Geology topics

Gary D. Firda

Publications and source records attributed to Gary D. Firda.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2014

Floods of 2011 in New York

Record rainfall combined with above-average temperatures and substantial spring snowmelt resulted in record flooding throughout New York during 2011. Rainfall totals in eastern New York were the greatest since 1895 and as much as 60 percent above the long-term average within the Catskill Mountains area and the Susquehanna River Basin. This report documents the three largest storms and resultant flooding during the year: (1) spring storm during April and May, (2) Tropical Storm Irene during August, and (3) remnants of Tropical Storm Lee during September. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the cost of these three storms exceeded $1 billion in Federal disaster assistance. A warm and wet spring in northern New York resulted in record flooding at 21 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) active streamgages during late April to early May with the annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) of 11 peak discharges equaling or exceeding 1 percent. Nearly 5 inches of rain during late April combined with a rapidly melting snowpack caused widespread flooding throughout northern New York, resulting in many road closures, millions of dollars in damages, and 23 counties declared disaster areas and eligible for public assistance. On May 6, Lake Champlain recorded its highest lake level in over 140 years. Hurricane Irene entered New York State on August 28 as a tropical storm and traveled up the eastern corridor of the State, leaving a path of destruction and damage never seen in many parts of New York. Thirty-one counties in New York were declared disaster areas with damages of over $1.3 billion dollars and 10 reported deaths. Storm rainfall exceeded 18 inches in the Catskill Mountains area of southeastern New York with many other areas of eastern New York receiving over 7 inches. Catastrophic flooding resulted from the extreme rainfall in many locations, including Schoharie Creek and its tributaries, the eastern Delaware River Basin, the Ausable and Bouquet River Basins in northeastern New York, and several other stream basins throughout southeastern New York. Downstream reaches of the Mohawk River also had substantial flooding. Sixty-two USGS streamgages throughout eastern New York documented record high stream flows and elevations with AEPs of 25 peak discharges equaling or exceeding 1 percent. The USGS streamgage for the Schoharie Creek at Prattsville recorded its greatest peak discharge in 109 years of record at 120,000 cubic feet per second (greater than the 0.2-percent AEP discharge) on August 28. The peak water-surface elevation at the streamgage in Prattsville was 5 feet higher than its previous record in 1996. USGS personnel surveyed 184 high-water marks (HWMs) at 30 locations along an 84-mile reach of Schoharie Creek and compared the elevations to those published by FEMA for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent AEP floods. Elevations in the lower reaches of the basin exceeded published elevations for the 0.2-percent AEP flood. Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee brought a third major storm to New York in September 2011. Moisture from Lee began moving into New York on September 7 and intensified over the already saturated Susquehanna River Basin. Most of the rain fell on September 8 with storm totals nearing 13 inches in some areas (12.73 inches at Apalachin in Tioga County). Major disaster declarations were issued for 15 counties in and around central New York, making them eligible for individual or public assistance. Ten USGS streamgages within the Susquehanna River Basin documented record-high stream discharges and elevations on September 8, and all were greater than the 1-percent AEP discharge. USGS personnel surveyed 20 HWMs at 18 locations along a 114- mile reach of the Susquehanna River and compared the elevations to those published by FEMA for the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent AEP floods. Several of the surveyed HWMs exceeded published elevations for the 0.2-percent AEP flood.

New York↗

USGS2009

Flood of June 26-29, 2006, Mohawk, Delaware, and Susquehanna River Basins, New York

A stalled frontal system caused tropical moisture to be funneled northward into New York, causing severe flooding in the Mohawk, Delaware, and Susquehanna River basins during June 26-29, 2006. Rainfall totals for this multi-day event ranged from 2 to 3 inches to greater than 13 inches in southern New York. The storm and flooding claimed four lives in New York, destroyed or damaged thousands of homes and businesses, and closed hundreds of roads and highways. Thousands of people evacuated their homes as floodwaters reached new record elevations at many locations within the three basins. Twelve New York counties were declared Federal disaster areas, more than 15,500 residents applied for disaster assistance, and millions of dollars in damages resulted from the flooding. Disaster-recovery assistance for individuals and businesses adversely affected by the floods of June 2006 reached more than $227 million. The National Weather Service rainfall station at Slide Mountain recorded storm totals of more than 8 inches of rainfall, and the stations at Walton and Fishs Eddy, NY, recorded storm totals of greater than 13 inches of rainfall. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) stream-gaging stations at Mohawk River at Little Falls, West Branch Delaware River at Hale Eddy, and Susquehanna River at Vestal, NY, among others, recorded peak discharges of 35,000 ft3/s, 43,400 ft3/s, and 119,000 ft3/s respectively, with greater than 100-year recurrence intervals. The peak water-surface elevation 21.47 ft and the peak discharge 189,000 ft3/s recorded on June 28, 2006, at the Delaware River at Port Jervis stream-gaging station were the highest recorded since the flood of August 1955. At the Susquehanna River at Conklin, NY, stream-gaging station, which has been in operation since 1912, the peak water-surface elevation 25.02 ft and peak discharge 76,800 ft3/s recorded on June 28, 2006, exceeded the previous period-of-record maximums that were set during the flood of March 1936. Documented peak water-surface elevations during the June 2006 flood at many study sites in the Mohawk, Delaware, and Susquehanna River basins exceeded the 100-year flood-profile elevations determined in the flood-insurance studies prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Open-File Report↗

