Floods of December 1955-January 1956 in the Far ... - USGS · The floods of December 1955-January...

Floods ofDecember 1955-January 1956in the Far Western States

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1650

This Water-Supply Paper was prepared as separate chapters A and B

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1963

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Thomas B. Nolan, Director

CONTENTS

[Letters designate the separately published chapters]

(A) Part 1. Description.(B) Part 2. Streamflow data.

Floods ofDecember 1955-January 1956 in the Far Western States Part 1. DescriptionBy WALTER HOFMANN and S. E. RANTZ

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1650-A

Prepared in cooperation with the States of California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, and with other agencies

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFF.ICE, WASHINGTON : 1963

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Thomas B. Nolan, Director

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D.C.

PREFACE

This report on the floods of December 1955-January 1956 in the Far Western States was prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division. C. G. Paulsen, chief hydraulic engineer, suc ceeded by Luna B. Leopold, under the general direction of J. V. B. Wells, chief, Surface Water Branch. A preliminary report of peak discharges was released as Geological Survey Circular 380 in August 1956.

Basic records of stage and discharge in the area, covered by Water- Supply Paper 1650-B, were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey as part of a continuous program in cooperation with the States of California, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, and Washington; county and city agencies within these states; and agencies of the Federal Government.

The records of stage and discharge were collected and computed under the direction of the following district engineers: California, R. C. Briggs, succeeded by R. S. Lord; Idaho, T. R. Newell; Oregon, K. N. Phillips; Nevada, M. T. Wilson; Washington, F. M. Veatch. The report was assembled and the text prepared under the general supervision of Tate Dalrymple, chief, Floods Section, Surface Water Branch. G. L. Bodhaine, Flood Specialist, contributed to the section on previous floods and coordinated the work of the Oregon, Idaho, and Washington district offices. The help of various district personnel in preparing the text is also acknowledged.

in

CONTENTS

Page Abstract______________________________________________________ A 1Introduction._________________________________ _ _________________ 2Acknowledgments ________________________________________________ 4Precipitation_ ___________________________________________________ 5

The Great Basin______________________________________________ 5Central-coastal California______^______________________________ 7San Joaquih Valley________________________________________-___ 8Sacramento Valley___________________________________________ 9North-coastal California______________________________________ 10West-central Idaho.___---_-_--____________-________--___--_-__ 10Willamette Valley. __________________________.___ 11Coastal Oregon______________________________________________ 12Areas of minor flooding in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho._________ 13

General descriptions of floods.______________________________________ 13The Great Basin________________________________ 13

Walker River basin_________________________________-_-_-_- 15Carson River basin_______________________________.________ 15Truckee River basin______________________________-___-___- 17Black Rock Desert basin.__________________________________ 19Humboldt River basin________________________________-___- 19Minor basins in California and Oregon.____________-__--_-__- 20

Central-coastal California._______________-______-__-_--_---___ 20Salinas River basin and small adjacent basins.__________-----_ 21Pajaro River basin_______________________________________ 22San Lorenzo River basin_____________________________'__-__- 24Small Santa Cruz County streams._______________----------_ 25Small San Francisco peninsula streams.____________-_----__-- 25Santa Clara Valley.____________________________-----_-_--- 26Alameda Creek___________________________________________- 27Small basins east of San Francisco Bay_____________________ 27

San Joaquin Valley._____________________________-------------_ 28Kern River basin__-_________________________-____--_--___- 28Tulare Lake basin__________________________________-__--_- 31San Joaquin River basin_________________.______---_-_---- 33

Sacramento Valley.____________________________________________ 38Sacramento River basin above Feather River.___________-_--- 38Feather River basin_________________________--_-----_---_ 41Sacramento River basin below Feather River________-----_--_ 44

North-coastal California-._____________-__________-_-_----_----- 46Napa River basin_________________________-_---_---_--_-- 48Sonoma and Petaluma Creeks____-______--_----------------- 48Small basins in Marin County___________-______------------- 49Russian River basin.________________________-_---_-------- 50Small coastal basins between Russian and Eel Rivers._________ 50

VI CONTENTS

General descriptions of floods ContinuedNorth-coastal California Continued Page

Eel River basin.__________________________________________ A 52Mad River basin__________________________________________ 54Redwood Creek basin._____________________________________ 54Klamath River basin_____________________________________ 54Smith River basin.________________________________________ 55

West-central Idaho.___________________________________________ 56Boise River basin__________________________________________ 59Payette River basin___________________________-____________ 59Weiser River basin________________________________________ 60Little Salmon River basin______________-__________-________ 61Snake River and tributaries below Weiser River_______________ 61

Willamette Valley.__________________________________ 62Middle Fork Willamette River basin_________________________ 63Coast Fork Willamette River basin._________________________ 65Eastside tributaries to main stem Willamette River

from Eugene to mouth.__________________________________ 65Westside tributaries of main stem Willamette River

from Eugene to mouth___________________________________ 66Main stem Willamette River from Eugene to mouth___________ 66

Coastal Oregon______________________________________________ 67North-coastal streams_______-_____-_______-_-_____---_-____ 69Umpqua River basin_______________________________________ 71Coos and Coquille River basins.___________________________ 72Rogue River basin_________________________________________ 73

Areas of minor flooding in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho-________ 74Flood damage___________________________________________________ 77

The Great Basin___._________________________-___-________--__ 77Central-coastal California____________________-_____-_----_--._ 77San Joaquin Valley.___________________________________________ 79Sacramento Valley____________________________________________ 80North-coastal California__-.____________________________________ 81West-central Idaho._-_________-__________-___-_-_---_--_____ 82Willamette Valley,__________________________________________ 83Coastal Oregon..______________________________________________ 84Areas of minor flooding in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.________ 84

Flood-crest stages.________________________________________________ 84Storage regulation.___________i____________________________________ 89

The Great Basin_______________________________.______________ 89Central-coastal California____-_____________-__-__---__-------- 90San Joaquin Valley.___________________________________________ 91Sacramento Valley_____________________________________________ 93North-coastal California_-____-_-__-__-___----_-__---_-------- 94West-central Idaho.___________________________________________ 94Willamette Valley.___________________________.______---_ 95Coastal Oregon._______________________________________________ 96

Records of previous floods and flood frequencies._____-____--__-__----- 97The Great Basin____._____________________________________ 98Central-coastal California___'_____-______________-_---_--_---_- 98San Joaquin Valley.___________________________________________ 100Sacramento Valley.____________________________________________ 102

CONTENTS VII

Records of previous floods and flood frequencies Continued PageNorth-coastal California__________-__-_______-__________-_______ A 105West-central Idaho.___________________________________________ 107Willamette Valley..____________________________.___.__ 109Coastal Oregon________________________________________________ IllAreas of minor flooding in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.._______ 114

Determination of flood discharge_________-__-__--_____-_____________ 115Summary of flood stages and discharges._-____--_-_____-__-_--____-__ 116Station data_______________________________________________________ 151Index.___________________________________________________________ 153

ILLUSTRATIONS

PLATE 1. Isohyetal map of total precipitation, Dec. 15-27, 1955-___ In pocket FIGUBE 1. Map showing aeas of severe flooding during December 1955-

January 1956. _______________________________________ A32. Map of The Great Basin region showing location of flood-data

sites __-_-____-_________________-_____-_-___--___---- 143. Discharge hydrographs at selected gaging stations in the Great

Basin region_____________-____________--___--_---_--_ 164. Flood-damaged concrete bridge on Nevada State Highway 56

south of Gardnerville, Nevada.________________________ 175. Map of the Central Coastal California region showing location

of flood-data sites_-_-____-_____-__--_----------------s 216. Discharge hydrographs at selected gaging stations in the

Central Coastal California region_______________________ 237. Map of the San Joaquin Valley region showing location of

flood-data sites_______________________________________ 298. Discharge hydrographs at selected gaging stations in the San

Joaquin Valley region_________________________________ 309. Kaweah River flood at the Friant-Kern Canal crossing,

California. ___-_____________-_-_______-___----_------ 3210. Map of the Sacramento Valley region showing location of

flood-data sites____________________________________--_ 3911. Discharge hydrographs at selected gaging stations in the

Sacramento Valley region_______________-_-_____----- 4012. Yuba City, California, under water as a result of Feather

River levee failure._____--___-_________-__-_---------_ 4213. Floodwaters of the Feather River at Nicolaus, California, on

December 24_______________________________________ 4414. Map of the North Coastal California region showing location

of flood-data sites..________________________-_-__----- 4715. Discharge hydrographs at selected gaging stations in the

North Coastal California region._________________-----_ 5116. Eel River flood damage near Fernbridge, California-..------ 5317. Flooded conditions in the town of Klamath, California_-_-_- 5518. Map of the West Central Idaho region showing location of

flood-data sites.______________________________________ 57

VIII CONTENTS

Page FIGURE 19. Discharge hydographs at selected gaging stations in the West

Central Idaho region________________________________ A 5820. Map of the Willamette Valley region showing location of

flood-data sites________-___-__________-_______________ 6221. Discharge hydrographs at selected gaging stations in the

Willamette Valley region._____________________________ 6422. Map of the Coastal Oregon region showing location of flood-

data sites-___________________________________________ 6823. Discharge hydrographs at selected gaging stations in the

Coastal Oregon region._______________________________ 7024. Floodwaters over county road bridge across South Fork Ump-

qua River, Oregon____________________________________ 7225. Map of minor flooded areas in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho,

showing location of flood-data sites _____________________ 7526. Discharge hydrograph for Wind River near Carson, Wash___ 7627. Flood-frequency curves for selected gaging stations in Central

Coastal California and San Joaquin Valley, Calif--------- 9928. Flood-frequency curves for selected gaging stations in Sacra

mento Valley, Calif, and North Coastal California. __--___ 10429. Flood-frequency curves for selected gaging stations in Idaho,

Oregon, and Washington._____________________________ 108

TABLES

Page TABLE 1. Precipitation at selected stations during December 1955

and January 1956--------------------------_--- A 62. Flooded areas and flood damage in the Great Basin, Cali

fornia, December 1955 and January 1956. ____________ 783. Flood damage in central-coastal California, December

1955 and January 1956_____________________ 794. Flooded areas and flood damage in San Joaquin Valley,

California, December 1955 and January 1956_______ 805. Flooded areas and flood damage in Sacramento Valley,

Calif., December 1955 and January 1956._ __________ 816. Flood damage, in north-coastal California, December 1955

and January 1956___________-_-_-___--___--___-_ 827. Flood damage, in Willamette Valley, Oregon, December

1955 and January 1956___________________________ 838. Flood damage, in coastal Oregon, December 1955 and

January 1956______-_____________---_---__------ 849. Flood-crest stages, December 1955-January 1956, San

Joaquin Valley, Calif._____________--_-___------_- 8510. Flood-crest stages, December 1955-January 1956, Sacra

mento Valley, Calif___-__-_--____-_-------_------- 8711. Eel River flood-crest stages, flood of Dec. 22, 1955, north-

coastal California--------------------------------- 8912. Functioning of reservoirs in reduction of December 1955

flood discharge, San Joaquin Valley, Calif.___________ 92

CONTENTS IX

Page TABLE 13. Functioning of reservoirs in reduction of December 1955

flood discharge, Sacramento Valley, Calif ____________ A 9314. Reduction of December 1955 flood discharge by storage

regulation, Willamette Valley, Oreg_________________ 9615-34. Annual peak stages and discharges

15. Arroyo Seco near Soledad, Calif_______________ 10016. Kern River near Kernville, Calif--__-__-________ 10117. Kaweah River near Three Rivers, Calif__________ 10218. Merced River at Pohono Bridge near Yosemite,

Calif. __ --_-_---_-__-_-_----__---_--_-___ 10219. Feather River at Bidwell Bar, Calif. ____________ 10320. Middle Fork American River near Auburn, Calif __ 10521. Eel River at Scotia, Calif-_--_---------_---_--_ 10622. Trinity River at Lewiston, Calif._______________ 10623. Klamath River near Klamath, Calif.____________ 10724. Boise River near Twin Springs, Idaho.__________ 10925. Little Weiser River near Indian Valley, Idaho.-__ 10926. McKenzie River near Vida, Oreg__-_.___________ 11027. Willamette River at Albany, Oreg_____________ 11028. Clackamas River near Cazadero, Oreg___________ 11129. South Fork Coquille River at Powers, Oreg-__ __ 11230. Umpqua River near Elkton, Oreg_______________ 11331. Rogue River at Raygold, near Central Point, Oreg_ 11332. Asotin Creek near Asotin, Wash________________ 11433. John Day River at McDonald Ferry, Oreg. ______ 11434. Wind River near Carson, Wash_________________ 115

35. Summary of flood stages and discharges__-_-__--__-_-- 118

FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1955-JANUARY 1956 IN THE FAR WESTERN STATES

PART 1. DESCRIPTION

By WALTEE HOFMANN and S. E. RANTZ

ABSTRACT

The floods of December 1955-January 1956 in the Far Western States were in many respects the greatest in the area in the history of recorded streamflow. One outstanding feature of the floods was the unusually large area involved the western one-third of Nevada, the northern two-thirds of California, the western half of Oregon, one-third of western Idaho, and minor parts of Washington. Other outstanding features were the record-breaking peak discharges in much of the flooded area and the extensive flood damage. The loss of 72 lives was attrib utable to the flood and total damage amounted to about $190 million.

The floods were caused by a series of storms from December 15 to January 27; three occurring between December 15 and 27 and three more from January 2 to 27. In all but a few areas the storm of December 21-24 was the most severe. The storms all reflected the effect of the combination of a moist, unstable airmass, strong west-southwest winds, and mountain ranges oriented nearly at right angles to the flow of air. The unusual feature of the storms was the persistence of the strong flow of moist air. The major storm of December 21-24 was accompanied by high temperature and high wind velocities. As a result, a considerable amount of the snow which had accumulated at higher altitudes was melted. This snowmelt, added to the heavy precipitation at lower altitudes, caused record-breaking runoff in the streams draining the Sierra Nevada, in Idaho, and in Washington. The coastal areas of northern California and southern Oregon had measurable rainfall on 39 of the 44-day period between December 15 and January 28. At several stations the recorded precipitation for the months of December and January exceeded 60 inches.

Flood runoff in the streams not affected by regulation exceeded any previously recorded throughout much of the area. Some rivers that had particularly no table floods are: the Carson River, in the Great Basin, where the peak was nearly twice that of the record flood of 1950; the San Lorenzo River, in central-coastal California, which flooded the city of Santa Cruz; the Kaweah River, in the San Joaquin Valley, where the flood peak of December 23 was almost double the record peak of 1950, and which flooded the city of Visalia and the towns of Farm- ersville and Three Rivers; the Feather River, in the Sacramento Valley, where a levee failure flooded Yuba City and caused the loss of 38 lives; the Klamath River, in north-coastal California, where the peak discharge of 425,000 cfs at the gaging station near Klamath, Calif., was one and one-half times greater than the peak of record and was exceeded only by the legendary floods of 1861-62; the upper Boise River where the December 23 peak equaled the maximum during

Al

A2 FLOODS IN FAR WESTERN STATES

45 years of record; the Willamette River and many of its unregulated tributaries where the peak discharges were about equal to any previously recorded; and the Rogue River in coastal Oregon, where the peak flow of 414,000 cfs below the Illinois River near Agness was as high or higher than any flood in the last 65 years.

This report presents a general description of the December 1955-January 1956 floods, details and estimates of the damage incurred, and a summary of peak stages and discharges and comparative data for previous floods at the 788 sites.

Also included are a discussion of the storm precipitation during the 2-tnonth period, tables of flood-crest stages along the main stem and major tributary channels of the San Joaquin, Sacramento, and Eel Rivers in California, a dis cussion of flood regulation by storage reservoirs, and a summary of, and com parison with, previous floods. Flood-frequency tabulations and curves are presented for selected gaging stations.

INTRODUCTION

During the last 2 weeks in December 1955 and during January 1956 the Far Western States were subjected to the greatest floods in the history of recorded streamflow in the area. Intense flood-producing rains fell in about two-thirds of California, one-half of Oregon, one- third of Nevada and Idaho, and minor parts of Washington. The areas of severe flooding are outlined in figure 1.

As a result of the flood, 72 lives were lost, and the direct property damage was about $190 million. In addition, there was an incalcu lable amount of indirect damage due to reduced crop production; losses in business volume, salaries and wages; traffic delays and re routing; reduced tourist trade; and losses in other intangible items affecting the general welfare. The largest concentration of damage was at Yuba City, Calif., where 38 persons were drowned and property damage exceeded $40 million.

The principal storm period extended from December 15 to January 27, with intermittent intense storms throughout most of the area. The storm of December 21-24 was the most intense and caused the highest flood peaks. However, the streams were at or near flood stage during most of December and January. Additional storms occurred after January in some parts of the area, but the resulting floods were not as large as the ones in December and January.

Because of the severity and the large area flooded all agencies in volved in the collection of hydrologic data increased their efforts toward the collection of data for this report. However, it was obvious that additional help would be needed. By the first week of January experienced technical help had been detailed to the flooded area from all parts of the United States to assist in the collection and preparation of these data. The coverage of the data in this report is much more extensive than it would have been without the all-out effort.

Included in this report are: a discussion of the precipitation during the period; a description of the floods; information on flood damage;

PART 1. DESCRIPTION A3

FIGURE 1. Map showing areas of severe flooding during December 1955-January 1956; the hydrologic regions used in this report; and the range in numbers of the flood-data sites in each region.

a table summarizing flood stages and discharge; information on flood- crest stages; a discussion of the effect of storage regulation; and a summary of previous floods at selected sites. Station descriptions and


data on stages and discharges at stream-gaging stations and miscel laneous sites are given in Water-Supply Paper 1650-B.

To facilitate presentation of the data, the area of severe flooding has been subdivided into eight subareas or hydrologic regions, as out lined by the heavy dashed line shown in figure 1. These regions are : The Great Basin, central-coastal California, San Joaquin Valley, Sacramento Valley, north-coastal California, west-central Idaho, Willamette Valley, and coastal Oregon. In addition, data are in cluded for minor areas under the heading "Areas of minor flooding in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho." The items included in this report are discussed individually for each of the hydrologic regions. This arrangement will enable the user interested in one region only to readily obtain the information on that region. The site numbers at which data on stages and discharge were collected in each region are shown in figure 1. The sites are numbered in downstream order and follow the sequence of parts used in the Geological Survey "Surface Water-Supply of the United States" published annually, starting with Part 10 and continuing through Part 14. Gaging stations, reservoir stations, and miscellaneous sites are included. The same identifica tion numbers are used throughout this report. The exact location of each site is shown in detail on the map included with the description of floods for each region.

In the past there have been other notable floods covering parts of the area described in this report for which special reports have been prepared. The Geological Survey water-supply papers in which the information on earlier floods is published are: for western Nevada, Water-Supply Papers 843 and 1137-H; for central and northern California, Water-Supply Papers 843, 1137-E, 1137-F, 1260-D, and 1320-D; for Oregon, Water-Supply Paper 968-A, 1080, 1137-E, and 1320-D; for Idaho and Washington, Water-Supply Paper 1080. The historical data found in these earlier reports are not included in this report.

A preliminary report entitled "Floods of December 1955-January 1956 in Far Western States" was published in 1956 as Geological Survey Circular 380. It consists primarily of a tabulation of peak discharges in the same area included in this report.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Collection of field data necessary for the computation of peak dis charges by indirect methods was materially implemented by technical personnel of the Surface Water Branch detailed to the flood area. In addition, personnel for surveying parties were made available by the California Department of Water Resources, the Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

PART 1. DESCRIPTION A 5

Sources of the data are specifically acknowledged where they appear in the text.

Although too numerous to mention individually, acknowledgment is made to the many individuals, corporations, and governmental agencies who furnished assistance and data for this report.

PRECIPITATION

The flood-producing rains of December 1955 and January 1956 in California, western Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho, and scattered basins in southern Washington were without precedent when considered in the light of total area affected and volume and duration of precipita tion. The principal storm period from December 15 to January 27 was ushered in by two minor storms in early December, which pro duced conditions favorable for subsequent high runoff.

Between December 15 and 27 there were three distinct storm peri ods, and three more occurred from January 2 to 27. In all but a few areas the storm of December 21-24 was the most intense. The storms were associated with frontal passages and were generally centered over northern California. The storms reflected the combined effect of moist unstable airmasses, strong west-southwest winds, and coastal mountain ranges oriented nearly at right angles to the flow of air. The combination of these three factors is repeatedly found in Pacific Coast winter storms, but the persistence of the strong flow of moist air made the storms of December 1955-January 1956 unusual. In the 44-day period between December 15 and January 28, the coastal areas of northern California and southern Oregon had measurable rainfall on 39 days. At several stations the precipitation recorded for the months of December and January totaled more then 60 inches. The meteorology of the December storms has been described in detail in the Monthly Weather Review for December 1955, a U.S. Weather Bureau publication.

The isohyetal map (pi. 1), furnished by the Weather Bureau and the Corps of Engineers, shows the generalized precipitation distribu tion for December 15-27 throughout the area of severe flooding. Table 1 lists storm totals at representative precipitation stations in the major hydrologic regions in this area. For the areas of minor flooding in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, not shown on the isohyetal map, the tabulation has been expanded to include one precipitation station in each of the basins for which discharge figures are given in this report. The pages that follow present a brief discussion of precipitation in each hydrologic region.

THE GREAT BASIN

Two minor storms during the first 9 days of December brought greater than average precipitation to the region. The below-normal


temperatures that prevailed during this period caused snow to fall at the higher altitudes. By December 15 ground-water and soil-moisture levels were moderately high; the snowline ranged from about 5,000 feet in altitude in the north to about 6,000 feet in the south, and about 45 inches of snow had accumulated at 9,000 feet altitude. The first major storm, December 15-20, brought about 2 to 3 inches of precipitation to the region, mainly as snow. There was no appreciable change in the altitude of the snowline, but snow depths at 9,000 feet increased to about 75 inches.

The second major storm, and by far the more in tense, occurred during December 21-24. Heavy orographic rain, influenced by high wind velocities, was carried eastward into the Great Basin far beyond the

TABLE 1. Precipitation, in inches, at selected stations during December 1955 andJanuary 1956

Precipitation station and subbasin

The Great Basin, Calif.:

Susanville (Honey Lake) - . ... _Lake City (Surprise Valley) ... _

Central-Coastal California: San Luis Obispo Poly (Salinas

River) - .-. _ ... __ ..Big Sur State Park (Sur River). Boulder Creek Locatelli Ranch

(San Lorenzo River) . __ ......San Joaquin Valley, Calif.:

Giant Forest (Kaweah River)... ._ Huntington Lake (Upper San

Yosemite National Park (Merced River)..........................

Tiger Creek powerhouse (Mokel- umne River).. . .. .... ...

Sacramento Valley, Calif.: Vollmers (upper Sacramento

River)..-.- ---.-.-. _..Stonyford Ranger Station (Stony Creek)-. . ..

Brush Creek Ranger Station (Feather River) ..--.......-

Blue Canyon (American River and Bear River).... .. __ ___-._

North Coastal California: Kentfleld (Corte Madera Creek)..

Upper Mattole (Mattole River)... Gasquet Ranger Station (Smith

River).. ..... ...West-Central Idaho:

Anderson Dam (Boise River)... Deadwood Dam (Payette River) ._ Council (Weiser River) _ . _. .

Willamette Valley, Oreg.: Cottage Grove Dam (Coast Fork). McKenzie Bridge (McKenzie

River) .....- _.Willamina2S (Yamhill River).... Three Lynx (Clackamas River). __

Coastal Oregon: Tillamook 12E (Trask River).. ... Alsea Fish Hatchery (Alsea

River)....-. .... -Sitkum 28 W (Coquille River) .... Prospect 2SW (Rogue River).. .

Anteced ent pre

cipitation Dec. 1-14

2.07 1.10 2.43

1.91 3.47

8.45

6.21

6.03

6.23

6.23

3.88

1.76

9.22

8.48

6.73 5.335.27

8.99

2.31 2.26 2.53

5.93

9.74 5.40 7.53

8.39

9.16 8.45 4.91

Storm precipitation

Dec.15-20

4.01 4.13 2.19

.55 3.77

7.11

.38

1.30

3.13

4.72

11.20

4.48

11.47

12.65

7.93 16.32 14.31

7.71

1.35 3.45 2.37

4.28

2.51 3.83 2.64

5.15

5.02 6.61 2.43

Dec.21-24

10.36 4.234.94

5.39 13.57

19.66

17.21

16.20

16.70

14.31

8.06

2.98

14.18

19.20

15.25 18.98 10.68

12.03

3.14 5.53 2.04

4.39

7.02 4.73 6.09

6.99

5.93 6.30 6.27

Dec. 25-27

1.50 2.18 .59

2.71 1.99

3.34

3.11

3.35

3.17

2.68

3.62

.99

3.66

3.78

1.95 3.76 6.64

5.83

T.54 .22

3.66

1.77 2.37 2.01

2.18

3.57 9.51 .74

Jan.2-8

1.21 2.10 1.51

.112.52

3.77

0

.28

1.19

3.54

8.49

1.35

5.98

4.50

2.57 11.72 8.72

7.79

.91

.56

.20

4.14

3.387.91 4.72

9.80

10.81 6.37 2.52

Jan. 13-16

1.68 .58

2.75

.08 1.05

5.01

.77

1.57

2.31

4.27

5.60

1.72

8.58

7.42

5.40 8.66 7.96

8.90

1.94 2.17 2.21

2.69

5.04 2.96 4.85

6.81

7.04 5.66 3.07

Jan.25-27

2.17 1.57 1.09

5.74 4.70

3.24

9.61

4.68

3.49

3.74

2.14

1.80

3.47

4.29

4.27 2.60 1.74

.53

.38

.76

.18

.08

.23

.78

.50

1.00

.73

.75

.34

Total monthly precipitation

Decem ber

18.17 12.39 10.33

10.88 27.21

39.28

28.31

28.05

29.78

29.13

26.79

10.72

39.81

45.12

32.87 45.23 37.01

34.64

6.80 11.82 7.51

18.38

21.13 16.46 18.32

23.09

23.68 30.92 14.45

Janu ary

6.15 4.98 7.81

6.51 11.18

17.39

11.97

10.01

10.37

15.37

21.86

6.70

23.17

22.46

15.75 30.11 26.62

28.96

5.65 4.89 4.08

11.12

16.09 15.81 16.29

24.36

25.96 21.24 10.30


TABLE 1. Precipitation, in inches, at selected stations during December 1955 andJanuary 1956 Continued

Precipitation station and subbasin

Areas of minor flooding in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho:

Spokane W. B. Airport, Wash. (Spokane Eiver). _ _________

Rimrock Tieton Dam, Wash. (Yakima River)....

Kahlotus 4SW, Wash. (Esquatzel Coulee)-----... . .

Anatone, Wash. (Asottn Creek) Clarkston Heights, Wash. (Dry

Creek)-----..--. .Moscow, Idaho (Palouse River) Dayton 9SE, Wash. (Walla Walla

River)_____. ........Meacham W. B. Airport, Oreg.

(Umatilla River). ...... ___.._.Condon,Oreg. (John Day River).. Friend iw, Oreg. (Deschutes

River) _ _______-..___-___ .Hood River Experiment Station,

Goldendale, Wash. (Klickitat River)..-.. ....................

Wind River, Wash. (Wind River). Headworks Portland Water,

Anteced ent pre

cipitation Dec. 1-14

1.67

3.55

1.06 .93

.58 1.84

2.78

2.94 1.41

1.66

4.10

2.29 10.64

7.31

Storm precipitation

Dec. 15-20

1.08

1.06

.24

.36

.30

.60

1.40

.46

.47

1.15

.93

.87 4.53

4.25

Dec.21-24

.77

2.58

.57 1.61

.46 1.05

1.85

1.20 1.24

1.77

2.25

1.636.55

2.60

Dec. 25-27

.30

.35

0 .31

.17

.05

.34

.16 T

.29

.45

.17 2.37

2.36

Jan. 2-8

.87

1.78

.45

.37

.31

.44

1.04

.49

.10

1.22

2.33

1.21 8.31

6.12

Jan. 13-16

.89

2.61

1.17 .92

.86 1.90

2.35

2.27 1.59

2.82

3.38

1.68 6.59

4.14

Jan. 25-27

.32

.35

.19

.20

.12

.27

.17

.16

.20

.38

.73

.211.44

.70

Total monthly precipitation

Decem ber

3.82

7.54

1.87 3.21

1.51 3.59

6.37

4.89 3.18

4.87

7.73

4.96 24.09

16.70

Janu ary

2.87

7.75

2.20 2.06

1.74 3.51

4.68

5.59 3.15

6.36

9.43

4.55 25.67

17.27

slopes of the western divide. During this period the freezing level rose to 10,000 feet at times, so that most of the precipitation was in the form of rain. Virtually all the precipitation fell in about 72 hours. Considerable snow was melted, the snowline retreated 500 to 1,000 feet in altitude, and snow depths decreased about 15 inches at all altitudes. On December 24 temperatures dropped rapidly, snow fell at altitudes as low as 4,000 feet, and snow depths were largely restored to those of December 20. Precipitation at the headwaters of the principal river basins during December 21-24 averaged from 10 to 13 inches.

The storms of December 25-27, and January 2-8, 13-16, and 25-27 were not particularly noteworthy, but the ground was saturated from previous rains and rivers were still running high; these storms were of sufficient magnitude to maintain streams at near bankfull stage for most of January. Precipitation in January in general was about two times normal for the month, whereas precipitation in December was was about four times normal.

CENTRAL-COASTAL CALIFORNIA

Following normal precipitation in November over most of the re gion, two minor storms occurred December 1-9. Ground-water and soil-moisture levels, already high, were raised further by the storm of December 15-20. This was a major storm north of San Francisco

668521 O 62 2


Bay, but it was relatively light in the central coastal region. It did, however, set the stage for the deluge that followed.

During December 21-24, intense precipitation fell throughout most of the region; only the extreme southern part received moderate amounts. All precipitation was in the form of rain, and the orographic influence of the Coast Range was accentuated by high wind velocities. The maximum amount for the area occurred in the San Lorenzo River basin. At Boulder Creek a 72-hour precipitation total of 19.53 inches was observed and maximum recorded 24-hour precipitation was 12.53 inches. Hourly precipitation in excess of 1 inch is uncommon in coastal California, but at Boulder Creek the highest hourly intensity recorded was 1.52 inches.

The rains that followed in the storms of December 25-27, and Jan uary 2-8, 13-16, and 25-27 were much more moderate and, despite saturated conditions, caused only minor rises in the streams of the re gion, except in the upper Salinas River basin in the southern part of the region. Very little precipitation fell in the first two January storms, but the storm of January 25-27 was more intense than that of December 21-24. The southern part of the region also received moderate amounts of precipitation between December 30 and January 1.

For the region as a whole, precipitation for December was about three to four times normal and that for January was generally about 50 percent greater than normal.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

The two minor storms during December 1-9 brought about 6 inches of rain to most of the Sierra Nevada. These storms raised ground water and soil moisture to moderately high levels in the mountain basins, melted back the abnormally low snowline, and compacted the snow at high altitudes. After a rainless period of 5 days the storm of December 15-20 occurred. This moderate storm was accompanied by low temperatures, and brought fairly heavy snowfall to the high altitudes and sufficient rain to low altitudes to maintain conditions favorable for subsequent high runoff. By December 20 about 50 inches of snow had accumulated in the Sierra Nevada above 8,000 feet.

The advent of the storm of December 21-24 was marked by rising temperatures and high wind velocities. The freezing level reached altitudes above 10,000 feet at times, and most of the orographically influenced precipitation fell as rain. Virtually all the precipitation fell in 72 hours, and the total precipitation over the river basins of the western slope of the Sierra Nevada averaged more than 15 inches over the basins in northern two-thirds of the San Joaquin Valley and ranged from 5 inches to 15 inches over the basins in southern third of the


valley. Giant Forest in the Kaweah River basin recorded a 24-hour precipitation of 11.04 inches. During December 21-24, the snowline retreated about 1,000 feet in altitude, and snow depths diminished uniformly by about 18 inches over a wide range of altitudes. It is believed that snowmelt added about 1 inch of water to the basin-mean rainfall. The deep snow at high altitudes had a general moderating effect on the flood runoff; and areas above 7,500 feet probably con tributed little to flood runoff.

The ensuing storm of December 25-27 was moderate but maintained high stages in the streams. The storm of January 2-8 was insignificant in the San Joaquin Valley, and the storms of January 13-16 and 25-27 were also of minor importance, except in the southern part of the valley where the storm of January 25-27 was of sufficient magnitude to bring renewed flooding.

Over the San Joaquin Valley as a whole December precipitation averaged four to five times normal, and January precipitation was about two times normal.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

In the Sacramento Valley the antecedent storms of December 1-9 brought about 8 inches of rain to most of the Sierra Nevada and 2 to 3 inches to the northern Coast Range. As in the San Joaquin Valley, these storms raised ground water and soil moisture to mod erately high levels in the mountain basins, melted back the abnormally low snowline, and compacted the snow at high altitudes. The storm of December 15-20 was intense and was marked by low temperatures. This storm brought heavy snowfall to the high altitudes and suffi cient rain at low altitudes to cause minor flooding in the foothill streams. By December 20 about 50 inches of snow had accumulated in the Sierra Nevada at 7,500 feet.

The major storm of December 21-24 was accompanied by high temperatures and high wind velocities. The freezing level at times rose to more than 10,000 feet and most of the precipitation fell as rain. All of this heavy orographic rain, which was influenced by high wind velocities, fell in about 72 hours. During this storm, the total basin-wide precipitation over the river basins of the Sierra Nevada ranged from about 8 inches in the north to about 16 inches in the south. For this same period the average basin-wide precipi tation over Coast Range basins ranged from about 4 inches in the north to about 9 inches in the south. Blue Canyon near the Ameri can River-Bear River divide had a maximum 24-hour precipitation of 9.31 inches and a maximum recorded hourly intensity of 0.95 inch. As in the San Joaquin Valley, the snowline retreated about 1,000 feet in altitude during December 21-24, and snow depths diminished uniformly by about 18 inches over a wide range of altitudes. It is


believed that snowmelt added about 1 inch of water to the basin- mean rainfall. The deep snow at high altitudes had a general mod erating effect on the flood runoff from areas above 7,500 feet.

