Water School

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What is flood stage?

Flooding

Flood stage is an established gage height within a creek or river above which a rise in water surface level is described as a flood. This is the elevation at which the overflow of the natural banks of a stream or body of water begins.The gage height is the height of the water surface above a predetermined point. Once the gage height becomes too high in the lowest bank of reach this is when flood damage begins to impact an area. The National Weather Service uses gage height numbers to inform peop...

What is the Brazos River?

Brazos River

The Brazos River is the longest river contained entirely in Texas, with its watershed stretching from New Mexico to the Gulf of America. The Brazos River draw lies approximately 50 miles west of the Texas-New Mexico border, beginning a watershed that stretches 1,050 miles and comprises 44,620 square miles, 42,000 of which are in Texas.The Brazos River proper is formed at the confluence of the upper forks of the river, the Salt and Double Mountain, in Stonewall County. The Clear Fork joins t...

What is a flood plain?

Flooding, Hydrology

A floodplain is any ordinarily dry land area susceptible to inundation by water. This area is usually low, flat, and next to a stream or other body of water. Living on a floodplain can be especially dangerous in the circumstance that flooding does occur. There is always some risk for those on a floodplain, whether it’s people, businesses, or agriculture. Some floodplains are clearly defined by natural features, by infrastructure made by people, or not clearly outlined.Some floodplains are ...

What is the gage height or stage?

The gage height or stage is the height of the water surface above an established datum point, such as in a river above a predetermined point. The gage height does not represent the depth of the river.

What is a 500-year flood?

Flooding, Hydrology

A 500-year flood is a high streamflow that overflows the natural or artificial banks of a waterway and has a two-tenths of 1% chance of occurring in any given year.

What is a 50-year flood?

Flooding, Hydrology

A 50-year flood is a high streamflow that overflows the natural or artificial banks of a waterway and has a two percent chance of occurring in any given year.

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