GB lass __Lx_Lli_^L2i5 DEPARTMENT OF Drainage and Waters STATE OF MINNESOTA E. V, WILLARD, Commissioner ODD a D n DRAINAGE AREAS OF MINNESOTA STREAMS AND METHOD OF ESTIMATING PROBABLE FLOOD FLOWS OCTOBER, 1922. DEPARTMENT OF Drainage and Waters STATE OF MINNESOTA E. V. WILLARD, Commissioner nan D □ D DRAINAGE AREAS OF MINNESOTA STREAMS AND METHOD OF ESTIMATING PROBABLE FLOOD FLOWS OCTOBER, 1922. {^'d.dJ CONTENTS. Introduction 3 Acknowledgments , 5 Estimating Flood Flow of Streams 6 Estimating Total Run-off or Yield of Drainage Baisins 8 Illustrations of the Use of Formula and Tables 9 Table I — ^Area in Square Miles of the Principal Drainage Basins in Min- nesota and Adjacent Tributary Territory 11 Table II— Values of A.6 for Use in the Formula Q=100A.6 30 Table III — Frequency Coefficients 33 Table IV— Run-off Coefficients 34 INTRODUCTION. The problem of controlling floods, developing water powers, furnishing ample water suppl}^ for municipal consumption, design- ing adequate culverts and bridges, providing sufficient capacity for drains and all kindred prpblems begin j with run-off. A knowledge therefore, of the behavior of that portion of the water supplied by precipitation which finds its way to the streams which carry it to lower elevations,' is 'fundamental to an intelligent consideration of practically ever}^ problem.with which the hydraulic and drainage engineer is con-fronted. " In instances where the rate and volume of run-oft" has been observed by actual measurement of streams, and such observa- tions have covered a sufficiently long period of years to include fairly dependable extremes of high and low discharges, intelligent conclusions may be drawn from such data alone, even if the engineer's knowledge of climatological phenomenon and physical characteristics of the area which furnishes the run-off is meagre. Unfortunately such records of flow on streams within or affecting Minnesota are rare, and with the exception of a few of the larger streams, may be said to be entirely lacking. This is particularly true of all of the smaller streams, the treatment of which so often becomes the duty of the engineers concerned with the design of drainage outlets and with providing culvert and bridge capacities for maximum flood flow. In the absence of actual dependable measurements of flow, conclusions and designs must be based on climatological data combined Math a knowledge of the physical characteristics of the water-shed from which the run-oft" is supplied. Climatological data includes records of precipitation (rain and snow-fall), temperature, evaporation, humidity and wind movement. The physical characteristics of the water-shed of which knowledge should be had, are extent and shape of area, topography, nature of soil, vegetation and general slope of area towards the outlet channel. The data compiled by the United States Weather Bureau offers an authentic source of information concerning weather conditions, and are made available in convenient form through the Bureau's monthly and annual publications. Of the elements which g"o to make up the physical character- istics of the water-shed, undoubtedly the most important one, and one which always bears a decided relation to the rate and volume of run-oft', is the extent of area which contributes the water. Topography, nature of soil, vegetal covering, slope and shape of area, while aiU of sufficient importance to merit careful consid- eration, are factors, the effects on run-off of which usually permit of a more general interpretation. They are largely peculiar to each water-shed, and therefore variable, and are usually given their proper weight by the exercise of judgment based on general visual observations of these factors M^hich prevail. A knowledge of the approximate area of the drainage basin, however, has been recognized as essential, which fact is made manifest by the prominence this factor is given in all formulas proposed for the determination of rate and volume of run-off when actual measure- ments are lacking, and when weather .phenomenon and nature of water-shed must be made the basis of conclusions. It is with a view of furnishing a more ready reference to the extent of the drainage areas of the principal streams within and affecting Minnesota and their main tributaries, as well as to present a simple formula and method for use of engineers in estimating probable maximum flows which may be expected in such streams, that this pamphlet has been prepared and published. The base map from which the areas within Minnesota have been determined is one Avhich has been prepared by the depart- ment for the exclusive purpose of showing the water resources of the state. This map is drawn on a scale of 1/3 inch = 1 mile. the original being- made up by actually . reproducing all the streams, lakes and sub-division lines from the original township plats prepared by the United States Land Office. The several drainage basins were outlined by pencil on this map and their areas subsequently determined by the use of the planimeter. The areas thus determined were checked against as many other maps and sources of information as were conveniently obtainable in order to discover any gross errors that might have crept in. The maps accompanying "Report on Drainage and Prevention of Over-flow in the Valley of the Red River of the North" by the United States Bureau of Public Roads, were used in checking areas affecting the Red River of the North. The standard topo- graphic cjuadrangle maps of the United States Geological Survey offered a valuable source of information on the limited areas for which they are available. The names of the streams given in the "Report of Water Resources Investigations of Minnesota, 1909- 1912" by the former Minnesota State Drainage Commission under the caption "Gazeteer of Minnesota Streams" furnished largely the basis from which the streams, the areas of which are given herein, have been selected. Areas of portions of drainage basins located outside of the boundaries of Minnesota, referred to herein, haA^e been derived from state maps and other information that could be obtained. The state has been divided into the three major drainage basins which affect it — Mississippi, Hudson Bay and Lake vSuperior. All areas given -in Table I are in order of their outletting into the principal channels beginning at the source and continuing to the mouth. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The work of arranging and determining the drainage areas shown in Table I has been done by W. S. Olson, office engineer of the department organization, assisted by G. E. Coons, deputy commissioner. The analysis of flood flow formulas and the derivation of the curve shown on Figure I, and Tables II, III and IV are contributions of A. F. Me3^er in his capacity as consulting engineer for the department and C. M. Halseth, assistant engineer. ESTIMATING FLOOD FLOW OF STREAMS. The multiplicity of flood flow formulas which have been pre- sented by difl'erent engineers for various parts of the country leave the Minnesota engineer somewhat in doubt as to which formula is best adapted to the conditions prevailing in this state. A comparison of the various formulas leads to the conclusion that there is not as much difference between them as might at first appear. Although many of the formulas contain only one variable, namely, the area of the drainage basin, it does not follow that area is the only factor to -wdiich these formulas give consideration. In general, it may be stated that the maximum rate of run-off from a drainag'e basin will be produced by the maximum rainfall which may be expected within the time required for water from the remotest portion of the basin to reach the point on the stream under consideration ; that is, the rate of rainfall causing maximum flood run-off from a . given basin depends upon the time of concentration of the run-off". The time of concentration in turn depends upon the character and size of the drainage basin — therefore the rate of rainfall to be used in determining flood run- off varies with the "drainage area. Our studies of the various flood flow formulas and of floods on Minnesota and Wisconsin streams have developed the following facts : As a rough approximation, the peak discharge in cubic feet per second, during a flood, is about double the average discharge in cubic feet per second. The relation between the peak discharge and the average 24- hour discharge is given by Fuller's Table 1, page 568, Trans. A. S. C. E. 1914, quoted on page 344, Elements of Hydrology, by Meyer. The rate of rainfall to be used for gently rolling country in Minnesota, in inches per hour, equals about 30 divided by the area in acres, raised to the .4 power, or : 30 R = A-4 The principal effect of the slope of the water-shed is upon the time of concentration of the run-off, which in turn affects the rate of rainfall to be used, and in this manner the slope indirectly aft'ects the flood flow very materially. The frequency of flood flows of various magnitudes on a given stream is very similar to the frequency of various rates of intense precipitation on the drainage basin. For Minnesota conditions, the frequency of intense rainfall, as given in Meyer's Elements of Hydrology, for cities within Group 3, page 183, with a slight modification to conform to the frequency of excessive daily precipitation as shown on page 123, substantially corres- ponds to the frequency of floods of given magnitude, as developed by Fuller in Trans. A. S. C. E. 1914, page 568, and briefly summarized on page 344, Table 39, of Meyer's Hydrology. The general formula for flood flow applicable to Minnesota conditions reduces to : Q = lOOA-6 This formula represents the maiximum rate of discharge in cubic feet per second which may be expected, on an average, once in twenty-five years, from ordinary, gently rolling drainage basins having an area "A" in square miles. For convenience, the values of "A-^" are given in Table H, and on three graphs in Fig. 1. If desired, these values may be plotted to larger scale graphs for office use in solving for "Q". For other frequencies than once in twenty-five years, multiply the coefficient 100 by the values given in Table HI. For drainage basins of different slope and character of soil and topography, multiply the coefficient 100 as modified for frequency by the proper coefficient as given in Table IV. ESTIMATING TOTAL RUN-OFF OR YIELD OF DRAINAGE BASINS. The engineer is often called upon to estimate the yield or total run-off from a drainage basin during the several months of the year. When no discharge records are available for the given stream, reasonably good estimates can be made from rainfall and other physical data by the method developed by Meyer and described by him in Trans. A. S. C. E. 1916, pages 1056 to 1224, and in his "Elements of Hydrology," Chapter XI, pages 410 to 436. According to Meyer's method, the monthly evaporation and transpiration losses are computed for the given basin and are subtracted from the monthly precipitation. The precipitation minus losses is available for run-off. The distribution of this run-oft" through