Estimating flood hydrographs for urban basins in North Carolina
Water-Resources Investigations Report
96-4085
By: R.R. Mason Jr. and J. D. Bales
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Abstract
A dimensionless hydrograph for North Carolina was developed from data collected in 29 urban and urbanizing basins in the State. The dimen- sionless hydrograph can be used with an estimate of peak flow and basin lagtime to synthesize a design flood hydrograph for urban basins in North Carolina. Peak flows can be estimated from a number of avail- able techniques; a procedure for estimating basin lagtime from main channel length, stream slope, and percentage of impervious area was developed from data collected at 50 sites and is presented in this report. The North Carolina dimensionless hydrograph provides satis- factory predictions of flood hydrographs in all regions of the State except for basins in or near Asheville where the method overestimated 11 of 12 measured hydrographs. A previously developed dimensionless hydrograph for urban basins in the Piedmont and upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina provides better flood-hydrograph predictions for the Asheville basins and has a standard error of 21 percent as compared to 41 percent for the North Carolina dimensionless hydrograph.
Suggested Citation
Mason, R., and Bales, J., 1996, Estimating flood hydrographs for urban basins in North Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4085, iii, 19 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri964085.
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Estimating flood hydrographs for urban basins in North Carolina |
| Series title | Water-Resources Investigations Report |
| Series number | 96-4085 |
| DOI | 10.3133/wri964085 |
| Year Published | 1996 |
| Language | ENGLISH |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey ; Branch of Information Services [distributor], |
| Contributing office(s) | South Atlantic Water Science Center |
| Description | iii, 19 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm. |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |