DATA FOR FLOODS OF MAY 1978

IN NORTHEASTERN WYOMING

AND SOUTHEASTERN MONTANA

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Open-File Report 78-985

UNITED STATESDEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

DATA FOR FLOODS OF MAY 1978 IN NORTHEASTERN WYOMING

AND SOUTHEASTERN MONTANA

By Charles Parrett, D. D. Carlson, Gordon S. Craig, Jr., and J. A. Hull

Open-File Report 78-985

Helena, Montana

November 1978

CONTENTS

Page

Factors for converting inch-pound units to metric units. ....... IV

Introduction ............................. 1

References .............................. 7

Data ................................. 8

ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1. Map showing locations of flood-discharge-determination

sites. ......................... 2

2. Flood hydrograph for the Little Bighorn River

near Hardin, Montana, May 17-22, 1978. ......... 4

3. Flood hydrograph for Lance Creek near Spencer,

Wyoming, May 17-22, 1978 ................ 4

4. Photograph showing aerial view of the Little Bighorn River

near Crow Agency, Montana, looking south and upstrear,

May 19, 1978 ...................... 5

5. Photograph showing aerial view of a flooded portion of

Lodge Grass, Montana, looking southeast, May 19, 1978. . 6

TABLE

Table 1. Summary of peak stages and discharges for the floods of

May 1978. ........................ 8

III

FACTORS FOR CONVERTING INCH-POUND UNITS TO METRIC UNITS

For use of those readers who may prefer to use metric units rather

than inch-pound units, the conversion factors for the terms used in th^s

report are listed below:

Multiply inch-pound units By

foot (ft) 0.3048

mile (mi) 1.609

square mile (mi2 ) 2.590

cubic foot per second (ft 3/s) .02832

cubic foot per second per square .01093

mile [(ft3/s)/mi2 ]

To obtain metric units

meter (m)

kilometer (km)

2 square kilometer (km ) i

cubic meter per second (m /s)

cubic meter per second per

o 9square kilometer [(m/s)/km ]

IV

DATA FOR FLOODS OF MAY 1978 IN NORTHEASTERN WYOMING

AND SOUTHEASTERN MONTANA

By

Charles Parrett, D. D. Carlson, Gordon S. Craig, Jr., and J. A. Hull

INTRODUCTION

Severe flooding occurred in northeastern Wyoming and southeastern

Montana (fig. 1) in May 1978, as a result of heavy rainfall. Precipitation

in early May was above average at nearly all precipitation stations in the

flooded area. Runoff from rainfall combined with runoff from snowmelt pro­

duced streamflows by the middle of May that were generally above average.

Heavy precipitation during May 16-19 and the above-average runoff from the

earlier rains produced high peak flows during May 16-22. In many instances,

the peak flows exceeded the previous peak of record and also exceeded the

computed 100-year frequency flood. The purpose of this report is to present

the magnitudes of peak flows determined in the flooded areas.

Peak discharges were determined at 162 selected sites; thirty of these

were indirect measurements made at miscellaneous, discontinued, or otherwise

unrated sites. At most active sites, peak flows were determined from exist­

ing stage-discharge relationship curves; logarithmic extensions were used

where needed. Figure 1 shows the locations of the sites and the drainage

system. Peak stages, discharges, and recurrence intervals of the May peaks

are summarized in table 1. The data are provisional and may be changed after

further review. Previously known peak stages and discharges are shown where

gaging-station records are available.

EXPLANATION

Site of flood-discharge determination.

Number refers to table

Forsylh

NORTH DAKOTA OUTH DAKOTA

25 50 75 KILOMETERS

Figure 1. Locations of flood-discharge-determination sites.

Frequencies of flood discharges are estimated for recurrence inter­

vals of 100 years or less (table 1). Discharges having longer recurrence

intervals are noted only as "greater than 100 years." The recurrence inter­

vals were determined on the basis of guidelines provided by the U.S. Water

Resources Council (1977) for stations with 10 or more years of record. Re­

currence intervals for stations in Montana having less than 10 years of

record were obtained from a frequency study by Johnson and Omang (1976).

Figures 2 and 3 are flood hydrographs for the Little Bighorn Ri^er

near Hardin, Montana (station 06294000) and for Lance Creek near Spencer,

Wyoming (station 06386000). These hydrographs, which are typical of the

larger streams in the flood area, exhibit the sharp, rapidly rising peaks

normally associated with rainfall floods.

Damage to agriculture, transportation, and private structures was

severe. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the wide extent of flooding and the

resultant scope of flood damage experienced along some of the stream**.

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Figure 4. Aerial view of the Little Bighorn River near Crow Agency, Montana, looking south and upstream, May 19, 1978.

Photograph by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Figure 5. Aerial view of a flooded portion of Lodge Grass, Montana, looking southeast, May 19, 1978. Photograph by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

l I l I ll l l l l

REFERENCES

Johnson, M. V., and Omang, R. J., 1976, A method for estimating magnitude

and frequency of floods in Montana: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File

Report 76-650, 35 p.

