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Prepared in cooperation with the IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION and the IOWA HIGHWAY RESEARCH BOARD !Project HR-140) Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins, Northeast Iowa Open-File · Report 01-13 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

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Page 1: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

Prepared in cooperation with the IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION and the IOWA HIGHWAY RESEARCH BOARD !Project HR-140)

Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins, Northeast Iowa

Open-File ·Report 01-13

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

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U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

FLOODS OF JULY 19-25, 1999, IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS, NORTHEAST IOWA

by Jan L. Ballew and David A. Eash

Open-File Report 01-13

Prepared in cooperation with the

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

and the IOWA HIGHWAY RESEARCH BOARD (Project HR-140)

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U.S. Department of the Interior Gale A. Norton, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey Charles G. Groat, Director

For additional information write to:

District Chief U.S. Geological Survey, WRD P.O. Box 1230 Room 269, Federal Building 400 South Clinton Street Iowa City, Iowa 52244

Copies of this report can be purchased from:

U.S. Geological Survey Information Services Box 25286, Denver Federal Center Denver, Colorado 80225-0286

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CONTENTS Page

Abstract.................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ................................................................... ........................................................................................................ I

Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................................... 2 River basins ........................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Storm description................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Flood description................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Profiles for the floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins.................................................... 12 Summary ................................................................................................................................................................................ 14 References . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . .. . .. . .. .. . .. . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . .. 14 Appendix: Temporary bench marks and reference points in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins.............................. 14

FIGURES

I. Map showing river reaches profiled, location of bridge sites used for the flood profiles of July 19-25, 1999, and U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations located in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins, Iowa ................................................................... ............................................................... 3

2-3. Maps showing areal distribution of rainfall for the: 2. July 18-19, 1999, storm in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins, Iowa............................................... 6 3. July 20-21, 1999, storm in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins, Iowa............................................... 7

4. Graph showing stage hydrograph of the Cedar River at Charles City, Iowa, streamflow-gaging station, Julyl7-30,1999 ............................................................................................................................................... 12

5-8. Graphs showing profile of the July 1999 flood for the Wapsipinicon River, Iowa: 5. River miles 164 to 218 .................................................................................................................................. 22 6. River miles 164 to 180 ................................................................................ .................................................. 23 7. River miles 180 to 200 .................................................................................................................................. 24 8. River miles 200 to 218 ........................................................................................................ .......................... 25

9-15. Graphs showing profile of the July 1999 flood for the Cedar River, Iowa: 9. River miles 139 to 250 .................................................................................................................................. 27

I 0. River miles 139 to 155 .................................................................................................................................. 28 11. River miles 155 to 175 .................................................................................................................................. 29 12. River miles 175 to 195 .................................................................................................................................. 30 13. River miles 195 to 215 .................................................................................................................................. 31 14. River miles 215 to 235 .................................................................................................................................. 32 15. River miles 235 to 250 .................................................................................................................................. 33

16-20. Graphs showing profile of the July 1999 flood for the Shell Rock River, Iowa: 16. River miles I to 76 ........................................................................................................................................ 35 17. River miles 1 to 20 .. . .. .. . .. . .. . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . .. . .. . . . .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . .. . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . . .. .. . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . 36 18. River miles 20 to 40 ...................................................................................................................................... 37 19. River miles 40 to 60 ...................................................................................................................................... 38 20. River miles 60 to 76 ...................................................................................................................................... 39

21-24. Graphs showing profile of the July 1999 flood for Flood Creek, Iowa: 21. River miles 1 to 40 ........................................................................................................................................ 41 22. River miles 1 to 15 ........................................................................................................................................ 42 23. River miles 15 to 30 ...................................................................................................................................... 43 24. River miles 30 to 40 ..................................................................................................... ............. .................... 44

CONTENTS iii

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TABLES Page I. Streamflow-gaging stations in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins, Iowa....................................................... 4 2. Rainfall amounts at selected communities in northeast Iowa during July 19-21, 1999. ............................................ 9 3. Maximum stages and discharges, recurrence intervals, and unit runoff for the floods of July 1999 and

selected additional years at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins, Iowa................................................................................................................................................. 10

4-7. Elevations of high-water marks used in the flood profile of July 1999 for: 4. The Wapsipinicon River, Iowa............................................................................................................................. 26 5. The Cedar River, Iowa......................................................................................................................................... 34 6. The Shell Rock River, Iowa................................................................................................................................. 40 7. Flood Creek, Iowa................................................................................................................................................ 45

CONVERSION FACTORS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND VERTICAL DATUM

Multiply By To obtain

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer

square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer

cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second

cubic foot per second per 0.01093 cubic meter per second

square mile [(ft3/s)/mi2] per square kilometer

Sea Level: In this report, "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929-a geodetic datum derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of the United States and Canada, formerly called Sea

Level Datum of 1929.

iV FLOODS OF JULY 19-25, 1999, IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS, NORTHEAST IOWA

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Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins, Northeast Iowa

by Jan L. Ballew and David A. Eash

ABSTRACT

Severe flooding occurred during July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins following two thunderstorms over northeast Iowa. During July 18-19, as much as 6 inches ofrainfall was centered over Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Mitchell, and Worth Counties. During July 20-21, a second storm occurred in which an additional rainfall of as much as 8 inches was centered over Chickasaw and Floyd Counties. The cumulative effect of the storms produced floods with new maximum peak discharges at the following streamflow-gaging stations: Wapsipinicon River near Tripoli, 19,400 cubic feet per second; Cedar River at Charles City, 31,200 cubic feet per second (recurrence interval about 90 years); Cedar River at Janesville, 42,200 cubic feet per second (recurrence interval about 80 years); and Flood Creek near Powersville, 19,000 cubic feet per second. Profiles of flood elevations for the July 1999 flood are presented in this report for selected reaches along the Wapsipinicon, Cedar, and Shell Rock Rivers and along Flood Creek. Information about the river basins, rain storms, and flooding are presented along with information on temporary bench marks and reference points in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins.

INTRODUCTION

Thunderstorms caused severe flooding on the Wapsipinicon, Cedar, and Shell Rock Rivers and along Flood Creek in northeast Iowa in July 1999. New maximum peak stages and discharges were measured

at streamflow-gaging stations on the Wapsipinicon and Cedar Rivers and on Flood Creek.

The flooding caused major damage in Independence and Littleton along the Wapsipinicon River; Charles City, Nashua, Waverly, and Cedar Falls along the Cedar River; Rock Falls, Rockford, and Shell Rock along the Shell Rock River; Rudd along Flood Creek; and Manly, in Worth County from small-stream flooding. More than 1,000 homes in six counties were damaged by the July 1999 floods. The number of homes reported as damaged is listed below (McGlynn and Chatterley, Des Moines Register, July 27, 1999); damage to homes in Butler, Cerro Gordo, and Floyd Counties was not reported.

Homes with Homes with Homes major mrnor

County destroyed damage damage

Bremer 0 24 104

Buchanan IO 118 61

Chickasaw 9 332

Howard 0 0 40

Mitchell 0 6 4

Worth 2 56 249

The flood forced the evacuation of hundreds of people from their homes and caused many road closures throughout northeast Iowa. Governor Vilsack declared a State disaster emergency for Bremer, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell, and Worth Counties. A Federal disaster proclamation followed that included Black Hawk and Jones Counties. As of early June 2000, the total economic damage from flooding in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins was not completely evaluated. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had approved nearly $6 million in financial assistance for

INTRODUCTION 1

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schools, businesses, private non-profit businesses, road and bridge repairs, demolition of homes or businesses declared hazardous, and for repair of essential utilities to recover from the flood damage. The FEMA financial assistance did not include agricultural losses, losses sustained due to loss of commerce or unemployment, and several large road and bridge projects not yet completed (Jerry Ostendorf, Iowa Emergency Management Division, written commun., June 2000).

The July 1999 flood resulted in private home buyout assistance totaling about $4 million for 75 homes in the Cedar River flood plain and for 4 homes in the Shell Rock River flood plain (Dennis Harper, Hazard Mitigation, Iowa Emergency Management Division, written commun., May 2000). Private home buyout assistance was not offered for any homes in the Wapsipinicon River flood plain following the July 1999 flood because 111 homes along the Wapsipinicon River were included in this program following the May 1999 flood at a cost of more than $6 million (Ballew and Fischer, 2000).

In the agricultural sector, farmers were unable to replant flooded fields because the flooding occurred too late in the growing season. Agricultural losses were a result of yield reductions and damage to farm infrastructure such as waterways and terraces. In Floyd County, for example, crop damage was estimated at $3.3 million, the result of a 25-percent yield reduction in corn and a 35-percent yield reduction in soybeans (Dennis Sande, District Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, oral commun., June 2000).

This report provides information about the July 1999 rainstorms and ensuing floods in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins. Flood elevations at selected sites along the Wapsipinicon, Cedar, and Shell Rock Rivers and along Flood Creek are presented as flood profiles.

This report was prepared in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Iowa Highway Research Board. Various Federal, State, and local agencies provide funding for the operation and maintenance of the streamflow-gaging stations in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins. They are acknowledged in the annual water resources data reports of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (Nalley and others, 2000). A list of other Iowa flood-profile reports published by the USGS can be obtained from the World Wide Web at the uniform resource locator (URL) http.-//ia. water.usgs.gov/projects/profilesl.

Acknowledgments

The authors express their gratitude to Al Dietz, City of Cedar Falls Land Surveyor's Office; Todd Fonkert and Dennis Haverkamp, Bremer County Engineer's Office; Denny Raps, Butler County Engineer's Office; and Doug Franke, Floyd County Engineer's Office, for providing elevations for temporary bench marks at bridges. The authors also express their gratitude to the following: A.L. Donnelly and R.L. Kuzniar for collecting flood-elevation data and for collecting and processing global-positioning­system data for the establishment of sea-level elevations for temporary bench marks; J.D. Eash, M.S. Linhart, J.C. Mc Vay, M.J. Noon, and M.J. Turco for collecting flood-elevation data, and D.E. Christiansen for preparing the maps for this report.

RIVER BASINS

The Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins are parallel river basins draining from the northwest to the southeast across northeast Iowa. The two drainage basins, the river reaches profiled, the location of active and discontinued USGS streamflow-gaging stations in Iowa within these river basins, and the location of bridge sites used in the July 19-25, 1999, flood profiles are shown in figure 1. Station numbers and names, drainage areas, periods of flood records, types of gages, and status of gages for the gaging stations shown in figure 1 are listed in table 1. Archived streamflow data (peak-flow and daily values) can be accessed for these streamflow~gaging stations at the USGS web site URL http ://waterdata. usg s.govlnwis-w/IAI.

The Wapsipinicon River originates in southeastern Minnesota and flows about 225 mi to the mouth at the Mississippi River (Iowa Natural Resources Council, 1958, p. 8). The Wapsipinicon River Basin is a long narrow basin with a total drainage area of 2,540 mi2, of which all but 13 mi2 are in Iowa (Schwab, 1971, p. 3). The topography of the basin changes from relatively flat in the upper part of the basin to gently rolling in the lower part. Land use in the basin is primarily agricultural.

The Cedar River Basin originates in southeastern Minnesota and flows approximately 320 mi to the mouth at the Iowa River. The total drainage area of the Cedar River Basin is 7,819 mi2, of which 1,024 mi2 are in Minnesota (Schwab, 1963, p. 1). Within Iowa, the

2 FLOODS OF JULY 19-25, 1999, IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS, NORTHEAST IOWA

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EXPLANATION

Drainage-basin boundary

River reach profiled in this report Primary roads

A USGS streamflow-gaging station and map number (table 1) + Bridge sites

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1 :2,000,000, 1991 Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 15

10

Boundary of Wapsipinicon River Basin

20 Miles

Figure 1. River reaches profiled, location of bridge sites used for the flood profiles of July 19-25, 1999, and U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations located in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins, Iowa.

RIVER BASINS 3

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Table 1. Streamflow-gaging stations in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins, Iowa

[no., number; mi2, square miles; cont., continuous; csg, crest-stage gage; disc., discontinued]

Map Drainage Type Status

no. Station area Period of flood record of of

(fig. 1) number Station name (mi2) (water years)3 gage gage

05420560 Wapsipinicon River near Elma, IA 95.2 1959-92 cont. disc.

2 05420600 Little Wapsipinicon River tributary near Riceville, 1.10 1953-2000 csg active

IA

3 05420620 Little Wapsipinicon River near Acme, IA 7.76 1953-93 csg disc.

4 05420640 Little Wapsipinicon River at Elma, IA 37.3 1953-93 csg disc.

5 05420650 Little Wapsipinicon River near New Hampton, IA 95.0 1966-93 csg disc.

6 05420680 Wapsipinicon River near Tripoli, IA 343 1969, 1996-99 cont. active

7 05420690 East Fork Wapsipinicon River near New Hamp- 30.3 1966-93 csg disc.

ton, IA

8 05420850 Little Wapsipinicon River near Oran, IA 94.1 1966-2000 csg active

9 05420875 Buck Creek near Oran, IA 37.9 1966-2000 csg active

10 05420960 Harter Creek near Independence, IA 6.17 1952-63 csg disc.

11 05421000 Wapsipinicon River at Independence, IA 1,048 1934-2000 cont. active

12 05421100 Pine Creek tributary near Winthrop, IA 0.334 1952-2000 csg active

13 05421200 Pine Creek near Winthrop, IA 28.3 1950-93 csg disc.

