Progress report on hydrologic investigations of small drainage areas in New Hampshire: preliminary relations for estimating peak discharges on rural, unregulated streams

The magnitude and frequency of floods on rural, unregulated streams in New Hampshire with drainage areas between 0.27 and 622 square miles may be estimated from drainage area, main-channel slope, and a precipitation intensity index. Based on multiple-regression analyses of data from 59 gaged sites in New Hampshire and adjacent areas of bordering states, peak discharges for recurrence intervals of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 years can be estimated equations. The estimating relations can be applied to streams where flows are not significantly affected by regulation, diversion, or urbanization; where usable manmade storage does not exceed 4.5 million cubic feet per square mile; or where the basin characteristics are within a specified range. The average standard error of the estimate ranged from 35 percent for the 2-year flood to 58 percent for the 100-year flood. (Woodard-USGS)