TP149

A Method for Estimating’Volume and
Rate of Runoff in Small Watersheds
U.S. DEPARTMENTOF AGRICULTURE SCS-TP-149

SOIL CONSERVATIONSERVICE Revised April 1973 ~
ABSTRACT
The Soil Conservation Service (SCS) has developed charts ES-1026 and ES-1027 for estimating the
instantaneous peak discharge expected from small areas. They provide the peak discharge rate for
establishing conservation practices on individual farms and ranches and for the design of water-
control measures in small watersheds. The graphs were prepared from computations made by automatic
data processing (ADP). Each graph relates peak discharge to drainage area and rainfall depths for
each of (1) a given set of watershed characteristics, (2) different rainfall time distributions and
(3) three categories of average watershed slopes. Peak discharges range from 5 to 2,000 cubic feet
per second (cfs), drainage areas range from 5 to 2,000 acres, and 24-hour rainfall depths range from
1 to 12 inches. Curve numbers (CN) are used to represent watershed characteristics that influence
runoff. Each chart represents one of seven curve numbers ranging from 60 to 90 in increments of 5.
Each group of seven charts represents one of the three average watershed slope factors (FLAT, MODER-
ATE, and STEEP) making a total of 21 charts for each of two rainfall time distributions. The pro-
cedures for computation of peak discharges by ADP were based upon those in the SCS National Engi-
neering Handbook, Section 4, Hydrology, August 1972. The logic and procedures used for the ADP
computation are described.
CONTENTS Page
Introduction ................................. ....... 1

Stormrainfall ................................ ....... 1
Rainfall-runoff equation ........................... ....... 4
Watershed lag and time of concentration ................... ....... 7
Watershed shape factor ........................... ....... 8
Use of curve numbers to reflect overland retardance ............ ....... 8
Average watershed slope .......................... ....... 11
Interpolation for intermediate slopes ................... ....... 11
Triangular hydrograph equation ........................ ....... 11
Incremental hydrographs. ........................... ....... 12
Basic procedure for estimating peak discharge without developing a hydrograph ....... 12
Equations and assumptions used in computer solutions for ES-1026 and ES-1027 . ....... 17
Storm rainfall ............................... ....... 17
Rainfall-runoff equations ......................... ....... 17
Watershed lag ............................... ....... 17
Period of runoff affecting peak discharge ................. ....... 17
Incremental peak discharge ......................... ....... 17
Combined peak discharge .......................... ....... 18
Literature cited ............................... ....... 19
Appendix ................................... ....... 20
A Method for Estimating Volume and
Rate of Runoff in Small Watersheds
K. M. Kent (retired), Chief,.Hydrology Branch,
Soil Conservation Service
INTRODUCTION 30 percent. The NEH-4 method is generally used

for-watersheds exceeding these limits or when
Ven Te Chow has described many methods which the computed peak discharge exceeds 2,000 cfs.
have been used for determining waterway areas There are other circumstances where the method
and the design of drainage control structures in described here may not provide adequate esti-
small watersheds (I), Some of these methods mates and the NEH-4 method should be used.
have been used by the Soil Conservation Service These are described later under pertinent
(SCS) for estimating peak discharge rates. headings.
These include the rational method (Ramser curves
after C. E. Ramser), the Cook method after H. L.
Cook, the modified Cook or CW method by M. M. STORM RAINFALL
Culp and others, and the methoa by Victor Mockus
and others described in the National Engineering Stream-gage measurements are rarely available
Handbook, Section 4, Hydrology (NEH-4) an in- for small watersheds. Generalized rainfall data,
service handbook of SCS (7). SCS has used these however, are available nationally. Therefore it
methods primarily for the-design of measures for is desirable that the national SCS method for
individual farms and ranches. computing peak discharge rates and runoff vol-
The NEW-4 method provides for the development umes in small areas use rainfall for their basic
of a complete hydrograph and involves more de- input.
tailed computations than the others. It is used The Weather Bureau's Rainfall-Frequency
primarily for planning and designing larger Atlases covering the United States, Puerto Rico,
measures--larger than those for farms and and the Virgin Islands provide rainfall-frequen-
ranches--in watersheds planned under the Water- cy data for areas less than 400 square miles,
shed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Public for durations to 24 hours, and for frequencies
Law 566, 83d Cong.; Stat. 666), as amended. from 1 to 100 years (5, 8; 9, 10, 11).-
Using different methods under similar condi- Adjustment of rainfall wiX7ZS$?Z-to area is
tions SCS, obtained wide differences in the peak not necessary in the method described because
rates. These differences were mainly due to the the drainage areas are small. But the distribu-
choice of coefficients and factors inherent in tion of storm rainfall with respect to tme is
each method rather than to the method itself. an important parameter. Two major regions were
The method adopted by SCS is shown in charts identified for this purpose. Time distributions
~~-1026 and ~~-1027 (appendix). Guidelines have for each are tabulated in table 1 and shown in
been established for selecting nationally appli- figure 1. Qpe I represents regions with a mari-
cable values for this method's parameters. This time climate. Type II represents regions in which
set of parameters is expected to provide ade- the high rates of runoff from small areas are
quate and more uniform estimates of peak dis- usually generated from summer thunderstorms.
charges between areas having similar watershed The type I and type II distributions are based
characteristics. on generalized rainfall depth-duration relation-
A primary requirement was that the method be ships obtained from Weather Bureau technical
simple enough to be used by all grades of pro- papers. The accumulative graphs in figure 2,
fessional and subprofessional personnel in which are the basis for type I and II distribu-
scs. They all need to make quick, on-the-spot tions, were established by (1) plotting a ratio
estimates of peak discharge rates for planning of rainfall amount for any duration to the 24-
and designing soil and water conservation mea- hour amount against duration for a number of lo-
sures. cations and (2) selecting a curve of best fit.
It is further desirable for the method to be Selected curves are shown as dashed lines in
closely allied with those in NEH-4. The peak figure 2. Note that the type II distribution
discharge for a small watershed with unusual (fig. 2) underestimates the l-hour duration by
characteristics can then be computed using the about 0.6 inch at Lincoln, Nebr., overestimates
more detailed procedures in NEH-4 but with the it by about 0.5 inch at Mobile, Ala., and is
same parameters. Specific values are computed within 0.1 inch on the northwest corner of Utah.
for each parameter in contrast to the average The type I distribution underestimates the &hour
values used in the charts. duration by about 1 inch at Kahuka Point,
The method described here is generally limited Oahu, Hawaii. These variations are within the
to drainage areas of 2,000 acres or less and to accuracy of rainfall amounts read from the
watersheds that have average slopes of less than Weather Bureau references.
TIME IN HOURS
14 15 I6 17 IR 19 70 71 22
1.0 -T-
T
f
.: :
09 _. ., .j,.
j.
.:
:
:
1 : :
: .:
i:
Type 1 - Hawaii, coastal side of Sierra Nevada in southern
/
California, and the interior regions of Alaska, _. ..,i. .,. .,.
j
_<. ,.
‘i ‘.:
Type IA - Storm distribution represents the coastal side of :.
the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Mountains in Oregon,

