Abstract Description: The pristine, natural lake that comes to mind when most of us envision a reservoir may influence our modeling assumptions during analysis and design. Advances in hydraulic engineering software have allowed engineers to create a clearer picture of watersheds that challenge the traditional level-pool reservoir routing used in many of our hydrologic models. Crossings, constrictions, and tailwater can all influence how a watershed responds to a modeled storm event. When modeling these watersheds, it is important to consider how best to interpret the results and any limitations of the model to make informed design decisions. This presentation focuses on the coastal Lake Meade Dam watershed in Suffolk, Virginia which contains flat topography, tidal hydraulics, numerous hydraulic constrictions, and multiple other dams and large railroad embankments. We will compare the traditional level-pool routing results in HEC-HMS with two-dimensional flow modeling in HEC-RAS and discuss the variables to consider when modeling complex watersheds.
Learning Objectives:
Define and describe the variables which should be considered when choosing modeling approach and software.
Learn about how modeling software can affect hydrologic modeling results.
Describe one case study of a dam in which several variables influenced which modeling software was chosen.
