Implementation of the U.S. Geological Survey's StreamStats Program in Arkansas -- A Web Application for Streamflow Statistics and Basin Characteristics
Short Title: Arkansas StreamStats Implementation
Project Chief: Aaron Pugh
Cooperator: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Little Rock District, Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA-US Forest Service
Project Time Frame: October 2009 - September 2012
The need exists to distribute to users critical streamflow data that have been collected in Arkansas since 1903. Streamflow statistics are used by government agencies, engineers, scientists, water resources managers, and environmental groups, for purposes of water management, permitting, and design. The primary source of streamflow data are streamflow gaging stations operated by the USGS.
Estimates of streamflow statistics are also needed at ungaged sites where no observed flow data are available. Estimates of streamflow statistics for ungaged sites can be made by using regional flow equations developed from data collected at continuous-record streamflow gaging stations that are physiographically similar to the ungaged streams. To determine estimates of flow at ungaged streams, basin characteristics that are used as explanatory variables in the equations are computed using maps or GIS databases and inserted into the regional flow equations.
Over the past 15 years, the USGS Arkansas Water Science Center has conducted three separate studies to develop regional flow equations for Arkansas. Funkhouser and others (2008) have utilized low-flow characteristics from streamflow gaging stations, and unique basin characteristics to develop regional regression equations for the western two-thirds of Arkansas. Funkhouser and Barks (2004) have utilized a regression analysis of dye-tracing measurements to derive an equation to estimate peak velocities. Hodge and Tasker (1995) used regression analysis of flood frequencies and basin characteristics to estimate 50%- to 0.2%-recurrence interval (2- to 500-year magnitude floods) flows at ungaged streams in Arkansas.
Figure 1. Example of StreamStas drainage basin delineation.
To address the needs of entities requiring streamflow information, the USGS has developed a web-based application called StreamStats that serves published streamflow statistics to the public and facilitates the estimation of streamflow statistics for ungaged sites on streams. StreamStats is an integrated web-based GIS application used to make the process of computing streamflow statistics much faster, more accurate, and more consistent than previous methods. StreamStats allows a user to select any point on a stream using a web-based GIS interface, and then determines and displays the area contributing drainage to that point (fig. 1). Once the user confirms the drainage boundary, StreamStats determines the basin characteristics required and which regional equations are available for the location. The basin characteristic values and appropriate regional equations are then used to compute the streamflow statistics and a report showing the computed basin-characteristic values and streamflow statistics is provided.
Implementation of StreamStats in Arkansas will provide planners and managers with an efficient, consistent, and accurate means of obtaining streamflow statistics at gaged stations and estimated streamflow statistics at ungaged stream sites. The URL for the National StreamStats home page is: http://streamstats.usgs.gov
Publications
Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5065
Low-Flow Characteristics and Regionalization of Low-Flow Characteristics for Selected Streams in Arkansas,
by Jaysson E. Funkhouser, Ken Eng, and Matthew W. Moix
Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5064
Development of a Traveltime Prediction Equation for Streams in Arkansas,
by Jaysson E. Funkhouser and C. Shane Barks
Water-Resources Investigation Report 95-4224
Magnitude and frequency of floods in Arkansas,
by Scott A. Hodge and Gary D. Tasker>
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
Short Title: Arkansas StreamStats Implementation
Project Chief: Aaron Pugh
Cooperator: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Little Rock District, Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA-US Forest Service
Project Time Frame: October 2009 - September 2012
The need exists to distribute to users critical streamflow data that have been collected in Arkansas since 1903. Streamflow statistics are used by government agencies, engineers, scientists, water resources managers, and environmental groups, for purposes of water management, permitting, and design. The primary source of streamflow data are streamflow gaging stations operated by the USGS.
Estimates of streamflow statistics are also needed at ungaged sites where no observed flow data are available. Estimates of streamflow statistics for ungaged sites can be made by using regional flow equations developed from data collected at continuous-record streamflow gaging stations that are physiographically similar to the ungaged streams. To determine estimates of flow at ungaged streams, basin characteristics that are used as explanatory variables in the equations are computed using maps or GIS databases and inserted into the regional flow equations.
Over the past 15 years, the USGS Arkansas Water Science Center has conducted three separate studies to develop regional flow equations for Arkansas. Funkhouser and others (2008) have utilized low-flow characteristics from streamflow gaging stations, and unique basin characteristics to develop regional regression equations for the western two-thirds of Arkansas. Funkhouser and Barks (2004) have utilized a regression analysis of dye-tracing measurements to derive an equation to estimate peak velocities. Hodge and Tasker (1995) used regression analysis of flood frequencies and basin characteristics to estimate 50%- to 0.2%-recurrence interval (2- to 500-year magnitude floods) flows at ungaged streams in Arkansas.
Figure 1. Example of StreamStas drainage basin delineation.
To address the needs of entities requiring streamflow information, the USGS has developed a web-based application called StreamStats that serves published streamflow statistics to the public and facilitates the estimation of streamflow statistics for ungaged sites on streams. StreamStats is an integrated web-based GIS application used to make the process of computing streamflow statistics much faster, more accurate, and more consistent than previous methods. StreamStats allows a user to select any point on a stream using a web-based GIS interface, and then determines and displays the area contributing drainage to that point (fig. 1). Once the user confirms the drainage boundary, StreamStats determines the basin characteristics required and which regional equations are available for the location. The basin characteristic values and appropriate regional equations are then used to compute the streamflow statistics and a report showing the computed basin-characteristic values and streamflow statistics is provided.
Implementation of StreamStats in Arkansas will provide planners and managers with an efficient, consistent, and accurate means of obtaining streamflow statistics at gaged stations and estimated streamflow statistics at ungaged stream sites. The URL for the National StreamStats home page is: http://streamstats.usgs.gov
Publications
Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5065
Low-Flow Characteristics and Regionalization of Low-Flow Characteristics for Selected Streams in Arkansas,
by Jaysson E. Funkhouser, Ken Eng, and Matthew W. MoixScientific Investigations Report 2004-5064
Development of a Traveltime Prediction Equation for Streams in Arkansas,
by Jaysson E. Funkhouser and C. Shane BarksWater-Resources Investigation Report 95-4224
Magnitude and frequency of floods in Arkansas,
by Scott A. Hodge and Gary D. Tasker> - Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.