An Approach To Estimating Playa Lake Flooding

摘要

Playa, or terminal, lakes are geologically unique because they are essentially flat surfaces with little topographic relief. Both ground and surface waters can accumulate within a terminal basin causing flooding of the playa. Within the boundaries of Edwards Air Force Base, located in Southern California, there are four playas: Rosamond, Buckhorn, Rogers, and Rich Lakes. The playas are currently, and historically have been, used as runways, taxiways, and industrial areas by the U.S. Air Force and NASA. A flood assessment of Rogers Lake was mandated due to Federal and Air Force regulations, which specify that playas are 100-year special flood hazard zones. There is neither guidance nor a generally accepted approach for identifying flood hazards on playas. Therefore, an approach was developed to determine the 100-year regulatory floodplain associated with a dry lakebed, and this approach was used to define the regulatory floodplain on Rogers and Rich Lakes.