Omang, R. J., and Hull, J. A., 1978, Annual peak discharges from small

drainage areas in Montana through September 1977: U.S. Geological

Survey Open-File Report 78-219, 204 p.

U.S. Water Resources Council, 1977, Guidelines for determining flood flow

frequencies: U.S. Water Resources Council Bulletin 17A, 26 p.

Tabl

e 1. Summary of pe

ak st

ages

and

disc

harg

es for

the

floods of Ma

y 19

78

OO

Maxi

mum

floo

d previously known

Map

num­

ber 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Permanent

station

number

06216000

06216200

06216300

06216500

06217750

06259000

0626

5200

0626

5600

06267260

06267400

0626

8500

06268600

06270000

06274250

06279090

06279500

06282000

06284200

Site

of fl

ood-

disc

harge

dete

rmin

atio

n

Pryo

r Creek

at Pryor, Mont.

West We

ts Creek near Billings,

Mont

.

West Bu

ckey

e Creek ne

ar Billings,

Mont

Pryor

Cree

k ne

ar Billings,

Mont.

Pryor

Creek

at 1-

94 cr

ossi

ng ne

arHuntley, Mo

nt.

Pryor

Creek

at Hu

ntle

y, Mo

nt.

Fly

Cree

k at Pompeys

Pillar

, Mo

nt.

Wind Ri

ver below

Boysen Re

serv

oir,

Wyo.

Sand

Draw nea

r Th

ermo

poli

s, Wyo.

Tie

Down

Gulch ne

ar W

orla

nd,

Wyo.

North

Pron

g Ea

st Fork Nowater Creek

near W

orland,

Wyo.

East Fork Nowater Creek

near

Colt

er,

Wyo.

Fifteenmile

Creek near Wo

rlan

d, Wyo.

Bigh

orn

River

at Worland, Wyo.

Nowood River near Te

nsle

ep,

Wyo.

Elk

Creek near Ba

sin,

Wyo.

Shell

Creek near Greybull,

Wyo.

Bighorn

River

near Ka

ne,

Wyo.

Shoshone Ri

ver

below

Buffalo

Bill

Rese

rvoi

r, Wvo.

Shoshone River

near Willwood,

Wyo.

Drainage

area

(mi2

)

117 8.

80

2.64

440

606

606

285

7,701 6.

33

1.78

3.77

149

518

10, SIX)

803 96.9

560

15,765

1,538

1,980

Peri

od

of

record

1921

-24;

1966

-P

1955-P

1955-73

1911-24;

1938

-53;

1953-73

1968-P

1951-P

1960-P

1961

-P

1964

-P

1971

-P

1951-P

1965-69

1938-43;

1950

-55;

1972-P

1959

-P

1951,

1965-P

1928-P

1921-P

1974

-P

Date

6-26-69

4-26-64

7-18-69

4-26

-64

2-14-71

7-07-67

6-09-60

8-31

-63

9-18-67

7-06-75

5-22-52

6-23

-67

6-16-55

6-06-67

6-16-35

5-28-28

6-20-74

Gage

height

(ft)

6.13

6.90

5.05

15.04

9.23

13.35

e22

.58

8.62

5.47

3.68

85.7

7

13.69

§12.

30

10.91

gll.!0

S10.62

10.43

Disc

harg

e (ft3/s)

468

565

924

3,720

2,680

13,5

00

2,490

328

394

1,270

3,300

15,9

00

3,330

4,260

25,2

00

14,7

00

12,1

00

Maxi

mum

flood

of May

19

78

Day 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 18 18 18 19 19 19 19 20 __ 19

Gage

height

(ft) 8.88

6.81

3.68

18.90

15.9

4

4.49

6.11

5.29

6.65

10.58

14.45

12.85

9.30

7.82

9.95 __

7.93

Discharge

(fts

/s)

2,280

545

240

14,9

00

18,2

00

c 9,000

10,3

00

d 1,200

130

118

330

3,580

4,270

17,500

3,330

2,90

0

2,15

0

20,500

d 1,

100

4,960

Recu

r­

rence

inte

r­

val

(years)

>100 90 4

>100

>100

>100 < 2 2 9

(f) 50 13 20

>

9

7

_ (f)

Tabl

e 1. Summary of peak st

ages

and

disc

harg

es for

the

floods of May 1978 continued

Maxi

mum

flood

prev

ious

ly known

Map

num­

ber 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Permanent

station

Site

of flood-discharge

numb

er

determination

06284400

06284500

06284800

06285100

06285400

06287500

06288000

06288200

0628

9000

06290000

06290200

06290500

06291500

06293300

06294000

06294400

06294600

06294690

06294700

06294930

Shos

hone

River

near Ga

rlan

d, Wy

o.

Bitt

er Cr

eek near Ga

rlan

d, Wyo.

Whistle

Cree

k near Ga

rlan

d, Wyo.

Shos

hone

River

near

Lovell, Wyo.

Sage

Creek

at Sidon

Canal

near

Deav

er,

Wyo.

Soap Creek

near St.

Xavier

, Mont.

Rottengrass

Creek

near St.

Xavi

er,

Mont

Beau

vais

Creek near St.

