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Research ArticleResearch

Applicability of SCS curve number method for a California oak woodlands watershed

D. Lewis, M. J. Singer and K. W. Tate
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation April 2000, 55 (2) 226-230;
D. Lewis
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M. J. Singer
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K. W. Tate
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ABSTRACT:

The curve number (CN) method deveseped by the Soil Conservation Service (now NRCS) for predicting peak runoff from Watershed has not been extensively tested in western regions of the United States. We used a 17 year rainfall and runoff record from a California Oak woodland watershed to compare the accuracy of CN as prescribed in the SCS National Engineering Handbook (NEH-4) with two alternative methods. Each method predicted mean annual peak runoff that was not significantly different from observed runoff and correlation between estimated and observed runoff from each of the three methods was statistically significant. However, the highest correlation coefficient showed that only 50% of the variability in the data were accounted for by any of the methods. The NEH-4 method under predicted maximum flows for the highest flow years. The more conservative Hjelmfelt method more frequently over-predicted peak flow. Overprediction provides a measure of safety when using the CN technique.

Footnotes

  • David Lewis is a Research Assistant and Michael Singer is a Professor of Soil Science in the Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources Department of the University of California. Kenneth Tate is a Rangeland Watershed Hydrologist in the Department of Agronomy and Range Science at the University of California.

  • Copyright 2000 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society

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Journal of Soil and Water Conservation: 55 (2)
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
Vol. 55, Issue 2
Second Quarter 2000
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Applicability of SCS curve number method for a California oak woodlands watershed
D. Lewis, M. J. Singer, K. W. Tate
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Apr 2000, 55 (2) 226-230;

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Applicability of SCS curve number method for a California oak woodlands watershed
D. Lewis, M. J. Singer, K. W. Tate
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Apr 2000, 55 (2) 226-230;
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