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Herbert N. Flippo

Publications and source records attributed to Herbert N. Flippo.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Technique for estimating depths of 100-year floods in Pennsylvania

Techniques are developed for estimating 100-year flood depths in natural channels of unregulated Pennsylvania streams that drain less than 2,200 square miles. Equations and graphs are presented relating the depth of the 100-year flood above median stage and drainage area in five defined hydrologic areas in the State. Another graph defines the relation between drainage area and median depth of flow over the low point of riffles. Thus 100-year depths on riffles can be estimated by summing depth values derived from two simple relations.

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Evaluation of the streamflow-data program in Pennsylvania

The stream-gaging program in Pennsylvania is subject to budgetary constraints in the next several years. Elimination of those gaging stations that have no current-purpose use and little utility in providing regional flow-characteristic information is the most effective way to reduce costs. The efficient design of a network of gaging stations for obtaining regional information requires knowledge of the information in the data base and an assessment of the potential for improving the accuracy of data-transfer mechanisms. The analytical technique known as Network Analysis for Regional Information is used to assess acquired streamflow information and to evaluate its transferability within previously determined regions of homogenous streamflow characteristics. Regression equations that relate low-, mean-, and flood-flow characteristics to basin parameters are the data-transfer mechanisms used in the evaluation. This analysis showed that only minor improvements in the regression equations can be expected after 20 additional years of data collection at gages in the 1980 program. Transfer mechanisms with less model error are needed for improved data transferability. A more efficient program can be achieved by discontinuing selected gages in the planning-and-design network. To this end, 11 continuous-record and 25 partial-record gages were selected to be discontinued by April 1, 1980. Additionally, 6 continuous-record and 29 partial-record gages are suggested to be discontinued at the end of the 1985 water year.

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Floods in Pennsylvania: A manual for estimation of their magnitude and frequency

Regression equations are provided for estimation of flood magnitude and frequency on unregulated and unurbanized streams in Pennsylvania. Frequency-discharge profiles are shown for regulated reaches on eleven major streams. These regression equations and discharge profiles enable the design engineer to estimate flood-frequency characteristics for almost all streams that drain more than 2 square miles. Ten regression models for eight flood-frequency regions consist of regression equations that relate floods for recurrence intervals of 2.33, 10, 25, 50 and 100 years to readily determinable drainage-basin characteristics. Individual equations include no more than two of the following drainage-basin characteristics as independent variables: drainage area, channel slope, percent of area which serves for storage of surface water, and index of average annual excess precipitation. Standard errors of estimate for regression equations applicable to drainage areas of more than 15 square miles range from 16 to 33 percent. For smaller drainage areas, the highest standard error of estimate is 56 percent. The equations do not apply to streams whose drainage basins are highly urbanized or extensively strip mines; neither do they apply if runoff from more than 15 percent of the drainage basin upstream from the site of interest is regulated. Peak discharges for recurrence intervals of 2.33, 10, 25, 50, and 100 years, as attenuated by installed and planned reservoirs, are presented for the principal regulated streams by means of discharge-frequency profiles. Tables of drainage basin characteristics and discharge-frequency distributions are appended.

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Water resources of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

Lehigh County occupies an area of 347 square miles in southeastern Pennsylvania. The northern part of Lehigh County is underlain by the Martinsburg Formation, which consists chiefly of shale and slate. The central part of the county, where most of the population centers are located and much of the urbanization is occurring, is underlain by alternating beds of limestone and dolomite. From oldest to youngest, these carbonate rocks are the Leithsville Formation, the Allentown Formation, the Beekmantown Group, and the Jacksonburg Formation. The southern part of the county is underlain chiefly by the shales, sandstones, and conglomerates of the Brunswick Formation and by metamorphic and igneous rocks.

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Acidity control in Bald Eagle Creek and West Branch Susquehanna River, Clinton County, Pennsylvania

Regression analysis of chemical and physical data collected on Beech Creek resulted in two curves that relate the concentration of free hydrogen ion to the electrical specific conductance of the water. These curves provide a means of estimating, through use of data telemetered from a water-quality monitor on Beech Creek, the acid load in the stream at any time. These estimates of acid loads in Beech Creek will enable the operators of Foster Joseph Sayers Dam on Bald Eagle Creek to release sufficient alkaline water from the reservoir to prevent fish kills in lower Bald Eagle Creek that could be caused by the acid from Beech Creek. The acid content of the West Branch Susquehanna River upstream from the city of Lock Haven usually exceeds the amount that can be neutralized by Bald Eagle Creek. However, inasmuch as the alkaline content of 13ald Eagle Creek exceeds the amount required to effectively neutralize the acidity of Beech Creek, some water may be conserved in the reservoir for the purpose of improving the quality of the West Branch when the river is unusually acid.

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Chemical and biological conditions in Bald Eagle Creek and prognosis of trophic characteristics of Foster Joseph Sayers Reservoir, Centre County, Pennsylvania

Foster Joseph Sayers. Reservoir will b.e impounded on moderately fertile soils; however, its water source, Bald Eagle Creek, is a bicarbonate-water stream that is over~y-enriched with nutrients. About 650 of the 1,730 acres to be inundated in summer are subject to infestation with aquatic weeds. Nuisance algal "blooms" are expected to occur in summer. The reservoir will stratify in early summer and water · releas·ed for conservation purposes and acid neutralization will consist mostly of hypolimnetic water. This water will be nearly depleted in. dissolved oxygen and will, at times, contain relatively high concentrations of heavy metallic ions and hydrogen:!sulfide.

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