CEN-204

Soil Conservation Service-Curve Number (SCS-CN) Method

March 2022

Rainfall runoff modeling – catchment modeling

 Extension of discharge series

 Flood/flow forecasting
 Impacts of climate changes
 Impacts of land use changes
 ….

In 1954, US Soil Conservation Service (SCS, presently the Natural Resources Conservation
Service, NRCS) developed a procedure to estimate direct runoff from storm rainfall.

This method is known as the Soil Conservation Service-Curve Number (SCS-CN) method.

SCS renamed as NRCS

SCS-CN method is based on water balance equation and two fundamental hypotheses.

Water balance equation

P  Ia  F  Q (10)

P = total rainfall (or maximum potential surface runoff),

Ia = initial abstraction including evap,
F = actual infiltration,
Q = direct surface runoff. All in depth dimensions (e.g., mm)

In a storm event, a certain amount of rainfall is initially abstracted as interception, evap, and
depression storage before runoff begins. These losses are termed as “initial abstraction.”

Initial abstraction can’t exceed rainfall, or P ≥Ia.

First hypothesis relates the initial abstraction (Ia) to S

Ia  S (11)

S = maximum potential retention and λ is (dimensionless) initial abstraction coefficient.

Second hypothesis: the ratio of actual direct surface runoff (Q) and the potential runoff
(P- Ia) is equal to the ratio of actual infiltration (F) and the potential infiltration (S)

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 Q F ( P  I a  Q)
  (12)
P  Ia S S

P, Q, and S are in depth dimensions (e.g., mm), initial abstraction coefficient (λ) is
dimensionless.

Simplifying
𝑄𝑆 = (𝑃 − 𝐼𝑎 )(𝑃 − 𝐼𝑎 − 𝑄) = (𝑃 − 𝐼𝑎 )2 − 𝑄(𝑃 − 𝐼𝑎 )

(𝑃 − 𝐼𝑎 )2
𝑄=
(𝑃 − 𝐼𝑎 + 𝑆)

This is general form of the popular SCS-CN method and is valid for P ≥Ia; Q = 0 otherwise.

For λ = 0.2, Ia = 0.2S and

(𝑃 − 0.2𝑆)2
𝑄=
(𝑃 + 0.8𝑆)

This is well-recognized form of SCS-CN method.

S depends on soil type, land use, hydrologic condition, and antecedent moisture condition
(AMC).
Initial abstraction coefficient λ is frequently recognized as a regional parameter  depends
on geologic, vegetation, and climatic factors.
SCS-CN method assumes λ = 0.2, range 0.1 to 0.3; questioned for its correctness.

Parameter S (max potential retention) can vary in range of 0 ≤ S ≤ ∞, it is mapped onto a

dimensionless curve number CN, varying in a more appealing range 0 ≤ CN ≤ 100, as:

25400
S  254 (15)
CN
S is in mm.

CN is non-dimensional number; it is a convenient procedure to transform S to 0 to 100 scale.

It is a key parameter of SCS-CN method which represents the catchment in the model and
gives the model its name.

Highest numerical value of CN (i.e., 100) yields S = 0  zero max potential retention (S = 0)
 an impermeable watershed – made of polythene !!
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Lowest possible value of CN (which is 0)  situation of highest potential max retention (S =
∞)  an infinitely abstracting watershed.

In practice, CN mostly lies in the range (40, 98).

Graphical solution of SCS-CN, showing Q = f(P, CN)

Curve Number Estimation

Basic ingredients to estimate CN are land cover classification, soil group classification, and
AMC.

SCS Land Cover Classification

Land cover refers to the vegetation in the watershed, agriculture practices or fallow, water
bodies, and impervious surfaces (such as roads, buildings, etc.).
CN depends on these and on how agriculture is practiced—row crops, fallow land, terraced
fields, and so on.
SCS land cover complex classification consists of three factors: land use, treatment or
practice, and hydrologic condition.
About 15 different land uses have been identified for estimating CN.
Agricultural land uses are often subdivided, based on treatment or practice, e.g., contoured or
straight row.

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Hydrologic condition indicates differences in land management.
Runoff produced by grassland depends on the hydrologic condition of pasture.
SCS has classified hydrologic condition in 3 different classes: poor, fair, and good.

