Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses for the Black Fork Mohican River Basin in and near Shelby, Ohio

Carrie A. Huitger; Chad J. Ostheimer; G. F. Koltun

doi:10.3133/sir20155187

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Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses for the Black Fork Mohican River Basin in and near Shelby, Ohio

Carrie A. Huitger·Chad J. Ostheimer·G. F. Koltun

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Abstract

Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses were done for selected reaches of five streams in and near Shelby, Richland County, Ohio. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, conducted these analyses on the Black Fork Mohican River and four tributaries: Seltzer Park Creek, Seltzer Park Tributary, Tuby Run, and West Branch. Drainage areas of the four stream reaches studied range from 0.51 to 60.3 square miles. The analyses included estimation of the 10-, 2-, 1-, and 0.2-percent annual-exceedance probability (AEP) flood-peak discharges using the USGS Ohio StreamStats application. Peak discharge estimates, along with cross-sectional and hydraulic structure geometries, and estimates of channel roughness coefficients were used as input to step-backwater models. The step-backwater water models were used to determine water-surface elevation profiles of four flood-peak discharges and a regulatory floodway. This study involved the installation of, and data collection at, a streamflow-gaging station (Black Fork Mohican River at Shelby, Ohio, 03129197), precipitation gage (Rain gage at Reservoir Number Two at Shelby, Ohio, 405209082393200), and seven submersible pressure transducers on six selected river reaches. Two precipitation-runoff models, one for the winter events and one for nonwinter events for the headwaters of the Black Fork Mohican River, were developed and calibrated using the data collected. With the exception of the runoff curve numbers, all other parameters used in the two precipitation-runoff models were identical. The Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficients were 0.737, 0.899, and 0.544 for the nonwinter events and 0.850 and 0.671 for the winter events. Both of the precipitation-runoff models underestimated the total volume of water, with residual runoff ranging from -0.27 inches to -1.53 inches. The results of this study can be used to assess possible mitigation options and define flood hazard areas that will contribute to the protection of life and property. This study could also assist emergency managers, community officials, and residents in determining when flooding may occur and planning evacuation routes during a flood.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 40.83563216247778° to 40.91934991356069° latitude; -82.70902633666992° to -82.61959075927734° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Carrie A. Huitger, Chad J. Ostheimer, G. F. Koltun. 2016-05-06. Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses for the Black Fork Mohican River Basin in and near Shelby, Ohio. https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20155187

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