Hydrologic Engineering Center

Training Course on

CWMS Modeling for Real-Time Water Management

January 2020
Davis, California

The Corps Water Management System (CWMS) is a software and hardware system to
improve the Corps’ water control operations decision-making process. This class provides water
managers the training necessary to effectively use hydrologic, hydraulic, reservoir, and flood
impact modeling software in CWMS for real-time water management. Students will learn how to
setup a CMWS Watershed for modeling capabilities. Students will also learn the advanced
features of modeling within CWMS, including real-time calibration and execution of modeling
programs to support Corps project operations decisions. This class does not address the
installation of CWMS or the development of individual models for use in CWMS.

HEC Instructors

Guest Instructors
Monday

8:00 – 8:45 a.m. INTRODUCTION AND PRE-TEST

Class and Staff Introductions, Admin details, Pre-test.

8:45 – 9:00 a.m. BREAK

9:00– 9:30 a.m. 1.1 Lecture: OVERVIEW OF THE CORPS WATER MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM (CWMS)

General concepts, history and the background of CWMS. Major components of

CWMS, including data acquisition, database, modeling. Client-server
architecture, workstations, file system organization. Oracle and HEC-DSS
relationships.

9:30 – 10:45 a.m. 1.2 Lecture: OVERVIEW OF CWMS CONTROL AND

VISUALIZATION INTERFACE (CAVI)

Overview of the CWMS Control and Visualization Interface (CAVI) and its
basic functionality. Common CAVI elements: menus, maps, tool bars, control
panel, layers, icons, plots, tables, and time windows. CAVI components,
including the Data Acquisition, Observed Data Visualization and Model Interface
modules. Day-to-day operations with CWMS.

10:45 – 11:00 a.m. BREAK

11:00 – 12:00 1.3 Lecture: CAVI SETUP AND MODEL INTEGRATION

Creating and setting up a CAVI Watershed for modeling. Integrating models into
a CAVI Watershed. Setting coordinate systems, time zones, and adding
background maps. Importing existing CMWS models and setting up to run in
sequence: model program order, model keys, model linking, data extract, forecast
runs.

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. LUNCH

1:00-1:45 p.m. 1.4 Lecture: CWMS REAL TIME MODELING

Creating and running real-time forecasts in CMWS. Selecting time widows for
model execution and computing models in a forecast. Viewing model results and
creating time-series icons to display results in the map window. Posting results to
the Oracle database and saving model states and updates locally and remotely.

1:45-2:30 p.m. 1.5 Workshop: CWMS MODEL INTEGRATION & MODELING

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 Open an existing CAVI watershed, and setup and adjust background maps.
Explore the data visualization and acquisition modules and display various types
of data in the map window. Import models and complete setup to run a forecast
including: model alternative keys, model linking, data extract, forecast runs.
Compute.

2:30 – 2:45 p.m. 1.5 Workshop Review

2:45 – 3:00 p.m. BREAK

3:00 – 4:00 p.m. 1.6 Lecture: ST. LOUIS CWMS REAL-TIME APPLICATION

How the St. Louis District has implemented CWMS and uses CWMS to: monitor
hydromet data and watershed conditions, create forecast simulations and report
results for real time operations

4:00- 5:00 p.m. 1.7 Lecture: RUSSIAN RIVER WATERSHED OVERVIEW

Overview of the characteristics of the Russian River Watershed which is used as

the example watershed for the workshops throughout the class. Covers
geography, land use hydraulic structures, climatology and available hydromet
data for the watershed.

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Tuesday

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. 2.1 Lecture: HEC-HMS REAL-TIME HYDROLOGIC MODEL

DEVELOPMENT

Overview of hydrologic capabilities in HEC-HMS for CWMS, including gridded

precipitation, Mod-Clark runoff, recession methods, loss methods and routing
methods. Real-time calibration of hydrologic parameters and analysis of
modeling results.

9:00 – 9:45 a.m. 2.2 Workshop: HMS REAL-TIME HYDROLOGIC MODELING

Explore components and setup required to integrate an HEC-HMS model in a

CMWS Watershed executing HMS with algorithms used in CWMS. Adjusting
hydrologic parameters, viewing and evaluating model results.

9:45 – 10:00 a.m. 2.2 Workshop Review

10:00 – 10:15 a.m. BREAK

10:15 – 11:00 a.m. 2.3 Lecture: MFP AND HMS IN CWMS

Purpose and use of MFP and HMS. Creating precipitation scenarios with MFP,
and hydrologic forecast alternatives with HMS. Adjusting hydrologic parameters
in CWMS through HMS. Execution of a forecast through HMS. Evaluating
HMS results in the CAVI.

11:00 – 11:45 a.m. 2.4 Workshop: MFP AND HMS FOR REAL-TIME CWMS MODELING

Within the CAVI, create precipitation and hydrologic model alternatives using
MFP and HMS. Control model alternatives, make use of Zones, and execute a
modeling forecast through HMS. Evaluate HMS results in the CAVI.

11:45 – 12:00 p.m. 2.4 Workshop Review

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. LUNCH

1:00 – 1:45 p.m. 2.5 Lecture: HEC-METVUE OVERVIEW

Overview of the HEC Meteorlogic Visualization Utilities Engine and its existing
and future features for supporting real-time storm analysis and scenario
forecasting.

1:45 – 2:30 p.m. 2.6 Workshop: HEC-METVUE OVERVIEW

Orientation to the HEC-MetVue Interface. Load subbasin shapefiles and gridded

precipitation data and analyze storm totals per subbasin. Transpose and scale a
storm.