the several months of the year is a more involved computation. Each month's precipitation minus losses is divided into surface run-oft', surface storage, soil storage and subsoil storage. The water which percolates into the subsoil furnishes the seepage flow of the stream. The seepage flow plus the surface run-off during a given month gives the total run-off for that month. The more study and experience that can be brought tp bear on the problem, the more accurate will be the results obtained. The published discussions of the method to which reference has already been made should be carefully studied by everyone attempting to utilize it. TLI.USTRATTON OF THE USE OF FORMULA AND TABLES EXAMPLE NO. L Problem : Required to determine the size and capacity of a bridge to be constructed across the Warroad River near its niouth in order to pass the maximum flow to be expected on an average once in 100 years. Solution : O = lOOA-6 Where O =-- maximum flow to be expected within the given time, A = Area of watershed. From Table I we find the area of the Warroad River, A, to be 220 square miles. The judgment of the engineer must be relied on to select the classification under Run-off Coefficients found in Table IV applicable to the Warroad River drainage area, but for the purpose of this example it will be placed under classification 4, loam soil. For this condition we find the coefiicient to be .70. lender Table III, Frequency Coefficients, we find the coefficient for a flood of a magnitude to be expected once in 100 years to be 1.4. Applying these coefficients and factors to the formula and solving, we have = 100 x 220-6 X .70 X 1.4 . From curve, Figure h 220-6 = 25 Whence O — - 100 x 25 x .70 x 1.4 = 2,450 cubic feet per second or the mai^i- raum flood flow for which bridge capacity should be provided. EXAMPLE NO. 2. Problem : Required to determine the maximum rate of flow to be expected on an average once in 25 years at or near the outlet of the Crow River. Solution : O = lOOA-6 A glimpse at the map shows that the, Crow River receives its water from two separate and independent streams, the North Branch and the South Branch, the two joining at or near Rock- ford to form the main stream. Sound judgment at once suggests that each of these tribu:taries should be treated separately for a maximum discharg'e to be expected in each at the point of confluence. From Table I we find the area of the North Branch of the Crow River to be 1,217 square miles. For the purpose of this illustration the area will be placed under classification 3, Clayey .Soil, of Run-off Coefficients, Table IV. For this condition we find the coefficient to be .75. Under Table III, Frequency Coefficients, we find for floods of a magnitude to be expected once in 25 years the coefficient to be 1.00. Applying these coefficients and solving = 100x 1,217-6 X .75 X 1.00 From curve, Figure 1, 1,217-6:^-71 Whence Q=.100 X 71 X .75 X 1.00 O — - 5,325 cubic feet per second or the maxi- mum flow that may be expected in the North Branch of the Crow River at its mouth on an average once in 25 years. Giving the South Branch of the Crow River the same treat- ment : — From Table I we find the area~ of the South Branch of the Crow Raver to be 1,554 square miles. From Curve, Figure 1, 1,544-6 = 82 Applying the same Frec[uency Coefficient and Run-oft" Coefficient from Table III and Table IV respectively as in the case of the North Branch and solving, = 100x82 X .75 X 1.00 =^6,150 cubic feet per second, the maximum flow which may be expected at the mouth of the South Branch of the Crow River on an average of once in 25 years. Adding the discharges of the two branches gives a maximum flow in the Crow River below the junction of the North and South Branches of 1,1,475 cubic feet per second. 10 TABLE I. AREAS IN SQUARE MILES OF THE PRINCIPAL DRAINAGE BASINS IN MINNESOTA AND ADJACENT TRIBUTARY TERRITORY. RESUME. MAJOR BASINS Area, Square Miles 1. MISSISSIPPI RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN: Area above the outlet of the Minnesota River 19,888 Area below the outlet of the Minnesota River, exclusive of the Minnesota, Missouri, Des Moines and Red Cedar River basins 9,447 Minnesota River: Tributary area within Minnesota 14,262 Tributary area within South Dakota 1,620 Tributary area within Iowa 655 Area within Minnesota draining through the Des Moines and Red Cedar Rivers 2,663 Area within Minnesota draining through the Missouri River.. 1,799 2. HUDSON BAY DRAINAGE BASIN: Rainy River, area within Minnesota 10,454 Red River of the North: ^ Tributary area within Minnesota (including the Roseau River) 17,388 Tributary area within North and South Dakota 17,952 Tributary area within Canada, draining into Roseau River at points within Minnesota 2,042 3. LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN: Pigeon River: Tributary area within Minnesota 227 Tributary area within Canada 401 Areas within Minnesota directly tributary to Lake Superior.. 5,658 Total Areas of the Major Basins located within Minnesota 81,986 11 MISSISSIPPI RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. SUMMARY Area, Square Miles Total Mississippi River drainage area including 1,620 square miles within South Dakota, and 655 square miles in Iowa, but exclusive of area within Wisconsin 50,334 Total area of the Mississippi River drainage basin within Minnesota 48,059 MISSISSIPPI RIVER. NAMES OF THE TRIBUTARY AREAS Grant Creek 126 Yellow Head River 177 Turtle River 240 Third River 137 Pigeon River 105 Area bordering on the Mississippi River above the Leech Lake River outlet 750 Total area above the Leech Lake River outlet 1,534 Leech Lake River I 1,246 Steamboat River 116 Kabekona River 123 Shingobi Creek 26 Boy River 429 Laura Brook 31 Swift River 30 Bear River 27 Area bordering on the Leech Lake River above the Leech Lake outlet 464 Ball Club River . 