SCS Method

Actual runoff taking place = Q

Potential maximum runoff = P - Ia
Actual moisture retention by the soil = Fa

Potential moisture retention by the soil = S

The SCS Method assumes that the ratios of the two
actual to the two potential quantities are equal, that is,
From Continuity,

Fa
S

P = Q + Ia + Fa

Combining these equations and solving for Q gives

Q
P Ia

(P - I a ) 2
P Ia S

Which is the basic equation for computing direct runoff from a storm by
the SCS method.
From the study of many small experimental watersheds, an empirical
relation was developed for Ia = 0.2 S, then the above equation becomes

P 0.2 S2
P 0.8 S

Example 3
The following rainstorm (Columns 1 and 2) falls on a watershed that is 35 %
bare soil in hydrologic soil group D and has 30% of its soils in hydrologic soil
group B under grass and 35 % in hydrologic soil group C under forest.
Determine the effective rainfall (runoff) pattern.

Solution
The appropriate CN can be calculated by referring to SCS Table and noting
that the bare soil area has a CN of 91, the B soil has a CN of 58, and the C
soil has a CN of 77. Thus, the weighted CN is
CN = 0.35(91) + 0.35(77) + 0.30(58) = 77
It is assumed that an unknown antecedent moisture condition exists. The total
runoff from the 4.04 in of rain is computed as:
S = 1000/CN - 10 = 1000/77 - 10 = 2.99 in
Q = (P - 0.2S)2 / (P + 0.8S)
= (4.04 - 0.2 x 2.99)2 / (4.04 + 0.8 x 2.99) = 1.84 in
Table 1 shows the calculations required to arrive at the effective rainfall
2
pattern.

Table 1: Calculation of effective rainfall using SCS method.

Time
10.50
10.75
11.00
11.25
11.50
11.75
12.00
12.25
12.50
12.75
13.00
13.25
13.50
Total

Column 1 & 2
Column 3
Column 4
Column 5

Incremental Accumulated Accumulated Incremental

Rainfall
Rainfall
Runoff
Runoff
(in)
0.00
0.10
0.11
0.15
0.17
0.71
1.88
0.33
0.16
0.15
0.10
0.10
0.08

(in)
0.00
0.10
0.21
0.36
0.53
1.24
3.12
3.45
3.61
3.76
3.86
3.96
4.04

(in)
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.11
1.15
1.39
1.51
1.63
1.70
1.78
1.84

(in)
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.11
1.04
0.24
0.12
0.11
0.08
0.08
0.06

4.04

4.04

1.84

1.84

Given data
Summing Col 2
Based on SCS method and P of Col 3
Differencing Col 4

Example 4
Determine the runoff from a watershed of 60 ha. The following data are
available:
Depth of rainfall, 100 mm
Antecedent rainfall condition, AMC I
Row crop, good condition in 40 ha (Soil group C)
Woodland, good condition in 20 ha (Soil group B)
The day after the rainfall of 100 mm, another rainfall of 50 mm occurred.
Estimate the surface runoff from the watershed.

Solution
The curve number data reported by USSCS are available for AMC II. Since
the present condition is AMC I, therefore, the curve numbers need to be
appropriately converted to this condition from AMC II,
Type of crop

CN(I)

4.2 CN(II)
10 0.058 CN(II)

Row crop, good

Woodland, good

Curve Number at
AMC II
AMC I
82
65.6
55

33.9
4

Weighted CN = [(65.6 x 40) + (33.9 x 20)] / (60) = 55

S = 25400 / 55 - 254 = 207.82 mm
Q = (100 - 0.2 x 207.82)2 / (100 + 0.8 x 207.82) = 12.82 mm
The runoff in response to 100 mm of rainfall will be 12.82 mm.
For the second rainfall of 50 mm, occurring a day after, runoff will be
calculated as follows:
Sum of the volume of two rainfalls = 100 + 50 = 150 mm
Since the 2-day total rainfall is 150 mm, antecedent condition AMC III
for rainfall in excess of 52.5 mm will apply (See Table).
The curve numbers at AMC II are to be converted to AMC III.
Type of crop

CN(III)

23 CN(II)
10 0.13 CN(II)

Row crop, good

Woodland, good

Curve Number at
AMC II
AMC III
82
91.3
55

73.8
5

Weighted CN = [(91.3 x 40) + (73.8 x 20)] / (60) = 85.5

S = 25400 / 85.5 - 254 = 43.08 mm
Q = (50 - 0.2 x 43.08)2 / (50 + 0.8 x 43.08) = 20.28 mm
The runoff in response to the second rainfall of 50 mm will be 20.28 mm.

On comparison, it may be seen that the runoff with 100 mm rainfall

at AMC I condition is only 12.82 mm, whereas for 50 mm rainfall at
AMC III it is 20.28 mm, which is about 7.46 mm higher.