Part 630 Hydrology

National Engineering Handbook

Chapter 2

Watershed Project
Evaluation Procedures

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(210VINEH, Amend. 54, April 2012)

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Chapter 2

Watershed Project Evaluation

Procedures

Part 630
National Engineering Handbook

Issued April 2012

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(210VINEH, Amend. 54, April 2012)

Acknowledgments

Chapter 2, Procedures, was originally prepared by Victor Mockus (retired)

in 1964. It was reprinted with minor revisions in 1972. Chapter 2 was updated in 1999 by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) under
the guidance of Donald E. Woodward (retired). Karl Visser, hydraulic
engineer, NRCS, Fort Worth, Texas, provided suggested revisions for this
version of Chapter 2, Watershed Project Evaluation Procedures, under the
guidance of Claudia C. Hoeft, national hydraulic engineer, Washington,
DC.

(210VINEH, Amend. 54, April 2012)

2i

Chapter 2

2ii

Watershed Project Evaluation

Procedures

(210VINEH, Amend. 54, April 2012)

Part 630
National Engineering Handbook

Chapter 2

Contents

Figures

Watershed Project Evaluation

Procedures

630.0200 Introduction

21

630.0201

Work outline plan and schedule relationship

22
(a) Data collection.....................................................................................................22
(b) Computations.......................................................................................................22
(c) Analyses................................................................................................................23

630.0202

Hydrologic evaluation process

24
(a) Work sequence.....................................................................................................24
(b) Analysis methods................................................................................................25

630.0203

Design hydrology

28

Figure 21

General process hydrology of watershed project

evaluation with streamflow and rainfall data available

24

Figure 22

General process hydrology of watershed project

evaluation with streamflow or rainfall data not available

25

Figure 23

Design hydrology for storage and spillways in floodwater 28

retarding structures

(210VINEH, Amend. 54, April 2012)

2iii

Chapter 2

2iv

Watershed Project Evaluation

Procedures

(210VINEH, Amend. 54, April 2012)

Part 630
National Engineering Handbook

Chapter 2

Watershed Project Evaluation Program

630.0200 Introduction

630.0201 Work outline plan and

schedule relationship

Hydrology for the evaluation of watershed projects is a

major concern in part 630 of the National Engineering
Handbook (NEH). The evaluation is a detailed investigation of present (no project) and future (with project)
conditions of a watershed to determine whether given
objectives will be met. Along with appropriate socioeconomic and environmental assessments, hydrologic
evaluations are the bases on which recommendations for or against a project are founded. A summary
of the hydrologic evaluation is included in a work
plan, which is the official document for carrying out,
maintaining, and operating a project. The procedures
described in this chapter guide hydrologic studies and
introduce succeeding chapters of NEH630.
A watershed project evaluation begins with a preliminary investigation (PI), a brief study to estimate
whether detailed investigation is justified (NEH630.03,
Preliminary Investigations). If detailed investigation
is justified, the PI is used to develop a work outline
describing the desired scope, intensity, and schedule
of the planning study; its estimated cost; the personnel requirements; and the completion date for a work
plan.
Data collection, computation, and analysis are equally
important divisions of work. Availability governs the
collection of data. Size or cost of project influences
the choice of computational and analytical methods.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) policy determines the number and kinds of analyses. Nevertheless,
the basic evaluation procedure does not vary. The
work outline schedule follows the plan in principle.
The plan, schedule, and chapters in NEH630 are related as shown in the following sections.

(a) Data collection

Base maps, project area maps, rainfall data
(NEH630.04, Storm Rainfall Depth), and runoff data
(NEH630.05, Streamflow Data) are collected early
in the study. Field surveys and remote sensing provide stream cross sections and profiles (NEH630.06,
Stream Reaches and Hydrologic Units) and structure
data. Interviews with local NRCS personnel provide
data on hydrologic soil-cover complexes (NEH630.07,
Hydrologic Soil Groups; NEH630.08, Land Use and
Treatment Classes; and NEH630.09, Hydrologic
Soil-cover Complexes) and runoff curve numbers
(NEH630.10, Estimation of Direct Runoff from Storm
Rainfall).
Originally all mapping was paper-based, but now it is
more common to use remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) mapping procedures.
Remote sensing tools used include digital elevation
maps (DEMs), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)
data; and other available GIS tools. One of the advantages of this approach is that the data may often
times be imported easily into hydrologic and hydraulic
computer models.

