Use of Low-Flow Trend and Transfer-Function Models to Determine Relation of Low Flows to Regional Urbanization and Precipitation, Rahway River Basin, New Jersey, 1940-91

Thomas H. Barringer; Robert G. Reiser; Curtis V. Price

doi:10.3133/ofr99257

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Use of Low-Flow Trend and Transfer-Function Models to Determine Relation of Low Flows to Regional Urbanization and Precipitation, Rahway River Basin, New Jersey, 1940-91

Thomas H. Barringer·Robert G. Reiser·Curtis V. Price

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Abstract

The Rahway River Basin in northern New Jersey has become heavily urbanized. The importance of the Rahway River as a water-supply source for the region led to an investigation of trends in the river's low-flow characteristics over time and their relation to regional urbanization and precipitation. Since 1950, low flows at a stream-gaging station near Springfield, N.J., increasingly have tended to exceed those at a station at Rahway. Polynomial-trend models for three measures of low-flow difference between the two stations during 1940-91 show trends in all three measures, indicating that they have changed significantly in level during the study period. Transfer-function models indicate that differences in low flows between the two gaging stations are significantly related to measures of basin urbanization and regional precipitation. A rough water budget for the inter-gage part of the basin confirms these results.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 40.416666666666664° to 40.833333333333336° latitude; -74.66666666666667° to -73.75° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Thomas H. Barringer, Robert G. Reiser, Curtis V. Price. 2000. Use of Low-Flow Trend and Transfer-Function Models to Determine Relation of Low Flows to Regional Urbanization and Precipitation, Rahway River Basin, New Jersey, 1940-91. https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr99257

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