HEC-ResSim Training Curriculum

Curriculum purpose

This material provides learners with the capability to perform reservoir system studies using the HEC-ResSim reservoir operations simulation software. Learners will develop the knowledge and skills to build, modify, run, and interpret reservoir operations simulation models.

Learning outcomes (students will be able to)

Explain core concepts for reservoir system simulation (authorized purposes, operational goals, constraints, performance metrics).
Identify and organize required physical and operational data for ResSim modeling.
Build a ResSim model from scratch, including reservoir/network configuration and key operational elements.
Translate operating objectives and rules into ResSim parameters.
Execute simulations, troubleshoot common setup issues, and manage alternatives/scenarios.
View, summarize, and interpret results to support planning and operational decision-making.
Apply introductory advanced capabilities:
- system demands
- hydropower
- downstream objectives
- basic scripting concepts/workflows

Audience and context (where/why used)

Primary audience: USACE staff and partners performing planning studies and/or real-time reservoir operations simulation.
Typical applications: flood control, water supply, hydropower, multipurpose operations; single reservoirs and multi-reservoir systems.

Course Materials

Downloadable Course Materials

Download Lectures

Download Workshops

USACE can access class recordings here (or request access): https://dod.teams.microsoft.us/l/channel/19%3Adod%3Ae6bf428d85c543e1b5c9c7e1f5b0b080%40thread.tacv2/Training%20Videos%20and%20Recordings?groupId=c6ea561e-c289-4651-913e-baa9b4ba80ec&tenantId=fc4d76ba-f17c-4c50-b9a7-8f3163d27582

Links to Download HEC-ResSim pre-release Version 4.1.0

Link to download HEC-ResSim (v4.1.0.1-beta) class software as an executable: https://drive.hecdev.net/share/cmC3zyLj

(instructions for downloading and unzipping the executable: HEC-ResSim Training How to download an executable file from HEC Drive)

Lectures

In previous years the Course Manual was printed and provided to the students upon arriving in the classroom in Davis, CA. However, in response to end-of-course student critiques and reducing HEC's carbon footprint, printed course manuals are no longer provided to students. If printed lectures slides are desired (e.g., for notetaking purposes), students are encouraged to print and bring their own copy to class. Lecture presentations can be downloaded in advance of the first day of class by clicking the link provided in the Course Materials section of this page, or individually from the agenda on this page.

Workshops

In order to complete workshops the Reservoir Regulation Manual will be needed. The zipped workshop documents provided in the Course Materials section include the manual. Computers in the classroom are provided for the students to work in groups to complete the course workshops, or you can copy the files (software, watersheds, instructions) to your laptop and perform the workshops there.

Note: If working on the workshops on your personal computer, before you begin any of the workshops create a folder named "Class" in OSDisk (C:). Many of the workshops have instructions referring to specific file paths so this step is necessary to be able to finish the workshops properly. (Or copy the files to another location and translate any instructions concerning the C:/Class/ directory accordingly).

The workshop instructions are provided online. Please select the desired workshop link below. Each workshop instruction page contains the starting workshop zipped watershed and required data files. The required datafiles can also be downloaded from the link provided in the Course Materials section of this page, or from the individual workshop pages.

All files needed for completing the workshops can be downloaded from the individual pages identified in the table. A pre-release version of HEC-ResSim will be used in this class. Select the appropriate workshop to obtain copies of the starting workshop watershed, datafiles required for the workshop and the workshop solution watershed. (Note: solution watersheds will be made available at a later time).