(b) Computations
Storm runoff (NEH630.10, Estmation of Direct Runoff
from Storm Rainfall), snowmelt runoff (NEH630.11,
Snowmelt), effects of land use and treatment
(NEH630.12, Hydrologic Effects of Land Use and
Treatment), the relation of stream stages to inundation (NEH630.13, Stage Inundation Relations), and
discharge (NEH630.14, Stage-Discharge Relations)
are computed early in this phase of the study. Travel
time and lag for each subarea (NEH630.15, Time
of Concentration) are computed for use in hydrograph construction (NEH630.16, Hydrographs)
and flood routing (NEH630.17, Flood Routing).
Runoff or peak discharge frequencies (NEH630.18,
Selected Statistical Methods), transmission losses
(NEH630.19, Transmission Losses), and watershed

(210VINEH, Amend. 54, April 2012)

Chapter 2

Watershed Project Evaluation

Procedures

yield (NEH630.20, Watershed Yield) are only computed

if they are required in the study.

(c) Analyses
Watershed conditions are typically analyzed in a logical sequence. A typical study sequence might be:

of structure may be found in the Technical Release

Number 60, Earth Dams and Reservoirs (TR60) and
section IV (practice standards) of the field office technical guide (FOTG). NEH630.21 describes the procedure used to develop storm hydrographs to meet the
design requirements of TR60.

1. Present conditionconditions in the watershed at the time of the surveys; and the base
to which the proposed project is added. Also
forms the basis of comparison of alternatives
for potential alternatives.
2. Future with no project conditionexpected
future conditions of the watershed with no
project action taken. Depending upon the
funding source and program requirements this
condition may or may not have to be evaluated.
3. Future with land use and treatment measures
conditionproposed land use and treatment
measures are added to the present condition
(number 1).
4. Future land use and treatment measure and
strutures conditionwatershed protection
and flood prevention structures, if a part of
the plan, are added to the future with land use
and treatment measures condition (bullet 3).
Depending upon the number of alternatives evaluated,
numbers 3 and 4 may have to be repeated numerous
times to fully analyze all alternatives.
This order falls into a natural sequence in which measures that affect runoff first are evaluated first. Flood
routings for the present condition give the discharges
from which present flood damages are computed in
the economic evaluation. The routings are modified
(NEH630.12) to give discharges for determining the
effects of land use and treatment. New routings of
further modifications (NEH630.17) are made for the
third condition to give discharges for determining the
effects of the structures. Generally, the third condition
is studied at great length to optimize the number of
structures. While preliminary design is done during the
investigation, final design of individual structures is
made late in the investigation or after the work plan is
approved. The hydrology and NRCS hydrologic criteria
for structure design, depending upon the size and type
22

Part 630
National Engineering Handbook

(210VINEH, Amend. 54, April 2012)

Chapter 2

Watershed Project Evaluation

Procedures

630.0202 Hydrologic evaluation

process
Computer models may be used to develop runoff
hydrographs; route hydrographs through stream channels, floodplains, lakes, and reservoirs; combine hydrographs; and determine stage-discharge-acres flooded
relations. NRCS developed models that are used
most frequently for hydrologic evaluations include
WinTR55, Small Watershed Hydrology; WinTR20,
Project FormulationHydrology; and NRCS
GeoHydro. For hydraulic evaluations, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers computer programs HECRAS and
HECGeoRAS are often used.

(a) Work sequence

The hydrologic evaluation sequence is shown in figure
21. As represented in the figure, the forms of maps,
graphs, and tables are simplified representations of
the various standard forms used in different States.
The preliminary investigation, which precedes the
evaluation is described in NEH630.03, Preliminary
Investigations. The design hydrology analysis as described in NEH630.21 comes later.
After the present conditions are evaluated, the early
steps of the evaluation process may not need to be
repeated for the remaining conditions. Evaluations of
future conditions should include one that considers
the future with no project measures and accounts for
expected land use changes without any project being
implemented. Depending on expected changes, the
hydrologic soil-cover complexes and corresponding
runoff curve numbers would be revised, affecting the
runoff hydrographs. The evaluation process for the future land use and treatment measures condition (number 3) starts at the hydrologic soil-cover complex step.
At this step, the soil-cover complexes are modified
to reflect different land use and treatment conditions
which reflect in the flow hydrographs. Finally, the
future land use and treatment measures plus structural
measures condition (number 4) may require modifying
the unit hydrograph to reflect structures in place.
Of the basic data needed in the evaluation, only the
historical rainfall and streamflow data are likely to
be unavailable. The rest are obtainable through field

Part 630
National Engineering Handbook

surveys or remote sensing. Lacking rainfall and runoff data, the procedure goes as shown in figure 22.
Sources of rainfall-frequency data (NEH630.04) shown
in figure 22 include the U.S. Weather Bureau, the
National Weather Service, NOAA publications, or, in
some cases, special rainfall studies. Direct checks on
runoff cannot be made, but indirect checks can be
made if nearby watersheds are gaged.
Some steps in the procedures of figures 21 and 22
differ for regional analyses.

