Time-of-travel study: Lake Erie-Niagara River basins

Time of travel was determined for 80.54 stream miles on Cattaraugus,
Cayuga, Ellicott, Murder, and Tonawanda Creeks; Cazenovia Creek basin;
and the Buffalo River. Two or three runs at different discharge rates
were made in 13 subreaches on the 7 streams except for a subreach of
Ellicott ·creek. In the Ellicott Creek subreach from the Lehigh Valley
Railroad bridge (above the Tonawanda Sewer District No. 3 sewage treatment
plant) to the mouth, only one time-of-travel run could be made
because of the unexpected shutdown of the treatment plant.

On Cattaraugus Creek, the reach was extended to Versailles after
the first run. To complete the three runs, a partial run was made on
November 16, 1964. On Ellicott Creek, in the subreach between Amherst
sewage treatment plant and Sweet Home Road, a partial run was made to
check a previous run.

Time-of-travel data for several subreaches are depicted in a series
of graphs that show time-distance relationships for several discharge
rates.

Flow-duration curves and minimum average consecutive 7-day discharges
for a 10-year return period were dete'rmined for one site each on Cattaraugus,
Cayuga, and Murder Creeks, and for two sites on Tonawanda and Ellicott
Creeks. The 7-day frequency data were also developed for a site on
Buffalo River.

Effluent discharge was measured at nine treatment plants. Considerable
fluctuation in discharge was recorded at some of the plants.

In the Cazenovia Creek basin, time of travel was determined on the
East Branch for 16.45 miles, on the West Branch for 13.8 miles, and on
Cazenovia Creek for 16.62 miles. Three runs at different discharge rates
were made at most subreaches. On those subreaches where less than three
runs were made, a comparison of the relationship with other sites was
made to determine the shape of the curves.

Time-of-travel data are shown in graphic form depicting the timedistance
relationships for the three major reaches in the Cazenovia Creek
basin for several discharge rates. The discharge shown is that at the
gaging station on Cazenovia Creek at Ebenezer for which a value of minimum
average consecutive ?-day discharge for a 10-year return period was
determined.