Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River basins, northeast Iowa

Open-File Report 2001-13
Prepared in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Iowa Highway Research Board (Project HR-140)
By:  and 

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Abstract

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

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Floods of July 19-25, 1999, in the Wapsipinicon and Cedar River basins, northeast Iowa
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2001-13
DOI 10.3133/ofr0113
Year Published 2001
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Iowa Water Science Center
Description iv, 45 p.; ill., maps; 28 cm.
Country United States
State Iowa, Minnesota
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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