(b) Analysis methods

(1) Regional analysis method
This method estimates the magnitudes and frequencies
of peak discharges or runoff volumes for ungaged watershed using relationships from nearby gaged watersheds. The method in its simplest form is as follows:
Step 1 Select nearby gaged watershed that are
climatically and physically similar to the ungaged
watershed. These watersheds compose the region
that gives the method its name.
Step 2 Perform a frequency analysis
(NEH630.18) for peak discharges or runoff volumes for each of the gaged watersheds.
Step 3 Compile discharge or runoff volume by
frequency for the frequency analyses of each watershed.
Step 4 Using log-log paper or some type of statistical analysis software, plot log (peak discharge
or runoff volume) versus log (drainage area of
the watershed) for selected frequencies. Perform
a simple regression analysis to estimate a best fit
straight line through the data.
Step 5 Construct the frequency line for the
ungaged watershed. To do this, enter the plot with
drainage area, find the magnitudes of each line of
relationship, plot the magnitudes at their proper
places on the probability paper, and draw the
frequency line through the points.
Step 6 Apply the frequency lines of step 5 in the
procedure for present conditions. Discharges or
volumes for with-project conditions are obtained
by use of auxiliary relationships described in
NEH630.12 and NEH630.17.

(210VINEH, Amend. 54, April 2012)

23

Chapter 2

Watershed Project Evaluation

Procedures

Figure 21

Part 630
National Engineering Handbook

General process hydrology of watershed project evaluation with streamflow and rainfall data available

Base map

Subwatershed map
Cross section location map
Stream reach location map

Flood damage map

Rea

ch 1

ach

Re

(chapter 3)

R e ac h

Hydrologic soil group map

(chapter 7)

(chapter 6)

Subwatershed 3

Reach 3
Reach 2
Reach 1

Subwatershed 2
Subwatershed 1

Field surveys
cross section profiles

Hydraulic
computations

Watershed inventory
(chapter 8)
Land use and
treatment
Cultivated
Straight row
Terraced

Stage

Alternate

Water surface profiles

(chapter 14)

Discharge

Cross section 3
Cross section 2
Cross section 1

(chapter 14)

(chapter 3)

Reach 3
Reach 2
Reach 1

Discharge

Storm of 6/1/40
Storm of 7/3/36

Present
(acres)
50
50

Future
(acres)
50

50

Hydrologic soil-cover
complexes
(chapter 9)

Storm of 6/12/35
2.5"
2"

3"
3.5"

over 6'
4'-6'
2'-4' Total
0-2'

Stage

Stage

Subwatershed
1
2
3
4

4"

Present
86
81
83
79

Future
83
77
82
74

Historical storms
(chapter 4)

Area flooded

Reach 3
Reach 2
Reach 1

Streamflow data
for checking results
(chapter 5)
With structures
Present

Runoff above reach

(chapter 10)
Storm event
6/12/35
7/3/36
8/1/40
6/10/59

Present
3.2"
0.8"
1.6"
3.2"

Future
3.0"
0.5"
1.5"
3.0"

Flood routing (chapter 17)

Reach 1

Alternate

Rate

Reach 3
Reach 2
Reach 1

Runoff frequency (chapter 10)

Unit hydrograph Subwatershed 3

Unit hydrograph Subwatershed 2
Unit hydrograph Subwatershed 1
(chapter 16)

Time

Subwatershed time
of concentration
(chapter 15)

Subwatershed

Time of concentration (Tc)

Present
W/structure*
(hr)
(hr)
0.5
0.5
1
1.7
0.6
2
3.2
1.7
3
*For area not above structures

Reach 3
Reach 2
Reach 1

s
cture
stru
With

Pr
es
en
t

Peak discharge

With structures

Rate

Present

Runoff depth

Time

Runoff (depth)

1.25

Future-w/LU&T plus structures

Reach 3
Future-w/LU&T plus structures
Reach 2
Future-w/LU&T plus structures
Reach 1
Future-with land use & treatment
Reach 3
Future-with land use & treatment
Reach 2
Future-with land use & treatment
Reach 1
Reach 3
No project conditions
Reach 2
No project conditions
No project conditions
Reach 1
Present
Reach 3
Present
Reach 2
Present
Reach 1

Physical effects of watershed

programs summarized
Storm
series

Peak
discharge

0'-1'

Area flooded
1'-2'

