middle Fork Kaweah River No. 3 conduit; diversion is minor during 

floods.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Day

1. . ... 

2.. ... 

3..... 

k..... 

5..... 

6..... 

?..... 

8.....

Monthly me 

Runoff, in 

Runoff, in

Discharge

117 

229 

455 

138 

3,360 

10,500 

1,720 

846

Day

9.....

10 .....

11.....

12..... 

13....-

11+..... 

15..... 

16.....

Discharge

596 

1+76 

392 

338 

301 

277 

261 

247

Day

17..... 

18. .... 

19..... 

20..... 

21. .... 

22. .... 

23..... 

21+.....

Discharge

237 

227 

217 

207 

193 

182 

173 

167

Day

25..... 

26.....

27..... 

28. .... 

29..... 

30..... 

31.....

an discharge, in cubic feet per second. ........................................

acre-feet .....................................................................

Discharge

161 

156

146 

146 

144 

l4o 

131+

738 

8.34 

45,390

;e height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second at indicated time, 1966

Date

Dec. 3

1+

5

Hour

2400

0700

1100

2100

2300

2400

0200

okoo

0500

0600

0700

0800

1100

1200

ll+OO

Gage 

height

-

-

-

_

-

.

-

-

-

9.00

9-15

9.60

9-25

8.28

8.01

Discharge

183

155

145

138

ll+9

168

320

1,340

1,81+0

2,3Uo

2,1+90

2,980

2,590

1,690

1,1+80

Date

Dec. 5

6

Hour

1800

1900

2200

2300

21+00

0100

0200

0300

o4oo

0600

0800

0900

1100

ll+OO

1500

1530

Gage 

height

8.88

9.00

13.00

15.00

15.70

16.1+5

15.30

15.85

16.65

14.85

17.70

13.60

11.00

11.02

13.60

12.30

Discharge

2,220

 2,340

9,600

15,200

17,300

19,600

16,100

17,800

20,200

14, 800

23,300

11,300

5,000

5,o4o

11,300

7,700

Date

Dec. 6

7

8

Hour

1600

1700

1800

1900

2300

24-00

0200

0400

0700

0900

i4oo

2400

0800

1100

1500

2400

Gage 

height

12.99

12.25

11.42

11.28

9.88

9.60

9-30

9.10

8.50

8.28

8.00

7-32

6.90

6.80

6.74

6.45

Discharge

9,570

7,580

5,760

5,500

3,330

2,980

2,640

2,440

1,870

1,690

1,470

1,070

875

830

805

684
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA (

(36) 11-2080. Marble Fork Kaweah River at Potwisha Camp, Calif.

Location. Lat 36°31'10", long 118°48'10", in SEj sec.23, T.16 S., R.29 E., on left 

bank 0.1 mile north of Potwisha Camp, and 0.3 mile upstream from confluence with 

Middle Fork Kaweah River.

Drainage area. 51.4 sq mi.

Gage-height record. ffater-stage recorder graph. Altitude of gage is 2,150 ft 

(from topographic map).

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

below 560 cfs, computed flow over dam at 4,000 cfs, and slope-area measurement 

at 12,500 cfs.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 6,400 cfs 0900 hours Dec. 6 (gage height, 

11.50 ft).

1950 to November 1966: Discharge, 12,500 cfs Dec. 23, 1955 (gage height, 

13.4 ft), from rating curve extended above 1,100 cfs on basis of slope-area 

measurement of maximum flow.

Remarks. Marble Fork Kaweah River No. 3 conduit diverts 0.3 mile upstream from 

station. Figures given herein represent combined flow of Marble Fork Kaweah 

River and Marble Fork Kaweah River No. 3 conduit; diversion is minor during 

floods.

Mean discharge, in _cubic feet per second, December

Day

1..... 

2.....

k'.'.'.'.'.

5..... 

6.....

7..... 

8.....

Monthly m 

Runoff, i 

Runoff, i

Discharge

51 

116 

265 

76 

1,700 

it,5!»0 

1,100 

522

Day

9..... 

