U.S. Geological Survey: Science for a Changing World - USGS visual identifier and link to main Web site at http://www.usgs.gov/
Table 1. Major floods at Great Falls since 1773.
[Abbreviations are as follows: ft, feet; m, meters; asl; above sea level)]
Date   Flood height
above "drought
level," in ft
  Known/calculated
elevation above
sea level, in ft
  Discharge,
in 1000 ft3/s (1000 m3/s)
at Little Falls,
Sept. 1996  
 
146
 
314 (8.89)
Jan. 1996  
 
148
 
347 (9.82)
Nov. 1985  
82
 
147
 
317 (8.98)
June 1972  
87
 
151
 
359 (10.16)
Oct. 1942  
90
 
155
 
447 (12.66)
Apr. 1937  
85
 
150
 
347 (9.82)
Mar. 1936  
91
 
156
 
484 (13.70)
Mar. 1924  
>65
 
1391
 
1889  
>73
 
>1382
 
1877  
70
 
135
 
1870  
>60
 
>125
 
1857  
>60
 
>125
 
1852  
64
 
129
 
1847  
>58
 
>123
 
1785  
>80
 
>145
 
1773  
>75
 
>138
 
1This is the level based on the photographic record at Lock 17 on the C&O Canal (National Park Service, 1991, p. 59). Lock 17 is directly across from the lower observation platform (140 ft (43 m) asl) in Great Falls Park.
2Notes on the U.S. Geological Survey's Little Falls Gauge Station (01646500) webpage say that the "flood of June 2, 1889, was approximately the same magnitude as that of March 19, 1936."

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
URL: https:// pubsdata.usgs.gov /pubs/circ/2004/1264/html/trip6/table1.html
For more information, contact Paul Bierman
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