2'-3'

etc

100 yr
50 yr
33 1/2 yr
25 yr

24

(210VINEH, Amend. 54, April 2012)

2
5 10
Frequency-years

25 50 100

Economic
evaluation

Chapter 2

Watershed Project Evaluation

Procedures

Figure 22

Part 630
National Engineering Handbook

General process hydrology of watershed project evaluation with streamflow or rainfall data not available

Base map

Subwatershed map
Cross section location map
Stream reach location map

Flood damage map

Rea

ch 1

h
eac

Re a c h

Hydrologic soil group map

(chapter 3)

(chapter 7)

(chapter 6)
Reach 3
Reach 2
Reach 1

Hydraulic
computations

Field surveys
cross section profiles

Discharge

Distance
Cross section 3
Cross section 2
Cross section 1

(chapter 3)

Reach 3
Reach 2
Reach 1

Discharge

Present
(acres)
50
50

Future
(acres)
50

50

Hydrologic soil-cover
complexes
(chapter 9)

Rainfall from U.S. Weather Bureau TP-40

Subwatershed
1
2
3
4

over 6'
4'-6'
2'-4' Total
0-2'

Stage

Stage

(chapter 14)

Watershed inventory
(chapter 8)
Land use and
treatment
Cultivated
Straight row
Terraced

Stage

Water surface profiles

(chapter 14)

Subwatershed 3
Subwatershed 2
Subwatershed 1

Present
86
81
83
79

Future
83
77
82
74

Area flooded

Reach 3
Reach 2
Reach 1

Runoff above reach

(chapter 10)

With structures
Present

Storm event
2 yr
5 yr
10 yr

Present
1.2"
1.9
2.3

Future
1.1
1.7
2

Flood routing (chapter 17)

Reach 1

Rate

Reach 3
Reach 2
Reach 1

Runoff frequency (chapter 10)

Unit hydrograph Subwatershed 3

Unit hydrograph Subwatershed 2
Unit hydrograph Subwatershed 1
(chapter 16)

Time

Subwatershed time
of concentration
(chapter 15)

Subwatershed

Time of concentration (Tc)

Present
W/structure*
(hr)
(hr)
0.5
0.5
1
1.7
0.6
2
3.2
1.7
3
*For area not above structures

Reach 3
Reach 2
Reach 1

es
ctur
stru
With

Pr
es
en
t

Peak discharge

With structures

Rate

Present

Runoff depth

Time

Runoff (depth)

1.25

Future-w/LU&T plus structures

Reach 3
Future-w/LU&T plus structures
Reach 2
Future-w/LU&T plus structures
Reach 1
Future-with land use & treatment
Reach 3
Future-with land use & treatment
Reach 2
Future-with land use & treatment
Reach 1
Reach 3
No project conditions
Reach 2
No project conditions
No project conditions
Reach 1
Present
Reach 3
Present
Reach 2
Present
Reach 1

2
5 10
Frequency-years

25 50 100

Economic
evaluation

Physical effects of watershed

programs summarized
Storm
series

Peak
discharge

0'-1'

Area flooded
1'-2'

2'-3'

etc

100 yr
50 yr
33 1/2 yr
25 yr

(210VINEH, Amend. 54, April 2012)

25

Chapter 2

Watershed Project Evaluation

Procedures

In practice, the method is more complex, but generally

only in step 3. In this step, the variables in addition
to drainage area are related to the peaks or volumes.
The variables include one or more of the following,
alone or in combination, directly or by means of index
numbers:

Part 630
National Engineering Handbook

time to peak
percentage of area in lakes or ponds
extent or depth of shallow soils
extent of major cover
hydrologic soil cover complex

type of climate

geologic region

mean annual precipitation or rainfall or snowfall

mean seasonal precipitation or rainfall or
snowfall
maximum or minimum average monthly rainfall
storm pattern
x-year frequency, y-hour duration rainfall
mean number of days with rainfall greater than
x inches
mean annual number of thunderstorm days
mean annual, or seasonal, or monthly, temperature
maximum or minimum average monthly temperature
orographic effects
aspect
stream density
stream pattern
length of watershed
length to center of gravity of the watershed
length of main channel
average watershed width
altitude
watershed rise

infiltration rate
mean base flow
mean annual runoff
watershed slope
Combinations of these variables are used as single
variables in the analysis, one such combination being
the product of watershed length and the length to the
center of gravity divided by the square root of the main
channel slope. Index numbers (NEH630.18) are used
for variables, such as geologic region, not ordinarily
defined by numerical values.
Multiple regression methods (NEH630.18) must be
used if more than one variable appears in the relationship. The only adequate measure of the accuracy of
the relationship, and therefore, of the regional analysis, is the standard error estimate in arithmetic units.
Computation of the error is illustrated in NEH630.18.

