Runoff characteristics and washoff loads from rainfall-simulation experiments on a street surface and a native pasture in the Denver metropolitan area, Colorado

Open-File Report 84-820
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

Rainfall-runoff simulation studies were conducted in conjunction with the Denver Regional Urban Runoff Program to: (1) Compare runoff characteristics from two different intensities of simulated rainfall on street-surface plots, (2) document a first flush of constituent washoff loads in runoff from 1,000-sq-ft street-surface plots, (3) compare runoff characteristics from the street surface plots with those from a 69-acre urban mixed land use subjected to natural rainfall, (4) perform statistical analysis of washoff loads, and (5) compare quantity and quality of runoff from 400-sq-ft plots of native pasture subjected to simulated rainfall and from a 405-acre basin of native pasture subjected to natural rainfall. Experiments on the street surface showed that higher intensity simulated rainfall produced a higher percentage of runoff than lower intensity rainfall, and a first flush of constituent loads occurred for most constituents. The event mean constituent concentrations in the street-surface runoff from simulated storms were generally much smaller than those in the runoff from an adjacent urban basin. Simulated rainfall in small native pasture plots produced runoff-to-rainfall ratios similar to runoff-to-rainfall ratios from a larger native pasture subject to natural rainfall. (USGS)

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Runoff characteristics and washoff loads from rainfall-simulation experiments on a street surface and a native pasture in the Denver metropolitan area, Colorado
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 84-820
DOI 10.3133/ofr84820
Year Published 1985
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Description vii, 44 p.
Country United States
State Colorado
City Denver
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details