USGS2008

Flood Magnitude and Frequency of the Delaware River in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania

From September 2004 to June 2006, the Delaware River in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania experienced three major floods that caused extensive damage. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) needed updated information on the flood magnitude and frequency for the eight active streamflow-gaging stations along the main stem Delaware River in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania that included the three recent floods in order to update its flood insurance studies. Therefore, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) computed updated flood magnitude and frequency values following the guidelines published by the Interagency Advisory Committee on Water Data in its Bulletin 17B. The updated flood-frequency values indicate that the recurrence interval of the September 2004 flood ranged from 20 to 35 years, the recurrence interval of the April 2005 flood ranged from 40 to 70 years, and the recurrence interval of the June 2006 flood ranged from 70 to greater than 100 years. Examination of trends in flood discharges indicate no statistically significant trends in peak flows during the period of record for any of the eight streamflow-gaging stations.

Open-File Report↗

USGS2007

Flood of April 2-3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York

On April 2-3, 2005, heavy rain moved into southern New York and delivered rainfall amounts that ranged from about 2 in. to almost 6 in. within a 36-hour period. Significant flooding occurred on many small streams and tributaries in the area, and extensive flooding occurred on the Esopus and Roundout Creeks in Ulster and Greene Counties, New York. The flooding damaged many homes, caused millions of dollars worth of damage, and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes. A total of 20 New York counties were declared Federal disaster areas. Disaster recovery assistance for those people affected stands at almost $35 million, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as more than 3,400 New Yorkers registered for Federal aid. U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging stations on the Esopus Creek above the Ashokan Reservoir at Allaben, N.Y., and below the Ashokan Reservoir at Mount Marion, N.Y., each recorded a new record maximum water-surface elevation and discharge for the respective periods of record as a result of this storm. The peak water-surface elevation and discharge recorded during the April 2-3, 2005, storm at the U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging station on the Esopus Creek at Cold Brook, N.Y. were the third highest elevation and discharge since the station was put into operation in 1914. Most of the study sites along the Esopus Creek indicated water-surface elevations near the 50-year flood elevations, as documented in flood-insurance studies by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Open-File Report↗

USGS2006

Flood of April 2-3, 2005, Neversink River Basin, New York

Heavy rain on April 2-3, 2005 produced rainfall amounts of 3 inches to almost 6 inches within a 36-hour period throughout the Delaware River basin. Major flooding occurred in the East and West Branches of the Delaware River and their tributaries, the main stem of the Delaware River and the Neversink River, a major tributary to the Delaware River. The resultant flooding damaged hundreds of homes, caused millions of dollars in damage to infrastructure in Orange and Sullivan Counties, and forced more than 1,000 residents to evacuate their homes. A total of 20 New York counties were declared Federal disaster areas. Some of the most extensive flooding occurred along the Neversink and Delaware Rivers in Orange and Sullivan Counties, New York. Disaster recovery assistance from the April 2005 flooding in New York stood at almost $35 million in 2005, at which time more than 3,400 New Yorkers had registered for Federal aid. All U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging stations on the Neversink River below the Neversink Reservoir recorded peak water-surface elevations higher than those recorded during the September 2004 flooding. Peak water-surface elevations at some study sites on the Neversink River exceeded the 500-year flood elevation as documented in flood-insurance studies by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Flood peaks at some long-term U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging stations were the highest ever recorded. Several U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging stations on the Delaware River also recorded peak water-surface elevations that exceeded those recorded during the September 2004 flooding.

Open-File Report↗

USGS1996

Water Resources Data, New York, Water Year 1995. Volume 1. Eastern New York, Excluding Long Island

Water resources data for the 1995 water year for New York consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, content, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and ground water levels. This volume contains records for water discharge at 119 gaging stations; stage only at 7 gaging stations; stage and contents at 4 gaging stations, and 19 other lakes and reservoirs; water quality at 34 gaging stations and 1 precipitation-quality station; and water levels at 22 observation wells. Also included are data for 31 crest-stage partial-record stations. Location of all these sites are shown on figure 8. Additional water data were collected at various sites not in the systematic data-collection program and are published as miscellaneous measurements and analyses. These data, together with the data in volumes 2 and 3, represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with State, Municipal, and Federal agencies in New York.

New York↗

USGS1995

Water resources data, New York, water year 1994, volume 1, eastern New York, excluding Long Island

Water resources data for the 1994 water year for New York consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, content, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and ground water levels. This volume contains records for water discharge at 122 gaging stations; stage only at 4 gaging stations; stage and contents at 4 gaging stations, and 19 other lakes and reservoirs; water quality at 38 gaging stations; and water levels at 22 observation wells. Also included are data for 30 crest-stage partial-record stations. Location of all these sites are shown on figure 8. Additional water data were collected at various sites not in the systematic data-collection program and are published as miscellaneous measurements and analyses. These data, together with the data in volumes 2 and 3, represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with State, Municipal, and Federal agencies in New York.

