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f" .,." '71 f~jl.lG '1 _ 0..: ...... . ". ... ~.' ,.'~~-.~I.",:~~~:l'; G;~~: ~j C'.. ".. "'"' ~ .~, t, :.;; ,'" I, .1 ,'". -"',' .' ~'~:;;;c}; ng DEi~'/2:;:::s COLOf1ADO DISCHARGE AND. RUNOFF IN THE MISSOURI RIVER BASIN By BlUee R. Cclby and Roy E. Oltman Page Introduction.......o .......... ...... o' ... 1 Discharge.. .......... .................... 2 Baae period for discharge compsrlsons. .., .. ~. .... .. . . . . . ., .. . 2 Precipitation during b8S~ period. 3 Map showing 8Ver&ge discharge........ 3 Monthly distribution of average discharge.......................... :5 IrrigatIon development............... 5 CONTENTS Page Dlscharge--Continued. Storage development.................. 5 Runoff................... ...... ..... 0.... 5 Bass period for runoff comparisons... 10 Computation of runoff................ 10 Average annual runoff............ 10 Minimum annual runoff............ 10 Runof1' maps.:........................ 10 Yap of average annual runo1'1'..... 10 Map of minimum annual runoff..... 11 ...... ....<::~. .. ." Il,LUSTRAT IONS Plate 1. Distribution of discharge by months for water years 1938~43.................. In 2. Average annual runof1', in inches, during water years 1938-43................. In 3. Minimum &.nDua1 runoff in inches.............................................. In Figure 1. Average discharge of streams in th~ Missouri River Basin during water years 19~~4:!l.... .... . . .. .. .. .. .. . ... .. .. .. . ...... . .. .. ....... ...... .... ............... Page pocket pocket pocket 2. Development of irrigation in Missouri River snd major tributary basins............. 3. ~ve10pment of irrigation in minor basins of Missouri River Basin.................. 4. Development of irrigation. by States. in the Missouri River Basin.................. 5. Capacity. by decades. of constructed storage reservoirs in the Missouri River Basin..... ...... .. . ...... .... ....... .... ............ ..... ........................ 4 6 7 8 9 TABLES Page Table 1. Average dischRrge at gaging stations having long records............................ 2 2. Average precipitation in the Missouri River Basin by areas and periods.............. 3 INTRODUCTION Within the Missouri River Basin the precipitati~n and temperature vary greatly with both time and geograp~cal location. Differences in weather and cltmate combine with differences in topography and geology to produce large differences in runoff from time to time and from place to place in the basin. The average &nOual runoff ranges from a fraction 01' an inch for so~e drainage areas to more than 40 inches for a few small ungaged areaS at high elevations. For some drainage areas the maximum annual dIscharge is 10 to 20 times the minimum. The amounts and distribution of runoff and discharge t~oughout a droinage baain are essential parts of any study of the water resources of that bRsin. Discharge records at gaging statioDs are only spot samples of surface~water resources and re_ ~uire interpretation in order to furnish a 3enaral knowledge of the amounts and dis- tribution of runoff and discharge. Such a knowledge 1s necessary to an adequate under- standing of the water resources of the drainage basln. T~s report contains maps that show for the Missouri River Basin re- presentatlve average rates of discharge. the distribution of the average discharge by months for several gaging stations. re- presentative QDnual runo1'f. and minimum annual runoff. These maps are supplemented by explanations and comments and by charts 1