(2) USGS regional regression equations

Another source for determining relative effects of watershed characteristics on discharge is U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS) regional regression equations. The
USGS has performed multiple regression analyses on
gaged watersheds for each state. They correlate such
watershed characteristics as drainage area, climatic
region, watershed slope, watershed storage, and others, to peak discharge. The regression equations can
be useful for transferring data from gaged watersheds
to the watershed of interest.

main channel slope

land slope
depth or top width of main channel near outlet
for x-year frequency discharge
time of concentration
lag

26

(210VINEH, Amend. 54, April 2012)

Chapter 2

Watershed Project Evaluation

Procedures

Part 630
National Engineering Handbook

630.0203 Design hydrology

The storage and spillway capacities of floodwater
retarding structures are determined as shown by the
flowchart in figure 23. NEH630.21 provides details of
the steps and provides the NRCS hydrologic design
criteria for constructing hydrographs for the design
storms.

(210VINEH, Amend. 54, April 2012)

27

Chapter 2

Watershed Project Evaluation

Procedures

Figure 23

Part 630
National Engineering Handbook

Design hydrology for storage and spillways in floodwater retarding structures

Time of concentration (TC)

(chapter 15)

Drainage area map

Structure 3
Structure 2
Structure 1

Structure

TC (hr)

1
2
3

9.2
4.6
3.5

Watershed inventory
(chapter 8)

Land use and

treatment
Hydrologic soil group D:
Positive (fair)
Cultivated (St. R.)
Hydrologic soil group C:
Cultivitated (ST. R.)

Future
(acres)

64
36

102
18

46

46

Present

Future

75
65
80

70
65
80

1
2
3

Structure 3

Rainfall from U.S. Weather Bureau TP-40 &

NOAA Atlas #2

Hydrologic soil cover

complex numbers
(chapter 9)
Above structure

Present
(acres)

Structure 3

Runoff above structure

(chapter 10)

Structure 2
Design hydrographs Structure 1
(chapter 21)

Str. no. Class.

Freeboard hydrograph
1
2
3

Auxiliary spillway
hydrograph

Discharge

(chapter 21)
ES-1020
1021
1022
1023

Rainfall-inches
Auxiliary Freeboard
spillway hydrograph
hydrograph
10
24
9.5
22.6
10.5
25.1

24 hr. point
Adjust. t/area
Adjust. t/duration

(c)
(b)
(b)

Auxiliary
spillway
hydrograph
(inches)
6.7
5.3
4.7

Structure 2
Floodwater storage Structure 1

Freeboard
hydrograph
(inches)
20.7
9.8
9.5

Rainfall

Time

Structure 2
Storage capacity Structure 1

Discharge

Storage

Reservoir routing

Stage

Structure 2
Structure 1
Auxiliary spillway
selection (chapter 17 & SCS TR 2)
Trial spillwlay 3

Auxiliary spillway
inflow hydrograph
Outflow trial
spillway
2 3

Discharge

Trial spillway 3
2
1

1
Width

Structure 3

Structure 3

Structure 2
Structure 1

Reservoir routing

Structure 2
Structure 1

Freeboard hydrograph
Outflow

Discharge

Stage

ay
spillw
cted
Sele

Discharge

28

2
Design vel.

Time

Discharge

Auxiliary spillway

Water supply
storage
(SCS-TR 19)

Structure 3

Structure 2
Structure 1

Critical velocity

Auxiliary spillway

Principal spillway release

Time

Acre fast
530
2,300
3,100

Sediment
Water supply
Floodwater

Structure 3

Structure 3
Structure 2
Structure 1

Storage

Structure 3
Structure 2
Structure 1
Storage requirement
(chapter 21 & SCS-TR 19)

Stage

Stage

Structure 2
Structure 1
Principal spillway (NEH-5)

Runoff

Sediment storage
(SCS-TR 12)

Field surveys
reservoir
sites 1, 2, 3, . . .

Structure 3

Structure 3

Class (c)
Class (b)
Class (a)

Min. 24 hr. precip. for

auxiliary spillway hydrograph

Precipitation

Structure 3
Structure 2
Structure 1

Hydrologic soil
groups
(chapter 7)

Min. 24 hr. precip. for

freeboard hydrograph

Structure 3-Class (b)

Structure 2-Class (b)
Structure 1-Class (c)

Accumulated vol.

Structure 3
Structure 2
Structure 1

Class (c)
Class (b)
Class (a)

Time

(210VINEH, Amend. 54, April 2012)

Structural design