Stream Hydraulics &

Hydrology

Some Background
Calculus, differential eq., elementary mechanics, fluid mechanics, numerical methods
Open Channel Hydraulics
Henderson, F., 1966. Open channel Flow, Macmillan.
Sturm, T., 2001. Open channel hydraulics.
Hydrology, Geomorphology, Ecology
Dingman, L., Physical Hydrology, Culinary and Hospitality Industry Publications Services?
Freeze, A. and Cherry, J., 1979, Groundwater, Prentice Hall
Knighton, D., 1998. Fluvial Forms and Processes. Arnold
Kondolf, G.M. and H. Piegay (eds.), 2003. Tools in Fluvial Geomorphology. John Wiley.
Allan, J.D., 1995. Stream Ecology: structure and function of running waters. Chapman Hall.
Falk, D., M. Palmer and J. Zedler, 2006, Foundations of Restorations Ecology, Island Press.
Naiman, R.J., H. Decamps, M.E. McClain, 2005. Riparia: Ecology, conservation, and management
of streamside communities. Elsevier Academic Press, 430 p.
Restoration Design & Practice
Harrelson, C.C., C.L. Rawlins, and J.P. Potyondy, 1994. Stream Channel Reference Sites: An
Illustrated Guide to Field Technique. RM-245. http://www.stream.fs.fed.us
Copeland, R., D.N. McComas, C.R. Thorne, P.J. Soar, M.M. Jonas, J.B. Fripp, 2001. Hydraulic
Design of Stream Restoration Projects, ERDC/CHL TR-01-28. ERDC/CHL TR-01-28
Shields, F D, R R Copeland, P C Klingeman, M W Doyle, and A Simon; 2003 (August); Design for
Stream Restoration, Journal of Hydraulic Engineering; 129, 8: 575-584
Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group (FISRWG). 1998. Stream Corridor
Restoration: Principles, Processes and Practices. Springfield, Va: National Technical
Information Service. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/stream_restoration/newgra.html.
NRCS, 2007, Stream Restoration Design Handbook.

1
Dec 1997 Augusta Ck MI Satilla R GA
Magnitude
Frequency
Timing
Predictability
Sequence
Rate of change
incl. flashiness S Fk McKenzie OR
Colorado R CO

E. Rare floods, reset channel, deliver large wood to channel

A. GW, maintain baseflow, sustain riparian plants
D. Decadal floods, maintain channel.
access higher surfaces, recruitment
of later successional species
C. Mod. floods, maintain channel,
deliver sediment, seeds, critters to
floodplain, deliver OM to channel
B. Frequent small floods, transport fines,
maintain benthos & sp/rear habitat

An organizing model
Watershed characteristics
Lithology of rocks
Tectonics
Climate Stream
Vegetation
Water production from hill slopes flow
Sediment production from hill
slopes Amount
Drainage network
Timing
Alluvial Sediment
Aquatic ground Amount
organisms
water Size
exotics
Cross-
Native section
riparian Stream channel and
vegetation Bed material
floodplain form
Planform
site land use Slope

2
 Stream flow
Stream flow
hydraulics, measurement,
Amount
uncertainty
Timing
Stream hydrology
records, timing, magnitude
Sediment transport Sediment
mechanisms, estimation, Amount
uncertainty Size
Sediment balance
connecting sediment mass
balance to channel geometry Stream channel and
floodplain form

Hydraulics Overview
General observation & some terms
Conservation of mass & force balance
Flow resistance what sets the depth?
Energy in open channel flow
Two flow states
Flow measurement

3
 Some river facts & terms
Wide, with gentle slope 1:20

b/h tens to >100

1%, 2%, 10%
Uniform flow: not changing alongstream
Steady flow: not changing in time
Normal flow: steady & uniform

Distorted view
Width b, area A, wetted
perimeter P
Hydraulic radius R = A/P
Mean depth h = A/b
Often, b P, so R h bh bh
e.g. for a rectangular R = =h
channel b + 2h b

4
 Continuity
Conservation of water Channel cross section 1
mass
Just accounting, like your
checkbook
Rate of change of water Channel cross section 2

mass in reach = net rate

of input and output Q1 = U1 A1 and Q2 = U 2 A2
Inputs and outputs: U 2 A1
Constant discharge:
For Q1 = Q2 , =
U1 A2
input = output, no change
in water mass in reach

Q is water discharge (e.g. ft3/s or m3/s); U is mean velocity (e.g. ft/s or m/s)

Momentum: Newtons 2nd Law, F = ma Normal flow

no accelerations, so F = 0

L S slope
B top width
h depth
P wetted perimeter
A x/s area

Volume of water: AL
Weight of water: gAL Boundary stress: o
Downslope component of (stresss is force/area)
weight of water: gALS Boundary force: PL

o is the boundary shear stress - oPL = gALS

the flow force per unit area - o = gRS The depth-slope product

it drives the sediment transport Figure adapted from WINXSPro manual, USFS

5
 Flow Resistance
A relation between
velocity, flow depth,
boundary stress, and
boundary roughness
S 2/3
Well use Mannings eqn. U = R
n
Prefer an eqn. with
constant roughness (n)
S
Using continuity: Q = UA = AR 2 / 3
n
S is the slope of the energy grade line, which is also the slope of
the channel for uniform flow

For a useful approximation,

consider a wide (R h) S
rectangular channel Q= AR 2 / 3
Solve for depth n
In field, relation between Q, A, & S
R more complex, though not Q= (bh)h 2 / 3
more complicated n
In practice, a flow resistance S 5/3
relation is often used to find the Q= bh
flow depth for a specified flow in a n
given channel
Mannings Eq., 3 ways:

b Sh5 / 3 b Sh5 / 3 nQ 3 / 5
n= Q= h=
Q n b S

6
 The hard part: determining roughness n
How to measure:
survey cross section and reach, which gives S and A, R
as a function of water surface elevation (aka stage or
WSEL)
Measure discharge at a known stage, solve for n

S S 2/3
Q= AR 2 / 3 n= R A
n Q
If you dont measure, you are guessing
Picture books, tables
Formulas n = fn(D, R, veg., )

7
8
 X/S.xls illustrates the back-calculation of n
1. For the slope, flow depth, and cross section you have Manning's n : 0.045
1.49 S
Enter values only in green cells specified, use Manning's eqn to find the discharge Q for Channel Velocity (U ): 3.60 ft/sec Q= AR 2 / 3
a value of the roughness n in cell E4 Discharge (Q ): 73.7 cfs n
Channel Slope (S ): 0.0100 2. You can also calaculate the boundary stress and Grain Size D 60 mm nD = 0.026
Flow Depth: 1.6 ft compare it to the critical stress c needed to entrain Critical Shields Number t*c 0.06 t' = 48.1
Selected Flow Depth: 1.6 ft grains of size D specified in cell D10 (given a value of = gRS 111.3 Pa t'/tc = 0.8
Cross-Sectional Area (A ): 20.5 sq.ft. critical Shields Number given in cell D11 c 58.3 Pa c
Hydraulic Radius (R ): 1.1 ft /c 1.91 c* =
Stage 5.75 ft (s 1) gRS
3. For the slope, flow depth, and cross section you have Discharge (Q ): 70.0 cfs
specified, use Manning's eqn to find the roughness n Channel Velocity (U ): 3.42 ft/sec 1.49 S
Survey Data: for a value of the discharge Q in cell E15 Manning's n : 0.047 n= AR 2 / 3
Grade Rod (ft) Distance (ft) Q
4.0 0.0 Enter information only in 0
4.4 0.0
green cells!!
4.4 2.0
4.4 4.0 No cutting and pasting! 1
4.7 8.0 No inserting or deleting
4.8 12.0 rows! 2
4.9 14.0
5.5 18.0

Grade Rod (ft)

3
5.7 20.0
5.9 21.0 4
6.7 22.3
7.0 23.0
5
7.2 24.0
7.1 26.0
7.3 28.0 6
7.3 30.0
7.0 32.0 7
7.1 34.0
6.8 36.0 8
7.1 36.3 Distance (ft)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
5.7 37.0

Conservation of Energy
Units: Length U12 U 22
z1 + h1 + = z2 + h2 + + hf
Head loss 2g 2g
H, EGL or
Components H1 = H 2 + h f
1
U12
Energy grade line
E1 2 g
2
h1 U 22
2g
h2
z1 H2

z2

9
 Gradually varied flow
Estimate hf, use energy eqn. to
estimate depth at one place
z1 z2 and h f 0, so
given depth at another place
U2 U2
Rapidly varied flow z1 + h1 + 1 = z2 + h2 + 2 + h f
(gates, weirs, rapid changes in 2g 2g
width or bottom elevation)
U2 U2
flow often complex, but can be becomes h1 + 1 = h2 + 2
approximated by assuming 2g 2g
negligible energy loss (if flow
converging) or
Over short distances, with E1 = E2
small energy loss,

