United States

Department

of Agriculture

Forest Service

Rocky Mountain

Research Station

General Technical

Report RMRS-GTR-147

January 2005

WinXSPRO, A Channel Cross 

Section Analyzer, User’s Manual, 

Version 3.0.

Thomas Hardy, Palavi Panja, and Dean Mathias
Hardy, Thomas; Palavi Panja; and Dean Mathias. 2005 WinXSPRO, A Channel Cross Section 

Analyzer, User’s Manual, Version 3.0. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-147. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 94 p. 

ABSTRACT

WinXSPRO is an interactive WindowsTM software package designed to analyze stream channel cross 

section data for geometric, hydraulic, and sediment transport parameters. WinXSPRO was specifically 

developed for use in high-gradient streams (gradient > 0.01) and supports four alternative resistance 

equations for computing boundary roughness and resistance to flow. Cross section input data may be 

from standard cross section surveys using a rod and level or sag-tape procedures. WinXSPRO allows 

the user to subdivide the channel cross section into multiple sub-sections and has the ability to vary 

water-surface slopes with discharge to reflect natural conditions. Analysis options include developing 

stage-discharge relationships, evaluating changes in channel cross-sectional area, and computing 

sediment transport rates. Resource specialists can use the estimated stream-channel geometry cross 

section hydraulic characteristics and sediment transport output to assist with channel design and 

monitoring, instream flow analysis, the restoration of riparian areas, and the placement of instream 

structures. 

The AUTHORS 

Thomas Hardy, Associate Director of the Utah Water Research Laboratory, Utah State University, 

Logan, UT 84322-8200 

Palavi Panja, Research Programmer, Utah Water Research Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan, 

UT 84322-8200. 

Dean Mathias, Lead System Analyst, Utah Water Research Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan, 

UT 84322-8200. 

This is a revised electronic version of the original publication. It corrects errors discovered subsequent 

to publication of the original hard-copy publication of General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-147. 

ERRATA for RMRS-GTR-147 

Section 4.5.2: The “Geometry Only” option has been disabled in this version of WinXSPRO. 

Equivalent output tables can be found in the output under either the “Hydraulics Only” or the “Both 

Hydraulics and Regression” options when run. 

Citation: Should be dated 2005 instead of 2004.
WinXSPRO 

A Channel Cross Section Analyzer 

User’s Manual 

Prepared by 

Thomas Hardy 

Palavi Panja 

Dean Mathias 

Institute for Natural Systems Engineering 

Utah Water Research Laboratory 

Utah State University 

Modified from Earlier Versions Prepared by 

Grant et al. 1992 

and 

WEST, Inc. 1998 

Produced by 

USDA Forest Service 

Washington Office 

Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Air, & Rare Plants Staff 

Stream Systems Technology Center 

Prepared in support of the National Stream Systems Technology Center mission to enable land 

managers to “secure favorable conditions of water flows” from our National Forests. 
ii 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The development of the original version of this software, called XSPRO, Version 1.0, was supported by 

the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Experiment Station, Corvallis, Oregon, and the Ecology, 

Range, and Watershed Management Staff of the Northwest Region, Portland, Oregon. Further software 

development, testing, and publication were supported by the Division of Resource Services and the 

Technology Transfer Staff, Bureau of Land Management Service Center, Denver, Colorado. This 

version was published as: Grant, Gordon E., Duval, Joseph E., Koerper, Greg J., and James L. 

Fogg, 1992. XSPRO: A Channel Cross-Section Analyzer. USDI Bureau of Land Management and 

USDA Forest Service, Technical Note 387, BLM/SC/PT-92/001+7200, Denver, CO.

The development of a WindowsTM-based program renamed WinXSPRO, Versions 2.x, was supported by 

the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Stream Systems Technology Center, Fort 

Collins, Colorado. Version 2 added and improved many of the channel hydraulics features of the 

program and added bed load sediment transport modeling capabilities provided by Dr. Jon Nelson, 

Research Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, Denver, Colorado. 

Programming, document revision, and coding of the sediment transport relations were supervised by Mr. 

Marty Teal, WEST Consultants, Inc., San Diego, California. This version was distributed as: USDA 

Forest Service, 1998. WinXSPRO, A Channel Cross-Section Analyzer, User’s Manual. USDA 

Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO, unpublished manuscript. 

Version 3 is also a WindowsTM-based version of WinXSPRO supported by the USDA Forest Service, 

Rocky Mountain Research Station, Stream Systems Technology Center, Fort Collins, Colorado. It 

contains numerous enhancements and improvements derived from user input and feedback from using 

previous versions of the software. Programming and document revision was supervised by Dr. Thomas 

Hardy, Utah State University, Institute for Natural Systems Engineering while programming changes 

were made by Mrs. Palavi Panja and Mr. Dean Mathias. 

The authors wish to thank the numerous Forest Service and other users who tested earlier versions, 

identified “glitches” and provided useful suggestions for improving the program. We especially wish to 

thank Dr. Gordon Grant, Dr. Jon Nelson, Jim Fogg, and Toby Hanes for critical review of the software 

and documentation. Finally, we wish to thank Larry Schmidt and John Potyondy of the Stream Systems 

Technology Center for their leadership and diligent work in making this WindowsTM version of the 

WinXSPRO program a reality. 
iii 

DISCLAIMER 

This software is in the public domain, and the recipient may not assert any proprietary rights thereto nor 

represent it to anyone as other than a Government-produced program. WinXSPRO is provided “as-is” 

without warranty of any kind, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability 

and fitness for a particular purpose. The user assumes all responsibility for the accuracy and suitability 

of this program for a specific application. In no event will the USDA Forest Service, WEST Consultants, 

Inc., or Utah State University, be liable for any damages, including lost profits, lost savings, or other 

incidental or consequential damages arising from the use of or the inability to use this program. 

DOWNLOAD INFORMATION

This User’s Guide and the WinXSPRO program can be downloaded from: 

http://www.stream.fs.fed.us/publications/software.html. 

This publication may be updated as features and modeling capabilities are added to the program. Users 

may wish to periodically check the download site for the latest updates. 

WinXSPRO is supported by and limited technical support is available from USDA Forest Service, 

Washington Office Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Air, & Rare Plants Staff, Streams Systems Technology 

Center, Fort Collins, CO. The preferred method of contact for obtaining support is to send an e-mail to 

rmrs_stream@fs.fed.us requesting “WinXSPRO Support” in the subject line. 

USDA Forest Service 

Rocky Mountain Research Station 

Stream Systems Technology Center 

2150 Centre Ave., Bldg. A, Suite 368 

Fort Collins, CO 80526-1891 

(970) 295-5983 
iv 

Table of Contents 

WinXSPRO...........................................................................................................................................i 

Acknowledgments............................................................................................................................... ii 

Disclaimer.......................................................................................................................................... iii 

Download Information....................................................................................................................... iii 

Table of Contents................................................................................................................................iv 

List of Figures.....................................................................................................................................vi 

List of Tables ......................................................................................................................................vi 

Chapter 1 - Introduction.......................................................................................................................1 

1.1 Purpose of WinXSPRO................................................................................................1 

1.2 Applications of WinXSPRO........................................................................................1 

1.3 Overview of User's Manual .........................................................................................2 

1.4 Features of WinXSPRO...............................................................................................3 

1.5 Computer Requirements ..............................................................................................3 

Chapter 2 - Theoretical Basis...............................................................................................................4 

2.1 General.........................................................................................................................4 

2.2 General Assumptions and Limitations.........................................................................5 

2.3 Flow Resistance Equations ..........................................................................................5 

2.4 Subdivision of Cross Sections ...................................................................................16 

2.5 Gini Coefficient .........................................................................................................17 

2.6 Sediment Transport....................................................................................................17 

Chapter 3 - Field Procedures and Techniques ...................................................................................22 

3.1 General.......................................................................................................................22 

3.2 Reach Selection..........................................................................................................22 

3.3 Field Procedures ........................................................................................................23 

Chapter 4 - Running WinXSPRO......................................................................................................27 

4.1 WindowsTM..................................................................................................................27 

4.2 Program Installation...................................................................................................27 

4.3 Overview of Program Use .........................................................................................28 

4.4 Creating a Plan...........................................................................................................28 

4.5 Main Plan Window ....................................................................................................30 

4.6 Cross Section Window...............................................................................................36 

4.7 Stage & Section Window...........................................................................................36 

4.8 Manning's n Window .................................................................................................37 

4.9 Pull-down Menus.......................................................................................................38 

4.10 Toolbar.......................................................................................................................50 

4.11 Output Files................................................................................................................51 

Chapter 5 - Example Problems ..........................................................................................................54 

5.1 Example Problem 1....................................................................................................54 

5.2 Example Problem 2....................................................................................................62 

5.3 Example Problem 3....................................................................................................65 

5.4 Example Problem 4....................................................................................................68 

Chapter 6 - References.......................................................................................................................73 
v 

Appendix A – List of Symbols ..........................................................................................................76 

Appendix B – Using WinXSPRO With Spreadsheet Programs ........................................................78 

Appendix C – Glossary......................................................................................................................79 

Appendix D – Error and Warning Messages .....................................................................................86 

Appendix E - WinXSPRO Sample Files ...........................................................................................92 

Typical Cross Sections...........................................................................................................92 

Cross Section With Undercut Banks .....................................................................................92 

Compare Two Cross Sections................................................................................................92 

Nelson et al. Resistance Method and Bed Load Computations.............................................93 

Index ..................................................................................................................................................94 
vi 

List of Figures 

Figure 2.1. Computational elements of hydraulic parameters. ...........................................................4 

Figure 2.2. Typical channel configurations that disrupt uniform flow...............................................6 

Figure 3.1. Sag tape survey configuration ........................................................................................23 

Figure 3.2. Rod and level survey configuration................................................................................24 

Figure 3.3. Diagram of longitudinal profile and plan view of a pool-riffle sequence......................25 

Figure 4.1. Main plan window..........................................................................................................29 

Figure 4.2. Input data editor..............................................................................................................31 

Figure 4.3. User defined data format dialog box ..............................................................................33 

Figure 4.4. Portion of user defined sample input file .......................................................................33

Figure 4.5. Area comparison window...............................................................................................43 

Figure 4.6. Plot parameters dialog box .............................................................................................48 

Figure 4.7. Sample output screen......................................................................................................53 

Figure 5.1. Example cross section ....................................................................................................54 

Figure 5.2. Initial blank plan.............................................................................................................55 

Figure 5.3 Updated WinXSPRO plan window after cross section geometry file is selected..........55 

Figure 5.4. Updated WinXSPRO plan window after setting initial analysis options.......................56

Figure 5.5. WinXSPRO cross section plot and stage and section input form ..................................57 

Figure 5.6. Completed stage and section form .................................................................................58 

Figure 5.7. Manning’s n input data screen for the first defined section ...........................................58 

Figure 5.8. Stage and Manning’s n values for the first (left-most) section defined for the channel 59 

Figure 5.9. Example Problem 1 output file.......................................................................................60 

Figure 5.10. Example Problem 2 output file......................................................................................63 

Figure 5.11. Example Problem 3 definition sketch ...........................................................................65 

Figure 5.12. Example Problem 3 output file......................................................................................66 

Figure 5.13. Discharge vs. hydraulic radius regression curve...........................................................67 

Figure 5.14. Stage-discharge regression curve ..................................................................................67 

Figure 5.15. Modify Data screen using the BEFORE.SEC input file ...............................................68 

Figure 5.16. Example of Compare Areas Window with values set for Example Problem 4.............69 

Figure 5.17. Difference between Before and After using the Gini coefficient..................................70 

Figure 5.18. Example Problem 4 hydraulic analysis output ..............................................................71 

Figure 5.19. Ackers-White dialog box with data field for Example problem 4 ................................71 

Figure 5.20. Ackers-White sediment rating curve.............................................................................72 

Figure C-1. Example of main channel vs. left and right overbank roughness areas. .......................85 

List of Tables 

Table 2.1. Base values of Manning's n ............................................................................................8 

Table 2.2. Factors that affect roughness of the channel ...................................................................9

Table 5.1. Example Problem 3 region and stage data.....................................................................65 

Table C-1 Sediment size classes.....................................................................................................85 
Introduction 1 

Chapter 1 - Introduction

1.1 Purpose of WinXSPRO

WinXSPRO is an interactive, WindowsTM software package designed to assist watershed specialists in 

analyzing stream channel cross section data for geometric, hydraulic and sediment transport parameters. 

 Although the program can be used with streams of any gradient, it has been specifically developed to 

handle channel geometry and hydraulic conditions for single transects in steep (gradient > 0.01) streams. 

 Several resistance equations are supported, including those specifically designed for large roughness 

channels. Analysis options include developing stage-to-discharge relationships, calculating depth 

required to inundate valley floor surfaces, evaluating changes in channel cross-sectional area, and 

computing sediment transport rates. Both graphical and tabular output can be generated. WinXSPRO 

can assist resource specialists in analyzing instream flow needs, performing hydraulic reconstructions, 

designing effective channel and riparian structures, and monitoring channel changes.

1.2 Applications of WinXSPRO

Information on stream-channel geometry, hydraulic characteristics, and sediment transport rates is useful 

for channel design, restoration of riparian areas, and placement of instream structures. The analyses of 

cross section hydraulics, along with an evaluation of flood frequency, are primary considerations in 

channel design. Once a desired bank-full flow is defined, the channel is designed to contain that flow, 

and higher flows are allowed to spread over the floodplain. Such periodic flooding is extremely 

important for the formation of channel macro-features (e.g., point bars and meander bends) and for 

establishment of certain kinds of riparian vegetation. A cross section analysis may also help in optimal 

placement of such items as culverts and fish habitat structures.

Additionally, knowledge of the relationships between discharge, channel geometry and hydraulics is 

useful for reconstructing the conditions associated with a particular flow situation. For example, in 

many channel stability analyses, it is customary to relate movement of streambed materials to some 

measure of stream power or average bed shear stress. If the relations between streamflow and certain 

hydraulic variables (e.g., mean depth and water-surface slope) are known, it is possible to estimate 

stream power and average bed shear at any given level of flow. Thus, a channel cross section analysis 

makes it possible to estimate conditions of streambed particle movement at various levels of streamflow. 

 WinXSPRO also includes two sediment transport relations: the Parker model for gravel-bed rivers and 

the Ackers-White model for sand-bed channels. 

Finally, cross section analyses provide important information for instream flow assessments. Various 

riparian resource values may be altered by changes in hydraulic parameters associated with changes in 

streamflow. For example, the relation between low-water discharge and channel wetted perimeter may 

be an important consideration for macroinvertebrate production or the scenic enjoyment of a stream. 

Similarly, cross section data may be used to define the depth-discharge relationship for analysis of fish 

habitat. Also, if the recurrence frequencies of various discharges are known, a depth-duration 

relationship may be constructed. The applications of WinXSPRO are not limited by those described 

here; with some imagination, the user will find others for which the tools in the program will serve. 
2 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

1.3 Overview of User's Manual 

This manual describes the fundamental concepts, methodologies, capabilities and limitations, features, 

input requirements, and output of WinXSPRO. The manual is organized into the following sections: 

Introduction (Chapter 1)

This chapter. 

Theoretical Basis (Chapter 2)

Chapter 2 describes the theoretical basis for the hydraulic, flow resistance, and sediment 

transport calculations used in WinXSPRO. 

Field Procedures and Techniques (Chapter 3)

Chapter 3 provides guidance on selection of reaches and representative cross sections where 

information is to be collected and field procedures to be used in the collection. 

Running WinXSPRO (Chapter 4)

Chapter 4 covers information on installing the program, setting up projects and plans, and 

navigating through the program itself. Input and output data and all options available within 

WinXSPRO are described in this chapter. 

Example Problems (Chapter 5)

Chapter 5 provides example applications of WinXSPRO. 

References (Chapter 6) 

Chapter 6 is a listing of references cited. 

Appendices

Appendix A is a list of symbols that are used in this manual and Appendix B addresses use of 

WinXSPRO with spreadsheet programs. Appendix C is a glossary of terms and phrases used in 

this manual, and Appendix D lists and explains the warning and error messages used in 

WinXSPRO. Appendix E explains typical sample files distributed with the software. 
Introduction 3 

1.4 Features of WinXSPRO 

The WinXSPRO program is designed for analyzing channel cross section data in an interactive, userfriendly environment. The program is run under Microsoft® WindowsTM with easy-to-read input and 

output screens and many other features common to WindowsTM programs. WinXSPRO uses a 

resistance-equation approach (e.g., Manning's equation) to single cross section hydraulic analysis, and is 

capable of analyzing the geometry, hydraulics and sediment transport potential of a given channel cross 

section (including sections with undercut banks). WinXSPRO was specifically developed for use in 

high-gradient streams and supports four alternative resistance equations for computing boundary 

roughness and resistance to flow. The program allows the user to subdivide the channel cross section so 

that overbank areas, mid-channel islands, and high-water overflow channels may be analyzed separately. 

 WinXSPRO also allows input of water-surface slopes such that the slope will vary with discharge to 

reflect natural conditions. The user can overlay plots and compute the difference in area between two 

cross sections using a special feature of the program. Sediment transport calculations can be performed 

using one bed load equation and one total load equation. 

1.5 Computer Requirements 

WinXSPRO requires Microsoft® WindowsTM Version 3.1 or higher, a minimum of 4 MB hard disk 

space and 4 MB RAM. Eight (8) MB RAM is recommended for faster operation. Installation of the 

program is described in Chapter 4. 
4 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Chapter 2 - Theoretical Basis 

2.1 General 

The theoretical background for analyzing channel cross section data is derived from the basic continuity, 

momentum, and energy equations of fluid mechanics. Specifically, streamflow at a cross section is 

computed using the simplified form of the continuity equation where discharge equals the product of 

velocity and cross-sectional area of flow. Computation of cross-sectional area is strictly a geometry 

problem; it is determined by inputting incremental depths of water (stage) to a channel cross section 

defined by distance-elevation pairs. In addition to cross-sectional area, the top width, wetted perimeter, 

mean depth, and hydraulic radius are computed for each increment of stage (Figure 2.1). 

Figure 2.1. Computational elements of hydraulic properties. 

Once the channel geometry has been computed for a given stage, an estimate of mean cross section 

velocity is needed to produce an estimate of streamflow. Analysis of the momentum and energy 

equations requires that, under certain streamflow conditions, gravitational forces that cause water to 

move downhill are balanced by frictional forces at the channel boundary that tend to resist the downhill 

flow. Under these conditions it is possible to estimate resistance to flow and, hence, mean velocity at 

the channel cross section. Thus, various resistance equations have been developed for estimating mean 

velocity as a function of cross section hydraulic parameters. 

Sediment transport relations have also been developed based on hydraulic parameters, most notably 

shear stress and velocity. For steep streams, sediment transport is mostly as bed load, i.e., by particles 

rolling or sliding along the streambed, or moving by short jumps (saltating). For streams with smaller 

gradients, transport generally will occur as both bed load and suspended load (where some particles are 

supported above the bed by turbulence and transported at about the local flow velocity). 
Theoretical Basis 5 

2.2 General Assumptions and Limitations 

As indicated, the mean velocity of streamflow in a cross section can be computed when certain flow 

conditions are met. The main criteria for these flow conditions is that the bed slope, the water-surface 

slope, and the total energy grade line are essentially parallel. The total energy of the stream is a function 

of the position of the streambed above some arbitrary datum (potential energy), the depth of the water 

column (pressure energy), and the velocity of the water column (kinetic energy). The slope of the total 

energy grade line indicates the rate at which energy is dissipated through turbulence and boundary 

friction. When the slope of this line is known, the various resistance formulas allow computation of 

mean cross-sectional velocity. When the water-surface and the energy grade line parallel the streambed, 

the energy grade line slope is assumed to be the same as the water-surface slope. 

Under conditions of constant width, depth, area, and velocity, the water surface slope and energy grade 

line approach the slope of the streambed, producing a condition known as "uniform flow." One feature 

of uniform flow is that the streamlines (the traces of the path that a particle of water would follow in the 

flow) are parallel and straight (Roberson and Crowe 1985). Perfectly uniform flow rarely occurs in 

natural channels, but the condition is approached in some reaches where the geometry of the channel 

cross section is relatively constant throughout the reach. Conditions that tend to disrupt uniform flow 

include bends in the stream course; changes in cross section geometry; obstructions to flow caused by 

large roughness elements such as channel bars, large boulders, and woody debris; or other features that 

cause convergence, divergence, acceleration, or deceleration of flow (Figure 2.2). Resistance equations 

also may be used to evaluate these non-uniform flow conditions (gradually varied flow); however, 

energy-transition calculations (backwater) must then be included in the analysis. This requires the use 

of multiple transect numerical models (e.g., HEC-2, HEC-RAS, WSPRO). 

2.3 Flow Resistance Equations 

WinXSPRO supports four sets of resistance equations for estimating mean velocity at a cross section. 

Each equation or set of equations was developed from specific sets of data; therefore, use of a particular 

resistance formula to estimate velocity is subject to the limitations of the data used to develop that 

formula, as well as the assumptions of the formula itself. Also, because each resistance equation 

estimates channel resistance or roughness in a slightly different way, the different formulas may require 

different inputs from the user and will likely produce somewhat different results. Selection of the 

appropriate resistance equation requires understanding the assumptions and limitations of each 

approach. 
6 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Figure 2.2. Typical channel configurations that disrupt uniform flow. 

2.3.1 Manning's Equation 

WinXSPRO supports the use of Manning's equation for estimating mean cross section velocity. 