14 05421300 Wapsipinicon tributary at Winthrop, IA 0.70 1953-2000 csg active

15 05421500 Wapsipinicon River at Stone City, IA 1,324 1892, 1903-13 cont. disc.

16 05421550 Buffalo Creek above Winthrop, IA 68.2 1957-90 csg disc.

17 05421600 Buffalo Creek near Winthrop, IA 71.4 1953-90 csg disc.

18 05421890 Silver Creek at Welton, IA 9.03 1966-2000 csg active

19 05422000 Wapsipinicon River near De Witt, IA 2,330 1935-2000 cont. active

20 05457440 Deer Creek near Carpenter, IA 91.6 1973-2000 csg active

21 05457500 Cedar River at Mitchell, IA 826 1934-42, 1961-62 cont. disc.

22 05457700 Cedar River at Charles City, IA 1,054 1946-53, 1961-62, 1965-95, cont. active

1999

23 0545776680 Gizzard Creek tributary near Bassett, IA 3.42 1990-2000 csg active

24 05458000 Little Cedar River near Ionia, IA 306 1954-2000 cont. active

25 05458500 Cedar River at Janesville, IA 1,661 1905-06, 1915-21, 1923-27, cont. active

1933-42, 1945-2000

26 05458560 Beaverdam Creek near Sheffield, IA 123 1966-89 csg disc.

27 05458900 West Fork Cedar River at Finchford, IA 846 1929, 1946-2000 cont. active

28 05459000 Shell Rock River near Northwood, IA 300 1946-86 cont. disc.

29 05459010 Elk Creek at Kensett, IA 58.1 1966-90 csg disc.

30 05459490 Spring Creek near Mason City, IA 29.3 1966-2000 csg active

31 05459500 Winnebago River at Mason City, IA 526 1933-2000 cont. active

32 05460100 Willow Creek near Mason City, IA 78.6 1966-2000 csg active

33 05460500 Shell Rock River at Marble Rock, IA 1,318 1933-53, 1961-62 cont. disc.

34 05461000 Shell Rock River at Greene, IA 1,357 1933-42 cont. disc.

35 05461390 Flood Creek near Powersville, IA 127 1963, 1996-99 cont. active

4 FLOODS OF JULY 19-25, 1999, IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS, NORTHEAST IOWA

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Table 1. Streamflow-gaging stations in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins, /owa--Continued

Map no. Station

(fig. 1) number Station name

36 05461500 Shell Rock River near Clarksville, IA

37 05462000 Shell Rock River at Shell Rock, IA

38 05462750 Beaver Creek tributary near Aplington, IA

39 05463000 Beaver Creek at New Hartford, IA

40 05463090 Black Hawk Creek at Grundy Center, IA

41 05463500 Black Hawk Creek at Hudson, IA

42 05464000 Cedar River at Waterloo, IA

43 05464025 Miller Creek near Eagle Center, IA

44 05464130 Fourmile Creek near Lincoln, IA

45 05464133 Half Mile Creek near Gladbrook, IA

46 05464137 Fourmile Creek near Traer, IA

47 05464145 Twelvemile Creek near Traer, IA

48 05464220 Wolf Creek near Dysart, IA

49 05464310 Pratt Creek near Garrison, IA

50 05464318 East Blue Creek at Center Point, IA

51 05464500 Cedar River at Cedar Rapids, IA

52 05464535 Prairie Creek tributary near Van Horne, IA

53 05464560 Prairie Creek at Blairstown, IA

54 05464562 Thunder Creek at Blairstown, IA

55 05464640 Prairie Creek at Fairfax, IA

56 05464880 Otter Creek at Wilton, IA

57 05465000 Cedar River near Conesville, IA

"Period of flood record listed through water year 2000.

topography of the basin ranges from flat to rolling and the stream valleys alternate from reaches that are wide and flat to reaches that are narrow and almost gorge­like. A number of low-head dams have been constructed across the main stems of the Cedar and Shell Rock Rivers, but the dams have small pools that do not substantially affect the peak discharge of the rivers during large floods (Schwob, 1963, p. 2). Although land use in the Cedar River Basin is primarily agricultural, several areas within the basin are urban. Tributary streams within the Cedar River Basin that are profiled in this report include the Shell Rock River and Flood Creek.

Drainage Type Status area Period of flood record of of (mi2) (water years)3 gage gage

1.626 1916-27, 1933-34, 1961-62 cont. disc.

1,746 1856, 1954-2000 cont. active

11.6 1966-91 csg disc.

347 1946-2000 cont. active

56.9 1966-91 csg disc.

303 1952-95 cont. disc.

5,146 1929, 1933, 1941-2000 cont. active

9.14 1991-2000 csg active

13.78 1963-67, 1970-74, 1977-80 cont. disc.

1.33 1963-67, 1970-74, 1977-80 cont. disc.

19.51 1963-74, 1976-80 cont. disc.

43.8 1966-92 csg disc.

299 1996-98 cont. active

23.4 1966-94 csg disc.

17.6 1966-93 csg disc.

6,510 1851, 1903-2000 cont. active

0.94 1991-2000 csg active

87 1966-88 csg disc.

0.96 1991-2000 csg active

178 1967-82 cont. disc.

10.7 1966-93 csg disc.

7,785 1940-2000 cont. active

STORM DESCRIPTION

The July 19-25, 1999, flood in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins was the result of two storms that occurred during a 72-hour period over northeast Iowa. The first storm occurred during July 18-19 and was followed by a second storm over the same area during July 20-21, resulting in a broader and more intense rainfall pattern. Figures 2 and 3, provided by State Climatologist Harry Hillaker, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (written commun., July 1999), show areal distribution of rainfall for the 24-hour periods ending July 19 and 21.

STORM DESCRIPTION 5

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\ \

"'···-..

EXPLANATION

- 4- Line of equal rainfall for 24-hour period ending at 7:00 a.m., July 19, 1999. Interval 2 inches; rainfall data shown only for Iowa

··-··-··· Drainage-basin boundary

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1 :2,000,000, 1991 Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 15 0 10

Boundary of Wapsipinicon River Basin

20 Miles

Figure 2. Areal distribution of rainfall for the July 18-19, 1999, storm in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins, Iowa (lines of equal rainfall, in inches, provided by Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, written commun., July 1999).

6 FLOODS OF JULY 19-25, 1999, IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS, NORTHEAST IOWA

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EXPLANATION

- 4 - Line of equal rainfall for 24-hour

Boundary of Cedar

period ending at 7:00 a.m., July 21, 1999. Interval 2 inches; rainfall data shown only for Iowa

··-··-···Drainage-basin boundary

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1 :2,000,000, 1991 Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 15 10

Boundary of Wapsipinicon River Basin

20 Miles

Figure 3. Areal distribution of rainfall for the July 20-21, 1999, storm in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins, Iowa (lines of equal rainfall, in inches, provided by Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, written commun., July 1999).

STORM DESCRIPTION 7

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Excerpts from records of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Weather Service (URL http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-winl wwcgi.dll?wwEvent-storms) describe the sequence of storm events as follows:

(7 /18-7 /19/99) A nearly stationary frontal boundary was draped across Iowa during the afternoon of the 18th into the night. Thunderstorms erupted in the vicinity of the front as dew point temperatures in the mid-70s to around 80 pooled just south of the front. Most of the storms produced heavy rain and gusty winds with very few producing severe weather. The main problem was flash flooding over north central Iowa. Near Manly in Worth County, 5.75 inches of rain was recorded in a four-hour period just after midnight. Heavy rains also fell over northeast Cerro Gordo County, overtopping many roads with 1 to 2 feet of water. The heaviest rainfall occurred over Worth County. A bucket survey indicated spot 9- to 12-inch rainfall amounts northeast of Manly, with the highest unofficial measurement at 13.5 inches, though there was one report of an incredible 20 inches of rain.

(7/20-7/21/99) Another flash flood watch was issued early on the 20th for roughly the north half of Iowa. Factors cited in discussions about the potential for heavy rainfall included the presence of a very slow moving cold front, combined with 30- to 45-MPH low level winds feeding abundant moisture into the boundary. The forecasts for extreme rainfall were verified by tremendous rains which began late on the afternoon of the 20th. A flash flood warning was already issued by the early evening hours for southern Worth County with radar-estimated rainfall at 2 inches per hour. Storms continued to develop over the same areas during the evening hours, causing additional flash flood warnings in both Bremer and Butler Counties. Rainfall was heaviest in the Cedar and Shell Rock River Basins, as the band of intense rainfall sank slowly southward with the frontal boundary. Unofficial reports of 7 to 8 inches of rain were reported near Clarksville, located along the Cedar River in Butler County. River flood warnings were issued before midnight, late on the 20th, for the Cedar River from the Bremer County line and into the Waterloo area. As additional rainfall reports were received early on Wednesday the 21st, the extent and degree of possible river flooding became evident. Radar-estimated rainfall indicated a large area of greater than 6 inches of rainfall centered over Floyd County with a center of 8 to 11 inches stretching from just south of Charles City

westward to Rockford. The highest 24-hour gage report within the Cedar Basin was at Charles City with 6.65 inches. According to the Rainfall Frequency Atlas of the Midwest (Midwest Climate Center, 1992), the 100-year, 24-hour rainfall in this part of Iowa is around 6 inches, meaning that 2 out of 3 nights the rain gage in Charles City had rains at or in excess of the 100-year frequency for 24 hours.

Excerpts from the records of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Weather Service (1999) indicate that:

Very heavy rains fell in the Cedar River Basin from Mower County in Minnesota to Floyd County in Iowa on July 18th, and across Mitchell, Floyd, and Chickasaw Counties in Iowa on July 20th. Totals of 1 Oto 12 inches were reported for Osage, Charles City, and New Hampton during this three-day period. Though no readings were available, a record or near-record flood crest likely occurred on the upper reaches of the Wapsipinicon River through Chickasaw County.

The Rainfall Frequency Atlas of the Midwest (Huff and Angel, 1992, p. 101) shows the 100-year, 72-hour rainfall for northeast Iowa to be about 8 inches. Rainfall amounts for six communities in northeast Iowa, as reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (1999), are listed in table 2.

FLOOD DESCRIPTION

As a result of the intense storms, severe flooding occurred in the upper and middle parts of the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins and in the middle and lower parts of the Shell Rock River Basin. New maximum peak stages and discharges were measured at streamflow-gaging stations on the Wapsipinicon River near Tripoli, on the Cedar River at Charles City and Janesville, and on Flood Creek near Powersville. In Cedar Falls, the Cedar River unofficially reached a new record-high stage on July 23, 1999. After consulting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Ron Arends, City of Cedar Falls Engineer, indicated that this record stage was about 0.5 ft higher than the stage of 96.3 ft estimated for the 1961 flood at the city's river gage (Ericson and Jamison, Waterloo­Cedar Falls Courier, July 23, 1999). Maximum stages and discharges, recurrence intervals, and unit runoff for the floods of July 1999 and selected additional years at

8 FLOODS OF JULY 19-25, 1999, IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS, NORTHEAST IOWA

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Table 2. Rainfall amounts at selected communities in northeast Iowa during July 19-21, 1999 [Blank entries indicate zero. T, trace]

24-hour rainfall, in inchesa

72-hour rainfall Community July 19, 1999 July 20, 1999 July 21, 1999 total, in inches

Osage 5.75 0.05 5.00 10.80

Mason City 3.04 0.15 3.88 7.07

Charles City 5.16 6.65 11.8 l

New Hampton 4.75 7.10 11.85

Tripoli 0.77 T 3.06 3.83

Independence 0.86 0.37 3.77 5.00

0 Climatologica/ Data, Iowa. July 1999 (U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service).

selected gaging stations in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins are listed in table 3.

The flooding inundated many roads throughout northeast Iowa; on July 21 authorities closed all roads into Floyd County and travel was not recommended within Bremer, Chickasaw, and Floyd Counties because of secondary roads being inundated and some gravel roads being washed out. In Bremer County, road closures during the flood included U.S. Highway 218 at Plainfield, U.S. Highway 63 at the Bremer/Chickasaw County line, and State Highway 3 in Waverly. In Waverly, the Cedar River inundated 65 city blocks on July 22 and forced 1,500 people from their homes; between 600 and 650 homes and a dozen downtown businesses were affected by the flooding (Waterloo­Cedar Falls Courier, July 23, 1999).

In Chickasaw County, road closures during the flood included State Highway 346 at the Wapsipinicon River bridge, U.S. Highway 18 at several places west of Fredericksburg and around New Hampton, County Road B76 east of Ionia, and County Road T76 south of Bassett. At Nashua, the Cedar River topped the dam at Cedar Lake and flooded nearby homes. In addition, flood water crossing State Highway 346 backed up along the railroad bridge, causing water to rise into downtown Nashua (U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Weather Service, July 19-22, 1999, URL http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/ wwcgi.dll?wwEvent-storms).