U2 Weir
E =h+
2g hc Gate

U2
The Specific Energy E E =h+
flow energy relative to the bed 2g
Q = UA For a rect. channel
Q = Ubh Define
q Q / b = Uh
so U = q / h and
q2
E =h+
2 gh 2

10
 The extraordinary properties q2
of the Specific Energy E
E =h+
2 gh 2
2 flow states
Change in h with step
or constriction Basis for critical flow meters!
Properties of Min(E) Subcritical
F=1 h
U q
F= = =1 F=1
q
gh 3
gh Supercritical
dE
To find the minimuim E , set = 0.
dh
d q2 Weir
h + =0
dh 2 gh 2
2
q
1 =0 hc
gh3
q2 U2
= = 1 = F2
gh3 gh E
so F = 1 at minimum E.

Note, too, that q = ghc3

where a subscript 'c' is included
to indicate that this holds at critical flow.

What happens when flow goes over a smooth step of height z, or

through a contraction in width, with negligible head loss (H const)?
Contraction E1 = E2
Step z1 + z = z2 and h f 0,
z1 + E1 = z2 + E2 q2
E =h+
or E1 z = E2 2 gh 2
V
F= =1
gh

V
F= =1
gh

Diagrams from Roberson & Crowe, Fluid Mechanics, Wiley

Diagrams use y for flow depth

11
 9 Rating curve: River Styx nr. Bountiful, UT
Measuring Discharge 8
7
See Whiting, Ch. 12 in Tools 6

Stage (ft)
5
Measure depth hi and mean 4
Discharge Obs.
velocity Ui at each segment. 3
2
Discharge through that 1
segment qi = bi hi Ui and the 0

total discharge is Q = qi 0 200 400 600

Discharge (cfs)
800 1000 1200

Measuring Ui Single Qi obs + stage (A, R, S) n

Measuring Flow:
Volume & Mass Measurements

12
 Measuring Flow:
Critical Flow Meters
Weir

hc

U q
F= = =1
gh 3
gh

Measuring Flow:
Dye dilution methods

Good for shallow streams with complex flow field

13
Measuring Flow:
Point Measurements

Measuring Stage

14
 Other methods for determining flood stage
Crest stage recorder

Trash Lines

But you need discharge, too!

Hydrology Overview
Stream records
Flow duration curves
Flood frequency curves
Flashy flows!
Estimates for ungauged streams

15
16
 USGS 01583980 MINEBANK RUN AT LOCH RAVEN, MD
150
Discharge (cfs)

100

50

0
10/1/96 10/1/97 10/1/98 10/1/99 10/1/00 10/1/01 10/1/02 10/1/03 10/1/04

Youll want to download and look more closely at the data

150 USGS 01583980 MINEBANK RUN AT LOCH RAVEN, MD USGS 10343500 SAGEHEN C NR TRUCKEE CA
900
800
Discharge (cfs)

700
Discharge (cfs)

100 600
500
400
50 300
200
100
0 0
10/1/96 10/1/97 10/1/98 10/1/99 10/1/00 10/1/01 10/1/02 10/1/03 10/1/04 10/1/05 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

1000 USGS 01583980 MINEBANK RUN AT LOCH RAVEN, MD 1000 USGS 10343500 SAGEHEN C NR TRUCKEE CA
Discharge (cfs)

100
100
Discharge (cfs)

10
10
1

1
0.1
10/1/96 10/1/97 10/1/98 10/1/99 10/1/00 10/1/01 10/1/02 10/1/03 10/1/04 10/1/05 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Arithmetic vs log axes tell a different story

17
Gage height =
8.63 ft

18
 500 Whitemarsh Run at White Marsh 1996 1000 1999
450 900
North Fork Whitemarsh Run
Daily Discharge (cfs)

Daily Discharge (cfs)

400 800
350 Whitemarsh Run NR Fullerton 700
300 600
250 500
200 400
150 300
100 200
50 100
0 0
1-Jan 15-Jan 29-Jan 12-Feb 26-Feb 11-Mar 25-Mar 8-Apr 22-Apr 6-May 20-May 3-Jun 17-Jun 1-Jul 1-Sep 8-Sep 15-Sep 22-Sep 29-Sep

Whitemarsh Run at White Marsh

500 2003
North Fork Whitemarsh Run
450
Daily Discharge (cfs)

Whitemarsh Run NR Fullerton

400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
1- 15- 1- 15- 29- 12- 26- 10- 24- 7- 21- 5- 19- 2- 16- 30- 13- 27- 11- 25- 8- 22- 6- 20-
Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Apr Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct Oct Nov Nov Dec Dec