Washington, and northern California, and the coastal
regions of Alaska. Users requiring peak rates of dis-
charge for these areas can obtain the graphs from the
West Regional Technical Service Center, SCS, Portland,
Oreg.
:j .:,j,". .'.' i .,..
Remaining United States. Puerto Rico. and Virgin Islands.
fj
; :., i : _. : .:.: I
2 3 4 5 6 1 8 9 IO 11 12 13 14 15
TIME IN HOURS
Figure l.--Twenty-four-hour rainfall distributions (SCS).
r
Table l.--Accumulation of rainfall to 24 hours
Time Px/P21$
(hours)
Type 1 Tree II
0 0 0
2.0 ,035 .022
4.0 .076 .048
I- II I
I A”/ /’
7
6.0 .125 ,080 ,
2: .194
.156 -----
.120
a.5 .219 -----
9.0 .254 .147
9.5 .303 .1.63
9.75 .362 -----
10.0 .515 .181
10.5 .583 .204
11.0 .624 .235
11.5 .654 .283
11.75 ----- .387
12.0 .682 .663
12.5 ----- .735 OL I I
13.0 .727 .772 1 2 3 6 !* -4
13.5 ----- a799 DURATION (HOURS)
14.0 .767 .820
16.0 .830 .880
20.0 .926 .952
24.0 1.000 1.000
.L/ Ratio accumulated rainfall

to total.
Average intensity-duration values used to de-
velop the dashed lines in figure 2 are rear-
ranged to form the type I and II distributions
in figure 1. The type I distribution is arranged
so that the greatest 30-minute depth occurs at
about the IO-hour point of the 24-hour period,
the second largest in the next 30 minutes, and
the third largest in the preceeding 30 minutes.
This alternation continues with each decreasing
order of magnitude until the smallest increments
fall at the beginning and end of the 24-hour
rainfall (fig. 1). The type II distribution is
arranged in a similar manner but the greatest
30-minute depth occurs near the middle of the
24-hour period. The selection of the period of
maximum intensity for both distributions was
based on design consideration rather than mete-
orological factors.
The effective storm period that contributes to
an instantaneous peak rate of discharge varies
with the time of concentration (T,) of each 2 3 6 12 21’
small watershed. It is only a few minutes for a
DURATION ( HOURS 1
very short T, and up to 24 hours for a long T,.
The effective period for most watersheds smaller
than 2,000 acres is less than 6 hours. Because
of the "built-in" range of 30-minute intensities Figure 2 .--Generalized 25-year frequency rainfall
the 24-hour duration is equally appropriate for depth-duration relationships (U.S. Weather
a 5-acre watershed with less than a 30-minute Bureau Rainfall Atlases).
3
effective storm period as it is for a 2,OOOAacre numbers (CN) by the following equation (fig. 3):
watershed where the effective periods may take
up the entire 24 hours. 1000
CN = 10 + s
RAINFALL-RUNOFF EQUATION
The S values for CN's ranging from 0 to 100
The runoff equation used by SCS was developed are tabulated in NEH-4, table 10.1. Research
by Victor Mockus and others about 1947(1, 2, I). data provided the association of CN's with var-
A relationship between accumulated rainfall and ious hydrologic soil-cover complexes as shown in
accumulated runoff was derived from experimental table 2 for an average antecedent moisture con-
plots for numerous soils and vegetative cover dition. Soils are divided into four hydrologic
conditions. Data for land-treatment measures, soil groups: A, B, C, and D. Group A soils
such as contouring and terracing, from experi- have a high infiltration rate even when
mental watersheds were included. The equation thoroughly wet. When thoroughly wet, group %
was developed mainly for small watersheds for soils have a moderate infiltration rate,
which only daily rainfall and watershed data are group C soils a slow infiltration rate, and
ordinarily available. It was developed from group D soils a very slow infiltration rate.
recorded storm data that included total amount Table 7.1 of NEH-4 lists more than 9,000 soils
of rainfall in a calendar day but not its dis- and their hydrologic group.
tribution with respect to time. The SCS runoff The rainfall-runoff chart (fig. 3) is used
equation is therefore a method of estimating mostly for estimating the runoff from watersheds
direct runoff from storm rainfall of-1 day for which composite CN's are obtained from
or less. listings like those in table 2. The curves can
in turn be used to estimate a composite CN for
The equation an unlisted watershed characteristic with rain-
fall and runoff data for only a few years. The
rainfall-runoff values for each storm in the
short period can be plotted on a facsimile of
figure 3. The curve in figure 3 equally divid-
Where : ing the plotted points can be assumed to repre-
sent the runoff CN for an average antecedent
& = accumulated direct runoff. moisture condition in the watershed. The
plotted points are usually widely scattered,
P = accumulated rainfall (potential representing a change in the value of S in equa-
maximum runoff). tion (3) and hence a corresponding change in CN
from one storm to the next. Most of this dif-
I, = initial abstraction including ference is the result of variations in soil
surface storage, interception, and moisture preceding each storm. Mockus based the
infiltration prior to runoff. antecedent moisture condition (AMC) on the total
rainfall in the 5-day period preceding a storm
s = potential maximum retention. and divided the AMC into three conditions (table
3).
The inset in figure 3 shows the initial Figure 4 demonstrates how the plotted points
abstraction (I,) in a typical storm. The rela- usually fall between the CN's representing AMC
tionship between I, and S was developed from I and AMC III with AMC II equally dividing
experimental watershed data. It removes the them. This capability is an advantage to
necessity for estimating I, for common usage. engineers working in foreign countries where,
The empirical relationship used in the SCS run- without experimental data on watershed charac-
off equation is: teristics unique to the local area, a minimum
amount of measured data may suffice to establish
CN's adequate for the design of small structures.
Ia = 0.2s (2) Changes in plant cover between seasons along
Substituting 0.2s for I, in equation (l), the with changes in land use from year to year can
equation follows: also affect the degree of scatter of plotted P
and Q points. Furthermore, if rain gages are
& = (P - 0.2s)Z not spaced close enough to measure watershed
P + 0.8s (3) precipitation accurately, this will cause
unrealistic scat.ter in the P and Q plotting.
To show the rainfall-runoff relationship The peak discharge computations in ~~-1026 and
graphically, S values are transformed into curve ES-1027 are based on AMC-II.
4
RAINFALL (PI IN INCHES
Figure 3.--Solution of the runoff equation, Q = (PP -+ 0.2s)Z

o 8s
Table 2 .--Runoff curve numbers for hydrologic soil-cover complexes
(Antecedent moisture condition II, and I, = 0.2 S)
Land use and treatment Hydrologic soil group

Hydrologic
or
condition
practice A B C D
Fallow
Straight
Row crops
row ............ ---- 77 86 91 94
Straight row ............ Poor 72 81 88 91

Straight row ............ Good 67 78 85 89
Contoured ............... Poor 70 79 84 88
Contoured ............... Good 65 75 82 86
Contoured and terraced .. Poor 66 74 80 82
Contoured and terraced .. Good 62 71. 78 81
Small grain
Straight row ............ Poor 65 76 84 88
2 ;;
Straight row ............ Good 63 83 87
Contoured ............... Poor 82 85
Contoured ............... Good 73 81 84
Contoured and terraced .. Poor 61 72 79 82
Contoured and terraced .. Good 59 70 78 81
Close-seeded legumes or
rotation meadow
Straight row ............ Poor 77 85 89
Straight row ............ Good 72 81 85
Contoured ............... Poor 75 83 85
Contoured ............... Good 69 78 83
Contoured and terraced .. Poor 73 80 83
Contoured and terraced .. Good 67 76 80
Pasture or range
No mechanical treatment Poor 68 79 86 89
No mechanical treatment Fair 49 69 79 84
No mechanical treatment
Contoured ...............
Contoured ...............
Good
Poor
Fair
z; ::
25 59
74
81
75
80
88
83
Contoured ............... Good 6 35 70 79
Meadow .............
Woods .......................
..> ...... Good
Poor
Fair
z; 2:
36 60
71
77
73
78
83
79
Farmst ads ..................

Road& 7
Good
----
25
59 :z 70
a2 2
Dirt .................... ---- 82 87 89

Hard surface ............ ---- 84 90 92
L/ Including rights-of-way.
6
Table 3.--Curve numbers (CN) for wet (AMC III)
and dry (AMC I) antecedent moisture
conditions corresponding to an average
anteceden moisture condition
(AMC II)1 f .
CN for Corresponding CN's

AMC II AMC I AMC III
100 100 100

95
ii;
78
87
70
98
96
94
80 63 91
75 57 88
::
60
z:
40
85
82
78
55 35 7-L
31
z; 26 2:
STORM RAINFALL IN INCHES
40 22 60
35 18 55
30 15 Figure L.--Limited-gage data used to assign
25 12 :“3 curve numbers to new and unmeasured
20 37 watershed characteristics.
15 z 30
10 4 22
5 2 13
11 AMC I. Lowest runoff potential,.

Soils in the watershed are
dry enough for satisfactory
INCREMENTOF EXCESS
plowing or cultivation. RAINFALLORINFLOW
AMC II. The average condition.
AMC III. Highest runoff potential.
Soils in the watershed are
practically saturated from
antecedent rains.
OUTFLOWHYOROGRAPH
WATERSHEDLAG AND TIME OF CONCENTRATION
The average slope within the watershed to-

gether with the overall length and retardance of
overland f-low are major factors affecting the I- AD--I I I
runoff rate through the watershed.
Time of concentration (T,) is the time it
takes for water to travel from the most hydrau-
lically distant point in a watershed to its out-
A$ = = I" C.F.S.
let. Lag (L) can be considered as a weighted fi+L
time of concentration. When runoff from a 2
watershed is nearly uniform it is usually suffi- Where:
A0 = INCREMENTOFSTORM PERIOD IN HOURS
cient to relate lag to time of concentration as
A0 = RUNOFFINlNCHESDURlNGPERlOD 4D
follows : A¶ = PEAK DISCHARGEIN C.F.S.FURAN INCREMENTOF RUNOFF
A = DRAINAGEAREAIN SQUAREMILES
L = 0.6 T, (5)
Tp= TlMETOPEAK(=++L)INHOURS
The lag for the runoff from an increment of TL, = TlMEOFBASEf= 2.67 Tp ) IN HOURS
excess rainfall can further be considered as the
time between the center of mass of the excess Figure 5.--Triangular hydrograph relationships.
7
rainfall increment and the peak of its incremen- a/w = Ka0.2 (10)
tal outflow hydrograph (fig. 5). A graph for
estimating lag is shown in figure 6. The equa- Where:
tion is:
K = 209/208.4 (or 1 for practical
L = Q3*8 (s + 1) o-7 purposes).
1900 Y”.j
a/w = watershed shape factor.
Where :
Variation in shape factor with respect to
L = lag in hours. drainage area based on equation (10) is shown in
the following tabulation.
i! = length of mainstream to farthest
divide in feet.
Drainage area
k/WJ Ratio
Y = average slope of watershed in (acres )
percent.
10 1.58
1000
S=CN’-10 100 2.51
1000 3.98
CN' = A retardance factor approximated by
the curve number representing the
l-1 w is average width of watershed, area/
watershed's hydrologic soil-cover
length.
complex.
Watershed Shape Factor
There are small watersheds that do not conform
The length (1) of the mainstream to the far- to the shape factor in equation (10); some de-
thest divide was measured on ARS maps of the viate considerably. In the example shown in
small experimental watersheds (2, 5; p. 2.2-7) figure 8, the diversion terrace along one side
The hydraulic length and area of these water- changes the shape in reference to the hydraulic
sheds are plotted in figure 7. The relationship length and average width relationship. Here the
is represented by the equation: a/w factor is 3.75 as compared to a factor of
1.69 based on the general equation (7) used for
R = 209 a"s6 (7) ~~-1026 and ES-1027 solutions. Example 2 under
the heading tlBasic Procedure for Estimating Peak
Where: Discharge Without Developing a EIydrographn com-
putes the peak discharge for this watershed to
R = hydraulic length in feet. be 43 cfs as compared to 46 cfs obtained from
the solution in ES-1027. The ES-1026 and
a = drainage area in acres. ES-1027 solution provides a higher peak dis-
charge estimate for all watersheds that have
The ratio of length (a) to average width (w) diversions or terraces and will result in a
of a watershed may be referred to as a "shape greater capacity requirement for the design of
factor." It follows from equation (7) that the a structure. This is generally acceptable and
shape factor varies with drainage area. often desirable for the installation of smaller
measures. Where the economy of a structure
R = 43,560 a/w (8) requires close adherence to the lesser design
capacity, the peak discharge can be determined
Where: manually as shown later in example 2. No
attempt has been made to modify the precomputed
w = average width of watershed in feet. estimates in ~~-1026 and ES-1027 for special
watershed shape factors since those used change
Substituting the value of R in equation (7) for with each change in drainage area as shown by
R in equation (8): equation (10) and the tabulation following it.
w = (43,560 a)/(209 a"s6) Use of Curve Numbers to Reflect Overland

Retardance
and:
The chart for estimating watershed lag in
w = 208.4 a"s4 (9) figure 6 uses Cii's to reflect the retardance
effect of surface conditions on the rate at
Combining equations (7) and (9): which runoff moves down the slope. A hay meadow
or a thick mulch in a forest is associated with
p. = GREATEST FLOW LENGTH IN FEET
Figure G.--Watershed lag (NEH-I-I- January 1971).

