Massachusetts Engineers-Rainfall Data Map Question 1

[daddymem]

Attached (hopefully) is a scan of a map given to me 10 years ago when I started out as an engineer (several different sheets for different storms). I am looking for the source document of these maps. It appears to have been a Massachusetts insert in the Engineering Field Manual (EFM) from 1976 which may or may not be the first instance of the figure.

MassDEP uses the figures in the ConCom Handbook they put out and reference it as TP-40 which I have and this is not from that document. I contacted our USDA field office and they sent me 1990 book with similar figures but less detailed. It looks to me like somebody interpolated from TP-40 for Massachusetts only. I would just like to know the source for this vital data I have to use so often and am astounded that I can't find anybody that knows where they came from.

TIA

 

[RWF7437]

Try this link:

http://hdsc.nws.noaa.gov/hdsc/pfds/other/ma_pfds.html

good luck

 

[daddymem]

Thanks, been there. That isn't it either, those are one step further than the TP-40 but still not Mass only and with the same amount of interpolation as on the ones I have.

 

[WL123]

I have almost the same maps. My maps have page numbers B-22 to B-24, Figures B-1, Sheets 1 of 3 to 3 of 3. The maps are exactly the same.

I've seen them in other printouts and copies that people have had over the years.

I'm taking a wild guess that way back, Mass. DPW, now MHD, interpreted the TP-40 rainfall for Massachusetts and placed it in there design manual. I can't account for the different page numbers, unless it was provided in updated manuals and page nimbers changed.

I have some more books at home which I'll check to see if I have a reference.

 

[WL123]

I have not had a chance to check my books yet. But doing a little research, It seems the old Soil Conservation Service used to provide Engineering Field Manuals to various states, I have checked the new NRCS website and have not found any copies of these publications.

All the maps I have seen in the past were always copies, I have never seen a full original manual.

 

[daddymem]

It appears to have been a Massachusetts insert in the Engineering Field Manual (EFM) from 1976. I was hoping some of the veteran engineers would have a copy of that manual. Thanks for your help, I'll get to the bottom of this eventually. It bugs me to use something and see agencies use something when they can't even identify the source.

 

[WL123]

Here is a link to mass highway,

http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/default.asp?pgid=content/designGuide&sid=about

The latest design guide, look at Chapter 8, page 38. The map has a reference, I've found older maps with references to SCS.
Still have not been able to find that publication.

 

[daddymem]

That looks promising:
U.S Dept. of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. Guidelines for Soil and Water Conservation in Urbanizing Areas of Massachusetts, 1975