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Macatawa River Watershed:: An Overview of Hydrology and Modeling
Macatawa River Watershed:: An Overview of Hydrology and Modeling
An Overview of Hydrology
and Modeling
Dave Fongers
Hydrologic Studies Unit
Land and Water Management Division, MDEQ
517-373-0210
fongersd@michigan.gov
Overview
Hydrology
Effect of urbanization
Stability concepts
Modeling
- Hydrologic
- Hydraulic
- Examples
Hydrology: the distribution and movement of water.
Watershed
An area contributing runoff and sediment.
Watershed
An area contributing runoff and sediment.
Hydrograph
A plot of flow
versus time.
Factors That Affect Discharge
Precipitation Ease of runoff
Antecedent movement (time of
moisture concentration)
Snow melt Watershed size
Frozen ground (delineation)
Spatial extent of
Soils
storm Land use
Human activity
can alter these.
24-Hour Design Storm
Precipitation
Rainfall Frequency Atlas of
the Midwest, Bulletin 71,
Midwestern Climate Center,
1992
Ease of Water Movement
Time of concentration is the time for runoff to travel from the
hydraulically most distant point of the watershed.
Channelization, addition of drains, storm sewers, pavement,
graded lawns, and bare soils convey water more rapidly.
Watershed Size
The most
likely cause
of hydrologic
change.
1997 Land Use
The most
likely cause
of hydrologic
change.
Runoff Calculation Methods
Rational method
– Widely used for small drainage areas (less than 100 acres)
– Most appropriate for paved areas or watersheds with one
uniform land use
Curve number and time of concentration methodology
– Developed in 1954 by the NRCS, it is the procedure most
frequently used by hydrologists nationwide to estimate
surface runoff from ungaged watersheds
– Soil type and land use are combined in a single parameter
that indicates runoff potential
Regression
Drainage area ratio
Curve Numbers
channel morphology
Channel Morphology: the stream’s form and
structure:
planform (sinuosity): the shape or pattern of the river as
seen from above
cross-section: the shape of the channel at a specific point
cross-section planform
Stability
Hydrology: a given set of hydrologic conditions
(antecedent soil moisture, rainfall, snowmelt, etc.)
always cause the runoff from the watershed to
respond in a consistent manner in terms of both
total volume and peak discharge. Practically, this
means the land uses, soils, and drainage patterns
within the watershed are not changing.
Stream or Channel Morphology: the stream's
sinuosity, profile, and cross-sectional dimensions
are constant. This does not mean no erosion. It
does mean no net change in channel shape which
can only occur if the flow regime, especially
channel-forming (1- to 2-year) flow, is not changing.
be permanent
General causes of excessive
streambank erosion:
Sparse vegetative cover due to too much animal or
human traffic.
Concentrated runoff adjacent to the streambank, i.e.
gullies, seepage.
An infrequent event, such as an ice jam or low
probability flood, damaging a specific streambank.
Unusually large wave action.
A significant change in the hydrologic response of
the watershed.
A change in the stream form impacting adjacent
portions of the stream, i.e. dredging, channelization.
Modeling
Hydrologic Modeling
To estimate the peak discharge changes due
to changing hydrology
To estimate the size and effectiveness of
added detention
Can not demonstrate river stability, although
may indicate instability
Hydraulic Modeling
To estimate the water surface elevation
corresponding to a given flow
Modeling Software
HEC-HMS (Hydrologic Modeling System), HEC-1:
combines and routes discharges from multiple subbasins
HEC-RAS (River Analysis System), HEC-2: One-
dimensional steady flow water surface profile computations.
TR-55: calculates urban runoff, intended for smaller
watersheds of two to three reaches.
TR-20: similar to TR-55 but for intended for whole basin.
SWMM (StormWater Management Model): single event
and continuous simulations of water quantity and quality,
primarily for urban areas.
Numerous others
Typical Hydrologic Modeling Data
Soils
Land use: historical, current, future
Energy slope of river reaches (can be
estimated)
Detention storage-discharge
relationship
HEC-HMS Model
Sample of model results.
CN=47
CN=58
CN=67
Blakeslee
Creek
CN=47
CN=67
CN=67
Watershed Hydrology Stable? No Blakeslee
Stream Morphology Stable? No Creek
Pre-development Post-development