Program Screen

As shown in the figure below, the program screen contains a Title Bar, Menu System, Toolbar, and four Panes. These panes will be referred to as the Watershed Explorer, Desktop, Component Editor, and the Message Logs shown in the figure below. The Title Bar displays the version of the program used and the location of the currently-open project. The other parts of the program screen are discussed in detail in this section.

The main program screen with Watershed Explorer in the upper left, Component Editor in the lower left, Message Log at the bottom, and Desktop using the remaining area.

Menu System

The Menu System contains several menus to help you use the program. Each menu contains a list of related commands. For example, the Parameters menu contains a list of commands to open global parameter tables for viewing and editing parameters required by hydrologic elements in the selected Basin Model. Items in an individual menu are inactive (cannot be selected) if the command can not be carried out by the program at the current time.

Commands for managing the opened project are available from the File menu. File menu items and the resulting actions are provided in the following table. The last four projects opened are shown at the bottom of the File menu. Click on one of the project names to open the project.

Commands available from the File menu

File Menu Commands	Action
New	Create a new project.
Open	Open a project.
Import	Import HEC-1 files, simulation run components, individual components, HEC-RAS HDF files, and gridded data.
References	Open a table showing pathnames to all files reference by the project.
Save	Save the current project.
Save As	Make a copy of the current project.
Delete	Delete the current project.
Rename	Rename the current project.
Print	Print the currently selected item.
Exit	Exit the program.

The Edit menu contains commands for editing hydrologic elements in the selected Basin Model. If no Basin Model is selected, then all commands in this menu are inactive. Edit menu commands and the resulting actions are provided in the following table. Additional Edit menu includes commands select mouse tools for use in the Basin Model Map.

Commands available from the Edit menu

Edit Menu Commands	Action
Cut	Cut or delete the selected hydrologic element(s).
Copy	Make a copy of the selected hydrologic element(s).
Paste	Paste the copied hydrologic element(s).
Select All	Select all hydrologic elements in the Basin Model.
Select Upstream	Select all hydrology elements located upstream of the selected element.
Invert Selection	Select all elements not currently selected while unselecting the currently selected elements
Clear Selection	Unselect all selected hydrologic elements in the Basin Model.
Select By Name	Open the Select By Name dialog.

The View menu contains a list of commands for working in the Basin Map. These commands are inactive if no Basin Model is open in the Desktop pane. A list of View menu items and the resulting actions are provided in the following table.

Commands available from the View menu

View Menu Commands	Action
Map Layers	Open the map layers editor.
Zoom In	Zoom in by a factor of 25%.
Zoom Out	Zoom out by a factor of 50%.
Zoom To Selected	Zoom to the current element selection.
Zoom To All	Zoom out to the maximum extents.
Draw Element Labels	Toggle showing of labels in different formats.
Draw Flow Directions	Toggle flow direction arrows on reach elements.
Toolbars	Toggle the file, components, and compute toolbars.
Clear Messages	Clear all messages from the message window.

Component managers are opened from the Components menu. Program components include Grid Regions, Basin Models, Meteorologic Models, Control Specifications, Time-Series Data, Paired Data, and Gridded Data. A list of Components menu items and the resulting actions are provided in the following table.

Commands available from the Components menu

Components Menu Commands	Action
Create Component	Open the Basin Model manager.
Basin Model Manager	Open the Basin Model manager.
Meteorologic Model Manager	Open the Meteorologic Model manager.
Control Specifications Manager	Open the control specifications manager.
Time-Series Data Manager	Open the time-series data manager.
Paired Data Manager	Open the paired data manager.
Grid Data Manager	Open the grid data manager.
Terrain Data Manager	Opens the terrain data manager.

The GIS menu contains menu commands to set the coordinate system of the Basin Model, perform watershed delineation tasks, and georeferencing Basin Model elements, as listed in the table below.