Xavier,

Mont

.

Litt

le Bi

ghor

n River

at St

atel

ine

near

Wy

ola,

Mo

nt.

Pass

Creek ne

ar Wyo

la,

Mont

.

Little Bi

ghor

n River

tributary

near

Wyola, Mont.

Little Bi

ghor

n Ri

ver

below

Pass

Creek

near W

yola

, Mont.

Lodg

egra

ss Creek

above Willow Creek

dive

rsio

n near Wy

ola,

Mo

nt.

Long Otter

Cree

k near Lo

dgeg

rass

, Mo

nt.

Little Bighorn

Rive

r ne

ar Hardin,

Mont

.

Andresen Co

ulee

ne

ar Cu

ster

, Mont.

Tullock

Creek

trib

utar

y near

Hardin,

Mont

.

Tullock Creek

near Bighorn,

Mont.

Drai

nage

area

(mi2)

2,036 80.5

101

2,350

341 98.3

. 14

7

100

193

111 4.

43

428 80.7

11.7

1,294 2.

35

8.63

446

Bigh

orn River

at Bi

ghor

n, Mo

nt.

22,8

85

Sarpy

Creek

trib

utar

y ne

ar4.44

Period

of

, re

cord

1958

-P

1950-53;

1957

-60;

1968-P

1958-60

1968-P

1966-P

1958

-60;

1968

-P

1911

-12;

1913;

1939-53; 1963;

1967

-72

.

1913

-19;

19

19-

22;

1967-72

1967

-P

1939-P

1935-56

1973-P

1939-75;

197 7-P

1939-74

1973

-P

1953-P

1963

-P

1973

-P

1974

-P

1945

-P

1972

-P

Date

7-01-67

7-04-75

7-03-75

7-01-67

6-08

-58

4-28

-63

2-28-72

6-09-68

6-03-44

6-04-44

6-10-77

6-14-63

6-09-64

4-04-75

4-02-65

6-04-63

3-03

-75

3-02-76

6-24-47

1972

Gage

he

ight

(f

t)

8 8.76

4.74

12.44

6.49

9.22

14.96

9.16

8.00

4.87

4.82

3.79

7.43

6.14

4.60

1.57

3.38

7.40

8.79

4.33

Disc

harg

e (ft

3/s)

13,3

00

1,230

4,780

13,4

00

2,250

4,170

900

1,600

2,730

1,150

201

3,63

0

1,130

*76

4,52

0 40 171

1,960

26,2

00 194

Maxi

mum

flood

of May

1978

Day 19 17 18 18 19 19 19 19 25 19 19 19 19 19 19 18 18 18 20 18

Gage

he

ight

(f

t)

7.62

3.04

6.76

6.00

5.34

16.9

5

13.6

0

9.54

3.37

10.9

0

3.39

10.02

6.27

8.04

11.1

9

.49

1.67

6.39

14.00

4.77

Discharge

(ftVs)

4,710

563

2,070

8,200

518

7,81

0

9,740

7,350

980

5,310 64

8,010

992

298

22,5

00

5 60

1,22

0

56,4

00 488

Recur­

rence

inte

r­

val

(years)

2 2 8 3 3

> 100

> 100

> 10

0

< 2

> 10

0

> 10

0 50 10

>100

<2 3 4

>100

> 100

Colstrip,

Mont

.

Table

1. Summary of

peak st

ages

and

disc

harg

es for

the

floods of May

1978 continu ,

ed

Maxi

mum

floo

d of

Ma

y 19

78Maximum

flood

previously kn

own

Map

num­

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

Perm

anen

t station

number

06294940

06294985

06294995

06295250

06296003

06297480

06298000

06299900

06305500

06306100

06306250

06306300

06306900

06306950

06307500

06307520

06307600

06307620

06307700

Site

of fl

ood-

disc

harge

dete

rmin

atio

n

Sarpy

Creek ne

ar H

ysham, Mont.

East Fo

rk Armells Creek

tributary

near Colstrip,

Mont.

Armells

Creek

near Forsyth,

Mo

nt.

Rose

bud

Cree

k ne

ar Co

lstr

ip,

Mont.

Rosebud Creek at

mo

uth,

near

Rosebud, Mont.

Tong

ue River at Tongue Ri

ver

Camp

­ gr

ound

near

Dayton,

Wyo.

Tong

ue River

near Da

yton

, Wyo.

Slat

er Creek

near M

onar

ch,

Wyo.

Jack

son

Cree

k near Bi

g Horn,

Wyo.

Goose

Creek

below

Sheridan,

Wyo.

Squi

rrel

Creek near Decker,

Mont.

Prairie

Dog

Cree

k near A

cme, Wy

o.

Tong

ue R

iver

at

State

line

, ne

ar

Decker,

Mont

.

Spri

ng Creek ne

ar Decker,

Mont

.

Leaf

Rock Cr

eek

near Ki

rby,

Mo

nt.

Tong

ue River

at Tongue River

dam,

near De

cker

, Mont.

Cany

on Creek

near

Birney,

Mont

.

