2009 FLOOD UPDATES

This page will provide up-to-date information regarding USGS Indiana Water Science Center activities relating to floods. Information includes

• USGS Internet flood resources

• March 2009 flood updates

• 2008 flood updates (opens another web page)

• Flood Photographs

• Flood-related links

• Frequently asked questions about the USGS and floods (this link will take you to a different page)

Because information posted here is intended to be timely, all data and information are preliminary and subject to revision.

For information and guidance on addressing flood damage in agricultural lands visit the NRCS site: http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/EWP/EWPhomepage.html

USGS Internet Flood Resources

• Real-time stage and streamflow data: Stage and streamflow data are available from the Indiana streamflow-gaging station network. Visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/in/nwis/rt

• WaterWatch: The WaterWatch Flood Watch feature provides a map that allows users to determine, at a glance, regions experiencing high flows and which streamflow-gaging stations have water levels above flood stage. Visit: http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch

MARCH 2009

Flood Updates

March 16: This morning water levels exceeded flood stage at 20 USGS streamgages. In most locations water is receding. Provisional data indicates that new record peakstages and/or streamflows (within the period of record of the gage) occurred at the following USGS streamgages:

• Tippecanoe River at North Webster (period of record 1987 - present)
• Tippecanoe River at Winamac (period of record 2002 - present)
• Cedar Creek at 18th Street at Auburn (period of record 2002 - present)
• Maumee River at Fort Wayne (period of record 1998 - present)
• Maumee River at Coliseum Boulevard at Fort Wayne (period of record 2004 - present)
• Kankakee River at Davis (period of record 1925-present)
• St. Joseph River at Fort Wayne (period of record 1984 - present)
• Iroquois River at Rensselaer (period of record 1949 - present)

Provisional data indicates that one-percent chance or greater than 1-percent chance floods occurred at:

• Kankakee River at Davis
• Cedar Creek at 18th Street at Auburn
• Tippecanoe River at Oswego
• St. Joseph River at Newville

USGS crews have completed field discharge measurement flood response for this flood.

March 13: This morning flood levels were above flood stage at 26 USGS streamgages. Moderate to major flooding continues on the upper Tippecanoe River, Kankakee River, Iroquois River, St Joseph Rivers (tributary to Maumee River and tributary to Lake Michigan), Yellow River, and Maumee River. Many locations have peaked and are receding or are near peak. For forecast peak times on rivers still rising, consult National Weather Service flood forecasts at http://www.weather.gov/ahps/

USGS real-time gage hydrographs can be obtained at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/in/nwis/current/?type=flow

March 12:

Flooding from Cedar Creek at Auburn. Photograph courtesy of Mr. Rodney Renkenberger, Executive Director, Maumee River Basin Commission. The Commission provides funding for USGS streamgage 04179520, Cedar Creek at 18th Street at Auburn – where a new record peak stage was set.
This morning moderate to major flooding is occurring in northern Indiana on the following streams: Cedar Creek, Eel River, St. Joseph River (tributary of Maumee), St Joseph River (tributary of Lake Michigan), Maumee River, upper Wabash River, Tippecanoe River, Iroquois River, and Kankakee River.  Levels were above flood stage at 29 USGS streamgages.  Cedar Creek near Cedarville and St. Joseph River at Newville were near record stages.
USGS crews will be focusing on the Fort Wayne area today to provide critical flood information to the National Weather Service (NWS) for flood forecasts provided through the Advanced Hydrologic Predictive Service (AHPS) Web pages. A crew also will be making a measurement at Oakdale Dam on the Tippecanoe River to calibrate a new streamgage there.
National Weather Service AHPS: http://www.weather.gov/ahps/
USGS WaterWatch Flood and High Flow Conditions for Indiana: http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/?m=flood&r=in&w=map

Video of Tippecanoe River flooding at USGS streamgage 03332605 below Oakdale Dam.

March 11: Moderate to major flooding is occurring in north-central and northeastern Indiana. Rivers with moderate to major flooding in progress or forecast by the National Weather Service include the Tippecanoe, Yellow, Iroquois, Kankakee, and Maumee. A new peak of record has been set at Cedar Creek at Auburn. River stages are exceeding flood stage at 27 USGS streamgages. Three USGS crews have been dispatched to make streamflow measurements at critical streamgages on the Tippecanoe River, Cedar Creek, Spy Run Creek, and the Kankakee River. Crews will also make measurements at ungaged locations on Carpenter Creek and the Kankakee River at the request of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Streamgage streamflow measurement and rating information will be communicated to the NWS as the data are collected. USGS Indiana Water Science Center personnel will communicate with state and Federal partners throughout the day to provide flood critical data and information.

Word file containing a table of provisional information and map of streamgages currently above flood stage.

USGS Waterwatch - map of flood and high flow conditions for Indiana.

National Weather Service flood forecasts.

Flood Photographs

Flooding in Auburn, Indiana, from Cedar Creek. Photos courtesy of Rodney Renkenberger, Executive Director, Maumee River Basin Commission. March, 2009
Photographs by USGS field crews of the Tippecanoe River near Monticello, Indiana.
Other Photographs by USGS field crews.
Flooding at the Maumee River in Ft. Wayne.	Flooding at the Maumee River at New Haven.

Flood-Related Links

USGS Indiana press releases http://in.water.usgs.gov/press_release/

USGS United States map of flood and high flow conditions: http://water.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/dailyMainW?state=us&map_type=flood&web_type=map

National Weather Service River Forecasts: http://www.weather.gov/rivers_tab.php

Indiana State Emergency Management Agency: http://www.in.gov/sema/emerg_mgt/

USGS Surface Water Information Pages: http://water.usgs.gov/osw/

StreamStats: A Web-based tool that allows users to obtain streamflow statistics, drainage-basin characteristics, and other information for user-selected sites on streams. A StreamStats application for flood-frequency in Indiana is available at: http://water.usgs.gov/osw/streamstats/ssonline.html

National Weather Service: Indianapolis
Main Page: http://www.weather.gov/ind
River Page: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=ind

National Weather Service: Northern Indiana
Main Page: http://www.weather.gov/iwx
River Page: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=iwx

National Weather Service: Wilmington, Ohio
Main Page: http://www.weather.gov/iln
River Page: http://newweb.erh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=iln

National Weather Service: Louisville, Kentucky
Main Page: http://www.weather.gov/lmk
River Page: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lmk

National Weather Service: Chicago, Illinois
Main Page: http://www.weather.gov/lot
River Page: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lot