The study of water, including its properties and behavior, entails the application of hydrologic and hydraulic principles and methods. Hydrologic analyses are performed to quantify the volumetric flow rate of water draining from a watershed (i.e., drainage area) over time. The amount of water that flows from a watershed depends on the characteristics of the watershed (e.g., size, land cover, antecedent moisture, and steepness) and the presence of water (e.g., the intensity and duration of a precipitation event, rate of snowmelt, or regulation from a dam). Hydraulic analyses are performed to determine the depth of flow, flow velocity, and forces from flowing water on a surface or at hydraulic structures. These studies are necessary components in the hydraulic design and analysis of structures.
Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses are performed for hazard mitigation and forensic investigations, when developing reservoir management plans, and when performing FEMA floodplain mapping and levee certification and re-certification studies.
Hydrologic and hydraulic analyses are becoming increasingly relevant to businesses and governments when projecting long-term water availability for purposes of developing plans to ensure adequate water supplies are available for their needs. These same principles are cornerstones to the technical approaches for habitat management and restoration.
Exponent’s Water Resources professionals have extensive experience in providing clients with robust and scientifically sound services to address their water issues and needs. We routinely make use of appropriate analytical or numerical approaches using state-of-the-are tools and software to perform our analyses.
Our services include:
- Rainfall-runoff analysis
- Watershed modeling and analyses
- Hydraulic analyses
- Hydraulic design of flood protection channels
- Overland flood routing
- FEMA floodplain mapping
- FEMA levee certification and re-certification
- Water availability forecasts
- Water use planning
- Aerial photography and topographic map interpretation
- Remote sensing
- Geographic information system (GIS) database creation
- Dam and reservoir management
- Wetland and riparian habitat management and restoration
- Coordination with local, state, and federal agencies