Photograph of an aerial shot of Owl Creek Detention Reservoir site #1, spillway, and the surrounding area. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Owl Creek Site #1. Detention Reservoir, D. A. – 500 acres. Permanent pool – 1.03” runoff with 12.3 acres surface. Flood pool – 4.19” runoff with 33.8 acres surface. Storage total – 5.22” runoff to emergency spillway. The flood pool, which is 8’ in depth, discharges through an 18” pipe at an average rate of 27 c.f.s. or at an average rate of 1.3 inches runoff per day for its whole drainage area. During the storm of May 9-10, 15.5 inches of rain fell upon this watershed. Runoff filled the flood pool to the emergency spillway shown in foreground. In this photo flood pool is still discharging with 2 ft. of water over the 18” discharge pipe.”

Photograph of an aerial shot of Owl Creek Detention Reservoir site #1 & 2 and the surrounding area. Several homes and buildings populate the land in the top background of photograph. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Bottomland protected by this (site 2) reservoir and by Site No. 1 which is to the right.”

Photograph of Owl Creek Site #4. 1.8 ft. of water flowed through this spillway with only mnor damage although the Bermuda sod on it has just started to grow.

Photograph of an aerial shot of Owl Creek Detention Reservoir site #1 & 2 and the surrounding area. Several homes and buildings populate the land in the top background of photograph. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Bottomland protected by this (site 2) reservoir and by Site No. 1 which is to the right.”

Photograph of an aerial shot of Owl Creek Detention Reservoir site #4 and the surrounding area. A barn or a miscellaneous building stands in the background of photo on the left side. The back of the photograph proclaims, “Owl Creek Site #4. Detention Reservoir: Drainage are [sic] – 300 ac. Permanent pool – 1.13” runoff with 6.88 surface acres. Flood pool – 4.09” runoff with 19.50 surface acres. Total storage – 5.22” runoff. The flood pool which is 8 ft. in depth has a discharge rate from 31 c.f.s. to 37 c.f.s. from 18” pipe. During the storm of May 9-10 (both pools were empty except the borrow pit) 15.5 inches of rain fell in this watershed, and water was discharged, for a short time, through the emergency spillway at a depth of 1.8 ft.”

Photograph of an UNIDENTIFED man (Walter Grey) surveying damage from a broken levee, which damaged 450 acres of bottomland and severely damaged 100 acres. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Owner Walter Gray reports spending $35,000 on levees to protect his bottomland over a 20-year period. Large breaks in levees, along straightened creek, can be seen across field. Owner Gray said 450 acres of bottomland were damaged by flood. Over 100 acres were damaged seriously."

Photograph of broken levee, which protected a bottomland field, near State Highway 24, eight miles west of Wayne. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Break in levee built along State Highway 24 eight miles west of Wayne to protect bottomland field shown beyond."

Photograph of Mr. Gray and Harry Maricle standing in cornfield following flood. People shown in photo go as followed from left to right: 1. Harry Maricle, 2. Mr. Gray. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Corn crop following flood. Best growing season in 51 years followed flood, Mr. Gray said. That's reason crop will be better than expected. He lost one cutting of alfalfa because of flood. 290 acres of corn hurt. Should make 75 bushels to acre in some parts of field. Has spent $500 poisoning corn for insects because was late. Paying $9 an hour to repair flood damage to levy (background). Job will cost estimated $1500. Mr. Gray and Harry Maricle in pix."

Photograph of an aerial shot of Owl Creek Site #5 and the surrounding area. The back of the photograph proclaims "Owl Creek Site #5. Detention Reservoir: D. A. – 490 ac. Permanent pool – 1.15" runoff with 10.0 acre surface. Flood pool – 4.56" runoff with 29.4 Acres surface. Total storage – 5.71" runoff from 490 Acres. Flood pool (10' in depth) discharges through an 18" metal pipe at rate varying from 29 c.f.s. Both pools were empty but were filled during storm of May 9-10 & 1.0' depth discharged through [[…] spillway]."

Photograph of an aerial shot of Owl Creek Site #4, spillway, and the surrounding area. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Owl Creek Site #4. 1.8 ft. of water flowed through this spillway with only minor damage although the Bermuda sod on it has just started to grow."

