LOCATION.-- Lat 37°08'51", long 88°44'27" (NAD of 1927), Massac County Il., Hydrologic Unit 05140206, near center of span on downstream side of pier of Paducah & Illinois Railroad bridge at Metropolis, 9.5 mi downstream from Tennessee River, 37 mi upstream from mouth, and at mile 944.1.

DRAINAGE AREA.-- 203,000 mi², approximately.

PERIOD OF RECORD.--

SURFACE-WATER DISCHARGE AND STAGE

DISCHARGE: January 1928 to current year. Prior to April 1928 monthly discharge only, published in WSP 1305.

STAGE: Gage-height records collected 9.6 mi upstream at Paducah since 1890 are contained in reports of National Weather Service.

PARTIAL RECORD: Occasional discharge measurements 1881 to 1924 in reports of Mississippi River Commission.

GAGE.-- Water-stage recorder with telemetry. Datum of gage is 276.27 ft above NGVD of 1929. Prior to Dec. 22, 1936, water-stage recorders (temporary installations) at Paducah, Ky., Metropolis and Joppa, Il., and Dam 52. Auxiliary water-stage recorder near Grand Chain, 0.5 mi upstream from Dam 53, and 18 mi downstream from base gage. Prior to May 29, 1936, auxiliary nonrecording gage at Dam 53.

REMARKS.-- Flow regulated by many dams and reservoirs. Maximum daily discharges include overflow through Bay Creek and Cache River Valleys.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD.--

SURFACE-WATER DISCHARGE AND STAGE: Maximum discharge, 1,850,000 ft³/s, February 1, 1937, maximum gage height, 66.60 ft, February 2, 1937; minimum daily discharge, 15,000 ft³/s, July 20, 1930.