Manning's equation was developed for conditions of uniform flow (described previously). Lacking a 

better solution, it is assumed that the equation is also valid for non-uniform reaches that are invariably 

encountered in natural channels if the energy gradient is modified to reflect only the losses due to 

boundary friction (Dalrymple and Benson 1967). The Manning equation for mean velocity is given as: 

 

2 / 3 1/ 2 R S

n

k V = (1) 

where: V = average velocity in the cross section (ft/s or m/s) 

k = 1.0 for metric units and 1.486 for English units, 

 n = Manning's roughness coefficient, 

 R = hydraulic radius (ft or meters) , and 

 S = energy slope (ft/ft or m/m) (water-surface slope for uniform flow). 
Theoretical Basis 7 

In Manning's equation, resistance to flow due to friction at the channel boundary is addressed through 

the use of a roughness coefficient, n, supplied by the user of the equation. The roughness coefficient 

may be thought of as an index of the features of channel roughness that contribute to the dissipation of 

stream energy. 

There are three methods for estimating Manning's roughness coefficient for natural channels: direct 

solution of Manning's equation for n (given R, S, and V in the above equation), comparison with 

computed n values for other channels, and formulas relating n to other hydraulic parameters. Each 

method has its own limitations and advantages. 

The method of direct solution entails measuring stream discharge and dividing by the cross sectional 

flow area to obtain a mean velocity. The mean velocity, hydraulic radius (roughly equal to mean depth 

for wide channels), and water-surface slope are entered into Manning's equation, and the equation is 

solved directly for the roughness coefficient, n. This approach gives an estimate of n that is as accurate 

as the associated measurement of discharge, cross sectional area, and water-surface slope. However, the 

n value obtained is only applicable to the particular stage and cross sectional geometry at which the flow 

was measured. Even at a given stage the n value can vary seasonally due to vegetation and temperature 

effects. 

Since the features of channel roughness that contribute to energy dissipation will vary with water level, 

n also will vary with water level; therefore, it is desirable to directly estimate n at more than one level of 

streamflow. Most authors cited have found that n values decrease with increasing stage, at least up to 

bank-full flow. If streamflow can be measured at several different stages, n may be calculated for a 

range of flows and the relationship between n and stage determined. 

The second method for estimating n values at a cross section involves comparing the reach to a similar, 

measured reach for which Manning's n has already been computed. This is probably the quickest and 

most commonly used procedure for estimating Manning's n and is usually done from either a table of 

values or by comparison with photographs of natural channels. Tables of Manning's n values for a 

variety of natural and artificial channels are common in the literature on hydraulics (e.g., Chow 1959; 

Van Haveren 1986). Photographs of stream reaches with computed n values have been compiled by 

Chow (1959) and Barnes (1967); Arcement and Schneider (1984) extended this work for floodplain 

areas. 

When the roughness coefficient is estimated from table values or by comparison with photographs of 

natural channels with known n, the chosen n value is considered a base value, nb, that may need to be 

adjusted for local channel conditions. Several publications provide procedures for adjusting nb to 

account for channel irregularities, vegetation, obstructions, and sinuosity (Chow 1959; Benson and 

Dalrymple 1967; Arcement and Schneider 1984; Parsons and Hudson 1985). The most common 

procedure uses the formula proposed by Cowan (1956) to estimate the value of n: 

 n = (nb + n1 + n2 + n3 + n4)m (2) 
8 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

where: 

nb = base value of n for a straight, uniform, smooth channel in natural 

materials, 

 n1 = correction for the effect of surface irregularities, 

 n2 = correction for variations in cross section size and shape, 

 n3 = correction for obstructions, 

 n4 = correction for vegetation and flow conditions, and 

 m = correction for degree of channel meandering. 

Table 2.1 is taken from Aldridge and Garrett (1973) and may be used to estimate the base n values for 

stable channels and floodplains, where stable channels are defined as those where the bed is composed 

of firm soil, gravel, cobbles, boulders, or bedrock and which remains relatively unchanged through most 

of the range of flows. The base values of Benson and Dalrymple (1967) generally apply to conditions 

that are close to average whereas Chow's (1959) base values are for the smoothest reach attainable for a 

given bed material. Table 2.2 is also taken from Aldridge and Garrett (1973) and may be used to 

estimate each of the correction factors in Equation 2 to produce a final estimated n. 

Table 2.1. Base values of Manning's n [modified from Aldridge and Garrett (1973) Table 1]. 

Channel or Median size of bed material Base n value (nb) 

floodplain type Millimeters Inches Benson and 

Dalrymple (1967)1

Chow (1959)2

Concrete - - 0.012-0.018 0.011 

Rock cut - - - 0.025 

Firm soil - - 0.025-0.032 0.020 

Coarse sand 1-2 - 0.026-0.035 - 

Fine gravel - - - 0.024 

Gravel 2-64 0.08-2.5 0.028-0.035 - 

Coarse gravel - - - 0.026 

Cobble 64-256 2.5-10.1 0.030-0.050 - 

Boulder >256 >10.1 0.040-0.070 - 

1

Straight uniform channel. 

2

Smoothest channel attainable for indicated material.
Theoretical Basis 9 

Table 2.2. Factors that affect roughness of the channel (modified from Aldridge and Garrett 

(1973), Table 2). 

Channel 

conditions 

n value 

adjustment1

Example 

Smooth 0.000 Compares to the smoothest channel attainable 

in a given bed material. 

Minor 0.001-0.005 Compares to carefully dredged channels in 

good condition but having slightly eroded or 

scoured side slopes. 

Degree of 

irregularity (n1) 

Moderate 0.006-0.010 Compares to dredged channels having 

moderate to considerable bed roughness and 

moderately sloughed or eroded side slopes. 

Severe 0.011-0.020 Badly sloughed or scalloped banks of natural 

streams; badly eroded or sloughed sides of 

canals or drainage channels; unshaped, jagged, 

and irregular surfaces of channels in rock. 

Gradual 0.000 Size and shape of channel cross sections 

change gradually. 

Variation in 

channel cross 

section (n2) 

Alternating 

occasionally 

0.001-0.005 Large and small cross sections alternate 

occasionally, or the main flow occasionally 

shifts from side to side owing to changes in 

cross sectional shape. 

Alternating 

frequently 

0.010-0.015 Large and small cross sections alternate 

frequently, or the main flow frequently shifts 

from side to side owing to changes in cross 

sectional shape. 

1

Adjustments for degree of irregularity, variations in cross section, effect of obstructions, and vegetation are added 

to the base Manning's n value before multiplying by the adjustment for meander, m.
10 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Table 2.2. Factors that affect roughness of the channel – (continued).

Channel 

conditions 

n value 

adjustment1

Example 

Negligible 0.000-0.004 A few scattered obstructions, which include 

debris deposits, stumps, exposed roots, logs, 

piers, or isolated boulders, that occupy less 

than 5 percent of the cross sectional area. 

Minor 0.005-0.015 Obstructions occupy less than 15 percent of 

the cross sectional area and the spacing 

between obstructions is such that the sphere of 

influence around one obstruction does not 

extend to the sphere of influence around 

another obstruction. Smaller adjustments are 

used for curved smooth-surfaced objects than 

are used for sharp-edged angular objects. 

Effect of 

obstruction (n3) 

Appreciable 0.020-0.030 Obstructions occupy from 15 to 20 percent of 

the cross sectional area or the space between 

obstructions is small enough to cause the 

effects of several obstructions to be additive, 

thereby blocking an equivalent part of a cross 

section. 

Severe 0.040-0.050 Obstructions occupy more than 50 percent of 

the cross sectional area or the space between 

obstructions is small enough to cause 

turbulence across most of the cross section. 

Amount of 

vegetation (n4) 

Small 0.002-0.010 Dense growths of flexible turf grass, such as 

Bermuda, or weeds growing where the average 

depth of flow is at least two times the height of 

the vegetation; supple tree seedlings such as 

willow, cottonwood, arrowweed, or saltcedar 

growing where the average depth of flow is at 

least three times the height of the vegetation. 

1

Adjustments for degree of irregularity, variations in cross section, effect of obstructions, and vegetation are added 

to the base Manning's n value before multiplying by the adjustment for meander.
Theoretical Basis 11 

Table 2.2. Factors that affect roughness of the channel – (continued). 

Channel 

conditions 

n value 

adjustment1

Example 

Medium 0.010-0.025 Turf grass growing where the average depth of 

flow is from one to two times the height of the 

vegetation; moderately dense stemmy grass, 

weeds, or tree seedlings growing where the 

average depth of flow is from two to three times 

the height of the vegetation; brushy, moderately 

dense vegetation, similar to 1- to 2-year-old 

willow trees in the dormant season, growing 

along the banks and no significant vegetation 

along the channel bottoms where the hydraulic 

radius exceeds 2 feet. 

Amount of 

vegetation (n4) - 

continued 

Large 0.025-0.050 Turf grass growing where the average depth of 

flow is about equal to the height of vegetation; 

8- to 10-year-old willow or cottonwood trees 

intergrown with some weeds and brush (none of 

the vegetation in foliage) where the hydraulic 

radius exceeds 2 feet; bushy willows about 1 

year old intergrown with some weeds along side 

slopes (all vegetation in full foliage) and no 

significant vegetation along channel bottoms 

where the hydraulic radius is greater than 2 feet.

Very Large 0.050-0.100 Turf grass growing where the average depth of 

flow is less than half the height of vegetation; 

bushy willow trees about 1 year old intergrown 

with weeds along the side slopes (all vegetation 

in full foliage) or dense cattails growing along 

channel bottom; trees intergrown with weeds 

and brush (all vegetation in full foliage). 

1

Adjustments for degree of irregularity, variations in cross section, effect of obstructions, and vegetation are added 

to the base Manning's n value before multiplying by the adjustment for meander.
12 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Table 2.2. Factors that affect roughness of the channel – (continued). 

Channel 

conditions 

Meander 

adjustment, m1

Example 

Minor 1.00 Ratio of the channel length to valley 

length is 1.0 to 1.2. 

Appreciable 1.15 Ratio of the channel length to valley 

length is 1.2 to 1.5. 

Degree of 

meandering1

(adjustment 

values apply to 

flow confined in 

the channel and 

do not apply 

where 

downvalley flow 

crosses 

meanders) 

Severe 1.30 Ratio of the channel length to valley 

length is greater than 1.5. 

1

Adjustments for degree of irregularity, variations in cross section, effect of obstructions, and vegetation are added 

to the base n value before multiplying by the adjustment for meander. 

While estimating Manning's roughness coefficient from a table of values or by comparison with 

photographs of channels with known n is the quickest and most commonly used method, most 

experienced hydrologists and river engineers simply estimate n from experience -- often the tables and 

photographs are not even consulted. For that reason, this method is subject to the most variability 

between individuals and is probably the least consistent method for arriving at Manning's n. Also, the 

method ordinarily is used to produce a single value for roughness, which is then applied throughout the 

entire range of flow, often introducing large errors for the estimate at high or low flows. 

The third method of determining Manning's roughness coefficient for a cross section uses empirical 

formulas relating n to other hydraulic parameters. Many of these formulas assume that a representative 

particle size in the channel boundary dominates the hydraulic roughness; hence, the empirical 

relationships usually correlate n with some statistical index of bed material size distribution. As such, 

these formulas do not adjust n for changes in depth of flow at the cross section. To compensate for 

changes in roughness with depth of flow, several formulas have been developed that use a relative 

roughness term relating some representative particle size (e.g., the 84th-percentile particle size) to the 

hydraulic radius or mean depth. Changes in depth of flow therefore change roughness and n values. 

Some empirical formulas, such as the Jarrett (1984) formula described later, do not use particle size but 

relate the roughness coefficient n to other hydraulic parameters, such as slope and hydraulic radius. 

Just as Manning's n may vary significantly with changes in stage (water level), channel irregularities, 

obstructions, vegetation, sinuosity, and bed material size distribution, n may also vary with bed forms in 

the channel. The hydraulics of sand and mobile-bed channels produce changes in bed forms as the 

velocity, stream power, and Froude number increase with discharge (note, however, that bed forms 

rarely occur in sediments coarser than approximately 0.6 mm [ASCE, 1966]). As velocity and stream 

power increase, bed forms evolve from a plane bed to ripples, to dunes, to washed-out dunes, to plane 
Theoretical Basis 13 

bed again, to antidunes, and to chutes and pools. Ripples and dunes occur when the Froude number is 

less than 1 (subcritical flow); washed out dunes occur at a Froude number near 1 (critical flow); and 

plane bed, antidunes, and chutes and pools occur at a Froude number greater than 1 (supercritical flow). 

Manning's n attains maximum values when dune or anti-dune bed forms are present, and minimum 

values when ripples and plane bed forms are present (Parsons and Hudson 1985). 

Vegetation can cause Manning's n to change, sometimes drastically, between seasons. The effect of 

vegetation depends mainly on height, density, distribution, and type of vegetation, as well as the flow 

conditions. The depth of flow is important because as the water level in a stream rises, different types, 

distributions, stiffness, and densities of vegetation may be encountered. Also, under flows of sufficient 

depth, many types of vegetation such as grasses and weeds will bend over to produce lower n values. 

The slope of the channel can amplify this effect because a steep slope causes greater velocity, which 

leads to greater flattening of vegetation. 

Because Manning's roughness coefficient varies with different flows and cross section characteristics, it 

is important to define the variability of n over the entire range of flows when conducting cross section 

analyses. If possible, this is best accomplished by measuring discharge at several different water levels 

(stages), solving Manning's equation for the true value of n at each stage, and developing a relation 

between stage and Manning's n. If Manning's n is estimated from a table of values or by comparison 

with photographs, estimates should be made for several stages, and the relationship between n and stage 

defined for the flow range of interest. If empirical formulas are used to estimate n, it is best to select a 

formula that is sensitive to mean depth or hydraulic radius, such as the formulas that use a relative 

roughness term. It is wise to perform a sensitivity analysis to show the effect of changes in n values on 

hydraulic parameters such as discharge and velocity, especially if bed forms or vegetative characteristics 

vary over the range of discharges. 

2.3.2 Thorne and Zevenbergen's Recommended Equations 

Resistance equations that include a term for relative roughness (the ratio of the bed material size to the 

flow depth or hydraulic radius) have an inherent sensitivity to changes in depth for low to moderate flow 

depths. Thorne and Zevenbergen (1985), in a review of resistance equations developed for mountain 

streams, tested several formulas using relative submergence terms for estimating mean velocity in steep, 

cobble/boulder-bed channels (note that any consistent set of units may be used with these equations). 

For small relative roughness values (relative submergence, R/d84, greater than 1), Thorne and 

Zevenbergen recommended an equation developed by Hey (1979) for estimating mean cross section 

velocity: 

 (3) 

( ) 5 84 1/ 2 3. 5.62log ( ) d

a R

gRS

V ′ =
14 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

(4) 

where: 

 V = mean cross section velocity (ft/s), 

 g = acceleration due to gravity (ft/s2

), 

 d84 = intermediate axis for the 84th-percentile particle size (ft), and 

 Dmax = maximum depth of section (ft). 

Similarly, for large relative roughness values (relative submergence, R/d84, less than or equal to 1), 

Thorne and Zevenbergen recommended Bathurst's (1978) equation for estimating mean cross section 

velocity: 

 

34 7( 0.08) 2.

84

1/ 2 ( ) 0.365

−

⎟

⎠

⎞ ⎜

⎝

⎛ ⎟

⎟

⎠

⎞

⎜

⎜

⎝

⎛ =

E

D

W

d

R

gRS

V λ

 (5) 

 

 ⎟

⎟

⎠

⎞

⎜

⎜

⎝

⎛ = −

84

0.039 0.139log d

R λE (6) 

where: 

 D = mean flow depth (ft or m), and 

 W = water surface width (ft or m). 

WinXSPRO supports these formulas as an option for calculating mean cross section velocity. However, 

in applying these formulas to a cross section analysis, the assumptions of the equations must be 

considered, i.e., that channel gradients generally exceed 1 percent, channel beds are predominately 

cobble and boulder substrate, and relative roughness is large. Thorne and Zevenbergen (1985) reported 

average errors of only 6 percent when using the Hey equation for small values of relative roughness 

(relative submergence R/d84>>1), but even the best equations over predicted mean velocity by as much 

as 30 percent for the highest values of relative roughness (relative submergence R/d84<1), an error they 

attributed to difficulties in measuring bed material sizes. An additional factor to consider is that 

WinXSPRO approximates the mean flow depth with the hydraulic depth (area/top width). In cross 

sections lacking a single, well-defined channel, erroneous values may result. 

2.3.3 Jarrett's Equation for Manning's Roughness Coefficient 

The previous discussion of Manning's equation alluded to the existence of empirical formulas for n that 

do not make use of particle-size data as an index of relative roughness. These formulas tend to relate the 

roughness coefficient to other hydraulic parameters. Jarrett (1984) developed the following equation for 

n, relating the roughness coefficient to water-surface slope and hydraulic radius at the section: 

n = 0.39 S0.38 R-0.16 (7) 

( ) 0.314

max 11.1 − ′ = D

R a
Theoretical Basis 15 

where R is in feet. Jarrett's equation for n has no explicit term for relative roughness; however, he 

reported a positive correlation between water-surface slope and coarse bed material particle size. Thus, 

although particle size is not an explicit part of the equation, it is still implicit in the slope term. Jarrett 

also reported a slightly stronger correlation between Manning's n and slope than the correlation between 

n and d84 particle size.

Jarrett (1984) also compared n values calculated with the above equation to actual n values obtained 

from cross sections with measured hydraulic geometry and flow data. The average standard error of the 

estimated n values was 28 percent, and ranged from -24 percent to +32 percent. Jarrett found the 

equation to slightly overestimate n, with the greatest errors typically associated with low-flow 

measurements when the ratio of R/d50 is less than 7.

WinXSPRO supports the use of Jarrett's equation for estimating Manning's roughness coefficient and 

mean cross section velocity. Again, the limitations of the data from which the equation was developed 

should be considered when performing a cross section analysis. Specifically, the equation is limited to 

the following conditions:

1. Natural channels having stable bed and bank materials (gravels, cobbles, and boulders), 

2. Water-surface slopes between 0.2 and 4.0 percent, 

3. Hydraulic radii from 0.5 to 7.0 feet (0.15 to 2.1 meters), 

4. Cross sections unaffected by downstream obstructions (i.e., no backwater), and 

5. Streams having relatively small amounts of suspended sediment.

Because Jarrett's equation includes hydraulic radius as a parameter for estimating Manning's n, it is 

sensitive to changes in depth. The negative exponent associated with the hydraulic-radius term indicates 

diminishing resistance with increasing depth. However, the relatively low value of this exponent (n is 

only sensitive to the 0.16 power of hydraulic radius) means that n will change only slightly through the 

normal range of stage at a section. An independent evaluation of the equation on Idaho mountain 

streams confirmed this (Potyondy 1990). Jarrett's n appeared to fit the measured data best at flows at or 

above bank-full stage; the poorest fits occurred at low flow. Potyondy concluded that the equation was 

best applied to bank-full flow estimates, with low-water n values supplied from field measurements of 

hydraulic geometry and discharge.

2.3.4 Nelson et al. Method

This method is primarily intended for use in steep, mountainous channels that have large bed material 

(i.e., large particle sizes) relative to the flow depth (typically gravel, cobble, and boulder channels). The 

vertical flow structure and the relation between bottom stress and velocity are not well predicted by 

existing resistance equations in these channels with high relative roughness. The Nelson et al. approach 

uses measured sediment size data in conjunction with a simple model for the extraction of momentum 

associated with flow around and over the large sediment particles on the bed to determine the stagedischarge relation for a given channel geometry. The method assumes that by far the majority of the 

drag on the flow is produced by flow over bed particles, that is, drag due to features other than bed 

particles is negligible. The Nelson et al. method is best used in channels with beds composed of 

sediment sizes that are a significant fraction of the flow depth, that is, the size of the largest particles 

should be at least 5% of the flow depth. 
16 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Determining a stage-discharge with the Nelson et al. method requires information about the bed particle 

size distribution. Because the relative protrusion of the particles into the flow varies significantly with 

flow depth, the computed vertical velocity structure also varies with flow depth. As the flow becomes 

very deep, the vertical structure over most of the depth asymptotically approaches a quasi-logarithmic 

profile. At shallower depths, the velocity profile varies in a relatively complicated manner as a function 

of the grain geometry of the bed. Due to this complexity, approaches using constant friction or Manning 

coefficients frequently fail to yield valid predictions of the stage-discharge relation. Using the 

computational procedures described in Nelson et al. (1991), the spatial variation in velocity profile is 

computed and a relation between the velocity profile and the depth is found using bed particle size data 

that is relatively easy to measure. The computations provide a link between the discharge and boundary 

shear stress distribution of the channel bed that is used along with the stream geometry to obtain a stagedischarge relation. To compute the discharge for a given stage, the computed velocity profiles for 

various depths are integrated vertically and across the channel using the surveyed cross section. 

Complete details about the theoretical basis and the equations used in the computations can be found in 

Nelson et al. (1991). 

2.4 Subdivision of Cross Sections 

Natural channel cross sections are rarely perfectly uniform, and it may be necessary to analyze 

hydraulics in a very irregularly shaped cross section. Frequently, high-gradient streams have overflow 

channels on one or both sides that carry water only during unusual high-flow events. Even in channels 

of fairly regular cross section, overbank areas convey water at discharges above bank-full. These areas 

usually have hydraulic properties significantly different from those of the main channel. Generally, 

overflow channels and overbank areas are treated as separate subchannels. 

