water resources investigations report 82-4044 · water resources investigations report 82-4044...

FLOOD OF JUNE 13-15, 1981,

IN THE BLANCHARD RIVER BASIN,

NORTHWESTERN OHIO

By Earl E. Webber

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Water Resources Investigations Report 82-4044

Columbus, Ohio

1982

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

JAMES G. WATT, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURJVEY

Dallas L. Peck, Director

For additional information write to:

District Chief Water Resources Division U.S. Geological Survey 975 West Third Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43212

Copies of this report can be purchased from:

Opeh-File Services Section Western Distribution Branch U.S^ Geological Survey Box 25425, Federal Center Denver, Colorado 80225 (Telephone: (303) 234-5888)

CONTENTS

Page

Abstract .................................................. 1Introduction .............................................. 1Acknowledgments ........................................... 3Weather conditions preceding flood ........................ 4Precipitation and runoff during flood ..................... 5High-water profiles ....................................... 8Flood-peak discharges ..................................... 8Conclusions ............................................... 31References ................................................ 32

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

Figure 1. Map showing location of peak discharge measurement sites and isohyetal lines for storm of June 13-15, 1981, in northwestern Ohio ............................ 2

2. Graph showing daily precipitation at theFindlay NOAA weather station and dischargefor gage at station 04189000 BlanchardRiver near Findlay, Ohio, June, 1981 ......... 6

3. Graph showing hourly precipitation at the Findlay NOAA weather station and discharge for gage at station 04189000 Blanchard River near Findlay, Ohio, June 13-15, 1981 ............................. 7

4. Profile for Blanchard River flood ofJune 13-15, 1981 ............................. 21

5. Profiles of The Outlet (2), Lye Creek, and Eagle Creek for the flood of June 13-15, 1981 ............................. 26

6. Graph of peak discharge versus drainage area in the Blanchard River basin, for flood of June 13-15, 1981 .................... 30

111

TABLES

Page

Table 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Location and elevation of high-water marks (flood of June 13-15, 1981, Blanchard River), location of bridges and mouths of tributaries .........................

Location and elevation of high-water marks (flood of June 13-15, 1981, The Outlet (2)), and location of bridgess ..........

Location and elevation of high (flood of June 13-15, 1981, and location of bridges ...

-water marks Lye Creek),

Location and elevation of high-water marks (flood of June 13-15, 1981, Eagle Creek), and location of bridges .................

10

18

19

20

Summary of flood stages and discharges and rainfall distribution iri the Blanchard River and adjacent^ basins in Ohio, for flood of June 13-^5, 1981 .. 27

FACTORS FOR CONVERTING INCH-POUND IJJNITS TO METRIC UNITS

Multiply

inch (in)foot (ft)mile (mi)square milecubic foot per second

(ft3/s) cubic foot per second

per square mile((ft3/s)/mi2)

(mi 2 )

By Obtain

25.4 millimeter (mm) 0.3048 meter (m) 1.609 kilometer (km) 2 2.590 square kilometer (km ) 0.02832 cubic meter per second

i (m3 /s)0.01093 cubic meter per second

per square kilometer ((m3/s )/km2)

IV

FLOOD OF JUNE 13-15, 1981,

IN THE BLANCHARD RIVER BASIN,

NORTHWESTERN OHIO

By Earl E. Webber

ABSTRACT

The flood of June 13-15, 1981, in the Blanchard River basin in northwestern Ohio caused major damage in Findlay, Ottawa, and adjacent rural areas. Approximately 25 percent of Findlay and 55 percent of Ottawa were flooded. Estimated crop damage was $12 million in Hancock County, $7 million in Wyandot County, and $3 million in Putnam County.

During the flood, the maximum gage height of the Blanchard River at the U.S. Geological Survey gaging station near Findlay was 17.43 feet, gage datum. This was 0.67 foot higher than the previous peak of 16.76 feet, February 11, 1959. The corres ponding peak discharge, 13,000 cubic feet per second, was esti mated to have a recurrence interval of 50 years. Recurrence intervals of peak flows at other locations on the Blanchard River and on tributary streams were estimated to range from 25 to more than 100 years.

INTRODUCTION

The flood of June 13-15, 1981, in the Blanchard River basin (fig. 1) resulted from a series of storms after two months of excessive precipitation in northwest Ohio. The flood caused major damage throughout the basin.

Flood damage in Findlay (Hancock County) was estimated by the City Service and Safety Director to be more than $13 million. He estimated that about 25 percent of Findlay was under water when the Blanchard River crested at 1800 hours on June 14. The maximum stage at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gaging station on the Blanchard River near Findlay was 17.43 ft, gage datum (771.98 ft, National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) of 1929). This was 7.5 ft above flood stage.

84 30

Base from Ohio Department of

Nalural Resources. 1973

STUDY AREA

EXPLANATIONI- I '

-4 Precipitation In Inches, June 13-15, 1981

2 /\ Current gaging site/station

A Discontinued gaging station

O« Miscellaneous site

* Drainage area boundary

10 , 20 30 40 MILES

Figure 1. Location of peak discharge measurement sites and Isohyetal lines for storm of June 13-15, 1981, In northwestern Ohio.