The four ensuing storms of December 25-27, and January 2-8, 13-16, and 25-27 were all moderate, but the ground was saturated from previous rains and rivers were still running high; these storms main tained streams at near bankfull stage for most of January. Precipitation in January in general was about two times normal for the month, whereas precipitation in December ranged from 2% to 5times normal.

NORTH-COASTAL CALIFORNIA

Following a November of normal precipitation over most of the region, two minor storms occurred during December 1-9 which raised ground water and soil moisture to high levels. The next storm, accompanied by high winds, occurred during December 15-20. This storm, which was intense throughout the region, centered over the Eel and Russian River basins and produced relatively minor flooding.

This storm was closely followed by the more intense one of De cember 21-24. The freezing level was exceptionally high and vir tually all precipitation occurred as rain. The orographic influence of the Coast Range was accentuated by high wind velocities; practically all the rain fell in 72 hours, and widespread major flooding occurred throughout the region. Such widely separated precipita tion stations as Gasquet Ranger Station near the California-Oregon border and Kentfield in the San Francisco Bay area each received about 7.5 inches of precipitation in 24 hours. Cazadero in the Russian River basin reported 10.75 inches of precipitation in 24 hours. Even larger daily amounts were unofficially reported else where.

The storm of December 25-27 was moderate in the north where it tended to sustain flows above critical stages, but it was of minor importance in the southern part of the region. This same precipi tation distribution was also found in the storm of January 2-8. The storm of January 13-16 was moderate throughout the region 'and maintained streamflow at high levels; that of January 25-27 was generally of minor importance except in the southern part where rainfall was moderately heavy.

For the region as a whole, precipitation for the month of December was 2% to 3% times normal. Precipitation in January was generally about two times normal.

WEST-CENTRAL IDAHO

Minor storms and low temperatures during the first 12 days of the month brought snow to the high altitudes and sufficient rain at low

PART 1. DESCRIPTION All

altitudes to raise soil-moisture conditions to moderately high levels. The storm, which hit the Pacific Coast on December 15, arrived in west central Idaho on December 16. Again, the precipitation pattern was snow at high altitudes and rain at the lower levels. By December 20, precipitation had fallen in moderately heavy amounts and conditions were very favorable for subsequent high runoff.

The major storm of December 21-24 was accompanied by high temperatures and high winds. On December 22 and 23, temperatures were as much as 20° to 25° above normal. During this abnormally warm period, rain was recorded up to unseasonally high levels, and snow was melted at intermediate altitudes by the rain and warm winds. At several stations the exceptionally heavy precipitation amounted to more than 2 inches in 24 hours and more than 4 inches in 48 hours, and was combined with runoff from melting snow to produce record discharges in some areas and serious flooding in nu merous localities.

A general drop in temperature started the night of December 24, and precipitation from the storm of December 25-27 was light and principally in the form of snow. Of the three January storms, those of January 2-8 and 25-27 were moderate, but the storm of January 13-16 was fairly intense and raised the streams to high levels. Be cause temperatures were mild throughout most of January, much of the precipitation was in the form of rain and there was appreciable runoff from melting snow. Nevertheless, considerable snow fell at the higher altitudes and, caused a substantial increase in the snow pack. Precipitation for January did not greatly exceed normal, but December precipitation was about two times normal.

WILLAMETTE VALLEY

A series of minor storms during the first 12 days of December brought snow to the high altitudes and rain to the low altitudes in the Willamette Valley. In the Cascade Mountains precipitation ranged from 10 inches in the south to 6 inches in the north, and in the Coast Range about 5 inches of precipitation fell. Ground water and soil moisture were raised to levels favorable for subsequent high runoff. The storm of December 15-20 was accompanied by low temperatures and high winds. The moderately heavy precipitation fell mostly in the form of freezing rain or snow for the first 4 days, but rain pre dominated on December 19 and 20 as temperatures rose.

The major storm of December 21-24 was accompanied by high temperatures and high winds. Temperatures were generally 10° or more above normal; an unseasonably high freezing level resulted and most of the precipitation fell as rain. The orographic effect of the Coast and Cascade Mountain ranges was accentuated by the high


wind velocities. About 8 inches of precipitation fell on the west slopes of the Cascade Mountains and about 6 inches fell on the east slopes of the Coast Range. The runoff from melting snow at intermediate altitudes augmented the precipitation available for direct runoff. During December 21-24, several stations received more than 4 inches of rainfall in 24 hours.

The storm of December 25-27, brought more intense rains to the east slopes of the Coast Range. Streams, already swollen from the previous storm, reached dangerous stages once more. The storms of January 2-8 and 13-16 also were effective in maintaining high stages throughout the region. The earlier January storm was more intense on the west side of the valley than it was over the Cascade Mountain drainage basins. Serious flooding was averted, however, by a drop in temperature after January 6. The storm of January 13-16 was more intense than that of January 2-8 over the Cascade Mountain drainage basins, and the resulting rapid runoff from rains and melting snow caused some renewed flooding. The storm of January 25-27 was very light and was almost entirely in the form of snow; its effect on runoff was not significant.

Precipitation for the month of December was about 250 percent of normal; that for the month of January was about two times normal.

COASTAL OREGON

The minor storms of December 1-12 ushered in the flood-producing series of storms of December 15 to January 27, and raised ground water and soil moisture to high levels. Precipitation for the 12 days totaled about 9 inches at several stations, and only in the upper Rogue River and upper Umpqua River basins was precipitation relatively light. The next storm, accompanied by high winds and low temperature, occurred on December 15-20. About 6 inches of pre cipitation fell in the upper'Rogue River basin but precipitation was light over most of the remainder of the region. By December 20 streams were running high and saturated soil conditions prevailed.

Closely following this storm was the more intense one of December 21-24. The freezing level was exceptionally high, and virtually all the precipitation occurred in the form of rain. All of this heavy orographic rain, which was influenced by high wind velocities, fell in about 72 hours. About 6 or 7 inches of precipitation was brought to most of the region; several stations recorded more than 4 inches in 24 hours. Widespread flooding resulted.

The storm of December 25-27 was generally more moderate except in the southwestern part of the region where heavy rain fell. Gold Beach Ranger Station near the mouth of Rogue River received 12.64 inches of rain in 48 hours; 7.34 inches fell in 24 hours. In the upper


Rogue River basin precipitation was fairly light. Several streams in the Umpqua basin reached their highest peak during this storm. The storms of January 2-8 and 13-16 were of high intensity throughout the region, except in the upper Rogue River basin, and major stream rises resulted. The storm of January 25-27 was very minor and had little effect on runoff.

Precipitation for the month of December was about three times normal; that for the month of January was about two times normal.

AREAS OF MINOR FLOODING IN OREGON, WASHINGTON, AND IDAHO

During December and January in north-central Oregon, south- central Washington, and the tristate region of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho the storm pattern was very similar to that in the areas of more severe flooding. The rains of early and mid-December were climaxed by the more intense storm of December 21-24. Snow melted by the rains of December 21-24 and by Chinook winds aug mented the precipitation in some areas.

At the weather station at Wind River, Washington, 8.2 inches of rain fell during December 20-22, and the depth of snow on the ground was reduced from 13 to 5 inches. At the weather station at Anatone, Wash., near the Asotin Creek drainage, 1.46 inches of rain fell during December 21-22, and the temperature was unseasonably warm.

Minor storms in late December and during January caused fairly high runoff on December 27 and on January 4, 16, and 23. Chinook winds during the early part of January were a factor in the rapid melting of snow.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF FLOODS

THE GREAT BASIN

The area of the Great Basin region discussed in this report (fig. 2) includes only the western part of the Great Basin from the Walker Lake basin on the south to the Black Rock Desert basin on the north east, and to the small closed basins in northeastern California and south-central Oregon on the north. Figure 2 also shows the location of the sites at which stage and discharge data were collected for the flood period. The sites are numbered from 1 to 47, and correspond to the numbers used in the section of this report headed "Summary of flood stages and discharges," and to the numbers for station identification in Water Supply Paper 1650-B.

In general, the flood of 1955 was similar to the 1950 flood, which until 1955 was the greatest in more than 50 years. One notable difference between the two floods wag that rainfall intensities and amounts were greater at lower altitudes in 1955, and unprecedented


122° . 121° _ 120°_________119° 118°

Crest stage or miscellaneous site

Numbers conform to those in

FIGURE 2. Map of the Great Basin region showing location of flood-data sites

flows from minor creeks and small drainages caused widespread damage in areas far removed from the larger streams. There was no loss of life attributable to the 1955-56 floods. Livestock losses were


not excessive when compared to the magnitude of the floods and the . area affected.

Discharge hydrographs at selected gaging stations in the Great Basin (fig. 3) show time distribution of the discharges from December 1 to January 31. The relative size of the several peaks at each station are represented graphically by the hydrographs.

WALKER RIVER BASEST

Floods in the Walker River basin were of lesser magnitude than other notable floods of record such as those of December 1937 and November 1950. The most intensive storm area was to the north and west of the Walker River drainage basin. Reports from a reconnaissance flight over the area showed that considerable snow remained at high altitudes in the Walker River basin on December 23, and evidence indicated that at least part of the precipitation during the most severe storm period fell as snow at the higher altitudes. There was relatively little damage to bridges and other structures along the Walker River and its major tributaries. Some agricultural areas bordering the Walker River were flooded, but damage was not wide spread or severe. The principal flood damage was in the smaller drainage areas in which roads and fields were flooded.

Considerable protection was afforded the downstream areas in the Walker River basin by storage reservoirs located at the intermediate altitudes. Bridgeport Reservoir retained all of the flood waters from the East Walker River above Bridgeport, Calif. Topaz Reservoir, an off-channel storage site on the West Walker River, provided some relief when part of the flood waters were diverted to storage during the critical period. The discharge hydrograph for the gaging station on West Walker River below East Fork, near Coleville, Calif., is shown on figure 3.

CARSON RIVER BASIN

The Carson River drainage basin was completely blanketed by the intense storm. With virtually no upstream storage facilities, the area above Lahonton Reservoir was unprotected, and damage from the flood reached major proportions. Flood waters along Silver Creek and the upper reaches of the East Fork Carson River washed out large sections of California State Highways 4 and 89. Damage was so extensive that State Highway 4 was not opened to travel again until the summer of 1956. Floodwaters from the East and West Forks of the Carson River spread out in upper Carson Valley and damaged farm and pasturelands, fences, farm buildings and highways. Bridge approaches on Nevada State Highway 37 between Minden, Nev., and Woodfords, Calif., were washed out, and a large concrete bridge across the East Fork Carson River on Nevada State Highway 56 south of Gardnerville was completely destroyed (fig. 4).

sa.iv.LS NHa.isaAi av^ MI SCOOTS 9XY


FIGURE 4. Flood-damaged concrete bridge across the East Fork Carson River on Nevada State Highway 56, south of Oardnerville, Nev. Photograph by Nevada State Highway Department.

The broad overflow areas in lower Carson Valley reduced the flood peak, but even with this attenuation the peak discharge at the gaging station below Carson Valley was nearly double that of the 1950 flood. Cradlebaugh Bridge in lower Carson Valley was covered to a depth of about 4 feet but escaped major damage; all other bridges crossing the Carson River between Carson City and Weeks were destroyed. At Weeks Crossing the highway approaches to the bridge were washed out. Travel and communications in the entire area above Lahonton Reservoir were seriously disrupted, as every major road and highway was severed or inundated by the floodwaters.

Lahonton Reservoir, which was at low level prior to the floods, was able to contain the floodflows, and thus provided adequate pro tection for the city of Fallen and the highly developed irrigated areas in that vicinity. Part of the stored water was released at a later date to prepare for heavy flows during the spring runoff.

Discharge hydrographs for East Fork Carson River near Gardner- ville, Nev., and Carson River near Carson City, Nev., are included on figure 3.

TRUCKEE RIVER BASIN

The Truckee River basin and its urban communities attracted the most attention in western Nevada. The peak discharge of the Decem ber 1955 flood at Reno, Nev., slightly exceeded that of November


1950; however, damage to establishments adjacent to the Truckee River was not as severe as that inflicted by the 1950 flood. Forewarned residents had limited opportunity to move perishable merchandise, and strategic use of sandbag barriers also helped to avert some losses. For instance, the Riverside and the Mapes Hotels on the banks of the Truckee River escaped practically unscathed behind sandbag dikes supplemented by pumping. Many other business establishments and homes adjacent to the river, however, were severely damaged by the floodwaters which spilled over into the streets for several blocks on each side of the river front. As in past floods the low bridges spanning the river in Reno were jammed with debris which reduced the effective carrying capacity of the river channel.

Floodwaters from tributary streams draining the area surrounding the cities of Reno and Sparks inflicted severe damage on private and public property in areas far removed from the river front, as streams and ditches were swelled to overflowing from local rains. The Reno airport was flooded to a depth of about 4 feet by waters from surround ing drainages and from waters impounded in the broad Truckee Mead ows just downstream from Sparks. Peavine Creek in northwest Reno caused its usual destruction and there were many other places throughout the area where local flooding added to the disaster.

Air, rail, and automotive travel in the area came to a halt. U.S. Highways 40, 50, and 395 were blocked by washouts and landslides; inundated subgrades in Truckee Meadows and landslides in the Sierra Nevada passes halted rail traffic; and Reno airport was out of operation for several days until the water had drained from the landing field. Probably the greatest single loss in the Reno-Sparks area was the destruction of the nearly completed Kietske Lane bridge across the Truckee River between Reno and Sparks. Workmen poured the bridge floor just prior to the flood to provide sufficient weight and stability for the structure to withstand the surging river. However, the structure collapsed and was almost a complete loss.

Upstream from Reno the flood damage inflicted by the Truckee River was not as severe as that of the 1950 flood, but areas down stream from the city were damaged extensively as the flood was swelled by the inflow of small tributaries. The reefs at Vista, which form a natural barrier, limited the Truckee River flow and afforded some protection to downstream areas; but the retardation caused the inundation of the Truckee Meadows area east of Sparks.

Boca Reservoir, at the mouth of the Little Truckee River, had a major role in reducing the flood peak; capacity of the reservoir was sufficient to retain the floodflows of the Little Truckee River for a relatively short but very critical period. During the 1950 flood, Boca Reservoir was full before the peak flow of the Little Truckee


River occurred, and was therefore ineffective as a flood-control facility in reducing the peak discharge. Peak floodflows for the intermediate and lower reaches of the Truckee River during the two floods were about equal. If Boca Reservoir had not retained the peak flow of the Little Truckee River during the 1955 flood, the discharge through Reno and other reaches below the reservoir may have been about 8,000 or 9,000 second-feet (30 or 40 percent) higher than the 1955 peak, and much greater damage would have occurred. Also com parison of peak discharges between the Carson and Truckee Rivers for the two floods would be more consistent when adjusted for the discharge held in Boca Reservoir. The unadjusted hydrograph for the gaging station on Truckee River at Reno, Nev., is shown in figure 3.

Two dams were breached by flood waters in the Truckee River basin. Hobart Dam on the headwaters of Franktown Creek failed on De cember 23, and the released water sped down the steep and narrow channel, tumbling large boulders and slabs of granite toward Washoe Lake. The swift, turbulent floodwaters eroded the granite-rock streambed nearly 20 feet in some places and severely damaged U.S. Highway 395 at the crossing between Reno and Carson City. Derby Dam, an earth-fill diversion structure on the Truckee River 25 miles downstream from Reno, was overtopped during the early morning hours of December 24, and a section of the dam was washed out. The break sent water and debris spilling over ranches on the flood plain below the dam and stopped traffic on U.S. Highway 40. The bridge at Wadsworth was endangered but was saved by hardworking highway crews. Livestock was moved to higher ground before the flood crest struck.

BLACK ROCK DESERT BASIN

Record-breaking flood peaks occurred on McDermitt Creek and the East Fork Quinn River in December and again in January; the maxi mum peaks occurred in January. Quinn .River near McDermitt, which includes the combined flow of McDermitt Creek and the East Fork Quinn River, did not reach flood stage due to short flood periods, overland flooding, and channel storage.

Traffic between McDermitt and Cordero mine was discontinued for a short period in December and again in January when the floods washed out a section of road. Flood damage in this area was primarily limited to diversion structures and agricultural areas.

HUMBOLDT RIVER BASIN

The intensity of the December storms was less in the Humboldt River basin than in the western part of Nevada. Martin Creek near Paradise Valley was the only stream that reached flood stage, and its peak discharge was far below the maximum of record.


In January rain again fell on the area, already well saturated, and flood stage was reached in the Owyhee River basin and again on Martin Creek. Near flood stage was recorded on Susie, Pine, and Rock Creeks but major floods were averted when the rain ceased and cold air moved into the area.

Damage in these areas was confined to diversion structures and agri cultural areas adjacent to the streams.

MINOR BASINS IN CALIFORNIA AND OREGON

Floods in the minor basins such as Honey, Eagle, Warner, Abert, and Silver Lakes, and others were of about the same magnitude as earlier notable floods such as the one in December 1937. In general, the streamflow records are too short for adequate comparison. How ever, at the gaging station on Deep Creek above Adel, Oreg., the December 1937 peak was only 10 percent higher than the 1955 peak, while at the station on Chewaucan River above Conn ditch, near Paisley, Oreg., the 1955 peak was about twice as large as the one in December 1937.

Flood damage was relatively small in these basins and was confined to agricultural areas, roads, and highways. The peak discharge of the Susan River was reduced materially by upstream storage in McCoy Flat and Hog Flat Reservoirs. This storage limited the flood damage in the town of Susanville to minor amounts.


The central-coastal California region consists of the Pacific slope drainage basins from the city of San Luis Obispo on the south to the San Francisco Bay tributaries on the north (fig. 5). Streamflow-data sites 48 to 102 are included in this region, and their locations are plotted on the map. The numbers correspond to those used in the sections of this report pertaining to records of stage and discharge.

The floods of December 1955-January 1956 were the greatest of rec ord in 65 years in the northern half of central-coastal California. In the southern half of the' region these floods were of lesser rank, and diminished from north to south to such a degree that they were not particularly noteworthy in the extreme southern basins. The 2-month period was marked by a series of storms that occurred in close succes sion, but only the storm of December 21-24 caused serious flooding. The rainfall prior to December 21, however, saturated the watersheds and produced conditions conducive to flood runoff. Santa Cruz received the greatest damage in the San Lorenzo River basin. Other communities severely damaged were Ben Lomond and Soquel in the north Monterey Bay area and Palo Alto, Alviso, and Alvarado in the south San Francisco Bay area. Nine lives were lost as a result of the floods in central-coastal California, five of them in the city of Santa Cruz.


121' 120 C 119 C


umbers conform to those in table 35

35

FIGURE 5. Map of the central-coastal California region showing location of flood-data sites.

The pages that follow describe the floods in the various drainage basins of the region. A tabulation of flood damage is found in another section of this report.

SALINA8 RIVER BASIN AND SMAIX ADJACENT BASINS

In the Sur River basin the heavy rains of December 22 and 23, totaled 11.38 inches at Big Sur State Park and caused the Sur River to slightly exceed bankfull stage from the State park to the mouth. This minor flooding caused no damage of consequence.

In the Carmel River basin the storm of December 21-24 brought 7.25 inches of rain to San Clemente Dam; at least 4 inches fell in 24


hours. On December 23, Carmel River rose 2 to 4 feet above its banks in many places. Considerable flood-fighting activity by local volun teers, county forces, and troops from Fort Ord was required to prevent inundation of residential development just downstream from the Carmel, River bridge on State Highway 1, where the river nearly overtopped a levee. The total damage in the Carmel Valley amounted to $58,000, three-fourths of which was agricultural damage.

In the Salinas River basin there was negligible flooding along the main stem, although flows exceeded their normal annual peak values. However, in the principal downstream tributary basins of the Naci- miento and San Antonio Rivers, and Arroyo Seco, peak discharges were the greatest ever recorded. Damage to facilities of Hunter-Liggett Military Reservation amounted to about $30,000, and road and bridge damage totaled about $100,000. The discharge hydrograph for the gaging station on Arroyo Seco near Soledad for December 1 to January 31 is shown in figure 6.

PAJARO RIVER BASIN

In the Pajaro River basin, flooding was confined almost entirely to that part of the basin downstream from the San Benito River. Over this downstream area and over the lower reaches of the San Benito River, precipitation was very heavy. During the 72-hour storm of December 21-24, San Juan Bautista near the mouth of the San Benito River received 8.20 inches of rain, and Corralitos Enos Ranch in the Corralitos Creek basin received 10.25 inches of rain. Of the downstream Pajaro River tributaries, only Llagas Creek had low discharge; it was partly controlled by storage in the recently con structed Llagas Creek Reservoir. The other downstream tributaries and the Pajaro River main stem all experienced maximum peaks of record.

Large-scale flooding occurred at the mouths of all tributary streams entering the Pajaro River upstream from the Chittenden gaging sta tion. The Pajaro River channel is sharply constricted a few miles downstream from the gaging station, but upstream from the gage the topography is flat and the channel capacity is limited to low dis charges. Consequently backwater from the Chittenden constriction cause flooding of more than 7,900 acres of agricultural land. Floodflow in Carnad'ero Creek, one of the tributaries upstream from Chittenden, caused considerable damage along its channel. Channel banks and adjacent land were scoured upstream from the town of Gilroy, and agricultural land downstream from Gilroy was inundated. Along Corralitos Creek, which enters the Pajaro River just upstream from the city of Watsonville, there was also considerable bank damage, but overflow was limited to 4 acres in the lower reaches of the stream.


On the main stem of the Pajaro River, the towns of Watsonville and Watsonville Junction are protected by levees. The inundation of these cities was prevented by the flood-fighting activities of about 400 volunteers, National Guard, Santa Cruz and Monterey County forces, and troops from Fort Ord. Five levee breaks on the tributary, Salsipuedes Creek, were contained as were the localized scoured and undercut sections of the main levee along the Pajaro River. The river crested at Watsonville about noon on December 24, just 10 inches from the top of the levees. However, localized flooding in 29 city blocks occurred as a result of the drainage canals back of the levees. There was considerable agricultural damage along the Pajaro River from its junction with the San Benito River to the levees upstream from Watsonville, but from Watsonville to the ocean the river was contained between the levees.

There was no loss of life in the Pajaro River basin. As a precau tionary measure 1,058 persons were evacuated from their homes for 2 days 972 persons from Watsonville and 86 from Gilroy. The greatest losses were agricultural, but residential and highway and bridge damage was also appreciable.

SAN LORENZO RIVER BASIN

The most destructive flooding in central-coastal California occurred in the San Lorenzo River basin. During the storm of December 21-24, the precipitation station at Boulder Creek recorded a 72-hour rainfall of 19.53 inches; 12.53 inches fell in 24 hours. The resulting flood in the San Lorenzo River exceeded the previous maximum flood of 1940 by about 2.5 feet in the lower basin and approximately 3 to 3.5 feet in the upper basin. The discharge hydrograph for the gaging station on San Lorenzo River at Big Trees for December 1 to January 31 is shown in figure 6.

The heavy rains and overflows from the headwaters to the mouth of the river scoured out large trees which floated downstream, became lodged at points of constriction in the channel and valley, impounded the flow, and caused extremely severe local flooding. The numerous log jams and other channel obstructions also diverted the high velocity flows and caused the streams to change from their normal alinement and undercut and scour out numerous bridges, road fills, small dams, and private developments. The river overflowed its banks in the lower part of the city of Santa Cruz at about 7:30 p.m. on December 22. By 9 p.m. floodwaters reached Front Street and by 11 p.m. had attained a depth of 2 feet in the vicinity of the intersection of River and Water Streets. By 3 a.m. on December 23, when the flood peaked, water reached a depth of 4 feet along Pacific Avenue and about 6.5 feet in the 100 block on Front Street. The duration of the flood in the business district was approximately 11.5 hours and was


considerably longer in the low-lying areas. The total area flooded was 107 city blocks of business, warehouse, industrial, and residential property.

Despite storm and flood warnings issued by local radio, a con siderable part of the population was unaware of the danger of the impending flood. In addition, people in the area subject to flooding were reluctant to believe the flood waters could reach such proportions. These and other factors contributed to the fact that seven persons in the San Lorenzo River basin lost their lives; five of the deaths occurred in Santa Cruz. It is estimated that 2,830 persons were displaced by floods; about 2,440 were in Santa Cruz.

SMALL, SANTA CRUZ COUNTY STREAMS

Severe flooding occurred on Aptos, Soquel, and Scott Creeks as a result of the storm of December 21-24. On Aptos and Soquel Creeks, a principal contributing factor to the damage was log jams which blocked culverts and bridges. A log jam at the Soquel Creek bridge in the village of Soquel impounded the rapidly flowing stream which overtopped both banks. Eight city blocks, comprising the entire business district and the most thickly populated residential area, were inundated. This flood in the village of Soquel caused the dis placement of about 350 persons; about 30 of them were rescued from flooded homes. Farther downstream, in the village of Capitola, 35 persons evacuated their homes as a precautionary measure.

The greatest damage on Scott Creek occurred near the mouth of Little Creek, a tributary. Flow in Little Creek was impounded behind landslides until about 4 a.m. on December 23 when the confined water broke through, carrying heavy timbers and boulders, and inundated the area near the mouth. Several homes and farm buildings were destroyed and one death resulted. Several rises occurred on the lower Scott River between December 22 and 25; the greatest rise overtopped the banks by 5 to 6 feet.

SMALL SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA STREAMS

Damage occurred in the small drainage basins of Pescadero, San Gregorio, Tunitas, Pilarcitos, Colma, San Bruno, and San Mateo Creeks. The first four of these streams flow into the Pacific Ocean; the last three streams flow into San Francisco Bay. On the four coastal streams, the December flood exceeded anything in the memory of local inhabitants. Unofficial reports for the storm of December 21-24 indicate that precipitation ranged from 5 to 11 inches in all four basins. Agricultural damage and damage to roads and bridges occurred in all of these basins, and, in addition, Pescadero Creek flooded 15 homes to a depth of about one-half foot in the town of Pescadero.


The three San Francisco Bay streams, Colma, San Bruno, and San Mateo Creeks, all flow through thickly populated urban areas. Damage that resulted from the December flood affected, primarily, city streets and sewer systems. Kemoval of large quantities of silt was required. High tides in San Francisco Bay contributed to the flooding in the city of San Mateo by San Mateo Creek.

SANTA CLARA VALLEY

Santa Clara Valley streams are those entering San Francisco Bay south of and including San Francisquito and Coyote Creeks. Heavy rainfall over Santa Clara Valley during the storm of December 21-24 caused severe flooding on all streams except those controlled by large storage reservoirs. These storage reservoirs are primarily for water conservation, but they also have an important flood-control function. Unregulated streams reached peaks that are believed to be among the greatest in the past century. On many streams the plugging of cul verts and bridges by debris and by log jams caused greater inundation than would otherwise have occurred as was the case on San Francis quito Creek, which flows through the city of Palo Alto. Two log jams at bridges in Palo Alto caused the flooding of 1,170 acres of commercial and residential area; a maximum inundation of approxi mately 3.5 feet above floor levels occurred in the Green Park sub division. Additional flooding in the city resulted when Matadero Creek overflowed its banks. It is estimated that more than 1,000 persons were displaced in Palo Alto as a result of the flood.

In the Stevens Creek basin the extremely heavy rains, rapid runoff, and the inadequate drainage system would undoubtedly have resulted in a much more severe flood had it not been for control by Stevens Creek Reservoir in the headwaters of the basin. Drainage was im paired, however, by the clogging of culverts, drains, and constricted openings with large accumulations of orchard cuttings, debris, and trash in the stream. In addition to inundation, erosion of streambanks and damage to roads and bridges was severe.

The flow of the Guadalupe River main stem would undoubtedly have surpassed all previous flood and flood damage records had it not been for the controlling effect of conservation reservoirs in the head water streams. Nevertheless, damage on the main stem and the trib utaries was very heavy in this basin. Practically the entire town of Alviso was inundated to depths up to 5 feet. The urban areas of New Almaden, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale were all affected to varying degrees. Debris-choked channels sent water coursing over adjoining lands, eroding topsoil near the banks and depositing silt and debris elsewhere. Bank erosion and damage to roads and bridges was severe.


The flow of the Coyote Creek main stem is almost completely con trolled by Coyote and Anderson Reservoirs, and damage along this stream was confined to the low pasturelands near the mouth, where considerable silt was deposited. Greater inundation of agricultural land by the tributaries accounted for most of the damage in the Coyote Creek basin.

ALAMEDA CREEK

The peak discharge on Alameda Creek, resulting from the storm of December 21-24, was the greatest of record in the basin. Consider ing that the discharge from an important tributary, Calaveras Creek, was completely controlled, it is believed that this flood was among the greatest since January 1862. Mount Hamilton received 10.97 in-ches of rain in 48 hours, 6.87 inches of which fell in 1 day. Factors contributing to the flooding were the reduced capacity of Alameda Creek and some of its tributaries due to large quantities of brush and growth in the creek beds and inadequate levees which were over topped in some places or which failed without having been overtopped in other places. It is estimated that more than 15,000 acres of agricultural land were inundated to an average depth of 2 feet. A residential development, Valle Serra, was flooded to an average depth of 3 feet, and water rose to an average depth of 1.5 feet in the town of Alvarado. Industrial damage was especially severe in the Niles area where $1 million damage occurred to a steel mill as a result of 4 feet of flooding. Highways, railroads, and public utilities were also heavily damaged.

SMALL BASINS EAST OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY

The east San Francisco Bay streams affected most by the floods of December 21-24 were San Lorenzo Creek in Alameda County and Walnut, Rodeo, Wildcat, Alhambra, Pinole, and San Pablo Creeks in Contra Costa County. An average of about 6 inches of rain fell over these basins during the 72-hour storm. It is believed that the resulting flood peaks have been exceeded several times since January 1862,

The principal damage in the San Lorenzo Creek basin occurred in a residential district of the city of Hay ward where 130 homes were flooded to depths up to 6 feet and averaging about 2.5 feet. Bank cutting by the streams endangered or destroyed several bridges and 70 homes. In the Walnut Creek basin, more than 1,000 homes and nearly 50 business establishments were damaged, either by inundation or as a result of bank cutting. Agricultural damage was estimated at $180,000. About 1,075 persons were evacuted as a precautionary measure. In the smaller basins of Rodeo, Wildcat, Alhambra, Pinole, and San Pablo Creeks, the impairment of roads and bridges consti-


tuted most of the damage. Storage in San Pablo Reservoir prevented some damage along San Pablo Creek.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

The southern half of the Central Valley of California is termed "the San Joaquin Valley region" in this report. The major stream systems in the region are the Kern River, Tulare Lake, and San Joaquin River basins. Figure 7 is a map of the region showing the location of streamflow-data sites 103 to 236. The site numbers are the same as those used in the sections of this report presenting data on stages and discharge.

The storms, which culminated in the prolonged and intense rains of December 21-23, caused record-breaking flood flows on nearly all streams in the San Joaquin Valley. Previous records broken by the December 1955 floods include those established by the notable floods of December 1937 and November-December 1950. The relative mag nitude of the various peak flows during December 1955 and January 1956 at selected sites in the region are illustrated by the discharge hydrographs in figure 8.

As a result of the record flows, virtually-every major stream in the San Joaquin Valley overflowed its banks at some point, and many levees were broken. The most significant levee breaks were on the San Joaquin River downstream from the mouth of Stanislaus River and on islands in the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta. The total area flooded one or more times in the San Joaquin Valley was estimated by the Corps of Engineers at about 393,000 acres. Most of the inundated areas consisted of agricultural property although, parts of some cities, suburban areas, and urban communities were flooded and about 20,000 persons were forced to evacuate their homes. The largest concentration of damage was in the lower Kaweah River basin where about 126,000 acres of farmland and most of Visalia and Farm- ersville were flooded, causing losses of almost $12 million.

KERN RIVER BASEST

On Kern River at the station near Kernville (upstream from the South Fork) the flood peak on December 23 barely exceeded the previous maximum established by the November 1950 floods. How ever, the peak inflow of 25,000 cfs to Isabella Reservoir, as determined by the Corps of Engineers, was much less than the November 1950 peak of 39,000 cfs below Isabella Dam, then under construction. On the South Fork, the flood peak at the Onyx station was less than the March 1938 maximum of record.

The December flood flows were completely controlled by the storage of about 60,000 acre-feet of water in Isabella Reservoir, and


120° 119" 118°

EXPLANATION

.66

Stream-gaging station0 61


Numbers conform to those in table 35

36° -

35°-

34° -

FIGURE 7. Map of the San Joaquin Valley region showing location of flood-data sites.

by nondamaging releases of not more than 600 cfs. Above the reservoir, roads along the river were damaged by erosion, the diver sion dam to Borel Canal was washed out, the intake works for Kern


River No. 3 powerplant were damaged, a fish hatchery was flooded and its stock of fish washed away, and a Foresl; Service camp and the Kernville picnic grounds were flooded.

TULARE LAKE BASIN

The peak discharge at the Tule River station near Porterville (above the South Fork) was only slightly less than the previous maximum during the November 1950 flood. At the South Fork station near Success, the peak discharge from the storm of January 25-27 exceeded the peak of December but was less than half the record peak established by the flood of November 1950.

About 38,000 acres of agricultural land between the foothills and Tulare Lake were flooded in December; the January flood inundated about 27,000 acres, including much of the same land. Permanent plantings were damaged, growing crops were destroyed, and alfalfa and cotton stored in fields were severely damaged. Homes, farm build ings, farm equipment, highways, and bridges were damaged. The depth of flooding was about 3 feet for periods of 2 to 15 days. Above the foothills damage occurred to roads and bridges, a small dam on the North Fork, a powerplant intake structure, canal headworks, and summers cottages.