10..... 

11. .... 

12..... 

13...-. 

lU. . . . . 

15..... 

16.....

ean discharge, in cubic fee

Discharge

322 

255 

223 

199 

181 

163 

152 

1U5

Day

17..... 

18..... 

19..... 

20..... 

21..... 

22..... 

23..... 

2k.....

Discharge

139 

133 

128 

125 

120 

112 

109 

KA

Day

25..... 

26.....

27..... 

28..... 29.....

30. .... 

31.....

n acre-feet ....................................................................

Discharge

98 

97 

89 

90 

90 

88 

83

375 

8. ho 

23,0to

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1966

Date

Dec. 3

k

5

Hour

2^00

0900

1300

1UOO

2000

2300

2kOO

0200

OtaD

0500

0700

0800

Gage 

height

-

_

_

.

_

-

_

-

-

_

7.56

7-57

Discharge

^h

72

70

67

66

82

93

160

95^

1,260

1,560

1,560

Date

Dec. 5

6

Hour

1000

1100

1300

lltOO

1500

1600

1700

2000

2100

2200

2300

2koo

0300

0500

Gage 

height

6.8^

6.32

5.81

5.88

6.20

6.60

7.00

9.52 9.87

10.56

10.86

10.98

10.91

10.7^

Discharge

1,170

928

72^

752

880

1,050

1,250

3,320

3,7to

It-, 700

5,180

5,370

5,260

k,9&0

Date

Dec. 6

7

Hour

0700

0900

lit- 00

1700

1800

2000

2300

2UOO

0200

0700

1000

1200

1900

2UOO

Gage 

height

11.30

11.50

9.88

ioAo

10.26

9.36

8.35

8.17

7.8^

7.00

6.62

6.U5

6.00

5.73

Discharge

6,000

6, too

3,760

h,h6o

h,26o

3,150

2,130

1,990

1,71*0

1,250

1,050

968

780

66^
C70 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

(37) 11-2085. Middle Fork Kaweah River tributary near Hammond, Calif. 

(Crest-stage station)

Location. Lat 36°29'35", long 118°49'30", in NWjSWj sec.34, T.16 S., R.29 E., at 

culvert on State Highway 198, Sequoia National Park, 2.7 miles northeast of 

Hammond.

Drainage area. 1.90 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Crest stages only; gage destroyed by flood. Altitude of gage 

is 1,740 ft (from topographic map).

Discharge record. Peak discharge by computation of flow through culvert and flow 

over road.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 879 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, 30.63 ft, from 

floodmarks).

1959 to November 1966: Discharge, 152 cfs Feb. 1, 1963 (gage height, 

18.41 ft).

(38) 11-2087.3. East Fork Kaweah River near Three Rivers, Calif.

Location. Lat 36°27'05", long 118°47'15", in NWj sec.14, T.17 S., R.29 E., on

left bank just downstream from diversion dam, and 6.6 miles east of Three Rivers.

Drainage area. 85.8 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph Dec. 1-4. Altitude of gage is 

2,500 ft(from topographic map).

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

below 850 cfs and by critical-depth computation at diversion dam at 13,000 cfs. 

Discharge Dec. 5-31 estimated on basis of weather records, records for nearby 

stations, and critical-depth computation.

Maxima (river only). December 1966: Discharge, 13,000 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, 

21 ft , from flood profile).

1952-55, 1957 to November 1966: Discharge, 2,850 cfs Feb. 1, 1963 (gage 

height, 11.00 ft).

(river and conduit). December 1966: Discharge, 13,000 cfs Dec. 6. 

1952-55, 1957 to November 1966: Discharge, 2,850 cfs Feb. 1, 1963.

Remarks. East Fork Kaweah River No. 1 conduit diverts up to 30 cfs upstream. 

Mean discharge figures are the combined flow of East Fork Kaweah River and 

East Fork Kaweah River No. 1 conduit. Diversion is minor during floods. 

