Peak streamflow determinations in Nevada: A cooperative program with the USGS and Nevada Department of Transportation

Abstract

Background Floods are one of the most costly and frequent natural disasters in Nevada. For example, the 1997 New Year’s flood has been estimated to have caused more than $1 billion in damage across northern Nevada (Truckee River Flood Management Authority, 2017). In 2014, more than 2 miles of Interstate 15 in southern Nevada was heavily damaged by the remnants of Hurricane Norbert combined with monsoonal rains (Sutko, 2015). Flooding in Nevada is highly variable in cause and the season of the year. Flooding can be caused by snowmelt, rain on snow, and flash flooding during thunderstorms. Peak streamflow estimates are critical for planning by government agencies; designation of flood zones; and design of infrastructure including culverts, bridges, and roadways. In order to provide accurate estimates of flood frequencies, long-term data collection of peak streamflows would be needed because the accuracy of estimates improves with longer datasets.