| Water Resources of New Hampshire and Vermont |
| Flooding in Northern New Hampshire and Vermont,March 30 to April 2, 1998 Report by USGS, WRD, NH-VT District |
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Three days of 80+ degree temperatures triggering major snowmelt (approximately 6 inches of water equivalent), coupled with an inch or more of precipitation in the northern parts of New Hampshire and Vermont, combined to cause flooding in the Androscoggin, Connecticut, and Missisquoi River Basins during the period from March 31 - April 2, 1998. Within the Androscoggin Basin, a new peak of record (56 years) occurred during the evening of March 31st at the USGS gage on the Diamond River near Wentworth Location, NH, where the stage reached 12.1 feet and the discharge reached 13,700 cubic feet per second (cfs). This peak is estimated to be in excess of the 100-year flood. Downstream, a record peak also occurred at the gage on the Androscoggin River at Gorham, with 93 years of record, where the stage reached 10.2 feet and the discharge reached 20,200 cfs. This approximated a 50-year flood. Within the Upper Connecticut River Basin, the gage on the Connecticut River below Indian Stream near Pittsburg, NH recorded a peak stage of 7.6 feet, the second highest in 39 years. The peak discharge, which occurred at mid-day on March 31st, was 4,800 cfs and exceeded the 50- year flood. Downstream on the Connecticut, the gage at North Stratford recorded the highest stage (15.6 ft.) for the 65-year period of record in the afternoon of the 31st. The peak discharge was 28,600 cfs, which approximated the 50-year flood. Further downstream on the Connecticut River, the gage near Dalton, NH recorded a peak stage of 23.7 feet and a peak discharge of 42,000 cfs in the evening of April 1. This discharge was less than the 50-year flood. The Connecticut River gage at Wells River, VT recorded a stage of 14.1 feet and a discharge of 45,100 cfs (less than a 10-year flood) in the morning of April 2. The gage at West Lebanon, NH measured a peak stage of 21.9 feet and a peak discharge of 62,700 cfs, also less than a 10-year flood, in the morning of April 2. Downstream of Lebanon, and elsewhere within the basin, flood levels were generally within the 2-5 year range. Within the Missisquoi Basin in Vermont, the gage on the Missisquoi River at E. Berkshire recorded the third highest peak discharge (20,400 cfs) for the period of record (84 years) in the early morning hours of March 31st. The stage reached 17.1 feet, which exceeded the 50-year flood level. In other drainage basins throughout New Hampshire and Vermont, flows had generally less than a 2-year recurrence interval. For more details on flood stages and discharges, see the table below.
Peak Stages, Discharges and Approximate Recurrence Intervals
Provisional Data for Flood of March 30- Apr.2, 1998
Period
Station DA Station Peak Peak Peak RI Historical of Record
No. Stage cfs cfsm Yrs Stage discharge year