When subdividing a channel cross section into main channel, side channels, and overbank areas, 

WinXSPRO assumes frictionless vertical divisions ("smooth glass walls") between individual 

subsections. The assumption of negligible shear between subsections avoids the formidable task of 

estimating small energy losses due to friction and momentum exchange between adjacent moving bodies 

of water. WinXSPRO also assumes that flow can access each subsection as the stage reaches the lowest 

elevation of that subsection; i.e., the overflow channel or overbank area is not blocked off from the flow 

at some upstream location such as in a leveed channel. If the user desires to exclude these areas from 

consideration, the geometric data for those areas should be removed for the range of flows where the 

channel banks are not overtopped. A cross section can be subdivided into a maximum of five 

subsections (see section 4.7.2 for additional description of subsections). For any given stage, the energy 

slope is assumed to be the same for each subsection, and the discharge is computed separately for each 

of these subsections. The discharges from each subsection are added for the total section discharge. 
Theoretical Basis 17 

2.5 Gini Coefficient 

The Gini coefficient (G) describes the distribution of channel depth measurements, and thus the channel 

cross sectional shape. This coefficient was adapted from economics and plant population biology and its 

application to stream channels was presented by Olson-Rutz and Marlow (1992). The Gini coefficient 

(G) is the arithmetic average of the differences between all pairs of depths (Yi - Yj): 

avg

i j

n

j

n

i

n Y

Y Y

G 2

1 1

2

∑ ∑ −

=

= =

 (8) 

where n is the number measured depths and Yavg is the average depth. It equals a minimum value of 0 

when all depths are equal. A wide flat channel has a low G value. In contrast, a deep and narrow 

channel has a greater distribution of depths and the Gini coefficient approaches its maximum value of 1. 

The change in the Gini coefficient for a cross section over time describes the change in channel shape. 

An increase in the Gini coefficient indicates the channel is becoming deeper and narrower. Conversely, 

a decrease indicates the channel is becoming flatter and wider. 

Changes in cross section shape can affect hydraulic and geomorphic processes, which, in turn, can 

influence stream biota. Change-in-area indices do not always describe channel form. Observational 

assessments of stream form to estimate roughness coefficients or to determine habitat suitability are 

stage dependent, as are measurements of width/depth (w/d) to estimate water discharge. In contrast, 

permanent measurements of channel cross sections are not influenced by water level. Water level can be 

noted, however, during critical times to allow for evaluation of underwater channel shape or usable fish 

habitat. A w/d value from permanent transects gives a relative indication of channel shape. However, 

because the width is fixed, this ratio can be misleading. The Gini coefficient is another repeatable index 

that quantifies stream channel form independent of stage height and cross sectional area. The direction 

and magnitude of change in G over time describes whether a channel is becoming wider and flatter or 

narrower and deeper in response to management or natural events. Because many fish species prefer 

cool, slow, deep channels, early detection of changes in channel form may be important to fisheries 

management. Note that because channel width increases faster than depth in downstream progression, 

all index comparisons should be made over time at the same location or between streams of equal order 

or drainage area. 

2.6 Sediment Transport 

WinXSPRO supports one bed load transport function appropriate for gravel-bed steams and one bed 

material load transport function appropriate for sand-bed streams. The bed load function is that of Parker 

(1990). The Parker (1990) relation estimates the quantity of material rolling, sliding or jumping 

(saltating) along the bed through the given cross section. The bed material load function, that of Ackers 

and White (1973), calculates the total bed material load being transported through the cross section (i.e., 
18 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

bed load plus suspended bed material load). These methods are described in more detail below. All the 

sediment transport calculations in WinXSPRO use a single representative grain size to compute 

sediment load. 

2.6.1 Parker 1990 Function 

The original Parker equation (1982) was developed using field data collected from Oak Creek, Oregon, 

and several other gravel bed rivers. It allows computation of the sediment flux in a gravel-bed channel 

using mean grain size by applying a similarity argument for the fluxes in various grain size classes. 

Parker (1982) estimates the total bed load flux over a poorly sorted gravel bed by: 

1/ 2

3

⎥

⎦

⎤ ⎢

⎣

⎡

⎟

⎟

⎠

⎞

⎜

⎜

⎝

⎛ − = ∗ q q gd s

B B

ρ

ρ ρ (9) 

( )

3 / 2 ∗ ∗ ∗ q = W τ B (10) 

gd s

o

( )

*

ρ ρ

τ

τ − = (11) 

where qB is the bed load flux per unit width, ρ and ρs are water and sediment density, respectively, and d

is the mean grain size of the surface layer. 

⎪

⎩

⎪

⎨

⎧

Φ > ⎟

⎟

⎠

⎞

⎜

⎜

⎝

⎛

Φ −

Φ − − Φ < < Φ <

= 1.65 0.822 11.2 1

0.0025exp[14.2( 1) 9.28( 1) ] 0.95 1.65

50

4.5

50

50

2

50 50

* W (12) 

In equation (12), Φ50 is defined in terms of the boundary shear stress and the critical shear stress. Using 

the non-dimensionalization defined in equation (9), Φ50 is given by 

*

*

50 1.18 c τ

τ Φ = (13) 

The value of τc

*

 was set using the model for critical shear stress developed by Wiberg and Smith 

(1987b) with a pocket angle of 30°. This yields the critical stress for first motion rather than significant 

motion (see Wiberg and Smith [1987b] for a more detailed discussion), as required for use in the Parker 

equation if surface particle sizes are used. The Wiberg-Smith model yields a value of about 0.028 for 

τc

*

, in good agreement with the value of 0.0299 reported by Parker et al. (1982). In WinXSPRO, the 

lower limit of Φ50 in equation (24) is 0.8 in place of 0.95 in keeping with the adaptation of Nelson 

(1993). 
Theoretical Basis 19 

The volumetric bed load fluxes per unit width calculated from the Parker equation are multiplied by 

sediment density and integrated across the channel width for each discharge using the surveyed channel 

cross section. This yields the total mass of bed load discharge as a function of flow discharge. 

Parker (1990) resulted from modifications to the 1982 formulation, mostly to improve matching of W*

and its derivative at the divisions between the ranges of Φ values. Also, the 1982 function was 

formulated using the particle size(s) of the substrate, whereas the 1990 function uses the particle size(s) 

of the surface layer. The reformulated definition is: 

⎪

⎪

⎩

⎪

⎪

⎨

⎧

Φ Φ <

Φ > ⎟

⎟

⎠

⎞

⎜

⎜

⎝

⎛

Φ −

Φ − − Φ − < Φ <

=

0.00218 1

1.59 0.853 11.93 1

0.00218exp[14.2( 1) 9.28( 1) ] 1 1.59

50

14.2

50

50

4.5

50

50

2

50 50

* W (14) 

All variables are defined and the bed load discharge is calculated in the same manner as described 

above. WinXSPRO performs bed load calculations using a single representative grain size (D50). 

For situations where the total volume of sediment moved is all that is needed, Parker 1990 with the d50

size is sufficient provided the grain size distribution is typical of gravel channels. If the grain size 

distribution is poorly sorted or bimodal, it is probably better to use a different formulation of the Parker 

function that permits computation by individual size fractions. 

2.6.2 Ackers and White (1973) Function 

This relation differs from the bed load function in that it is designed to calculate the total sediment load, 

i.e., the bed load and suspended bed material sediment load combined. The equations presented here are 

intended for the computation of sand transport in sand-bedded streams with bed material ranging from 

0.04 to 2.5 mm. Calibration of the relation was accomplished using 925 sets of data from 14 

investigators. Ackers and White developed a general sediment transport function that determines the 

rate of transport in terms of three dimensionless parameters: size, mobility, and transport. The relations 

are: 

Ggr = f(Fgr,Dgr) (15) 

where: 

Ggr = dimensionless sediment transport rate 

Fgr = sediment mobility number 

Dgr = dimensionless sediment size. 
20 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

The sediment mobility, Fgr, is described by: n

n

gr

d

D

V

gd s

u F

−

⎥

⎥

⎥

⎥

⎥

⎦

⎤

⎢

⎢

⎢

⎢

⎢

⎣

⎡

⎟

⎟

⎠

⎞

⎜

⎜

⎝

− ⎛

=

1

50

50

*

32log ( 1)α

 (16) 

where:

d50 = median sediment diameter 

D = mean flow depth 

n = a transition exponent depending on sediment size 

s = mass density of sediment relative to the fluid 

V = mean flow velocity 

u* = shear velocity (See Appendix A) 

α = coefficient in rough-turbulent equation 

g = acceleration of gravity. 

The particle size is expressed by the dimensionless grain diameter, Dgr : 

1/ 3

50 2

( 1)

v

g s Dgr d − = (17) 

and where sediment transport is defined in terms of a general transport parameter, Ggr: 

n

gr V

u

sd

XD G ⎟

⎠

⎞ ⎜

⎝

⎛ = *

50

 (18) 

where X is the sediment transport (mass flux per unit mass flow rate). Equation (18) is based upon 

Bagnold's (1966) concept of stream power. Ackers and White have further hypothesized that the 

transition parameter, n, is a function of Dgr. 

Using flume data from other investigators, Ackers and White (1973) developed a new general transport 

relation and evaluated the associated coefficients: 

 

m

gr

gr A

F

G C ⎟

⎟

⎠

⎞ ⎜

⎜

⎝

⎛ = −1 (19) 

in which the coefficients C, A, m, and n would vary with sediment size as presented in the following. 

For the transition range, with 1.0 < Dgr £ 60 (0.04 mm silt size to 2.5 mm sand size), the coefficients are: 

 n = 1.00 – 0.56 log Dgr (20) 
Theoretical Basis 21 

0.14 0.23 = +

Dgr

A (21) 

1.34 9.66 = = Dgr

m (22) 

log C = 2.86 log Dgr – (log Dgr)

2

 – 3.53 (23) 

and the coefficients for the coarse sediments, Dgr >60, could be expressed as n = 0.00, A = 0.17, m = 

1.50, and C = 0.025. Fine size material with Dgr less than 1 exhibit cohesive properties and conventional 

sediment transport equations do not apply. 

Ackers and White suggested that d35 be used in place of d50 for graded and coarse sediments. For a 

detailed report of the Ackers and White method (background, application, and verification), the reader is 

referred to Bunte (1994). 

To calculate the sediment discharge, the following procedure is used: 

1. The value of Dgr is calculated using equation (17). 

 2. The values of A, C, n, and m are computed {equations (20-23)} or selected for this Dgr value. 

3. The value of Fgr is calculated using equation (16). 

4. The value of Ggr is computed using equation (19). 

5. The mass flux X is calculated from equation (18). 

6. The sediment discharge, Qs, is 

Qs = XQ (24) 

where Q is the flow in the channel. 
22 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Chapter 3 - Field Procedures and Techniques 

3.1 General 

A good cross section analysis depends on good field data, which requires careful reach selection and 

proper field techniques. Whether a critical or representative reach is to be analyzed must be determined 

and then the uniform flow assumptions of Manning's equation must be considered in reach selection. 

Proper field techniques must be followed in survey procedures, particle-size determinations, and 

streamflow measurements. Harrelson et al. (1994) give an excellent illustration of proper field 

techniques. 

3.2 Reach Selection 

The intended use of the cross section analysis plays a large role in locating the reach and the cross 

section. The user must decide whether the section is to be located in a critical reach or in a reach that is 

considered representative of some larger area. The reach most sensitive to change or most likely to meet 

(or fail to meet) some important condition may be considered a critical reach. A representative reach 

will typify a definable portion of the channel system and can be used to describe that portion of the 

system (Parsons and Hudson 1985). 

Once a reach has been selected, the channel cross sections are sited in the locations considered most 

suitable for meeting the uniform flow requirements of Manning's equation. The uniform flow 

requirement is approached where width, depth, and cross sectional area of flow remain relatively 

constant from cross section to cross section, and the water-surface slope and energy grade line approach 

the slope of the streambed. For this reason, marked changes in channel geometry and discontinuities in 

the flow (steps, falls, change in discharge, and hydraulic jumps) should be avoided. Generally, the 

section should be located where it appears the streamlines are parallel to the bank and each other. 

Straight channel reaches with uniform flow are rare in nature and, in most cases, may only be 

approached to varying degrees. If a reach with constant cross sectional area and shape is not available, a 

slightly contracting reach is acceptable, provided that there is no significant backwater effect from the 

constriction for the range of flows or stages under consideration. Backwater occurs where the upstream 

stage-discharge relationship is controlled by the geometry of a single downstream cross section or a 

break in bed slope. Manning's equation assumes the stage-discharge relationship of the cross section is 

controlled by the geometry and roughness of a long reach of channel downstream of the section (channel 

control); thus, Manning's equation will not produce an accurate stage-discharge relationship in pools or 

other backwater areas. In addition, expanding reaches also should be avoided, as there are additional 

energy losses associated with channel expansions that are not accounted for in Manning's equation. 

When no channel reaches are available that meet or approach the condition of uniform flow, it may be 

necessary to use multitransect models (e.g., HEC-2) to analyze cross section hydraulics. 
Field Procedures and Techniques 23 

3.3 Field Procedures 

The basic information to be collected in the reach selected for analysis is a survey of the channel cross 

section and water-surface slope, a sample of the bed material or measurement of bed material particlesize distribution, and a discharge measurement. 

3.3.1 Survey of Cross Section and Water Surface Slope 

The basic data required for a channel cross section analysis are a surveyed channel cross section and 

water surface slope. The cross section is established perpendicular to the main body of the flow, and the 

points across the section are surveyed relative to a known or arbitrarily established benchmark elevation. 

The distance-elevation paired data associated with each point on the section may be obtained either by 

sag-tape or rod-and-level survey. The basic setups for these methods are illustrated in Figures 3.1 and 

3.2, respectively. The intricacies of correct survey procedures are beyond the scope of this document. 

For details of the sag-tape procedure, the reader is referred to Ray and Megahan (1979). Benson and 

Dalrymple (1967) present an excellent overview of rod-and-level surveying procedures, including 

guidance on equipment, field notes, and vertical and horizontal control. 

Figure 3.1. Sag tape survey configuration. 

 

 
24 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Figure 3.2. Rod and level survey configuration. 

Information on water surface slope also is required input for a cross section analysis. The survey of 

water surface slope is somewhat more complicated than the cross section survey in that slope of the 

individual channel unit at the location of a section (e.g., pool, run, or riffle) must be distinguished from 

the more constant slope of the entire reach (see Grant et al., 1990 for a detailed discussion on 

recognition and characteristics of channel units). Water-surface slope in individual channel units may 

change significantly with changes in stage and discharge (as shown in Figure 3.3), while the slope of the 

entire reach will remain essentially unchanged. Thus, at low flow, the slope of the individual channel 

unit will have a strong influence on the stage-discharge relationship, while at high water, the average 

slope of the reach will control the stage-discharge relationship. This is an important distinction for the 

WinXSPRO software, which allows the user to specify different slopes for high- and low-water stages. 

For this reason, when water-surface slopes are surveyed in the field, low-water slope may be 

approximated by the change in elevation over the individual channel unit where the cross section is 

located (approximately 1 to 5 channel widths in length), while high-water slope is obtained by 

measuring the change in elevation over a much longer reach of channel (usually at least 15 to 20 channel 

widths in length). An estimate of the high-water slope can also be obtained by measuring the slope from 

one channel feature to another, such as from the top of one riffle to the top of the next riffle in the 

stream. 

3.3.2 Bed Material Particle Size Distribution 

Computing mean velocity with resistance equations based on relative roughness, such as the ones 

suggested by Thorne and Zevenbergen (1985), or with methods based on the particle size and 

orientation, such as the one proposed by Nelson et al. (1991), requires an evaluation of the particle-size 

distribution of the bed material of the stream. Most sediment transport functions require this data as 

well. For streams with no significant channel armor and bed material finer than medium gravel, bed 

material samplers developed by the Federal Inter-agency Sedimentation Project (FISP 1986) may be 
Field Procedures and Techniques 25 

used to obtain a representative sample of the streambed. If the stream is relatively shallow, bulk samples 

may be collected manually (usually with a shovel). The bed material is then passed through a set of 

standard sieves to determine percent-by-weight of particles of various sizes. The cumulative percent of 

material finer (smaller) than a given size may then be determined. Particle-size data are usually reported 

in terms of di, where i represents some nominal percentile of the distribution and d represents the particle 

size, usually expressed in millimeters, at which i percent of the total sample is finer. For example, 84 

percent of the total sample, by weight, would be finer than the d84 particle size. For additional guidance 

on bed material sampling in sand-bed streams, the reader is referred to Ashmore et al. (1988). 

Figure 3.3. Diagram of longitudinal profile and plan view of a pool-riffle sequence. Water 

surface profiles in upper figure represent high, intermediate and low flow conditions. 

WinXSPRO supports resistance equations for estimating velocity in steep mountain rivers with bed 

particles that can be much coarser than the medium-gravel limitation of FISP samplers. In addition, the 

bed load sediment transport functions in the program are intended for use with larger grain sizes often 

found in steep channels. For these streams, the most common method used to measure bed particle size 

is a pebble count (Wolman 1954), in which at least 100 bed material particles are manually collected 

from the streambed and measured. A grid pattern of sampling points is paced or staked along the 

stream, and at each sample point, a particle is retrieved from the bed and the intermediate axis (not the 

longest or shortest axis) is measured. The measurements are tabulated as to number of particles 

occurring within predetermined size intervals and the percentage of the total in each interval is then 
26 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

determined. Again, the percentage in each interval is accumulated to give a particle-size distribution, 

and the particle-size data are reported as described above. Additional guidance for bed material 

sampling in coarse-bed streams is provided in Yuzyk (1986) and Bunte and Abt (2001). 

3.3.3 Discharge Measurement 

When analyzing channel cross section data, it is desirable to have at least one good measurement of 

discharge at the section. Although a discharge estimate is not required to execute WinXSPRO, the 

availability of streamflow data will greatly improve the quality of the input and provide a good check on 

the accuracy of the output (i.e., data on stage, discharge, and other hydraulic parameters). If only one 

discharge measurement is obtained, it is likely during low water and would be useful for defining the 

lower end of the rating table. If two measurements can be made, it is desirable to have a low-water 

measurement and a high-water measurement to define both ends of the rating table and to establish the 

relationship between Manning's n and stage. If high water cannot be measured directly, it may be 

necessary to estimate the stage-discharge relationship using WinXSPRO. Using the Jarrett formula 

(Jarrett, 1984) or the resistance equations recommended by Thorne and Zevenbergen (1985), the 

discharge and equivalent n values are calculated at the stage intervals defined by the user. If several 

discharge measurements can be made over a wide range of flows, relations between stage, discharge, 

and other hydraulic parameters may be developed directly without the use of WinXSPRO. However, 

WinXSPRO can still be helpful in determining these hydraulic parameters at stages between those where 

measurements exist. 

It is beyond the scope of this document to discuss all the intricacies of correct streamflow-measurement 

techniques. The reader is referred to Buchanan and Somers (1969) and Rantz et al. (1982) for an indepth treatment of this subject. Also, Smoot and Novak (1968) present procedures for calibration and 

maintenance of current meters to ensure accurate measurement of velocity and discharge. When 

equipment is functioning properly and standard procedures are followed correctly, it is possible to 

measure streamflow to within 5 percent of the true value. The data gathered from a standard discharge 

measurement also include information on top width and cross sectional area from which mean velocity 

and mean depth may be computed. This information is extremely useful for improving quality of results 

from any channel cross section analysis program. 
Running WinXSPRO 27 

Chapter 4 - Running WinXSPRO 

4.1 WindowsTM

WinXSPRO was written for use under the WindowsTM operating system (it cannot be used from DOS). 

It is assumed in this manual that the user has a rudimentary knowledge of WindowsTM operating system 

and is familiar with the concepts of pull-down menus, buttons, scroll bars, 

opening/closing/moving/resizing windows, and so forth. Although this program can be used without a 

mouse, it is not recommended. The instructions and examples herein will assume the user has a mouse. 

If the keyboard is used instead of a mouse, the usual WindowsTM conventions apply: 

1. To select a field, press Alt+X (hold down the Alt button while pressing X), where X is the 

letter underlined in the field name. 

2. To advance from one dialog box field to the next, use the Tab key. Use Shift-Tab to move 

to the previous field. 

Help is available from within the program by using one of three methods: 

1. Click on specially placed help buttons within selected windows for context-sensitive help. 

2. Select Help from the pull-down menu for an index of subjects or instructions on how to use 

the help system. 

3. Click on the help button from the toolbar (help on WindowsTM items only). 

A more detailed description of the help system is provided in Section 4.9.6. 

4.2 Program Installation 

Place the WinXSPRO distribution CD into the CD-ROM drive and double click on the file 

SetupWinXSPRO3_0.exe or download the file from the Internet to your hard drive and double click on 

it to begin installation. Follow the instructions on the installation screen. 

The setup program automatically installs files in a directory called WinXSPRO on drive C unless 

another subdirectory and/or drive are specified using the Set Location button. If you wish to put files in 

a subdirectory other than WinXSPRO, click on the Set Location button and at the prompt type in the 

name of the directory where you wish the files installed. WinXSPRO or any other directory entered will 

be created for you if it does not already exist. After the setup program has completed installing the 

requested files, simply double-click on the WinXSPRO icon to begin using the program. 
28 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

4.2.1 Uninstall 

 

Use the WindowsTM Control Panel and the Add/Remove Programs feature to uninstall WinXSPRO. 

When WindowsTM has finished uninstalling the software, the WinXSPRO directory (located where you 

indicated it to be created at install time) can be deleted. 

4.3 Overview of Program Use 

Use of WinXSPRO can be divided into two main areas: Geometric and Hydraulic Analysis, and utility 

programs from the Toolbox. The Toolbox programs are described under the Pull-down Menus heading 

in Section 4.9. To perform a geometric or hydraulic analysis, the following steps are taken: 

1. Create a plan (addressed in Section 4.4) 

2. Fill-in the necessary data fields on the Main Plan Window (described in Section 4.5) 

3. Run the analysis either by clicking on the Run button (shown in Figure 4.1), selecting Run

from the Plan pull-down menu (described in Section 4.9.1), or clicking on the Run icon 

from the Toolbar (discussed in Section 4.10) 

4. Fill out the necessary fields in the Stage and Section Window. 

5. When you have finished, click on the Calc button. After the analysis is completed, the 

output file will be displayed on your screen in its own window. 

The above description is valid except when analyzing hydraulics using the user supplied Manning’s n 

approach. For the Manning’s n analysis, there is an additional step between Step 4 and Step 5 where 

window(s) are presented for you to assign roughness value(s). Example problems illustrating the use of 

the program are presented in Chapter 5. 