‘
(8) 133zl NI 03HS1131WMJO H13N3-l
10
peak discharge means primarily average watershed
slope in the direction of overland flow. Slope
is readily available at most locations from
existing soil survey data. On larger watersheds
the gradient of the stream channel becomes an
additional consideration in estimating time of
concentration. An estimate of one average slope
for all the land within watersheds of less than
2,000 acres is adequate for the slope parameter
(Y) in equation (6).
Average slope is defined under three broad
categories for the peak discharge charts ~~-1026
and ES-1027 (table 4). Peak discharges were
computed for the slopes shown in the second col-
umn and assigned to the broad categories of the
first and third columns. Ordinarily the peak
discharge values given for one of the three
slope categories in ~~-1026 and ES-1027 are ade-
quate for most uses without interpolating
between slope categories.
Table 4.--Slope factors for peak discharge

computations in charts ~~-1026 and
ES-1027.
Slope for which

Average
Slope factor computations
slope range
Figure B.--Natural watershed shape factor were made
altered by a diversion terrace. Percent Percent
FLAT1/ 1 0 to 3
low CN's and high retardance. Conversely, a MODERATE 4 3 to 8
bare surface is associated with high CN's and STEEP 16 8 or more
low retardance. The CN's denoting retardance
are the same as those used for estimating the
depth of runoff from rainfall (table 2). lJ Level to nearly level.
The ADP solutions for charts ~~-1026 and
ES-1027 used the same CN' for computing water-
shed lag in equation (6) as the CN for depth Interpolation for Intermediate Slopes
of runoff in equation (3).
There are unusual situations for which a com- If a closer estimate of peak discharge is
mon CN and CN' does not provide an adequate esti- needed than that provided in ~~-1026 and ES-1327
mate of peak discharge. One example is a water- for the three slope categories, the value can be
shed in which the soils have a high infiltration determined by interpolation between 1 percent
rate (hydrologic soil group A or B) but no sur- (FLAT), 4 percent (MODERATE), and 16 percent
face cover and are on rather steep slopes. Here (STEEP). The estimate is made simpler by in-
the CN for estimating depth of runoff is small terpolating along a straight-line plot of peak
because of the hydrologic soil group class. against slope on log-log paper (fig. 9). The
Once the soil is saturated and runoff has com- straight-line plot on log-log paper can also be
menced, however, the overland retardance (CN') used to extrapolate peak discharge values for
for the bare surface is greater than the CN slopes steeper than 16 percent. But other
representing the hydrologic soil complex number. parameters than those in equation (6) may need
In special situations where it is believed that to be considered for average watershed slopes
a closer approximation of lag or time of con- steeper than 33 percent.
centration can be made and where a closer peak
discharge determination is warranted, the manual
solution described later should be made and TRIANGULAR HYDROGRAPHEQUATION
compared with the results in ~~-1326 or ES-1027.
The triangular hydrograph is a practical re-
Average Watershed Slope presentation of excess runoff with only one
rise, one peak, and one recession. It has been
Slope as used in this method for computing
L = drainage area lag.
INCREMENTAL HYDROGRAPHS
Total storm rainfall rarely if ever occurs

uniformly with respect to time. Because rain-
fall gage data and the variation of rainfall
with time are lacking in most small watersheds,
it is desirable that variations in rainfall with
respect to time be standardized for the design
of soil and water conservation measures. To use
equation (11) for other than uniform storm rain-
fall, it is necessary to divide the storm into
increments of duration (AD) and compute corre-
sponding increments of runoff (AQ) (fig. 5).
The peak discharge equation for an increment of
runoff is:
(12)
c
Where :
A is in square miles.
AVERAGEWATERSHEDSLOPEIN
PEACENl
AQ is in inches.
Figure Y.--Logarithmic interpolation of peak
discharge for intermediate slopes. AD and L are in hours.
is in cfs.
very useful in the design of soil and water con- A%
servation measures. Its geometric makeup can be The constant, K, in equation (11) becomes 484
easily described mathematically, which makes it when the peak discharge is computed in units of
very useful in the processes of estimating dis- cfs for the triangular hydrograph (fig. 5). The
charge rates. ordinates of the individual triangular hydro-
SCS developed the following equation to esti- graphs for each Aqpare added to develop a com-
mate the peak rate of discharge for spillway and posite hydrograph (fig. lc)). Note how each in-
channel capacities for conservation measures and cremental hydrograph is displaced one AD to the
water-control structures: right for each succeeding time increment.
qp = (KAQ)/T~ (11) (2, 2, 1)

BASIC PROCEDUREFOR ESTIMATING PEAK DISCHARGE
Where: WITHOUT DEVELOPING A HYDROGRAPH
qp = peak rate of discharge. The plotting and summation of unit hydrograph

ordinates (fig. 10) require more time than
A = drainage area contributing to the desirable or necessary to obtain only the peak
peak rate. discharge (qp) for a design storm. The peak
discharge, without the further development of
Q = storm runoff. the entire composite hydrograph, is all that is
required for most SCS applications. For these
K = a constant. the solution can be reduced to the period of
runoff or of excess rainfall that directly
Tp = time to peak. affects the peak rate corresponding to a given
watershed lag (L). A relationship between AD
Time to peak (Tp) is expressed as: and L can be chosen that enables the summation
of only a single ordinate from each incremental
hydrograph within the effective runoff period to
Tp=$+L compute the peak discharge. The usual choice is
to make AD equal to one-third the time to peak
Where: (Tp) (fig. 11). If AD is taken to equal Tp/3
then the equation for AD is:
D = storm duration.
- 4AD -4 AD c- 2AD+
Figure lO.--Composite hydrograph from hydro-

graphs for storm increments AD.
AD = 0.4L (13) Figure 12.--Effective peak-producing period and
most effective increment.
Where :
Tp = (ADl2) + L (fig, 5)
The y values in figure
13 are the proportional
and contributing to the
been obtained for
Tp = 3 AD The product (y)Aq for
each of the seven increments of runoff ar8 added
The effective peak-producing runoff period is to obtain the composite peak rate (qp). The
TAD with the fifth increment AD, being the most summation equation is:
intense runoff increment (fig. 12). The peak
discharge for each increment (Aq,) can be com- q = C 0.2Aq, + 0.4Aq, + o.6Aq3 + o.8Aq
puted by equation (12) using: 4
+ l.OAq, + $Aq6 f yb,
' (:I51
AQ., = Mass Q2 - Mass Q1
AQ2 = Mass Q, - Mass Q, etc. (14)
SELECTAD = l/3 Tp OR Tp = 3 AD
SINCET = w@- +L AD = 0.4~

