USGS Water-Year Summary 2024
07143300 COW CREEK NEAR LYONS, KS
LOCATION - Lat 38°18'30", long 98°11'30" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, in SW 1/4 NW 1/4 SE 1/4 sec.15, T.20 S., R.8 W., Rice County, KS, Hydrologic Unit 11030011, on left bank near downstream side of Missouri Pacific Railroad bridge, 500 ft downstream from Little Cow Creek, 3.0 mi south of Lyons, and at mile 33.0.
DRAINAGE AREA - 728 mi² of which 229 mi² probably is noncontributing. in Cheyenne Bottoms closed basin.
REVISIONS HISTORY - WSP 877: 1938(M). WSP 1117: Drainage area. WSP 1177: 1950(M).
SURFACE-WATER RECORDS
PERIOD OF RECORD - October 1937 to September 1951. Occasional low-flow measurements, water years 1954-60. Annual maximum, water years 1960-61. October 1961 to current year. Prior to April 1938, monthly discharge only, published in WSP 1311.
GAGE -
Water-stage recorder. The current datum of gage is 1,628.37 ft. above msl. (NAVD88) (Static survey,OPUS-RS) Previous datum of gage was 1,628.16 ft. above NGVD of 1929 (levels by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). Prior to July 3, 1938, non-recording gage at present site and datum. July 3, 1938 to Sept. 30, 1951, water-stage recorder at site 60 ft upstream at same datum. October 1959 to Mar. 12, 1962, crest-stage gage at present site and datum.
EXTREMES OUTSIDE PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum stage since at least 1928, 22.75 ft, July 11, 1929, from information by Missouri Pacific Railroad Co.
EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD -
Maximum discharge is 24,100 cfs on Sept. 26, 1973 at a stage of 20.38 ft. (determined by rating curve extension).
Flood of Oct. 20, 1941 reached a stage of 20.49 ft. with a corresponding discharge of 12,400 cfs.
Flood of Oct. 12, 1973 reached a stage of 19.04 ft. with a corresponding discharge of 11,800 cfs,.
Flood of May 7, 2007 reached a stage of 20.35 ft. with a corresponding discharge of 23,800 cfs.