On the Kaweah River the flood of December 23 greatly exceeded the flood of November 1950 in both peak and volume, although in this respect the 1950 flood had been the largest since stream gaging was begun on that river in 1903. At the Three Rivers gaging station the flood volume of 186,600 acre-feet for December 1955 exceeded that for November 1950 by 106,800 acre-feet.

About 126,000 acres of land were flooded by the Kaweah River during the December and January storms. Most of the flooded area was along the river and its principal tributaries: the St. Johns River, Mill, Cameron, Packwood, and Cross Creeks, and Elk Bayou. The city of Visalia and the towns of Farmersville and Three Rivers were flooded. Most of the irrigation diversion structures on the river were washed out. Large quantities of debris accumulated against bridges and canal crossings and caused severe damage to most of these structures. Streambank erosion was severe, and great quantities of sand were deposited on farmlands adjacent to the streams. Nearly all roads in the area were flooded and damaged. In January, much of the area damaged by the December flood was re-flooded.

The McKay Point weirs, dividing the flow between the Kaweah and St. Johns rivers, were partly bypassed by severe bank erosion. A large part of the flow formed a new channel to the St. Johns River, but debris and sand later plugged this channel to direct the entire flow down the Kaweah channel. Water backed up against the


FIGURE 9. Kaweah River flood at the Friant-Kern Canal crossing, California. The canal was breached by floodwaters in several places as shown in the upper part of the picture. Photograph by United Aerial Survey.

Friant-Kern Canal and overtopped and washed out large sections (fig. 9). Residences in the southern part of the town of Woodlake were flooded and damaged. More than half of the city of Visalia was flooded in December, and nearly a fourth of the city was reflooded in January. Several thousand people were forced to evacuate their homes. Damage was heavy in the business section and in a newer residential section in the southwestern part of the city where water in homes was as deep as 30 inches for about 6 days. The area flooded


in December by the St. Johns River, Cottonwood Creek and Cross Creek above Tulare Lake was about 38,000 acres, much of which was in pasture, alfalfa, and grain. Most of that area was flooded again in January.

Upstream from Three Rivers gaging station, many roads, bridges, and canal headworks were washed out. Hydroelectric plants were submerged and their headworks damaged. Residences, summer homes, motels, recreational facilities, and commercial establishments in and near the town of Three Rivers were flooded and damaged, or destroyed.

In the Tulare Lake area, floodwaters from the Tule and Kaweah Rivers began overflowing in the sump area of the lake on December 25 and by December 31 had covered all 12 sections of land. The levee system prevented further spreading of the floodwater. As reported by the Corps of Engineers, about 55,000 acre-feet of floodwater reached the lake area during the December and January floods. No inflow to the lake came from the Kings or Kern Rivers, which were completely controlled by Pine Flat and Isabella Reservoirs, respec tively. Principal flood damages were the loss of a crop of barley growing on the flooded land, the loss of irrigation equipment, and the erosion of levees and land.

As on the Kaweah River, the December flood on the Kings River exceeded the records in both peak and volume, established by the November 1950 flood for a 55-year period of record. At the gaging station at Piedra, downstream from Pine Flat Dam, the December 1955 runoff, adjusted for storage in Pine Flat Reservoir, was 428,200 acre-feet; the November 1950 runoff was 224,800 acre-feet. Pine Flat Reservoir completely controlled the floodflows of the Kings River to nondamaging releases, and no flooding occurred below the reservoir. Above the reservoir, State and county roads and bridges, a service road, and a powerhouse were flooded.

SAN JOAQUIN RIVER BASIN

The December flood established a new record for peak discharge on the upper San Joaquin River. The peak discharge at the site of the destroyed gaging station below Kerckhoff powerhouse was 92,200 cfs. In comparison, the maximum discharge of record below Friant was 77,200 cfs during the flood of December 1937 (prior to the construction of the reservoir). On December 21 there was about 625,000 acre-feet of available storage in Friant Reservoir and the upstream power reservoirs. Inflows to the power reservoirs were controlled, and maximum releases from Friant Reservior were about 6,400 cfs.

Above Mendota Dam only negligible areas were flooded. Between Mendota Dam and the mouth of the Merced River, about 2,300 acres of cropland were flooded.


In the lower San Joaquin River, floodflows were high for a pro longed period but in general were substantially less than the flows in the 1950 flood. The peak flows from the major tributaries Merced, Tuolumne and Stanislaus Rivers did not coincide. At the Vernalis gage, downstream from the Stanislaus River, the peak discharge oc curred on December 25 and resulted largely from Stanislaus River flows.

About 25,500 acres of valley-floor land were flooded between the mouth of the Merced River and Mossdale at the head of the San Joaquin River delta. The crops in the flooded area between the Stanislaus River and Mossdale included alfalfa, irrigated pasture and grain, and sizeable acreages of tomatoes, sugarbeets, and truck crops. It includes also a number of residences in and around Mossdale, resorts containing permanent homes and summer cottages, and commercial establishments.

On westside tributaries downstream from the Merced River, a total of 10,700 acres was flooded by Los Banos, Orestimba and Marsh Creeks. Floodwaters ponded against the Delta-Mendota Canal, broke it in two places, washed out ballast and ties of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and inundated about 1,600 acres of farmland to an average depth of 2 feet. Los Banos Creek overflowed the mainline of the Southern Pacific Railroad, the Delta-Mendota Canal, and several roads, and flooded about 6,100 acres of farmland near the town of Los Banos and a residential section on the south side of the town. Marsh Creek flooded homes on the outskirts of Brentwood and Knightsen and about 2,000 acres of orchards.

About 20,000 acres, most of which was irrigated and highly pro ductive farmland west of U.S. Highway 99, were flooded by the Fresno River and its tributary, Cottonwood Creek. Land remained flooded to depths of as much as 4 feet for 2 to 7 days. Three small areas in the city of Madera were flooded.

On Chowchilla River at Buchanan damsite gaging station the peak discharge on December 23 exceeded the previous record discharge of November 18, 1950 by 7,500 cfs. The river and its tributaries, Ash and Berenda Sloughs, overflowed their banks and levees and flooded about 27,500 acres of cotton, alfalfa, orchards, grain and permanent pastureland south and southwest of the city of Chowchilla. Water from Ash and Berenda Sloughs flooded six residences and six business establishments east of U.S. Highway 99 and nine residences in the southwestern part of the city. In these sections the water was 1 to 3 feet deep for several days.

Flows on all of the principal streams of the Merced County Stream Group were outstanding in both peak and volume. The drainage area of this group, including Bear, Black Rascal, Burns, Mariposa,


Miles, Owens, and Deadman Creeks, lies between the drainage basins of the Merced River on the north and the Chowchilla River on the south. Flood-control reservoirs have been constructed on each of Burns, Bear, Owens, and Mariposa Creeks, with an aggregate capac ity of 33,300 acre-feet. The Corps of Engineers reported that the computed peak inflow to Burns, Bear, and Owens Reservoirs sub stantially exceeded the previous record flows in November 1950; all four reservoirs filled and spilled, and the total peak outflow exceeded the project-design outflow in each case. Overflows from the streams of this group flooded about 3,000 acres of pastureland and about 12,000 acres in orchards, alfalfa, cotton, grain, and other cultivated crops to a depth of about 18 inches for 5 to 8 days. A group of homes on the north side of the city of Merced was flooded, and on the west side of the city a low-rental area of about 40 dwellings suffered considerable damage.

On the Merced River the flood peaks of December 23 exceeded the previous maxima established by the November 1950 flood at the Happy Isles and Pohono Bridge gaging stations in Yosemite Valley, at South Fork near El Portal, and at Bagby, upstream from Lake McClure. On December 21 Lake McClure was virtually empty; the entire flood was stored in the reservoir and releases were controlled so that the maximum discharge of the river at Exchequer, on Decem ber 27, was 10,400 cfs. Above Lake McClure, roads and telephone lines in the mountain reaches were washed out. Below the reservoir, the river overflowed its banks and flooded about 1,400 acres of crop and pastureland in the river bottom and about 2,500 acres in the lowlands between the Merced and San Joaquin Rivers.

About 515,000 acre-feet of storage space was available in Lake Eleanor, and in Cherry Valley, Hetch Hetchy, and Don Pedro Reser voirs on December 21, and the discharge of the Tuolumne River below Don Pedro Reservoir was controlled to a peak of 41,700 cfs on Decem ber 24. However, the computed peak inflow to Don Pedro Reservoir of 100,000 cfs substantially exceeded the peak inflow during the 1950 flood.

Downstream from the foothill line, floodwaters of the Tuolumne River inundated about 7,100 acres of agricultural land. Depth of flooding on most of this area was about 6 feet. Below the town of Waterford, orchard and croplands were flooded when many private levees were overtopped. A few residences were flooded near the city of Modesto. The sewage-sludge drying ponds of the city were partly flooded, and levees of several cells were badly eroded.

The December floodftows of the Stanislaus River broke all previous records. The peak inflow to Melones Reservoir of about 100,000 cfs on December 23 exceeded the previous record peak inflow in Novem-


her 1950 by 10,000 cfs. About 90,000 acre-feet of storage was avail able on December 21, and the reservoir filled and spilled on December 23. The peak outflow on December 23 exceeded the peak outflow in 1950 by 13,300 cfs.

Areas flooded by the Stanislaus River extended from the foothills near the community of Knights Ferry to the San Joaquin River a total of about 15,000 acres. Knights Ferry was flooded, and the Knights Ferry firehouse (built in 1852), which withstood the large floods of 1862, 1907 and 1950, was completely destroyed. Above Ripon, the overflow was confined to bottomlands along the river. Be low Ripon, intermingled waters of the Stanislaus and San Joaquin Rivers inundated large areas of orchards, vineyards, truck and spe cialty crops, alfalfa, and pasturelands. All of the small private lev ees along lower reaches of the river were overtopped and breached, and levees of the reclamation district failed in a number of places.

Between the drainage basins of the Calaveras River on the north and the Stanislaus River on the south, December floodwaters of the Littlejohn Creek Group (Duck, Littlejohn, and Lone Tree Creeks) inundated about 1,800 acres of land, of which about 1,400 acres, largely in barley crops, were on the south branch of Littlejohn Creek and about 400 acres, including a number of residences and small business establishments, were on the north branch of the creek near U.S. Highway 99.

At all gaging stations in the Calaveras River basin the December flood peaks equaled or substantially exceeded those of November 1950. The maximum outflow from Hogan Reservoir, near the foothill line, plus heavy local inflow below the dam, caused a peak of 14,200 cfs at the Jenny Lind station. This was far below the record of 50,000 cfs established by the flood of January 1911, before construction of Hogan Reservoir.

Downstream from Bellota, where most of the flow is diverted by Mormon Slough and the Stockton diverting canal, floodwaters broke out of the old channel of the Calaveras River in several places to flood farmlands near Linden and a small area in the northern part of Stock- ton. Levees of Mormon Slough were broken; an area along the slough from Bellota to the diverting canal and along the north side of the diverting canal through Stockton, and a large area in the southern part of Stockton along the old Mormon Slough channel were flooded. The flooded area was about 6,900 acres, of which about 1,500 acres were in the city of Stockton. The flooded farmland was planted in orchards, permanent pasture, and alfalfa. Depths of flooding ranged from a few inches to 4 feet for 1 to 8 days. Four thousand persons were evacuated from their homes. Damage to residences and fur-


nishings, stores, factories, and other commercial establishments was severe.

On Bear Creek, the peak discharge at the station near Lockeford exceeded the peak of December 7, 1950, but was less than the record discharge of February 2, 1945. The creek overflowed its banks and flooded about 7,000 acres of farmlands between the foothills and a point northwest of Stockton. The floodwaters stood in depths of a few inches to 3 feet for a few days to 2 weeks. Several residences were flooded; a service station, a cafe, and a grocery store were dam aged; and 28 persons were evacuated from the area.

Although new records of peak discharge were established at the stations on the Middle and South Forks of the Mokelumne River, the peaks on the main river at the stations near Mokelumne Hill, Lancha Plana, and near Clements were less than the previous maxima of the 1950 floods. Pardee Reservoir below the Mokelumne Hill gaging station was nearly full on December 21 and started spilling on December 22.

Floodwaters of the Mokelumne River overtopped the levees and inundated about 19,000 acres of land on both sides of the river from nestr the town of Clements to the mouth. Merging floodwaters of the river and its valley-floor tributaries, Cosumnes River and Dry Creek, created a large lake near the town of Franklin. Water stood in the flooded areas for 1 to 7 days in depths of as much as 8 feet. Rural residences, farm equipment, irrigation systems, and pumps were flooded, and roads, bridges, levees, transmission lines, and large acreages of alfalfa, orchards, and vineyards were damaged.

At the Gait station on Dry Creek the peak discharge on December 24 exceeded the previously recorded maximum of February 2, 1945. The creek overflowed its banks and flooded about 5,200 acres of bottomland, largely in permanent pasture, to depths of as much as 10 feet and for as long as 3 months. Flooding of the town of lone was prevented only by sandbagging of the levee. Some livestock was lost owing to standing water and water-carried disease.

On the Cosumnes River the record peaks of November 1950 were greatly exceeded. The floodwaters caused about 30 breaks in river levees and inundated about 25,000 acres of land along the Cosumnes River and Deer Creek, from Michigan Bar to the mouth of the river. The flooded area consisted of cultivated land along the north bank of the river and grazingland along the south bank. Land near the river was eroded in places and covered with deposits of sand, silt and debris in other places. Hop fields were severely damaged; other damaged crops were alfalfa, irrigated pasture, and winter grains. Water stood on the flooded land for 1 day to nearly 3 weeks in depths of as much as 8 feet.


SACRAMENTO VALLEY

The Sacramento Valley region includes the northern half of the. Central Valley of California and the closed Goose Lake basin in Oregon(fig. 10). The Sacramento River drains almost the entire region.The locations of sites where stage and discharge data were collected(Nos. 237 to 369) are plotted on figure 10.

The December storms resulted in record-breaking runoff throughout most of the Sacramento Valley. However, damage in the upper part of the region was relatively light, because the area is sparsely popu lated, and the streams did not overflow their banks to any great extent.

In the lower part of the region the record flows were too large to be contained within the levee systems and many were overtopped or breached. The most catastrophic levee failures occurred on the west bank of the Feather River at Shanghai Bend downstream from Yuba City, and on the east bank downstream from Nicolaus. Thirty-eight persons in Yuba City and two persons in the Nicolaus area lost their lives. Damage was estimated to exceed $40 million in the Yuba City area alone.

The total area flooded in the Sacramento Valley was estimated Jby the Corps of Engineers to be 382,000 acres. Much of this area was under water for many days and some of it for months. About 30,000 persons were forced to evacuate their homes during the holiday season.

To illustrate the relative magnitude of the flood peaks during the 2 months, the discharge hydrographs for selected gaging stations in the Sacramento Valley are presented in figure 11.

SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN ABOVE FEATHER RIVER

The December floods established new records of peak discharge on the Sacramento River and its tributaries above Shasta Dam. The peak inflow to Shasta Lake of 195,000 cfs on December 22 exceeded by 9,000 cfs the record flow on February 28, 1940, at the Keswick station prior to regulation by the reservoir. The flood inflow was completely controlled by Shasta Lake. Below Shasta Dam, local inflow from numerous tributaries increased the controlled release to a maximum discharge of 115,000 cfs on January 15 at the Red Bluff gaging station.

Flood peaks on tributaries of the Sacramento River between Shasta Dam and the mouth of the Feather River were large but exceeded previous maxima only on Paynes, Elder, and Thomes Creeks. Cotton- wood Creek and its tributaries flooded about 4,800 acres of farmlands, mostly planted in alfalfa and grain. Elder Creek overflowed its banks above the town of Gerber, broke the levees in several places below the town, and flooded about 1,100 acres of farmland. Thomes Creek overflowed its banks in some places broke through levees in other

123'PART 1. DESCRIPTION

122° 121'

A39120'

EXPLANATION

Stream-gaging station0247



FIGURE 10. Map of the Sacramento Valley region showing location of flood-data sites. 66'8521 O 63 4

> ht ^

OFF


places, and flooded about 1,700 acres of farmland. A nursery was severely damaged. On Pine, Rock, and Mud Creeks, levees were broken and about 3,100 acres farmland were flooded. About 60 pigs were drowned in one field. Big Chico Creek overflowed and inun dated about 800 acres of farmland. Grain crops, farm buildings, irri gation systems, and roads were damaged. In the city of Chico, Bidwell Park and residences were flooded and eight persons were evac uated from their homes for 1 to 2 days. Little Chico Creek flooded about 500 acres of farmland, and 10 persons were evacuated from the area. On Butte Creek the levees were broken and about 10,000 acres of farmland were flooded to an average depth of 3 feet for about 2 weeks. Barley and oat crops were severely damaged, and levees and irrigation facilities were washed out. Flooding in the town of Durham was prevented by sandbagging of the levees, but 20 persons were evac uated from their homes for a few days.

FEATHER RIVER BASIN

In the Feather River basin the December flood peaks exceeded pre vious maxima of record at nearly all gaging stations on the North, Middle, and South Forks and the West Branch. At the main-stem station near Oroville a peak flow of 175,000 cfs on December 22 was followed by a peak of 203,000 cfs on December 23 which was less than the record established by the floods of March 1907. The December 23 flood peak was confined by levees along the river to the confluence with the Yuba River below Marysville; the peak reached that point at about 5:00 a.m. on December 24, about 4% hours after the west levee broke at Shanghai Bend 3 miles south of Yuba City, and 5% hours after the peak outflow from the Yuba River.

The most extensive flooding occurred as a result of the levee break at Shanghai Bend and a break in the east levee about 1 mile south of the town of Nicolaus. The areas flooded by the Feather River totaled about 100,000 acres.

About 165 residences and 12 stores were flooded in the town of Chester, on the North Fork above Lake Almanor, and roads, bridges, railroads, and power facilities were washed out at scattered points along the river upstream from Oroville.

In the city of Oroville about 100 acres were flooded, including 36 homes and 15 commercial buildings. Below the city about 900 acres of agricultural land were flooded. Approximately 200 persons were evacuated from the flooded areas for 3 days.

High water in the Feather River prevented free runoff of Honcut Creek waters, and about 7,000 acres of farmland were flooded. Nearly 100 persons were evacuated from the area for 4 days.


Similarly, free runoff was prevented in the Jack Slough area north of Marysville, and about 6,800 acres of farmland were flooded east of Levee District 10. Eleven buildings were flooded and four were de molished. Twenty-eight persons were evacuated from the area.

Although the levees of District 10 held and that area was not flooded, 650 persons were evacuated for 3 or 4 days.

The failure of the west levee of the Feather River at Shanghai Bend occurred about 12:10 a.m. on December 24. Water from this break entered Yuba City and flooded about 95 percent of the city (fig. 12). The depth of flooding varied from a few inches on the north side

FIGURE 12. Yuba City, Calif., under water as a result of Feather River levee failure. The city of Marys ville is the "island" in the background surrounded by floodwaters of the Yuba and Feather Rivers. Photograph by Corps of Engineers.

to more than 12 feet in the low areas on the south. Because flooding occurred so quickly and in the middle of the night, practically none of the contents of homes and business buildings could be saved. Thirty-eight persons were reported to have lost their lives in this area as a result of the flood, and about 12,000 persons were evacuated for periods ranging from a few days to several months. A total of 3,134 homes was flooded, of which 31 were demolished and 45 were swept away completely. The business district was flooded in depths of 2 to 3 feet for 1 to 2 days, and very little merchandise, materials, or equipment could be removed. The Yuba City Union High School and three grade schools were flooded in depths of a few inches to 6


feet over the floors. The 5th Street highway bridge and the Sacra mento Northern Railroad bridge over the Feather River connecting Yuba City and Marysville were washed out, and one of the two trunk telephone lines serving the two cities was severed.

After the levee broke at Shanghai Bend, the entire agricultural area south of Yuba City was flooded rapidly, and floodwaters from the river continued to flow into the area for 2 weeks. By January 7 the levee break had been repaired sufficiently to shut off the flow; a second rise of the river in mid-January was barely prevented from overtopping the newly repaired levee by the heroic work of troops called out from Beale Air Force Base. The vast lake of floodwater became known locally as Tudor Lake, for the community of Tudor which it inundated. The Feather River levee was cut at the lower end of the lake to drain it. Drainage through the cut continued for more than a month; then the cut was closed and the remaining water was pumped out. About 57,000 acres were flooded in this area, in cluding about 8,800 acres of peach orchards, 3,900 acres of prune orchards, 2,000 acres of almond and 1,700 acres of walnut trees, 1,700 acres of alfalfa, 4,200 acres of grain crops, and 26,700 acres of rice land. In areas near the levee break, trees were toppled and washed out, and in other places 2 to 3 feet of sand and silt were deposited in orchards. The floodwaters had a maximum depth of about 19 feet; the maximum duration of flooding was about 65 days. All homes and buildings in the area, including five public schools were flooded. Where water was deep, prolonged wave action demolished many buildings. The loss of livestock included 2,975 head of cattle, 2,500 sheep, 247 hogs, and 125 horses.

At Nicolaus part of the highway bridge across the Feather River was washed out, and the break in the east levee downstream from Nicolaus caused the flooding of about 24,600 acres of well-developed farmland (fig. 13). Two persons were reported to have lost their lives as a result of the flood in this area; approximately 98 farms and 12 nonfarm homes were flooded, and more than 400 persons were evacuated. The depth of floodwaters was 16 to 20 feet over most of the lower part of the area and 5 to 10 feet near Nicolaus. The levee was cut at the lower end to drain the floodwaters into the Sacra mento River. Inflow through the Nicolaus break continued for 34 days until the gap was closed, and outflow through the lower cut continued for another 2 weeks. Then the cut was closed, and the remaining water was pumped out.

On the Yuba River, the peak discharge of 148,000 cfs on December 23 at Englebright Dam plus the nearly simultaneous peak of 11,300 cfs on Deer Creek near Smartville, amounted to 159,000 cfs. This figure represents the peak discharge at the former gaging-station site

FLOODS IN FAR WESTERN STATES

FIGURE 13. Floodwaters of the Feather River at Nicolaus, Calif., on December 24. The break in the east levee is in the foreground. The Nicolaus gaging station is visible a short distance upstream from the break.

at Smartville, and compares with the previous maximum of 120,000 cfs at that site during the flood of March 1928. A combined peak of 114,000 cfs for the Englebright Dam and Deer Creek stations occurred during the November 1950 flood.

Upstream from Englebright Dam several areas on tributaries were flooded, and roads and power facilities were washed out. On the North Yuba River the flooding caused heavy damage in Downieville below the Downie River confluence.

On the valley floor the peak discharge was confined by the levees along the river to the confluence with the Feather River at Marysville. However, in the area east of Marysville, about 4,400 acres of orchard and farmland between the project levees were flooded to a maximum depth of 8 feet for 3 to 4 days. Roads, railroads, communication facilities, other utilities, and trailer courts, a hog farm, and a sand and gravel pit were flooded. Losses included 1,095 head of livestock. On December 23 about 8.500 persons were evacuated from the city of Marysville, but through the heroic efforts of the townspeople and and troops from Beale Air Force Base, the levees held and the city was not flooded.

SACRAMENTO RIVER BASIN BELOW FEATHER RIVER

The peak discharge of Bear River near Wheatland gaging station on December 22 exceeded the record peak of January 21, 1943, but


the main levees did not break. The Feather River backed up into and broke the levees of Dry Creek, Yankee Slough, and the Western Pacific interceptor canal, which are tributary to the river near its mouth. Breaks on the interceptor canal flooded farmland east of the Feather River levee; embankments of the Western Pacific and Sacramento Northern Railroads were broken, and bridges were damaged. About 12,500 acres of orchards and farmland were flooded by Bear River and Yankee Slough. The flood waters were 10 feet deep for as long as 60 days. Some homes and tourist cabins were flooded, and about 500 persons were evacuated from the area. About 1,100 head of livestock were lost.

In the American River basin records of peak discharge were broken at virtually all gaging stations; most of the records had been established by the flood of November 1950. The computed peak inflow to Folsom Reservoir was 219,000 cfs on December 23, whereas, the peak discharge was 180,000 cfs at the downstream Fair Oaks station on November 21, 1950, prior to the construction of the reservoir. The operation of the reservoir controlled the outflow to a maximum dis charge of 71,500 cfs at Fair Oaks on December 24, and this bankfull flow was carried to the Sacramento River through Sacramento without out causing damage or overflow. Above Folsom Reservoir the town of Coloma and the State Historical Monument at the gold-discovery site were flooded. Residences, summer homes, commercial buildings, roads, bridges, diversion structures, flumes and canals were severely damaged, but no agricultural lands were flooded.

At Sacramento weir on the Sacramento River, most of the inflowing American River floodwaters were discharged to Yolo bypass through 30 of the 48 gate openings, and the maximum discharge was 61,000 cfs on December 23. During the flood of November 1950 all gates were opened and passed a maximum discharge of 111,000 cfs.

Flood peaks in the Cache Creek basin were large, but did not exceed previous record flows. Extensive flooding and damage oc curred on the tributaries to Clear Lake. The flooded areas included about 2,000 acres of orchards and farmland on Middle and Clover Creeks, 3,000 acres on Scott Creek, 2,600 acres on Adobe Creek, and 1,500 acres on Kelsey and Manning Creeks. Water from Clover Creek reached a depth of 4 feet in the town of Upper Lake and flooded 101 homes and 34 business establishments. Overflows from Adobe Creek flooded five homes in the town of Finley, and transmission lines, road surfacing, and a road bridge were damaged. Downstream from Clear Lake, Cache Creek flooded about 900 acres of farmland, washed away a bridge near the town of Guinda, and eroded streambanks and a bridge abutment near the town of Capay and the highway west of the town of Woodland.


Although the floodflows of Putah Creek were regulated to some extent by the partly completed Monticello Dam, the peak discharge near Davis on December 24 exceeded the previous maximum discharge on December 7, 1952. The principal flood damages on Putah Creek were streambank erosion, and the flooding of about 400 acres of farm land; construction work on Monticello Dam was interrupted.

Streams flowing into Cache Slough (which carries Yolo bypass waters to the lower Sacramento River) flooded about 10,400 acres of farmland and pastureland and caused damage to crops, fences, roads, bridges, and some levees, and the loss of 300 head of sheep and 1,200 chickens.

Floodflows in Yolo bypass substantially exceeded the flows during November 1950. Downstream from the inflow through Sacramento weir, the peak discharge on December 23 was about 310,000 cfs. This flow was sufficient to cause failure of the levee system designed to afford partial protection to four tracts of highly productive farm land (Little Holland, Liberty, Prospect, and Egbert) within the flow- age easement area in the lower reaches of the bypass. About 12,800 acres were flooded on the four tracts.

In the lower Sacramento-San Joaquin delta area the combination of floodflows in the delta channels and exceptionally high tides during the December flood period caused failure of levees and flooding of Quimby Island and Empire Tract, and other islands were flooded by over topping of levees and by seepage. About 25,000 acres of intensively cultivated farmlands were flooded. The maximum tide at Venice Island was 10.7 feet; the November-December 1950 maximum was 9.8 feet.


The north-coastal region of California consists of those Pacific slope river basins extending from the Napa River basin on the south to the Klamath and Smith River basins on the north (fig. 14). The sites in this region at which data on stages and discharge were collected are numbered from 370 to 469, and their locations are plotted on figure 14.

The floods of December 1955-January 1956 rank among the greatest in north coastal California since the great winter floods of 1861-62. During the 2-month period a series of storms occurred; the greatest, on December 21-24 caused extremely high peak rates of runoff. The rainfall prior to December 21 saturated the watersheds and produced conditions favorable for flood runoff. The storms subsequent to December 24 caused the reoccurrence of flooding in some areas, but because these later peaks occurred so soon after the major peak, there was little additional damage. Only in some small basins in southern

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FIGURE 14. Map of the north-coastal California region showing location of flood-data sites.

Marin County was there appreciable damage from a second flood, and this occurred during the storm of January 13-16.

The most severely damaged communities were Cloverdale, Healds- burg, and Guerneville in the Russian River basin; Weott, Myers


Flat, Pepperwood, and Shively in the Eel River basin; Orick in the Redwood Creek basin; and Klamath and Klamath Glen in the lower Klamath River basin. Sixteen lives were lost, ten of them in Humboldt County.

The pages that follow briefly describe the floods in the various drainage basins of the region. A tabulation of flood damage is found in another section of this report.

NAPA RIVER BASIN

Severe flooding occurred in the Napa River basin as a result of the storms of December 15-20 and 21-24. At Saint Helena, 5.76 inches of rain fell on December 19, and a total of 9.08 inches was recorded during the 72-hour storm on December 21-24. The tributary stream of Dry Creek reached its peak on December 19, but the main stem and Conn Creek peaked during the second storm. The flow of Conn Creek is regulated by Lake Hennessey, and it was not until 1 a.m. on December 22 that the water surface in this reservoir reached spillway level. Peak discharge over the spillway occurred at noon on Decem ber 23; this was about 30 hours after the flood crest on the Napa River reached the mouth of Conn Creek.

The most extensive flooding in the basin occurred along the Napa River main stem between the cities of St. Helena and Napa. The 12,580 acres of flooded area was more than 1 mile wide in some places and the water was as much as 7 feet deep. Water remained on some areas for as long as 8 weeks. In the city of Napa a log jam at the Napa River bridge at Behrens Street caused flooding in 14 city blocks.' Riverbanks were eroded in many places and highway damage was appreciable.

SONOMA AND PETALUMA CREEKS

Both Sonoma and Petaluma Creeks reached their peaks during the storm of December 21-24, but only on Sonoma Creek was flooding serious. Near Glen Ellen a slide nearly closed the channel of Sonoma Creek. The flow in that restricted channel gained sufficient velocity to scour and undermine the left bank, causing serious erosion to a small agricultural area and damage to residences. Approximately 6,300 acres of agricultural land were flooded in the 5-mile reach of the creek upstream from its junction with East Branch.

The flooding in the Petaluma Creek basin was relatively minor compared with previous floods. Light local flooding occurred in the city of Petaluma, and downstream from the city scattered flooding in the reclaimed marshland area caused damage to farm equipment and crops and deposited silt and light debris over planted fields. Total damage amounted to about $55,000, two-thirds of which was


sustained by agricultural developments; almost all of the remaining damage was to roads and bridges.

SMALL BASINS IN MAKIN COUNTY

The streams causing the principal damage in Marin County were Novato, Miller, Gallinas, San Rafael, Corte Madera, and Lagunitas Creeks. Rainfall was extremely heavy in Marin County during the storm of December 21-24. In 72 hours Kentfield received 15.23 inches of rain; 7.41 inches fell in 24 hours.

In the Novato Creek basin 4,080 acres were inundated, almost all of which was agricultural land. Flooded runways at Hamilton Field caused the evacuation of airplanes to higher ground. Damage in Novato was light, but might have been much greater had it not been for the regulating effect of Novato Reservoir. Spill from the reser voir began at 10:15 p.m., December 22, more than 15 hours after peak flooding occurred in the town of Novato. On Miller Creek flooding was confined to 770 acres of agricultural land south of Hamilton Field. On Gallinas Creek, damage was primarily limited to the erosion of a concrete-lined drainage channel in Santa Margarita Valley. Repairs to this channel were estimated to cost $100,000. San Rafael Creek overflowed into the city of San Rafael and damaged large stocks of merchandise in stores and warehouses.

Corte Madera Creek overflowed its banks in the towns of Fairfax, San Anselmo, Ross, and Kentfield. Overflow from local drains also flooded part of the town of Corte Madera. Roads and bridges suf fered much damage, as did homes and stores in the inundated urban areas. Some of these areas are subject to frequent flooding, and resi dents have learned by experience to take preventive measures when floods threaten. Before the flood crest, automobiles were moved to high ground, low-lying buildings were emptied of valuables, and furni ture and mercantile stock was removed from ground floors. As a result,-flood damage was minimized.

On Lagunitas Creek 800 acres of agricultural land were flooded and levees were damaged, but the principal damage was to roads and bridges. In southern Marin County the moderately severe storm of January 13-16, which brought 5.40 inches of rain to Kentfield, caused local flooding and additional damage. The streams affected were: Stinson, Redwood, and Tennessee Valley Creeks which drain into the Pacific Ocean, and Coyote and San Rafael Creeks which drain into San Francisco Bay. These streams pass through low, flat, partly- reclaimed marshlands at their mouths and are subject to tidal influ ence in their lower reaches. The direct flood damage in January totaled $186,400.


RUSSIAN RIVER BASIN

As a result of the major storms of December 15-20 and December 21-24, the Russian River and its tributaries exceeded flood stage on two occasions. The flood peaks of December 21-23, however, were much larger than those of December 19-20 and rank with the greatest that have occurred since the flood of the winter of 1861-62. Such widely separated precipitation stations as Cazadero in the lower part of the basin and Ukiah 4 W in the upper part received 24-hour rainfall of 10.75 inches and 6.60 inches, respectively. Cazadero also reported a 72-hour total of 18.83 inches during the storm of December 21-24. The discharge hydrograph for the stream-gaging station on Russian River near Guerneville for December 1 to January 31 is shown in figure 15.

When it became apparent that the several small towns and resort areas along the Russian River would be inundated, local Civil Defense authorities declared a state of emergency at midnight December 21, and an orderly evacuation of the areas most likely to be flooded was started. This evacuation and the removal of belongings probably saved many lives and hundreds of thousands of dollars. When the full impact of the flood washed out highways and bridges and disrupted communications, evacuation of persons was carried out by rescue teams from all branches of the armed services, the National Guard, and Coast Guard. Equipment such as helicopters, Army ducks, jeeps, swamp buggies, aintracks, rubber rafts, and private craft were used day and night to rescue 961 people from such temporary sanctuaries as house tops and islands.