Records furnished by Southern California Edison Co. and reviewed by Geological 

Survey. Maximum discharge computed by Geological Survey.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Day

1. .... 

2..... 

3.....

5....!

6.....

7..... 

8.....

Monthly me 

Runoff, in 

Runoff, in

Discharge

37 

218 

199 

91 

3,200 

8,000 

1,500 

550

Day

9-....

10. ....

11 .....

12 ..... 

13.....

15.....

16.....

Discharge

koo 

360

320 

300 

291 

254 

2^9 

225

Day

17-.... 

13..... 

19-.... 

20.. ... 

21... .. 

22. .... 

23..... 

2k.....

Discharge

225 

201 

201 

176 

168 

157 

157 

153

Day

25..... 

26..... 

27..... 

28..... 

29..... 

30. .... 

31.....

an discharge, in cuMc feet per second. .......................................

acre-feet ....................................................................

Discharge

132 

125 

122 

119 

85

597 

8.02 

36,700
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA

(39) 11-2090. Dorst Creek near Kaweah Camp, Calif. 

(Crest-stage station)

Location. Lat 36°38'45", long 118 0 48'15", in SEjSW^ sec.2, T.15 S., R.29 E., at 

culvert on Generals Highway, Sequoia National Park, 6 miles northwest of Kaweah 

Camp.

Drainage area. 6.11 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Crest stages only. Altitude of gage is 6,700 ft (from topographic map).

Discharge record. Peak discharge by computation of flow through culvert.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 2,010 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, 30.73 ft, from 

flood profile).

1959 to November 1966: Discharge, 1,540 cfs Feb. 1, 1963 (gage height, 

28.85 ft).

(40) 11-2095. North Fork Kaweah River at Kaweah, Calif. 

(Crest-stage partial-record station)

Location. Lat 36°29', long 118 C 55', in SEj sec.34, T.16 S., R.28 E., on left bank 

1.2 miles upstream from Mannikin Creek, 1.5 miles north of Kaweah, and 3 miles 

upstream from mouth.

Drainage area. 129 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Floodmarks only. Datum of gage is 1,027.7 ft above mean sea 

level (river-profile survey).

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

below 3,200 cfs and by slope-area measurement at 21,500 cfs.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 23,900 cfs Dec. 6 (gage height, 14.7 ft, from 

flood profile).

1910 to November 1966: Discharge, 21,500 cfs Dec. 23, 1955 (gage height, 

14.1 ft, from flood profile).
C72 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

(41) 11-2099. Kaweah River at Three Rivers, Calif.

Location. Lat 36°26'38", long 118°54'09", in SW^SW^ sec.13, T.17 S. , R.28 E., on 

right bank opposite schoolhouse in Three Rivers, 0.25 mile downstream from North 

Fork Kaweah River.

Drainage area. 418 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph. Datum of gage is 809.62 ft above 

mean sea level, datum of 1929.

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

below 13,000 cfs and by slope-area measurements at 30,900 and 73,000 cfs.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 73,000 cfs 2300 hours Dec. 5 (gage height, 

16.69 ft, from recorder graph; 19.0 ft, from flood profile).

1958 to November 1966: Discharge, 30,900 cfs Feb. 1, 1963 (gage height, 

13.68 ft, from recorder graph; 14.80 ft, from flood profile).

Flood of Dec. 23, 1955, reached a stage of 17.9 ft, from floodmarks.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December

Day Discharge Day Discharge Day Discharge

"BIT

766 

730 

695 

665 

62k 

599 

571

Day Discharge

5^9 

531 

505 

kSi

1,910

^72

16,600

37,100

7,010

2,650

17....

18....

19....

20....

21....

22....

23.... 

2k....

