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USGS1989

Low-flow characteristics of streams in West Virginia

Low-flow characteristics of selected streams in West Virginia were determined at continuous-record and partial-record sites. Daily discharges at 100 continuous-record gaging stations on unregulated streams were used to compute selected low-flow frequency values. Estimates of low-flow frequency values at 296 partial-record sites (ones having only discharge measurements) were made using the relation defined by concurrent flows with a continuous-record station. Low-flow characteristics at continuous-record stations were related to drainage area and a variability index to produce equations which can be used to estimate low-flow characteristics at ungaged sites in West Virginia. The State was divided into two hydrologic regions. Drainage area and a streamflow-variability index were determined to be the most significant. The streamflow variability index was computed from duration curves and was used to account for the integrated effects of geology and other hydrologic characteristics. The standard error of estimate for the 7-day low flow with a 2-year recurrence interval is 43% for Region 1 and 57% for Region 2. The standard error of estimate for the 7-day low flow with a 10-year recurrence interval is 82% for Region 1 and 83% for Region 2.

West Vigninia↗

USGS1986

Traveltime and dispersion of a soluble dye in the South Branch Potomac River, Petersburg to Green Spring, West Virginia

Traveltime studies, using rhodamine dyes, were made in 1970 and 1982 on the South Branch Potomac River from Petersburg, West Virginia, to the confluence with the North Branch Potomac River at Green Spring, West Virginia. Flow duration at the time of the studies was approximately 32% in November 1970 and 95% in September 1982. Two studies, at discharges of 110 and 1,230 cu ft/sec, were used to define traveltime-distance relationships. A contaminant takes 386 hours to travel 69 miles from Petersburg, West Virginia, to the mouth of the river when streamflow is 110 cu ft/sec. The contaminant would, however, take only 89 hours when streamflow is 1,230 cu ft/sec. The traveltime data were interpolated and extrapolated for selected discharges from 70 to 1,500 cu ft/sec at the index gage near Springfield, West Virginia. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