In Floyd County, U.S. Highway 218 at the Mitchell/Floyd County line and south of Charles City, State Highway 14 at Charles City, and U.S. Highway 18 between the towns of Floyd and Rudd were closed during the flood. According to Ken Mahler, Emergency Management Coordinator, Rockford was the hardest hit area in Floyd County following the first storm during July 18-19 (Lee and McGlynn, Des Moines Register, July 20, 1999). Jim Zirbel, Charles City Police Chief, estimated that between 500 and 1,000 homes in Charles City sustained flood-related damage (Lynch, Cedar Rapids Gazette, July 22, 1999). Because of the flooding in Ch_arles City, many businesses were closed, as were all biidges crossing the Cedar River, with the exception of the Main Street Bridge (U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Weather Service, July 19-22, 1999, URL http:/! www4.ncdc.noaa.gov!cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwEvent-storms). A fatality occurred on a county road crossing Flood Creek south of Rudd when flood water washed a car downstream after the motorist entered the flooded roadway (Wilde, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, July 20, 1999). In the town of Nora Springs, a small earthen dambreak on the Shell Rock River may have increased flow downstream. Because flood water had already substantially overtopped the dam at the time of the failure, the exact impact on flow downstream was difficult to determine (U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Weather Service, July 19-26, 1999, URL

FLOOD DESCRIPTION 9

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Table 3. Maximum stages and discharges, recurrence intervals, and unit runoff for the floods of July 1999 and selected additional years at selected streamflow-gaging stations in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins, Iowa

[mi2, square miles; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; [(ft3/s)/mi2], cubic feet per second per square mile; boldfaced type, flood profile included in this report; --, not determined]

Drainage Peak Peak Recurrence area stage a discharge intervalb Unit runoff

Streamflow-gaging station (mi2) Date (feet) (ft3/s) (years) [(ft3/s)/mi2]

Wapsipinicon River Basin

05420560 Wapsipinicon River 95.2 6/29/1969 14.53 5,500 6 57.8 near Elma 6/04/1974 14.94 10,100 25 106

6/17/1984 14.81 6,580 9 69.l 7/21/1999 14.15 3,8ooc 4 39.9

05420680 Wapsipinicon River 343 7/01/1969 17.26 18,900c 55.1 near Tripoli 5/17/1999 14.39 3,900 11.4

7/21/1999 18.50 19,400 56.6

05421000 Wapsipinicon River 1,048 7/18/1968 21.11 26,800 50 25.6 at Independence 5/18/1999 22.35 31,100 90 29.7

7/24/1999 18.80 20,900 20 19.9

Cedar River Basin

05457700 Cedar River 1,054 3/27/1961 21.53 29,200 60 27.7 at Charles City 8/16/1993 21.44 26,400 35 25.0

7/21/1999 22.81 31,200 90 29.6

05458000 Little Cedar River 306 3/2711961 15.58 10,800 19 35.3 near Ionia 8/16/1993 18.99 14,000 40 45.8

7/21/1999 17.52 12,200 25 39.9

05458500 Cedar River 1,661 3/28/1961 16.33 37,000 45 22.3 at Janesville 8/18/1993 15.74 35,000 35 21.1

7/22/1999 17.15 42,200 80 25.4

05460500 Shell Rock River at 1,318 3/27/1933 107.6d 36,400 180 27.6

Marble Rock 3/28/1961 11.97 32,000C 90 24.3 7/21/1999 9.77

05461390 Flood Creek 127 5/10/1963 8.00 6,5ooc 51.2 near Powersville 7/21/1999 12.57 19,oooc 150

05462000 Shell Rock River 1,746 --/--/1856 17.7 45,000C 180 25.8 at Shell Rock 3/28/1961 16.26 33,500 45 19.2

7/22/1999 16.73 27,500 20 15.8

05464000 Cedar River 5,146 3/29/1961 21.86 76,700 35 14.9 at Waterloo 4/08/1965 21.67 69,500 25 13.5

7/23/1999 20.78 69,300 25 13.5

05464500 Cedar River 6,510 3/18/1929 20.00 64,000 20 9.83 at Cedar Rapids 3/31/1961 19.66 73,000 40 11.2

4/04/1993 19.27 71,000 35 10.9 7/25/1999 18.31 62,300 20 9.57

a All values at current datums. blnterpolated from Bulletin l 7B flood-frequency analysis (lnteragency Advisory Committee on Water Data, 1982) and rounded to nearest

5 years for 20- to 50-year recurrence intervals, to nearest 10 years for 50- to I 00-year recurrence intervals, and to nearest 20 years for 100- to 200-year recurrence intervals.

"Estimated. d At different site and datum, in tailrace of power plant at Greene located 5.7 miles downstream.

10 FLOODS OF JULY 19-25, 1999, IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS, NORTHEAST IOWA

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http :!!www4. ncdc. noaa. gov!c g i-w in!

wwcgi.dll?wwEvent-storms). In Nora Springs and Rockford, sewage backups and resulting water contamination problems left many residents without water service for several days (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, July 21, 1999).

In Black Hawk County, about 100 people were evacuated from the Cedar Falls neighborhood known as Cedar City. In Buchanan County, Bob Hummel, Emergency Management Director, reported that about 100 families were evacuated from their homes (Lynch and Gosch, Cedar Rapids Gazette, July 24, 1999). In Butler County, State Highway 188 south of Clarksville was closed during the flood.

In Cerro Gordo County, road closures during the flood included U.S. Highway 65 (4.5 mi west of Plymouth) and County Road B20. Flooding on the Winnebago River in Mason City threatened a levee, causing the evacuation of vulnerable neighborhoods and roads in town were inundated in more than 50 locations. Jim Witt, Cerro Gordo County Engineer, reported extensive damage to five bridges, and road repairs were estimated to exceed $500,000. At the Camp in the Woods campground near Rock Falls, five people were rescued from the tops of trailers and campers by firefighters using boats on July 19th (Zeleny, Des Moines Register, July 22, 1999).

In Mitchell County, State Highway 9 was closed west of Osage during the flood. In Worth County, State Highway 9 was closed east of Manly and about one­half of the 550 buildings in Manly were flooded (Zeleny, Des Moines Register, July 22, 1999).

During the July 1999 flood, some reaches of the Wapsipinicon River were reported to be nearly 1 mi wide. The July flood produced a new maximum peak stage and discharge at the Wapsipinicon River near Tripoli gaging station (station number 05420680); the peak stage of 18.50 ft on July 21, 1999, is about 4.1 ft higher than the peak stage measured during the May 1999 flood and about 1.2 ft higher than the previous maximum peak stage measured during the 1969 flood; the new record peak discharge is 19,400 ft3/s. At the Wapsipinicon River at Independence gaging station (station number 05421000), the river was at or higher than the flood stage of 12 ft from 8:00 a.m. on July 23 to 10:00 a.m. on July 26; a peak stage of 18.80 ft was recorded on July 24 at 4:00 a.m., which is about 3.5 ft lower than the maximum peak stage recorded on May 18, 1999. The peak discharge of20,900 ft3/s represents about a 20-year recurrence interval flood compared to the May 18 peak discharge, which represents

approximately a 90-year recurrence interval flood (table 3).

The Cedar River, at the gaging station in Charles City (station number 05457700), was at or higher than the flood stage of 12 ft from 11: 15 a.m. on July 19 to 8:45 a.m. on July 23; an initial peak stage of 18.24 ft was recorded at 1 :45 a.m. on July 20, which was followed by a second peak stage of 22.81 ft recorded at noon on July 21 (fig. 4 ). The second peak stage exceeds the maximum stage measured in 1961 by about 1.3 ft. The peak discharge of 31,200 ft3/s represents about a 90-year recurrence interval flood compared to the 60-year recurrence interval for the 1961 flood (table 3). The Cedar River, at the gaging station in Janesville (station number 05458500), was at or higher than the flood stage of 11 ft from 4:45 a.m. on July 21 to 10:30 p.m. on July 24; a peak stage of 17.15 ft was measured at 6:00 p.m. on July 22, which exceeds the maximum stage recorded in 1961 by about 0.8 ft. The peak discharge of 42,200 ft3/s represents about an 80-year recurrence interval flood compared to the 45-year recurrence interval for the 1961 flood. The Cedar River, at the gaging station in Waterloo (station number 05464000), was at or higher than the flood stage of 12 ft from 2:30 p.m. on July 21to2:30 a.m. on July 26; the July 1999 flood produced the third highest peak stage and discharge on record; a peak stage of 20. 78 ft was recorded at 5:00 p.m. on July 23, which is about 1.1 ft lower than the maximum stage recorded in 1961. The peak discharge of 69,300 ft3/s represents about a 25-year recurrence interval flood compared to the 35-year recurrence interval for the 1961 flood. The Cedar River, at the gaging station in Cedar Rapids (station number 05464500), was at or higher than the flood stage of 13 ft from 8:00 a.m. on July 24 to 6:30 p.m. on July 27; a peak stage of 18.31 ft was recorded at 11:30 p.m. on July 25, which is about 1.7 ft lower than the record peak stage of the 1929 flood. The peak discharge of 62,300 ft3/s represents about a 20-year recurrence interval flood.

On the Shell Rock River, the second highest peak stage on record was measured at Marble Rock and Shell Rock. The Shell Rock River at Marble Rock was at or higher than the flood stage of 4 ft from July 19 to July 25, and crested on July 21 (Brad Small, National Weather Service, written commun., June 2000). The Shell Rock River at the gaging station at Shell Rock (station number 05462000) was at or higher than the flood stage of 12 ft from 9:30 a.m. on July 20 to 11:30 a.m. on July 29; the peak stage of 16.73 ft at 1:45 p.m. on July 22 is about 0.5 ft higher than that for the flood of 1961. The peak discharge of 27 ,500 ft3 Is represents

FLOOD DESCRIPTION 11

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about a 20-year recurrence interval flood compared to the 45-year recurrence interval for the 1961 flood. The flood of 1856 reached a stage of 17. 7 ft at a bridge 400 ft downstream from the gaging station (Nalley and others, 2000, p. 174).

At the Flood Creek near Powersville gaging station (station number 05461390), a record peak stage of 12.57 ft on July 21 is about 4.6 ft higher than that for the flood of 1963. The peak discharge estimate of 19 ,000 ft3 /s is almost three times greater than that for the 1963 flood.

PROFILES FOR THE FLOODS OF JULY 19-25, 1999, IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS

To develop flood profiles, the USGS measured the elevation of high-water marks (HWM's) at selected bridge sites along the Wapsipinicon, Cedar, and Shell Rock Rivers and along Flood Creek. Most of the marks were measured at Federal and State Highway bridges and at USGS streamflow-gaging stations. Additional HWM's were measured at several county road bridges to keep the maximum distance between points at about

25

10 river mi. The flood profiles were determined from HWM's generally located immediately downstream and 1 bridge length upstream from selected bridges. The HWM's were surveyed to temporary bench marks at bridges within a few days after the flood peak and were later referenced to sea level by differential leveling or differential positioning using a global positioning system (GPS). In figures 5-24, the line connecting the marks on the profiles is a linear interpolation and, therefore, only approximates the flood elevation between marks; the line does not depict the effects on the profile caused by intermediate bridges or flood-plain and channel features. The HWM's used to profile the July 19-25, 1999, floods in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins are listed in tables 4-7 and are plotted by river mile in figures 5-24 (following references); each table of HWM's follows the river profiled. Primary highways referred to in the report are shown in figure 1; secondary roads and streets are not shown.

For comparison purposes, profiles of previous floods are included with the July 1999 profiles where they are available. The Wapsipinicon River profile includes a profile of the 1969 flood (Schwob, 1971) and

Flood peak July 21, 1999, 12:00 A.M.

w 20 (!)

<{ ::; (!) w w > > w 0 --' (lJ <{ <{ w f-

(/)

w w 15 w > LI.. 0 ~

(lJ <{

..-:: f-w w (!) w <{ LI.. f- C\J SQ 0

10 ,..; f- ,___ I ~ 52 w ::? I ::i

f-w <{ (!) 0 <{ (!) 5

stage 22.81 feet, discharge 31,200 cubic feet per second

Flood stage

Estimated data

--- / -- ......... _

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

July 1999

Figure 4. Stage hydrograph of the Cedar River at Charles City, Iowa, streamflow-gaging station (station number 05457700), July 17-30, 1999.

12 FLOODS OF JULY 19-25, 1999, IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS, NORTHEAST IOWA

29 30

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the May 1999 flood (Ballew and Fischer, 2000). The Cedar and Shell Rock River profiles include a profile of the 1961 flood (Schwob, 1963). The Flood Creek profile includes a profile of the 1963 flood (Schwob, 1963). Low-flow profiles also are shown for each river reach profiled. The HWM's from previous floods were not always measured at the same locations used for the July 1999 profiles. For locations where water-surface elevations were not measured for all years profiled, a note in the figure indicates which years were included in the profile.

The July 1999 flood on the Wapsipinicon River is profiled from State Highway 281 near Fairbank upstream to County Road B 17 near Elma. The 53-mi river reach that was profiled is shown in figure 1 and figures 5-8; the locations of the nine stream sites where HWM's were measured are shown in figure 1 and their descriptions are listed in table 4 following the Wapsipinicon River profile. The three most downstream bridges crossing the Wapsipinicon River that were used to profile the July 1999 flood (figs. 6 and 7) were also the three most upstream bridge sites used to profile the May 1999 flood (Ballew and Fischer, 2000). In general, the July 1999 flood elevations exceeded both the June 1969 and May 1999 flood elevations throughout most of the profiled reach (figs. 6-8). For instance, the flood elevation measured for the July 1999 flood at the U.S. Highway 18 bridge crossing the Wapsipinicon River west of New Hampton is about 2.2 ft higher than the elevation measured at the same location for the 1969 flood (fig. 8) (Schwob, 1971).

