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Flood of August 24–25, 2016, Upper Iowa River and Turkey River, northeastern Iowa

Open-File Report 2017-1128
Prepared in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Iowa Highway Research Board (Project HR–140)
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171128

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Abstract

Major flooding occurred August 24–25, 2016, in the Upper Iowa River Basin and Turkey River Basin in northeastern Iowa following severe thunderstorm activity over the region. About 8 inches of rain were recorded for the 24-hour period ending at 4 p.m., August 24, at Decorah, Iowa, and about 6 inches of rain were recorded for the 24-hour period ending at 7 a.m., August 24, at Cresco, Iowa, about 14 miles northwest of Spillville, Iowa. A maximum peak-of-record discharge of 38,000 cubic feet per second in the Upper Iowa River at streamgage 05388250 Upper Iowa River near Dorchester, Iowa, occurred on August 24, 2016, with an annual exceedance-probability range of 0.2–1 percent. High-water marks were measured at six locations along the Upper Iowa River between State Highway 26 near the mouth at the Mississippi River and State Highway 76 about 3.5 miles south of Dorchester, Iowa, a distance of 15 river miles. Along the profiled reach of the Turkey River, a maximum peak-of-record discharge of 15,300 cubic feet per second at streamgage 05411600 Turkey River at Spillville, Iowa, occurred on August 24, 2016, with an annual exceedance-probability range of 1–2 percent. A maximum peak discharge of 35,700 cubic feet per second occurred on August 25, 2016, along the profiled reach of the Turkey River at streamgage 05411850 Turkey River near Eldorado, Iowa, with an annual exceedance-probability range of 0.2–1 percent. High-water marks were measured at 11 locations along the Turkey River between County Road B64 in Elgin and 220th Street, located about 4.5 miles northwest of Spillville, Iowa, a distance of 58 river miles. The high-water marks were used to develop flood profiles for the Upper Iowa River and Turkey River.

Suggested Citation

Linhart, S.M., and O’Shea, P.S., 2018, Flood of August 24–25, 2016, Upper Iowa River and Turkey River, northeastern Iowa: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2017–1128, 20 p., with appendix, https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171128.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

ISSN: 0196-1497 (print)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgment
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Study Basins
  • Description of the Storms and Flood
  • Summary
  • References Cited
  • Appendix 1. List of Bench Marks and Reference Points
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Flood of August 24–25, 2016, Upper Iowa River and Turkey River, northeastern Iowa
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2017-1128
ISBN 978-1-4113-4201-9
DOI 10.3133/ofr20171128
Year Published 2018
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Iowa Water Science Center
Description viii, 19 p.
Country United States
State Iowa
Other Geospatial Turkey River, Upper Iowa River
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details