U.S. Geological Survey
Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4074
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Estimated Flood-Inundation Maps for Cowskin Creek in Western Wichita, Kansas
By S.E. Studley
The October 31, 1998, flood on Cowskin Creek in western Wichita, Kansas, caused
millions of dollars in damages. Emergency management personnel and flood mitigation
teams had difficulty in efficiently identifying areas affected by the flooding,
and no warning was given to residents because flood-inundation information was
not available.
To provide detailed information about future flooding on Cowskin Creek, high-resolution
estimated flood-inundation maps were developed using geographic information
system technology and advanced hydraulic analysis. Two-foot-interval land-surface
elevation data from a 1996 flood insurance study were used to create a three-dimensional
topographic representation of the study area for hydraulic analysis. The data
computed from the hydraulic analyses were converted into geographic information
system format with software from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Hydrologic
Engineering Center. The results were overlaid on the three-dimensional topographic
representation of the study area to produce maps of estimated flood-inundation
areas and estimated depths of water in the inundated areas for 1-foot increments
on the basis of stream stage at an index streamflow-gaging station.
A Web site (http://ks.water.usgs.gov/cowskin.floodwatch) was developed
to provide the public with information pertaining to flooding in the study area.
The Web site shows graphs of the real-time streamflow data for U.S. Geological
Survey gaging stations in the area and monitors the National Weather Service
Arkansas-Red Basin River Forecast Center for Cowskin Creek flood-forecast information.
When a flood is forecast for the Cowskin Creek Basin, an estimated flood-inundation
map is displayed for the stream stage closest to the National Weather Service's
forecasted peak stage. Users of the Web site are able to view the estimated
flood-inundation maps for selected stages at any time and to access information
about this report and about flooding in general. Flood recovery teams also have
the ability to view the estimated flood-inundation map pertaining to the most
recent flood. The availability of these maps and the ability to monitor the
real-time stream stage through the U.S. Geological Survey Web site provide emergency
management personnel and residents with information that is critical for evacuation
and rescue efforts in the event of a flood as well as for post-flood recovery
efforts.
CONTENTS
Abstract
Introduction
Purpose and Scope
Benefits
Description of Study Area
Hydraulic Analysis
Calibration and Results of Hydraulic Analysis
Development of Flood-Inundation Maps
Cowskin Creek Flood-Inundation Maps on the World Wide Web
Summary
References
Appendix—Estimated Flood-Inundation Areas for Selected Stages of Cowskin
Creek, Western Wichita, Kansas
Studley, S.E. 2003, Estimated flood-inundation maps for Cowskin Creek
in western Wichita, Kansas: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations
Report 03-4074, 18 p.
For additional information about USGS Wichita flood inundation map studies,
please visit the Web site at:
http://ks.water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/cowskin.floodwatch
(best viewed with Internet Explorer 5.0 or greater or Netscape 6.0 or greater)
For additional information contact:
Seth Studley
U.S. Geological Survey
4821 Quail Crest Place
Lawrence, KS 66049-3839
Telephone: (785) 832-3541
Fax: (785) 832-3500
Email: sstudley@usgs.gov
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