Floods
of
February
1962
in
Southern
Idaho
and
Northeastern
Nevada
GEOLOGICAL
SURVEY
CIRCULAR
467
Floods
of
February
1962
in
Southern
Idaho
and
Northeastern
Nevada
By
Cecil
A.
Thomas
and
Robert
D.
Lamke
GEOLOGICAL
SURVEY
CIRCULAR
467
Washington
1962
United
States
Department
of
the
Interior
STEW
ART
L.
UDALL,
SECRETARY
Geological
Survey
THOMAS
B.
NOLAN,
DIRECTOR
free
on
application
to
the
U.S.
Geological
Survey,
Washington
25,
0.
C.
CONTENTS
Page
Page
Abstract_____________________________
1
Description
of
the
floods Continued
Introduction.
__
_
____
1
Blackfoot
River
basin__________
9
Cause
of
the
floods
___________________
5
Portneuf
River
basin
______________
9
Description
of
the
floods
______________
5
South
side
tributaries
of
Snake
River
Bear
River
basin
and
Curlew
Valley
__
6
below
Portneuf River
_____________
12
Humboldt
River
basin
_______________
6
Big
Wood
River
and
Clover
Creek
Henrys
Fork
_________
_
_______
7
basins
__________________
13
Idaho
Falls
-
Blackfoot
lowlands
______
7
Snake
River
main
stem
_____________
14
North
and
west
of
Snake
River
above
Flood
damage
_______________________
14
American
Falls
__________________
8
Peak
discharge
data__________________
15
ILLUSTRATIONS
Page
Figure
1.
Map
of
southern
Idaho
and
northeastern
Nevada
showing
location
of
flood
-
measurement
points,
floods
of
February
1962,
and
isohyets
for
February
7-12
_______________________________________________
2
2.
Weather
conditions
for
January
and
February
1962
at
Elko,
Nev.,
and
west
of
Idaho
Falls,
Idaho
_________________________________--______----------
4
3.
Discharge
hydrograph,
Malad
River
at
Woodruff,
Idaho,
February
9-18,
1962___
6
4.
Discharge
hydrographs
for
selected
gaging
stations
in
Nevada
________________
7
5.
View
of
Devils
Gate
Ranch
on
North
Fork
Humboldt
River
____________________
8
6.
View
of
McKinley
Ranch
on
Humboldt
River
________________________________
9
7.
View
of
Battle
Mountain
during
peak
of
February
14,
1962____________________
10
8.
New
housing
development
in
the
flooded
area
northeast
of
Idaho
Falls,
Idaho
___
11
9.
Portneuf River
looking
upstream
through
Lava
Hot
Springs
near
the
crest
of
the
flood.____________________________________
-___
_--
12
10.
A
break
developing
in
a
fill
in
U.S.
Highway
30,
2
miles
downstream
from
Lava
Hot
Springs
_____________________________--__------------------__-
13
11.
Discharge hydrographs
for
selected
gaging
stations
on
Snake
River,
Idaho
_____
14
12.
Discharge
hydrographs for
gaging
stations
in
Portneuf
River
basin,
Idaho._____
15
13.
Discharge
hydrograph
for
Clover
Creek
near
Bliss,
Idaho......._____________
15
TABLES
Page
Table
1.
Summary
of
flood
damages
in
Snake
River
basin
in
Idaho,
February
1962
_________
14
2.
Records
of
1962
flood
stages
and
discharges
at
selected
gaging
stations
in
Idaho
and
Nevada______________________________----_-_------_-------_-------____
16
3.
Records
of
flood
stages
and
discharges
by
drainage
basins,
Idaho
and Nevada
_____
22
in
Floods
of
February
1962
in Southern
Idaho
and
Northeastern
Nevada
By
Cecil
A.
Thomas
and
Robert
D.
Lamkc
ABSTRACT
The
floods
of
February
10-15,
1962,
were
the
highest
known
on
many
streams
in
southern
Idaho
and
northeastern
Nevada.
Some
of
the
peak
discharges
have
recurrence
in-
tervals
greater
than
a
hundred
years.
The
floods
resulted
from
an
unusual
combination
of
con-
ditions,
each
of
which
contributed
to
the
sudden
severe
flooding.
These
conditions
were
an
extended
period
of
above-freezing
temperatures
and
prolonged
light
rainfall,
an
extensive
area
of
snow
at
low
altitudes,
and
deeply
frozen
ground.
The
snow
at
higher
altitudes
did
not
contribute
to
the
floods.
Runoff
was
greatest
from
watersheds
at
altitudes
ranging
from
4,500
to
6,500
feet.
Flooding
from
small
tributaries
with
large
parts
of
their
drainage
within
this
range
rank
among
the
highest
snowmelt
floods
ever
recorded
in
Idaho
and
northeastern
Nevada.
The
Snake
River
main
stem
had
only
minor
flooding.
The
flood
damage
was
the
greatest
ever
experienced
in
most
of
the
flood
area
becaus,e
of
the
large
areas
inundated
and
because
the
value
and
amount
of
improvements
has
in-
creased
steadily.
The
total
damage
has
been
estimated
as
more
than
$10
million.
INTRODUCTION
The
floods
of
February
1962
in
southern
Idaho
and
northeastern
Nevada
(fig.
1)
were
the
highest
floods
experienced
in
recent
times
and
the
most
devastating.
The
flood
area
includes
some
of
the
most
valuable
ag-
ricultural
and
ranching
land
in
both
States
and
some
of
the
most
heavily
populated
areas
in
Idaho.
This
report presents
available
data
col-
lected
by
the
U.S.
Geological
Survey
on
these
floods.
The
data
are
provisional
and
fall
short
of
complete
coverage.
Many
sites
for
indirect
measurements
of
peak
discharge
have
been
selected,
and
the
high-water
pro-
files
have
been
marked
but
not
surveyed.
Other
indirect
measurements
have
been
sur-
veyed
but
not
computed.
The
data
in
this
report
were
collected
as
part
of
the
cooperative
programs
between
the
Survey
and
various
Federal
and
State
agen-
cies.
The
district
engineers
for
Idaho
and
Nevada,
W.
I.
Travis
and
E. E.
Harris,
respec-
tively,
supervised
the
work
of
the
Surf
ace
Wa-
ter
Branch
district
personnel.
Regional
flood
specialists,
G.L.Bodhaine,
H.
Hulsing,
and
H.
F.
Matthai,
gave
technical
assistance
in
col-
lecting
and
analyzing
data
and
in
preparing
the
report.
Six
engineers
from
districts
other
than
Idaho
and
Nevada
were
temporarily
as-
signed
to
the
flood
areas
to
determine
peak
discharges
as
soon
as
possible
after
the
flood.
The
field
and
office
work
of
deter-
mining
peak
discharges
by
indirect
methods
were
directed
by
C.
A.
Thomas
and
R.
D.
Lamke
in
Idaho
and
Nevada,
respectively.
Weather
data
were
furnished
by
the
U.S.
Weather
Bureau,
and
estimates
of
flood
dam-
age
in
Idaho
were
furnished
by
the
U.S.
Army
Corps
of
Engineers.
Data
presented
in
this
report
include:
de-
scriptions
of
the
cause,
extent,
and
effects
of
the
floods;
hydrographs,
table
of
mean
daily
discharges
and
discharges
at
indicated
times
for
selected
gaging
stations;
damage
figures;
peak
stages
and
discharges
for
the
February
1962
floods
and
for
previous
maximum
floods
at
selected
gaging
stations;
peak
discharges
at
miscellaneous
sites;
and
whatever
data
are
available
for
the
incomplete
indirect
measurements.
FLOODS
OF
FEBRUARY
1962
IN
SOUTHERN
IDAHO
AND
NORTHEASTERN
NEVADA
INDEX
MAP
OF
FLOOD
AREA
119°
,29
Figure
1. Map
of
southern
Idaho
and
northeastern
Nevada
showing
location
INTRODUCTION
EXPLANATION
Discharge
determined
Gaging
stations
10
Discharge
to
be
determined
A
9
Discharge
determined
,,.
.
Miscellaneous
sites
n»-
t
*
t
j
^
j
Discharge
to
be
deterrmned
Isohyet,
showing
precipitation
in
inches
115
111°
flood-measurement
points,
floods
of
February
1962,
and
isohyets
for
February
7-12.
FLOODS
OF
FEBRUARY
1962
IN
SOUTHERN
IDAHO
AND
NORTHEASTERN
NEVADA
S3HONI
Ml
'Hid3Q
MOMS
DESCRIPTION
OF
FLOODS
CAUSE
OF
THE
FLOODS
These
floods
resulted
from
an
unusual
combination
of
conditions.
These
conditions
were
prolonged
low-intensity
rainfall,
mod-
erate
amounts
of
snow
on
low-altitude
areas,
warm
days
and
nights,
and
a
glaze
of
ice
over
deeply
frozen
ground.
Total
rainfall
for
the
period
February
7 12
is
shown
in
figure
1.
Temperatures,
rainfall,
and
snow
on
ground
during
January
and
February
at
Elko,
Nev.,
and
west
of
Idaho
Falls,
Idaho,
are
shown
in
figure
2.
These
sites,
at
opposite
ends
of
the
flood
area,
are
in
areas
of
intense
flooding
and
show
the
similarity
of
weather
conditions
that
existed
throughout
the
flood
area.
The
antecedent
weather
had
a
marked
effect
on
the
flood.
Temperatures
were
2°
to
3°F
below
average
during
October,
November,
and
December.
The
mean
monthly
temperatures
for
January
were
4°
to
9°
below
average.
Al-
ternate
freezing
and
thawing
of
the
existing
cover
of
light
snow
occurred
in
December
and
early
January
and
transformed
the
shal-
low
snow
into
a
mantle
of
ice
over
the
ground.
Flooding
occurred
on
January
8
in
Goose
Creek
and
other
small
basins
in
southern
Idaho
when
light
rain
fell
on
these
watersheds
and
temperatures
remained
above
freezing
for
about
48
hours.
In
most
low-altitude
ba-
sins,
this
short-lived
thaw
produced
little
runoff
but
melted
and
settled
the
snow
which
froze
quickly
with
the
sharp
drop
in
tem-
perature
on
January
9.
