Field Data For Verifying Canal Unsteady Flow Models

Abstract

To help evaluate and compare canal unsteady flow models, field data were collected from two operating canal systems: the Central Arizona Project and the Salt River Project. These two large projects in Arizona convey agricultural and municipal water through large canals with numerous pumps and check gate structures. Each project has a central data collection facility that automatically stores field data in a computer data base. Collected data include canal water levels, pump flows, check gate positions, and turnout flows. From each central data base, operations personnel extracted a set of data representing a segment of the canal system for a limited time span. Model evaluators used these data sets to verify numerical accuracy of several existing unsteady flow models. By entering canal dimensions and hydraulic properties, initial depths and flows, gate schedules, and inflow and outflow schedules into a computer model, model output can be compared with field water level measurements.