Hanging

Woma

n Creek

near Bi

rney

, Mont.

Tie

Creek

near Bi

rney

, Mont.

Cow

Cree

k ne

ar Fo

rt Ho

wes

ranger

Drainage

area

(mi2

)

453 1.

87

370

799

1,30

2

202

204 18.0 7.44

392 33.6

358

1,477 34.7 6.14

1,770 50.2

, 470 18.7 8.37

Period

of

. re

cord

1973

-P

1973

-P

1974

-P

1974

-P

1974

-P

1974

-P

1918

-29;

19

40-P

1967-P

1941

-P

1975-P

1970

-P

1960

-P

1958

-P

1958-P

1939

-P

1972

-P

-

1973

-P

1973

-P

1972-P

Date

3-04-75

1-21-75

1-21-75

5-17-75

2-26-75

5-10-77

6-03-44

6-15-67

6-16-63

May

1975

3-05-75

6-15-67

2-14-71

6-15

-63

6-15

-67

6-14-76

3-04-75

3-03-75

1972

Gage

he

ight

(ft)

12.43

2.72

4.80

6.92

5.78

4.30

6.45

61.30

7.82

2.33

6.01

10.8

6

6.50

6.77

8.20

2.28

9.77

2.36

2.39

Disc

harg

e (ft

3/s)

428 50

i5Q

Q

406

1 1,200

12,750

3,400

1,700

5,450 12 738

7,480

1,400

222

7,340

182

986 9

43

Day 21 18 20 21 19 18 18 18 18 18 18 19 19 18 19 20 18 19 19 16

Gage

he

ight

(ft)

11.6

3

3.59

4.87

9.02

6.78

3.38

3.29

59.97

8.33

7.36

12.60

14.25

2.79 .90

10.00

.93

11.56

1.40

1.65

Disc

harg

e (ft

3/s)

382

687

605

3,350

649

651

h.lOO

810

5,460

600

4,180

19,0

00 225 22

10,6

00 74

2,060 7 8

Recu

r­

rence

inte

r­

val

(years)

<2

2 5

>100 (f) <2

9

60 25 95

>100 3

<2 <2 9

<2

<2

sta

tion,

near

Ott

er,

M

ont.

Table

1. Summary of pe

ak st

ages

an

d di

scha

rges

for

the

floo

ds of Ma

y 1978' continued

Maximum fl

ood

of May

Maxi

mum

floo

d previously kn

own

Map

num­

ber 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80

Permanent

Drainage

station

Site

of fl

ood-

disc

harg

e ar

ea

number

de

term

inat

ion

(mi

)

06307720

06307740

06307780

06307830

06307930

06308100

06308200

06308330

06308340

06308400

06308500

06309000

06309080

06309200

06309260

06309270

06309280

06309450

06309460

06311400

Brian

Creek ne

ar A

shland,

Mont.

Otter Creek near A

shland,

Mont

.

Steb

bins

Creek

at mo

uth,

near

Ashl

and

, Mon t

.

Tongue River below

Brandenberg

4,bridge,

near Ash

land

, Mont.

Jack C

reek

nea

r Vo

lbor

g, Mo

nt.

Sixmile

Creek

tributary near

Epsi

e, Mo

nt.

Basin

Creek

tributary near V

olbo

rg,

Mont

Deer Creek

tributary

near

Volborg, Mont.

LaGrange Cr

eek ne

ar Vo

lbor

g, Mo

nt.

Pump

kin

Creek ne

ar Miles Ci

ty,

Mont.

Tongue River

at M

iles

Ci

ty,

Mont

. 5,

Yellowstone

River

at Miles

City

, 48,

Mont.

Deep

Creek near Kinsey,

Mont

.

Middle Fork Pow

der

River near

Barn

um,

Wyo

.

Buffalo

Creek

abov

e North

Fork

Buffalo

Creek ne

ar A

rmin

to,

Wyo.

North

Fork Buffalo

Creek near

Armi

nto

, Wyo

.

Buffalo

Creek below North

Fork Buffalo

Creek near A

rminto,

Wyo.

Beaver Creek below Bayer

Creek ne

arBarnum , Wy

o .

Beaver Creek

above

White

Panther

Ditch

near

Barnum,

Wyo.

North

Fork Pow

der

Rive

r below

Pass

Cree

k near May

owor

th,

Wyo.

8.03

707 19.9

062 5.