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1966

Hour

0900 

1100 

1300 

1800 

2000 

2200 

2kOO

0200 

OkOO 

0700 

1200 

1800 

2kOO

1200

1800

Gage 

height

Discharge Date Hour

2200 

2kOO

0200 

Ol+OO

1100 

1200 

1400 

1800 

2000 

2100 

2200 

2300 

2^4-00

0100

0200

0500

It. 87 

7.60 

10.00 

10.80 

10.00 

9-^5 

9.00 

10.00 

12.32 

13-50 

15.90 

16.69 

16.30

Hour

otoo

Discharge
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA

(42) 11-2101. South Fork Kaweah River at Three Rivers, Calif.

Location. Lat 36°25'00", long 118°54'48", in SEj sec.26, T.17 S. , R.28 E., on 

right bank 200 ft upstream from unnamed tributary, 0.5 mile upstream from 

mouth, and 1.8 miles southwest of Three Rivers.

Drainage area. 86.7 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except Dec. 7 to 1500 hours 

Dec. 12. Datum of gage is 807.22 ft above mean sea level.

Discharge record. Stage-discharge relation defined by current-meter measurements below 2,000 cfs and by slope-area measurement at 11,600 cfs. Discharge 

Dec. 7 to 1500 hours Dec. 12 estimated on basis of discharge measurements, 

weather records, and record for Kaweah River at Three Rivers.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 11,600 cfs 1400 hours Dec. 6 (gage height, 

9.30 ft, in gage well; 10.4 ft, from floodmarks).

1958 to November 1966: Discharge, 2,440 cfs Feb. 1, 1963 (gage height, 

4.95 ft).

Flood of Dec. 23, 1955, reached a stage of 9.5 ft, from floodmarks (discharge, 10,000 cfs).

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Day

1.....

2.....

3.....

1*.....

5.....

6.....

7-....

8.....

Discharge

21*

28

171*

1*6

1,610

7,760

1,1*80

600

Day

9.....

10 .....

11.....

12.....

13.....

11*.....

15.....

16.....

Discharge

1*00

260

200

172

150

136

126

118

Day

17.....

18.....

19. ....

20.....

21.....

22.....

23.....

21*.....

Discharge

101*

97

90

87

82

76

72

69

Day

25.....

26.....

27.....

28..... 29.....

30.....

31.....

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second. .......................................

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

Discharge

66

66

58

58

56

55

51

6.16

28,500

Gage height, in feet, and discharge

Date

Dec. 4

5

Hour

21*00

0300

0500

0600

0700

0800

0900

1000

1100

11*00

1600

1800

1900

1930

2000

2030

Cage 

height

1.93

2.03

2.30

3.80

1*.28

1*.62

1*.1*7

l*.6l

1*.1*1*

l*.3l*

1*.52

1*.62

l*.67

l*.82

i*.l*5

5.29

Discharge

1*2

^

95

690

1,190

1,760

1,^90

1,71*0

1,1*1*0

1,280

1,580

1,760

1,850

2,11*0

1,1*60

3,200

Date

Dec. 5

6

in cubic feet per second, at indicated times, 1966

Hour

2100

2130

2200

2230

2300

2330

21*00

21*00

0100

0130

0230

0300

0330

oi*oo

01*30

0530

0600

Gage 

height

5.02

5.35

5.02

6.55

6.30

6.95

6.^0

7.05

6.60

6.98

6.55

6.73

6.50

6.91*

6.87

7.6o

7.06

Discharge

2,600

3,330

2,600

5,970

5,1*20

6,850

5,61*0

7,070

6,080

6,920

5,970

6,370

5,860

6,830

6,670

8,200

7,090

Date

Dec. 6

Hour

0630

0700

0730

0900

1000

1200

1300

11*00

11*00

1530

1630

1700

1900

1930

2100

2130

2200

21*00

Gage 

height

7.10

7.65

8.55

9.16

8.50

7.65

7.1*6

9-30

8.30

9.10

8.39

8.59

6.80

6.98

5.88

6.00

5.87

5.78

Discharge

7,180

8,300

10,100

11,300

10,000

8,300

7,920

11,600

9,600

11,200

9,780

10,200

6,320

6,750

1*,090

l*,38o

1*,070 3,850
C74 FLOODS OF 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

(43) 11-2109. Lake Kaweah near Lemoncove, Calif.

