Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, Ga. Sept 2009 - Epic flooding event

Epic flooding conditions at Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, Ga., September 2009.

The picture was taken during the epic September 2009 flooding event, which caused the creek to peak at a 23 foot stage. In this flood, the high water did not happen becuase of the usual circumstances - rain falling upstream of the site accumulating and flowing downstream to this site. Here, Peachtree Creek flows into the Chattahoochee River, a few miles downstream. But, so much rain fell in the Chattahoochee basin that the Chattahoochee River rose so high that the water from Peachtree Creek was backed up. In other words instead of water from Peachtree Creek flowing into the Chattahoochee River, water from the Chattahoochee River flowed "upstream" in Peachtree Creek, thus causing flooding.

In the background to the left is the (flooded) USGS water-monitoring equipment. 

Peachtree Creek is a major tributary to the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta, Ga. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been monitoring stream stage and streamflow at or near the Northside Drive gage location since 1958.