The July 1999 flood on the Cedar River is profiled from Brandon Road near La Porte City upstream to State Highway 9 near Osage. The 110-mi river reach that was profiled is shown in figure l and figures 9-15; the locations of the 21 stream sites where HWM's were measured are shown in figure 1 and their descriptions are listed in table 5 following the Cedar River profile. In general, the Cedar River profile indicates that the July 1999 flood produced a new flood-elevation record and exceeded the elevation of the March 1961 flood by 0.8 to 3.2 ft from about Janesville upstream to about U.S. Highway 218 north of Floyd (figs. 12-14). For instance, in Waverly at the State Highway 3 bridge crossing the Cedar River, the elevation for the 1999 flood is about 1.9 ft higher than the elevation of the 1961 flood (fig. 12) (Schwob, 1963). Downstream from Cedar Falls (figs. I 0 and 11) and upstream from Floyd (figs. 14 and 15), the profiled river reach elevations for the 1961 flood are still the highest on record. From the most downstream bridge

profiled on the Cedar River (Brandon Road at La Porte City), to Mullan Avenue in Waterloo, the July 1999 flood elevations are generally lower than the 1961 flood elevations by 0.4 to 2.7 ft (Schwob, 1963).

The July 1999 flood on the Shell Rock River is profiled from 265th Street near Waverly Junction upstream to State Highway 9 near Plymouth. The 72-mi river reach that was profiled is shown in figure 1 and figures 16-20; the locations of the 11 stream sites where HWM's were measured are shown in figure 1 and their descriptions are listed in table 6 following the Shell Rock River profile. The July 1999 flood profile for the Shell Rock River can be compared to the March 1961 flood profile from Waverly Junction to Nora Springs (figs. 17-20) (Schwob, 1963). In general, at the two most downstream sites included in the Shell Rock River profile, flood elevations for the 1999 flood exceeded those measured for the 1961 flood by 0.1 to 0.5 ft (fig. 17) (Schwob, 1963). However, upstream from Shell Rock from approximately Clarksville to Rockford, elevations measured for the 1961 flood are generally higher than those measured for the 1999 flood by 1.1 to 3.6 ft, with the exception of the County Road T47 bridge crossing the Shell Rock River south of Packard, where the 1999 flood elevation exceeded the 1961 flood elevation by about 1.5 ft (figs. 17-19). At Nora Springs, the elevation for the 1999 flood is approximately 3.5 ft higher than the elevation measured for the 1961 flood (fig. 20) (Schwob, 1963).

The July 1999 flood on Flood Creek is profiled from County Road C23 (140th Street) near Packard upstream to County Road S70 near Nora Springs. The 39-mi reach that was profiled is shown in figure l and figures 21-24; the locations of the six stream sites where HWM's were measured are shown in figure 1 and their descriptions are listed in table 7 following the Flood Creek profile. The July 1999 flood profile for Flood Creek can be compared to the May 1963 flood profile from southeast of Packard to east of Rockford (figs. 22 and 23) (Schwob, 1963). In general, elevations measured for the 1999 flood were higher than those measured for the 1963 flood throughout the river reach by 4.6 to 6. 7 ft. For instance, the flood elevation measured for the July 1999 flood at the County Road C23 bridge crossing Flood Creek southeast of Packard is about 6.1 ft higher than the elevation measured for the 1963 flood (fig. 22).

PROFILES FOR THE FLOODS OF JULY 19-25, 1999, IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS 13

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SUMMARY

Severe flooding occmTed during July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins following two intense thunderstorms over northeast Iowa. As much as 6 inches of rainfall was centered over Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Mitchell, and Worth Counties during July 18-19. This storm was followed by rainfall up to 8 inches that was centered over Chickasaw and Floyd Counties during July 20-21. The cumulative effect of the two storms produced floods with new maximum peak stages and discharges on the Wapsipinicon River near Tripoli, the Cedar River at Charles City and Janesville, and Flood Creek near Powersville. Peak discharges of 31,200 ft3 /s on the Cedar River at Charles City and 42,200 ft3 /s on the Cedar River at Janesville represent recurrence intervals of about 90 and 80 years, respectively. The peak discharge on the Wapsipinicon River near Tripoli is 19,400 ft3/s and on Flood Creek near Powersville is estimated to be 19,000 ft3/s.

REFERENCES

Ballew, J.L., and Fischer, E.E., 2000, Floods of May 17-20, 1999, in the Volga and Wapsipinicon River Basins, northeast Iowa: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-237, 36 p.

Ericson and Jamison, 1999, July 23, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier newspaper article.

Huff, F.A., and Angel, J .R., 1992, Rainfall frequency atlas of the Midwest: Champaign, Illinois State Water Survey, Bulletin 71, 141 p.

Interagency Advisory Committee on Water Data, 1982, Guidelines for determining flood flow frequency: Hydrology Subcommittee Bulletin 17B, U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Water Data Coordination, 28 p. and appendixes.

Iowa Natural Resources Council, 1958, An inventory of water resources and water problems, northeastern Iowa river basins: Des Moines, Iowa Natural Resources Council Bulletin no. 7, 74 p.

Lee and McGlynn, 1999, July 20, Des Moines Register newspaper article.

Lynch, 1999, July 22, Cedar Rapids Gazette newspaper article.

Lynch and Gosch, 1999, July 24, Cedar Rapids Gazette newspaper article.

McGlynn and Chatterley, 1999, July 27, Des Moines Register newspaper article.

Nalley, G.M., Gorman, J.G., Goodrich, R.D., Miller, V.E., Turco, M.J., and Linhart, S.M., 2000, Water resources

data, Iowa, water year 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Data Report IA-99-1, 2 v., 256 p.

Schwob, H.H., 1963, Cedar River Basin floods: Iowa Highway Research Board, Bulletin No. 27, 58 p.

---1971, Floods in the Wapsipinicon River basin, Iowa: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report,

52 p. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration, and National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, 1999, Climatological data, Iowa: Asheville, N.C., monthly summaries, v. 110, no. 7, p. 9.

U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Weather Service, 1999, Monthly report of rivers and flood conditions, La Crosse, Wisconsin, Hydrologic Service Area, July 1999: National Weather Service, WS Form E-5, 2 p.

U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Weather Service, National Climate Data Center, Storm Events: generated May 9, 2000, accessed June 2, 2000, at URL http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win! wwcgi.dll?wwEvent-storms.

Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, 1999, July 2land 23, newspaper articles.

Wilde, 1999, July 20, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier newspaper article.

Zeleny, 1999, July 22, Des Moines Register newspaper article.

APPENDIX: TEMPORARY BENCH MARKS AND REFERENCE POINTS IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS

To facilitate measuring and referencing the HWM's used in the flood profiles to a common datum, temporary bench marks (TBM's) and reference points (RP's) were established by the USGS at many of the bridges along the profiled river reaches. All TBM and RP elevations listed in this tabulation are referenced to sea level. TBM's and RP's are listed only for those bridges used in the July 19-25, 1999, flood profiles. The TBM's and RP's were established in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River Basins during 1958-67 and 1999-2000, with the exception of reference marks (RM's) and RP's established at USGS streamflow-gaging stations, which are identified in this tabulation with an RM or RP number. TBM and RP elevations were determined from differential leveling, with the exception of 17 bridges, where elevations were

14 FLOODS OF JULY 19-25, 1999, IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS, NORTHEAST IOWA

I I I 1 I .

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determined from post-processed differential positioning using the global positioning system (GPS). Elevations determined using GPS are noted in the TBM and RP descriptions. Level lines or GPS networks used to establish the third-order accuracy of the TBM's and RP's shown herein were surveyed or configured from bench marks established and adjusted by the National Mapping Division of the USGS and National Geodetic Survey. GPS networks were also supplemented with GPS-control sites established by Black Hawk and Butler Counties. Errors of closure in the USGS level work were adjusted along level lines to balance TBM and RP elevations. Specific OPS-network and satellite­constellation configurations, equivalent hours of data collection with multiple GPS receivers, and post­processing quality controls were used to control the effects of error in OPS-derived elevations. TBM's and RP's established by other agencies are noted in the descriptions where they occur.

The TBM's and RP's are designated by an index number or legal description derived from their respective locations using Public Land Survey System coordinates (township, range, section). Within the section, the quarter section in which the TBM or RP is located is designated by NW, NE, SW, or SE. For example, 9011-04 SE refers to a location in Township 90 North, Range 11 West, southea~t quarter of section 4. A number in I?arentheses following the quarter­section designation indicates the number of the TBM or RP in that particular quarter section. The index number describes the legal description of the mark without further reference in the body of the description. The physical location of the bench mark on a bridge dictates the appropriate legal description. REFERENCE POINTS are listed with the related bench marks and are identified by the same legal description, though at times they are in a different section, range, or township as determined by upstream or downstream location.

Standard marks, such as squares, crosses, marks, or arrows, were chiseled or filed on concrete or metal, or existing bolts on bridges were used as TBM's or RP's. Existing TBM's or RP's were used whenever available, and the agency responsible for the mark, when known, is indicated in the description. RP's are distinguished from TBM's by the notation "(REFERENCE POINT)" following the legal description. RPs were established to permit water­surface elevations to be determined by use of a tape and weight. The terms "right" and "left" in the descriptions

are determined as viewed while facing in the downstream direction.

The TBM's and RP's are listed in the downstream to upstream order with respect to their correspondence to bridges over the Wapsipinicon, Cedar, and Shell Rock Rivers and Flood Creek. The user of this information is cautioned that TBM's and RP' s listed herein might have been disturbed, destroyed, or moved since elevations were established. It is the responsibility of the user to determine the condition and suitability of the TBM or RP.

Wapsipinicon River

9011-04 SE (1) - Approximately 5 mi west of Fairbank, on State Highway 281 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on left downstream wingwall curb; chiseled square. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 958.09 ft

9011-04 SE (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 5 mi west of Fairbank, on State Highway 281 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on top of left downstream concrete guardrail and 15 ft right of the third drain; chiseled arrow. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 961.28 ft

9111-08 NW (1)-Approximately 3 mi northeast of Readlyn, on State Highway 3 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on left downstream wingwall; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 978.22 ft

9111-08 NW (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 3 mi northeast of Readlyn, on State Highway 3 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on top of 30th guardrail post from left downstream end of bridge; three filed marks. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 978.98 ft

9312-27 SW (1) - Approximately 2 mi north of Tripoli, on State Highway 93 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on left downstream corner of abutment; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation determined using GPS. (RM 2)

Elevation 1,016.23 ft

9312-27 SW (2) - Approximately 2 mi north of Tripoli, on State Highway 93 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on left upstream abutment; chiseled square. Elevation determined using GPS. (RM 4)

Elevation 1,018.62 ft

APPENDIX: TEMPORARY BENCH MARKS AND REFERENCE POINTS IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS 15

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9312-18 NW (1) - At Frederika, on County Road Cl 6 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on left downstream wingwall; chiseled square.

Elevation 1,026.89 ft

9312-18 NW (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) At Frederika, on County Road C16 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on top of 18th handrail post (streetside) from right downstream end of bridge; chiseled square.

Elevation 1,027.45 ft

9312-07 SW (1) - At Frederika, at dam in city park, on left abutment 9 ft upstream from sloping wingwall on streamward edge of abutment; chiseled square.

Elevation 1,019.87 ft

9413-36 SW (1) - Approximately 2 mi northwest of Frederika, on U.S. Highway 63 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on left upstream concrete wall; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,037.01 ft

9413-36 SW (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 2 mi northwest of Frederika, on U.S. Highway 63 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on top of concrete guardrail and between fifth and sixth drain from right downstream end of bridge; two chiseled marks. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,038.04 ft

9413-10 SE (1)-Approximately 2 mi west of Williamstown, oh State Highway 346 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on left upstream bridge abutment; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,053.39 ft

9413-10 SE (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 2 mi west of Williamstown, on State Highway 346 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on top of concrete bridge rail and between third and fourth drain from right downstream end of bridge; two chiseled marks. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,054.36 ft

9514-01 SW (1) Approximately 7 mi west of New Hampton, on U.S. Highway 18 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on right upstream concrete wall; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,093.80 ft

9514-01 SW (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 7 mi west of New Hampton, on U.S. Highway 18 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on top of concrete guardrail and right of fourth drain from right downstream end of

bridge; two chiseled marks. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,094.62 ft

9614-09 NW (1) - Approximately 4.5 mi east of Colwell, on County Road B28 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on right downstream bridge abutment; chiseled square. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,125.46 ft

9614-09 NW (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 4.5 mi east of Colwell, on County Road B28 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on top of concrete guardrail at 10th post from right downstream end of bridge; two chiseled marks. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,125.29 ft

9714-08 NW (1) - Approximately 5 mi west of Elma, on County Road B 17 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on right downstream end of guardrail post; top of bolt next to lettering "RM" painted red.

Elevation 1,152.90 ft

9714-08 NW (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 5 mi west of Elma, on County Road B 17 bridge over Wapsipinicon River, on top of metal railing and between fourth and fifth drain from right downstream end of bridge; filed arrow.

Elevation 1,154.27 ft

Cedar River

8711-19 NE (1) - Approximately 1.5 mi northeast of La Porte City, on Brandon Road bridge over Cedar River, on left downstream curb; National Geodetic Survey (U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey) brass cap.

Elevation 816.05 ft

8711-19 NE (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 1.5 mi northeast of La Porte City, on Brandon Road bridge over Cedar River, on guardrail and right of 10th guardrail post from left downstream end of bridge; filed

arrow. Elevation 818.10 ft

8812-23 SW (1) - At Gilbertville, on County Road D38 bridge over Cedar River, on left upstream curb; USGS brass cap.

