Runoff Estimation for the Ohio State Fairgrounds Stormwater Detention

Project, Columbus, Ohio

Prepared by:

Nick Kar
FABE 2720: Principles of Soil & Water Engineering
The Ohio State University

Spring Semester 2013

Introduction:
At the request of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the FABE 2720 class at
The Ohio State University calculated the runoff of a parking lot area to a stormwater
detention area at the Ohio State Fairgrounds. Urbanization and the expansion of
humans have a tremendous impact on the environment, and runoff in particular.
Urbanization leads to the creation of impervious surfaces such as parking lots,
roads, sidewalks and rooftops. In addition to affecting water quality, impervious
surfaces inhibit infiltration. Rainfall is normally absorbed into the soils, stored as
groundwater and finally emptied in streams. Impervious surfaces prevent this
natural absorption from occurring, leading to flooding. Taking into account, the
concerning effects of impervious surfaces, this study change in the runoff at an
urbanized parking lot after the construction of a natural area with trees and
vegetation.

Methods:
Study Site Description
The site for this study was a parking lot area at the entrance of Ohio State
Fairgrounds located north of E 11th Avenue and west of I-71. A specific area of the
parking lot was relegated for the runoff calculations. The surrounding area of the
parking lot is an urbanized commercial area with Type C soils. See Appendix A for an
aerial view of the soil with the allotted area, courtesy of Tara Lee.
Runoff Calculation
The relevant areas of the parking lot were calculated using a grid. The two areas
relevant to this study were the pre-construction area and the post-construction
area. The total area consisted of the complete, whole area of the parking lot. The
post-construction area consisted of the complete area minus the area allotted to the
construction site. To calculate the runoff, the rational equation was used. The
rational equation consists of an empirical coefficient determined by the hydrological
soil group and slope range, the average rainfall intensity, and the drainage area.
The empirical coefficient was found in Environmental Hydrology. The average
rainfall intensity was gathered from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Association. The parking lot was not surveyed prior to making these runoff
estimations. Therefore, the contour elevations from the site maps provided by the
Ohio DNR were used to calculate drainage area to the outlet of the parking lot
located on the north side of the project. The total drainage area was calculated by
averaging the drainage areas calculated by multiple groups of Ohio State students
taking the FABE 2720 course. The post-construction area was found by subtracting
the area of the construction site from the total drainage area.

Calculations:

Average Total Drainage Area

4.2+4 +4.24 +4 +4.62+3.73 acres

=4.13 acres Post-Construction Area
6
4.13 acres1.36 acres=2.77 acres
Sample Calculation with the Rational Equation: Pre-Construction Area for an Event of
60 Minute Duration and 2 Year Recurrence Interval

Q=1.008CiA

Q= peak flow

( )
ft
s

C=empirical coefficient dependent on soil groupslope ( 0.72 )

i=average rainfally intensity 1.32
hr

A=total drainage area ( 4.13 acres )

Q=1.0080.721.32 4.13 acres=3.96 f t 3 /s

hr
Sample Calculation with the Rational Equation: Post-Construction Area for an Event
of 60 Minute Duration and 2 Year Recurrence Interval

Q=1.008CiA

Q= peak flow

( )
ft
s

C=empirical coefficient dependent on soil groupslope ( 0.72 )

i=average rainfally intensity 1.32
hr

A=corrected drainage area ( 2.77 acres )

Q=1.0080.721.32 2.77 acres=2.65 f t 3 /s

hr
Results and Discussion:
Average Rainfall Intensity from Contour Maps
Values for Average Rainfall Intensity (in/hr)

Storm Duration (minutes)

10

Recurrence Interval (years)

2
5
10
3.750
4.875
5.625

30
60

1.875
1.125

2.625
1.500

3.000
1.875

The Rational Equation: Runoff of Pre-Construction Area Using Rainfall Intensity from
Contour Maps
Runoff of Pre-Construction Area (ft^3/s)

Storm Duration (minutes)

Recurrence Interval (years)

2
5
10
11.24021
14.61227
16.86031
5.620104
7.868146
8.992166
3.372062
4.496083
5.620104

10
30
60

The Rational Equation: Runoff of Post-Construction Area Using Rainfall Intensity from
Contour Maps
Runoff of Post-Construction Area (ft^3/s)

Storm Duration (minutes)

Recurrence Interval (years)

2
5
10
7.538832
9.800482
11.30825
3.769416
5.277182
6.031066
2.26165
3.015533
3.769416

10
30
60

Average Rainfall Intensity from NOAA

Values for Average Rainfall Intensity (in/hr)

10
30
60

Storm Duration (minutes)

Recurrence Interval (years)

2
5
10
3.95
4.71
5.29
2.16
2.64
3.01
1.32
1.66
1.92

The Rational Equation: Runoff of Pre-Construction Area Using Rainfall Intensity from
NOAA
Runoff of Pre-Construction Area (ft3/s)

Storm Duration (minutes)

10
30
60

Recurrence Interval (years)

2
5
10
11.83969
14.1177
15.85619
6.47436
7.913106
9.02214
3.956553
4.975665
5.754986

The Rational Equation: Runoff of Post-Construction Area Using Rainfall Intensity from
NOAA
Runoff of Pre-Construction Area (ft3/s)

Storm Duration (minutes)

10
30
60

Recurrence Interval (years)

2
5
10
7.940903
9.468773
10.63478
4.342367
5.307338
6.051169
2.653669
3.33719
3.859882

Percent Decrease Between Post-Construction and Pre-Construction Areas for Both

Contour and NOAA Intensities
Percent Decrease of Runoff (%)

Storm Duration (minutes)

10
30
60

Recurrence Interval (years)

2
5
10
32.92978
32.92978
32.92978
32.92978
32.92978
32.92978
32.92978
32.92978
32.92978

The two runoff values from using the contour map intensities and the NOAA
intensities were close to each other. There was a significant drop of 32.93% in the
runoff after construction of the preservative site. This study clearly displayed that a
decrease in impervious areas resulted in a decrease in the runoff. This percent
decrease is constant across all storm events because only the drainage area
changes.

Conclusion:
The swelling of the human population and resultant urbanization leads to the
depletion of natural soil surfaces. This increase in impervious areas increases the
water runoffs potentially creating a hazardous state for local humans and wildlife.
The positive correlation between area and runoff can be seen in the Rational
Equation. This correlation therefore signifies that a decrease in the drainage area,
resulting from a building of a pervious area, would lead to a decrease in the runoff.
The construction of the vegetative area enabled the runoff to decrease by 32.93%
while simultaneously adding a natural and scenic look to an otherwise bland parking
lot.

References:
Dr. Jessica DAmbrosio. Professor at the Ohio State University.
The Ohio State University. 2013. Carmen: FABE 2720: Various Documents Detailing
Soil Engineering.
Ward, Andy D. and Trimble, Stanley W. Environmental Hydrology. 2004.
National Oceanic and Atmoshperic Administration. 2013. NOAA ATLAS 14 POINT
PRECIPITATION FREQUENCY ESTIMATES: OH.
http://hdsc.nws.noaa.gov/hdsc/pfds/pfds_map_cont.html?bkmrk=oh
Department of Natural Resources, State of Ohio. 2013. Rainwater and Land
Development Manual .
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/tabid/9186/default.aspx
USGS. March 6 2013. Impervious surfaces and flooding.
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/impervious.html