Paleoflood Investigations to Improve Flood-Frequency Estimates for Eastern Colorado
Completed
By Colorado Water Science Center
August 30, 2018
The peak-streamflow regional-regression equations (PSRREs) in the Plains hydrologic region in eastern Colorado have the largest uncertainty of any hydrologic region in Colorado. Reliable peak-streamflow information is critical for the proper design of stream-related infrastructure, such as bridges and dams, and flood-plain inundation maps. In an effort to provide more reliable peak-streamflow information in the Plains region, the USGS, in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Transportation, developed PSRREs for estimating the 50-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, 0.2-percent annual exceedance-probability discharge for natural streamflow in eastern Colorado.
BACKGROUND:
Reliable peak-streamflow information is critical for the proper design of stream-related infrastructure, such as bridges and dams, and floodplain inundation maps. At gaged sites, where sufficient long-term streamflow data have been collected, statistics can be obtained from available publications, by an analysis of available data in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System, or other sources of flood information. Estimates also are needed at ungaged sites, however, where no site-specific streamflow data are available. Large areas with few streamflow gages having short periods of record have caused large uncertainties in the regional-regression equations used to estimate peak streamflow. Additional flood information may improve the reliability of the regional-regression equations in the Plains hydrologic region of eastern Colorado. A total of 188 streamgages, with a combined total of 6,536 years of record and an average of approximately 35 years of record per streamgage, was used to develop the peak-streamflow equations. In addition, paleoflood data was documented at 41 streamgages and 3 streamgages had previously collected paleoflood data for a total of 44 streamgages with paleoflood or non-exceedance bound data.
OBJECTIVES:
- Compile systematic flood data available at USGS, Colorado Division of Water Resources, and Nebraska Department of Natural Resources streamgages through water year 2013 (October 1, 2012 through September 31, 2013) in eastern Colorado and adjacent States.
- Collect paleoflood data at streamgages to supplement the systematic flood data.
- Perform flood-frequency analysis at each streamgage following guidelines outlined in Advisory Committee on Water Data, Bulletin 17C, (England, 2015)
- Provide updated regional peak-streamflow equations for eastern Colorado and update USGS StreamStats program with new equations.
| Site ID | Site Name |
|---|---|
| 6668040 | RABBIT CREEK NEAR WHEATLAND, WY |
| 6675300 | HORSE CREEK TRIBUTARY NEAR LITTLE BEAR, WY |
| 6687000 | BLUE CREEK NEAR LEWELLEN, NE |
| 6707000 | NF SOUTH PLATTE RIVER AT SOUTH PLATTE, CO |
| 6708500 | DEER CREEK NEAR LITTLETON, CO |
| 6709500 | PLUM CREEK NEAR LOUVIERS, CO |
| 6710385 | BEAR CREEK ABOVE EVERGREEN, CO |
| 6710990 | PARMALEE GULCH AT MOUTH, AT INDIAN HILLS, CO |
