The Water Science Center's Hydrologic Applications and Network Operations Section conducts a wide variety of hydrologic investigations related to basin yield, streamflow characteristics, the hydraulics of flow in open channels, and flood hazards. Examples of the types of hydrologic investigations done include:

• Watershed hydrologic modeling
• Low flow frequency and flow duration determinations and methods
• Hydraulic modeling of streamflow
• Peak-flow and stage/profile determinations for floods
• Mapping area and depth of flood inundation
• Computation of flood recurrence interval
• Flood-plain mapping
• Dye- and gas-tracer studies to determine time of travel, flow patterns, and reaeration rates
• Determination of scour potential at bridges
• Simulation of dambreak peak flows and hydrographs
• Basin-yield studies and modeling of runoff and evapotranspiration
• Sediment transport modeling