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Scientific Investigations Map 3228

Prepared in cooperation with the City of Hattiesburg, City of Petal, Forrest County,
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, Mississippi Department of Homeland Security,
and the Emergency Management District

Flood-Inundation Maps for the Leaf River at Hattiesburg, Mississippi

John B. Storm

ABSTRACT

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (3.4 MB)

Digital flood-inundation maps for a 1.7-mile reach of the Leaf River were developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the City of Hattiesburg, City of Petal, Forrest County, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, Mississippi Department of Homeland Security, and the Emergency Management District. The Leaf River study reach extends from just upstream of the U.S. Highway 11 crossing to just downstream of East Hardy/South Main Street and separates the cities of Hattiesburg and Petal, Mississippi. The 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 of flooding corresponding to selected water-surface elevations (stages) at the USGS streamgage at Leaf River at Hattiesburg, Mississippi (02473000). Current conditions at the USGS streamgage may be obtained through the National Water Information System Web site at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ms/nwis/uv/?site_no=02473000&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060. In addition, the information has been provided to the National Weather Service (NWS) for incorporation into their Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) flood-warning system (http://water.weather.gov/ahps/). The NWS forecasts flood hydrographs at many places that are often collocated at USGS streamgages. The forecasted peak-stage information, available on the AHPS Web site, may be used in conjunction with the maps developed in this study to show predicted areas of flood inundation.

In this study, flood profiles were computed for the stream reach by means of a one-dimensional step-backwater model. The model was calibrated using the most current stage-discharge relations at the Leaf River at Hattiesburg, Mississippi, streamgage and documented high-water marks from recent and historical floods. The hydraulic model was then used to determine 13 water-surface profiles for flood stages at 1.0-foot intervals referenced to the streamgage datum and ranging from bankfull to approximately the highest recorded water-surface elevation at the streamgage. The simulated water-surface profiles were then combined with a geographic information system digital elevation model [derived from Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data having a 0.6-foot vertical accuracy and 9.84-foot horizontal resolution] in order to delineate the area flooded at each 1-foot increment of stream stage.

The availability of these maps, when combined with real-time stage information from USGS streamgages and forecasted stream stage from the NWS, provides emergency management personnel and residents with critical information during flood-response activities, such as evacuations and road closures, as well as for post-flood recovery efforts.

First posted September 20, 2012

For additional information contact:
Director, Mississippi Water Science Center
308 South Airport Rd.
Jackson, MS 39208-6649
http://ms.water.usgs.gov/

Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge.

Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and Scope

Study Area Description

Previous Studies

Constructing Water-Surface Profiles

Hydrologic and Steady Flow Data

Topographic/Bathymetric Data

Energy Loss Factors

Model Calibration and Performance

Development of Water-Surface Profiles

Inundation Mapping

Leaf River, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Flood-Inundation Maps on the Internet

Disclaimer for Flood Inundation Maps

Uncertainties and Limitations Regarding Use of Flood-Inundation Maps

Summary

References Cited



Map Sheets

The map sheets are downloadable PDF files, each approximately 4 megabytes in size.

Sheet number reference based on stages (water-surface elevations) at the Leaf River, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, streamgage (02473000).
[Values 22.0–34.0 represent stage heights, in feet above gage datum. Values in parentheses (140.18–152.18) represent elevation in feet above North American Vertical Datum of 1988]

Stream stages (water-surface elevations) at the Leaf River, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, streamgage (02473000), with reference to corresponding map-sheet numbers in this report.
Leaf River at Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Sheet number 1
PDF
2
PDF
3
PDF
4
PDF
5
PDF
6
PDF
7
PDF
Stage
(Water-surface elevation)
22.0
(140.18)
23.0
(141.18)
24.0
(142.18)
25.0
(143.18)
26.0
(144.18)
27.0
(145.18)
28.0
(146.18)
Sheet number 8
PDF
9
PDF
10
PDF
11
PDF
12
PDF
13
PDF
Stage
(Water-surface elevation)
29.0
(147.18)
30.0
(148.18)
31.0
(149.18)
32.0
(150.18)
33.0
(151.18)
34.0
(152.18)

Suggested citation:

Storm, J.B., 2012, Flood-inundation maps for the Leaf River at Hattiesburg, Mississippi: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3228, 8 p. pamphlet, 13 sheets; available online at https://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3228/.

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