Laserfiche WebLink
<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />regional regression equations for California. The regression equations are published in the USGS <br />Water-Resources Investigations Report 77-21 entitled "Magnitude and Frequency of Floods in <br />California" dated June 1977. <br /> <br />The flood frequency analysis of gaged data was performed in accordance with the Water <br />Resource Council's Bulletin 17-B. A test for low and high outliers was performed using the <br />recommended procedures. Two low outliers were detected, and no high outliers were detected. <br />A general skew value of -.2 was assumed for the study area. Based on the computerized <br />analysis, the resulting flood frequency relations are presented in the table below. <br />An additional hydrologic analysis was performed for the purpose of comparing results from more <br />than one methodology. The USGS regional regression equations are based on flood frequency <br />analyses of streamflow data from USGS gaging stations located within California. The regional <br />regression equations relate flood magnitude (the dependent variable) to drainage basin and <br />climatic characteristics (the independent "explanatory" variables). California was divided into <br />six (6) distinct hydrologic regions because of widely ranging, complex basin physiography and <br />climate. The 6 hydrologic regions include the North Coast, Northeast, Sierra, Central Coast, <br />South Coast, and South Lahontan-Colorado Desert. <br /> <br />The study area for this report is at the north end of the Central Coast region as defined by the <br />USGS. The explanatory variables for the Central Coast region flood-frequency equations <br />include drainage area, mean annual precipitation, and altitude index. For the purpose of this <br />study, the drainage area and altitude index for the watershed of interest were estimated from the <br />San Jose, California USGS I :250,000 scale topographic map. The mean annual precipitation for <br />the basin was estimated using available information in the USGS WRI 77-21 document. <br /> <br />There are several reservoirs located in the upper portion of the arroyo's watershed including the <br />previously mentioned Del Valle Reservoir. The Del Valle Dam was constructed in 1968 by the <br />California Department of Water Resources. That reservoir was not originally constructed for the <br />sole purpose of providing flood control for downstream properties and interests. Therefore, it <br />was asswned that peak flood flows at the subject property would not be reduced substantially <br />during a major flood event. The reservoir would release or pass-through the high flows in cases <br />where it was already filled to capacity. Reservoir storage and routing for flood control purposes <br />is not accounted for in the regional regression equations, and was not performed for this study. <br />In addition, the affects of increased urbanization have not been specifically accounted for in the <br />USGS regression equations which date back to 1977. <br /> <br />Hvdrolol!ic SUmmary <br />The results of the hydrologic analyses are presented in the table below. <br /> <br />3 <br />