Learn more about USGS flood activities related to the April 2011 Arkansas Flood.
On Friday, April 22, 2011, in advance of heavy rainfall and steadily-rising river levels, the USGS Arkansas Water Science Center mobilized field crews to begin critical sampling and data collection for water levels and streamflow information. These crews continued their important work supplying flow rate and water monitoring data to policy makers and emergency responders throughout the historic flood.
Whole Effort
The flood response work of the USGS Arkansas Water Science Center was a whole effort. Every field scientist, boat, and their equipment were out collecting critical information. USGS crews worked around the clock to ensure that policymakers and first responders had the information they needed to make the best decisions possible. Arkansas crews were assisted in their work by other USGS crews from Texas and Mississippi, as well as equipment loans from the USGS Texas and Oklahoma Water Science Centers. Arkansas crews returned the favor by meeting the floodwaters with the Tennessee Water Science Center in Memphis, and following the floodwaters south to help out in Louisiana as well.
Critical Data
During the historic 2011 flooding, USGS provided critical data to policymakers and first responders, including: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: USGS streamflow data was crucial to Army Corps decisions to make emergency spills into the reservoirs along the White River. In addition, the Army Corps requested USGS crews perform measurements throughout Arkansas at sites like Helena and Memphis, Tennessee. National Weather Service: The National Weather Service relies on USGS streamgage data to make accurate flooding forecasts. During the 2011 flood, USGS crews worked constantly to maintain these streamgages, as well as replace the many that were overtopped by floodwaters. Arkansas Department of Transportation: On May 5, the White River overtopped I-40 between Little Rock and Memphis, prompting the Arkansas Department of Transportation to temporarily close that stretch of the Interstate. USGS crews, in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Transportation, immediately set out to install a temporary streamgage to monitor conditions and determine when it was safe to reopen the road.
Historic Flooding
The summer of 2011 brought historic flooding to Arkansas. In addition to the massive floodwaters that coursed down the Mississippi River, unusually heavy rainfall caused backwater flooding and levee failure along the Black and White Rivers as well. USGS streamgages registered record highs, with six gages showing either highest, second-highest, or third-highest levels since as far back as 1915, and more than 19 gages showing 10-year highs.
USGS Activities in the News:
- Floodwaters Closing I-40 to be Monitored
- Widespread Historic Flooding Across Arkansas
- USGS Measures Record Flooding in Arkansas
- Rivers rising to historic levels as rains continue
Below are other science projects associated with this flood event.
Historical Flooding
Tropical Storm Lee
Hurricane Irene
2011 - The Year of the Flood
Summer 2011 Missouri River Basin flood
Spring/Summer 2011 Mississippi River Basin Floods
May 2011 Louisiana flood
May 2011 Memphis, Tennessee Flood
May 2011 New Madrid Floodway
April 2011 North Dakota Flood
Below are multimedia items associated with this flood event.
Below are news stories associated with this flood event.
Below are partners associated with this flood event.
- Overview
Learn more about USGS flood activities related to the April 2011 Arkansas Flood.
On Friday, April 22, 2011, in advance of heavy rainfall and steadily-rising river levels, the USGS Arkansas Water Science Center mobilized field crews to begin critical sampling and data collection for water levels and streamflow information. These crews continued their important work supplying flow rate and water monitoring data to policy makers and emergency responders throughout the historic flood.
Whole Effort
The flood response work of the USGS Arkansas Water Science Center was a whole effort. Every field scientist, boat, and their equipment were out collecting critical information. USGS crews worked around the clock to ensure that policymakers and first responders had the information they needed to make the best decisions possible. Arkansas crews were assisted in their work by other USGS crews from Texas and Mississippi, as well as equipment loans from the USGS Texas and Oklahoma Water Science Centers. Arkansas crews returned the favor by meeting the floodwaters with the Tennessee Water Science Center in Memphis, and following the floodwaters south to help out in Louisiana as well.
Critical Data
During the historic 2011 flooding, USGS provided critical data to policymakers and first responders, including: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: USGS streamflow data was crucial to Army Corps decisions to make emergency spills into the reservoirs along the White River. In addition, the Army Corps requested USGS crews perform measurements throughout Arkansas at sites like Helena and Memphis, Tennessee. National Weather Service: The National Weather Service relies on USGS streamgage data to make accurate flooding forecasts. During the 2011 flood, USGS crews worked constantly to maintain these streamgages, as well as replace the many that were overtopped by floodwaters. Arkansas Department of Transportation: On May 5, the White River overtopped I-40 between Little Rock and Memphis, prompting the Arkansas Department of Transportation to temporarily close that stretch of the Interstate. USGS crews, in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Transportation, immediately set out to install a temporary streamgage to monitor conditions and determine when it was safe to reopen the road.
Historic Flooding
The summer of 2011 brought historic flooding to Arkansas. In addition to the massive floodwaters that coursed down the Mississippi River, unusually heavy rainfall caused backwater flooding and levee failure along the Black and White Rivers as well. USGS streamgages registered record highs, with six gages showing either highest, second-highest, or third-highest levels since as far back as 1915, and more than 19 gages showing 10-year highs.
USGS Activities in the News:
- Floodwaters Closing I-40 to be Monitored
- Widespread Historic Flooding Across Arkansas
- USGS Measures Record Flooding in Arkansas
- Rivers rising to historic levels as rains continue
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this flood event.
Historical Flooding
The USGS provides practical, unbiased information about the Nation's rivers and streams that is crucial in mitigating hazards associated with floods. This site provides information about the USGS activities, data, and services provided during regional high-flow events, such as hurricanes or multi-state flooding events. The USGS response to these events is typically managed by the National Flood...Tropical Storm Lee
During and after Tropical Storm Lee, the USGS made stream flow measurements, sampled suspended sediment, and repaired gages in Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and other states in the region.Hurricane Irene
Hurricane Irene, peaking as a Category 3 hurricane, battered Carribean Islands and U.S. states all along the eastern seaboard from South Carolina to Maine on August 21-29, 2011.2011 - The Year of the Flood
2011 proved to be another record-breaking flood year in the United States. USGS Water Science Center personnel from North Dakota to Louisiana measured springtime floods on the Red River of the North, the Ohio River, the Mississippi River, and many tributaries. The Missouri River and its tributaries saw record-breaking snow-melt runoff through the summer, followed closely by Hurricane Irene and...Summer 2011 Missouri River Basin flood
Learn more about USGS flood activities related to the 2011 Missouri River Basin Flood resulting from higher-than-average snowmelt runoff combined with heavy spring rains.Spring/Summer 2011 Mississippi River Basin Floods
Learn more about USGS flood activities related to the Spring/Summer 2011 floods throughout the Mississippi River Basin.May 2011 Louisiana flood
Learn more about USGS flood activities related to the May 2011 flood in Louisiana, including additional real-time monitoring for the Morganza and Bonnet Carre Spillways which were opened to release floodwaters into the Mississippi River.May 2011 Memphis, Tennessee Flood
Learn more about USGS flood activities related to the May 2011 flood in Memphis, Tennessee, including deploying emergency real-time surface-water stage gages at critical locations in Shelby County.May 2011 New Madrid Floodway
Learn more about USGS flood activities related to the May 2011 New Madrid Floodway breaches.April 2011 North Dakota Flood
Learn more about USGS flood activities related to the April 2011 North Dakota Flood resulting from sudden winter snowmelt due to warmer-than-expected temperatures and rain. - Multimedia
Below are multimedia items associated with this flood event.
- News
Below are news stories associated with this flood event.
- Partners
Below are partners associated with this flood event.