Using a Distributed Hydrologic Model to Evaluate the Location of Urban Development and Flood Control Storage
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 136, Issue 5
Abstract
A physics-based, distributed hydrologic model (Vflo) was used to evaluate the effects of urbanization and detention storage on watershed stream flows with grid cells as small as (22 acres). The analysis was performed for the Little Cypress Creek watershed in Houston, Texas. Hypothetical development and flood mitigation scenarios in the upstream, midstream, and downstream portions of the creek were analyzed for their impacts on peak flows for the 100-year design storm. Local ponds and regional reservoirs were compared for their ability to bring downstream flows back to existing conditions at all points along the creek. Analysis showed that downstream flows would be most effectively mitigated when storm water detention volumes and release rates are imposed with an awareness of locations relative to watershed headwaters or a referenced outlet point. This is in contrast to many existing policies that are uniformly applied across a watershed.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 136 • Issue 5 • September 2010
Pages: 597 - 601
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Jul 27, 2009
Accepted: Nov 16, 2009
Published online: Nov 21, 2009
Published in print: Sep 2010
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