4.3.1 Renaming Files in WindowsTM 

When creating files for input to WinXSPRO it is important to understand that many existing WindowsTM 

programs assign their own default file name extensions (e.g., *.txt, *.csv). To rename a file in 

WindowsTM, use Explorer or My Computer to display the file. Highlight the file and then right click 

the file name. Select the Rename option and then change the extension to the appropriate naming 

convention required by WinXSPRO (e.g., *.sec for cross section files). Ignore the WindowsTM warning, 

“If you change a filename extension the file may become unstable.” The file will work just fine. If data 

is created in Excel, use the Save As menu item, and then select the output format as Delimited Text file 

type. Make sure to use Rename to modify the default file extension to the appropriate extension. 

4.4 Creating a Plan 

The first suggested step in using WinXSPRO consists of creating a plan. Creating a plan is not required 

but often facilitates analysis. When you first start the program, your screen should look similar to Figure 

4.1 (the appearance may be slightly different for machines with different monitors). 
Running WinXSPRO 29 

Figure 4.1. Main plan window.

A plan consists of the grouping of parameters, options, and input and output files shown in Figure 4.1. 

These are described in more detail in subsequent sections. A plan has the file extension *.xsp and is 

nothing but a convenient way to store the input parameters when the user first enters the values. This 

helps the user have future runs of the program using the same data set, without having to re-enter the 

input parameters. Any particular project you may be working on will probably have several different 

plans. For convenience, a subdirectory (folder) should be created that will contain all the plans for each 

particular project. 

Examples of project subdirectories with plans in them include: 

C:\WINXSPRO\BEAVER\ {Subdirectory for Beaver Creek plans} 

BCXS1.XSP {Cross Section 1} 

BCXS2.XSP {Cross Section 2} 

C:\DEER_M32\ {Subdirectory for the cross section on Deer Creek at river mile 32} 

DEER82.XSP {1982 cross section analysis} 

DEER92.XSP {1992 cross section analysis} 
30 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

C:\PUTAH\RM27\ {Subdirectory for analyses on Putah Creek, river mile 27} 

RM27MAN.XSP {Analysis using Manning's n for resistance} 

RM27T&Z.XSP {Analysis using Thorne and Zevenbergen approach for resistance} 

RM27JAR.XSP {Analysis using Jarrett's equation for resistance} 

4.5 Main Plan Window 

The Main Plan Window (Figure 4.1) must have certain fields filled in before a plan may be run. Plans 

are saved after an analysis is performed. A description of these fields is provided in the following 

sections. If a plan is not saved before it is run, you will be prompted to save it so that the combination of 

parameters may be reused on subsequent runs. 

4.5.1 Input Parameters 

In this section of the window, located in the upper left quadrant of Figure 4.1, the information related to 

the geometric data for the cross section under study is specified. The geometric data, consisting of 

station-elevation pairs (x,y data) may be read from an existing file or entered via use of the keyboard as 

described below. When using an existing file, the file should contain the station-elevation pairs on each 

line, with the values separated by a comma (,) or by tabs (tab delimited). Input files can be created with 

the WinXSPRO Input Data Editor (sec 4.5.1.2), any other data editor (e.g., WindowsTM Notepad), or 

with spreadsheet programs like Excel saving the files in a tab delimited format (see section 4.3.1). In all 

of these instances, the created file containing the geometric data for a cross section should be checked to 

ensure that the filename extension is renamed to *.sec. 

4.5.1.1 Input File Selection 

An input file must be specified in this field in order for WinXSPRO to run (although any file name may 

be used, input files have a default extension of *.sec). For new files, you must first create a new plan 

and then you can type the name for the cross section geometry file you wish to create in the blank field 

and select the Modify Data button to enter your cross section point coordinates. For existing files, 

either type the name directly in the blank field, or choose the Input File Select button. Selecting this 

button will lead to a typical WindowsTM file dialog, where an input file may be searched for anywhere 

within your computer system. To select a file from the list, simply click on the file name, then click on 

OK, or just double-click on the file name. 

4.5.1.2 Creating/Modifying Input File Data 

When the Modify Data button is chosen from the Main Plan Window, the Input Data Editor appears 

on the screen (Figure 4.2). If the input file already exists, you will see columns of data in the chosen file. 

 If you are creating a new file the editor will not contain any data. 

The Input Data Editor works like most popular spreadsheet programs. To add data or edit a cell, 

simply click on the cell and type in the data. Double-clicking on a particular cell will cause a cursor to 

appear in the cell so that individual numerals and text may be edited. To insert a row, click on the 
Running WinXSPRO 31 

Insert Row button and a row will be inserted above the currently highlighted row. To insert a column, 

click on the Insert Column button and a column will be inserted to the left of the currently highlighted 

column. To delete a row or column, simply click on the appropriate button and the currently highlighted 

row or column will be deleted. To cut, copy and paste rows and columns, use the WindowsTM shortcut 

keys (CTRL-X, CTRL-C and CTRL-V, respectively). Note that data copied to the WindowsTM 

clipboard from other programs may be pasted directly into the Input Data Editor. 

To specify a stable point (used in the Compare Area Option), type in the letter S next to the 

appropriate value in the second column read by the program (see row 12 in Figure 4.2). For positionelevation or elevation-position data collection methods, this will be column B. For User Defined File 

Format, it will be the column corresponding to the highest number specified in the User Defined File 

Format Dialog (e.g., 2 = column B, 3 = column C, etc.). 

Figure 4.2. Input data editor. 

The letter S must be in the same cell as the value shown in Figure 4.2. For the Compare Areas option, 

if there was no stable point specified, then a message box comes up that reminds the user that no stable 

point is specified. 

Up to six digits will be retained for the position and elevation data. You may enter up to 200 rows and 

50 columns. When you select Run from the main menu, data will be read from the file and put through 

the analysis. Be sure that the data file you are using is formatted correctly. Refer to the Data Format 

section for information on input file formats. [Note: although the order of the points in the input file is 

not important for all formats other than Undercut Banks, it is recommended that the position coordinate 

increases for each successive point]. 

Comment lines may be inserted into the input file. A comment line will begin in the first column of the 

file and the first character in the cell must be an asterisk (*) or a semi-colon (;). Comment lines must 

appear above the numerical data and should not appear after the numerical data. 
32 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

To save a new or modified file, click the Save As button. This will bring up the Save As dialog where 

the file name and location may be specified. The Save As button may also be used to save a modified 

file under a different name (although this will not alter the file name in the input file field on the Main 

Plan Window). If an existing file is changed in the data editor and you select the OK button, the 

changes to the file will be saved and you will exit the data editor. Clicking on the Cancel button after 

making changes to a file will cause you to exit the data editor without saving the changes. 

4.5.1.3 Data Collection Method 

WinXSPRO supports two data survey methods: Sag Tape or Rod and Level. To select an option other 

than the one currently shown for this field, click once on the down arrow just to the right of the field. 

Then click on the desired option from the list of possible options (note that other fields such as Data 

Format work in this same way). 

 

For the two survey types (Sag Tape or Rod and Level), data correction may be made for uneven tape end 

elevations, tape physical characteristics, and tape sag. The sag tape forms a catenary curve and if 

elevation data are measured from the streambed to the tape, these data will be incorrect. If the survey 

method was rod and level, the tape is assumed to be without sag. If the tape ends for either method are 

uneven, distance measurements using that method will be incorrect. 

If you select either of the two specific survey methods (Sag Tape or Rod and Level), you will be 

prompted with an input window to enter the data to be used for correction of the sag. For rod and level, 

an elevation difference between the ends of the tape needs to be entered only if the tape elevations at 

both are not the same. For sag tape, a tape end elevation difference, a tape tension, and a tape weight 

need to be entered. Note that by choosing either of these methods, WinXSPRO performs the data 

adjustments internally, i.e., no data is actually changed in the geometry input file. Also, the distance 

and/or corrections are made assuming that the end of the tape is at horizontal station 0. 

4.5.1.4 Input File Data Format 

Each selection associated with input data (files) corresponds to a different format for the input file. The 

files will normally contain two columns of numbers representing a position-elevation pair on each row 

that defines each point on a cross section. There are currently four formats available: PositionElevation Free Format, Elevation-Position Free Format, User Defined Format, and Undercut 

Banks. In this context, ‘Free Format’ means that data pairs contained in the input file are separated by 

commas (,) or tabs. 

The special case of selecting User Defined from the data format options involves specifying which 

columns contain the data values in your file. This is provided for an input file that may contain more 

than just the position and elevation data for a cross section. For example, if you have four columns of 

data in a file and one of those columns contains a position value and another contains an elevation value, 

but they are not the first two columns or are not adjacent, you should select User Defined from the menu 

to select the correct columns. All you will need to tell WinXSPRO is which column numbers to use for 

the data (WinXSPRO recognizes space or TAB delimited columns). 
Running WinXSPRO 33 

Figure 4.3 shows the dialog that is opened after selecting User Defined as the input file data format. 

The values for the column containing the x-position data and the column for the elevation data have 

been entered (i.e., column 3 and column 4). Figure 4.4 shows a portion of a sample input file where the 

data are not in a specific order. In this particular file, the x-position values are located in column 3 and 

the elevation values are located in column 4. As you can see, these values have been entered in Fig. 4.3. 

Figure 4.3. User Defined Data Format Dialogue Box.

Figure 4.4. Portion of user defined sample input file where data are not in a specific order. 

Selecting Undercut Banks assumes a position-elevation data format in which the horizontal stationing 

(i.e., x-position) follows the proceeding one, even if the position value (i.e., bed elevation) decreases 

from one point to the next. When this format is selected, no internal data manipulation (i.e., Rod and 

Level or Sag Tape) is allowed. 

 

Special Requirements for the Nelson et al. Resistance Method

If the cross section geometry input file is to be used with the Nelson et al. resistance method, it must be 

named sitename.sec, where sitename is any valid WindowsTM file name describing your site. Unlike 

other methods, the x-position values in the input geometry file must be constantly increasing. When 

using the Nelson et al. Resistance Method, an additional input file must be supplied (described below) 

and must use the same root file name but use a *.dat extension (i.e., sitename.dat). Given this, it is a 

good idea to use short file names when this method is used. The *.dat file contains grain geometry and 

orientation information from field surveys, with each line having the following format: 

position, exposure, x, y, z, a, b, c 

 811024 101 0 4 

8 1 1 0 2 4 1 0 1 2 2 .1 6 

8 1 1 0 2 4 1 0 1 2 .4 1 .7 

8 1 1 0 2 4 1 0 1 3 1 .6 5 

8 1 1 0 2 4 1 0 1 4 1 .7 

8 1 1 0 2 4 1 0 1 6 1 .6 5 

8 1 1 0 2 4 1 0 1 8 1 .6 2 

8 1 1 0 2 4 1 0 1 9 1 .5 4 

8 1 1 0 2 4 1 0 1 9 .7 1 .1 0 S 

8 1 1 0 2 4 1 0 1 1 0 0 .9 9 

8 1 1 0 2 4 1 0 1 1 2 0 .8 

8 1 1 0 2 4 1 0 1 1 4 0 .5 1 

8 1 1 0 2 4 1 0 1 1 6 0 .3 

8 1 1 0 2 4 1 0 1 1 8 0 

8 1 1 0 2 4 1 0 1 2 0 0 .6 6 

8 1 1 0 2 4 1 0 1 2 2 1 .8 5 

8 1 1 0 2 4 1 0 1 2 3 2 .5 

8 1 1 0 2 4 1 0 1 2 4 .3 3 .5 8 
34 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Position is an arbitrary number describing the data location or measurement technique. If the grain 

geometry measurements (e.g., pebble counts) are carried out using a random walk technique, position 

can be an integer (1,2,...) assigned to each measurement. If the measurements were obtained by taking 

uniform increments along a tape measure, position can be the reading of the tape measure for each 

sample. Exposure is the vertical distance the grain sticks up from the surrounding bed surface, in 

centimeters. The next three numbers, x, y, and z, are the downstream, cross-stream, and total vertical 

length of the particle as it occurs on the bed, also in centimeters. The final three numbers, a, b, and c, 

are the standard long, intermediate, and short axes of the grain in centimeters. Remember this data file 

must use the same root filename as the geometry data and have a filename extension of sitename.dat. 

For missing data, insert a -1 (negative one) in the missing data field. Allowable missing data include: 

(1) the z variable (the total vertical extent of the pebble/rock) may be coded as missing data in instances 

where, for example, a rock cannot be dug up and measured, or it may be coded –1 for the entire data set; 

and (2) the a variable (the longest particle axis) and the c variable (the shortest particle axis) may be 

coded as missing data to accommodate pebble count data sets where only the b variable (the 

intermediate particle axis) may have been measured. 

4.5.1.5 Units 

The units of the cross section input data is selected by clicking on the appropriate button of the Main 

Plan Window. The three choices are Feet, Meters, or Centimeters. Input data may not be in mixed 

units, e.g., distance in meters and elevation in feet or centimeters. 

4.5.2 Analysis Parameters 

4.5.2.1 Analysis Procedure 

You must choose how the program will perform the analysis. Two selections are possible: 

- Hydraulics only Values computed for this analysis are area, wetted perimeter, top width, 

hydraulic radius, hydraulic depth, Manning's n, average velocity, 

discharge, and shear stress. The data are organized from the low-stage 

value up to the high-stage value. 

- Both Hydraulics 

 and Regression 

 

This selection gives you the hydraulic analysis and will also perform a 

regression on the discharge versus hydraulic radius and discharge versus 

stage values. 
Running WinXSPRO 35 

4.5.2.2 Cross Section Number, Survey Date, Comment 

These three fields are optional and contain user-supplied data that will be printed in the analysis output. 

Entry of this data is highly recommended. The comment field is limited to 80 spaces and characters. 

4.5.2.3 Resistance Equation 

You may choose to use one of four methods: 1) Thorne & Zevenbergen (1985) where either the Hey 

(1979) or Bathurst (1978) equations will be used; 2) Jarrett, where his equation (1984) is used to 

compute a Manning's n; 3) User supplied Manning's n where you supply your own n values; or 4) 

Nelson et al. iterative method (1991). The Nelson et al. method cannot be used with undercut banks. 

The Thorne & Zevenbergen option employs a user supplied d84 diameter for the bed material at the cross 

section. If you choose this method, the input fields for d84 diameter and units will be activated on the 

screen; the other three selections do not use these fields and so, for those selections, the fields will be 

unavailable. 

4.5.2.4 d84 Particle Diameter and Units 

The units of the diameter of the d84 particle can be in feet or millimeters. The particle diameter is a 

number representing the intermediate axis diameter of the 84th percentile particle in the bed material. 

Only if you select the Thorne & Zevenbergen equations will you be required to enter this information. 

4.5.3 Output Parameters 

4.5.3.1 File Name 

The output file will contain the user-selected parameters chosen with the Analysis Output Format

function (under Preferences on the Plan pull-down menu). The format of the output data allows easy 

importing of the data to your favorite spreadsheet program’s using its import text file feature. A file 

name matching the Input Filename is automatically assigned as the Output file name and given a 

*.OUT extension. The filename may be changed by typing in another name directly, or the Output File 

Select button may be used to search your system for an existing file name where the results will be 

output (see next section). 

4.5.3.2 Output Mode 

You may select Overwrite or Append to indicate how the data from the next run will impact the 

existing file if it has the same output file name (the selection does not matter for the first run using a new 

output file). Overwriting will completely erase the file and then write the new data to the file. 

Appending will simply add the new output to the end of the file, preserving all previous output in the 

file. If you print an appended file, all of the data in that file will be printed. The current version of 

WinXSPRO limits the size of the output file to 500 lines per run or 1000 lines total. 
36 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

4.5.3.3 Units 

The units of the output data can be either in meters or feet. This is also a menu selection type field. All 

output will use the units selected here regardless of the input units. 

4.6 Cross Section Window 

When the required information has been entered on the Main Plan Window, and the plan is run, the 

Cross Section Window is one of two that appears on the screen for all analysis methods. The other 

window that appears is the Stage and Section Window, described in the next section (these two 

windows are shown together in Figure 5.4). The Cross Section Window shows the cross section as it 

has been read in by the program, and after any corrections have been made for the data collection 

method (Sag Tape or Rod and Level). By right clicking on the graph, you may view the data points, 

include data labels, allow for zoom and also change the look of the graph. You may also change the 

fonts, colors, and other properties of the plot, or send the plot to the printer by using the options 

available under the Options pull-down menu, described in Section 4.9.4. 

4.7 Stage & Section Window 

This window appears below the Cross Section Window (described above) and provides you with fields 

that need to be filled with the additional parameters needed to complete the analysis. These windows 

are shown in Figure 5.4. The window is divided into two areas: one for stages and slopes, and the other 

for section boundaries. When all the information has been entered, click on the Calc button and view 

the output file. If you have selected a hydraulic analysis using Manning's equation, the Manning’s n 

Window(s) must be completed before the analysis can finish as described in Section 4.8. 

 

4.7.1 Stages and Slopes 

4.7.1.1 Hydraulics or Hydraulics and Regression Analysis 

For a Hydraulics or Hydraulics and Regression analysis, all fields must be completed in this area of the 

input data window. As the values are accepted in the Low Stage and High Stage fields, these limits are 

drawn on the Cross Section Window. The analysis will only be performed between these specified 

limits. The high stage entered may be up to 1.5 meters or 5 feet higher than the highest cross section 

elevation, although specification of a high stage above your highest cross section elevation is strongly 

discouraged. The program will assume vertical banks and extrapolate discharge for values above the 

highest cross section elevation. Data that are extrapolated are marked with an '*' after the discharge 

value on the output. 
Running WinXSPRO 37 

The water surface slope (equal to the energy slope for uniform flow conditions) for each stage limit is 

entered in the field next to the stage. For stages between the high and low limits, the slope will be 

linearly interpolated (if your analysis uses the Nelson et al. method, only a single slope may be entered 

which is used for all stages). The same low- and high-flow slope can be used if the slope does not 

change. 

Finally, the stage increment must be entered in the last field. This is the increment that WinXSPRO will 

use to step through from the low- to high-flow stages (if your analysis uses the Nelson et al. method the 

stage increment is not used - a total of twenty stages including the entered low and high stages will be 

output at equal stage intervals). The analysis will start at the low stage value and will increase by the 

value you input in the increment field, up to, but not past, the high-stage value. In the output you will 

see an evaluation of the cross section at every increment. At stages where more than one defined 

channel is present (see Section Boundaries below) the data for that stage will be computed for each 

subsection and a sum of the values across the stream will be computed. 

4.7.2 Section Boundaries 

WinXSPRO can divide a channel cross section into several subsections, each of which is analyzed 

separately for each stage as was described in Section 2.4. After you have filled in the stage and slope 

information, you may define section boundaries if you wish (if you desire only a single section, leave the 

section boundary fields blank). Because most of the resistance formulas were derived from singlechannel cross sections, inaccurate hydraulic results may occur if cross sections with multiple channels 

are not divided into separate sections. The User Supplied Manning’s n option must be specified for the 

hydraulics to be computed separately by each defined section. The other options ignore section 

boundaries and treat the channel as a single unit even if sections are assigned. 

To define a section boundary, enter the horizontal position (station) at which you want the boundary. 

The actual position of the boundary will be shown in the next field over and the boundary will appear on 

the plot in the cross section window. If you wish to change this boundary, simply enter a new station 

value in the boundary field. Subsection boundaries are not allowed in undercut areas if the Undercut 

Bank format is being used. Up to five sections (four unique boundaries) may be defined. Each section 

will then be analyzed separately. In the output file, the total cross section discharge for the current stage 

will be the sum of all of the separate section discharges. Examples of use of the section boundaries are 

shown in Chapter 5. 

4.8 Manning's n Window 

If you are performing a hydraulic analysis with the User-Supplied Manning's n resistance method, this 

window will appear after the stage and section window is completed. Because the roughness values can 

vary with flow depth, you may specify both low and high stage n values. These low and high stages can 

be different from the ones used to define the boundaries of the analysis in the stage and section window. 

 For example, n values calculated from field discharge measurements can be used. WinXSPRO will 

linearly interpolate a Manning's n value for each incremental stage, and will compute a flow-weighted 

average for the output summary. WinXSPRO will not accept an n value of less than 0.01. 
38 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

A Manning's n window will appear for each section defined. A dashed vertical section boundary line on 

the cross section plot will indicate the right edge of the section under consideration and the horizontal 

limits of the current section are displayed in the window’s title bar. A dashed horizontal line will be 

drawn on the cross section plot for each of the stages entered in the Manning's n window. After the 

stage and Manning's n information has been entered for one section, click on the Next button and the 

window for the next section will appear (WinXSPRO begins with the leftmost section and proceeds 

across the channel to the right). When the information has been entered for the last section, click on the 

Calc. button to complete the analysis and view the output file. If you are dealing with multiple subsections in your analysis, the Back button may be used to back up to the Manning’s dialog for a 

previous subsection. 

4.9 Pull-down Menus 

There are seven basic pull-down menus available in WinXSPRO: Plan, Edit, Toolbox, Options, View, 

Window, and Help. Not all options under each menu are available at all locations within the program 

(e.g., plotting options are not available until you have a plot window open). Unavailable options will 

appear in gray instead of black letters. Options will be unavailable if you have not performed an 

operation or condition to activate them. 

4.9.1 Plan Menu 

The options found under this menu are New, Open, Save, Save As, Run, Preferences, Print, Print 

Preview, Print Setup, and Exit. In addition, the names of the last four plans that have been saved are 

displayed for easy access. 

4.9.1.1 New 

This option creates a new plan in WinXSPRO. Shortcuts for performing this same task include using 

CTRL-N from the keyboard or the Create New Plan icon in the toolbar (see Section 4.10). 

4.9.1.2 Open 

This option accesses the Plan Open dialog box and allows you to open an existing plan. This option 

can also be selected by using CTRL-O from the keyboard or the Open Existing Plan button on the 

toolbar (see Section 4.10). The Plan Open dialog box contains the following elements: 

Plan Name

Type or select the plan name you want to open. This box lists Plans with the extension *.XSP. 

