Runoff

HYDROGRAPHS / SCS CURVE NUMBER METHOD

Runoff vs. Streamflow

Runoff is the result of a
precipitation event

Streamflow is baseflow + runoff that

makes it to the stream channel.

What is a watershed?
A watershed is the entire drainage area of a stream

or river, from which the surface and groundwater

leave at a single point.
Watersheds are defined by surface topography
(elevation).

River basins are drained by large rivers with many tributaries

are typically called
Watersheds are drained by tributaries or small streams

Watershed

Watershed Factors that Affect Surface Runoff

Topography

Surface runoff occurs in the direction of land slope

Perpendicular to the contour lines

Land slope has a significant effect on water velocity

Overland flow
Channel flow

Elevation Contours with Surface Runoff

300

Surface
Runoff
(perpendicular
to contour lines)

290

280

270

Watershed Factors that Affect Surface Runoff

Watershed shape

Circular watershed higher rates of runoff

Runoff from different points reach outlet at same time

Elongated watershed lower rates than circular

Downstream tributaries reach outlet first

Soil

Controls the infiltration process

Land use

Vegetative cover reduces runoff

Watershed Shapes

Watershed Factors that Affect Surface Runoff

Land use

Vegetative cover reduces runoff

Improves soil structure

Depletes soil moisture dry antecedent moisture

Bare soil increased runoff

Poor structure
Less permeable surface sealing
Fine soil particles washed into larger soil pores

Flow measurement

How is flow measured?

Surface Runoff Characteristics

Hydrograph plot of runoff rates vs. time

Excess rainfall rainfall that runs off
Depth measurement over watershed

Similar to rainfall measurements

Excess rainfall depth (ft) x area (ft2) = runoff volume

(ft3)

Excess rainfall volume = surface runoff volume

Stream Hydrograph
Discharge (Q)

Peak discharge
ce
Re

Risin
g

b
lim

l i mb

on
s si

Base flow

Base flow

Time (T)

Storm Hydrograph
(Surface runoff only / base flow removed)

Discharge (Q)
Peak discharge
limb
Risin
g

b
lim
ion
ss
ce
Re

Qp

Tbase

Time (T)

Storm Hydrograph
(Surface runoff only / base flow removed)
Discharge (Q) in cfs

100

#1

Area under the curve = surface runoff volume

[Q(ft3/sec) x T(sec) = Volume (ft3)]
Triangle #1: V1 = (100 x 3600) / 2 = 180,000 ft3
Triangle #2: V2 = (100 x (14,400 3,600)) / 2 = 540,000 ft3
Total Surface Runoff Volume = V1 + V2 = 720,000 ft3

#2
1
(3600 sec)

4
(14,400 sec)

Time (T) in Hr

Surface Runoff Analysis

Total rainfall = 4.0 in.

Watershed area = 132.2 ac = 5,760,000 ft2
Total surface runoff = 720,000 ft3
From the hydrograph analysis
Runoff depth over watershed = excess rainfall

Depth = 720,000 ft3 / 5,760,000 ft2 = 0.125 ft = 1.5 in.

Average runoff rate = 1.5 in. / 4 hr = 0.38 in./hr

Get the 4-hr from the hydrograph (x-axis)

Runoff Hydrographs
Complete Runoff Hydrograph Contains:

Runoff Volume-Area under the hydrograph

Peak Flow Rates-maximum flow or peak of the runoff
hydrograph.
A complete time history of the flow.

For small watersheds we ignore baseflow so that:

Runoff=effective rainfall=precipitation - abstractions

Development of RO Hydrographs
Most often interested in hydrographs at the

watershed outlet (and possibly some selected points

in the watershed).
We modify the rainfall hyetograph to reflect
watershed characteristics.
The volume under the effective rainfall hyetograph is
equal to the volume of surface runoff.

Hydrograph components
qp is the maximum

flow rate on the

hydrograph
tp (time to peak) is the
time from the start of
they hydrograph to qp.
tb (base time) is the

total time duration of

the hydrograph.

