Richard

The current stream flow conditions of Pennsylvania compared to historical record was derived

on the "Real-time stream flow" map on June 24 2010 at 13:30 ET, depicting stream flow

conditions computed by the USGS gauging stations. Real-time streamflow data are collected as

frequently as every 15 minutes and relayed to the GOES data-collection system. Data are

transmitted from each station at intervals of up to 4 hours and processed. This tracks short-term

changes over several hours in rivers and streams across the State. Generally, colors are used to

represent real-time stream flow compared to percentiles of historical daily stream flow for the

day of the year. On this map, the most dominant color is green, which depicts that the stream

flow for the day of the year compared to historic daily stream flow is normal because it falls

within the percentile class of 25-75. It is also observed that many areas in the eastern part of the

state show percentile values (10-24) that are below normal compared to historic daily stream

flow, depicted with the color orange and also they are sparely distributed across the eastern part

of the State with concentration towards the South Eastern part of the state. There are a few areas

that represent much below normal percentile values of compared historic daily stream flow of

less than 10, still at the eastern part of the State. In the western part of the Pennsylvania however,

it is observed that daily stream flow compared to historic daily flow is much above normal with a

value of 90+, this is shown on the map with blue color. There are a couple of none ranked areas

across the state.

The closest gauging stations nearest to my study site are the Spring Creek, near Axemann, PA

and the Spring Creek at Houserville PA. The Houserville gauge station is almost as close as the

Axemann Station but the Houserville gauge station is not rated, but it has a percentile value of

18%, which suggest that its comparison to historic stream flow is below normal. While the

Spring Creek near Axemann gauge station is colored green with percentile value of 34%

indicating that it is in the normal range compared to daily stream flow of historic daily stream

flow.
 Richard

The plot of the parameters of STATION--01546500 SPRING CREEK NEAR AXEMANN, PA

LOCATION.--Lat 40`53'23", long 77`47'40", Centre County, Hydrologic Unit 02050204, on right bank at upstream
side of bridge on SR 3001, 1.6 mi west of Axemann, 1.8 mi southwest of Bellefonte, and 2.5 mi upstream from Logan
Branch.

Gage height, feet: Discharge, cubic feet per second

Most recent instantaneous value: 2.23 06-24-2010 14:00 EDT Most recent instantaneous value: 72 06-24-2010 14:00 EDT

Form the data plotted, it can be seen that there are three major events on the graph to suggest an

anomaly over a 60 day period since the spikes are very high above the 69 years median. It is

observed that the first anomaly exists between; May 10- May 15, the second is between May 22-

May 25 and the third is between; June 5- June 12. The anomaly in the gage height is as a result

of the increase in discharge. The median value for this time period of 69years is 80 cf/s, while

the mean for these times is 106 cf/s. The 20th and 80th percentile are 63 and 106 respectively,

most of the data falls between this normal ranges except for the three events mentioned above.

The Basin of the study area was delineated as follows with the following characteristics;

Basin Characteristics Report: Stream density (miles/square mile)= 1.59, Total stream length in
miles= 2.61, Area in square miles=1.637, Percent of area covered by lakes, ponds, reservoirs
and wetlands=0.0142, Mean Basin Elevation in feet=1080, Percent of area covered by
urban=0.7736, Percent of area covered by carbonate bedrock=100.0000, Adjusted basin slope,
in degrees= 4, Mean annual precipitation in inches=37.000
Streamstats Ungaged Site Report: Low Flow Basin Characteristics: 100% Low Flow Region 2
(1.64 mi2): Drainage Area (square miles)= 1.64 (below min value 4.93)(Min=4.93,
Max=1280): Mean Annual Precipitation (inches)= 37.000 (Min=35, Max=50.4): Stream
Density (miles per square mile)= 1.59(Min=0.51, Max=3.1): Depth to Rock (feet)=
5.557(Min=3.32, Max=5.65):
Richard

Map of the study area basin

Mean/Base-flow Basin Characteristics: Drainage Area (square miles)= 11.64 (below min value
2.26)(Min=2.26, Max=1720): Mean Basin Elevation (feet)= 1080(Min=130, Max=2700): Mean
Annual Precipitation (inches)= 37.000 (Min=33.1, Max=50.4): Peak Flow Basin
Characteristics: Drainage Area (square miles)= 1.64 (Min=1.44, Max=1610): Mean Basin
Elevation (feet)= 1080(Min=457, Max=2150): Base-flow Streamflow Statistics

Low Flow Mean Peak flow

Eq. years of
Statistic Flow (ft3/s) Statistic Flow (ft3/s)
record
Statistic Flow (ft3/s)

M7D2Y 0.42 QA 1.72 PK2 30.9 3

M30D2Y 0.46 QAH 0.99 PK5 62.5 5
M7D10Y 0.28 BF10YR 0.91 PK10 92.7 7
M30D10Y 0.3 BF25YR 0.78 PK50 183 11
M90D10Y 0.34 BF50YR 0.71 PK100 232 11
PK500 380 11
Comparing the Basin and the nearest gauge station: The stream density is higher than the Spring
Creek, Houserville Gauge Station, while the mean basin elevation here is 1340ft. Basically,
majority of the characteristics are similar but the difference in peak flow is due to the network of
numerous streams between the study area and the Gauging station and also elevation gradient.
This lead to a higher flow at the Houserville gauge station of between (679-5940) ft3/s for the
peak flow stream flow compared to (30.9-380) ft3/s for the same number of equivalent years of
record.