47

0.24

. .14

1.65

3.66

697

379

253 11.5

45.2 8.80

8.10

18.6

10.9

24.2

100

Period

°*

a/

record^

197 3-P

1972

-P

1963

-P

1973

-P

1973

-P

1973

-P

1955

-P

1973

-P

1973

-P

1972

-P

1938

-42;

1947

-P

1922

-23;

1928

-P

1962

-P

1961

-P

1974

-P

1974

-P

1974

-P

1974

-P

1974

-P

J1940-P

Date

3-01-75

3-06-75

3-19-69

6-18

-67

5-05-75

6-18-73

7-02

-58

1973

5-06-75

5-06-75

6-15-62

6-19-44

6-09-72

6-15-63

6-18-75

6-18

-75

6-18

-75

8-04-76

6-18-75

8-11-41

Gage

heig

ht

(ft) 3.75

7.05

4.45 _ 4.56

3.18

6.96

11.5

5

7.62

12.2

7

12.3

3

12.7

4

16.7

8

812.60

2.02

2.64

2.16

2.19

2.00

7.64

Discharge

(ftVs)

93 341

570

i5,

740

271 74 390

1,170

378

2,890

13,3

00

96,3

00

2,43

0

7,11

0

117

201

295

148

222

1,270

Day 19 21 19 22 18 18 18 18 18 19 23 22 18 16 16 16 16 16 17 18

Gage

heig

ht

(ft) 1.94

7.33

3.46

9.96

5.62

4.30

1.31

4.26

5.17

11.1

9

10.1

8

16.50

<4.70

3.88

2.05

2.06

1.91

2.80

2.57

5.22

Disc

harg

e (ft3/s) 25 393

203

8,28

0

512 92 16 75 182

2,43

0

8,65

0

103,600

<400 530 85 75 146

180

220

313

1978

Recu

r­

rence

inte

r­

val

(yea

rs)

2

<2 4 9 25 45 <2 5 6 2 6

>100 <2

2

(f)

(f)

(f)

(f)

(f)

< 2

Table

1. Summary of

pe

ak st

ages

an

d discharges fo

r th

e fl

oods

of

Ma

y 1978 continued Ma

ximum

floo

d of

Ma

yMa

ximu

m fl

ood

previously kn

own

Map

num­

ber 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 % 97 98 99

Perm

anen

t st

atio

n Site of

flood-discharge

numb

er

dete

rmin

atio

n

0631

2500

0631

2700

0631

3000

0631

3020

0631

3050

0631

3100

0631

3180

06313400

06313500

0631

3700

0631

6400

0631

7000

0631

8500

0632

0200

0632

0400

0632

1000

0632

1100

0632

1500

06323500

Powd

er River

near Kaycee,

Wyo.

Sout

h Fork Po

wder

River

near

Powd

er Ri

ver,

Wyo.

South Fo

rk Po

wder

Ri

ver

near

Kaycee,

Wyo.

Bobc

at Cr

eek

near Ed

gert

on,

Wyo.

East

Te

apot

Creek

near

Edgerton,

Wyo.

Coal Draw nea

r Midwest, Wy

o.

Dugo

ut Cr

eek

trib

utar

y near

Midw

est,

Wy

o.

Salt C

reek

nea

r Su

ssex

, Wyo.

Powd

er Ri

ver

at Su

ssex

, Wy

o.

Dead

Horse

Cree

k ne

ar Buffalo, Wyo.

Craz

y Wo

man

Creek

at upper

station

near

Arvada,

Wyo.

Powd

er River

at Ar

vada

, Wy

o.

Clear

Creek near Buffalo, Wyo.

Clear

Cree

k be

low Rock Cre

ek n

ear

Buffalo, Wyo.

Clear

Cree

k at Uc

ross

, Wyo.

Sout

h Pi

ney

Creek

near St

ory,

Wy

o.

South

Piney

Creek be

low

Mead-Coffeen

Ditc

h near St

ory,

Wy

o.

North

Pine

y Creek

near St

ory,

Wyo.

Piney

Creek

at Uc

ross

, Wyo.

Drainage

area

(mi2)

980

262

1,150 8.

29

5.44

11.4 0.8

769

3,090

151

945

6,05

0

120

322

409 69.4

69.5

36.8

267

Peri

od

of

, re

cord

1933

-35;

k

1938-71

1961

-P

1911,

1938-40;

1950-69

1965

-P

1965

-P

1961

-P

1965

-P

1976

-P

1938

-40;

1950

-57;

1977

-P

1958

-P

1963

-70;

1977

-P

1919

-P

1894;

1896-99;

1917

-27,

193

8-P

1971

-P

1976

-P

195 1-

P

1974

-P

195 1-

P

1917

-23;

1950

-P

Date

8-11

-41

9-11

-73

5-22

-62

9-11

-73

6-10-65

6-22

-64

7-15

-67

5-31-76

5-23

-52

6-22-76

6-15-65

9-29

-23

6-15

-63

5-30

-71

5-11-77

6-15

-63

5-10-77

6-15-63

6-16

-63

Gage,

heig

ht

(ft)

12.5

7

8.52

14.4

3

4.62

9.92

13.40

9.10

6.43

S12.60

11.3

2

16.0

2

S23.70

6.19

6.28

7.46

4.37

3.32

5.04

7.33

Discharge

(ftVs)

5,230

1,20

0

35,5

00

1,06

0

4,45

0

2,620

1,590

3,48

0

32,5

00

2,480

15,8

00

1100,000

3,420

2,060

1,280

2,090

524

1,82

0

3,570

Day _ 18 18 18 18 18 18 18 19 18 20 20 18 18 19 18 18 18 19

Gage

he

ight

(f

t)

