Skip Links

USGS - science for a changing world

Scientific Investigations Report 2012–5227

Prepared in cooperation with the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission and the Villages of Lincolnshire and Riverwoods

Flood-Inundation Maps for a Nine-Mile Reach of the Des Plaines River from Riverwoods to Mettawa, Illinois

By Elizabeth A. Murphy, David T. Soong, and Jennifer B. Sharpe

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (36.4 MB)Abstract

Digital flood-inundation maps for a 9-mile reach of the Des Plaines River from Riverwoods to Mettawa, Illinois, were created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission and the Villages of Lincolnshire and Riverwoods. 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 levels (gage heights) at the USGS streamgage at Des Plaines River at Lincolnshire, Illinois (station no. 05528100). Current conditions at the USGS streamgage may be obtained on the Internet at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?05528100. In addition, this streamgage is incorporated into the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) flood warning system (http://water.weather.gov/ahps/) by the National Weather Service (NWS). The NWS forecasts flood hydrographs at many places that are often co-located at USGS streamgages. The NWS forecasted peak-stage information, also shown on the Des Plaines River at Lincolnshire inundation 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 hydraulic model was then used to determine seven water-surface profiles for flood stages at roughly 1-ft intervals referenced to the streamgage datum and ranging from the 50- to 0.2-percent annual exceedance probability flows. The simulated water-surface profiles were then combined with a Geographic Information System (GIS) Digital Elevation Model (DEM) (derived from Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) data) in order to delineate the area flooded at each water level.

These maps, along with information on the Internet regarding current gage height from USGS streamgages and forecasted stream stages from the NWS, provide emergency management personnel and residents with information that is critical for flood response activities such as evacuations and road closures, as well as for post-flood recovery efforts.

First Posted December 7, 2012

  • Flood-inundation maps
    for a 9-mile reach of the Des Plaines River, Illinois, at USGS streamgage number 05528100, Des Plaines River at Lincolnshire, Illinois.

    Each sheet PDF is about 5.3 MB

    Gage height of 13.2 feet (643.2 feet)
    Sheet 1

    Gage height of 14.0 feet (644.0 feet)
    Sheet 2

    Gage height of 14.9 feet (644.9 feet)
    Sheet 3

    Gage height of 16.0 feet (646.0 feet)
    Sheet 4

    Gage height of 17.0 feet (647.0 feet)
    Sheet 5

    Gage height of 18.0 feet (648.0 feet)
    Sheet 6

    Gage height of 19.1 feet (649.1 feet)
    Sheet 7

For additional information contact:
Director, Illinois Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
1201 W. University Avenue
Suite 100
Urbana, IL 61801
http://il.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.


Suggested citation:

Murphy, E.A., Soong, D.T., and Sharpe, J.B., 2012, Flood-inundation maps for a nine-mile reach of the Des Plaines River from Riverwoods to Mettawa, Illinois: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2012–5227, 17 p., available only at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2012/5227.



Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Constructing Water-Surface Profiles

Development of Water-Surface Profiles

Inundation Mapping

Acknowledgments

Summary

References Sited

Glossary


Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/sir/2012/5227/index.html
Page Contact Information: GS Pubs Web Contact
Page Last Modified: Thursday, 10-Jan-2013 20:03:23 EST