USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5192: Estimation of Monthly Water Yields and Flows for 1951–2012 for the United States Portion of the Great Lakes Basin with AFINCH

Estimation of Monthly Water Yields and Flows for 1951–2012 for the United States Portion of the Great Lakes Basin with AFINCH

By Carol L. Luukkonen, David J. Holtschlag, Howard W. Reeves, C.J. Hoard, and Lori M. Fuller

Abstract

Monthly water yields from 105,829 catchments and corresponding flows in 107,691 stream segments were estimated for water years 1951–2012 in the Great Lakes Basin in the United States. Both sets of estimates were computed by using the Analysis of Flows In Networks of CHannels (AFINCH) application within the NHDPlus geospatial data framework. AFINCH provides an environment to develop constrained regression models to integrate monthly streamflow and water-use data with monthly climatic data and fixed basin characteristics data available within NHDPlus or supplied by the user. For this study, the U.S. Great Lakes Basin was partitioned into seven study areas by grouping selected hydrologic subregions and adjoining cataloguing units. This report documents the regression models and data used to estimate monthly water yields and flows in each study area. Estimates of monthly water yields and flows are presented in a Web-based mapper application. Monthly flow time series for individual stream segments can be retrieved from the Web application and used to approximate monthly flow-duration characteristics and to identify possible trends.

First posted April 28, 2015

Report PDF (11.4 MB)

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Mapper for Monthly Streamflow and Yield of Catchments using Analysis of Flows in Networks of CHannels (AFINCH)

For additional information, contact:
Director, Michigan Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
6520 Mercantile Way, Suite 5
Lansing, MI 48911–5991
http://mi.water.usgs.gov/

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Suggested citation:

Luukkonen, C.L., Holtschlag, D.J., Reeves, H.W., Hoard, C.J., and Fuller, L.M., 2015, Estimation of monthly water yields and flows for 1951–2012 for the United States portion of the Great Lakes Basin with AFINCH: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014–5192, 83 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20145192.

ISSN 2328–0328(online)

Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and Scope

Description of the Great Lakes Basin

Data Integration within AFINCH and NHDPlus

Methods of Flow and Water-Yield Estimation for Study Areas

Summary

References Cited

Appendix 1