| 6711000 | TURKEY CREEK NEAR MORRISON, CO |
| 6712000 | CHERRY CREEK NEAR FRANKTOWN, CO |
| 6712500 | CHERRY CREEK NEAR MELVIN, CO |
| 6718550 | NORTH CLEAR CREEK ABOVE MOUTH NR BLACK HAWK, CO |
| 6719500 | CLEAR CREEK NEAR GOLDEN, CO |
| 6724000 | ST. VRAIN CREEK AT LYONS, CO |
| 6724500 | LEFT HAND CREEK NEAR BOULDER, CO |
| 6726900 | BUMMERS GULCH NEAR EL VADO, CO |
| 6727500 | FOURMILE CREEK AT ORODELL, CO |
| 6730300 | COAL CREEK NEAR PLAINVIEW, CO |
| 6730500 | BOULDER CREEK AT MOUTH NEAR LONGMONT, CO |
| 6736000 | NORTH FORK BIG THOMPSON RIVER AT DRAKE, CO |
| 6736650 | CEDAR CREEK AT CEDAR COVE, CO |
| 6739500 | BUCKHORN CREEK NEAR MASONVILLE, CO |
| 6742000 | LITTLE THOMPSON RIVER NEAR BERTHOUD, CO |
| 6751490 | NORTH FORK CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER AT LIVERMORE, CO |
| 6755000 | SOUTH CROW CREEK NEAR HECLA, WY |
| 6755960 | CROW CREEK AT 19TH STREET, AT CHEYENNE, WY |
| 6758200 | KIOWA CREEK AT KIOWA, CO |
| 6758700 | MIDDLE BIJOU CREEK TRIBUTARY NR DEER TRAIL, CO |
| 6759100 | BIJOU CREEK NEAR FT. MORGAN, CO |
| 6761900 | LODGEPOLE CREEK TRIBUTARY NEAR PINE BLUFFS, WY |
| 6762500 | LODGEPOLE CREEK AT BUSHNELL, NE |
| 6762600 | LODGEPOLE CREEK TRIBUTARY NO 2 NEAR ALBIN, WY |
| 6763500 | LODGEPOLE CREEK AT RALTON, NE |
| 6767200 | NO FK PLUM CR TRIB NR FARNAM, NE |
| 6821300 | NORTH FORK ARIKAREE RIVER TRIBUTARY NR SHAW, CO |
| 6821400 | NORTH FORK BLACK WOLF CREEK NEAR VERNON, CO |
| 6821500 | ARIKAREE RIVER AT HAIGLER, NE |
| 6823000 | NORTH FORK REPUBLICAN RIVER AT COLORADO-NEBRASKA |
| 6823500 | BUFFALO CREEK NEAR HAIGLER, NE |
| 6825000 | SOUTH FORK REPUBLICAN RIVER NEAR IDALIA, CO |
| 6825500 | LANDSMAN CREEK NEAR HALE, CO |
| 6826900 | SAND CREEK NEAR HALE, CO |
| 6829700 | THOMPSON CANYON NEAR TRENTON, NE |
| 6831500 | FRENCHMAN CREEK NEAR IMPERIAL, NE |
| 6835000 | STINKING WATER CREEK NEAR PALISADE, NE |
| 6835100 | BOBTAIL CREEK NEAR PALISADE, NE |
| 6836000 | BLACKWOOD CREEK NEAR CULBERTSON, NE |
| 6836500 | DRIFTWOOD CREEK NEAR MCCOOK, NE |
| 6838200 | COON CREEK AT INDIANOLA, NE |
| 6838550 | DRY CREEK AT BARTLEY, NE |
| 6839200 | ELKHORN CANYON NEAR MAYWOOD, NE |
| 6839600 | FRAZIER CREEK NEAR MAYWOOD, NE |
| 6839850 | FOX CREEK NORTH OF CURTIS, NE |
| 6839900 | FOX CREEK ABOVE CUT CANYON NR CURTIS, NE |
| 6839950 | CUT CANYON NEAR CURTIS, NE |
| 6840000 | FOX CREEK AT CURTIS, NE |
| 6840500 | DRY CREEK NEAR CURTIS, NE |
| 6841000 | MEDICINE CREEK ABOVE HARRY STRUNK LAKE, NE |
| 6841500 | MITCHELL CREEK ABOVE HARRY STRUNK LAKE, NE |
| 6844700 | SF SAPPA C NR BREWSTER, KS |
| 6844800 | SF SAPPA C TR NR GOODLAND, KS |
| 6844900 | SF SAPPA C NR ACHILLES, KS |
| 6845000 | SAPPA C NR OBERLIN, KS |
| 6845100 | LONG BRANCH DRAW NR NORCATUR, KS |
| 6846200 | BEAVER C TR NR LUDELL, KS |
| 6846500 | BEAVER C AT CEDAR BLUFFS, KS |
| 6847600 | PRAIRIE DOG C TR AT COLBY, KS |
| 6847900 | PRAIRIE DOG C AB KEITH SEBELIUS LAKE, KS |
| 6858500 | NF SMOKY HILL R NR MCALLASTER, KS |
| 6859500 | LADDER C BL CHALK C NR SCOTT CITY, KS |
| 6860000 | SMOKY HILL R AT ELKADER, KS |
| 6860300 | SB HACKBERRY C NR ORION, KS |
| 6860500 | HACKBERRY C NR GOVE, KS |
| 7093775 | BADGER CREEK, LOWER STATION, NE AR HOWARD, CO |
| 7095000 | GRAPE CREEK NEAR WESTCLIFFE, CO |
| 7096500 | FOURMILE CREEK NEAR CANON CITY, CO |
| 7099060 | BEAVER CREEK ABOVE HIGHWAY 115 NEAR PENROSE, CO |
| 7099080 | RED CREEK BELOW SULLIVAN PARK AT FORT CARSON, CO |
| 7099215 | TURKEY CREEK NEAR FOUNTAIN, CO |
| 7099220 | LITTLE TURKEY CREEK NEAR FOUNTAIN, CO |
| 7099230 | TURKEY CREEK AB TELLER RES NEAR STONE CITY, CO |
| 7103700 | FOUNTAIN CREEK NEAR COLORADO SPRINGS, CO |
| 7103703 | CAMP CREEK AT GARDEN OF THE GODS, CO |
| 7104000 | MONUMENT CREEK AT PALMER LAKE, CO |
| 7104050 | N. ROCKRIMMON CR ABV DELMONICO DR. AT CO SPRGS, CO |
| 7105000 | BEAR CREEK NEAR COLORADO SPRINGS, CO |
| 7105490 | CHEYENNE CREEK AT EVANS AVE AT COLORADO SPRINGS, CO |
| 7105900 | JIMMY CAMP CREEK AT FOUNTAIN, CO |
| 7105920 | L FOUNTAIN C AB KEATON RE, NR FORT CARSON, CO |
| 7105940 | LITTLE FOUNTAIN CREEK NEAR FOUNTAIN, CO |
| 7105945 | ROCK CREEK ABOVE FORT CARSON RESERVATION, CO |
| 7106500 | FOUNTAIN CREEK AT PUEBLO, CO |
| 7107500 | ST. CHARLES RIVER AT BURNT MILL, CO |
| 7108900 | ST. CHARLES RIVER AT VINELAND, CO |
| 7111000 | HUERFANO R AT MANZANARES XING, NR REDWING, CO |
| 7112500 | HUERFANO RIVER AT BADITO, CO |
| 7114000 | CUCHARAS RIVER AT BOYD RANCH, NE AR LA VETA, CO |
| 7116000 | HUERFANO R BL HUERF VALY DAM NR UNDERCLIFFE, CO |
| 7118000 | APISHAPA RIVER NEAR AGUILAR, CO |
| 7120620 | BIG ARROYO NEAR THATCHER, CO |
| 7121500 | TIMPAS CREEK AT MOUTH NEAR SWINK, CO |
| 7122400 | CROOKED ARROYO NEAR SWINK, CO |
| 7123675 | HORSE CREEK NEAR LAS ANIMAS, CO |
| 7124300 | LONG CANYON CREEK NEAR MADRID, CO |
| 7124500 | PURGATOIRE RIVER AT TRINIDAD, CO |
| 7125100 | FRIJOLE CREEK NEAR ALFALFA, CO |
| 7125500 | SAN FRANCISCO CREEK NEAR ALFALFA, CO |
| 7126100 | LUNING ARROYO NEAR MODEL, CO |
| 7126140 | VAN BREMER ARROYO NEAR TYRONE, CO |
| 7126200 | VAN BREMER ARROYO NEAR MODEL, CO |
| 7126325 | TAYLOR ARROYO BL ROCK CROSSING, NR THATCHER, CO |
| 7126390 | LOCKWOOD CANYON CREEK NEAR THATCHER, CO |
| 7126415 | RED ROCK CANYON CREEK AT MOUTH NR THATCHER, CO |
| 7126470 | CHACUACO CREEK AT MOUTH NEAR TIMPAS, CO |
| 7126480 | BENT CANYON CREEK AT MOUTH NEAR TIMPAS, CO |
| 7126500 | PURGATOIRE RIVER AT NINEMILE DAM, NR HIGBEE, CO |
| 7133200 | CLAY CREEK TRIBUTARY NEAR DEORA, CO |
| 7134100 | BIG SANDY CREEK NEAR LAMAR, CO |
| 7134990 | WILD HORSE CREEK ABOVE HOLLY, CO |
| 7135000 | TWO BUTTE CREEK NEAR HOLLY, CO |
| 7138600 | WHITE WOMAN C TR NR SELKIRK, KS |
| 7138650 | WHITE WOMAN C NR LEOTI, KS |
| 7138800 | LION C TR NR MODOC, KS |
| 7140600 | PAWNEE R TR NR KALVESTA, KS |
| 7141400 | SF WALNUT CR TR NR DIGHTON, KS |
| 7153500 | DRY CIMARRON R NR GUY, NM |
| 7154400 | CARRIZOZO CREEK NEAR KENTON, OK |
| 7154500 | CIMARRON RIVER NEAR KENTON, OK |
| 7154650 | TESESQUITE CREEK NEAR KENTON, OK |
| 7155100 | COLD SPRINGS CREEK NEAR WHEELESS, OK |
| 7155590 | CIMARRON R NR ELKHART, KS |
| 7155900 | NF CIMARRON R TR NR ELKHART, KS |
| 7156000 | NF CIMARRON R TR NR RICHFIELD, KS |
| 7156010 | NF CIMARRON R AT RICHFIELD, KS |
| 7156100 | SAND ARROYO C NR JOHNSON, KS |
| 7156220 | BEAR C NR JOHNSON, KS |