Title	Last Updated	Purpose
HEC-ResSim Training Crazy Mountain Reservoir Regulation Manual	Last Modified: 2026-05-18 16:12:15.004	Manual created for the #098 PROSPECT HEC-ResSim Workshops. Contains pertinent information for completing the workshops.
HEC-ResSim Training Workshop 1 – Watershed Setup & Network Development	Last Modified: 2026-05-18 16:12:15.121	Create a reservoir network. Add reaches to complete connectivity. Entering reach properties, reservoir pool and dam definition, and outlets and define outlet properties. Creating an operation set.
HEC-ResSim Training Workshop 2 – Basic Guide Curve Operations	Last Modified: 2026-05-18 16:12:15.595	Create a simple operation set and define its zones – Guide Curve definition. Create alternatives and simulations. Perform both high and low flow simulations. Gain understanding of guide curve operation.
HEC-ResSim Training Workshop 3 – Creating At-Site Operating Rules	Last Modified: 2026-05-18 16:12:16.182	Develop an operation set and its associated alternative for each rule type. Gain familiarity with the Release Function editor and each type of “at-site” rule.
HEC-ResSim Training Workshop 4 – Multiple Rules Operation	Last Modified: 2026-05-18 16:12:16.355	Add a downstream control rule to an existing operation set. Prioritize the rules in the operation set. Understand how downstream operation and rule prioritization influence release decisions.
HEC-ResSim Training Workshop 5 – Induced Surcharge Operation	Last Modified: 2026-05-18 16:12:16.676	Duplicate existing operation set. Add emergency operation zone to new operation set. Add induced surcharge rule. Duplicate alternative. Change operation set to new set in new alternative. Edit simulation, adding new alternative. Update from base. Analyze difference in operation.
HEC-ResSim Training Workshop 6 – System Operations	Last Modified: 2026-05-18 16:12:17.174	Part A – review Guide Curve operations. Part B – add an implicit, parallel reservoir system. Part C – add an implicit, tandem reservoir system. Part D – add an explicit reservoir system and define the storage balance scheme. Analyze operations, changes in reservoir storage management and downstream regulation.
HEC-ResSim Training Workshop 7 – Hydropower, Adding Power Plants and Generating Power	Last Modified: 2026-05-18 16:12:17.883	Add a power plant and analyze standard operations without energy demand (secondary power production). Add a scheduled energy requirement to the operations and analyze impact of power requirement on results. Become familiar with hydropower output options.
HEC-ResSim Training Workshop 8 – If-Then-Else Rules and Scripting	Last Modified: 2026-05-18 16:12:18.321	Creating If-Then-Else rules. We will start with a watershed that already has a state variable defined. We will use that state variable within the condition of an If block. We will analyze the behavior and influence of the If block on the release decision logic/determination.
HEC-ResSim Training Workshop 9 – Tying It All Together	Last Modified: 2026-05-18 16:12:18.749	Run and analyze different ResSim model exercises, then solve modeling issues and answer questions presented in the problem statement.

Course Agenda


Unit	Type	Approx Time (min)	Module	Instructors	Class Slides	Informal Video Recording
Day 1
1.1	Lecture 1	45	Simulating Reservoir Systems	Walsh	1.1_L01_SimulatingReservoirSystems_Walsh.pptx
1.2	Lecture 2	30	Introduction to HEC-ResSim	Ostadrahimi	1.2_L02–IntroducingHEC-ResSim_Ostadrahimi.pptx
1.3	Lecture 3	30	Developing a Watershed Schematic	Ostadrahimi	1.3_L03–DevelopingAWatershedSchematic_Ostadrahimi.pptx
1.4	Lecture 4	30	Reservoir Networks - Modeling the River System	O'Connell	1.4 L-04–ReservoirNetworks_2026.pptx
1.5	Workshop 1	60	Watershed Setup and Reservoir Network	Ostadrahimi, Walsh	HEC-ResSim Training Workshop 1 – Watershed Setup & Network Development
1.6	Lecture 5	30	Reservoir Networks - Defining an Operation Scheme (includes Basic Guide Curve Operations + intro to WCM)	O’Connell	1.6 L-05–BasicGuideCurveOperations_2026.pptx
1.7	Lecture 6	45	Alternatives and Simulations	Walsh	1.7_L06_Alternatives&Simulations_Walsh.pptx
1.8	Lecture 7	60	Analysis of Results	Heisman	1.8_L07_AnalysisOfResults_2026_Heisman.pptx
1.9	Workshop 2	60	Basic Guide Curve Operations	Heisman, O'Connell	HEC-ResSim Training Workshop 2 – Basic Guide Curve Operations