p 2 '
Figure 13.--Proportional parts of incremental

Figure Il.--Making AD equal to one-third the
hydrographs that contribute to the
time to peak.
composite peak.
1
The equations were solved by ADP to get the TAD = 7(0.33) hour
peak-discharge rates for ~~-1026 and ES-1027. TAD = 2.31 hours
These equations can be solved manually by fol-
lowing the examples given here. Step T.--Prepare a tabulation based on a type
Example l.-- Given a loo-acre watershed with II distribution in table 1; P,, = 10 inches and
runoff characteristics represented by CN 80 in runoff (Q) for CN 80 from figure 3:
table 2. The average slope of the watershed is
1 percent. The peak discharge is required for a
lo-inch rain in 24 hours. The watershed is Time Mass P Mass Q
located in the area covered by the type II curve (hours) PxjP24 (inches) (inches)
in figure 1.
10.0 0.181 1.81 0.44
LO.5 .204 2.04 .59
11.0 .235 2.35 .78
Step l.--Estimate the hydraulic length of the Il.5 .283 2.83 1.12
watershed by equation (7): II.75 .387 3.87 1.94
12.0 .663 6.63 4.36
R = 209aos6 12.5 .735 7.35 5.02
R = 209(100)"'6 l.3.0 .772 7.72 5.36
R = 3,300 feet
Step 6.--Prepare working curve. Plot mass Q
versus time (fig. 14). Select midpoint of maxi-
Step 2.-- Read watkrshed lag from figure 6 for mum increment of runoff (11.88 hours). This
R = 3,300 feet; Y = 1 percent and CN 80: will be the same for most type II distributions,
L = 0.83 hour but it will occur later where initial abstrac-
tion (I, = 0.2s) has not been satisfied prior to
Step 3.--Compute AD from equation (13),
11.75 hours. Mark the curve with the 7AD begin-
assuming AD = Tp/3:
ning at10.39hours for the selected midpoin-t
AD = 0.4L minus 4.5AD.
AD = 0.4(0.83)
AD = 0.33 hour 11.88 - 4.5(0.33) = 10.39
Step 4.--Compute the effective peak-producing Step T.--Prepare computations for instantane-
runoff period for TAD: ous peak discharge (table 5). The increment in
TIME IN HOURS
Figure lb.--Working curve for manual computation from type II storm distribution, table 1.
14
Table 5.--Example 1, computations for instanta- Step 3.--Read watershed lag (L) from figure 6
neous peak discharge or compute L from equation (6):
L = 0.1 (approx.)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Step li.--The 24-hour, 25-year frequency rain-
Mass fall for Cohocton, N. Y., in the Weather Bureau
Increment Time runoff AQ A& yd Y(Acl) Atlas is 4.3 inches. Use type II distribution.
Honrs Inches
---e Inches Cfs -Cfs Step 5.--Compute AD from equation (13) assum-
ing AD = Tp/3:
10.39 3.55
3.12 9.1 0.2 1.8
10.72 .67 AD = 0.4L
.13 9.9 .4 4. 0
11.05 .80 AD = 0.4(0.1) = 0.94 hour
.18 13.7 .6 8.2
11.38 .98 Step 6.--Compute the effective peak-producing
.77 55.5 .8 46.8
11.71 1.75 runoff period for TAD:
2.78 211.3 1.0 211.3
12.04 4.53 TAD = T(C.04) hour
.42 31.9 213 21.3
12.37 4.95 TAD = 9.28 hour
.22 16.7 113 5.6
12.70 5.17
FEZ31 Step T.--Prepare a tabulation from data in
steps 1 and 4 for the period in step 6, solving
11 FK~ equation (12) Aq = 76.0 (AQ) for Q by using equation (3) or by reading Q from
?J See figure 13 figure 3:
ai qp = 300 (approx) from ES-1027, Rev. e-15-71
sheet 5 of 21. P = 4.3 inches; S = 2.2 inches.
Time Mass P Mass &

(hours) (inches 1 (inches)
11.5 0.283 1.22 0.20

column 1 and the time in column 2 correspond 11.75 .387 1.66 .44
with the beginning and end of each incremental 12.0 .663 2.85 1.26
period, AD, in figure 14. The runoff (Q) in
column 3 is read from the curve in figure 14. lfFrom table 1, type II distribution.
Column 4 is the incremental runoff for each AD.
Peak discharge for each increment of runoff is
computed by equation (12) and tabulated in col-
umn 5. Column 6 lists the proportion of incre- Step 8.--Prepare working curve (fig. 15) from
mental peak that contributes to the total peak data in step 7.
as shown in figure 13. Column 7 is the summa- Step 9.--Prepare computations for instantane-
tion of proportionate parts of each incremental ous peak discharge (table 6).
peak in equation (15). 'Ihe peak discharge for this example is rounded
Example 2.--Given watershed W-II, 13.8 acres to 43 cfs, as computed manually, and by estimat-
located at Cohocton, N. Y. The watershed is in ing lag (L) on the actual hydraulic length (a)
cultivation with good conservation treatment in along the diversion terrace. The peak discharge
effect; its soils are predominantly in hydrologic obtained from ES-1027 (sheets 19 and 20), with R
soil group C. The average watershed slope is 20 based on equation (7) and not the measured
percent and hydraulic length k is measured as length along the diversion terrace, is:
1,500 feet following the course of the diversion
terrace (fig. 8). The peak discharge for a 25- 9 for STEEP, CN 80, 13.8 acres,
year frequency storm is desired for AMC II. and P = 4.3 inches is 43 cfs.
Step I.--Select CN from table 2 based on the
watershed description: CN = 82 q for STEEP, CN 85, 13.8 acres,
Step 2.--Compute S from equation (4): and P = 4.3 inches is 50 cfs.
s=1ooo-10 By interpolation,
CN
q for STEEP, CN 82, 13.8 acres,
~~1ooo~10 and P = 4.3 inches is l+& cfs.
82
Converting from the 16-percent slope for STEEP
:. s = 2.2 to a 20-percent slope would not add more than 1
Table 6.--Example 2, computations for instanta-
neous peak discharge
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Mass
Increment Time runoff AQ &'I Y Y(Aci)
Hours
--- Inches Inches -CfS -Cfs
11.702/ 0.39
0.04 3.5 0.2 .7
11.743' 0.43
0.11 9.6 0.4 3.8
11.78 0.54
0.13 11.3 0.6 6.8
0.8 11.82 0.67
0.13 11.3 0.8 9.0
11.86 0.80
0.13 11.3 1.0 11.3
0.6
11.90 0.93
0.13 11.3 213 7.5
11.94 1.06
0.13 11.3 l/3 3.8
11.98 1.19
0.4 TOTAL = G
‘lag = 484 A (AQ) _ (484) (13.8) (AQ) = 87.0 AQ

0.2 (0.02 + 0.1) 640
+j +L
dli.88 - 4.5 AD = 11.88 - 4.5cO.4) = 11.70
d11.70 + AD = il.70 + 0.04 = 11.7'4 hours (etc.)
0 Step 2.--Read watershed lag from figure 6 for
1.5 11.6 11.7 11.8 11.9 12.0
a' = 2G,OOO feet; Y = 8 percent and CN' 60:
TIME IN HOURS
L = 2.1 hours
Step 3.--Compute AD from equation (16), assum-

