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S. D. Waltemeyer

Publications and source records attributed to S. D. Waltemeyer.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1996

Analysis of the magnitude and frequency of peak discharge and maximum observed peak discharge in New Mexico

Equations for estimating the magnitude of peak discharges for recurrence intervals of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 500 years were updated for New Mexico. The equations represent flood response for eight distinct physiographic regions of New Mexico. Additionally, a regional equation was developed for basins less than 10 square miles and below 7,500 feet in mean basin elevation. Flood-frequency relations were updated for 201 gaging stations on unregulated streams in New Mexico and the bordering areas of adjacent States. The analysis described in this report used data collected through 1993. A low-discharge threshold was applied to frequency analysis of 140 gaging stations. Inclusion of these low peak flows affects the fitting of the lower tail and the upper tail of the distribution. Peak discharges can be estimated at an ungaged site on a stream that has a gaging station upstream or downstream. These estimates are derived using the drainage-area ratio and the drainage-area exponent from the regional regression equation of the respective region. Flood-frequency estimates for 201 gaged sites were weighted by estimates from the regional regression equation. The observed, predicted, and weighted flood-frequency data were computed for each gaging station. A maximum observed peak discharge as related to drainage area was determined for eight physiographic regions in New Mexico. Peak-discharge data collected at 201 gaging stations were used to develop a maximum peak-discharge relation as an alternative method of estimating the peak discharge of an extreme event.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1995

Bridge-scour analysis on Cuchillo Negro Creek at the Interstate 25 crossing near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

A sediment-transport model to simulate channel change was applied to a 1-mile reach of Cuchillo Negro Creek at the Interstate 25 crossing at Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, using the Bridge-Stream Tube model for Alluvial River Simulation (BRI-STARS). The 500-year flood discharge was estimated to be 10,700 cubic feet per second. The 100-year, 500-year, and regional maximum discharges were used to design synthetic and discretized hydrographs using a flood volume equation. The regional maximum discharge relation was developed for New Mexico based on 259 streamflow-gaging stations' maximum peak discharge. The regional maximum-peak discharge for the site was determined to be 81,700 cubic feet per second. Bed-material particle-size distribution was determined for six size classes ranging from 1 to 30 millimeters. The median diameter was 4.6 millimeters at the bed surface and 9.0 millimeters 13 feet below the bed surface. Bed-material discharge for use in the model was estimated to be 18,770 tons per day using hydraulic properties, water temperature, and Yang's gravel equation. Channel-change simulations showed a maximum channel degradation of 1.38 feet for the regional maximum-peak discharge hydrograph.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1994

Methods for estimating magnitude and frequency of floods in the southwestern United States

Methods have been developed for estimating magni- tude and frequency of floods at gaged and ungaged sites on streams in the southwestern United States. Estimating equations for ungaged sites that apply to small drainage basins were developed by transferring information from ungaged sites using techniques such as multiple regression and a hybrid method developed during this study. Drainage area, mean basin elevation, mean annual precipitation, mean annual evaporation, latitude, and longitude are the basin and climatic charac- teristics needed to use the equations. Flood- frequency relations and selected basin and climatic characteristics, updated through 1986 water year, are tabulated for more than 1,300 gaging stations in the southwestern United States. The study area was divided into 16 flood regions. Generalized least-squares regression was used to define the regression models in 12 regions with a sufficient number of defined flood-frequency relations at gaged sites. Four regions had more than 30 percent of the gaged sites with no defined relations, thus the regression method was not used because of the large amount of missing infor- mation. The hybrid analysis was used in those 4 regions, because it does not require individual flood-frequency relations and thus can use data for all gaging stations in a region. Average standard error of prediction for the 12 regions with generalized least-squares models ranged from 39 to 95 percent for the 100-year peak discharge. The estimated average standard error of the four hybrid models ranged from 0.44 to 1.8 log units for the 100-year peak discharge.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1994

Methods for estimating streamflow at mountain fronts in southern New Mexico

The infiltration of streamflow is potential recharge to alluvial-basin aquifers at or near mountain fronts in southern New Mexico. Data for 13 streamflow-gaging stations were used to determine a relation between mean annual stream- flow and basin and climatic conditions. Regression analysis was used to develop an equation that can be used to estimate mean annual streamflow on the basis of drainage areas and mean annual precipi- tation. The average standard error of estimate for this equation is 46 percent. Regression analysis also was used to develop an equation to estimate mean annual streamflow on the basis of active- channel width. Measurements of the width of active channels were determined for 6 of the 13 gaging stations. The average standard error of estimate for this relation is 29 percent. Stream- flow estimates made using a regression equation based on channel geometry are considered more reliable than estimates made from an equation based on regional relations of basin and climatic conditions. The sample size used to develop these relations was small, however, and the reported standard error of estimate may not represent that of the entire population. Active-channel-width measurements were made at 23 ungaged sites along the Rio Grande upstream from Elephant Butte Reservoir. Data for additional sites would be needed for a more comprehensive assessment of mean annual streamflow in southern New Mexico.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1994

Traveltime and reaeration characteristics for a reach of the Rio Grande, Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 1991

Traveltime characteristics were determined using stream-velocity data and tracer-dye data for a reach of the Rio Grande. Traveltimes determined by the stream-velocity method were virtually the same as those determined by the tracer-dye and tracer-gas technique. The mean velocity of the stream was 1.12 miles per hour at a flow of about 300 cubic feet per second. Reaeration characteristics were determined using a propane tracer gas and a tracer-dye (rhodamine WT). Reaeration coefficients were adjusted for water temperature and the effects of wind movement on the water surface. The peak method-adjusted reaeration-coefficient mean value for the reach was 7.0 per day and ranged from 4.6 to 8.3 per day. The area method-adjusted reaeration- coefficient mean value for the reach was 7.7 per day and ranged from 5.5 to 10.4 per day.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS1986

Techniques for estimating flood-flow frequency for unregulated streams in New Mexico

Equations for estimating flood discharges for exceedance probabilities of 0.50, 0.20, 0.10, 0.04, 0.02, and 0.01 at ungaged sites in New Mexico were developed and updated from streamflow gaging station data through 1982. The 1984 data from selected stations in the southwestern part of the State were also used because of the high discharges that occurred. The State was divided into eight physiographic regions and equations were developed for each region. The logarithms of annual flood peaks for the respective exceedance probabilities were related to logarithms of basin and climatic characteristics. The average standard error of estimate of a flood peak for an exceedance probability of 0.01 ranged from 44% to 81%, a significant improvement over previous studies. New techniques for weighting independent estimates of flood discharges at gaging stations by each estimate 's variance are presented. The variances are the squares of the standard errors. Standard errors of the estimated flood discharges for the exceedance probabilities are presented for all streamflow gaging stations. Flood frequency characteristics at 219 gaging stations are also included. (Author 's abstract)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