Estimation of Peak Streamflows for

Unregulated Rural Streams in Kansas

Water-Resources Investigations Report 00–4079

Prepared in cooperation with the

KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
Photograph on cover is Kansas River at Wamego, Kansas, March 1997. 
U.S. Department of the Interior 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Estimation of Peak Streamflows for 

Unregulated Rural Streams in 

Kansas 

By PATRICK P. RASMUSSEN and CHARLES A. PERRY 

Water-Resources Investigations Report 00–4079 

Prepared in cooperation with the 

KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Lawrence, Kansas 

2000 
U.S. Department of the Interior 

Bruce Babbitt, Secretary 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Charles G. Groat, Director 

The use of firm, trade, or brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the 

U.S. Geological Survey. 

For additional information write to: Copies of this report can be purchased from: 

U.S. Geological Survey 

District Chief Information Services 

U.S. Geological Survey Building 810, Federal Center 

4821 Quail Crest Place Box 25286 

Lawrence, KS 66049–3839 Denver, CO 80225–0286 
CONTENTS 

Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................................. 1


Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1


Purpose and Scope....................................................................................................................................................... 1


Previous Studies .......................................................................................................................................................... 2


Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................................................... 2


Factors Affecting Occurrence of Floods................................................................................................................................ 2


Physical Characteristics............................................................................................................................................... 2


Climatic Characteristics............................................................................................................................................... 7


Occurrence of Extreme Floods .............................................................................................................................................. 7


Estimation of Peak-Streamflow Frequencies at Gaging Stations on Unregulated, Rural Streams ...................................... 7


Log-Pearson Type III Techniques................................................................................................................................ 10


Historical Peak Discharges and Outlier Thresholds .......................................................................................... 11


Skew Coefficient ............................................................................................................................................... 11


Peak-Streamflow Frequencies at Gaging Stations....................................................................................................... 12


Regression Equations for Estimation of Peak-Streamflow Frequencies at Ungaged Sites on Unregulated, Rural Streams 13


Regression Analysis .................................................................................................................................................... 13


Selected Physical and Climatic Characteristics................................................................................................. 13


Regression Equation Results ............................................................................................................................. 14


Use of Regression Equations....................................................................................................................................... 16


Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................... 16


Selected References .............................................................................................................................................................. 16


FIGURES 

1–3. Maps showing: 

1.	 Location of unregulated streamflow-gaging stations in Kansas used for estimation of peak­


streamflow frequencies...................................................................................................................................... 3


2. Generalized soil permeability for Kansas and surrounding areas ..................................................................... 5


3. Distribution of mean annual precipitation for Kansas and surrounding areas, 1961–90................................... 8


4. Graph showing relation between maximum observed discharge and contributing-drainage area.......................... 10


TABLES 

1. Maximum observed discharge relative to contributing-drainage area for largest observed floods in Kansas........ 9


2.	 Number of streamflow-gaging stations for selected ranges of contributing-drainage areas and average 


length of record for those stations........................................................................................................................... 11


3. 	 Selected physical and climatic characteristics as predictors of peak-streamflow discharges for unregulated,


rural streams in Kansas ........................................................................................................................................... 14


4. 	 Generalized least-squares regression equations for estimating 2- to 200-year peak-streamflow discharges


for unregulated, rural streams in Kansas................................................................................................................. 15


5. Streamflow-gaging station information, physical and climatic characteristics, and peak-streamflow magnitude


and frequency estimates for selected gaging stations with at least 10 years of annual peak-discharge


data for unregulated, rural streams in Kansas ......................................................................................................... 18


Contents III

CONVERSION FACTORS, ABBREVIATIONS, VERTICAL DATUM, AND DEFINITIONS 

Multiply By To obtain 

cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second 

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter 

foot per mile (ft/mi) 0.1894 meter per kilometer 

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter 

inch per hour (in/h) 25.4 millimeter per hour 

meter (m) 3.281 foot 

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer 

square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer 

Temperature can be converted to degrees Celsius (oC) or degrees Farenheit (oF) by the equations: 

o

C = 5/9(oF - 32) o

F = 9/5 (oC) + 32. 

Vertical Datum 

Sea Level: In this report, “sea level” refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929—a geodetic 

datum derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of the United States and Canada, 

formerly called Sea Level Datum of 1929. 

Definitions 

Water year: In U.S. Geological Survey reports dealing with surface-water supply, water year is the 12-

month period, October 1 through September 30. The water year is designated by the calender year in 

which it ends and which includes 9 of the 12 months. Thus the year ending September 30, 1998, is called 

the “1998 water year.” 

CDA—Contributing-drainage area


Gg—Generalized skewness coefficient


Gs—Station skewness coefficient


GLS–Generalized least squares


IACWD—Interagency Advisory Committee on Water Data


Lat—Latitude


Lng—Longitude


P—Mean annual precipitation


RMSE—Root-mean-square error


S—Soil permeability


Sl—Main channel slope


STATSGO—State soil geographic data base


WLS—Weighted least squares


IV Estimattion of Peak Streamflow for Unregulated rural streams in Kansas 
Estimation of Peak Streamflows for Unregulated Rural 


Streams in Kansas 

By Patrick P. Rasmussen and Charles A. Perry 

Abstract 

Peak streamflows were estimated at selected 

recurrence intervals (frequencies) ranging from 

2 to 200 years using log-Pearson Type III distributions for 253 streamflow-gaging stations in Kansas. The annual peak-streamflow data, through the 

1997 water year, were from streamflowgaging stations with unregulated flow in mostly 

rural basins. A weighted least-squares regression 

model was used to generalize the coefficients of 

station skewness. The resulting generalized 

skewness equation provides more reliable estimates than the previously developed equation 

for Kansas. 

A generalized least-squares regression model 

then was used to develop equations for estimating 

peak streamflows for sites without stream gages 

for selected frequencies from selected physical 

and climatic basin characteristics for sites without 

stream gages. The equations can be used to estimate peak streamflows for selected frequencies 

using contributing-drainage area, mean annual 

precipitation, soil permeability, and slope of the 

main channel for ungaged sites in Kansas with a 

contributing-drainage area greater than 0.17 and 

less than 9,100 square miles. The errors of prediction for the generalized least-squares-generated 

equations range from 31 to 62 percent. 

INTRODUCTION 

There is a continuing need for peak-streamflow 

information on Kansas streams. Information 

concerning frequency of peak streamflows in rural 

areas is vital to the safe and economic design of transportation drainage structures, such as bridges and culverts, and flood-control structures, such as dams, 

levees, and floodways. Effective flood-plain management programs and flood-insurance rates also are 

based on the analysis of peak-streamflow frequency. 

A study of peak-streamflow frequencies was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation 

with the Kansas Department of Transportation. Much 

of the data used in this study, especially for many of 

the partial-record streamflow-gaging stations located 

on small streams, were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (Putnam and others, 1998) as part of a 

cooperative program initiated with the Kansas Department of Transportation in 1956. 

Purpose and Scope 

The purpose of this report is to present results 

from an analysis of peak-streamflow frequencies for 

unregulated, mostly rural streams at streamflowgaging stations with 10 or more years of record, and to 

present equations for determining peak-streamflow 

frequencies at ungaged sites in Kansas. This report 

includes data through the 1997 water year and supersedes previous U.S. Geological Survey reports that 

provide flood-frequency results and (or) techniques for 

Kansas streams. 

The scope of the analyses included (1) determination of peak-streamflow frequencies for 253 streamflow-gaging stations in Kansas (fig. 1) using logPearson Type III techniques; (2) derivation of an equation to estimate the generalized skewness coefficients 

of the distribution of peak flows for each station, and 

(3) development of equations for relating the gaged, 

peak streamflow to respective physical and climatic 

characteristics and for estimating peak streamflows for 

Introduction 1 
selected recurrence intervals (frequencies) at 

ungaged, unregulated, mostly rural stream sites. 

Previous Studies 

Since 1960, seven studies have investigated various generalization techniques for estimating peakstreamflow frequencies for Kansas streams. Studies by 

Ellis and Edelen (1960), Irza (1966), Jordan and Irza 

(1975), and Clement (1987) analyzed peak-streamflow 

frequencies by using the available data and techniques 

to develop regression equations to estimate peak 

streamflows. Both Patterson (1964) and Matthai 

(1968) used the index-flood method, and Hedman and 

others (1974 used an active-channel-width concept to 

estimate the peak streamflow for selected 

recurrence intervals. 

The generalization technique presented in this 

report incorporates the most recent analytical methods 

for estimating peak-streamflow frequency and is considered more reliable than those techniques previously 

reported for use with unregulated, rural streams 

in Kansas. 

Acknowledgments 

Some of the peak-streamflow data used in the 

flood-frequency analysis were collected through cooperative agreements between the U.S. Geological Survey and numerous Federal, State, and local 

government agencies, including: U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers; Kansas Water Office; Kansas Department 

of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources; Arkansas 

River Compact Administration; Johnson County 

Department of Public Works; city of Hays; city of 

Wichita; city of Topeka; Hillsdale Lake Resource and 

Conservation District; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 

and Kansas Department of Transportation. 

FACTORS AFFECTING OCCURRENCE OF 

FLOODS 

Flooding on small streams in Kansas is generally 

the result of very intense thunderstorms that affect 

almost all of the watershed and produce rainfall rates 

that exceed soil-infiltration rates. Within large watersheds, flooding generally is the result of prolonged 

rainfall that affects a major part of the total drainage 

basin. The prolonged rainfall eventually saturates the 

soil to the point that only a small part of the subsequent rainfall can infiltrate the soil. Physical constrictions in the stream channels, such as bridges or 

culverts, logs or ice jams, or backwater from high 

flows in other interconnected channels, can increase 

the depth of flooding. Kansas streams rarely 

experience flooding that results from snowmelt or 

dam failures. 

Physical Characteristics 

Physical characteristics within the respective 

watersheds have a pronounced effect on the nature of 

flooding. Watersheds with various basin and channel 

slopes, shapes, and drainage patterns have varying 

effects on the potential for flooding. For example, 

steep slopes tend to allow excess rainfall to move more 

rapidly away from the headwater areas but allow more 

rapid accumulation at downstream locations where 

flood conditions occur. Varying watershed shapes also 

cause different responses to excess rainfall. Long, narrow watersheds generally are less affected by small, 

isolated storms because usually only a part of the 

watershed receives intense rainfall. On the other hand, 

compact-shaped watersheds have a greater chance to 

be affected entirely by storms of comparable size, and 

the dendritic (tree-like) stream pattern facilitates more 

rapid concentration of runoff at or near the watershed’s 

outlet; this increases the likelihood of downstream 

flooding. 

Other physical characteristics affecting the flood 

potential of watersheds are the types of soils and landuse and treatment practices within the watershed. For 

example, the flood potential from watersheds with 

soils of low permeability (fig. 2) is greater than that 

from watersheds where highly permeable soils tend to 

allow greater infiltration and less runoff. Land-treatment practices, such as contour farming and construction of water-retention structures, can reduce the 

amount of rapid runoff to a stream system and thus 

reduce stream peaks. 

Physiographically, Kansas is located almost 

entirely within the Interior Plains as described by 

Schoewe (1949). The hydrologic characteristics of the 

physiographic provinces within the Interior Plains are 

beyond the scope of this report, but the fact that there 

are significant variations denotes the complex nature 

of and difficulty in attempting to define floodfrequency relations across the State. 

2 Estimation of Peak Streamflows for Unregulated Rural Streams in Kansas 
Figure 1. Location of unregulated streamflow-gaging stations in Kansas used for estimation of peak-streamflow frequencies.

Cheyenne

Sherman

Wallace

Greeley Wichita Scott Lane Ness Rush

Pawnee

Hodgeman Finney

Hamilton Kearny

Stanton Grant Haskell

Gray

Ford

Edwards

Stafford

Pratt

Kingman

Reno

Rice

Barber

Harper

Sumner

Sedgwick

Harvey

Marion

Chase

Butler Greenwood

Elk

Chautauqua

Woodson

Wilson Neosho

Crawford

Cherokee Montgomery Labette

Cowley

Kiowa

Comanche

Stevens Seward

Morton Meade Clark

Barton

Logan

Thomas

Gove Trego Ellis

Sheridan Graham Rooks Osborne Mitchell

Lincoln

Russell

Ellsworth

Ottawa

Saline

McPherson

Rawlins

Decatur Norton Phillips Smith Jewell Republic Washington Marshall Nemaha Brown

Donlphan

Jefferson Leavenworth

Atchison

Jackson Cloud Clay

Geary

Riley

Wabaunsee

Shawnee

Douglas Johnson

Franklin

Osage

Lyon

Coffey

Morris

Dickinson

Pottawatomie

Miami

Linn

Anderson

Allen Bourbon

104 

40 

38 

102 98 96 

0

0 50 100 MILES

50 100 KILOMETERS

Base map from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:2,000,000, 1994

Albers Conic Equal-Area Projection,

Standard parallels 29 30' and 45 30', central meridian 96 

EXPLANATION

Streamflow-gaging station—Number corresponds to map index number used in tables 1 and 5

11

7 8 14

27

29 30 31

44

32

45

28

26

150

152

160 161 162 171

164

170

172 163

159

168

167

166

183

182

198

199

201

184

180

169

177

178

179

185

200

187 188 194 196

192

189

215

244

245

246

220

216

224

227 228

229 230 251

253

231 252

249

218

219

221

223 222

225

226

234

232

235

217 248

146

145

149

148

250

147

240

242 241

243

191

190

238

239

195

233

193

186

181

174

176

175 42

197

157

158

155

156

151

207

206

204 208

209 211

210

212

212

213 214

165

153

154

205

203

202

13

9

10 17

16

18

60

57

59

61

62

63

66

67 68

50

69

19

20

70

71 21

22

73

23 24

25 96 95

84

97

85 83

82

81

80

76

79

78

77

101

99

100

98

102 103

88 89

87

90

91 86 93 2

3

4

5

1

115 105

107

116 117

106

114

118 118

123

120

121

122

124

140

141

139

138 142

144

247

136

137

143

128 135

134 133

130131

129

127

237

236 132

125

126

108

110

111

113

104 112

94

92

72

52

51 47

37 46

34

36

35

33 48

49

39

38

53

41

40

74

54 75

55

43

173 56

58

64

65

15

8

12

COLORADO

NEBRASKA

IOWA

MISSOURI

NEW

MEXICO OKLAHOMA

KANSAS

Neosho

Fork

Ri ver

Saline River

North

Republican

River

Blue

River

Big

Delaware

R

River

South Fork Solomon

Wyandotte Smoky

Hill

River

Cimarron

River

Arkansas River

South

Fork

North Fork

Ni nnescah

River

River

Kansas

Verdigris

River

Rive r

Elk

Fal

A

l

rkansas River

MISSOURI

RIVER

River

100 
104 

40 

38 

102 98 96 

COLORADO 

IOWA 

NEW 

MEXICO 

OKLAHOMA 

KANSAS 

Dodge City Wichita

Hays 

Great Bend 

Salina 

Garden City 

Topeka 

Lawrence 

Junction 

City 

Kansas Cit

metropolita

area 

NEBRASKA 

MISSOURI 

100 

Base map from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:2,000,000, 1994 Soil permeability from U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Albers Conic Equal-Area Projection, 

Standard parallels 29 30' and 45 30', central meridian 96 EXPLANATION 0 50 100 M

Areas of equal average soil permeability (S), in inches per hour 0 50 100 KILOMETERS 

0.16 0.58 2.15 8.00 

0.24 0.90 3.35 12.4 

0.38 1.40 5.20 Water body 

Figure 2. Generalized soil permeability for Kansas and surrounding areas. 
Generally, it has been accepted that the nature of 

flooding follows one of two patterns—one typical of 

the eastern one-third of the State and one typical of the 

western two-thirds. The arbitrary dividing line passes 

through Wichita and west of Junction City (locations 

shown in fig. 2). Crippen and Bue (1977) identified a 

similarly located boundary within the State when 

dividing the conterminous United States into flood 

regions for a study of maximum floodflows. The 

topography of the western two-thirds of the State is 

typical of the high plains region and is characterized 

by flat or gently sloping surfaces with little relief and 

soils of high permeability (fig. 2). The topography of 

the eastern one-third of the State is more variable, with 

alternating hills and lowlands having soils of low permeability (fig. 2). 

