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Flood-inundation maps for a 12.5-mile reach of Big Papillion Creek at Omaha, Nebraska

Scientific Investigations Report 2015-5152
Prepared in cooperation with the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20155152

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Abstract

Digital flood-inundation maps for a 12.5-mile reach of the Big Papillion Creek from 0.6 mile upstream from the State Street Bridge to the 72nd Street Bridge in Omaha, Nebraska, were created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District. The flood-inundation maps, which can be accessed through the USGS Flood Inundation Mapping Science Web site at http://water.usgs.gov/osw/flood_inundation/, depict estimates of the areal extent and depth of flooding corresponding to selected water levels (stages) at the USGS streamgage on the Big Papillion Creek at Fort Street at Omaha, Nebraska (station 06610732). Near-real-time stages at this streamgage may be obtained on the Internet from the USGS National Water Information System at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ or the National Weather Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service at http:/water.weather.gov/ahps/, which also forecasts flood hydrographs at this site.

Flood profiles were computed for the 12.5-mile reach by means of a one-dimensional step-backwater model. The model was calibrated by using the current (2015) stage-discharge relation at streamgages for the Big Papillion Creek at Fort Street at Omaha, Nebraska, and the Big Papillion Creek at Q Street at Omaha, Nebraska. The hydraulic model was then used to compute 15 water-surface profiles for flood stages at 1-foot (ft) intervals referenced to the streamgage datum for the Big Papillion Creek at Fort Street and ranging from 18 ft (or near bankfull) to 32 ft, which exceeds the “major flood stage” as defined by the National Weather Service. The simulated water-surface profiles were then combined with a Geographic Information System digital elevation model (derived from light detection and ranging data having a 1.18-ft vertical accuracy and 3.28-ft horizontal resolution) to delineate the area flooded at each flood stage (water level).

The availability of these flood-inundation maps, along with Internet information regarding current stage from the USGS streamgage and forecasted high-flow stages from the National Weather Service, will provide emergency management personnel and residents with information that is critical for flood response activities such as evacuations and road closures, as well as for postflood recovery efforts.

Suggested Citation

Strauch, K.R., Dietsch, B.J., and Anderson, K.J., 2016, Flood-inundation maps for a 12.5-mile reach of Big Papillion Creek at Omaha, Nebraska: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5152, 11 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155152.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

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Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Creation of Flood-Inundation-Map Library
  • Summary
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Flood-inundation maps for a 12.5-mile reach of Big Papillion Creek at Omaha, Nebraska
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2015-5152
DOI 10.3133/sir20155152
Year Published 2016
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Nebraska Water Science Center
Description Report: v, 11 p.; Datasets; Metadata
Country United States
State Nebraska
City Omaha
Other Geospatial Big Papillion Creek
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details