Abstract

Using Arc Hydro to Estimate Streamflow in Remote Watersheds
Track: Water Resources
Author(s): John Keyantash

Long time series of streamflow measurements are valuable for hydrologic research, but the national streamflow monitoring network of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has been shrinking due to budget costs. The purpose of this research was to estimate the streamflow in unmonitored, remote environments, using Yosemite and Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks as test regions. Streamflow records for the national parks were acquired from the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS). Arc Hydro tools were used on the 30 m National Elevation Dataset (NED) to generate watersheds consistent with the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). Based on ArcMap spatial analyses, locations were chosen where additional gages would be valuable to broaden the monitoring network. Arc Hydro flow accumulation tools were used to compute discharges at these hydro points, effectively creating virtual gaging stations. These streamflow time series were compared to discharges computed from basin specific USGS regression equations.

John Keyantash
California State University, Dominguez Hills
California State University, Dominguez Hills
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson , California 90747
United States
Phone: 310-243-2363
E-mail: jkeyantash@csudh.edu