Third Year

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EESH 313: SURFACEWATER HYDROLOGY

Purpose of the course

 

·         To understand the theoretical basis of surface water hydrology and solve basic hydrologic problems.

 

Learning Objectives:

 

Upon successful completion of this course, learner should be able to:

·         Describe measurement of stream discharge and derive hydrographs

·         Solve basic hydrologic problems, to estimate the magnitude and frequency of hydrologic events.

·         Evaluate water resource management problems with awareness of the interdisciplinary nature of water resource management and decision-making in Kenya

 

COURSE CONTENT

 

Streams and surface runoff: streams types and formation,  Stream flow measurements - measurement of water level; stream discharge; relationship between water level and discharge;  stream hydrographs and flow frequency curves;  Soil Erosion; definition; causes; effects; the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE); sediment yield; transportation; Deposition and sedimentation, mitigation of soil erosion; Surface water movement - hydraulic theory, uniform and Steady state flow; Storm water discharge; Mitigation of storm water;  Hydrographs; components of stream hydrographs, base flow separation techniques, unit hydrograph, Statistical Hydrology:  statistical parameters, probability and return Period; Statistical distributions; fitting a probability distribution, testing goodness of fit, frequency analysis, and reliability analysis; Statistics of extreme events - Gumbel distribution and its application to rare floods; Flooding; Causes, Effects, flood prediction; Drainage Basins definition; Drainage basin form and structure; morphometric characteristics of river basins; Drainage basins in planning and management; Management of river basins; Examples from the Kenyan Situation;  e.g. TARDA (Tana River Development Authority) KVDA (Kerio Valley Development Authority); ARTHI RIVER Development Authority.

 

 

Mode of Delivery

  • Lectures, library research, demonstration, group-based learning, and e-learning. 

 

Instructional Materials and/or Equipment

  • Computers; Projector, charts, staff gauge, current meter, hydrological data.

 

Course Assessment

·         Continuous assessment tests (sit-in CAT and term paper- 30%),

·         Final semester examinations -70%.

 

Core Reading Materials for the Course

  1. Bras, R.L. (1990). Hydrology: An introduction to Hydrologic Science. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.
  2. Jaya, R.R. (2008).  A Textbook of Hydrology. University Science Press, New Delhi.
  3. Viessman, W.J and Lewis, G.L (2003): Introduction to Hydrology. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
  4. Raghunath, H. M. (2006).  Hydrology. New Age International (P) Limited, Publishers, new Delhi

Recommended Reference Materials

 

  1. McCuen, R.H. (1989). Hydrologic analysis and Design. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632.

2.      Chow, V., Maidment, D., and Mays, L. (1988). Applied Hydrology. New York: McGraw-Hill.