Effects of Regulation on L-Moments of Annual Peak Streamflow in Texas
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In cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation Effects of Regulation on L-moments of Annual Peak Streamflow in Texas Water-Resources Investigations Report 01–4243 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Technical Report Documentation Page 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. 1. Report No. 3301-12 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date EFFECTS OF REGULATION ON L-MO MENTS OF ANNUAL PEAK May 2002 STREAMFLOW IN TEXAS 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. William H. Asqu ith W RIR 01–4243 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Division 11. Contract or Grant No. 8027 Exchange Dr. Project 0–3301 Austin, TX 78754 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Texas Department of Transportation U.S. Geological Survey Research from 1998 to 200 0 Research and Technology Implementation Office Water Resources Division 4000 Jackson Ave., Bldg. 1 8027 Exchange Dr. 14. Sponsoring Agency Code Austin, TX 78731 Austin, TX 78754 15. Supplementary Notes 16. Abstract Several techniques exist to estimate annual peak-streamflow frequency for streamflows that have recurrence intervals ranging from 2 to 500 years for natural (unregulated) drainage basins in Texas. Unfortunately, such techniques have limited applicability in regulated basins. There are numerous regulated basins throughout Texas, which has more than 7,000 dams that are identified by Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission permits. The effects on annual peak stre amflow from reservoirs created by these d ams range from negligible to the complete suppression of the flood hydrograph; also, reservoirs can artificially create flood-like hydrographs. The large number of reservoirs and their widespread distribution in Texas necessitate an assessment of flood characteristics in regulated basins. Therefore, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation, conducted a study of the effects of regulation on L-moments of annual peak streamflow in Texas. For this report, the State was divided into three regions. Four regression equations to estimate the L-moments of natural annual peak- streamflow data for ungaged sites were derived for each region from data for 367 streamflow-gaging stations in natural basins. The explanatory variables in the equations are contributing drainage area, basin shape factor, and stream slope. The effects of regulation on the L-moments of annual peak-streamflow data were determined by analysis of maximum and normal storage-capacity data from reservoirs for 96 streamflow-gaging stations in variously regulated basins. The results indicate that as potential flood storage (defined by the difference between total maximum and normal capacity) in a basin increases, the mean annual peak streamflow decreases nonlinearly. Evidence strongly indicates (despite contrary expectation) that the higher L-moments (coefficient of L-variation, L-skew, and L-kurtosis) are unaffected by regulation. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Surface water, Streamflow, Peak streamflow frequency, Flood- No restrictions. This document available to the public through the plain management, Flood risk, Hydraulic structure, Recurrence U.S. Geological Survey, Branch of Information Service s, Box interval, Gaged stream site, Ungaged stream s ite, Natural 25286, Denver CO 80225–0286 drainage basin, Regulated drainage basin, Reservoir, Texas 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 66 $4.00 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized Cover: Medina Dam and Medina Lake, August 1994 (photograph by Ted A. Small, U.S. Geological Survey). U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Effects of Regulation on L-moments of Annual Peak Streamflow in Texas By William H. Asquith U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 01–4243 In cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation Austin, Texas 2001 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Gale A. Norton, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. For additional information write to District Chief U.S. Geological Survey 8027 Exchange Dr. Austin, TX 78754–4733 E-mail: [email protected] Copies of this report can be purchased from U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Information Services Box 25286 Denver, CO 80225–0286 E-mail: [email protected] ii CONTENTS Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Scope .................................................................................................................................................... 3 U.S. Geological Survey Streamflow Data ................................................................................................................ 3 Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission Reservoir Data ........................................................................ 5 Approach .................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Study Methods ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Peak-Streamflow Frequency Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 7 Variables Representing Regulation ........................................................................................................................... 9 Comparison of Annual Peak Streamflow for Static Periods of Regulation .............................................................. 9 Analysis of Trends .................................................................................................................................................... 11 Effects of Regulation on L-moments of Annual Peak Streamflow ...................................................................................... 12 Estimating L-moments of Natural Annual Peak Streamflow ................................................................................... 12 Quantifying Regulation Effects on L-moments of Natural Annual Peak Streamflow ............................................. 13 Adjusting L-moments of Natural Annual Peak Streamflow for Potential Regulation Effects ................................. 18 Summary .............................................................................................................................................................................. 25 Selected References ............................................................................................................................................................. 26 PLATES (Plates are in pocket) 1–2. Maps showing: 1. Location of U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations used in analysis 2. Location of dams in Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission inventory of dams used in analysis FIGURES 1–2. Maps showing: 1. Location of 367 streamflow-gaging stations with at least 10 years of annual peak-streamflow data through 1997 (designated as natural by 10-percent criterion) ........................................................... 4 2. Location of 96 streamflow-gaging stations with at least 10 years of annual peak-streamflow data through 1997 (designated as regulated by 10-percent criterion) that have static periods of regulation suitable for comparative analysis .............................................................................................. 5 3–13. Graphs showing: 3. Example of time series of cumulative changes in regulation for station 08136500 Concho River at Paint Rock, Texas ................................................................................................................................... 10 4. Relation between (a) change in maximum capacity, (b) change in normal capacity, and (c) change in difference between maximum and normal capacity to contributing drainage area in all regions ......... 14 5. Relation between (a) change in maximum capacity, (b) change in normal capacity, and (c) change in difference between maximum and normal capacity to contributing drainage area in northeast region ......................................................................................................................................................... 15 6. Relation between (a) change in maximum capacity, (b) change in normal capacity, and (c) change in difference between maximum and normal capacity to contributing drainage area in southeast region ......................................................................................................................................................... 16 7. Relation between (a) change in maximum capacity, (b) change in normal capacity, and (c) change in difference between maximum and normal capacity to contributing drainage