USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

02425000 CAHABA RIVER NEAR MARION JUNCTION, AL

LOCATION - Lat 32°26'38", long 87°10'49" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, Dallas County, AL, Hydrologic Unit 03150202, on upstream side of upstream bridge on U.S. Highway 80, 3.8 mi downstream of Oakmulgee Creek, 3.5 mi east of Marion Junction, and 21.4 mi upstream of mouth.

DRAINAGE AREA - 1,766 mi².

REVISIONS HISTORY - WDR AL-84-1: Drainage area. WDR AL-2006-1: Hydrologic unit code.

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - October 1938 to September 1954, October 1968 to current year. Monthly discharge only October to December 1938, published in WSP 1304. Gage-height records collected at same site from 1939 to 1971 are contained in reports of the National Weather Service.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder.  Datum of gage is 86.91 ft above NAVD of 1988, (Reference Frame NAD_83 (2011) (EPOCH:2010.0000) GEOID18). 

Prior to March 14, 2024 the datum of gage was 86.72 ft NGVD of 1929 (levels by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). October 1940 to September 1954, nonrecording gage 12 mi downstream from base gage at same datum.

REMARKS - Record considered good. An average of 82 ft³/s is diverted upstream from station by Birmingham Water Works Board, and is not included in records. Flow partially regulated by Purdy Lake (capacity, 15,300 acre-ft) on Little Cahaba River and several waste-water treatment plants.

EXTREMES OUTSIDE PERIOD OF RECORD - Flood of Feb. 24, 1961, reached a stage of 43.80 ft, present datum, from floodmarks (discharge not determined).