Elevation 841.42 ft

8812-23 SW (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) At Gilbertville, on County Road D38 bridge over Cedar River, on top of handrail at 20th handrail post from left downstream end of bridge; three filed marks. (RM 1)

Elevation 841.32 ft

16 FLOODS OF JULY 19-25, 1999, IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS, NORTHEAST IOWA

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8913-25 NW (1) - At Waterloo, on left bank of Cedar River near East Seventh Street bridge and about 30 ft upstream from gage house, on upstream landward corner of concrete foundation for pumping; USGS bronze bench mark. (RM 1)

Elevation 846.96 ft

8913-26 NE (1) - At Waterloo, on Park Avenue bridge over Cedar River, on curb at left upstream end of bridge, top of most upstream and landward bolt; chiseled cross. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 853.02 ft

8913-26 NE (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) At Waterloo, on Park Avenue bridge over Cedar River, on top of guardrail and right of fifth guardrail post from left downstream end of bridge; filed arrow. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 857.09 ft

8913-23 SE (1) -At Waterloo, on Mullan Avenue bridge over Cedar River, on right downstream wingwall abutment behind concrete guardrail; chiseled cross. Elevation surveyed from City of Waterloo bench mark.

Elevation 856.80 ft

8913-23 SE (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) At Waterloo, on Mullan Avenue bridge over Cedar River, on ledge behind concrete guardrail and between 15th and 16th metal guardrail posts from right downstream end of bridge; two chiseled marks.

Elevation 861.33 ft

8913-16 SE (1) - At Waterloo, on U.S. Highway 218 bridge over Cedar River, on top of right downstream end of concrete barrier wall; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 868.73 ft

8913-16 SE (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) At Waterloo, on U.S. Highway 218 bridge over Cedar River, on concrete guardrail and above fifth drain from right downstream end of bridge; two chiseled marks. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 869.00 ft

8913-18 NW (1) -At Cedar Falls, on State Highway 58 bridge over Cedar River, on left downstream concrete abutment wall; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation supplied by City of Cedar Falls, Land Survey Office.

Elevation 879.50 ft

8913-18 NW (2) -At Cedar Falls, on State Highway 58 bridge over Cedar River, on left upstream concrete abutment; chiseled cross.

Elevation 873.44 ft

8913-18 NW (3) - (REFERENCE POINT) At Cedar Falls, on State Highway 58 bridge over Cedar River, on top of concrete guardrail and at center of bridge at 41 st drain from right downstream end of bridge; two chiseled marks.

Elevation 887.48 ft

8914-12 NE (1) -At Cedar Falls, on State Highway 57 bridge over Cedar River, on right downstream wingwall abutment; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation supplied by City of Cedar Falls, Land Survey Office.

Elevation 866.92 ft

8914-12 NE (2) - At Cedar Falls, on State Highway 57 bridge over Cedar River, on left downstream wingwall abutment; chiseled square.

Elevation 870. 77 ft

8914-12 NE (3)- (REFERENCE POINT) At Cedar Falls, on State Highway 57 bridge over Cedar River, on guardrail at 45th guardrail post from right downstream end of bridge; three filed marks.

Elevation 872.87 ft

8914-12 NW (1) -At Cedar Falls, on Center Street bridge over Cedar River, on right downstream end of sidewalk concrete barrier wall; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation supplied by City of Cedar Falls, Land Survey Office.

Elevation 873.69 ft

8914-12 NW (2) At Cedar Falls, on Center Street bridge over Cedar River, on left downstream end of sidewalk concrete barrier wall; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation supplied by City of Cedar Falls, Land Survey Office.

Elevation 874.47 ft

8914-12 NW (3) - (REFERENCE POINT) At Cedar Falls, on Center Street bridge over Cedar River, on concrete guardrail and below 43d metal post from left downstream end of bridge; two chiseled marks.

Elevation 876.93 ft

9114-35 SW (1) -At Janesville, on left bank of Cedar River and 300 ft downstream from County Road CSO (275th Street) bridge, set in concrete just above ground surface and 3 ft northeast of gage house; USGS bench mark. (RM 16)

Elevation 877.95 ft

APPENDIX: TEMPORARY BENCH MARKS AND REFERENCE POINTS IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS 17

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9114-35 NW (1) - Approximately 0.50 mi north of Janesville, on northbound lane of U.S. Highway 218 bridge over Cedar River (upstream bridge), on right downstream end of concrete barrier wall; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation supplied by Iowa Department of Transportation.

Elevation 904. 700 ft

9114-35 NW (2) - Approximately 0.50 mi north of Janesville, on southbound lane of U.S. Highway 218 bridge over Cedar River (downstream bridge), on left upstream end of concrete barrier wall; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation supplied by Iowa Department of Transportation.

Elevation 911.140 ft

9114-35 NW (3) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 0.50 mi north of Janesville, on southbound lane of U.S. Highway 218 bridge over Cedar River (downstream bridge), on top of concrete guardrail and about 85 ft from right downstream end of bridge; two chiseled marks.

Elevation 907.31 ft

9114-02 NW (1) - At Waverly, on State Highway 3 bridge over Cedar River, on right downstream handrail and north of lamp post; chiseled cross.

Elevation 920.27 ft

9114-02 NW (2) - At Waverly, on State Highway 3 bridge over Cedar River, about 30 ft upstream from right upstream end of bridge, on top of streamward corner of concrete retaining wall; chiseled square.

Elevation 914.69 ft

9114-02 NW (3) - (REFERENCE POINT) At Waverly, on State Highway 3 bridge over Cedar River, on top of handrail and left of 15th post from left downstream end of bridge; filed arrow.

Elevation 921.19 ft

9214-21 NW (1) -Approximately 3.5 mi north of Waverly, on County Road C33 bridge over Cedar River, on right downstream curb near wingwall; chiseled square enclosing Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation obtained from Bremer County Flood Insurance Study (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1990).

Elevation 931.77 ft

9214-21 NW (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 3.5 mi north of Waverly, on County Road C33 bridge over Cedar River, on top of guardrail post at second drain from right downstream end of bridge; three filed marks.

Elevation 934.50 ft

9314-29 NE (1)-Approximately 0.5 mi east of Plainfield, on State Highway 188 bridge over Cedar River, on left upstream wingwall; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation supplied by Iowa Department of Transportation.

Elevation 946.59 ft

9314-29 NE (2)-Approximately 0.5 mi east of Plainfield, on State Highway 188 bridge over Cedar River, on right upstream wingwall; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation supplied by Iowa Department of Transportation.

Elevation 947.22 ft

9314-29 NE (3) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 0.5 mi east of Plainfield, on State Highway 188 bridge over Cedar River, on concrete curb at third drain from right downstream end of bridge; two chiseled marks.

Elevation 945.63 ft

9414-18 SE (1) -At Nashua, on State Highway 346 bridge over Cedar River, on right upstream wingwall; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation supplied by Iowa Department of Transportation.

Elevation 973.28 ft

9414-18 SE (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) At Nashua, on State Highway 346 bridge over Cedar River, on top of concrete guardrail at third drain from right upstream end of bridge; two chiseled marks.

Elevation 975.48 ft

9515-34 NE (1) - Approximately 4 mi northwest of Nashua, . on County Road B59 (240th Street) bridge over Cedar River, on left downstream concrete guardrail; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation supplied by Floyd County Engineer's Office.

Elevation 985.48 ft

9515-34 NE (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 4 mi northwest of Nashua, on County Road B59 (240th Street) bridge over Cedar River, on top of concrete guardrail at fourth drain from left downstream end of bridge; two chiseled marks.

Elevation 986.40 ft

9516-12 NE (1) -At Charles City, on right bank of Cedar River and 800 ft downstream from U.S. Highway 18 bridge, 25 ft landward of gage house, and on landward downstream corner of concrete pedestal to walkway; USGS bronze bench mark. (RM 5)

Elevation 993.28 ft

18 FLOODS OF JULY 19-25, 1999, IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS, NORTHEAST IOWA

I I I I I I I I I

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9516-12 NE (2) - At Charles City, near Main Street bridge over Cedar River, on top of bolt head on stream ward and upstream side of fire hydrant located on southeast corner of Main and Court Streets; chiseled cross. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,003.52 ft

9516-12 NE (3) - (REFERENCE POINT) At Charles City, on Main Street bridge over Cedar River, on concrete sidewalk and below seventh handrail post from right downstream end of bridge; two chiseled marks. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,002.32 ft

9616-16 SE (1) - Approximately 0.25 mi north of Floyd, on U.S. Highway 218 bridge over Cedar River, on right upstream wingwall guardrail; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,031.74 ft

9616-16 SE (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 0.25 mi north of Floyd, on U.S. Highway 218 bridge over Cedar River, on top of concrete guardrail at second drain from right downstream end of bridge; two chiseled marks. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,030.65 ft

9717-24 NE (1) - Approximately 1.5 mi southwest of Orchard, on 105th Street bridge over Cedar River, on top of right downstream concrete guardrail; chiseled square.

Elevation 1,047.99 ft

9717-24 NE (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 1.5 mi southwest of Orchard, on 105th Street bridge over Cedar River, on handrail post above left concrete pier and between second and third drains from left downstream end of bridge; chiseled square.

Elevation 1,045.63 ft

9817-28 NE (1) -Approximately 1.5 mi west of Osage, on State Highway 9 bridge over Cedar River, on right downstream end of concrete guardrail; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation supplied by Iowa Department of Transportation.

Elevation 1,092.20 ft

9817-28 NE (2) - Approximately 1.5 mi west of Osage, on State Highway 9 bridge over Cedar River, on left downstream end of concrete guardrail; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation supplied by Iowa Department of Transportation.

Elevation 1,097.15 ft

9817-28 NE (3) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately

1.5 mi west of Osage, on State Highway 9 bridge over Cedar River, on top of guardrail and above third drain

from right downstream end of bridge; two chiseled marks.

Elevation 1,095.12 ft

Shell Rock River

9114-28 NW (1) -Approximately 0.25 mi east of Waverly Junction, on 265th Street bridge over Shell Rock River,

on right upstream concrete wingwall; top of bolt. Elevation obtained from Bremer County Engineer's

Office.

Elevation 896.67 ft

9114-28 NW (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately

0.25 mi east of Waverly Junction, on 265th Street bridge over Shell Rock River, on top of concrete guardrail and between 20th and 21st guardrail supports from left upstream end of bridge; chiseled square.

Elevation 900.36 ft

9115-11 NE (1) -At Shell Rock, on right bank of Shell Rock

River and 400 ft upstream from County Road C45 bridge, on downstream end of concrete footing for

walkway of gage house; USGS bronze bench mark. (RM 2)

Elevation 902.54 ft

9215-19 SW (1) -Approximately 0.50 mi south of

Clarksville, on State Highway 188 bridge over Shell Rock River, on right upstream end of abutment; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation

supplied by Iowa Department of Transportation.

Elevation 934.74 ft

9215-19 SW (2) - Approximately 0.50 mi south of

Clarksville, on State Highway 188 bridge over Shell Rock River, on left upstream end of abutment; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation

supplied by Iowa Department of Transportation.

Elevation 935.86 ft

9215-19 SW (3) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately

0.50 mi south of Clarksville, on State Highway 188 bridge over Shell Rock River, on top of concrete guardrail at first drain from right upstream end of bridge; chiseled square.

Elevation 935.69 ft

APPENDIX: TEMPORARY BENCH MARKS AND REFERENCE POINTS IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS 19

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9317-01 SW (1) -At Greene, on Traer Street bridge over Shell Rock River, on left downstream abutment; chiseled square. Elevation supplied by Butler County Engineer's Office.

Elevation 962.33 ft

9317-01 SW (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) At Greene, on Traer Street bridge over Shell Rock River, on handrail bolt at 22d post from left downstream end of bridge; three filed marks.

Elevation 962.80 ft

9417-08 SE (1) -At Marble Rock, 200 ft upstream from left upstream end of County Road B60 bridge over Shell Rock River, on upstream side of abandoned power plant, in foundation and 3 inches from north side of building; USGS bronze bench mark.

Elevation 970.91 ft

9518-11 SW (1) -At Rockford, on Main Avenue bridge over Shell Rock River, on right upstream end post of handrail; chiseled square. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,004. 79 ft

9618-07 SE (1) -At Nora Springs, on First Street bridge over Shell Rock River, on handrail near right downstream end of bridge; chiseled cross.

Elevation 1,054.47 ft

9618-07 SE (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) At Nora Springs, on First Street bridge over Shell Rock River, on handrail and approximately 30 ft right of second light structure from left downstream end of bridge; chiseled square.

Elevation 1,055.66 ft

9719-21 NE (1) -At Rock Falls, on County Road B20 bridge over Shell Rock River, on left upstream wingwall; USGS bronze bench mark.

Elevation 1,102.541 ft

9819-30 NE (1) - Approximately 2.5 mi north of Plymouth, on State Highway 9 bridge over Shell Rock River, on right downstream wingwall; chiseled cross. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,137 .30 ft

9819-30 NE (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) 2 mi north of Plymouth, on State Highway 9 bridge over Shell Rock River, on guardrail and left of seventh post from right downstream end of bridge; chiseled square. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,134.99 ft

Flood Creek

9416-34 SE (1) -Approximately 4 mi east of Greene, on left bank of Flood Creek and 20 ft downstream from Floyd Line Road bridge, near northwest corner of gage house; USGS brass bench mark. Elevation determined using GPS. (RM 1)

Elevation 964.63 ft

9416-34 SE (2) - Approximately 4 mi east of Greene, on Floyd Line Road bridge over Flood Creek, on left downstream wingwall; chiseled square. Elevation determined using GPS. (RM 2)

Elevation 968.09 ft

9416-34 SE (3) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 4 mi east of Greene, on Floyd Line Road bridge over Flood Creek, on guardrail and between seventh and eighth supports from left downstream end of bridge; two chiseled marks. Elevation determined using GPS. (RP 1)

Elevation 970.31 ft

9517-36 SW (1)-Approximately 3.5 mi northeast of Marble Rock, on State Highway 14 bridge over Flood Creek, on right downstream concrete abutment; chiseled square.

