October 8-10 Flooding

The area experienced excessive precipitation on Thursday, October 8 and Friday, October 9, 2008. The Kansas City NEXRAD "storm total" map indicates the rainfall amounts throughout the Spring River watershed. The local newspapers reported rainfall amounts between 3" and 10.5" for the 24-hour storm total.

Using the USGS water gage and discharge data (available on the Internet), the reader can see how storm water runoff moves downstream. For demonstration purposes, the USGS water gage and discharge data sites on Spring River at La Russell, Carthage, Waco, Baxter Springs and Quapaw are posted below.

La Russell, MO. USGS readings indicated 249 cubic feet/minute at 10:45 am, Thursday, October 8, and 2.18' water gage. Spring River crested (maximum gage and discharge) at 12:00 pm (noon) on Friday, October 9, and 13,500+ cubic feet/minute and 14.62' water gage. [click on charts for close-up view]

Carthage, MO. USGS readings indicated 309 cubic feet/minute at 1:15 pm, Thursday, October 8, and 4.11' water gage. Spring River crested (maximum gage and discharge) at 9:45 pm on Friday, October 9, and 35,200 cubic feet/minute and 17.71'water gage.

Waco, MO. USGS readings indicated 424 cubic feet/minute at 9:15 am, Thursday, October 8, and 2.46' water gage. Spring River crested (maximum gage and discharge) at 8:45 pm on Saturday, October 10, and 35,700 cubic feet/minute and 24.94' water gage.

Baxter Springs, KS. USGS readings indicated 969 cubic feet/minute at 8:15 am, Thursday, October 8, and 3.74' water gage. Spring River crested (maximum gage and discharge) at 4:45 pm on Saturday, October 10, and 60,900 cubic feet/minute and 21.18' water gage.

Quapaw, OK. USGS readings indicated 973 cubic feet/minute at 9:30 am, Thursday, October 8, and 6.53' water gage. Spring River crested (maximum gage and discharge) at 6:30 pm on Saturday, October 10, and 66,200 cubic feet/minute and 27.94' water gage.