Flood Prediction and Inundation Mapping

Flood Prediction and Inundation Mapping
Emergency responders and residents living along Wildcat Creek have a new tool to help them understand their risks during floods. A partnership of federal, state and local organizations collaborated to provide a comprehensive flood warning system that includes three new stream gauges and online access to local flood inundation maps.

The project is a collaboration of NOAA’s National Weather Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District, U.S. Geological Survey Kansas Water Science Center, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Kansas Department of Agriculture-Division of Water Resources, Kansas Division of Emergency Management, U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Riley, Riley County and the City of Manhattan.

In addition, U.S. Geological Survey personnel installed a new flood forecast point stream gauge at Scenic Drive and an observation gauge at Seth Child Road. The gauges provide on-site data collection points for the Wildcat Creek flood maps, which span from 3.5 miles upstream to 6 miles downstream of Scenic Drive. A third stream gauge was added on Wildcat Creek near Keats.

When the National Weather Service in Topeka issues forecasts for the Wildcat Creek area at different flows and stages, residents and emergency responders will be able to open the map and see what those stages mean to them, according to the NWS.

Additional Resources