Flood discharges of streams in New Mexico as related to channel geometry

Open-File Report 76-414
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Abstract

This report describes the results of a study relating flood characteristics to the reference width of the channel.

Data from 79 gaging stations, which would provide estimates of floods of a 10-year recurrence interval and at which channel geometry could be adequately measured in the field, were used in these analyses. The peak discharges for recurrence intervals of 2, 5, 10, 25, and 50 years were determined for each station and are given in tabular form where appropriate.

Features that define the reference width vary with location and stream type. A discussion is given of the features that were used in measuring reference widths.

The relation between the magnitude of floods of various frequencies and the reference width and main-channel slope was reliable with a standard error of about 65 percent for most of the areas of the State; however, no reliable relation could be found for many stream channels in a large area of southeastern New Mexico, and it is recommended that the relation not be used in that area. The reasons for this difficulty is believed to be due to recent channel entrenchment in the area.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Flood discharges of streams in New Mexico as related to channel geometry
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 76-414
DOI 10.3133/ofr76414
Year Published 1976
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Description 29 p.
Country United States
State New Mexico
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