“…One reason for assuming Q bf as the channel forming and design discharge (e.g., Biedenharn et al, 2000;Doyle et al, 2007) is that the information required to compute Q eff is not available at unmeasured sites. Another reason for the substitution is that many magnitude-frequency analyses, including those performed in coarse-bedded mountain streams, have reported a similarity between Q eff and moderate flows such as Q bf (e.g., Wolman and Miller, 1960;Nolan et al, 1987;Andrews, 1980;Nash, 1994;Andrews and Nankervis, 1995;Batalla and Sala, 1995;Whiting et al, 1999;Pitlick and Van Steeter, 1998;Torizzo and Pitlick, 2004;Doyle et al, 2007;Barry et al, 2008). However, several studies observed a difference between Q bf and Q eff and suggested that Q eff systematically increases with sediment rating curve steepness http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.09.080 0022-1694/Ó 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.…”