News Release

U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey

Release: November 8, 2006

Contact:
John Clemens
253-552-1635

Bob Kimbrough
253-552-1608

USGS Flood Update for Western Washington, Nov. 8, 2006

Overview:
A "pineapple express" storm system that brought intense rainfall to western Washington during the past three days has pushed river flows at 15 river gaging stations to new all-time record high flows, shown in the following table:

USGS Station Name	Highest peak flow from 10/31/06 to 11/08/06		Historical peak flow
USGS Station Name	Date	Flow (cfs)	Flow (cfs)	Year
BACON CREEK BELOW OAKES CREEK NEAR MARBLEMOUNT, WA	2006-11-06	12,300	8,120	2005
HUMPTULIPS RIVER BELOW HWY 101 NR HUMPTULIPS, WA	2006-11-06	37,500	30,500	2003
SOUTH FORK NEWAUKUM RIVER NEAR ONALASKA, WA	2006-11-07	6,540	4,310	1977
SNOQUALMIE RIVER NEAR CARNATION, WA	2006-11-07	70,500	65,200	1990
SKYKOMISH RIVER NEAR GOLD BAR, WA	2006-11-06	114,000	102,000	1990
SF SNOQUALMIE RIVER AB ALICE CREEK NEAR GARCIA, WA	2006-11-06	8,910	8,450	1986
CHEHALIS RIVER NEAR SATSOP, WA	2006-11-07	63,100	51,500	2003
MILL CREEK AT EARTHWORKS PARK AT KENT, WA	2006-11-06	294	233	2001
CEDAR RIVER AT POWERPLANT AT CEDAR FALLS, WA	2006-11-07	1,620	950	2003
PUYALLUP RIVER NEAR ELECTRON, WA	2006-11-07	16,200	16,000	1996
MIDDLE FORK SNOQUALMIE RIVER NEAR TANNER, WA	2006-11-06	31,700	30,200	1977
NOOKSACK RIVER AT NORTH CEDARVILLE, WA	2006-11-06	56,300	52,900	2004
CARBON RIVER NEAR FAIRFAX, WA	2006-11-06	14,500	13,000	1990
SOUTH FORK SULTAN RIVER NEAR SULTAN, WA	2006-11-06	8,080	7,000	1990
MF NOOKSACK RIVER NEAR DEMING, WA	2006-11-06	13,700	13,100	1975

Currently, there are 9 river gaging stations above flood stage set by the National Weather Service. Of the river gaging stations with 30 or more years of record for today, 75 percent of them are at new record high flows for the day of the year.

USGS crews are now in the field, working to keep all gaging equipment in continuous operation, and to manually measure peak river flows under typically hazardous river conditions as trees and other large debris are flushed down the rivers.

Interest in streamflow data has been intense. In just the first six days of November, the USGS Washington Water Science Center’s Web site has received nearly 1,000,000 hits.

USGS river gaging stations form the backbone of flood-warning systems in the state. Federal agencies such as the Corps of Engineers and the National Weather Service, as well as state, county, and local emergency management agencies, use real-time streamflow data from USGS river gaging stations to monitor the rivers closely and to protect people and property.

Definitions and Abbreviations:
Gage height: The elevation of a river’s surface at a gaging station, in reference to an established elevation point. Sometimes called stage.
Flow: The amount of water flowing in a river past the gaging station, usually stated in cubic feet per second. Sometimes called streamflow or discharge.
Flood stage: The elevation of a river’s surface at a gaging station, determined by the National Weather Service, at which overflow of the natural banks of a river begins to cause damage in the local area by flooding.
ft = feet; cfs = cubic feet per second; NWS = National Weather Service

Important links:
USGS Washington Water Science Center: http://wa.water.usgs.gov/
USGS WaterWatch: http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/
National Weather Service, Seattle Forecast Office: http://www.weather.gov/seattle/
National Weather Service, Northwest River Forecast Center: http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/
Whatcom County Division of Emergency Management: http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/dem
Skagit County Emergency Information: http://www.skagitcounty.net/flood/
Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management: http://www.snodem.org/
King County Flood Warning System: http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/flood/
Pierce County Department of Emergency Management: http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/Abtus/ourorg/dem/abtusdem.htm
Kitsap County Department of emergency Management: http://www.kitsapdem.org/
Clallam County Emergency Management: http://www.clallam.net/EmergencyMgmt/

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