Location. Lat 36°24'53", long 119°00'07", in SE^SW^ sec.25, T.17 S., R.27 E., in 

control tower near left abutment of Terminus Dam on Kaweah River, 2.1 miles 

northeast of Lemoncove.

Drainage area. 560 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph. Datum of gage is at mean sea 

level, datum of 1929 (levels by Corps of Engineers).

Contents record. Contents computed from capacity table dated June 1966.

Maxima. December 1966: Computed bihourly inflow, 82,700 cfs 0900 to 1100 hours 

Dec. 6; contents, 147,200 acre-ft 0100 hours Dec. 8 (elevation, 692.77 ft). 

October 1961 to November 1966: Contents, 139,900 acre-ft June 14, 1965 

(elevation, 688.96 ft).

Remarks. Reservoir is formed by earthfill dam and earthfill auxiliary dam;

completed and storage began in February 1962. Usable capacity, 149,400 acre-ft 

between elevations 520.0 ft (invert of outlet structure) and 694.0 ft (spillway 

crest). Dead storage, 166 acre-ft. Figures given herein represent total contents. Surcharge flood-control storage, 117,400 acre-ft between ungated spillway crest and elevation 745.1 ft (maximum spillway design flood pool). Records 

furnished by Corps of Engineers.

Contents, in acre-feet at 2400 hours, December

Day

1. ....

2.....

3.....

4.....

5.....

6.....

?.....

8.....

Contents

7,850

8,100

10,500

8,800

35,800

139,100

147,200

144,700

Day

9.....

10.....

11. ....

12.....

13.....

Ik.....

15.....

16.....

Contents

142,500

140,100

136,800

131,800

126,400

120,800

114,900

108,900

Day

1?.....

18. ....

19.....

20.....

21.....

22.....

23.....

24.....

Contents

102,500

96,000

89,500

82,800

78,600

76,600

74,600

73,000

Day

25..... 26..... 27.....

28..... 29.....

30.....

31- ....

Change in contents in acre-feet ..........................................................

Contents

71,400

69,800

67,900

66,200

64,500

62,800

60,800

+52,100

Average inflow, in cubic feet per second, for Mhourly periods ending at indicated time, 1966

Date

Dec. 4

5

Hour

0100 

0300

0500

0700

0900

1100

1300

1500

1700

1900

2100

2300

0100

0300

0500

Inflow

797 

614

638

543

528

558

516

477

481

478

432

461

415

430

535

Date

Dec. 5

6

Hour

0700 

0900

1100

1300

1500

1700

1900

2100

2300

0100

0300

0500

0700

0900

1100

Inflow

879 

8,320

11,500

16,800

11,400

9,590

12,100

16,300

42,700

63,800

63,800

62,400

64,500

76,900

82,700

Date

Dec. 6

7

Hour

1300 

1500

1700

1900

2100

2300

0100

0300

0500

0700

0900

1100

1300

1500

1700

1900

Inflow

45,600 

57,800

45,600

50,900

30,400

22,000

19,000

14,500

12,300

10,900

9,630

8,720

8,130

7,200

6,860

6,510

Date

Dec. 7

8

9

Hour

2100 

2300

0100

0300

0500

0700

0900

1100

1300

1500

1700

1900

2100

2300

0100

Inflow

5,810 

5,580

5,220

4,990

4,760

4,410

4,180

3,9^0

3,940

3,520

3,890

3,530

3,650

3,540

3,410
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA

(44) 11-2109.5. Kaweah River below Terminus Dam, Calif.

 ocatlon. Lat 36°24'51", long 119°00'42", in SEjSEj sec.26, T.17 S. , R.27 E 

left bank 0.6 mile downstream from Terminus Dam, and 2.2 miles northeast >

, on 

of Lemoncove. 