Drives

Select the drive in which WinXSPRO stores the plan that you want to open. 

Directories

Select the directory in which WinXSPRO stores the plan that you want to open.
Running WinXSPRO 39 

Network...

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter. 

4.9.1.3 Save 

Use this command to save the active plan to its current name and directory. When you save a document 

for the first time, WinXSPRO displays the Save As dialog box so you can name your plan. If you want 

to change the name and directory of an existing plan before you save it, choose the Save As command 

(see below). Shortcuts for accessing the Save command are CTRL-S from the keyboard or the icon 

from the toolbar (see Section 4.10) 

4.9.1.4 Save As 

Use this command to save and name the active plan. If you open a plan, and use Save As to save a 

modified version under a different plan name, the original plan will not be affected. To save a plan with 

its existing name and directory, use the Save command. With the Save As command, WinXSPRO 

displays the Save As dialog box so you can name your plan. This dialog box contains the following 

fields: 

File Name

Type a new file name to save a plan with a different name. A filename can contain more than 

eight characters acceptable to WindowsTM and an extension of up to three characters. You will 

receive a warning if the file already exists and will be asked if you wish to overwrite the existing 

file. Naming a plan with other than the *.xsp will result in the file not being visible when using 

the default Open menu when selecting a plan to analyze. 

Drives

Select the drive in which you want to store the plan. 

Directories

Select the directory in which you want to store the plan. 

Network...

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter. 

4.9.1.5 Run 

This command initiates the analysis using the parameters and selections in the active plan. Shortcuts to 

use this command are CTRL-R from the keyboard or the run icon from the toolbar (see Section 4.10). 

Note that if the Output Mode on the Main Plan Window is set to Overwrite, selecting the Run

command will cause the listed output file to be created, overwriting any existing file with the same path 

and file name. 
40 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

4.9.1.6 Preferences 

This option allows you to specify preferences for output variables and format for the hydraulic analyses 

and also lets you set default variables for new plans. 

Plan Defaults

Every time you create a new plan, the various parameters listed will be set to the chosen default 

values. The items for which default values may be set are Data Collection Method, Analysis 

Procedure, Data Format, Resistance Equation, Position and Elevation column numbers for the 

User Defined File Format option, d84 particle diameter, Units for input, output and d84, and 

Output Mode. Note: Selection of the Geometry Analysis Option under Analysis Procedures will 

have no effect since this option is disabled. 

4.9.1.7 Print 

This print command can be used to print text or graphs and charts. The Print command under the 

Options menu can also be used to print graphs and charts. Shortcuts for using this command are 

CTRL-P from the keyboard or the print icon from the toolbar. This command will bring up the Print

dialog box, which contains the following options: 

Printer

This displays the active printer and printer connection. Choose the Setup option to change the 

printer and printer connection. 

Setup

Displays a Print Setup dialog box so you can select a printer and printer connection (see Print 

Setup option, Section 4.9.1.9). 

Print Range

Specify the pages you want to print: 

All Prints entire document 

Selection Prints currently selected text. 

Pages Prints the range of pages you specify in the From and To boxes. 

Copies

Specify the number of copies you want to print for the above print range. 

Collate Copies

Prints copies in page number order, instead of separated multiple copies of each page. 

Print Quality

Select the quality of the printing. Generally, lower quality printing takes less time to produce. 
Running WinXSPRO 41 

4.9.1.8 Print Preview 

Use this command to display the active document as it would appear when printed (the command is 

available only for text files, not graphs and charts). When you choose this command, the main window 

will be replaced with a print preview window in which one or two pages will be displayed in their 

printed format. The print preview toolbar offers you options to view one or two pages at a time; move 

back and forth through the document; zoom in and out on pages; and initiate a print job. 

4.9.1.9 Print Setup 

Use this command to select a printer and a printer connection. This command presents a Print Setup

dialog box where you may select the following options: 

Printer

Selects the printer you want to use. Choose the Default Printer, or choose the Specific Printer

option and select one of the current installed printers shown in the box. You can install printers 

and configure ports using the WindowsTM Control Panel. 

Orientation

Choose Portrait or Landscape. 

Paper Size

Select the size of paper that the document is to be printed on. 

Paper Source

Some printers offer multiple trays for different paper sources. Specify the tray here. 

Options

Displays a dialog box where you can make additional choices about printing, specific to the type 

of printer you have selected. 

Network...

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter. 

4.9.1.10 Displayed (1,2,3,4) Plans 

Use the numbers and plan names listed at the bottom of the Plan menu to open the last four plans you 

previously closed. Choose the number that corresponds with the plan you want to open. 

4.9.1.11 Exit 

Use this command to end your WinXSPRO session. If you have not previously saved the current plan or 

if modifications have been made to the plan, you will be asked if you want to save before you exit. 
42 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

4.9.2 Edit Menu 

The features under this menu, found in many WindowsTM applications, allow you to copy or cut selected 

data from text files to the clipboard and to paste data from the clipboard into a text file. It will also 

allow you to undo the last cut, copy or paste action performed. 

4.9.2.1 Undo 

This option allows you to undo the last cut, copy or paste action performed. This option can also be 

selected by pressing CTRL-Z from the keyboard. 

4.9.2.2 Cut 

This option allows you to cut (remove) the selected text from the current document and places the text 

on the WindowsTM clipboard. Shortcuts for this option are CTRL-X from the keyboard or the scissors 

icon from the toolbar. 

4.9.2.3 Copy 

This option allows you to copy the selected text from the current document and places the text on the 

WindowsTM clipboard. Shortcuts for this option are CTRL-C from the keyboard or the copy icon from 

the toolbar. 

4.9.2.4 Paste 

This option allows you to paste the contents of the WindowsTM clipboard into the current document at 

the cursor location. Shortcuts for this option are CTRL-V from the keyboard or the paste icon from the 

toolbar. 

4.9.3 Toolbox Menu 

This pull-down menu contains several "tools" that are available to the user: Area Comparison between 

two cross sections, Grain Size Analysis, Bed Load Rating Curve generation using the Parker bed load 

function, Bed load Discharge hydrograph generation, Modify Discharge in a hydrograph file, and 

Ackers and White Transport which calculates bed material sediment discharge. These options are 

described in more detail below. 

4.9.3.1 Compare Areas 

This function will compare the cross sectional areas of two cross sections between user-specified 

boundaries (i.e., within the right and left horizontal limits specified by the user). To activate this 

function, either choose Compare Areas from the Toolbox pull-down menu or click on the Compare 

Areas icon from the toolbar (see Section 4.10 below). This will bring up the Area Comparison dialog 

(Figure 4.5). When you are finished comparing areas, clicking on the Close button will return you to the 

Main Input Screen. 
Running WinXSPRO 43 

Plotting Cross sections and Horizontal Boundaries

Files to be used for comparison should have a stable point specified in them. Once file names have been 

entered in the fields for File 1 Name and File 2 Name (either by entering the names from the keyboard 

or selecting the files by clicking on the File 1 and File 2 buttons, Figure 4.5), the cross sections from 

these files may be plotted by clicking on the Plot button. 

Figure 4.5. Area comparison window. 

The Input Data Format area allows three different formats to be correctly plotted (both files must share 

the same format). The cross sections from the two files will be overlaid, and the axis scales will 

automatically adjust to contain both sections. The program assumes that the stable point for each of the 

cross sections is the same physical point in space. Therefore, it is important that the stable points be 

correctly defined before comparing areas. Refer to Section 4.5.1.2, Creating/Modifying Input File 

Data, for information about coding the stable point. 
44 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

To plot the horizontal boundaries between which the area calculations will be performed, first enter 

horizontal (x-axis) values in the Left Horizontal Boundary and Right Horizontal Boundary fields 

(see Figure 4.5), then click on the Plot button again. To change either boundary, simply enter a new 

value in the desired field (Left or Right Horizontal Boundary) and click on Plot once again. The 

boundaries will automatically be redrawn.

Calculating the Area Between Two Cross sections

When the file name and boundary information has been entered, clicking on the Calculate button will 

cause the program to compute the area between the two cross sections in the region defined by the 

horizontal boundaries. If the cross section from File 2 is below the cross section from File 1 in a given 

region, the calculated area in that region will be positive. When the cross section from File 2 is higher 

than that of File 1, the area of the region will be negative. WinXSPRO uses a repeated Simpson's Rule 

to compute the difference in areas. Simpson’s rule simply integrates the area under the water surface 

elevation line and the bed topography to derive the cross-sectional area (i.e., Simpson’s rule is a formula 

that gives a numerical approximation to the value of a definite integral).

Plot Manipulation

The Copy button will send the image of the overlaid cross sections to the clipboard from which it may 

be pasted into other WindowsTM applications. The Print button will cause a dialog box to appear to set 

the print options.

Gini Coefficient Calculation

To calculate the Gini coefficient of each of the sections, and the difference between the two values, click 

on the Gini button. A dialog will then appear showing the computed values. Note that WinXSPRO 

calculates each Gini coefficient independently; therefore, each cross section may have a different 

number of measured depths (data points). However, to correctly compare the change in Gini coefficient 

between the two cross sections as described in Olson-Rutz and Marlow (1992), the two cross sections 

should have the same number of measured depths (data points).

4.9.3.2 Grain Size Analysis

This selection will provide output of the cumulative grain size for the a, b, or c axes, downstream length, 

cross-stream length, vertical length, exposure, or equivalent spherical diameter. You will be queried for 

a site name (WinXSPRO will then look for the file sitename.dat which contains the sediment data) and 

the user must also select the axis to be analyzed. An ASCII output file (sitename.gsd) is created in the 

current directory. When the OK button is selected, the cumulative grain size plot will be displayed in 

one window and the output file in a separate window. The format of the input file is described in 

Section 4.5.1.4. The output file (*.gsd) consists of data in two columns, one being the grain size (in 

centimeters) and the other the cumulative percent finer for the grain size (i.e., the percentage of the 

sample with a grain size less than the grain size in question). The output graph is plotted with linear 

scales on both the x and y-axes. Grain size distributions are often plotted with a logarithmic scale on the 

x-axis. To do this, go to the toolbar, click on Options, then General, then go to the Axis tab and check 

the Log button under x-axis followed by clicking the Apply or OK button. 
Running WinXSPRO 45 

4.9.3.3 Bed load Rating Curve 

Selecting this option will compute and plot a bed load rating curve using the Parker (1990) bed load 

function. NOTE: You must first have run the Nelson et al., method for computing the resistance 

equation in order to generate the required default output file necessary to use this option. You may then 

rerun any of the other resistance equations before proceeding with your bed load rating curve analysis. 

You will be prompted for an input file name. The input file name should be the name of your hydraulic 

output file (usually having a *.out extension). When the OK button is selected, a plot of the bed load 

rating curve is displayed in one window, and the bed load output file is displayed in a separate window. 

The text output file will be saved in the current directory with the same name as the input file but with 

the extension *.P90. The output file consists of two parts. The first part lists the output by subsection 

(if being used) including the width, shear stress, discharge and bed load discharge. The second part 

immediately below contains three columns: the first column contains the stage values, the second has the 

discharge values, and the third contains the sediment discharge values. 

4.9.3.4 Bed Load Discharge 

This selection will compute and plot the annual sediment yield for the year of daily stream flow values 

included in the analysis. You must supply an input file name (usually the results from your sediment 

rating curve file, i.e., having an extension of P90 or ACK) and a discharge file name (the discharge file 

must have a .DIS extension). If you have not already run the bed load rating curve option, you will be 

told to do so before continuing. The .DIS file contains one water year of discharge data for the given 

site, and each line of data will contain two numbers: in the first column, the water day (1 through 365) 

and in the second column, the discharge value. WinXSPRO assumes that the units of the discharge 

values are in cubic meters per second if the sediment rating curve file (see sections 4.9.3.3 and 4.9.3.6) 

has metric units and in cubic feet per second if the sediment rating curve file has English units. (NOTE: 

 The Help file for Toolbox>Bed load discharge specifies that the second column of the *.DIS input file 

must be in cubic meters per second and should be ignored). The When the OK button is selected, a plot 

of the annual sediment yield discharge over the water year is shown in one window, and the output file 

(saved as filename.abd in the current directory) is displayed in another. The output file consists of three 

columns: the first is the day of the water year (1 to 365), the second is the discharge for that day, and the 

third is the bed load discharge for that day. At the end of the file is the value of the Average Annual 

Sediment Yield, which is equal to the sum of the mean daily sediment discharges. 

4.9.3.5 Modify Discharge 

This selection queries the user for an input discharge file (with the format described in the above 

section) and allows the user to modify that discharge file in a variety of menu-selected manners to 

simulate discharge changes due to dams, diversions, and other phenomena. The user is also queried for 

the new (modified) discharge file name. Click the Compute button to perform the calculations, and then 

the Save button to save the results to the new discharge file. The new file name can then be used with 

the Bed load Discharge option to assess the effect of discharge alterations on bed load flux. When 

selecting the Smooth Discharge option, the user is prompted for a value between 1 and 100. This value 

will specify the number of times a three-point moving average will be used to smooth the data. 
46 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

4.9.3.6 Ackers and White Transport 

This selection will calculate a bed material load rating curve for your cross section using the Ackers and 

White (1973) transport method. Note that the Akers-White transport calculations are strictly applicable 

to sand bed streams and that such streams are typically wide and shallow. Irrational results may be 

obtained when this method is applied to streams with a small width:depth ratio. When you choose this 

option, a dialog will appear which will ask you for the output file name (usually *.OUT) from which the 

stage-discharge data will be read, the median grain diameter (d50 in millimeter) of the sediment sample, 

and the temperature in degrees centigrade of the water will also be read. The *.OUT file must be from a 

hydraulics or hydraulics and regression analysis performed with any of the available resistance methods. 

When this information has been supplied and the OK button is selected, two windows will appear on the 

screen. One will contain the sediment rating curve (discharge versus sediment discharge) and the other 

will contain the output file, saved as *.ACK in the current directory. In evaluating output, remember 

that the Acker and White model is intended for sediment sizes from 0.04 to 2.5 mm. 

4.9.4 Options Menu 

The items found under this menu apply to the graphics and charts available under WinXSPRO. The 

main sub-menus under the Options Menu are General, Axis, Copy, Print, Save As, Ratio, Plot 

Parameters and Export. You can format any element of a WinXSPRO chart by changing settings in a 

dialog box displayed by making a selection from Option menu. Most WinXSPRO dialog boxes provide 

sets of options grouped on separate tabs. As you click on each tab, the controls in the dialog box change 

to allow you to edit a different set of options. Any options that are not appropriate for the current chart 

type or situation are grayed. The descriptions of options presented below are intended to provide a brief 

overview of what each option can do, more detailed information on each item can be found in the help 

screens. Alternatively, right clicking on the chart with the mouse will also bring up options to change 

the chart accordingly. 

4.9.4.1 General 

This option brings up a customization dialog. This has several tabs that allow you to change the look 

and feel of the chart. 

4.9.4.2 Axis 

Under this sub-menu you may choose Format. The Format option lets you specify the number of 

places shown after the decimal point (0 to 3) for values on each of the axes. 

4.9.4.3 Copy 

The Copy command will copy the selected chart to the WindowsTM clipboard. The chart may then be 

pasted into another WindowsTM application. 
Running WinXSPRO 47 

4.9.4.4 Print 

Selecting Print will cause a dialog box to appear that sets the print options. The print icon from the 

toolbar may also be used for this command. 

4.9.4.5 Save As 

This command allows you to save the chart to a file. Three formats are available: WindowsTM Metafile, 

WindowsTM Bitmap and WindowsTM JPEG. As with the other Save As dialog boxes, you may select the 

drive and subdirectory where you wish the file to be saved. If you wish to convert either of these 

formats to another, see Section 4.9.4.9. 

4.9.4.6 Ratio 

Two preset plot ratios are available for viewing channel cross sections: 1 horizontal unit to 1 vertical 

unit (1:1) and 10 horizontal units to 1 vertical unit (10:1). The 1:1 scale is how the cross section would 

appear in nature, i.e., no vertical exaggeration. However, vertical exaggeration is often desired to 

accentuate the cross section features. The Ratio option is only available when the Cross Section 

Window is active. 

4.9.4.7 Plot Parameters 

This command may be used to plot output variables versus each other. When the command is selected, 

two columns of variables are presented in the dialog box (Figure 4.6); one for the x-axis and one for the 

y-axis. Select the variables that you wish to plot, and then click on the Plot button to see the plot. Only 

valid variables may be selected. Note that the data plotted is taken from the last plan output (shown in 

the File 1 field) unless a different file is selected by clicking on the File 1 button or typing in a different 

file name. Therefore, if you wish to make plots from a plan that was previously analyzed, it is not 

necessary to re-analyze the plan first. Also note that the number of data points used in the plots is 

directly related to the stage increment chosen for your plan. 
48 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Figure 4.6. Plot parameters dialog box. 

Sometimes it is useful to overlay data points from a second output file onto your plot. For example, you 

might want to see how the change in a cross section's shape with time has affected its computed stagedischarge curve. To include data points from a second output file, click on the Overlay Input File 2

box. When this box is checked, you may then enter the second file name directly in the File 2 field, or 

search for the file clicking on the File 2 button. Clicking on the Plot button will then overlay the two 

plots for the selected parameters. When changing the plot settings with the other features of the Options

pull-down menu (Axis, Legend, etc.), the input File 1 curve is the default "active" curve to which the 

changes will apply. If you wish to change the settings for the input File 2 curve, click on that curve to 

make it the active one before proceeding with the changes. 

If Shields Shear is chosen as one of the plot parameters, the D50 area of the dialog becomes active 

because its value is needed to calculate the Shields (dimensionless) shear stress. 

Note that measured data points can be added to the resulting plot by using the Plot Measured option. 

4.9.4.8 Discharge Rating Curve Plot 

This command may be used when the active window contains any of the output plots. Activating the 

command will bring up the Select Measured Data File dialog from which you must select the file 

containing the measured data you wish to overlay on top of the existing plot. WinXSPRO assumes that 

the measured data file consists of two columns, the first containing the X data and the second the 

corresponding Y data. The file can have any name and extension selected by the user, e.g., *.txt, *.dat, 
Running WinXSPRO 49 

or *.mrd (measured rating data). Because the program has no way to check the validity of the measured 

data, it is assumed that the X and Y parameters correspond to those on the active chart window and that 

the units are also the same. 

4.9.4.9 Export 

The Export command allows you to take any previously created chart in WindowsTM Metafile format 

(*.WMF files) and export it in another format. The available export formats are: 

WindowsTM Metafile (*.WMF) 

WindowsTM Bitmap (*.BMP) 

Joint Photographic Experts Group bitmap (*.JPG) 

Selecting Load will produce the Open File dialog from which a file may be chosen. The Export button 

will activate a Save As dialog for the user to name the exported file, the file type, and the location where 

the file will reside. 

4.9.5 View Menu 

The options under this menu are Toolbar and Status Bar. A check will be placed to the side of any 

option when it is displayed. 

4.9.5.1 Toolbar 

The toolbar is displayed across the top of the application window, below the menu bar. The toolbar 

provides quick mouse access to many tools used in WinXSPRO. The keyboard shortcut for hiding or 

displaying the toolbar is ALT+V+T. A description of the icons found in the toolbar is offered in 

Section 4.10. 

4.9.5.2 Status Bar 

Use this command to display and hide this status bar, which describes the action to be executed by the 

selected menu item or depressed toolbar button, and the keyboard latch state (i.e., if the Caps lock, Num 

lock and Scroll lock are on). 

 

4.9.6 Window Menu 

The following options are available under the Window Menu: 

Cascade Arranges windows in a cascading overlapped fashion. 

Tile Arranges windows in non-overlapped tiles. 

Arrange Icons Arranges the icons of minimized windows at the bottom of the main 

window. Note that some or all of these icons may not be visible if an 

open plan window overlaps them. 
50 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Window 1,2... Displays a list of currently open windows. A check mark appears in front 

of the active window. Choose from this list to change active windows. 

4.9.7 Help Menu 

The Help menu offers the following commands that provide you with assistance: 

Index Offers an index of topics on which help is available. 

Using Help Provides general instructions on how to use the help system. 

About Displays the version number and date of this application. 

4.10 Toolbar 

Many of the toolbar icons duplicate options found under the pull-down menus (see Section 4.9). The 

following icons are available: 

Create New Plan - Opens a new Plan Input Screen. 

Open Existing Plan - Provides a dialog to open an existing plan (*.XSP file). 

Save Current Plan - Saves the current plan. If current plan has not been previously saved, 

will provide a Save As dialog box. 

Run Current Plan - Executes the analysis of the current plan. 

Cut Selected Text - Removes selected text from the current file and places on the clipboard. 

Copy Selected Text - Copies selected text from the current file and places on the clipboard. 

Paste From Clipboard - Inserts the clipboard contents into the document at the cursor 

location. 

Compare Areas - Brings up the calculator to compare areas (see Section 4.9.2.1). 

Plot Parameters - Lets you create 2-D plots (Y vs. X) from WinXSPRO output files. 
Running WinXSPRO 51 

Print Selected Output File - After the analysis has been completed, will print the output file to 

the selected printer. 

About - Provides information on the version number of WinXSPRO. 

Windows Help - After this button is activated, a cursor that looks identical to the button 

appears. The cursor may then be moved to the item of interest, and a click will access the 

available help information on that item. Note that only help on windows features (e.g., 

headers, scrollbars, the toolbar) can be accessed with this button. For help on WinXSPRO 

items, such as input fields, use the pull-down help menu or the help button in each particular 

window. 

4.11 Output Files 

Depending on the type of analysis chosen and the variables selected using the Preferences command 

(see Section 4.9.1.6), the output files will vary in appearance. Output files for the Toolbox options are 

described above in Section 4.9.3. Description of the output files for the Hydraulics and Hydraulics 

and Regression analyses are provided below. 

