New York StreamStats

StreamStats for New York can be used to estimate (1) instantaneous flood discharges with exceedance probabilities of 0.8, 0.667, 0.5, 0.2, 0.1, 0.04, 0.02, 0.01, 0.005, and 0.002 (1.25-, 1.5-, 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year recurrence intervals, respectively) for ungaged, unregulated, rural streams throughout New York; and (2) bankfull discharge and channel characteristics of streams throughout New York. The reports below present the regression equations used to estimate these statistics, and describe the methods used to develop the equations and to measure the basin characteristics used in the equations. Users should familiarize themselves with the reports before using StreamStats to obtain estimates of streamflow statistics for ungaged sites.

• Lumia, Richard, Freehafer, D.A., and Smith, M.J., 2006, Magnitude and Frequency of Floods in New York: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006–5112, 152 p.
• Mulvihill, C.I., Baldigo, B.P., Miller, S.J., and DeKoskie, Douglas, 2009, Bankfull Discharge and Channel Characteristics of Streams in New York State: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5144, 51 p

Computations of flood discharges for the exceedance probabilities listed above have been updated at many gaged locations across New York (Wall and others, 2014). These data can be viewed by clicking on the Query Streamgages button on the Exploration Tools list and then clicking on a streamgage icon. Select the "StreamStats gage page" link in the pop-up window a tabulation of the data that is available at the station.

• Wall, G.R., Murray, P.M., Lumia, Richard, and Suro, T.P., 2014, Maximum known stages and discharges of New York streams and their annual exceedance probabilities through September 2011: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2014-5084, 16 p.

In addition to solving the above regression equations, New York StreamStats can be used to delineate drainage areas and to provide the basin characteristics that are needed as input for the New York Streamflow Estimation Tool (NYSET) program, which can estimate daily mean streamflows for water years 1961-2010 for user-selected sites on ungaged streams. NYSET can also compute 7-day low-flow statistics (7Q2 and 7Q10), as well as monthly probability flows for the 1-, 2-, 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, 30-, 35-, 40-, 45-, 50-, 55-, 60-, 65-, 70-, 75-, 80-, 85-, 90-, 95-, 98-, and 99-percent exceedances. The estimates provided by NYSET assume that flows at the selected site are minimally altered by human activities. Additional information on the NYSET program, including instructions for downloading, installing, and operating the program are at the following web page:

• The New York Streamflow Estimation Tool (NYSET)

Click on this link to obtain general information on the New York application, as well as specific sources and computation methods for basin characteristics.