ing AD = ~~16:
Figure 15.--Working curve for example 2.
AD '= 0.38 hour
or 2 cfs by extrapolation on log-log paper as Step 4.--Compute the effective peak-producing
was suggested for special cases (fig. 9). runoff period for 15AD:
It may be concluded that the ES-1027 charts
overestimate the peak discharge in this example 15AD = 15(0.38) hour
by about 3 cfs or 7 percent. This is due
mainly to the alteration of the watershed shape 15AD ='5.7 hours
factor by the diversion terrace.
Example 3.--This example demonstrates the need Step 5.--Prepare a tabulation based on a type
for making AD smaller -than 0.4L as used in the I distribution in table 1; P24 = 10 inches and
previous two examples. To keep it less than 0.5
CN 60:
hour and more commensurate with the increment of
maximum storm intensity in table 1, it is set Time Mass P Mass Q
equal to l/6 Tp instead of l/3 Tp and it follows (hours) PxlP24 (inches) (inches)
that:
6.00 0.125 1.25 0.00
AD = 0.182~ (16) 7.00 .156 1.056 .oo
8.00 .1g4 1.94 -05
Given a 2,000-acre watershed with CN 60 and an 8050 .219 2.l.9 .lO
average slope of 8 percent located on Kahuka 9.00 .254 2.54 .18
Point, Oahua, Hawaii. An estimate of the peak 9.50 0303 3.03 .35
discharge for a 25-year frequency rainstorm is 9.75 a362 3.62 .59
desired. 10.00 .515 5.15 I.39
Step l.--Estimate the hydraulic length of the 10.50 .583 5.83 1.82
watershed by equation (7) or read from figure 7: 11.00 .624 6.24 2.08
IL.50 .654 6.54 2.28
R = 20,000 feet 12.00 .682 6.82 2.47
16
Step 6.--Prepare working curve (fig. 16) from
data in step 5.
Step 7.--Prepare computations for instantane-
ous peak discharge (table 7).
EQUATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS USED IM COMPUTER

sommo~s FOR CMRTS ~~-1026 AND ~~-1027
Storm Rainfall
Fifteen- and 30-minute increments of aceumula-

ted-to-total ratios of rainfall were used with
both type I and II distributions shown in figure
I. The 15-minute increments extended through
the most intense l-hour period of each distribu-
tion. Twenty-four-hour storms were generated
accordingly for each distribution for those
rainfall depths shown in the ES charts.
Rainfall-Runoff Equations
Runoff (Q) was computed accumulatively from

the two accumulated rainfall distributions and
their increments described. This solution was
made for all rainfall depths and for each of the
seven Cm's included in the ES charts by the fol-
lowing equations:
& = (P - 0.2s):
P + 0.8s (3)
TIME IN HOURS
and
Figure 16 .--Working curve for example 3.
s=L!!!Z-,, (17)
CN Period of Runoff Affecting Peak Discharge
Watershed Lag The computer program related the incremented

periods (AD) of storm runoff to lag (L) as
Lag time (L) was computed for I-, 4-, and 16- in (example 3):
percent slopes (Y) for each of the seven Cm's in
the ES charts and for each of the following AD = 0.182 L (16)
drainage areas (a):
The peak producing storm period for this rela-
5 acres tionship is 15 AD (table 7, example 3).
10 to 100 acres by IO-acre increments The computer solution determined the time at
100 to 1,000 acres by 20-acre increments which the midperiod of the most intense 15-
1,000 to 2,000 acres by 50-acre increments minute increment of accumulated runoff occurred.
This was at 9.875 hours for the type I distribu-
The programmed equations were: tion and 11.875 hours for the type II distribu-
tion. It computed the time at the beginning of
,o.e (s + 1) 0.7 the effective period (15AD) as:
L=
1goo Y".h
9.875 - 9.5 AD for type I
v. = 209 a’J-6 (7) 11.875 - 9.5 AD for type II
Incremental Peak Discharge

(17)
The instantaneous peak discharge was computed
CN' for computing T, is approximated by the for each increment of runoff (AQ) within the
CN from table 2.
17
Table 7.--Example 3, computations for instanta- effective period (IsAD) described according to
neous peak discharge the following equation:
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Aq = q(AQ) (18)

Mass
Increment Time runoff AQ A& Y Y(k)
Combined Peak Discharge
Hours Inches
---- Inches Cfs -Cfs
6.27’/ 0.00 The incremental peaks (As's) were combined in
0.00 0 0.1 0
.oo the computer program in a manner similar to the
6.6521
.oo 0 .2 0 manual solution shown in table 7, example 3.
7.03 .oo
.oo 0 .3 0
7.41 .02
.02 13 .4 5
7.79 .04
.03 20 .5 10
8.17 .07
.04 26 .6 16
8.5: .ll
.06 40 .7 28
8.93 .17
.09 59 .a 47
9.31 .26
.23 152 .9 137
9.69 .49
1.00 660 1.0 660
10.07 1.49
.31 205 516 171
10.45 x.80
.20 132 4/6 88
lo.83 2.00
.17 112 316 56
11.21 2.17
.15 99 216 33
11.59 2.32
.13 86 116 1.4
11.97 2.45
TOTAL q = lzG- cfs
1/ aq = 484 (AQ) = “,““,,(P~f~i (AQ) = 660 (AQ)

g+,
zf 9.88 - 9.5AC = 9.88 - 9.5c.38) = 6.27

?f 6.27 + AD = 6.27 + .38 = 6.65 hours(etc.)
18
LITERATURE CITED
(1) Chow, Ven te. 1962. Hydrologic determina- (8) U.S. Weather Bureau. 1963. Probable maxi-
tions of waterway areas for the design of mum precipitation and rainfall-frequency
drainage structures in small drainage ba- data for Alaska for areas to 400 square
sins. 111. Engr. Expt. Sta. Bull. 462, miles, durations to 24 hours, and return
104 p. periods from 1 to 100 years. Tech. Paper
(2) Ogrosky, Harold O., and Victor Mockus. 1964. 47. 69 P.
Hydrology of agricultural lands. In Hand- (9) 1962. Rainfall-frequency atlas
book of applied hydrology, Ven te ?%OFJ, for the Hawaiian Islands for areas to 200
ed., (sec. 21), 97 p. McGraw-Hill Book square miles, durations to 24 hours, and
co. ) New York. return periods from 1 to 100 years. Tech.
(3) U.S. Agricultural Research Service. 1963. Paper 43.
Hydrologic data for experimental agricul- (10) - 1961. Generalized estimate of
tural watersheds in the United States probable maximum precipitation and rain-
1956,-59. Misc. Publ. 945. 611 n, fall-frequency data for Puerto Rico and
(4) 1960. Selected runoff events Virgin Islands for areas to 400 square
for small agricultural watersheds in the miles, durations to 24 hours, and return
United States. 374 P. periods from 1 to 100 years. Tech. Paper
(5) U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. 1960. Design 42. 94 p.
of small dams (appendix A). 611 p. (11) 1961. Rainfall-frequency atlas
(6) U.S. National Weather Service. 1973. Rre- of the United States for durations from
cipitation-frequency atlas of western 30 minutes to 24 hours and return periods
United States. NOAA atlas No. 2, v. l-11. from 1 to 100 years. Tech. Paper 40.
(7) U.S. Soil Conservation Service. 1972. 115 P.
Hydrology. Nat. Eng. Handb., sec. 4.
547 p.
19
-APPENDIX
PEAK RATES OF DISCHARG
TYPE I STORM DISTRIBUTI
SLOPES - FLAT
CURVE NUMBER - 60
24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB TP-43,

