SMALL URBAN WATERSHED USE OF HYDROLOGIC PROCEDURES

The Federal Interagency Hydrology Subcommittee has published documents on flood frequency for gauged and ungauged watersheds. These documents include information on the preparation, dissemination, and results of a questionnaire sent to users of hydrologic methods. The questionnaire was circulated by a working group of the Hydrology Subcommittee and pertains to urban watersheds with areas of less than 30 sq mi. Respondents provided information relative to the physical and administrative factors influencing their use of specific hydrologic methods. Although respondents did not cite all available hydrologic methods, most commonly used methods were mentioned, even though some were not actually used during the period of usage about which the respondents were questioned. Results of the questionnaire indicated that 86% of studies performed by hydrologic methods were performed by one of four methods. More than half of the studies conducted during a 1-year period used the TR-55 computer model of the Soil Conservation Service (SCS). The other three methods in order of popularity were the rational method, TR-20 by SCS, and regression equations by the U.S. Geological Survey. The questionnaire displayed rather dramatically that users have been opting for less involved methods. The method selection process may be due to the fact that mutually accepted guidance on the priority of method use is unavailable. In addition to the results from the questionnaire, supplemental information is provided on the methods being used in state highway departments and the National Flood Insurance Program. Some current problems facing administrators regarding the proliferation of hydrologic models and rainfall data documents are also included.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1994/1471/1471-008.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=SMALL+URBAN+WATERSHED+USE+OF+HYDROLOGIC+PROCEDURES&author=V.+Hagen&publication_year=1994
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309061040
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1471, Recent Research on Hydraulics and Hydrology. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Hagen, Vernon K
• Publication Date: 1994

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 47-53
• Monograph Title: Recent research on hydraulics and hydrology
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1471
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data collection; Floods; Questionnaires; Surveys; Urban areas; Watersheds
• Old TRIS Terms: Flood analysis; Hydrologic methods
• Subject Areas: Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00677739
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309061040
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 23 1995 12:00AM