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Effects of urbanization on peak streamflows in four Connecticut communities, 1980-84

Water-Resources Investigations Report 89-4167
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https://doi.org/10.3133/wri894167

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Abstract

Ratios of peak flows in urban basins to peak flows in rural basins in Connecticut are about 1.5 to 6.1 for the 2-year flood and 1.1 to 4.3 for the 100-year flood. The lower ratios, in each case, apply where 30% of the area is served by storm sewers, and the higher ratios apply where 90% of the area is served by storm sewers. Peak flows for six small urban streams were determined from rainfall and runoff data collected from 1981 to 1984 and from a distributed-routing rainfall-runoff model that simulated storm runoff for the period 1951-80. Recurrence intervals of the peak flows for these streams and three other urban streams were estimated using the log-Pearson Type III method and compared with peak flows for rural streams that were computed from regression equations. A comparison of the ratios of urban to rural peak flows shows that basins where more than 50% of the area is served by storm sewers have urban to rural ratios that are outside the 95% confidence limits of the rural regression equations. Peak flows for such areas can be adjusted graphically for the effects of urbanization if the streams drain less than 10 sq mi and manmade storage is less than 4.5 million cu ft/sq mi. (USGS)

Suggested Citation

Weiss, L., 1990, Effects of urbanization on peak streamflows in four Connecticut communities, 1980-84: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 89-4167, Report: v, 40 p.; 4 Plates: 21.06 x 26.95 inches or smaller, https://doi.org/10.3133/wri894167.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Effects of urbanization on peak streamflows in four Connecticut communities, 1980-84
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 89-4167
DOI 10.3133/wri894167
Year Published 1990
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Description Report: v, 40 p.; 4 Plates: 21.06 x 26.95 inches or smaller
Country United States
State Connecticut
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