2

In the city of Ottawa (Putnam County), the flood crested early on the morning of June 15 at an elevation of 729.1 ft (NGVD of 1929) based on high-water marks near the U.S. Soil Conserva tion Service building on South Oak Street. About 55 percent of the city was under water at maximum stage (U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1981).

The U.S. Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service estimated that crop damage was $12 million in Hancock County, $7 million in Wyandot County and $3 million in Putnam County.

The purpose of this report is to provide meteorologic and hydrologic data in more detail than could be given in the monthly and annual summary publications of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, or the USGS. Data are included on weather preceding the flood, precipitation and runoff during the flood, maximum water level along 68 mi of streams in the Blanchard River basin, and peak discharges at sites having drainage areas ranging from 4.65 to 756 mi 2 .

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provided precipitation data. The Findlay Courier and other local newspapers reported estimates of damage and additional flood information.

The City Service and Safety Directors of Findlay and Ottawa and County Engineers of Hancock and Putnam Counties furnished elevation data. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (1981) supplied flood data. Additional elevation data and February 1959 flood-profile data were furnished by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

WEATHER CONDITIONS PRECEDING FLOOD

Persistent precipitation in northwest Ohio during April, May, and early June set the stage for the Blanchard River basin flood of June 13-15, 1981. The following precipitation data were recorded at Findlay:

Period (1981)

Precipitatioci (inches)

Number of days precipitation was recorded

April 1-30

May 1-31

June 1-12

Total (April 1 to June 12)

4.79

3.87

3.18

I 11.84

21

15

8

44

I

The above data show that approximately one-third (12 in.) of the average yearly rainfall was recorded at Findlay during the 2 1/2-month period just preceding the flood.

The mean daily discharge of the Blanchard River at the Findlay stream gage on June 12 was 670 ft^/s. This corresponds to a flow duration of 9 percent; flow duration of 30 percent or more is usual in the middle of June.

PRECIPITATION AND RUNOFF DURING FLOOD

A series of storms swept across Ohio from west to east on June 13-14, 1981. During the 12-hour period from 0600 to 1800 hours on Saturday, June 13, a total of 4.89 in. of rain was recorded at the Findlay NOAA weather station (figs. 2 and 3), 3.0 in. falling between 0900 and 1300 hours. From NOAA precipi tation records, the author developed an isohyetal map of this storm for areas receiving more than 3 in. and 4 in. of rain (fig. 1).

All the Blanchard River basin received more than 3 in. of rain. About 67 percent of the basin received more than 4 in. during the storms. Isolated cells of more than 5 in. (unofficial readings) were reported locally. The area along the main stem of the Blanchard River was among the hardest hit; total storm pre cipitation of 4.89 in. was recorded at Findlay and 4.70 in. at Ottawa. Total recorded precipitation for June 1981 at Findlay was 10.86 in., making it one of the wettest months on record.

The only active USGS stream gaging station in the Blanchard River basin is station 04189000, Blanchard River near Findlay, which gages a drainage area of 346 mi 2 . The daily discharge hydrograph for June 1981 is shown in figure 2. The hourly dis charge hydrograph during June 13-15, 1981, is shown on figure 3.

The average discharge for June was 1,612 ft^/s, which is equivalent to 5.20 in. of runoff from over the basin. If the 10.86 in. of precipitation recorded in June were to have fallen uniformly over the Blanchard River basin above Findlay, the June coefficient of runoff would be 0.48 (5.20 divided by 10.86). The long-term runoff coefficient for the basin is 0.35.

The direct flood runoff at Findlay during June 13-18, 1981, was 2.78 in. By the Theisen polygon method, the author estimated average precipitation above Findlay during the storm period to be 3.98 in. The June 13-15 flood runoff coefficient for the Blanchard River basin above the Findlay gaging station was 0.70 (2.78 divided by 3.98).

14,000

0 12,000

z o o LU(0^ 10,000flCLJQ.

H Ul LU 8,000u.

CODO 6,000

U O 4.000

Xo(05 2,000

2 CO I- UHO 10

£ S

a0.

I I I

Peak discharge-13,000 ft. 3/s

10.06Accumulated precipitation

JUNE 1981

Figure 2. Daily precipitation at the Flndlay NOAA weather station and discharge for gage at station 04189000 Blanchard River Flndlay, Ohio.

14,000

oZ 12,000o oLU

CCUJ 10,000Q.

LU LU LL

O 5

8,000

6,000LUOCC< X

4,000

2,000

- on< I 2-°I- O

0 ZLU =CCQ.

I I I I

oO

JUNE 14

Figure 3. Hourly precipitation at the Findlay NOAA weather station and discharge

for gage at station 0418900 Blanchard River near Findlay, Ohio June 13-15, 1981.

