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Peak-Flow Frequency Analysis for Selected Montana Streamgages Active

By Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center September 5, 2019

Streamflow Measurement During High Water at Flathead, British Columbia

High Water Mark Sign at Yellowstone River at Carters Bridge

Streamflow Measurement at Milk River Near Harlem, Montana

Peak-flow frequency information is needed for flood-plain mapping, design of highway infrastructure, and many other purposes across Montana. The USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center has an ongoing project working to update peak-flow frequency estimates at USGS streamgages across the state.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation requires peak-flow information for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodplain mapping for various locations across Montana. Accordingly, the USGS WY-MT Water Science Center is in the process of updating peak-flow frequencies across the state using Bulletin 17C (https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/tm4B5) methods. The map below illustrates the status of updates for Montana streamgages. The data for these streamgages are publicly available on the WY-MT WSC Peak-flow Frequency Analyses landing page.

Flood Frequency Map
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.

Below are data or web applications associated with this project.

Peak-flow frequency analyses for selected streamgages on the Bighorn, Tongue, and Lower Yellowstone Rivers and tributaries and Home Creek, Montana, based on data through water year 2021

The USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center (WY–MT WSC) completed a report (Sando and McCarthy, 2018) documenting methods for peak-flow frequency analysis following implementation of the Bulletin 17C guidelines. The methods are used to provide estimates of peak-flow quantiles for 66.7-, 50-, 42.9-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for selected st
By
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Peak-flow frequency analyses for selected streamgages in and near Teton County, Montana, based on data through water year 2019

The USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center (WY-MT WSC) completed a report (Sando and McCarthy, 2018) documenting methods for peak-flow frequency analysis following implementation of the Bulletin 17C guidelines. The methods are used to provide estimates of peak-flow quantiles for 66.7-, 50-, 42.9-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for selected st
By
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Peak-flow frequency analyses for selected streamgages in and near Powell County, Montana, based on data through water year 2019

The USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center (WY-MT WSC) completed a report (Sando and McCarthy, 2018) documenting methods for peak-flow frequency analysis following implementation of the Bulletin 17C guidelines. The methods are used to provide estimates of peak-flow quantiles for 66.7-, 50-, 42.9-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for selected st
By
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Peak-flow frequency analyses for selected streamgages in and near the Milk River Basin, Montana, based on data through water year 2018, Part 1

The USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center (WY?MT WSC) completed a report (Sando and McCarthy, 2018) documenting methods for peak-flow frequency analysis following implementation of the Bulletin 17C guidelines. The methods are used to provide estimates of peak-flow quantiles for 50-, 42.9-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for selected streamgag
By
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Peak-flow frequency analyses for selected streamgages in Carbon County, Montana, based on data through water year 2018

The USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center (WY-MT WSC) documented (Sando and McCarthy, 2018) methods for peak-flow frequency analysis following implementation of the Bulletin 17C guidelines. The methods are used to provide estimates of peak-flow quantiles for 50-, 42.9-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for selected streamgages operated by the W
By
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Peak-flow frequency analyses for 14 selected streamgages in the Beaverhead River and Clark Fork Basins Montana, based on data through water year 2016

The USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center (WY-MT WSC) recently completed a report (Sando and McCarthy, 2018) documenting methods for peak-flow frequency analysis following implementation of the Bulletin 17C guidelines. The methods are used to provide estimates of peak-flow quantiles for 50-, 42.9-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for selected
By
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Peak-flow frequency analyses for 99 selected streamgages in or near Montana, based on data through water year 2015 (ver. 1.1, August 2020)

The USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center (WYMT WSC) recently completed a report documenting methods for peak-flow frequency analysis following implementation of the Bulletin 17C guidelines. The methods are used to provide estimates of peak-flow quantiles for 50-, 42.9-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for selected streamgages operated by the
By
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Peak-Flow Frequency Analyses for Selected Streamgages in Missoula and Granite Counties, Montana, Based on Data through Water Year 2018

The USGS Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center (WY?MT WSC) completed a report (Sando and McCarthy, 2018) documenting methods for peak-flow frequency analysis following implementation of the Bulletin 17C guidelines. The methods are used to provide estimates of peak-flow quantiles for 50-, 42.9-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) for selected streamgag
By
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center
Flooded Main Street during Milk River Flood of 1952
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Flooded Main Street during Milk River Flood of 1952
Bridge over Frenchman Cr approximately 1 mile from Milk River
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Bridge over Frenchman Cr approximately 1 mile from Milk River during Milk River Flood of 1952
Bjornberg Bridge near Saco, MT during the Milk River Flood of 1952
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Bjornberg Bridge near Saco, MT during the Milk River Flood of 1952
Milk River Flood of 1952 at Bjornberg Bridge near Saco, MT
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Bjornberg Bridge near Saco, MT during the Milk River Flood of 1952
Poplar River during the 1952 Milk River Flood
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Poplar River Gaging Station (USGS 06181000) during the 1952 Milk River Flood
Upstream View of Havre, MT
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Milk River at Havre MT (USGS 06140500) during 1952 Milk River Flood
Milk River Flood at Malta, MT
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Milk River Flood at Malta, MT (USGS 06155500)

Below are publications associated with this project.

Floods of April 1952 in the Missouri River basin

The floods of April 1952 in the Milk River basin, along the Missouri River from the mouth of the Little Missouri River to the mouth of the Kansas River, and for scattered tributaries of the Missouri River in North and South Dakota were the greatest ever observed. The damage amounted to an estimated $179 million. The outstanding featur6 of the floods was the extraordinary peak discharge generated i
Authors
J. V. B. Wells
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Dakota Water Science Center

Below are software products associated with this project.

Peak Flow Frequency R Extensions Software Release

Siefken, S.A., McCarthy, P.M., 2021, Peak Flow Frequency R Extensions: U.S. Geological Survey Software Release, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5066/P99ETAVR

By
Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center

Below are partners associated with this project.

Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation