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Impact Response Tool
The Impact Response Tool is a tool within the Water Management Toolbox designed to help you monitor facility impacts, track regulatory compliance, and make data-driven decisions based on flow or stage thresholds.
Accessing the Impact Response Tool
There are two ways to access the Impact Response Tool from within the Toolbox:
- Home Tab: Click Open Impact Response.
- Tools Menu: Select Impact Response.
Interface Layout and Controls
The interface is divided into four primary regions:
- Header: Displays Name and Description fields.
- Time Window Filter: Sets the time window for analysis.
- Filter: Filters active data rows within the table.
- Impact Response Table: Displays data sources, thresholds, and statuses.
Header Information
The Header lets you give your Impact Response a custom Name and Description, making it easy to identify and manage your tabs when working with multiple items in your Toolbox.
Bottom Toolbar Actions
- Refresh: Rereads time series data and recalculates alert statuses.
- Add Data Source: Dropdown to import data from the following sources:
- DSS File
- Forecast DSS
- CDA (CWMS) - planned for a future release
- Add Condition: Inserts a blank threshold row under the selected parent row.
- Delete: Removes the selected parent or child row.
- Save Config: Saves the configuration as a JSON file.
- Load Config: Loads a saved JSON config file.
Impact Response Table
The table uses a two-level hierarchical structure:
- Parent (Data Source Row): Represents a single time-series measurement. Displays location, source type, and overall status.
- Child (Threshold Condition Row): Expanded under the parent. Describes specific trigger values and required responses. Multiple conditions can be added per source and are evaluated independently.
For optimal performance, it is recommended to keep configurations under 100 rows, though the Tool can support larger datasets.
Table Columns
| Column | Level | Description | Editable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Parent | Geographic / facility name (e.g., "Cloverdale Gage FLOW") | Yes (Double-click) |
| Status | Parent | Current condition alert icon and message | No (Auto-calculated) |
Data Source | Parent | Source type (DSS or Forecast DSS) | Yes (Double-click) |
Pathname | Parent | Full HEC-DSS pathname | Yes (Double-click) |
Operator | Child | Comparison type (>, >=, <, <=) | Yes (Dropdown) |
Threshold | Child | Numeric trigger value | Yes (Free text) |
Flood Impact | Child | Description of physical impacts if met | Yes (Free text) |
Action Required | Child | Description of required operational response | Yes (Free text) |
Plot | Parent | Opens a HEC-DSSVue time series visualization | N/A |
Data Sources
Every parent row anchors to one time series data source.
Supported Source Types
There are two source data types currently available for use in the Impact Response Table.
- DSS File: Pathname from a local HEC-DSS file.
- Forecast DSS: Pathname from the active HEC-RTS Forecast (forecast.dss file).
The third source, CDA (CWMS), is currently under development and planned for a future release. This option will let you pull in data via the CWMS Data API.
Alert & Status System
The system evaluates time series data against active threshold conditions within the selected time window. Statuses update automatically upon data load or via the Refresh button.
Status Indicators
- Does Not Exceed Threshold: All conditions are unmet; operations are normal.
- Exceeds Threshold: One or more independent threshold conditions are met.
- DSS File Not Found: The referenced HEC-DSS file is missing or cannot be opened.
- No Data Available: The HEC-DSS file exists, but contains no values within the active time window.
Threshold Conditions
A threshold condition answers the question: "At what value does this impact occur, and what should we do about it?"
Every condition has four required fields:
- Operator: Comparison Type
- Threshold: Numeric Trigger Value
- Flood Impact: Description of what happens if threshold is met
- Action Required: Response or Decision Point
Newly added conditions default to Operator > and Threshold 0.0.
Operator Logic
| Operator | Symbol | Typical Use Case | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Than | > | Value exceeds threshold | Stage > 500 ft |
| Greater Than or Equal | >= | Value meets or exceeds threshold (inclusive) | Flow >= 5000 cfs |
| Less Than | < | Value drops below threshold | Reservoir Level < 500 ft |
| Less Than or Equal | <= | Value is at or below threshold (inclusive) | Lake Level <= 95 ft |
How Conditions Are Evaluated
When a data source is added, the system reads the data from the source, caches the values, evaluates every condition against that data, and sets the status icon/message. Every condition for a location is checked independently.
Time Window Controls
Time Windows restrict the data used for alert calculations. The active state is displayed at the top of the table (e.g., "Time window: All Available Data"). You can change the settings by clicking the Set Time Window button.
| Mode | Configuration | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|
| No Time Window | None (Evaluates full series) | Real-time operations: Analyzes all data, including forecasts. |
| Specific Time Window | Fixed Start/End Date & Time | Post-event review: Training and validation historic events. |
| Relative to Current Time | Rolling "Go Back/Forward N days" | Rolling operations: Monitoring recent past and near-term forecasts. |
| By Individual Water Year | Water Year Start Date (e.g., 01 Oct) | Hydrologic Studies: Seasonal alignment with the water year. |
How Setting the Time Window Changes the Status
Restricting the time window causes statuses to reflect only that specific period, not real-time conditions. If a window contains no data, the status displays No Data Available.
Filters
Use the Filter field above the table to find specific rows instantly. It searches in real time across location names, pathnames, thresholds, impact and action text, operators, and statuses.
Visualizations (Plots)
Clicking the View button in the Plot column launches an integrated HEC-DSSVue plot. Plots are the primary tool for validating thresholds, communicating impacts, and training operators. Plots render the time series data as a continuous line, with horizontal reference lines for each configured threshold.
In the example plot shown below, you can see two threshold values (> 8,000 cfs and > 15,000 cfs). The flow data plotted for the Cloverdale Gage exceeds the thresholds on multiple occasions during the time window.
Sharing Config Files
You can export and share configuration (.json) files to quickly replicate Impact Response Tool setups across HEC-RTS watersheds.
What Data Is Exported?
Not all Tool data is included in a configuration file.
Preserved:
- Metadata: Impact Response Tool Name and Description
- Data Sources: Pathnames, Locations, and Source Types
- Threshold Conditions: Operations, Values, Impacts, and Actions Required
- Time Window Settings: Mode, Start/End Dates
Excluded:
- Time Series Data: Reloads from the source upon import
- Plot Windows: Regenerate on demand
- UI Session State: Tab Order and Tab Names (can be customized after import)
Additional Resources
For more information on setting up and using the Impact Response Tool, refer to this series of guides.