Elevation 1,023.29 ft

9517-36 SW (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 3.5 mi northeast of Marble Rock, on State Highway 14 bridge over Flood Creek, on top of metal guardrail at sixth post from left downstream end of bridge; chiseled arrow.

Elevation 1,024.68 ft

9517-15 NW (1) -Approximately 5 mi east of Rockford, on State Highway 147 bridge over Flood Creek, on right downstream wingwall; chiseled square. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,053. 78 ft

9517-15 NW (2)-(REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 5 mi east of Rockford, on State Highway 147 bridge over Flood Creek, on guardrail at the fifth post from left downstream end of bridge; filed arrow. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,053.61 ft

9618-14 NW (1) -Approximately 2 mi northwest of Rudd, on State Highway 122 (old U.S. Highway 18) bridge over Flood Creek, on left downstream wingwall; Iowa Department of Transportation bench mark. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,105.48 ft

20 FLOODS OF JULY 19-25, 1999, IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS, NORTHEAST IOWA

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9618-14 NW (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 2 mi northwest of Rudd, on State Highway 122 (old U.S. Highway 18) bridge over Flood Creek, on concrete guardrail at 11th post from left downstream end of bridge; two chiseled marks. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,105.20 ft

9718-29 NW (1) - Approximately 3 mi north of Nora Springs, on County Road S70 bridge over Flood Creek, on right downstream abutment; chiseled square. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,147.68 ft

9718-29 NW (2) - (REFERENCE POINT) Approximately 3 mi north of Nora Springs, on County Road S70 bridge over Flood Creek, on concrete guardrail and between the third and fourth posts from left downstream end of bridge; chiseled square. Elevation determined using GPS.

Elevation 1,147.36 ft

APPENDIX: TEMPORARY BENCH MARKS AND REFERENCE POINTS IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS 21

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DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF WAPSIPINICON RIVER, IN MILES

Figure 5. Profile of the July 1999 flood for the Wapsipinicon River, Iowa; river miles 164 to 218.

Page 28: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

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Flood profile, May 1999 (Ballew and Fischer, 2000)

Flood profile, June 1969 (Schwob, 1971) Low-flow profile, November 1999

Low-flow profile, October 1966 (Schwob, 1971)

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DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF WAPSIPINICON RIVER, IN MILES

Figure 6. Profile of the July 1999 flood for the Wapsipinicon River, Iowa; river miles 164 to 180.

Page 29: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

I\) +:o "Tl r 0 0 c en 0 "Tl c... c: r -< ..... IO r()

_01

..... f-w IO w IO LL .!D ~ z _j

-t w ::c > m w

--' ::E <(

)> w "ti

(/)

en w

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I ! 1,070t------r----t----t-----t---+---+-------t-----t--~---+---+-----t----t-----t---+---+-------t-----t-----t--=-'-'!~

1,060

1,050 ~

1,040 --

1,030 -

I I ~~ i : ~"- ·1 ~

Flood-peak and low-flow discharges, in cubic feet per second,

at USGS gaging station 05420680: Qgre Discharae July 1, 1969 18,900 May 17, 1999 3,900

July 21, 1999 19,400 October 13, 1966 19

, i _ ~r/-~···· ! : ~L~"I, __ .l .. ~···· i i YT l.~~···_···_,I_·_·-+ 1----+---t----l

I I ! -~r-r.~~ . ...i. ... ·-----j··········_·········--1-···· --1----1----1---+----l

Ir~ 1 ...•. ~···1

1,0201------!-, -± -+--1 -I~~. -----+--r~-r=~t~~] ... L ,.-""~~ r I

,_,,,~..,,,,.--1-----r //1;;J : .---'-! ~~~-'----., 1

,000 t:k_. .[-. .. <>•···········,············~~ / l =-~=-~ ::~~: ~;~::::: ~~~:::(Ballew and Fischer, 2000) --

November 18, 1999 61

Flood profile, June 1969 (Schwob, 1971)

990 Low-flow profile, November 1999 __

··· I I ' ·········· Low-flow profile, October 1966 (Schwob, 1971)

! r I 980t------+----t-----+------+---t----+----+-----+------+---t----+---~-· Bridge elevations:

Upper flange = bridge deck Lower flange = low chord

I I I I I I 970t----~~-+-~-+-~----+~~-t--~-+-~--~~+-~~~-~~t---~+--~--~~-----+--~t----+-~-+-~~+--~---+~~--<

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c "O "' -m .~z -~~ a: "' ~ :..= Q.) "' EO o_

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200

DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF WAPSIPINICON RIVER, IN MILES

Figure 7. Profile of the July 1999 flood for the Wapsipinicon River, Iowa; river miles 180 to 200.

Page 30: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

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Page 31: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

Table 4. Elevations of high-water marks used in the flood profile of July 1999 for the Wapsipinicon River, Iowa [HWM, high-water mark; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Distance upstream from Downstream Upstream

mouth of HWM HWM Wapsipinicon Bridge-site and streamflow-gaging (feet above (feet above

River (river miles) station description sea level) sea level)

164.62 State Highway 281, W of Fairbank 950.54 952.09

171.27 State Highway 3, NE of Readlyn 968.84 970.50

181.50 USGS gaging station 05420680, 1,004.92 1,005.40 State Highway 93, N of Tripoli

186.10 County Road Cl6, Frederika 1,020.97 1,023.83

188.70 U.S. Highway 63, NW of Frederika 1,027.55 1,028.40

193.67 State Highway 346, W of Williamstown 1,043.06 1,045.31

203.2 U.S. Highway 18, W of New Hampton 1,083.01 1,083.95

211.15 County Road B28, E of Colwell 1,114.90 1,115.80

217.88 Discontinued USGS gaging station 1,144.20 1,145.02 05420560, County Road B 17, W of Elma

26 FLOODS OF JULY 19-25, 1999, IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS, NORTHEAST IOWA

Page 32: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

.,, JJ 0 "Tl ;= m C/l N -....!

t-w w lL

~ _ _,-w > w -' <!'. w en w > 0 aJ <!'. z 0 f:= <!'. > w -' w

1,100

1,080

1,060

1,040

1,020

1,000

980

960

940

920

900

880

860

840

820

800

780

130

I

I !

[ ; i ! : I

l I

l I ! !

'

I

140

11

:

:

l I

I

I

150

I I 11 I I I i I I I I I I I I :

11111 111 I I Ill I 111 I 11 I 111 I 1111 j Locations indicated by these vertical lines are described in figures 10-15

I I I I I I I I I I

160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250

DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF CEDAR RIVER, IN MILES

Figure 9. Profile of the July 1999 flood for the Cedar River, Iowa; river miles 139 to 250.

--

-

260

Page 33: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

I\) 00 "11 r 0 0 0 en 0 "11 c.. c r -< ... CD ~ .?' ... f-CD L1J CD L1J .CD LL

z ~

.... _j L1J ::c > m L1J

::E -' <( > L1J ,, (/)

!!? L1J ,, > z 0

CD

0 <(

0 z z 0

f:= > <( z > 0 L1J

-' 0 L1J m 0 > ::c ::c < m ::c m > en z SI> z 0 ::c .... ::c m > en .... i5 ::E >

850

840

830

i

820 '

810 I

800 --- i

790

780 1-------- -------- --·-···-·- ---- ;----- --···- ·- --------

!

~i 770

760

750

L1J z

- en o~

w,:._ z~

-6~ "' ?: 0 :!: ..::£ er: 0 Ql

§~ ~ "O 0 0 ca. ~"' Ci CD-' 3:

I I I I I

i

i

-------··-- ----··-···--·-·--

i

I

-···--·-··-·--·-··-·

I

!---------- , ________

I

.Y. Ql

~ 0 ~ ~ ~

I I

I i -- Flood profile, July 1999

···-·--- ----····-·-·-- - -·-·-·- -··-·-----· ----· Flood profile, March 1961(Schwob,1963)

-- Low-flow profile, November 1999

-·-·· Low-flow profile, August 1960 (Schwob, 1963)

I I Bridge elevations: Upper flange = bridge deck Lower flange = low chord

I I l I I i

I I

~ ·;; t:: Ql

&> i:3 co

"' 0 .Y. ":ii 3:

.Y. Ql

Ql ~ Ql CCI)

0 er:"' 0

c E~ (;;

"' ::> C\J c '6 o~ ~ E 0 gJ (J._

I I I I I I I I I I

135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154

DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF CEDAR RIVER, IN MILES

Figure 10. Profile of the July 1999 flood for the Cedar River, Iowa; river miles 139 to 155.

-···--

--

---

155

Page 34: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

"'C JJ 0 ,, r= m en I\) (0

I-w w LL

~ _j w > w --' <( w (/)

w > 0 CD <(

z 0 i= <( > w --' w

900

890

880

870

860

850

840

830

820

810

800

-

Flood-peak and low-flow discharges, in cubic feet per second,

i '

at USGS gaging station 05464000: ' i ~· Date Discharae I '. March 29, 1961 76,700 I I --1' ----i~~u~~·/~~960 69,~~~ ; ': Tl_ I -~. -~--~::::::-,J.----1,-- l November 15, 1999 1,260 r· : • ~ i

I !iii -~ ---·--f----;---.--i-j[ - ~~i--=~r=--~T------ -,.-==--=--1, ---'! ------~ lr::.::~~--~---~=;.:·::.:.;; .. :::·.I:::~.-~::.: ........ ; .. -,........ -··· --11 · - -- ·-:- -----

- ~-J- : f' 'I . -~==-L-f=C[ .. J. I I ~·~f-~ ... _.L] i I I ---- · :.:.::.:.::+::.:.:=:~.:.:::.:.=~=.:.::::.;=:,.,:.=~9=-== --- Flood profile, July 1999

I .j I - ----· Flood profile, March 1961 (Schwab, 1963) ,, i --- Low-flow profile, November 1999 (Schwab, 1963) __

1---+---+~-----+---=>'7· j -·-·- Low-flow profile, August 1960 (Schwab, 1963)

;---____ .~----·-.I I ··········· Low-flow profile, November 1961 (Schwab, 1963)

I Bridge elevations:

I I

w

I

coo )'.. O> cricci lO LO

a I

~ Q)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ i"' 1ii ~ ~ii:~ I

e

I

°' Q) O> :JO> c~

Q) c >·­

<( "O ~ Q) Q) VJ "':J c-o O () .s

I

I

0 b C:

co';:' LOc.o

"'O> co~

;: c .r:·-O"O ·- Q) :r: VJ

Q) :J

mo U5 .s

I I I I I

Upper flange = bridge deck Lower flange = low chord

e d a r I 'ii I F s I

O> O> O> ~

.s--o© Q) O> VJ~

:J c o:; SID ID

In a: ~ ~ a: 0 iii

li;j c_ c ~

~'E* ~ () "' Q) cio o

-"" Q) Q)

0 I lO O> LO

E~ O>O ~ <rir' r--.:

"'"' "'"'"' om ~~~

Q; >

"' Q)

CD

I I I I I I I I

--

155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175

DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF CEDAR RIVER, IN MILES

Figure 11. Profile of the July 1999 flood for the Cedar River, Iowa; river miles 155 to 175.

Page 35: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

w 0 ,, r 0 0 c Cl> 0 ,, c... c r -< ... <D r\, U1 . I-... w <D w <D LL .!D ~ z _j

-4 w > ::c w m _J

::e <!'. w > en "ti w !!? > "ti 0 z (IJ

<!'. 0 z 0 0 z i=

<!'. > > z w c _J

w 0 m c > :D :D < m :D OJ > Cl> z

JI> z 0 :D -4 ::c m > Cl> -4

0 ::e >

~ I

930 I

Flood-peak and low-flow discharges, 920 1--1 in cubic feet per second, 1-t----t-----1----+----1---+---+-------'I------+--- --l

at USGS gaging station 05458500: Qf!N Discharae March 28, 1961 37,000

91 o 1--1 July 22, 1999 42,200 ,.. November 15, 1999 471 1 -----

: _-------900 ! _! ----_----;'---+---+--

890 I- I ........ -..

::: J-_=c-+-"-~~~-r=·=1~:.y:··T·'-"":_ ... -;---[--m1----1-1-f ~-·····

I 860

I- t t ! I I 1 I I I I I I 850 l-----l-----l----·'-·----1---1-------l·-----l---·-·--l-·---·-··-·l··-··-·-··--·--I -·---····-··'··-·- - --·-~·-··-·--

Flood profile, July 1999

Flood profile, March 1961 (Schwab, 1963)

Low-flow profile, November 1999 Low-flow profile, November 1961 (Schwab, 1963)

Bridge elevations: Upper flange = bridge deck Lower flange = low chord

840 I 1 1 i i i ~~~~fYi!I~' i ! " , ! , ! , j , i , , 1 w~\n:~rlv I I I

Q;

~ ~ I°' ()

L I

175 176 177

0 Q) 0

,§ :fl ~ -o:S: i.n ::J c::Z

c ~ _g 5~ ::J 0 ...c::::..C I

8 c sE::: :8 g go; f! co -"' ~ "' Q")

.!: 'O

I/) ·- Q)

tj CJ I ~ "'rn en -iii ::J ::i g

178 179

I

180 '

181

ii) Q") Q")

.!: 'O Q) (/) :::>

0

j~~

"' a: ;: Q;

~ E~ b3 "'c"5

189

DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF CEDAR RIVER, IN MILES

~~

~~ 'O~

.!: a: 'O

Q) - (/) c :::> :J-o 0 () c

190 I I

191 192

Figure 12. Profile of the July 1999 flood for the Cedar River, Iowa; river miles 175 to 195.