HIGH-WATER PROFILES

High-water marks were flagged 'during June 15-17, the following streams: \\

1981, on

Blanchard River from mouth to County Road 205, upstream from Findlay I

The Outlet (2) from mouth to Township Road 251

Lye Creek from mouth to County Road 205

Eagle Creek from mouth to Township Road 204

These marks were subsequently tied into the NGVD of 1929 by field surveys. The location, description, and elevation of these 65 high-water marks are listed in tables 1 through 4. The 61- mile-long Blanchard River flood profile is plotted in figure 4, and the 2- to 3-mile-long profiles for The Outlet (2), Lye Creek, and Eagle Creek are plotted in figure 5.

In general, the profile for the Blanchard River flood of June 13-15, 1981, is slightly higher than the profile for the February 10-12, 1959, flood. The 1981 profile is fairly well defined within the city limits of Ottawa and Findlay, but should be interpreted with caution in the .long rural reaches undefined by high-water marks.

FLOOD-PEAK DISCHARGES

Flood-peak discharges were determined at eight locations in the Blanchard River basin. These locations and four daily dis charge stations on adjacent river basins (included for com parison) are shown in figure 1. Flood-peak data are summarized in table 5.

The relative magnitude of a flood can be expressed in terms of the estimated recurrence interval, in years, of the peak discharge. Four peak determinations were made on the Blanchard River and one determination each on the tributary streams: The Outlet (2), Lye Creek, Eagle Creek, and Tiderishi Creek. The recurrence interval was computed at each of the sites in the Blanchard River basin at which the bSGS has operated streamflow stations. The recurrence intervals were estimated at the four other sites by methods given by Webber and Bartlett (1977) for miscellaneous sites.

8

Discharge reached a record maximum during the June 13-15, 1981, flood at the following streamflow stations: Eagle Creek near Findlay (period of record, 1946-57, 1981); Blanchard River near Findlay (period of record, 1923-35, 1940-81); Tiderishi Creek near Jenera (period of record, 1947-77, 1981); and Blanchard River near Glandorf (period of record, 1921-28, 1946- 51, 1981).

This was the largest flood upstream from Ottawa since the historic 1913 flood. It was about the same magnitude as the February 1959 flood (previously the largest since 1913) down stream from Ottawa. The eight peak discharges were plotted against their respective drainage areas, as shown in figure 6. Six of the eight points define a line of best fit, which may be used to estimate peak discharges of the June 13-15, 1981, flood in the Blanchard River basin for drainage areas between 150 and 800 mi 2 . Unknown differences in precipitation, basin charac teristics, and time of concentration are some of the reasons The Outlet (2) and Eagle Creek plot off the line in figure 6.

Table 1. Location an

d elevation of

high-water marks (flood June 13-15, 19

81,

Blanchard River),

location of

bridges and mouths of

tributaries

Stream distance

High-water

(miles upstream

identification

from mouth)______number___

Elevation

(in

feet

, NGVD of

1929)

Description of

high-water marks

or other points

0.09

2.48

5.30

6.28

6.29

6.30

6.78

8.4 ;

L

8.42

8.43

11.61

12.28

12.41

16.10

17.35

B-0

B-l

B-2

B-3

B-4

715.26

718.45

718.86

719.99

720.29

County Road H-22, flagged nail on road at Sholte

residence, on right ba

nk.

County ro

ad bridge.

Duck Ru

n.

County Road 19,

paint mark on left downstream

bridge wingwall, at discontinued stream gage,

Blanchard River near Dupont.

County Road 19 bridge centerline.

County Road 19,

nail in

6-in.

tree,

215

ft south of

left bridge abutment, on upstream side of

road fi

ll.

Deer Creek.

State Route 11

5, paint mark on downstream

bridge beam neair right^nch at^uba.-

State Route 11

5 bridge centerline, at Cuba.

State Route 11

5, nail in first power pole on

left bank upstream from bridge at Cuba.

Bear Creek.

Miller City Cutoff.

County road bridge centerline.

Cranberry Creek.

Pike Ru

n.

Table 1. pocation an

d elevation of


81,

Blanchard River)/

location of


tributaries Continued

Stream distance

(miles upstream

from mouth)

High-water

identification

number

Elevation

(in

feet,

NGVD of 1929)

Description of

high-water marks

or other points

17.7

0

17.8

7

17.8

8

17

.90

19

.52

19

.97

21

.18

22

.34

22

.35

22

.37

22

.88

22

.89

22

.95

23

.01

B-5

B-6

B-7

B-l

B-9

B-1

0

B-l

l

B-1

2

B-1

3

724.7

2

724.8

3

725.0

0

72

6.1

1

727.2

5

727.3

2

728.0

4

728.1

5

72

8.6

U

Flagged nail in power pole at Bodemeir residence,

on right bank, 1000 ft downstream from

discontinued gaging station, Blanchard

River at

Glandorf, Oh

io.

County Road 11,

paint line on downstream

bridge beam, near right end at discontinued

gaging station.

County Road 11,

bridge centerline.

County Road 11,

flagged nail on right bank,

40 ft

upstream from bridge in 4-

in.

elm tr

ee,

beside private driveway at discontinued gage.