4.11.1 Hydraulic or Hydraulic and Regression Analysis 

For the Hydraulics or Hydraulics and Regression analyses, the properties will be listed beginning at the 

channel low point (the Low Stage), proceeding upwards at the specified stage increment to the highest 

stage in the cross section or the High Stage input by the user. A sample output file from a Hydraulics 

and Regression analysis using the Thorne and Zevenbergen resistance method is shown in Figure 4.7. 

The output files for other resistance methods are similar. 

The file header lists the input and output files used, the run date, the type of analysis being performed, 

whether the horizontal distances have been adjusted or not and pertinent input data. The channel 

subsections are indicated by letters, and the dividing stations between subsection(s) are given. For each 

stage, properties are listed first for each subsection (A, B, etc.) and then for the total section (T). The 

geometric and hydraulic properties listed in columns three through twelve are: area, wetted perimeter, 

top width, hydraulic radius, hydraulic depth, slope, equivalent Manning’s n value, average velocity, 

discharge, and shear stress. In the next section of the output file, two total-section properties are also 

listed for each stage: the velocity distribution coefficient (Alpha) and the Froude Number. 
52 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

The velocity distribution coefficient (Alpha) is an index of how uniform (i.e., 1.0) or non-uniform the 

velocity for a given stage is distributed between defined channel subsections. It is computed as the ratio 

of resistance of each defined section divided by the total cross section resistance. Resistance for each 

section and the total for the cross section are computed using elements of Manning’s Equation: 

Resistance = 1.486 * Area * Hydraulic Radius (2/3) * 1/n 

Alpha = Resistance (subsection) / Resistance (total section) 

Note that data that are extrapolated (i.e., the stage is higher than one of the ends of the cross section) are 

marked with an '*' after the discharge value on the output. 

If the Hydraulics and Regression analysis was selected, the results of the regression analysis are also 

displayed at the bottom of the file. The regression equations for hydraulic radius versus discharge and 

stage versus discharge are shown along with their respective regression coefficients (a and b), the square 

of the correlation coefficient (r2

) and the number of data points (n). For regression results to be 

computed, the combination of user-defined stage limits and stage increment must yield a minimum of 

five data points. Note that regression results will vary for a single cross section depending on the 

number of data points that are available. 
Running WinXSPRO 53 

Figure 4.7. Sample output screen. 

 
54 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Chapter 5 - Example Problems

5.1 Example Problem 1

Based on the channel cross section below (Figure 5.1), determine the channel discharge at one-foot stage 

increments from the channel invert (low point) to a water surface elevation of 288 ft. The Manning’s n 

values are given in Figure 5.1 for each section of the channel. Use a constant slope of 1% (0.01). The 

coordinate data are as follows: 

X-distance Elevation 

-5 290 

0 290 

10 286 

20 286 

25 284 

30 286 

40 286 

50 290 

Use Notepad to enter these data as x-y pairs (tab between values) and save the data with the filename 

Example_1.sec. Be sure to rename the file extension from *.txt to *.sec (Section 4.5.1). 

Figure 5.1. Example cross section.

 

 
Example Problems 55 

Start the WinXSPRO software. The user should be presented with a blank Plan as shown in Figure 5.2. 

Figure 5.2. Initial blank plan. 

Use the Input File Select button and navigate to the Example_1.sec file you created and select it. Once 

the file is selected, WinXSPRO will prompt the user to specify if the tape is horizontal. For this 

exercise, answer Yes. The Plan window should update as illustrated in Figure 5.3. 

Figure 5.3. Updated WinXSPRO plan window after cross section geometry file is selected. 
56 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

You can verify that the data has been imported correctly by selecting the Modify Data button. Once 

you have verified that your data has been imported correctly, close the Input Data Editor to return to 

the Plan window. Enter Example Problem 1 in the Plan Comment field and then change the 

Resistance Equation to User Supplied Manning’s n. Use the Plan – Save As menu to save the plan 

using the filename Example_1 (you do not need to specify an extension). The Plan window should now 

look like Figure 5.4. 

Figure 5.4. Updated WinXSPRO plan window after setting initial analysis options. 

We can move to the next step in our analysis by clicking on the Run button (alternatively, Run may be 

activated from the pull-down menu or the toolbar). This will open two new windows as illustrated in 

Figure 5.5. In this example, we wish to analyze the channel hydraulics for stages from 0.01 to 4 feet 

(elevations 284 to 288) at one-foot increments. Enter 0.01 for the Low Stage, 4.0 for the High Stage and 

0.01 for both slopes, and 1.0 for the Stage Increment. 

Because the channel has varying Manning’s n values (see Figure 5.1), the user needs to tell WinXSPRO 

to subdivide the cross section into three separate subsections, i.e., left bank to start of the low flow 

channel at 20 feet, the low flow channel between 20 and 30 feet, and then the end of the low flow 

channel to the end of the cross section. The position co-ordinates (stations) of the change in n values, 20 

ft. and 30 ft., are entered in the Section Boundaries part of the form. As the stages and section 

boundaries are entered in the Section Boundaries part of the form, they are drawn in the cross section 

window. Figure 5.6 illustrates all data fields with their appropriate values for this example problem. 
Example Problems 57 

Figure 5.5. WinXSPRO cross section plot and stage and section input form. 
58 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Figure 5.6. Completed Stage and Section form. 

Once the user has entered the appropriate data in the Stages and Section form, the Calc button should 

be selected. This will open the Manning’s n window in which the Manning's n values for each section 

must be entered. When the Manning’s n window opens, the first section defined (i.e., from left to right) 

is displayed as shown in Figure 5.7. 

Figure 5.7. Manning’s n input data screen for the first defined section. 
Example Problems 59 

The high stage at each subsection will be 4 ft. (elevation 288). The low stage entered will be 2 feet 

(elevation 286) for the channel between –5.0 and 20 feet and for the section between 30.0 and 55.0 feet. 

 The low stage for the middle section (i.e., between 20.0 feet and 30 feet will be 0.01 feet (elevation 

284). As shown in Figure 5.1, the Manning’s n values for the first and third section should be 0.06 while 

the Manning’s n value for the middle section should be 0.08. Figure 5.8 shows the stage and Manning’s 

n entries for the first section. 

Figure 5.8. Stage and Manning’s n values for the first (left-most) section defined for the channel. 

Once the user has entered the appropriate stages and Manning’s n values for the first section, the Next

button should be selected, which will display the same input screen for the next defined section (i.e. the 

second or middle section for this example). The user should enter a low stage of 0.01 and a Manning’s n 

of 0.08 for the Low Stage and 4.0 feet and Manning’s n of 0.06 for the High Stage. Use the Next button 

to move to the final section and use the same values for both stage and Manning’s n as used for the first 

section. 

Once the data for the final section has been entered, the user can select the Calc button to actually 

conduct the desired analysis. WinXSPRO will then display the computational details in a new window 

as illustrated in Figure 5.9. For the information given in this problem WinXSPRO calculates a discharge 

of 319.1 cfs for a stage of 4 ft. (elevation 288 ft.). 
60 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Figure 5.9. Example Problem 1 output file. 

As a simple verification exercise, we will carry out the computations for estimated discharge by hand for 

the high elevation of 288 feet in order to verify the program results. Since the geometric and hydraulic 

parameters are identical for sections 1 and 3, computations will be carried out only for section 1. 

We must first compute the areas (A) of each of our subsections. The area of section 1 can be determined 

by breaking it up into a triangle and a rectangle. The area of section 2 can determined by breaking it up 

into a rectangle and two triangles: 

A1 = Area of triangle + Area of rectangle 

A1 = 1/2(Base)(Height) + (Base)(Height) 

A1 = 1/2(5)(2) + 10(2)=25 sq. ft. 
Example Problems 61 

A 2 = Area of rectangle + Area of triangles

A2 = (Base)(Height) + 2(1/2)(Base)(Height)

A2 = 10(2) + 2(1/2)(5)(2) = 30 sq. ft. 

The wetted perimeter (P) of each subsection is then computed. The wetted perimeter is defined as the 

length of the channel cross section that is in contact with the water. The length of the sloped portions of 

the channel can be found by applying the Pythagorean Theorem. In this channel the sloped portions of 

sections 1 & 2 happen to be the same length: 

Pythagorean Theorem: a

2

 + b2 = c

2

 

 

where: a and b = lengths of sides that are perpendicular to one another 

c = length of hypotenuse 

Thus, in the case of our channel a=2, b=5, and 2 5 5.385 2 2

c = + = 

P1 = length of sloped portion + length of bottom = 5.385 + 10 = 15.385 ft.

P2 = length of two sloped portions = 2(5.385) = 10.770 ft. 

From the area and the wetted perimeter, the hydraulic radius (R) of each subsection can be found: 

R = A/P

R1 = 25/15.385 = 1.625 ft.

R2 = 30/10.770 = 2.786 ft. 

Substituting these values into Manning’s equation (1) yields the mean velocity in each of the subsections 

of the channel: 

2 / 3 1/ 2 R S

n

k V ⎟

⎠

⎞ ⎜

⎝

⎛ =

V1 = (1.486/0.06)(1.625)2/3(.01)1/2 = 3.423 ft/s

V2 = (1.486/0.06)(2.786)2/3(.01)1/2 = 4.904 ft/s 

Applying the continuity equation: 

Q = VA

QTOT = 2V1A1 + V2A2

QTOT = 2(25)(3.424) + 30(4.904) = 318.27 cfs 
62 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

WinXSPRO computed an overall discharge of 319.1 cfs for the channel described for a stage of 4 ft. 

Since the discharge calculated by the hand computations is within roundoff error (0.3% error) of the 

discharge calculated by WinXSPRO, the result is verified. 

5.2 Example Problem 2 

 

Assume the cross section in problem 2 to be from a steep, cobble/boulder bed channel. Using the same 

geometry and slope data as in example problem 1, determine the total discharge by using the equations 

for resistance to flow recommended by Thorne and Zevenbergen (1985). Take the d84 value to be 300 

mm. Give the answer in English units. 

We can use the existing Plan for Example_1 as a starting point. First, change the output filename to 

Example_2.out in the Output portion of the Plan window. Next, change the Resistance Equation to 

Thorne and Zevenbergen and then set the d84 particle diameter to 300 mm. Change the text in the Plan

Comment field to Example Problem 2 and then use the Plan – Save As menu and rename the Plan to 

Example_2.xsp. When you have made these changes, select the Run button from the Plan window in 

order to conduct the analysis. WinXSPRO will again display the Stage and Section window for user 

input. Enter a low stage of 0.01 and a high stage of 4.0. The slopes for both stages should be set to 

0.01. The stage increment can be set to 1.0. However, since only the total discharge is desired at a stage 

of 288 (i.e., 4 feet), there is no reason to mark subsection boundaries as was done in example problem 1. 

 Therefore, all fields in the Section Boundaries window can be left blank. When the data have been 

entered, the Calc button can be selected to generate the results. WinXSPRO will compute the output 

parameters and display them in the output file window. The WinXSPRO output file is shown in Figure 

5.10. 
Example Problems 63 

Figure 5.10. Example Problem 2 output file. 

The calculations are performed by hand below in order to better understand the solution. In this problem 

we will not analyze the channel by dividing it into subsections. Therefore, we can simply sum up the 

areas and wetted perimeters from problem 1 to be used in this example: 

ATOT = 2A1 + A2

ATOT = 2(25) + 30 = 80 sq. ft. 

PTOT = 2P1 + P2

PTOT = 2(15.385) + 10.770 = 41.540 ft. 

The hydraulic radius of the channel can then be found: 

R = ATOT/PTOT

R = 80/41.540 = 1.926 ft. 

We must choose from two equations when using the Thorne and Zevenbergen recommendations - either 

Hey's (1979) or Bathurst's (1978) equation. The appropriate equation to use is determined by the ratio 

R/d84. The d84 value needs to be converted to English units: 

d84 = 300mm = 0.984 ft. 

R/d84 = 1.926/0.984 = 1.957 
64 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

R/d84 > 1 ∴ use Equations (3) and (4) presented in Chapter 2. 

Equations (3) and (4) [Hey's equation]: 

 ⎟

⎟

⎠

⎞

⎜

⎜

⎝

⎛ ′ =

84

1/ 2 3.5

5.62log ( ) d

a R

gRS

V

 

0.314

max

11.1

−

⎟

⎟

⎠

⎞

⎜

⎜

⎝

⎛ ′ = D

R

a

where Dmax is the maximum depth of four feet. 

Rearranging equation (3) in order to solve for the mean cross section velocity (V): 

 ⎟

⎟

⎠

⎞

⎜

⎜

⎝

⎛ ′ =

84

1/ 2

3.5

5.62( ) log d

a R V gRS

 13.96

4

(1.926) 11.1

0314

⎟ = ⎠

⎞ ⎜

⎝

⎛ ′ =

−

a

Applying the continuity equation: 

Q=VA

 V 3.95 ftls 3.5(0.984)

13.96(1.926) 5.62(32.2(1.926)(0.01)) log 1/ 2 =⎟

⎟

⎠

⎞ ⎜

⎜

⎝

⎛ = 

Q = 3.950(80) = 316 cfs 

WinXSPRO calculated a discharge of 315.81 cfs. Since the discharge calculated by the hand 

computations is within roundoff error (0.5% error) of the discharge calculated by WinXSPRO, the result 

is verified. 
Example Problems 65 

5.3 Example Problem 3 

Using the cross section data from the file SAMPLE.SEC (supplied on the WinXSPRO disks), determine 

the total discharge of the channel at a stage of 7 feet by the Manning's equation flow resistance 

approach. The Manning’s n values are given in the Table 5.1 and correspond to Figure 5.11. Section 

boundaries are at 16, 72, and 94 feet. 

Figure 5.11. Example Problem 3 definition sketch.

Table 5.1. Example Problem 3 region and stage data. 

Use a constant slope of 0.005 for all regions and produce results in increments of 1 foot. Use the 

Hydraulics and Regression analysis to fit regression lines to the stage-hydraulic radius and stagedischarge data. 

Region Low Stage n High Stage n 

I 0.080 0.060 

II 0.070 0.035 

III 0.070 0.060 

IV 0.090 0.090 

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

-10.0 0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0 100.0 110.0 120.0

Stage (ft)

Horizontal Position (ft)

Flow High Stage Low Stage Section Boundary #1 Section Boundary #2 Section Boundary #3 Section Boundary #4
66 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

The Plan main window is completed similar to the previous examples with the input file specified as 

SAMPLE.SEC. The Manning's n values shown in Table 5.1 are used to complete the Manning window 

in WinXSPRO. The low stage at each section will be the minimum possible stage indicated by 

WinXSPRO in the message bar in the Manning window. The high stage will be 7 feet. The output file 

for this problem is shown in Figure 5.12. 

Figure 5.12. Example Problem 3 output file. 

In the output file the subsections have been labeled A, B, C, and D corresponding to II, I, III and IV 

respectively (see Subsections/Dividing stations information at top of output file). The discharge versus 

hydraulic radius regression plot is shown in Figure 5.13. 
Example Problems 67 

Figure 5.13. Discharge vs. Hydraulic Radius Regression Curve.

Notice that while the curve has a reasonable fit to the data points at lower values of the hydraulic radius 

(R), the last data point (where R is 3.4 feet, corresponding to a stage of 7 feet) is not near the curve. 

Similarly, Figure 5.14 shows that while the computed discharge was 2864 cfs at the 7-foot stage, the 

regression curve formula yielded a discharge of 2573 cfs, a 10% under prediction. This discrepancy is 

principally due to the small, perched channel on the right side of the cross section. The user of the 

program must be cautious in accepting regression results since channel geometry (e.g., multiple 

channels, a small channel opening out into wide overbanks above a certain stage) will skew the results. 

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

0.0 500.0 1000.0 1500.0 2000.0 2500.0 3000.0

S tage (ft)

Discharge (cfs)

Actual Reg. Line

Figure 5.14. Stage-discharge regression curve.
68 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

5.4 Example Problem 4

As a result of a sand mining operation upstream, a channel cross section has recently been scoured. 

Channel geometry before and after the scour is supplied in the files BEFORE.SEC and AFTER.SEC. 

Determine the change in area for the two cross sections and compute the bed material load using the 

Akers and White Method. 

The easiest way to find the difference in area between the before and after conditions is to use the 

Compare Areas feature. Before activating the function, a stable point must be identified for each cross 

section. Selecting BEFORE.SEC as the input file on the Plan window and clicking the Modify Data

button brings up the input Data Editor (Figure 5.15). Note that the first point, point 1, has been 

selected as the stable point. 

Figure 5.15. Modify Data screen using the BEFORE.SEC input file. 

AFTER.SEC basically contains the same geometry data as BEFORE.SEC except for modified data 

points to reflect changes in geometry. In this example, the same stable point for AFTER.SEC was 

selected as indicated for the BEFORE.SEC file in Figure 5.15. The user can compare these two cross 

sections by clicking the Compare Areas icon from the toolbar or choosing Compare Areas from the 

Toolbox pull-down menu. This will bring up the Area Comparison dialog box. The user should set 

File 1 as BEFORE.SEC and File 2 as AFTER.SEC and then select the Plot button to display to two 
Example Problems 69 

cross sections. The Input Data Format should be set to Position-Elevation. Set the Left Horizontal 

Boundary to 0.0 and Right Horizontal Boundary to 50.0. The user can now complete the comparison 

by selecting the Calculate button and WinXSPRO will cause the calculated area difference to appear, as 

shown in Figure 5.16. 

Figure 5.16. Example of Compare Areas window with values set for Example Problem 4. 

If the Gini button is activated on the Area Comparison dialog, the Gini coefficient for each of the two 

sections and the difference between them is displayed (Figure 5.17). 
70 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Figure 5.17. Difference between BEFORE and AFTER using the Gini coefficient. 

The next task is to determine the bed material load using the Ackers and White method for sand-bed 

channels. Assume that the d50 has been determined to be 4.5 mm. 

Before running the Ackers and White Method, a stage-discharge relationship needs to be generated 

using WinXSPRO for the file AFTER.SEC (i.e., set this as the input file in the Plan window). Change 

the Plan Comment field to be Example Problem 4. For this example we will use the user supplied 

Manning’s n option from the main program window and then save the plan with the name 

Example_4.xsp. 

The user should now select the Run button, which will display the Stage and Section window. Set the 

low stage at 0.1 and the high stage to 3.0, with corresponding slopes of 0.005. Use a stage increment of 

1.0 foot. Since we want to analyze the whole cross section, we will not specify and segment boundaries, 

so the Calc button can be selected. This will display the Manning’s n input window. Use a value for 

Manning’s n of 0.045 for the low stage (0.1) and a value of 0.025 for the high stage (3.0). The user can 

now select the Calc button and WinXSPRO to generate the corresponding results as illustrated in Figure 

5.18. 
Example Problems 71 

Figure 5.18. Example Problem 4 hydraulic analysis output. 

The output file, AFTER.OUT, along with the d50 determined previously (i.e., 4.5 mm) and the water 

temperature (assumed to be 25 degrees centigrade) are required input for the Ackers and White Method. 

 The Ackers and White Method can be selected by choosing Ackers and White from the Toolbox pulldown menu. Use the AFTER.OUT file for the input, set the D50 as 4.5 mm, and the temperature to 

25.0. Figure 5.19 illustrates the Ackers and White dialogue box with the appropriate input fields. 

Figure 5.19. Ackers-White dialog box with data field for Example Problem 4. 
72 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Once these fields have been entered with the appropriate data, the user can select the OK button to 

conduct the analysis. In this example, WinXSPRO will display a dialogue box that indicates that no 

sediment transport has been computed based on the entered D50 grain size. Remember that Ackers and 

White is for sand-sized material typically less than 2 mm in size, but our grain size analysis for the 

sediment sample is 4.5mm! Close the tabular and graphical windows and open the Ackers and White

window from Tools again. Set the D50 input box to 1 mm and set the temperature to 25.0 degrees, then 

press OK. 

The graphical and tabular outputs appear on the screen after the method is run with the revised D50 for 

the bed material. The graph of bed material load versus discharge is shown as Figure 5.20. 

Figure 5.20. Ackers-White sediment rating curve. 
References 73 

Chapter 6 - References 

Ackers, P., and W.R. White. 1973. “Sediment transport: New approach and analysis.” Journal of the 

Hydraulics Division, Am. Soc. Civil Engr., Vol. 99, No. HY11, pp. 2041-2060. 

Aldridge, B. N., and J.M. Garrett. 1973. “Roughness Coefficients for Stream Channels in Arizona.” 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report.

Arcement, G.J., Jr., and V.R. Schneider. 1984. “Guide for Selecting Manning’s Roughness 

Coefficients for Natural Channels and Flood Plains.” U.S. Dept. Trans., Federal Highway 

Administration Tech. Rept. No. FHWA-TS-84-204, McLean, VA. 

Ashmore, P.E., T.R. Yuzyk, and R. Herrington. 1988. “Bed Material Sampling in Sand-Bed Streams.” 

Report IWD-HQ-WRB-SS-88-4, Sediment Survey Section, Water Resources Branch, Inland 

Waters Directorate, Environment Canada. 90 p. 

ASCE Task Force on Bed Forms in Alluvial Channels, John F. Kennedy, Chairman. 1966. 

“Nomenclature for Bed Forms in Alluvial Channels.” Journal of the Hydraulics Division, Am. 

Soc. Civil Engr., Vol. 93, No. HY5, pp. 297-302. 

Bagnold, R.A. 1966. “An approach to the Sediment transport Problem from General Physics.” U.S. 

Geological Survey Professional Paper 422-1, Washington, D.C. 

Barnes, Harry H., Jr. 1967. “Roughness Characteristics of Natural Channels.” U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Supply Paper 1849, Washington. D.C. 

Barthurst, J.C. 1978. “Flow Resistance of Large-Scale Roughness.” Journal of the Hydraulics 

Division, Am. Soc. Civil. Engr., Vol. 104, No. HY12, pp. 1587-1603. 