ANDROSCOGGIN RIVER BASIN Diamond River near Wentworth Location, NH 152 1052500 12.11 13700 90.1 gt 100 10.66 8630 1943 1941-97 Androscoggin River at Errol, NH 1046 1053500 8.49 13000 12.4 9.40 16500 1969 1905-97 Androscoggin River near Gorham, NH 1361 1054000 10.15 20200 14.8 ~50 -- 20000 1917 1913-97 SACO RIVER BASIN Ellis River near Jackson, NH 10.9 1064300 3.83 656 60 lt 2 18.90 4500 1966 1964-97 Saco River near Conway, NH 385 1064500 9.54 14300 37.1 lt 2 17.20 47200 1953 1903-97 Bear Camp River near South Tamworth, NH 67.6 1064801 6.53 1830 27.1 lt 2 8.91 4500 1995 1993-97 PISCATAQUA RIVER BASIN Salmon Falls River at Milton, NH 108 1072100 4.42 734 6.8 lt 2 6.70 4000 1984 1969-97 Cocheco River at Rochester, NH 87.4 1072800 5.51 463 5 -- 14.82 3090 1996 1995-97 Oyster River near Durham, NH 12.1 1073000 -- -- -- -- 6.67 1160 1996 1934-97 Lamprey River near Newmarket, NH 183 1073500 -- -- -- -- 15.14 7570 1987 1934-97 MERRIMACK RIVER BASIN East Branch Pemigewasset River at Lincoln, NH 115 1074520 5.79 4530 39.4 lt 2 11.07 16500 1995 1993-97 Pemigewasset River at Woodstock, NH 193 1075000 8.63 8350 43.3 lt 2 16.13 47000 1959 1940-97 Stevens Brook near Wentworth, NH 2.9 1075800 2.89 107 37 lt 2 6.36 1210 1973 1963-97 Baker River near Rumney, NH 143 1076000 7.05 4180 29.2 lt 2 15.50 21400 1942 1940-97 Pemigewasset River at Plymouth, NH 622 1076500 12.45 18000 28.9 lt 2 29.00 64500 1936 1903-97 Smith River near Bristol, NH 85.8 1078000 7.00 1850 21.6 2 to 5 16.09 8100 1936 1918-97 Winnipesaukee River at Tilton, NH 471 1081000 5.80 1990 4.2 lt 2 8.68 4580 1984 1937-97 Merrimack River at Franklin Jct., NH 1507 1081500 14.32 18600 12.3 lt 2 36.4 83000 1936 1903-97 Contoocook River at Peterborough, NH 68.1 1082000 3.96 839 12.3 lt 2 6.62 2860 1987 1945-97 Nubanusit Brook near Peterborough, NH 46.9 1083000 5.55 -- 1130 1931 1920-97 Contoocook River near Henniker, NH 368 1085000 11.07 5730 15.6 2 to 5 a21.3 22200 1938 1940-97 Contoocook R bel Dam, at W. Hopkinton, NH 427 1085500 8.08 4750 11 2 to 5 10.89 7530 1987 1963-97 West Branch Warner River near Bradford, NH 5.7 1085800 7.14 262 46 lt 2 -- 800 1984 1962-97 Blackwater River near Webster, NH 129 1087000 6.84 2030 16 2 to 5 11.78 11000 1936 1918-97 Soucook River at Pembroke Road nr Concord, NH 81.9 1089100 6.80 500 6.1 lt 2 b14.50 b3700 1977 1988-97 Piscataquog R bel Everett Dam nr E. Weare, NH 63.1 1090800 7.55 818 13.0 lt 2 9.09 1770 1984 1963-97 Piscataquog River nr Goffstown, NH 202 1091500 6.63 1660 8.2 lt 2 10.85 6840 1960 1940-97 Merrimack R nr Goffs Falls, bel Manchester, NH 3092 1092000 10.44 28900 9.3 lt 2 25.87 102000 1938 1936-97 Stony Brook tributary near Temple, NH 3.6 1093800 3.62 83 23 lt 2 5.63 648 1997 1963-97 Souhegan River at Merrimack, NH 171 1094000 5.08 1190 7.0 lt 2 16.2 16900 1936 1909-97 Beaver Brook at North Pelham, NH 47.8 10965852 -- -- -- -- 12.88 1850 1987 1987-97 Period
Station DA Station Peak Peak Peak RI Historical of Record
No. Stage cfs cfsm Yrs Stage discharge year
CONNECTICUT RIVER BASIN
Conn. R bel Indian Stream, nr Pittsburg, NH 254 1129200 7.6 4760 18.7 50 to 100 7.97 5240 1996 1956-97
Mohawk Brook near Colebrook, N. H. 36.7 1129440 10.99 ~5000 136 5 to 10 8.93 7630 1987 1986-97
Connecticut River at North Stratford, NH 799 1129500 15.63 28600 40.0 50 to 100 14.67 28700 1943 1930-97
Upper Ammonoosuc River near Groveton, NH 232 1130000 8.97 7660 33.0 10 to 25 12.01 24100 1969 1940-97
Connecticut River near Dalton, NH 1514 1131500 23.70 42000 27.7 lt 50 25.6 48300 1936 1927-97
Moose River at Victory, VT 75.2 1134500 9.98 1610 21.4 lt 2 12.04 4940 1973 1947-97
Pope Brook (site W-3) near North Danville, VT 3.2 1135150 a3.4 a380 1973 1990-97
Sleepers River (site W-5) near St. Johnsbury, VT 42.9 1135300 4.00 1810 42 unk 4.91 3020 1997 1990-97
Passumpsic River at Passumpsic, VT 436 1135500 14.23 9480 21.7 2 to 5 23.49 18200 1973 1928-97
Ammonoosuc River at Bethlehem Junction, NH 87.6 1137500 7.11 3340 38.1 lt 2 12.34 11300 1996 1939-97
Connecticut River at Wells River, VT 2644 1138500 14.10 45100 17.1 5 to 10 17.35 57100 1973 1949-97
Wells River at Wells River, VT 98.4 1139000 5.74 1900 19 2 to 5 9.82 5970 1973 1940-97
East Orange Branch at East Orange, VT 8.9 1139800 3.97 216 24 lt 2 5.90 800 1990 1958-97
Ompompanoosuc River at Union Village, VT 130 1141500 9.58 1860 14.3 ~2 9.65 4800 1947 1940-89
Mink Brook near Etna, NH 4.6 1141800 2.96 214 46 2 3.93 629 1986 1962-97
Ayers Brook at Randolph, VT 30.5 1142500 6.98 1220 40 5 to 10 10.37 2600 1973 1939-97
White River at West Hartford, VT 690 1144000 13.65 20200 29.3 2 to 5 29.3 120000 1928 1915-97
Connecticut River at West Lebanon, NH 4092 1144500 21.86 62700 15.3 5 to 10 35.0 136000 1928 1911-97
Mascoma River at West Canaan, NH 80.5 1145000 6.54 1940 24 2 to 5 8.94 3780 1953 1939-78,
1985-97
Mascoma River at Mascoma, NH 153 1150500 8.07 2700 17.6 2 to 5 7.5 5840 1936 1923-97
Ottauquechee River near West Bridgewater, VT 23.4 1150900 6.80 1570 67 10 7.33 1960 1997 1985-97
Ottauquechee River at North Hartland, VT 221 1151500 7.69 4400 19.9 lt 2 17.68 24400 1938 1930-97
Sugar River at West Claremont, NH 269 1152500 5.99 4140 15.4 lt 2 10.92 14000 1936 1928-97
Black River at North Springfield, NH 158 1153000 c7.95 c4180 c26 c2 to 5 17.68 15500 1938 1929-97
Williams River near Rockingham, VT 112 1153550 7.65 4230 37.8 lt 2 10.59 11500 1987 1986-97
Connecticut River at North Walpole, NH 5493 1154500 25.76 75000 13.7 2 to 5 30.3 97000 1953 1942-97
West River at Jamaica, VT 179 1155500 c9.49 c5900 c33 c2 to 5 14.87 29500 1948 1946-89,
1995-97
West River bel Townshend Dam near Townshend, VT 282 1155910 d8.80 d7770 d28 e lt 2 8.89 8050 1996 1994-97
Ashuelot River bel Surry Dam near Keene, NH 101 1158000 8.02 862 8.5 lt 2 11.78 2260 1987 1945-97
Otter Brook below Otter Brook Dam nr Keene, NH 47.2 1158600 8.52 661 14.0 2 to 5 8.62 752 1987 1958-97
Ashuelot River at West Swanzey, NH 316 1160350 3.23 2380 7.5 unk 3.67 3620 1996 1994-97
Ashuelot River at Hinsdale, NH 420 1161000 6.66 3250 7.7 lt 2 20.2 16600 1936 1907-11,
1914-97
Period
Station DA Station Peak Peak Peak RI Historical of Record
No. Stage cfs cfsm Yrs Stage discharge year
HUDSON RIVER BASIN Walloomsac River near North Bennington, VT 111 1334000 5.55 1950 17.6 lt 2 12.04 8450 1938 1931-97 ST. LAWRENCE RIVER BASIN
Poultney River below Fair Haven, VT 187 4280000 24.36 14800 1945 1928-97
Mettawee River near Pawlet, VT 70.2 4280350 4.11 1080 15 lt 2 6.31 4480 1996 1984-97
Otter Creek at Center Rutland, VT 307 4282000 10.73 6680 22 2 to 5 12.45 13700 1938 1928-97
Otter Creek at Middlebury, VT 628 4282500 f7.00 f5720 f9.1 f2 to 5 a13.3 a13600 1927 1903-07,
1911-20,
1929-97
New Haven River at Brooksville nr Middlebury, VT 115 4282525 7.23 2410 21 lt 2 10.92 9580 1996 1990-97
Little Otter Creek at Ferrisburg, VT 57.1 4282650 3.38 663 12 lt 2 5.17 2210 1996 1990-97
Lewis Creek at N. Ferrisburg, VT 77.2 4282780 4.25 1120 14 lt 2 6.10 3230 1996 1990-97
LaPlatte River at Shelburne Falls, VT 44.6 4282795 4.10 577 13 lt 2 7.73 2640 1996 1990-97
North Branch Winooski River at Wrightsville, VT 69.2 4285500 3.68 1090 15 5 to 10 6.53 2170 1934 1934-97
Winooski River at Montpelier, VT 397 4286000 10.05 5670 14 lt 2 a27.1 a57000 1928 1909-23,
1928-97
Dog River at Northfield Falls, VT 76.1 4287000 5.87 2680 35.2 lt 2 11.57 10600 1973 1934-97
Mad River near Moretown, VT 139 4288000 a19.4 a23000 1928 1929-97
Little River near Waterbury, VT 111 4289000 19.38 6520 1936 1936-97
Winooski River near Essex Junction, VT 1044 4290500 13.55 20500 20 2 24.54 45300 1936 1929-97
Lamoille River at Johnson, VT 310 4292000 12.12 6780 21.9 lt 2 19.98 19000 1995 1912-97
Lamoille River at East Georgia, VT 686 4292500 10.46 15600 22.7 2 to 5 12.4 23700 1982 1929-97
Stone Bridge Brook near Georgia Plains, VT 8.4 4292700 5.61 240 28 2 to 5 8.59 1030 1996 1963-74,
1990-97
Missisquoi River near North Troy, VT 131 4293000 12.68 7710 58.9 ~50 13.21 8290 1982 1931-97
Missisquoi River near East Berkshire, VT 479 4293500 17.09 20400 42.6 ~50 17.45 45000 1927 1915-97
Missisquoi River at Swanton, VT 850 4294000 8.57 32100 38 25 to 50 9.50 29000 1996 1990-97
Black River at Coventry, VT 122 4296000 7.37 3360 27.5 10 to 25 7.91 3740 1976 1951-97
Clyde River at Newport, VT 142 4296500 5.76 3900 1936 1909-24,
1929-36,
1939-97
-- = no peak occurred ~ = approximately a = outside period of record. b = at site located .9 mi upstream (0108900) c = peak occurred on 04/06 cfs = cubic feet per second cfsm = cubic feet per second per square mile of drainage area d = peak occurred on 04/07 DA = drainage area in square miles e = RI from 01156000 WEST RIVER AT NEWFANE, VT f = peak occurred on 04/05 gt = greater than lt = less than RI = approximate recurrence interval in years Stage = water level in feet above gage zero unk = unkown Flooding in Northern New Hampshire and Vermont - 03 APR 98 Back to NH-VT Water Science Center Home Page Generated with CERN WebMaker |
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03275, USA
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