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 an UNIDENTIFIED concreate structure in between a break in the embankment. The back of the photograph proclaims, “View looking up-stream thru break in embankment. Water still flowing thru break. Note washing in topsoil on down-stream slope of the embankment.”

Photograph of a typical example of rural road damage. This is an improved road across Wildhorse Creek.

Photograph of homes damaged near Willow Creek after the flood of May 10, 1950.

Photograph of 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 were damaged seriously.

Photograph of the high water mark and bank scouring shown after 2 to 4 inches of rains on watershed of North Cavalry. This is a 25 year old man-made channel designed to prevent flooding and ponding on bottom land. Nearby farmers say that this channel seldom overflows, but that it has lowered the water table in the soil enough to lower crop yields. The channel is approximately 20 feet deep at this point.

Photograph of Self Estate May 10 and 11 waters from Finn Creek crossed this bottomland field, depositing sediment and washing out young corn. Dikes protecting cropland has broken, unable to carry water after intense downpour. Water took out half mile of fencing along roadway.

Photograph of overflow from Elk Creek and runoff from surrounding areas inundating good farm land 1 mile from creek. Looking south along highway after 4" rain.

Photograph of Wildhorse Creek, 3 miles above its mouth, after the flood of May 9-10, 1950.

Photograph of aerial view of bottomland protected by reservoir and by site no. 1 which is to the right.

Photograph of SCS Engineer Harry Miricle showing high water mark during operation of Owl Creek Watershed #5 after May 10-11 rainfall of about 15 inches.

Photograph of Owl Creek site # 5. Discharge from corregated metal pipe operating at 35 c. f. s. (7. 2 ft. over drop inlet weir or 21. 41' total head). Discharge is into naturally formed still pool from above tail-water surface. Photo taken after flood of May - 10.

Photograph of looking south along Owl Creek Detention Reservoir No. 1. Water is now at permanent pool level. On May 11 after 30 hours of rainfall, totaling nearly 15 inches, water reached spillway level but did not flow through spillway. Conservation treatment and condition of range in drainage area believed reason acre runoff did not reach proportions of that on Dams 4 and 5.

Photograph of Owl Creek Site #4 after rain of May 9-10. Debris guard arount 18" pipe. Notice highwater line along dam. Indicated a flow of 1. 8 feet through emergency spillway.

Photograph of typical example of rural road damage. This is an improved road across Wildhorse Creek.

Photograph of Owl Creek Site #4 after rain of May 9-10. Debris guard arount 18" pipe. Notice highwater line along dam. Indicated a flow of 1. 8 feet through emergency spillway.

Photograph of Owl Creek site #5. Discharge from corregated metal pipe operating at 35 c. f. s (7. 2 ft over drop inlet weir or 21. 41 ft. total hend). Photo taken May 13, 1950 after storm of May 9-10. Discharge is into naturally formed stilling pool from above tailwater surface.

Photograph of view showing spillway entrance and crest. Topsoil wash out in crest section after heavy rainfall on nights of May 9th and 10th. Depth of flow in crest section 1. 9 feet.

Photograph of view showing spillway entrance and crest. Topsoil wash out in crest section after heavy rainfall on nights of May 9th and 10th. Note crack along crown line of embankment caused by sluffing of topsoil.

Photograph of aerial view of Owl Creek Site #5. This 30 acre field of corn was damaged only about 10% during the storm of May 9 - 10 when 15. 5 inches of rain fell. Without the detention reservoir shown in the background the field would have been a total loss. The reservoir holds 5. 7 inches of runoff. Theh norm release, through an 18" pipe, may be seen in the small drain at the right of the corn field.

Photograph of Leroy (Buck) Barnett on farm. Although he had tried every year for seven years he had bee on the place he had not been able to make a crop on the 12 acres of bottomland. Each year floods wiped out his efforts. However, this time his crop of corn was undamaged in spite of the 15 inch rainfall of May 10-11. His field is immediately below Dam 5 on Owl Creek. In 1948 Burnett had cut and shocked a crop of oats which he estimated would produce 40 bushels to the acre. A Flood destroyed the shocked grain. Fences also repeatedly washed out.

Photograph of farmer Dick Long pointing to high water levels reached during downpour of May 10 and 11, 1950. Rainfall total was approximately 15 inches in 30 hours. Eighteen inch drew down pipe ran 90 hours. Water ran over spillway short time. Engineer Harry Maricle, shown with Long, estimates capacity of reservoir filled two and one-half time in 72 hour period. Sloughing of sod protection in one place caused residents to fear dam might break during storm. Long, who worked on such dams, told them, "Those dams will be there when we are all gone. "

Photograph of aerial view of Owl Creek Site #1. Detention reservoir, D. A. - 500 acres. Permanet 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 throug 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 hte 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 dischargin with 2 ft. of water over the 18" discharge pipe.