NRCS Overland Flow Travel Time Calculation
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 137, Issue 4
Abstract
Overland flow travel time given by the formula developed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on the basis of kinematic wave theory can underpredict for short, steep, flow planes having low flow resistance and high degrees of imperviousness. Underestimation is caused by inaccurate representation of average rainfall intensity for durations shorter than approximately 15 min. Although the formula was developed based on only NRCS 24-h Type 2 and Type 3 rainfall distributions, it is used without restriction in regions that experience NRCS Type 1 and Type 1A storms. An alternate overland flow travel time formula based on rainfall intensity-duration relations developed previously by the writer to represent accurately high-intensity portions of each NRCS storm type is presented.
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References
ASCE. (1992). Design and construction of urban stormwater management systems: ASCE manuals and reports of engineering practice no. 77. New York.
Froehlich, D. C. (2009). “NRCS design storm erosivity.” J. Irrig. Drain Eng., 135(1), 76–86.
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Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). (1986). “Urban hydrology for small watersheds.” Technical Release 55, 2nd Ed., U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, DC.
Welle, P. I., and Woodward, D. E. (1986). “Time of concentration.” Hydrology Technical Note, No. N4, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Northeast National Technical Center, Chester, PA.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 137 • Issue 4 • April 2011
Pages: 258 - 262
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 11, 2010
Accepted: Aug 11, 2010
Published online: Mar 15, 2011
Published in print: Apr 1, 2011
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