In the upper basin the principal damage was to agricultural lands. Riverbank erosion washed away many local bank-protection works and many acres of highly-developed cropland. Approximately 30,000 acres of agricultural land were inundated. Many residential and commercial areas were affected; homes, sawmills, wineries, and food-processing plants bore the brunt of the damage. The, lower basin, primarily a resort area with many summer homes, was also ravaged. A total of 1,000 dwellings and small business buildings throughout the entire basin was destroyed or damaged. Practically all major county roads were closed to traffic as a result of inundation from the floods or slides from the unprecedented rains. The North western Pacific Railroad, which parallels the flood plain from Healds- burg to Ukiah, was out of operation for 2 weeks owing to track washouts at several places.

SMALL COASTAL BASINS BETWEEN RUSSIAN AND EEL RIVERS

Flooding occurred during each of the storms of December 15-20 and 21-24 in all of the small basins beween the Russian and Eel Rivers.


Stages were considerably higher, however, during the second storm, and they rank among the greatest since the floods of 1861-62. Such widely separated precipitation stations as Yorkville in the Navarro River basin and Upper Mattole in the Mattole River basin each received 5 inches of rain on December 21 and a total of about 10 inches for the storm of December 21-24.

Because the entire area is very sparsely settled, practically all damage was confined to roads and bridges. Only in the Mattole River basin was there any appreciable loss of private property. Agricultural losses consisted mainly of silted pastures, loss of livestock and damaged fences. Lumber industry facilities were destroyed and stocks of logs and finished lumber were lost; indirect losses resulted from the inability to move out finished lumber over the severely damaged roads. One person was drowned in the Mattole River basin.

BEL RIVER BASIN

Major flood peaks occurred during the storms of December 15-20 and 21-24, but the peak during the later storm was by far the greater. The stage of 61.9 feet on Eel River at Scotia on December 22 is known to be the greatest since 1910, and was probably of about the same magnitude as that reached by the winter floods of 1861-62. The discharge hydrograph for the Scotia gaging station for December 1 to January 31 is shown in figure 15.

Extensive flooding in the basin normally occurs only in the three principal agricultural areas; Eel River delta, Round Valley, and Little Lake Valley. Because of the virtually unprecedented dis charges of the floods of December 1955, however, many small com munities along the river received damage for the first time. It is estimated that 43,000 acres of agricultural, urban, and industrial property were flooded.

On December 18, the U.S. Weather Bureau begun issuing flood warnings, and advised the evacuation of farm animals from the Eel River delta area. Advisory warnings continued to be issued period ically during the flood period, and these warnings undoubtedly saved numerous lives and property worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Nevertheless, the damage that resulted from the flood was catastro phic. Because commercial and residential development is concentrated along U.S. Highway 101, which parallels the South Fork Eel River and the Eel River main stem downstream from the junction with the South Fork, this part of the basin suffered the greatest damage. The communities of Stafford, Elinor, Pepperwood, Shively, South Fork, Weott, Myers Flat, Phillipsville, and Bull Creek were devastated. The high velocity flow carrying heavy debris either flattened buildings or swept them from their foundations. The chief industrial damage


was to the lumber industry, as facilities were destroyed and large stocks of logs and finished lumber were swept away. Two lives were lost and 27 persons injured, but the toll of deaths and injuries would have been much higher had it not been for spectacular rescues by members of the Armed Forces, National Guard, Coast Guard, county employees, and volunteer workers.

FIGURE 16. Eel River flood damage near Fernbridge, Calif. Undercutting is on downstream side of Fernbridge-Ferndale highway. Flood-damaged homes are in middleground. Photograph by Proctor's, Eureka, Calif.

Agricultural damage in the delta area was tremendous. Despite the efficacy of flood warnings, entire herds of valuable dairy stock, developed over many years of breeding, were lost. Numerous farm homes, out-buildings, and machinery were destroyed or damaged. The damage to highways and bridges throughout the basin isolated many communities for as long as several weeks (fig. 16). Slides, washouts, and trestle losses shut down the Northwestern Pacific Railroad for about 7 weeks. Communication lines and equipment were washed away or destroyed by slides throughout a large part of the basin. Long-distance trunk lines were inoperative for 1 to 2 weeks, except for intermittent operation for emergency calls.

Subsequent to the main rise of the river, lesser rises caused reflood- ing in the lower Eel River basin. Additional damage was light, except for bank erosion. -


MAD RIVER BASIN

The flood in the Mad River basin on December 22 was the greatest of record, but other floods of this magnitude probably have occurred since the great flood of the winter of 1861-62. At the station at Kneeland 7 SSE, a 24-hour precipitation of 5.46 inches was recorded on December 21. The flood inundated 6,300 acres, of which 4,500 were agricultural and industrial land between the town of Blue Lake and the Pacific Ocean. U.S. Highway 101 was inundated and the north approach to the bridge over the Mad River was washed out. Damage to agricultural lands from erosion, scour, silt, and debris deposits was severe and loss of dairy cattle was high. Considerable damage was suffered by sawmills and wood-products mills. Sweesey. Dam, which diverts domestic water supply for the city of Eureka, suffered minor damage. The peak stage of the Mad River reached the levee crest near the towns of Blue Lake and Korbel, but the river was contained there.

REDWOOD CREEK BASIN

Virtually all the damage from the flood of December 21-22 in the Redwood Creek basin occurred in the town of Orick and its environs. The maximum stage and discharge of the stream at Orick were iden tical to those of the flood of January 1953, and several other floods of this magnitude have probably occurred since the great floods of the winter of 1861-62.

The creek rose rapidly at Orick until water covered most of the area to a depth of about 4 feet; nearly every home and business establishment in the town was flooded. Residents were evacuated to higher ground and there was no loss of life. About 910 acres of agricultural land were inundated, and damage to roads and bridges was appreciable. During late December and January, further rises of Redwood Creek caused inundation of some areas, but the addi tional damage was light.

KLAMATH RIVER BASIN

The heavy December rains throughout the Klamath River basin culminated in a peak discharge of 425,000 cfs on December 22 at the gaging station near Klamath (fig. 15). This peak is the maximum of record, but it probably was equaled in the flood of February 1890 and exceeded in the floods of the winter of 1861-62.

Major damage occurred in the lower reaches of the basin where six persons lost their lives as a direct result of the floods. The greatest damage was in and near the town of Klamath and in Hoopa Valley. The town of Klamath and the community of Klamath Glen, about 3 miles upstream, were almost completely destroyed (fig. 17). Much


FIGURE 17. Flooding in the town of Klamath, Calif., on the right bank of the Klamath River. Photographby Proctor's, Eureka, Calif.

of the economy of the area is based on the production of lumber and lumber products, and several mills in the vicinity were severely damaged or demolished. Loss of stocks of finished lumber and logs was very high. In the delta area of the Klamath River about 700 acres of agricultural land were inundated. In Hoopa Valley on the Trinity River, several lumber mills were damaged but the principal losses involved very extensive damage to roads and bridges.

Because the Klamath River basin in California is very sparsely settled, there was only scattered damage to residential and commercial properties elsewhere in the basin. In the Scott River valley, however, approximately 6,300 acres of agricultural land were inundated. Throughout the entire basin and particularly in its interior, roads and communications were destroyed by the rains and high water. Slides and bridge and road washouts completely isolated large areas for weeks; during this time radio was the only means of communication.

In the upper Klamath River basin in Oregon, damage was negligible and was confined mainly to local flooding in the upper Sprague River drainage basin.

SMITH RIVER BASIN

The flood of December 22 in the Smith River basin was the maxi mum recorded since 1931, when the mainstem of the river was first gaged. Daring the storm of December 21-24, Gasquet Ranger Station received 12.03 inches of rain, two-thirds of which fell in 24

668521 O 63 5


hours. As the Smith River rose, flood warnings for the delta area were issued by the Weather Bureau. These warnings were particu larly effective in keeping cattle loss to a minimum. It is estimated that 7,600 acres of pasture and agricultural land in the delta area were inundated to an average depth of about 3 feet. Floodwaters from the Smith River flowed into Lake Earl Slough and raised the elevation of Lake Earl so that 3,200 acres of land bordering the lake were flooded. Agricultural damage consisted primarily of the scouring of pastureland and the deposition on the land of silt, gravel, and debris from timber operations. Damage to roads and bridges was severe as a result of the rain and high water, which caused slides and washouts. The principal industrial damage was the inundation of lumber mills and the attendant loss of finished lumber and logs.

WEST-CENTRAL IDAHO

A winter flood in central or southern Idaho is an extraordinary occurrence. In the lower valleys, early spring thaws commonly cause localized freshets on the smaller tributary streams. In the higher country most of the flood potential is due to heavy snow accumula tions, and rivers usually remain low from November to March. Winter floods are more common in the Coeur d'Alene River drainage basin where an exceptionally high flood occurred in December 1933 as a result of warm rains on accumulated snow. A similar condition caused the December 1955 flood in west-central Idaho. Warm rains on snow generated record streamflows within a period of 48 to 72 hours. The Idaho flood was a product of a storm that caused simul taneous floods in northern California and southwestern Oregon. The broad path of the parent storm was marked by a number of spot reactions as it approached Idaho, namely, Satus Creek in the Yakima area, John Day River on the lower Snake River, and Asotin Creek and Palouse River in southeastern Washington and Idaho. In Idaho the flood was centered in the Weiser and Payette River basins which are flanked by the Little Salmon River on the north and the Boise River on the south (fig. 18). The locations of the sites, 481-566, at which streamflow data were collected, are shown on the map. Hydro- graphs illustrating the relative pattern and magnitude of discharge during December 1955 and January 1956 at selected gaging stations are shown in figure 19.

The storm extended from December 18 to 23, and at some points it was reported that the rain was nearly continuous. The Weather Bureau reported that eight of its stations within the primary flood area recorded more than 6 inches of precipitation during the week. This precipitation fell as snow at the highest altitudes; part of the precipitation, which fell as rain at medium altitudes was absorbed by

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FIGURE 18. Map of the west-central Idaho region showing location of flood-data sites.

the snow cover and did not contribute to the December flood. An ex ample of the heavy precipitation at high altitudes is the measured amount of 8.11 inches of water which entered the snowpack at Dead- wood Dam (alt, 5,300 ft) during December 19-23.


BOISE RIVER BASIN

The drainage area above the city of Boise is 2,760 square miles. On December 23, while a major flood discharge was being recorded upstream, the flow at Boise was only 32 cfs. The combined capacities of Anderson Kanch, Arrowrock, and Lucky Peak Keservoirs served to regulate the river completely. On the day of greatest discharge these reservoirs cut off a daily mean flow of about 22,000 cfs. The maxi mum rates of inflow to Arrowrock, Lucky Peak, and Anderson Ranch Reservoirs were 16,700, 5,800, and 4,600 cfs, respectively. The South Fork Boise River, on which Anderson Ranch Reservoir is located, did not react to the storm as strongly as the remainder of the basin, and the total basin runoff was thereby less than that which might have been experienced had the storm pattern or other factors been slightly different. It is noteworthy that Moore Creek peaked in step with the river (fig. 19), as this tributary normally peaks in advance of the river during the annual spring freshet.

The gaging station on Boise River near Twin Springs records the unregulated flow of the main stem above Arrowrock Reservoir from a drainage area of 830 square miles. At this station the river rose rapidly with but one break from 1,200 cfs to the peak flow of 10,300 cfs; this peak equals the maximum peak previously recorded in 45 years of record. The peak flow of the flood of 1943 was 8,920 cfs, and peak flows exceeding 9,000 cfs were recorded in 1917, 1921, 1928, 1952, and 1953.

Small tributaries in the upper basin, such as Dixie, Smith, Slide Gulch, Sheep, Logging, Cottonwood, and Thorn Creeks and many others eroded their channels to an unusual degree and probably were higher than they had been for many years. Flood damage in the Boise River basin amounted to about $250,000 and was confined chiefly to roads and highways.

PAYETTE RIVER BASIN

The drainage area above Black Canyon Dam near Emmett is 2,680 square miles; this area is slightly less than that of Boise River at Boise. The maximum discharge of the Payette River near Emmett for the the previous 30 years was 22,800 cfs on May 1, 1938. On December 22, 1955, the peak discharge was 22,700 cfs. This is especially signifi cant when it is considered that on the day of greatest discharge the upstream reservoirs intercepted a daily mean flow of about 9,000 cfs. The major regulation was effected at Cascade Reservoir on the North Fork. This reservoir had not been constructed when the previous maximum was recorded, and at that time regulation by the smaller reservoirs was less than 2,000 cfs. These factors indicate that a much


higher flood generation occurred in December 1955 than had been previously recorded for the river basin as a whole.

The unregulated condition for a section of the basin can be simulated by setting apart the inflow between the Garden Valley and the Banks gaging stations. The drainage area of this section of the South Fork includes that of the Middle Fork and a few smaller tributaries and comprises an area of 421 square miles. The differential flow on December 22, 1955, exceeded any other corresponding differential of record by almost 20 percent. Also, inflow from Shafer, Harris, and Squaw Creeks between the town of Horseshoe Bend and Black Canyon Dam was exceptionally high.

Flood damage was about $225,000, most of which was to farmland, livestock, and structures. Some sections of roads and highways were washed out, but damage of this type was a relatively small part of the total.

The Payette basin, like the Boise, was not contributing at the maximum rate. High altitude drainage areas above McCall, Low- man, and Deadwood Dam, comprising 700 to 800 square miles, were largely frozen in.

WEISER RIVER BASIN

The Weiser River was in flood throughout its length. Rain and warm temperatures greatly reduced the snow cover, particularly on the lower slopes bordering the valley. Following the flood period some snow remained on the valley floor and, as in the Boise and Payette River basins, the snowpack at higher altitudes remained relatively undisturbed.

The discharges on some of the tributary streams were very high although they may have been less than the previous niaximums of record. The upper reaches of the Little Weiser River and the West Fork Weiser River did not contribute significant amounts of runoff. Also, Mann Creek flows were well within previous extremes. However, the upper Weiser River flood, even as far upstream as Tamarack, is believed by old residents to have been the greatest in more than 40 years. The most critical flood conditions occurred in the vicinity of Cambridge and Midvale where considerable damage to farmland, livestock, and structures was inflicted. The gaging station 2% miles upstream from Cambridge and the adjacent road bridge were destroyed prior to the peak of the flood; which was 10,100 cfs on December 22. The previous maximum in 16 years of record at this station was 6,670 cfs in 1940.

The drainage area of the Weiser River above Crane Creek is 1,160 square miles and that of Weiser River near Weiser (below Crane Creek) is 1,460 square miles. Lost Valley and Crane Creek Reservoirs were impounding in December, and the latter probably reduced the peak


in the lower Weiser River noticeably. A peak discharge of 19,900 cfs occurred at the station below Crane Creek early on December 23, when lower Crane Creek (under regulation) was discharging only about 100 cfs. The indicated peak for the river above Crane Creek was therefore 19,800 cfs; which is substantially higher than the maximum from 1920 to 1952.

At the city of Weiser and in the lower Weiser River Valley, flood conditions depend on the magnitude of coincident discharges in the Weiser and Snake Rivers. At the time of the Weiser River peak the Snake River at Weiser was discharging about 45,000 cfs, which is unusually high for December. Flow in the Weiser River had dropped to about 12,000 cfs by the time the Snake River reached its peak. Impounded storage on the Boise River and the upper Snake River effectively reduced the Snake River peak. Despite the mitigating influence of storage, considerable flooding of low-lying farmland near Weiser occurred, and there was some disruption of traffic and damage to highways.

LITTLE SALMON RIVER BASIN

The upper end of the Little Salmon River basin is characterized by a fan-shaped pattern of small tributaries entering the New Meadows Valley. After leaving the broad, relatively flat, mountain valley the main stream drops sharply for several miles as it flows through a constricted canyon and thence through a narrow valley to its con fluence with the Salmon River at Riggins. The meandering upper valley stream was heavily iced at the beginning of the flood period. Breakup of the ice and accompanying jams undoubtedly contributed to damaging effects of the flood downstream. Most of the damage was done in and just downstream from the canyon section where parts of U.S. Highway 95, the only through north-south route in Idaho, were completely destroyed. Although the peak discharge of 8,500 cfs on December 22 was lower than the 1948 flood peak, the damage in the canyon section was much greater than during the 1948 flood. The greater damage was probably due to the ice jams and the high flows from side streams which overflowed and loosened road fills adjacent to the main stream.

SNAKE RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES BELOW WEISER RIVER

Discharges on the Snake River from Weiser to Lewiston were high for a winter period, yet were generally within the capacity of the channel and serious flooding did not occur. The peak flow at the gaging station at Oxbow was 52,100 cfs on December 24 whereas the maximum peak during 32 years of record was 89,700 cfs on April 28, 1952. Tributary runoff below the Weiser River was variable.. The Burnt and Powder Rivers, although adjacent to the flood area, were


not especially high, but Wild Horse and Indian Creeks on the Idaho side of Pine Creek in Oregon in the vicinity of Oxbow were in flood; Brownlee Creek just south of Wild Horse Creek did not react significantly.

WILLAMETTE VALLEY

The floods of December 1955-January 1956 were outstanding in the Willamette River basin (fig. 20). Streamflow-data sites 588 to 683 are in this region and their location is plotted on the map. Al though the peak discharges were unusually high, only a few were the

124' 123 122 C

o

stage or miscellaneous site


10 20 30 40 50 MILES

43

FIGURE 20. Map of the Willamette Valley region showing location of flood-data sites.


maximum for the period of record for gaging stations in operation 20 or more years.

During October and November about 8 inches of precipitation had fallen in each month over the entire area so that by December the soil was well primed, streamflow had increased, and conditions were favorable for runoff of flood proportions. Heavy precipitation con tinued 88 a series of storms moved over the area in rapid succession from December 18 through January 22. In the upper Willamette Valley, precipitation averaged nearly 20 inches in December and 10 to 15 inches in January. Average precipitation for the lower valley was about 12 and 13 to 15 inches for the same periods. The storm of December 18-21 produced the highest peaks during the 2-month period almost everywhere in the basin. Rainfall generally ranged from 3 to more than 7 inches during December 20-21.

Precipitation occurred on about 75 percent of the days in both months; the resulting floods were outstanding, and exceeded the floods of 1943 and 1945 in volume and extent of flooding.

Five flood-control reservoirs were effective in minimizing damage on some of the tributaries and on the main stem. However, it was reported that velocities in the lower reaches of unregulated tributaries were greatly increased due to increased gradients resulting from lower main-stem discharge. Damage in the basin amounted to $8.7 million of which $5.4 million was to agricultural properties. The Corps of Engineers has estimated that operation of flood-control reservoirs averted another $13.6 million in damage. Two lives were lost in this region as a direct result of the flood. Tabulation of flood damages is found in given "Flood damage" section of this report.

The time distribution and relative magnitude of peak discharges at selected gaging stations during the months of December and January are illustrated by the hydrographs in figure 21.

MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER BASIN

At West Fir, 5.07 inches of precipitation occurred during December 20-21, and at Oakridge a total of 3.91 inches was recorded for virtually the same period.

The floods resulting from this inundated 300 acres and caused damages amounting to $152,000. One fatality occurred in the area when a motorist and his car fell into Salmon Creek, just above Oak- ridge, where a bridge was washed out. The Willamette Highway was blocked by a 150-foot washout above Oakridge. Willamette City just downstream from Oakridge was under 3 feet of water and 200 persons were evacuated from their homes.

Lookout Point Reservoir, the largest of the five flood-control reservoirs in the Willamette River basin, effectively controlled the


flow of the lower Middle Fork Willamette River. Peak outflow from the reservoir was only about 20 percent of peak inflow and was delayed until about 6 days after the natural peak. .

COAST FORK WILLAMETTE RIVER BASIN

This stream joins the Middle Fork Willamette River near Eugene to form the Willamette River main stem. During December 20-21, 3.72 inches of rain fell at London and 3.26 inches fell at Dorena Dam. Runoff in excess of 90 cfs per square mile occurred on unregulated streams.

Damage amounted to $180,000; 530 acres were inundated, and about 200 persons were forced to evacuate their homes. Ambulances were used to evacuate elderly patients from "Twilight Acres Rest Home" to a nearby church. Six of seven Southern Pacific locomotives, pulling 78 freight cars over the divide near Cottage Grove, were derailed at a washout.

Two small storage reservoirs in this area were operated on a special schedule because of the magnitude of the flows. Although not 100 percent effective in controlling the flow, these reservoirs appreciably reduced the floodflows in the lower Coast Fork Willamette River. The peak outflow was delayed about 8 days at Cottage Grove Dam and then was only about 40 percent of the peak inflow. Peak release at Dorena Reservoir on the Row River was also cut to about 40 per cent of peak inflow but was delayed only about 12 hours after the peak inflow.

EASTSIDE TRIBUTARIES TO MAIN STEM WILLAMETTE RIVER PROM EUGENE TO MOUTH

The important eastside tributaries, the McKenzie, Calapooya, Santiam, Pudding, Molalla, and Clackamas Rivers rise in the Cascade Mountains.

During December 20-21, 5.94 inches of rain fell at McKenzie Bridge in the McKenzie River basin, 5.51 inches at Holley in the Calapooya River basin, 7.32 inches at Detroit in the Santiam River basin, 2.34 inches at Aurora in the Pudding River basin, 2.64 inches at Molalla in the Molalla River basin, and 5.35 inches at Three Lynx in the Clackamas River basin. In the Pudding River basin, floodflows were not particularly high, but in some basins the flow was the maximum of record or close to the maximum at a few gaging stations with periods of record ranging from 10 to more than 20 years. Maximum for at least the past 20 or 25 years occurred on the Mohawk River, a trib utary of the McKenzie River, and on Calapooya River at Albany. At some points, the flow of the Clackamas River was the maximum or near the maximum the past 56 years. Many acres of farmland were inundated by these record-breaking floods.


On the North Santiam River, Detroit Eeservoir effectively con trolled floodflows; peak outflow was only 40 percent of peak inflow and occurred about 19 days afterward. There was no recorded dam age in the North Santiam River basin. In the remainder of the Santiam River basin, 4,730 acres were inundated and damage amount ed to $324,000. A railroad-track washout along the South Santiam River resulted in minor injuries to three trainmen. A six-car Spokane, Portland and Seattle freight train hit the washout (30 ft long and 12 ft deep) at a speed of 5 miles per hour. The locomotive nosed over into the mud but the cars were not derailed. In the Molalla River basin a logging truck evacuated 12 families from their homes in Sandy Dell. In Clackamas County, 212 persons were evacuated from their homes and in Marion County, 11 persons were evacuated.

Duration of overbank flow was about 3 to 4 days on the major unregulated streams. Revetment and bank protection works, although not fully effective, prevented damages of many thousands of dollars.

WESTSIDE TRIBUTARIES OF MAIN STEM WILLAMETTE RIVER FROM EUGENE TO MOUTH

The important westside tributaries, the Long Tom, Marys, Lucki- mute, Yamhill, and Tualatin rivers originate in the Coast Range. The severest flooding occurred in the Tualatin, Yamhill, and upper Long Tom River basins.

Precipitation throughout this area ranged from about 5% inches to almost 10 inches during December 18-21. At Falls City in the Luckiamute River basin, a catch of 4.55 inches was recorded for the 24-hour period ending 7 a.m. December 22, while at Haskins Creek Dam in the Yamhill River basin, 4.08 inches fell in the 24-hour period ending 4 p.m. December 21.

In the Long Tom River basin, almost 14,000 acres were inundated and damages totaled $520,000. In Ben ton, Polk and Washington Counties 15, 35, and 300 persons, respectively, were evacuated from their homes. State Highway 210 was closed because of flooding at Tualatin River bridge near Scholls and 12 families were evacuated from this area. Several families were evacuated when the town of Tualatin near the mouth of the Tualatin River was inundated. Des pite faulty gate operation for about half an hour Fern Ridge Reservoir on the Long Tom River appreciably controlled the flow downstream. Peak outflow occurred about 4% days after, peak inflow and was only about 40 percent of peak inflow.

MAIN STEM WTLLiAMETTE RIVER FROM EUGENE TO MOUTH

Precipitation and antecedent conditions were the same for the main stem as for the eastside and westside tributaries. Although the flood-


control reservoirs greatly reduced the flood in the main stem, there was still considerable overflow and damage. There was no overbank flow between Eugene and Springfield; damage in that area amounted to only about $29,000. Other areas were affected as shown below:

Acreageflooded Damage

Harrisburg area__ ________________________________ 16, 000 $451, 000Albany to Corvallis_-__-_____-_-_-_-_--________ 28,000 669,000Salem area____________________________________ 33, 000 1, 552, 000Oregon City to Portland________._-___----__-____ 4,800 551,000

Two homes were almost completely destroyed. Train service be tween Portland and San Francisco was interrupted for 2 days.

Revetments and channel improvements prevented many thousands of dollars of damage, but the five flood-control reservoirs were by far the most effective control factors. These reservoirs reduced main- stem stages by several feet. For a more detailed account of the effect of these reservoirs see the section on "Storage regulation" in this report.

Because of the effect of the reservoirs on the Middle and Coast Forks of the Willamette River, peak flow at Springfield did not occur until December 26, but peaks at Albany, Salem, and Wilsonville corre sponded to the tributary peaks of December 21 and 22 and occurred on December 23 and 24.

COASTAL OREGON

The floods of December 1955-January 1956 produced outstanding peak flows in the Coastal Oregon region; many of which were maxi mum for periods of record of 30 to 50 years; some were exceeded only by the historical peaks of 1861 and 1890. The region (fig. 22) consists of the Pacific Slope basins in Oregon from Youngs River on the north to the Oregon-California border on the south. The floods were par ticularly noteworthy in the south coastal area. Locations of streamflow-data sites 684 to 788 in the Coastal Oregon region are shown on figure 22.

In the north-coastal area, precipitation during October, November, December, and January averaged about 12, 15, 18 and 18 inches respectively. During the same months in the south coastal area precipitation averaged about 8, 10, 25, and 20 inches. For the 4- month period the entire area received more than 60 inches of pre cipitation, but during the 2 months of serious flooding the southern basins received about 45 inches and the northern basins received about 36 inches. Greatest intensities occurred in the southern part where Gold Beach Ranger Station recorded 7.34 inches for the 24-hour period ending at 4 p.m. December 26.

A68

42


124° 123° 122° 121' 120°

EXPLANATION,684

Stream-gaging station



FIGUBE 22. Map of the coastal Oregon region showing location of flood-data sites.

In Coastal Oregon, as in the Willamette Valley, snow that had fallen earlier contributed appreciably to flood volume but had only a minor effect on flood peaks.


The extent and volume of the floods were outstanding, rivaling the historic peaks of 1861 and 1890. Maximum peaks during periods of record were almost equaled on North Umpqua River at Winchester and South Umpqua River near Brockway, the principal tributaries above Umpqua River at Elkton. The peak at Elkton, however, was the maximum for the period of record and equaled the historic peak 1861, the greatest previously known. The reason for this apparent inconsistency is probably that runoff was high for the entire basin and very high flow occurred on the intervening tributaries below Win chester and Brockway.

Thirteen persons lost their lives as a direct result of the floods in coastal Oregon; most of the fatalities occurred in the Umpqua and Coquille River basins. Property damage amounted to more than $9 million. A tabulation of flood damages is found in another section of this report.

The time distribution and relative magnitudes of peak discharges at selected gaging stations in the coastal Oregon region are shown by the discharge hydrographs in figure 23.

NORTH-COASTAL, STREAMS

The major streams in North Coastal Oregon are the Nehalem, Wilson, Trask, Nestucca, Siletz, Alsea, and Siuslaw Rivers. Because these streams rise in the Coast Range and flow directly to the sea, they are relatively short and steep.

During December 18-27, precipitation totaling 10.67 inches fell at Seaside, 11.60 inches at Tillamook, 9.11 inches at Newport, and 13.57 inches at Alsea Fish Hatchery. The greatest 24-hour pre cipitation was 4.40 inches at Tillamook and 4.25 inches at Alsea Fish Hatchery on December 21.

The flooding in the north coastal area was not as severe as in the south but even so, the maximum discharges for 16-year periods of record occurred on Alsea River near Tidewater and on Nehalem River near Foss; on Trask River near Tillamook the peak discharge was the maximum for a 25-year period of record. In general, the floods were below the peaks of 1921 and 1933 and the historic peak of 1890.

One man was drowned in the Nehalem River when his boat appar ently capsized. Highways through Clatskanie and from Newport to Corvallis were closed by slides. From Newport to Depoe Bay, fallen powerlines made driving hazardous. In Tillamook County the high winds of December 21-22 blew the roofs from three school- houses. Damage in the area was more than $400,000, over 50 per cent of which was agricultural damage. In the Siuslaw River basin, damage was chiefly to industry and amounted to $120,000; the

PART 1. DESCRIPTION ATI

lumbering industry lost many logs stored in booming areas and recovered others only at large cost.

Because these streams are relatively short and steep and flood runoff was flashy, floodflows lasted for less than 2 days. There are no flood-control reservoirs in this area and natural flow occurred. Levees on the Nehalem, Nestucca, and Siuslaw Rivers were over topped, and tide gates failed at several locations. On streams entering Tillamook Bay (Kilchis, Trask, Tillamook, Wilson, and Miami Creeks) levees were not overtopped, but some flooding occurred when water flanked these levees upstream.

UMPQUA RIVER BASIN

From December 18 to 27, precipitation generally averaged between 10 and 15 inches over the entire basin; a maximum 24-hour precipi tation of 5.75 inches was recorded for December 25 at Reston in the South Umpqua River basin. At the headwaters of the North Umpqua River, much of the precipitation infiltrated the porous soils and ran off later. As a result peak runoff was less than in the South Umpqua River or in the lower North Umpqua River basin. The floods in December 1955 were double crested in the Umpqua River basin. On the main stream and larger tributaries the peaks that occurred late on December 21 or early December 22 were the maximums for the flood period and were the result of the heavy rains on December 18-22. On the smaller tributary streams, particularly near Roseburg, the peaks that occurred early on December 26 were the maximums for the flood period and were the result of rains of shorter duration but higher intensity on December 25-26.

According to a report by the Oregon State Civil Defense Agency, five lives were lost in the basin as a direct result of the floods. At Toketee Falls, in the headwaters of the North Umpqua River, about 200 families and 150 construction workers were isolated for several days. A small diversion dam on Fish Creek was washed out, and 3 feet of mud was deposited in the control station of the main power house. The town of Myrtle Creek was without light and power, and communication lines were down. The town of Riddle was evacuated and later was completely surrounded by water. Pacific Highway between Dillard and Myrtle Creek was blocked by water, and the Drain to Reedsport highway was closed by slides. There was also considerable damage to the county road system (fig. 24). More than 300 families were evacuated from danger points in the basin. Damages were estimated at $2,143,000; the major types were agricultural (32 percent), residential (26 percent), and industrial (21 percent).

668521 O 63 6


FIGURE 24. Floodwaters over county road bridge across South Fork Umpqua River at Kice Creek, 2 miles upstream from Dillard, Oreg., at 11 a.m., December 22,1955. Photograph by Dick Oilman, Koseburg, Oreg.

In general, streams were above bankfull stages for 1 to 2 days at the time of the December 21-22 peak and for less than 1 day at the time of the December 26 peak. There are no significant storage or flood-control reservoirs in the basin. All levees were overtopped except those protecting the towns of Reedsport and Gardiner, which proved adequate and prevented extensive damage.

COOS AND COQUELLE RIVER BASINS

The Coos and Coquille Rivers rise in the Coast Range, and are the principal streams in Coos County and the only large streams between the Umpqua and Rogue Rivers. Precipitation during December 18-27 was 16.47 inches at North Bend in the Coos River basin and about 20 inches for Powers and Sitkum in the Coquille River basin.

Maximum peaks of record did not occur except at gaging stations with short periods of record. However, peaks approached previous maximums at stations with 20 to 40 years of record. Although there is no gaging station on the main Coquille River, the lower Coquille River may have had the greatest discharge known. However, the tide is a major factor in the lower Coquille and all that is certain is that the stage was higher than ever before observed.

One person was drowned in the Coos River as a direct result of the


flood. Damage to the Coast Highway in the Coos Bay area amounted to about $100,000, and most of the main roads were closed for about a week. The community of Arago on the coast was completely isolated by floodwaters.

In the Coquille River basin, the town of Coquille was isolated with out light, power, and communications for several days; the town of Myrtle Point was also isolated without electric power and drinking water. U.S. Highway 101 near Coquille was under 3 feet of water, and the road from Coquille to Bandon remained closed for about 8 days. Railroad service from Coquille to Coos Bay was interrupted for 2 weeks. About 350 persons in Coos County were evacuated. Coastguardmen from Newport brought in boats to help Coquille Valley farmers move their belongings to higher ground. There were six fatalities in the Coquille River basin as a direct result of the floods. A slide at Remote, Oreg., killed five members and injured three children of one family. The huge slide, about 300 feet wide and 14 feet thick, moved their home about 400 feet and demolished it. High winds collapsed a barn near Coquille and killed 132 dairy cattle. Total damage in Coquille River basin was $2,597,000, of which 40 percent was agricultural, 36 percent industrial, and 14 percent was damage to railroads and utilities. Most of the damage was in the lowlands below Myrtle Point, where more than 20,000 acres of farm land was inundated.

In the lower Coquille River, stages were above flood level for 4 to 5 days. The lowlands were inundated for several weeks, a common occurrence in this area whenever there is appreciable overbank flow.

There are no storage reservoirs in these basins, and the only flood- control structures are levees in the Fat Elk and Beaver Hill drainage districts in the Coquille River basin and on the lower reaches of the Coos River. The levees on the Coos River were adequate but those in the Coquille River basin were not designed to protect against major floods and were overtopped early in the flood period.

ROGUE RIVER BASIN

December precipitation was generally less than in other coastal basins and was confined more to the December 18-22 storm; the great est intensities occurred on December 21. The resulting flood peaks occurred late on December 21 or early on December 22. One notable exception to this precipitation pattern was Gold Beach Ranger Sta tion at the mouth of the Rogue River where the total rainfall for December 18-27 was 21.91 inches, of which 12.64 inches fell on December 25-26. The maximum 24-hour rainfall in Oregon for the entire flood period, 7.34 inches, occurred at this station on December 26. For the rest of the basin, 2 to 9 inches of precipitation fell during December 18-22; the lesser amounts fell in the southeastern

A74 FLOODS IN FAB WESTERN STATES

part of the basin and the larger amounts in the northeastern and southwestern parts.

