DES 606 :
Watershed Modeling with
HEC-HMS
Module 3
Theodore G. Cleveland, Ph.D., P.E
29 June 2011
Module 3: Runoff Generation
Rainfall-Runoff
Excess precipitation; whats left after the
loss.
HEC-HMS Runoff Generation
Loss models
Rainfall-Runoff Process
Precipitation
Meterology, Climate
Runoff
Fraction of precipitation
signal remaining after losses
Watershed
Losses
Transformation
Storage
Routing
HEC-HMS
Hydrologic Cycle Components in HECHMS (circa 2008)
Rainfall, P(t)
Snowfall
Evapotranspiration
Snowpack
Snowmelt
Infiltration Loss
Land Surface and Vegetation
Runoff
Percolation Loss
Channels
Runoff
Reservoirs
Discharge, Q(t)
Rainfall-Runoff
Precipitation (rainfall) is the raw input
Distributed in space and time
Commonly assumed uniform in space for
hydrologic computations (refine later)
A component of this signal never appears
as runoff, it is lost
Excess precipitation (rainfall) is the
component of the signal remaining after
losses.
Rainfall-Runoff
As a process diagram:
Precipitation
Losses
Loss Model
Excess Precipitation
Loss Models
Vital to achieve volume balances
Cannot easily measure
Biggest source of uncertainty in hydrologic
modeling
Used in calibration where data are
available
Loss models get used to tune a model
Infiltration
Infiltration is water that soaks into the
ground. This water is considered removed
from the runoff process.
Largest contribution to losses during a
storm event, hence most loss models are
some form of an infiltration accounting
Loss Models
HEC-HMS
Losses are infiltration losses. Evaporation is
modeled as a component of meterology.
Infiltration accounting defined by soil
properties and ground cover.
Soil type (sand, clay, silt, etc.)
Land use (percent impervious, etc.)
Hortonian Infiltration
Pedagogical
Rate has an initial and
asymptotic value.
Integral of rate is total
depth (volume) lost
Loss Models
Detailed Discussion
Initial Abstraction, Constant Loss
NRCS Curve Number
Green-Ampt
Other Methods
Exponential Model
Phi-Index (and proportional rainfall)
Soil Moisture Accounting
Deficit/Constant
Loss Model: IaCl
Assumes soil has an initial capacity to
absorb a prescribed depth.
Once the initial depth is satisfied, then a
constant loss rate thereafter.
No recovery of initial capacity during periods
of no precipitation.
Loss Model: IaCl
Typical values, Ia:
Sandy soils: 0.80 to 1.50 inches
Clay soils : 0.40 to 1.00 inches
Typical values, Cl
Sandy soils: 0.10 to 0.30 inches/hour
Clay soils : 0.05 to 0.15 inches/hour
Loss Model: IaCl
Two parameters, the initial abstraction and
the constant loss rate.
Parameter estimation:
Calibration
TxDOT 0-4193-7 (HEC-HMS Example 2)
Local guidance (i.e. Harris County, circa 2003)
Loss Model: IaCl
Advantages
Simple to set up and use
Complexity appropriate for many studies
Disadvantages
Parameter estimation (outside of 0-4193-7)
May be too simplified for some studies
HEC-HMS User Manual 3.5, pg 136
Initial and Constant Loss
Loss Model: NRCS CN
NRCS Runoff Curve Number
Is really a runoff generation model, but same
result as a loss model.
Uses tables for soil properties and land
use properties.
Each type (A,B,C, or D) and land use is
assigned a CN between 10 and 100
Loss Model: NRCS CN
The CN approaches 100 for impervious
The CN approaches zero for no runoff
generation.
The CN is NOT a percent impervious.
The CN is NOT a percent of precipitation.
Loss Model: NRCS CN
NRCS CN method
Separate computation of impervious cover
then applied to pre-development land use or
Use a composite CN that already accounts for
impervious cover.
