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Scientific Investigations Map 3244

Flood-Inundation Maps for the Saluda River from Old Easley Bridge Road to Saluda Lake Dam near Greenville, South Carolina

By Stephen T. Benedict, Andral W. Caldwell, and Jimmy M. Clark

ABSTRACT

Thumbnail of report cover

Digital flood-inundation maps for a 3.95-mile reach of the Saluda River from approximately 815 feet downstream from Old Easley Bridge Road to approximately 150 feet downstream from Saluda Lake Dam near Greenville, South Carolina, were developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 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 and depth of flooding corresponding to selected water levels (stages) at the USGS streamgage at Saluda River near Greenville, South Carolina (station 02162500). Current conditions at the USGS streamgage may be obtained through the National Water Information System Web site at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/sc/nwis/uv/?site_no=02162500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,00062. The National Weather Service (NWS) forecasts flood hydrographs at many places that are often collocated with USGS streamgages. Forecasted peak-stage information is available on the Internet at the NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) flood-warning system Web site (http://water.weather.gov/ahps/) and 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-streamflow relations at USGS streamgage station 02162500, Saluda River near Greenville, South Carolina. The hydraulic model was then used to determine water-surface profiles for flood stages at 1.0-foot intervals referenced to the streamgage datum and ranging from approximately bankfull to 2 feet higher than the highest recorded water level at the streamgage. The simulated water-surface profiles were then exported to a geographic information system, ArcGIS, and combined with a digital elevation model (derived from Light Detection and Ranging [LiDAR] data with a 0.6-foot vertical Root Mean Square Error [RMSE] and a 3.0-foot horizontal RMSE), using HEC–GeoRAS tools in order to delineate the area flooded at each water level.

The availability of these maps, along with real-time stage data from the USGS streamgage station 02162500 and forecasted stream stages from the NWS, can provide emergency management personnel and residents with information that is critical during flood-response and flood-recovery activities, such as evacuations, road closures, and disaster declarations.

March 11, 2013

For additional information contact:
Director, South Carolina Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
Stephenson Center
Suite 129
720 Gracern Road
Columbia, SC 29210-7651
http://sc.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

Saluda River, South Carolina, Flood-Inundation Maps on the Internet

Disclaimer for Flood Inundation Maps

Uncertainties and Limitations for Use of Flood-Inundation Maps

Summary

References Cited



Map Sheets

You can view the map sheets either as high-resolution JPG images or as downloadable PDF files.
The JPG images are about 0.7 megabytes in size, and the PDF files are about 11 megabytes.

Sheet number reference based on stages (water-surface elevations) at the Saluda River near Greenville, South Carolina, streamgage (02162500).
[Values 6.0-20.0 represent stage heights, in feet above gage datum. Values in parentheses (803.2-817.2) represent elevation in feet above North American Vertical Datum of 1988]

Stream stages and water-surface elevations at Saluda River near Greenville, South Carolina, streamgage (02162500), with reference to corresponding map-sheet numbers in the report.
Saluda River near Greenville, South Carolina
Stage
(Water-surface elevation)
6.0
(803.2)
7.0
(804.2)
8.0
(805.2)
9.0
(806.2)
10.0
(807.2)
11.0
(808.2)
12.0
(809.2)
13.0
(810.2)
14.0
(811.2)
15.0
(812.2)
16.0
(813.2)
Sheet number 1
JPG
PDF
2
JPG
PDF
3
JPG
PDF
4
JPG
PDF
5
JPG
PDF
6
JPG
PDF
7
JPG
PDF
8
JPG
PDF
9
JPG
PDF
10
JPG
PDF
11
JPG
PDF
Stage
(Water-surface elevation)
17.0
(814.2)
18.0
(815.2)
19.0
(816.2)
20.0
(817.2)
Sheet number 12
JPG
PDF
13
JPG
PDF
14
JPG
PDF
15
JPG
PDF

Suggested citation:

Benedict, S.T., Caldwell, A.W., and Clark, J.M., 2013, Flood-inundation maps for the Saluda River from Old Easley Bridge Road to Saluda Lake Dam near Greenville, South Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3244, 15 sheets, 7-p. pamphlet.

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