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Streamflow of 2016—Water year summary

Fact Sheet 2017-3063
By: , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20173063

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Abstract

The maps and graphs in this summary describe national streamflow conditions for water year 2016 (October 1, 2015, to September 30, 2016) in the context of streamflow ranks relative to the 87-year period of 1930–2016, unless otherwise noted. The illustrations are based on observed data from the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Streamflow Network. The period of 1930–2016 was used because the number of streamgages before 1930 was too small to provide representative data for computing statistics for most regions of the country.

In the summary, reference is made to the term “runoff,” which is the depth to which a river basin, State, or other geographic area would be covered with water if all the streamflow within the area during a specified period was uniformly distributed on it. Runoff quantifies the magnitude of water flowing through the Nation’s rivers and streams in measurement units that can be compared from one area to another.

In all the graphics, a rank of 1 indicates the highest flow of all years analyzed and 87 indicates the lowest flow of all years. Rankings of streamflow are grouped into much below normal, below normal, normal, above normal, and much above normal based on percentiles of flow (less than 10 percent, 10–24 percent, 25–75 percent, 76–90 percent, and greater than 90 percent, respectively). Some of the data used to produce the maps and graphs are provisional and subject to change.

Suggested Citation

Jian, Xiaodong, Wolock, D.M., Lins, H.F., and Brady, S.J., 2017, Streamflow of 2016—Water year summary: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2017–3063, 6 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20173063.

ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • National Overview
  • Regional Patterns
  • Seasonal Characteristics
  • High and Low Flows
  • Additional Information
  • References
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Streamflow of 2016—Water year summary
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2017-3063
DOI 10.3133/fs20173063
Year Published 2017
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Kansas Water Science Center, Office of Surface Water
Description 6 p.
Country United States
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details