Hydrologic engineers in USACE offices nationwide support USACE planning, designing, operating, permitting, and regulating activities by providing information about current and future runoff from watersheds, with and without water control features. Computer program HEC-HMS can provide much of that information, including estimates of runoff volumes, peak flow rates, timing of peak flows, and sediment yields. The program provides this information by simulating the behavior of the watershed, its channels, and water-control facilities in the hydrologic system.
The document illustrates application of program HEC-HMS to studies typical of those undertaken by USACE offices, including:
Urban flooding studies.
Flood-frequency studies.
Flood-loss reduction studies.
Flood-warning system planning studies.
Reservoir design studies.
Environmental studies.
Surface erosion and sediment routing studies
Flood forecasting applications.
For each category, this document presents an example and illustrates how the following steps can be taken to develop the required information using computer program HEC-HMS:
Identify the decisions required.
Determine what information is required to make a decision.
Determine the appropriate spatial and temporal extent of information required.
Identify methods that can provide the information, identify criteria for selecting one of the methods, and select a method.
Fit model and verify the fit.
Collect/develop boundary conditions and initial conditions appropriate for the application.