FLOOD-INUNDATION MAPS FOR A 6.5-MILE REACH OF THE KENTUCKY RIVER AT FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY. By JEREMIAH G. LANT 2012 U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3278 ABSTRACT: Digital flood-inundation maps for a 6.5-mile reach of Kentucky River at Frankfort, Kentucky, were created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the City of Frankfort Office of Emergency Management. 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 and depth of flooding corresponding to selected water levels (stages) at the USGS streamgage Kentucky River at Lock 4 at Frankfort, Kentucky (station no. 03287500). Current conditions for the USGS streamgage may be obtained online at the USGS National Water Information System site (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/inventory?agency_code=USGS&site_no=03287500). In addition, the information has been provided to the National Weather Service (NWS) for incorporation into their Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) flood warning system (http:/water.weather.gov/ahps/). The NWS forecasts flood hydrographs at many places that are often colocated at USGS streamgages. The forecasted peak-stage information, also available on the Internet, 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 Kentucky River reach by using HEC-RAS, a one-dimensional step-backwater model developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The hydraulic model was calibrated by using the most current (2013) stage-discharge relation for the Kentucky River at Lock 4 at Frankfort, Kentucky, in combination with streamgage and high-water-mark measurements collected for a flood event in May 2010. The calibrated model was then used to calculate 26 water-surface profiles for a sequence of flood stages, at 1-foot intervals, referenced to the streamgage datum and ranging from a stage near bankfull to the elevation that breached the levees protecting the City of Frankfort. To delineate the flooded area at each interval flood stage, the simulated water-surface profiles were combined with a digital elevation model (DEM) of the study area by using geographic information system software. The DEM consisted of bare-earth elevations within the study area and was derived from a Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) dataset having a 5.0-foot horizontal resolution and a accuracy of 0.229 foot. The availability of these maps, along with Internet information regarding current stages from USGS streamgages and forecasted stages from the NWS, provides emergency management personnel and local residents with critical information for flood response activities such as evacuations, road closures, and postflood recovery efforts. DISCLAIMERS: This data base, identified as SIM 3278, has been approved for release and publication by the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey. Although this database has been subjected to rigorous review and is substantially complete, the U.S. Geological Survey reserves the right to revise the data pursuant to further analysis and review. Furthermore, it is released on condition that neither the U.S. geological Survey nor the U.S. Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or unauthorized use. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other System, or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. The U.S. Geological Survey shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also contains copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items for other than personal use must be secured from the copyright owner. Disclaimer for Flood-Inundation Maps: Inundated areas shown should not be used for navigation, regulatory, permitting, or other legal purposes. The USGS provides these maps �as-is� for a quick reference, emergency planning tool but assumes no legal liability or responsibility resulting from the use of this information. Uncertainties and Limitations for Use of Flood-Inundation Maps: Although the flood-inundation maps represent the boundaries of inundated areas with a distinct line, some uncertainty is associated with these maps. The flood boundaries shown were estimated on the basis of stages (water-surface elevations) and streamflows at selected USGS streamgages. Water-surface elevations along the stream reaches were estimated by steady-state hydraulic modeling, assuming unobstructed flow, and using streamflows and hydrologic conditions anticipated at the USGS streamgage(s). The hydraulic model reflects the land-cover characteristics and any bridge, dam, levee, or other hydraulic structures existing as of August 2013. Unique meteorological factors (timing and distribution of precipitation) may cause actual streamflows along the modeled reach to vary from those assumed during a flood, which may lead to deviations in the water-surface elevations and inundation boundaries shown. Additional areas may be flooded due to unanticipated conditions such as changes in the streambed elevation or roughness, backwater into small tributaries along the study reach, or backwater from localized debris or ice jams. The accuracy of the floodwater extent portrayed on these maps will vary with the accuracy of the DEM used to simulate the land surface. If this series of flood-inundation maps will be used in conjunction with NWS river forecasts, the user should be aware of additional uncertainties that may be inherent or factored into NWS forecast procedures. The NWS uses forecast models to estimate the quantity and timing of water flowing through selected stream reaches in the United States. These forecast models (1) estimate the amount of runoff generated by precipitation and snowmelt, (2) simulate the movement of floodwater as it proceeds downstream, and (3) predict the flow and stage (water-surface elevation) for the stream at a given location (AHPS forecast point) throughout the forecast period (every 6 hours and 3 to 5 days out in many locations). For more information on AHPS forecasts, please see http://water.weather.gov/ahps/pcpn_and_river_forecasting.pdf. CONTENTS: This report consists of a pamphlet, 26 map sheets, and the datafiles associated with the study. Pamphlet -------- SIM3278_pamphlet.pdf Datafiles --------- grids.zip frankky_00 -> frankky_25 - grids pertaining to each inundation layer in ESRI grid format kmz_maps.zip FrankKY_00.kmz -> FrankKY_25.kmz - maps pertaining to each inundation layer in KMZ (GoogleEarth) format metadata.zip grids metadata.xml - metadata for grids pertaining to each inundation layer shapefiles FrankKY.shp.xml - metadata file for shapefile containing all inundation layers FrankKY_00.shp.xml -> FrankKY_25.shp.xml - metadata files for shapefiles pertaining to each inundation layer levee_centerline.shp.xml - metadata file for shapefile of levee centerline levee_protected_area.shp.xml - metadata file for shapefile of levee protected area shapefiles.zip FrankKY (.dbf/.prj/.sbn/.sbx/.shp.xml/.shx) - single shapefile containing all inundation layers FrankKY_00 -> FrankKY_25 (.dbf/.prj/.sbn/.sbx/.shp.xml/.shx) - shapefiles pertaining to each inundation layer levee_centerline (.dbf/.prj/.sbn/.sbx/.shp.xml/.shx) - shapefile of levee centerline levee_protected_area (.dbf/.prj/.sbn/.sbx/.shp.xml/.shx) - shapefile of levee protected area Map Sheets ---------- map_sheets.zip FrankKY_00.pdf -> FrankKY_25.pdf - map sheets pertaining to each inundation layer in PDF format Estimated flood-inundation maps for the Kentucky River from reach near Interstate 64 to reach near Lock 4 referenced to USGS streamgage Kentucky River at Lock 4 at Frankfort, Kentucky (sta. no. 03287500) for stream stages of: 1. sheet01_stage27_sim3278.pdf 2. sheet02_stage28_sim3278.pdf 3. sheet03_stage29_sim3278.pdf 4. sheet04_stage30_sim3278.pdf 5. sheet05_stage31_sim3278.pdf 6. sheet06_stage32_sim3278.pdf 7. sheet07_stage33_sim3278.pdf 8. sheet08_stage34_sim3278.pdf 9. sheet09_stage35_sim3278.pdf 10. sheet10_stage36_sim3278.pdf 11. sheet11_stage37_sim3278.pdf 12. sheet12_stage38_sim3278.pdf 13. sheet12_stage39_sim3278.pdf 14. sheet12_stage40_sim3278.pdf 15. sheet12_stage41_sim3278.pdf 16. sheet12_stage42_sim3278.pdf 17. sheet12_stage43_sim3278.pdf 18. sheet12_stage44_sim3278.pdf 19. sheet12_stage45_sim3278.pdf 20. sheet12_stage46_sim3278.pdf 21. sheet12_stage47_sim3278.pdf 22. sheet12_stage48_sim3278.pdf 23. sheet12_stage49_sim3278.pdf 24. sheet12_stage50_sim3278.pdf 25. sheet12_stage51_sim3278.pdf 26. sheet12_stage52_sim3278.pdf INSTRUCTIONS AND DOCUMENTATION FOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS MAP 3278 To access the data: The data files can be downloaded via the web from http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3278. The main product is a Portable Document Format (.pdf) map and pamphlet which requires Adobe Acrobat for viewing. Acrobat software runs on a variety of systems, and is available for download free of charge from Adobe at http://www.adobe.com. To access the .kmz files in this report, download and install Google Earth at http;//www.google.com/earth/index.htm. Launch Google Earth, and click the file menu and choose open. Locate and select the .kmz file on your computer. References to non-U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) products do not constitute an endorsement by the DOI. By viewing the Google Maps API on this web site the user agrees to these terms(terms found at: http://code.google.com/apis/maps/terms.html) of Service set forth by Google. Software preferred: Adobe Acrobat (6.x, 7.x, or 8.x), or Adobe Acrobat Pro (6.x, 7.x, or 8.x), or the free Adobe Reader (6.x, 7.x, or 8.x), 8.x is preferred.ArcGIS 9.3 preferred, older versions may also work. ArcReader may be downloaded free of charge from http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcreader/download.htm for viewing additional files included in this report.