Publication Citation

USGS Series Open-File Report
Report Number 2008-1203
Title Flood Magnitude and Frequency of the Delaware River in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania
Edition - Online Only
Language ENGLISH
Author(s) Schopp, Robert D.; Firda, Gary D.
Year 2008
Originating office USGS New Jersey Water Science Center
USGS Library Call Number
Physical description iv, 9 p.
ISBN
Northernmost latitude 0423000
Southernmost latitude 0400000
Easternmost longitude -0740000
Westernmost longitude -0770000

Online Document Versions

Copies of the original may be available.

For more information or ordering assistance, call 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747), visit http://ask.usgs.gov, contact any USGS Earth Science Information Center (ESIC), or write:

USGS Information Services
Box 25286
Denver, CO 80225
Abstract

From September 2004 to June 2006, the Delaware River in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania experienced three major floods that caused extensive damage. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) needed updated information on the flood magnitude and frequency for the eight active streamflow-gaging stations along the main stem Delaware River in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania that included the three recent floods in order to update its flood insurance studies. Therefore, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) computed updated flood magnitude and frequency values following the guidelines published by the Interagency Advisory Committee on Water Data in its Bulletin 17B. The updated flood-frequency values indicate that the recurrence interval of the September 2004 flood ranged from 20 to 35 years, the recurrence interval of the April 2005 flood ranged from 40 to 70 years, and the recurrence interval of the June 2006 flood ranged from 70 to greater than 100 years. Examination of trends in flood discharges indicate no statistically significant trends in peak flows during the period of record for any of the eight streamflow-gaging stations.