:x-ainage area. 561 sq mi.

' \ge-height record. Digital-recorder tape punched at 15-minute intervals. Datum of 

gage is 495.90 ft above mean sea level (levels by Corps of Engineers).

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

below 4,100 cfs.

!<axima,~December 1966: Discharge, 5,740 cfs 1445 hours Dec. 8 (gage height, 

8.62 ft).

1961 to November 1966: Discharge, 5,080 cfs Jan. 31, 1963 (gage height, 

8.28 ft) .

Remarks. Flow regulated by Lake Kaweah (see station 11-2109). Monthly runoff 

figures include 52,100 acre-ft stored in Lake Kaweah.

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December

Day

1.... . 

2..... 

3.....

1)..... 

5..... 

6.....

7..... 

8.....

Discharge

651 

198 

877 

1,300 

1,310 

1,150 

4,920 

5,320

Monthly mean discharge 

Runoff, in inches, adj 

Runoff, in acre-feet,

Day

9.....

10.....

11.....

12..... 

13-....

11)..... 

15..... 

16.....

, in cutdc feel

Discharge

3,590 

3,120 

3,200 

3,870 

4,010

4,000 

4,010

4,020

Day

17..... 

18..... 

19..... 

20. .... 

21. .... 

22..... 

23..... 

24. ....

Discharge

4,180 

4,200 

4,200 

4,210 

2,950 

1,650 

1,700 

1,420

Day

25 ..... 

26..... 27.....

28..... 29.....

30..... 

31.....

adjusted. .........................................................

Discharge

1,410

i,4oo 

1,460 

i,4io 

1,370 

1,1)00 

1,420

2,578 

7.04 

210,600

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cut>ic feet per second, at indicated times, 1§66

Date

Dec. 3

k

5

Hour

21)00

0400

0800

1200

1600

2000

2400

o4oo

0800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

21+00

Gage 

height

5.32

5-31

5.29

5.30

5.28

5.27

5.25

5.24

5.32

5.62

5.75

5.80

k.92 4.88

4.92

5.00

5.11

Discharge

1,360

1,360

1,340

1,350

i,34o

1,330

1,320

1,310

1,360

1,600

1,700

1,750

1,100

1,080

1,100

1,150

1,220

Date

Dec. 6

7

Hour

0200

0400

0600

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

2400

0200

0400

0600

1000

1200

1600

Gage 

height

2.70

1.68

1.29

1.19

1.15

1.08

3.05

6.39

7.35

7.68

7.69

7.70

8.06

8.26

8.30

8.31

8.32

Discharge

263

110

73

65

62

57

339

2,310

3,490

4,010

4,020

4,o4o

4,60.0 5,050

5,120

5,i4o

5,160

Date

Dec. 7

8

9

10

Hour

2000

24oo

o4oo

0800

1200

I4oo

1445

1600

2000

24oo

0400

0600

1000

2400

1200

2400

Gage 

height

8.31

8.31

8.31

8.32

8.31

8.59

8.62

8.57

8.56

8.56

8.55

7.0k

7.11

7.11

7.10

7.10

Discharge

5,140

5,l4o

5,HtO

5,160

5,ll)0

5,680

5,71)0

5,61)0

5,620

5,620

5,600

3,070

3,150

3,150

3,120

3,120
FLOODS Or 1966 IN THE UNITED STATES

(45) 11-2113. Dry Creek near Lemoncove, Calif.

Location. Lat 36°25'30", long 119°01'20", in NW^NWj sec. 26, T.17 S., R.27 E. , on 

left bank 400 ft downstream from Pogue Canyon, 1.3 miles upstream from mouth, 

and 2.8 miles north of Lemoncove.

Drainage area. 80.4 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph except Dec. 8-15. Altitude of gage 

is 515 ft (from topographic map).

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

below 9,400 cfs. Discharge Dec. 8-15 estimated on basis of discharge measurements, records for nearby stations, and weather records.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge, 14,500 cfs 0900 hours Dec. 6 (gage height, 

7.30 ft, from recorder graph, 8.94 ft, from floodmarks).

