Northeast River Forecasting Center – Watershed and Reservoir Model Calibrations

The Northeast River Forecast Center (NERFC) contracted with Riverside Technology, inc. (RTi) to support the implementation of the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Services (AHPS) in the Finger Lakes, Hudson River, and Adirondack regions of New York, as well as areas of the Connecticut River. RTi assisted the NERFC by calibrating the Snow Accumulation and Ablation Model (SNOW-17), the Sacramento Soil Moisture Accounting Model (SAC-SMA),

NERFC Area of Responsibility

Unit Hydrograph Model (UNIT-HG), and the Lag/K routing operation for a total of 54 forecast points. In addition, RTi calibrated the RES-J reservoir model for 19 reservoirs, seven in the Finger Lakes area, six in the Hudson River Basin, one in the Adirondack basins, and five in the Connecticut River basin.

Using time-series data provided by the NERFC, RTi calculated water balances and reviewed other QA/QC indicators. For example, Mean Areal Precipitation (MAP) time series were checked for consistency with average annual basin precipitation estimated from the Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) project maps. The NERFC also provided basin boundaries to RTi as ArcGIS shape files. Unit Hydrograph model parameters

Conklingville Dam and Great Sacandaga Lake

were estimated using these basin boundaries, high resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), and land cover grids. This extensive use of computerized tools enhanced the quality control effort and overall project productivity.

By closely working with the NERFC staff and regional reservoir operators, additional understanding of hydrometeorology and water management issues in the basins was exchanged between RTi and the NERFC. This understanding was incorporated into the project deliverables to enhance the client's forecast system implementation.

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