Photograph of damage done to spillway near Owl Creek Site 5 post flood. A barbed wire fence surrounds the area. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Minor damage to spillway after 1.8 ft. flow. Flood of May 9-10. Bermuda not a cover yet."

Photograph of an aerial shot of Owl Creek Detention Reservoir site #4 and the surrounding area. A barn or a miscellaneous building stands in the background of photo on the left side. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Owl Creek Site #4. Detention Reservoir: Drainage are [sic] – 300 ac. Permanent pool – 1.13" runoff with 6.88 surface acres. Flood pool – 4.09" runoff with 19.50 surface acres. Total storage – 5.22" runoff. The flood pool which is 8 ft. in depth has a discharge rate from 31 c.f.s. to 37 c.f.s. from 18" pipe. During the storm of May 9-10 (both pools were empty except the borrow pit) 15.5 inches of rain fell in this watershed, and water was discharged, for a short time, through the emergency spillway at a depth of 1.8 ft."

Photograph of Harry Maricle, SCS Engineer, showing high water marking on Owl Creek Reservoir #5 after heavy rains on May 10-11. The back of the photograph proclaims, "SCS Engineer Harry Maricle shows high water mark during operation of Owl Creek Reservoir #5 after May 10-11 rainfall of about 15 inches."

Photograph of Rual W. Leveridge pointing to a field, just below Detention Reservoirs Nos. 1 and 2 on the Owl Creek Watershed, which intense rainfall sent overflow waters down the sloping land seen on the left of photograph and partially damaged his field. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Overflow waters for years had destroyed crops on this 30-acre strip of bottomland below Detention Reservoirs Nos. 1 and 2 in Owl Creek Watershed. However, intense rains on May 10-11 failed to send creek out of banks. Only damage was from water flowing down from sloping land at left. Leveridge has farmed the field for more than 20 years. First crops were good, but during wetter years flooding made farming here unprofitable. Leveridge has plans for developing productivity of field. He has been convinced that land will no longer be subject to annual flooding."

Photograph of discharge from corregated metal pipe operating at 35 c.f.s. (7.2 ft. over drop inlet weir or 21.41 ft. total head). Photo taken May 13, 1950 after storm of May 9-10. Discharge is into naturally formed stilling pool from above tail water surface.

Photograph of discharge from corregated metal pipe operating at 35 c.f.s. (7.2 ft. over drop inlet weir or 21.41 ft. total head). Photo taken May 13, 1950 after storm of May 9-10. Discharge is into naturally formed stilling pool from above tail water surf

Photograph of detention reservoir; D.A - 490 acres. Permanent pool - 1.15" runoff with 10.0 acres surface. Flood pool - 4.56" runoff with 29.4 acres surface. Total storage 0 5.71" runoff from 490 acres. Flood pool (10' in depth) discharges through an 18" metal pipe at rate varying from 29 c.f.s. to 38 c.f.s. Both pools were empty but were filled during storm of May 9-10 and 1.0' depth.

Photograph of slight damage to newly sodded spillway after 12" following 15.5" rain of May 9-10.

Photograph of 15" pipe outlet flowing under heas as shown on debris guard.

Photograph of bottom land protected by this reservoir and by Site No. 1 which is to the right.

Photograph of site #1 in foreground. Site #2 in background. Protected bottomland area begins at right

Photograph of farmer L.J. Key and SCS Technician Harry Maricle lift a section of dried sediment from a field on which Key had a good stand of cotton before the May 10-11 rain storm. Twenty-two acres of this land in 1949 produces 34 bales of cotton. Key, when photo was made, was harrowing to dry out field to replant. Approximately 100 acres here were covered by sediment from 1 to 12 inches deep.

Photograph of Walter Gray, left, tells SCS Engineer Harry Miricle of efforts to prevent flooding of rich fields through straightening of Finn Creek channel and building levees. Says 30 years ago a small bridge crossed creed neart this point. Five years agoa a dragline on the straightening project tore into the bridge structure. It was nine feet below the surface of the field.

Photograph of Cotton on Leveridge farm on Owl Creek behind detention reservoir. Owner is working to reclaim land from Johnson grass and to do some leveling work. This land did not produce any crops before reseroir was built.