County Road bridge centerline.

State Route 15,

flagged nail in

18"

tree and

keel mark on trellis at Jim Lowdenmiller home.

Tawa Ru

n.

U.S.

22

4, flagged nail in

power pole on left

bank

, 30 ft

downstream from U.

S. 224

bridge at

Ottawa.

U.S.

22

4 bridge centerline, at Ottawa.

U.S.

224, keel mark on east sign for Saints Peter

and

Paul cemetery, on

left bank upstream from

U.S.

22

4 bridge, at Ottawa.

State Route 65,

paint line on downstream right

wingwall of State Route 65

bridge, at Ottawa.

State Route 65

bridge centerline, at Ottawa.

Keel mark at mudline on house at 266

Walnut

Street, in Ottawa.

Paint line on downstream steel beam of railway

bridge near right abutment, at Ottawa.

Table 1. Location an

d elevation of


, Blanchard River

),

Stream distance

(miles upstream

from fmouth)

23.02

23.04

23.05

23.07

23.61

24.35

24.52

24.5J3

24.54

24.80

26.71

26.72

26.73

27.78

29.13

location of bridges and

High-water

Elevation

identification

(in

feet,

number

NGVD of 1929)

-

3-14

728.73

-

B-15

729.10

B-16

729.24

B-17

729.72

B-18

729.85

-

B-19

729.93

B-20

730.06

B-21

731.14

-

B-22

731.28

-

-

mouths of


Description of high-water marks

or other points

Railway bridge center line, at Ottawa.

Paint line on

grain storage bin on right

bank, 60

ft

upstream from railway bridge,

at Ottawa.

South Oak Street bridge centerline, at Ottawa.

Flagged nail in 18-in. tree in

back of SCS

building on South Oak Street, at Ottawa.

Mudline on window at 51

7 Second Street, in

Ottawa.

Mudline on tree at

Second and South Hall Streets,

in Ottawa.

Mudline on downstream side of D.T.& I.

Railway

bridge over Blanchard River, at Ottawa.

D.T.& I.

Railway bridge centerline, at Ottawa.

Mudline on upstream side of D.T.& I.

Railway

bridge over Blanchard River, at Ottawa.

Mudline on

Weatherseal plant near Blanchard

River, at

Ottawa.

County Road 8,

paint line

on right downstream

bridge wingwall, upstream

bridge, at Ottawa.


County Road 8

bridge, paint line on right

upstream bridge wingwall, upstream from

Ottawa.

Riley Creek.

County Road 6

bridge centerline.

Table 1. Location and elevation of

high-water marks (flood June 13-15, 1981,

Blanchard River)

location of



Stream distance

High-water

(miles upstream

identification

from mouth)

number

Elevation

(in

feet

, NGVD of 19

29)


or other points

29.14

30.27

30.29

30.40

32.48

32.49

32.51

32.87

34.53

35.28

35.29

35.30

36.53

38.18

41.58

B-23

B-24

B-25

B-26

B-27

B-28

B-29

733.64

736.96

743.63

743.95

749.10

749.13

750.09

B-30

753.38

County Road 6

r mud line on barn on right

bank, upstream from bridge.


County Road 5,

flagged nail in fence post

on left bank 80 ft

upstream from bridge

abutment.

Dutch Ru

n.

Flagged nail in

pole, 20

ft downstream from

Pearl Street brfidge, on right bank, at Gilboa.

Pearl Street bridge centerline.

Flagged nail in 18-in. tree,

100

ft upstream from

Pearl Street bridge, on right bank, at Gilboa.

Dukes Ru

n.

Moffitt Ditch.

Putnam County Road 1,

paint line on left down

stream bridge wingwall.

Putnam-Hancock County line road bridge.

Hancock County Road 16

, paint line on right

upstream bridge wingwall.

U.S.

22

4, flagged nail in

fence post on south

side of U.

S. 22

4, 20

0 ft

east of County

Road 11

6.


Township Road 12

3, flagged nail in power pole,

downstream side of

road, 1,UOO ft north of

bridge.

Table 1. Location and elevation of high-water marks (flood June 13-15, 1981, Blanchard River)

Location of bridges and mouths of tributaries Continued

Stream distance

High-water

(miles upstream

identification

from mouth)_______number_____

Elevation

(in feet,

NGVD of 1929)


or other points

41.59

42.27

43.05

43.07

46.06

46.07

46.08

48.26

49.75

49.76

49.78

51.16

51.17

51.18

B-31

B-32

B-33

B-34

B-35

B-36

757.03

760.20

760.55

768.72

769.72

771.41

B-37

771.85

Township Ro

ad 12

3 bridge centerline.

Ottawa Cr

eek.

Stat

e Ro

ute

235

bridge centerline.

State

Rout

e 235, flagged

nail on

park si

gn

post,

on right bank,

100

ft upstream

from bridge.

County Ro

ad 12

8, paint

line on le

ft downstream

bridge wi

ngwa

ll.

County Ro

ad 12


County Ro

ad 12

8, pa

int

line on

ri

ght

upstream

bridge wi

ngwa

ll.

