The ratio of maximum to minimum stream discharge is an indicator of the 

 water storage function of a waters hedo It is an indicator of change in 

 hydrologic characteristics of the watershed foUov'ri-ng change in land use* 

 The ratio of maximiom to minimum streamflow has been found to be larger 

 for disturbed or denuded areas than for undisturbed areas. As an illus- 

 tration, in the V/agon V/heel Gap experiment it was found that before 

 denudation the ratio was 12:1, and after cutting it was 17:1« This ratio 

 varies widely between streams according to many factors. 



Table ?• — Seasonal distribution of floods 













19Z,9-1953 inclusive 









Number 



of 



flood 



peaks, 



4,0 feet gage 



height 



and higher 











(rounded to nearest v:hole 



number) 







Month 



Mavbeso 



Creek 



HarrJLS Hiv?r 



5-yr, Miax, Min, 



Inc^an Cre 

 5-yr, Max, 



'.ek 





5-yr. 



Max, 





Min, 



Min. 





ave. 



3,-yT 





1-yr. 



ave. 



1-vr. 



1-vr. 



ave. 



1-vr. 



1-yr. 



January 



1 



1 









1 



2 











1 







February 







1 

































I-Iarch 



1 



2 













1 







1 



3 







April 



1 



1 













2 



















May 







1 









1 



2 



















June 







1 













2 



















July 







1 

































August 



1 



3 









1 



2 



















September 



2 



U 









4 



6 







1 



3 







October 



5 



6 





4 



7 



9 



6 



1 



3 







November 



2 



3 





2 



3 



6 



2 







1 







December 



2 



4 





;l 



2 



5 



1 







1 







Ratios between maximum one-day flood and minimum one-day flov; are not 

 reauListic because one abnormally high discharge rate distorts the average 

 for the 5-year period. Median values show the following ratios: 



Maybeso Creek Harris River Indian Creek 



Median flood, cu. ft./sec 802 1250 456 



Median flow, cu. ft,/sec 17 30 3 



Ratio 47:1 42:1 152:1 



Ground-water depletion 



The principal source of water for streamflow during rainless periods is 

 the ground-water flow resulting from infiltration of precipitation during 

 storms o MnimaLl streamflow is a sensitive indicator of change in stream 

 regimen and watershed characteristics resulting from the removal of trees 

 from the watershed. 



Ground-water depletion ciirves for liarris River, Maybeso Creek and Indian 

 Creek are quite similar to one another in shape and slope as shown in 

 fig. 10, The only major difference is in magnitude of discharge, with 

 Harris River showing the highest values, Indian Creek the lowest, and 



30 