TP-47, B (Revised) TP-40
DRAINAGE AREA IN ACRES
STANDARD DWG. NO.
ES- 1026
SHEET 1 OF 21
DATE 6-1-71
PEAK RATES OF DISCHARGE FOR SMALL WATERSHEDS
TYPE I STORM DISTRIBUTION
SLOPES - FLAT
CURVE NUMBER - 65

TP-47, 8. (Revised) TP-40
STANDARD DWG NO.
ES- 1026
SHEET --.-OF
2 21
DATE 6-l-71 __
1 PEAK RATES OF DISCHARGE FOR SMALL WATERSHEDS
SLOPES - FLAT
CURVE NUMBER - 70

TP-47, & (Revised) TP-40
STANDARD DWG. ND.
ES- 1026
SHEET 3 OF 21
DATE 6-I-71
~~__r_l__-~j.~-
SH
-
SLOPES - FL/Al-

STANDARD DWG NO
ES- !026
SHEET -- 4 OF 2!
DATE 6-l-7,
_--__
S OF DISCHARGE F ALL WATERSHEDS
---
SLOPES - FLAT
CURVE NUMBER - 80

STANDARD DWG. NO.
ES- 1026
SHEET 5 OF 21
DATE 6-1-71
PEAK RATES OF DISCHARGE FOR SMALL W SHEDS
SLOPES - FLAT
CURVE NUMBER - 90

TP-47, 8 (Revised) TP-40
I DRAINAGE AREA IN ACRES
STANDARD DWG. NO.
ES- 1026
SHEET -- 7 OF 21
DATE 6-1-71
PEAK RATES I= DISCHARGE FOR SMALL WATERSHEDS
TYPE I ST
SLOPES - MODERATE
CURVE NUMBER - 60

STANDARD DWG. NO.
ES- 1026
SHEET 8 OF 21
DATE 6-I-71
6
SLOPES - MCDERATE
24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB V-43,

TP-47, & (Revisedj TP-40
,
c
STANDARD DWG NO.
ES- 1026
SHEET 11 OF 21
DATE 6-l-71
24 HOUR WiNFALL FROM US WB V-43,
7’P-47, & (Revised) TP-40
STANDARD DWG ND
ES- 1026
SHEET 12 OF 21
DATE 6-1-71
SLOPES - MODERATE
CURVE NUMBER - 85
24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB P-43,

TP-47, 8, (Revised) TP-40
PEAK RATES OF DISCHARGE FOR SMALL W
TORM DISTRIBUTI
SLOPES - STEEP
CURVE NUMBER - 60

STANDAKD DWG. ND.
ES- 102fi
SHEET 15 DF 21
DATE 6-l-71
/ PEAK RATES OF DISCHARGE FOR SMALL ~A~E~S~EDS
SLOPES - STEEP
CURVE NUMBER - 65

STANDARD DWG. NO.
ES- 1026
SHEET 16 OF 21
DATE 6-l-71
SLOPES - STEEP
CURVE NUMBER - 75

1000
900
800
700
600
2 500
E 400
ii
-.
m
7
0 ‘8:
z- 80
LL 70
2 60
4 50
5
0 40
E
DRAINAGE AREA iN ACRES
STANDARD DWG NO.
ES- 1026
SHEET &OF 21
DATE 6-1-71
SLOPES - STEEP
24 HOUR RAAINFALL FROM US ‘A’8 V-43,

IP-47, 8 (Revised) TWO
BRAINAGE AREA IN ACRES
STANDARD DWG. ND. B
ES- 1026
SHEET ‘9 OF 21
TYPE I STORM DISTRIBUTIBN
SLOPES - STEEP
CURVE NUMBER - 85

TP-47, 8, (Revised) TP-40
STANDARD DWG. NO.
ES- 1026
SHEET ZOF 21
DATE 6-1-71
PEA ATES OF DISCHARGE FOR SMALL WATERSHEDS
SLOPES - STEEP
CURVE NUMBER - -- 90

STANDARD DWG NO
ES- 1026
SHEET&OF __- 21
DATE b-i-71
--
TYPE II STORM DISTRIBUTION
CURVE NUMBER 60
24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB TP 40
* ,,,
906 .
800
700 I
600
a 500
Z
STANDARD DWG NO
ES-1027
SHEET 1 OF21
DATE 2-15 -71
---
SLOPES - FLAT
CURVE NUMBER - 65
24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB TP.40
1000 * ‘ . ;,*,,
900 * ..;
800 , ,...
700 _,, . .: I . ^ ,".1
[L
k
t; 200
t
0
m
2 100
90
Z 80
-
0
30
2
w
a
20
STANDARD DWG. ND.
ES-1027
SHEET>- OF21
DATE 2-15 -71
SLOPES - FLAT
CURVE NUMBER - 70
24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB TP-40
STANDARD DWG. NO,
ES-1027
SHEET L-OF&
DATE 2-15 -71

SLOPES - FLAT
CURVE NUMBER - 75
STANDARD DWG. NO.

ES-1027
SHEET 2- OFA
DATE Z-15 -71

SLOPES FLAT
CURVE NUMBER - 80
24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB TP~40
a cl 8
00 8 8 8 ssss
In uJhco& :: a $ 8 3i?s$E 8 me m ID r.COm- R
2000 r . .I ,. _,_,
,. I ‘.,
a
,“” .,
.,,
I I ., “.
I .,.
600 * ’ ^ ,,..a
‘_,.
STANDARD DWG. NO.
ES-1027
SHEET 2-e OF 21
DATE 2-15 - 71
TYPE IT STORM DISTRIBUTION
SLOPES FLAT
CURVE NUMBER &5
24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WE! TP-40
STANDAKu DWG. NO,
ES-1027
SHEET a- OF 21
DATE 2-15 -71

SLOPES FLAT
CURVE NUMBER - 90
24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WE TP-40
1000 *
900
800’
700
600
n 500
g 400
g 300
@L
w *
a
+ 200
i
LL
STANDARD DWG. NO.
ES-1027
SHEET LOF&
DATE Z-15-71
--
SLOPES MODERATE
CURVE NUMBER - 60
700
600, _, ,,
” ‘/p/y3oo
/’
c-l
Ei
z
100
Z
-
7c
8cc 6C
Q
- 50
$ 4c 40
0
./ :”
/ /
30
5
it
20
10
9
a
7
6
STANDARD DWG. NO.
ES-1027
SHEET 8OFL2.L
DATE Z-15-71 _
SLOPES - MODERATE
CURVE NUMBER 65
1000 ." .;
900 ::
800 ‘ ,,_
700 .e ,,,. 700
600 ' " 600
500 ~
400 . " _..^, /Y 400
300 , I _I / 300
/
200,
* I 40
I ,
/ / 3o
STANDARD DWG. NO.

ES-1027
SHEET -9 OF &
DATE 2-15 -71

TYPE It- STORM DISTRIBUTION
SLOPES - MODERATE
CURVE ,NUMBER - 70
1000
900
KHI
700
600 1
n 500 . .* _., ., .‘
I ‘
E 400
Y
fJ7 300 ,.. 300
E
+ 200
z
IL
0
m
= 100
90
Z
- 80
?J 70
60 , A”.. “,. /60
lx
z 50
$ 40
a
30 /‘ . ‘ / 30
z
iti!
20
10
9
8
7
6
s
STANDARD DWG. NO.