This
increased
the
depth
of
frost
and
ice covering
the
ground.
Subfreezing
temperatures
continued
over
the
flood
area
from
January
9
until
the
end of
January.
Temperatures
were
especially
low
January
20 25,
whenbelow-zero
temperatures
during
the
night
and
below-freezing
tempera-
tures
during
the
day
were
general.
For
ex-
ample,
minimum
readings
of
-40
°F
were
recorded
during
this
period
near
Idaho
Falls
and
readings
of
-20°
were
recorded
near
Elko.
These
low
temperatures
froze
the
ground
under
the
cover
of
light
snow
as
deep
as
3
feet.
The
temperatures
then
moderated
during
late
January
and
early
February.
Prolonged
rain
of
low
intensity
fell
during
the
period
February
7 12.
The
amounts
measured
at
Weather
Bureau
gages
ranged
from
\
to
about
3
inches
in
southern
Idaho
and
from
\
to
about
2
inches
in
northeastern
Nevada.
Greater
amounts
of
precipitation
occurred
adjacent
to
the
flood
areas.
Snow
fell
at
higher
altitudes.
In
other
areas
heavy
rainfall
occurred,but
the
other
factors
caus-
ing
the
flood
were
absent.
The
greatest
total
rainfall
measured
within
the
flood
areas
was
2.91
inches
at
Ashton,
65
miles
northeast
of
Idaho
Falls.
In
Nevada
the
maximum
was
2.06
inches
at
Turcarora,
30
miles
northwest
of
Elko.
The
greatest
daily
rainfalls
recorded
were
1.06
inches
on'February
10
at
Charles-
ton,
60
miles
northeast
of
Elko,
and
0.90
inch
on
February
12
at
Preston,
60
miles
south-
east
of
Pocatello,
Idaho.
The
heaviest
hourly
rainfall
recorded
in
Nevada
was
0.15
inch
south
of
Elko.
These
amounts
of
rainfall
or
more
could
occur,
on
the
average,
once
every
2
years
according
to
Weather
Bureau
Tech-
nical
Paper
40,
"Rainfall
Frequency Atlas
of
the
United
States."
The
moderation
in
temperature
that
began
in
late
January
culminated
in
minimum
tem-
peratures
of
20°
or
higher
from
February
9
through
the
flood
period.
The
daytime
tem-
peratures
were
above
freezing
and
were
as
much
as
50°
or
higher.
The
rains
plus
the
heat
were sufficient
to
melt
most
of
the
shal-
low
snow
on
low-altitude
areas.
This
snow
ranged
in
depth
from
1
foot
at
6,700
feet
to
0
at
4,500
feet
in
Nevada,
and
ranged
from
3
feet
at
the
upper
limits
of
the
flood-generation
zone
to
0
in
Idaho.
Greater
amounts
of
snow
were
present
at
higher
altitudes,
but
they
did
not
melt.
The
rain
plus
the
melted
snow
ran
off
rap-
idly,
as
the
frozen
ground
prevented
infiltra-
tion.
This
resulted
in
floods
with
unusually
rapid
rises
of
unusual
magnitudes.
DESCRIPTION
OF
FLOODS
Damaging
record-breaking
floods
occurred
in
valleys
and
along
streams
tributary
to
the
Snake
River
from
St.
Anthony
as
far
down-
stream
as
King
Hill
and
in
the
Bear
River
basin
and
Curlew
Valley
in
the
Great
Basin
in
Idaho.
Flooding
occurred
in
adjacent
wa-
tersheds
in
Nevada,
including
the
upper
Bru-
neau,
Humboldt,
and
Owyhee
Rivers.
Dis-
charges
were
the
highest
known
on
many
streams
in
both
States.
Many
of
the
flood-
flows
have
recurrence
intervals
probably
larger
than
100
years.
In
other
words,
the
flows
experienced
during
the
flood
are
not
ex-
ceeded,
on
the
average,
more
than
once
in
a
100
years
or
more.
FLOODS
OF
FEBRUARY
1962
IN
SOUTHERN
IDAHO
AND
NORTHEASTERN
NEVADA
Runoff
was
most
intense
from
watersheds
ranging
in
altitude from
4,500
to
6,500
feet.
Flooding
from
small
tributaries
with
large
parts
of
their
drainage
within
or
near
this
range
rank
among
the
highest
winter
floods
recorded
in
Idaho.
Because
of
deeper
snow
and
unfrozen
ground,
little
or
no
runoff
oc-
curred
at
elevations
above
about
7,000
feet.
Velocity
was
not
a
problem,
except
in
the
foothills
and
mountainous
areas.
Inundation
caused
most
of
the
damage.
Streams
rose
at
rates
unusually
rapid
for
snowmelt
floods.
Evacuation
from
urban
and
rural
areas
in
Idaho
was
orderly
and
no
lives
were
lost
by
drowning,
but
several
persons
died
from
overexertion
or
from
other
causes
indirectly
connected
with
the
flood.
Damage
was
much
lighter
than
if the
floods
had
oc-
curred
after
crops
were
planted.
Water
also
carried
much
less
silt
than
it
would
have
carried
had
the
ground
not
been
frozen.
Some
flooding
occurred
because
of
ice
jams.
All
data
for
discharge
and
damage
are
preliminary
and
subject to
revision
when
surveys
and
computations
are
completed.
In
the
following
description
of
the
floods,
basins
are
discussed
in
the
downstream
order
used
by
the
Geological
Survey
in
annual
re-
ports.
BEAR
RIVER
BASIN
AND
CURLEW
VALLEY
Floods
occurred
in
the
Malad
River
and
in
Deep
Creek
in
Curlew
Valley
and
in
the
Bear
River
near
Preston,
Idaho,
and
near
Colliston,
Utah.
The
damage
was
minor
on
Bear
River.
Idaho
State
Highway
37
from
Roy
to
Holbrook
was
severely
damaged
and
was
closed
for
several
weeks.
Many
bridges
and
road
fills
were
washed
away,
and
some
of
the
principal
roads
were
blocked
for
several
days
in
both
the
Malad
River
Valley
and
the
Curlew
Valley.
Flood
water
damaged
considerable farmland,
farm
buildings,
crops,
feed,
and
livestock.
The
peak
discharge
of
Malad
River
at
Woodruff
was
370
percent
of
the
previous
maximum
in
24
years
of
record.
Stages
and
discharges
for
selected
time
intervals
and
daily
mean
discharges
are
given
in
table
2
for
this
station,
and
figure
3
shows
the
dis-
charge
hydrograph.
10
11
12
13
14
15
16 17
18
FEBRUARY
1962
Figure
3. Discharge
hydrograph,Malad
River
at
Woodruff,Idaho,
February
9-18,
1962.
HUMBOLDT
RIVER
BASIN
The
floods
in
the
Humboldt
River
basin
were
limited
to
the
upper
part.
The
Humboldt
River
basin
is
entirely
within
Nevada.
These
1962
floods
were
greater
than
the
1952
floods
in
the
upper
part
of
the
basin
above
Battle
Mountain.
In
the
lower
Humboldt
River
basin
these
flood
peaks
have
been
exceeded
8
or
9
times
in
50
years
of
record.
A
major
flood
occurred
in
March
1910
throughout
the
basin,
and
the
1962
flood
might
be
comparable
to the
1910
flood
in
the
upper
part.
There
is
some
evidence
that
another
major
flood
occurred
in
the
1860's
on
the
upper
Humboldt
River.
Stages
and
discharges
for
selected
time
in-
tervals
and
mean
daily
discharges
are
given
in
table
2
for
Humboldt
River
at
Palisade,
Nev.,and
for
South
Fork
Humboldt
River
near
Elko,
Nev.
Discharge hydrographs
in
figure
4
for
the
Humboldt
River
at
Palisade,
Battle
Mountain,
and
Comus
and
for
the
South
Fork
Humboldt
River
near
Elko,
Nev.,
show
the
effects
of
storage
caused
by
meanders
and
overflow
be-
low
the
Palisade
gaging
station.
The
hydro-
graph
for
the
Palisade
gaging
station
shows
the
two
very
distinct
peaks
on
February
12
and
14.
The
first
peak
was
caused
by
flood
-
waters
from
the
South
Fork
Humboldt
River,
Maggie
Creek,
Susie
Creek,
and
other
smaller
contributors
immediately
upstream
from
Pal-
isade,
and
the
second
peak
was
caused
by
North
Fork
Humboldt
River
above
Elko.
The
hydrograph
for
South
Fork
Humboldt
River
shows
two
distinct
peaks
that
occurred
on
many
of
the
major
tributaries.
DESCRIPTION
OF
FLOODS
,
*
Humboldt
River
at
Palisade
FEBRUARY
1962
Figure
4.
'Discharge
hydrographs
for
selected
gaging
stations
in
Nevada.
The
1962
floods
on
the
Humboldt
River
and
on
all
measured
tributaries
above
Battle
Mountain
have
recurrence
intervals
greater
than
50
years.
These
floods
were
the
highest
recorded
at
all
gaging
stations
in
the
upper
Humboldt
River
basin,
some
of
which
have
more
than
50
years
of
record.
The
gaging
station
on
North
Fork
Humboldt
River
at
Devils Gate,
near
Halleck,
Nev.,
recorded
a
flood
five
times
greater
than
the
50-year
flood.
The
floods
occurred
mainly
in
ranching
country
and
caused
damage
to
rural
roads
(fig.
5).
Some
ranches
lost
cattle
in
the
flood
(fig.
6).
The
damage
to
the
main
highways
was
comparatively
minor.
The
end
of
a
bridge
on
U.S.
Highway
40
over
the North
Fork
Humboldt
River
was
almost
washed
out.
U.S.
Highway
40
and
the
Southern
Pacific
Railroad
tracks
were
cut
in
Battle
Mountain
to
allow
Reese
River
floodwaters
to
subside.
Battle
Mountain
(fig.
7)
was
flooded
by
the
normally
dry
Reese
River.
The
small
towns
of
Deethand
Beowawe
had
some
minor
floods
and
small
sections
of
Elko
and
Carlin
next
to
the
Humboldt
River
were
flooded.