1959 to November 1966: Discharge, 1,600 cfs Teh. 1, 1963 (gage height, 

5.08 ft).

Mean discharge, in cubic feet per second, December 1966

Day

1.....

2.....

3.....

4.....

5.....

6.....

7.....

8.....

Discharge

0

0

.70

1.2

670

6,370

537

115

Day

9.....

10.....

11. ....

12.....

13.....

14.....

15.....

16.....

Discharge

70

48

37

31

27

22

19

17

Day

17.....

18. ....

19.....

20.....

21.....

22 .....

23.....

24.....

Discharge

16

14

14

14

13

12

12

11

Day

25.....

26. ....

27.....

28..... 29.....

30.....

31.....

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet per second. .........................................

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

Discharge

11

11

11

9.6

9.6

9.6

8.5

3-77

16,150

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1966

Date

Dec. 3

4

5

Hour

2400

0600

1200

1500

2 !)-00

0900

1000

1030

1100

1130

1230

1300

i4oo

1830

Gage 

height

2.38

2.34

2.26

-

-

-

2.85

it. 10

4. 4o

4.63

4.41

4.53

4.50

4.10

Discharge

4.7

2.3

.3

0

0

0

72

580

820

1,080

830

956

920

580

Date

Dec. 5

6

Hour

2000

2100

2200

2400

0100

0200

0500

0600

0800

0900

1000

1030

1100

1130

1200

Gage 

height

4.09

4.21

4.55

6.28

6.53

6.53

6.39

6.90

6.96

7.30

6.51

6.69

5.29

5.81

5.04

Discharge

574

658

980

6,050

7,620

7,620

6,700

10,300

10,800

14,500

9,750

9,830

6,960

8,530

6,100

Date

Dec. 6

7

Hour

1200

1230

1230

1300

1300

1400

1500

1700

1700

1900

2200

2400

0600

0900

1200

2400

Gage 

height

5.81

5.21

5-53

5.01

5-33

4.92

4.60

4.72

4.62

3-70

2.94

2.58

1.92

1.57

1.27

.70

Discharge

8,530

6,640

7,620

6,050

7,080

5,720

4,840

5,l6o

4,880

2,800

1,610

1,220

706

532

420

218
DECEMBER, KERN-KAWEAH AREA, CALIFORNIA C7 

(46) 11-2120. Sand Creek near Orange Cove, Calif.

Location. Lat 36°37'35" J long 119°14'45", in NWj sec.15, T.15 S. , R.25 E., On 

right bank 3.8 miles east of Orange Cove.

Drainage area. 26.8 sq mi.

Gage-height record. Water-stage recorder graph. Altitude of gage is 710 ft 

(from topographic map).

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

below 200 cfs.

Maxima. December 1966: Discharge , 1,350 cfs 0840 hours Dec. 6 (gage height, 

5.60 ft, from recorder graph; 6.78 ft, from floodmarks).

1944 to November 1966: Discharge, 775 cfs (revised) Dec. 23, 1955 (gage 

height, 4.80 ft).

Remarks. Records furnished by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Discharges above 200 cfs 

computed by Geological Survey.

in

Day Discharge Day Discharge Day Discharge Day Discharge

31(5 

1(6 

10

3.9 

2.1 

1.5 

1.1

2?....

28....

29....

30....

31....

0.6 

.6 

.6 

.6 

.6 

.6 

.6

Monthly 

Runoff, 

Runoff,

Gage height, in feet, and discharge, in cubic feet per second, at indicated time, 1966

Date

Dec. 5

6

Hour

2too

01CO

0200

oi»oo

0600

0700

0730

0800

0830

Gage 

height

1.^5

2.97

3.00

2.85

3.00

3. 1*8

3.75

It. 20

5.00

Discharse

11

159

I6k

139

161+

26k

335

1(85

895

Date

Dec. 6

Hour

0900

0930

1000

1100

ll»QO

1600

1800

2100

21(00

Gage 

height

5.60

k.SO

1(.38

k.2S

1(.35

IK 01

3-72

3.15

2.82

Discharge

1,350

835

561

1(93

51(8

lull.