| 7156600 | CIMARRON R TR NR MOSCOW, KS |
| 7156700 | CIMARRON R TR NR SATANTA, KS |
| 7157100 | CROOKED C NR COPELAND, KS |
| 7157400 | CROOKED C TR AT MEADE, KS |
| 7157500 | CROOKED C NR ENGLEWOOD, KS |
| 7157550 | WEST FORK CREEK NEAR KNOWLES, OK |
| 7199000 | CANADIAN RIVER NEAR HEBRON, NM |
| 7201000 | RATON CREEK AT RATON, NM |
| 7201200 | CHICORICA CR TRIB NR RATON, NM |
| 7201450 | GREEN MTN ARROYO NR RATON, NM |
| 7202000 | CHICORICA CREEK NEAR HEBRON, NM |
| 7203000 | VERMEJO RIVER NEAR DAWSON, NM |
| 7203600 | RIO DEL PLANO TRIB NR TAYLOR SPGS, NM |
| 7204000 | MORENO CREEK AT EAGLE NEST, NM |
| 7204500 | CIENEGUILLA CR NR EAGLE NEST, NM |
| 7205000 | SIXMILE CREEK NEAR EAGLE NEST, NM |
| 7206400 | CLEAR C NR UTE PARK, NM |
| 7207500 | PONIL CREEK NEAR CIMARRON, NM |
| 7208500 | RAYADO CREEK NEAR CIMARRON, NM |
| 7211500 | CANADIAN RIVER NEAR TAYLOR SPRINGS, NM |
| 7213700 | CANADIAN RIVER TRIB NR MILLS, NM |
| 7214800 | RIO LA CASA NR CLEVELAND, NM |
| 7220000 | SAPELLO RIVER AT SAPELLO, NM |
| 7220900 | DOG CREEK NEAR SHOEMAKER, NM |
| 7221600 | LAGARTIJA CREEK TRIB NR SANCHEZ, NM |
| 7222300 | TREMENTINA CREEK AT TREMENTINA, NM |
| 7222500 | CONCHAS RIVER AT VARIADERO, NM |
| 7222800 | GARITA CR TRIB NR VARIADERO, NM |
| 7225300 | BLUEWATER CREEK NR TUCUMCARI, NM |
| 7225500 | UTE CREEK NEAR GLADSTONE, NM |
| 7226200 | BUEYEROS CREEK AT BUEYEROS, NM |
| 7226500 | UTE CREEK NEAR LOGAN, NM |
| 7227100 | REVUELTO CREEK NEAR LOGAN, NM |
| 7227150 | ARROYO DEL PUERTO NR ENDEE, NM |
| 7227200 | TRAMPEROS CREEK NEAR STEAD, NM |
| 7227295 | SANDY ARROYO TRIB NEAR CLAYTON, NM |
| 7227300 | SAND DRAW NEAR CLAYTON, NM |
| 7227920 | DIXON CK NR BORGER, TX |
| 7232500 | BEAVER RIVER NEAR GUYMON, OK |
| 7232550 | SOUTH FORK TRIB NEAR GUYMON, OK |
| 7232650 | AQUA FRIO CREEK NEAR FELT, OK |
| 7232900 | COLDWATER CREEK NEAR GUYMON, OK |
| 7233500 | PALO DURO CK NR SPEARMAN, TX |
| 7233850 | SHARP CREEK TRIB NEAR TURPIN, OK |
| 7234050 | NORTH FORK CLEAR CREEK TRIB NR BALKO, OK |
| 7234100 | CLEAR CREEK NEAR ELMWOOD, OK |
| 7301410 | SWEETWATER CK NR KELTON, TX |
| RACRSTCO | RATON CREEK ABOVE STARKVILLE, CO |
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Eastern Colorado Crest-Stage Gage Network
The U.S. Geological Survey StreamStats program can be used to estimate the magnitude of various annual exceedance probability floods such as the 50-year or 100-year floods at locations where no streamgage data are available. In eastern Colorado where few streamgages exist, the regional-flood equations used in StreamStats have large uncertainties. In order to reduce these uncertainties, the U.S...
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Eastern Colorado Crest-Stage Gage Network
The U.S. Geological Survey StreamStats program can be used to estimate the magnitude of various annual exceedance probability floods such as the 50-year or 100-year floods at locations where no streamgage data are available. In eastern Colorado where few streamgages exist, the regional-flood equations used in StreamStats have large uncertainties. In order to reduce these uncertainties, the U.S...