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Good hydrologic condition - 75% areal coverage by native pasture and light grazing (good as
it protects against erosion); fair hydrologic condition - 50% to 75% areal coverage and
medium grazing; poor hydrologic condition < 50% areal coverage and heavy grazing.

Woodlands are classified as poor when heavily grazed or regularly burned;

Fair when grazed but not burned;
Good when protected from grazing.
Not all land uses have been classified in this manner.

SCS Soil Group Classification

SCS has developed a soil classification system that consists of four groups, identified by
letters A, B, C, and D.
Soil characteristics associated with each group:

Group A: Sand, loamy sand, or sandy loam types of soils. These have low runoff potential
and high infiltration rates, even when thoroughly wetted. They chiefly consist of
deep, well to excessively drained sands or gravels and have a high rate of water
transmission.
Group B: Silt loam or loam, having moderate infiltration rate when thoroughly wetted.
These consist of moderately deep to deep, moderately well to well drained soils
with moderately fine to moderately coarse textures.
Group C: Soils are sandy clay loam. They have low infiltration rates when thoroughly
wetted and consist chiefly of soils with a layer that impedes downward
movement of water and soils with moderately fine to fine structure.
Group D: Soils are clay loam, silty clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay, or clay. This group
has the highest runoff potential. They have very low infiltration rates when
thoroughly wetted and consist chiefly of clay soils with a high swelling
potential.

Table: Runoff Curve Numbers for Selected Agricultural, Suburban, and Urban Land Uses
(Antecedent Moisture Condition II, Ia = 0.2S) (Source: Soil Conservation Service, 1972)

Land Use Description Hydrologic Soil Group

A B C D
Cultivated land1: without conservation treatment 72 81 88 91
with conservation treatment 62 71 78 81
Pasture or range land: poor conditions 68 79 86 89
good condition 39 61 74 80
Meadow: good condition 30 58 71 78
Wood or forest land: thin stand, poor cover, no mulch 45 66 77 83
good cover2 25 55 70 77
Open Spaces, lawns, parks, golf courses, cemeteries, etc.
Good condition: grass cover on 75% or more of the area 39 61 74 80
Fair condition: grass cover on 50% to 75% of the area 49 69 79 84
Commercial and business areas (85% impervious) 89 92 94 95
Industrial districts (72% impervious) 81 88 91 93
Residential3:
Average lot size Average % impervious4
2
1/8 acre (506 m ) or less 65 77 85 90 92
1/4 acre (1012 m2) 38 61 75 83 87
1/3 acre (1349 m2) 30 57 72 81 86
1/2 acre (2023 m2) 25 54 70 80 85
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1 acre (4046 m2) 20 51 68 79 84
Paved parking lots, roofs, driveways, etc. 5 98 98 98 98
Streets and roads:
Paved with curbs and storm sewers5 98 98 98 98
Gravel 76 85 89 91
Dirt 72 82 87 89
1
For a more detailed description, please refer to Soil Conservation Service (1972).
2
Good cover is protected from grazing and liter and brush cover soil.
3
Curve numbers are computed assuming the runoff from the house and driveway is directed toward the street
with a minimum of roof water directed to lawns where additional infiltration could occur.
4
The remaining previous areas (lawn) are considered to be in good pasture condition for these curve numbers.
5
In some warmer climates of the country a curve number of 95 may be used.

Antecedent Soil Moisture Condition (AMC)

Represents moisture content of soil at the beginning of a RF event; has a significant effect on
rate and volume of runoff produced.
Soil moisture contents in a catchment just before a storm occurs are of utmost importance in
determining a hydrograph.
SCS identified three AMC conditions: I, II, and III.

The seasonal rainfall limits for each AMC (I, II, III) are described below.

Table : Seasonal Rainfall Limits for the Three AMCs.

AMC Total 5-day Antecedent Rainfall (cm)
Dormant Season Growing Season
I Less than 1.3 Less than 3.6
II 1.3 to 2.8 3.6 to 5.3
III Over 2.8 Over 5.3

Conversion of CN from AMC II to AMC I and AMC III: Hawkins et al (2009, 106) have
reported various formulae for converting CN from one AMC to another AMC.
Chow et al. (1988) proposed:

CN(I) = 4.2 CN(II) / [10 – 0.058 CN(II)]

CN(III) = 23 CN(II) / [10 + 0.13 CN(II)]

Example: A watershed received 47 mm of rain on 1 day. It has pasture with heavy grazing
and Group B soil. Previous to this event, watershed had received 64 mm rainfall in the past 5
days. Compute the direct runoff by using the SCS method.

