Simulating Reservoir Systems 1.

1-L-01

Simulating Reservoir Systems

HEC‐ResSim

Chan Modini, P.E., M.S., PMP
Chief of Water Management Systems Division, HEC Hydrologic Engineering Center

Outline

 To know the basic principles for simulating  reservoir 

operation:
 Operations by purposes(goals)
 Reservoir system data requirements
 Physical data

 Operational data

 Flow data

 Simulation considerations
 Online Resources, Policy and Guidance, Other References

Modini 1
Simulating Reservoir Systems 1.1-L-01

Authorized Purposes
from: “Digest of Water Resource Policy and Authorities”, (USACE, 1989)

Single Purpose?
Multi-Purpose?
Primary Purpose?
Secondary Purpose?
System Operations?

USACE Water Management Mission

 Water Management is a Mission Critical element

within USACE
 Operate Projects for Authorized Purposes(goals)
 What you do is important:
► Increase public safety
► Benefit the economy
► Increases public quality of life
► Protect and restore the environment

Modini 2
Simulating Reservoir Systems 1.1-L-01

Reservoir
System
 Do you know the 
System extent in 
order to develop a 
model and simulate?
 Purposes (Goals)?
 Study objectives? 
 Data resources
 Operational 
constraints
 Evaluation criteria
 Appropriate 
modeling software

Basic Operating Questions

1. Store or pass inflow?
2. Release water from storage or save?
3. Release from which reservoir?
4. Allocation of released water?
5. From what level in reservoir to make release?

Modini 3
Simulating Reservoir Systems 1.1-L-01

Operational Goals (Purposes)

 Flood Control : Reduce flood damages (Flood Risk Management)
 Water Quality: Meet specified requirements (water quality may 
be as important as quantity)
 Irrigation: Meet seasonal diversion schedule
 Navigation: Maintain channel depth with flow
 Hydropower: Meet demand, all releases through power house 
first
 Recreation: Maintain pool during season
 Fishery: Pool fluctuation for habitat; flow and 
temperature in channel 

Flood Damage Reduction Considerations

 Do not endanger the dam
 Do not contribute to downstream flooding
 Do not unnecessarily store water in the flood pool
 Evacuate flood storage as quickly as possible
 Bottom line:  Never make the downstream flooding worse than 
it would have been without the project!

The considerations above can be found in ER 1110‐2‐240.

Modini 4
Simulating Reservoir Systems 1.1-L-01

Water Supply Considerations

 Conflict between flood control and water supply storage
 Save space for future flood control
 Save water for future supply 
 Demand for water
 Varies with season
 Varies over the years
 Deficiencies met from storage withdrawal
 Different priorities among customers

Hydropower Considerations
 Must be a Demand for Energy
 Must economically meet demand
 Role in meeting load affects analysis

 Estimation of power potential
 Firm vs. Secondary energy
 Peaking vs. Base load
 Capacity vs. Energy

Modini 5
Simulating Reservoir Systems 1.1-L-01

Environmental Considerations

 In‐Stream flows (Fish and Wildlife)
 Low flows and high flows important
 Magnitude, timing, frequency, eco‐response

 Water Temperature management
 Selective withdrawal

 Water quality management (volume)

 Ecosystem in pool

Steps for Simulation Analysis (Considerations)

 Define study objectives
 Develop data sets
 Physical, operational, flows
 Validate data & operations
 Check flow continuity through the system
 Compare simulation to historic data
 Perform simulation with specified demands
 Evaluate output & performance
 Compare output with evaluation criteria

Modini 6
Simulating Reservoir Systems 1.1-L-01

Physical Data for Reservoir Systems

 Watershed (extent) & System Network 

 Reservoir physical data
 Pool Elevation ‐ Storage ‐ Area 
 Dam and emergency spillway data
 Controlled outlet capacity ‐ elevation

 Diversion facilities

 Computation points – Junctions

 Routing between junctions

Physical Data Considerations & Limitations

 Outdated Records and Information  

 Missing Information  

 Use of HEC‐HMS and HEC‐RAS
 Introduction of Model Errors

 Operation data – recorded versus actual field process (quality..)

