FLOOD07698

• County: Statewide
• Community: Rock Rapids, Iowa
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Problem Identification Report Rock River at Rock Rapids Reconnaissance Study Section 205
• Date: 4/1/1995
• Prepared For: US Army Corps of Engineers
• Prepared By: Greenhorne & O'Mara, Inc.
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Project

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FLOOD OF 1897
A gage height of 17 feet was recorded near Rock Valley as reported
by the Iowa Highway Commission. The rainfall amounts, discharges, and
extent of flooding were not determined.

FLOOD OF 1914
In June of 1914, a gage height of 13.2 feet was recorded at Luverne,
Minnesota, located upstream from Rock Rapids. The discharge was estimated
to be 11,600 cubic feet per second (c.f.s.l. Rainfall and flood damage
information was not available.

FLOOD OF 19S3
On 7 June 1953, a rainfall of 11.4 inches was unofficially recorded
at Ritter, Iowa. This storm produced an average precipitation which
varied from 2 inches in the north to 8 inches in the south of the Iowa
part of the Rock River basin. The peak discharge at Rock Valley was
estimated to be 18,900 c.f.s., which is less than the S-year event. The
gage height was recorded at 12.16 feet.

FLOOD OF 1954
From 17 June through 19 June 19S4, rainfall depths of 4 to 6 inches
were experienced in the Rock River basin, followed by rainfall depths of
1 to 5 inches on 20 June through 22 June 1954. The estimated peak
discharge of 19,200 cfs at Rock Valley was less than a 5-year event.
The gage height was recorded at 15.86 feet.

FLOOD OF 1960
On 30 March 1960, a gage height of 8.86 feet was recorded and a
discharge of 15,SOO c.f.s. was estimated at the Rock Rapids gaging
station. This discharge would be approximately equivalent to a 10-year
event; however, no flood damage information was available.

FLOOD OF 1962
On 29 March 1962, a flood resulted from the snowmelt runoff from a
40-inch-deep snowpack in the Rock River basin. The equivalent water

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