Except for the southeastern part of the basin the peaks of December 21-22 were the maximum for periods of record on most tributaries and at main-stem stations. Some of these stations have records of 17 to 50 years. The highest peak rates of discharge were in the Illinois Valley; on Rogue River below Illinois River near Agness a tremendous discharge of 414,000 cfs occurred from 4,890 square miles. This flood in the Rogue River basin was as high or higher than any flood in the last 65 years including those of 1927, 1945, and 1953, and was exceeded only by the historic floods of 1861 and 1890.

No fatalities occurred as a result of the flood. Damage in the basin amounted to $4,049,000; agricultural damage was 34 percent of the total, residential damage 27 percent, and commercial damage about 17 percent. About 14,500 acres of farmland were flooded. Three railroad bridges were washed out, and the powerhouses at two hydroelectric plants were flooded. The Applegate River washed out 200 feet of the Redwood Highway bridge. Parts of U.S. Highway 99 were under 4 feet of water and in the Grants Pass area damage to two large telephone cables put about 1,000 telephones out of service. About 400 persons were evacuated from then* homes.

The heaviest precipitation was concentrated during December 18-22, and the flood peaks were flashy. Duration of floodflow was only IK to 2 days on the main stem and less than 1 day on most of the tributaries. There are no flood-control reservoirs in the basin. Flood-control works are limited to low levees and revetments, most of which were destroyed or seriously damaged. In some locations revet ments aided greatly in preventing serious damage.

AREAS OF MINOR FLOODING IN OREGON, WASHINGTONAND IDAHO

The floods of December 1955-January 1956 were not serious in the areas of minor flooding. In some cases the peaks ranked second high during the period of record, but in all locations where the record is long or historic data are available, these peaks ranked much below those of the greatest floods. However,, the peaks were extremely unusual in that they occurred during the winter in an area where they generally result from spring snowmelt.

The area of minor flooding (fig. 25) includes parts of eastern Oregon, eastern Washington and northern Idaho. The location of the 32 sites (470-480 and 567-587) for which data on stage and discharge are included in this report are shown on the map. The discharge hydrograph for the gaging station on the Wind River near Carson for the 2-month period is presented in figure 26.

Damage was negligible in the areas of minor flooding.

123°

122

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DISCHARGE, IN THOUSANDS OF CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

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FLOOD DAMAGE

Loss of 72 lives was attributed to the floods of December 1955- January 1956 in the Far Western States. Total damage amounted to about $190 million. Virtually all the damage occurred as a result of the major floods of December, although there was a reoccurrence of flooding in some areas in January. Because the January peaks occurred so soon after the major peak, the additional damage was slight.

Immediately after the December floods, surveys of flood damage were begun by the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and Soil Conservation Service, the American Red Cross, various State and county agencies, and other organizations. The Corps of Engineers assembled all available damage reports made by other agencies as well as reports of interviews with many property owners, local organizations, public utilities, and private firms. Flood damage is summarized for each of the principal hydrologic regions.

THE GREAT BASIN

Flood damage in the Great Basin amounted to about $4 million; this figure closely approximates the loss sustained in the major floods of November-December 1950. Most severely affected was the city of Reno, Nev., where damage amounted to about $885,000. There were no deaths in the Great Basin attributable to the flood. Table 2 summarizes flood damages by river reaches under five categories of damage.

The data in table 2 cover only the flood damage in the three major stream systems of the region the Walker, Carson, and Truckee Rivers. No estimate is included for the minor damage which occurred in other parts of the region.


Nine lives were lost in central-coastal California as a result of the floods of December 1955-January 1956, and flood damage totaled more than $27 million. Five lives were lost in the city of Santa Cruz, and damage amounted to $7,629,600 as follows:

Flood damagein city of

Direct damage Santa CruzResidential-_-_-_____-_-_______._..__...._...____..___ $786, 500Nonresidential-_________________________________________ 5, 442, 400Roads and streets-_-----._______._________________ 70, 000Emergency aid________-_________________________ 199, 800

Indirect damage_________________________________________ 1, 130, 900

TotaL--.___-____________________________________-. 7, 629, 600


TABLE 2. Flooded areas and Hood damage in the Great Basin, California, December1955 and January 1956

[Compiled by Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District]

Stream and reach

Walker River: East Walker River above

East Walker River below Walker River Reservoir-

West Walker River above

West Walker River below Pickle Meadows damsite.

TotaL. ...... ............

Carson River: East Fork above Wata-

sheamu damsite.__. ...East Fork below Wata-

West Fork to Centerville.. East and West Forks, Cen-

terville to Carson gage__.- Main Carson River, Car

son gage to Lahontan-... Main Carson River, below

Total..................

Truckee River:

Prosser Creek to Reno___--

Reno to Vista. . . _ .

Derby Dam to Pyramid

Total-

Flooded area

(acres)

1,600

4, 500 3,300

9,400

3,700 2,000

17, 800

11, 500

35, 000

100 200

6,400 1,300

1,900

9,900

54,300

Flood damage in dollars

Agricul tural

43, 000

121, 000 67, 000

231, 000

237, 000 62,000

147, 000

225, 000

671, 000

75, 000

203, 666 68, 000

150, 000

496, 000

1, 398, 000

Resi dential

0

0

55,000

55,000

55, 000

Com mercial

0

0

430, 000

430, 000

430, 000

Industry and

utilities

5,000

5,000

8,000

8,000

210, 000 61, 000 42,000

313, 000

326, 000

Publicfacilities

9,000

7,000

124, 000 104, 000

244,000

245, 000

20,000

308, 000

234, 000

807, 000

10,000 48,000

526, 000 23, 000 23,000

102, 000

732, 000

1, 783, 000

Total

9,000 43,000

7.000

245, 000 176, 000

480,000

245, 000

237, 000 82,000

463,000

459,000

0

1,486,000

10,000 333, 000

1,072,000 268, 000 91, 000

252, 000

2, 026, 000

3, 992, 000

1. Agricultural: Damage to crops, farm improvements, and stored supplies; loss of livestock and poultry; and erosion of land and deposition of sand, silt, and debris.

2. Residential: Damage mostly to foundations, floors, furnishings, and yards.3. Commercial: Damage principally to stores and inventories; to hotels and motels, and to other buildings.4. Industrial and utilities: Damage largely to power, telephone and gas facilities; railroad facilities; manu

facturing plants; and sand and gravel plants.5. Public facilities: Damage to roads and bridges, levee systems, irrigation diversions and canals, municipal

facilities and public schools; all of this property is owned or administered by public agencies or nonprofit political and semipolitical organizations. Also included in this category are expenditures by Federal, State, and local agencies for flood fighting, cost of repairs to flood-control works, cost of caring for evacuated people, losses to the traveling public resulting from damaged highways, and cost of making the flood surveys by the Corps of Engineers.

Table 3 summarizes flood damages in central-coastal California by basins under seven categories of damage. The figures shown in the indirect damage classification are conservative inasmuch as no attempt was made to estimate such intangibles as damage resulting from traf fic delays and re-routing, loss of wages from lack of lumber for con struction, and loss of tourist trade during 1956 as the result of adverse flood-damage publicity.


TABLE 3. Flood damage in central-coastal California, December 1955 and January 1956

[Compiled by Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District]

Stream basin

Salinas River and small adjacent

San Lorenzo River.... Small Santa Cruz

County streams 2 ._ Small San Francisco

Peninsula streams 3 Santa Clara Valley

Small streams east of San Francisco

Total...........

Direct flood damage in dollars

Agri cultural

49, 600 1, 279, 000

159, 800

142, 500

245, 800

1, 392, 700 986, 900

347, 300

4, 603, 600

Resi dential

9,500 251, 000

1, 229, 400

127, 700

40,300

2,015,900 428, 400

2, 279, 500

6,381,700

Non- resi

dential

33, 900 50, 500

5, 612, 200

394, 400

5,800

725, 900 1, 804, 300

537,300

9, 164, 300

High ways

97, 000 270, 200 273, 800

180, 300

148, 000

555, 100 180, 000

853, 300

2, 557, 700

Rail roads

7,000

2,100

15, 500 84, 000

108, 600

Emer gency aid

1,500 647, 700 232, 400

153, 200

158,900

323,900

1,517,600

Indirect flood

damage

3,300 763, 100

1,186,300

80, 300

9,200

356, 600 641,000

10, 000

3, 049, 800

Total flood

damage

194, 800 3, 261, 500 8, 700, 900

1, 080, 500

608, 000

5,385,600 4, 124, 600

4, 027, 400

27,383,300

1 Includes coastal streams to the south, such as Sur and Carmel Rivers.2 Includes Aptos Soquel, and Scott Creeks.3 Includes Pescadero, San Gregorio, Tunitas, Pilarcitos, Colma, San Bruno, and San Mateo Creeks.4 Includes all streams entering San Francisco Bay, south of San Francisquito Creek in the west and south

of Coyote Creek. In the east (San Francisquito and Coyote Creeks are included).5 Includes San Lorenzo, Walnut, Rodeo, Wildcat, Alhambra, Pinole, and San Pablo Creeks.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

The widespread flooding in the San Joaquin Valley that resulted from the storms of December 1955-January 1956 caused two deaths and damage totaling $29,580,000. This figure, which exceeds by 38 percent that of $21,591,000 for the severe floods of November-Decem ber 1950, does not include damage to U.S. Forest Service facilities. The flood damage sustained by these facilities in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys was estimated at $1,730,000.

Damage in excess of $2 million occurred along each of the following streams: Kaweah River, San Joaquin River main stem, and Calaveras River. The largest concentration of damage was in the Kaweah River basin downstream from the Terminus dam site, where the inun dation of about 125,000 acres of agricultural land and most of Visalia and Farmersville caused losses totaling $11,845,000. Table 4 sum marizes flood damages in the San Joaquin Valley (excluding those sustained by Forest Service facilities) by basins under five categories of damage. An explanation of the items included in each of the five classifications is found in table 2.


TABLE 4. Flooded areas and flood damage in San Joaquiri Valley, Calif., December1955 and January 1956


Stream basin

Kern River and Tulare Lake basins:

Fresno County Stream

San Joaquin River basin: 3 Upper San Joaquin River 4 .

Chowchilla River _____Merced County Stream

Lower San Joaquin River r.

Littlejohn Creek__________

Total.. ..................

Flooded area

(acres)

0 11,000 38,000

126, 200 0

500 7,600

2,300 20,100 27, 500

15,300 3,900 7,100

15, 100 10, 700 25, 500 8,400 1,800 6,900 7,000

27,600 5,200

24,900

392, 600

Flood damage in thousands of dollars

Agricul tural

228 1,252 3.798

8 573

149 253 257

23320

340 876 171

1,364 168 22

161 199 879

51 1,090

12, 092

Residen tial

44 116

3,605

0 0

0 4

13

74 0

10 54 65 53 0 0

1,269 7 1 0 0

5,315

Commer cial

5 0

1,727

4 0

0 0

32

17 0 0

31 4

26 0 0

311 2 1 0 0

2,160

Industry and

utilities

62 12

145 822

14

0 0

285 2 9

24 24 0

84 4

32 0 4

97 0

139 0

41

1,800

Public facilities

74 26

412 3,407

241

34 0

55 72

259

174 542 289 893 203 379

0 4

514 31

329 47

228

8,213

Total

136 315

1,925 13, 359

255

46 573

489 331570

522 586 639

1,938 447

1,854 168 30

2,352 239

1,349 98

1,359

29,580

1 Includes White River, Peso, Cottonwood, and Sand Creeks.2 Includes Big Dry, Redbank, and Faneher Creeks.3 Includes Upper Delta.4 Above Merced River.s Includes, Bear, Mariposa, and Deadman Creeks and their tributaries.6 Includes Los Banos, Orestimba, and Marsh Creeks.7 Below Merced River.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Flood damage was widespread throughout the Sacramento Valley and forty persons were reported to have lost their lives as a direct result of the flood; about 30,000 persons were forced to evacuate their homes during the Christmas holiday season. Flood damage in excess of $2 million occurred along each of the following streams: Feather River, Yuba River, and Sacramento River main stem. The largest concentration of damage was in the Yuba City area: damages were estimated at $41,215,000; more than 3,100 homes were flooded; and 38 persons were drowned. Damage in the entire Sacramento Valley was estimated at $66,010,000; this figure does not include damage to Forest Service facilities. The total flood damage sustained by these facilities in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys was estimated at $1,730,000. The magnitude of the disaster wrought by this flood in the Sacramento Valley is strikingly demonstrated by the fact that damage was 6% times greater than the $9,934,000 loss sustained in the notable floods of November-December 1950.


Table 5 summarizes flood damages in the Sacramento Valley (excluding those sustained by U.S. Forest Service facilities) by basins under five categories of damage. An explanation of the items in cluded in each of the five classifications is given in table 2.

TABLE 5. Flooded areas and flood damage in Sacramento Valley, 1 Calif., December1955 and January 1956


Stream basin

Sacramento River (main stem) and bypasses.

Sacramento Valley Creek 2.-._.

Cache Creek. ..................Putah Creek __ __ __ .Tributaries to Cache Slough... Lower Sacramento-San Joaquin

Delta 3-.---.--. .--- .-- .

Total.. ..................

Floodedarea

(acres)

133,000 40,00031,500

100.2004.400

12,500100

11, 600400

10,400

382, 000

Agricul tural

1,004 35

655 20,946

3861.126

0127

1067

1,878

26. 234

Flood d

Residen tial

128 0

19 10.929

5019

106134

00

0

11, 385

amage in t

Commer cial

25 03

2,97410333

26900

0

3,209

lousands o

Industry and

utilities

146 0

28 3,850

392335413

500

0

5.169

f dollars

Public facilities

1,842 106535

12, 8462,189

46428718512931

1,399

20,013

Total

3,145 141

1.240 51, 5453,1201,977

80852013998

3,277

66, 010

1 Includes Lower Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.2 Includes Cow, Cottonwood, Battle, Paynes, Antelope, Mill, Elder, Thomes, Deer, Pine, Rock, Mud,

Big Chico, Little Chico, Stony,"Butte, Dry (Placer County), and Elder (Sacramento County) Creeks.3 Flooding of Little Holland, Prospect, Liberty, Egbert, Empire, Quimby, and other delta islands and

tracts.


Sixteen lives were lost in north-coastal California as a result of the floods of December 1955-January 1956, and flood damage totaled more than $43 million. The Eel Kiver basin was hardest hit; flood damage amounted to $22,216,500, about half the total for the entire coastal region. Several communities in the basin, such as Weott, Myers Flat, Pepperwood, Shively, and Bull Creek, were almost completely destroyed.

Table 6 summarizes flood damage by basins under seven categories of damage. The figures shown in the indirect-damage classification are conservative as no attempt was made to estimate such intangibles as damage resulting from traffic delays and re-routing, loss of wages from lack of lumber for construction, and loss of tourist trade during 1956 as the result of adverse flood-damage publicity. Only for areas adjacent to U.S. Highway 101, which parallels or traverses most of the flooded area in the region, has an estimate of these intangible losses been made. The conservative estimate of $350,000 was not included in the summary of table 6'because of uncertainty in dividing this loss among the numerous basins involved.


TABLE 6. Flood damage in north-coastal California, December 1955 and January1956

[Compiled by Corps of Engineers, San Francisco district]

Stream Basin

Sonoma and Peta- luma Creeks. _____

Small Marin County

Streams between Russian and Eel

Eel River... ....... .

Total.___ ......

Direct flood damage in dollars

Agri cultural

172,300

361, 400

281,300 830, 400

57, 400 3, 575, 900

311,800 44, 900

467, 800 49, 100

6, 152, 300

Resi dential

48, 500

40,300

191, 400 864, 300

3,700 2, 729, 300

3,600 64,900

689, 200 7,700

4, 642, 900

Non- resi

dential

121,800

35, 800

229, 600 1,411,500

104, 400 5, 836, 100

355, 900 159, 500

3, 030, 200 70, 000

11,354,800

High ways

136, 800

26, 000

267, 600 767, 700

848, 500 4, 192, 700

354, 300 130, 100

4, 803, 900 336, 000

11,863,600

Rail roads

40, 000

55, 000

2, 050, 000

2, 145, 000

Emer gency

aid

10, 000

14, 200 427, 600

50, 000 2, 131, 100

221,300 28, 900

2, 883, 100

Indirect flood

damage

62, 600

34, 700

117, 100 660, 700

28, 200 1,701,400

76, 200 168, 800

1, 471, 100 5,700

4, 326, 500

Total flood

damage

542, 000

548, 200

1, 101, 200 5, 017, 200

1, 092, 200 22,216,500

1, 323, 100 597, 100

10, 462, 200 468, 500

43, 368, 200

1 Includes December damage for Norato, Miller, Oallinas, San Rafael, Corte Madera, and Lagunitas Creeks; January damage for Stinson, Redwood, Tennessee Valley, San Rafael, and Coyote Creeks.

2 Mattole River basin was the only basin in which appreciable damage, other than highway damage, occurred.

WEST-CENTRAL IDAHO

Damage was comparatively light in west-central Idaho, and there was no loss of life attributable to the floods. The total damage amounted to about $1.5 million, almost half of this loss occurred in the Little Salmon River basin. A detailed breakdown of flood losses by various categories of damage is not available, but from information furnished by the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Forest Service, and the State of Idaho Department of Highways, the following tabulation has been made.Boise River basin Flood damage

Highways----_-_---___-_-_______-_--_-______________-___.. $220, 000Other____________________________________________________ 30,000

TotaL _________________________________________________ 250,000Payette River basin

Highways--______________________________________________ 50, 000Other.___________________________________________________ 175,000

Total--________-_____-_-_--__--___________-______-_--_- 225, 000Weiser River basin

Highways.-______________________________________________ 85, 000Other-_-_--__________________^___________________________ 200, 000

TotaL_________________________________________________ 285, 000Little Salmon River basin

Highways---.____________________________________________ 572, 000Other-._----_--_-________-_-____-___-__-_______-_-_-_---_ 113,000

Total- 685, 000

Grand total..___________________________________________ 1, 445, 000


WILLAMETTE VALLEY

Flood damage in the Willamette Valley was widespread and amount ed to about $8.7 million. Two lives were lost as a direct result of the flood. Losses undoubtedly would have been much higher had it not been for the flood-control reservoirs and protective bank works. The Eugene-Springfield area on the Willamette River main stem, Cottage Grove on the Coast Fork, and agricultural lands along the Middle Fork Willamette and North Santiam Rivers were protected from significant inundation by reservoirs, and in all other areas below reservoirs greater damages were prevented. Reduction of stages on the main stem was especially effective in reducing residential, industrial, and commercial property damage since such properties are generally at altitudes affected only by high floods.

Of the total damage, 62 percent was agricultural; 17 percent was to flood control and navigation facilities; 14 percent was residential, commercial, and industrial; and 7 percent was damage to railroads, utilities, highways, schools, and other property.

Table 7 summarizes flood damage by main-stem river reaches or tributary basins under five categories. The data were originally compiled by the Corps of Engineers, Portland District, under 14 categories but they have been combined to conform to the classifi cations described in table 2. Damage to navigation facilities, which was not a factor in the Great Basin discussion, is included under the public-facilities category.

TABLE 7. Flood damage in Willamette Valley, Oregon, December 1955 and January1956

[Compiled by Corps of Engineers, Portland District]

Stream basin

Willamette River mainstem, Albany

Long Tom River and Amazon Creek. Marys River and West Muddy Creek.

Willamette River mainstem below


Agricul tural

30,000306, 850

806, 320 174. 140 49, 470 49, 050

144, 420

1, 083, 000 313, 400 254, 350 159, 530

13, 250 326, 160

66. 080 517, 910

1, 094, 250 3,060 5,100

5, 396, 340

Res idential

24, 210

8,850

660 70,000

3,600

23,220 4,500

29,440 19, 330 2,900

93, 780 140

50,200

330, 830

Com mercial

27, 310

11, 660

11, 020 25,000

20, 230 7,500

4,220 2,710

900 13,900

22,380

146, 830

Industrial and

Utilities

25,240

31, 250

19,630 15, 000

59, 950

491, 400 2,000

1,600 26,920

100, 600 500

18, 810

9,840

802, 740

Public facilities

75,200 78, 500

244, 800

311,910 236, 290

500 23,600

484, 430 164, 000 69,700 29, 480 10, 130

107, 690 42. 470 2,300

62, 330 28, 150 19, 650

1,991,130

Total

151, 960 108, 500 603,410

1, 149, 540 520 430 49, 470 49, 550

231, 570

2, 102, 280 491, 400 324, 050 190, 610 83,960

556, 490 111,950 521, 110

1, 283, 070 31.350

107, 170

8, 667, 870


COASTAL OREGON

As a result of the widespread floods in coastal Oregon, three lives were lost and damage totaled $9.3 million. About 43 percent of this damage occurred in the Rogue River basin; 28 percent occurred in the Coquille River basin; 23 percent occurred in the Umpqua River basin; and the remaining 6 percent was divided among five other coastal basins. Table 8 summarizes flood damages by basins under five cate gories. The data were originally compiled under 15 categories by the Corps of Engineers, Portland District, but have been combined to conform to the classifications described in table 2. The total damage of $540, 200 shown for "Other coastal streams" (table 8) was distrib uted among five basins as follows :

Basin Damage

Nehalem River____________________________________________ $25, 710Tillamook Bay streams_________________________________________ 110, 210Nestucca River______________________________________________ 67, 900Siuslaw River____________________________________ 209, 160Coos River_______________________________________ 127, 220

Total-.______________________________________________________ 540,200

TABLE 8. Flood damage in Coastal Oregon, December 1955 and January 1956

[Compiled by Corps of Engineers, Portland District]


Stream basin

Umpqua River. ________

Total.... ............

Agricul tural

673, 740

1, 366, 910269, 540

3, 304, 420

Res idential

553, 870CC AQft

1, 097, 51024, 610

1, 732, 680

Com mercial

108, 9109,600

692, 88013,400

824, 790

Industrial and

Utilities

623, 1401, 287, 710

387,860195, 670

2, 494. 380

Public facilities

183,480248, 600503, 37036,980

972, 430

Total

2, 143, 1402, 596, 8304, 048, 530

540,200

9, 328, 700

1 Includes Tillamook Bay streams, Nehalem, Nestucca, Siuslaw, and Coos Rivers.


Damage in these areas as a result of the floods of December 1955- January 1956 was slight, and was not tabulated.

FLOOD-CREST STAGES

Flood-crest stages are given for the San Joaquin River and 4 of its major tributaries (table 9), the Sacramento River and 2 tributaries (table 10), and the Eel River and 3 tributaries (table 11). Readings were made by the agency operating the gage, as indicated in the tables.


TABLE 9. Flood-crest stages, December 1955 and January 1956, San Joaquin Valley, Calif.

Stream and location

San Joaquin River:

Friant Dam, left bank.1 Whitehouse, 13 miles down

stream from Gravelly Ford Canal, right bank.2

from Mendota Dam, left bank.3

from Temple Slough, left bank.3

Fremont Ford Bridge, 5.7 miles upstream from Merced River.1

Newman, at Hills Ferry Road bridge, 300 ft downstream from Merced River.1

downstream from Merced River.4

Slough channel of San Joaquin River at Westley-Modesto highway bridge, 5 miles up stream from Tuolumne River.4

upstream from Stanislaus River.4

bridge, 3.0 miles downstream from Stanislaus River.1

Mossdale, just downstream from U.S. Highway 50 bridge, right bank.4

works, left bank.4 Merced River:

from Lake McClure.1

highway bridge.4

highway bridge, left bank.4

Tuolumne River:

downstream from Don Pedro dam.1

Roberts Ferry Bridge, 7.5 miles east of Waterford.4

U.S. Highway 99 bridge, left bank.1

bridge.4 See footnotes at end of table.

Miles above mouth

268. 1

219.8

206.2

186.0

129.5

123.7

m e

96.0

81.8

76.7

58.9

4. 5

62.2

42. 1

97 fi

4.6

c7 fi

50. 539.9

Q1 7

16.0

3.4

Day and hour

1955 Dec. 26, 5 p.m____-_

Dec. 28, 3-9 a.m.-__

1956

1955 Dec. 29, l-8p.m.___

Dec. 29, 5 and 10 p.m.

Dec. 30, 6 a.m _ _ _

Dec. 30, 10p.m _____

Dec. 26, 1 a.m___.__

Dec. 29, 10:30 a.m __

Dec. 26, 8 a.m_.____

Dec. 27, 6 a.m______

Dec. 24, 4 p.m. ___

Dec. 27, 8 a.m__-.__

Dec. 28, 4 a.m______

Dec. 24, 11 a.m... _

Dec. 24, 11 a.m____.Dec. 24, 2:30p.m.___

Dec. 24, 6 p.m______

Dec. 25, 9 a.m____ _

Altitude (feet)

302.7

178.8

154. 1

129.8

69.9

65. 1

57.8

42.0

35.6

32.3

20.6

6.2

411

190.5

119.6

74.2

364

184. 1125.2

91.966.4

46.3


TABLE 9. Flood-crest stages, December 1955 and January 1956, San Joaquin Valley, Calif. Continued

Stream and location

Stanislaus River:

mile downstream from Melones Dam.1

Orange Blossom Bridge, 5.7 milesupstream from Oakdale.4

Riverbank, at Burneyville Bridge.4

downstream from railroad bridge, left bank.1

Mokelumne River:

stream from Pardee Dam, left bank.1

lone highway bridge, left bank.1

Woodbridge, 0.4 mile down stream from Woodbridge Irrig. Dist. diversion dam, left bank.1

Georgiana Slough, right bank, 300 ft upstream from Moke lumne River.4

Miles above mouth

65.3

44.7

32.0

15.9

72.0

59.0

38.8

3.4

Day and hour

Dec. 23, (?)_..__-__.

1956 Jan. 16, 9 a.m ___ __

Dec. 23, 11:30 p.m..

Dec. 24, 9 a.m......

Dec. 23, 10 p.m. ___

Dec. 24, 3 a.m___ _.

Dec. 24, 2 p.m....___

Dec. 26, l:30p.m___

Altitude (feet)

529

142.7

103.2

63.2

178. 1

91.0

43.9

10.3

i U.S. Oeol. Survey.* San Joaquin Canal Co.s U.S. Bur. Beclamation.4 California Dept. Water Resources.

Tables 9 and 10 present the maximum stages recorded during the entire December 1955-January 1956 flood period and are generally those of the December 22-26 floods. However, because the January floods in the upper Sacramento Valley in some instances exceeded those of December, and because storage and bypass regulation and intervening tributaries were controlling factors on both the Sacra mento River between Shasta Dam and the American River, and the San Joaquin River between Friant Dam and the Stanislaus River, the tabulation of crest stages does not represent the con tinuous downstream travel of a single flood crest.

The stage records of tables 9 and 10 are of particular value in presenting a limiting factor with respect to the location of future flood-control along these rivers. Where it is obvious that the down stream travel of a single flood is represented in the tables (Tuolumne, Mokelume, and Feather Rivers), information in regard to velocity of transmission of flood crests, valley or channel storage, and other aspects of river behavior may be determined.


TABLE 10. Flood-crest stages, December 1955 and January 1956, Sacramento Valley, Calif.

Stream and location

Sacramento River: Keswick, 0.6 mile downstream

from Keswick Dam, right bank.1

Redding, 0.5 mile downstream from Anderson-Cottonwood Irrig. Dist. diversion dam, left bank.2

Balls Ferry, left bank 2 ___ _____

Red Bluff, 5 miles upstream, left bank.1

Red Bluff, U.S. Highway 99Ebridge.3

Bridge, left bank.2

left bank.1

bank.2

highway bridge, right bank.1

Railway bridge.2

bank.2 4

Company pumping plant, left bank.2

stream from Reel. Dist. 108 irrigation pumping plant, right bank.1

from Southern Pacific Railroad bridge, left bank.1

right bank.124 Fremont Weir, downstream end,

right bank.2

Feather River, left bank.1

Sacramento Weir, 100 ft. down stream, right bank.2 4

Sacramento, I Street bridge, left bank.123

Miles above mouth

309.5

299.7

283.5

257.6

252.4

225.5208.5

189.8174.8

162.9

148.4

138.8

123. 2

122. 8

m a

93.0

87.0

82.0

78.6

63.2

59.4

Day and hour

1955 Dec. 28, 8:30 a.m ____

1956 Jan. 3, 11:30 a.m____

1955 Dec. 22, 2 a.m______

1956 Jan. 15, 6:30 p.m _ _

Jan. 15, 6 p.m______

1955 Dec. 22, 7 p.m-_____Dec. 23, 6 a.m____._

1956 Jan. 16, 4 a.m __ __Jan. 16, 1 p.m _____

Jan. 17, 2 a.m __ __

Jan. 17, 9 a.m __ ___

Jan. 17, 8 p.m___ __

1955 Dec. 24, 12 m _ .___

Dec. 24, 10 p.m__ _

Dec. 23, 4 p.m______

Dec. 23, 3 p.m______

Dec. 23, 2:15 p.m_._

Dec. 23, 3 p.m ___ _

1956 Jan. 17, 1:30 a.m.___

1955 Dec. 23, 4:30 p.m _

Altitude (feet)

506.7

451. 1

369.7

275.5

260.6

184.3143.3

115.691.6

80.2

63.8

58.2

47.9

48. 2

47.6

38.2

36.7

35.6

36.7

28.9

28.8

See footnotes at end of table. 66S521 O 63 7


TABLE 10. Flood-crest stages, December 1955 and January 1956, Sacramento Valley, Calif. Continued

Stream and location

Freeport, 2.6 miles upstream, right bank.1

Clarksburg, dock of American Crystal Sugar Company, right bank.1 2

stream, left bank.12

from Georgiana Slough, left bank.2

Rio Vista, 1 mile downstream, right bank.4

Collinsville, right bank 2 _ ___Feather River:

Oroville, 75 ft. upstream from U.S. Highway 40A bridge, left bank.1

way bridge, left bank.2 Yuba City, Sacramento Northern

Railway bridge, right bank.2

Yuba City, right bank.2 Nicolaus, 0.5 mile downstream

from highway bridge, left bank. 1

American River:

old highway bridge, right bank.1

left bank.1

bridge.12

bridge.2

Miles above mouth

48.6

42.2

36.7

26. 5

17.411.7

. 2

71.0

4Q 7

28.0

23. 0

9.2

19.2

6.5

3.7

.2

Day and hour

1955 Dec. 23, 9:30p.m_._

Dec. 23, 5:30p.m ___

Dec. 23, 5p.m.__ _

Dec. 24, 10 a.m.____

Dec. 24, 1 p.m_ ___Dec. 26, 12:15 p.m__

Dec. 26, 12:30p.m._

Dec. 23, 12:30 p.m_.

Dec. 23, 7 p.m_._ __

Dec. 24, 12:20 a.m..

Dec. 23, 12 p.m____.

Dec. 23, 12:20 p.m..

Dec. 26, 12 p.m_.___

Dec. 24, 12 m._.__._

Dec. 23, 5p.m______

Altitude (feet)

23.9

21.0

17.5

13. 0

8.47.2

6. 2

258.6

99. 2

79.4

73.8

48.6

85. 1

35.9

32. 5

29. 6

1 U.S. Geol. Survey.2 California Dept. Water Resources, s U.S. Weather Bur.4 Corps of Engineers.5 U.S. Bur. Reclamation.

Table 11 differs from the preceding two tables in that it gives the maximum stages of only the flood of December 22, 1955. Many of the data were obtained by leveling to high-water marks left by the flood rather than from gage readings and as a result, time of occurrence could not be established. However, the records of peak stage should be of value for future developments along the Eel River.

Some of the data presented in table 11 were furnished by the Corps of Engineers and the remainder by the Geological Survey.


TABLE 11. Eel River flood-crest stages, flood of Dec. 22, 1953, north-coastalCalifornia

Stream and location

Eel River Cmainstem) :

Moutli of Middle Fork Eel

Mouth of South Fork Eel River. ...... ______ ..

Shively..... ................Elinor.. ....................Stafford-.. ...............

Mouth of Van Duzen River

Eel River School on Canni bal Road. .. ......

Middle Fork Eel River: Mouth of Black Butte RiverMouth of Williams Creek.. Mouth (mile 114 on Eel

Miles above mouth

163.5163

152116

114112

69

353330

22.514.7

7.0

0.5

30.427.9

0.0

Altitude (feet)

1,7601 AQQ 3

1,000

340

165 f,137.1133 3128.6118.698.058.0 32.014.0

11.6

1, 396. 4

910

Stream and location

South Fork Eel River:

T jftjrofpf*-

Piercv

One mile downstream from

Mouth (mile 41 on Eel

Former gage at Bridgeville_

Mouth (mile 14.7 on Eel

Miles above mouth

71565244403430272118.5

13.57.52.5

.0

20 166.52.8 .3

.0

Altitude (feet)

1,400728.8664.8515. 0443.6380.5324.7303.6290240.1

220.8197.0171.6

165.6

622.0 420131.380.2 58.0

58.0

STORAGE REGULATION

THE GREAT BASIN

Reservoir storage in the major stream basins draining the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada was effective in reducing the magnitude of the flood runoff in some parts of the Great Basin region. In the Walker River basin, Bridgeport Reservoir retained all of the flood waters from the East Walker River above Bridgeport, Calif. Topaz Reservoir, an off-channel storage site on the West Walker River, also provided some relief when part of the floodwaters was diverted to storage during the critical period. Between December 20 and 31, about 27,000 acre-feet of floodwater was stored in these two reservoirs; this storage significantly reduced the flood peak down stream.

