Floods in Gravois Creek Basin, St. Louis County, Missouri

The rapid growth of suburban St. Louis presents problems in the social and economic development of flood plains within the area. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, is conducting a study of the hydrology of five major drainage basins within the area of responsibility of the Sewer District.

This interim report presents stage and inundation data along Gravois Creek and its tributaries for the historic flood of June 1957, and the flood of January 1969. These data can be useful in studies leading to the proper utilization of the basin to minimize future flood problems. Other useful hydrologic data such as flood discharges and frequencies are being gathered, but were not available for this report.

Spencer and Hauth (1969) described the flood situation in Maline Creek basin, St. Louis County, Mo. Areas covered by both reports are shown in figure 1.