19
 1000 USGS 10343500 SAGEHEN C NR TRUCKEE CA
Flow Duration

Discharge (cfs)
Sort all daily flows in descending order 100

Count = N and Rank = m

10
Percent exceedance = 100(m/N)
1
Sorted N = 19661 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Daily Q 1000 USGS 10343500 SAGEHEN C NR TRUCKEE CA

Rank m (cfs) 100(m/N)

Discharge (cfs)
1 800 0.01 100
2 750 0.01
3 398 0.02
10
4 370 0.02
5 350 0.03
6 348 0.03 1
7 341 0.04 0 20 40 60 80 100
Percent Exceedance
8 300 0.04 100 USGS 01583980 MINEBANK RUN AT LOCH RAVEN, MD
9 277 0.05
10 263 0.05
11 253 0.06 Discharge (cfs) 10
12 245 0.06
13 241 0.07 1
14
240 0.07

0.1
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Proportion time flow is larger

Sorted
Flood Frequency Maximum N = 53
Annual Plotting
Sort annual maximum flows in decreasing order Discharge Rank Position
(cfs) m (N+1)/m
Calculate plotting position 1230 1 54.0
10000 USGS 10343500 SAGEHEN C NR TRUCKEE CA 765 2 27.0
549 3 18.0
Discharge (cfs)

1000
528 4 13.5
495 5 10.8

100
472

35
44
6 9.00

1.23
10
34 45 1.20
1 10 100
Recurrence Interval (yr) 33 46 1.17
10,000
27 47 1.15
0158397967 MINEBANK RUN NEAR GLEN ARM, MD 24 48 1.13
Extrapolate?
01583980 MINEBANK RUN AT LOCH RAVEN, MD 20 49 1.10
Discharge (cfs)

19 50 1.08
18 51 1.06
1,000 17 52 1.04
12 53 1.02
Gage height = 8.63 ft
100 Gage height ~7.8 ft
1 10
Return Interval (yrs) Gage height ~7.2 ft

20
 What if gage data not available?

USGS Regional Curves

Multiple regression of flood frequency on
drainage area, other variables
Gage Analysis
Compare discharge per drainage area for
comparable gages
What accuracy is needed?
What are you using flood frequency for?

21
 GISHydro@Maryland

A Collaboration between the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Maryland State Highway Administration

Home
Welcome
Overview
Download
Web Version
Documentation
References
Support
Contact Info
FTP
Links

http://www.gishydro.umd.edu/

22
 Using a flow duration curve in ungaged basins
If gage data is unavailable for a stream of interest, and a gaged,
similar stream is near,
Plot the ratio of discharge to Q2 for the known basin versus
percent time exceeded
For a given % exceeds, read the Q/Q2 value
Multiply the Q/Q2 value by Q2 of the ungaged stream to get the
estimated Q corresponding to the % exceeds for the ungaged
stream
e.g. estimate magnitude of spring or fall spawning flows
Spring and fall salmonid migrations can occur at approx. 10%
and 70% time exceeded, respectively
3.5

2.5

2
Q/Q2

1.5

0.5

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
% time exceeded

23
 The Big Problem
High magnitude,
short duration flows
Daily mean Q will not capture
the biggest floods
Cannot do sediment
transport/channel dyanmics
with daily flows in a T-storm
dominated hydro-system!!!
2500 USGS 01585100 WHITEMARSH RUN AT WHITE MARSH, MD
October 1, 2003 - July 19, 2005

Max Daily Discharge (cfs)

2000

1500

1000

500

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Mean Daily Discharge (cfs)

100 USGS 01585100 WHITEMARSH RUN AT WHITE MARSH, MD

Consider Whitemarsh
Run at White Marsh MD
Discharge (cms)

10

100 USGS 01585100 WHITEMARSH RUN AT WHITE MARSH, MD 0.1

10 0.9 1
Discharge (cms)

1 Proportion time flow smaller than

0.1
0.01 20
Daily Q
0.001
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 15 min Q
15
Hours per year

Proportion time flow smaller than

6.2 hrs/yr,15 min Q > max daily Q

10

0
10
14
18
22
26
30
34
38
42
46
50
54
58
62
66
70

Discharge (cms)

24
 2007 the week before the short course,
right here

700 USGS 15800000 Minebank Run NR Glen Arm MD

15 minute Q
600 Daily Q
Discharge (cfs)

500

400

300

200

100

0
5/31/06 6/1/06 6/2/06 6/3/06 6/4/06 6/5/06

25