2:30 – 2:45 p.m. 2.6 Workshop Review

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2:45 – 3:00 p.m. BREAK

3:00 – 4:30 p.m. 2.7 Lecture: HEC-RESSIM IN CWMS

Overview of HEC-ResSim. Capabilities and limitations of ResSim. ResSim in

the modeling sequence. Importing ResSim into a CWMS watershed. Linking
ResSim to HMS. Adding ResSim lookback data to the Extract List. Computing
and Evaluating ResSim results.

4:30 –5:00 p.m. 2.6 Workshop: HEC-RESSIM IN CWMS

In an existing watershed add an HEC- ResSim model to a forecast run. Establish

the modeling linking for ResSim to HMS, update the extract list information,
compute a forecast run and evaluate and display the results.

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Wednesday

8:00 – 9:00 p.m. Complete and Review 2.6 Workshop: HEC-RESSIM IN CWMS

9:00 – 10:00 p.m. 3.1 Lecture: HEC-RAS IN CWMS

Overview of HEC-RAS and its use in CWMS. Adjusting RAS parameters

through CWMS. Computation of inundation maps using RAS. Creating RAS
model alternatives. Viewing and evaluating results.

10:00 –10:15 a.m. BREAK

10:15-11:00 a.m. 3.2 Workshop: HEC-RAS IN CMWS

Create Import HEC-RAS alternatives to the CAVI and complete RAS and
RASMapper setup. Adjust model linking, create a forecast run including RAS
and compute a forecast. Calibrate HEC-RAS model alternative to a historic event
and view results in the CAVI and RASMapper.

11:00 -11:15 a.m 3.2 Workshop Review

11:15 – 12:00 a.m. 3.3 Lecture: HEC-FIA IN CWMS

Overview of HEC-FIA and its use in CWMS. Available FIA computation

methods and output reports. Connecting FIA to computed flow and stage
hydrographs. Viewing and evaluating FIA computations. Creating FIA model
alternatives.

12:00- 1:00 p.m. LUNCH

1:00 – 1:45 p.m. 3.4 Workshop: HEC-FIA IN CWMS

Evaluate and modify existing FIA model alternatives. Connect to RAS computed
hydrographs at cross sections and storage areas. Execute a modeling forecast
through FIA. Viewing and evaluating FIA reports.

1:45 – 2:00 p.m 3.4 Workshop Review

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. 3.5 Lecture: CWMS GRAPHING AND SCRIPTING

Overview of the graphics plots available in CWMS. User interfaces for setting
plot characteristics. Saving and retrieving plot characteristics using “templates”.
Applicability of templates to other data sets. Setting and using “default line
styles” to set plot characteristics based on data parameter types. Modifying and
adding customized graphics scripts (Perryman)

3:00 – 3:15 p.m. BREAK

3:15- 4:00 p.m. 3.6 Workshop: CWMS GRAPHING AND SCRIPTING

Creating complex graphs. Saving and retrieving graphs characteristics in

templates. Setting and using default line styles.
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4:00- 4:15 p.m. 3.6 Workshop Review

4:15 – 5:00 p.m. 3.7 Lecture: REAL-TIME DATA IN CWMS

Introduction to the data side of real-time modeling in CWMS. Identifying

different data types, sources of data, how data is acquired and how data is stored
in CWMS.

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Thursday

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. 4.1 Workshop: DAILY MODELING IN CWMS

Typical daily operations with CWMS. Evaluating and validating observed data.
Typical daily model executions and precipitation scenarios, including base flow
and loss rate parameter adjustments, and reservoir release overrides. Evaluation
of results.

9:00 – 9:15 a.m. BREAK

9:45- 11:45 a.m. 4.2 Workshop: EVENT SCENARIO MODELING IN CWMS

Use of CWMS during a significant event. Real-time model calibration. Add and
evaluate precipitation event scenarios. ResSim reservoir operation adjustment
during real-time simulations and consequences analysis using FIA.

11:45 – 12:45 p.m. LUNCH

12:45 – 3:15 p.m. 4.3 Workshop: ASSORTED CWMS APPLICATIONS

Students will select from the three different CWMS workshops below to bolster
knowledge on the subjects:

INTEGRATION OF CWMS MODELS IN THE CAVI: Starting with an

empty watershed students will go through the steps to import and integrate
models in the CAVI to the point where a forecast can be successfully computed.

SNOWMELT MODELING IN CWMS: Use the CAVI and HEC-HMS to

compute forecasts that account for the snow accumulation and melt process.
Calibrate the HEC-HMS model using observed data and predict impacts to
downstream communities from snowmelt.

FLOODPLAIN INUNDATION FORECASTING IN CWMS: In an

emergency scenario, use HEC-RAS and RASMapper to determine forecasted
stages, and forecasted inundations, for two different rainfall scenarios.

3:15 – 3:30 p.m. BREAK

3:30 – 5:00 p.m. 4.4 Workshop: TEAM MODELING IN CWMS 3.1

Use new Team Modeling features in CWMS 3.1 to create a team watershed,
modify base data and create forecasts. Share base data and forecasts with other
teams in the class by uploading/downloading team modeling data to and from a
shared server. (, , )

Friday
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8:00 – 9:00 a.m. 5.1 Lecture: LOUISVILLE DISTRICT CWMS APPLICATIONS

Real-world advice about the challenges and benefits with implementing CWMS
at your district. Common stumbling blocks when implementing CWMS
watersheds. Features of CWMS that are most useful tools to the Louisville
district water managers.

9:30 – 9:45 a.m. 5.2 Lecture: CWMS UPCOMING FEATURES

Discussion of the new and exciting features in the pipe for CWMS.

10:30 – 11:15 a.m. Post-Test

11:15 – 12:00 a.m. Course Critique and Administrative Items