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<br />Monograph for Using Paleoflood Data in Water Resources Applications
<br />
<br />Robert E, Swain (I) and Robert 0, Jarrett (2)
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<br />I) U,S, Bureau of Reclamation, P,O, Box 25007, 0-8530, Denver, CO 80225; PH (303) 445-
<br />2547; FAX (303) 445-6351; email: rswain@do,usbr,gov
<br />2) U,S, Geological Survey, P,O, Box 25046, MS-412, Denver, CO 80225; PH (303) 236-6447;
<br />FAX (303) 236-5034; email: rjarrett@usgs,gov
<br />
<br />Abstract
<br />
<br />The Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) Technical Committee on
<br />Surface Water Hydrology is sponsoring a Task Committee on Paleoflood Hydrology to prepare a
<br />monograph entitled, "Use of Paleoflood and Historical Data in Water Resources Applications."
<br />This paper introduces the subject of paleoflood hydrology and discusses the topics, which are
<br />expected to be included in the monograph, The procedure for preparing and reviewing the
<br />monograph will also be discussed,
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<br />The paleoflood hydrology monograph will include a discussion of types of hydrologic
<br />and paleoflood data, paleostage indicators, flood chronology, modeling methods, interpretation
<br />issues, water resources applications and case studies, and research needs, Paleoflood data
<br />collection and analysis techniques will be presented, and various applications in water-resources
<br />investigations will be provided, An overview of several flood frequency analysis approaches,
<br />which consider historical and paleoflood data along with systematic streamflow records, will be
<br />presented, The monograph is scheduled for completion and publication in 200 I,
<br />
<br />Introduction
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<br />Our perceptions of the magnitude and frequency of large floods greatly affect darn safety
<br />decisions, flood plain management, flood control needs, and locations of other high-hazard
<br />facilities (National Research Council, 1988). Competition for public financial resources has led
<br />to increased reliance on risk assessments that use flood information with annual exceedaD.ce
<br />probabilities smaller than 0,01. Risk analysis allows decision makers to compare potential risk
<br />reduction projects to determine the most efficient allocation of resources for achieving public
<br />safety, Since most of the streamflow and precipitation recorda in the United States are less than
<br />100 years long, making a reliable estimate of the 500-, 1000-, or 1O,000-year flood is a problem
<br />for engineers and scientists,
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<br />Paleoflood hydrology is the study of the movement of water and sediment in channels
<br />before the time of continuous hydrologic recorda or direct measurements (Costa, 1986),
<br />Paleoflood data provide a means for extending short data records and reducing the uncertainty in
<br />estimating the magnitude and frequency of extreme floods, Most paleoflood studies have been
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