Base-flow characteristics of segments of the Piney River, and East and West Piney Rivers, Dickson and Hickman Counties, Tennessee

Base-flow profiles based on discharge measurements made during a seepage investigation on August 28, 1984, define losing and gaining reaches of segments of the Piney River, and East and West Piney Rivers, Dickson and Hickman Counties, central Tennessee. A similar profile defines losing and gaining reaches for the average 3-day minimum discharge, 20-year recurrence interval, and the variability of that discharge along the river channels. The average 3-day minimum discharge, 20-year recurrence interval, ranged from 2.4 cubic feet per second for the site on East Piney River to 45.6 cubic feet per second at the Vernon gage, farthest site downstream in the study area. On the Piney River, the lowest 3-day, 20-year discharge, occurs at river mile 23.5, 0.1 river mile downstream from the confluence of the East and West Piney Rivers. Comparison of discharge measurements to recorded August discharges at the Vernon gage shows that the measurements represent base-flow conditions in the Piney River basin. The measurements and analyses can be used to formulate water management plans for use during droughts. (USGS)