Time-of-travel studies, Susquehanna River, Binghamton, New York, to Clarks Ferry, Pennsylvania

Abstract

Results of time-of-travel studies are presented in both tabular and graphical form for several flow conditions in the Susquehanna River from Binghamton, N.Y., to Clarks Ferry, Pa. This reach is approximately 240 miles (386 kilometres) long, measured along the center of the channel, and has a drainage area of about 19,700 square miles (51,000 square kilometres) at its downstream end. A solution of Rhodamine BA, a fluorescent dye, was injected into the river at selected sites. Water samples were collected throughout the study reach and were analyzed, by use of a fluorometer, for dye concentration. Time-of-travel data have been related to stream discharge and to distance along the river channel. These relations permit the estimation of travel time for a water-soluble contaminant moving between any two points within the study reach at any desired discharge in the lower-tomedium flow range. The range of discharge for these studies was from 1,560 ft3/s (44.2 m3/s) to 4,330 ft3/s (123 m3/s) at the Wilkes-Barre, Pa. gaging station. The recorded travel times for the typical subreach, Shickshinny, Pa. to Danville 'Pa., ranged from 72.5 hours to 36.7 hours.