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<br />001578 <br /> <br />PROJECT TITLE: Peak Discharge and Frequency of Floods in Small Hatersheds <br />(f ig. 6) <br /> <br />COOPERATING AGENCY: Colorado Department of Highways <br /> <br />PROJECT CHIEF: Donald R. Minges, Subdistrict Office, Lakewood <br /> <br />PERIOD OF PROJECT: Continuous since July 1968 <br /> <br />ProbZem.--Flood characteristics of small <br />defined. Existing techniques for estimating the <br />are appl icable only to large drainage areas. <br />sheds, and estimates made from existing data are <br />e r ro r . <br /> <br />watersheds in Colorado are poorly <br />magnitude and frequency of floods <br />Data are lacking for small water- <br />likely to be substantially in <br /> <br />Objective.--Collect data and develop techniques for estimating the magnitude <br />and frequency of floods in small watersheds, especially those crossed by State <br />highways where data will be economically significant in the design of bridges and <br />culverts. Develop a computer model to predict rainfall-runoff relations that can <br />be modified for each watershed according to its hydrologic and physical character- <br />i st i cs. <br /> <br />Approach.--Collect data from 47 rainfall-runoff recorder installations locat- <br />ed throughout the State. Incorporate data collected from long-term streamflow- <br />gaging stations in small watersheds, from the National Weather Service's rain-gage <br />network in Colorado and adjacent States, and from, related studies in progress. <br /> <br />Pl'ogl'ess.--Rainfall-runoff 'data are being collected at 12 sites in western <br />Colorado. Computer models have been developed for selected watersheds and cali- <br />brated where sufficient data are available. Data analysis and model cal ibrations <br />are being continued for sites in the South Platte River basin. <br /> <br />PZans.--The sites in western Colorado will be discontinued. Data analysis <br />and cal ibration of the models in the South Platte River basin and western Colorado <br />wil I be completed. Peak flow and volume relations will be derived from observed <br />and synthetic data obtained from the South Platte River basin. Data to be includ- <br />ed in the 1978-80 rainfall-runoff report will be organized. A final interpretive <br />report will be started for the State. <br /> <br />19 <br />