The
total
damage
in
Nevada
has
been
estimated
as
$1.5
million
by
the
Red
Cross,
with
an
estimate
of
$114,000
damage
to
the
State
Highway
system.
HENRYS
FORK
The
flood
in
the
Rexburg-Sugar
City
area
resulted
from
unprecedented
discharges
in
Teton
River
and
in
Moody
Creek,
Lyons
(Ly-
man)
Creek,
and
other
tributaries
draining
the
hills
to
the
east.
Preliminary
figures
of
peak
discharge
of
Teton
River
near
St.
An-
thony
was
nearly
twice
as
high
as
the
previ-
ous
maximum
in
52
years
of
record.
No
pre-
vious
records
are
available
on
Moody
and
Lyons
Creeks,
but
local
residents
indicate
that
the
flood
was
more
severe
than
any
other
in
more
than
50
years.
Considerable
water
also
came
from
snowmelt
and
rain
on
the
val-
ley
floor.
Lyons
Creek
nearRirie
discharged
at
a
rate
of
84
cfs
per
sq
mi
from
18
square
miles.
This
rate
occurs
only
rarely
in
Idaho
streams,
except
during
thunderstorms.
Nat-
ural
channels
and
canals
were
clogged
with
ice
as
much
as
2
feet
thick.
Ice
jams
and
ex-
treme
discharge
resulted
in
flooding
of
large
areas
of
valuable
farmland
and
urban
areas.
Farmland,
farmsteads,
livestock,
stored
farm
crops, roads,
railroads,
bridges,
canals,
and
a
great
many
residences
in
Rexburg,
Sugar
City,
and
Teton
were
damaged
considerably.
Flooding
was
not
a
problem
on
Henrys
Fork
above
St.
Anthony.
Some
flooding
occurred
in
tributaries
to
Teton
River
above
Newdale.
IDAHO
FALLS-BLACKFOOT
LOWLANDS
The
largest
area
inundated
was
the low-
lands
fromRirie
southwest
toward
Blackfoot.
About
56,500
acres
was
covered,
and
damage
totaled
$3,185,000.
The
flood
occurred as
a
result
of
rain
and
snowmelt
on
the
valley
floor
and
from
the
adjacent
foothills
and
as
a
result
of
floods
in
Willow,
Birch,
Henry,
and
Cedar
Creeks
and
smaller
tributaries.
Much
of
the
watershed
adjacent
to
these
lowlands
was
in the
1
altitude range
from
which
the
greatest
discharges
were
generated.
Willow
Creek
tributary
near
lona
discharged
at
a
rate
of
135
cfs
per
sq
mi
from
9.8
square
miles.
This
is
the
highest
rate
ever
recorded
by
the
Survey
for
a
winter
flood
in
Idaho.
FLOODS
OF
FEBRUARY
1962
IN SOUTHERN
IDAHO
AND
NORTHEASTERN
NEVADA
Figure
5.
Typical
flood
damage
to
road
at
Devils
Gate
Ranch
on
North
Fork
Humboldt
River.
Photographed
by
Mel
Steninger
of
the
Elko
Daily
Free
Press.
Large
urban
developments,
agricultural
im-
provements,
farm
and
city dwellings,
canals,
roads,
and
railroads
were
flooded
to
depths
ranging
from
1
to
4
feet.
Because
natural
drainage
channels
are
interconnected
with
canals
and
diversion
laterals
in
this
intensely
developed
agricultural
and
industrial
area,
the
flow
patterns
have
become
complicated
and
ponding
has
resulted,
especially
where
ice
jamming
has
occurred.
Canals
were
flow-
ing
bankfull
and
many
overtopped.
Some
large
canals
prevented
serious
damage in
heavily
populated
parts
of
Idaho
Falls
and
other
cities.
Figure
8
shows
a
new
housing
development
east
of
Idaho
Falls
which
was
flooded
by
Wil-
low
Creek.
NORTH
AND
WEST
OF SNAKE
RIVER
ABOVE
AMERICAN
FALLS
Over
most
of
the
flooded
areas
rain
and
snowmelt
water
ordinarily
infiltrates
rapidly
into
the
ground,
because
the
soils
are
loose
and
shallow
and
are
underlain
by
porous
lava.
Thousands
of
acres
of
lava
have
little
or
no
soil
cover.
Most
rivers
carry
return
flows
most
of
the
time.
Overland
flows
are
scarce
over
large
acreages.
This
is
especially
true
of
the
area
north
and
west
of
Snake
River
be-
tween
St.
Anthony
and
American
Falls.
There
are
practically
no
well-defined
channels
run-
ning
into
the
Snake
River
on
the
right
bank.
Lava
flows
of
recent
origin
are
close
to
the
surface,
and
water
percolates
rapidly
into
the
ground
under
normal
conditions.
During
DESCRIPTION
OF
FLOODS
Figure
6.
Cattle
in
floodwaters
at
McKinley
Ranch
on
Humboldt
River.
Photograph
by
Mel
Steninger
of
Elko
Daily
Free
Press.
the
flood,
the
ground
was
glazed
with
ice
un-
derlain
by
deep
frost.
Percolation
was inhib-
ited
and
runoff
at
rapid
rates
occurred
over
considerable
areas
of
the
lava
beds.
The
pockets
of
shallow
soil
scattered
over
the
lava
shed
water
at
especially
rapid
rates.
Residents
report
that
the
flows
here
have
not
been
exceeded
in40years
or
more.
High-
ways
were
overtopped,
bridges
and
road
fills
were
damaged,
and
scattered
farms
and
farm
improvements
in
low-lying
areas
were
flooded.
Discharges
were
measured
indi-
rectly
at
several
road
crossings
and
in
one
coulee
to
document
the
magnitude
of
the
flows.
Detailed
maps
are
not
available
for
most
of
the
watersheds
in the
lava
beds.
BLACKFOOT
RIVER
BASIN
Even
though
Blackfoot
River
near
Black-
foot
reached
a
discharge
which
was
60
per-
cent
greater
than
any
peak
previously
re-
corded
in
32
years
of
complete
record
plus
19
years
of
summer
records,
damage
was
comparatively
light.
Work
on
the
levees
be-
fore
and
during
the
flood
was
highly
success-
ful
in
confining
the
flow
within
narrow
limits.
PORTNEUF
RIVER
BASIN
Floodflows
in
the
Portneuf
River
and
trib-
utaries
greatly
exceeded
previously
re-
cordedmaximums,
even
though
some
records
are
longer
than
50
years.
Highly
developed
areas
at
Bancroft,
Lava
Hot
Springs,
Poca-
tello,
and,
to
a
lesser
degree,
Inkom,
were
severely
damaged
by
the
flood
waters.
Practically
the
entire
town
of
Bancroft
was
under
several
feet
of
water
for
days.
Flow
from
the
surrounding
hills
and
lowlands
flowed
into
the
town
much
faster
than the
drainage
channels
carried
it
away.
Resi-
dences,
commercial
buildings,
livestock,
highways,
railroads,
and
stocks
of
grain,
feed,
groceries,
and
other
commodities
were
damaged
considerably.
10
FLOODS
OF
FEBRUARY
1962
IN
SOUTHERN
IDAHO
AND
NORTHEASTERN
NEVADA
Lava
Hot
Springs
was
hard
hit
by
the
fast-
flowing
Portneuf
River,
and
damage to
build-
ings,
roads,
and
railroads
in
the
resort
town
of
5
93
inhabit
ants
was
estimated
at
more
than
$1
million.
Figure
9
shows
the
river
ram-
paging
through
Lava
Hot
Springs.
Water
can
be
seen
flowing
down
the
main
street
in
the
background.
The
Union
Pacific
Railroad
and
roads
were
damaged
severely
from
the
rag-
ing
waters
between
Bancroft
and
Pocatello.
Figure
10
shows
a
break
developing
in
a
high
road
fill
on
U.S.
Highway
30.
The
pipe
through
the
fill
is
in
the
left
background.
Flow
through
the
break
in
right
background
is
around
a
cattle
underpass.
Note
the
vortex
above
the
highway
on
the
left.
When
the
fill
went
com-
pletely
out,
discharge
at
the
gaging
station
at
Topaz,
2
miles
downstream,
increased
from
2,850cfs
to
6,140
cfs
in
1^
hours.
The
surge
overtopped
railroad
fills,
canal
headings,
and
roads
downstream
and
caused
extreme
dam-
age.
Discharge
of
the
natural
peak
at
the
gaging
station
Portneuf
River
at
Topaz
was
3,700
cfs,
which
is
more
than
260
percent
greater
than
the
previous
recorded
maximum
in
45
years
of
record,
and
the
flood
which
occurred
after
the
highway
fill
broke
was
much
more
extreme.
Frequency
studies
show
a
flood
of
the
magnitude
of
the
natural
peak
would
have
a
recurrence
interval
probably
in
excess
of
200
years.
This
rare
phenomenon
is
prob-
ably
caused
by
the
ice
and
frost
glaze
over
the
watershed
upstream.
Normally
the
thin
soil
over
the
lava
flows in
the
Bancroft
area
absorb
the
free
water
before
runoff
is
gen-
erated.
Figure
7. Battle
Mountain
during
peak
of
February
14,
1962.
Photograph
by
Nevada
Highway
Department.
DESCRIPTION
OF
FLOODS
11
Discharge
of
2,990
cfs
at
Pocatello
was
smaller
than
the
sum
of
the
peaks
on
Marsh
Creek
and
Portneuf
River
at
Topaz
because
of
hundreds
of
acres
of
ponded
areas
along
the
river
bottoms
above
Pocatello.
Channel
and
valley
storage
prevented
a
major
catas-
trophe
in
Pocatello
where
the
waterway
is
incapable
of
passing
large
flows
through
the
city.
Many
houses,
roads,
bridges,
and
the
large
switch
yards
of
the
Union
Pacific
Rail-
road
in
and
near
the
city were
flooded
in
various
degrees.
As
in
several
other
locali-
ties,
a
major
and
timely
effort
was
made
by
volunteer
helpers,
the
Idaho
National
Guard,
and
U.S.