11.3

2

8.75

S7.20

1.88

2.18

6.93

2.93

9.88

15.1

4

10.0

8

10.00

16.90

3.70

6.05

9.07

2.97

2.73

5.30

Disc

harg

e (ft

3/s)

i4,

200

1,80

0

1 8,

200 60 250

300

156

10 ,

200

24,0

00

1,41

0

2,20

0

1 32, 50

0

600

1,60

0

1,75

0

190

213

1373

1,290

1978 Recur­

rence

inte

r­

val

(years)

25

>100 5

< 2 2

<2 2

(f)

20 4

(f)

25 <2 (f)

(f)

<2

(f) 3

Tabl

e 1. Summary of peak st

ages

and

discharges for

the

floods of May

1978 continued Ma

ximum

flood

of May

1978

Maximum

flood

prev

ious

ly kn

own

Map

num­

ber

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

107

108

109

110

111

112

113

114

115

116

117

118

119

Perm

anen

t station

Site

of flood-discharge

numb

er

06324000

06324500

0632

4700

06324710

06324800

06324890

06324900

06324910

06324925

06324970

0632

4995

06325400

0632

5500

06325700

0632

5950

06326300

06326500

06326510

06364700

06365300

dete

rmin

atio

n

Clear

Creek ne

ar Arvada,

Wyo.

Powder River

at Mo

orhe

ad,

Mont

.

Sand

Creek

near Broadus, Mo

nt.

Powd

er River

at Br

oadu

s, Mo

nt.

Little Powder Ri

ver

tributary

near

Gill

ette

, Wyo.

Litt

le Powder River below

Corr

alCr

eek

near Weston, Wyo.

Cedar

Draw near

Gill

ette

, Wyo.

Cow

Creek

tributary

near Weston, Wy

o.

Little Pow

der

Rive

r near W

eston, Wy

o.

Litt

le Powder River

above

Dry

Cree

knear Weston, Wyo.

Badger Creek

at Biddle,

Mont

.

East

Fork Little

Powder Ri

ver ne

arHammon d ,

Mon t

.

Litt

le Po

wder

Ri

ver

near

Br

oadu

s,Mont.

Powd

er Ri

ver

trib

utar

y near Po

wder

-ville, Mo

nt.

Cut

Coul

ee ne

ar Mizpah,

Mont

.

Mizpah Creek

near Mizpah,

Mont.

Powder Ri

ver

near

Locate,

Mont

.

Loca

te Creek

trib

utar

y near

Locate,

Mont

.

Antelope Cr

eek

near Te

ckla,

Wyo.

Dry

Fork Cheyenne Ri

ver

near

Drainage

area

(mi

2)

1,110

8,088 10.6

8,748 0.

81

204 3.

45

0.72

540

1,235 6.

06

3.45

2,039 3.

20

2.23

797

13,1

94

0.91

959

128

Period

of

,record

1915-19;

1928-29;

1939

-P1929-72;

1974

-P

1955

-P

1975

-P

1960

-P

1977

-P

1959-P

1971-P

1977-P

1972

-P

1972-P

1974

-P

1947-53;

1957

-61;

1962-72

1973

-P

1973

-P

1974

-P

1938

-P

1973

-P

1977

-P

1976

-P

Date

8-05-54

6-17-62

6-09-72

6-24-76

6-22-64

___

6-22-64

7-02-76

1-17-74

6-23-76

6-23-76

1972

1973

5-05-75

5-06-75

2-19-43

1973

___

Gage

he

ight

(ft)

10.45

12.7

7

5.39

6.19

m6.44 9.75

8.17 8.05

7.97

6.18

9.30

16.91

8.45

9.80

11.23

2.41

Discharge

(ft

3/s)

9,600

23,0

00 715

6,740

176

758

153

1,000

414

155

2,700

480

272

1,920

31,0

00 22

Day 18 20 18 21 18 18 18 18 19 19 18 18 20 18 18 19 23 19 19 18

Gage

height

(ft) 9.03

15.2

2

2.12

12.96

7.97

9.61

6.87

5.93

13.3

3

11.6

7

2.48

5.69

9.85

2.42

4.17

7.04

11.5

9

1.40

8.83

4.00

Discharge

(ftVs)

5,21

0

32,900 27

31,5

00 23

2,120

220 51

4,550

5,400 54 60

h3,160 32

103

1,030

28,500 7

6,60

0

1,00

0

Recu

r­

rence

inte

r­

val

(years)

6

>100 <2

>100

6

(f) 4 4

(f)

(f) 3 4 50

3 5 <2 15 <2 (f)

(f)

Bill,

Wyo.

Table

1. Summary of peak stages and

discharges for

the

floods of May

1978 continued

Maximum

floo

d previously kn

own

Map

num­

ber

120

121

122

123

124

125

126

127

128

129

130

131

132

133

134

135

136

137

138

139

Perm

anen

t station

numb

er

06365900

06375600

06376300

06378300

06379600

0638

2200

06386000

0638

6500

06387500

06394000

06395000

06425720

06425780

06425900

06425950

0642

6400

0642

6500

06427700

06429300

06634300

Site

of flood-discharge

dete

rmin

atio

n

Chey

enne

River ne

ar Du

ll Cent

er,

Wyo.

