Use of selected basin characteristics to estimate mean annual runoff and peak discharges for ungaged streams in drainage basins containing strippable coal resources, northwestern New Mexico

Equations in this report can be used to estimate mean annual runoff and peak discharges for 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, and 100-year recurrence intervals for ungaged streams in drainage basins containing strippable coal resources in northwestern New Mexico. These streamflow characteristics are related to basin characteristics that were found to be significant, using regression techniques. Mean annual runoff for ephemeral streams is related to drainage area, active-channel width, main-channel slope, basin slope, and silt-clay percentage in active-channel banks. Peak discharges for ephemeral, intermittent, and perennial streams are related to drainage area, active-channel width, main-channel length, basin slope, and silt-clay percentage in active-channel banks. (USGS)