There is relatively little storage on the upper Carson River, and its regulatory effect on flood peaks was slight. However, Lahontan Reservoir on the lower Carson River, which was at a low level prior to the floods, was able to contain the floodflows and thus provided adequate flood protection for the city of Fallon and the rich farmland in that vicinity.

The flood runoff from the Truckee River drainage area above the outlet of Lake Tahoe was all stored, as there was no outflow from the lake from December 21 to January 31. During this period, the lake rose 2.25 feet, and its contents increased 270,000 acre-feet. The


storage capacity of Lake Tahoe is large compared to the yield of the contributing area. Thus, during all major floods for the period of record, outflow from Lake Tahoe has been insignificant compared with peak discharge downstream. Boca Reservoir near the mouth of the Little Truckee River played a major role in reducing the flood peak downstream. Although the available storage at the time of the peak inflow on December 23 was only between 10,000 and 15,000 acre-feet, this was sufficient to reduce somewhat, and detain, the peak outflow so that it did not coincide with the peak flow of the Truckee River. The retention of the Little Truckee River peak discharge in Boca Reservoir undoubtedly reduced the peak flow of the Truckee River through Reno and in reaches below the reservoir, perhaps as much as 8,000 or 9,000 cfs. Pyramid Lake at the lower end of the Truckee River rose 0.8 foot between October 20, 1955 and January 10, 1956, and 0.5 foot between January 10 and February 24.


Reservoir storage appreciably affected flood runoff and reduced the magnitude of peak flow in the Santa Clara Valley in December 1955, but it was of lesser benefit in the other basins of central-coastal Cali fornia. In the Salinas River basin the only surface storage facility is the Salinas conservation reservoir in the upper part of the basin. Because this reservoir controls only 111 of the 4,231 square miles upstream from Salinas River gage near Spreckels, its effect on down stream peaks was slight. Of prime importance in reducing floodflow in the lower basin of the Salinas River is the natural storage afforded by the river channel and the pervious alluvium in which the wide streambed lies. As a result of natural storage, the peak discharge of Salinas River near Bradley was 25,000 cfs, although two upstream tributaries, the Nacimiento and San Antonio rivers, had peak dis charges of 58,600 and 14,500 cfs, respectively. At Salinas River near Spreckels gaging station downstream from Bradley, the peak dis charge was 23,600 cfs, despite the fact that a single intervening tributary, Arroyo Seco, had a peak discharge of 27,700 cfs.

In the Pajaro River basin there are two conservation reservoirs; one on Uvas Creek and the other on Pacheco Creek. These reservoirs effectively reduced downstream peaks, but a more important factor was the combination of streambed percolation and channel storage upstream from the Chittenden gaging station on Pajaro River. The topography of the area is such that water was virtually pooled over 7,900 acres at the mouths of tributary streams upstream from the naturally constricted channel at Chittenden Pass.


In the Santa Clara Valley there are eight principal conservation reservoirs ranging in capacity from 2,000 to 75,000 acre-feet. These reservoirs, especially the larger reservoirs that exercised complete control of Coyote Creek upstream from Madrone and Los Gatos Creek (a tributary of Guadalupe Creek upstream from the city of Los Gatos), were very effective in reducing peak discharge. The effect of this storage in reducing potential flood damage in north western Santa Clara County becomes evident when it is realized that the only divide between Coyote Creek and the Guadalupe River along the almost parallel courses through the city of San Jose to San Fran cisco Bay is formed by the leveelike banks of silt that have been deposited by the streams at high stages.

In the Alameda Creek basin, downstream floodflows were reduced appreciably by a combination of the complete control of Calaveras Creek by Calaveras Reservoir, the natural storage provided by the stream channels, and stream-bed percolation. The peak rate of inflow into Calaveras Reservoir is not accurately known because reservoir stages were read only once daily, but these readings do in dicate a maximum 24-hour inflow rate of about 7,000 cfs. More striking in the matter of peak-flow reduction is the fact that two main-stem tributaries, Arroyo Valle and Arroyo de la Laguna, had peak discharges of 18,200 and 24,800 cfs. repsectively, whereas the peak discharge downstream on the main stem near Niles was only 29,000 cfs.

On some of the small streams in the San Francisco Bay area, such as San Leandro and San Pablo Creeks, the entire runoff from the drainage areas above the reservoirs was stored.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Reservoir storage substantially reduced the magnitude of peak floodflow on many streams in the San Joaquin Valley area. All of the major reservoirs are on the east side of the valley on streams draining the Sierra Nevada. The most notable regulations were those by Isabella Reservoir on the Kern River, Pine Flat Reservoir on the Kings River, and Millerton Lake on the San Joaquin River. Each reservoir completely controlled the December floodflows to nondamaging releases. The increase in storage during the flood-runoff period, the estimates of peak inflow and outflow, and the resulting reduction in the peak discharge for these and the other major reser voirs in the San Joaquin Valley are given in table 12. The estimated reduction in peak discharge at the gaging stations downstream from these reservoirs was essentially the same as that shown in the last column of table 12, and varied only because of intervening tributary inflow.


Additional regulation is afforded by the large storage capacity in the many miles of channels and sloughs, the bypass channels, and the many square miles of lowland subject to flooding.

TABLE 12. Functioning of reservoirs in reduction of December 1955 Hood discharge^ San Joaquin Valley, Calif.

[Compiled by Corps of Engineers]

Reservoir

Pine Flat... ............

Pardee ..................

Stream basin

. .do...................-.-do..... ..............

..do. ..................... .do.. ................ ......do...................

.....do...................

... ..do...... .............

Available space at

beginning of flood

(acre-feet)

890,000

332,000

7,700

257,00020,000

268.000

90,00052,00076,000

103,50013,500

Space used

(acre-feet)

64,000367,000

21,000282,00016,9003,8408,9408,470

256,00024,000

3 40, 700

214.00093,00031,70053,600

59,30023,000

Peak inflow

(cfs)

25,000112,000

96,00015,0002,800

11,0008,600

102.000

20,000

100,000102, 00020,00031,000

. 26,000

Peak outflow

(cfs)

575240

1606,0005,800

6004,4502,600

10,700

3 9,000740

42.20062,8001,900

11,100

24,800

Reduc tion in peak

discharge (cfs)

24,400111,800

90,0009,2002,2006,5506,000

91, 300

11,000

57,80039,20018,10019,900

1,200

1 Southern California Edison Co. reservoirs: Florence, Huntington, and Shaver lakes.2 Merced County Stream Group; Corps of Engineers.3 Interim operation with uncontrolled outlets.

In the lower San Joaquin River, the peak discharge at the Vernalis gaging station did not exceed 50,900 cfs on December 25 because of (1) the regulation afforded by the reservoirs on the major tributaries, the Merced, Tuolumne and Stanislaus Rivers, (2) the channel storage on these tributaries below the reservoirs and on the main stem, and (3) the absence of coincidence in the peak flows from the tributaries. The peak flow of 11,200 cfs from the Merced River at Stevinson occurred on December 28. On the Tuolumne River, the maximum controlled release from Don Pedro Reservoir was 41,700 cfs on December 24. Channel storage was effective in reducing this peak to 37,600 cfs at the gaging station on the Tuolumne River at Modesto on December 25. On the Stanislaus River, Melones Reservoir filled and spilled on December 23, and the peak discharge of 62,800 cfs at the Melones station on that date was only slightly reduced to 62,500 cfs at the Ripon gaging station on December 24.

Regulation by the tributary reservoirs and channel storage was such that during the November 18-23, 1950 flood the discharge at the Vernalis station did not exceed 33,000 cfs. However, during the second flood period of December 3-10, 1950 the tributary reservoirs were nearly full or spilling and maximum releases to maintain flood control


capacity were coincidental. The result was the record peak discharge at the Vernalis gage of 79,000 cfs.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Although there are fewer major storage reservoirs in the Sacra mento Valley than in the San Joaquin Valley, reservoir storage reduced the peak flow on a number of the larger streams. In the Sacramento Valley area, the outstanding regulations of the December floodflows were those of Shasta Lake on the Sacramento River and Folsom Reservoir on the American River. At each of these reser voirs a recordbreaking peak inflow was reduced to outflow of nondamaging proportions. Table 13 gives the reduction in the peak discharge due to storage in 12 reservoirs in the Sacramento Valley. Some of these reservoirs are on smaller headwater tributaries to the main stream, and as a result the full storage space available at the beginning of the flood period could not be utilized. The reduction in peak discharge at the gaging station on the Sacramento River at Keswick due to storage in Shasta Lake was estimated as 144,000 cfs, and that at the Fair Oaks gaging station on the American River below Folsom Reservoir was estimated as 154,000 cfs. These de creases in peak flows prevented much flood damage downstream.

Channel storage is another moderating factor, particularly in the valley reaches of the Sacramento River and its tributaries. The miles of channels and sloughs, the extensive bypass system of the Sacra mento River Flood Control Project, and the many square miles of lowlands afford a large storage capacity which aids in the reduction of peak flow on the lower Sacramento River.

TABLE 13. Functioning of reservoirs in reduction of December 1955 Hood discharge,Sacramento Valley, Calif.

[Compiled by Corps of Engineers]

Reservoir

East Park...............Stony Gorge __ .. .....

Butt Valley,... ...... .Bucks Creek... .........

South Yuba System '.

Folsom._ ____ ... .....

Stream basin

... ..do......... .......

.-..do....... ......... .do . . .do... ................

--..do .. - ---.. .do.... ...... .. . .

Available space at

beginning of flood

(acre-feet)

47, 00044, 700

390, 000OQ nnr\

61,000

15, 700790, 000221,000

Space used

(acre-feet)

37,00034, 30021, 80071,30018,00028,500

66.40031,500

670, 000158,000

Peak inflow (cfs)

193, 0006,700

14,000

159, 000210, 00030,000

Peak outflow

(cfs)

46,8000

9,600

153, 00070,0003,100

Reduc tion in peak

discharge (cfs)

146, 2006,7004,400

6,000149, 00026, 900

1 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. reservoirs.



The few storage reservoirs in the basins of north-coastal California were effective in moderating flood damage during December 1955. The flow of Conn Creek, a tributary of the Napa River, is regulated by Lake Hennessey. The peak discharge of 3,600 cfs spilled over Conn Dam 30 hours after the flood crest on the Napa River reached the mouth of Conn Creek. On Novato Creek spill started over Novato Dam more than 15 hours after peak flooding occurred downstream in Novato.

The one storage reservoir in the Eel River basin, Lake Pillsbury, receives the runoff from 288 square miles of headwater drainage. Lake Pillsbury filled before peak inflow occurred, so the peak outflow of 40,000 cfs was essentially natural flow.

Runoff in the upper Klamath River basin is effectively controlled by Upper Klamath Lake. Further modification of peak-discharge rates results from the perviousness of the soil and mantle rock in the headwater regions, and from the natural storage provided by extensive marsh areas upstream from Upper Klamath Lake. In the flood of December 1955, the streams tributary to Upper Klamath Lake had only moderately high peak rates of runoff, and therefore no great reduction in outflow was made. On the Shasta River in the Klamath River basin, Lake Dwinnell stored the entire flood runoff from 139 square miles. The peak rate of inflow was about 4,300 cfs.

WEST-CENTRAL IDAHO

Reservoir storage played an important part in reducing the magni tude of flood peaks in the Boise, Payette, and Weiser River basins and on the main stem of the Snake River below the mouth of the Boise River. The three major reservoirs above Boise, namely, Arrowrock, Anderson Ranch, and Lucky Peak Reservoirs gave an outstanding example of flood control. Arrowrock Reservoir was built primarily for irrigation storage, Anderson Ranch Reservoir provides power, and Lucky Peak Reservoir has part of its capacity committed to flood control. Under the operating agreement, the three reservoirs are coordinated under runoff-forecasting procedures to effect flood control; during the December 1955 flood the reservoirs completely cut off the flow. The highest flood on the Boise River during 44 years of record occurred in 1943, when the peak discharge at Boise was 21,000 cfs. On the day of the peak flood runoff in December 1955, a daily mean flow of about 22,000 cfs went into storage. Computation of the actual reduction in peak flow at Boise has not been made, but it is evident that a damaging flood on the lower Boise River was averted.

Major regulation in the Payette River basin was effected by Cascade Reservoir on the North Fork. The December 1955 peak discharge


on Payette River near Emmett was approximately equal to the max imum peak of record. A significant effect of storage becomes evident when it is considered that a daily mean flow of about 9,000 cfs went into reservoir storage on the day of peak runoff in December 1955 compared with a peak of less than 2,000 cfs during the flood of 1938.

Water was not released from Crane Creek Reservoir until about 14 hours after the crest on the Weiser River had passed the gaging station below the mouth of Crane Creek. The peak discharges of four tribu taries of the reservoir totaled 5,800 cfs and probably occurred at about noon on December 22. If unrestricted by the reservoir, this flow would have contributed to the Weiser River when its flow was about 19,300 cfs. If allowances are made for differences in timing of the tributary peaks and flattening of the crest as the flow proceeded down Crane Creek, it appears that the Weiser River peak discharge down stream from Crane Creek would have been about 24,000 cfs.

The peak discharge on Snake River at Weiser was 52,500 cfs at 1 a.m. on December 24. Only the storage effects discussed above for the Boise and Payette Rivers materially affected the peak flow at Weiser. It appears that if this storage had not existed the peak discharge at Weiser would have been at least 20,000 cfs higher. It is pertinent to note that as a result of reservoir storage the discharge of Snake River at Milner did not exceed about 1,100 cfs during and prior to the flood peak on the lower river.

Little Wood River Reservoir reduced what could have been a much more serious flood on the Little Wood River. Ice jams play an important part in the damaging effects of winter floods on this stream; hence the reduction of flow during the December 1955 flood is particularly significant. The peak discharge at the gaging station above the reservoir was 3,110 cfs on December 22, which exceeds by 760 cfs the previous maximum for 21 years of record. The reservoir was discharging only about 50 cfs at the time of the peak, thus reducing the peak discharge by more than 3,000 cfs.

WILLAMETTE VALLEY

Reservoir storage and flow regulation significantly reduced the flood peaks of the Willamette River and some of its larger tributaries. The five major flood-control reservoirs in the Willamette Valley are: Lookout Point Reservoir on the Middle Fork Willamette River, where about 228,000 acre-feet of runoff was stored during December 20-24; Cottage Grove Reservoir on the Coast Fork Willamette River, where 25,000 acre-feet of runoff was stored December 19-23; Dorena Reservoir on the Row River, where 60,000 acre-feet of runoff was stored December 19-23; Fern Ridge Reservoir on the Long Tom River, where 110,000 acre-feet of runoff was stored December 19-26;


and Detroit Reservoir on the North Santiam River where 160,000 acre-feet of runoff was stored December 19-24.

The reduction of peak discharges from this storage regulation is shown in table ] 4 for the gaging stations below the reservoirs and on the main stem of the Willamette River. The peak outflow from the reservoirs generally occurred several days after the peak inflow.

Channel storage was also effective in reducing the peak discharge, particularly in the lower reaches of the Willamette River. For instance, the peak flow of 240,000 cfs at Salem on December 23 was reduced to 235,000 cfs at Wilsonville on December 24, primarily as a result of channel storage, despite inflow from 1,120 square miles of intervening drainage area.

TABLE 14. Reduction of December 1955 flood discharge by storage regulation,Willamette Valley, Oreg.

Gaging station

Middle Fork Willamette River near Dexter (below Lookout Point Res-

Coast Fork Willamette River below

Row River near Cottage Grove (be-

Willamette River at Eugene _ _ _

Long Tom River below Fern Ridge

Willamette River at AlbanyNorth Santiam River at Niagara

Willamette River at SalemWillamette River at Oregon City _

Estimated unregulated

peak dis charge 1

(cfs)

76, 000

8, 000

23, 200 124, 000 190, 000

24, 000 231, 000

37, 200 304, 000 332, 000

Observed regulated peak dis

charge (cfs)

16, 900

3, 220

9, 060 1 40, 500 114, 000

10, 400 155, 000

15, 100 240, 000

1 279, 000

Reduction in peak

Stage (feet)

»9. 1 3. 2

4. 4

4. 0 i 1.7

Discharge (cfs)

59, 000

4, 780

14, 100 1 83, 500

76, 000

13, 600 76, 000

22, 100 64, 000

1 53, 000

1 Furnished by the Corps of Engineers.

COASTAL OREGON

Surface storage regulation had little effect on flood peaks in coastal Oregon as there are no reservoirs or ponds of appreciable size in the area. However, water going into ground storage may have sub stantially reduced the flood peaks in the North Umpqua and Rogue River basins. In the upper part of these basins in the vicinity of Crater Lake the soil is derived from very porous volcanic mantle rock that absorbs an immense quantity of rain and snow water and


releases it gradually as ground-water outflow during the ensuing weeks and months. This ground-water movement has considerable effect in maintaining relatively high flows during the low-water season and undoubtedly reduces floodflows significantly.

RECORDS OF PREVIOUS FLOODS AND FLOOD FREQUENCIES

Notable floods on major streams in western Nevada are discussed in Water-Supply Papers 843 and 1137-H, and descriptions of historic floods in California are found in Water-Supply Papers 843, 1137-E, 1137-F, 1260-D, and 1320-D. Similar information for Oregon is found in Water-Supply Papers 968-A, 1080, 1137-E, and 1320-D, and past floods in Idaho and Washington are discussed in Water- Supply Paper 1080. The historical data found in those reports are not repeated on the pages that follow, but the comparative rank of the various floods is discussed.

No flood-frequency tabulations or graphs have been prepared for the Great Basin because no gaging stations on major streams in the flood area there have as much as 20 years of continuous record of natural momentary annual peak discharge.

To illustrate the recurrence interval of floods at selected gaging stations in various regions in California, tabulations have been made of annual flood peaks and flood-frequency curves (figs. 27-28) have been prepared from them for nine gaging stations which have been in continuous operation since October 1916 and which are unaffected by regulation or diversion. A common base period of 40 years (October 1916 to September 1956) has been arbitrarily selected as the shortest period practicable to give results that may represent the probability of flood occurrences of various magnitudes. Frequency data based on shorter periods will likely be biased because of the unusal flood activity of the last 6 years, when 3 major floods occurred in many regions. Even 40 years is a small sample in time, and the flood- frequency curves shown may not be truly indicative of the flood potentials of the streams. Quantitative data on major floods that occurred prior to October 1916 have been incorporated in the graphs.

The annual-flood series are arrays of the maximum gage height and discharge for each water year of record. In order to fit a time scale or recurrence interval (T) to a list of annual-flood peaks plotting positions must be selected:

T=(n+l)/m,

where T is in years, n is the number of years of record being considered and TO is the order number of the flood; the highest flood of record is order number 1. Graphs (figs. 27, 28) were drawn on the basis of


such data; the abscissa represents the recurrence interval, in years, and the ordinate represents the discharge.

Flood-frequency curves for 11 selected gaging stations in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington (fig. 29) were drawn from composite-area data rather than from station data and are considered to be the betterindication of frequency.

THE GREAT BASIN

The most severe floods known in the Great Basin occurred during December 1861-January 1862, December 1867, March 1907, March 1928, December 1937, November-December 1950, and December 1955. Quantitative data on the two earlier floods are lacking, but they apparently rank as the greatest floods that ever occurred in the region. On Carson River at Empire, the peak stage in January 1862 is reported to have been 2 feet higher than that reached in December 1867, whereas the peak of 1867 is said to have been the higher one on the Walker and Truckee Rivers.

Of the five major floods since 1900, the flood of December 1955 ranks as the greatest, closely followed by the floods of November- December 1950. The flood of December 1955 appreciably exceeded that of 1950 on the Carson River, and slightly exceeded the 1950 flood on the Truckee River, but it was slightly lower than the 1950 flood on the West Walker River.

The flood of December 1937 ranks below the flood of November- December 1950. The floods of 1907 and 1928 were severe only in the Truckee River basin. The 1907 flood was greater than that of 1928, and in the Truckee River basin it was probably somewhat higher than the 1937 flood.


There is little information concerning the floods in California during 1798-99, 1819, 1849-50, and 1852-53. The great flood of January 1862, the earliest for which quantitative data exist, was probably the greatest that ever occurred in central-coastal California. On Salinas River near Spreckels the peak stage in 1862 was 6 feet higher than any attained since, and on Pajaro River at Watsonville, it was considerably higher than any peak since that time.

It is difficult to rank the other floods that occurred in the region, particularly those that occurred prior to the establishment of gaging stations. Much of the region lies in the southern fringe of the belt of heavy precipitation that accompanies most general storms along the California coast. Consequently, there is considerable variability among basins in the amount of precipitation received during storms. It is very likely that over much of the region the general floods of January 1890 and December 1955 were of almost equal magnitude,


30

20

10

20

10

9 0

I I I I I I I I 1 I I I I

80

60

ul 40CDCC<

I5 20

0

30

20

10

Arroyo Seco near Soledad

1956

Kern River near Kernville

1956>

Kaweah River near Three Rivers

Merced River at Pohono Bridge near Yosemite

1956

1.5 2 2.33 3 5 10 20

RECURRENCE INTERVAL, IN YEARS

50 100

FIGURE 27. Flood-frequency curves for selected gaging stations in Central-Coastal California and San Joaquin Valley, Calif.


ranking second only to the flood of 1862. Other major floods resulted from the general storms of March 1907, December 1937-February 1938, February 1940, and January 1952.

Annual flood peaks (table 15) at the gaging station on Arroyo Seco near Soledad in the 40 years from October 1916 to September 1956 were used to compute a flood-frequency curve (fig. 27). The greatest peak discharge listed, that for December 1955, has a computed recur rence interval of 41 years. It is likely that this flood was second in magnitude to that of 1862 on this basis the 1955 flood would have a computed recurrence interval of 48 years. It makes little practical difference which recurrence interval is used, and because of the uncer tainty of the rank of the 1955 flood in the long-term series, the figure of 41 years is used.

TABLE 15. Annual peak stages and discharges, Arroyo Seco near Soledad, Calif.

Water vear

1906.. ------1907. .- .---1908 1909 1P10 1911 1912 1913

1915 1916 1917. 1918. 1919 -1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925. -------

1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 -

Date

Mar. 23, 1907

Mar. 6,1911

Jan. 17,1916

Mar. 12, 1918Feb. 10,1919

Nov. 9, 1924Feb. 23,1925

Gage height (feet)

9 0

20.07.68.4

16.5

10.09 0

12.015.86.756.75.95.9

16.5

9 e

9 AO

Discharge(cfs)

10, 700

7,4003,710

17,3001 350i oflfi

7,200

16,000

5 of)04 550o enn

2,0401 900

1,300

16,000

Water year

1932. - --

1 Q°.4

1 QQ7

1939

1 Q49

1 cue

1946 19471943 1949

1951..

1 Q53

1955

Date

Dec. 27,1931

Feb. 13,1936

Feb. 11,1938IVTar G 1 Q^Q

Apr. 4, 1941

Jan. 21,1943Mar. 4, 1944

Dec 91 1946

A r»r Q 1 Q4ft

Nov. 19, 1950Jan. 14,1952Dee. 7, 1953

Gage height (feet)

13.707.31

12.1213.70

16.5

15.013.0011.1011.559.20

12.5510.477.55

7.609.63

12.4611.329.807.336.50

14.30

Discharge (cfs)

93011,1002,3407,1108,340

11, 10012, 20016, 0001,380

13,60010,60014,10016,1007,100

21,10011, 6003,480

3,4608,460

20, 60015, 0009.0503,1202,080

27, 700

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Major floods occurred in the San Joaquin Valley in January 1862 and in December 1867. It is believed that the flood of January 1862 has not been exceeded since on the lower San Joaquin River and its tributaries from the Merced River and downstream. The flood of 1867, however, was the greatest to occur in the Kern River and Tulare Lake basins and on the San Joaquin River and its tributaries upstream from the Merced River. The flood of December 1955 was generally the second greatest flood throughout the region with the probable exception of the Kaweah River basin, where the 1955 flood was probably of about the same magnitude as the flood of 1867. The


flood of November-December 1950 ranks third throughout the region, except on the upper San Joaquin River where it was exceeded by the flood of December 1937.

Other major floods resulted from the general storms of January 1890, March 1907, January 1911, January 1914, February 1937, March 1943, and February 1945. Noteworthy, too, were the snowmelt floods of 1938 and 1952.

Annual flood peaks (tables 16-18) at the gaging stations on Kern River near Kernville, Kaweah River near Three Rivers, and Merced River at Pohono Bridge near Yosemite in the 40 years from October 1916 to September 1956 were used to compute flood-frequency curves (fig. 27). The greatest peak discharge listed for Kaweah River, that for December 1955, was probably approximately equal to that of December 1867, and therefore the 1955 peak has a computed recur rence interval of 90 years. The second highest flood listed for Ka weah River, that of November 1950, is the third largest peak since 1867 and has a computed recurrence interval of 30 years. Similar reasoning has been used to draw the graph for Kern River, where the flood peaks of December 1955 and November 1950 are known to be the second and third largest respectively, since 1867. Little is known concerning early floods in the upper Merced River, and consequently, the greatest flood, that of December 1955, has been given a recurrence interval of 41 years. This flood was probably exceeded in 1867, but any adjustment to the graph for the 1867 flood would have a negli gible effect on the position of the curve.

TABLE 16. Annual peak stages and discharges, Kern River near Kernville, Calif.

Water year

1912.. .........1913.. ......

1914...........1915..........1916 .. 1917-.---.....1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 .1923 1924 1925..... ......1926 1927 -....1928 1929 1930 -1931 .1932 1933. .

Date

June 4, 1912May 24, 25,

1913.June 4, 1914June 9, 1915Jan. 17, 1916June 17,1917May 5,1918May 29, 1919May 21,1920June 8, 1921

May 17,1923May 11,1924June 13,1925May 20, 1926Nov. 26, 1926May 30, 1928May 25, 1929June 13,1930May 7, 1931June 22,1932June 15,1933

Gage height(feet)

4.64.948.84.72.795.14.493.989 00

6.508.108.17

10.35

7.378.016.169.38

Discharge(cfs)

3,3301,920

11, 5003,800

4,2903,560

i 3, 0003 Q9O

7801,920

4,420

1,2401,730

610

Water year

1934 1935 1936. 1937 1938 1939 1940. 1941 . 1942 - 1943

1Q4.5

1947 .1948 1949 --

1954 -

Date

Apr. 20,1934June 8, 1935May 19,1936Feb. 6,1937Mar. 2,1938May 14,1939May 25,1940June 14,1941June 6, 1942Jan. 22,1943

Nov. 23, 1946May 17,1948May 28, 1949June 1, 1950

May 30, 1952Apr. 27,1953May 21,1954

Gage height (feet)

7.209.689.27

12.4611.687.609.62

11.149.57

12.578.54

8.789.087 987.938.78

17.5010.879.038.608.60

17.55

Discharge (cfs)

1,0802,9202,9808,6007,0001,4403,4805,5103,4008,3102,3105,7002,4402,7701,6601,4202,420

2 27, 0006,1403,1202,6002,500

3 27, 200

1 After March 1921, peak discharge data do not include flow in Kern River No. 3 Canal.2 Probably third largest flood since 1867 (89 years'*.3 Probably second largest flood since 1867 (89 years).


TABLE 17. Annual peak stages and discharges, Kaweah River near Three Rivers,Calif.

Water year

1914 1915 1916 1917. 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 --------1924 1925 - 1926.,. ... ..1927.. .-..1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934.. 1935 --------

Date

June 1, 1915Jan. 17,1916Feb. 21,1917Mar. 19, 1918

Apr. 16,1920

May 31, 1922Apr. 6, 1923

May 27, 1925

Feb. 18,1927Mar. 27, 1928June 16,1929Feb. 22,1930May 6, 1931Dec. 28,1931June 14, 1933Dec. 13,1933Apr. 8, 1935

Gage height (feet)

jo n

8.6

10.07.18 1

9.8

8.85

6.908.08.0

11.88.809 458.807.43

11.849.078.10

11.76

Discharge (cfs)

jo OHO3,600

14, 7006,2701,570o jwn5,8503,1803,6906,0601,200

10, 1003,1403,7803,0601,5708,9003,6202,2308,900

Water year

1936 1937. _ ------1938 1939 1940 19411942 1943 1944- _ - _ --194S ...194619471948

1950

1952 1953 1954 -- ....

1956

Date

Feb. 13,1936Feb. 6. 1937

Feb. 26,1940Apr 4 1941May 21, 1942

Mar. 4, 1944Feb. 2, 1945

Nov. 23, 1946Apr. 10,1948May 26, 1949Feb. 6, 1950

Jan. 25,1952Apr. 27,1953Jan. 24,1954Feb. 17,1955Dec. 23,1955

Gage height (feet)

7.8612.6516.0

1 9Q

9.568.737.20

12.556.25

12.006.65

8.905.836.93

17.810.239.778.159.28

22.24

Discharge (cfs)

S nfln18. 90033, 300i Qf%n8,5106,8204,170

17, 0003,100

15,2003,480

7,1302,5003.860

i 52, 0008,4707,6604,0806,480

2 80, 700

1 Probably third largest flood since 1867 (89 years).2 Probably same magnitude as floorfof January 1867.

TABLE 18. Annual peak stages and discharges, Merced River at Pohono Bridgenear Yosemite, Calif.

Water year

1917 1918 ------1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925... ..1926 ------1927 1928 1929 1930 ..1931 1932 1933-.--.--...1934 1935 1936 .---...

Date

June 10,1917June 12,1918

May 20, 1920June 11,1921

May 16, 1923

May 6,1925May 5, 1926May 17,1927

May 28, 1930May 7, 1931

May 31, 1933June 14,1934

May 5,1936

Gage, height (feet)

8.757.05

8.808.40

8.30C QC

8.307.779.48

9 257.236.109 19

8.605.439 448.84

Discharge (cfs)

5,8804,0006,150

4,6106,3704,5002,120

3,9505,7004,680

1,8404,7804,2301,470

4,450

Water year

1937 1938 1939 1940 1941

1943 19441945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 - 1951 1952 -1953 .-1954 . -

1956

Date

May 15,1937Dec. 11,1937Apr. 22,1939May 13,1940May 24,1941May 25, 1942Apr. 28,1943May 9,1944May 5, 1945May 7, 1946May 3,1947May 27, 1948May 14, 1949May 28,1950Nov. 19,1950May 28, 1952Apr. 27,1953May 20, 1954May 22,1955Dec. 23,1955

Gage height (feet)

10.2519.15.958.459.559.219.537.369.188.157.528.507.967.99

19.989.637.117.577.46

21.62

Discharge (cfs)

6,01022, 0002,2004,7506,4105,8606,3703,4705,8104,6803,9305,1004,4504,490

23, 0006,7903,4803,9903,870

23,600

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Prior to 1900, major floods occurred in the Sacramento Valley in December 1852, January 1862, December 1867, and February 1881. On the lower Sacramento River tributaries including the Feather River, the flood of 1862 ranks as the greatest known. On the Sacra mento River and tributaries upstream from the Feather River, the flood of February 1881 generally exceeded all others known.

After 1900 numerous major floods occurred in March 1907, January- February 1909, February 1915, March 1928, December 1937, Feb-


ruary 1940, February 1942, November-December 1950, and December 1955. It is somewhat difficult to generalize in ranking these floods because no one flood was the most outstanding throughout the region. On the Sacramento River and many tributaries upstream from the Feather Eiver, the flood of December 1955 was the greatest of record, but on others it was exceeded by either the flood of December 1937 or that of February 1940. In the Feather Eiver basin, the flood of March 1907 was the greatest flood since 1900 on some tributaries, but on others, notably the Yuba Eiver, the flood of December 1955 was the greatest. On the lower Sacramento Eiver tributaries, the flood of December 1955 was generally the greatest since 1900; other high- ranking floods were those of March 1907, March 1928, and November 1950.

Annual flood peaks (tables 19, 20) on Feather Eiver at Bidwell Bar and Middle Fork American Eiver near Auburn in the 40 years from October 1916 to September 1956 were used to compute flood-frequency curves (fig. 28). Historical data has not been incorporated in the flood-frequency plot because of the uncertainty involved in assigning rank to the floods prior to October 1916.

TABLE 19. Annual peak stages and discharges, Feather River at Bidwell Bar, Calif.

Water year

1912.. _________1913.. _________1914.. _________1915 _______1916 ________1917. _______1918._-___.____1919 ________1920 __._ .1921 ________1922 ___ . _1923-_________1924 1925 _____ .1926 ________1927... __.1928 ________1929 _______1930 _____ _1931 1932.. ._____.__1933... ________1934..... _._ _

Date

Mar. 6,1912May 9, 1913Dec. 31,1913May 11, 1915Mar. 20, 1916Feb. 25,1917Mar. 26, 1918Feb. 10,1919Apr. 15,1920Nov. 19, 1920May 20, 1922Apr. 6, 1923Feb. 8, 1924Feb. 6, 1925Apr. 7, 1926Feb. 21,1927Mar. 26, 1928Feb. 4, 1929Dec. 13,1929Mar. 18, 1931Mar. 19, 1932May 30,1933

Gage height (feet)

18.015.512.714.010.7212.00

Q .11.09n o

9.610.04

12.317.099 S

7.414.27.90

10.107.56

10.55

Discharge (cfs)

3,9206,820

47, 10031, 30016, 40023, 10011, 40014, 6009,760

12, 200

8,8809,760

15, 300

90,0004,720

5,5709 QRO

5,05011, 100

Water year

1935-- _______1936 _______1937 _______1938____. ______1939... ________1940 ________1941. __________1942 ________1943 _______1944. _______

1946 ____ _1947 . .1Q4S

1949 ________iQKft

1952 ________1953 ________1954 _______

1956 ________

Date

Apr. 8, 1935Feb. 21,1936Apr. 15,1937Dec. 11,1937Mar. 27, 1939Feb. 27,1940Feb. 10,1941Feb. 6, 1942Jan. 21,1943Mar. 4,1944Feb. 2, 1945Dec. 29,1945Feb. 12,1947Apr. 17,1948Apr. 23,1949Feb. 6, 1950Nov. 21, 1950Feb. 2, 1952Jan. 9, 1953Mar. 9,1954May 9,1955Dec. 23,1955

Gage height (feet)

14.2016.29.45

24.06.97

20.1515.616.4518.709.98

15.2513.9613.0012.708.68

13.0218.2513.7517.0014.168.51

25.2

Discharge (cfs)

25, 50038,2007,920

93, 0003,230

60,20030,30035, 10054, 3008,460

28,60022,00017,80016,6006,140

17, 90050,20021,00040,00022,9005,870

104, 000


120

80

40

I I I l^ I I M I 1 I I I

Feather'River at Bidwell Bar

80

Q

I 40

600

O 400

O 200

a 0

Middle.Fork American River I near Auburn

Eel River at Scotia

400

200

I

Klamath River near Klamath

I

1956

1956

1956

1.5 2 2.33 3 5 10 20


50 100

FIGURE 28. Flood-frequency curves for selected gaging stations in Sacramento Valley, Calif., and innorth-coastal California.