Land-surface elevations within the State range 

from about 700 ft above sea level at the KansasOklahoma State line in southeast Kansas to about 

4,135 ft above sea level at a point near the KansasColorado State line in western Kansas—a vertical difference of about 3,435 ft. Average basin slope for the 

253 streamflow-gaging stations in Kansas is about 

10 ft/mi. 

Climatic Characteristics 

The climate of Kansas is affected by the movement of frontal air masses over the open, inland plains, 

and seasonal precipitation extremes are common. 

About 70 percent of the mean annual precipitation 

falls from April through September. Precipitation during early spring and late fall occurs in association with 

frontal air masses that produce low-intensity rainfall of 

regional coverage. During the summer months, the 

weather is dominated by warm, moist air from the 

Gulf of Mexico or by hot, dry air from the Southwest. 

Summer precipitation generally occurs as high intensity thunderstorms. 

Watersheds in Kansas exhibit a wide range of climatic characteristics that affect peak-streamflow 

frequency. Generally, the climatic characteristics vary 

in an east-west direction, with little north-south variation. The general climate of the western part of Kansas 

is semiarid with hot, dry summer months and cold, 

windy winter months. The eastern part of the State 

tends to be considerably more humid, with sultry 

summer months and cold winter months. Mean annual 

precipitation in the State varies from about 16 in. in 

the extreme western part to about 42 in. in the southeast (Daly and others, 1997) (fig. 3). 

OCCURRENCE OF EXTREME FLOODS 

Moderate flooding is an annual occurrence in Kansas; however, the State has experienced several 

extreme floods. Notably, the floods of 1951 in river 

basins of eastern and north-central Kansas were the 

result of a large storm system. Likewise, the floods 

that occurred on the Elk River during 1976 were 

extreme. The Great Bend area experienced extreme 

flooding during June 1981 when an isolated but very 

intense storm system produced up to 20 in. of rain during a 12-hour period (Clement and Johnson, 1982). 

Several storm systems during the summer of 1993 

caused flooding in the Saline and Solomon River 

Basins of central Kansas (fig. 1) and all of the river 

basins in northeast and east-central Kansas. In 1995, 

intense storms caused widespread flooding in the eastern two-thirds of Kansas. 

These are but a few of many floods that have been 

experienced on Kansas streams that are among the 

largest of floods recorded. The maximum observed 

discharges in relation to the respective contributingdrainage areas for the largest observed floods in Kansas are listed in table 1. The relation between maximum discharge and contributing-drainage area for the 

data presented in table 1 are depicted graphically in 

figure 4. Envelope curves have been drawn through the 

highest points for both eastern and western Kansas. 

No recurrence interval can be assigned to the curves 

although they represent peak discharges generally several times greater than those having 100-year 

recurrence intervals. 

ESTIMATION OF PEAK-STREAMFLOW 

FREQUENCIES AT GAGING STATIONS ON 

UNREGULATED, RURAL STREAMS 

Techniques from Bulletin 17B of the Interagency 

Advisory Committee on Water Data (1981) for estimating peak-streamflow frequency were used with 

annual maximum peak-streamflow data from 

253 streamflow-gaging stations with 10 or more years 

of unregulated, rural peak-streamflow record. 

Unregulated, rural peak-streamflow record is defined 

as less than 10 percent of the basin is regulated by a 

dam or is impervious. The drainage areas for these 

Estimation of Peak-Streamflow Frequencies at Gaging Stations on Unregulated, Rural Streams 7 
104 102 100 98 96 

40 38 

COLORADO 

NEBRASKA 

IOWA 

MISSOURI 

NEW MEXICO 

OKLAHOMA 

KANSAS 

Topeka 

Wichita 

Garden City 

Dodge City 

Great Bend 

Salina 

Hays 

Lawrence 

Kansas C 

metropo 

area 

Junction 

City 

14 

16 

12 

14 

16 

18 20 22 24 26 28 

30 

32 34 

36 

38 

40 

42 

16

Base map from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:2,000,000, 1994 Precipitation contours from Daly and others
Albers Conic Equal-Area Projection, 0 50
 Standard parallels 29 30' and 45 30', central meridian 96 EXPLANATION


0 50 100 KILOMETERS 

Line of equal mean annual precipitation—Interval is 2 inches 

rive/Kansas Reports 1/95-KS010-1 Rasmussen WRIR/ fig 03 

Figure 3. Distribution of mean annual precipitation for Kansas and surrounding areas, 1961–90. 

8 Estimation of Peak Streamflows for Unregulated Rural Streams in Kansas 

100 
Table 1. Maximum observed discharge relative to contributing-drainage area for largest observed floods in 

Kansas 

[--not applicable; *, indicates that station is not listed in table 5 at the end of this report and is not in figure 1] 

Station U.S. Contributing- Maximum observed discharge 

map index Geological drainage area Magnitude 

number Survey station (square (cubic feet 

(fig. 1) number U.S. Geological Survey station name or location miles) Date per second) 

Eastern Kansas 

-- 06815600* Wolf River near Hiawatha 41 Aug. 9, 1968 40,000 

81 06878500 Lyon Creek near Woodbine 230 July 1951 93,000 

83 06879650 Kings Creek near Manhattan 4.09 May 13, 1995 10,200 

105 06889100 Soldier Creek near Goff 2.06 May 10, 1970 7,080 

131 06912300 Dragoon Creek tributary near Lyndon 3.76 June 11, 1981 8,200 

134 06913500 Marais des Cygnes River near Ottawa 1,250 July 11, 1951 142,000 

191 07147020 Whitewater River tributary near Towanda .17 June 5, 1965 510 

215 07165700 Verdigris River near Madison 181 July 11, 1951 128,000 

219 07166700 Burnt Creek at Reece 8.85 June 9, 1965 20,500 

221 07167500 Otter Creek at Climax 129 July 3, 1976 107,000 

226 07169800 Elk River at Elk Falls 220 July 3, 1976 200,000 

236 07179500 Neosho River at Council Grove 250 July 11, 1951 121,000 

237 07179600 Four Mile Creek near Council Grove 55 June 26, 1969 68,100 

242 07181500 Middle Creek near Elmdale 92 June 27, 1969 90,000 

243 07182000* Cottonwood River at Cottonwood Falls 1,327 July 11, 1951 196,000 

244 07182400 Neosho River at Strawn 2,933 July 11, 1951 400,000 

247 07183000 Neosho River near Iola 3,818 July 13, 1951 436,000 

249 07183500 Neosho River near Parsons 4,905 July 14, 1951 410,000 

Western Kansas 

14 06847600 Prairie Dog Creek tributary at Colby 7.53 June 18, 1975 4,300 

37 06863900 North Fork Big Creek near Victoria 54 Aug. 9, 1974 26,400 

66 06873500 South Fork Solomon River at Alton 1,720 July 12, 1951 91,900 

68 06873800 Kill Creek tributary near Bloomington 1.45 May 21, 1961 2,000 

73 06876200 Middle Pipe Creek near Miltonvale 10.2 Sept. 26, 1973 6,400 

75 06876900 Solomon River at Niles 6,770 July 14, 1951 178,000 

80 06878000 Chapman Creek near Chapman 300 July 1951 46,700 

165 07142100 Rattlesnake Creek tributary near Mullinville 10.3 Sept. 26, 1973 7,000 

-- 07143800* Black Kettle Creek tributary near Halstead 1.65 June 2, 1962 2,440 

178 07144000 East Emma Creek near Halstead 58 Aug. 25, 1960 18,000 

180 07144780 North Fork Ninnescah River above Cheney Reservoir 787 Oct. 30, 1979 87,000 

183 07144900 South Fork Ninnescah River tributary near Pratt 1.48 July 5, 1987 2,310 

-- * Dry Walnut Creek tributary near Great Bend 2.28 June 15, 1981 5,720 

-- * Dry Walnut Creek tributary near Great Bend 1.19 June 15, 1981 3,080 

-- * Dry Walnut Creek tributary near Great Bend .92 June 15, 1981 1,870 

-- * Dry Walnut Creek tributary near Great Bend .66 June 15, 1981 1,340 

Estimation of Peak-Streamflow Frequencies at Gaging Stations on Unregulated, Rural Streams 9 
1,000,000 Discharge, in cubic feet per second 

100,000 

10,000 

1,000 

100 

1 10 100 1,000 10,000 

Western Kansas 

envelope curve 

Western Kansas 

data point 

Eastern Kansas 

data point 

Eastern Kansas 

envelope curve 

Contributing-drainage area, in square miles 

Figure 4. Relation between maximum observed discharge and contributing-drainage area (modified from Crippen and 

Bue, 1977). 

stations ranged from 0.17 to 9,100 mi

2 and extend into 

parts of Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, or Oklahoma for some stations. A summary of drainage-area 

distribution and average observed length of record per 

station for those stations used in the analysis is given 

in table 2. Peak streamflows for 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, 

100-, and 200-year recurrence intervals were 

calculated. 

Log-Pearson Type III Techniques 

In 1966, under the authority of House Document 

465 (1966), the Interagency Advisory Committee on 

Water Data (IACWD) investigated various techniques 

for the analysis of peak-streamflow frequency and in 

1967 recommended that the log-Pearson Type III 

frequency distribution be adopted as the standard technique to be used in Federal practice (U.S. Water 

Resources Council, 1967). Subsequently, the U.S. 

Water Resources Council conducted additional studies 

that resulted in improvements to the initial logPearson Type III technique. The improvements were 

reported in Bulletin 17B (Interagency Advisory 

Committee on Water Data, 1981). 

The log-Pearson Type III technique transforms the 

arithmetic values of peak discharges to log values, 

then three statistics of the log values (mean, standard 

deviation, and skewness) are computed by the method 

of moments. The skewness coefficient is adjusted by 

weighting the computed station skewness with a generalized skew coefficient. 

The reliability of the estimated peak-streamflow 

frequency is dependent on the assumption that the distribution to which the data are fit is correct and that the 

data are accurate and drawn from a representative 

sample of random and independent events. The length 

of the period used to compute the estimates of peakstreamflow frequencies and the variability of the data 

10 Estimation of Peak Streamflows for Unregulated Rural Streams in Kansas 
Table 2. Number of streamflow-gaging stations for selected 

ranges of contributing-drainage areas and average length of 

record for those stations 

Average Contributing- Number of observed drainage area streamflow­

(square miles) gaging stations length of record 

(years) 

0.17 to less than 1 13 30.2 

1 to less than 3 17 28.8 

3 to less than 10 28 31.5 

10 to less than 30 33 25.1 

30 to less than 100 37 25.2 

100 to less than 300 37 33.8 

300 to less than 1,000 45 34.2 

1,000 to less than 31 36.4 

3,000 

3,000 to 9,100 14 35.9 

are the principal measures of the reliability. Generally, 

the longer the record the more reliable the estimates 

become because the size of the sampling error is proportional to the inverse of the square root of the length 

of the record. 

Historical Peak Discharges and Outlier Thresholds 

Many of the records of annual peak discharges at 

streamflow-gaging stations used in this study contained additional information relating to peak discharges that occurred before, during, or after the 

period of systematic record collection and represented 

maximum occurrences during an extended period. For 

example, it may be known that the maximum peak discharge recorded during the systematic record collection was the largest since a point in time before the 

beginning or after the ending of the recorded period. 

Likewise, a peak discharge that occurred outside of the 

period of systematic record may be known to be larger 

than any peak discharge that occurred during that 

period. This “historical data” can be used to make 

adjustments to the original distribution of the data by 

assigning a historical period of record that is longer 

than the systematic period, resulting in adjusted recurrence intervals of the annual maximum peak 

discharges. 

Many drainage areas in Kansas, primarily western 

Kansas, have physical and climatic characteristics that 

can yield small annual peak streamflows. These small 

annual peak streamflows are considered low outliers if 

they are less than a certain threshold. The outlier 

thresholds identify data points that depart significantly 

from the trend of the remaining data, are defined by 

the IACWD (1981), and are accounted for in the analysis. In some situations, usually where there is more 

than one low outlier, the threshold appears too low. A 

visual inspection of the log-Pearson Type III distribution curve allows the analyst to observe the low-outlier 

threshold relative to the peak-discharge data set and 

adjust as deemed appropriate. Low-outlier thresholds 

were increased for 25 stations in Kansas to improve 

the fit of the data to the log-Pearson Type III distribution. Higher outliers were computed using the IACWD 

(1981) method. 

Skew Coefficient 

The IACWD (1981) recommends that the skewness coefficient computed from station records be 

weighted with a generalized skewness coefficient to 

reduce the bias caused primarily by records having relatively short lengths. The default method entails estimating the generalized skewness coefficient from a 

map showing lines of equal skewness for the entire 

United States (Interagency Advisory Committee on 

Water Data, 1981). The map showing generalized 

skewness coefficients of logarithms of annual peak 

streamflows is based on the skewness coefficients 

computed from station records collected through 1973 

at 2,972 streamflow-gaging stations nationwide having 

25 or more years of unregulated record and drainage 

areas less than 3,000 mi

2. The root-mean-square error 

(RMSE) between the isolines on the map and the station data for the entire country is 0.55. 

Although using the IACWD (1981) map of generalized skewness probably improves most peak-streamflow frequency computations, the spatial position of 

the lines of equal skewness is subjective. The IACWD 

(1981) recommends that skewness coefficients be 

regionalized by one of three techniques— 

(1) averaging the station skewness coefficients within 

a specific area, (2) developing a local skewness map, 

or (3) relating the coefficients to predictor variables, 

such as physical and climatic characteristics of the 

drainage basins. 

The greatest problem encountered when estimating the value of the skewness coefficient is the large 

error in results that are computed from short-term gaging-station records. A weighted least-squares (WLS) 

regression model was developed by Tasker and Stedinger (1986) to solve this problem. This WLS model 

weights the error variances on the basis of the length 

of the data record and variability in the data. The WLS 

model is well adapted for analysis of hydrologic data 

Estimation of Peak-Streamflow Frequencies at Gaging Stations on Unregulated, Rural Streams 11 
having variable accuracy because of the ability to separate the error of prediction into the sampling error 

and model error and to treat each error separately on 

the basis of length of the peak-streamflow record at the 

gaging station. The sampling error is a function of the 

length of the record and the degree of deviation from 

the average predictor variables. The model error, in 

this case, is the error associated with the formulation 

of the model. The error that can be expected when 

using the regression equation is the error of prediction, 

which includes both the sampling and model errors. 

