thumbnail

Simulation of rain floods on Willow Creek, Valley County, Montana

Water-Resources Investigations Report 86-4341
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/wri864341

Links

Abstract

The Hydrologic Engineering Center-1 rainfall-runoff simulation model was used to assess the effects of a system of reservoirs and waterspreaders in the 550-sq mi Willow Creek Basin in northeastern Montana. For simulation purposes, the basin was subdivided into 100 subbasins containing 84 reservoirs and 14 waterspreaders. Precipitation input to the model was a 24-hr duration, 100-yr frequency synthetic rainstorm developed from National Weather Service data. Infiltration and detention losses were computed using the U.S. Soil Conservation Service Curve Number concept, and the dimensionless unit hydrograph developed by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service was used to compute runoff. Channel and reservoir flow routing was based on the modified Puls storage routing procedure. Waterspreaders were simulated by assuming that each dike in a spreader system functions as a reservoir, with only an emergency spillway discharging directly into the next dike. Waterspreader and reservoir volumes were calculated from surface areas measured on maps. The first simulation run was made with no structures in place, and resulted in a 100-yr frequency peak at the mouth of Willow Creek of 22,700 cu ft/sec. With all structures in place, the 100-yr frequency peak was decreased by 74% to 5,870 cu ft/sec. (USGS)

Suggested Citation

Parrett, C., 1986, Simulation of rain floods on Willow Creek, Valley County, Montana: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 86-4341, iv, 89 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri864341.

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Simulation of rain floods on Willow Creek, Valley County, Montana
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 86-4341
DOI 10.3133/wri864341
Year Published 1986
Language ENGLISH
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey,
Description iv, 89 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm.
Additional publication details