Tom_Fransen_SW_Basics

Water Resources 101Water Resources 101
Surface Water ResourcesSurface Water Resources
Tom FransenTom Fransen
River Basin Management SectionRiver Basin Management Section
March 5, 2008March 5, 2008
Glossary of TermsGlossary of Terms
¾¾acreacre--foot (acrefoot (acre--ft)ft)----the volume of water required to cover 1 acre of land (43,560 the volume of water required to cover 1 acre of land (43,560
square feet) to a depth of 1 foot. Equal to 325,851 gallons.square feet) to a depth of 1 foot. Equal to 325,851 gallons.
¾¾base flowbase flow----sustained flow of a stream in the absence of direct runoff. It isustained flow of a stream in the absence of direct runoff. It includes ncludes
natural and humannatural and human--induced streamflows. Natural base flow is sustained largely induced streamflows. Natural base flow is sustained largely
by groundby ground--water discharges. water discharges.
¾¾consumptive useconsumptive use----that part of water withdrawn that is evaporated, transpired that part of water withdrawn that is evaporated, transpired
by plants, incorporated into products or crops, consumed by humaby plants, incorporated into products or crops, consumed by humans or ns or
livestock, or otherwise removed from the immediate water environlivestock, or otherwise removed from the immediate water environment. Also ment. Also
referred to as water consumed. referred to as water consumed.
¾¾cubic feet per second (cfs)cubic feet per second (cfs)----a rate of the flow, in streams and rivers, for a rate of the flow, in streams and rivers, for
example. It is equal to a volume of water one foot high and one example. It is equal to a volume of water one foot high and one foot wide flowing foot wide flowing
a distance of one foot in one second. One "cfs" is equal to 7.48a distance of one foot in one second. One "cfs" is equal to 7.48 gallons of water gallons of water
flowing each second, or 449 gallons per minute.flowing each second, or 449 gallons per minute.
¾¾million gallons per day (Mgd)million gallons per day (Mgd)----a rate of flow of water equal to 133,680.56 a rate of flow of water equal to 133,680.56
cubic feet per day, or 1.5472 cubic feet per second, or 3.0689 acubic feet per day, or 1.5472 cubic feet per second, or 3.0689 acrecre--feet per day, feet per day,
or 694 gallons per minute. A flow of one million gallons per dayor 694 gallons per minute. A flow of one million gallons per day for one year for one year
equals 1,120 acreequals 1,120 acre--feet (365 million gallons). feet (365 million gallons).
Hydrologic CycleHydrologic Cycle
Water BudgetWater Budget
DataData
http://www.ncwater.org/wrisars/http://www.ncwater.org/wrisars/
http://www.nchttp://www.nc--climate.ncsu.edu/cronosh2oclimate.ncsu.edu/cronosh2o
River BasinsRiver Basins
QuestionsQuestions