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Estimates of Flow Duration, Mean Flow, and Peak-Discharge Frequency Values for Kansas Stream Locations

Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5033
Prepared in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Transportation
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20045033

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Abstract

Streamflow statistics of flow duration and peak-discharge frequency were estimated for 4,771 individual locations on streams listed on the 1999 Kansas Surface Water Register. These statistics included the flow-duration values of 90, 75, 50, 25, and 10 percent, as well as the mean flow value. Peak-discharge frequency values were estimated for the 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-year floods.

Least-squares multiple regression techniques were used, along with Tobit analyses, to develop equations for estimating flow-duration values of 90, 75, 50, 25, and 10 percent and the mean flow for uncontrolled flow stream locations. The contributing-drainage areas of 149 U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations in Kansas and parts of surrounding States that had flow uncontrolled by Federal reservoirs and used in the regression analyses ranged from 2.06 to 12,004 square miles. Logarithmic transformations of climatic and basin data were performed to yield the best linear relation for developing equations to compute flow durations and mean flow.

In the regression analyses, the significant climatic and basin characteristics, in order of importance, were contributing-drainage area, mean annual precipitation, mean basin permeability, and mean basin slope. The analyses yielded a model standard error of prediction range of 0.43 logarithmic units for the 90-percent duration analysis to 0.15 logarithmic units for the 10-percent duration analysis. The model standard error of prediction was 0.14 logarithmic units for the mean flow. Regression equations used to estimate peak-discharge frequency values were obtained from a previous report, and estimates for the 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-year floods were determined for this report.

The regression equations and an interpolation procedure were used to compute flow durations, mean flow, and estimates of peak-discharge frequency for locations along uncontrolled flow streams on the 1999 Kansas Surface Water Register. Flow durations, mean flow, and peak-discharge frequency values determined at available gaging stations were used to interpolate the regression-estimated flows for the stream locations where available. Streamflow statistics for locations that had uncontrolled flow were interpolated using data from gaging stations weighted according to the drainage area and the bias between the regression-estimated and gaged flow information. On controlled reaches of Kansas streams, the streamflow statistics were interpolated between gaging stations using only gaged data weighted by drainage area.

Suggested Citation

Perry, C.A., Wolock, D.M., and Artman, J.C., 2004, Estimates of flow duration, mean flow, and peak-discharge frequency values for Kansas stream locations (ver. 1.1, July 2025): U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004–5033, 651 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20045033.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

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Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Factors Affecting Streamflow
  • Methods for Estimating Flow Durations, Mean Flows, and Peak-Discharge Frequency Values
  • 1999 Kansas Surface Water Register
  • Basin Characteristics for Stream Locations
  • Estimates of Streamflow Statistics for Stream Locations
  • Internet Dissemination of Results
  • Summary
  • References Cited
  • Supplemental Information
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Estimates of flow duration, mean flow, and peak-discharge frequency values for Kansas stream locations
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2004-5033
DOI 10.3133/sir20045033
Edition Version 1.0: July 1, 2004; Version 1.1: July 23, 2025
Publication Date July 01, 2004
Year Published 2004
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Kansas Water Science Center
Description 651 p.
Country United States
State Kansas
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Additional publication details