Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparison of methods for estimation of 50-year peak discharge from a small, rural watershed in North Carolina

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Geology

Abstract

Four applied hydrologic methods were used to estimate the 50-year peak storm discharge (Q50) from a 15.8-ha agricultural (67%) and forested (33%) watershed in North Carolina, U.S.A. The methods (and Q50 results) were the NCDOT (North Carolina Department of Transportation) method (0.42 m3/s), the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) regression method (0.50 m3/s), the rational method (1.2 m3/s), and the NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) TR-55 method (2.6 m3/s). The wide range of results (coefficient of variation=84%, factor of >6 between highest and lowest estimates) indicates significant inaccuracy in one or more of the methods, and presents a practical problem for use of the methods in the design of drainage systems. The NRCS method likely overestimates Q50, and the NCDOT and USGS methods have other potential drawbacks for the study watershed. The least problematic approach in this case is probably the rational method. The best estimate of Q50 from the study watershed is likely ~1 m3/s. The results suggest the importance of developing improved methods for estimation of peak storm discharge from small, rural watersheds.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AASHTO (1999) Highway drainage guidelines, Vol II: Guidelines for hydrology. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Bisese JA (1995) Methods for estimating the magnitude and frequency of peak discharges of rural, unregulated streams in Virginia. US Geol Surv Water Resources Inv Rep 94-4148, 70 pages

  • Bohman LR (1992) Determination of flood hydrographs for streams in South Carolina. Volume 2. Estimation of peak-discharge frequency, runoff volumes, and flood hydrographs for urban watersheds. US Geol Surv Water Resources Inv Rep 92-4040, 79 pages

  • Bras RL (1990) Hydrology: An introduction to hydrologic science. Addison-Wesley, Reading, Massachusetts, 643 pages

  • CCPD (2001) 1:2400 topographic map of the area along N.C. 217 in northern Cumberland County. Cumberland County Planning Department, Fayetteville, North Carolina

  • Chen CL (1982) An evaluation of the mathematics and physical significance of the Soil Conservation Service curve number procedure for estimating runoff volume. In: Singh VP (ed) Rainfall-runoff relationship. Proc Int Symp Rainfall-Runoff Modeling. Water Resources Publ, Littleton, CO, pp 387–415

  • Chow VT, Maidment DR, Mays LW (1988) Applied hydrology. McGraw-Hill, New York, 572 pages

  • FLDOT (2000) Drainage manual. Florida Department of Transportation, Office of Design, Drainage Section, Tallahassee, Florida

  • Graham WD, Campbell KL, Mossa J, Motz LH, Rao PSC, Wise WR, Genereux DP (1997) Water management issues affecting the C-111 basin, Dade County, Florida: Hydrologic Sciences Task Force initial assessment report. Center for Natural Resources, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 67 pages

  • Guimaraes WB, Bohman LR (1988) Techniques for estimating magnitude and frequency of floods in South Carolina. US Geol Surv Water Resources Inv Rep 91-4157, 174 pages

  • Hawkins RH (1980) Infiltration and curve numbers: some pragmatic and theoretical relationships. In: Proc ASCE Symp Watershed Management 1980, Boise, Idaho., vol II, pp 925–937

  • Hershfield DM (1961) Rainfall frequency atlas of the United States for durations from 30 minutes to 24 hours and return periods from 1 to 100 years. US Department of Commerce, Washington, DC, Weather Bureau Tech Pap 40 (maps available at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/er/hq/Tp40s.htm)

  • Hoesein AA, Pilgrim DH, Titmarsh GW, Cordery I (1989) Assessment of the US Soil Conservation Service method for estimating design floods. In: Kavvas ML (ed) New directions in surface water modeling. IAHS Publ 181:283–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Koltun GF, Roberts JW (1990) Techniques for estimating flood peak discharges of rural, unregulated streams in Ohio. US Geol Surv Water Resources Inv Rep 89-4126, 68 pages

  • Kuichling E (1889) The relation between rainfall and the discharge of sewers in populous districts. Trans Am Soc Civil Eng 20:1–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Mannering FL, Kilareski WP (1998) Principles of highway engineering and traffic analysis, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York, 340 pages

