Interactions Between Drought Conditions and Flood Stage in the Upper French Broad River Watershed

Drought and its impacts are complex and can be long lasting. When drought conditions are present, excess precipitation can lead to an increase in runoff and flooding as infiltration of water into the subsurface is not as efficient. This can impact water quality, infrastructure, and agriculture. This study used drought information from the US Drought Monitor (USDM) and stream gauge data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to understand the connections between drought conditions and flooding episodes in the Upper French Broad River watershed, located in North Carolina and Tennessee. Stream gauge data from the USGS National Water Dashboard for 11 gauges in the Upper French Broad River watershed were compared to the five categories of drought intensity identified by the USDM. Maximum, minimum, and various percentiles of stream gauge height were gathered for each week corresponding to the USDM at each gauge. Periods when a gauge reached action, minor, moderate, or major flood stages were then compared to the USDM classification, to understand if drought conditions lead to an enhanced stream response. This study aims to understand the interactions between drought and flooding conditions to provide more insight on flood forecasting within the Upper French Broad River watershed.