49 Deer River 128 Vermillion River 37 Prairie River 446 Area bordering on the Mississippi River between the Leech Lake River outlet and the Swan River outlet .... 327 Total area above the outlet of the Swan River 4,231 Swan River 330 Sandy River 423 Savanah River 48 Prairie River above Sandy Lake 256 Tamarack River 119 Area bordering on- the Mississippi River between the Swan River outlet and the Willow River outlet 112 Total area above the Willow River outlet 5,096 Willow River 483 Hill River ; 86 Morrison Brook 37 Moose River 89 White Elk Brook 44 12 Area, Square Miles Rice River 356 Dam Brook 52 Sisabagama Creek .' - 45 Mud River 106 Little Willow River 87 Dean Brook 23 Area bordering on the Mississippi River between the Willow River outlet and the Pine River outlet 135 Total area above the Pine River outlet ' 6,331 Pine River 802 Ada Brook 71 Daggett Brook 141 Washburn Brook ; 38 Little Pine River 140 Rabbit River 39 Sand Creek 23 Area bordering on the Mississippi River between the - Pine River outlet, and the Crow Wing River outlet 121 Total area above the Crow Wing River outlet 7,316 Crow Wing River 3,668 Shell River 548 Straight River 269 Fish Hook River 191 Blueberry River 44 Swamp River ^ 67 Cat River 50 Little Swamp Creek 9 Beaver Creek 13 Farnham Creek 53 Leaf River 795 Bluff Creek 78 Oak Ridge Creek 31 Wing River ; 184 Red Eye River 196 Partridge River .' 91 Swan Creek 43 Mosquito Creek , 51 Long Prairie River 817 Calamas Creek 40 Belle River 56 Eagle Creek 80 Turtle Creek 10 Moran Brook 60 Fish Trap River 81 Seven Mile Creek 27 Pillager Creek , 12 13 Area, Square Miles Gull River 291 Stoney Brook 43 Home Brook 57 Nokasippi River 228 Daggett Brook 56 Fletcher Boundary Creek 44 Little Elk River 135 Pike Creek 32 Swan |liver 115 Two Rivers 153 South Two Rivers 105 North Two Rivers .' 46 Spunk River 56 Area bordering on the Mississippi River between the Crow Wing River outlet and the Platte River outlet. . . ^ 151 Total area above the Platte River outlet 11,898 Platte River 313 Skunk River 1S6 Little Rock River 102 Watab River 85 Area bordering on the Mississippi River between Platte River outlet and the Sauk River outlet 62 Total area above the Sauk River 12,460 Sauk River 860 Adley Creek 88 Ashley Creek 116 Plum Creek . 46 St. Augusta Creek 8 Clearwater River 181 Silver Creek 52 Elk River 607 Meyhew Creek 60 Rice Creek 53 Snake River 18 St. Francis River 220 Battle Brook 12 Tibbitts Brook 45 Area bordering on the Mississippi River between the Snake River outlet and the Crow River outlet 212 Total area above the Crow River outlet 14,426 Crow River 2,838 Crow River (north branch) 1,217 Skunk River 26 Crow River (middle branch) 310 Jewett Creek 38 Sucker Creek 35 14 Area, Square Miles Twelve Mile Creek 65 Crow River (south branch) 1,554 Buffalo Creek 670 Pioneer Creek 54 Rum River 1,575 Borden Brook 18 Bradbury Brook 20 Stoney Brook 8 Whitney Brook 8 Tibbitts Brook 40 Mike Dreur Brook 12 O'Neill Brook 12 Bandell Brook 17 - Bogus Brook 25 Rum River (west branch) 175 Estes Brook 105 Green Lake Brook 28 Stanchfield Creek 25 Seely Brook 60 Cedar Creek ., 96 Trott Brook 53 Elm Creek 86 Rush Creek 32 Coon Creek 113 Rice Creek 150 Shingle Creek , 335 Bassett Creek 46 Minnehaha Creek 206 Area bordering on the Mississippi River between the Crow River outlet and the Minnesota River outlet 113 Total area above the Minnesota River outlet 19,888 Minnesota River 16,537 (For details of tributary areas of the Minnesota River, see page 17) Area bordering on the Mississippi River between the Minnesota River outlet and the St. Croix River outlet 272 Total area above the St. Croix River 36,697 St. Croix River 3,254 (For details of tributary areas to St. Croix River in Min- nesota, see page 19) Vermillion River 261 Area bordering on the Mississippi River between the St. Croix River outlet, and the Cannon River outlet 80 Total area above the Cannon River 40,292 Cannon River 1,440 Little Cannon River . 16 Devil Creek 21 15 Area,.Square Miles Mackenzie Creek 13 Straight River 465 Crane Creek 107 Wolf Creek 49 ^ Heath Creek 34 Prairie Creek 103 Little Cannon River ; 98 Chub Creek 20 Trout Brook 22 Belle Creek 92 Wells Creek 77 Area bordering on the Mississippi River between the Cannon River outlet and the Zumbro River outlet 168 Total area above the Zumbro River outlet 41,977 Zumbro River 1,377 Zumbro River (south branch) 810 Zumbro River (middle branch) 399 Zumbro River (north branch) 240 Whitewater River 320 Rollingstone Creek 128 Rollingstone Creek (south branch) 55 Rollingstone Creek (west branch) 55 Pine Creek 64 Area bordering on the Mississippi River between the Zumbro River outlet and the Root River outlet 149 Total area above the Root River outlet - 44,015 Root River 1,662 Mill Creek 37 Root River (middle branch) 218 Deer Creek 60 Trout Creek 53 Root River (south branch) 291 Rush Creek 108 Money Creek 219 Root River (south fork) 290 Ricef ord Creek 69 Silver Creek 26 Crystal Creek 12 Thompson Creek 50 Winnebago Creek 90 Area bordering on the Mississippi River between the Root River outlet and the Minnesota-Iowa State Boundary . . 