Bankfull discharge and channel characteristics of streams in New York State

Abstract

the other five hydrologic regions. Analysis of channelcharacteristics relations found that the bankfull width, depth, and cross-sectional area curves for region 3 were significantly different (p≤0.05) from the other six regions. It was hypothesized that some regional variability could be reduced by creating models for streams with similar physiographic and climatic characteristics. Available data on streamflow patterns and previous regional-curve research suggested that mean annual runoff, Rosgen stream type, and water-surface slope were the variables most likely to influence regional bankfull discharge and channel characteristics to drainage-area size relations. Results showed that although all of these factors had an influence on regional relations, most stratified models have lower R 2 values and higher standard errors of estimate than the regional models. The New York statewide (pooled) bankfull-discharge equation and equations for regions 4 and 7 were compared with equations for four other regions in the Northeast to evaluate region-to-region differences, and assess the ability of individual curves to produce results more accurate than those that would be obtained from one model of the northeastern United States. Results indicated that model slopes lack significant differences, though intercepts are significantly different. Comparison of bankfull-discharge estimates using different models shows that results could vary by as much as 100 percent depending on which model was used and indicated that regionalization improved model accuracy.

Development and Evaluation of Bankfull Hydraulic Geometry Relationships for the Physiographic Regions of the United States

“…According to Mulvihill et al . (), this is a concern because small channels are characterized by particularly variable bankfull hydraulic dimensions. In this study, data on very small watersheds are available for some, but not all of the Physiographic Divisions.…”

“…Some authors have tried stratifying data according to mean annual precipitation, mean annual runoff, channel slope, or stream type (Rosgen, ; Miller and Davis, ; Lawlor, ; Powell et al ., ; Mulvihill et al ., ). The USDA‐NRCS () suggests constructing separate regional curves for forested/rangeland, agricultural, and urban areas.…”

Hydraulic analysis of river training cross-vanes as part of post-restoration monitoring

“…1d and e). Based on a watershed area scaling of annual maximum discharge data from the upstream US Geological Survey (USGS) gage (#01349840, Maplecrest, NY) the flood discharge was estimated at 57 m 3 s −1 with a return interval of 25-yr. By contrast, the NCD project was designed for a bankfull discharge of 14.6 m 3 s −1 with a return interval of 1.3-yr, which compares well with USGS regional curve based bankfull discharge estimates for the watershed area (Mulvihill et al, 2009). …”

Bankfull Hydraulic Geometry Relationships for Rivers and Streams of the Western and Southwest Regions of Paran� State, Brazil

“…The information obtained can guide technicians in projects addressing the physical and ecological restoration of channels, subsidize evaluation studies of degradation conditions in fluvial environments (ROSGEN, 1998) and assist in projects of dimensioning of bridges and gullies (MULVIHILL et al, 2009). The channel dimensions estimated by the equations can be used as input variables in hydrological models (AMES et al, 2009).…”

“…After the pioneering work of Dunne and Leopold (1978), numerous researchers have developed the regional hydraulic geometry relationships for different regions of the United States of America (MOODY and ODEM, 1999;HARMAN et al, 1999;WHITE, 2001;CASTRO and JACKSON, 2001;McCANDLESS, 2003;SWEET and GERATZ, 2003;CINNOTO, 2003;EMMERT, 2004;MESSINGER and WILEY, 2004;SHERWOOD and HUITGER, 2005;KEATON et al, 2005;KRSTOLIC and CHAPLIN, 2007;MULVIHILL et al, 2009;AGOURIDIS et al, 2011;MODRICK and GEORGAKAKOS,2014; among others).…”