USGS

Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analyses of Selected Streams in Lorain County, Ohio, 2003

By K. Scott Jackson, Chad J. Ostheimer, and Matthew T. Whitehead

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4215
Columbus, Ohio 2003

The PDF for the report  3.98 mb 

Front cover pdf 7.37 mb  Back cover pdf 81 kb 

PDF files showing 10-year flood-plain boundaries superimposed on aerial photos were included with the report on a CD-ROM.

NOTE: Because of the high resolution and large file size of the original images in this series, only a reduced-resolution preview version of each image can be served online. To obtain a CD-ROM of the high-resolution images, please contact Information Officer, USGS, 6480 Doubletree Ave., Columbus, OH 43229-1111.

These files are available online:

Battenhouse Ditch (1.8 mb)
Beaver Creek (5.6 mb)
Brighton-Camden Ditch (170 kb)
Engle Ditch (205 kb)
Gable Ditch (2.2 mb)
Heider Ditch (2.2 mb)
Plum Creek (1.8 mb)
Ridgeway Ditch (2.3 mb)
Schroder Ditch (2 mb)

The following are shown in all these viewable files:


Abstract

Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses were done for selected reaches of nine streams in Lorain County Ohio. To assess the alternatives for flood-damage mitigation, the Lorain County Engineer and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) initiated a cooperative study to investigate aspects of the hydrology and hydraulics of the nine streams. Historical streamflow data and regional regression equations were used to estimate instantaneous peak discharges for floods having recurrence intervals of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 years. Explanatory variables used in the regression equations were drainage area, main-channel slope, and storage area. Drainage areas of the nine stream reaches studied ranged from 1.80 to 19.3 square miles.

The step-backwater model HEC-RAS was used to determine water-surface-elevation profiles for the 10-year-recurrence-interval (10-year) flood along a selected reach of each stream. The water-surface pro­file information was used then to generate digital mapping of flood-plain boundaries. The analyses indicate that at the 10-year flood elevation, road overflow results at numerous hydraulic structures along the nine streams.

Table of Contents

Abstract
Introduction
    Description of the study area
    Purpose and scope
    Acknowledgments
Study Methods
    Data collection
    Estimation of flood-peak discharges
    Development of water-surface profiles
    Delineation of flood-plain boundaries
Hydrologic Analyses
    Hydrologic analyses for rural basins
    Hydrologic analyses for urban basins
    Flow apportionment analyses for Engle Ditch
    Storage area analyses for Heider Ditch
    Hydrologic analyses for Heider Ditch
Hydraulic Analyses
     Analyses of open channels
     Analyses of hydraulic structures
     Results of hydraulic analyses
     Base maps and flood-boundary delineation
Summary
References
Appendixes


REPORT AVAILABILITY

This report is available online

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The printed version of the full report is available free (while supplies last) from:

U.S. Geological Survey, 6480 Doubletree Ave., Columbus, OH 43229-1111, 
e-mail Information Officer

and (at a nominal charge) from:

U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services, Box 25286, Denver, CO 80225

You can contact us directly by calling Toll Free Number: 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747), email Ask USGS

Note: When ordering the report, please supply the report title and number, your name, and your mailing address. Thank you.

For technical information regarding the report or the accompanying CD-ROM, please contact:

K. Scott Jackson at (614) 430-7707 or email at sjackson@usgs.gov,
Chad Ostheimer at (614) 430-7750 or email at ostheime@usgs.gov, or

Matt Whitehead at (614) 430-7749 or email at mtwhiteh@usgs.gov


Water Resources of Ohio



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