Reports

Characteristics of streamflow in Maryland

1983, Carpenter, D.H.

Report of Investigations 35

Abstract

Hydrologic information needed for the effective development and management of the surface-water resources of Maryland is presented in this report.

Mean-annual discharge, peak-flow, flood-volume, low-flow, and flow-duration data are presented for 124 continuous-record gaging stations. These data reflect both the drought of the 1960’s and most of the floods of the 1970’s. In addition, to provide more areal coverage of peak-flow and low-flow data, the magnitude and frequency of peak flows are presented for 30 crest-stage partial-record stations and the magnitude and frequency of peak flows are presented for 30 crest-stage partial-record stations and the magnitude and frequency of selected low flows are presented for 111 low-flow partial-record stations.

A method is presented for estimating peak-flow magnitudes and frequencies at ungaged sites. Multiple-regression techniques are used to develop equations which relate physical and climatological features of drainage basin to peak discharges for selected recurrence intervals, from 2 to 100 years. These regression equations can be used to estimate the flood-peak magnitudes. The method also provides an estimate of the reliability of such estimated values.

A method is presented for estimating low-flow magnitudes and frequencies at ungaged sites. Multiple-regression techniques are used in the same manner as for the peak-flow estimating method to relate drainage-basin features to 7, 14, and 30 consecutive-day average low-flow discharges for selected recurrence intervals from 2 to 20 years. The method uses regression equations to estimate the low-flow magnitudes and also provides an estimate of the reliability of the estimated values.