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Flood-hazard analysis of four headwater streams draining the Argonne National Laboratory property, DuPage County, Illinois

Scientific Investigations Report 2016-5132
Prepared in cooperation with the Argonne National Laboratory
By: , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20165132

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Abstract

Results of a flood-hazard analysis conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Argonne National Laboratory, for four headwater streams within the Argonne National Laboratory property indicate that the 1-percent and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probability floods would cause multiple roads to be overtopped. Results indicate that most of the effects on the infrastructure would be from flooding of Freund Brook. Flooding on the Northeast and Southeast Drainage Ways would be limited to overtopping of one road crossing for each of those streams. The Northwest Drainage Way would be the least affected with flooding expected to occur in open grass or forested areas.

The Argonne Site Sustainability Plan outlined the development of hydrologic and hydraulic models and the creation of flood-plain maps of the existing site conditions as a first step in addressing resiliency to possible climate change impacts as required by Executive Order 13653 “Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change.” The Hydrological Simulation Program-FORTRAN is the hydrologic model used in the study, and the Hydrologic Engineering Center‒River Analysis System (HEC–RAS) is the hydraulic model. The model results were verified by comparing simulated water-surface elevations to observed water-surface elevations measured at a network of five crest-stage gages on the four study streams. The comparison between crest-stage gage and simulated elevations resulted in an average absolute difference of 0.06 feet and a maximum difference of 0.19 feet.

In addition to the flood-hazard model development and mapping, a qualitative stream assessment was conducted to evaluate stream channel and substrate conditions in the study reaches. This information can be used to evaluate erosion potential.

Suggested Citation

Soong, D.T., Murphy, E.A., Straub, T.D., and Zeeb, H.L., 2016, Flood-hazard analysis of four headwater streams draining the Argonne National Laboratory property, DuPage County, Illinois: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2016-5132, 57 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20165132.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract 
  • Introduction
  • Description of Study Area
  • Hydrologic Modeling Input
  • Model Development
  • Flood Quantiles
  • Hydraulic Modeling
  • Model Verification 
  • Flood Plain Boundaries for 1- and 0.2-Percent Quantile Events
  • Summary
  • References Cited
  • Appendix 1—Hydrological Simulation Program-FORTRAN Runoff Parameters 
  • Appendix 2. Stream Assessment
  • Appendix 3. Maps of 1-Percent Quantile Water-Surface Elevation with 3 Feet of Freeboard
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Flood-hazard analysis of four headwater streams draining the Argonne National Laboratory property, DuPage County, Illinois
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2016-5132
DOI 10.3133/sir20165132
Year Published 2016
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Illinois Water Science Center
Description vii, 57 p.
Country United States
State Illinois
County DuPage County
Other Geospatial Sawmill Creek Watershed
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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