The design of the proposed St. Johns Pumping Station at New Madrid, MO, consisted of three vertical pumps with a total capacity of 1,000 cfs. A 1:11.5-scale pumping station model of the pump intakes, sump, and inlet channel was used to investigate and develop a practical design that would provide satisfactory hydraulic performance. The model tests revealed that prototype construction costs could be reduced by reducing the sump length and the angle of the approach wing walls. Initially, adverse flow distribution and excessive swirl were measured in the pump intakes. A pump intake design was developed that had insignificant swirl and provided a good flow distribution for anticipated flow conditions.