Techniques for estimating magnitude and frequency of floods in South Carolina, 1988

Abstract

Information is presented for estimating the magnitude and frequency of floods on streams in South Carolina. Flood-frequency characteristics for 151 gaging stations were related to basin characteristics by multiple regression techniques for each of four physiographic provinces. Equations were derived to estimate flood magnitudes at recurrence intervals ranging from 2 to 100 years on streams with drainage areas greater than 1.0 square mile. Examples demonstrate the procedure for computing flood-frequency discharge for sites on gaged and ungaged streams in South Carolina. Relationships of flood discharge and frequency to drainage area are presented for the main stem of major streams. A compilation of flood records for gaging stations in South Carolina is presented as supplemental data.