Floods in south-central Iowa

Flood profiles and discharges for the great floods of 1981 and 1982 in south-central Iowa are given. The profiles cover the South River, Squaw Creek, Otter Creek, White Breast Creek, Cedar Creek, North Cedar Creek, Chariton River and the South Fork Chariton River. The July 3, 1982, flood-peak discharge at the Cedar Creek gaging stations (05489000) near Bussey was 4.4 times that of the regional 100-year flood to rank as one of the greatest floods ever recorded in the state. Flood peak discharges determined on other streams ranged up to 2.4 times that of the regional 100-year flood discharges.

Flood-frequency discharges for the Cedar Creek basin are greater than 2 times those defined by regional relations. These high flood peaks are probably caused from basin characteristics not yet defined.