Army
Corps
of
Engineers
which
pre-
vented
more
serious
damage
to
much
valuable
property.
In
Pocatello
about
12,000
lineal
feet
of
sandbag
dikes,
which
averaged
2^
feet
high,
were
placed.
Frequency
studies
at
Po-
catello
indicate
the
recurrent
interval
of
the
1962
flood
to
be
more
than
100
years.
A
flood
profile
was
marked
in
the
city
of
Pocatello
and
elevations
will
be
determined
at
a
later
date.
Figure
8. New
housing
development
in
the
flooded
area
northeast
of
Idaho
Falls.
Photograph
by
U.S.
Bureau
of
Reclamation.
12
FLOODS
OF
FEBRUARY
1962
IN
SOUTHERN IDAHO
AND
NORTHEASTERN
NEVADA
ii
"'I
liiii
«
..^MBOHBi^PV^-^^^F
-
-r
Figure
9. Portneuf
River,
viewed
upstream
through
Lava
Hot
Springs
near
the
crest
of
the
February
flood.
Photograph
by
Idaho
Department
of
Highways.
Damage
in
the
Portneuf
River
basin
was
more
extensive
than
in
any
other
flooded
area.
Railroads
and
highways
are
crowded
into
narrow
canyons
and
were
directly
in
the
path
of
the
swollen,
swiftly
flowing
streams.
Lava
Hot
Springs
and
Pocatello
are
built
close
to
the
river
channel.
During
many
flood-free
years
of
moderate
flows
develop-
ments
have
gradually
encroached
on
the
flood
plains.
SOUTH
SIDE
TRIBUTARIES
OF
SNAKE
RIVER
BELOW
PORTNEUF
RIVER
Severe
flooding
occurred
in
the
Bannock
Creek
and
Rock
Creek
basins.
Discharges
were
unusually
high,
but
damage
was
limited
to
roads
and
bridges.
Population
is
sparse
in
these
basins,
and
absence
of
intensive
de-
velopment
accounted
for
low
damage.
Flood
damage
in
the
two
basins
was
about
$90,000.
Roads
were
inundated
and
several
bridges
were
washed
completely
away.
Highway
SON
which
crosses
the
streams
near
the
mouths
was
damaged
extensively
and
the
highway
fills
were
nearly
lost.
Although
records
are
scanty
in
these
basins,
available
records
in-
dicate
this
flood
has
a
recurrence
interval
of
more
than
100
years.
Raft
River
flooded
only
moderately,
but
some
tributaries
had
high
flows.
Goose
Creek
above
Oakley
Reservoir
reached stages
above
previous
maximums.
Discharge
has
only
been
estimated
but
it
ap-
parently
exceeded
the
maximum
in
48
years
of
record
by
a
considerable
amount.
The
stream
flows
through
a
sparsely
populated
area,
and
damage
was
slight.
DESCRIPTION
OF
FLOODS
13
Salmon
Falls
Creek
basin
flooded
but
was
not
as
high
as
the
flood
of
1943.
This
basin,
like
Goose
Creek,
is
thinly
populated
and
un-
developed
and
therefore
damages
were
slight.
Bruneau
River
basin
flooded
near
the
head-
waters
in
the
Charleston
area
in
Nevada.
Surveys
of
the
discharges
have
not
yet
been
made.
Damage
to
roads
and
bridges
and
to
the
dam
impounding
Charleston
Reservoir,
which
had
failed, were
included.
The
roads
along
the
Bruneau
River
were
washed
away
in
at
least
three
places.
Field
inspection,
rainfall,
and
reports
of
residents
indicate
floods
in
the
Bruneau
River
basin
south
of
the
Idaho-Nevada
line
were
unusually
high.
Because
of
proximity
to
the
Elko
area
where
extreme
flooding
occurred,
the
recurrence
intervals
of
these
floods
were
probably
longer
than
50
years.
Floods
north
of
the
Idaho-
Nevada
State
border
were
not
noteworthy
be-
cause
of
lack
of
snow
cover
and
only
moder-
ate
rains
in
the
area.
Flooding
in
the
Owyhee
River
basin
was
also
moderate
and
was
limited
to
the
drain-
ages
in
Nevada.
BIG
WOOD
RIVER
AND
CLOVER CREEK
BASINS
Flooding
in
Little
Wood
River
basin
caused
damages
estimated
at
$155,000.
Although
the
flow
from
the
adjacent foothills
was
very
high,
a
large
part
of
the
damage
was
due
to
ice
which
forced
the
flow
out
of
the
river
banks. Thorn
Creek
and
Dry
Creek
which
enter
Big
Wood
River
north
of
Gooding
were
extremely
high.
Big
Wood
River
crested
near
the
maximum
of
record
even
though
gates
Figure
10. A
break
developing
in
a
fill
on
U.S.
Highway
30,
2
miles
downstream
from
Lava
Hot
Springs.
Photograph
by
Idaho
Department
of
Highways.
14
FLOODS
OF
FEBRUARY
1962
IN
SOUTHERN
IDAHO
AND
NORTHEASTERN
NEVADA
were closed
at
Magic
Reservoir.
The
mag-
nitude
of
the
flood
from
the
low-altitude
trib
-
utaries
at
the
lower
end
of
the
Big
Wood
River
basin
was
unusual,
probably
of
longer
than
a
100-year
recurrence
interval.
Damage
was
limited
to
flooding
of
farmland
and
erosion
of
road
fills
and
bridge
approaches.
Clover
Creek
near
Bliss
also
reached
a
peak
flow
of
unusual
magnitude.
Record
there
is
short
but
it
appears
that
this
was
at
least
a
50-year
flood.
Damage
was
slight
because
the
creek
flows
through
a
ranching
area.
SNAKE
RIVER
MAIN
STEM
Flooding
in
the
Snake
River
main
stem
was
minor.
Flows
were
well
below
previously
recorded
maximums.
Island
Park,
Jackson
Lake,
Palisades,
Blackfoot-Marsh,
American
Falls,
and
Chesterfield
Reservoirs
were
either
closed
or
released
only
normal
flows
during
the
flood
period
and
greatly
reduced
the
discharges
downstream.
FLOOD
DAMAGE
The
damage
caused
by
the
floods
of
Febru-
ary
1962
probably
exceeded
$10
million,
with
$8i
million
in
Idaho
and
$lj
million
in
Ne-
vada.
The
damage
date
available
is
incom-
plete
and
preliminary.
A
summary
of
the
damages
for
the
Snake
River
basin
in
Idaho
is
given
in
table
1.
14
ULL.
Snake
River
near
Blackfoot
Snake
River
near
Shelley
/Snake
River
at
Neely
12
13
14
15
FEBRUARY
1962
16
17 18
Figure
11.
Discharge
hydrographs
for
selected
gaging
stations
on
Snake
River.
Idaho.
The flood
is
probably
the
most
damaging
ever
experienced
in
these
river
basins,
be-
cause
the
basins
are
now
more
highly
devel-
oped.
New
residences,
highways
and
bridges,
commercial
and
industrial
developments,
and
railroad
improvements
have
greatly
in-
creased
property
valuations
since
the
time
of
previous
floods.
Also
the
stages
were
higher
in
many
places
than
at
any
time
since
the
area
was
settled.
Estimated
damage
pre-
vented
by
flood-fighter
crews
was
$1,796,000.
The
damage
in
Nevada
was
less
than
in
Idaho
because
most
of
the
Nevada
flood
area
was
primarily
ranch
land
with few
improve
-
ments.
The
damage
was
limited
mainly
to
loss
of
cattle,
rural
roads,
and
irrigation
structures.
Damage
to
the
railroads
and
Table
1. Summary
of
flood
damages
in
Snake
River
basin
in
Idaho,
February
1962
[Adapted
from
U.S.
Army,
Corps
of
Engineers,
preliminary
data]
Basin
Henrys
Fork__
_________________
Idaho
Falls
-Blackfoot lowlands
__
Blackfoot
River
________________
Portneuf
River______________
_
_
Little
Wood
River
___
___
___
__
Miscellaneous
_________________
Total
___
______
__
__
__
_
Acres
flooded
10,900
56,500
6,800
9,000
13,000
96,200
Damage,
in
thousands
of
dollars
Agricul
-
tural
197
1,594
51
143
26
140
2,151
Resi-
den-
tial
20
736
2
534
21
8
1,321
Commerical
and
industrial
127
129
3
1,319
0
0
1,578
Highways,
railroads,
utility,
and
others
245
726
102
1,875
108
452
3,508
Total
589
3,185
158
3,871
155
600
8,558
FLOOD
DAMAGE
15
Portneuf
River
at
Topaz
Portneuf
River
at
Pocatella
10
11
12 13
14
15
16
17
18
FEBRUARY
1962
Figure
12. Discharge
hydrographs
for
gaging
stations
in
Portneuf
River
basin,
Idaho.
main
highways
was
slight.
Only
one
town,
Battle
Mountain,
was
inundated.
Table
3
also
gives
the
station
number
(for
gage
sites
only)
and
name
and
the
drainage
area.
The
stage
and
discharge
for
maximum
floods
previously
known
are
shown
with
their
year
of
occurrence.
The
date,
stage,
dis-
charge,
and
recurrence
interval,
T,
of
the
1962
peaks
are
given.
As
much
data
as
are
available
are
shown
in
table
3
for
sites
where
indirect
measure-
ments
have
not
yet
been
made
or
computed.
The
sites
where
the
peak
discharge has
not
been
determined
yet
are
shown
in
figure
1
as
open
circles
or
triangles.
A
circle
is
used
in
figure
1
to
denote
a
gaging
station,
a
dis
-
continued
gaging
station,
or
a
crest-stage
gage.
A
triangle
denotes
a
miscellaneous
site.
PEAK
DISCHARGE
DATA
Hydrographs
for
selected
gaging
stations
in
the
flood
area
are
shown
in
figures
11
to
13.
Stages
and
discharges
for
selected
time
intervals
are
given in
table
2.
Flood
stages
and
discharges
are
summa-
rized
in
table
3.
The
list
is
in
downstream
order
as
presented
in
Geological
Survey
an-
nual
reports.
