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Rapid Creek
About Rapid Creek
On the night of July 6, 2008, a call came to firefighters at 10:25 pm. The department was put on alert regarding a six inch rain
event west of Rochford. Firefighters were to observe the creek for flooding and report back through the night. The rain in
Silver City had been minimal but the heavy rain had all been upstream on the drainage of the north fork of Rapid Creek. From
11:00 pm to 2:00 am the creek rose incrementally. Around 2:30 am, a visible wall of water reached Silver City coming within 18
inches of the bottom of the bridge. Large debris clogged the bridges all along trail 40. The Silver City road bridge collected
large logs in a mangled mess. Large trees were carried by the raging waters. Residential pumps that were sitting on the
creek edge were all underwater. The creek came within less than a foot of crossing the paved road.
Below you will find pictures taken on the morning of July 7. When all was said and done, the gauge just west of Silver City had
registered 9.59 ft. During a period of five hours the creek rose 5.5 feet. The USGS registered a peak streamflow of 1,640 cfs
overnight (normal for that time in July is 63cfs). This had been the second largest streamflow since records had been taken at
Silver City since 1953. The largest ever recorded had occurred on May 15, 1965 with a measurement of 2,060 cfs and 10.44
feest. Other notables had been 7/28/55 and 6/18,99 (1,520 cfs and 1,290 cfs respectively).
Judging from some of the historical pictures, in 1952 there was a large flood. Electric poles were toppled and water reached above the bridges.
See historical photos to appreciate the raging creek.
The largest ever flood seem to have happened in 1907. During that year, the Pactola valley was practically underwater. That flood damaged
structures and more importantly the Crouch line. Many bridges were toppled. It was after that flood that Rapid Creek along Silver City was
diverted. The engineers working the Crouch Line track determined that it would be more economical to divert Rapid Creek and eliminate three
bridges. That is the reason that the creek looks pretty straight as it moves pass Silver City. From up high you can today see where the original
creek meandered through the meadow and what is today the pond.
On the night of July 6, 2008, a call came to firefighters at 10:25 pm. The department was put on alert regarding a six inch rain
event west of Rochford. Firefighters were to observe the creek for flooding and report back through the night. The rain in
Silver City had been minimal but the heavy rain had all been upstream on the drainage of the north fork of Rapid Creek. From
11:00 pm to 2:00 am the creek rose incrementally. Around 2:30 am, a visible wall of water reached Silver City coming within 18
inches of the bottom of the bridge. Large debris clogged the bridges all along trail 40. The Silver City road bridge collected
large logs in a mangled mess. Large trees were carried by the raging waters. Residential pumps that were sitting on the
creek edge were all underwater. The creek came within less than a foot of crossing the paved road.
Below you will find pictures taken on the morning of July 7. When all was said and done, the gauge just west of Silver City had
registered 9.59 ft. During a period of five hours the creek rose 5.5 feet. The USGS registered a peak streamflow of 1,640 cfs
overnight (normal for that time in July is 63cfs). This had been the second largest streamflow since records had been taken at
Silver City since 1953. The largest ever recorded had occurred on May 15, 1965 with a measurement of 2,060 cfs and 10.44
feest. Other notables had been 7/28/55 and 6/18,99 (1,520 cfs and 1,290 cfs respectively).
Judging from some of the historical pictures, in 1952 there was a large flood. Electric poles were toppled and water reached above the bridges.
See historical photos to appreciate the raging creek.
The largest ever flood seem to have happened in 1907. During that year, the Pactola valley was practically underwater. That flood damaged
structures and more importantly the Crouch line. Many bridges were toppled. It was after that flood that Rapid Creek along Silver City was
diverted. The engineers working the Crouch Line track determined that it would be more economical to divert Rapid Creek and eliminate three
bridges. That is the reason that the creek looks pretty straight as it moves pass Silver City. From up high you can today see where the original
creek meandered through the meadow and what is today the pond.
Pactola flood circa 1902-1908 - BHNF
Pactola flood circa 1902-1908 - BHNF
Pactola flood circa 1902-1908 - BHNF
Pactola flood circa 1902-1908 - BHNFPhoto Gallery:
Art Clark with fish from the creek - Courtesy John Clark
Art Clark with daily limit of trout - Courtesy John Clark
1952 Flood - Courtesy Jan Sohl
1952 Flood - Courtesy Jan Sohl
1952 Flood - Courtesy Jan Sohl
1952 Flood - Courtesy Jan Sohl
1952 Flood - Courtesy Jan Sohl
Judy Thorvaldson on bridge - Courtesy John Clark
2008 Flood - Courtesy John P. Gomez
2008 Flood - Courtesy John P. Gomez
2008 Flood (Gardens) - Courtesy John P. Gomez
2008 Flood - Courtesy John P. Gomez
2008 Flood - Courtesy John P. Gomez
2008 - July 7 flood (looking NW) - Courtesy Todd Tobin
2008 Flood - Ols swimming hole looking west - Courtesy Todd Tobin