  • Mason RR, Bales J (1996) Estimating flood hydrographs for urban basins in North Carolina. US Geol Surv Water Resources Inv Rep 96-4085, 19 pages

  • McCuen RH (1982) A guide to hydrologic analysis using SCS methods. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, 145 pages

  • McCuen RH (2002) Approach to confidence interval estimation for curve numbers. ASCE J Hydrol Eng 7(1):43–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCuen RH, Okunola O (2002) Extension of TR-55 for microwatersheds. ASCE J Hydrol Eng 7(4):319–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moglen GE, Hartman GL (2001) Resolution effects on hydrologic modeling parameters and peak discharge. ASCE J Hydrol Eng 6(6):490–497

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NCDOT (1973) Handbook of design for highway surface drainage structures. Prepared by CR Edgerton, Bridge Location and Hydrographic Department of the North Carolina State Highway Commission, North Carolina Department of Transportation, Raleigh

  • NCDOT (1999) Guidelines for drainage studies and hydraulic design. Prepared for the Division of Highways of the North Carolina Department of Transportation by AL Hankins Jr, State Hydraulics Engineer, Raleigh

  • NYSDOT (2000) Highway design manual, chap 8: Highway drainage. New York State Department of Transportation, Albany

    Google Scholar 

  • ODOT (2002) Location and design manual, Vol 2: Drainage design. Ohio Department of Transportation Division of Highway Operations, Office of Structural Engineering, Columbus. http://www.dot.state.oh.us/se/hy/LD2/LD2TOC.htm

  • Pilgrim DH, Cordery I (1993) Flood runoff. In: Maidment DR (ed) Handbook of hydrology. McGraw-Hill, New York

  • Ponce VM, Hawkins RH (1996) Runoff curve number: has it reached maturity? ASCE J Hydrol Eng 1(1):11–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pope BF, Tasker GD (1999) Estimating the magnitude and frequency of floods in rural basins of North Carolina. US Geol Surv Water Resources Inv Rep 99-4114, 44 pages

  • Robbins JC, Pope BF (1996) Estimation of flood frequency characteristics of small urban streams in North Carolina. US Geol Surv Water Resources Inv Rep 96-4084, 21 pages

  • Sauer VB (1983) Flood characteristics of urban watersheds in the United States. US Geol Surv Water Supply Pap 2207, 63 pages

  • SCDOT (2000) Requirements for hydraulic design studies. Prepared by WH Hulbert, South Carolina Department of Transportation, Columbia. www.dot.state.sc.us/doing/hydrology.html

  • Smith RE (1997) Discussion of "Runoff curve number: has it reached maturity?" ASCE J Hydrol Eng 2(3):145–147

    Google Scholar 

  • USDA (1975) Urban hydrology for small watersheds. US Department of Agriculture, Tech Release 55, PB82140666

  • USDA (1984) Soil survey of Cumberland and Hoke Counties, North Carolina. US Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, 155 pages, 3 plates, 21 mapsheets

  • USDA (1986) Urban hydrology for small watersheds, 2nd edn. US Department of Agriculture Tech Release 55, 210-VI-TR-55

  • VADOT (1980). Drainage manual (with amendments 1980–1998). Virginia Department of Transportation, Location and Design Division, Hydraulics Section, Richmond, Virginia

  • Viessman W Jr, Lewis GL, Knapp JW (1989) Introduction to hydrology, 3rd edn. Harper Collins, New York, 780 pages

  • Willeke GE (1997) Discussion of "Runoff curve number: has it reached maturity?" ASCE J Hydrol Eng 2(3):147

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright PH, Paquette RJ (1987) Highway engineering, 5th edn. Wiley, New York, 717 pages

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). The assistance of Jerry L. Lindsey, P.E. (NCDOT) in obtaining information on the NCDOT method is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, 5135 Jordan Hall, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8208, USA

    David P. Genereux

Authors
  1. David P. Genereux
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David P. Genereux.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Genereux, D.P. Comparison of methods for estimation of 50-year peak discharge from a small, rural watershed in North Carolina. Env Geol 44, 53–58 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-002-0734-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-002-0734-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation