USGS Water-Year Summary 2024
05132000 BIG FORK RIVER AT BIG FALLS, MN
LOCATION - Lat 48°11'45", long 93°48'25" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, in sec.35, T.155 N., R.25 W., Koochiching County, MN, Hydrologic Unit 09030006, on left bank at town of Big Falls, 700 ft downstream from falls, 0.3 mi downstream from bridge on U.S. Highway 71, and 4.8 mi upstream from Sturgeon River.
DRAINAGE AREA - 1,480 mi².
REVISIONS HISTORY - WSP 1308:1935 (M). Unpublished, 2009: 1988(M).
SURFACE-WATER RECORDS
PERIOD OF RECORD - August to November 1909, April to November 1910, June 1928 to September 1979, October 1979 to September 1982 (annual maximum only), October 1982 to September 1993, October 1993 to September 1994 (annual maximum only) and October 1997 to current year.
GAGE - Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 1,144.71 ft above sea level (NGVD of 1929). Prior to June 10, 1911, non-recording gage at railroad bridge about 0.4 miles upstream at different datum. June 10, 1911 to Sept. 30, 1912, and June 22, 1928 to Dec. 17, 1937, non-recording gage at site 200 ft upstream at same datum. On 8/6/19 a survey was conducted converting gage to NAVD88. New datum is 1145.77 ft. NAVD88.
EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum discharge, 14,800 ft³/s, gage-height 17.08 ft, May 8, 1950; maximum daily-mean discharge, 14,800 ft³/s, May 9, 1950; minimum discharge, 7.0 ft³/s, Aug. 7, 1939.