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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Southeast Watershed Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #205652
Title: Stream Discharge Database, Little River Experimental Watershed, Georgia, United States

Author
item Bosch, David - Dave
item Sheridan, Joseph

Submitted to: Water Resources Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/25/2007
Publication Date: 9/5/2007
Citation: Bosch, D.D., Sheridan, J.M. 2007. Stream Discharge Database, Little River Experimental Watershed, Georgia, United States. Water Resources Research. W09473,doi:10,1029/2006WR005833.

Interpretive Summary: Long-term high quality streamflow data are critical for many environmental programs in the United States and throughout the world. Without these types of data it would not be possible to forecast the impact of extreme flooding events, a process that saves millions of lives and dollars annually. Collection of these data throughout the Coastal Plain region is particularly complex due to the low topographic relief in the region and the difficulties imposed by these features on streamflow measurement. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Southeast Watershed Research Laboratory was able to establish a streamflow measurement program on the Little River Experimental Watershed in the Southern portion of Georgia in 1967. The Laboratory has maintained this network for 37 years, establishing one of the most complete data records of its kind over that period. The Laboratory has now set up a ftp site for sharing of the data. This will enhance the value of the dataset by enabling other scientists to examine and review hydrologic characteristics of the region.

Technical Abstract: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Southeast Watershed Research Laboratory (SEWRL) initiated a hydrologic research program on the Little River Experimental Watershed (LREW) in 1967. Continuous stream stage measurement began that year at two fixed-control sites. Construction of the flow-measurement network was completed in 1972. Long-term (up to 37 yr) research quality streamflow data are currently available for up to eight flow measurement sites within the East Gulf Coastal Plain physiographic region, an important agricultural region within a unique geo-climatic ecoregion of the southeastern USA. The LREW stream discharge research program provides fundamental data for research into hydrologic processes, precipitation-runoff relationships, hydrograph characteristics, water yield, and interactive effects of climate, vegetation, soils, and land use for low-gradient Coastal Plain streams. The data have been used to develop critical information related to peak and minimum flow rates for the region. In addition, the physical processes controlling flow within these low gradient streams have been identified. On average, annual streamflow accounts for 27% of the annual precipitation received, with the majority of the streamflow being generated in the first four months of the year. All data are available on the SEWRL anonymous ftp site (ftp://www.tiftonars.org/).