Aurand Run

County

R

oad

139,

firs

t b

ridge

bel

ow

gag

e,

pain

t-m

ark

ed H

vu43

r4tte

on

J^£

t^ d

ow

nst

ream

w

ingw

all.

County Ro

ad 13

9 bridge centerline

County Ro

ad 13

9, flagged

nail in power po

le

on upstream side of road

, 50

0 ft north

of br

idge

.

County Ro

ad 14

0, painted mud

line on ba

ck side of

left

downstream abutment at Findlay stream gage

County Ro

ad 14

0 bridge centerline, at Findlay

stream gage.

County Ro

ad 14

0, fl

agge

d na

il in upstream side

of metal water-quality monitor ho

use,

15 ft

upstream from br

idge

, on left bank at

Findlay

stream gage.

Tabl

e 1. Location and

elevation of

high-water marks (flood Ju

ne 13

-15

f 19

81,

Blanchard River)

.location

of bridges an

d mouths of

tributaries Continued.

Stream distance

High-water

(miles upstream

identification

from

mo

uth)

____

____

___num

ber_

____

Elevation

(in

feet,

NGVD of

1929)

Description of

high-water marks

or other points

51.9

5

52.1

8

52.3

1

52.5

9

52.6

4

53

.18

53.3

6

53.4

4

53

.53

53

.55

53.8

7

53

.90

54

.02

54

.18

54.4

8

B-3

8773.3

0

B-3

9

B-4

0

B-4

1

774.6

5

776.0

2

777.1

0

County Ro

ad 22

3, flagged

nail in side doorjamb

of la

rge

umarked

building on right ba

nk,

1,30

0 ft

downstream fr

om 1-75.

Interstate 75 bridge centerline

Flagged na

il on large

sign

at

91

6 Howard St

reet

, in Findlay.

Broad Avenue bridge centerline.

Howard Run.

Paint

line

on no

rth

side

of

barn at

southwest

corner of

River Street and

Kurd

Avenue,

in

Findlay.

Norfolk & Western Railway bridge centerline.

Findlay city br

idge

, 0.10 mi west of Main

Stre

et.

Keeled na

il in

ba

ck do

or

of De

an &

Barry paint

stor

e at

22

2 No

rth

Main Street,

in Findlay.

Main Street bridge centerline.

Conrail bridge centerline.

Eagl

e Cr

eek.

Blanchard Street bridge centerline.

Lye

Cree

k.

Findlay city br

idge

, so

uth

of Riverside Park.

Tabl

e 1. Location and

elevation of

hi

gh water marks (flood Ju

ne 13-15, 19

81,

Blanchard Ri

ver)

CT>

Stream distance

(miles upstream

from mouth)

54.55

55.68

56.00

56.04

56.09

56.94

57.08

5 7.

$4

58.05

58.74

58.75

59.22

60.27

60.28

60.66

location of

bridqes and

High-water

Elevation

identification

(in

feet,

number

NGVD of

1929)

B-42

779.55

B-43

780.07

B-44

780.71

B-45

780.95

B-46

782.81

B-47

784.33

B-48

784.72

B-49

786.66

B-50

789.54

mouths of


Description of

high-water marks

or other points

Flagged

nail on

"W

ater

Fa

lls"

signpost on East Main

Cross Street,

on le

ft bank at

Findlay.

Flagged nail in 36

-in.

tree on left ba

nk at 15

15 East

Main

Cross Street,

at Findlay.

County Ro

ad 95,

flagged

nail on

pa

rk si

gnpo

st,

200

ft

downstream fr

om br

idge

on le

ft bank.

County Ro

ad 95

bridge centerline.

County Ro

ad 95,

flag

ged

nail on mailbox ra

ck,

200

ft

upstream fr

om bridge on

le

ft bank,

at Bowers Mi

ll

Stream Terrace Trailer Co

urt.

Stat

e Route 568

bridge centerline.

Mudline in barn

a.t Wiseley residence on St

ate

Rout

e 568'.

Mudline on garage tt Wolery residence^ ̂fr&tate

Rout

e 56

8.

Mudline on

Findlay Reservoir pumping station

no.

2 foundation wa

ll.

Township Ro

ad 24

1, fl

agge

d na

il in power pole,

on

left

ba

nk downstream side of ro

ad at

bridge.

Township Ro

ad 24

1 br

idge

centerline.

The

Outlet (2

) .

Township Ro

ad 20

7, paint mark on right downstream

bridge wingwall.

Township Ro

ad 207

bridge centerline.

Findlay reservoir pumping station

no.

1.

Table 1.

Location and elevation of

hiyh- water marks (flood June 13-15

1981

, Blanchard River)

'

Stream distance

(miles upstream

from mouth)

61.29

61.35

61.36

location

High -water

identification

number

- -

B-51

of brxdges and mouths of tributaries Continued

Elevation

(in

feet,

NGVD of 1929)

- -

794.23

Description of

or

other

Brights Ditch.

