US Geological Survey

Cover image from WRIR90-4197 (click for enlargement, 58KB) U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Water-Resources Investigations Report 90-4197

Regionalization of Flood Discharges of Rural, Unregulated Streams in New York, Excluding Long Island

By Richard Lumia

CONTENTS


  Abstract

  Introduction

Purpose and scope

Acknowledgments

Study area

Physiography

Geology

Climate

  Data base for regression equations

Annual peak‑discharge records

Discharge‑frequency relations

Basin characteristics

Regression analysis

Regionalization of flood‑frequency estimates

Delineation of hydrologic regions

Regional basin and peak‑discharge characteristics

  Regional regression

Full‑regression equations

Drainage‑area‑only equations

Computation of peak discharge

Gaged sites

Ungaged sites

Sample computations

Limitations, accuracy, and sensitivity of regression equations

Suggestions for further study

Skewness coefficient

Precipitation, maps

Small‑stream data

Other factors

  Summary

  Selected References


TABLES

 

Table 1. Results of Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test on the 50‑year peak‑discharge regression

residuals for eight hydrologic regions in New York

2. Full‑regression equations for estimating peak discharges in each of eight hydrologic regions of New York

3. Summary of full‑regression equations for estimating peak discharges in New York

4. Correction factors to adjust regional full‑regression equations for transformation bias

5. Regional flood‑frequency equations based on drainage area only

6. Range in regional basin characteristics used in the regression analyses for eight

hydrologic regions in New York

7. Results of sensitivity analysis showing percent change in computed 50‑year peak

discharges within each of eight hydrologic regions of New York

8. Gaging stations and selected peak‑discharge records used in the study

9. Selected flood characteristics for gaging stations used in the study

10. Selected basin characteristics for gaging stations used in the study

 


ILLUSTRATIONS

 

Figures 1‑3. Maps of New York showing:

1. Physiographic provinces

2. Distribution of major. bedrock types

3. Generalized distribution of soil associations

4. Example of a flood‑frequency curve: Wappinger Creek near Wappingers Falls (station 01372500)

5. Maps of New York showing flood‑boundary delineations for five selected storms, 1913‑85

 

6‑14: Graphs showing:

6. Annual peak discharges and 10‑ and 100‑year recurrence intervals for selected

gaging stations in each of eight hydrologic regions of New York

7. Comparison of 50‑year peak‑discharge residuals from the statewide regression for gaging stations within eight hydrologic regions of New York, before and after regionalization

8. Comparison of selected basin characteristics for gaging stations within eight hydrologic regions of New York

9. Comparison of selected peak‑discharge characteristics for gaging stations

within eight hydrologic regions of New York

10. Stations within each of the eight hydrologic regions in New York and for all stations combined distributed by:

A. Length of period of record

B. Drainage‑area size

11.Comparison of the monthly frequency of peak flows within each of the eight

hydrologic regions in New York and for all stations combined

12. Monthly frequency of annual peak flows at gaping stations used in the study for

selected drainage‑area sizes

13. Observed 50‑year discharges for stations within eight hydrologic regions of

New York and 50‑year discharges predicted from:

A. Equations of Zembrzuski and Dunn (1979)

B. Generalized least squares full‑regression equations

C. Full and drainage‑area‑only regression equations

14. Comparison of station skews with generalized map skews from U.S. Water Resources Council (1981), for gaging stations within eight hydrologic regions of New York

 

 

PLATES

(in pocket)

 

Plate 1: ‑Map showing distribution of mean annual precipitation in New York (excluding Long Island), 1931‑60.

2: ‑Map showing locations of hydrologic regions and streamflow‑gaging stations used in the study.

 

 


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