Commands available from the GIS menu

GIS Menu Commands	Action
Coordinate System	View or set the Basin Model coordinate system.
Terrain Reconditioning	Use polygons and lines to edit the terrain (burn streams and build walls).
Preprocess Sinks	Run the sink preprocessing step of the watershed delineation workflow.
Preprocess Drainage	Run the flow direction and flow accumulation steps of the watershed delineation workflow.
Identify Streams	Run the stream identification step of the watershed delineation workflow.
Break Points Manager	Open the break points manager.
Delineate Elements	Complete the watershed delineation workflow by creating subbasin and reach elements.
Split Element	Split a selected subbasin or reach element at a point.
Merge Elements	Merge two selected subbasin or reach elements.
Reverse Flow Direction	Reverse the flow direction of a reach element.
Georeference Existing Elements	Georeference existing subbasin or reach elements using GIS files.
Import Georeferenced Elements	Import hydrologic elements from a GIS file.
Export Georeferenced Elements	Export subbasin or reach elements created using the watershed delineation workflow.
Compute	Compute standard hydrologic or UTM grid cells for discretizing subbasin elements.

Once the coordinate system has been set using the Coordinate System command, subbasin, reservoir, and reach elements can be georeferenced using tools that are opened by selecting the Georeference Existing Elements and Import Georeferenced Elements menu options. Setting the coordinate system and georeferencing elements is optional. Some modeling methods, like the HMR 52 Storm Precipitation Method requires subbasin elements to be georeferenced. One advantage to georeferencing elements is that that the elements are drawn using polygons and polylines in the Basin Model map. You can display the elements using icons and lines, GIS features, or both. The remaining menu commands are related to watershed delineation. The Preprocess Sinks, Preprocess Drainage, Identify Streams, and Delineate Elements commands are functions that create transformations of terrain data in order to create a Basin Model. Break Points Manager allows the user to manage break point elements needed for the delineation process. Split Element and Merge Elements can be used on subbasin and reach elements that have been created using the delineation process. Export Georeferenced Elements allows the user to export subbasin and reach elements created using the delineation process. Commands will only be available if prerequisite steps have been taken and the data necessary to perform the commands are available.

The Parameters menu contains menu commands to open Global Parameter Editors. Global parameter editors let you view and edit subbasin and reach parameters for elements that use the same methods. The table below provides a list of processes that can be globally edited.

Processes that can be globally edited

Model	Element	Process
Basin	Subbasin	Discretization
Basin	Subbasin	Canopy
Basin	Subbasin	Surface
Basin	Subbasin	Loss
Basin	Subbasin	Transform
Basin	Subbasin	Baseflow
Basin	Subbasin	Erosion
Basin	Reach	Routing
Basin	Reach	Gain/Loss
Meteorologic	Subbasin	Snow
Meteorologic	Subbasin	Evapotranspiration

For basin processes, global parameter menu options are only active if subbasin or reach elements in the Basin Model use the method. For example, if the Parameter | Loss menu option is selected, a submenu with all loss methods opens. Only loss methods used by subbasin elements in the current Basin Model will be active in the menu. If hydrologic elements are selected in the Basin Model, then the selected elements determine what menu items are available. The Parameters menu also contains menu commands to change subbasin canopy, surface, loss, transform, and baseflow methods and reach routing and gain/loss methods. If subbasin or reach elements are selected in the Basin Model, then only the selected elements will change methods. The last menu command on the Parameters menu is Element Inventory. This command lets you view a table of all hydrologic elements in the Basin Model. If elements are selected, then only the selected elements will be included in the table.

For meteorologic processes, Global Parameter Editors are available for snow methods and monthly-average evapotranspiration. A Meteorologic Model that includes a snow method or monthly-average evapotranspiration must be selected in the Watershed Explorer to enable the Global Editor menu item on the Parameters menu. The Global Editor includes subbasins for all Basin Models that are linked to the Meteorologic Model. The Meteorologic Model Global Editor can be filtered by basins, zones, or computation points using the filters in the top left corner of the editor.