TABLE 20. Annual peak stages and discharges, Middle Fork American River nearAuburn, Calif.

Water year

1912 1913 1914- ..1915 1916 1917 .1918 1919 .1920 1921 .. ...1922 1923 1924. ..1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934

Date

May 30,1912Apr. 26,1913Jan. 1, 1914

Mar. 20, 1916Feb. 25,1917Apr. 10,1918Feb. 11,1919Apr. 16,1920Jan. 18,1921May 20,1922Dec. 13,1922Feb. 8, 1924Feb. 6, 1925Apr. 6, 1926Feb. 21,1927Mar. 25, 1928June 16,1929

Mar. 18, 1931May 12,1932May 30,1933Mar. 29, 1934

Gage height (feet)

18.016.013.713.08.0

17.510.511.512.717.7

25.011.521.535.611.39 Q

10.8812.4011.6

Discharge (cfs)

5,3506,460

26, 40099 fiftfi

17, 100

6, 10025, 000

Q ftfifi

11, 40091 1fifi

5,10036, 3009,920

29, 20062,00012,0008 ion

6,1108,7406,7707 san

Water year

1935. 1936. 1937 - 1QOQ

1939 1940 1941 1942 -. ....1943 1944 1945 19461947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1QCO

1954 1955 1956

Date

Apr. 8, 1935Feb. 22,1936Feb. 14,1937Dec. 11,1937Apr. 4, 8, 1939Mar. 30, 1940Dec. 27,1940Jan. 27,1942Jan. 21,1943May 8, 1944Feb. 2, 1945

Feb. 12,1947Apr. 17,1948May 14,1949Jan. 23,1950Nov. 20, 1950Feb. 2, 1952Apr. 27,1953Mar. 9, 1954May 13,1955Dec. 23,1955

Gage height (feet)

19.519.4"13.527.39.05

23.216.921.628.011.123.916.1814.1513.3812.7015.6034.715.1518.5518.6510.8733.9

Discharge (cfs)

25,00024,70010,60047, 9003,830

35,60018, 40032, 30058, 0006,440

40,40016,30011,60010,1008,700

14,90068,50013, 90022,30022,6005,820

79,000


The first major flood after the region was settled occurred in De cember 1852, and was especially severe on the Eel River. In Decem ber 1861-January 1862 greater floods occurred which have not since been exceeded in north-coastal California. It is likely, however, that on Eel River at Scotia and on the upper Trinity River the flood of December 1955 was of similar magnitude. Following the relatively minor floods of 1867, 1871, 1878, and 1879 the major floods of 1881 and 1890 occurred. The flood of 1890 was the greater of the two except on the Eel River. Floods of varying magnitude occurred in 1907, 1914, 1915, 1917, 1927, 1937, 1940, 1943, 1950, 1953, and 1955. Some of these were major floods, but none were particularly outstand ing throughout the entire region except the floods of December 1937 and December 1955.

In general, it may be stated that the greatest flood known was that of December 1861-January 1862, the second greatest that of December 1955, and the third greatest that of February 1890. On Eel River at Scotia, the peak discharge of February 1915 was probably greater than that of 1890.

Annual flood peaks (tables 21-23) on Eel River at Scotia, Trinity River at Lewiston, and Klamath River near Klamath were used to construct a flood frequency curve (fig. 28). The observed record at Klamath River does not fully cover October 1916-September 1956, but is included because it was possible to make fairly reliable estimates of the discharge for the historic floods of 1861-62, 1881, 1890, and 1927.


On Eel River, the flood peak of December 1955 was probably of the same order of magnitude as that of January 1862. Because the latter flood exceeded that of December 1852, the peak discharge of Decem ber 1955 was therefore the greatest peak in the 104 years prior to 1956. The peak discharge of February 1915 was the fourth largest for that period. On Trinity River, the flood peak of December 1955 was also probably of the same magnitude as that of 1862.

TABLE 21. Annual peak stages and discharges, Eel River at Scotia, Calif.

Water year

1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917- 1918 1Q1Q

1920 1921

1923.. .19241925 1926 1927 1928 .

1930 1931 1932 1933 .

Date

Jan. 20,1911 Jan. 26,1912Jan. 18,1913 Jan. 22,1914 Feb. 2, 1915

Nc Feb. 25,1917 Feb. 7, 1918 Jan. 17,1919 Apr. lfi.1920 Nov. 19, 1920 Feb. 19,1922 Dec. 28,1922 Feb. 8, 1924 Feb. 6, 1925 Feb. 4, 1926 Feb. 21,1927 Mar. 27, 1928 Feb. 4, 1929 Dec. 15,1929 Jan. 23,1931 Dec. 27,1931 Mar. 17, 1933

Gage height (feet)

52.5 55.5

Record 51. 25 27.7 38.3 25.0 38.2 34.5 26.9 26.9 35.2 42.2 45.2 46.3 21.3 30.4 29.0 36.1 26.10

Discharge (cfs)

136, 000 170, 000 150, 000 309, 000

i 351, 000

292,000 78,600

149, 000 62,000

148, 000 123, 000

73, 400 73, 400

127, 000 176, 000 221, 000 233,000

41, 000 120, 000

87, 000 127, 000

58, 100

Water year

1934 1935

1937 19381QOQ

1941-

1943 1944. . 1Q4.C

1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951- -1QKO

1953 1954 1QKC

1956 -.

Date

Mar. 29, 1934 Apr. 8, 1935 Jan. 16,1936 Feb. 5, 1937 Dec. 11,1937 Dec. 3, 1938 Feb. 28,1940 Dec. 24,1940 Feb. 6, 1942 Jan. 21,1943 Mar. 4. 1944 Feb. 3, 1945 Dec. 27,1945 Feb. 12,1947 Jan. 8, 1948 Mar. 18, 1949 Jan. 18,1950 Jan. 22,1951 Dec. 27,1951 Jan. 9, 1953 Jan. 17,1954 Dec. 31,1954 Dec. 22,1955

Gage height (feet)

24.8 29.62 44.7 37.0 55.1 35.9 52.26 36.4 42.2 50. 75 24.60 30. 55 44.60 29.02 32.6 35.4 32.85 45.39 46.50 42.98 45.20 23.29 61.9

Discharge (cfs)

50,900 79,500

216, 000 134, 000 345, 000 133,000 305,000 150,000 209, 000 315,000

57,800 99, 100

239, 000 86,100

114, 000 140, 000 117,000 249,000 262,000 215, 000 245,000

52, 400 " 541, 000

i Probably fourth largest flood since December 1852 (104 years).' Probably same magnitude as flood of January 1862 (greatest in 104 years).

TABLE 22. Annual peak stages and discharges, Trinity River at Lewiston, Calif.

Water year

1912

1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922-.-- _ .--1923- 1924 1925.1926 1927 1928 - 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934

Date

Jan. 25,1912

Nov. 9, 1912Jan. 2, 1914

Mar. 20, 1916

Feb. 9, 1919

TVTav Q 109°.

Feb. 4,1925

Nov. 30, 1926TVTar 9fi 1Q9QFeb. 4, 1929Dec. 14,1929

Mar. 19, 1932Mar. 28, 1933Mar 28 19341

Gage height (feet)

1 E 0

1 E A

10.18 9

14.75.85

13.48. 55

9 2014.0019 Q1 Q O

17 27.05

7 399 279 44

11 21

Discharge (cfs)

11, 600

26,900OQ nnfl23 50010 600

Q r\zf\91 ROfl

18, 5007,700

8 920

17,10031 9009c ?nn

4,690

5,1808,840

12 400'

Water year

1935

1936 - --19371938 -1 Q3Q

19411 Q4.91943 19441 OdK

194619471948 19491 Q*\fi

19511 QK9

1QE,I

1 Q55

1956

Date

Apr. 15,29,1935

Feb. 21,1936Apr. 13,1937Dec 11 1937Mar. 13, 1939

A/for 1 1 Q41

Dec. 16,1941TVfar 9Q 1Qd3Mav 7 1944

Dec 29 1945Nov. 22, 1946

Mar. 9,1954May 21,1955

Gage height (feet)

9.73

13.010 E

1 Q QTt

9.1690 Q

20.318.9812.0311.10

16.35

21.1

11.0821.0015.8015.3215.8911.1327.3

Discharge (cfs)

8,970

16,500

37, 0004,370

40, 30032, 50028,900

7, 3505,5608,990

21, 4"08,390

39, 70015, 7006,360

39, 30019, 50017,90019, 7006,880

i 71, 600

Probably same magnitude as flood of January 1862 (greatest in 104 years).


TABLE 23. Annual peak stages and discharge, Klamath River near Klamath, Calif.

Water year

1862.... __ .1881... ---_._1890.. ._...__1911_.__._ .1912...1913..._. .1914...... ..1915..... ....1916. .1917 ... ..1918 . _.1919 ......1920......1921 .1922 ....1923 ....1924. .. -1925 1926 1927 1932 ..1933 ...1934 . _

Date

February 1890. _Jan. 20, 1911 Feb. 17, 1912...Nov. 6, 1912... _Jan. 22, 1914 .Feb. 2, 1915... .Feb. 7, 1916....Feb. 22, 1917...Dec. 1, 1917....

Apr. 17, 1920...Dec. 31, 1920 Nov. 30, 1921...Dec. 28, 1922.. .Feb. 2, 1924....Feb. 5, 1925.. .

March 1932

March 1934.....

Gage height (feet)

28.5

27.033.321.520.018.827.413.027.018.018.112.632.4

Discharge (cfs)

12450,00013360,000i * 425, 000

66,700142,00074,500

130, 000182, 00085, 70073,70065, 300

133, 00027,900

130,00059,70060,40025,800

175, 000102, 000

1 5 300, 0006 96, 4006 46, 2008 51, 100

Water year

1935 1936 1937 1938. 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 -1915 ..1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 ..1954 1955 .-1956.

Date

April 1935__-._

April 1937- December 1937.

March 1941.....

March 1944 .....February 1945..

March 1949.....March 1950.....Feb. 5,1951....Feb. 2, 1952....

Jan. 28, 1954 Dec. 31, 1954. ..Dec. 22. 1955. - .

Gage height (feet)

31.633.9843.6725.5318.9049.7

Discharge (cfs)

6 60, 0008162,0008121,0008 218, 000

6 71, 0008 237, 0006124,0008151,0008 162, 000

« 32, 3008 102, 0008 209, 000

6 73, 9008 202, 000695,0006 92, 600173,000195, 000297, 000133, 00074,200

" 425, 000

i Computed from floodmarks at Weitchpec and hydraulic properties of channel; routed from Weitchpec

Greatest since and greater than floods of 1852-1953 (104 years).3 Fourth largest in 104 years.4 Samp, discharge as Dec. 22, 1955.5 Fifth largest in 104 years.6 Computed by routing technique, using flood peaks on Klamatb River at Somesbar and on Trinity River

near Hoopa.7 Second largest in 104 years.

WEST-CENTRAL IDAHO

In west-central Idaho winter precipitation is generally snow and winter floods rarely occur. On many streams in the Boise and Payette River basins, even the high rates of runoff in December 1955 were exceeded by snowmelt peaks in the spring of 1956. Nevertheless, in other parts of the Boise and Payette River basins, and in the Weiser and Little Salmon River basins, peak discharges of recordbreaking proportions occurred during December 1955. Reservoir storage was effective in reducing peak rates of discharge in the lower reaches of many streams.

Little is known concerning floods in west-central Idaho that occurred prior to the inauguration of the stream-gaging program. On Boise River near Twin Springs, where streamflow records have been kept continuously since 1911, the flood peak of December 1955 equalled the previously known maximum that occurred in May 1927, and was exceeded only in the spring flood of May 1956. Other notable peak discharges, listed in order of magnitude, occurred in 1917, 1928, 1952, 1921, and 1953. It is difficult to rank historic floods in order of magni tude in the Payette River basin because of the lack of long-term gaging-station records that are unaffected by storage. It appears, however, that the peak discharge of December 1955 outranked all

A108300

100

50


10

0.5

0.11.5 2 2.33 5 10


50 100

FIGURE 29. Flood-frequency curves for selected gaging stations in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

1. Boise Rivernear Twin Springs, Idaho2. Little Weiser River near Indian Valley, Idaho3. McKenzie River near Vida, Oreg.4. Willamette River at Albany, Oreg.5. Clackamas River near Cazadero, Oreg.6. South Fork Coquille River at Powers, Oreg.

7. Umpqua River near Elkton, Oreg.8. Rouge River at Raygold near Central Point,

Oreg.9. Asotin Creek near Asotin, Wash.

10. John Day River at McDonald Ferry, Oreg.11. Wind Rivernear Carson, Wash.

peaks since 1921, with the possible exception of that of 1927. Notable floods also occurred in 1922, 1925, 1928, 1938, 1943, 1948, 1949, and 1952. The paucity of long-term records of unregulated flow in other basins in west-central Idaho precludes any generalizing concerning the comparative magnitude of historic floods.


Annual flood peaks (tables 24, 25) and flood-frequency curves (fig. 29) are shown for two representative stations in the region Boise River near Twin Springs and Little Weiser River near Indian Valley.

TABLE 24. Annual peak stages and discharges, Boise River near Twin SpringsIdaho

Water year

1911... ........1912 1913. 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 . 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924...........1925 . 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 ____ .1931. _ . ___1932 .....1933

Date

June 13,1911June 13,1912May 28,1913May 23,1914Apr. 19,1915June 19,1916May 15,1917June 14,1918May 29, 1919May 17, 1920June 12,1921June 7, 1922May 26,1923May 17,1924May 20,1925May 5.1926May 17,1927May 10, 1928May 24,1929May 29,1930May 7,1931May 14, 1933June 16,1933

(felt)

7.27.47.06.04.627.377.827.107.506.047.677.106.234.516.695.298.307 OS5.815.004.526.876.91

Discharge (cfs)

7,5607,9007,2205,5203,1408,5309,4307,9908,7905,8409,2107,8606,0803,0007.0604,250

10,3009,4005,3203,8603,0207,4607,260

Water year

1934.. 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944. 1945. 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956

Do..

Date

Mar. 28, 1934May 24 1935

May 5,1937May 1, 1938Apr. 30,1939May 12,1940May 27,1941May 26,1942Apr. 17,1943May 15,1944May 5,1945Apr. 19,1946May 9,1947May 28, 1948May 16,1949May 24, 1950May 28,1951Apr. 28,1952June 13,1953May 21,1954June 10,1955Dec. 23,1955May 24,1956

Gage height (feet)

4 OR5.677.704 Qd7.63

5.895.726.217.825.306.187.187.167.416.786.646.987.967.817.576.498.318.76

Discharge (cfs)

3,6804 9708,8803,6108,730A OQfl

5,2104,8306,2408,9203,8005,6007,5607,6708,2106,9906,5707,2909i2109,, 0908,5606,270

10,30011,200

TABLE 25. Annual peak stages and discharges, Little Weiser River near IndianValley, Idaho

Water year

1923 1924 . ...1925 . _ ....1926. ...1927 ........1938 1939 1940 ....1941 1942 1943 1944

Date

May 10,1923May 14,1924Feb. 4, 1925Apr. 18,1926May 16,1927May 1,1938Mar. 24, 1939Feb. 27,1940May 12,1941May 25, 1942May 31, 1943Apr. 5, 1944

Gage height (feet)

2.014.191.993.985.153.303.803.403.694.533.26

Discharge (cfs)

550271

1,840311

1,1301,200

419626482605925475

Water year

1945. -. _ .1946 _ .....1947... ...1948 1949-... .......1950... ___ ..1951.. _1952 ......1953 1954.... ___ .1955 _ -1956 _ .....

Date

June 5, 1945Apr. 18,1946May 9, 1947May 27, 1948May 14,1949June 6, 1950May 22, 1951May 8, 1952June 7, 1953May 20, 1954Apr. 22,1955Dec. 22,1955

Gage height (feet)

4.353.954.304.503.88

3.455.054.773.483.324.67

Discharge (cfs)

844617740844620372568

1,2801,240

622588

1,200

WILLAMETTE VALLEY

Before 1900, major floods are known to have occurred in the Willamette Valley in 1813, 1843, 1844, 1849, 1853, December 1861, January 1881, and February 1890. Quantitative data are lacking for those floods that occurred prior to 1861, but it is known that the stages reached by the flood of 1861 have not since been equaled. The greatest flood since that year occurred in February 1890, and the next greatest was probably that of January 1881. After 1900 several floods had peak discharges of the same general magnitude as that of December 1955, but were greater hi some basins and less in


others. These floods occurred in January 1901, January 1903, Novem ber 1909, January 1923, March 1931, January 1943, December 1945, January 1948, and January 1953.

TABLE 26. Annual peak stages and discharges, McKenzie River near Vida, Oreg.

Water year

1925 1926 1927 1928 .. .1929 1930 1931...... ..1932. .. -.1933. 1934 1935 1936, .-.1937 1938. .......1939 1940... ........

Date

Feb. 4, 1925Feb. 6, 1926Feb. 20,1927Nov. 28, 1927Mar. 21, 1929Dec. 18,1929Apr. 1, 1931Mar. 18, 1932June 9, 1933Jan. 23, 1934Dec. 20,1934Jan. 4, 1936Apr. 14,1937Jan. 22,1938Dec. 2, 1938Feb. 10,1940

Gage heieht (feet)

9.18.5

14.20 ft7 059.97

11.9911.778.608.808.228.288.669.395.884.85

Discharge (cfs)

26, 70024,40047,200OQ ftftA

18,90030,10038,00037,40024,90025,60023,40023, 70025,30028,00014,70011,200

Water year

1941- 1942 19431944 1945 1946. 1947 1948 1949... ..1950...........1951 1952.... ...1953 1954...........1955-.... .1956

Date

Nov. 29, 1940Nov. 15,1941Jan. 1, 1943Nov. 4,1943Feb. 13,1945Dec. 28,1945Dec. 14,1946Jan. 7, 1948Dec. 12,1948Feb. 24,1950Oct. 29,1950Oct. 23,1951Jan. 18,1953Nov. 23, 1953Dec. 31,1954

Gage heieht (feet)

4.718.40

14.67.659.09

17.7012.2012.1611.478.85

11.307.98

15.0312.227.08

15.00

Discharge (cfs)

10,70024,10048,90020, 80026,60064,40039,40039,20036,30025,60035,60022,10051, 80039,40018,50051, 700

TABLE 27. Annual peak stages and discharges, Willamette River at Albany, Oreg.

Water year

1862....... 1879... .1880 1881..... .1882. 1884 1890 1893....... 1894 1895... 1896.. _1897.. 1898... 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 19Q5-.- ,1906 1907 1908 1909 -1910.. 1911 1912. .........1913 1914... 1915 1916... . .W7 1918 1919 1920 1921..

Date

Dec. 4, 1861Mar. 27. 1879Dec. 7, 1879Jan. 14. 1881Mar. 2, 1882Feb. 22,1884Feb. 4, 1890Feb. 13,1893Jan. 16, 1894Jan. 14, 1895Jan. 23, 1896Nov. 18, 1896Dec. 15, 1897

Jan. 15, 1900Jan. 15, 1901Dec. 10,1901.Tan. 26,1903Feb. 17,1904Dec. 31,1904Feb. 25,1900Feb. 6, 1907

Nov. 24. 1909

Jan. 14,1912Apr. 1,1913Jan. 26,1914Jap. 15. 1915Feb. 8, 1916Apr. 9, 1917Dec. 25 1917Jan. 24 1919Jan. 28,1920

Gage height (feet)

36.0

23.500 Q

91 Q

21.533.918.428.219.425.028.519.2OQ n25.131.21Q 9

31.324.718.515.130.7OQ 7

OQ D

31.010 4

26.201 0

17.614.927.714.220.520.017.123.5

Discharge (cfs)

i 34Q OQO114,000116,000Ofifi Annm nnn101,000

2 9Q1 nnn79 700DC Ann

198 nnn170 nnn85,100i 10 nnn

ion nnn

231,00085,100

OQO fiAA

126,000fin mnen onn

220,0001QO AAA

110 nnn226,000

70 nnn145,00091.50067, 10053,000

165,00049,50091,20007 cnnCQ f\f\f\

i is nnn

Water year

1922 1923 1924

1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932........ ...19331934 1935..... .IQOfi

1937 1QQO

1QOQ

1940 1941 19421943..... .1944IQAK

19461<M7

1948 1949 1950 lo>;11952 1953 19541955... . -1956

Date

Nov. 23, 1921Jan. 8, 1923Feb. 3, 1924Feb. 6, 1925Feb. 8, 1926Feb. 22,1927Mar. 13, 1928Mar. 23. 1929Dec. 21,1929Apr. 3, 1931Mar. 21. 1932Jar. 4,1933Jan. 25,1934

Jan. 13.1936Apr. 16,1937Mar. 20, 1938Feb. 17.1939Mar. 1, 1940Dec. 28,1940Nov. 18, 1941Jan. 2, 1943

Feb. 15,1945Dec. 30 1945T>0« 1C 1Q/lft

Jan. 8,1948Dec. 14,1948Jan. 24,1950Oct. 31,1950Dec. 6. 1951Jan. 20,1953Nov. 25, 1953

Dec. 23.1955

Gage height (feet)

23.230.013.223.524.729.217.613.3020.422.925.520.818.217.7024.324.521.24

15.5611.8619.9730.612.9710 Q£

30.025.8228.8725.7522.0026.0118.6228.0322.4214.6226.70

Discharge (cfs)

122,000206,00052,000

130,000143.000191,00074,00050,80091,500

109,000134,00094,50076,30073,200

125,000127,00096,80061,00059,00041,200

8*88,0003< 236, 000

3 47,0003 78, 000

'220,0003141,0003196,0003 142,000

3*109,0003 167, 000385,000

3200,0003*168,000

3 69, 0003 231, 000

1 Greatest in 95 years.2 Second largest flood in 95 years.3 Adjusted for storage; figures furnished by Corps of Engineers.4 Storage began Fern Ridge Reservoir, Nov. 13, 1941; Cottage Grove Reservoir, Oct. 31, 1942; Dorena

Reservoir, Oct. 11,1949; and Lookout Point Reservoir, November 1953.

PART 1. DESCRIPTION Alll

Annual flood peaks (tables 26-28) and flood-frequency curves (fig. 29) are shown for 3 representative stations in the region McKenzie River near Vida, Willamette River at Albany, and Clackamas River near Cazadero.

For Willamette River at Albany the annual flood peaks have been adjusted for the effect of storage since regulation began in 1941. This station was included in the tabulation because of the historic data available for the site.

TABLE 28. Annual peak stages and discharges, Clackamas River near Cazadero,Oreg.

Water year

1809 1910..-.- ...1911 1912 1913 1914. 1915. 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920.. _ ------1921 1922 .1923 -1924 1925 1926 1927

1928 1929 1930 1931 _ . _ ---.1932

Date

Jan. 20,1909Nov. 22. 1909

Jan. 12,1912Mar. 30, 1913Jan. 5, 1914Jan. 14,1915

June 9, 1917Dec. 19,1917

Nov. 4,1919Dec. 30,1920

Jan. 6, 1923Dec. 6, 1923Nov. 21, 1924Feb. 6,1926Nov. 29, 1926Feb. 20,1927Nov. 25, 1927Mar. 21, 1929Dec. 14,1929Mar. 31, 1931Mar. 18, 1932

Gage height (feet)

538.0543. 70VU. 1

537. 93536.80534.6530.45

531. 77195.2536. 55cjfi K

539.0546.0

545. 65547. 25545. 70547. 90547. 90547.8540.43542.60

546.34

Discharge (cfs)

27,90043,100

23,90020,70014,4006,590

28,3009,260

44.80099 df\(\

35,80029,90044 30060,00023,80028,50021.90028 30028,30029.90010,20015,000fin Rflfl25,100

Water year

1933. 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939

1941 1942 19431944 1945 19461947 1QXQ

1949 1950. 1951 1952... __ ----1953 J954 1QCC

1QCA

Date

Dec. 22,1933

Jan. 4, 1936Apr. 14,1937Dec. 30,1937

Feb. 6, 1940Nov. 29, 1940Dec. 2, 1941Nov. 23, 1942Nov. 4,1943Feb. 8, 1946Dec. 28,1945

May 2, 1949Feb. 25,1960Nov. 2,1950Oct. 23,1951Jan. 18, 1953Dec. 20,1953Dec. 31,1954

Gage heieht (feet)

543. 90550. 65542.56545.9545.65549. 24541. 15544.03542.18545.48551. 79540. 07544.60553.5552.8Ctf.i Q

546.24546.01545. 96542.74552. 16550.00

10.8321.15

Discharge (cfs)

18,30038,70015,60024.20023,40034,30012,00019,00014,40023,00042.6009,150

20,30048,40046,00053,40024,90023,60023,50014,50040,70033,70014,40048,000

i Staff gage in forebay at River Mill dam.

COASTAL OREGON

The earliest flood in coastal Oregon for which quantitative data are available is the flood of December 1861. The peak discharge for this flood has not been exceeded since, although it was equaled at Elkton on the Umpqua River in December 1955. Generally speaking, however, the greatest flood since 1861 in the coastal region occurred in February 1890. Subsequent floods of great magnitude were those of November 1909, February 1927, December 1945, October 1950, January 1953, and December 1955.

Annual flood peaks (tables 29-31) and flood-frequency curves (fig. 29) are shown for 3 representative stations in the region South Fork Coquille River at Powers, Umpqua River near Elkton, and Rogue River at Raygold near Central Point.

On the Coquille River the highest flood known occurred in February 1890, although it is presumed that the flood of December 1861 was


greater. Between 1890 and 1917, just prior to the beginning of gaging on the South Fork at Powers, notable floods are known to have occurred in January 1901, January 1903, February 1907, Decem ber 1907, November 1909, and February 1916. During the period of record at this station, 1917-26, 1929-56, the flood peak of December 1955 was exceeded only by that of December 1945.

The greatest discharge known on Umpqua River at Elkton, that of December 1861, was equaled in the flood of December 1955. From table 30 it will be noted that the four highest observed peaks at this gaging station occurred during the last 6 years. On South Umpqua River at Brockway, it is presumed that the flood of 1861 was the greatest known. The four highest floods there since that date, in order of magnitude, are those of February 1890, October 1950, February 1927, and December 1955. On North Umpqua River at Glide the greatest known flood occurred in November 1909. This flood was greater than that of December 1955 and probably exceeded that of February 1927. No information regarding the floods of 1861 or 1890 is available.

It has been established that on the Rogue River the two greatest floods known occurred in 1861 and 1890. Since the establishment of a gaging station at Raygold in 1906, the six highest peak discharges, in order of magnitude occurred in February 1927, December 1955 (equaled 1927 flood), November 1909, January 1953, February 1907, and November 1953.

TABLE 29. Annual peak stages and discharges, South Fork Coquille River atPowers, Oreg.

Water year

1917 . ...1Q1S

1919

1921 _ . __1922 1923 __ -1924... 1925 1926. ___ 1929 1930 __1931 ...1932 - ___1933 1934 _ 1935 .. __ -1936...... _ ..1O37

Date

Dec. 3, 1916Feb. 6, 1918

Feb. 20,1921Nov. 21, 1921

Dec. 6, 1923

Feb. 4, 1926Apr. 14.1929T)|if> -\A 1QOQ

Mar. 12, 1931Dec. 31,1931Jan. 2, 1933Dec. 18,1933

Jan. 12,1936Apr. 13,1937

Gage height (feet)

8.210 8ICO

n o

11.0

10.417.515.511.4912.108 9ft

13.115.012. 0510.5517.5015.6

Discharge (cfs)

5,04010,0001Q 7nn10 900iciioo8,4409 9fiflQ <Mfl

25,30020 00011,60019 70ft

5,87014,700

11,5007,230

23,60015,200

Water year

1938 1939 1Q4O

19411Q49

1943 1Q44.1O4.11Q4fi1O4-7

1948.... -1Q4Q

1950_ 1951 1952 1953 195419551QKA

Date

Nov. 19, 1937Dec. 2, 1938

Dec. 8, 1942

Feb. 8, 1945

Jan. 7, 1948

Oct. 28,1950

Jan. 18,1953

Dec. 31,1954Dec. 21,1955

Gage height (feet)

17.412.0612.761Q Oft

14. 5015. 0510.7811.5620.57

15.071Q 19

n AQ

18.1412.0417.6417.4910.351 n 7c

Discharge (cfs)

23,30011,10012, 100

15,50016,500

10,80030 50011,10016,500

11,00024,40012,00024,90024,5009,600

28,000


TABLE 30. Annual peak stages and discharges, Umpqua River near Elkton, Oreg.

Water year

1862 1906 1908 _____1909...1910--.1911 -.1912 __ .1913 1914........1915... ______1916 ______1917 ___1918 .__..1919 ______1920 _____1921 ______1922 _1923 ______1924. _1925...1926 ...1927 _____1928 _____1929 ______1930... ______1931

Date

Jan. 17, 1906..Dec. 26, 1907--.

Nov. 23, 1909-Nov. 29, 1910__Jan. 13, 1912 Jan. 18, 1913-Jan. 26, 1914 Feb. 3, 1915. ...Feb. 7, 1916....Mar. 25, 1917- _

Jan. 19, 1919 Dec. 9, 1919. _

Nov. 30, 1921. .Jan. 6, 1923.. __Dec. 7, 1923.. __Dec. 30, 1924. __Feb. 5, 1926....Feb. 21, 1927--.

Apr. 15, 1929. _.Dec. 20, 1929. .-Apr. 1, 1931____

Gage height (feet)

18.3329.

38262922.020.012.030.013.820.025.017.023.022.026.013.530.020.040.020.015.219.9017.40

Discharge(cfs)

i 218, 00061,400

106, 00097 °00

144, noo94,300

75,80067, 00033, 100

116, 00040,30067,00091, 00053,50081, 00076, 00096,00039,100

116, 00067, 000

67,00045,40062, 00051,000

Water year

1932 _____1933 __ __1934 _____1935 _____1936 ____1937 --.-..1938.. .-__-_1939 ______1940 _____1941 ______1942 ______1943 ______

1945 _____1946 ______1947 ---1948 _____1949 ---1950 ______1951_. _______1952 _____1953 ______1954 _____1955 ______1956 __ ___

Date

Mar. 19, 1932.Jan. 3, 1933____Jan. 24, 1934., __Dec. 20, 1934.Jan. 13, 1936 Apr. 14, 1937. . _Feb. 7, 1938- -Mar. 13, 1939___Feb. 29, 1940_._Dec. 27, 1940. __Dec. 19, 1941...Dec. 31, 1942.--Nov. 5, 1943..Feb. 14, 1945. __Dec. 29, 1945. _ _Dec. 14, 1946.Jan. 7, 1948- ___Dec. 12, 1948. . _Jan. 22, 1950.. __Oct. 30, 1950 Feb. 2, 1952....Jan. 19, 1953____Nov. 23, 1953-Dec. 31, 1954, __Dec. 22, 1955,. _

Gage height (feet)

2818.123.13026.6031.019.0024.5021.822.641.118.023.1240.122.6037.829.523.3644.222.3043.042.4019.845.6

Discharge(cfs)

101, 00053,20076,600

111, 00094,000

57, 30083, 50070, 40074, 200

186,000

76, 500179, 000

74, 000154, 000109,000

78, 000208, 000

72, 500199, 000195, 00060,400

2 218, 000

1 Equaled on Dec. 22, 1955 but not exceeded in 95 years.2 Same magnitude as flood of December 1861.

TABLE 31. Annual peak stages and discharges, Rogue River at Ray gold, near CentraPoint, Oreg.

Water year

1906 _______1907 . . ___-1908 _______1909 ________1910.. ______ __1911 -------1912 ________1913 _______1914 ___ _1915 _______1916... _______1917_-_-_-1918 .._ ___1919 ________1920 __ ...1921 . __1922 _____ _1923... _____1924_______ _ _1925 ______1926______ ...1927 . _ ____1928 ______1929 ________1930 .. _ __1931 ___ _

Date

Feb. 4, 1907Dec. 26,1907

Nov. 23, 1909Nov. 28, 1910Feb. 17,1912

Jan. 22.1914Feb. 1, 1915

Feb. 25,1917Jan. 12.1918

Dec. 25,1919

Nov. 30, 1921

Feb. 7, 1924

Feb. 4, 1926Feb. 21,1927

Jan. 3, 1929Dec. 19,1929

Gage height (feet)

10 7

15.312.0oo K13.014.2

7 ^

10.07.4

6.6810.99 05.52

10.529.108.787.3

1 K OO

5.9424.8

5.817.505.30

Discharge (cfs)

44,800

79,50035, 10040,100

15,400

12,30025,800

8,98024,40019, 600

14,40044 400lo| ooo

110, 00026,1009,730

14,800

Water year

1933 ______1934 ._.____

1936 _______1937 - 1938 -.__-.__19391940 _______1941 __ ____

1943 _______1944 _ ____1945 _______1946 __._1947. _______1948 _______1949 ____._.1950 _______

1952... ________1953___________1954 . _____1955 _______1956____ _____

Date

Mar. 19, 1932Jan. 2, 1933Jan. 23,1934Dec. 20,1934Jan. 15, 1936Apr. 13,1937Dec. 11,1937Mar. 12,1939Feb. 28,1940Jan. 25,1941

Dec. 31,1942Nov. 5,1943Feb. 14,1945Dec. 28,1945Nov. 19,1946Jan. 7, 1948Feb. 22,1949Mar. 19,1950

Feb. 2, 1952Jan. 18,1953Nov. 23, 1953Dec. 31,1954Dec. 22,1955

Gage height (feet)

12.28.456.066.85

10.2410.7010.977.62

10.27.28

10.4514.305.06

10.9816.06.37

15.69.159.34

14.9111.4317.8316.935.49

23.4

Discharge (cfs)

31,90017, 80010, 60012,70024,20026,10027,20015,20024,20014, 10025, 20040,5008,060

27, 10048, 00011,50046, 20020,40021, 10043, 10028,90056,50052, 3009,210

110, 000



Peak discharges during the floods of December 1955 in the tristate area of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, while noteworthy, were not of record-breaking proportions. In general, the dearth of long-term streamflow records makes it difficult to establish a ranking of major floods. On the John Day River in Oregon, where records have been collected at McDonald Ferry since 1905, the flood peak of February- 1907 ranked second only to the historic peak of 1894. The peak dis charge of December 1955, while exceeded during the snowmelt flood of May 1956, was the sixth highest annual peak for the station.