The WLS regression model weights each unbiased 

estimate of skewness on the basis of the length of the 

record of annual peak discharges. The technique 

relates the station skewness coefficient determined 

from the log-Pearson Type III distribution to one or 

more physical or climatic characteristics of the respective drainage basins. The result of the computations 

yields the coefficients and constants of a regression 

equation, as well as their significance to the equation. 

The resulting equation can be used to estimate the generalized skewness coefficient. 

The WLS regression model in this report used station skewness computed from 253 streamflow-gagingstation records in Kansas as the dependent variable 

and several physical and climatic characteristics for 

each station as independent (predictor) variables. A 

summary of the results, including description and 

dimensions of the various physical and climatic characteristics for each gaging station used in the analysis, 

is provided in table 5 (at the end of this report). 

The computation of the generalized skewness 

coefficient was limited to those stations having drainage areas no larger than 9,100 mi

2

. The length of 

record for all stations was 11 or more years, and the 

value of station skewness ranged from -1.76 to 1.99. 

Contributing drainage area (CDA), latitude (Lat), and 

longitude (Lng) were the independent variables that 

yielded the best equation on the basis of the magnitude 

of the RMSE. 

The equation used for estimating the generalized 

skewness coefficient at streamflow-gaging stations in 

Kansas is: 

Gg = 1.191 + 0.0641 log10(CDA) + 0.0935 (Lat) -

0.0519 (Lng), (1) 

where 

Gg = generalized skewness coefficient for the 

selected gaging station to be used in lieu 

of the IACWD Bulletin 17B map of 

generalized skewness (Interagency 

Advisory Committee on Water Data, 

1981); 

CDA = contributing-drainage area, in square 

miles; 

Lat = latitude of the gaging station, in decimal degrees; and 

Lng = longitude of the gaging station, in decimal degrees. 

A weighted skewness coefficient used to compute 

the frequency of peak streamflows was the result of 

weighting estimates of the station skewness coefficient 

(Gs) and generalized skewness coefficient (Gg), where 

the weights were estimates as recommended in 

IACWD Bulletin 17B (1981, p. 12–13). In this case, 

the RMSE associated with the generalized skewness 

coefficient (Gg) is the error of prediction of the estimating equation. The RMSE is 0.19 for equation 1, 

whereas it is 0.35 in the most recent previously published peak-streamflow report for Kansas (Clement, 

1987). Increased record length is most likely the reason the RMSE has improved. 

Peak-Streamflow Frequencies at 

Gaging Stations 

Using the unregulated annual peak streamflows 

recorded for 253 streamflow-gaging stations with 

lengths of record equal to or greater than 10 years, logPearson Type III distributions were fitted to the peakstreamflow data for each site. Adjustments then were 

made to account for data that represented low or high 

outliers and for historical data where necessary. Final 

estimates of peak-streamflow frequencies (table 5) 

were computed using the generalized skewness coefficients (Gg) obtained for each station using equation 1 

and weighted with the station skewness coefficient 

(Gs) as recommended in IACWD Bulletin 17B (1981). 

A study by Perry and Rasmussen (in press) points 

out that the effects of streamflow trends are not 

accounted for using the peak-streamflow frequency 

techniques in Bulletin 17B. Further investigation may 

be required to fully understand the effects of trends on 

peak streamflow and how to adjust the peak-streamflow analysis accurately. Peak-streamflow frequency 

analysis assumes a random sampling of a stable population of annual peak streamflows. If that population is 

not stable (that is, mean and standard deviations are 

not constant), it may be necessary to adjust the peak12 Estimation of Peak Streamflows for Unregulated Rural Streams in Kansas 
streamflow data to obtain the best-fit peak-streamflow 

frequency analysis. However, the persistence of trends 

must be considered also. 

REGRESSION EQUATIONS FOR 

ESTIMATION OF PEAK-STREAMFLOW 

FREQUENCIES AT UNGAGED SITES ON 

UNREGULATED, RURAL STREAMS 

Regression Analysis 

Although information concerning peak-streamflow frequencies is available at many streamflowgaging-station locations in Kansas, often such 

information is needed at stream sites where insufficient or no data are available. Generalization of the 

peak-streamflow frequency information at gaging stations will facilitate estimates at ungaged sites. Multiple-regression analysis was used in this study to relate 

the peak streamflow at selected frequency intervals to 

various physical and climatic characteristics. 

Research by Tasker and Stedinger (1989) indicates 

that generalized least squares (GLS) is appropriate for 

hydrologic regression. GLS regression takes into consideration the time-sampling error (length of record at 

each site) and the cross correlation of annual peak 

streamflows between sites. 

The GLS regression model in this study used 

base-10 logarithmic transformation for both dependent 

and independent variables. The form of the model 

equation is: 

log10Qt

 =log10a + b1log10X1+ b2log10X2....+ 

bnlog10Xn, (2) 

which is equivalent to: 

bn Qt = 10a

X1 

b2 b1 X2 ...Xn , (3) 

where 

Qt is peak discharge for recurrence interval 

t, in years (dependent variable); 

X1 - Xn are physical and climatic characteristics 

(independent variables); 

a is the regression constant; and 

b1 - bn are the regression coefficients. 

Selected Physical and Climatic Characteristics 

The independent variables tested in the regression 

analysis were physical and climatic characteristics of 

each drainage basin. Initially, eight physical and climatic characteristics were tested: contributingdrainage area (CDA), mean annual precipitation (P), 

soil permeability (S), latitude and longitude, main 

channel length, main channel slope (Sl), basin slope, 

basin shape, and basin elevation. 

In previous peak-streamflow frequency studies for 

Kansas, characteristics describing the physiography 

and climate of each drainage basin were calculated 

using rough approximations with paper maps. 

Depending on the scale of the map or the techniques 

used to calculate the characteristic, a variety of errors 

could occur. Some physical characteristics that possibly could improve the regression estimates were 

nearly impossible to calculate and either were estimated or ignored for the analysis. 

For this study, ARC/INFO geographical information systems (GIS) software was used to estimate 

physical and climatic characteristics. Many spatialdata sets were available for this task, including: 

(1) 30-m gridded elevation data (U.S. Geological Survey, 1998) for determining the drainage-basin boundary, contributing-drainage area, basin slope, and mean 

basin elevation, (2) STATSGO soil-permeability data 

(U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1994), and 

(3) 30-year (1961–90) mean annual precipitation data 

(Daly and others, 1997). Drainage boundaries were 

determined using GIS for all 253 gaging stations used 

in the report. The drainage boundaries and the spatialdata sets just mentioned were used to calculate average 

physical and climatic characteristics for each basin 

(table 3). 

Regression analysis relies on the assumption that 

independent variables are not closely interrelated. Violation of this rule generally results in regression coefficients that are unstable, and it becomes difficult to 

evaluate the interrelated variables’ importance to the 

respective equations. Therefore, a simple cross-correlation matrix was computed for all independent variables and was used in the analysis to identify variables 

that might pose problems if included in the same analysis. Pairs of variables having correlation coefficients 

greater than 0.8 were considered closely interrelated, 

were evaluated further in the initial analysis, and only 

the more significant variable of the pair was included 

in the final analysis. 

The ability of a regression equation to reliably 

estimate the peak streamflow having selected recurrence intervals at ungaged sites is measured by the 

error of prediction. The error of prediction is the meaRegression Equations for Estimation of Peak-Streamflow Frequencies at Ungaged Sites on Unregulated, Rural Streams 13 
Table 3. Selected physical and climatic characteristics as predictors of peak-streamflow discharges for unregulated, rural 

streams in Kansas 

Basin 

characteristics 

code Description of basin physical or climatic characteristic 

CDA Contributing-drainage area upstream from the streamflow-gaging station that contributes directly to the 

streamflow, in square miles. 

P Mean annual precipitation for the entire basin, in inches. 

Sl Slope of the main channel, in feet per mile, as measured by dividing the difference in elevation at points in 

the channel at 10 and 85 percent of the main channel length by the intervening main channel length. 

S Average soil permeability for the entire basin, in inches per hour. 

sure of confidence in the estimated peak streamflow 

and describes the range within which an estimate 

would occur two-thirds of the time. Computed in logarithmic units, the RMSE, or the error of prediction, 

can be expressed as a percentage as shown in Hardison 

(1971). The percentages are unequal in the positive 

and negative directions. For example, the standard 

error of estimate of 0.17 logarithmic units represents 

errors of +48 and -32 percent; the average of the two 

percentages without regard to sign is 40 percent. 

Regression Equation Results 

Regression analysis was performed, and equations 

were developed for peak streamflow having recurrence 

intervals of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 years. The 

independent variables that most contribute to the 

explanation of the variance in the dependent variable 

(the peak streamflow) were CDA, P, Sl, and S. Table 4 

gives the equations, the errors of prediction, and the 

equivalent years of record for each recurrence interval. 

Attempts were made to improve the error of prediction for the regression equations by developing 

regional equations for smaller parts of the State. The 

first attempt was to divide the State along 

97o longitude, similar to the division developed by 

Crippen and Bue (1977) as discussed earlier. Separate 

equations were developed for the gaging stations in the 

eastern and western divisions. The prediction error for 

the equations representing the eastern division 

decreased slightly, whereas the prediction error for the 

equations representing the western division increased. 

Another attempt to reduce the prediction error was 

to group gaging stations according to drainage areas. 

The prediction errors for most of the equations developed for various groups tested were greater than the 

original error of prediction for equations developed 

from all 253 gaging stations. The best results were 

achieved when stations with contributing-drainage 

areas ranging from 30 to 9,100 mi2

 were grouped 

together. Standard errors of prediction were reduced 

between 12 and 20 percent from predictions errors 

using all 253 stations. Standard error of prediction for 

equations developed for stations with contributingdrainage areas ranging from 0.17 to less than 30 mi2 

were equal to or slightly greater than the standard 

errors for the equations developed using all 

the stations. The error of prediction for the most reliable equations ranged from 0.131 (31 percent) for the 

10-year recurrence interval in large basins to 0.248 

(62 percent) for the 200-year recurrence interval in 

small basins. 

A direct statistical comparison of the equations 

from Clement (1987) to the equations from the current 

investigation is not possible because of differing data 

and groups of gages upon which the equations are 

based. Clement (1987) developed equations that were 

based on 218 gaging stations compared to the two 

groups of 91 and 164 gaging stations used in the current investigation. A review of the standard error of 

prediction of the equations indicates the errors in the 

1987 study are generally about 15 percent less than 

those of the current investigation. However, separate 

regression analysis (not included in this report) was 

done using (1) peak streamflow record through 1903 

for 237 gaging stations, (2) the same basin characteristics as in this investigation, and (3) the same drainagearea grouping as described in this investigation. The 

standard errors of prediction of the resulting equations 

are about 13 percent greater than those for the equations presented in this report. 

Hardison (1971) related prediction error and 

streamflow variability to equivalent years of record. 

14 Estimation of Peak Streamflows for Unregulated Rural Streams in Kansas 
Table 4. Generalized least-squares regression equations for estimating 2- to 200-year peak-streamflow discharges for 

unregulated, rural streams in Kansas 

[Qt, estimated peak discharge, in cubic feet per second, for a t-year recurrence interval; CDA, contributing-drainage area for the site, in square miles; P, 

average mean annual precipitation for the entire basin, in inches; Sl, slope of the main channel, in feet per mile; S, average soil permeability for the entire 

basin, in inches per hour] 

Model 

Model standard standard Average 

error of error of equivalent 

prediction prediction years of 

Qt Regression equations (log10 units) (percent) record 

Q2 

Q5 

Q10 

Q25 

Q50 

Q100 

Q200 

Q2 

Q5 

Q10 

Q25 

Q50 

Q100 

Q200 

For drainage areas ranging from 30 to 9,100 square miles 

0.000182 (CDA)0.532(P)4.055 0.177 +50/-33 6.0 

0.00000501(CDA)0.648(P)4.614(Sl)

0.557 .157 +44/-30 7.6 

0.00001477(CDA)0.646(P)4.307(Sl)

0.5266(S)-0.1736 .155 +43/-30 7.8 

0.007166(CDA)

0.494(P)3.281 .154 +43/-30 10 

0.000344(CDA)

0.592(P)3.760(Sl)0.4596 .138 +37/-27 13 

0.001336(CDA)

0.590(P)3.373(Sl)0.4235(S)-0.2231 .133 +36/-26 14 

0.0390(CDA)0.480(P)2.931 .150 +41/-29 14 

0.00245(CDA)0.570(P)

3.371(Sl)0.4117 .137 +37/-27 17 

0.01085(CDA)0.568(P)

2.945(Sl)0.374(S)-0.248 .131 +35/-26 19 

0.195(CDA)0.469(P)2.603 .153 +42/-30 19 

0.0163(CDA)0.550(P)3.001(Sl)

0.365 .144 +39/-28 21 

0.0829(CDA)0.549(P)2.532(Sl)

0.326(S)-0.275 .136 +37/-27 24 

0.508(CDA)0.465(P)2.411 .159 +44/-31 21 

2.482(CDA)0.473(P)1.916(S)-0.318 .150 +41/-29 24 

0.283(CDA)0.539(P)2.283(S)-0.293(Sl)

0.298 .144 +39/-28 26 

1.16(CDA)0.462(P)

2.250 .166 +47/-32 23 

5.93(CDA)0.471(P)

1.733(S)-0.332 .156 +43/-30 26 

0.810(CDA)0.532(P)2.070(S)-0.309(Sl)

0.272 .153 +42/-30 27 

2.30(CDA)0.461(P)

2.110 .174 +49/-33 24 

12.7(CDA)0.470(P)

1.575(S)-0.344 .164 +46/-31 27 

2.050(CDA)0.526(P)1.882(S)-0.324(Sl)

0.250 .163 +46/-31 28 

For drainage areas ranging from 0.17 to less than 30 square miles 

0.0126(CDA)0.579(P)2.824 .216 +64/-39 4.1 

0.300(CDA)0.600(P)2.138 .184 +53/-35 7.0 

1.224(CDA)0.611(P)

1.844 .183 +58/-37 9.0 

4.673(CDA)0.622(P)1.572 .198 +58/-37 10 

10.26(CDA)0.628(P)1.415 .214 +64/-39 11 

19.80(CDA)0.634(P)1.288 .232 +71/-44 11 

34.68(CDA)0.640 (P)

1.181 .248 +77/-44 11 

Regression Equations for Estimation of Peak-Streamflow Frequencies at Ungaged Sites on Unregulated, Rural Streams 15 
The equivalent years of record is the number of years 

of streamflow record necessary to provide an estimate 

equal in accuracy to the regression equation. The 

accuracy of the regression equations for unregulated, 

rural streams, expressed in average equivalent years of 

record, is summarized in table 4. 

Use of Regression Equations 

The GLS regression equations shown in table 4 

may be used to estimate the peak streamflow for specific recurrence intervals (frequencies) at ungaged 

sites by determining the values of the physical and climatic characteristics relative to the site and substituting the values into the respective equations. The values 

for contributing-drainage area (CDA) can be determined from digital data using GIS or paper topographic maps. The values for mean annual precipitation (P) and soil permeability (S) can be determined 

from digital data using GIS or from figures 2 or 3. 

Both P and S are areal averages for the entire drainage 

area. Main channel slope (Sl) can be measured and 

calculated from topographic maps. 

The equations shown in table 4 were developed 

using data from streams located in rural basins, whose 

contributing-drainage areas ranged from 0.17 to 

9,100 mi

2, during periods of record when flows were 

unregulated. Therefore, the equations should not be 

used to estimate peak streamflow if the watershed is 

not predominately rural, if the contributing-drainage 

area is smaller than 0.17 mi

2

 or larger than 9,100 mi2, 

or if streamflow is affected by regulation. 

SUMMARY 

Estimates of peak streamflow for selected frequencies were computed by using observed annual peakstreamflow data collected through the 1997 water year 

for streamflow-gaging stations located on unregulated 

rural streams in Kansas with 10 or more years of 

record. Log-Pearson Type III distributions were fitted 

to the observed annual peak-streamflow data for each 

streamflow-gaging station by using techniques recommended by the Interagency Committee on Water Data. 

Peak streamflows for 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, 100-, and 

200-year recurrence intervals were calculated. 

A weighted least-squares (WLS) regression model 

was used to estimate a generalized skew coefficient for 

all the stations in this analysis. The WLS regression 

model used station skew coefficients computed from 

253 streamflow-gaging-station records in Kansas as 

the dependent variable and several physical and climatic characteristics for each station as independent 

(predictor) variables in a regression equation. The 

root-mean-square error (RMSE) for this equation 

(0.19) decreased from a RMSE of 0.35 for a previously developed equation. 

Regression equations then were developed to compute peak streamflows for ungaged sites at selected 

recurrence intervals by using generalized least-square 

regression to relate peak streamflow at gaging stations 

to physical and climatic characteristics. The significant 

independent variables in the regression equations were 

contributing-drainage area, mean annual precipitation, average soil permeability, and slope of the main 

channel. Standard error of prediction did not improve 

when the State was divided into eastern and western 

areas. The standard error of prediction for the regression equations was smallest when the group of 

253 streamflow-gaging stations was divided into two 

groups on the basis of contributing-drainage area. 

Standard error of prediction for equations developed 

for stations with contributing-drainage areas greater 

than 0.17 and less than 30 mi2

 were equal to or slightly 

greater than the standard errors for the equations 

developed using all the stations. Standard errors of 

prediction for equations developed for stations with 

contributing-drainage areas between 30 and 9,100 mi2 

were reduced between 12 and 20 percent from predictions errors using all 253 stations. The errors of prediction for all the generated equations ranged from 31 

to 62 percent. 

SELECTED REFERENCES 

Clement, R.W., 1987, Floods in Kansas and techniques for 

estimating their magnitude and frequency on unregulated streams: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 87–4008, 50 p. 

Clement, R.W. and Johnson, D.G., 1982, Flood of June 15, 

1981, in Great Bend and vicinity, central Kansas: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report 82–4123, 12 p. 

Crippen, J.R., and Bue, C.D., 1977, Maximum floodflows in 

the conterminous United States: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1887, 52 p. 

Daly, C., Taylor, C.H., and Gibson, W.P., 1997, The PRISM 

approach to mapping precipitation and temperature, in 

Reprints of 10th Conference on Applied Climatology, 

16 Estimation of Peak Streamflows for Unregulated Rural Streams in Kansas 
Reno, Nevada: American Meteorological Society, 

p. 10–12. 

Ellis, D.W., and Edelen, G.W., Jr., 1960, Kansas streamflow 

characteristics, part 3, Flood frequency: Kansas Water 

Resources Board Technical Report No. 3, 221 p. 

Hardison, C.H., 1969, Accuracy of streamflow characteristics, in Geological Survey Research, 1969: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 650–D, 

p. D210–D214. 

_____1971, Prediction error of regression estimates of 

streamflow characteristics at ungaged sites, in Geological Survey Research, 1971: U.S. Geological Survey 

Professional Paper 750–C, p. C228–C236. 

Hedman, E.R., Kastner, W.M., and Hejl, H.R., 1974, Kansas 

streamflow characteristics—part 10, Selected streamflow characteristics as related to active-channel geometry of streams in Kansas: Kansas Water Resources 

Board Technical Report No. 10, 21 p. 

Hershfield, D.M., 1961, Rainfall frequency atlas of the 

United States: U.S. Department of Commerce, 

Weather Bureau Technical Paper 40, 115 p. 

House Document 465, 1966, A unified national program for 

managing flood losses, 89th Congress, 2d session: U.S. 

Government Printing Office, 47 p. 

Interagency Advisory Committee on Water Data, 1981, 

Guidelines for determining flood flow frequency: 

Washington, D.C., Bulletin 17B of the Hydrology 

Committee, 28 p. 

Irza, T.J., 1966, Preliminary flood-frequency relations for 

small streams in Kansas: Lawrence, Kansas, U.S. Geological Survey open-file report, 19 p. 

Jennings, M.E., Thomas, W.O., and Riggs, H.C., 1994, 

Nationwide summary of U.S. Geological Survey 

regional regression equations for estimating magnitude 

and frequency of floods for ungaged sites, 1993: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigation 

Report 94–4002, 196 p. 

Jordan, P.R., and Irza, T.J., 1975, Kansas streamflow characteristics—magnitude and frequency of floods in 

Kansas, unregulated streams: Kansas Water Resources 

Board Technical Report No. 11, 34 p. 

Matthai, H.F., 1968, Magnitude and frequency of floods in 

the United States—part 6B, Missouri River Basin 

below Sioux City, Iowa: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Supply Paper 1681, 636 p. 

Patterson, J.L., 1964, Magnitude and frequency of floods in 

the United States—part 7, Lower Mississippi River 

Basin: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply 

Paper 1691, 636 p. 

Perry, C.A., and Rasmussen, T.J., in press, Trends in annual 

peak flows of selected streams in central Great Plains: 

Journal of the American Water Resources Association. 

Putnam, J.E., Lacock, D.L., Schneider, D.R., Carlson, M.D., 

and Dague, B.J., 1998, Water resources data, Kansas, 

water year 1997: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Data 

Report KS–97–1, 445 p. 

Schoewe, W.H., 1949, The geography of Kansas—part 2, 

Physical geography: Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, v. 52, no. 3, p. 261–333. 

Tasker, G.D., and Stedinger, J.R., 1986, Regional skew with 

weighted LS regression: Journal of Water Resources 

Planning and Management, v. 112, book 2, p. 225–237. 

—— 1989, An operational GLS model for hydrologic 

regression: Journal of Hydrology, v. 111, p. 361–375. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1994, State soil geographic 

(STATSGO) data base: Soil Conservation Service Miscellaneous Publication 1462, 37 p. 

U.S. Geological Survey, 1998, National elevation data base: 

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, National Mapping Division 

EROS Data Center, accessed June 6, 1998, at URL 

http://edcwww2.cr.usgs.gov/ned/ned.html 

U.S. Water Resources Council, 1967, A uniform technique 

for determining flood flow frequency: Washington, 

D.C., Bulletin 15 of the Hydrology Committee, 15 p. 

Selected References 17 
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Table 5. Streamflow-gaging station information, physical and climatic characteristics, and peak-streamflow magnitude and 

frequency estimates for selected gaging stations with at least 10 years of annual peak-discharge data for unregulated, rural 

streams in Kansas 

[ft3/s, cubic feet per second; mi2, square miles; in., inches; ft/mi, feet per mile; in/h, inches per hour; --, not determined] 

Sta- U.S. 

tion Geolog- High- Lowmap ical System- Histori- outlier outlier Total 

index Survey Latitude Longitude atic cal thres- thres- drainno. station (decimal (decimal record record hold hold age area 

(fig. 1) no. U.S. Geological Survey station name degrees) degrees) (years) (years) (ft

3/s) (ft3/s) (mi2) 

1 6813700 Tennessee Creek tributary near Seneca, Kansas 39.81278 96.04556 33 0.90 

2 6814000 Turkey Creek near Seneca, Kansas 39.94778 96.10833 49 226 276 

3 6815700 Buttermilk Creek near Willis, Kansas 39.75444 95.45056 40 3.74 

4 6818200 Doniphan Creek at Doniphan, Kansas 39.63556 95.08194 11 4.15 

5 6818260 White Clay Creek at Atchison, Kansas 39.55917 95.12722 25 13.1 

6 6844700 South Fork Sappa Creek near Brewster, Kansas 39.28528 101.46556 22 74.0 

7 6844800 South Fork Sappa Creek tributary near Goodland, Kansas 39.32056 101.63250 33 4.98 

8 6844900 South Fork Sappa Creek near Achilles, Kansas 39.67694 100.72167 38 10 446 

9 6845000 Sappa Creek near Oberlin, Kansas 39.81250 100.53333 35 1,063 

10 6845100 Long Branch Draw near Norcatur, Kansas 39.90167 100.17861 41 31.7 

11 6846000 Beaver Creek at Ludell, Kansas 39.84806 100.96111 42 1,460 

12 6846200 Beaver Creek tributary near Ludell, Kansas 39.81472 100.87194 33 70 10.2 

13 6846500 Beaver Creek at Cedar Bluffs, Kansas 39.98500 100.55972 52 1,620 

14 6847600 Prairie Dog Creek tributary at Colby, Kansas 39.39111 101.04528 41 55 4,290 7.53 

15 6847900 Prairie Dog Creek above Keith Sebelius Lake, Kansas 39.77028 100.10000 35 54 65,400 590 

16 6848000 Prairie Dog Creek at Norton, Kansas 39.81000 99.92167 20 684 

17 6848200 Prairie Dog Creek tributary near Norton, Kansas 39.85417 99.88806 35 1.02 

18 6848500 Prairie Dog Creek near Woodruff, Kansas 39.98583 99.47750 23 1,010 

19 6853800 White Rock Creek near Burr Oak, Kansas 39.89861 98.25139 40 129 15,700 227 

20 6854000 White Rock Creek at Lovewell, Kansas 39.88611 98.02222 11 88 23,200 345 

21 6855800 Buffalo Creek near Jamestown, Kansas 39.61528 97.85556 31 330 

22 6855900 Wolf Creek near Concordia, Kansas 39.54306 97.72222 19 56.0 

23 6856100 West Creek near Talmo, Kansas 39.66667 97.61333 33 107 14,900 42.0 

24 6856320 Elk Creek at Clyde, Kansas 39.59444 97.39694 26 73.0 

25 6856800 Moll Creek near Green, Kansas 39.38000 97.00778 34 36 3.6 

26 6858500 North Fork Smoky Hill River near McAllaster, Kansas 39.01694 101.34750 33 670 

27 6858700 North Fork Smoky Hill River tributary near Winona, 39.03083 101.28528 16 1.13 

Kansas 

28 6859500 Ladder Creek below Chalk Creek near Scott City, Kansas 38.78889 100.86944 29 80 17,900 1,460 

29 6860000 Smoky Hill River at Elkader, Kansas 38.79250 100.85528 58 60 70,900 3,560 

30 6860300 South Branch Hackberry Creek near Orion, Kansas 38.94167 100.70278 12 49.6 

31 6860500 Hackberry Creek near Gove, Kansas 38.95417 100.48472 36 426 

32 6861000 Smoky Hill River near Arnold, Kansas 38.80861 100.02028 50 60 86,900 5,220 

33 6863300 Big Creek near Ogallah, Kansas 38.91111 99.74444 13 297 

34 6863400 Big Creek tributary near Ogallah, Kansas 38.93333 99.74250 41 4.81 

35 6863500 Big Creek near Hays, Kansas 38.81250 99.25389 51 90 19,800 594 

18 Estimation of Peak Streamflows for Unregulated Rural Streams in Kansas 
Sta- General- Discharge for indicated recurrence interval (ft

3/s) tion Mean ized Weighted 

map Contribu- annual Soil Main skew- skewindex ting drain- precipi- perme- channel ness ness 

no. age area tation ability slope coeffi- coeffi­

(fig. 1) (mi

2) (in.) (in/h) (ft/mi) cient cient 2-year 5-year 10-year 25-year 50-year 100-year 200-year 

1 0.90 34.0 0.395 62.1 -0.0742 -0.047 201 497 794 1,300 1,790 2,390 3,090 

2 276 32.3 .467 5.89 .0946 -.1089 5,820 12,500 18,400 27,700 36,000 45,300 55,900 

3 3.74 36.6 .367 67.2 -.0091 -.1147 1,520 2,760 3,750 5,160 6,320 7,580 8,930 

4 4.15 36.7 1.083 44.6 .0018 -.0627 1,080 2,480 3,820 6,030 8,070 10,500 13,300 

5 13.1 36.8 .955 37.7 .0243 .0788 1,100 2,180 3,120 4,610 5,950 7,490 9,260 

6 74.0 18.3 1.296 10.8 -.2821 -.3779 52 382 996 2,600 4,670 7,740 12,100 

7 4.98 18.2 1.296 14.4 -.3626 -.3187 54 389 1,020 2,690 4,900 8,260 13,100 

8 378 19.2 1.297 7.00 -.1614 -.1685 342 1,210 2,290 4,430 6,730 9,730 13,600 

9 900 19.8 1.321 7.33 -.1148 -.1415 827 2,570 4,570 8,320 12,200 17,000 23,100 

10 31.7 21.9 1.299 12.8 -.1812 -.1514 294 693 1,070 1,680 2,230 2,870 3,600 

11 1,120 18.5 1.325 8.11 -.1277 -.1046 440 1,110 1,780 2,920 4,000 5,300 6,840 

12 10.2 21.3 1.291 33.2 -.2569 -.3999 298 665 974 1,430 1,800 2,190 2,610 

13 1,320 18.8 1.326 7.72 -.0893 .064 413 1,060 1,730 2,960 4,190 5,740 7,680 

14 7.53 19.2 1.296 16.7 -.314 -.437 215 568 898 1,410 1,860 2,350 2,880 

15 590 20.7 1.362 7.11 -.1081 -.1862 599 1,680 2,820 4,820 6,760 9,100 11,900 

16 689 21.0 1.361 7.03 -.0908 .0372 2,760 7,180 11,900 20,400 29,000 39,800 53,200 

17 1.02 22.8 1.299 67.8 -.2663 -.3926 185 366 507 701 854 1,010 1,180 

18 1,000 21.6 1.368 5.61 -.0409 .0823 2,300 5,020 7,610 11,900 16,000 20,800 26,600 

19 227 26.5 1.299 6.95 -.0267 .1703 1,520 3,040 4,430 6,680 8,760 11,200 14,100 

20 345 27.1 1.306 6.12 -.0043 .2749 2,790 4,910 6,710 9,480 11,900 14,800 18,000 

21 330 27.9 1.103 6.15 -.0222 .1535 1,670 3,890 6,140 10,100 14,000 18,900 25,000 

22 56.0 28.8 1.013 8.79 -.0714 -.0863 910 1,770 2,490 3,570 4,490 5,520 6,640 

23 42.0 29.6 .843 7.07 -.0622 .1582 676 1,870 3,250 5,920 8,780 12,600 17,600 

24 73.0 30.1 .993 11.0 -.0424 .072 546 1,350 2,170 3,640 5,100 6,910 9,150 

25 3.60 31.1 .778 20.4 -.126 -.2802 371 809 1,190 1,750 2,230 2,750 3,320 

26 650 17.1 1.448 7.84 -.2405 -.3164 327 1,930 4,580 11,000 18,900 30,100 45,700 

27 1.13 18.4 1.296 69.2 -.4129 -.3056 342 611 810 1,080 1,290 1,500 1,730 

28 1,330 17.7 1.395 6.87 -.2171 -.0893 646 2,590 5,270 11,100 17,900 27,500 40,400 

29 3,390 17.7 1.530 13.2 -.19 -.2754 1,510 6,400 13,000 26,900 42,200 62,500 88,700 

