GLY 2620: Buffalo Creek Flood Hydrograph On February 26, 1972, the most destructive flood in West Virginias

history swept through the Buffalo Creek valley in the southwest corner of the State, 40 miles south of Charleston (Figure 1). Shortly before 8:00 AM, a coal-waste dam collapsed on the Buffalo Creek tributary, releasing 132 million gallons of coal wastewater and slag. A 10 to 20 ft flood wave rapidly passed down the valley, killing 118 people, destroying 500 homes, leaving 4000 people homeless, and creating $50 million dollars in damage to public infrastructure. The towns most directly affected by the flooding include Saunders, Stowe, Accoville, and Man (Figure 2).

Table 1 is a record of stream discharge data collected along Buffalo Creek on the day of the flood by USGS stream gauges. Your task is to plot a hydrograph (Discharge vs. Time) for Buffalo Creek. Procedure: 1. Using the discharge data in Table 1, plot a flood hydrograph for each station, using a different symbol for each (e.g. Saunders station = X; Stowe station = O, etc.) on the graph below. 2. In Table 2, determine travel velocity of the peak flood wave as it progressed downstream. a. Determine distance along stream between each station (Fig. 2) b. Determine travel time of peak flood wave (in hrs) between stations c. Calculate velocity of peak flood wave between each station (in mi/hr using V=d/t) d. Calculate total distance, travel time, and average velocity between Saunders and Man e. Convert flood-wave velocity from mi/hr to ft/sec. 3. In Table 3, compute the cross-sectional area of peak flood flow at the Stowe, Accoville, and Man stations using the continuity equation: Q = VA, where Q = flood peak discharge, V = velocity of flood wave, and A = cross-sectional area of channel flow in the valley. a. List the peak flood wave velocities in ft/sec, as calculated on Table 2. b. From your hydrograph / discharge data, list the peak flood-wave discharge for each of the stations listed on Table 3. c. Re-arrange discharge equation and solve for cross-section area of flow in ft (ie. Q = AV or A = Q/V)

Table 1: Stream Discharge after Dam Breech

Time (min) after breech 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 260 265 @ Saunders Q (cfs) 500 500 500 32000 50000 25000 3000 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 @Stowe, WV Q (cfs) 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 2000 3000 6000 9000 12000 9000 8000 5000 2000 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 @Accoville Q (cfs) 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 1000 2000 3000 5000 6000 7000 9000 8000 7000 5000 3000 2500 2000 1500 850 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 @Man Q (cfs) 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1500 2000 2500 3000 5000 8000 7500 5500 4500 4000 3000 2500 2000 1800 1000 800 650 500 500

Flood Hydrograph 2/26/72 Buffalo Creek, WV Dam Break

DISCHARGE (CFS)

TIME (MIN) AFTER DAM BREECH

Stream Segment SaundersStowe StoweAccoville AccovilleMan SaundersMan

Distance (mi)

TABLE 2 Time Time (min) (hr)

Velocity (mi/hr)

Velocity (ft/sec)

1 mph = 1.467 fps Q = AV Questions: 1. Describe what happens to the peak flood-wave discharge as the dam-burst event progresses downstream.

2. Describe what happens to the velocity of the peak flood-wave as it passes downstream.

3. Provide an explanation as to why you think the peak flood-wave discharge decreases so dramatically from Saunders (near the dam break) to the other stations? (think about what is happening to the river channel and the water in the channel; where does the water go?). TABLE 3 Peak Floodwave Q (cfs)

Station Stowe 4. Based on Table 2 and Table 3, why does the Accoville flood-wave travel velocity diminish so Man significantly between Accoville and Man? (look at the data and think about the area of creek).

Velocity (ft/sec)

Cross-Section Area (sq. ft)

5. Which town along Buffalo Creek do you think sustained the most death and destruction? Explain your answer in detail (why?).

6. What would have been the best way to save lives in Man, WV, compared to Saunders again look at the data in Table 3.