The Compute menu contains a list of commands for creating, computing, and managing Simulation Runs, Optimization Trials, Forecast Alternatives, Depth-Area Analyses, and Uncertainty Analyses. A list of Compute menu items and the resulting actions are provided in the table below. Menu commands for creating Simulation Runs, Optimization Trials, Forecast Alternatives, Depth-Area Analyses and Uncertainty Analyses are only enabled with the necessary underlying components have been created. The Compute command is only enabled when a compute item is selected.

Commands available from the Compute Menu

Compute Menu Commands	Action
Create Compute	Open a wizard to create a new simulation from among the five types.
Simulation Run Manager	Open the simulation run manager to create, copy, rename, or delete runs.
Optimization Trial Manager	Open the Optimization Trial manager.
Forecast Alternative Manager	Open the Forecast Alternative manager.
Depth-Area Analysis Manager	Open the depth-area analysis manager.
Uncertainty Analysis Manager	Open the uncertainty analysis manager.
Run Calibration Aids	When a run is selected, opens the calibration aids at a computation point.
Forecast Initial Baseflow	When a forecast is selected, choose observed flow for automatically initializing subbasin baseflow
Forecast Initial Reach Outflow	When a forecast is selected, choose observed flow for automatically initializing reach flow
Forecast Parameter Adjustments	When a forecast is selected, opens the editor for loss rate and other adjustments.
Forecast Slider Adjustments	When a forecast is selected, choose parameter adjustments for control by a slider.
Forecast Slider Settings	When a forecast is selected, sets boundary range for each slider.
Forecast Reservoirs	When a forecast is selected, choose observed stage for automatically initializing and adjusting reservoir storage.
Forecast Blending	When a forecast is selected, opens the editor for observed flow blending.
Multiple Compute	Compute multiple simulations sequentially.

The Results menu contains a list of commands for viewing results from hydrologic elements in a Basin Model. Three cases must be met before commands from the Results menu are active:

A Simulation Run, Optimization Trial, Analysis, or Forecast Alternative must be selected.
A hydrologic element or elements must be selected.
The results for the simulation must be available.

Results for a simulation are available once the simulation has successfully computed. If you change parameter data, like values in a paired data table used by a reach element for Modified-Puls routing, then the simulation should be recomputed. The program keeps track whether results are out of date or still valid and will display this information in results plots and tables. A list of Results menu items and the resulting actions are provided in the table below.

Commands available from the Results menu

Results Menu Commands	Action
Global Summary Table¹	Open a summary table containing all hydrologic elements in the Basin Model.
Objective Function Summary²	Objective function value and statistics.
Optimized Parameters²	Optimized parameter values.
Hydrograph Comparison²	Comparison of computed and observed hydrographs.
Flow Comparison²	Computed versus observed flow values.
Flow Residuals²	Residual between computed and observed values.
Objective Function²	Objective function value by iteration.
Peak Flow Table³	Peak flow at analysis points.
Element Graph	Open a graph of results for the current selection.
Element Summary Table	Open a summary table for the current selection.
Element Time-Series Table	Open a time-series table for the current selection.
Graph Properties	Change the line styles, symbols, and other properties of the selected graph.

(1) are available for Simulations Runs, items with (2) are available for Optimization Trials, and items with (3) are available for Depth-Area Analyses.

The Tools menu offers a list of specialized commands. A list of Tools menu items and the resulting actions are provided in the table below. Additional tools will be added to the menu in a future program version.

Commands available from the Tools menu

Tools Menu Commands	Action
Reach Table	View and edit paired data functions for elevation-discharge, elevation-area, and elevation-width.
Reservoir Tables	View and edit paired data functions for elevation-discharge and storage-discharge.
Parameter Sample Creator	Convert the equilibrium sample from an Optimization Trial using the MCMC search.
Data	Tools available for modifying gridded datasets.
Reports	Generate reports of Basin Model or simulation run results using a custom template.
Delete Results	Delete time-series results for simulations.
Program Settings	Change properties for the program.

The Help menu provides links to the online help system. The sample projects can be installed from this menu. You may also access the terms and conditions for using the program, and information about the program and development team; this information is helpful when reporting program problems.

