A 1922 Winter Flood in Chickasaw County

Chickasaw County, Iowa

Before 1996, the largest flood in the Turkey River Basin was recorded on June 15, 1991, but the second largest was a winter flood recorded on February 23, 1922. The US Geological Survey had been collecting information about stream flow since 1913. In 1922, severe thunderstorms crossed the state from February 21 through 23. As the rain fell on frozen ground, it became surface water runoff, causing the most severe flood experienced this early in the season in the Turkey River Basin. Roads and railroads were inundated, washing out roadbeds and bridges. “A stretch of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad from West Union to Turkey River Junction was reported to have been the hardest hit by the flooding, with 24 railroad bridges and several miles of track washed out.” The flood of February 23, 1922 produced the second largest known discharge at the downstream Garber streamflow gauging station, and the second highest peak river stage since at least 1890.

Sources: on line: David A. Eash and Barbara A. Koppensteiner, US Geological Survey, “Flood of July 12, 1972, March 19, 1979, and June 15, 1991 in the Turkey River Basin, Northeast Iowa,” 1996.