Base Flow Indices and their Relation to Physiography in Ontario

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Base Flow Indices and their Relation to
Physiography in Ontario

• A. Singh, R.P. Rudra, W.T. Dickinson, B.
  Gharabaghi, and R. Sharma
• CSBE Annual Meeting, July 2008
• Corresponding Author A. Singh (asingh_at_uoguelph.ca
  )

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Streamflow Components
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Objectives

• Development of a tool separating slow and rapid
  responses from the total stream flow and
  calculating Base Flow Index (BFI)
• Application of the developed tool to various
  watersheds representing variety of physiographic
  features

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What is Base Flow Index (BFI)

• Ratio for base flow and stream flow

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Why Essential

• Characterization of watershed
• Rapid flow dominance
• Lower permeability/steeper slopes
• Slow response dominance
• Higher permeability/flatter slopes

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Canagagigue Creek Watershed
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Permeability
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East and West Branches
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Canagagigue Creek Watershed
Point of Merger of two Tributaries
Tributary draining non-wetland side
Tributary draining wetland side
Source Wayne Jenkinson (UOW)
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Response Separation Methods

• Digital Filter Method
• Modified UKIH (UK Institute of Hydrology) Method
• Base Sliding Method
• Fixed Base Method
• Local Minimum Method
• PART Method

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Response Separation Software
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Variability in BFI Estimation
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?? Which one is correct ??
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Study Watersheds
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Credit River
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Lower Thames
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South Maitland
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Wilmot Creek
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Monthly, Seasonal, and Annual BFI
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Well Conceived is Well Done
Thanks
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