File No. (Washington) 4-1981
Description Prepared 25 August 1952
Revised by E. E. Webber 23 October 1964
Description of Gaging Station on Norwalk Creek (SR Recorder) (Crest-stage gage) near
Norwalk, Ohio
Location.-- Lat 41°14'00", long 82°32'30", T. 4 N., R. 21 W. on right upstream wingwall of bridge. Proceed 3.5 miles southeast on State Highway 18 from junction of same with U. S. 20 at east edge of Norwalk, Huron county; turn right (south) on black-top road that is extension of State Route 601 and go 300 ft. to bridge and gage.
Established.-- January 1947, by H. H. Ellis.
Drainage area.-- 4.82 square miles (revised).
Gage.-- SR recorder No. with Palmer chart drive No. installed 22 October 1964.
Crest-stage gage.
Stage portion.-- Two-inch galvanized pipe has standard bottom fitting with index
at 10.62 ft. and R. P. 1 on base of S. R. recorder at 20.39 ft. Screw ratio is 1:60
(2 inches on chart equal to 10 ft. in the stream) and the circular chart makes one
complete revolution per day. Datum of gage is 854.4 ft. (1912 adjustment).
Rain portion.-- Two inch galvanized pipe with standard siphon hook-up and 3-inch
pipe reservoir that will record a maximum 10 inches of rain. Bottom of siphon
(index plug) is at 13.99 feet and bottom of reservoir at 10.66 ft. Screw ratio is
2:5 (2 inches on chart equal to 5 inches of rain). Float rides in liquid at all
times and 50-50 solution of antifreeze and water will be needed for temperatures
below freezing.
Channel and control.-- Low-water control is riffle at downstream side of bridge with zero flow at 9.6 ft. Channel control at medium stages and high-water control is bridge opening. Stream is straight above and bends slightly to left below.
Highway structures.-- Bridge at indicator is of steel beam design with 26 ft. span and wingwalls at 15°.
Discharge measurements.-- Low-water measurements may be made in vicinity of gage. High-water measurements may be made from bridge.
Floods.-- Highest during period of record was 14.37 ft. during flood of May 12, 1956; discharge 1,060 cfs computed by indirect methods.
Reference marks.-- R. M. No. 1 is chiseled square in top of right upstream wingwall. Elevation, 16.92 ft. R. M. No. 3 is the head of a lag screw set vertically in root of 14 inch willow tree, 8 ft. upstream from bridge on left bank. Elevation, 13.85 ft. R. M. No. 4 is chiseled square, top of southwest corner of left downstream bridge abutment. Elevation, 16.93 ft.
Cooperation.-- Ohio Department of Highways.