Modini 7
Simulating Reservoir Systems 1.1-L-01

Operational Rules for Reservoirs

 Instream flow requirements (fish, water quality)

 Non‐damaging channel flow (flood control)

 Demand schedules for diversions (irrigation)

 Drought contingency operation plan

 Defined as rules for storage zones

 Max and min flows
 Specified release schedule
 Elevation ‐ release schedule
 Rates of change
 Priorities among rules

Storage Allocation for Simulation

 Operation Zones
 Flood Control
 Conservation 
 Inactive

 Additional Zones for
 Emergency operation
 Drought conditions
 Other changes in 
operation goals

Modini 8
Simulating Reservoir Systems 1.1-L-01

Reservoir System Flow Data Considerations

 Select appropriate time interval
 Short time interval (hourly) for flood simulations
 Longer time interval for water supply, ecosystem,…

 Determine simulation duration
 Period‐of‐record for multiple‐purpose, or
 Critical period for high and low flow events
 (must define initial conditions for each event)

 Define flow data requirements for analysis
 Historic (gauged) events and time series
 Synthetic events – design and frequency floods
 Stochastic extension of flow record?

Developing Flow Data

 Define model locations (inflow, junctions,.. and flow required)
 Obtain available historical data
 Fill missing records
 Statistical processes
 Simulation to estimate flow for ungauged locations(local 
flows)
 Develop local flows for model locations
 HMS rainfall‐runoff model with DSS output
 Headwater inflows 
 Incremental local flows (flow from area between model 
nodes)
 “Map” model locations to DSS flow records

Modini 9
Simulating Reservoir Systems 1.1-L-01

To the Simulation, Finally!

 Combine Physical, Operation, & Flow data

 Set Initial conditions
 Reservoir pool level
 Reservoir release

 Set Time Window for simulation

 Set optional parameters

 Perform simulation for Existing Conditions

Release Considerations for Existing Conditions

 Existing Condition: Is this the same as base condition?

 Reservoir considers present state

 Pool level compared to guide curve
 If above, release to draw down to curve
 Limited by:

 Rate‐of‐change (operational or physical)
 Channel capacity at outlet 
 Maximum release capacity
 If below, release minimum flow required 

Modini 10
Simulating Reservoir Systems 1.1-L-01

Release Considerations for Existing Conditions

 Look Downstream:
 Downstream inflow (uncontrolled or controlled local flow)
 Release hydrograph translation (routing effect)
 Future releases, based on present release
 Maximum non‐damaging flow (channel capacity)
 Priorities among operational rules

Simulation Complete!

 Model Output (Evaluation Criteria)
 Downstream flow impacts (flood damage)
 Storage utilization (risk of exceeding?)
 Potential upstream impacts (pool backwater)
 Impacts on other purposes (velocities, depths, duration, etc.)

 Simulate Alternatives
 Did the model reasonably (How do you know?) simulate alternative?
 If not, modify (what?) model data and repeat
 Performance criteria – compare (what?) with Existing

Modini 11
Simulating Reservoir Systems 1.1-L-01

Model and Data Factors

 Emergency Spillway (controlled or uncontrolled) Adequacy ‐
save the dam
 Emergency Gate Operations – Induced Surcharge routing
 Downstream channel capacity in future
 Floodplain development
 Changing channel due to regulated flow
 Preserving storage capacity and utilization
 Development around pool (especially for stable pool)
 Sediment accumulation in pool
 Low flow concerns
 Evaporation
 Seepage
 Channel losses

Online Resources
 HEC webpage (hec.usace.army.mil)
 Software manuals, guides, release notes
 Download training materials
 Technical publications

Modini 12
Simulating Reservoir Systems 1.1-L-01

Online Resources
 Discourse (discourse.hecdev.net)
 Discussion forum to ask questions and get help with HEC 
software
 Monitored by HEC staff and the water management 
community

Policy & Guidance Water Management

 USACE Policy for Water Management (all recently updated)

► ER 1110-2-240 Water Control Management (CWMS AIS)
► EM 1110-2-3600 Management of Water Control Systems
► ER 1110-2-8156 Preparation of Water Control Manuals
► ER 1110-2-1941 Drought Contingency Planning

Modini 13
Simulating Reservoir Systems 1.1-L-01

Other Technical References & Guidance

TECHNICAL REFERENCES
 Economics of Water Resources Planning,
L. D. James & R. R. Lee, McGraw‐Hill, 1971
 Digest of Water Resources Policies and Authorities,
USACE, 1989, EP 1165‐2‐1
 Authorized and Operating Purposes of Corps of Engineers Reservoirs, 
USACE, 1992

GUIDANCE
 EM 1110‐2‐1420 Hydrologic Engineering Requirements for Reservoirs, 
recently updated

Questions?

Modini 14