WMS:Orange County Unit Hydrograph

Edit Orange County Unit Hydrograph Parameters dialog

Unit hydrograph analysis is used for watersheds greater than 1 square mile (640 acres) in Orange County, California. Losses are accounted for by calculating an effective precipitation. Runoff hydrographs are computed using a unit hydrograph, which is developed using an S-graph. Use a small area hydrograph instead of a full blown unit hydrograph analysis for watersheds with a Tc < 25 min. WMS creates the input files required for HEC-1 to compute hydrographs for the Orange County unit hydrograph analysis. Much of the interface for the Orange County unit hydrograph analysis is similar to the HEC-1 interface within WMS. Some of the processes specific to Orange County are described below:

OC Hydrograph Menu

The OC Hydrograph menu, available in the Hydrologic Modeling module, has the following commands:

• Open HEC-1 File – Reads in existing HEC-1 files.
• Save HEC-1 File – Generates a HEC-1 input file.
• Check Simulation – Launches the HEC-1 Model Check.
• Run Simulation – Launches the HEC-1 model run.
• Read Solution – Opens the HEC-1 solution files. Requires a basin or outlet be selected.
• Job Control – Opens the HEC-1 Job Control dialog.
• Define Storm – Brings up the Orange County Storm dialog.
• Edit Parameters – Opens the Edit Orange County Unit Hydrograph Parameters dialog.
• Compute GIS Attributes – Brings up the Compute GIS Attributes dialog.

Edit Orange County Unit Hydrograph Parameters

The Orange County Unit Hydrograph Parameters dialog is similar to the parameters dialog used by HEC-1. It contains the following options:

• Basin data
• Effective precipitation – Losses are included in the precipitation rather than defining a loss method
• Unit Hydrograph Method – Unit hydrographs are developed using Orange County S-graphs and lag time derived from the time of concentration computed in an Orange County Rational Method analysis
• Routing
  1. Stream/channel routing – A convex routing method is included in HEC-1
  2. Flow-through detention – Defines using reservoirs or storage routing in HEC-1
  3. Flow-by detention – Defines using diversions in HEC-1

Saving a Simulation

Save only the HEC-1 input files using the Save Simulation command in the OC Hydrograph menu. This will only save the hydrologic tree and the HEC-1 input parameters at each of the tree nodes. Terrain data, feature data, and GIS data will not be saved unless saving a WMS project file using the Save command in the File menu.

Post Processing

By default WMS will read in the hydrographs computed by HEC-1 and display small icons representing the hydrographs next to their corresponding tree nodes. It is possible to view a larger plot of the hydrograph by selecting a hydrograph icon and choosing the Open Hydrograph Plot in the Display menu or just by double-clicking the icon. Right-click on the hydrograph plot for options that format, print, and export the plot and its data.

Use the commands on the Hydrographs menu to open or delete HEC-1 results (*.sol file) as well as to view and export the data.

View the HEC-1 output file by using the Edit File command in the File menu to open the *.out file. This file provides a detailed report of the HEC-1 calculations.

Related Topics

• Orange County Hydrology
• Editing HEC-1 Parameters
• Job Control
• Design Storms
• Small Area Hydrographs
• Using GIS Data
• Running a HEC-1 Analysis