Comparison of Urban and

Forested Hydrographs

Comparison of Upstream and Downstream Hydrographs

Effective Rainfall
THE SCS CURVE NUMBER APPROACH

Effective Rainfall
Rainfall that becomes runoff.
Effective Rainfall = Precipitation Initial

Abstractions
Also called Rainfall Excess.
Effective Rainfall=Rainfall Excess=Runoff

SCS Curve Number Approach

The most commonly used method

SCS method for rainfall excess

combines infiltration losses and other initial losses

(interception / surface storage / etc)
estimate of excess rainfall (surface runoff)

Q = [(P - 0.2S)^2] / (P + 0.8S) for P > 0.2S

Q = accumulated runoff volume

P = accumulated precipitation
S = max soil water retention constant
S = (1000 / CN) - 10 (Q,P and S = in.)
S = (25400 / CN) -254 (Q,P & S = mm)

The 0.2S Factor

The precipitation must exceed 0.2S before runoff

occurs
0.2S = Initial abstraction (Ia) that includes:

Surface depressions
Vegetation interception
Evaporation
Infiltration

S = Potential maximum retention after surface

runoff begins

Hydrologic Soil Groups (HSG)

4 hydrologic soil groups => A,B,C,D

A = sand, loamy sand or sandy loam

B = silt loam or loam
C = sandy clay loam
D = clay loam, silty clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay or
clay
based on surface soil texture
when choosing a group must consider:
compaction by heavy equipment, exposure

of subsoil, etc.

HSGs based on Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity

(Ksat)

A soil (high infiltration rates)

B soil (moderate infiltration rates)

0.15 in./hr < Ksat < 0.30 in./hr

C soil (slow infiltration rates)

0.05 in./hr < Ksat < 0.15 in./hr

D soil (very slow infiltration rates)

Ksat > 0.30 in./hr

Ksat < 0.05 in./hr

See Appendix D for a list of the most common

soils in each state with HSG type (A, B, C or D)

Curve Numbers (CN) and Antecedent Moisture Conditions

CN = SRO potential of area

Table 5.1 (very limited)

See other references for more extensive listing

CN's developed for land use / land

treatment combinations
Antecedent moisture conditions I, II, III
condition I => initially dry soil
condition II => average soil moisture

condition II => Table 5.1

condition III=> initially wet soil

Curve Number
A parameter that combines soil type and land use to

estimate runoff potential.

Based on the Hydrologic Soil Group (HSG), land use

and condition.

Range between 0 and 100. The greater the curve

number, the greater the potential for runoff.

Impervious areas and water surfaces are assigned

curve numbers of 98-100.

Curve Numbers

Curve Numbers (CN) and Antecedent Moisture Conditions

CN for conditions I and III can be

adjusted using condition II CN's

See Table 5.2

Adjustment based on 5-day antecedent rain

See page 145 for details

CN develop from experimental plots

lots of measured rainfall / runoff data

throughout the U.S.
CN's correlated w/ land use
Good for higher infiltration rates
Not so good for lower infiltration rates

Curve Numbers for Impervious Surfaces

Impervious areas

Impervious areas ==> CN = 98 to 100

expressed as % of total area
directly connected => flow directly to
a drainage system (gutters, sewers,
etc)

Area Weighted Curve Number

Mixed land uses and HSG's

Calculate an area-weighted CN

Get a single CN for the entire area

CN = i AiCNi) / ( i Ai)

CNi = CN for the part of catchment

having area Ai

Example Problem
Given:

Precipitation (P) = 4.04 in.

A watershed that has:

35% cultivated with a D soil group

30% meadow with a B soil group

35% thin forest with a C soil group

Required:

Calculate the surface runoff (excess rainfall)

Watershed with Land Use % and HSGs

Listed

35% Cultivated
HSG = D

35% Thin Forest

HSG = C

30% Meadow
HSG = B

Example Problem
1.

2.

Find the curve numbers

Use
HSG
%
CN*
Cultivated
D
35
Meadow
B
30
Thin Forest
C
35
*Table 5.1 text (reference is important)
Calculate a weighted CN
Weights based on % area
CNavg = 0.35(91) + 0.30(58) + 0.35(77)
CN avg = 76.2 = 76

91
58
77

Example Problem
3.

Calculate the S term

S = 1000 / CN 10 = (1000 / 76) 10
S = 3.16 in.

4.

Check to see if P > 0.2S

0.2S = 0.2(3.16) = 0.63 in. P > 0.2S

5.

Calculate surface runoff (Q)

Q = [(P - 0.2S)^2] / (P + 0.8S)
Q = [(4.04 0.2(3.16)]2 / [4.04 + ((0.8)3.16)]
Q = 1.77 in.
For a rainfall event = 4.04 in. on the given watershed
with average soil moisture conditions
Repeat for all Rainfall Blocks.

Rainfall Hyetograph

Effective Rainfall Hyetograph