County Road 20

5 bridge

County Road 205, paint

high-water marks

points

centerline.

mark on steel fence post,

upstream side of ro

ad,

100

ft west of bridge.

Table 2. Location and

elevation of

high-water marks (f

lood

Ju

ne 13-15, 19

81,

The

Outlet (2

))and

location of

bridges

Stream distance

High-water

(mil

es upstream

identification

from mo

uth)

number

Elevation

(in

feet,

NGVD of 1929)

Description of

high-water marks

or other points

CO

0.0

0

0.4

9

0.5

1

0.6

0

0.6

0

1.9

7

1.9

8

1.9

9

TO

-1

TO

-2

TQ

-1

TO

-4,

(78

7.6

0)

788.2

5

788.3

2

78

9.3

8

790.3

8

Mout

h of

The

Outlet (2

).

Elevation fr

om Blanchard

River pr

ofil

e.

Stat

e Route 56


Mudline at

Pa

ul Kr

ing

resi

denc

e.

Abandoned ro

ad bridge centerline.

Keeled mudline on

old

steel

truss

bridge on

abandoned road.

Township Ro

ad

25__

1_, mudline on downstream left bank

wing

wall

.

Township Road 25


Township Ro

ad 25

1, mudline on

ri

ght

bank upstream

side of bridge.



81,

Lye CreekX

,and

location of

bridges

Stream distance

High-water

(miles upstream

identification

from mouth)_______number______

Elevation

(in

feet

, NGVD of 19

29)

Description of

high-water marks

or other points

0.00

0.02

0.33

0.68

1.06

1.07

2.20

2.45

2.46

2.48

(778.50)

L-l

L-2

L-3

780.63

785.49

785.71

Mouth of Lye Creek.

Elevation from Blanchard

River flood profile.

East Main Cross Street bridge centerline.

Sandusky Street bridge centerline.

Fairgrounds bridge centerline.

Fishlock bridge centerline.

High water marked by resident at 17

00 Connell

Street, 60

ft upstream from Fishlock bridge

County Road 95

bridge centerline.

County Road 20

5, mudline on fence, 50

ft

downstream from bridge, on right bank.

County Road 20


County Road 205, mudline on house, 100

ft

upstream from bridge, on right bank.



r Eagle Creek),

and

location of bridges

Stream distance

High-water

Elevation

(miles upstream

identification

(in

feet,

from mouth)

number

NGVD of 1929)

Description of

high-water marks

or other points

r>o

CD

0.00

0.09

0.10

0.20

0.26

0.45

0.77

0.79

1.46

1.48

1.52

2.54

2.55

2.56

E-l

E-2

E-3

E-4

E-5

E-6

(777.80)

778.47

780.55

782.91

788.30

788.68

Mouth of Eagle Creek.

Elevation from Blanchard

River flood profile.

East Main Cross Street bridge centerline.

Flagged nail in

power pole at Yock's, 431 East

Main Cross Street, at

upstream side of

bridge

at Findlay.

Conrail spur bridge centerline.

Sandusky Street bridge centerline

Lincoln Street bridge centerline.

blanchard Street bridge centerline.

Flagged nail in 30

-in.

tree on left bank 80 ft

upstream from bridge at Blanchard Street, in

Findlay.

Flagged" naiTT in

Firestone l?

arfr

sign post on

right bank, 80 ft downstream from bridge at

6th

Street, in Findlay.

Sixth Street bridge centerline.

Flagged nail in 6-in.

tree on right bank, 200

ft

upstream from bridge at 6th

Street, at

Fi

ndla

y.

Township Road 20

4, flagged nail in

tr

ee,

40 ft

downstream from bridge, on right bank.

Township Road 20


Township Road 204, flagged nail in tree on right

bank

, 30 ft upstream from bridge.

75

0

o H h-

UJ

UJ u_

745

-

O OC

UJ o UJ o

O

O>U

J CM

O

0>

740

735

u_ o

UJ

_J

UJ

72

5

72

0

715

710

705

0>

0)

O)

o l_

03 OC

6

0) O)

* >

(0

C<*

a O

3

Q)

Q

I 5

O)

OC

(0

6

m

3 o 03

O i_ 0) i

0)

O)

CO

OC o

EX

PL

AN

AT

ION

Flo

od

o

f J

un

e 1

3-1

5,

1981

©

Hig

h-w

ate

r m

ark

34

5 678

9 10

DIS

TA

NC

E

IN

MIL

ES

AB

OV

E

MO

UT

H

OF

B

LA

NC

HA

RD

R

IVE

R

Fig

ure

4.

Pro

file

fo

r B

lan

ch

ard

Riv

er f

loo

d o

f Ju

ne

13

-15

, 1981.

1112

13

IIELEVATION, IN FEET (NATIONAL GEODETIC VERTICAL DATUM OF 1929)

(QC

i S 3 m-* mm

S 5T3 O

Q.