ES 1027
SHEET & OF 21
DATE Z-15-71
SLOPES MODERATE
CURVE NUMBER 7L
w
a
+ 200
z
LL
0
z" 100
90
Z
- 80
2 70
60
2 50
2 40
E
2 30
k!
20
It
8
7
6
5
STANDARD DWG. NO.

ES-1027
SHEET -- 11 OF 21
DATE 2-15-71
PEAK RATES OF DISCHARGE FOR SMALL WATERSHE
TYPE III STORM
SLOPES - MODERATE
CURVE NUMBER 80
24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM L!S WB TP-40
I’ I,’
,‘,I
, I . I,
700
.^,
,,.
, .A.,,,/ .! 400
300
+ 200 I I 200
w
\?
,, / /, 10
STANDARD DWG. ND.
ES-1027
SHEET -i&. OF 21
DATE 2-15-71 _
SLOPES MODERATE
CURVE NUMBER 85
800 ;;
700
600 .
n 500
STANDARD DWG. NO,
ES-1027
DATE 2-15 -71
i
SLOPES - MODERATE
CURVE NUMBER - 90
1000
900
800
700
600
n 500
E 400
I+ 300
cc
aw
F 200
ti
IL
0
iii
3 100
90
-Z 80
g 70
s 60
= 50 I,._
' 50
a.*
v) 40 I .I*,;I .. -, 40
0
z 30 I “,II
-,30
it
20 .," .." ' 20
10
9
a
7
6
5
STANDARD DWG. NO.
ES-1027
DATE 2-15 -71

TYPE II STORM DlSTiXlBUTlON
SLOPES STEEP
CURVE NUMBER 60
‘09::
800
700
600
n 500
5 400
s 300 300
cc
k
L 200 / 200
w
LL
c-l
m
= 100 100
90 : 90
z- 80 80
/ 70
60
50
6 40
/ ' 30
' 20
i> / ;O
/
/ 8
7
STANDARD DWG. rj0
ES-1027
DATE Z-15-71
TYPEII STORM DlSTRlBtJTlON
SLOPES STEEP
CURVE NUMBER 65
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
STANEARD DWG. NO
ES-1027
DATE 2-15 -71

PEAK RATES OF DkHARGE FOR SMALL WATERSHEDS’
SLOPES - STEEP
CURVE NUMBER - 70
” . ..,l’ ..*-
STANDARD DWG. NO.
ES-1027
SHEET LOF&
DATE 2-15 -71

SLOPES STEEP
CURVE NUMBER - 75
STANDARD DWG. NO.
ES-1027
SHEET 18 OF 21
DATE z-15-71
1

TYPE II STORM DISTRIBUTIOti
SLOPES - STEEP
CURVE NUMBER - 80
STANDARD DWG. NO,
ES-1027
SHEET 19 OF 21
DATE 2-15 -71

SLOPES _ STEEP
CURVE NUMBER - 85
“8
.7
6
STANDARD DWG. NO.
ES-1027
SHEET 2 OF a-
DATE 2-15 -71

7 PEAK RATES OF DISCHARGE FOR SMALL WATERSHEDS
SLOPES STEEP
CURVE NUMBER 90
1%
800
700
600
n 500
ci 400
2
* 300
El
a
L 200
w
L
0
z
0 1;;
z_ 80
s 70
5 60
$ 40
50
5
z 30
2
20
10
9
8
7
6
STANDARD DWG. NO.
ES-1027
SHEET -- 21 OF 21
DATE 2-15 -71
GP0/1973/726-779/493/1301
Note: ES 1027, 21 of 21 is the last page of TP-149.

TP149

Uploaded by

TP149

Uploaded by

A Method for Estimating’Volume and

Rate of Runoff in Small Watersheds

U.S. DEPARTMENTOF AGRICULTURE SCS-TP-149

Introduction ................................. ....... 1

INTRODUCTION 30 percent. The NEH-4 method is generally used

the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Mountains in Oregon,

Figure l.--Twenty-four-hour rainfall distributions (SCS).

.L/ Ratio accumulated rainfall

Figure 3.--Solution of the runoff equation, Q = (PP -+ 0.2s)Z

Land use and treatment Hydrologic soil group

Straight row ............ Poor 72 81 88 91

Farmst ads ..................

Dirt .................... ---- 82 87 89

CN for Corresponding CN's

100 100 100

11 AMC I. Lowest runoff potential,.

WATERSHEDLAG AND TIME OF CONCENTRATION

The average slope within the watershed to-

w = (43,560 a)/(209 a"s6) Use of Curve Numbers to Reflect Overland

Figure G.--Watershed lag (NEH-I-I- January 1971).

(8) 133zl NI 03HS1131WMJO H13N3-l

Table 4.--Slope factors for peak discharge

Slope for which

Total storm rainfall rarely if ever occurs

qp = (KAQ)/T~ (11) (2, 2, 1)

qp = peak rate of discharge. The plotting and summation of unit hydrograph

Figure lO.--Composite hydrograph from hydro-

AQ2 = Mass Q, - Mass Q, etc. (14)

SINCET = w@- +L AD = 0.4~

Figure 13.--Proportional parts of incremental

Time Mass P Mass &

11.5 0.283 1.22 0.20

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

‘lag = 484 A (AQ) _ (484) (13.8) (AQ) = 87.0 AQ

Step 3.--Compute AD from equation (16), assum-

EQUATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS USED IM COMPUTER

Fifteen- and 30-minute increments of aceumula-

Runoff (Q) was computed accumulatively from

Watershed Lag The computer program related the incremented

Incremental Peak Discharge

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Aq = q(AQ) (18)

1/ aq = 484 (AQ) = “,““,,(P~f~i (AQ) = 660 (AQ)

zf 9.88 - 9.5AC = 9.88 - 9.5c.38) = 6.27

24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB TP-43,

DRAINAGE AREA IN ACRES

STANDARD DWG. NO.

24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB TP-43,

DRAINAGE AREA IN ACRES

STANDARD DWG NO.

24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB TP-43,

DRAINAGE AREA IN ACRES

STANDARD DWG. ND.

24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB TP-33,

DRAINAGE AREA IN ACRES

24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB TP-43,

DRAINAGE AREA IN ACRES

STANDARD DWG. NO.

24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB TP-43,

I DRAINAGE AREA IN ACRES

STANDARD DWG. NO.

24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB TP-43,

DRAINAGE AREA IN ACRES

STANDARD DWG. NO.

24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB V-43,

DRAINAGE AREA IN ACRES

STANDARD DWG NO.

DRAINAGE AREA IN ACRES

24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB P-43,

24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB TP-43,

DRAINAGE AREA IN ACRES

STANDAKD DWG. ND.

24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB TP-43,

DRAINAGE AREA IN ACRES

STANDARD DWG. NO.

24 HOUR RAINFALL FROM US WB TP-43,

DRAINAGE AREA iN ACRES