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Low-Flow Characteristics of Selected Streams in Northern Rhode Island by JOHN D

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Low-Flow Characteristics of Selected Streams in Northern Rhode Island by JOHN D Low-Flow Characteristics of Selected Streams in Northern Rhode Island By JOHN D. KLIEVER U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 95-4299 Prepared in cooperation with the STATE OF RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT and the CITY OF PROVIDENCE WATER SUPPLY BOARD Providence, Rhode Island 1996 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director For additional information write to: Copies of this report can be purchased from: Subdistrict Chief U.S. Geological Survey Massachusetts-Rhode Island District Earth Science Information Center U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Reports Section Water Resources Division Box25286, MS 517 275 Promenade Street, Suite 150 Denver Federal Center Providence, Rl 02908 Denver, CO 80225 CONTENTS Abstract...............................................................................................................^^ 1 Introduction.......................................... 1 Description of Study Area..................................................................................................................................................... 3 Streamflow .................................................................................................................................................................^ 3 Streamflow-Gaging Stations ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Factors Affecting Streamflow ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Low-Flow Characteristics of Streams......................................................................................................................... 5 Methods to Estimate Low-Flow Characteristics................................................................................................................... 6 Estimates of Low-Row Characteristics ................................................................................................................................ 8 Summary.............................................................................................................................................................. 11 References Cited ............................................................................................................................................................^ 11 FIGURES 1. Map showing location of study area in northern Rhode Island.................................................................................. 2 2. Map showing location of streamflow-gaging stations used in this study................................................................... 4 3. Example of flow-duration curve showing percentage of time daily flows were equaled or exceeded during a given period.................................................................................................................................. 6 4. Example of a MOVE. 1 correlation line showing relation between flow at a partial-record low-flow station and flow at an index station............................................................................................................. 7 5. Example of a logistic regression correlation showing relation between the probability, in percent, that a partial-record low-flow site will be flowing and flow at an index site............................................................. 8 TABLES 1. Selected continuous-record gaging stations (index stations) in Rhode Island........................................................... 5 2. Low-flow partial-record stations in northern Rhode Island ....................................................................................... 5 3. Comparison of concurrent flow at the Branch River at Forestdale and the Clear River at Laurel Hill..................... 7 4. Summary of flow characteristics at low-flow partial-record stations in northern Rhode Island................................ 9 5. Summary of area-adjusted flow characteristics at low-flow partial-record stations in northern Rhode Island................................................................................................................................................ 10 CONVERSION FACTORS AND VERTICAL DATUM Conversion Factors Multiply By To obtain foot 0.3048 meter square mile (mi ) 2.590 square kilometer cubic foot per second (ft /s) 0.2832 cubic meter per second -3 r\ cubic foot per second per sqaure mile [(ft /s)/mi ] 0.01093 cubic meter per second per square kilometer ________________inch per year (in/yr) 25.4 millimeter per year______________ VERTICAL DATUM Sea Level: In this report "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD of 1929)~a geodetic datum derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of both the United States and Canada, formerly called Sea Level Datum of 1929. Contents III Low-Flow Characteristics of Selected Streams in Northern Rhode Island By John D. Kliever Abstract INTRODUCTION Low-flow characteristics were estimated for Reservoirs and streams in northern Rhode Island selected streams in northern Rhode Island. supply most of the drinking water for the entire State. Streamflow was measured at 18 low-flow partial- Most of the streams in northern Rhode Island flow into record gaging stations on rivers and brooks includ­ the northern end of Narragansett Bay. The Pawtuxet and ing those contributing to the two largest water sup­ Blackstone Rivers are the largest of these streams and drain the Scituate Reservoir and the Pawtucket Reser­ plies in Rhode Island, the Scituate Reservoir and voir system, respectively (fig. 1). The Moosup River the Pawtucket Reservoir system. Relations were drains a small area in western Rhode Island and flows developed between streamflows at the partial- into the Thames River and Long Island Sound. The Sci­ record stations and flows at five continuous-record tuate Reservoir supplies 60 percent of the public water gaging stations based on the maintenance of vari­ supply of Rhode Island including all that of Providence ance extension type 1 method and the logistic (the largest city and capital of the State) and all or part regression method. Based on these relations, the 7- of the water for several neighboring communities. The Pawtucket Reservoir system is much smaller than the day, 10-year low flow (7Q10), selected flow dura­ Scituate Reservoir but supplies all of the drinking water tions, and selected monthly mean daily flows for for the cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls. Because of the partial-record stations were estimated. expected continued competing demands on the water Low flows of the different streams varied supplies in Rhode Island, adequate planning and man­ considerably. The 7Q10 ranged from a high of 4.0 agement of water resources will be required to ensure cubic feet per second (ft3/s) at the Chepachet River that water-supply shortages and unreasonably low streamflows do not become a problem in the future. to a low 7Q10 of 0 ftVs at Huntinghouse, Winsor, Low-flow characteristics of streams are important and Catamint Brooks, and Moosup River. The 99- in the management and development of water resources percent flow duration ranged from a high of because sufficient streamflows are necessary for public 4.3 ft3/s to a low of 0 ft3/s on the same streams. water supply, the dilution of effluent, and for the mainte­ The largest tributary to the Scituate Reservoir at nance of aquatic life. Regulations as part of the Water low flow is the Ponaganset River with a 7Q10 of Supply Management Act (46-15.4 of the Rhode Island 0.56 ft3/s and a 99-percent flow duration of 0.64 General Laws) require that water suppliers develop water-management plans that include a calculation of ftVs. The next largest tributaries at low flow are basin yield for surface-water sources. the Hemlock Brook with a 7Q10 of 0.36 ftVs and The purpose of this report is to describe the esti­ the Peeptoad Brook with a 7Q10 of 0.29 ft3/s. The mation of low-flow characteristics for selected streams largest tributary to the Pawtucket Reservoir in northern Rhode Island. Most of the streams consid­ system at low flow was Ash Swamp Brook with a ered were selected on the basis of their importance for 7Q10 of 0.31 ftVs, the next largest tributary at low water supply, particularly the major tributaries to the flow was Burnt Swamp Brook with a 7Q10 of only Scituate Reservoir and the Pawtucket Reservoir sys­ tems. Several other streams were included in this study 0.006 ftVs. The mean daily flow for August was to provide broader geographical information on low never more than 30 percent different from the flows in the northern part of the State. This study was 85 percent flow-duration value. done by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Introduction 1 42°00' 10 20 MILES 0 10 20 KILOMETERS INDEX MAP OF RHODE ISLAND *^5'^ ^^RON/tDENIC > X, -\ , 's-xr 41°45' x^Sh^ri^^Yxi^V < fa fr~7N,/ . * U X \ ^^ J^ i EXPLANATION 5 10 MILES J_______I STATE BOUNDARY I I 5 10 KILOMETERS DRAINAGE-BASIN BOUNDARY DRAINAGE-SUBBASIN BOUNDARY Figure 1 . Location of study area in northern Rhode Island. cooperation with the State of Rhode Island, Department habitat even though they are not low flows. These esti­ of Environmental Management, and the City of mates can be used to determine the distribution of future Providence Water Supply Board. flows for water-supply or water-quality
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