Figure 16.11

Urbanization affects stream discharge. This stream hydrograph shows discharge in cubic feet per second for two streams of similar size in western Washington State from January 30 to February 7, 2000. On February 1, rainfall from a storm increased the discharge for both streams. Mercer Creek is in a paved, urbanized area near Bellevue, Washington. Its discharge peaked higher and faster than that of Newaukum Creek, which is in an undeveloped area.

(Source: USGS Fact Sheet 076-03.)