I

193 I

>-

~ 3: 0 z C') C') ()

'0~3: oz a:~ _')' c"" :::>~ ON () Q")

194 195

Page 36: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

"tJ ::0 0 "Tl j= m C/l CA> ~

f­w w LL

z _j w > w _J

<( w CJ)

w > 0 CD <(

z 0

~ w _J

w

990.-----.,-------~--~--~--~-----~--~--~--~--~--~---.,--i--.,----.,----~--~--~--~

I 980t----+---.,._ __ .,._ __ ..,_ __ ..,_ __ ~---+----+----+---~---+----+--~--+-----+----+----+----+----+----+----I

i ii ___ :....--

970f-----t-----+---+----+--~--+----+----+----+----+----+--~-+---+---+~--+---+---+-~-1--r-:::=- I ---~---=

I ~---r-- I f I i L..--1___ I I

%0~~~~~~~~~:_·. ~~~ 11~ ~~._--~--~--[r-i----1_-···-----···-

950 ~--t~~--+---t---+--+------J1--+-----t-----:::::-!~.-.-I ----"----o/,~11 /---- l: I ~I ' !

J± I ~I ---<-- -/ I ............ J I

940 >----+----+-: ---i-r---+----+~--~~----~---=-J.------ i ............... L~~~f" ..... ,,,., ······· i • ' _L.---i --- ; I ·~~- I i !

9301-;;....-----+l____.-;--_-:±;;;L------~.----r-_-1- i I ......... ~-~---···1_·· ' , , 920 _____ I ___ i =1=~ 4=l i ' ;:::::::::~~;,;o;:,"s"'- ""' 910

·······::.::.;.;:~ \ i j Low-flow profile, November 1999 ! I Low-flow profile, November 1961 (Schwob, 1963)

! I Bridge elevations: ! Upper flange = bridge deck

900 1----+----t------+----+---+----+----+----+----+----+----+---+-1 Lower flange= low chord

890f----+--~,__-~i---+-~-+-~+---+---+-~-+-----T---+-~-+~~.;.---;---+----+-----T---+----+---I

w z E Q)

"' C\J Ow ~ OJ~ >- <O CJ)

~ OJ C".> c (;; ... OJ ~m "'~

c -"' iii :Q

> :J > iii~

:J Q) -o a: 0

~ ;:: Q) § () O;

;::~ () .?:-() ..r::.;:::::: 0;:: .s;;:'3; ;:: c

g.~ () "' -0

~"' fg 5 ~ ~ (/) Q)

E I-Q) "'

() "'() Q) CL :J

E -tj ~ Q) .s;;: -"' -0

0 150 - (/) " >-;:: Q) ·-

5 .!!! "' :c 0 ii5w

~ .s;;: f- CD() UJZ () u:

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215

DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF CEDAR RIVER, IN MILES

Figure 13. Profile of the July 1999 flood for the Cedar River, Iowa; river miles 195 to 215.

Page 37: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

w I\)

.,, r 0 0 c

"' 0 .,, c... c r -< .... (I) r() 51' I-.... w

w (I) lL (I)

~ ~

z _j w

-I > ::i:: w m --'

<i: ::E w > U)

"'C w

"' > :2 0

al

z <i:

0 z 0

0 i== z <i:

> > w z --' c w 0 m c > ::0 ::0 < m ::0 CD > "' z -"' z 0 ::0 -I ::i:: m > "' -I

5 ::E >

1,040 .------.,---------,-----,-------,-------,--.,.----,--~----,--i --,------,----,-1 --,----,---,------,----1 -,------, I

1,0301-----1----t----+---l----t-----l----t----t-----l---+----~,

11---1----+----+----t------t---1--=r~-r----i----i

Flood-peak and low-flow discharges, I .----in cubic feet per second, I ~ ·

1,020 1-----1----t----+---l----+I at USGS gaging station 05457700:1--+---+---f---f-----t---+---+---f---f--~--"t----l Date Discharge I ~~, March 27, 1961 29,200 i L .. --::::" --- I July 21. 1999 31.200 I __...L----L------

1,010 1-----1----+---+---1----+1 "°''mb" 16, '999 "7 i i ,-- I

1

.ooo [J=JJ~-rI~~[Ji~_:--cl-11-1 ;--~-~1-1:) -:--11 :--=--t:-~--~--bl-=-=--;-j-r:--=--1J-=-~--1-.-=-=----t-----~-----~-----r----:-----]---~~ ~- ~ .................................. 1 ............ 11 ·r ········· I 990 ..---~--r !"".................. I

980 --- --~~,........- i /-' ·--+---i----1---t·--

I I I ·····

970 °---r--- i .-~ +-"" 960 ..................................... ---f---------------------····, .. ,,,,,,- I

I

Flood profile, July 1999

Flood profile, March 1961 (Schwob, 1963)

Low-flow profile, November 1999

--

--

Low-flow profile, November 1961 (Schwob, 1963) __

Bridge elevations: Upper flange = bridge deck Lower flange = low chord

950 -·--------·--------;-----+--·---·-- ---· ·-----··-··-··----·--·---·-·-------·--·-·------··---+----··-------'------.--I ~~~I -,----'--C~ a r IE/ S City !

940 I I

1D ~ U5~ .r:. - .... OM ..,. ' ~~ (J)II) II)(J)

al"' 'O ::::J m.r:. 0 <J)

a: "' ?;= c 0

15 s: oz I I

215 216 217

I I !

I I I

218 219 220

I I

I I

221 222

'O Q) <J) ::::J

0 -S a: a: Cii c E Q; I-

"' ;:: .2

I

223 224

m (J) (J)

-~ 'O Q) <J) ::::J

0 -S a: a: Q) c ::; 0 0

U)

I

225

I I I I

I I I I I I I I

226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233

DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF CEDAR RIVER, IN MILES

Figure 14. Profile of the July 1999 flood for the Cedar River, Iowa; river miles 215 to 235.

I

234 235

Page 38: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

"'C :Il 0 "Tl r= m U> (,.) (,.)

1-w w LL

~ _j w > w -' <( w Cf)

w > 0 CD <(

z 0

~ w -' w

'"'~;···/ i I I 1,000r-~~-;--~~-;--~~-;--~~-;--~~~~~-t--~~-t-~~-t-~~-t-~~-t-~~-;-~~-+--1 I

Flood profile, July 1999 Flood profile, March 1961 (Schwob, 1963) Low-flow profile, November 1999 Low-flow profile, November 1961 (Schwob, 1963)

Bridge elevations: Upper flange = bridge deck Lower flange = low chord

-

I 990i--~~,.-~~-r--~~-r--~~,.-~~...-~~-r-~~-r-~~-t-~~-t-~~-i-~~-r-~~-+-~~-+-~~-+-~~-,-~~-+-~~-+-~~-+~~-+~~-1

w 3: ~~ Q) z z Q)

1:' g(\j ~;;!j "'"' g

"' Q) Ul 0 Ul C\I Ul .c o,.:_ "'' O,.:_

~ :§ Ul ,.._ 0 0 >- or:::: ocx; oa; 0 0 c Cf) CJ) 0 CJ) Cf) CJ)

3: ::J

"'°' Cf)°' -o-3: 0 "'CJ) CJ) () C') CJ)

-g~ &?l Cf) I- CJ)

iO" a; "O - o-Qiw -"' .c "'c a:.!: -"' c :s:w 2' z Q) B o·- Co :0 .cz

2' a: "O c "O

"'"' -.... ~ > Q) = Q) o_ Q) Cf)C\I () :.:'. Ul g~ IN .c ' -"' 1J c~ Q) ::J $,..:.. _,.._ ll)- u >- ::o- Ee ·;::a

0 0 00 cu-or-- bl .s -co -m a: u::: () .s :..:J-S Cf) CJ)

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255

DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF CEDAR RIVER, IN MILES

Figure 15. Profile of the July 1999 flood for the Cedar River, Iowa; river miles 235 to 250.

Page 39: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

Table 5. Elevations of high-water marks used in the flood profile of July 1999 for the Cedar River, Iowa [HWM, high-water mark; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey;--, not measured]

Distance upstream from Downstream Upstream mouth of Cedar HWM HWM

River Bridge-site and streamflow-gaging (feet above (feet above (river miles) station description sea level) sea level)

139.28 Brandon Road, NE of La Porte City 810.46 811.52

147.35 County Road D38, Gilbertville 823.60 823.90

158.78 USGS gaging station 05464000, Waterloo 844.92

159.1 Park Avenue, Waterloo 846.36 846.80

159.47 Mullan Avenue, Waterloo 847.52 849.14

163.0 U.S. Highway 218, Waterloo 853.55 854.09

165.9 State Highway 58, Cedar Falls 857.14 858.72

166.9 State Highway 57, Cedar Falls 859.66 859.86

167.15 Center Street, Cedar Falls 862.80 863.45

178.6 USGS gaging station 05458500, Janesville 885.41

179.0 U.S. Highway 218, N of Janesville 886.64 887.97

188.70 State Highway 3, Waverly 912.10 914.84

194.3 County Road C33, N of Waverly 924.43 925.38

200.9 State Highway 188, E of Plainfield 934.73 936.33

211.55 State Highway 346, Nashua 964.86 967.71

216.9 County Road B59 (240th Street), NW of 977.39 Nashua

223.9 USGS gaging station 05457700, Charles City 995.83

224.19 Main Street, Charles City 997.54 1,000.07

232.5 U.S. Highway 218, N of Floyd 1,016.48 1,016.88

240.4 I 05th Street, SW of Orchard 1,038.37 l,Q38.80

249.58 State Highway 9, W of Osage 1,075.92 1,076.20

34 FLOODS OF JULY 19-25, 1999, IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS, NORTHEAST IOWA

Page 40: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

"Cl ::c 0 .,, r= m en CJ.) U'1

I-w w u. ~ _r w > w _J

<( w Cf)

w > 0 al <(

z 0 f= <( > w _J

w

1,140

1,120

1,100

1,080

1,060

1,040

1,020

1,000

980

960

940

920

900

880

860

I I I l ' I ' i i /1. I ! i I

I ' /(/ : I i / r

i I I ' I i I V,//f [ I

! I I i I /~Vf '

1 l-l--t--i---t-t---l--t---1---T-1 ---+---i,-~1--+--i-·-- -c--- - ! ~V /' I

I I ' I i bJ(t-j,~./"'"-----t---t-----t-----;c----+---____,._+---+-----t

I I ', JJ I ; :~···l I

>----+---+--+---I! -+l---t---l--l-1---t----+l---t---+---+.+: -------! I i -~p 1-----i----t-----r---;---t--t--: --t---+-: --;---,I -;--;--i ---t

t--'---+---+--t--t----t---+----+--t---t-l-----'---l-~,~,-+-::fej-+-hc.r=.J=''~l-----'---l-~1~:-+--+---+-+---+-1 --+--t-+-1---+--t--+--+--+,~

I LJ-.+--1 .1 ,-= .............. ,... I Flood profile, July 1999 ' I \ ,,-~ I - f' i ............. J.;-J---+-----+-----t-----t---+,-t--1

I lJ.--~L ' ........ ,· ~---,----- --r----- ------- --y-~-=::;;;.;;--r~.:b·~C':·_~:~:·+---+--- ---------_______ , -- --+---- ---

i I -''I J ..... l .... -'j'· I I

Flood profile, March 1961 (Schwab, 1963) Low-flow profile, November 1999

Low-flow profile, November 1961 (Schwab, 1963)

~--.·.. 1 lftTI I ! I ·.: : r I I i I 1

I Bridge elevations: Upper flange = bridge deck Lower flange = low chord

I I I I I ! ' ' I I

I I I II I II I I I Ill I I II I Locations indicated by these vertical lines are described in figures 17-20

I I I I I I

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF SHELL ROCK RIVER, IN MILES

I

I

70

Figure 16. Profile of the July 1999 flood for the Shell Rock River, Iowa; river miles 1 to 76.

' ;

----

I--

I-

80

Page 41: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

w Q)

940 "Tl r 0 0 930 0 CJ)

0 "Tl c... 920 c: r < 910 ... <D I-.-, w 9' w

LL 900 ... <D ~ <D _j .<D w z > 890 w -t --' :::c <(

m w (J) 880

~ w )> >

0 "'C aJ ~ <( 870 "'C z z 0

0 i== <( 860 0 > z w --'

)> w z 850 0 0 m 0 840 )> :c :c < 830 m :c Cl )> 820 CJ)

z !fl z 0 :c -t :::c m )> CJ) -t

0 ~ )>

I

I I

i I

I I i l ____ .._---

Flood-peak and low-flow discharges, ! in cubic feet per second,

at USGS gaging station 05462000: I J

Date Discharge l March 28, 1961 33,500 _I_ , :----

July 22, 1999 27,500 I ~I November16,1999 392 _ ~~--- [ .. -········

1--i------i---t------+-j------r--i-L_______,-1-------.---1 -----r--_J-! ____ LI---- ' I. .... _ ........... ,,,-~~ --r ~ ................ -

1 __ , I ..................... ,

!---+----+----+--] L----- ' I -=-i·_·,b-+-r .. _ ..... ---+ ...... _ ..... _ ...... +--.... -· _,____~l_,___,___---+-_,_____, __ :r---- ~ .............. · I

~-1---- : ~~---·~·1····""~····~1·-····_···_····+···~~~~~~~~~~~~,~~J~~~~~~~-~

·--t---t--~-~~ .. ----+--·-!-+-tl--i-+----·---i 1--1---J~-1---I

I I

1----+----t----t----t---+----t-----r------t---+---+----t-.-~~~~~~~-t~~~~~~+-~~~-~~~~-·-I I

i

!

