ILO-9. Preparing data for input to a model

Learning Objectives

1. Manipulate data and transform it across file systems, flat files, databases, programming languages, etc.
2. Organize data in a variety of platforms and systems common in hydrology and engineering
3. Prepare data to support hydrologic, water resources, and/or water quality modeling

Computer and Data Requirements

1. The Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) software. Follow directions in the WEAP Primer to install WEAP. Use the license key posted in the November 5, 2012 Canvas announcement.
2. A zip folder containing the WEAP Area for the Lower Bear River (LowerBearRiver-Hydroinformatics.zip) and text file P2009-T1.out within the zip folder that contains head flow and reach gain/loss data for the model.
3. Python, R, or another program to automate the transformation of flow data contained in the text file to the CSV format WEAP can read.
4. A mostly complete WEAP script to automate entry of select csv timeseries in WEAP ILO-9AssignFlows_Partial.vbs Download ILO-9AssignFlows_Partial.vbs (you still need to specify which WEAP Branch locations and CSV files to load).

The Problem

In the 1990s, the State of Utah allocated Cache County 60,000 acre-feet per year as part of the Bear River Development Act. Considering existing (higher priority) water uses and Bear River basin flows, the County wants to know the (i) reliability of Bear River water to meet the 60,000 ac-ft/year water requirements of future, new, urban Cache County users (reliability is the % of time the water requirements are satisfied). Additionally, the County wants to know (ii) what the annual firm yield to the new users will be (firm yield is the lowest annual delivery made under worst conditions), and (iii) how the reliability and firm yield of deliveries to the new users will change under a future warmer climate with reduced and time-shifted flows. For this analysis, you should use and simulate the monthly historical record of head flows and reach gains/losses available from October, 1996 to September 2006. You may assume reduced and time-shifted flows under warmer climate means all flow values will decrease by 15% from historical values and be shifted forward 1-month (i.e., May flow = 85% of historical June flow; April flow = 85% of historical May flow; December flow = 85% of historical January flow, etc.). Recommend whether and how the County should develop its Bear River allocation.

Deliverable

Submit a one-page briefing sheet that introduces the problem facing Cache County, presents how you prepared the flow data to use in WEAP, discusses your WEAP results, and recommends whether and how the County should develop Bear River water. Include two appendices to provide:

1. Short answers to underlined, italicized questions in the WEAP Primer, and
2. The code you used to transform the flow data and prepare it for use by WEAP

A pdf version of this ILO which includes the grading rubric is available here Download here