105 Total area above the Minnesota-Iowa State Boundary draining directly into the Mississippi River 45,872 Areasin Minnesota draining into the Mississippi River at ponts outside of Minnesota (see details of tributary areas) 4,462 16 ' MISSISSIPPI RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. MINNESOTA RIVER. SUMMARY Area, Square Miles ^otal Minnesota River drainage area 16,537 Tributary area within Minnesota 14,262 Tributary area within South Dakota 1,620 Tributary area within Iowa 655 NAMES OF THE TRIBUTARY AREAS Area within Minnesota bordering on Big Stone Lake and the Minnesota River above the outlet of the Yellow Bank River 252 Area within South Dakota bordering on Big Stone Lake and tributary to the Minnesota River above the outlet of the Yellow Bank River 920 Stony Run ^ 108 Yellow Bank River: Tributary area within Minnesota 144 Tributary area within South Dakota 415 Total tributary area 559 Ar«a bordering on the Minnesota River between the Yel- low Bank River outlet and the Pomme de Terre River outlet 109 Total area above the Pomme de Terre River outlet 1,948 Pomme de Terre River 961 Mud Creek 148 Area bordering on the Minnesota River between the Pomme de Terre River outlet and the Lac qui Parle River outlet 118 Total area above the Lac qui Parle River outlet 3,027 Lac qui Parle River: Tributary area within Minnesota 768 Tributary area within South Dakota ,285 Total tributary area 1,053 Lac qui Parle River (east branch) 105 Canby Creek 93 Florida Creek 82 Area bordering on the Minnesota River between the Lac qui Parle River outlet and the Chippewa River outlet. . 110 Total area above the Chippewa River 4,190 Chippewa River 1,893 Shakopee Creek 346 Chippewa River (east branch) 423 Little Chippewa River 230 17 Area, Square Miles Stony Run 176 Hawk Creek 531 Chetamba Creek 152 Area bordering on the Minnesota River between the Chippewa River outlet and the Yellow Medicine River outlet 70 Total area above the Yellow Medicine River outlet 6,860 Yellow Medicine River 550 Area bordering on the Minnesota River between the Yel- low Medicine River outlet and the Redwood River outlet ISl Total area above the Redwood River 7,591 Redwood River 702 Three Mile Creek 78 Beaver Creek 249 Area bordering on the Minnesota River between the Red- wood River outlet and the Cottonwood River outlet;. . . 561 Total area above the Cottonwood River 9,103 Cottonwood River 1,200 Sleepy Eye Creek 282 Highwater Creek 102 Dutch Charlie's Creek 78 ' Plum Creek 77 Area bordering on the Minnesota River between the Cot- tonwood River outlet and the Little Cottonwood River outlet 11 Total area ab^ove the Little Cottonwood River outlet 10,314 Little Cottonwood River 255 Nicollet Creek 175 Minneopa Creek 62 Area bordering on the Minnesota River between the Lit- tle Cottonwood River outlet and the Blue Earth River outlet 65 Total area above the Blue Earth River outlet 10,871 Blue Earth River: Tributary area within Minnesota 3 183 Tributary area within Iowa 655 Le Sueur River 938 Maple River 272 Cobb River 214 Little Cobb River 80 Boot Creek 54 Watonwan River ; 780 Perch Creek 107 "Watonwan River (south branch) 220 Chain River, Elm Creek 283 i. .-. 1^ Area, Square Miles Center Creek 113 Lily Creek 31 South Creek 84 Blue Earth River (east branch) 310 Jones Creek 130 Shanaska Creek 51 Cherry Creek , 57 Le Sueur Creek 128 Little Le Sueur Creek 46 Rush River 300 High Island Creek 183 Sevens Creek 120 Carver Creek 72 Sand Creek 267 Raven Stream 46 Porter Creek 84 Credit River 90 Nine Mile Creek 40 Area bordering on the Minnesota River between the Blue Earth River outlet and the Mississippi River 520 MISSISSIPPI RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. ST. CROIX RIVER* SUMMARY Total St. Croix River drainage area 7,290 Tributary area vi^ithin Minnesota 3,254 NAMES OF TRIBUTARY AREAS WITHIN MINNESOTA Spruce River 13 Area bordering on the St. Croix River between the Spruce River outlet and the Tamarack River outlet 8 Total area above the Tamarack River outlet 21 Tamarack River 166 Area bordering on the St. Croix River between the Tama- rack River outlet and the Crooked Creek outlet 5 Total area above the Crooked Creek outlet 192 Crooked Creek 73 Area bordering on the St. Croix River between the Crooked Creek outlet and the Sand River outlet 9 Total area above the Sand River outlet 279 Sand River 139 Area bordering on the St. Croix River between the Sand River outlet and the Bear Creek outlet 1 Total area above the Bear Creek outlet 419 19 Area, Square Miles Bear Creek 44 Area bordering on the St. Croix River between Bear Creek outlet and the Kettle River outlet 2 Total area above the Kettle River outlet 465 Kettle River 1,030 Grindstone River 102 Pine River 103 Little Pine River 24 Willow River 116 Moose River 161 Partridge River 14 Split Rock River 86 Otter Brook 18 Dead Moose River 24 Moose Horn River 43 Area bordering on the St. Croix River between the Kettle River outlet and the Snake River outlet . 14 Total area above the Snake River outlet 1,509 Snake River 936 Mission Creek 15 Pokegema Creek 88 Mud Creek 70 Rice Creek 23 Groundhouse River 138 Ann River ■ 70 Knife River 89 Cowan Brook 10 Chester Brook (Little Snake River) 16 Area bordering on the St. Croix River between the Snake River outlet and Goose Creek outlet 135 Total area above Goose Creek outlet 2,580 Goose Creek 67 Area bordering on the St. Croix River between the Goose Creek River outlet and the Sunrise River outlet 8 Total area above the Sunrise River outlet 2,655 Sunrise River 307 Area bordering on the St. Croix River between the Sun- rise River outlet and Brown Creek outlet 170 Brown Creek 16 Area bordering on the St. Croix River between the Brown Creek outlet and Bolles Creek outlet 44 Total area above Bolles Creek outlet 3,192 Bolles Creek 18 20 Area, Square Miles Area within Minnesota bordering on the St. Croix River between the Bolles Creek outlet and the mouth of the St. Croix River 44 TOTAL DRAINAGE AREA OF THE ST. CROIX RIVER WITHIN MINNESOTA 3,254 *Note — No attempt has been made to determine extent of tributary areas located within the State of Wisconsin. MISSISSIPPI RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. AREAS WITHIN MINNESOTA DRAINING INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT POINTS OUTSIDE OF MINNESOTA. SUMMARY Total area within Minnesota draining into the Mississippi River outside of Minnesota 4,462 Missouri River Drainage Basin 1,799 Areas along the Iowa boundary draining through Iowa directly into the Mississippi River.. 