Annual flood peaks (tables 32-34) and flood-frequency curves (fig. 29) are shown for 3 representative stations in the region Asotin Creek near Asotin, Wash., John Day River at McDonald Ferry, Oreg., and Wind River near Carson, Wash. TABLE 32. Annual peak stages and discharges, Asotin Creek near Asotin, Wash.

Water year

1904.... .1929..- .1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 19351-.. 1936 1937... ....1938 1939.. 1940 1941 1942...

Date

Apr. 15,1904May 24, 1929May 3, 1930Apr. 1, 1931May 13,1932June 10,1933Dec. 23,1933Apr. 16,1935Apr. 18,1936Apr. 15,1937Apr. 19,1938Mar. 20, 1939Feb. 29,1940May 1, 1941Dec. 3, 1941

Gage height (feet)

4 0

1.671.672.281.781.82

1.48

1.752.172.001.821.372.32

Discharge (cfs)

1,180107

160KA(\

340323500174372220345343236128416

Water year

19431Q44

1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951. 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956

Date

Apr. 16,1943

May 26, 1945Dec. 29,1945Dec. 15,1946Jan. 7, 1948May 15.1949Feb. 27,1950Feb. 11,1951Apr. 28,1952Apr. 28,1953Feb. 13,1954June 11.1955Dec. 22,1955

Gage height (feet)

2 in1 K4

1.572.082.702.852.702.202.802.302.002.181.763.94

Discharge (cfs)

373142152303562674378277490360270315215

1,040

i Prior to 1935, gage at different site and datum.

TABLE 33. Annual peak stages and discharges, John Day River at McDonaldFerry, Oreg.

Water year

1894 1905. 1906 1907 1908 1910 1911 __ _1912 .

1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922

Date

May 10,1905May 31, 1906Feb. 6, 1907Mar. 17,1908Mar. 3,1910Mar. 24, 1911May 11, 16,

1912Apr. 21,1913Apr. 17,1914Apr. 4, 1915Feb. 11,1916Apr. 27,1917Feb. 8, 1918Apr. 5, 1919Apr. 14, 1920Feb. 15,1921Apr. 23,1922

height (feet)

12.8A OK

7.90in ft7.200 Cft

5 QA

7.9

7.76.955.19.29 «6.88 C

7.158 0

8.3

Discharge (cfs)

1 OQ lAfl

14,000'27,800

11,700

8 9ftA

14,300

13,70011,1005,870

is onn99 Ann11 20017 20019 finn18 40016 400

Water year

1923____._ __1Q94.

1925 1926 1927...- 1Q9S.

1929 1930- 1931...----.--.1932 -------1933 1934 1935 -1936 -1937 1938

iQdn

Date

Apr. 19,1923Feb. 9, 1924Feb. 6, 1925Feb. 8, 1926Apr. 28,1927Jan. 14,15,

1928Mar. 23, 1929Feb. 161930Apr. 2, 1931Mar. 20, 1932Apr. 29,1933Dec. 28,1933Apr. 17,1935Apr. 19,1936Apr. 16,1937Apr. 20,1938Mar. 25, 1939Mar. 1, 1940

Gage height (feet)

6.66.257.925.97.127.04

5.84.106.84

10.605.974.375.906.587.657.647.687.28

Discharge (cfs)

10,5009,180

15,0008,180

12,90012,500

8,2703.420

11,800326,800

8,0603,7607,7609,900

13,30013,70014,00012,500

Footnotes at end of table.


TABLE 33. Annual peak stages and discharges, John Day River at McDonaldFerry, Oreg. Continued

Water year

1941 1942 .1943 1944 1945

1946 1947 1948

Date

June 9, 1941

Mar. 29, 1943Mar. 11,1944May 5, 18,

1945

Apr. 19,1947May 23, 1948

Gage height (feet)

5.327.118.145.50

8.675.599.83

Discharge (cfs)

6,29011 90015,3006,6108 71ft

17,3006,860

Water year

1949....---....1950 1951 1952

1954 -1955. . ..1956. 1956

Date

Mar. 20, 1949Mar. 19, 1950Feb. 12,1951Mar. 27, 1952Apr. 29,1953Apr. 15,1954May 22, 1955Dec. 23,1955May 9,1956

Gage height (feet)

7.336.087.709.88.175.685.919.78

10.22

Discharge (cfs)

12,5008,310

13,90022,90015,8007,1207,800

22,80024,900

' Greatest since 1894.2 Probably second largest since 1894.3 Second largest since 1905.

TABLE 34. Annual peak stages and discharges, Wind River near Carson, Wash.

Water year

1935- -.1936. _.__.._1937 .1938 _____1939 -.1940.. ...1941.... .1942... _.____._1943. .. .1944 ________1945 ________

Date

Dec. 21, 1934Jan. 12, 1936Apr. 14, 1937Dec. 29, 1937Feb. 15, 1939Feb. 6, 1940Nov. 23, 1940Dec. 19, 1941Nov. 23, 1942Feb. 6, 1944Feb. 8, 1945

Gage height (feet)

14.613.9615.7217.3011.9013.710.9415.9916.5810.1816.62

Discharge (cfs)

12,20010,90014,90020,000

7,30010, 1005,860

15,80017,6004,910

17, 600

Water year

1946 1947 1948 1949. 1950 .- _.1951 1952 1953... ____._._1954 _____1955 .-_._.__1956 _._____.

Date

Dec. 28, 1945Dec. 13, 1946Jan. 7, 1948Feb. 17, 1949Nov. 27, 1949Dec. 23, 1950Feb. 4, 1952Jan. 9, 1953Dec. 9, 1953Dec. 31, 1954Dec. 21, 1955

Gage height (feet)

16.0215.9215.2613.4314.0713.3815.2816.0215.4212.6716.70

Discharge (cfs)

15,80015,00013,5009,460

10,8009,460

13,80015,50014,6008,330

18,500

DETERMINATION OF FLOOD DISCHARGE

The standard method employed by the Geological Survey for deter mining peak discharge at gaging stations by means of current-meter measurements and stage-discharge relation curves has been described in detail in several water-supply papers. Basically, the method involves computing a stage-discharge relation from current-meter measurements of discharge at various stages and applying this re lation to records of stage. The reliability of the stage-discharge relation depends upon how adequately the measurements define the complete range in stage. Short extensions of the stage-discharge relation curve are made on basis of slope-conveyance studies, from velocity-area studies, by logarithmic plotting, or by the use of other hydraulic or hydrologic principles.

Because of the great area and record-breaking magnitude of the December 1955-January 1956 floods, it was impossible to obtain current-meter discharge measurements at or near peak stage at many of the gaging stations. In some instances, measuring facilities were destroyed; in others, access roads and bridges were flooded or washed out; for some of the smaller streams, the durations of the flood peaks

A116 FLOODS IN FAR WESTERN STATES,

were too short to permit measurement. However, the main dif ficulty was that the number of sites requiring flood measurements was far too great for the available trained personnel to measure by current-meter.

For many of the gaging stations at which no high-water current- meter measurements were made and for ungaged sites where peak discharge data were desired, the peak discharge has been obtained by slope-area, contracted-opening, or other types of indirect discharge measurements. These indirect measurements are based on channel geometry and high-water profiles obtained by a field survey and are computed by established hydraulic principles. They are indirect only in the sense that the data are collected subsequent to the passage of the peak discharge. A general description of the indirect measurement methods used by the Geological Survey is given in Water-Supply Papers 773-E, 798, 816, and 843, and more detailed information concerning the latest techniques is available in recent publications and reports of the Geological Survey, such as Circulars 284 and 376.

Indirect measurements were made at over 300 sites throughout the area covered by this report. Collection of the field data for these measurements was hampered severely by inclement weather during the months following the flood. Continuing heavy rains in January over much of the area washed away high-water marks left by the peak flow, and made the high-water profile more difficult to define. Also, streams were at or near bankfull stage during most of the period, and hampered the surveys of channel geometry. The difficul ties were surmounted by the application of skills acquired through previous flood experiences, and the peak discharges determined by indirect methods are believed to be reliable.

SUMMARY OF FLOOD STAGES AND DISCHARGES

Maximum stages and discharges at the 788 gaging stations, partial- record stations, miscellaneous sites, and reservoir stations are summarized in table 35. The station numbers in the table correspond to those on the location maps and to the numbers used for identification in Water-Supply Paper 1650-B.

The derivation of the maxima data has been explained in the station descriptions for each site. For streamflow sites the peak- discharge values are given in table 35 as actually determined; that is, no adjustments for storage, regulation, or diversion have been made.


For reservoir stations the maximum stage and contents are given. For some of the reservoir stations the computed peak inflow and occasionally the computed outflow are given (see station 593, table 35).

At stations where the peak discharge did not occur simultaneously with the peak stage, the maxima are given on separate lines (see station 81, table 35). Under the heading "Maximum flood previously known" the first line gives the maximums during the period of gaging- station operation, and a second line gives data on floods outside this period, where such information is available (see station 26, table 35).

Peak discharges in cubic feet per second per square mile have been tabulated for all sites except those significantly affected by regulation or diversions and those for which the drainage-area figures were not available.

TABL

E 3

5.

Sum

mar

y of

floo

d st

ages

and

dis

char

ges

Sta

tio

nSt

ream

and

pla

ce o

f det

erm

inat

ion

Dra

inag

e ar

ea

(squ

are

mile

s)Pe

riod

of r

ecor

d

Max

imum

flo

od p

revi

ousl

y kn

own

Dat

eG

age

heig

ht

(fee

t)

Dis

char

ge

Cfs

Cfs

per

squa

re

mile

Max

imum

dur

ing

Dec

embe

r 19

55-J

anua

ry 1

956

Dat

e an

d ho

urG

age

heig

ht

(fee

t)

Dis

char

ge

Cfs

Cfs

per

squa

re

mile

00

Th

e G

reat

Bas

in

2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15

16 17 18

19 20

Wal

ker

Lak

e ba

sin:

Vir

gini

a C

reek

nea

r B

ridg

epor

t, C

alif

...

Swag

er C

reek

nea

r B

ridg

epor

t, C

alif

Buc

keye

Cre

ek n

ear

Bri

dgep

ort,

Cal

if. .

Cal

if.

Cal

if.

ditc

h ne

ar M

ason

, N

ev.

Eas

t F

ork

Wes

t W

alke

r R

iver

ne

ar

Bri

dgep

ort,

Cal

if.

Wes

t W

alke

r E

lver

bel

ow E

ast

For

kne

ar C

olev

ille,

Cal

if.

Car

son

Riv

er b

asin

: Si

lver

C

reek

be

low

P

enns

ylva

nia

Cre

ek, n

ear

Mar

klee

ville

, C

alif

.

Spri

ngs

near

Mar

klee

ville

, C

alif

. E

ast

For

k C

arso

n R

iver

nea

r G

ardn

er-

ville

, N

ev.

Wes

t F

ork

Car

son

Riv

er a

t W

oodf

ords

, C

alif

.

Car

son

Riv

er n

ear

Car

son

Cit

y, N

ev..

64

19.4

12.6

34.7

53

45

362

362

1,10

0 63 182

OfU 20

14 344 66

15 876

1 Q

9ft

f\f\

19

53

-55

-...do....... .

.. .

d

o._

_

. .d

o..

....

.

1911

-15,

195

3-55

- 19

10-1

4, 1

953-

55-

19

21

-55

....

1 Q

J.7 tt

1910

, 1944-5

5

19

38

-5

5

1931-55

1914

-25,

1947

-55-

1946-5

5

-do ..

.. ...

.

1890

-93,

190

0-

1906

, 190

8-10

, 19

17, 1

924-

29,

1935

-37,

193

9-

55.

1900

-20,

1938

-55-

1948-55

19

39

-5

5

Mar

. 13

, 1928

Sep

t. 2

7, 1

90

8

Ap

r. 1

4, 1

954.

. -

June

10,

1955

. ...

Mar

. 9,

19

54

M

ay 2

1, 1

954

Jun

e 21

, 19

11 ...

.Ju

ne

16, 1911

Jun

e 21

, 1911

June

12, 1

93

8

Jan.

22, 1943

July

14,

19

52

Feb

. 2,

1945.

No

v.

20, 1950

Jun

e 30

, 1941

Jun

e 7,

1922

Nov.

20, 1950

d

o_

No

v.

21, 1

95

0

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20,1

950 ..

..

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. 3,

195

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ov

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, 1950

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00

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5.

Sum

mar

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floo

d st

ages

and

dis

cha

rges

Con

tinu

ed

Sta

tio

nSt

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and

pla

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f det

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ea

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of r

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own

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age

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ht

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t)

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char

ge

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per

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re

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imum

dur

ing

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embe

r 19

55-J

anua

ry 1

956

Dat

e an

d ho

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age

heig

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(fee

t)

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char

ge

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re

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tral

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ifor

nia

48 49 50 52 53 54 55 5fi

57 58 59 60 fil 62 63 64 65 66 67 68

Arr

oyo

de la

Cru

z ba

sin:

Cal

if.

Sur

Riv

er b

asin

:

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mel

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if.

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as R

iver

bas

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ta M

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alif

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Cal

if.

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aro

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near

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nand

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if.

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Ben

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iver

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ek

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if.

41.4

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2 25.4

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922

140

354

282

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226

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1

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1

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50

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19

42

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49

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54

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...

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5

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19

51

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5

19

49

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39

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Jan.

14, 1952

No

v.

19, 1

950.

...

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21, 1943

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. 15

, 19

52__

__ ..

do

-. .

....

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. 15

, 1

95

2..

...

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. 9,

1943. -

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. 10

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. 27

, 1955-.

..

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15,

1952

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19

52

....

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25,

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, 1

95

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n.

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end

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tabl

e.

TA

BL

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5.

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of f

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TAB

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mar

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dis

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PART 1. DESCRIPTION A13300 i-i

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Sum

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floo

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and

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412

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1946

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1910

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.

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, 19

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25, 1

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. 30

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Calif.

Yager Creek near Carlotta, Calif _ _

icoby Creek basin:

Jacoby Creek near Freshwater, Calif ....

tad River basin:

Mad River near Forest Glen, Calif. ..-. North Fork Mad River at Korbel, Calif

Mad River near Arcata, Calif _ . -...

ittle River basin:

Little River at Crannell, Calif. _ _ __

edwood Creek basin:

Redwood Creek near Blue Lake, Calif. _

00

00 00 OO O CO O C o oooo S Sos 1^ co

Redwood Creek at Orick, Calif. .. __ ..

Dwer Klamath Lake basin:

Antelope Creek near Tennant, Calif. ... Butte Creek near Macdoel, Calif. __ ..

lamath River basin:

Williamson River near Klamath

Agency, Oreg.

Sprague River near Beatty, Oreg..... Sprague River near Chiloquin, Oreg. ...

Williamson River below Sprague River,

near Chiloquin, Oreg.

Upper Klamath Lake near Klamath

Falls, Oreg.

Link River at Klamath Falls, Oreg .....

Klamath River at Keno, Oreg

Fall Creek at Copco, Calif..... .... ..... Klamath River below Fall Creek, near

Copco, Calif.

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Little Shasta River near Little Shasta,

Calif.

Shasta River near Montague. Calif. ..

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Shasta River near Yreka, Calif. ... Beaver Creek near Walker, Calif __ . East Fork Scott River at Callahan,

Calif.

South Fork Scott River near Callahan,

Calif.

Scott River near Fort Jones, Calif...... Klamath River near Seiad Valley, Calif.

IN COTtOO CO f~OO

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Sum

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489

490

491

492

493

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498

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Sum

mary

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55

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TAB

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Sum

mar

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679

680

681

682

683

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479

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STATION DATA

The station data of discharge and stage for the 788 stations in the flood area are assembled in Water-Supply Paper 1650-B. The data consist of records of stage and discharge at gaging stations and peak-stage and peak-discharge for numerous miscellaneous sites and partial-record stations in or on the fringe of the area of intensive flooding. The records are in more detail than those in the regular annual reports so as to be more useful in the many hydraulic and hydrologic studies relative to flood phenomena.

The basic data collected at stream-gaging stations consist of records of stage, measurements of discharge, and general information useful in determining the daily flow. The records of stage are obtained either from the continuous trace of a water-stage recorder or from periodic direct readings on a nonrecording gage. Discharge measurements are generally made by use of a current meter; however indirect methods are used at times.

In general, the information presented for each gaging station is: a description of the station, a tabulation of daily mean discharges for December 1955 and January 1956, a tabulation of stages and discharges at selected intervals during each day of the flood rise and recession for the two or three highest peaks during the 2-month period, and a list of peak discharges above a designated base. For the miscellaneous sites and partial-record stations, only the station description is presented.

The station description gives information relative to the: location of the gage; size of the drainage area above the gage; nature of the gage-height record obtained during the period covered by this report and datum of gage; definition of the stage-discharge relation; maximum stage and discharge during the 1955-56 floods; previous maximum during the period of record; available maxima data for floods outside the period of record; effect of regulation and diversion; and other pertinent general information.

Daily mean discharges during the months of December 1955 and January 1956 follow the station description for each gaging station. In general, this 2-month period includes the flows reflecting antecedent conditions, the flood flows, and enough of the flood-recession records to allow adequate study of the flood hydrology. Also shown in these tables are the monthly mean discharge in cubic feet per second and the volume of monthlv runoff in acre-feet and in inches. The monthly runoff is not given for stations where regulation or diversion affect the runoff significantly or where the drainage area has not been determined.

668521 O 63 11


The tables of stage and discharge at selected times, where such detailed information is warranted, follow the daily mean discharge tables. Enough detail is presented so that the hydrographs of the two or three highest flood peaks may be accurately constructed. Because these flood peaks did not occur on the sume days throughout the entire area, the periods of detailed record do not necessarily coincide for all the stations.

INDEX

Page A

Acknowledgments________.....____ A 4-5Adobe Creek..________________ 45 Alameda Creek___.__..____.__... 27 Alhambra Creek..._______________ 27 American River basin..._____..__...... 45Anatone, Wash., weather station at...___ 13 Anderson Banch Reservoir__..._____. 59 Anderson Reservoir._________.___ 27 Annual flood peak stages and discharges,

Arroyo Seco near Soledad, Calif._ 100 Asotin Creek near Asotin, Wash....._. 114Boise River near Twin Springs, Idaho__ 109 Clackamas River near Cazadero, Oreg__ 111 Eel River at Scotia, Calif................. 106Feather River at Bid well Bar, Calif.--.-. 103 John Day River at McDonald Ferry,

Oreg....--.-....-.......-... . 114Kaweah River near Three Rivers, Calif.. 102 Kern River near Kernville, Calif.. ___ 101 Klamath River near Klamath, Calif._.. 107 Little Weiser River near Indian Valley,

Idaho............................ 109McKenzie River near Vida, Oreg_____ 110 Merced River at Pohono Bridge near

Yosemite, Calif....... ...... 102Middle Fork American River near

Auburn, Calif.................... 105Rogue River at Raygold, near Central

Point, Oreg....... .......... 113South Fork Coquille River at Powers,

Oreg............................. 112Trinity River at Lewiston, Calif..... . 106Umpqua River near Elkton, Oreg__ __ 113 Willamette River at Albany, Oreg........ 110Wind River near Carson, Wash......__ 115

Aptos Creek__...........__..___._ 25Arrowrock Reservoir..__...____..... 59Arroyo Seco.__________________ 22,100 Asotin Creek.............................. 56,114

B Bear Creek............................ 35,37,44Bear Reservoir._________________ 35 Big Chico Creek.... .................... 41Black Canyon Dam______________ 59,60 Black Rock Desert basin, description of floods

in............................ 19Boca Reservoir._____._____._____ 18,19 Boise River basin....-.........-.-- 56,59,82,109Borel CanaL ___________________ 29 Boulder Creek...._______________ 8,24Bridgeport Reservoir..............__....... 15Burns Creek....._______________ 35,37Burns Reservoir______.........-...-.-. 35Butte Creek__.________________ 41

Page C

Cache Slough.........................._.. A46Calaveras River basin________..__ 36California, central-coastal, December storms.. 7-8

description of floods...______r .__ 20-28 central-coastal flood damage....__ 77,78,79

flood-data sites in. ___________ 21flood frequencies._________.. 98-100flood stages and discharges, summary 120-122

magnitude of floods.._____ ______ 20precipitation in.._______.______ 7-8previous floods.______________ 98,100reservoir storage______________ 90-91north-coastal, description of floods... __ 46-56

flood damage_____________.. 81,82flood-data sites...________.. 47flood frequencies.._______.. 105-107flood stages and discharges, sum

mary....-......... .......... 132-136precipitation....______--.- 10previous floods..___________ 105-106reservoir storage.._.-.--.___-... 94

Cameron Creek.._. ____ ._ __ --- - 31Carmel River basin.......................... 21,22Carnadero Creek...__..__...___...... 22Carson River, peak discharge_.. -... 19 Carson River basin, description of floods..... 15,17Cascade Mountains, December storms in._... 12 Cascade Reservoir..____--------- 59Cazadero in Russian River basin...... _ -... 10,50Cherry Valley Reservoir__----------------- 35Chewaucan River near Paisley, Oreg-.. _ 20 Chowchilla Creek..____._______-.-. 34Coeur d'Alene River basin.........._-...-. 56Conn Creek___.__________... _. 48 Coos River basin______________.-... 72-73 Coquille River basin.- . 72-73Corralitos Creek basin..._________ .. 22 Corte Madera Creek.______ _-- .. 49Cosumnes River..-...--- ---- -.-.__- . 37Coyote Creek-.. 26,27Coyote Reservoir__--...._.......-.------. 27Crane Creek Reservoir..- ---------- ------ 60Cross Creek....... . 31,33

D57Deadwood Dam....._..__ .

December floods, peak discharge Eel Riverbasin.. 52

Deep Creek above Adel, Oreg......------- 20Deer Creek. 43,44Discharge measurements.. __ 115-116 Don Pedro Reservoir..__... ----- 35Downie River......._ .--- - - -..-- 44Dry Creek.... 37,48Duck Creek.. ... - 36

A153

A154 INDEX

EPage

East Fork Quinn River, peak discharges,.. _. A19 East Walker River above Bridgeport, Calif... 15 Eel River basin.-.------------..--. 48,50,52-53,106Elder Creek----..-_....................... 38Elk Bayou...-------------.---........--.---. 31Englebright Dam_______________ 44

Feather River at Nicolaus, Calif, ______ 43,44 Feather River basin, description of floods. 41-44,103 Fernbridge, Calif., flood damage_______ 53 Flood-crest stages, Eel River basin______ 89

north-coastal California_____... 89Sacramento Valley, Calif.---.._........ 87-88San Joaquin Valley, Calif-------......_ 85-86

Flood-data sites, Idaho. ____________ 75 location of....__.____________ 3Oregon . ____ 75 Washington________________ 75

Flood discharge, determination._ ...___ 115-116 Flood-frequency curves, central-coastal Cali

fornia__.._________... 99 north-coastal California__________ 104

Flood stages and discharges, central-coastalCalifornia summary.._____ 120-127

coastal Oregon__ .-..._.____ 146-149 Great Basin....._._-.----.----.-..- 118-119north-coastal California..________ 132-136 Oregon, minor floods.......______ 141-142Sacramento Valley...-.---------.----.. 127-132San Joaquin Valley._____ ____ _ 79-80 Washington, minor floods In........ 137,141,142west-central Idaho- __._______ 137-141 Willamette Valley...................... 142-146

Folsom Reservoir__..__.________ 45 Franktown Creek. _ _._________ 19 Friant-Kern Canal..._________.__ 32 Friant Reservoir.__ _ _____._ 33

Q

Qardnerville, Nev., flood-damage near_._ 17 Giant Forest, precipitation in..-... ___ 9 Gold Beach Ranger Station, near mouth of

Roque River........ ....__... 12-13Goose Lake basin_____ ___ ____ __ 38Great Basin, description of floods in.____ 13-15

flood damage. . ..______ 77,78 flood-data sites....____________ 14

frequencies_ _....______ 98stages and discharges, summary.... 118-119

hydrographs at gaging stations in___ 16minor floods__________..____ 5-6precipitation in__.__..__.____ 6-7,13previous floods...- _ ._______ 98reservoir storage... .---.-.--__.-... 89-90

Gregorio Creek_________________ 25Guadalupe River, peak discharge_--.--.---. 26

H

Happy Isle gaging station. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir... Hobart Dam....____.

PageHog Flat Reservoir..______________ A20 Honcut Creek __._____________ 41 Humboldt River basin. ____________ 19 Hydrographs- ----------- 16,23,30,40,51,58,64,70, 76

Idaho, west-central, description of floods. . 56-62west-central, flood damage_ -_-_.-. 82

flood-data sites...------____.---.- 57flood frequencies--.,-.________ 108-109 flood stages and discharges, sum

mary....- .................. 137-141minor storms in.-..-.-.------_ .. 10-11precipitation--_-.___--____ 10-11 previous floods...-_._-..._-.... 107reservoir storage-_-____----_-- 94-95

Isabella Reservoir. _____. _ - _____ 28

January floods, total damage..--. 49 John Day River_________ - _- 56,114

K

Kaweah River, December flood--- . 31,33 Kaweah River basin, flood damage___- __ 28,33

precipitation-.,. 9 Kelsey Creek . 45 Kern River basin, peak discharge.--__. 28,101 Klamath, Calif., flood damage. 54-55 Klamath River basin. ..... .. .. 46,48,54-55,107

Lahonton Reservoir.--............ ...-. 15,17,89Little Chico Creek... -- -- 41Little Creek, tributary to Scott Creek-...--- 25 Little Salmon River basin . .. . . 56,61,82 Little Truckee River, peak discharge. 18,19 Littlejohn Creek.-.-.. - 36Livestock losses.. ____ 14-15,44 Llagas Creek Reservoir 22 Lone Tree Creek... 36 Lookout Point Reservoir- .. 63Los Banos Creek 34 Lost Valley Reservoir-.-.-.----.-- ---- 60Lucky Peak Reservoir ... . 59

M

McCoy Flat Reservoir.._. 20McDermitt Creek... ... 19Mad River basin. 54Manning Creek-- - 45Marin County, Calif., small stream basins in. 49Mariposa Creek.. . -- ----- 35Marsh Creek.- - - - 34Martin Creek--. - - 19-20Marysville, Calif., flood damage.- 41,42,43,44Matadero Creek - --- --- 26Mattole River basin----------------------- 52Mendota Dam...---.-------- ----- 33Merced River, peak discharges ------- 34,35,102Mill Creek-.. - 31

INDEX A155Page

Minor storms, Great Basin___ _._____ A5-6 San Joaquin Valley ________.__ 8-9

Mokelumne River.-___._____....._ 37 Monterey B ay area, flood damage in.... __ 20 Mormon Slough._____.___________ 36 Mud Creek _________________ 41

NNapa River basin..__.______._..__ 46,48 Novato Creek.........._____._..__. 49Novato Reservoir.--.-----____---__--.--- 49

O

Onyx station on South Fork Kern River__ 28Oregon, coastal, December storms.__-..__ 12-13

coastal, description of floods______ 67-77flood damage.--------.-.------___ 84flood-data sites...______.....__ 67,68flood frequencies..-..-_______ 111-113 flood stages and discharges, sum

mary.----------------...141-142,146-150previous floods...__.______. 111-112storage regulation__-- ..____ 96-97

north-coastal streams.__...__.___. 69Orestimba Creek.___________....... 34Oroville, Calif., flood damage_....___.. 41Owens Creek._________._____._ 35,37 Owens Reservoir...._____..._.__._. 35Owyhee River basin_..____-----_._ 20

P Packwood Creek..._.--___-_.__.__..... 31Pajaro River basin...__....._____.. 22,24Palouse River..-.-..._............_..__ 56Paradise Valley...__.___.__._____ 19 Pardee Reservoir..._.___--.-._------- 37Payette River basin______.____ 56,59-60,82 Paynes Creek..__..._......._______ 38Peavine Creek _.__._..________ 18 Petaluma Creek..._....._....._____ 48Pilarcitos Creek_________________ 25 Pine Creek__............................... 20,41Pine Flat Reservoir--..-- - . - - 33 Pinole Creek......______.__..____ 27Pohono Bridge gaging station__.. ... 35 Precipitation, amount in December.....__. 12Putah Creek..--..--.--..----------- ----- 46

Q

Quinn River near McDermitt - 19

R Redwood Creek basin...._._.-.--..--..-- 48,54Reno-Sparks area, flood damage....._._.. 18Reservoir storage, north coastal California.... 94

Sacramento Valley, Calif_ ___ 93 San Joaquin Valley, Calif 91west-central Idaho..-.__..._.___ 94 Willamette Valley.-..------------------- 95,96

Rock Creek.................................. 20,41Rodeo Creek... . 27Rogue River basin, flood stages and discharges,

summary.-.- .. 150precipitation in-__.______. 12,13,73-74

Russian River basin, description of floods-... 50precipitation.____________._ 10,47,50

SPage

Sacramento River basin be low Feather River. A44-46 Sacramento Valley, drainage area.. _ --.-. _ 38

flood-crest stages ________ .. ___ 87-88 flood damage _______________ 38,80-81 flood-data sites. .. __ ... _________ 39 flood-frequency curves __ ____ _ __ 104flood frequencies _____________ 102-103 flood stages and discharges, summary 127-132 precipitation. __ . _ . __________ 9-10 previous floods.. _____________ 102-103 reservoir storage ... . -------- 93

St. John River-- 31,33Salinas River basin ___ - __ ________ 21 Salus Creek.--. _________________ 56 San Antonio River, peak discharge _____ . . 22 San Bruno Creek _____ . _______ - ___ 25,26 San Clemente Dam____... _ . 21San Francisco Bay area, flood damage. .. 20-28San Francisco Peninsular streams. _._... __ 25,26San Francisquito Creek- . . ... 26San Joaquin River basin, description of floods. 33-37

peak discharge. 33San Joaquin Valley, December storms in..--. 28-33

flood-crest stages __ - 85-86flood-data sites.. - . 29 flood damage. __ ------ - - 79,80flood frequencies __ 100-102 flood-frequency curves. __ 99 precipitation.. _____ ._.. 8-9 previous floods------------- 100-101reservoir storage ----- ------- .-. 91-93

San Lorenzo River basin..-. __ . _ _ ... 24-25,27 San Mateo Creek-- ----------------------- 25,26San Pablo Creek-. __ . __ .. . 27 San Pablo Reservoir... ------- ... --- 28Santa Clara Valley, description of floods. .. 26-27 Santa Cruz, Calif., flood damage. ... . 20,24,25Scott Creek- - 25,45Scott River---.-----.---- ------------- 55Shasta Dam.. _____ . _____ -------- 38Shasta Lake 38Silver Creek. ___ . _ . ___ .. __ -------- 15Smith River basin. -------------------- 46,55-56Snake River.. _ .... 61Sonoma Creek _ . . --------- -------- 48Sequel Creek.. ______ . __ ---------- 25Sprague River basin _ _-_- ___ - _ 55 Stanislaus River. __ - ._ --------- 34,36Stockton, Calif., flood damage. ______ 36 Sur River basin... __ . _____ .... 21Susan River, peak discharge. ___- - 20 Susie Creek.... 20

Thomes Creek -------------------------- 38Topaz Reservoir-..-. _ - - --------- 15Trinity River... - 55,106Truckee River basin, description of floods in.. 17-19

peak discharge...---------- ------------ 17,18Tulare Lake basin...-_. ... 31-33 Tule River station near Porterville... 31 Tunitas Cieek.._. - 25Tuolumne River. - 34.35

A156 tNDEX

Page

U

Umpqua River basin, December storms in. A12,71

W

Walker River basin, description of floods..... 15Walnut Creek basin, flood damage_.... __. 27Weiser River basin..................... 56,60-61,82Wildcat Creek.............................. 27Willamette City, Oreg., flood damage.-.. - 63 Willamette River, eastside tributaries.. ___ 65-66

westside tributaries_________._ 66 Willamette River basin, Coast Fork.._..... 65

Middle Fork............ ............. 63Willamette Valley, December storms____. 11-12

descriptions of floods... _________ 62-67

PageWillamette Valley Continued

flood damage________________ A83 flood-data sites...________.__ 82 flood frequencies______ __ ___.. 109-111 flood stages and discharges, summary... 142-146 precipitation..._______________ 11-12 previous floods..-.__-- _--- 109,110,111 reduction of flood discharge by storage

regulation.____.____...-. 96 reservoir storage. ___...._. 95-96

Wind River weather station__ __ _....... 13

YYankee Slough__________ _... 45 Yuba City, flood damage.. . 38,42,43 Yuba River, peak discharge.________ 41,43

o

Floods of December 1955-January 1956 in the Far ... - USGS · The floods of December 1955-January...

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