30 49.6 19.6 1.294 9.34 -.2857 -.2099 397 1,190 2,050 3,590 5,110 6,970 9,210 

31 421 19.5 1.288 6.71 -.2137 -.1192 508 2,340 5,100 11,500 19,300 30,600 46,500 

32 5,220 18.4 1.522 11.4 -.1331 -.1133 2,230 7,660 14,400 27,800 42,300 61,400 86,100 

33 297 21.4 1.278 6.27 -.189 -.165 1,340 4,430 8,090 15,100 22,500 31,900 43,800 

34 4.81 21.8 1.201 15.8 -.3016 -.1102 211 707 1,310 2,510 3,790 5,470 7,630 

35 594 21.8 1.175 5.82 -.1535 -.2795 1,280 3,210 5,050 7,990 10,600 13,600 17,000 

Generalized Least-Squares Regression Equations 19 
Table 5. Streamflow-gaging station information, physical and climatic characteristics, and peak-streamflow magnitude and 

frequency estimates for selected gaging stations with at least 10 years of annual peak-discharge data for unregulated, rural 

streams in Kansas—Continued 

Sta- U.S. 

tion Geologmap ical 

index Survey 

no. station 

(fig. 1) no. U.S. Geological Survey station name 

Latitude Longitude 

(decimal (decimal 

degrees) degrees) 

Systematic 

record 

(years) 

HighHistori- outlier 

cal thresrecord hold 

(years) (ft

3/s) 

Lowoutlier 

threshold 

(ft

3/s) 

Total 

drainage area 

(mi

2) 

36 6863700 Big Creek tributary near Hays, Kansas 38.85222 99.24667 39 -- -- -- 6.19 

37 6863900 North Fork Big Creek near Victoria, Kansas 38.88667 99.20583 25 300 25,000 -- 54.0 

38 6864000 Smoky Hill River near Russell, Kansas 38.77667 98.85444 11 37 69,900 -- 6,970 

39 6864300 Smoky Hill River tributary at Dorrance, Kansas 38.84778 98.59556 41 -- -- 21 5.39 

40 6864500 Smoky Hill River at Ellsworth, Kansas 38.72667 98.23333 42 -- -- -- 7,580 

41 6864700 Spring Creek near Kanopolis, Kansas 38.73972 98.16861 33 -- -- 28 9.84 

42 6866000 Smoky Hill River at Lindsborg, Kansas 38.56583 97.67222 18 53 32,000 -- 8,110 

43 6866500 Smoky Hill River near Mentor, Kansas 38.79833 97.57444 10 104 32,000 -- 8,360 

44 6866800 Saline River tributary at Collyer, Kansas 39.04611 100.12667 33 -- -- -- 3.13 

45 6866900 Saline River near Wakeeney, Kansas 39.10611 99.86944 12 88 20,000 -- 696 

46 6867000 Saline River near Russell, Kansas 38.96667 98.85556 46 80 41,500 100 1,500 

47 6867500 Paradise Creek near Paradise, Kansas 39.07361 98.85417 20 -- -- -- 212 

48 6867800 Cedar Creek tributary near Bunker Hill, Kansas 38.93417 98.71250 21 -- -- 11 .99 

49 6868000 Saline River near Wilson, Kansas 38.93333 98.53333 36 -- -- -- 1,900 

50 6868300 Coon Creek tributary near Luray, Kansas 39.17500 98.70056 41 -- -- -- 6.53 

51 6868400 Wolf Creek near Lucas, Kansas 39.05833 98.55278 32 -- -- 50 163 

52 6868700 North Branch Spillman Creek near Ash Grove, Kansas 39.15222 98.39583 15 -- -- -- 26.1 

53 6868900 Bullfoot Creek tributary near Lincoln, Kansas 38.97417 98.15083 31 -- -- -- 2.64 

54 6869500 Saline River at Tescott, Kansas 39.00417 97.87389 45 61 61,300 -- 2,820 

55 6869950 Mulberry Creek near Salina, Kansas 38.84444 97.66806 36 -- -- -- 250 

56 6870300 Gypsum Creek near Gypsum, Kansas 38.65306 97.41944 36 88 12,000 200 120 

57 6871000 North Fork Solomon River at Glade, Kansas 39.67778 99.30833 45 -- -- -- 849 

58 6871500 Bow Creek near Stockton, Kansas 39.56278 99.28444 47 -- -- -- 341 

59 6871800 North Fork Solomon River at Kirwin, Kansas 39.66000 99.11528 24 40 53,900 -- 1,370 

60 6871900 Deer Creek near Phillipsburg, Kansas 39.78056 99.42222 15 -- -- -- 65.0 

61 6872100 Middle Cedar Creek at Kensington, Kansas 39.75583 99.03444 21 -- -- -- 58.9 

62 6872300 Middle Beaver Creek near Smith Center, Kansas 39.80000 98.85278 10 -- -- -- 71.0 

63 6872600 Oak Creek at Bellaire, Kansas 39.79833 98.66667 33 -- -- 40 4.75 

64 6873000 South Fork Solomon River above Webster Reservoir, 39.37389 99.58167 53 90 55,200 40 1,040 

Kansas 

65 6873300 Ash Creek tributary near Stockton, Kansas 39.43750 99.37111 39 -- -- -- .89 

66 6873500 South Fork Solomon River at Alton, Kansas 39.45917 98.94333 28 -- -- 5 1,720 

67 6873700 Kill Creek near Bloomington, Kansas 39.37917 98.85917 18 -- -- -- 52.0 

68 6873800 Kill Creek tributary near Bloomington, Kansas 39.39944 98.84056 21 -- -- -- 1.45 

69 6874000 South Fork Solomon River at Osborne, Kansas 39.42861 98.69444 10 79 80,000 -- 2,010 

70 6874500 East Limestone Creek near Ionia, Kansas 39.69778 98.33861 38 -- -- -- 25.6 

20 Estimation of Peak Streamflows for Unregulated Rural Streams in Kansas 
Sta- General- Discharge for indicated recurrence interval (ft

3/s) tion Mean ized Weighted 

map Contribu- annual Soil Main skew- skewindex ting drain- precipi- perme- channel ness ness 

no. age area tation ability slope coeffi- coeffi­

(fig. 1) (mi

2) (in.) (in/h) (ft/mi) cient cient 2-year 5-year 10-year 25-year 50-year 100-year 200-year 

36 6.19 22.2 1.035 14.8 -.2765 -0.1364 63 209 382 717 1,070 1,530 2,100 

37 54.0 22.9 1.258 8.30 -.2108 -.2145 263 1,250 2,640 5,570 8,770 13,000 18,300 

38 6,970 19.5 1.462 9.70 -.0676 -.192 7,810 16,000 22,900 33,100 41,800 51,400 61,800 

39 5.39 26.2 1.076 24.8 -.2469 -.1911 245 631 1,010 1,660 2,250 2,960 3,780 

40 7,580 20.0 1.457 8.95 -.0377 -.1724 6,920 16,700 26,000 41,200 55,000 71,100 89,500 

41 9.84 27.8 1.138 17.8 -.2181 -.235 461 1,170 1,870 3,000 4,040 5,250 6,630 

42 8,110 20.6 1.463 7.41 -.0217 .1793 5,910 11,000 15,500 22,400 28,600 35,800 44,100 

43 8,360 20.8 1.450 6.65 .0059 .2919 5,080 10,400 15,500 24,100 32,400 42,600 55,000 

44 3.13 22.1 1.201 33.2 -.323 -.2645 161 565 1,050 1,980 2,930 4,130 5,620 

45 696 20.6 1.369 7.17 -.1536 -.2084 2,720 8,200 14,200 25,100 35,900 49,100 65,000 

46 1,500 21.7 1.388 6.86 -.0926 -.0769 2,270 6,630 11,500 20,500 29,700 41,400 55,900 

47 212 23.9 1.307 7.29 -.137 -.2027 947 3,160 5,780 10,800 15,900 22,400 30,500 

48 0.99 25.9 1.118 99.3 -.2921 -.162 130 223 292 387 462 541 623 

49 1,900 22.4 1.362 6.28 -.0724 -.1429 4,940 10,900 16,300 24,800 32,300 40,800 50,500 

50 6.53 24.9 1.188 43.2 -.2165 -.2587 357 1,070 1,830 3,170 4,470 6,040 7,890 

51 163 25.0 1.195 16.4 -.1301 -.1601 1,570 3,660 5,600 8,730 11,600 14,800 18,500 

52 26.1 25.8 1.029 14.0 -.1642 -.1866 342 1,100 1,960 3,600 5,260 7,360 9,950 

53 2.64 27.5 1.186 31.0 -.2319 -.2033 104 239 362 555 727 922 1,140 

54 2,820 23.7 1.313 5.02 -.0206 -.0468 3,110 6,940 10,500 16,300 21,700 27,900 35,200 

55 250 28.3 1.123 9.67 -.0923 -.1365 2,310 4,530 6,380 9,100 11,400 13,900 16,700 

56 120 30.9 .881 9.54 -.1177 -.0709 2,290 4,310 5,960 8,400 10,500 12,700 15,200 

57 849 21.3 1.335 7.79 -.0655 -.2132 1,580 4,790 8,320 14,700 21,000 28,800 38,200 

58 341 21.6 1.451 6.73 -.1004 .159 926 2,960 5,320 9,790 14,400 20,200 27,500 

59 1,370 21.5 1.377 7.60 -.0439 .0564 3,950 10,100 16,700 28,500 40,400 55,300 73,900 

60 65.0 23.0 1.366 16.5 -.1333 -.2286 1,210 3,430 5,760 9,790 13,600 18,300 23,700 

61 58.9 23.8 1.223 8.61 -.1183 .0345 577 1,350 2,100 3,390 4,610 6,100 7,890 

62 71.0 24.5 1.248 11.1 -.0995 -.1213 765 1,390 1,880 2,590 3,170 3,790 4,460 

63 4.75 24.8 1.222 22.0 -.1653 -.0569 91 273 481 875 1,290 1,810 2,470 

64 1,040 20.9 1.463 8.29 -.1026 -.085 2,800 8,330 14,600 26,300 38,300 53,600 72,700 

65 .89 22.9 1.201 58.9 -.2822 -.1342 37 150 304 637 1,020 1,540 2,240 

66 1,680 21.6 1.410 8.38 -.048 -.0095 3,600 12,300 23,400 46,300 72,000 107,000 154,000 

67 52.0 24.4 1.203 10.9 -.1478 -.1976 182 1,150 2,890 7,480 13,600 23,100 37,000 

68 1.45 25.0 1.165 23.9 -.2446 -.284 208 585 970 1,630 2,240 2,960 3,790 

69 2,010 22.1 1.391 7.93 -.0329 .0914 3,130 7,070 10,900 17,400 23,700 31,300 40,400 

70 25.6 26.9 1.228 11.8 -.1108 -.2317 608 1,320 1,940 2,880 3,680 4,580 5,550 

Generalized Least-Squares Regression Equations 21 
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Table 5. Streamflow-gaging station information, physical and climatic characteristics, and peak-streamflow magnitude and 

frequency estimates for selected gaging stations with at least 10 years of annual peak-discharge data for unregulated, rural 

streams in Kansas—Continued 

Sta- U.S. 

tion Geolog- High- Lowmap ical System- Histori- outlier outlier Total 

index Survey Latitude Longitude atic cal thres- thres- drainno. station (decimal (decimal record record hold hold age area 

(fig. 1) no. U.S. Geological Survey station name degrees) degrees) (years) (years) (ft

3/s) (ft3/s) (mi2) 

71 6875800 Limestone Creek near Glen Elder, Kansas 39.53833 98.31611 22 210 

72 6876000 Solomon River at Beloit, Kansas 39.41917 98.05917 44 89 124,000 5,530 

73 6876200 Middle Pipe Creek near Miltonvale, Kansas 39.35000 97.56889 21 10.2 

74 6876700 Salt Creek near Ada, Kansas 39.14167 97.83611 38 101 15,900 384 

75 6876900 Solomon River at Niles, Kansas 38.96889 97.47611 44 89 178,000 6,770 

76 6877120 Mud Creek at Abilene, Kansas 38.92972 97.22750 28 87.0 

77 6877200 West Turkey Creek near Elmo, Kansas 38.66778 97.17167 21 26.6 

78 6877400 Turkey Creek tributary near Elmo, Kansas 38.68250 97.18444 21 2.48 

79 6877500 Turkey Creek near Abilene, Kansas 38.80611 97.18139 30 88 23,600 143 

80 6878000 Chapman Creek near Chapman, Kansas 39.03111 97.04000 44 47 46,600 300 

81 6878500 Lyon Creek near Woodbine, Kansas 38.88472 96.90972 21 230 

82 6879200 Clark Creek near Junction City, Kansas 39.00778 96.73889 32 200 

83 6879650 Kings Creek near Manhattan, Kansas 39.10194 96.59500 18 4.09 

84 6879700 Wildcat Creek at Riley, Kansas 39.29278 96.83056 21 14.0 

85 6879815 Wildcat Creek at Manhattan, Kansas 39.18472 96.61028 16 74.0 

86 6882510 Big Blue River at Marysville, Kansas 39.84222 96.66083 13 95 39,700 4,780 

87 6884025 Little Blue River at Hollenberg, Kansas 39.98000 97.00444 22 2,750 

88 6884100 Mulberry Creek tributary near Haddam, Kansas 39.81361 97.29889 32 1.64 

89 6884200 Mill Creek at Washington, Kansas 39.81389 97.03889 38 95 14,600 344 

90 6884300 Mill Creek tributary near Washington, Kansas 39.81333 97.00833 41 3.2 

91 6884400 Little Blue River near Barnes, Kansas 39.77583 96.85806 40 95 41,900 2,400 3,320 

92 6884500 Little Blue River at Waterville, Kansas 39.77778 96.86111 33 55 72,900 3,510 

93 6884900 Robidoux Creek at Beattie, Kansas 39.86333 96.42972 19 157 40.0 

94 6885500 Black Vermillion River near Frankfort, Kansas 39.68417 96.43750 44 50 38,200 410 

95 6886000 Big Blue River at Randolph, Kansas 39.45000 96.71667 43 9,100 

96 6886500 Fancy Creek at Winkler, Kansas 39.47222 96.83194 35 46 24,000 880 174 

97 6887200 Cedar Creek near Manhattan, Kansas 39.25861 96.56333 32 13.4 

98 6887600 Kansas River tributary near Wamego, Kansas 39.17444 96.26250 34 .83 

99 6888000 Vermillion Creek near Wamego, Kansas 39.35000 96.21944 43 71 26,000 243 

100 6888030 Vermillion Creek near Louisville, Kansas 39.27833 96.24278 14 297 

101 6888300 Rock Creek near Louisville, Kansas 39.26472 96.37972 32 128 

102 6888500 Mill Creek near Paxico, Kansas 39.06222 96.18111 44 63 77,100 316 

103 6888600 Dry Creek near Maple Hill, Kansas 39.05167 96.02056 21 75 7,290 15.6 

104 6888900 Blacksmith Creek tributary near Valencia, Kansas 39.02222 95.83500 33 60 1.31 

105 6889100 Soldier Creek near Goff, Kansas 39.62417 95.96583 23 37 7,080 2.06 

22 Estimation of Peak Streamflows for Unregulated Rural Streams in Kansas 
Sta- General- Discharge for indicated recurrence interval (ft

