Application of DSPM and HEC-HMS in the Upper Red River of the North Basin Watershed Modeling

In order to reduce future flood damage in the Red River of the North basin, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is developing a Corps Water Management System (CWMS) to assist in real-time operation of reservoirs to regulate reservoir outflows. This paper presents an application of Distributed Snow Process Model (DSPM) and Hydrologic Engineering Center's Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) in distributed snowmelt and rainfall-runoff modeling for reservoir operational forecasting, which is an essential component of the CWMS system. The model setup, calibration, and verification are described. The paper particularly focuses on information requirements of DSPM and HEC-HMS for model setup/calibration and continuing forecast operations and shows how these requirements could be met in a practical and operational setting. Elements of the modeling process that are challenging for an operational forecasting are discussed and are expected to benefit similar CWMS operational forecasting in other watersheds both in cold and warm regions.