Composite CN described in TxDOT Hydraulic
Design Manual (circa 2009)
Composite common in TxDOT
applications
Loss Model: NRCS CN
Rural: Table from NEH-630-Chapter 9
(included on reference CD)
Loss Model: NRCS CN
Composite CN equation
Urban: Table from NEH-630-Chapter 9
(included on reference CD)
Loss Model: NRCS CN
Runoff generated by
( P 0.2 S ) 2
( P 0.8 S )
where,
q = depth of direct runoff (inches)
P = precipitation depth (inches)
(1000 10CN )
S
CN
Loss Model: NRCS CN
Graphical runoff
generation model
From NEH-630Chapter 10
Depth
Depth
Loss Model: NRCS CN
Parameter Estimation
NEH 630 Chapters 9 and 10
Detailed development of the model, Chapter 10
Estimation of CN, Chapter 9
FHWA-NHI-02-001 (Highway hydrology)
Most hydrology textbooks
TxDOT Hydraulics Design Manual (circa
2009)
Loss Model: NRCS CN
Advantages
Simple, documented approach
Widely used and established across the USA
Disadvantages
Loss approach zero for long duration storms
Same loss for given rainfall regardless of
duration.
HEC-HMS User Manual 3.5 pg 137
Loss Model: Green-Ampt
Infiltration model based on constant head
or constant vertical flux into a porous
medium.
Assumes soil behaves like a permeameter.
Uses Darcys law (adjusted for soil suction).
Four parameters:
Initial and saturated water content
Soil suction and saturated hydraulic
conductivity
Loss Model: Green-Ampt
Flux (infiltration rate);
Governed by saturated
hydraulic conductivity, soil
suction, and accumulated
infiltration.
Volume infiltrated over time;
Governed by flux, change in
water content.
Loss Model: Green-Ampt
Parameter estimation
Initial water content
wilting point is a good lower bound for modeling
Saturated water content
porosity is a good approximation
Saturated hydraulic conductivity
Infiltrometer measurements
Soil suction
Textural description
Hanging column measurements
Loss Model: Green-Ampt
Parameter estimation
Initial water content
wilting point is a good lower bound for modeling
Saturated water content
porosity is a good approximation
Saturated hydraulic conductivity
Infiltrometer measurements
Soil suction
Textural description
Hanging column measurements
Local guidance
(e.g. Harris County has suggested GA parameter
values)
Loss Model: Green-Ampt
Advantages
Documented soil saturation theory
Parameters can be estimated either by
measurement or textural soils description
Disadvantages
Parameter estimates NON-TRIVIAL.
More complex than rest of hydrologic model.
HEC-HMS User Manual 3.5, pg 133
Other Loss Models
Deficit and Constant
Exponential Model
Smith Parlange
Soil Moisture Accounting
Phi-Index (and proportional rainfall)
Not in HEC-HMS, analyst prepares excess
precipitation time series externally.
Documented in most hydrology textbooks.
Other Loss Models
Deficit and Constant
Similar to IaCl. Ia rebounds after period of
zero precipitation.
HEC-HMS User Manual 3.5 pg 130
Exponential Model
Exponential decay of infiltration rate
Needs local calibration, popular in coastal
communities (long history of calibration)
HEC-HMS User Manual 3.5 pg 130
Other Loss Models
Smith Parlange
A soil science approach more complex than GreenAmpt, similar concepts.
Nine parameters
HEC-HMS User Manual 3.5, pg 138
Soil Moisture Accounting
Three-layer soil storage model. Evapotranspiration
used to dry upper layer.
14 parameters
HEC-HMS User Manual 3.5, pg 139
HEC-HMS
Example 3 Extending the minimal HECHMS model
Ash Creek Watershed
Learn how to incorporate real runoff and
rainfall.
Estimate CN for the watershed
Estimate GA parameters for the watershed
Compare 3 Loss Models (without calibration)
Summary
Rainfall-runoff process determines excess
precipitation. Excess precipitation is the
portion of the input that is available for
runoff.
The conversion is via a loss model
generally only infiltration losses are
considered.
Summary
Many different loss models are available,
ranging from the simple to the complex.
Example 3 illustrates three different loss
models and compares their performance
for a real storm.
