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The Passaic Flood of 1902

Water Supply Paper 88
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/wsp88

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Abstract

Late in February and early in March, 1902, there occured upon the drainage basin of the Passaic River in northeastern New Jersey the most disastrous flood in the history of the region. Not only was the discharge the largest recorded, but the flood was the most destructive to life and property in the settlements ever known along the valley.

In the following pages it is proposed to outline the history of this flood, describe the conditions under which it occurred, give the estimated volume of its discharge, and indicate as well as possible the nature and extent of the damage resulting from it.

The data and information embodied in the following report were obtained by personal observation while the flood was in progress and after it had subsided and from various water companies, manufacturers, and residents of the flooded areas. Acknowledgments are especially due to Mr. J. II. Cook, of Paterson, engineer for the Society for the Establishment of Useful Manufactures; to Mr. M. R. Sherred, engineer of the water department of the Newark board of public works; to Mr. R. M. Watson, of Wise & Watson, engineers of Passaic; to Mr. C. C. Vermeule, from whose valuable report on the water supply of New Jersey much data have been taken regarding the physical condition of the watersheds, and to others whose help or suggestions have been of value.

As the region under discussion, though comparatively restricted, is an important one owing to its dense population and rapidly increasing industrial development, and as the physical and physiographie conditions governing high-water stages on the Passaic watershed are peculiar, it is deemed necessary for a full understanding of the present flood to describe briefly their most important, features.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title The Passaic Flood of 1902
Series title Water Supply Paper
Series number 88
DOI 10.3133/wsp88
Year Published 1903
Language English
Publisher U.S. Government Printing Office
Contributing office(s) U.S. Geological Survey
Description 56 p.
Country United States
State New Jersey
Other Geospatial Passaic River
Additional publication details