3D

00 O

OC

S HSI

~ O n

oo 2

o oa

z o

c.c3 (Di 30W D

A * Ol ^

(0 03

IO o35'c(Da

©

5' 2 7 i^ orf» «-

i ^ mL

X 0>

.A(n

(Do»

Cranberry Creek

PJkeJRunC.R. 11 Discontinued gage"Blanchard River at Glandorf"

CjJIvJBrJdfljt.

S.R. 15 Bridge

Tawa Run

U.S. 224 Bridge at Ottawa

S.R. 65 BridgeR-R> Brld9e South Oak Street Bridge

DT&I R.R. Bridge

O> 765

M O> U. O

760

to

I-

< 0 75

5

O g 75°

UJ

745

Q O UJ O O p

740

735

I-

UJ

UJ

U.

730

2

725

I- < >

UJ

_l U

720

EX

PL

AN

AT

ION

Flo

od

off

Jun

e 13-1

5,

19

81

O

Hig

h-w

ate

r m

ark

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36D

IST

AN

CE

IN

MIL

ES

AB

OV

E M

OU

TH

O

F B

LA

NC

HA

RD

RIV

ER

37

38

Fig

ure

4.

Pro

file

fo

r B

lan

char

d R

iver

flo

od

of

13-1

5,

1981

C

on

tin

ue

d.

39

to

Flo

od

of

JuH

& T

3-1

5,

1981

O

Hig

h-w

ate

r m

ark

42

43

44

45

46

4

7

48

49

DIS

TA

NC

E I

N M

ILE

S A

BO

VE

MO

UT

H O

F B

LA

NC

HA

RD

RIV

ER

Fig

ure

4.

Pro

file

fo

r B

lan

char

d R

iver

flo

od

of

Jun

e 1

3-1

5,

19

81

C

on

tin

ued

,

ELEVATION, IN FEET (NATIONAL GEODETIC VERTICAL DATUM OF 1929)OB

§00

g1-71 Bridge

s

is3 «= Z «

A QO

7 O* m»*s m

-* z§ o o.

o O I

-* m S<0 3009^^I

O wo3

3c 2<D *a

Broad Ave. Bridge

Norfolk A Western RR. BridgeMain Street Bridge

Conrail Bridge

Lye Creekage Eagle < B'anchard St. Brfdqe Eagle Creek

TWSP. RD. 241 Bridge

TWSP. RD. 207 Bridge

Howard Run

Findlay City Bridge

01

<0 OB

mXII

H O

C.R. 205 Bridge

The Outlet (2)795

Township Road 251 Bridge

Abandoned County Road Bridge

State Route 568 Bridge

County Road 205 Bridge

County Road 95 Bridge

Fishiock Bridge

Fairground Bridge

Sanciusky St. Bridge

E. Main Cross St. Bridge

7750 123

DISTANCE IN MILES ABOVE MOUTH

Township Road 204 Bridge

6th St. Bridge

Blanchard St. Bridge

Lincoln St. Bridge

Sandusky St. Bridge

Conraii Bridge

.E. Main Cross St. Bridge

EXPLANATION

High-water mark

Figure 5. Profiles of The Outlet (2), Lye Creek, and Eagle Creek for theflood of June 13-15, 1981.

26

Table 5. Summary of flood stages and

discharges, an

d rainfall distribution in

the

aianchard Riven

and adjacent basins in

Ohio for th

e flood of June 13

-15.

1981

Maximum floods

Prior to

Permanent

Stream and

place

Drainage

June 1981

station

of determination

area

Gage

Discharge

number

Period

June 1981

height

of

Year

No.

(mi2)

Record

(time)

(ft)

(ftVs) (ftVs/mi2)

1 04186500

Auglaize River near

332

1921-35, 1959

20.30

a 12,000

Fort Jennings

1940-80

(5 p.m.)

June 14

15.80

7,930

2 04187500

Ottawa River near

150

1923-35, 1959

10.88

7,740

Allentown

1943-80

(5:3

0 a.m.)

June 14

10.09

5,850

3

The Outlet (2

) at

36.3

June 14

2,160

59.5

Percent of basin

receiving

R.I.

indicated

precipitation

(yea

rs)

3"-4

" 4"-5"

100 9

100 +

20

100+

40

60

6 04188500

Township Road 25

1,

1.98 mi upstream

from mouth, 6.8

mi

east of Findlay

Blanchard River at

County Road 95

, 2

mi east of

Findlay

Lye Creek at

County

Road 205, 2.47 mi

upstream from mouth

2.8

mi southeast of

Findlay

Eagle Creek near

Findlay, 800 ft

upstream

from

bridge on State

Route 15

, 3.1

mi

south of Findlay

243 25.7

c 55.0

1947-57,

1959

1959

June 14

June 14

June 14

9,620

b 2,460

d 5,860

6,500

39.6

95.7

107

115

100 +

100+

100 +

100+

54

46

0 100

100

0 100

Table 5. Summary of flood stages and discharges, and rainfall distribution in

the Blanchard River

and adjacent Dasins in Ohio to

r the flood of June 13-15, 1981 Continued

Permanent

station

number

Mo. 7

04189000

8 04189100

9 04189500

10

04190000

Stream and place

Drainage

of determination

area

(mi2

)

Blanchard River near

346

Findlay. At bridge

on County Road 140,

2.3

mi northwest of

Findlay

Tiderishi Creek

4.65

near Jenera at

bridge on State

Route 69

8, 2.2 mi

north of Jenera

Blanchard River at

644

Glandorf. At bridge

on County Road 11

,1.1 mi north of

Glandorf

Blanchard River

756

near Dupont.