The
sites
listed
are
those
given
in
figure
1
and
in
table
3
by
index
numbers.
12 13
14
FEBRUARY
1962
15
16
Figure
13. Discharge
hydrograph
for
Clover
Creek
near
Bliss,
Idaho.
16
FLOODS
OF
FEBRUARY
1962
IN
SOUTHERN IDAHO
AND
NORTHEASTERN
NEVADA
Table
2.
Records
of
1962
flood
stages,
in
feet,
and
discharges,
in
cubic
feet
per
second,
at
selected
gaging
stations
in
Idaho
and
Nevada
[Number
after
gaging
station
name
is
index
number
used
in
table
3
and
figure
1
]
Hour
Gage
height
Discharge
Hour
Gage
height
Discharge
Hour
Gage
height
Discharge
Malad
River
at
Woodruff,
Idaho
(8)
February
9
12:00
m
__
6:00
p.m..
8:00
___
.
10:00
___
.
12:00
p.m..
February
1C
2:00
a.m..
4:00
__
__
6:00
____
8:00..
__
10:00..
__
12:00
m
__
2:00
p.m..
4:00...
__
6:00
__
__
8:00
____
10:00
__
__
12:00
p.m..
February
11
2:00
a.m..
4:00
____
6:00...
__
8:00___
__
10:00
__
__
12:00
m
...
2:00
p.m..
3:00..
___
6:00
____
9:00...
__
12:00
p.m..
February
12
3:00
a.m..
(mean
disc
2.35
2.42
2.67
3.07
3.56
(mean
disc
4.13
4.62
4.85
4.97
5.04
5.09
5.23
5.48
5.74
6.00
6.20
6.43
(mean
disch
6.76
7.11
7.77
8.38
8.58
8.78
8.87
8.88
8.84
8.75
8.73
(mean
disch
8.73
'large
53)
44
48
66
90
120
targe
294)
159
198
224
240
250
257
279
319
369
428
478
540
arge
1,860)
646
790
1,210
1,870
2,110
2,350
2,450
2,470
2,420
2,310
2,290
arge
2,240)
2,290
February
6:00_____J
8:30......
10:00
__
...
12:00
m
...
3:00
p.m..
6:00......
9:00......
12:00
p.m..
February
13
(i
3:00
a.m..
6:00..
__
.
9:00
__
...
12:00
m
...
3:00
p.m..
6:00......
9:00
__
...
12:00
p.m..
February
14
(i
3:00
a.m..
6:00...
...
12:00
m
__
3:30
p.m..
6:00..
___
10:00..
__
.
12:00
p.m..
February
15
3:00
a.m..
12:00
m
__
3:00
p.m..
6:00
___
.
9:00
____
12:00
p.m.-
/
12
Conti
8.86
8.93
8.90
8.84
8.76
8.60
8.38
8.13
nean
discha
7.91
7.78
7.70
7.66
7.65
7.68
7.74
7.68
nean
discha
7.59
7.58
7.45
7.40
7.48
7.76
7.80
''mean
disch
7.71
7.19
7.04
6.96
7.06
7.10
nued
2,440
2,530
2,490
2,420
2,320
2,130
1,870
1,590
rge
1,200)
1,350
1,220
1,150
1,120
1,110
1,130
1,190
1,130
rge
1,050)
1,060
1,060
970
940
988
1,200
1,240
arge
903)
1,150
830
758
723
767
785
February
16
3:00
a.m__
6:00
__
...
12:00
m
...
3:00
p.m..
6:00
__
...
12:00
p.m..
February
17
12:00
m
...
9:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
February
18
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
February
19
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
February
20
3:00
a.m_.
9:00.
__
.
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
(mean
disch
7.11
7.16
7".
3
4
7.38
7.35
7.15
(mean
discfi
6.73
6.4-8
6.46
(mean
discfi
6'.
4
6
6.36
6.20
6.08
(mean
disch
6.04
5.97
5.80
5.62
(mean
discfi
5.64
5.81
5.85
5.77
5.69
arge
859)
790
815
907
929
912
810
arge
653)
635
554
549
arge
512)
549
521
478
447
arge
409)
438
421
382
344
targe 371)
348
384
393
375
358
PEAK
DISCHARGE
DATA
17
Table
2. Records
of
1962
flood
stages,
in
feet,
and
discharges,
in
cubic
feet
per
second,
at
selected
gaging
stations
in
Idaho
and
Nefada Continued
Hour
Gage
height
Discharge
Hour
Gage
height
Discharge
II
Hour
H
Gage
height
Discharge
Humboldt
River
at
Palisade,
Nev.
(23)
February
9
12:00
p.m..
February
10
5:00
a.m..
6:00..
....
8:00......
11:00...
...
2:30
p.m..
6:00______
9:00______
11:00...
...
12:00
p.m..
February
11
4:00
a.m..
6:30......
8:00
__
...
2:00
p.m__
6:00..
....
9:00......
12:00
p.m..
(mean
discr
1.77
(mean
discJi
1.80
2.40
2.75
4.00
4.31
4.13
4.55
5.55
5.34
(mean
discfi
4.64
4.51
4.69
6.75
8.90
9.35
9.75
orge
47)
58
arge
710)
62
190
284
811
993
885
1,140
1,980
1,790
arge 3,150)
1,200
1,110
1,230
3,100
5,340
5,840
6,310
February
12
5:00
a.m..
8:00......
11:00..
....
2:00
p.m..
6:00
......
9:00..
....
12:00
p.m..
February
13
4:00
a.m..
9:00...
...
1:00
p.m..
3:00......
5:00
__....
6:00..
___.
8:30
__
...
12:00
p.m..
February
14
5:00
a.m..
7:45
__
...
'mean
disch
10,0
9.73
9.26
8.85
8.42
8.05
7.61
(mean
disc
6.92
5.83
5.25
5.17
5.25
5.74
6.43
7.04
(mean
disci
8.23
8.86
arge
5,510)
6,610
6,290
5,740
5,280
4,640
4,440
3,980
targe
2,570)
3,270
2,230
1,700
1,630
1,700
2,150
2,780
3,390
torge
5,470)
4,620
5,300
Februai
10:00
a.m__
1:00
p.m..
3:30..
__
.
9:00__.__.
12:00
p.m..
February
15
5:30
a.m..
12:00
m
...
7:00
p.m..
10:00..
....
12:00
p.m..
February
16
2:00
a.m..
8:00__
__
.
12:00
m
...
2:00
p.m.,
12:00
p.m..
y
14
Cont
9.21
9.54
9.85
9.55
9.18
(mean
disci
8.48
7.98
6.83
6.72
6.75
(mean
disc-
6.64
5.90
5.73
5.65
5.11
nued
5,680
6,060
6,430
6,070
5,650
targe
4,210)
4,880
4,360
3,180
3,070
3,100
targe
2,230)
2,990
2,290
2,150
2,080
1,610
South
Fork
Humboldt
River
near
Elko,
Nev.
(19)
February
8
12:00
p.m..
February
9
8:30
p.m..
9:00......
9:15..
....
12:00
p.m..
February
10
7:00
a.m..
11:00
__
...
1:00
p.m..
1:30......
3:30..
....
4:30..
....
6:00___...
(mean
disch
2.87
r
mean
discht
2.94
3.13
4.90
4.87
(mean
disch
4.55
4.77
4.90
7.51
6.70
6.93
7.50
arge
40)
40
irge
115)
56
81
605
592
arge
1,390)
456
556
614
2,310
1,850
2,130
2,520
Februar
6:30
p.m..
8:00......
9:00......
12:00
p.m..
February
11
3:00
a.m..
7:30
__
...
11:00
__
...
12:30
p.m..
5:00
__
...
6:00..
....
12:00
p.m..
February
12
12:00
m
...
y
10
Cont
7.63
7.66
7.86
7.70
(mean
disci
7.26
7.12
6.56
8.00
7.44
7.76
6.42
(mean
disci
4.80
nued
2,660
2,680
2,770
2,700
targe
2,470)
2,480
2,410
2,090
2,830
2,570
2,730
2,000
targe
1,050)
858
Februar
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
February
13
1:00
p.m..
6:00..
__
.
12:00
p.m..
February
1<
3:00
a.m..
4:30...
...
12:00
m
...
5:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
y
12
Conti
4.55
4.21
(mean
discr
3.70
3.47
3.39
(mean
disc
3.58
3.58
3.24
3.13
3.14
nued
713
543
large
370)
345
273
250
torge
231)
310
310
211
185
187
18
FLOODS
OF
FEBRUARY
1962
IN
SOUTHERN
IDAHO
AND
NORTHEASTER
NEVADA
Table
2.
Records
of
1962
flood
stages,
in
feet,
and
discharges,
in
cubic
feet
per
second,
at
selected
gaging
stations
in
Idaho
and
Nevada
Continued
Hour
Gage
height
Discharge
|
Hour
Gage
height
Discharge
Hour
Gage
height
Discharge
Snake
River
near
Shelley,
Idaho
(51)
February
12
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
__
6:00
p.m__
12:00
p.m..
6.45
6.70
6.95
7.59
4,660
5,410
6,210
8,350
February
13
12:00
m
__
12:00
p.m__
7.53
7.95
8,140
9,610
February
14
4:30
a.m__
6:00
___
.
12:00
m
...
12:00
p.m..
8.00
7.67
7.75
7.68
9,790
8,620
8,900
8,660
February
15
12:00
m
...
12:00
p.m..
7.64
7.39
8,520
7,670
February
16
12:OOm._J
7.06
12:00
p.m.J
7.04
6,570
6.500
February
17
12:00
m
...
12:00
p.m..
6.80
6.51
5,730
4,820
Blackfoot
River
near
Blackfoot,
Idaho
(61)
[Stage-discharge
relation
affected
by
ice
Feb.
9
and
probably
most
of
Feb.
10.
February
9
4:00
a.m__
10:00
......
12:00
m
...
2:00
p.m__
4:00
......
6:00
......
12:00
p.m__
3.03
3.06
3.12
3.25
3.84
3.89
3.84
26
26
26
50
150
200
200
February
10
4:00
a.m..
9:00__
....
12:00
m
...