Little Thunder

Creek

near Ha

mpsh

ire,

Wyo.

Blac

k Thunder

Creek ne

ar Hampshire,

Wyo.

Lodgepole

Creek

near Hampshire, Wy

o.

Box

Creek ne

ar Bi

ll,

Wyo.

Prit

char

d Draw nea

r Lance

Creek, Wy

o.

Lanc

e Creek near Sp

ence

r, Wyo.

Cheyenne River ne

ar Sp

ence

r, Wyo.

Turner Creek near Osage,

Wyo.

Beav

er Cr

eek ne

ar Newcastle,

Wyo.

Cheyenne River

near Edgemont,

S. Dak.

Bell

e Fo

urch

e River below

Ratt

le­

snake

Creek near Pi

ney,

Wyo.

Bell

e Fo

urch

e River

above

Dry

Creek

near

Pin

ey,

Wyo.

Caballo

Creek

at Mouth

near Pi

ney,

Wy

o.

Rave

n Creek

near M

oorc

roft

, Wyo.

Donk

ey Creek

near Mo

orcr

oft,

Wy

o.

Belle

Four

che

Rive

r below

Moor

crof

t,Wyo.

Inyan

Kara Cr

eek near Up

ton, Wyo.

Ogden

Cree

k ne

ar Su

ndan

ce,

Wyo.

Shee

p Creek

near Medicine

Bow, Wy

o.

Drainage

area

(m

i2)

1,527

234

535

354

112

is.l

2,07

0

5,27

0 47.8

1,320

7,143

495

594

260 76 246

1,670 96.5 8.42

174

Period

of

. record

1976-P

1977-P

1972-P

1977

-P

1956

-58;

1959

, 19

61-P

1964-P

1948-54

1956

-P

1948-74

1959

-P

1943-P

1903-06;

1928

-33;

1946

-P

1975-P

1975

-P

1977

-P

1977

-P

1977

-P

1943-70;

1975

-P

1959

-P

1962

-P

1961

-P

Date

7-08

-77

9-09-73

5-05-71

9-03

-68

5-24-71

5-22-62

6-15-62

6-16-62

5-25-71

6-13

-77

6-13-77

5-27

-62

7-01-59

5-06-67

7-07

-61

Gage

height

(ft) 5.50

11.49

7.92

13.29

9.67

8.74

16.72

19.98

10.57

5.86

11.8

1

14.33

12.99

3.93

11.48

Discharge

(ft

3/s)

2,570

804

1,72

0

4,05

0

7,410

16,0

00

3,000

11,9

00

13,8

00 489

1,630

n4,

_420

4,660

423

1,900

Maximum

flood

of Ma

y

Day 18 18 18 18 17 18 19 18 20 20 18 18 19 19 19 19 18 18 17

Gage

he

ight

(f

t) 12.1

0

9.00

14.13

4.09

8.15

4.78

9.35

12.2

2

15.58

16.3

0

13.65

11.3

3

16.50

8.66

5.55

14.61

14.60

6.36

1.72

9.76

Disc

harg

e (ftVs)

11,8

00

3,280

5,050

168

2,700

360

6,920

1 28, 50

0

2,45

0

3,800

128

,500

4,10

0

5,80

0

2,170

236

3,240

14,5

00 92 50

1,700

1978 Recur­

rence

inte

r­

val

(years)

(f)

(f)

(f)

(f)

20 <2 30

>100

8

20 80 (f)

(f)

(f)

(f)

(f)

>100 <2 4 15

Table

1. Summary of peak st

ages

and

discharges for

the

floods of May

1978 continued Maximum

flood

of May

1978

Maximum

flood

previously kn

own

Map

num­

ber

140

141

142

143

144

145

146

147

148

149

150

151

152

153

154

155

156

157

158

Perm

anen

t station

number

06634600

06635000

06641400

06642000

06642700

06642760

06643300

06644840

06645150

06645160

06646600

06646700

06646780

06646800

06647500

06647890

06647900

06648780

06649000

Site

of fl

ood-

disc

harge

dete

rmin

atio

n

Litt

le Medicine Bo

w River

near

Medicine Bo

w, Wy

o.

Medicine Bo

w Ri

ver

above

Seminoe

Rese

rvoi

r near Hanna, Wyo.

Bear

Springs

Creek near Alcova, Wy

o.

North

Platte River

at Alcova,

Wyo.

Lawn

Cr

eek near Alcova,

Wyo.

Stin

king

Creek

near A

lcova, Wyo.

Coal Creek near Goose

Egg,

Wyo.

McKenzie Draw tributary ne

ar Casper,

Wyo.

Smith

Creek

abov

e Otter

Creek

near

Casp

er,

Wyo.

Smith

Creek

at Otter

Cree

k ne

arCa

sper

, Wy

o.

Deer Creek below Millar Was

tewa

y at

Glenrock,

Wyo.

East

Fork Dry

Cr

eek

tributary

near

Glenrock,

Wyo.

Sand

Creek near Glenrock,

Wyo.