Solution: From Table, for pasture with poor hydrological condition and Group B soil, CN =
79.
For 5-day antecedent rainfall of 64 mm, AMC III condition is considered.

For AMC II CN = 79, AMC III CN = 91

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 25400 25400
From Eq. (15) 𝑆 = − 254 = − 254 = 25.12
91 91

(47−0.2×25.12)2 1761.94
Hence 𝑄= = = 26.26 𝑚𝑚
(47+0.8×25.12) 67.09

Consider range of CN between 40 and 98.

(47−0.2×381)2
For CN = 40, S = 381 𝑄= = 2.42 𝑚𝑚
(47+0.8×381)
(47−0.2×5.18)2
For CN = 98, S = 5.18 𝑄= = 41.3 𝑚𝑚
(47+0.8×5.18)

Example: The previous example had only one land use. A real-life catchment will have
multiple land uses. Consider that a watershed has the following land uses:

40% cultivated land with conservation treatment

20% open spaces, grass cover on 50% to 75% area
20% residential area that is about 38% impervious
10% residential area that is about 65% impervious
10% paved roads with storm sewers
This watershed has Group B soils and received 38 mm rainfall on 1 day; the total rainfall in
the 5 previous days was 40 mm. Compute runoff by using the SCS method.

Solution: We first compute the weighted CN:

Land use % CN Weighted CN

Cultivated land with cons treatment 40 71 2840
Open space 20 69 1380
Residential area, 38% impervious 20 75 1500
Residential area, 65% impervious 10 85 850
Paved roads with storm sewers 10 98 980
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 100 7550

Hence, weighted CN for the watershed = 7550/100 = 76

For 5-day antecedent RF of 40 mm, AMC II condition is applicable. Hence CN = 76.
25400 25400
From Eq. (15) 𝑆 = − 254 = − 254 = 80.21
𝐶𝑁 76
(38−0.2×80.21)2 482.154
Hence 𝑄= = = 4.71 𝑚𝑚
(38+0.8×80.21) 102.16

Major Strengths and Weaknesses of SCS-CN Method

It is basically a lumped infiltration-loss model.

Success in use of SCS-CN method critically depends on how correctly CN and Ia are
estimated.
CN is typically assumed constant over time but its values changes with time due to changes
in land uses, crop cover, crop growth, and land treatment.

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Major Strengths
Method has full support of NRCS, a major agency of US Government since 1954.
1. Simple, robust, stable, lumped conceptual model, relies largely on one parameter
(CN) and it is well suited for ungauged situations. Well supported by empirical data.
2. It is responsive to four readily available catchment properties: soil type, land
use/treatment, surface condition, and AMC.
3. To estimate DSRO, method requires only a few basic descriptive inputs that can be
easily converted to numerical CN = f(major runoff-producing watershed
characteristics).
4. Works well for agricultural watersheds for which it was originally intended but has
been successfully (?) applied for other type of watersheds.
5. It is compatible with remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS)
tools for hydrological applications.
6. It is well documented for its inputs (soil, land use/treatment, surface condition, and
antecedent moisture condition). Extensive database developed.
7. Its features are readily grasped, well establish, and accepted for use in almost all
countries.

Major Weaknesses
1. SCS-CN does not have any explicit expression of time; the impact of spatial and
temporal distribution of (intensity) rainfall on runoff generation is not accounted.
2. Spatial and temporal variability of abstractions is ignored.
3. Fixed IA coeff. λ = 0.2 irrespective of variation in catchment properties is a weakness.
4. Relationship between CN and AMC classes is not continuous, changes in CN are not
smooth.
5. It does not consider effects of spatial scales on CN.
6. AMC plays important role in runoff generation but it lacks expression for its
assessment. Jumps in AMC !
7. The method was originally developed for agricultural sites. Its performance is best on
these watersheds, fair on range sites, and poor in forest watersheds.
8. Use of SCS-CN for long-term simulation – with caution.

Replacing SCS-CN ?
Advent of computers have led to numerous versatile hydrologic models, some of
these use SCS-CN method – Adopted, not replaced it.

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