3/s) tion Mean ized Weighted 

map Contribu- annual Soil Main skew- skewindex ting drain- precipi- perme- channel ness ness 

no. age area tation ability slope coeffi- coeffi­

(fig. 1) (mi

2) (in.) (in/h) (ft/mi) cient cient 2-year 5-year 10-year 25-year 50-year 100-year 200-year 

71 210 26.6 1.219 6.66 -0.0659 -0.0209 1,060 1,910 2,600 3,590 4,430 5,340 6,340 

72 5,530 23.1 1.333 6.30 .0273 .215 8,000 16,100 23,700 36,200 47,800 61,800 78,500 

73 10.2 30.0 .951 29.6 -.1289 -.044 532 1,270 2,000 3,220 4,380 5,760 7,400 

74 384 27.0 1.105 4.65 -.0613 -.151 1,430 4,030 6,800 11,700 16,600 22,500 29,600 

75 6,770 24.0 1.286 5.23 .0211 .242 6,510 12,600 18,100 27,100 35,400 45,200 56,800 

76 87.0 30.8 1.220 6.09 -.0908 -.119 2,570 4,670 6,330 8,710 10,700 12,800 15,000 

77 26.6 32.7 .550 12.2 -.1454 -.2651 1,200 2,220 3,000 4,080 4,940 5,850 6,790 

78 2.48 32.5 .462 26.3 -.2108 -.1978 292 840 1,430 2,460 3,470 4,700 6,160 

79 143 32.8 .480 6.67 -.0862 -.0511 2,960 6,550 9,870 15,300 20,200 25,900 32,500 

80 300 30.9 1.022 4.25 -.0372 .17 3,630 7,130 10,300 15,300 20,000 25,400 31,800 

81 230 34.1 .532 5.45 -.0515 -.1501 6,410 18,000 30,300 52,200 73,600 99,800 131,000 

82 200 33.8 .460 6.12 -.035 -.0839 4,320 8,970 13,100 19,400 25,000 31,300 38,400 

83 4.09 33.6 .457 20.0 -.127 -.0565 428 1,930 4,210 9,590 16,300 26,100 40,000 

84 14.0 31.9 .538 10.2 -.0872 -.1633 936 2,020 2,980 4,450 5,740 7,190 8,810 

85 74.0 32.4 .564 8.0 -.0395 -.07 2,470 4,380 5,880 80,30 9,800 11,700 13,800 

86 4,780 28.7 .808 3.0 .1354 -.1965 19,100 32,800 42,900 56,700 67,500 78,800 90,500 

87 2,750 27.6 1.367 4.5 .1151 .1123 11,200 21,000 29,300 42,100 53,400 66,300 81,000 

88 1.64 30.5 1.031 52.0 -.1225 .0343 166 414 669 1,120 1,560 2,110 2,790 

89 349 30.6 .907 4.58 .0403 -.1853 4,830 8,160 10,600 13,900 16,500 19,200 22,000 

90 3.20 31.4 .737 52.4 -.0888 -.0264 524 1,090 1,600 2,400 3,120 3,940 4,880 

91 3,320 28.2 1.279 4.33 .1088 -.0704 13,100 21,200 27,200 35,400 41,900 48,700 55,900 

92 3,510 28.2 1.281 4.26 .1104 .0719 11,600 24,000 35,400 53,700 70,600 90,300 113,000 

93 40.0 32.2 .325 13.5 .0162 -.0726 1,850 3,930 5,780 8,700 11,300 14,300 17,600 

94 410 33.3 .359 5.72 .0638 .0525 7,030 15,700 24,100 38,000 51,200 66,900 85,700 

95 9,100 28.9 .946 2.69 .1138 .1151 23,600 40,700 54,500 74,700 91,900 111,000 132,000 

96 174 31.0 .731 8.40 -.0003 -.0993 5,690 10,600 14,600 20,500 25,400 30,700 36,500 

97 13.4 33.0 .400 37.6 -.0777 -.1361 1,530 3,560 5,470 8,560 11,400 14,600 18,400 

98 .83 34.2 .446 96.4 -.1474 -.2128 217 457 663 972 1,240 1,530 1,850 

99 243 34.9 .426 5.50 .0294 -.2083 6,190 12,600 17,900 25,800 32,400 39,700 47,500 

100 297 34.9 .431 4.63 .027 .0541 6,610 9,650 11,800 14,600 16,800 19,100 21,500 

101 128 33.9 .602 10.6 -.0048 -.0209 5,880 10,100 13,400 18,100 21,900 26,100 30,600 

102 316 34.7 .505 10.5 .0117 -.1791 11,600 23,000 32,400 46,300 58,000 70,800 84,600 

103 15.6 35.3 .427 16.8 -.0646 .1227 1,670 3,080 4,280 6,110 7,730 9,560 11,600 

104 1.31 35.5 .394 65.9 -.1267 -.1193 385 724 999 1,400 1,730 2,090 2,490 

105 2.06 35.5 .317 25.1 -.0646 .136 402 880 1,340 2,120 2,870 3,770 4,860 

Generalized Least-Squares Regression Equations 23 
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Table 5. Streamflow-gaging station information, physical and climatic characteristics, and peak-streamflow magnitude and 

frequency estimates for selected gaging stations with at least 10 years of annual peak-discharge data for unregulated, rural 

streams in Kansas—Continued 

Sta- U.S. 

tion Geolog- High- Lowmap ical System- Histori- outlier outlier Total 

index Survey Latitude Longitude atic cal thres- thres- drainno. station (decimal (decimal record record hold hold age area 

(fig. 1) no. U.S. Geological Survey station name degrees) degrees) (years) (years) (ft

3/s) (ft3/s) (mi2) 

106 6889120 Soldier Creek near Bancroft, Kansas 39.59500 95.97139 24 37 13,100 10.5 

107 6889140 Soldier Creek near Soldier, Kansas 39.56583 95.96250 33 16.9 

108 6889160 Soldier Creek near Circleville, Kansas 39.46306 95.95000 33 49.3 

109 6889180 Soldier Creek near St. Clere, Kansas 39.37583 95.91806 18 80.0 

110 6889200 Soldier Creek near Delia, Kansas 39.20222 95.87361 39 89 29,000 157 

111 6889500 Soldier Creek near Topeka, Kansas 39.10000 95.72417 68 290 

112 6889600 South Branch Shunganunga Creek near Pauline, Kansas 39.97889 95.70972 21 3.84 

113 6889630 Shunganunga Creek at Topeka, Kansas 39.03167 95.68250 28 33.5 

114 6890100 Delaware River near Muscotah, Kansas 39.52139 95.53250 28 73 40,000 431 

115 6890300 Spring Creek near Wetmore, Kansas 39.63667 95.84528 21 21.0 

116 6890500 Delaware River at Valley Falls, Kansas 39.35083 95.45444 46 103 86,900 922 

117 6890560 Rock Creek 6 miles north of Meriden, Kansas 39.28861 95.58250 14 1.89 

118 6890600 Rock Creek near Meriden, Kansas 39.19278 95.55139 14 22.0 

119 6890700 Slough Creek tributary near Oskaloosa, Kansas 39.20139 95.30250 21 .83 

120 6890800 Slough Creek near Oskaloosa, Kansas 39.22361 95.33667 21 31.0 

121 6891050 Stone House Creek at Williamstown, Kansas 39.06667 95.33583 26 12.9 

122 6891500 Wakarusa River near Lawrence, Kansas 38.91111 95.26028 43 93 24,100 425 

123 6892000 Stranger Creek near Tonganoxie, Kansas 39.11639 95.01083 68 406 

124 6893080 Blue River near Stanley, Kansas 38.81250 94.67528 28 46.0 

125 6893300 Indian Creek at Overland Park, Kansas 38.94167 94.66944 34 26.6 

126 6893350 Tomahawk Creek near Overland Park, Kansas 38.91306 94.63167 13 23.9 

127 6910800 Marais des Cygnes River near Reading, Kansas 38.56667 95.96389 29 350 177 

128 6911000 Marais des Cygnes River at Melvern, Kansas 38.51500 95.69139 33 351 

129 6911500 Salt Creek near Lyndon, Kansas 38.60889 95.63806 58 111 

130 6911900 Dragoon Creek near Burlingame, Kansas 38.70833 95.83889 37 98 15,000 114 

131 6912300 Dragoon Creek tributary near Lyndon, Kansas 38.69250 95.68500 34 100 3.76 

132 6912500 Hundred and Ten Mile Creek near Quenemo, Kansas 38.64472 95.55944 24 44 38,500 1,500 322 

133 6913000 Marais des Cygnes River near Pomona, Kansas 38.58417 95.45333 15 1,040 

134 6913500 Marais des Cygnes River near Ottawa, Kansas 38.61667 95.25694 48 100 141,000 1,250 

135 6913600 Rock Creek near Ottawa, Kansas 38.55417 95.26722 21 10.2 

136 6913700 Middle Creek near Princeton, Kansas 38.47750 95.25222 33 52.0 

137 6914000 Pottawatomie Creek near Garnett, Kansas 38.33361 95.24861 58 334 

138 6914250 South Fork Pottawatomie Creek tributary near Garnett, 38.23333 95.24778 34 35 .35 

Kansas 

139 6914500 Pottawatomie Creek at Lane, Kansas 38.44389 95.08389 25 513 

140 6915000 Big Bull Creek near Hillsdale, Kansas 38.63667 94.89139 24 71 45,100 147 

24 Estimation of Peak Streamflows for Unregulated Rural Streams in Kansas 
Sta- General- Discharge for indicated recurrence interval (ft

3/s) tion Mean ized Weighted 

map Contribu- annual Soil Main skew- skewindex ting drain- precipi- perme- channel ness ness 

no. age area tation ability slope coeffi- coeffi­

(fig. 1) (mi

2) (in.) (in/h) (ft/mi) cient cient 2-year 5-year 10-year 25-year 50-year 100-year 200-year 

106 10.5 35.2 0.343 18.0 -0.0223 0.1683 1,220 2,200 3,030 4,280 5,380 6,640 8,060 

107 16.9 35.2 .358 14.6 -.0113 .1298 1,850 3,360 4,640 6,580 8,270 10,200 12,400 

108 49.3 35.8 .381 10.8 .0095 .1819 4,030 6,850 9,140 12,500 15,400 18,700 22,300 

109 80.0 35.5 .434 9.20 .0165 -.0964 4,440 7,220 9,250 12,000 14,200 16,400 18,800 

110 159 35.6 .476 6.56 .0217 .1723 4,510 7,650 10,200 13,900 17,100 20,600 24,600 

111 290 35.7 .556 5.55 .0366 -.1996 5,970 11,700 16,400 23,300 29,000 35,200 41,900 

112 3.84 35.8 .394 18.3 -.0008 .0426 758 1,450 2,040 2,950 3,740 4,640 5,660 

113 34.0 35.7 .422 9.33 -.0273 -.1863 2,150 2,910 3,390 3,970 4,390 4,790 5,180 

114 431 36 .398 5.80 .097 -.0452 12,500 18,700 23,000 28,600 32,900 37,400 41,900 

115 21.0 35.4 .393 20.2 .0074 .1332 1,600 3,680 5,750 9,360 12,900 17,200 22,500 

116 922 36.3 .432 4.63 .1063 -.0373 14,000 27,500 39,000 56,400 71,600 88,600 108,000 

117 1.98 36.7 .441 51.7 -.0772 -.1584 413 853 1,230 1,800 2,300 2,840 3,440 

118 22.0 36.6 .489 11.9 -.0175 .0635 2,090 3,220 4,040 5,170 6,060 7,010 8,010 

119 .83 38.9 .370 59.4 -.095 -.182 173 486 817 1,400 1,960 2,650 3,470 

120 31.0 38.6 .462 13.3 .006 .1123 3,670 5,510 6,850 8,670 10,100 11,700 13,300 

121 12.9 38.7 .777 34.7 -.033 -.1827 1,720 3,720 5,470 8,160 10,500 13,100 16,000 

122 425 36.6 .617 3.78 .0537 -.1667 6,130 12,000 16,800 23,800 29,600 36,000 43,000 

123 406 37.9 .503 2.86 .0845 .0173 6,170 11,300 15,500 21,700 27,000 32,900 39,500 

124 46.0 39.3 .608 15.0 .0129 .109 4,820 8,610 11,700 16,400 20,500 25,000 30,100 

125 26.6 39.3 .643 12.1 .01 .0431 4,060 6,210 7,770 9,890 11,600 13,300 15,200 

126 23.9 39.4 .634 16.8 .0063 -.0243 2,630 4,890 6,760 9,520 11,900 14,500 17,300 

127 177 35.8 .399 6.21 -.0394 -.0879 7,860 18,200 28,100 44,200 59,100 76,500 96,800 

128 351 36.6 .421 4.17 -.0111 -.1561 7,050 17,300 27,300 43,800 59,000 76,900 97,600 

129 111 36.6 .460 5.80 -.0316 -.2327 4,270 9,170 13,400 19,800 25,200 31,200 37,700 

130 114 36.1 .443 6.63 -.032 -.0881 4,780 8,780 12,000 16,600 20,500 24,700 29,300 

131 3.76 36.5 .493 36.1 -.1204 -.0747 1,220 2,940 4,610 7,430 10,100 13,200 16,900 

132 322 36.2 .464 6.70 .0055 .181 7,990 14,100 19,200 26,800 33,500 41,100 49,600 

133 1,040 36.5 .477 3.41 .038 .0908 9,310 21,200 32,800 52,700 71,800 95,000 123,000 

134 1,250 36.7 .520 2.84 .0563 .1246 11,200 25,200 38,900 62,500 85,200 113,000 147,000 

135 10.2 38.5 .365 12.0 -.0839 .0624 597 1,300 1,960 3,060 4,090 5,310 6,760 

136 52.0 38.1 .649 8.74 -.0449 .0677 3,300 5,310 6,840 8,970 10,700 12,600 14,600 

137 334 38.3 .545 4.40 -.0064 -.0162 11,300 20,100 27,100 37,200 45,700 54,900 65,000 

138 .35 39.8 .656 125 -.2068 -.1288 183 310 405 535 639 747 861 

139 513 38.8 .579 3.27 .0244 .0999 13,400 25,500 36,000 52,100 66,500 82,800 101,000 

140 147 39.2 .659 8.12 .0176 .1503 6,880 14,300 21,100 32,500 43,000 55,600 70,600 

Generalized Least-Squares Regression Equations 25 
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Table 5. Streamflow-gaging station information, physical and climatic characteristics, and peak-streamflow magnitude and 

frequency estimates for selected gaging stations with at least 10 years of annual peak-discharge data for unregulated, rural 

streams in Kansas—Continued 

Sta- U.S. 

tion Geolog- High- Lowmap ical System- Histori- outlier outlier Total 

index Survey Latitude Longitude atic cal thres- thres- drainno. station (decimal (decimal record record hold hold age area 

(fig. 1) no. U.S. Geological Survey station name degrees) degrees) (years) (years) (ft

3/s) (ft3/s) (mi2) 

141 6915100 Big Bull Creek at Paola, Kansas 38.57667 94.89556 26 230 

142 6916000 Marais des Cygnes River at Trading Post, Kansas 38.25056 94.68639 34 2,880 

143 6916500 Big Sugar Creek at Farlinville, Kansas 38.23528 94.85361 24 198 

144 6916700 Middle Creek near Kincaid, Kansas 38.05667 95.18750 34 2.02 

145 6917000 Little Osage River at Fulton, Kansas 38.01917 94.71333 49 1,600 295 

146 6917100 Marmaton River tributary near Bronson, Kansas 37.90556 95.09528 34 31 .88 

