Estimating Peak Flows from Small Agricultural Watersheds

Abstract

A method is developed for estimating peak runoff rates and return periods from agricultural watersheds by analyzing precipitation and runoff data, and by using the CREAMS model. Dimensionless Huff curves are used with the CREAMS model to synthesize the frequency distribution of peak runoff rates from an experimental watershed at Coshocton, Ohio. The frequency distributions of synthesized and observed peak flows are found to correspond to each other. A sensitivity study of some model inputs showed that the method is insensitive to some uncertain inputs, which is a desirable feature. Although the method has several desirable features for practical application, it must be investigated further on watersheds in different geographic and climatologic regions before it can be widely applied.