Florida Streamgages Measure Record Peaks Following Hurricane Irma

by | Sep 19, 2017 | Academic, Media

Release Date:

Editor’s note: this news release will be updated online with more information on the streamgage records being set in Florida as it becomes available

Rivers and streams reached record levels as a result of Hurricane Irma’s rainfall, with about 60 U.S. Geological Survey streamgages measuring record peaks.

“During peak flooding, about 32 streamgages in  Florida recorded water levels at flood stage,” said Richard Kane with the USGS Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center. “Several gauges, including Santa Fe River at Worthington Springs, FL  that have been in operation for more than 50 years, have recorded new peaks.”

As crews continue to assess and recover from damage caused by Irma, USGS hydrologists and hydrologic technicians in Florida and from other parts of the country have been deployed to measure high flood flows. The crews are also calibrating and repairing streamgages damaged by the storm to ensure they continue to transmit information in real time to users working to protect lives and property.  

In Florida, the USGS has over 900 real-time stream, lake, reservoir, precipitation, water quality, and groundwater stations. The USGS, in cooperation with state, local, and federal agencies, operates a nationwide network of more than 8,200 streamgages on inland rivers and streams. These gauges provide real-time data important to the National Weather Service, FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other state and local partners involved in issuing flood and evacuation warnings, coordinating emergency responses to communities, and operating flood-control reservoirs.

Information on record peaks and flows is still being gathered and is subject to change.

In Florida, provisional data shows new records have been set on the following waterways:

  • Sante Fe River

  • Wekiva River

  • Josephine Creek

  • Joshua Creek

  • Charlie Creek

  • Reedy Creek

  • North and South Prongs Alafia River

  • Apopka-Beauclair Canal

  • Little Withlacoochee River

  • Shingle Creek

  • Whittenhorse Creek

  • Withlacoochee River

  • Shell Creek

  • Prairie Creek

  • Palatlakaha River

  • Ft. Drum Creek

  • Carter Creek

  • Green Swamp Run

  • Hillsborough River

  • Rocky Creek

  • North Prong Saint Sebastian River

  • South Lake Outlet

  • Lateral 101 Canal

  • Tiger Creek

  • St. Johns River

  • Baker Creek

  • Deep Creek

  • Wolf Branch

  • Tamiami Canal

  • Lake Jesup Outlet

  • Spring Creek

  • Saddle Creek

  • Econlockhatchee River

  • Little Econlockhatchee River

  • Howell Creek

  • Curiosity Creek

  • Long Creek

  • Cypress Creek Canal

  • Fisheating Creek

  • Popash Slough

  • Fish Slough

  • Cypress Slough

  • Phosphate Mine Outfall

  • Ortega River

  • Myakka River

  • Little Creek

  • Blue Springs

  • Lake Lena Run

  • Cedar River

  • Peace River

  • Nassau River

  • Anclote River

View current monitoring data for almost 900 USGS real-time stream, lake, reservoir, precipitation, and groundwater stations in Florida in context with current weather and hazard conditions at USGS WaterWatch for Florida or the USGS Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center website.

To learn more about the USGS’s role providing science to decision makers before, during, and after Hurricane Irma, visit the USGS Hurricane Irma.

For more information on being prepared for storms, go to ready.gov or ready.gov/es.