Publications—Open-File Report

Flood of April 2-3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York

By Thomas P. Suro and Gary D. Firda

 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1036

The body of the report is available in PDF Format (22,337 KB)

Abstract

On April 2–3, 2005, heavy rain moved into southern New York and delivered rainfall amounts that ranged from about 2 in. to almost 6 in. within a 36-hour period. Significant flooding occurred on many small streams and tributaries in the area, and extensive flooding occurred on the Esopus and Roundout Creeks in Ulster and Greene Counties, New York. The flooding damaged many homes, caused millions of dollars worth of damage, and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes. A total of 20 New York counties were declared Federal disaster areas.

Disaster recovery assistance for those people affected stands at almost $35 million, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as more than 3,400 New Yorkers registered for Federal aid. U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging stations on the Esopus Creek above the Ashokan Reservoir at Allaben, N.Y., and below the Ashokan Reservoir at Mount Marion, N.Y., each recorded a new record maximum water-surface elevation and discharge for the respective periods of record as a result of this storm. The peak water-surface elevation and discharge recorded during the April 2–3, 2005, storm at the U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging station on the Esopus Creek at Cold Brook, N.Y. were the third highest elevation and discharge since the station was put into operation in 1914. Most of the study sites along the Esopus Creek indicated water-surface elevations near the 50-year flood elevations, as documented in flood-insurance studies by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Rainfall in the Esopus Creek Basin

Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Discharge and Frequency

Effect of the Ashokan Reservoir on Downstream Flooding

Peak Water-Surface Elevations at Flood Study Sites

Flood Damage

Summary

Acknowledgments

Selected References

Appendix 1. Site Descriptions and High-Water Marks at Study Sites, Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York

Appendix 2. Selected Photographs of Flood Damage during the Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin and Surrounding Areas

Figures

  1. Map showing pertinent geographic features of southeastern New York and rainfall amounts from the storm of April 2– 3, 2005.
  2. Graph showing cumulative rainfall during April 2-3, 2005, recorded at New York City Department of Environmental Protection station at Ashokan Reservoir, N.Y.
  3. Map showing locations of selected U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging stations in the Hudson River Basin, N.Y.

4–6. Graphs showing:

  4.

Discharge hydrographs for selected stream-gaging stations in the Esopus Creek Basin, N.Y., March 27 to April 6, 2005.

  5. Peak discharges at selected stream-gaging stations in the Hudson River Basin, N.Y., as a function of drainage area during the flood of April 2-3, 2005, and previous maximum known discharges.
  6. Hourly inflow, outflow, diversion, and water-surface elevation at the Ashokan Reservoir, N.Y., for March 27 to April 6, 2005.
7. Map showing locations of high-water-mark sites chosen for study in the Esopus Creek Basin, N.Y. during the flood of April 2-3, 2005.
8. Graph showing peak water-surface elevations at selected sites in the Esopus Creek Basin, N.Y., during flood of April 2-3, 2005, and flood-recurrence values from Federal Emergency Management Agency flood-insurance studies.
9A–B. Photographs showing A. Study site no. 9, County Route 29A (Wynkoop Road) bridge over the Esopus Creek at Hurley, N.Y on April 3 at about 2:30 p.m. B. Area between study sites 12 and 13 at the Kingston Circle, junction of Interstate Route 587, Route 28 and Washington Ave., Kingston, N.Y.

Tables

  1. Total rainfall for April 2-3, 2005, at selected locations in the Esopus Creek Basin and surrounding areas.
  2. Rainfall-frequency relations for storms of 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-hour duration at Ashokan Reservoir, N.Y.
  3. Historical flood peak discharges and peak discharges during the flood of April 2-4, 2005, at selected U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging stations in the Hudson River Basin, N.Y.
  4. Historical flood peak discharges and peak discharges during the flood of April 2-3, 2005, at selected U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging stations in the Esopus Creek Basin, N.Y.
  5. Peak water-surface elevations at 25 high-water-mark sites in the Esopus Creek Basin, N.Y., during the flood of April 2-3, 2005, and corresponding flood elevations for 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year flood-recurrence intervals.

Suggested Citation:

Suro, T.P. and Firda, G.D., 2007, Flood of April 2-3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007–1036, 85 p.

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For further information, contact:

Director
U.S. Geological Survey
New York Water Science Center
425 Jordan Road
Troy, NY 12180

dc_ny@usgs.gov

(518)285-5600

or visit our Web site at: http://ny.water.usgs.gov

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