147 6917380 Marmaton River near Marmaton, Kansas 37.81750 94.79167 26 292 

148 6917400 Marmaton River tributary near Fort Scott, Kansas 37.79056 94.79639 41 2.80 

149 6917500 Marmaton River near Fort Scott, Kansas 37.86306 94.67667 46 408 

150 7138600 White Woman Creek tributary near Selkirk, Kansas 38.52500 101.62111 40 10 38.0 

151 7138650 White Woman Creek near Leoti, Kansas 38.48111 101.48778 20 1 750 

152 7138800 Lion Creek tributary near Modoc, Kansas 38.48000 101.05000 21 7.00 

153 7139700 Arkansas River tributary near Dodge City, Kansas 37.71444 100.01472 39 40 8.66 

154 7139800 Mulberry Creek near Dodge City, Kansas 37.59806 100.01444 22 73.8 

155 7140300 Whitewoman Creek near Bellefont, Kansas 37.92389 99.64194 33 14.0 

156 7140600 Pawnee River tributary near Kalvesta, Kansas 38.06167 100.35000 33 6.89 

157 7140700 Guzzlers Gulch near Ness City, Kansas 38.29444 99.95278 19 58.2 

158 7140850 Pawnee River near Burdett, Kansas 38.20667 99.64306 14 1,090 

159 7141200 Pawnee River near Larned, Kansas 38.20000 99.34722 73 2,150 

160 7141400 South Fork Walnut Creek tributary near Dighton, Kansas 38.48278 100.41500 21 .81 

161 7141600 Long Branch Creek near Ness City, Kansas 38.45028 99.88056 33 6 28.0 

162 7141780 Walnut Creek near Rush Center, Kansas 38.46861 99.36861 28 1,260 

163 7141800 Otter Creek near Rush Center, Kansas 38.40444 99.30722 33 17.0 

164 7141900 Walnut Creek at Albert, Kansas 38.46111 99.01389 39 1,410 

165 7142100 Rattlesnake Creek tributary near Mullinville, Kansas 37.58639 99.42139 33 11 10.3 

166 7142300 Rattlesnake Creek near Macksville, Kansas 37.87222 98.87500 38 784 

167 7142500 Spring Creek near Dillwyn, Kansas 37.95667 98.84083 21 14.3 

168 7142575 Rattlesnake Creek near Zenith, Kansas 38.09361 98.54583 25 107 29,300 1,050 

169 7142700 Salt Creek near Partridge, Kansas 38.03944 98.08694 33 85.0 

170 7142860 Cow Creek near Claflin, Kansas 38.52222 98.58333 22 20 43.0 

171 7142900 Blood Creek near Boyd, Kansas 38.53611 98.85972 33 61.0 

172 7143100 Little Cheyenne Creek tributary near Claflin, Kansas 38.45694 98.53556 41 30 1.48 

173 7143200 Plum Creek near Holyrood, Kansas 38.59806 98.42417 20 120 19.0 

174 7143300 Cow Creek near Lyons, Kansas 38.30833 98.19167 52 69 24,000 728 

175 7143500 Little Arkansas River near Geneseo, Kansas 38.45667 98.09000 21 100 25.0 

26 Estimation of Peak Streamflows for Unregulated Rural Streams in Kansas 
Sta- General- Discharge for indicated recurrence interval (ft

3/s) tion Mean ized Weighted 

map Contribu- annual Soil Main skew- skewindex ting drain- precipi- perme- channel ness ness 

no. age area tation ability slope coeffi- coeffi­

(fig. 1) (mi

2) (in.) (in/h) (ft/mi) cient cient 2-year 5-year 10-year 25-year 50-year 100-year 200-year 

141 230 39.4 0.660 4.26 0.0242 0.177 5,650 9,180 12,000 15,900 19,300 23,000 27,000 

142 2,880 38.1 .594 2.08 .075 .1356 19,900 39,600 57,400 85,900 112,000 142,000 178,000 

143 198 40.2 .657 8.03 -.0097 .1418 6,490 13,100 19,200 29,000 38,100 48,800 61,400 

144 2.02 40.0 .903 36.2 -.1714 -.2962 677 1,340 1,860 2,610 3,210 3,860 4,530 

145 295 40.7 .727 4.97 -.0115 .1765 8,560 14,800 19,900 27,500 34,000 41,400 49,600 

146 .88 40.4 .755 29.9 -.2038 -.2541 204 349 455 597 707 820 935 

147 292 41.3 .828 5.89 -.0347 .126 16,600 27,900 36,900 50,000 61,100 73,200 86,600 

148 2.80 41.7 .687 35.6 -.1668 -.3272 923 1,430 1,770 2,190 2,500 2,800 3,100 

149 408 41.5 .826 4.55 -.0152 -.1524 11,800 22,900 32,100 45,600 56,900 69,300 82,700 

150 7.59 16.3 1.104 16.3 -.4246 -.3256 61 169 278 459 626 818 1,040 

151 750 15.9 1.225 12.6 -.2939 -.3653 232 1,400 3,310 7,870 13,400 21,100 31,600 

152 1.19 19.0 1.096 31.8 -.4508 -.5317 92 182 250 340 408 476 544 

153 8.66 21.8 1.088 14.0 -.4134 -.3366 229 487 702 1,020 1,270 1,550 1,840 

154 73.8 21.7 1.302 7.30 -.3646 -.3526 249 675 1,090 1,770 2,380 3,080 3,860 

155 14.0 22.9 1.062 10.7 -.3611 -.2303 179 713 1,420 2,870 4,470 6,590 9,320 

156 6.89 20.3 .745 15.3 -.4047 -.3166 255 745 12,60 2,130 2,950 3,910 5,020 

157 58.2 21.0 1.200 9.64 -.3029 -.304 425 1,260 2,130 3,650 5,080 6,780 8,760 

158 1,090 20.3 1.167 5.00 -.2134 -.2757 469 1,430 2,460 4,300 6,070 8,210 10,700 

159 2,010 21.0 1.116 4.18 -.1817 -.0317 2,250 4,530 6,530 9,620 12,300 15,400 18,900 

160 .81 20.6 1.111 15.8 -.4283 -.5225 56 107 145 194 231 267 303 

161 28.0 20.9 1.128 9.99 -.3049 -.3916 75 433 1,000 2,310 3,840 5,950 8,740 

162 1,150 21.0 1.168 5.97 -.1732 -.2096 1,000 2,390 3,700 5,790 7,670 9,830 12,300 

163 17.0 22.9 1.110 13.1 -.2933 -.3003 394 955 1,470 2,280 2,990 3,790 4,670 

164 1,310 21.4 1.176 5.36 -.152 -.2257 1,310 2,850 4,200 6,250 8,010 9,970 12,100 

165 10.3 24.5 1.062 13.1 -.3897 -.3568 416 1,090 1,730 2,750 3,650 4,670 5,800 

166 356 24.1 5.569 4.96 -.236 -.0969 400 1,340 2,490 4,770 7,230 10,500 14,600 

167 14.3 24.4 3.750 10.7 -.3158 -.2993 305 1,170 2,260 4,400 6,650 9,530 13,100 

168 519 24.4 5.899 4.10 -.1877 .1833 501 1,580 2,950 5,850 9,190 13,900 20,400 

169 72.0 28.3 3.666 5.11 -.224 -.2187 1,150 2,160 2,950 4,070 4,980 5,950 6,970 

170 43.0 25.8 1.041 6.73 -.2189 -.1905 556 1,580 2,680 4,610 6,480 8,760 11,500 

171 61.0 24.5 1.074 9.82 -.2222 -.2981 955 2,320 3,570 5,540 7,270 9,220 11,400 

172 1.48 25.6 1.041 21.7 -.3164 -.1319 105 175 227 297 353 411 472 

173 19.0 26.7 1.041 9.40 -.2263 -.0736 657 1,230 1,690 2,370 2,950 3,580 4,260 

174 499 26.1 1.297 3.44 -.1504 -.047 1,940 4,690 7,420 12,000 16,400 21,700 28,000 

175 25.0 27.6 .830 20.8 -.2146 -.3314 927 1,360 1,630 1,970 2,210 2,440 2,670 

Generalized Least-Squares Regression Equations 27 
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Table 5. Streamflow-gaging station information, physical and climatic characteristics, and peak-streamflow magnitude and 

frequency estimates for selected gaging stations with at least 10 years of annual peak-discharge data for unregulated, rural 

streams in Kansas—Continued 

Sta- U.S. 

tion Geolog- High- Lowmap ical System- Histori- outlier outlier Total 

index Survey Latitude Longitude atic cal thres- thres- drainno. station (decimal (decimal record record hold hold age area 

(fig. 1) no. U.S. Geological Survey station name degrees) degrees) (years) (years) (ft

3/s) (ft3/s) (mi2) 

176 7143600 Little Arkansas River near Little River, Kansas 38.41389 98.01667 26 71.0 

177 7143665 Little Arkansas River at Alta Mills, Kansas 38.11222 97.59167 25 736 

178 7144000 East Emma Creek near Halstead, Kansas 38.02778 97.42778 14 58.0 

179 7144200 Little Arkansas River at Valley Center, Kansas 37.83222 97.38778 79 1,330 

180 7144780 North Fork Ninnescah River above Cheney Reservoir, 37.84472 97.93583 25 787 

Kansas 

181 7144800 North Fork Ninnescah River near Cheney, Kansas 37.66667 97.76667 14 930 

182 7144850 South Fork South Fork Ninnescah River near Pratt, 37.58611 98.82778 19 80 21.0 

Kansas 

183 7144900 South Fork Ninnescah River tributary near Pratt, Kansas 37.67500 98.72306 32 80 1.48 

184 7145200 South Fork Ninnescah River near Murdock, Kansas 37.56417 97.85278 47 650 

185 7145300 Clear Creek near Garden Plain, Kansas 37.66333 97.65611 33 100 5.03 

186 7145500 Ninnescah River near Peck, Kansas 37.45722 97.42222 26 41 69,900 2,130 

187 7145700 Slate Creek at Wellington, Kansas 37.25000 97.40333 38 154 

188 7145800 Antelope Creek tributary near Dalton, Kansas 37.27611 97.28361 33 25 .41 

189 7146570 Cole Creek near Degraff, Kansas 37.94722 96.78056 19 34 22,000 30.0 

190 7146700 West Branch Walnut River tributary near Degraff, Kansas 37.95528 96.85111 21 11.0 

191 7147020 Whitewater River tributary near Towanda, Kansas 37.85083 97.06028 34 10 .17 

192 7147070 Whitewater River at Towanda, Kansas 37.79583 97.01250 36 426 

193 7147200 Dry Creek tributary near Augusta, Kansas 37.67972 97.03056 21 .90 

194 7147800 Walnut River at Winfield, Kansas 37.22417 96.99444 61 105 104,000 1,880 

195 7147990 Cedar Creek tributary near Cambridge, Kansas 37.32194 96.62583 35 2.41 

196 7148100 Grouse Creek near Dexter, Kansas 37.22722 96.71222 30 89 50,900 170 

197 7148700 Dog Creek near Deerhead, Kansas 37.28056 98.87333 21 5.31 

198 7148800 Medicine Lodge River tributary near Medicine Lodge, 37.31167 98.58889 21 2.04 

Kansas 

199 7149000 Medicine Lodge River near Kiowa, Kansas 37.03806 98.46778 51 903 

200 7151500 Chikaskia River near Corbin, Kansas 37.12889 97.60111 38 75 59,900 794 

201 7151600 Rush Creek near Harper, Kansas 37.25333 98.07972 33 12.0 

202 7155590 Cimarron River near Elkhart, Kansas 37.12500 101.89722 26 100 2,900 

203 7155900 North Fork Cimarron River tributary near Elkhart, 37.19083 101.89833 33 10 75.0 

Kansas 

204 7156000 North Fork Cimarron River tributary near Richfield, 37.31000 101.77167 21 103 

Kansas 

205 7156010 North Fork Cimarron River at Richfield, Kansas 37.25833 101.77500 15 32,000 463 

206 7156100 Sand Arroyo Creek near Johnson, Kansas 37.50000 101.76111 15 5 619 

207 7156220 Bear Creek near Johnson, Kansas 37.62639 101.76111 31 835 

208 7156600 Cimarron River tributary near Moscow, Kansas 37.33528 101.05000 33 13.0 

209 7156700 Cimarron River tributary near Satanta, Kansas 37.27083 100.92667 38 2.41 

210 7157100 Crooked Creek near Copeland, Kansas 37.56528 100.55417 33 10 44.0 

28 Estimation of Peak Streamflows for Unregulated Rural Streams in Kansas 
Sta- General- Discharge for indicated recurrence interval (ft

3/s) tion Mean ized Weighted 

map Contribu- annual Soil Main skew- skewindex ting drain- precipi- perme- channel ness ness 

no. age area tation ability slope coeffi- coeffi­

(fig. 1) (mi

2) (in.) (in/h) (ft/mi) cient cient 2-year 5-year 10-year 25-year 50-year 100-year 200-year 

176 71.0 27.7 0.855 8.32 -0.1857 -0.0068 1,200 2,360 3,360 4,900 6,240 7,760 9,470 

177 681 29.5 2.071 3.58 -.1289 -.1466 5,000 12,200 19,200 30,800 41,500 54,100 68,700 

178 58.0 31.5 .796 9.00 -.1969 -.1965 3,400 8,990 14,600 24,200 33,200 43,800 56,300 

179 1,250 30.3 2.025 2.30 -.1276 -.319 6,290 13,900 20,400 30,100 38,300 47,200 56,800 

180 550 26.9 5.484 5.85 -.1777 -.0545 3,990 12,300 21,900 40,400 59,900 85,200 117,000 

181 693 27.5 4.962 5.36 -.1792 -.2024 4,050 10,600 17,100 28,200 38,500 50,600 64,700 

182 21.0 25.5 2.002 10.6 -.3391 -.1672 712 1,500 2,190 3,240 4,150 5,160 6,280 

183 1.48 25.7 2.126 18.8 -.3992 -.2609 373 680 915 1,240 1,500 1,760 2,040 

184 543 27.3 3.085 7.13 -.2 -.2904 5,850 12,600 18,300 26,700 33,800 41,500 49,900 

185 5.03 30.4 1.184 15.3 -.3109 -.3807 612 1,060 1,380 1,800 2,120 2,430 2,750 

186 1,790 28.1 3.774 4.80 -.1545 -.0223 11,700 20,300 27,000 36,600 44,400 53,000 62,200 

187 154 30.7 .876 6.08 -.2411 -.3367 3,620 7,650 11,000 15,800 19,800 24,100 28,600 

188 .41 32.0 .681 56.5 -.3975 -.2376 135 244 327 441 532 627 726 

189 30.0 33.7 .447 7.36 -.1892 -.1115 1,950 4,420 6,700 10,400 13,700 17,500 21,900 

190 11.0 33.9 .436 13.2 -.22 -.1583 1,310 2,440 3,350 4,640 5,710 6,850 8,080 

191 .17 33.5 .365 66.2 -.3567 -.2749 84 173 246 352 440 535 636 

192 426 33.0 .468 4.15 -.1415 -.1801 7,490 17,300 26,200 40,500 53,300 67,900 84,300 