1:00
p.m__
12:00
p.m..
4.16
4.33
5.10
5.46
5.50
300
350
600
700
785
February
11
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.m..
8:00
___
.
10:00..
__
.
12:00
p.m..
5.61
5.62
5.67
5.70
7.52
7.68
821
825
841
851
1,630
1,710
February
12
5:00
a.m..
6:00
__
...
12:00
m
...
12:00
p.m..
7.42
7.47
7.12
7.10
1,580
1,600
1,430
1,420
February
13
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.-m_.
12:00
p.m..
7.15
7.26
7.35
7.27
1,440
1,500
1,540
1,500
February
14
12:00
m
__
1
7.05
12:00
p.m.J
6.89
1,400
1.320
February
15
12:00
m
__.
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
6.80
6.77
6.54
1,280
1,270
1,170
February
16
12:00
m
__J
6.09
10:00
p.m.J
4.70
12:00
p.m.J
4.64
991
554
539
February
17
10:00
a.m_J
4.57
2:00
p.m.J
3.79
12:00
p.m_4
3.70
522
352
334
February
18
12:00
m
...
4:00
p.m..
7:00
___
.
10:00
___
.
12:00
p.m..
3.63
2.95
2.90
2.51
2.50
321
208
201
149
148
Snake
River
near
Blackfoot,
Idaho
(62)
February
10
12:00
m
__
I
2.82
12:00
p.m.J
3.19
2,520
3,080
February
11
6:00
a.m.J
3.41
12:00
m
__J
3.44
3,480
3,530
February
11-
6:00
p.m.J
12:00
p.m.J
Continued
3.98
4,470
4.10
4,680
PEAK
DISCHARGE
DATA
19
Table
2.
Records
of
1962
flood
stages,
in
feet,
and
discharges,
in
cubic
feet
per
second,
at
selected
gaging
stations
in
Idaho
and
Nevada Continued
Hour
Gage
height
Discharge
Hour
Gage
height
Discharge
Hour
Gage
height
Discharge
Snake
River
near
Blackfoot,
Idaho
(62) Continued
February
12
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
__
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
4.35
4.31
4.56
4.70
5,170
5,100
5,560
5,830
February
13
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
__
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
4.85
5.05
5.38
5.59
6,210
6,610
7,340
7,840
February
14
6:00
a.m..!
5.55
7,740
February
14
Continued
12:00
m
__
5.94
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
6.29
6.33
8,760
9,750
9,870
February
15
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
7:00
p.m..
9:30
__
...
12:00
p.m..
6.19
6.25
6.51
7.14
6.73
9,450
9,630
10,400
12,600
11,200
February
16
6:00
a.m.J
6.38
10,000
February
16
Continued
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
6.09
9,160
5.90
5.60
8,650
7,860
February
17
9:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
5.09
5.23
5.25
5.02
6,690
6,990
7,040
6.550
February
18
12:00
m
...
12:00
p.m..
4.63
4.28
5,740
5,080
Portneuf
River
at
Topaz,
Idaho
(67)
February
10
(mean
discharge
647)
2:00
a.m..
7:00..
_
__
9:00
___
_
12:00
m
...
3:00
p.m..
5:00__
__
9:00__
__
12:00
p.m..
2.63
3.16
3.68
4.46
4.83
5.32
5.67
5.73
156
266
383
575
692
890
1,350
1,460
February
11
(mean
discharge
1,810)
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
__
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
5.80
5.93
5.99
6.07
1,600
1,860
1,980
2,140
February
12
(mean
discharge
3,250)
3:00
a.m..
6:00..
_
__
10:
00...
__
12:00
m
...
3:00
p.m..
8-00
__.__
9:00__
___
9:30___.__
10:00
__
...
6.23
6.61
6.79
6.70
6.50
6.41
7.50
7.83
7.40
2,470
3,290
3,690
3,490
3,050
2,850
5,320
6,140
5,040
February
12
Continued
11:00
p.
m.J
6.53
12:00
p.m.
J
6.34
3,120
2.700
February
13
(mean
discharge
1,860)
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
6.06
5.86
5.77
5.72
2,120
1,720
1,540
1,440
February
14 (mean
discharge
1,330)
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
5.74
5.69
5.63
5.37
1,480
1,380
1,270
915
February
15 (mean
discharge
740)
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
5.27
4.95
4.43
4.73
868
740
568
656
February
16
(mean
discharge
568)
3:00
a.m_J
4.76
666
February
16
Continued
6:00
a.nu_
12:00
m
__
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
4.61
4.29
4.16
4.40
618
532
500
560
February
17
(mean
discharge
462)
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
__
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
4.49
3.91
3.54
3.72
582
438
350
393
February
18
(mean
discharge
326)
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
3.68
3.31
3.18
3.28
383
299
271
293
February
19
(mean
discharge
230)
6:00
a.m__
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.m..
12:00p.m__
3.14
2.88
2.82
2.96
262
207
194
224
February
20
(mean
discharge
207)
20
FLOODS
OF
FEBRUARY
1962
IN
SOUTHERN
IDAHO
AND
NORTHEASTERN
NEVADA
Table
2.
Records
of
1962
flood
stages,
in
feet,
and
discharges,
in
cubic
feet
per
second,
at
selected
gaging
stations
in
Idaho and
Nevada
Continued
Hour
Gage
height
Discharge
Hour
Gage
height
Discharge
Hour
Gage
height
Discharge
Marsh
Creek
near
McCammon,
Idaho
(70)
February
9
(mean
discharge
87)
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
__.
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
_._.
3.33
3.52
3.92
4.60
59
71
103
170
February
10
(mean
discharge
348)
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
__
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m_.
5.32
6.04
7.00
8.20
246
329
440
588
February
11
(mean
discharge
862)
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
__
6:00
p.m__
12:00
p.m..
9.60
11.03
11.80
12.48
746
903
980
1,050
February
12
(mean
discharge
1,100)
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
3:00
p.m..
6:00
__
...
12:00
p.m_.
13.00
13.23
13.25
13.15
12.78
1,100
1,120
1,120
1,120
1,080
February
13
(mean
discharge
1,000)
6:00
a.m_.
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.nu.
12.35
12.02
11.70
11.40
1,040
1,000
970
940
February
14
(mean
discharge
889)
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.m..
11.12
10.90
10.75
912
889
872
February
14
Continued
12:00
p.m.J
10.33[
826
February
15
(mean
discharge
735)
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
__
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
9.74
9.43
9.20
8.95
761
727
702
674
February
16
(mean
discharge
621)
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.m_.
12:00
p.m..
8.73
8.47
8.22
7.92
650
622
594
560
February
17
(mean
discharge
501)
Portneuf
River
at
Pocatello,
Idaho
(72)
February
9
12:00
m
...
4:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
4.96
5.02
5.69
209
227
484
February
10
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
5.85
5.98
6.19
6.33
556
615
715
785
February
11
12:00
m
...
12:00
p.m..
6.36
6.57
800
914
February
12
6:00
a.m..
6.68
974
February
12
Continued
12:00
m
__
6:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
7.12
7.75
8.51
1,180
1,460
1,790
February
13
1:00
a.m..
2:00
____
6:00..
__
.
12:00
m
...
2:00
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
8.74
8.46
9.38
10.48
10.97
11.30
1,890
1,770
2,170
2,640
2,840
2,970
February
14
2:30
a.m..
10:00
__
__
12:00
m
...
1:00
p.m..
11.35
10.99
10.27
10.37
2,990
2,850
2,560
2,600
February
14
Continued
6:00
p.m..
12:OQ
p.m..
9.97
9.37
2,420
2,160
February
15
12:00
m
...
12:00
p.m..
8.56
8.09
1,810
1,610
February
16
12:00
m
__
12:00
p.m..
7.72
7.38
1,450
1,300
February
17
12:00
m
__
12:00
p.m..
7.04
6.84
1,150
1,050
PEAK
DISCHARGE
DATA
21
Table
2.
Records
of
1962
flood
stages,
in
feet,
and
discharges,
in
cubic
feet
per
second,
at
selected
gaging
stations
in
Idaho
and
Nevada
Continued
Hour
Gage
height
Discharge
I
Hour
H
Gage
height
I!
Discharge
I]
Hour
Gage
height
Discharge
Clover
Creek
near
Bliss,
Idaho
(99)
J
12:00
p.m.J
February
f
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.m..
9:00______
12:00
p.m..
February
9
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
2:00
p.m..
6:00
__
..
9:00......
11:00
__
...
12:00
p.m..
February
10
4:00
a.m..
6:00......
12:00
m
...
4:30
p.m..
12:00
p.m..
February
11
6:00
a.m__
7
ebruary
7
0.52
1
(mean
disc
0.51
.64
.92
1.37
1.42
(mean
disci
1.29
1.19
1.32
3.29
3.72
3.65
3.82
(mean
disch
7.38
7.64
8.31
8.59
6.91
(mean
disch
5.17
19
harge
44)
18
28
55
104
109
targe
203)
95
83
98
373
457
442
478
arge
2,950)
2,480
2,790
3,680
4,100
1,960
arge
1,050)
874
Februar
12:00
m
...
6:00
p.m..
8:00......
11:00......
12:00
p.m..
February
12
2:00
a.m..
4:00......
8:00......
12:00
m
...
2:00
p.m..
5:00......
12:00
p.m..
February
13
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
2:00
p.m..
4:00......
8:00......
12:00
p.m..
February
14
2:00
a.m..
6:00..
....
12:00
m
...
2:00
p.m..
y
11
Cont
4.58
5.22
6.22
5.80
5.83
'mean
disch
6.43
7.29
6.71
5.32
4.86
5.09
4.07
(mean
disc
3.22
2.66
2.58
2.79
5.27
4.45
(mean
disc
4.71
3.91
2.70
2.54
inued
676
893
1,380
1,150
1,160
arge
1,220)
1,530
2,370
1,770
932
765
844
536
harge
465)
361
272
260
292
912
638
harge
393)
716
498
278
254
Februa
3:00
p.m..
5:00......
7:00..
__
.
12:00
p.m..
February
1!
6:00
a.m_.
12:00
m
...
2:00
p.m..
4:00......
6:00......
8:00......
12:00
p.m..
February
16
6:00
a.m..
12:00
m
...
3:00
p.m..
6:00......
8:00......
12:00
p.m..
ry
14
Con
2.71
2.60
2.97
2.45
>
(mean
disc
2.05
1.80
1.85
3.35
3.20
3.42
3.21
(mean
disc
2.47
1.90
1.78
2;45
2.58
2.09
tinued
280
263
320
241
harge
258)
186
155
161
384
358
397
360
harge
230)
244
167
153
241
260
192
22
FLOODS
OF
FEBRUARY
1962
IN
SOUTHERN
IDAHO
AND
NORTHEASTERN
NEVADA
Table
3. Records
of
flood
stages
and
discharges
by
drainage
basins,
Idaho
and
Nevada
[T,
recurrence
interval]
Index
No.
Station
No.
Stream
and
location
Drainage
area
(sq
mi)
Maximum
floods
Before
February
1962
Year
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
February
1962
Date
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
T
(years)
Bear
River
Basin
1
_
.
3
4_._.
5_...
R
?
8___.
10-0905
908
1180
1190
1255
Bear
River
near
Preston,
Idaho.
Battle
Creek
tributary
near
Treasureton,
Idaho.
Deep
Creek
near
Clifton,
Idaho.
Bear
River
near
Collis-
ion,
Idaho.
Little
Malad
River
above
Elkhorn
Reser-
voir,
near
Malad,
Idaho.
Little
Malad
River
at
road
crossing
3.
5
miles
southwest
of
Malad
City,
Idaho.
crossing
2
miles
north-
west
of
Malad City,
Idaho.
Malad
River
at
Wood-
ruff,
Idaho.
4,500
4.5
80
6,000
120
226
45
485
1907
1909
1955
1948
1943
1943
7.70
3.63
9.6
8
8,500
11,600
351
240
2
220
650
12
11
13
14
10
11
11
12
5.51
7.80
4.18
8.93
4,300
60
180
^.SSO
1,600
199
2,530
5
50+
50+
15
50+
25+
50+
Curlew
Valley
Tributaries
9_._.
10___
11...
12__.
1729.7
Deep
Creek
7
miles
north
of
Holbrook,
Idaho.
Rock
Creek
7
miles
north
of
Holbrook,
Idaho.
Rock
Creek
at
Highway
37
crossing
at
Hol-
brook,
Idaho.
Wood
Canyon
at
Highway
i/
O
i/
38
crossing
4
miles
northwest
of
Holbrook,
Idaho.
72
1,220
50+
See
footnotes
at
end
of
table.
PEAK
DISCHARGE
DATA
23
Table
3. Records
of
flood
stages
and
discharges
by
drainage
basins,
Idaho
and
Nevada Continued
Index
No.
Station
No.
Stream
and
location
Drainage
t*i
»
d
(sq
mi)
Maximum
floods
Before
February
1962
Year
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
February
1962
Date
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
T
(years)
Humboldt
River
Basin
13
__
14___
15...
16
...
17___
18...
19
...
20
...
21
...
22
...
23...
24___
25...
26.
__
27
...
28.
__
29
__
30...
31
...
32
...
10-3155
3175
3185
3195
3200
3205
3210
3220
3225
3230
3235
3245
3250
3255
3275
3309
Marys
River
above
Hot
Springs
Creek,
near
Deeth,
Nev.
North
Fork
Humboldt
River
at
Devils
Gate,
near
Halleck,
Nev.
North
Fork
Humboldt
River
near
mouth,
near
Halleck,
Nev.
Humboldt
River
near
Elko,
Nev.
Huntington
Creek
near
Lee,
Nev.
South
Fork
Humboldt
above
Dixie
Creek,
near
Elko,
Nev.
South
Fork
Humboldt
River
near
Elko,
Nev.
Humboldt
River
near
Carlin,
Nev.
Susie
Creek
at
Carlin,
Nev.
IV/TQ
et
ft
i
fi
C~*'r*&&\r
af
Carlin,
Nev.
Humboldt
River
at
Palisade,
Nev.
Pine
Creek
near
Palisade,
Nev.
Humboldt
River
at
Dunphy,
Nev.
Humboldt
River
near
Argenta,
Nev.
Rock
Creek
near
Battle
Mountain,
Nev.
Humboldt
River
at
Battle
Mountain,
Nev.
Reese
River
near
lone,
Nev.
Reese
River
at
State
Highway
84,
near
Battle
Mountain,
Nev.
Humboldt
River
at
Comus,
Nev.
Humboldt
River
near
Winnemucca,
Nev.
415
830
1,000
2,800
770
1,150
1,310
4,310
210
420
5,010
920
7,490
875
8,870
44
2,200
12,100
1952
1952
1952
1952
1952
1957
1914
1943
1952
1943
1922
1943
1943
1952
1952
1952
1952
1956
1952
6.57
9.63
9.60
6.54
5.58
3
12.0
9.8
9.35
3
4.30
9.92
4.69
5.60
4.86
11.52
1,250
2,450
3,860
1,210
1,700
42,400
5,900
5,220
5
1,900
800
6
1,200
6,250
1,010
5,700
3,000
5,800
512
5,860
12
11
12
12
10
11
11
14
11
12
12
11
12
15
11
17
11
1
">
13
21
28
7.63
16.12
12.32
8.07
7.2
8.00
10.27
10.0
8.51
10.75
6.89
9.66
1.83
9.87
8.32
4,210
10,400
5,550
7,100
2,210
2,760
2,830
6,230
2,470
2,310
6,610
3,460
7,620
6,000
4,800
4,600
167
4,760
1,700
1,160
50+
50+
50+
50+
50+
50+
50+
50+
50+
50+
2
5+
5+
See
footnotes
at end
of
table.
24
FLOODS
OF
FEBRUARY
1962
IN
SOUTHERN
IDAHO
AND
NORTHERN
NEVADA
Table
3.
Records
of
flood
stages
and
discharges
by
drainage
basins,
Idaho
and
Nevada
Continued
Index
No.
Station
No.
Stream
and
location
Drainage
(sq
mi)
Maximum
floods
Before
February
1962
Year
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
February
1962
Date
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
T
[years)
Humboldt
River
Basin Continued
33
__
34
__
10-3315
3330
Humboldt
River
near
Rose
Creek,
Nev.
Humboldt
River
near
Imlay,
Nev.
15,200
15,700
1952
1952
11.41
12.15
5,810
6,080
2
3
5.06
6.17
922
814
5+
5+
Snake
River
Main
Stem
35_._
13-0375
Snake
River
near
Heise,
Idaho.
5,752
1927
16.0
7
60,000
12
2.52
^,940
1-
Lyons
Creek
Basin
36
__
Lyons
(Lyman)
Creek
4.5
miles
northeast
of
Ririe,
Idaho.
18
1,560
50+
Henrys
Fork
Basin
37
__
38
__
39
...
40
__
41___
42___
43
__
44
__
45
__
46___
460
475
495
505
522
544
550
565
Henrys
Fork
near
Ash-
ton,
Idaho.
Falls
River
near
Squirrel,
Idaho.
Falls
River
near
Chester,
Idaho.
Henrys
Fork
at
St.
Anthony,
Idaho.
Teton
River
below
Bear
Creek,
near
Driggs,
Idaho.
Milk
Creek
at
Highway
O
i/
33
near
Tetonia,
Idaho.
Canyon
Creek
at
High-
way
33
near
Clements-
ville,
Idaho.
Teton
River
near
St.
Anthony,
Idaho.
Moody
Creek
at
rail-
road
crossing
0.4
mile
south
of
Moody;
Idaho.
Henrys
Fork
near
Rex-
burg,
Idaho.
1,040
351
520
1,770
350
18
890
88
2,920
1925
1927
1927
1925
1936
1893
1927
3
3.11
6.60
6.78
3
6.90
6,220
6,440
6,380
8
9,030
9
1,480
5,830
4
9,490
11
12
11
12
14
6.09
4.69
7.72
9.36
L0
10.02
^,210
^.IBO
179
10,600
2,140
1
6,590
1
1
50+
100+
^0+
3
See
footnotes
at end
of
table.
PEAK
DISCHARGE
DATA
Table
3.
Records
of
flood
stages
and
discharges
by
drainage
basins,
Idaho
and
Nevada
Continued
25
Index
No.
Station
No.
Drainage
dJL
l_*
cA
(sq
mi)
Maximum
floods
Before
February
1962
Year
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
February
1962
Date
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
T
(years)
Willow
Creek
Basin
47...
48...
49___
13-0580
Willow
Creek
at
dis-
continued
station
site
6
miles
southeast
of
Ririe,
Idaho.
Birch
Creek
3.5
miles
solithwest
of
Heise,
Idaho.
\X/i
1 1
O
W
C^T*f^^\f
tl^l
Hi!
t
QT*V
2.1
miles
southeast
of
lona,
Idaho.
622
21
9.8
1917
16.3
4,200
11
11
5,080
980
1,320
50+
50+
50+
Snake
River
Tributary
No.
2
Basin
50___
51_._
600
Snake
River
tributary
No.
2
at
Interstate
Highway
1.5
miles
east
of
Osgood,
Idaho.
Sn
Snake
River
near
Shelley,
Idaho.
9.C
ake
River
9,790
Main
1894
Stem
75,000
11
14
8.00
81
9,790
50+
1
Tributaries
to
Snake
River
Between
Shelley
and
Blackfoot
52,..
53...
54...
55...
56...
57...
611
Snake
River
tributary
2
miles
west
of
Osgood,
Idaho.
Henry
Creek
6
miles
south
of
Ammon,
Idaho.
Cedar
Creek
1
mile
east
of
Goshen,
Idaho.
Channel
at
U.S.
High-
way
20
crossing
10.6
miles
west
of
Idaho
Falls,
Idaho.
Channel
at
U.S.
High-
way
20
crossing
11
miles
west
of
Idaho
Falls,
Idaho.
Channel
at
U.S.
High-
way
20
crossing
16.5
miles
west
of
Idaho
Falls,
Idaho.