Unit	Type	Approx Time (min)	Module	Instructors	Class Materials	Informal Video Recording
Day 2
2.1	Lecture 8	60	Routing Methods	Bartles	2.1_L08_Routing_Methods_Bartles.pptx
2.2	Lecture 9	60	Basic Rule-Based Reservoir Operation	Hanbali	2.2 L-09-Rule-BasedReservoirOperation.pptx
2.3	Lecture 10	60	Implementing Release Rules	Heisman	2.3_L10_Implementing_Release_Rules_2026_Heisman.pptx
2.4	Workshop 3	90	Creating At-Site Operating Rules	Hanbali, Walsh	Workshop 3 – Creating At-Site Operating Rules
2.5	Lecture 11	45	Real-Time vs. Planning, ResSim Modeling Approaches	Hanbali	2.5 L-11-ResSim_Study_vs_CWMS.pptx
2.6	Lecture 12	60	Operation for Downstream Objectives	DeGeorge	2.6_L12-OperationForDownstreamObjectives_2026DeGeorge.pptx

Unit	Type	Approx Time (min)	Module	Instructors	Class Materials	Informal Video Recording
Day 3
3.1	Workshop 4	45	Multiple Rules Operation	DeGeorge, Ostadrahimi	Workshop 4 – Multiple Rules Operation
3.2	Lecture 13	60	Emergency Gate Operation-Induced Surcharge	O'Connell	3.2 L-13–EmergencyGateOperations-Induced Surcharge_2026.pptx
3.3	Workshop 5	75	Induced Surcharge Operation	O'Connell, Walsh	Workshop 5 – Induced Surcharge Operation
3.4	Lecture 14	60	System Operation	Hanbali	3.4 L-14-SystemOperation.pptx
3.5	Workshop 6	120	System Operation Workshop	Hanbali, Walsh	Workshop 6 – System Operations

Unit	Type	Approx Time (min)	Module	Instructors	Class Materials	Informal Video Recording
Day 4
4.1	Lecture 15	60	Hydropower Concepts	Walsh	4.1_L15_HydropowerConcepts_Walsh.pptx
4.2	Lecture 16	45	Hydropower Simulation	Ostadrahimi	4.2_L16–HydropowerSimulation_Ostadrahimi.pptx
4.3	Workshop 7	90	Hydropower	Heisman, Ostadrahimi	HEC-ResSim Training Workshop 7 – Hydropower, Adding Power Plants and Generating Power
4.4	Lecture 17	30	If-Then-Else Rule Blocks	O'Connell	4.4 L-17–If-Then-Else_RuleBlocks_2026.pptx
4.5	Lecture 18	45	Scripting in ResSim	Heisman	4.5_L18_Scripting_In_HEC-ResSim_2026_Heisman.pptx
4.6	Workshop 8	60	If-Then-Else Rules and Scripting	O'Connell, Heisman	HEC-ResSim Training Workshop 8 – If-Then-Else Rules and Scripting
4.7	Lecture 19	45	Developing Inflows	Walsh	4.7_L19_DevelopingInflows_Walsh.pptx
4.8	Lecture 20	45	Compute Blocking and Modeling Techniques	Heisman	4.8_L20_Compute_Blocks_Modeling_Techniques_2026_Heisman.pptx

Unit	Type	Approx Time (min)	Module	Instructors	Class Materials	Informal Video Recording
Day 5
5.1	Workshop 9	90	Tying It All Together	Hanbali, Ostadrahimi	Workshop 9 – Tying It All Together
5.2	Lecture 21	45	Advanced Features	O'Connell	5.2 L-21–AdvancedComputeTypes_Ensemble,Yield,MonteCarlo_2026.pptx
5.3	Lecture 22	45	Water Quality Demo	Ostadrahimi	Live Software Demo, WQ_ProspectFY26.7z