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March 28, 2026
VIA EMAIL: dc_nc@usgs.gov
USGS South Atlantic Water Science Center
North Carolina Office
3916 Sunset Ridge Road
Raleigh, NC 27607
Subject: Data Request — Reed Creek Peak Discharge During Hurricane Helene
            (September 2024)
Dear USGS North Carolina Office:

I am conducting research on the hydrological role of urban forests in stormwater mitigation during Hurricane Helene, specifically the 45-acre forest on the UNC Asheville campus adjacent to Reed Creek in Asheville, NC (Buncombe County).

I am requesting the following data from USGS monitoring stations on Reed Creek:

  1. USGS Station 03451510 (Reed Creek Above Barnard Ave, Asheville NC):
    • Peak stage and discharge during Hurricane Helene (September 27–28, 2024)
    • If indirect measurement is pending, the estimated peak discharge
    • Continuous stage/discharge record for September 25–30, 2024 (15-minute or hourly intervals)
    • Rating curve used for stage-to-discharge conversion
  2. USGS Station 353656082324901 (Reed Creek Rainfall Upper):
    • Precipitation totals and intensity during Helene
    • Hourly or 15-minute rainfall data for September 25–30, 2024
  3. Contextual information:
    • Has the USGS published or planned to publish a post-Helene flood analysis for Reed Creek or the upper French Broad tributaries?
    • Are there high-water marks documented on Reed Creek from Helene?
    • Is there a drainage area delineation for the Reed Creek watershed above the Barnard Ave gauge?
Research context: The French Broad at Asheville (USGS 03451500) reached 24.67 ft during Helene, exceeding the 1916 record of 23.10 ft, with estimated peak discharge exceeding 111,000 cfs. I am modeling the tributary-scale hydrology to quantify the forest's stormwater retention using SCS Curve Number analysis calibrated with SSURGO soil data (dominant Hydrologic Soil Group B, Tate and Clifton series). The USACE Nashville District post-flood report documented 2,587 high-water marks across 19 counties — Reed Creek may be among them.

The research supports a geodesign scenario analysis of alternative land uses for the UNCA campus forest, including evaluation of stormwater infrastructure replacement costs if the forest is developed. The analysis uses 44 GIS layers from authoritative sources, SSURGO soil data (30 components), and NOAA Atlas 14 design storms. Reed Creek peak discharge data would allow calibration of the SCS-CN model against observed conditions, substantially strengthening the hydrological findings.

This data request is for non-commercial research purposes. Please let me know if there are any fees or if additional information is needed to fulfill this request.

Thank you for your service, particularly during the challenging post-Helene recovery period. The work your field teams are doing to document this event is invaluable for communities making land-use decisions in the aftermath.

Respectfully,



[YOUR NAME]
[Your organization, optional]
[your email address]
Submission instructions: Send via email to dc_nc@usgs.gov, or via the USGS contact form at South Atlantic Water Science Center. USGS data requests are typically free for standard products. Post-Helene peak discharge estimates may still be in process (indirect measurements at 40+ gauges were underway as of late 2025). If data is not yet published, ask for the expected publication timeline.