Benson, M.A., and Tate Dalrymple. 1967. “General Field and Office Procedures for Indirect Discharge 

Measurements.” Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the United States Geological 

Survey, Book 3, Chapter A1, Washington, DC. 

Buchanan, Thomas J., and Williams P. Somers. 1969. “Discharge measurements at Gauging Stations.” 

Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the United States Geological Survey, Book 3, 

Chapter A8, Washington, DC. 

Bunte, Kristin. 1994. Draft of “Modeling Bed load Sediment Transport in Sand-Bed Streams using the 

Ackers and White (1973) Sediment Transport Formula.” Prepared for the Stream Systems 

Technology Center, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, U.S. Forest Service, 

Fort Collins, Colorado. 
74 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Bunte, Kristin, and Steven R. Abt. 2001. “Sampling Surface and Subsurface Particle-Size Distributions 

in Wadable Gravel- and Cobble-Bed Streams for Analyses in Sediment Transport, Hydraulics, and 

Streambed Monitoring.” Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-74, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain 

Research Station, Fort Collins, CO, 428 p.

Chow, Ven Te. 1959. Open-Channel Hydraulics. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, NY.

Cowan, W.L. 1956. “Estimating Hydraulic Roughness Coefficients.” Agricultural Engineering,Vol. 

37, No. 7, pp. 473-475.

Dalrymple, Tate, and M.A. Benson. 1967. “Measurement of Peak Discharge by the Slope-Area 

Method.” Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the United States Geological Survey,

Book 3, chapter A2, Washington, DC.

Federal Inter-Agency Sedimentation Project. 1986. “Catalog of Instruments and Reports for Fluvial 

Sediment Investigations,” Federal Inter-Agency Sedimentation project, Vicksburg, MS.

Grant, Gordon E., Frederick J. Swanson, and M. Gordon Wolman. 1990. “Pattern and origin of 

stepped-bed morphology in high-gradient streams, Western Cascades, Oregon.” Geological 

Survey of American Bulletin, Vol. 102, pp. 340-352.

Grant, G.E, J.E. Duval, G.J. Koerper, and J.L. Fogg. 1992. “XSPRO: A channel cross section 

analyzer.” USDI, Bureau of Land Management, Technical Note 387, BLM/SC/PT-02/001+7200, 

Denver, CO, 53p.

Harrelson, Cheryl C., C.L. Rawlins, and John P. Potyondy. 1994. “Stream Channel Reference Sites: An 

illustrated Guide to Field Technique.” Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-245, USDA Forest Service, Rocky 

Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO.

Hey, R.D. 1979. “Flow Resistance in Gravel-Bed Rivers.” Journal of the Hydraulics Engineering, 

Am. Soc. Civil Engr., Vol. 105, No. HY4, pp. 365-379.

Jarrett, Rober D. 1984. “Hydraulics of High-Gradient Streams.” Journal of the Hydraulic Engineering, 

Am. Civil Engr., Vol. 110, No. 11, pp. 1519-1539.

Nelson, Jonathan M., W. Emmett Williams, and J. Dungan Smith. 1991. “Flow and Sediment 

Transport in Rough Channels.” Proceedings of the Fifth Federal Interagency Sedimentation 

Conference, Las Vegas, NV.

Nelson, Jonathan M. 1993. Draft Toolbox Reference Manual, Version 1.0, U.S. Geological Survey, 

Lakewood, CO.

Olson-Rutz, K.M., and C.B. Marlow. 1992. “Analysis and Interpretation of Stream Channel Cross 

Sectional Data,” North American Journal of Fisheries Management, American Fisheries Society, 

Vol. 12, pp. 55-61. 
References 75 

Parker, Gary, Peter C. Klingeman, and David G. McLean. 1982. “Bed load and Size Distribution in 

Paved Gravel-Bed Streams.” Journal of the Hydraulics Division, Am. Soc. Civil Engr., Vol. 108, 

No. HY4, pp. 544-471. 

Parker, Gary. 1990. “Surface-based bed load transport relation for gravel rivers.” Journal of Hydraulic 

Research, IAHR, Vol. 28, No. 4. 

Parsons, Stephen C., and Shirley Hudson. 1985. “Stream Channel Cross Section Surveys and Data 

Analysis.” U.S. Bureau of Land Management Tech. Rept. No. TR-4341-1, Denver, CO. 

Potyondy, John P. 1990. “An Analysis of the Use of Roughness Coefficients in the Modeling of 

Channel Hydraulics: A comparison of Flows Calculated with Jarrett’s Equation to Flows 

Calculated Using Manning’s n-values.” Unpublished report, Boise National Forest. 

Rantz, S.E., et al. 1982. “Measurement and Computation of Streamflow: Volume 1. Measurement of 

Stage and Discharge.” U.S. Geological Survey Water –Supply Paper 2175, Washington, D.C. 

Rattray, M., and E. Mitsuda. 1974. “Theoretical analysis of conditions in a salt wedge.” Estuarine and 

Coastal Marine Science, 2. 

Ray, Gary A., and Walter F. Megahan. 1979. “Measuring cross sections using a sag tape: A 

generalized procedure.” USDA Forest Service General Technical Report INT-47, Ogden, UT. 

Roberson, John A., and Clayton T. Crowe. 1985. Fluid Mechanics. Houghton Mifflin Company, 

Boston, MA. 712 p. 

Smoot, Geroge F., and Charles E. Novak. 1968. “Calibration and Maintenance of Vertical-Axis Type 

Current Meters.” Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations of the United States Geological 

Survey, Book 8, Chapter B2, Washington, D.C. 

Thorne, Colin R., and Lyle W. Zevenbergen. 1985. “Estimating Mean Velocity in Mountain Rivers.” 

Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 111, No. 4, pp. 612-624. 

Van Haveren, B. P. 1986. Water Resource Measurements. American Water Works, Assn., Denver, 

CO. 

Wiberg, P.L, and J.D. Smith. 1987b. “Calculations of the critical shear stress for motion of uniform and 

heterogeneous sediments.” Water Resources Research, 23(8), pp. 1471-1480. 

Wolman, M. Gordon. 1954. “A Method of Sampling Coarse River-Bed Material.” Transactions of the 

American Geophysical Union, Vol. 25, No. 6, pp. 951-956. 

Yuzyk, T.R. 1986. “Bed Material Sampling in Gravel-Bed Streams.” Report IWD-HQ-WRB-SS-86-8, 

Sediment Survey Section, Water Resources Branch, Inland Waters Directorate, Environment 

Canada. 74 p. 
76 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Appendix A – List of Symbols 

a = length of longest axis of a sediment particle 

A = value of the Froude number at nominal initial sediment motion 

Ab = area of the streambed occupied by a particle 

Ai = cross sectional area of a particle perpendicular to the flow 

b = length of intermediate axis of a sediment particle or wake height 

c = length of shortest axis of a sediment particle 

C = coefficient in the Ackers-White sediment transport function 

Cd = drag coefficient 

d35 = intermediate diameter for the 35th-percentile particle size 

d50 = intermediate diameter for the 50th-percentile particle size 

d84 = intermediate diameter for the 84th-percentile particle size 

Dgr = dimensionless grain size parameter 

Dmax = maximum depth at section 

D = mean depth 

Fgr = dimensionless mobility number 

g = acceleration due to gravity 

G = Gini coefficient 

Ggr = dimensionless general sediment transport 

H = depth at flow subsection 

k = 1 for metric units and 1.486 for English units or von Karman’s constant (=0.40) 

Kt = eddy viscosity in Nelson et al. (1991) resistance method. 

Lt = length scale in Nelson et al. (1991) resistance method. 

m = correction factor for degree of meandering in Cowan’s formula for Manning’s n or 

 exponent in the Ackers-White sediment transport function 

n = Manning’s roughness coefficient or Ackers-White transition exponent 

ni= = partial n value in Cowan’s formula for Manning’s n where i=b, 1, 2, 3 or 4 

qB = bed load flux per unit width 

* qB = dimensionless bed load flux 

Qs = sediment discharge 

R = hydraulic radius 

s = specific gravity 

S = energy slope (equal to water-surface slope for assumed uniform flow conditions) 

u* = shear velocity, equal to (τ / ρ) b 

Ur = reference velocity in Nelson et al. (1991) resistance method 

Ut = velocity scale in Nelson et al. (1991) resistance method 

V = mean cross section velocity 

W = water surface width 

W*

 = dimensionless bed load parameter 

X = sediment discharge concentration 

Y = measured depth 

z = the vertical coordinate 
Appendix A 77 

α = velocity distribution coefficient or coefficient in rough turbulent equation 

w γ = unit weight of water, 62.4 lb/ft3

, 9810 N/m3 (equal to ρg ) 

v = kinematic viscosity of water 

ρ = water density 

ρ s = sediment density 

* τ = dimensionless boundary shear stress (Shields stress) *

c τ = critical Shields stress 

*

r τ = reference value of * τ

d τ = drag shear stress 

f τ = actual fluid shear stress 

o τ = average bed shear stress, equal to γ wRS or (γ wRHS ) 

zz τ = shear stress on a horizontal plane 

φ50 = * * / r τ τ
78 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Appendix B – Using WinXSPRO 

With Spreadsheet Programs

WinXSPRO can use geometric data that has been saved previously to a spreadsheet program. As the 

WinXSPRO program reads geometric data from text files, a text file must be created from the 

spreadsheet before the data can be used in an analysis. There are two ways to create text files from a 

spreadsheet: (1) copying from the spreadsheet and pasting data into WinXSPRO using the WindowsTM

clipboard, or (2) saving the spreadsheet data directly to a text file. 

To use the first method, open a new plan in WinXSPRO, and click the Modify Data button to enter the 

Input Data Editor. From your spreadsheet program, select the rows and columns of data you will use for 

the analysis. Copy the selected data to the clipboard by either pressing CTRL-C from the keyboard, 

clicking on the copy icon on the toolbar or selecting copy from the spreadsheet pull-down menu. Then, 

in the WinXSPRO Input Data Editor, click on the location where you wanted the data inserted. Then 

use the CTRL-V command from the keyboard to paste the data. Next, use the Save As button to save 

your new input data file. The name of the file will automatically be inserted in the Input File Name field 

on the Main Plan Window. 

The second method of using spreadsheet data with WinXSPRO involves creating an ASCII text file 

from your spreadsheet program. Although the procedure may be different depending on the spreadsheet 

application you use, the concept is the same. Some spreadsheets use the Save As command to generate a 

ASCII text file while others use the Print to File command. The procedure outlined illustrates the steps 

necessary to create a ASCII text file from Microsoft® Excel 5.0 and Excel 2000. 

In the active worksheet select Save As.. from the File pull-down menu. The Save As.. dialog box will 

now be the active window (Figure B-1). Enter a name for your file in the box under File Name:, then 

choose Formatted Text (Space delimited) from the drop-down list under Save File as Type. Note that 

your file has been automatically assigned a .PRN (for Print files) file extension in Excel 5.0, but under 

Excel 2000 you could choose “Text (Tab delimited) and the file will be save with a .txt extension. This 

is the default extension for the file type you have selected but may be assigned any three-character 

extension. A .SEC extension would be consistent with the file extension used by WinXSPRO cross 

section data. You may need to rename the extension to *.DAT using WindowsTM File Rename function 

previously described. When you have chosen a directory in which to store the file select OK. A 

message box will appear informing you that only the active sheet will be saved. Click on OK. When 

you exit Excel, a dialog box will appear prompting you to Save Changes in ‘filename.*’, if you have 

made any changes to the current spreadsheet which you want to save, click on Save, otherwise, choose 

No to exit. 

You have just created an ASCII text file that may now be used by WinXSPRO. From the Main Plan 

Screen of WinXSPRO select the New Plan button from the toolbar, or choose New from the Plan pulldown menu. In the File Name field, type the name of the ASCII text file you have just created (be sure 

to include the full path where the file is located) or select your file using the Input File Select button. Be 

sure the Data Collection Method is set to the correct option for your data (refer to section 4.5.1.4). To 

view the geometric data in the text file you have just created, click on the Modify Data button. When 

finished viewing, choose Cancel to return to the Plan main window. 
Appendix C 79 

Appendix C – Glossary 

ACCURACY Degree of conformity of a measure to a standard or true value. 

ALLUVIAL STREAM A stream whose channel boundary is composed of appreciable quantities of 

the sediments transported by the flow, and which generally changes its bed forms as the rate of 

flow changes.

ARMOR LAYER See ARMORING 

ARMORING The process of progressive coarsening of the bed layer by removal of fine particles 

until it becomes resistant to scour. The coarse layer that remains on the surface is termed the 

“armor layer”. Armoring is a temporary condition; higher flows may destroy an armor layer and 

it may re-form as flows decrease. Or simply, the formation of a resistant layer of relatively large 

particles resulting from removal of finer particles by erosion. 

BACKWATER PROFILE Longitudinal profile of the water surface in a stream where the water 

surface is raised above its normal level by a natural or artificial obstruction. 

BED FORMS Irregularities found on the bottom (bed) of a stream that are related to flow 

characteristics. They are given names such as “dunes”, “ripples”, and “antidunes”. They are 

related to the transport of sediment and interact with the flow because they change the roughness 

of the streambed. An analog to streambed forms are desert sand dunes (although the physical 

mechanisms for their creation and movement may be different). 

BED LOAD Material moving on or near the stream bed by rolling, sliding, and sometimes making 

brief excursions into the flow a few diameters above the bed, i.e. jumping. The term “saltation” 

is sometimes used in place of “jumping”. Bed load is bed material that moves in continuous 

contact with the bed; contrast with SUSPENDED LOAD. 

BED LOAD MATERIAL The sediment mixture of which the moving bed is composed. In alluvial 

streams, bed material particles are likely to be moved at any moment or during some future flow 

condition. Bed material consists of both bed load and suspended load. Contrast with WASH 

LOAD. 

BOULDERS See Table C-1. 

BOUNDARY ROUGHNESS The roughness of the bed and banks of a stream or river. The greater 

the roughness, the greater the frictional resistance to flows; and, hence, the greater the water 

surface elevation for any given discharge. 

CHANNEL A natural or artificial waterway that periodically or continuously contains moving water. 
80 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

CHANNEL STABILIZATION A stable channel is neither progressively aggrading nor degrading, or 

changing its cross sectional area through time. It could aggrade or degrade slightly, but over the 

period of a year, the channel would remain similar in shape and dimensions and position to 

previous times. Unstable channels are depositing or eroding in response to some exterior 

conditions. Stabilization techniques consist of bank protection and other measures that work to 

transform an unstable channel into a stable one. 

CLAY See Table C-1. 

COBBLES See Table C-1. 

CHANNEL ARMOR See ARMORING. 

CRITICAL DEPTH If discharge is held constant and the water depth allowed to decrease, as in the 

case of water approaching a free overfall, velocity head will increase, pressure head will 

decrease, and total energy will decrease toward a minimum value where the rate of decrease in 

the pressure head is just counter-balanced by the rate of increase in velocity head. This is the 

critical depth. More generally, the critical depth is the depth of flow that would produce the 

minimum total energy head. 

CRITICAL FLOW The state of flow where the water depth is at the critical depth and when the 

inertial and gravitational forces are equal. 

CROSS SECTION Depicts the shape of the channel in which a stream flows. Measured by 

surveying the streambed elevation across the stream on a line perpendicular to the flow. 

Necessary data for the computation of hydraulic and sediment transport information. 

CROSS SECTIONAL AREA The area of a cross section between the streambed and the water 

surface. 

DEPTH OF FLOW The depth of flow is the vertical distance from the bed of a stream to the water 

surface. 

DISCHARGE The discharge (Q) is the volume of a fluid or solid passing a cross section of a stream 

per unit time. 

ENERGY GRADE LINE In open channel flow it is equal to the water surface elevation plus the 

velocity head, V / 2g

2 α . 

FREQUENCY The number of repetitions of a periodic process in a certain time period. 

FROUDE NUMBER A dimensionless number defined as V / gy reflecting the ratio of stream 

velocity to wave velocity. If the Froude Number is greater than 1 the flow is supercritical; flow 

with the Froude Number less than one is subcritical. 
Appendix C 81 

GRADATION The proportion of material of each particle size, or the frequency distribution of 

various sizes, constituting a particulate material such as a soil, sediment, or sedimentary rock. 

The limits of each size are chosen arbitrarily. Four different gradations are significant: the 

gradation of the suspended load, the gradation of the bed load, the gradation of the material 

comprising the bed surface, and the gradation of material beneath the bed surface. 

GRADATION CURVE Sediment samples usually contain a range of grain sizes, and it is customary 

to break this range into classes of percentages of the total sample weight contained in each class. 

 After the individual percentages are accumulated, a graph, the “gradation curve”, shows the 

grain size versus the accumulated percent of material that is finer than that grain size. These 

curves are used by movable boundary models to depict the bed sediment material properties 

(e.g., grain size distribution of the bed material). 

GRAIN SIZE See Table C-1. 

GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION (GRADATION) A measure of the variation in grain (particle) sizes 

within a mixture. Usually presented as a graph of grain diameter versus percent of the mixture 

that is finer than that diameter. 

GRAVEL See Table C-1. 

HYDRAULIC DEPTH (DHYD) The ratio of the cross sectional area to the top width. 

HYDRAULIC GRADE LINE In pressure flow it is equal to the elevation of the center of the pipe 

plus the pressure gradient, p /γ . In open channel flow it corresponds to the water surface 

elevation. 

HYDRAULIC JUMP A sudden transition from supercritical to subcritical flow. 

HYDRAULIC RADIUS Equal to the cross sectional area divided by the wetted perimeter. 

HYDRAULICS The study and computation of the characteristics, e.g. depth (water surface elevation, 

velocity and slope, of water flowing in a stream or river. 

MANNING’S EQUATION The empirical Manning’s equation commonly applied in water surface 

profile calculations defines the relationship between surface roughness, discharge, flow 

geometry, and rate of friction loss for a given stream location. 

MANNING’S n VALUE n is the coefficient of roughness with the dimensions of 1/ 3 T ⋅ L . n accounts 

for energy loss due to the friction between the bed and the water. In fluvial hydraulics (movable 

boundary hydraulics), the Manning’s n value includes the effects of all losses, such as grain 

roughness of the movable bed, form roughness of the movable bed, bank irregularities, 

vegetation, bend losses, and junction losses. Contraction and expansion losses are not included 

in Manning’s n, but are typically accounted for separately. 
82 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

MATHEMATICAL MODEL A model that uses mathematical expressions (i.e., a set of equations, 

usually based upon fundamental physical principles) to represent a physical process. 

MEAN DEPTH For a given stage, equal to the cross section area divided by the top width. 

MEANDERING STREAM An alluvial stream characterized in planform by a series of pronounced 

alternating bends. The shape and existence of the bends in a meandering stream are a result of 

alluvial process and not determined by the nature of the terrain (geology) through which the 

stream flows. 

MOBILE-BED STREAMS Streams where the channel boundaries can be modified by the force of 

the water being conveyed. 

MODEL A representation of a physical process or thing that can be used to predict the process’s or 

thing’s behavior or state. 

Examples: A conceptual model: if I throw a rock harder, it will go faster. 

 A mathematical model: F=m * a 

 A hydraulic model: Columbia River physical model. 

NUMERICAL MODEL A numerical model is the representation of a mathematical model as a 

sequence of instructions (program) for a computer. Given approximate data, the execution of 

this sequence of instructions yields an approximate solution to the set of equations that comprise 

the mathematical model. 

OVERBANK In a river reach, the surface area between the bank of the main channel and the limits of 

the floodplain. See Figure C-1. 

PARAMETER Any set of physical properties whose values determine the characteristics or behavior 

of something. 

PARTICLE SIZE A linear dimension, usually designated as “diameter”, used to characterize the size 

of a particle. The dimension may be determined by any of several different techniques, 

including sedimentation sieving, micrometric measurement, or direct measurement. 

PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION See GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION. 

RATING CURVE See STAGE-DISCHARGE CURVE. 

REACH (1) The length of a channel, uniform with respect to discharge, depth, area, and slope, e.g., 

“study reach”, “typical channel reach”, or “degrading reach”, etc. (2) The length of a stream 

between two specified gauging stations. 
Appendix C 83 

RECURRENCE INTERVAL The reciprocal of the probability of an event within one time unit. For 

example, if the probability of a certain flow occurring in one year is 0.01, then the recurrence 

interval (also sometimes called the return period) is 1/0.01=100 years. This means that spacing 

between events is on the average 100 years, not that the event will occur exactly every 100 

years. 

RELATIVE ROUGHNESS The ratio of the hydraulic radius to a representative grain size (usually 

defined as R/d84. 

RIPPLES Small triangular-shaped bed forms, similar to dunes but have much smaller heights and are 

0.3m or less in length. They develop when the Froude number is less than 0.3. 

SEDIMENT (1) Particles derived from rocks or biological materials that have been transported by a 

fluid. (2) Solid materials (sludges) suspended in or settled from water. A collective term 

meaning an accumulation of soil, rock and mineral particles transported or deposited by flowing 

water. 

SEDIMENT DISCHARGE The mass or volume of sediment (usually mass) passing a stream cross 

section in a unit of time. The term may be qualified, for example; as suspended-sediment 

discharge, bed load discharge, or total-sediment discharge. See SEDIMENT LOAD. 

SEDIMENT LOAD A general term that refers to material in suspension and/or in transport. It is not 

synonymous with either discharge or concentration. It may also refer to a particular type of load; 

e.g. total, suspended, wash, bed, or material. 

SEDIMENT PARTICLE Fragments of mineral or organic material in either a singular or aggregate 

state. 

SHEAR STRESS Frictional force per unit of bed area exerted on the bed by the flowing water. Equal 

to RS w γ where w γ is the unit weight of water, R is the hydraulic radius and S is the energy 

slope. An important factor in the movement of bed material. 

