U.S.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Open-File Report 02-404
Watershed Models for Decision Support in the Yakima River Basin, Washington
By M. C. Mastin and J. J. Vaccaro
ABSTRACT
A Decision Support System (DSS) is being developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Reclamation as part of a long-term project, the Watershed and River Systems Management Program. The goal of the program is to apply the DSS to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation projects in the western United States. The DSS was applied to the Reclamation's Yakima Project in the Yakima River Basin in eastern Washington. An important component of the DSS is the physical hydrology modeling. For the application to the Yakima River Basin, the physical hydrology component consisted of constructing four watershed models using the U.S. Geological Survey's Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System within the Modular Modeling System. The implementation of these models is described.
To facilitate calibration of the models, mean annual streamflow also was estimated for ungaged subbasins. The models were calibrated for water years 1950-94 and tested for water years 1995-98. The integration of the models in the DSS for real-time water-management operations using an interface termed the Object User Interface is also described. The models were incorporated in the DSS for use in long-term to short-term planning and have been used in a real-time operational mode since water year 1999.
CONTENTS
Abstract
Introduction
Estimating Mean Annual Streamflow
Construction of Watershed Models Using the Modular Modeling System
Integrating the Models in the Decision Support System for Real-Time Operations
Summary
References
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Send questions or comments about this report to the author, Mark C. Mastin (mcmastin@usgs.gov) 253.428.3600 ext. 2609.
For more information about USGS activities in Washington, visit the USGS Washington District home page.
