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Paul Dunne

Publications and source records attributed to Paul Dunne.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Forecasting drought risks for a water supply storage system using bootstrap position analysis

Forecasting the likelihood of drought conditions is an integral part of managing a water supply storage and delivery system. Position analysis uses a large number of possible flow sequences as inputs to a simulation of a water supply storage and delivery system. For a given set of operating rules and water use requirements, water managers can use such a model to forecast the likelihood of specified outcomes such as reservoir levels falling below a specified level or streamflows falling below statutory passing flows a few months ahead conditioned on the current reservoir levels and streamflows. The large number of possible flow sequences are generated using a stochastic streamflow model with a random resampling of innovations. The advantages of this resampling scheme, called bootstrap position analysis, are that it does not rely on the unverifiable assumption of normality and it allows incorporation of long-range weather forecasts into the analysis.

Conference Paper

Managing drought risk with a computer model of the Raritan River Basin water-supply system in central New Jersey

The reservoirs and pumping stations that comprise the Raritan River Basin water-supply system and its interconnections to the Delaware-Raritan Canal water-supply system, operated by the New Jersey Water Supply Authority (NJWSA), provide potable water to central New Jersey communities. The water reserve of this combined system can easily be depleted by an extended period of below-normal precipitation. Efficient operation of the combined system is vital to meeting the water-supply needs of central New Jersey. In an effort to improve the efficiency of the system operation, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the NJWSA, has developed a computer model that provides a technical basis for evaluating the effects of alternative patterns of operation of the Raritan River Basin water-supply system. This fact sheet describes the model, its technical basis, and its operation.

New Jersey

Computer model of Raritan River Basin water-supply system in central New Jersey

This report describes a computer model of the Raritan River Basin water-supply system in central New Jersey. The computer model provides a technical basis for evaluating the effects of alternative patterns of operation of the Raritan River Basin water-supply system during extended periods of below-average precipitation. The computer model is a continuity-accounting model consisting of a series of interconnected nodes. At each node, the inflow volume, outflow volume, and change in storage are determined and recorded for each month. The model runs with a given set of operating rules and water-use requirements including releases, pumpages, and diversions. The model can be used to assess the hypothetical performance of the Raritan River Basin water- supply system in past years under alternative sets of operating rules. It also can be used to forecast the likelihood of specified outcomes, such as the depletion of reservoir contents below a specified threshold or of streamflows below statutory minimum passing flows, for a period of up to 12 months. The model was constructed on the basis of current reservoir capacities and the natural, unregulated monthly runoff values recorded at U.S. Geological Survey streamflow- gaging stations in the basin.

Open-File Report

Geographic information system programs for use in the water-supply-allocation permitting process

Computer programs designed for use in a geographic information system as an aid in the water-supply- allocation permitting process are described. These programs were developed by the U.S. Geological Survey during a project conducted in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The programs enable a user to display proposed water-supply-allocation sites in a defined area together with present sites and important hydrologic and geographic features on a computer screen or on hardcopy plots. The programs are menu-driven and do not require familiarity with geographic information systems. Source codes for the programs are included in appendixes.

Open-File Report

Flood magnitude and frequency of Pochack Creek at two sites, at Pennsauken Township, New Jersey

Six methods were used to estimate the magnitude and frequency of floods at Pochack Creek at the down- stream end of the culvert on United States Route 130 and at a second site about 1,600 feet upstream at Pennsauken Township, New Jersey. Flood magnitude and frequency calculated by the six methods, as well as drainage-basin characteristics, are included in this report. The 100-year-flood estimates for the culvert site range from 280 cubic feet per second to 2,600 cubic feet per second. The 100-year-flood estimates for the upstream site range from 216 cubic feet per second to 1,800 cubic feet per second. Flood magni- tude and frequency estimates obtained by using the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Special Report 38 method fall within the range of values estimated by using the U.S. Geological Survey transfer method with data collected from three nearby crest-stage gages.

Open-File Report

Flood magnitude and frequency of Chandlers Run at two sites, at Pennsauken Township, New Jersey

Six methods were used to estimate the magnitude and frequency of floods at Chandlers Run at the culvert on New Jersey Route 612, and at a second site about 2,100 feet upstream, at New Jersey Route 70 at Pennsauken Township, New Jersey. Flood magnitude and frequency calculated by the six methods, as well as drainage-basin characteristics, are included in this report. The 100-year-flood estimates for the culvert site on Route 612 range from 268 cubic feet per second to 2,050 cubic feet per second. The 100-year-flood estimates for the upstream site at Route 70 range from 246 cubic feet per second to 2,320 cubic feet per second. Flood magnitude and frequency estimates obtained by using the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Special Report 38 method and other pre- viously published estimates fall within the range of values estimated by using the U.S. Geological Survey transfer method with data collected from three nearby crest-stage gages.

Open-File Report