Abstract
A study of peak discharges for 54 stream gauge sites in the Cumberland, Tennessee and Mississippi watersheds of Kentucky is presented. Primary interest is on the more frequent flood events, those events associated with return periods less than 5 years. The magnitude and variability of the recorded flood events is described, as well as the frequency model fitted to the observed peak flow record. The importance of the higher frequency events is presented in the context of channel forming flow, bankfull discharge, effective discharge, and mean annual discharge (FISRWG 1998). These results are relevant as a consideration in stream restoration where the more frequent flood events have an important role in restoration project design and channel stability. This aspect will be investigated using the concepts proposed by Costa and O’Connor (1995) where the components of flow duration, stream power per unit area, flood energy, and other characteristics were used to represent the effectiveness of floods as sources of geomorphic changes to channels and floodplains.
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