I I

0 2

i : f

I :

I

!

i

c: 0 -~ c: :0 -, 1! Q; > "' ~ 0 w <if~ ~z -co (J)N .i=' _ ... in~ c.o~ Nm

I I I

3 4 5

qhell Rpck

c: LO' o c.o gw "'"w o m grJJ Oz~

~

:0 co -g T"" ~ .!: -, ~ 'O

~:± a~.,, Q) rr. J, 0 (/) Q) ~ >-~ c :0

~m ca; 0 0 ~°' 6o; E E -m om (/) C') Om

~ z~ ~m en ~ c: >- Q)~ c c :0 c ;;:~ 'O ·- 0 :0 ~-- ·;:;, -§ (J) "''O 0 0 - 'O Cll

0 Q) ~o (J) Q) en ·-N a: (/) Q) ~ ~~ (/) Io (/) :0 E ID Q; - C!J 2..0 co--0 ID- .i= 0 Cl) rn~

~-S ~ :0

OE=> U5 a; aJ aJ

I I I I I I

6 7 8 9 10 11

I

I I

12 13

Flood profile, July 1999

Flood profile, March 1961 (Schwab, 1963) Low-flow profile, November 1999

Low-flow profile, November 1961 (Schwab, 1963)

Bridge elevations:

I

14

Upper flange ; bridge deck Lower flange ; low chord

[

""" Q)

~ 0 c :0 rr. <'.: 0

I I I

15 16 17

I I

~ ·:;; (/)

""" ~ 0 0 (J)

ex> co ~

ia ;;:~

Q~ I~

2u1 rn~ -N rJlm

I I

18 19

DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF SHELL ROCK RIVER, IN MILES

Figure 17. Profile of the July 1999 flood for the Shell Rock River, Iowa; river miles 1 to 20.

I-

20

Page 42: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

"'C J:J 0 "11 r= m en w

"

1-w w LL

~ _j w > w --' <( w (/)

w > 0 (IJ <(

z 0

~ > w --' w

1,000.----.,.---.,.------.,.---..,.---...,----~,---,.------,-----,-----,,----,----,----.,.------.,.---.,.---..,.--.,.-..,.--~

I 990r---1---t---+-----t---+----+----+------+-----+----+------;-------+-----+-----+-----+----+----+----+---+---~ !

980 -----f------'--~-1----j---------------j------1---~----+----+-----;-----~r-·----·-------t------~---+-I ___ _

970r----+----t---+-----t---+----+----+------+-----+----+----i-----+-----+-----+----+----+----+----+--+--\ __ __,

I~ 960 ~--r--1-r--1---r-1---r-1-1--r---r--1-111-JLd:i;;;::::::~~:=:.l~l I! -

-~--=-=r- ! 950~-----------· -- I : i ···

940 I rn _:J---- --- --- . [Tm ' ! I r-

::: :~::J:=,~·········"'-········r···············'"~~··~--~C::,:: ~;.~:~, {Smwob '"'' ~ 910 ·:;_- ----+------ Low-flow profile, November 1999

900

890

880 ~ ·;; ~3: Ci;z 0"' 0 cb 3:c;:; zen C')-"'en () ~ ..,~

"' c: o·-a: 'O

-"= IB c: ::J ::i-0 0 () .s

I I

20 21 22

Low-flow profile, November 1961 (Schwab, 1963)

'

.

I I I

23 24 25

1"

"' -"' u

"' a.. 0 (/)

,.:

" -"' I- Q)

Q)

-"' -g 3: 0 Q)

~ Oz (;; a: ro ()

~~ c;;

'O ;;: 0 ::J~ 'O 0 OC') 0 u:: 0 en ()

I I I I I I

26 27 28 29 30 31

I

I I

32 33

Bridge elevations:

I

34

Upper flange = bridge deck Lower flange = low chord

i

Q)

[jj 3: ~ UJ <.'.l~

~.?;-ID~ ::Jc:

~M 0 ::J

UJ en 08 <;; E ~-g_ ~cg "S .Q

Cil LL

I I I

35 36 37

DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF SHELL ROCK RIVER, IN MILES

Figure 18. Profile of the July 1999 flood for the Shell Rock River, Iowa; river miles 20 to 40.

-"'w uC/J o~ a: N <Di-!. :0 ~ ~" "'en ~ -a> o en UJ en -~

Ql c: Q) ·-

tJ ~ .c ::J

i5 -en o N .S

I I

38 39 40

Page 43: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

w co "11 r 0 0 c en 0 "11 c... c: r -< .... IO N I-,!" UJ

UJ .... lL IO

~ IO ~ _j

z UJ >

..... UJ -' ::c < m UJ

::e <J)

)> UJ > "ti 0 en Ill

:2 < z z 0 0

j:: 0 < z >

UJ )> -' z UJ

c 0 m c )> lJ lJ < m lJ m )> en z Y' z 0 lJ ..... ::c m )> en ..... 0 ::e )>

1,060 l

1,050

1,040

I

I ...... /'

1,030

1,020

1,010

I _;~,,/

~-~~~~~~~-~~~~~~! --~~~~~~· :~~~~~--~~~:~~~~~~~~~~! ~-~-~-+;~d-vga-~i-~n-e~-+:---+-----+i----1,-__ -_-_-... --1~---,,-_-_-1>-~---_-:-~",_i .. -... -:·'~--t~~··" I Mam Avenu~ i /-1:--- ~J........ i

1,000 t--Flood-peakdischarge, 1 i - ~~-- !~............ i

in cubic feet per second. !-i---+-----+l---t----+-----tl---j+-1-_-_.,.,_;;p'--*'-- J .......... -~----t---~---+----+----t

at ~:i~s gaging station0~~~:~~00: l _-:::.;:::.J~J.~ ...................... I March28, 1961 32,000 I ~ ::.;,_~_,_ ___ ,_l __ __,_ ___ __,. __ --+----+---t-----1

i ~ _L--t:::::~----1 ········ 990 1--

980 1---"+--1[ ___ -__ .,-------:+--! _- ------~:J_-~·~---·········

970 ~!· ..... ~:::. .......................... l .................. . Flood profile, July 1999

Flood profile. March 1961 (Schwab. 1963)

Low-flow profile. November 1999

Low-flow profile, November 1961 (Schwab. 1963)

960>----+!---+----+----t----+---t----+---+---+'---t----+---t ~

950 ="' r I : : ' r--+-----i=====r==r===~==;==~==o='---940 i----------~~~~~1 ~~~1 ~1~~1~

Bridge elevations: Upper flange = bridge deck Lower flange = low chord

6 gj::: .§z &~ ~~ z~ o~ UJ~ <Jlm -a; c Q)'-~ 'O

oo m .s= ::J

5-~s

O<O 0 Ill UJ 'O UJ ~ -c (/) ~z CD l1l CO .£ l{) ..,.oo """' "'a: ' u. ~ :: ; OCO

a:- 'E 0 c O> -l{)

~ +:: 5 - om "'o E om u in~ C'Cl Q; 0

<J)aJ a: .,,,, 0 m > 'E c Cl> - '0- iI ~ g::: '6> ~ t5 "'c 0

ca·- o o·- g u a5<JJ cn'E a: a: 'O 0 - Q) .c a: >-

Ul 0 Q) == (/) Q) <';' <.? (,) :0 .s= ::J c E cCO

"'~ o- c ·ca u; Ul ·- "' 0 0 ~ "' =>e~ lL .s 0 ~m

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF SHELL ROCK RIVER. IN MILES

Figure 19. Profile of the July 1999 flood for the Shell Rock River, Iowa; river miles 40 to 60.

Page 44: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

,, :ti 0 ::!! r m en CA> CD

I-w w LL

~ _j w > w -' <( w en w > 0 (l) <(

z 0 i== <( > w -' w

1,140

1,130

1,120

1,110

1,100

1,090

1,080

1,070

1,060

1,050

1,040

1,030

60

I

/ .... ,/,

;:-;. c :::> 0

z: ';; c "O :::> ~ co () (.?

~e .Q Ci> LL()

I I

61 62

i I

I I I

63 64 65

I

I

!!!. (ii LL -"' u 0 a: 0 -"' C\J Q) (l)

~ "O () ct!W &z !!!.

(ii

E<ii LL -"' =>CJ) u

o~ 0 ()~ a:

I I I I I I I I

66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73

i

I~ _,,,,...

Flood profile, July 1999

i

l

Flood profile, March 1961 (Schwob, 1963) Low-flow profile, November 1999

Low-flow profile, November 1961 (Schwob, 1963)

Bridge elevations:

z: c :::> 0

Upper flange = bridge deck Lower flange = low chord

.c :; 0

~ [J_

0 z CJ)

() >. iU o- 5:W "O c ~ :::> -gz 0 0

(.? () ·-o IC".>

0 .c 2m ~t ~ 0 rn~

c3 :5: -<X> en m

I I I I

74 75 76 77 I I

78 79

DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF SHELL ROCK RIVER, IN MILES

Figure 20. Profile of the July 1999 flood for the Shell Rock River, Iowa; river miles 60 to 76.

80

Page 45: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

Table 6. Elevations of high-water marks used in the flood profile of July 1999 for the Shell Rock River, Iowa [HWM, high-water mark; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey;--, not measured]

Distance upstream from Downstream Upstream mouth of Shell HWM HWM

Rock River Bridge-site and streamflow-gaging (feet above (feet above (river miles) station description sea level) sea level)

3.9 265th Street, E of Waverly Junction 885.91 885.91

10.44 USGS gaging station 05462000, Shell Rock 902.07

11.27 State Highway 3, Shell Rock 907.79 909.34

18.7 State Highway 188, S of Clarksville 922.63 924.19

27.1 County Road T47, S of Packard 943.49

34.67 Traer Street, Greene 953.54 956.37

41.09 Discontinued USGS gaging station 968.63 970.94 05460500, County Road B60, Marble Rock

51.72 Main Avenue, Rockford 993.60 995.94

60.57 First Street, Nora Springs 1,046.78 1,048.46

67.75 County Road B20, Rock Falls 1,091.81 1,095.37

76.38 State Highway 9, N of Plymouth 1,134.31

40 FLOODS OF JULY 19-25, 1999, IN THE WAPSIPINICON AND CEDAR RIVER BASINS, NORTHEAST IOWA

Page 46: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

"D JJ 0 .,, j= m (J)

.i::. .....

f-w w LL

~ _j w > w _J

<{ w (f)

w > 0 CD <{

z 0 j:: <{ > w _J

w

1,160

1,140

1,120

1,100

1,080

1,060

1,040

1,020

1,000

980

960

940

920

f--· ----- ·- --+-·---1--+-----·--i- - ~- - . . I --- I - __ 1 • : /~~,,+~~~j~-+-'--1 j-!--f-------l-i, ___ ,_____---!

I

0 5

I I I

I

I I I I 111 II I 11111

Flood profile, July 1999

Flood profile, May 1963 (Schwab, 1963) Low-flow profile, November 1999 Low-flow profile, May 1963 (Schwab, 1963)

Bridge elevations: Upper flange = bridge deck Lower flange = low chord

I I I I I I I

1

Locations indicated by these vertical lines are described in figures 22-241

I I I I I I I

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF FLOOD CREEK, IN MILES

Figure 21. Profile of the July 1999 flood for Flood Creek, Iowa; river miles 1 to 40.

I-

45

Page 47: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

0

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in 1

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of

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in 1

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9

41

6-3

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300t

h S

tree

t, S

W o

f P

ow

ers

ville

(n

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sed

in 1

999)

94

16

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NE

29

0th

Str

eet,

W o

f P

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ers

ville

(n

ot

used

in 1

999)

94

16

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NW

28

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Str

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SE

of

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rble

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ck

(not

use

d in

199

9) 9

41

6-1

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Page 48: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

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Page 49: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

.i::.

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I -~- Low-flow profile, November 1999 I-

I I Bridge elevations: Upper flange = bridge deck Lower flange = low chord ---

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30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH OF FLOOD CREEK, IN MILES

Figure 24. Profile of the July 1999 flood for Flood Creek, Iowa; river miles 30 to 40.

Page 50: Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and …publications.iowa.gov/17005/1/IADOT_hr140_Floods_July_19...Management Division, written commun., June 2000). The July 1999 flood

Table 7. Elevations of high-water marks used in the flood profile of July 1999 for Flood Creek, Iowa [HWM, high-water mark; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Distance upstream from Downstream Upstream mouth of Flood HWM HWM

Creek Bridge-site and streamflow-gaging (feet above (feet above (river miles) station description sea level) sea level)

1.04 County Road C23 (140th Street), 946.46 946.47 SE of Packard

6.08 Discontinued USGS gaging station 968.06 968.96 05461390, Floyd Line Road, E of Greene

15.28 State Highway 14, NE of Marble Rock 1,020.00 1,021.18

19.76 State Highway 147, E of Rockford 1,051.94 1,052.56

31.79 State Highway 122 (old U.S. Highway 18), 1,101.95 1,102.87 NW of Rudd

39.66 County Road S70, N of Nora Springs 1,141.64 1,143.69

PROFILES 45

f< U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 2001 - 673-088 / 56003 Region No. 8