2,663 NAMES OF TRIBUTARIES AND THEIR AREAS WITHIN MINNESOTA DRAINING DIRECTLY INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WITH OUTLETS IN IOWA Iowa River (upper reaches) 193 Little Cedar River 71 Cedar River 957 Shell-rock River " '. 322 Woodbury Brook 55 Rose Creek 93 Turtle Creek 184 Des Moines River 1,443 Des Moines River (east branch) 126 Herron Lake outlet 507 Jack Creek 240 Okabena Creek 171 NAMES OF TRIBUTARIES WITHIN MINNESOTA DRAINING INTO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER THROUGH THE MISSOURI RIVER Rock River 872 Little Rock River -120 Kanaranzi Creek 186 Elk Creek 58 Champepedan Creek r 83 Chanarambic Creek 74 21 Area, Square Miles Big Sioux River 751 Beaver Creek 138 Split Rock Creek 440 Pipestone Creek 68 Flandreau Creek 105 , Area draining into Big Sioux River north of Flandreau Creek 63 Little Sioux River 113 HUDSON BAY DRAINAGE BASIN. SUMMARY RED RIVER OF THE NORTH Total area 37,382 Tributary area within Minnesota, including the Roseau River 17,388 Tributary area in North and South Dakota 17,952 Tributary area in Canada ^ 2,042 RAINY RIVER Total area within Minnesota 10,454 Total Hudson Bay Drainage Basin 47,836 RED RIVER OF THE NORTH NAMES OF TRIBUTARIES Areas within Minnesota bordering on Lake Traverse, be- tween Browns Valley and the Mustinka River outlet. . . 74 Mustinka River, total ; . . 831 Mustinka River above outlet of -^Five Mile Creek 199 Five Mile Creek 150 Twelve Mile Creek 368 Area within Minnesota bordering on Lake Traverse, and the Bois de Sioux River between the Mustinka River outlet and the outlet of the Rabbit River 73 Area within Minnesota above the Rabbit River outlet. . . . 978 Rabbit River 298 Area within Minnesota bordering on the Bois de Sioux River between the Rabbit River outlet and the Otter Tail River outlet 58 Area within North and South Dakota tributary to Lake Traverse and the Bois de Sioux River above the outlet of the Otter Tail River 553 Area within Minnesota above the outlet of the Otter Tail River at Breckenridge 1,334 Total drainage area above Breckenridge. 1,887 22 Area, Square Miles Otter Tail River 1,824 Dead River 104 Toad River 110 Pelican River 468 Area within Minnesota bordering on the Red River be- tween the outlet of the Otter Tail River and Fargo 408 Area within North Dakota bordering on the Red River between the outlet of the Otter Tail River and Fargo 84 Wild Rice River (North Dakota) 2,169 Area within Minnesota above Fargo 3,56fl Total area above Fargo 6,372 Area within Minnesota bordering on the Red River be- tween Fargo and the outlet of the Buffalo River 57 Buffalo River 1,124 Buffalo River (south branch) 444 Deerhorn Creek 122 Whiskey Creek 80 Willow River 160 Area within Minnesota bordering on the Red River be- tween the outlet of the Buffalo River and the Minnesota Wild Rice River outlet.. 40 Area in North Dakota bordering on the Red River be- tween Fargo and the outlet of the Elm River ' 192 Sheyenne River (North Dakota) 7,336 Elm River (North Dakota) 468 Area within Minnesota above the outlet of the Minnesota Wild Rice River 4,787 Total drainage area above the outlet of the Minnesota Wild Rice River , 15,589 Wild Rice River, Minnesota, total area 1,510 , White Earth River 199 Wild Rice (south branch) 357 Area within Minnesota bordering on the Red River be- tween the outlet of the Minnesota Wild Rice River and the Marsh River outlet 80 Area within North Dakota bordering on the Red River between the outlet of the Elm River and the Goose River outlet 51 Goose River (North Dakota) 1,314 Area within Minnesota above the outlet of the Marsh River 6,377 Total area above the outlet of the Marsh River 18,544 Marsh River 286 Area within Minnesota bordering on the Red River be- tween the outlet of the Marsh River and the Sand Hill • River outlet 59 Sand Hill River 544 23 Area, Area within Minnesota bordering on the Red River be- tween the outlet of the Sand Hill River aild the Red Lake River outlet Area within North Dakota bordering on the Red River between the Goose River outlet and Grand Forks Total area above Grand Forks Red Lake River Tamarac River , Shotley Brook Battle River Black Duck River Hay Creek Mud River Pike Creek Big Rock Creek Sandy River Area of Upper and Lower Red Lakes Area bordering on the Red Lakes Area above the outlet of Lower Red Lake Area bordering on the Red Lake River between the outlet of Lower Red Lake and the Thief River outlet Total area above the Thief River outlet Thief River Moose River 282 Area bordering on the Red Lake River between the Thief River outlet and the Clearwater River outlet. . . . Total area above the Clearwater River Clearwater River Badger Creek 147 Lost River 612 Poplar River 107 Hill River 200 Black River Area within Minnesota above Grand Forks Area within Minnesota bordering on the Red River be- tween the outlet of the Red Lake River and the Grand Marais River outlet