326

192

13k

Date

Dec. 7

8

Hour

Ol+OO

0800

1200

1600

2000

21+00

0600

1200

1800

21+00

Gage 

height

2.45

2.22

2.0k

1.88

1.73

1.62

1.1(8

1.37

1.27

1.18

Discharge

83

56

1(2

31

23

18

13

10

7-5

5.7
Ash Mountain rain gagePage 

C5

lorel Canal------

?uena Vista Lake14,22

"aliente Creek - 22

above Tehachapi Creek 56

Channel changes 30

Coho Creek near White River - 59

Damage 2,14, 23, 32 

Deer Creek 22 

near Terra Bella 22,60 

Description of the floods 9 

Discharges 9,31,33 

Dorst Creek near Kaweah Camp- 71 

Dry Creek near Lemoncove 19,76

Fill deposition 

Frequency of floods28,2927

Geomorphic effects in the Kern River

basin 28 

Giant Forest rain gage 5,19 

Glennville rain gage 5 

Golden Trout Creek near Cartago 7,12,40 

Grant Grove rain gage 5,7,19,22

Introduction 1 

Isabella Dam 12,14,22,23 

Isabella Reservoir near

Isabella 12,22,23,52

Johnsondale rain gageKaweah River at Three Rivers 19,22,25,72 

below Terminus Dam- 75 

East Fork, near Three Rivers 70 

Middle Fork, near Potwisha Camp 19,68 

tributary near Hammond 70 

North Fork, at Kaweah 19,71 

South Fork, at Three Rivers 19,25,73

Kaweah River basin 9,18,22,25

Kelso Creek 28 

near Weldon 16,51

Kern River at Kernville 12,14,16,31,48 

below Isabella Dam 53 

near Bakersfield 12,14,22,55 

near Democrat Springs 54 

near Kernville 2,12,16,27,44 

near Quaking Aspen Camp- 41 

South Fork, near Olancha 12,14,49 

near Onyx 14,31,50 

tributary near Miracle Hot

Springs 14 , 53

Kern River basin 7,9,12,25,28,31

Kern River powerhouse one rain

gage 5

Lake Isabella _______

Lake Kaweah 9,18,19

near Lemoncove ______

Lake Success 9,16

near Success __________________

Landslides _________

Little Kern River near Quaking Aspen 

Camp 

Maggie Mountain - -- 

Marble Fork Kaweah River at Potwisha

Camp __ _

Mon Canyon Creek near Oildale 

Packsaddle Canyon Creek near

Fairview _ _ 

Poso Creek 

near Oildale _____

Precipitation 

Previous floods ________

Recurrence intervalPage

C30

23,31

19,74

,23,31

18,65

28

16,42

16

19,69

58

43

22

58

5

2,25

27

Salmon Creek tributary B near

Fairview 45

tributary C near Fairview 46

tributary E near Fairview 47

Sand Creek 22

near Orange Cove 77

Sedimentation 30

Shirley Creek tributary near Alta

Sierra 49

Springville rain gage 5

Stages 33

Storage regulation 22

Success Dam - 23

Tehachapi Creek 22 

near Tehachapi 57 

Terminus Dam 23 

Three Rivers powerhouse two rain

gage 5

Triple Divide Peak 18

Tulare Lake 9

Tule River below Success Dam 66

Middle Fork, North Fork of, near

Springville 18,27,61

near Springville 16,25,63

North Fork, at Springville 62

South Fork, near Success 18,64

tributary near Success 67

Tule River basin 7,9,16,25

Tumbleweed Creek near Oildale 56

White River 22

near Ducor 60

Winding Creek near Camp Nelson 62

Wofford Heights rain gage 5

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1971 O - 414-459