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Open File Report 2012–1251

Updates to Watershed Modeling in the Potholes Reservoir Basin, Washington—a Supplement to Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5081

By Mark Mastin

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (4 MB)Abstract

A previous collaborative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Reclamation resulted in a watershed model for four watersheds that discharge into Potholes Reservoir, Washington. Since the model was constructed, two new meteorological sites have been established that provide more reliable real-time information. The Bureau of Reclamation was interested in incorporating this new information into the existing watershed model developed in 2009, and adding measured snowpack information to update simulated results and to improve forecasts of runoff. This report includes descriptions of procedures to aid a user in making model runs, including a description of the Object User Interface for the watershed model with details on specific keystrokes to generate model runs for the contributing basins. A new real-time, data-gathering computer program automates the creation of the model input files and includes the new meteorological sites. The 2009 watershed model was updated with the new sites and validated by comparing simulated results to measured data. As in the previous study, the updated model (2012 model) does a poor job of simulating individual storms, but a reasonably good job of simulating seasonal runoff volumes. At three streamflow-gaging stations, the January 1 to June 30 retrospective forecasts of runoff volume for years 2010 and 2011 were within 40 percent of the measured runoff volume for five of the six comparisons, ranging from -39.4 to 60.3 percent difference. A procedure for collecting measured snowpack data and using the data in the watershed model for forecast model runs, based on the Ensemble Streamflow Prediction method, is described, with an example that uses 2004 snow-survey data.

First posted December 18, 2012

For additional information contact:
Director, Washington Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
934 Broadway, Suite 300
Tacoma, Washington 98402
http://wa.water.usgs.gov

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Suggested citation:

Mastin, M.C, 2012, Updates to watershed modeling in the Potholes Reservoir basin, Washington—a supplement to Scientific Investigation Report 2009-5081: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012-1251, 52 p.



Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and Scope

Updating the Watershed Model to Incorporate Two New Meteorological Sites

Object User Interface for Making Watershed Model Runs and Viewing Data

Method for Collecting Snow Data and Incorporating the Data into the Watershed Model

Summary

References Cited

Appendix A. Potholes Watershed Model Background

Appendix B. Snow-Course Locations


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