APPENDIX A: RUNOFF COEFFICIENTS BASED ON LAND USE, SOIL GROUPS AND SLOPE RANGE (%)

		HYDRAULIC SOILS GROUP
		A			B			C			D
		Slope %			Slope %			Slope %			Slope %
LAND USE	% IMP	0 - 2	2 - 7	7+	0 - 2	2 - 7	7+	0 - 2	2 - 7	7+	0 - 2	2 - 7	7+
Residential	25	.31	.35	.39	.33	.38	.43	.37	.41	.48	.40	.44	.52
	38	.42	.45	.49	.44	.48	.52	.47	.50	.56	.50	.53	.59
	65	.65	.67	.69	.66	.68	.71	.68	.70	.73	.69	.71	.75
	75	.73	.75	.77	.75	.76	.78	.76	.77	.79	.77	.78	.80
Commercial Business	85	.82	.83	.84	.83	.84	.85	.84	.85	.86	.84	.85	.86
Industrial	72	.71	.73	.74	.72	.74	.76	.73	.75	.77	.75	.76	.79
Roofs, Driveways, Streets, etc.	100	.95	.95	.95	.95	.95	.95	.95	.95	.95	.95	.95	.95
Open Spaces, Lawns, Parks, etc.	0	.09	.15	.21	13	.19	.26	.18	.23	.32	.22	.27	.37
Woodlands	0	.09	.15	.20	.13	.18	.23	.17	.22	.26	.20	.25	.30
Pasture, Grass, and Farmland	0	.15	.20	.25	.18	.23	.30	.22	.26	.35	.25	.30	.40
Newly Graded/Disturbed		.65	.67	.69	.66	.68	.71	.68	.70	.73	.69	.71	.75

 

Soil Groups

Soil properties influence the relationship between rainfall and runoff by affecting the rate of infiltration. NRCS divides soils into four hydrologic soil groups based on infiltration rates (Groups A-D). Remember to consider effects of urbanization on soil groups as well.

Group A – Group A soils have a low runoff potential due to high infiltration races even when saturated (0.30 in/hr to 0.45 in/hr or 7.6 mm/hr to 11.4 mm/hr). These soils primarily consist of deep sands, deep loess, and aggregated silts.

Group B – Group B soils have a moderately low runoff potential due to moderate infiltration rates when saturated (0.15 in/hr to 0.30 in/hr or 3.8 mm/hr to 7.6 mm/hr). These soils primarily consist of moderately deep to deep, moderately well to well drained soils with moderately fine to moderately coarse textures (shallow loess, sandy loam).

Group C – Group C soils have a moderately high runoff: potential due to slow infiltration rates (0.05 in/hr to 0.5 in/hr or 1.3 mm/hr to 3.8 mm/hr if saturated). These soils primarily consist of soils in which a layer near the surface impedes the downward movement of water or soils with moderately fine to fine texture such as clay loams, shallow sandy loams, soils low in organic content, and soils usually high in clay.

Group D – Group D soils have a high runoff potential due to very slow infiltration rates (less than 0.05 in/hr or 1.3 mm/hr if saturated). These soils primarily consist of clays with high swelling potential, soils with permanently high water tables, soils with a claypan or clay layer at or near the surface, shallow soils over nearly impervious parent material such as soils mat swell significantly when wet or heavy plastic clays or certain saline soils.

Effects of Urbanization – The design professional should consider the effects of urbanization on the natural hydrologic soil group. If heavy equipment can be expected to compact the soil during construction or if grading will mix the surface and subsurface soils, the designer should make appropriate changes in the soil group selected. Soil types with their corresponding hydrologic soil groups can be found in the Appendix – Section 3.

(Ord. 2010-11, passed 7-22-2010)