You are asked to design a bridge to cross a 100 m wide channel that periodically floods. Since we are in a hydrology class, the main design consideration for us will be the height of the bridge span above the channel that will prevent the bridge from being over-topped by flood waters. You have access to a 50 year flow record and a 50 year rainfall record for the same period. Describe the process you would go through, including: a. selection of a return period
b. developing a design (maximum or peak) flow for this return period
c. developing a design criterion for the bridge height based on this design flow
d. Any particular challenges that you are faced with in this task, and how you might overcome them.