This is evident in the relation obtained for the White River from Noblesville to 82nd Street in Indianapolis shown above. The time of travel measured at a streamflow of 5400 cubic feet per second is greater than would be expected based on the three measurements obtained at lower streamflows. There is also considerable uncertainty in extrapolating to very low flows, especially in impounded reaches. The time required for a water molecule to travel the length of the White River can be considerable at low flows. Indiana experienced drought conditions during 1987-88.
Travel times are much slower in reaches upstream of Indianapolis than they are downstream.
Stout Generating Station dam in Indianapolis, a distance of 122 miles, was 810 hours while the time of travel from the IPL dam to Hazleton, a distance of 208 miles, was only 315 hours. Travel times are substantially longer in the upper reaches of the White River because a number of low-head dams slow the velocity of water. In this short distance there are dams near Westfield Boulevard, near Kessler Boulevard, near 16th Street, near Oliver Street, and at the IPL Stout Generating Station. A typical time of travel from Winchester to Hazleton is difficult to determine because a period of typical or normal streamflow rarely exists in the White River for the amount of time required for a water molecule to traverse the entire distance. Under the same conditions, the average time of travel from Winchester to the IPL Stout Generating Station dam in Indianapolis would be about 350 hours while the time of travel from the IPL dam to Hazleton would be about 155 hours.