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Floods of June 21–July 1, 2018, in the Floyd River and Little Sioux River Basins, Northwestern Iowa

Open-File Report 2022-1015
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/ofr20221015

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Abstract

The Floyd River and Little Sioux River Basins in northwestern Iowa flooded on June 21–July 1, 2018, after sustained rainfall on June 14–27, 2018. Within the Floyd River Basin, rainfall totals from June 14 to 21 preceding flooding were 3.01 inches (in.) at Le Mars, 4.50 in. at Orange City, and 7.44 in. at Sheldon. Within the Little Sioux River Basin, rainfall amounts for the 2-week period from June 14 to 27 preceding flooding were 11.29 in. at Lake Park, 12.95 in. at Milford, 5.56 in. at Spencer, 7.71 in. at Sioux Rapids, and 6.13 in. at Cherokee. Flooding in the Floyd River Basin resulted in a recorded maximum peak discharge of 14,300 cubic feet per second (ft3/s; annual exceedance probability [AEP] estimate between 4 and 10 percent) at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgage Floyd River at Alton, Iowa (06600100), and a recorded maximum peak discharge of 9,180 ft3/s (AEP estimate greater than 10 percent) at the USGS streamgage Floyd River at James, Iowa (06600500). Flooding in the Little Sioux River Basin resulted in a recorded maximum peak discharge of 16,300 ft3/s (AEP estimate between 4 and 10 percent) at the USGS streamgage Little Sioux River at Linn Grove, Iowa (06605850), and maximum peak discharges of 18,700 ft3/s (AEP estimate greater than 10 percent) and 20,000 ft3/s (AEP estimate greater than 10 percent) were recorded at the USGS streamgages Little Sioux River at Correctionville, Iowa (06606600), and Little Sioux River near Turin, Iowa (06607500), respectively. High-water mark elevations were surveyed at 19 locations along the Floyd River and 22 locations along the Little Sioux River to develop 2 flood profiles: a 52.5-mile profile along the Floyd River from State Highway 3 at Le Mars to U.S. Highway 18 at Sheldon that includes the USGS streamgage Floyd River at Alton and a 101-mile profile along the Little Sioux River from U.S. Highway 59 at Cherokee to U.S. Highway 18 north of Spencer that includes the USGS streamgage Little Sioux River at Linn Grove.

Suggested Citation

O’Shea, P.S., Wilson, J.L., Vegrzyn, J.C., and Barnes, K.K., 2022, Floods of June 21–July 1, 2018, in the Floyd River and Little Sioux River Basins, northwestern Iowa: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2022–1015, 35 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20221015.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

ISSN: 0196-1497 (print)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Study Basins
  • Floods of June–July 2018
  • Flood Event Viewer
  • Summary
  • References Cited
  • Appendix 1. List of Bench Marks and Reference Points
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Floods of June 21–July 1, 2018, in the Floyd River and Little Sioux River Basins, northwestern Iowa
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2022-1015
DOI 10.3133/ofr20221015
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Iowa Water Science Center, Central Midwest Water Science Center
Description Report: ix, 35 p.; 2 Data Releases; Dataset
Country United States
State Iowa
Other Geospatial Floyd River and Little Sioux River Basins
Online Only (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details