Like the Menu System, the Toolbar groups tools with similar uses. Also, tools are inactive if the resulting action for the tool can not be carried out by the program. The table below contains a description of tools on the toolbar.

Description of the tools in the toolbar

Tool	Action
	Create a new project.
	Open an existing project.
	Save the current project.
	Print the selected item in the Desktop (Basin Map or result window).
	Select hydrologic elements in the Basin Map.
	Zoom tool.
	Add a subbasin element to the Basin Map.
	Add a reach element to the Basin Map.
	Add a reservoir element to the Basin Map.
	Add a junction element to the Basin Map.
	Add a diversion element to the Basin Map.
	Add a source element to the Basin Map.
	Add a sink element to the Basin Map.
	Add a break point element to the Basin Map.
	Compute the currently selected simulation run.
	Compute the currently selected Optimization Trial.
	Compute the currently selected Forecast Alternative.
	Compute the currently selected depth-area analysis.
	Compute the currently selected uncertainty analysis.
	Open global summary table.
	Open graph for the current element selection.
	Open summary table for the current element selection.
	Open time-series table for the current element selection.

Watershed Explorer

The Watershed Explorer was developed to provide quick access to all components and simulations in a project. For example, the user can easily navigate from a Basin Model to a precipitation gage and then to a Meteorologic Model without using menu commands or opening additional windows. The Watershed Explorer is divided into three parts: Components, Compute, and Results.

A typical view of the Components tab of the Watershed Explorer is shown in the figure below.

Components tab in the Watershed Explorer.

The hierarchical structure of model components, such as Basin Models, Meteorologic Models, etc., is available from the Components tab. The Watershed Explorer organizes model components into individual folders. If all component types were in a project, then the Components tab would contain seven main folders, Terrain Data, Basin Models, Meteorologic Models, Control Specifications, Time-Series Data, Paired Data, and Grid Data. The Watershed Explorer expands when one of these main component folders is selected. When a component in a main folder is selected, the Watershed Explorer expands even more to show sub-components. For example, when the Basin Models folder is selected, the Watershed Explorer expands to show all Basin Models in the project. The Watershed Explorer will expand again to show all hydrologic elements in a Basin Model when a Basin Model is selected. Notice in the figure above that the Castro 2 Basin Model is selected and the Watershed Explorer is expanded to show all hydrologic elements in the Basin Model. The plus/minus sign beside model components and sub-components can be used to expand or collapse the Watershed Explorer. The Compute tab of the Watershed Explorer contains all project Simulation Runs, Optimization Trials, Analyses, and Forecast Alternatives. Model results are available from the Results tab of Watershed Explorer.

Desktop

The Desktop holds a variety of windows including Global Parameter Editors, and most importantly the Basin Map. Result windows including graphs, summary tables, and time-series tables can be shown in the Desktop, or optionally, outside the Desktop. All other windows cannot be moved outside of the Desktop area. The Basin Map is used to develop a Basin Model. Hydrologic elements (subbasin, reach, reservoir, etc.) are added from the toolbar and connected to represent the physical drainage network of the study area. Background maps can be imported to help visualize the watershed. The Castro 1 Basin Map is shown in the figure below.

Basin map for a basin model named Castro 2. The basin map is shown in the Desktop area of the program screen.

Component Editor

When a component or sub-component in the Watershed Explorer or hydrologic element in the Basin Map is active (use the mouse and click on the component name in the Watershed Explorer or select the hydrologic element in the Basin Map), a specific Component Editor will open. Data for model components is entered in the Component Editor. Required data is indicated with a red asterisk. For example, loss parameter data for a subbasin element is entered in the Component Editor for the subbasin. The Component Editor for the Castro 1 Basin Model is shown in figure below.

A basin model component editor showing the name, description, and other parameter data.

Message Log

Notes, warnings, and errors are shown in the Message Log, as seen in the figure below. These messages are useful for identifying why a Simulation Run failed or why a requested action, like opening a project, was not completed.

Message Log showing recent messages generated while computing a simulation run.