Modeling Baseflow

As water is infiltrated to the subsurface, some volume can be lost to deep aquifer storage.  However, some volume is only temporarily stored and will return relatively quickly to the surface.  The combination of this baseflow and direct runoff results in a total runoff hydrograph.  HEC-HMS contains five different baseflow methods.  Within this workshop, the Linear Reservoir baseflow method is applied.

Overview

In this workshop, you will become familiar with the Linear Reservoir baseflow method that is available within HEC-HMS.  Specifically, you will:

  • Estimate the required parameters for this method.
  • Enter the initial parameter values within a basin model and compute the simulation.
  • Calibrate the initial parameter values to achieve a better fit to the observed data.

Questions will be provided throughout the workshop.

Background

In this tutorial group, the study area is designated as the Middle Fork American River watershed upstream of the French Meadows Reservoir near Foresthill, CA.  This study area was detailed here.