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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Boise, Idaho » Northwest Watershed Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #71153
Title: SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PRECIPITATION ON THE REYNOLDS CREEK EXPERIMENTAL WATERSHED IN IDAHO

Author
item Hanson, Clayton
item Johnson, Gregory

Submitted to: Climate and Weather Research Workshop Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/17/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Analysis of the 30-re (1962-1991) record from this watershed showed that the average annual precipitation ranged from 230 mm on the low elevation (1150 m) areas of the watershed to 1110 mm on the high elevation (2160) areas. Maximum average monthly precipitation was about the same for November, December, May and June at the lowest elevation sites and for November, December, and January at the high elevation sites. There was a good linear relationship between elevation and mean annual or seasonal precipitation for the gage sites used in this study. Teh depth-duration- frequency values published by the National Weather Service are very nearly the same as those found in this study for the low elevation sites but at the high elevation site the values found in this study are about twice the published values for durations of 12-hr and greater. The information found in this stud shows that engineers and hydrologists need to do an in-depth evaluation of precipitation conditions at each project site because generalized maps may not represent local mountainous conditions.

Technical Abstract: The USDA-ARS, Northwest Watershed Research Center operates a precipitation gage network on the Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed in Southwest Idaho. Analysis of the 30-yr (1962-1991) record from this watershed showed that the average annual precipitation ranged from 230 mm on the low elevation (1150 m) areas of the watershed to 1110 mm on the high elevation (2160) ares. Maximum average monthly precipitation was about the same for November, December, May and June at the lowest elevation sites and for November, December and January at the high elevation sites. There was a good linear relationship between elevation and mean annual or seasonal precipitation for the gage sites used in this study. The depth-duration- frequency values published by the National Weather Service are very nearly the same as those found in this study for the low elevation sites but at the high elevation site the values found in this study are about twice the published values for durations of 12-hr and greater. The information found in this study shows that engineers and hydrologists need to do an in- depth evaluation of precipitation and conditions at each project site because generalized maps may not represent local mountainous conditions.