Grand Marais River Area within North Dakota bordering on the Red Lake River between Grand Forks and the outlet of the Turtle River ' Turtle River (North Dakota) Area bordering on the Red River between the outlet of the Grand Marais River and the Snake River outlet. . . . ^Forest River (North Dakota) Area within Minnesota above the Snake River outlet .... Total area above the Snake River outlet Square Miles 40 289 65 162 269 42 64 24 30 95 440 405 1,885 482 2,367 1,168 170 3,705 1,294 145 481 19,957 5,709 13,015 17 254 139 699 36 1,122 13,322 27,933 24 Area, Square Miles Snake River 991 Middle River 303 Area within Minnesota bordering on the Red River be- tween the Snalie River outlet and the Tamarac River outlet 8 Area within North Dakota bordering on the Red River between the outlet of the Forest River and the Park River outlet 12 Tamarac River 520 Park River (North Dakota) 881 Area within Minnesota bordering on the Red River be- tween the outlet of the Tamarac River and the Two Rivers outlet 263 Area within Minnesota above the Two Rivers outlet 16,104 Two Rivers 1,027 Area within Minnesota bordering on the Red River be- tween the outlet of the Two Rivers and the Interna- tional Boundary 27 Roseau River, within Minnesota 1,230 Area within North Dakota bordering on the Red River between the outlet of the Park River and the Pembina River outlet 454 Pembina River: Tributary area in North Dakota 1,994 Tributary area in Canada 2,042 HUDSON BAY DRAINAGE BASIN. RAINY RIVER IN MINNESOTA* NAMES OF TRIBUTARIES Areas bordering the Gunflint Lakes to Cross River outlet 33 Cross River 8S Area bordering on Saganaga, Knife and Basswood Lakes from the outlet of Cross River to the outlet of the Kawishiwi River 400 Total area above the Kawishiwi River 521 Kawishiwi River 1,402 Beaver River 57 Birch River (south fork Kawishiwi River) 26 Dunka River 14 Stony River 246 Burntside River 142- Isabella River 333 Isabella River (south branch) 60 Area bordering on the Rainy River between the Kawishiwi River outlet and the Loon River outlet 441 25 Area, Square Miles Total area above the Loon River 2,364 Loon River 32 Area bordering on the Rainy River between the Loon River outlet and the Vermillion River outlet 39 Total area above the Vermillion River 2,435 Vermillion River 1,028 Armstrong River 17 East Two Rivers 10 West Two Rivers 20 Pike River 199 Pelican River 196 Elbow River 48 Echo Lake Outlet 102 Area bordering on the Rainy River between the Vermil- lion River outlet and the Namekin River outlet » . 49 Namekin River 34 Area bordering on the Rainy River between the Namekin River outlet and the Moose River outlet r. . 15 Total area above the Moose River outlet 3,561 Moose River 48 Ash River ; 14G Black Duck River 34 Area bordering on Namekin and Rainy Lakes between the Moose River outlet and the Rat Root River outlet 265 Total area above the Rat Root River outlet 4,020 Rat Root River 291 Area bordering on the Rainy River between the Rat Root River outlet and the Little Fork River outlet 73 Total area above the Little Fork River 4,384 Little Fork River 1,767 Beaver Creek 22 Sturgeon River 504 Bearskin River , . 172 Willow River 69 Net Lake River 191 Beaver Brook 121 Area bordering on the Rainy River between the Little Fork River outlet and the Big Fork River outlet 6 Total area above the Big Fork River outlet 6,157 Big Fork River 1,985 Bow String River (above Big Fork) 600 Caldwell Brook 157 Sturgeon River 312 Area bordering on the Rainy River between the Big Fork River outlet and the Black River outlet 3 Total area above the Black River outlet. 8,145 .w^ «fc^ 26 Area, Square Miles Black River 400 Area bordering on the Rainy River between the Black River outlet and the Rapid River outlet 125 Total area above the Rapid River outlet 8,6^0 Rapid River 900 Area bordering on the Rainy River between the Rapid River outlet and the Beaudette River outlet 32 Total area above the Beaudette River 9,602 Beaudette River 96 Area bordering on the Rainy River between the Beaudette River outlet and the Winter Road River 21 Total area above the Winter Road River 9,719 Winter Road River 180 Area bordering on the Rainy River between the outlet of the Winter Road River and the mouth of the Rainy River 37 Total area in Minnesota above the mouth of the Rainy River 9,936 Area in Minnesota bordering on Lake of the Woods be- tween the mouth of the Rainy River and the Warroad River outlet 244 Warroad River 220 Area in Minnesota bordering on Lake of the Woods between the outlet of the Warroad River and the Inter- national Boundary 54 TOTAL RAINY RIVER DRAINAGE AREA IN MINNE- SOTA 10,454 *No attempt has been made to cletermine extent of areas tributary to Rainy River, located witiiin the Dominion of Canada. LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE BASIN. SUMMARY Total Lake Superior drainage area, including the Pigeon River tributaries in Canada (401 square miles) 6,259 Pigeon River, total area within Minnesota 227 Pigeon River, total drainage area 628 NAMES OF THE TRIBUTARIES Pigeon River (including the Canadian tributaries) 628 Area within Minnesota bordering on South, Rose, Rove, Mountain, Moose and North Fowl Lakes 88 Pine River 25 Area within Minnesota bordering on South Fowl Lake be- tween the Pine River outlet and the Stump River outlet 2 Stump River 18 Portage Brook 13 27 Area, Square Miles Area within Minnesota bordering on the Pigeon River be- tween the Portage Brook outlet and the Missaieh River outlet 2 Missaieh River 49 Area within Minnesota bordering on the Pigeon River be- tween the Missaieh River outlet and Lake Superior 30 Total drainage area of Pigeon River within Minnesota. . . 