In cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation
Synthesis of Rainfall and Runoff Data Used for Texas Department of Transportation Research Projects 0–4193 and 0–4194
By William H. Asquith, David B. Thompson, Theodore G. Cleveland, and Xing Fang
U.S. Geological Survey
Open-File Report 2004–1035—ONLINE ONLY
TxDOT Research Reports 0–4193–2 and 0–4194–2
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Contents
Abstract
Introduction
Rainfall-Runoff Database
Overview
Rainfall Data—Hyetographs
Runoff Data—Hydrographs
Quality Control and Quality Assurance
Cautions
Summary
References
Appendix A
Hyetograph Data Files
austin Database Module
dallas Database Module
fortworth Database Module
sanantonio Database Module
smallruralsheds Database Module
Appendix B
Hydrograph Data Files
austin Database Module
dallas Database Module
fortworth Database Module
sanantonio Database Module
smallruralsheds Database Module
Figures
| 1. | Map showing locations of USGS streamflow-gaging stations represented in the database |
| 2. | Directory structure of the austin database module |
| 3. | Directory structure of the dallas database module |
| 4. | Directory structure of the fortworth database module |
| 5. | Directory structure of the sanantonio database module |
| 6. | Directory structure of the smallruralsheds database module |
| 7. | Example hyetograph data file austin/ShoalCreek/sta08156800_d/hyetos/rain_sta08156800_1981_0523.dat from the austin database module |
| 8. | Hyetographs for austin database module—401 storm events represented |
| 9. | Hyetographs for dallas database module—240 storm events represented |
| 10. | Hyetographs for fortworth database module—194 storm events represented |
| 11. | Hyetographs for sanantonio database module—215 storm events represented |
| 12. | Hyetographs for smallruralsheds database module—607 storm events represented |
| 13. | Example hydrograph data file austin/ShoalCreek/sta08156800_d/hyetos/unit_sta08156800_1981_0523.dat from the austin database module |
| 14. | Location map for austin database module adopted from Gordon, Pate, and Slagle, 1988 |
| 15. | Location map for dallas database module adopted from Wood, Butler, and Benton, 1981 |
| 16. | Location map for fortworth database module adopted from Slade, Taylor, and Haynes, 1979 |
| 17. | Location map for sanantonio database module adopted from Perez, 1983 |
| 18. | Location map for smallruralsheds database module for Cow Bayou watershed adopted from Mitchell and Wehmeyer, 1977 |
| 19. | Location map for smallruralsheds database module for Green Creek watershed adopted from Hampton, 1971 |
| 20. | Location map for smallruralsheds database module for Little Pond and North Elm Creek watersheds adopted from Mitchell, 1974 |
| 21. | Location map for smallruralsheds database module for Deep Creek watershed adopted from Hejl, 1972 |
| 22. | Location map for smallruralsheds database module for Mukewater Creek watershed adopted from Lee, 1975 |
| 23. | Location map for smallruralsheds database module for Calaveras Creek watershed adopted from Reddy, 1971 |
| 24. | Location map for smallruralsheds database module for Escondido Creek watershed adopted from Steger, 1973 |
| 25. | Location map for smallruralsheds database module for Elm Fork Trinity River watershed adopted from Lucero, 1973 |
| 26. | Location map for smallruralsheds database module for Honey Creek watershed adopted from Hampton, 1973 |
| 27. | Location map for smallruralsheds database module for Little Elm Creek watershed adopted from Slade and Taylor, 1978 |
| 28. | Location map for smallruralsheds database module for North Creek watershed adopted from Kidwell, 1979 |
| 29. | Location map for smallruralsheds database module for Pin Oak Creek watershed adopted from Hampton, 1974 |
Tables
| 1. | U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations within the austin database module |
| 2. | U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations within the dallas database module |
| 3. | U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations within the fortworth database module |
| 4. | U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations within the sanantonio database module |
| 5. | U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations within the smallruralsheds database module |
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors recognize the contributions of the following TxDOT personnel: George Herrmann, San Angelo District, Project Director 0–4193; Amy Ronnfeldt, Design Division (Austin), Project Director 0–4194; David Stolpa, Design Division (Austin), Program Coordinator for Projects 0–4193 and 0–4194.
Abstract
In the early 2000s, the Texas Department of Transportation funded several research projects to examine the unit hydrograph and rainfall hyetograph techniques for hydrologic design in Texas for the estimation of design flows for stormwater drainage systems. A research consortium comprised of Lamar University, Texas Tech University, the University of Houston, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), was chosen to examine the unit hydrograph and rainfall hyetograph techniques. Rainfall and runoff data collected by the USGS at 91 streamflow-gaging stations in Texas formed a basis for the research. These data were collected as part of USGS small-watershed projects and urban watershed studies that began in the late 1950s and continued through most of the 1970s; a few gages were in operation in the mid-1980s. Selected hydrologic events from these studies were available in the form of over 220 printed reports, which offered the best aggregation of hydrologic data for the research objectives. Digital versions of the data did not exist. Therefore, significant effort was undertaken by the consortium to manually enter the data into a digital database from the printed record. The rainfall and runoff data for over 1,650 storms were entered. To enhance data integrity, considerable quality-control and quality-assurance efforts were conducted as the database was assembled and after assembly to enhance data integrity. This report documents the database and informs interested parties on its usage.
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