Method of Measuring River Discharge

 

• After the cross section has been selected, the width of the stream is determined. A tag line or measuring tape is strung at right angles across the measurement section for measurements made by wading, from a boat, or from an unmarked bridge.

• Next the spacing of the verticals is determined to provide about 25 to 30 subsections. The verticals should be so spaced that no subsection has more than 10 percent (ideally 5 percent) of the total discharge.

• After all items listed above have been done, the measurement note sheets for recording observations are prepared. The following information will be recorded for each discharge measurement:

1. Name of stream and location to correctly identify the established gauging station; or name of stream and exact location of site for a miscellaneous measurement.
2. Date, party, type of meter suspension, and meter number.
3. Time measurement was started using military time (24-hr clock system)
4. Bank of stream that was the starting point.
5. Control conditions.
6. Gauge heights and corresponding times.
7. Water temperature.
8. Other pertinent information regarding the accuracy of the discharge measurement and conditions which might affect the stage-discharge relation.

• After the note sheet is readied, the meter assembly is checked. The meter should balance on the hanger and should spin freely; the electric circuit through the meter should operate satisfactorily; and the stopwatch should check satisfactorily in a comparison with the hydrographer's watch. After recording on the note sheet the station (distance from initial point) of the edge of water, the actual measurement is ready to be started.

• Depth (if any) at the edge of water is measured and recorded. The depth determines the method of velocity measurement to be used, normally the two-point method or the 0.6-depth method (See below).

• After the meter is placed at the proper depth and pointed into the current, the rotation of the rotor is permitted to become adjusted to the speed of the current before the velocity observation is started.

• Then the number of revolutions made by the rotor is counted for a period of 40 to 70 s. The stopwatch is started simultaneously with the first signal or click, which is counted as "zero," and not "one."

• The stopwatch is stopped on a convenient number coinciding with one of those given in the column headings of the meter rating table and is read to the nearest second. The number of seconds and the number of revolutions are then recorded.

• The hydrographer moves to each of the observation verticals and repeats the above procedure until the entire cross section has been traversed.

Current-meter measurements by wading

• Current-meter measurements are best made by wading, if conditions permit. Wading measurements have a distinct advantage over measurements made from cableways or bridges in that it is usually possible to select the best of several available cross sections for the measurement.

• If depths or velocities under natural conditions are too low for a dependable current-meter measurement, the cross section should be modified, if practical, to provide acceptable conditions, for example by building temporary dikes or by removing rocks and debris.

• The hydrographer should stand in a position that least affects the velocity of the water passing the current meter. That position is usually obtained by facing the bank so that the water flows against the side of the leg. The wading rod is held at the tag line by the hydrographer who stands about 3 in (0.07 m) downstream from the tag line and at least 1.5 ft (0.46 m) from the wading rod.

• The wading rod should be held in a vertical position with the meter parallel to the direction of flow while the velocity is being observed.

• When measuring streams having shifting beds, the soundings or velocities can be affected by the scoured depressions left by the hydrographer's feet. For such streams, the meter should be placed ahead of and upstream from the feet.

Current-meter measurements from bridges

• Bridges are often used for making discharge measurements of streams that cannot be waded. Such measurements are often satisfactory, but cableway sections are usually superior.

• Either the upstream or downstream side of the bridge can be used for making a discharge measurement. The advantages of the upstream side are:

• The advantages of using the downstream side of the bridge are:  

• Whether to use the upstream side or the downstream side of a bridge for a current-meter measurement should be decided individually for each bridge after considering the above factors.

• Footbridges are sometimes used for measuring the discharge of canals, tailraces, and small streams. Usually rod suspensions are used for the meter, but hand lines, bridge cranes, and bridge boards can also be used.

Measurement of Velocity

• The current meter measures velocity at a point. The method of making discharge measurements at a cross section requires determination of the mean velocity in each of the selected verticals. The mean velocity in a vertical is obtained from velocity observations at many points in that vertical, but it can be approximated by making a few velocity observations and using a known relation between those velocities and the mean in the vertical. The different methods of determining mean
  vertical velocity are described below. Flow velocity in natural channels generally pulsates. Velocity is therefore measured for at least 40 seconds in an effort to better represent average velocity at a point.

Two-point method

• When velocity profiles are relatively normal, it has been found that average velocity can be adequately estimated by averaging velocities at .2 and .8 of the depth below the water surface.
• The vertical-velocity curve will be distorted by overhanging vegetation that is in contact with the water or by submerged objects, if those elements are close to the vertical in which velocity is being measured. In this case, an additional velocity observation at 0.6 of the depth should be made.
• When a Price type AA (or type A) current meter is used, the two-point method cannot be applied unless depths are greater than 2.5 ft (0.76 m).

Six-tenths-depth method

• In the 0.6-depth method, an observation of velocity made in the vertical at 0.6 of the depth below the surface is used as the mean velocity in the vertical. This depth gives the nearest velocity to the mean velocity (see table 1 below, after Rantz).