The longer sample minimizes the errors introduced by wind storms, freshets, and other non-regular influences. The river is fed by spring tides and rain freshets. The Saline flowed towards the Ohio and flooded every spring in events called Freshets. The magnitude of freshets depends on snow accumulation and temperature. Freshets from Himalayan snowmelt created treacherous seasonal currents. Runoff from freshets is a major contributor of nutrients to lakes. Migratory fish, such as salmon and trout, are highly responsive to freshets. Freshets may also occur due to rainfall events. These freshets could carry up to 800 skiffs filled with crude oil downstream at once. On February 12, 1881, ice freshets damaged the bridge by taking out three spans. In 1942, freshets destroyed the rewatered sections of the canal.