North

Platte River near Glenrock,

Wyo.

Box

Elder

Cree

k at Box

Elder, Wyo.

Litt

le Box Elder

Cree

k near

Care

yhur

st,

Wyo.

Little Bo

x Elder

Creek

at Little Box

Elder

Cave

ne

ar Ca

reyh

urst

, Wy

o.

Sage

Creek

trib

utar

y near Orpha, Wy

o.

LaPr

ele

Cree

k near Do

ugla

s, Wyo.

Drainage

area

(mi2)

963

2,33

8 9.33

10,812 11

.5

117 5.

39

2.02

9.91

10.9

213 2.

60

79.9

13,538 63

.0 7.18

3.47

1.38

135

Period

of

reco

rd-'

1973

-P

1939

-P

1960-P

1904-05;

1934

-P

1961

-P

1961

-P

1960

-P

1965

-P

1974

-P

1974-P

1961

-P

1961

-P

1977

-P

1959

-P

1946-51;

1961

-67;

1971

-P

1974-P

1974

-?

1965-P

1919-P

Gage

height

Date

(ft)

4-17-75

3-29-43

10-0

6-62

6-6,

10,

11-1905

8-10-74

8-12-63

6-12-70

9-11

-73

5-13-75

5-13-75

6-12-70

5-14-65

5-14-65

5-14-65

6-18-75

9-13-75

7-25-65

6-12-70

9.05

5.23

12.36

S11

.50

9.15

7.93

8.72

7.03

3.40

1.54

9.45

11.00

7.10

S8.

58

1.31

1.30

2.00

13.01

Discharge

(ft

3/s)

3,060

6,590

533

13,4

00

1,250

2,750

514

970 40 39

14,2

00 550

16,0

00

4,530 21 23 229

17,3

00

Day 17 18 17 17 17 17 17 18 20 20 17 18 18 17 17 18 13 18 17

Gage

he

ight

(ft)

14.10

6.25

12.25

1.68

7.61

7.11

6.46

1.47

1.98

3.24

8.70

6.65

3.90

4.71

6.61

1.69

2.07 .44

10.6

6

Discharge

(ft

3/s)

i9j500

5,220

130

430

580

1,750 59 12 42 41

5,500 52 453

6,030

2,250 51 43 12

1,550

Recur­

rence

inte

r­

val

(years)

(f)

60 2

<2

8 5

<2 <2 (f)

(f)

30 2

(f) 3

35 (f)

(f)

<2

7

Tabl

e 1. Summary of

peak stages and

disc

harg

es for

the

floo

ds of May

1978 continued Maxi

mum

floo

d of

Ma

y 19

78Maximum fl

ood

previously kn

own

Map

num­

ber

159

160

161

162

Permanent

station

number

06649900

06651800

06652000

06652400

Site

of fl

ood-

disc

harg

e determination

North

Plat

te River

tributary ne

arDo

ugla

s, Wyo.

Sand

Cr

eek ne

ar Or

in,

Wyo.

North

Plat

te Ri

ver

at Orin,

Wyo.

Wats

on Dr

aw near

Lost

Spri

ngs,

Wyo.

Drai

nage

Period

area

of

, (m

i2)

record-

7

8.53

1961-P

27.8

19

55,

1961-P

14,888

1895

-99;

19

17-1

8;19

24,

1958

-P

6.93

1960-P

Gage

he

ight

Da

te

(ft)

5-22-61

11.32

8-07-55

5-15-65

10.00

5-28

-61

14.78

Discharge

(ft

3/s)

1,400

°20,

700

23,8

00

2,100

Gage

he

ight

Day

(ft)

18

4.97

18

110.20

17

7.76

18

8.81

Discharge

(ftVs)

91

5,460

12,700 581

Recur­

rence

inte

r­

val

(yea

rs)

<2 20

7

35

P, pr

esent.

Estimated.

c Does no

t include

bypass fl

ow of about

9,200

ft3/s.

d Mean daily

disc

harg

e fo

r Ma

y 17

-19,

19

78.

Affe

cted

by

backwater.

Less

th

an 10 years

of re

cord

. » °

Site

an

d da

tum

then in us

e.

Revised

from

Omang

and

Hull

(1

978)

.

About.

Peak fl

ow re

cord

prior

to 1974 water ye

ar includes that for

stat

ion nu

mber

06311500 (N

orth

Fork Powder River

near Ma

yowo

rth)

. \f_

Flood

of Sept.

30,

1923,

reached

a stage

of 18

.00

feet (discharge not

dete

rmin

ed).

Mean

daily

disc

harg

e.

Gage

moved

125

feet

up

stre

am i

n 1969 (same

datu

m).

n Floo

d of A

pr.

7, 1924,

reached

a stage

of 12.60

feet at site of former gaging st

atio

n, 4.2

mile

s up

stre

am a

t di

ffer

ent

datum;

discharge, 12

,500

ft

3/s.

Flood

in June 1908 reached

a stage

about

2.50

feet hi

gher

th

an that of Apr. 7, 1924.

Outside

period of

re

cord

.