SHIELD’S SHEAR STRESS Equal to the ratio of the drag force to the gravitational force. 

SIEVE DIAMETER The smallest standard sieve opening size through which a given particle of 

sediment will pass. 

SILT See Table C-1. 

STABLE CHANNEL A stream channel that does not change in planform or bed profile during a 

particular period of time. For purposes of this glossary the time period is years to tens of years. 

STAGE-DISCHARGE (RATING) CURVE Defines a relationship between discharge and water 

surface elevation at a given location. 
84 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

STEADY FLOW Flow that does not vary with time. 

STREAM POWER The product of bed shear stress and mean cross sectional velocity at a cross 

section for a given flow. 

STREAM PROFILE A plot of the elevation of a streambed versus distance along the stream. 

SUBCRITICAL FLOW The state of flow where the water depth is above the critical depth. Here, 

the influence of gravity forces dominate the influences in inertial forces, and flow, having a low 

velocity, is often described as tranquil. 

SUPERCRITICAL FLOW The state of flow where the water depth is below the critical depth, 

inertial forces dominate the gravitational forces, and the flow is described as rapid or shooting. 

SUSPENDED BED MATERIAL LOAD That portion of the suspended load that is composed of 

particle sizes found in the bed material. 

SUSPENDED LOAD Includes both suspended bed material load and wash load. Sediment that 

moves in suspension is continuously supported in the water column by fluid turbulence. 

Contrast with BED LOAD. 

SUSPENDED-SEDIMENT DISCHARGE The quantity of suspended sediment passing a cross 

section in a unit of time usually given in tons/day. See SUSPENDED LOAD. 

TURBULENCE In general terms, the irregular motion of a flowing fluid. 

UNIFORM FLOW Flow that does not vary with distance, i.e., the mean velocity and depth remain 

the same at all sections along the channel. 

VELOCITY COEFFICIENT This coefficient, symbolized by α , reflects the uneven distribution of 

velocities across a cross section. 

WASH LOAD That part of the suspended load that is finer than the bed material. Wash load is 

limited by supply rather than hydraulics. What grain sizes constitute wash load varies with flow 

and location in a stream. Sampling procedures that measure suspended load will include both 

wash load and suspended and material load. Normally, that is of sediment particles smaller than 

0.062 mm. 

WATER COLUMN An imaginary vertical column of water used as a control volume for 

computational purposes. Usually the size of a unit area and as deep as the depth of water at that 

location in the river. 

WATER DISCHARGE See STREAM DISCHARGE. 

WATER SURFACE PROFILE See STREAM PROFILE. 
Appendix C 85 

WATERSHED A topographically defined area drained by a river/stream or system of connecting 

rivers/streams such that all outflow is discharged through a single outlet. Also called a drainage 

area. 

WETTED PERIMETER The wetted perimeter is the length of the wetted contact between a stream 

of flowing water and its containing channel, measured in a direction normal to the flow. 

Table C-1. Sediment Size Classes (USGS Methods for Water Data Acquisition Table 3.2, 1978, 

American Society of Engineering, Sediment Engineering, Table 2.1, 1977). 

Class Name Size (mm) 

Colloid < 0.00024 

Clay 0.0002420 - 0.004 

Silt 0.004 - 0.062 

Sand, very fine 0.062 - 0.125 

Sand, fine 0.125-0.25 

Sand, medium 0.50 – 0.25 

Sand, coarse 0.50-1.0 

Sand, very coarse 1.0-2.0 

Gravel, very fine 2.0 – 4.0 

Gravel, fine 4-8 

Gravel, medium 8-16 

Gravel, coarse 16-32 

Gravel, very coarse 32-64 

Cobbles, small 64-128 

Cobbles, large 128-256 

Boulders, small 256 – 512 

Boulders, medium 512 – 1024 

Boulders, large 1024 – 2048 

Boulders, very large > 2048 

Figure C-1. Example of main channel versus left and right overbank roughness areas. 
86 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Appendix D – Error and Warning Messages 

No. WARNINGS/ERROR 

MESSAGE 

MEANING/ACTION TO CORRECT 

1 Do you really want to overwrite 

the existing file 

Confirms the new analysis output should 

overwrite the existing file (yes or no). 

2 Invalid range/duplicate data! The cross section boundary is not valid or a 

duplicated value is entered in the Stage and 

Section data entry window. Enter a different 

value. 

3 Invalid Entry An invalid entry (e.g., entry is not numeric). 

Enter a correct value. 

4 Maximum number of stage output 

is 500. Please Run the analysis 

again and select a larger value for 

stage increment 

The maximum number of output stages (500) 

has been exceeded for the given stage limits 

and stage increment. Try increasing the stage 

increment and/or decreasing the stage range. 

5 This is not a valid number. Number is outside of allowable range or letters 

entered instead of numbers. Enter a number 

within the allowable range. 

6 X is not a valid entry for 

(high/low) stage. Range Y to Z. 

The number entered (X) is not within the 

allowed stage range. Enter a number in the 

allowed range, between values Y and Z. 

7 X is above the range of input 

data! Use as is? 

The high stage value X is above the highest 

endpoint of the cross section. If Yes is chosen, 

frictionless vertical walls will be assumed at 

the ends of the cross section. 

8 File to large to open Selected analysis variables produce a file 

which is larger than available memory. Try 

scaling back analysis to reduce file size. 

9 X.XXX may be invalid, n values 

usually decrease! Use as is? 

Manning’s n values usually decrease with 

stage. Answering Yes will keep your entered 

value while No will clear the entry field. 

10 Invalid entry. Please select/enter 

the Section Boundaries in 

increasing order. 

Section boundaries need to be entered in 

increasing order (left to right) in the Stage and 

Section data entry window. 

11 Please specify File 1 Name. For Area comparison the name of file 1 is 

missing. 

12 Please specify File 2 Name. For Area comparison the name of file 2 is 

missing. 

 

 
Appendix D 87 

13 File X does note exist or invalid 

file name. Please check path and 

file name. 

An invalid file name or path has been entered. 

Check to see that the name and path are correct 

and that the file exists. 

14 File does not exist! Please select 

a different input file. 

An invalid file name or path has been entered 

for the input data file in the main plan window. 

Check to see that the name and path are correct 

and that the file exists. 

15 X. Cannot fine this file. Please 

verify that the correct path and 

file name are given. 

An invalid file name or path has been entered. 

Check to see that the name and path are correct 

and that the file exists. 

16 There are no stable points 

specified for input file X. Please 

specify the stable point. 

For analysis requiring a stable point (e.g., area 

comparison) file X must have a stable point 

specified. Specify the stable point in the input 

file using the input data editor or any text 

editor. 

17 Invalid data for Horizontal 

Boundary. 

Data is outside the valid range in Area 

Comparison. Enter a value in the allowed 

range. 

18 Horizontal Boundaries cannot be 

equal. Please correct value(s). 

For the Area Comparison, the two boundaries 

cannot be the same station. 

19 Left Horizontal Boundary cannot 

be bigger or equal to Right 

Horizontal Boundary. Please 

make the correction and try again. 

For the Area Comparison, the value or the left 

boundary must be less than the value of the 

right boundary. Enter a new boundary value. 

20 Some discharges are lower than 

the computed range. Bed load 

discharge for these points is set at 

0. 

Sediment discharges for flows less than the 

minimum on the sediment rating curve will be 

set to zero in the output file. 

21 Some discharges are higher than 

the computed range. Bed load 

discharge for these points is set to 

the maximum value computed. 

Sediment discharges for flows greater tan the 

maximum on the sediment rating curve will be 

set to the maximum sediment discharge value 

in the output file. 

22 There is no option selected. 

Implementation cancel. 

There is no option selected in the Modify 

Discharge. Select a Discharge option before 

proceeding. 

23 There is no entry for discharge 

modification’s parameter field. 

One or both Modify Discharge Window’s field 

(Discharge File or New Discharge File) is/are 

empty. 
88 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

24 Discharge input file invalid or 

does not exist. Please check the 

path and file name. 

The name or path of the input file is invalid. 

Check the path and file name and make sure 

the file exists. 

25 There is no entry for the new 

discharge file. 

Enter a new discharge file name to which the 

modified discharges will be written. 

26 File X exists. Overwrite? Requires user to confirm overwriting an 

existing file (e.g., data editor, output file). 

27 Invalid file name for the Input 

File. Please check the file name. 

The name or path of the input file is invalid. 

Check the path and file name and make sure 

the file exists. 

28 There is no entry for discharge 

file. 

In the Modify Discharge Window, Discharge 

field is empty. Enter the original (unmodified) 

discharge file name. 

29 The Bed load rating curve file X 

does not exist. Check the site 

name and its path. 

Invalid file name/path was provided for the 

Bed load Rating Curve window. Check the 

path and file name and make sure the file 

exists. 

30 The discharge file X does not 

exist. Check the file name and its 

path. 

Invalid file name/path was provided for the 

discharge input file. Check the path and file 

name and make sure the file exists 

31 The data file for this site does not 

exist. 

Invalid file name or path. Check the path and 

file name and make sure the file exists. 

32 The Bed load data file does not 

exist for this site. 

Invalid file name or path. Check the path and 

file name and make sure the file exists. 

33 There is no Bed load equation 

selected. 

Need to select one of the provided Bed load 

equations before analysis can be performed. 

34 There is no grain size analysis 

selected. 

Need to select an analysis method before 

analysis can be performed. 

35 The survey file for this site does 

not exist. 

An invalid file name or path is entered in the 

Modify Discharge window. 

36 Ackers-White (using D50) 

computed concentration less than 

zero. 

This method can generate negative 

concentrations. These will be set to zero in the 

output file. 

37 There is no entry for input file. No input file is entered. Enter a valid file and 

path name. 

38 Invalid value for temperature. The temperature entry data field in the AckersWhite window is either empty or has 

alphanumeric character(s). Only Numeric 

values can be entered. 
Appendix D 89 

 39 Invalid value for D50. The D50 entry data field in the Ackers-White 

window is either empty or has alphanumeric 

character(s). Only Numeric values can be 

entered. 

 40 Input file invalid or does not 

exist. Please check the path and 

file name. 

In the main Plan Window, the Input File field 

contains incorrect data. Check to make sure 

file has right type of data and is correctly 

formatted. 

 41 There is no entry for the X Axis 

decimal point format. 

In the Options menu, Axis Format, Axis X 

Decimal Point Number Format does not 

contain any data. 

 42 There is no entry for the Y Axis 

decimal point format. 

 In the Options menu, Axis Format, Axis Y 

Decimal Point Number Format does not 

contain any data. 

 43 Invalid number for the X Axis, 

range 0-3. 

In the Options menu, Axis Format, Axis X 

Decimal Point Number Format, the valid range 

is 0 (no decimal point) to a maximum of 3 

decimal points. 

 44 Invalid number for the Y Axis, 

range 0-3. 

 In the Options menu, Axis Format, Axis Y 

Decimal Point Number Format, the valid range 

is 0 (no decimal point) to a maximum of 3 

decimal points. 

 45 File does not exist or Corrupt 

Input file! Please select a 

different input file. 

In the main Plan Window, the entry for the 

Input File Name indicates an invalid or 

corrupted file. Check the path and file name, 

make sure the file exists, and check file data 

format. 

 46 There is no Column selected! 

Cannot perform Delete. 

Select a column before performing Delete 

Column in the data editor. 

 47 There is no Row selected! 

Cannot perform Delete. 

Select a row before performing Delete Column 

in the data editor. 

 48 Invalid entry. Number of digits 

after decimal point valid range is 

1 to 5. 

Under Plan menu, preferences, Analysis output 

format, the valid range of decimal points is 1 to 

5. 

 49 One or more selected output 

columns has/have no entry for 

number of digits after decimal 

point. Please correct your 

selection. 

Under Plan menu, Preferences, Analysis 

outpoint format, there is one or more fields 

with no data. Cannot set new configuration 

without filling all the fields. 

 50 Invalid file! Please check the 

original path of the output file and 

the version. 

The Plan selected is invalid. Make sure the 

Plan is created with WinXSPRO Version 2.0 or 

above. 
90 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

51 Invalid Plot Parameter Field(s) 

selected. Unable to locate the 

field(s) in the output file. 

The output file selected for Plot Parameters 

does not contain the selected parameters for 

plotting. Make sure desired parameters are 

chosen using the Analysis Output format 

feature before running the analysis. 

52 There is no data for D50. Shields 

Shear Stress requires D50 data 

and proper unit. 

In the plot parameters window, a median grain 

size must be entered for the Shields shear stress 

to be calculated. 

53 Invalid field name for Parker 

1990 with Size Fraction. Please 

check the file name. 

In the Bed load Rating Curve function, the Size 

function file entry is invalid. Check the file 

name, path and data format. 

54 Invalid data for the Size Fraction 

File. Please check the data file. 

The Bed load Rating Curve, Size Fraction File 

contains invalid data/format. 

55 The size fraction file contains 

more than 100 rows of data. 

Maximum allowable is 100 rows. 

 Cannot accept this input file. 

The selected file has too many rows of data. 

Modify the file so that it contains 100 rows. 

56 Invalid Hydraulics data file. Not 

all the required fields present. 

Not all the required fields are in the output file 

for selected Bed load Rating Curve Analysis. 

57 D84 is < = 0.0 for Thorne 

Equation. 

The sediment size must be a positive number. 

58 Less than 3 points in the cross 

section. 

A cross section must have at least three data 

points. 

59 The first point is not the leftmost 

or the last point is not the 

rightmost point on the section. 

No undercuts are allowed at the very beginning 

or end of a cross section. 

60 Subsection boundaries intersect. Subsection boundary stations must be 

increasing order from left to right. 

61 For one or more subsections(s), 

the first point is not the leftmost 

or the last point is not the 

rightmost point. 

No undercuts are allowed at the very beginning 

or end of a subsection (i.e., subsection 

boundaries cannot pass through an undercut). 

62 One or more subsection boundary 

station value does not tie with the 

existing ground shot. 

WinXSPRO could not find a groundpoint near 

the entered boundary station. Enter a different 

station. 

63 Error occurred while in function 

Undercut. 

An unexpected/Unknown error occurred while 

performing undercut Analysis. 

64 Cannot select Nelson et al. 

Default to Jarrett. 

Undercut Analysis does not support Nelson et 

al. Hydraulic analysis method. Try using the 

Jarrett method instead. 

65 File Seek Read Error! Output 

result not valid. 

An error occurred while performing read/write 

during analysis. 

66 Out of memory. Not enough memory available to display 

analysis text data. Close one or more running 

applications and try again. 

 
Appendix D 91 

67 Cannot implement Ration 1:1, 

Position scaling too small. 

Warning during Option, Plot Ratio, X:Y due to 

scaling factors. 

68 Cannot implement Ration 1:1, 

Stage scaling too small. 

Warning during Option, Plot Ratio, X:Y due to 

scaling factors. 

69 Cannot implement Ration 10:1, 

Stage scaling too large. 

Warning during Option, Plot Ratio, X:Y due to 

scaling factors. 

70 Cannot implement Ration 10:1, 

Position scaling too large. 

Warning during Option, Plot Ratio, X:Y due to 

scaling factors. 

71 There is not entry for High Stage There is no data for the High Stage Manning. 

Enter a valid value for the stage. 

72 There is not entry for Low Stage There is no data for the Low Stage Manning. 

Enter a valid value for the stage. 

73 There is not entry for High Stage 

Manning’s n 

There is no data for the High Stage Manning. 

Enter a valid value for the stage. 

74 There is not entry for Low Stage 

Manning’s n. 

There is no data for the Low Stage Manning. 

Enter a valid value for the stage. 

75 Error, cannot Plot Parameters. 

Please check the Output file. 

The files selected for Plot Parameters are 

invalid. Check the path and file name and the 

data format of the output file. 

76 Error, Cannot find valid data for 

both plot parameters. 

The required data cannot be found in the 

selected plot parameters input file field. Make 

sure the required parameters are output using 

the Analysis output Format feature. 

77 Cannot accept a D84 particle 

diameter of zero or negative. 

The value for D84 in the main Plan Window is 

invalid. 

78 No cell selected, please select a 

cell. 

There is no row selected for Delete in the data 

editor. Cannot perform the requested Delete 

action. 

79 There is no valid entry for Stage 

Increment. 

There is no entry in the Stage Increment field 

of the Stage & Section Window. Enter a value. 
92 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Appendix E - WinXSPRO Sample Files 

The directory SAMPLES distributed with the WinXSPRO program contains files that are known to 

work for the major features of the program. If you encounter problems getting a particular feature to 

work, substitute one of these files to help identify data formatting errors. The information below 

provides addition information needed for some of the examples to produce reasonable results. 

Typical Cross Sections 

File: EXAMPLE.SEC 

Example Creek is a typical gravel-bed river cross section. Data were collected with a rod and level, the 

tape was horizontal, and the data are in position-elevation format. The slope of the reach is 0.01. 

Bankfull discharge occurs at an elevation of 98.46 feet (stage = 3.53 feet) and bankfull discharge is 

estimated to be 237 cfs. For the Thorne and Zevenbergen resistance equation use a d84 of 225 mm. 

Manning’s n values of 0.06 are suggested for low flows (low stage of 1.0 feet) and values near 0.03 are 

suggested for flows near bankfull discharge (high stage of 3.5 feet). Set high stage to 5.0 if doing bed 

load computations using the example discharge file. 

File: SAMPLE.SEC 

This file is the data file used in Example Problem 4.

Cross Section With Undercut Banks 

File: UNDERCUT.SEC 

A typical cross section containing an undercut bank. 

Compare Two Cross Sections 

Files: BEFORE.SEC and AFTER.SEC 

These files compare a cross section over two time periods (before and after). The point (0,98.5) has 

been set as the stable point for each file be placing an “s” after the elevation value (0, 98.5s). The results 

below illustrate how various parts of the cross section might be compared. 

Comparison Change in area (ft2) Interpretation 

Left side (3 to 14 feet) 5.8 Degradation (after area is larger) 

Right side (14 to 30 feet) -5.2 Aggradation (after area is smaller) 

Entire X-sec (0 to 50 feet) 1.0 Degradation (after area is larger) 
Appendix E 93 

Nelson et al. Resistance Method and Bed Load Computations 

Files: EXAMPLE.SEC – basic cross section file 

 EXAMPLE.DAT – grain geometry and orientation file 

 DISCHARGE.DIS – one water year of discharge data
94 WinXSPRO Version 3.0 

Index 

Ackers and White....17, 19, 20, 21, 42, 46, 70, 

71, 72 

Analysis Output Format..............................35 

Analysis Parameters....................................34 

Analysis Procedure ...............................34, 40 

Area Comparison ......................42, 43, 68, 69 

Bathurst Equation ...........................14, 35, 63 

Bedload Discharge................................19, 45 

Bedload Rating Curve.................................42 

Channel Geometry ......1, 4, 15, 22, 37, 67, 68 

Charts ..............................................40, 41, 46 

Copying...................................................46 

Exporting ................................................49 

Format.....................................................46 

Print.........................................................40 

Printing....................................................41 

Saving .....................................................47 

Compare Areas................................42, 50, 68 

Computer Requirements ...............................3 

Cross-section Window..............36, 37, 47, 56 

Data Collection Method..............................36 

Edit Menu ...................................................42 

Error and Warning Messages......................86 

Field Procedures .....................................2, 22 

Files 

Chart Export File Formats ................46, 49 

Creating/Modifying Input File Data .......30 

Input File Data Format............................32 

Input File Selection.................................30 

Installatioin .............................................27 

Output File ..............................................51 

Flow Resistance Equations ...........................5 

Gini Coefficient ..............................17, 44, 70 

Glossary ......................................................79 

Grain Size Analysis ....................................42 

Help...........................................27, 46, 50, 51 

Hey Equation ......................13, 14, 35, 63, 64 

Hydraulic Radius4, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 

34, 51, 52, 61, 63, 65, 66, 67, 76, 81, 83 

Installation ........................................3, 27, 41 

Jarrett's Equation.......................14, 15, 30, 75 

Manning Window .................................37, 58 

Manning's n.7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 26, 30, 

34, 37, 38, 56, 65, 70, 81, 93 

Mean Depth.............1, 4, 7, 12, 13, 26, 76, 82 

Modify Discharge .................................42, 45 

Nelson et al. Method....................15, 16, 35, 37 

Options Menu .......................................40, 46 

Output 

Files 28, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 44, 45, 48, 50, 

51, 60, 62, 63, 66, 71 

Format.........................................28, 35, 40 

Overwrite or Append ........................35, 39 

Parameters.........................................35, 62 

Parker ........................1, 17, 18, 19, 42, 45, 75 

Particle Size Distribution................16, 24, 82 

Plan Creating...............................................28 

Plan Defaults...............................................40 

Plan Main Window .28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 36, 39, 

66, 78 

Plan Menu .............................................38, 41 

Plot Parameters .........................46, 47, 48, 50 

Plot Vertical Flow.......................................47 

Preferences................................35, 38, 40, 51 

Printing..............35, 38, 40, 41, 44, 46, 47, 51 

References...................................................73 

Regression...............34, 36, 46, 51, 52, 65, 67 

Resistance Equation1, 3, 4, 13, 15, 24, 25, 26, 

35, 40, 45, 93 

Rod and Level.....................24, 32, 33, 36, 93 

Sag Tape....................................23, 32, 33, 36 

Section Boundaries ...................36, 37, 56, 58 

Sediment Transport...1, 2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 19, 20, 

21, 24, 25, 76, 80 

Setup .....................................................27, 40 

Stable Point .............31, 34, 37, 43, 51, 68, 93 

Stage and Section Window .28, 36, 37, 56, 62 

Subdivision of Cross-sections.....................16 

Symbols.......................................................76 

Thorne and Zevenbergen ....13, 14, 24, 26, 30, 

51, 62, 63, 93 

Toolbox Menu.................................38, 42, 68 

Uniform Flow....................5, 6, 22, 37, 76, 84 

View Menu..................................................49 
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