193 .90 35.8 .365 42.9 -.3248 -.2169 225 373 478 619 728 839 952 

194 1,870 34.3 .488 2.50 -.1528 -.1497 19,900 39,100 55,000 78,600 98,400 120,000 144,000 

195 2.41 35.6 .493 53.2 -.3098 -.4033 575 1,660 2,740 4,530 6,150 8,000 10,100 

196 170 35.4 .497 8.16 -.2046 -.1768 8,250 17,000 24,500 35,800 45,500 56,100 67,800 

197 5.31 25.2 2.986 30.9 -.4083 -.3587 271 938 1,710 3,110 4,490 6,170 8,160 

198 2.04 26.3 1.444 27.4 -.4173 -.4663 135 508 944 1,740 2,510 3,430 4,500 

199 903 25.5 2.562 8.27 -.267 -.3332 4,030 7,450 10,000 13,500 16,300 19,100 22,000 

200 794 28.7 2.648 7.79 -.2171 -.3124 8,530 18,700 27,400 40,300 51,200 63,000 75,700 

201 12.0 28.9 1.881 21.5 -.347 -.3305 1,190 2,290 3,140 4,310 5,250 6,220 7,230 

202 2,420 16.2 2.782 17.5 -.4094 -.3623 1,330 4,000 6,800 11,600 16,000 21,300 27,200 

203 10.0 16.3 1.098 16.4 -.5561 -.5442 72 722 2,090 5,820 10,700 17,800 27,600 

204 58.9 16.1 1.893 13.8 -.489 -.4275 791 2,420 4,100 6,930 9,510 12,500 15,800 

205 463 16.0 3.157 16.5 -.4366 -.3256 870 3,650 7,320 14,800 22,800 33,200 46,300 

206 619 15.9 3.462 15.2 -.4052 -.438 146 541 1,000 1,850 2,680 3,680 4,850 

207 835 15.9 1.180 13.9 -.385 -.4388 724 3,020 5,940 11,600 17,300 24,400 33,000 

208 8.0 18.0 2.14 29.2 -.5048 -.5664 468 1,400 2,310 3,740 4,970 6,310 7,730 

209 2.41 19.0 1.895 41.6 -.5378 -.5524 202 576 931 1,480 1,950 2,450 2,990 

210 44.0 19.9 .940 11.4 -.4101 -.4883 488 1,630 2,860 4,960 6,900 9,120 11,600 

Generalized Least-Squares Regression Equations 29 
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Table 5. Streamflow-gaging station information, physical and climatic characteristics, and peak-streamflow magnitude and 

frequency estimates for selected gaging stations with at least 10 years of annual peak-discharge data for unregulated, rural 

streams in Kansas—Continued 

Sta- U.S. 

tion Geolog- High- Lowmap ical System- Histori- outlier outlier Total 

index Survey Latitude Longitude atic cal thres- thres- drainno. station (decimal (decimal record record hold hold age area 

(fig. 1) no. U.S. Geological Survey station name degrees) degrees) (years) (years) (ft

3/s) (ft3/s) (mi2) 

211 7157400 Crooked Creek tributary at Meade, Kansas 37.29639 100.33944 33 6.57 

212 7157500 Crooked Creek near Nye, Kansas 37.03167 100.20806 55 1,160 

213 7157700 Kiger Creek near Ashland, Kansas 37.19333 99.91333 32 34.0 

214 7157900 Cavalry Creek at Coldwater, Kansas 37.26667 99.34444 28 39.0 

215 7165700 Verdigris River near Madison, Kansas 38.13750 96.10139 21 73 127,000 181 

216 7166000 Verdigris River near Coyville, Kansas 37.70556 95.90556 20 747 

217 7166200 Sandy Creek near Yates Center, Kansas 37.84639 95.83528 41 6.8 

218 7166500 Verdigris River near Altoona, Kansas 37.49056 95.68028 21 1,600 1,140 

219 7166700 Burnt Creek at Reece, Kansas 37.78528 96.23111 13 8.85 

220 7167000 Fall River near Eureka, Kansas 37.78528 96.23111 30 307 

221 7167500 Otter Creek at Climax, Kansas 37.70833 96.22500 50 94 106,000 129 

222 7168500 Fall River near Fall River, Kansas 37.64278 96.05917 10 27 47,900 585 

223 7169200 Salt Creek near Severy, Kansas 37.62000 96.25194 21 900 7.59 

224 7169500 Fall River at Fredonia, Kansas 37.50833 95.83333 13 46 48,900 4,000 827 

225 7169700 Snake Creek near Howard, Kansas 37.54111 96.24000 21 40 1.84 

226 7169800 Elk River at Elk Falls, Kansas 37.37556 96.18528 30 220 

227 7170000 Elk River near Elk City, Kansas 37.26639 95.91778 31 575 

228 7170500 Verdigris River at Independence, Kansas 37.22389 95.67861 31 2,890 

229 7170600 Cherry Creek near Cherryvale, Kansas 37.29611 95.54750 21 501 15.0 

230 7170700 Big Hill Creek near Cherryvale, Kansas 37.26667 95.46806 24 37.0 

231 7170800 Mud Creek near Mound Valley, Kansas 37.19389 95.44778 34 4.22 

232 7171700 Spring Branch near Cedar Vale, Kansas 37.11333 96.45806 38 3.10 

233 7171800 Cedar Creek tributary near Hooser, Kansas 37.10750 96.57417 34 .56 

234 7171900 Grant Creek near Wauneta, Kansas 37.10944 96.39861 21 200 20.0 

235 7172000 Caney River near Elgin, Kansas 37.00361 96.31500 59 445 

236 7179500 Neosho River at Council Grove, Kansas 38.66500 96.49389 27 62 120,000 210 250 

237 7179600 Four Mile Creek near Council Grove, Kansas 38.59972 96.49833 14 1,500 55.0 

238 7180000 Cottonwood River near Marion, Kansas 38.35139 97.05833 30 97 65,000 329 

239 7180300 Spring Creek tributary near Florence, Kansas 38.18333 96.91361 34 .55 

240 7180500 Cedar Creek near Cedar Point, Kansas 38.19861 96.82278 59 142 52,300 110 

241 7181000 Cottonwood River at Elmdale, Kansas 38.37083 96.62917 10 1,050 

242 7181500 Middle Creek near Elmdale, Kansas 38.39333 96.71778 40 92.0 

243 7182000 Cottonwood River at Cottonwood Falls, Kansas 38.38528 96.60528 37 111 1,330 

244 7182400 Neosho River at Strawn, Kansas 38.26667 95.86667 61 2,930 

245 7182520 Rock Creek at Burlington, Kansas 38.19611 95.75667 21 8.27 

30 Estimation of Peak Streamflows for Unregulated Rural Streams in Kansas 
Sta- General- Discharge for indicated recurrence interval (ft

3/s) tion Mean ized Weighted 

map Contribu- annual Soil Main skew- skewindex ting drain- precipi- perme- channel ness ness 

no. age area tation ability slope coeffi- coeffi­

(fig. 1) (mi

2) (in.) (in/h) (ft/mi) cient cient 2-year 5-year 10-year 25-year 50-year 100-year 200-year 

211 6.57 21.4 1.034 33.1 -0.477 -0.4638 292 1,300 2,620 5,220 7,900 11,200 15,300 

212 813 20.5 1.673 4.23 -.3608 -.4016 992 3,600 6,650 12,200 17,800 24,400 32,300 

213 34.0 22.3 1.993 29.9 -.4187 -.4052 368 689 929 1,250 1,500 1,750 2,000 

214 39.0 24.8 2.725 8.61 -.3785 -.3149 492 1,290 2,050 3,290 4,410 5,680 7,110 

215 181 36.1 .485 11.2 -.0861 -.1726 8,120 18,700 28,400 43,800 57,600 73,400 91,300 

216 747 36.7 .540 4.98 -.0768 -.0697 18,300 43,400 67,500 108,000 145,000 190,000 242,000 

217 6.80 39.3 .660 19.3 -.1908 -.249 1,240 1,990 2,530 3,220 3,740 4,270 4,810 

218 1,140 37.5 .670 3.33 -.0735 -.067 16,400 32,800 46,900 68,300 87,000 108,000 131,000 

219 8.85 35.3 .493 36.0 -.2098 -.0977 1,630 4,100 6,570 10,800 14,800 19,600 25,300 

220 307 35.3 .515 9.95 -.111 -.1376 11,700 29,900 48,100 79,100 108,000 143,000 184,000 

221 129 36.2 .461 13.2 -.142 -.3741 7,480 18,000 27,400 41,800 54,200 67,600 82,200 

222 585 35.8 .517 6.28 -.0975 -.1541 16,200 31,700 44,500 63,300 79,100 96,300 115,000 

223 7.59 36.6 .390 21.9 -.2306 -.2731 2,950 5,110 6,700 8,830 10,500 12,200 13,900 

224 827 36.3 .616 5.46 -.0887 -.1442 18,800 32,600 43,000 57,400 69,000 81,100 94,000 

225 1.84 36.8 .320 38.4 -.2768 -.185 497 969 1,360 1,920 2,390 2,890 3,440 

226 220 36.5 .446 9.21 -.1563 -.0541 9,000 21,300 33,300 53,400 72,200 94,600 121,000 

227 575 37.4 .740 5.25 -.1258 -.2147 12,600 30,400 47,000 73,800 97,900 125,000 157,000 

228 2,890 37.3 .695 2.68 -.0724 -.0243 34,400 60,400 81,000 111,000 135,000 162,000 190,000 

229 15.0 41.7 .851 16.5 -.2053 -.0413 2,530 4,580 6,230 8,640 10,700 12,900 15,300 

230 37.0 41.3 .833 9.10 -.1788 -.0072 3,540 6,770 9,510 13,600 17,200 21,200 25,700 

231 4.22 43.0 .952 25.7 -.245 -.0775 1,270 2,180 2,870 3,840 4,630 5,460 6,350 

232 3.10 34.8 .510 50.1 -.3136 -.4588 816 2,150 3,390 5,310 6,960 8,750 10,700 

233 .56 34.9 .510 165 -.3678 -.4608 147 331 485 705 883 1,070 1,270 

234 20.0 35.7 .561 33.6 -.2589 -.2909 3,160 5,510 7,230 9,530 11,300 13,100 15,000 

235 445 35.5 .555 7.39 -.1781 -.3575 14,900 30,100 42,200 59,400 73,100 87,600 103,000 

236 250 33.8 .433 4.88 -.0481 .1393 10,100 23,000 35,900 58,000 79,600 106,000 139,000 

237 55.0 33.4 .444 13.4 -.0966 .017 5,370 11,300 16,700 25,400 33,400 42,600 53,300 

238 329 32.4 .662 5.54 -.0991 -.167 6,460 12,200 16,800 23,300 28,800 34,600 40,900 

239 .55 33.0 .682 43.2 -.2853 -.4216 116 291 450 694 902 1,130 1,370 

240 110 33.3 .518 9.42 -.1317 -.3073 5,740 10,800 14,700 20,100 24,500 28,900 33,600 

241 1,050 32.9 .566 3.74 -.0428 -.0091 9,600 16,000 20,900 27,800 33,300 39,300 45,700 

242 92.0 34.1 .456 3.69 -.113 -.1693 6,960 15,000 22,100 33,100 42,700 53,500 65,400 

243 1,330 33.1 .544 3.19 -.0336 .0969 10,300 24,500 39,000 64,400 89,500 121,000 159,000 

244 2,930 34.1 .508 2.75 .0157 .1201 20,400 44,800 68,300 108,000 145,000 191,000 246,000 

245 8.27 37.4 .471 8.34 -.1486 -.0919 1,020 2,370 3,660 5,760 7,690 9,960 12,600 

Generalized Least-Squares Regression Equations 31 
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Table 5. Streamflow-gaging station information, physical and climatic characteristics, and peak-streamflow magnitude and 

frequency estimates for selected gaging stations with at least 10 years of annual peak-discharge data for unregulated, rural 

streams in Kansas—Continued 

Sta- U.S. 

tion Geolog- High- Lowmap ical System- Histori- outlier outlier Total 

index Survey Latitude Longitude atic cal thres- thres- drainno. station (decimal (decimal record record hold hold age area 

(fig. 1) no. U.S. Geological Survey station name degrees) degrees) (years) (years) (ft

3/s) (ft3/s) (mi2) 

246 7182600 North Big Creek near Burlington, Kansas 38.11028 95.75722 33 46.0 

247 7183000 Neosho River near Iola, Kansas 37.89083 95.43056 55 3,820 

248 7183100 Owl Creek near Piqua, Kansas 37.85000 95.57500 11 177 

249 7183500 Neosho River near Parsons, Kansas 37.34000 95.10972 42 6,500 4,910 

250 7183800 Limestone Creek near Beulah, Kansas 37.40333 94.88778 33 12.0 

251 7184000 Lightning Creek near McCune, Kansas 37.28167 95.03222 47 197 

252 7184500 Labette Creek near Oswego, Kansas 37.19167 95.19167 37 43 20,100 211 

253 7184600 Fly Creek near Faulkner, Kansas 37.10417 94.93917 21 27.0 

32 Estimation of Peak Streamflows for Unregulated Rural Streams in Kansas 
Sta- General- Discharge for indicated recurrence interval (ft

3/s) tion Mean ized Weighted 

map Contribu- annual Soil Main skew- skewindex ting drain- precipi- perme- channel ness ness 

no. age area tation ability slope coeffi- coeffi­

(fig. 1) (mi

2) (in.) (in/h) (ft/mi) cient cient 2-year 5-year 10-year 25-year 50-year 100-year 200-year 

246 46.0 37.6 0.489 5.93 -0.1089 -0.0739 3,210 4,850 6,000 7,500 8,660 9,830 11,000 

247 3,820 35.1 .531 1.84 .0105 .1231 23,700 48,300 70,700 107,000 140,000 180,000 226,000 

248 177 40.4 .608 5.87 -.0863 -.0531 6,940 14,400 20,900 31,200 40,200 50,500 62,200 

249 4,910 36.4 .578 1.85 -.0173 .1787 28,700 50,800 69,300 97,300 122,000 149,000 181,000 

250 12.0 42.4 .993 16.2 -.1673 -.2453 3,140 6,540 9,400 13,600 17,200 21,100 25,300 

251 197 42.2 1.021 3.43 -.1083 .087 7,250 16,800 26,300 42,600 58,300 77,600 101,000 

252 211 40.9 .813 4.74 -.123 -.1391 8,330 13,200 16,600 21,200 24,700 28,300 32,000 

253 27.0 42.1 1.227 7.80 -.1753 -.1696 4,190 11,000 17,900 29,700 40,900 54,200 69,900 

Generalized Least-Squares Regression Equations 33 
Cow Creek near Hutchinson, Kansas, 

July 22, 1999. View upstream from 

left bank. Photograph by Mike Holt, USGS. 

Kansas River at Wamego, Kansas, 

July, 1993. View upstream from left 

bank. Photograph by Charles Perry, USGS. 

Cimarron River near Elkhart, Kansas, 

May 3, 1999. View upstream from left 

bank. Photograph by Craig Dare, USGS. 

Back cover 

Arkansas River near Coolidge, Kansas, 

May 6, 1999. View downstream from 

right bank. Photograph by Craig Dare, USGS. 
Patrick P. Rasmussen and Charles A. Perry—Estimation of Peak Streamflows for Unregulated Rural Streams in Kansas—USGS/WRIR 00–4079