227 Nemadji River 243 Net River 68 Black Hoof Creek 45 St. Louis River 3,324 Partridge River 183 Messaba Creek 38 Embarrass River 180 Mud Hen River 109 Water Hen River 29 Otter River 21 East Two Rivers 54 West Two Rivers 84 - East Swan River 236 Stone" River 40 Sand Creek 62 Whitef ace River 496 Bug Creek 40 Paleface River 61 Floodwood River 202 East Savanah River 114 Stoney Brook (Yellow Pine) 80 Cloquet River 749 Ushkabwakka River 58 Boulder Creek 60 Little Cloquet (Pequaywan Lake outlet) , . 62 Cloquet River (west branch) 109 White Pine Creek 39 Otter Creek 43 Midway Creek 58 Area bordering on Lake Superior between the St. Louis River outlet and the Amity Creek outlet 67 Total area above the Amity Creek outlet 3,634 Amity Creek 10 Lester River 46 French River 22 Knife River 40 Stewarts River 38 Encampment River 19 Gooseberry River 94 Split Rock River 36 28 Area, Square Miles Area bordering on Lake Superior in St. Louis and Lake Counties below Anaity -Creek outlet 197 Beaver Bay River 158 Baptism River 136 Manitou River 102 Two Island River 20 Cross River 78 Temperance River ' 212 Poplar River 167 Cascade River 89 Devil Track River 81 Greenwood River 16 Brule River , 270 Poplar River 20 Mawskiquawcawndu River 28 Area bordering on Lake Superior in Cook County. 138 TOTAL LAKE SUPERIOR DRAINAGE AREA WITHIN MINNESOTA 5.858 29 TABLE II. VALUES OF A-6 FOR USE IN THE FORMULA Q = lOOA-^ A^Area in Square Miles A.6 100,000 1,000 70,000 807 40,000 577 30,000 486 20,000 381 10,000 251 7,000 203 4,000 145 3,000 122 2,000 96 1,000 63 700 51 400 36 300 31 200 24 100 16 70 13 40 9.1 30 7.7 20 6.0 10 4.0 7 3.2 4 2.3 3 1.9 2 1.5 1 1.00 0.7 81 0.4 58 0.3 48 0.2 38 0.1 25 0.05 17 0.01 0.06 30 ... ■~ ■^ — 1 ' n ~ - - ~ "■ r" — ~ - ^ '''' .^ _ .- "^ , ^ ■^ . ^ ^ .^ 1 --^ St ^ ^ ■^ ^ ^ "" ,^ h ^ i ^ ,v> 1 ^ (^ ^ ^' y / " . y y / / O ^ ;^ ■^/ ■e y 7 y. ^ p 9> V,^ f-^ r O ■7 7 i 3 3 J ri:7 7 < '£> 5 J ? iJJk*' ^d<7^ 4^a& ~ "^ ^ ^ -- "" ^ y^ ' -J > -' ^ '- '^ \ r^ K \ . --- u ^ 8 ^ ^ \ ^ 1 1 - - ^ ' s^ / , y y i y - / ^ / A '. ^B- V S' / "^ , Si 'Ot f7 m » . >/ ''/ 6S^ y ^ y -^ \6 7 1 s ? '■'^ ■o fl C 1 K--*^ c '6 O '& d ^ , ^ ^ ^ ^ ' ^ ' <« ^ ^ -- ' ^ ^ r' r^ '<\ r-- i ^ v^ r' ,^ l< ^ y\ < \ ^ i / I h- f -\ < r - ■* ■« «> / T ^ 9c ^, »: ■ / 1 1 / 1 1 i 1 1 1 I -L JTj P<= 4 A '1 6 > 9 < 1 ■* J / k^ , s: « ♦^ '/" m > W 'i ■• 5- ! I. 1 -L- i i • ^ r 4 t Fis-L 31 TABLE III. FREQUENCY COEFFICIENTS. FLOOD FREQUENCY For a flood of magnitude to be expected: Coefficients Once in 10 years .' .85 Once in 25 years 1.00 Once in 100 years 1.40 - 32 TABLE IV. RUN-OFF COEFFICIENTS. CHARACTER OF DRAINAGE BASIN Coefficients Soil Loam Soil Sandy Clayey 1. Very flat agricultural or timber land with some marshes and swamps 35 .40 .50 2. Relatively flat agricultural or timber land with some marshes and ponds 45 .50 ,60 3. Gently rolling agricultural or timber land full of lakes, ponds and marshes connected by poorly de- fined water courses 50 .60 .75 4. Relatively flat -agricultural or timber land of fairly uniform slope, without lakes and ponds 60 .70 .85 5. Slightly undulating agricultural or timber land with- out lakes or ponds; or distinctly rolling to hilly agricultural or timber land, with lakes and ponds... .70 .80 1.00 6. Gently rolling agricultural or timber land without lakes and ponds 85 1.00 1.25 7. Distinctly rolling to hilly agricultural or timber land without lakes and ponds; or hilly agricultural or timber lands with steep slopes and lakes, ponds and marshes in valleys 1.10 1.50 2.00 8. Hilly agricultural or timber land with steep slopes barely admitting of cultivation; without lakes, ponds or marshes 2.25 3,00 4.00 9. Very hilly timber or brush-covered land, slopes too steep for cultivation; ravines and gullies with occa- sional small ponds or marshes 3.50 4.50 6.00 10. Very hilly timber or brush-covered land with some rock outcropping; ravines and gullies, and occa- sional small ponds or marshes 5.00 6.00 8.00 11. Very hilly to rugged country with much rock out- cropping; scattered timber; occasional small ponds and marshes 9.00 10.00 12.00 12. Rugged to precipitous rocky country with practically no soil cover; small timber and brush; ravines and gullies; no lakes, ponds or marshes to retard runoff 15.00 Note — The available information on the subject does not indicate that forests have any material effect upon the extreme flood flow. They have a tendency to reduce the ordinary flood flow somewhat. In northern Minnesota forests have aggravated spring floods lay retarding the melting of snow until warm April rains set in. Tn determining the proper coefficient to use for a given drainage basin of diverse characteristics, subdivide the basin into approximately similar areas, select 33 the proper coefficient for each subdivision, and compute the average coefficient applicable to the entire area. In general, it may be stated that lakes, ponds and marshes have a most pro- nounced retarding effect upon the runoff, resulting in low coefficients. A region may be hilly — even rocky — but between the hills and rock outcrops there may be lakes, ponds, marshes, bogs or ^muskegs, wliich greatly retard the flow of water to the main stream, even though the rainfall rapidly runs off from the hills into the valleys where the lakes, ponds and marshes lie. Drainage basins having a rela- tively uniform slope in one direction, particularly if deeply gullied, would require the use of lar'ge coefficients. •64 SYNDICATE PRINTING CO. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS illllll 029 714 159 4