USE OF HYDROGRAPHS AND MANNING EQUATION TO CALCULATE PEAK-FLOW AND LAG TIME IN THE RIO TANAMÁ

Hydrographs from the USGS websites of both Near Utuado (NU) and Charco Hondo (CH) gaging stations were used to determine the lag time and velocities of discharge peaks to travel from NU to CH, and sites in-between. Measurements of the Tanama river were taken (depth,width) to use Manning’s equation for determination of lag-time in between the river. The overall data acquired showed that in steeper slopes and higher discharge the lag-time was shorter and vice-versa. This is valuable information for tour groups and for anybody that visits the area, because one can estimate the lag-time for a flash flood event to reach different locations of the river.