CE326:

Streamflow
Engr. Bredith Grace B. Bucton
Instructor, CE Dept., USTP
Outline
▪ Introduction to Streamflow
▪ Measuring Streamflow
▪ Hydrographs
▪ Estimating Runoff

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Introduction
Streamflow
Streamflow is the flow rate or discharge of water along
a defined natural channel. It is the component of the
hydrologic cycle which transfers water from the land
surface (originally form rain) to the oceans.

Generated by a combination of:

Baseflow: return flow from groundwater
Interflow: rapid subsurface flow through pipes,
macropores, and seepage zones in the soil
Saturated Overland Flow: from surface of poorly
permeable or temporarily saturated soil, or from
permanently saturated zones near the channel

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Introduction
Streamflow
Streamflow is the flow rate or discharge of water along
a defined natural channel. It is the component of the
hydrologic cycle which transfers water from the land
surface (originally form rain) to the oceans.
Streamflow may be:
Perennial: channel never dries up
Intermittent: channel which at drier times of the year may
have some reaches with flowing water and others none
Ephemeral: channel which flows only after rainfall

Streamflow, as both a process and a storage component of the

cycle, reflects the volume of water supplied to the watershed,
the rate of operation of other hydrologic processes (interception,
infiltration, and ET), and changes in the volume of other
storages (lakes, aquifers, soil moisture).

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Introduction
Streamflow
Rainfall excess or direct runoff is water that
eventually becomes flood runoff.

Losses (preventing precipitation to become

runoff immediately):
Interception: water retained on vegetation
and other sources
Depression Storage: retained in
depressions on the basin surface
(lakes, swamps, soil cavities)
Infiltration: water passing into the surface
of the soil

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Measuring Streamflow
A streamflow measurement station is commonly called a gauging station. Manual gauging requires a
location on a straight section of channel where the streamlines of flow are approximately parallel, and
where water velocities are within the range that can be measured accurately (0.03 to 6 m/s).
Measurement of Water Level (or Stage)

image from https://www.eaglenews.ph/marikina-rivers-water-

image from https://www.ysi.com/parameters/level level-starts-to-go-down-warning-down-to-second-alarm/

Stilling Well Gauge Markers

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Measuring Streamflow
A streamflow measurement station is commonly called a gauging station. Manual gauging requires a
location on a straight section of channel where the streamlines of flow are approximately parallel, and
where water velocities are within the range that can be measured accurately (0.03 to 6 m/s).
Measurement of Discharge Velocity: Current Meter

𝒗 = 𝒂𝑵 + 𝒃
where N is the number of
rotations of the meter and
coefficients a and b depend
specifically on the current
meter used

image from https://www.usbr.gov/tsc/techreferences/

mands/wmm/chap10_07.html

Water Level < 2.5ft (0.76m) deep:

velocity measured at 0.6 of the depth
Water Level > 2.5ft (0.76m) deep:
velocity measured at 0.2 and 0.8 of the depth;
averaged
image from https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/

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Measuring Streamflow
A streamflow measurement station is commonly called a gauging station. Manual gauging requires a
location on a straight section of channel where the streamlines of flow are approximately parallel, and
where water velocities are within the range that can be measured accurately (0.03 to 6 m/s).
Rating Curves - describes the stage – discharge relations
For long straight channels, a rating curve
has the form

𝑸 = 𝑪(𝒉 + 𝒂)𝑵
where
Q = discharge
C and N = constants
h = stage
a = stage at which discharge is zero

N for different cross-sections

Rectangular (width > 20*depth): N = 1.67
Parabolic (width > 20*depth): N = 2.17
Triangular: N = 2.67

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Streamflow Hydrographs (discharge vs time)

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Estimating Runoff
The most frequently used models are:
1. Constant fraction: loss is a simple proportion
of the total rainfall
2. Constant loss rate: rainfall excess is the
residual after a selected constant loss rate or
infiltration capacity is satisfied.
3. Initial loss and continuing constant loss
rate: no runoff occurs until a given initial loss
capacity has been satisfied, followed by a constant
fraction loss
4. Infiltration curve (example shows model using
Green-Ampt equation)
Choice and validity of rainfall loss methods depend
on the type of the problem, data availability, and
the runoff processes which are likely to be
dominant.

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Estimating Runoff Rational Method
The estimation of peak flows on drainage
basins is probably the most common 𝒒 = 𝑭𝑪𝒊𝑨
application of flood estimation as well as
being of the greatest economic where F: unit conversion factor
importance. q = peak discharge (ft3/s, m3/s) F = 1 for English units
C = runoff coefficient F = 0.278 for SI units
These estimates are required for the i = rainfall intensity (in/hr, mm/h)
A = drainage basin area (acres, km2)
design of the culverts, small to medium-
sized bridges, causeways, and soil
conservation works.
One of the most widely used method is the
Rational Method.

Isochrones: lines of
equal time of travel

image from http://civilenginner.blogspot.com/2014/02/buried-concrete-

box-culvert-designing.html

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Estimating Runoff Rational Method

𝒒 = 𝑭𝑪𝒊𝑨
Considering the rainfall of i in/h
commencing at t = 0, at time t = 1 where F: unit conversion factor
hr, an area a acres contributes to q = peak discharge (ft3/s, m3/s) F = 1 for English units
the flow at the outlet. Scaling up, 1 C = runoff coefficient F = 0.278 for SI units
i = rainfall intensity (in/hr, mm/h)
in/hr of rain on 1 acre gives 1 ft3/s, A = drainage basin area (acres, km2)
resulting to an outflow rate of (Ci*a)
ft3/s.
At t = 2 hrs, an area of (a+b) acres
contributes and the outflow rate is
(Ci*(a+b)) ft3/s.
The area contributing increases with
time until the time of concentration
when the whole area A contributes,
and the outflow rate is (CiA) ft3/s. Isochrones: lines of
equal time of travel

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Estimating Runoff Rational Method

𝒒 = 𝑭𝑪𝒊𝑨
Time of concentration, tc, is an
idealized concept and is defined as where F: unit conversion factor
the time taken for a drop of water q = peak discharge (ft3/s, m3/s) F = 1 for English units
falling on the most remote part of C = runoff coefficient F = 0.278 for SI units
i = rainfall intensity (in/hr, mm/h)
the drainage basin to reach the A = drainage basin area (acres, km2)
outlet.
For rainfall durations less than tc,
the whole area does not contribute.
For rainfall durations greater than tc,
there is no increase in contributing
area. Thus, tc gives the highest
peak flow.

Please study the examples here. Isochrones: lines of

equal time of travel

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Estimating Runoff Rational Method

𝒒 = 𝑭𝑪𝒊𝑨
where F: unit conversion factor
q = peak discharge (ft3/s, m3/s) F = 1 for English units
C = runoff coefficient F = 0.278 for SI units
i = rainfall intensity (in/hr, mm/h)
A = drainage basin area (acres, km2)

Isochrones: lines of
equal time of travel

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THANK YOU

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References

Maidment, D. (1993) Handbook of Hydrology, McGraw-Hill, Inc.

Bedient, P.B., Huber W.C., and Vieux, B.E. (2013) Hydrology and Floodplain
Analysis, Pearson

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