A mixed methods approach to reconstructing hydrographs of an extreme flood in an ungauged catchment in Ostional, Nicaragua

Abstract

Highlights: Water resource management, particularly for critical infrastructure, can be improved using a mixed methods approach to provide knowledge of the upper limit of flooding.  Paleoflood data can be verified and constrained using household survey data and channel crosssections to improve peak streamflow estimates in in ungauged catchments in data-limited regions.  Detailed survey data that incorporates local knowledge to bridge gaps in traditional hydrometeorological and modeling methods helps distinguish timing, magnitude and duration of extreme floods in multiple river reaches.