8.4
29
(11)
(11)
(11)
11
11
12.4
387
716
362
50+
50+
50+
26
FLOODS
OF
FEBRUARY
1962
IN
SOUTHERN
IDAHO
AND
NORTHEASTERN
NEVADA
Table
3. Records
of
flood
stages
and
discharges
by
drainage
basins,
Idaho
and
Nevada
Continued
Index
No.
Station
No.
Stream
and
location
Drainage
Ct
J.
W
Ct
(sq
mi)
Maximum
floods
Before
February
1962
Year
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
February
1962
Date
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
T
(years)
Tributaries
to
Snake
River
Between
Shelley
and
Blackfoot Continued
58___
59___
Channel
at
U.S.
High-
o
way
20
crossing
20.5
miles
west
of
Idaho
Falls,
Idaho.
Channel
along
U.S.
Highway
26
above
Peoples
Canal
4
miles
northwest
of
Moreland,
Idaho.
(ii)
(ii)
122
1,68C
50+
50+
Blackfoot
River
Basin
60___
61...
13-0660
685
Blackfoot
River
near
Shelley,
Idaho.
Blackfoot
River
near
Blackfoot,
Idaho.
12
325
12
714
1960
6.42
1,070
11
7.68
1,600
1,710
13
50+
50+
Snake
River
Main
Stem
62...
695
Snake
River
near
Black-
foot,
Idaho.
11,310
1918
14.8
46,200
15
7.14
1
12,600
1
Portneuf
River
Basin
63__.
64___
65__.
66...
67___
68...
69...
730
Portneuf
River
tribu-
tary
1
mile
northwest
of
Bancroft,
Idaho.
Portneuf
River
tribu-
tary
at county
road
6.5
miles
northwest
of
Bancroft,
Idaho.
Portneuf
River
6.5
miles
northwest
of
Bancroft,
Idaho.
Fish
Creek
2
miles
east
of
Lava
Hot
Springs,
Idaho.
Portneuf
River
at
Topaz,
Idaho.
Portneuf
River
at
rail-
road
bridge
1.1
miles
southeast
of
Inkom,
Idaho.
Marsh
Creek
at
High-
way
191
2.5
miles
southwest
of
Downey,
Idaho.
130
570
650
68
1957
5.71
1,040
12
6.79
492
14
3,690
4,380
550
50+
100+
100+
50+
See
footnotes
at end
of
table.
PEAK
DISCHARGE
DATA
2
7
Table
3.
Records
of
flood
stages
and
discharges
by
drainage
basins,
Idaho
and
Nevada
Continued
Index
No.
Station
No.
Stream
and
location
Drainage
area
(sq
mi)
Maximum
.floods
Before
February
1962
Year
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
February
1962
Date
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
T
(years)
Portneuf
River
Basin Continued
70___
71__.
72__.
73__.
13-0750
755
Marsh
Creek
near
Me
Gammon,
Idaho.
Gibson
Jack
Creek
5
miles
southeast
of
Pocatello,
Idaho.
Portneuf
River
at
Po-
catello,
Idaho.
Portneuf
River
at
county
bridge
5
miles
northwest
of
Pocatello,
Idaho.
355
10.3
1,250
1958
1917
6.72
342
2,000+
12
14
13.25
11.35
1,120
57
2,990
50+
50+
100+
Bannock
Creek
Basin
74___
75___
76
__
760
Bannock
Creek
near
Pocatello,
Idaho.
Rattlesnake
Creek
near
mouth,
near
Pocatello,
Idaho.
Bannock
Creek
at
High-
way
30
near
Pocatello,
Idaho.
230
413
1957
7.00
675
4,010
50+
Snake
River
Main
Stem
77___
78
__
765
770
Inflow
to
American
Falls
Reservoir.
Snake
River
at
Neeley,
Idaho.
13,580
13,600
.____
1918
_______
3
13.5
.______.
48,400
13,
14
15
______
2.37
114,600
X
497
___
1-
Rock
Creek
Basin
79___
80_._
81
__
Rock
Creek
2.5
miles
north
of
Roy,
Idaho.
Rock
Creek
above
East
Fork
at
Rockland,
Idaho.
Rock
Creek
at
mouth,
near
American
Falls,
Idaho.
216
320
1960 6.21
15
275
11
2,150
3,630
50+
50+
Raft
River
Basin
82___
780
Raft
River
at
Peterson
Ranch,
near
Bridge,
Idaho.
412
1951
4.52
1,090
11
4.
id
722
1
25+
See
footnotes
at
end
of
table.
28
FLOODS
OF
FEBRUARY
1962
IN
SOUTHERN
IDAHO
AND
NORTHEASTERN
NEVADA
Table
3.
Records
of
flood
stages
and
discharges
by
drainage
basins,
Idaho
and
Nevada
Continued
Index
No.
Station
No.
Stream
and
location
Drainage
t*
J.
t*
O.
(sq
mi)
Maximum
floods
Before
February
1962
Year
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
February
1962
Date
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
T
(years)
Raft
River
Basin Continued
83...
84
85...
86
13-0792
798
Cassia
Creek
near
Elba,
Idaho.
Heglar
Creek
below
North
and
South
Heglar
Canyons,
above
Heglar
Canyon
tributary
near
Rockland,
Idaho.
Heglar
Canyon
tributary
below
North
and
South
Heglar
Canyons
near
Rockland,
Idaho.
Heglar
Canyon
below
Heglar
Canyon
tribu-
tary
near
Rockland,
Idaho.
84
45
7.72
54
1957
1958
4.61
7.5
233
1,660
11
11
4.71
6.02
245
142
132
25+
50+
50+
Goose
Creek
Basin
87...
825
Goose
Creek
above
Trapper
Creek,
near
Oakley,
Idaho.
633
1943
7.6
1,670
11
9.0
2,500
50+
Salmon
Falls
Creek
Basin
88...
89...
960
1050
Salmon
Falls
Creek
above
Upper
Vineyard
ditch,
near
Contact,
Nev.
Salmon
Falls
Creek
near
San
Jacinto,
Nev.
461
1,450
1952
1943
4.82
10.2
toll.
4
1,170
2,060
to
2,
420
12
12
6.68
12.65
2,300
1,980
50+
35+
Mud
Lake-Lost
River
Basin
90...
91...
Channel at
U.S.
Highway
20
crossing
40
miles
west
of
Idaho
Falls,
Idaho.
Channel
to
U.S.
Highway
20
crossing
29
miles,
west
of
Idaho
Falls,
Idaho.
(11)
(11)
407
50+
See
footnotes
at
end
of
table.
PEAK
DISCHARGE
DATA
2
9
Table
3. Records
of
flood
stages
and
discharges
by
drainage
basins,
Idaho
and
Nevada Continued
Index
No.
Station
No.
Stream
and
location
Drainage
CXX
1L*
Cl
(sq
mi)
Maximum
floods
Before
February
1962
Year
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
February
1962
Date
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
T
(years)
Big
Wood
River
Basin
92
93
94
95...
96
97
98...
13-1465
1525
Big
Wood
River
tribu-
tary
at
Highway
93
and
railroad
20
miles
north
of
Shoshone,
Idaho.
Thorn
Creek
above
Preacher
Creek
9
miles
northeast
of
Gooding,
Idaho.
Preacher
Creek
near
mouth
9.5
miles
north-
east
of
Gooding,
Idaho.
Big
Wood
River
at
Gooding,
Idaho.
Dry
Creek
at
bridge
6
miles
northwest
of
Gooding,
Idaho.
Jim
Byrnes
Slough
at
Highway
20
bridge
1
mile
east
of
Richfield,
Idaho.
Big
Wood
River
near
Gooding,
Idaho.
46
26
2,190
84
2,990
1896
1952
9.6
10.67
5,940
6,500
10
10
6.
50
10.34
680
12
2,300
1,300
12
6,010
50+
13
50+
50+
13
50+
Clover
Creek
Basin
99...
1540
Clover
Creek
near
Bliss,
Idaho.
140
1960
7.57
2,700
10
8.59
4,100
50+
Snake
River
Main
Stem
100..
1545
Snake
River
at
King
Hill,
Idaho.
35,800
1918
16.3
47,200
11
9.04
He,
200
1
Bruneau
River
Basin
101..
1685
Bruneau
River
near
Hot
Spring,
Idaho.
2,630
1910
13.0
6,500
13
8.99
3,200
7
Owyhee
River
Basin
102..
1760
Owyhee
River
above
China
diversion
dam,
near
Owyhee,
Nev.
458
1952
10.07
2,710
12
8.83
12
1,280J
13
6
See
footnotes
at end
of
table.
30
FLOODS
OF
FEBRUARY
1962
IN
SOUTHERN
IDAHO
AND
NORTHEASTERN
NEVADA
Table
3.
Records
of
flood
stages
and
discharges
by
drainage
basins,
Idaho
and
Nevada
Continued
Index
No.
Station
No.
Stream
and
location
Drainage
(sq
mi)
Maximum
floods
Before
February
1962
Year
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
February
1962
Date
Gage
height
(feet)
Dis-
charge
(cfs)
T
[years.)
Owyhee
River
Basin Continued
103__
104__
13-1772
1778
South
Fork
Owyhee
River
at
Spanish
Ranch,
near
Tuscarora,
Nev.
South
Fork
Owyhee
River
near
Whiterock,
Nev.
330
1,080
1957
7.17
3,420
11
6.49
2,720
6
1
Regulated.
2
At
site
above
Evans
Dividers.
q
Site
and
datum
then
in
use.
4
Daily.
At
site
2.5
miles
upstream.
At
site
4.5
miles
upstream.
7
Result
of
washing
out
of
landslide
on
Gros
Ventre River.
8
May
have
been
higher
during
winters.
9
At
site
above
Bear
Creek.
10
Backwater
from
ice.
13
Part
of
contributing
area
in
lava
beds;
boundary
indefinite.
Reservoir
upstream
not
contributing.
For
drainage
below
reservoir.
14
Natural
peak;
discharge
rose
to
6,140
(gage
height,
7.83
ft),
when
highway
fill
broke
2
miles
upstream.
15
At
site
3.5
miles
upstream.
INT.DUP..D.C.62-16672