New York↗

USGS1994

Water Resources Data, New York, Water Year 1993; Volume 1. Eastern New York; Excluding Long Island

Water resources data for the 1993 water year for New York consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, content, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and ground water levels. This volume contains records for water discharge at 114 gaging stations; stage only at 4 gaging stations; stage and contents at 4 gaging stations, and 19 other lakes and reservoirs; water quality at 40 gaging stations; and water levels at 24 observation wells. Also included are data for 39 crest-stage partial-record stations. Locations of all these sites are shown on figures 8A and 8B. Additional water data were collected at various sites not in the systematic data-collection program and are published as miscellaneous measurements and analyses. These data, together with the data in volumes 2 and 3, represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with State, Municipal and Federal agencies in New York.

New York↗

USGS1992

Water Resources Data, New York, Water Year 1991; Volume 1. Eastern New York; Excluding Long Island

Water resources data for the 1991 water year for New York consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage; contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and ground-water levels. This volume contains records for water discharge at 110 gaging stations; stage only at 4 gaging stations; stage and contents at 4 gaging stations, and 19 other lakes and reservoirs; water quality at 36 gaging stations; and water levels at 22 observations wells. Locations of these sites are shown on figures 8A and 8B. Also included are data for 37 crest-stage partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not in the systematic data-collection program and are published as miscellaneous measurements. These data, together with the the data in volumes 2 and 3, represent that part of the National Water Data system collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in New York.

New York↗

USGS1991

Water Resources Data, New York, Water Year 1990; Volume 1. Eastern New York; Excluding Long Island

Water resources data for the 1990 water year for New York consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels in observation wells. This volume contains records of water discharge at 97 gaging stations; stage only at 4 gaging stations; and stage and contents at 4 gaging stations, and 19 other lakes and reservoirs. water quality at 35 gaging stations; and water levels at 23 observation wells. Locations of these sites are shown on figures 8A and 8B. Also included are data for 38 crest-stage partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not in the systematic data-collection program and are published as miscellaneous measurements. These data, together with the data in volumes 2 and 3, represent that part of the National Water Data system collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in New York.

New York↗

USGS1990

Water Resources Data, New York, Water Year 1989. Volume 1. Eastern New York; Excluding Long Island

Water resources data for the 1989 water year for New York consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels in observation wells. This volume contains records if water discharge at 93 gaging stations; stage only at 4 gaging stations; and stage and contents at 4 gaging stations, and 19 other lakes and reservoirs; water quality at 38 gaging stations; and water levels at 25 observation wells. Locations of these sites are shown on figures 7A and 7B. Also included are data for 37 crest-stage partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not in the systematic data-collection program and are published as miscellaneous measurements. These data, together with the data in volumes 2 and 3, represent that part of the National Water Data System collected collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in New York.

New York↗

USGS1987

Water resources data, New York, water year 1986, volume 1, eastern New York, excluding Long Island

Water resources data for the 1986 water year for New York consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage, contents, and water quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water- levels in observation wells. This volume contains records of water discharge at 97 gaging stations; stage only at 5 gaging stations; and stage and contents at 4 gaging stations and 19 lakes and reservoirs; water quality at 34 gaging stations; and water levels at 24 observation wells. Locations of these sites are shown on figures 7A and 7B. Also included are data for 45 crest-stage partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites not in the systematic data-collection program and are published as miscellaneous measurements and analyses. These data, together with the data in volumes 2 and 3, represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in New York.

New York↗

USGS1983

Floods of April 1983 in southern Mississippi and southeastern Louisiana

Extreme flooding occurred in April 1983 in southern Mississippi and southeastern Louisiana. The floods resulted from a near-stationary cold front, which moved slowly across Louisiana and Mississippi. Flood heights and discharges of many streams exceeded previously known maximums of record, and for many the recurrence interval of peak discharge exceeded 100 years. On Black Creek, near Brooklyn, Miss., the previous maximum stage (since 1961) was exceeded by 4.26 ft, and the April 7 peak discharge of 42,500 cu ft/sec was about two times the previous maximum discharge. This flood exceeded the 100-yr event. In southeastern Louisiana, the area with the most severe flooding was in the Bogue Chitto basin. At the Franklinton, LA, Station, the April 7 peak discharge of 125,000 cu ft/sec was more than two times the previous maximum discharge. In April 1900 the stage at this site was 29.6 ft, 4.9 ft higher than the April 1981 peak. An extreme event also occurred on the Tchefuncta River near Franklinton, LA. The previous maximum stage (since 1949) was exceeded by 3.75 ft, and the April 6 discharge of 26 ,900 cu ft/sec is more than three times the previous maximum. This discharge also exceeded the 100-yr event. Combined flood damages for both States totaled in the hundred of millions of dollars. (Lantz-PTT)

Open-File Report↗