Gridded Snowmelt and Rainfall-Runoff CWMS Hydrologic Modeling of the Red River of the North Basin

Abstract

In order to reduce future flood damage in the Red River of the North Basin, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is developing a Corps Water Management System (CWMS) to assist in real-time operation of reservoirs to regulate reservoir outflows. This paper presents an application of the distributed snow process model (DSPM) and the Hydrologic Engineering Center’s Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) in gridded snowmelt and rainfall-runoff modeling for reservoir operational forecasting, which is an essential component of the CWMS model. The model setup, calibration, and verification are described. The paper particularly focuses on information requirements of DSPM and HEC-HMS for model setup/calibration and continuing forecast operations and shows how these requirements could be met in a practical and operational setting. Elements of the modeling process that are important for operational forecasting are discussed and are expected to benefit similar CWMS operational forecasting in other watersheds both in cold and warm regions.