At

Prior to

June 1981

Period

June 1981

of

Year

Record

(time)

1924-36, 1913

1941-80

(6 p.m. )

June 14

1947-77, 1959

1959

June 13

1922-28,

1947-51,

1959

1959

June 15

1928-35

1930

June 15

Maximum floods

Percent of basin

Gage

height

(ft)

18.5

17.43

15.15

16.01

27.9

27.98

26.09

27.09

Discharge

(ft3/s)

(ft3/s/mi

2)

22,000

63.6

13,000

37.6

480

103

984

212

- --

---

17,700

27.5

17,900

27.8

16,800

22.2

17,500

23.1

K.J:

.

(years)

100 +

50 30100 +

50 50 25-

25

receiving

indicated

precipitation

3"-4"

4"-5"

_

__

3b

65

__

__

0 10

0

35

65

__ 33

67bridge on County

Road 19,

4.1 mi

southeast of

Dupont

ro CD

Table

5. ^

Summ

ary

of fl

ood

stages an

d discharges,

and

rainfall distribution in the

Blanchard River

and

adjacent basins in Ohio for

the

floo

d of

June 13

-15,

]981 Continued

Perm

anen

t station

numb

er

Stre

am an

d place

of determination

No .

Drainage

area

(mi2

)

Prior to

June 1981

Period

of

Record

Year

June 1981

(tim

e)

Maximum floods

Percent of basin

Gage

Discharge

R.I.

height

(ft)

(f

t3/s

) (ft3/s/mi2

) (y

ears

) 3'

4-4"

4"-5"

receiving

indicated

precipitation

1104191500

Augl

aize

River near

2,31

8 1915-80

1950

Defiance

__June 15

or 16

626.4

f25.91

52,500

47,300

25 10

12

04192500

Maumee River near

Defiance

5,544

1924-35,

1939-80

1950

(12

p.m.)

June 15

13.70

87,000

12.35

76,500

40

f^Ab

out

Indirect measurement rated as

'estimate

1 ^Revised

Revised discharge on basis of revised drainage area

eFrom graph based on hourly powerplant tailwater readings

high-water mark in well

</* o

UJ _|10

00

UJ oc o 0) o

o Ul

0) oc Ul

Q.

Ul

Ul

IL O s Ul

O oc < X o 0)

Ul

CL

100

i r

i i

EX

PL

AN

AT

ION

3 T

he

Ou

tlet

(2)

T U

nan

char

d R

iver

at

Co

un

ty R

oad

5 L

ye C

reek

6 E

agle

Cre

ek

7 B

lan

char

d R

iver

nea

r F

ind

lay

8 T

ide

ris

hi

Cre

ek

9 B

lan

char

d R

iver

nea

r G

lan

do

rf

10

Bla

nch

ard

Riv

er n

ear

Du

po

nt i

i i

i i

j__L

i i

i i

0.1

1 10

10

0

DR

AIN

AG

E

AR

EA

, IN

S

QU

AR

E M

ILE

S

1000

Fig

ure

6.

Peak d

isch

arg

e ve

rsu

s d

rain

age

area

in

the

Bla

nch

ard

Riv

er b

asin

, fo

r fl

oo

d o

f Ju

ne

13

-15

, 1981.

CONCLUSIONS

The peak discharge of 13,000 ft 3/s at 1800 hours, June 14, 1981, at the Blanchard River near Findlay, Ohio, (USGS streamflow station 0418900) was the greatest since March 1913, when peak discharge was estimated to be 22,000 ft3/s. The recorded peak gage height of 17.43 ft was also the highest since March 1913, when a peak of 18.5 ft was estimated. Measurement of peak dis charges for the flood of June 13-15, 1981, on the Blanchard River above Findlay and on tributary streams in the Findlay area indi cate recurrence intervals greater than 100 years.

31

REFERENCES

Cross, W. P., 1967, Drainage areas of Ohio streams, supplement to Gazetteer of Ohio streams: Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Water,! Ohio Water Plan Inventory Report 12A, 61 p.

U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1981, Climatological data for Ohio; April, May, June.

U.S. Federal Emergency ManagementReport, Flood disaster DR tributaries, Hancock, Putnam 20 p. (unpublished).

Agency , 1981, Hazard Mitigation642, Blanchard River and

and Wyandot Counties, Ohio:

Webber, E. E., and Bartlett, W. P., Jr., 1977, Floods in Ohio, magnitude and frequency: Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Water Bulletin 45, 74 p.

32

USQ?0-1983 -660-689-54

water resources investigations report 82-4044 · water resources investigations report 82-4044...

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