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<br />FOREWORD <br /> <br />An accurate estimate of the flood damage potential is a key element <br />to an effective, nationwide flood damage abatement program. Further, <br />there is an acute need for a consistent approach to such estimates <br />because management of the nation's water and related land resources is <br />shared among various levels of government and private enterprise. To <br />obtain both a consistent and accurate estimate of flood losses requires <br />development, acceptance, and widespread application of a uniform, consis- <br />tent and accurate technique for determining flood-flow frequencies. <br />Currently there are a wide variety of procedures used, each with its own <br />advocates and/or sphere of application. <br />In a pioneer attempt to promote a consistent approach to flood-flow <br />frequency determination, the U.S. Water Resources Council in December <br />1967 published Bulletin No. 15, "A Uniform Technique for Determining <br />Flood Flow Frequencies." The technique presented therein was adopted by <br />the Council for use in all Federal planning involving water and related <br />land resources, The Council also recommended use of the technique by <br />State, local government, and private engineers. Adoption was based upon <br />the clear understanding that efforts to develop methodological improve- <br />ments in the technique would be continued and adopted when appropriate. <br />This guide is an extension and update of Bulletin No. 15, incorpora- <br />ting currently accepted methods with sufficient detail to promote <br />uniform application. It presents the results of a synthesis of studies <br />to find methodological improvements and a survey of the existing litera- <br />ture on flood-flow frequency determination. Each major element of the <br />process of defining the flood potential at a specific location in terms <br />of peak discharge and exceedance probability is described. <br />The guide is designed to meet the current, ever-pressing demand <br />that the Federal Government develop a coherent set of procedures for <br />accurately defining flood potentials as needed in programs of flood <br />damage abatement. Much additional study and data are required before <br />the twin goals of accuracy and consistency will be fully obtained. This <br />guide contributes to the effort by defining the essential elements of a <br /> <br />i <br />