This is a collection of trainings, video replays, and information pertaining to the engineering skills hydrology and hydraulics. Hydrology in this training series primarily includes topics pertaining to watershed delineation and resulting water flows needed to design various engineering practices. Hydraulics in this training series includes topics like conveyance and flood routing of water through pipes and channels, also relevant to various engineering practices.

Skill
Hydrology
Source

TTCP

Training Type
Online Learning
Location

United States

Notes

Hydrology

Basic Hydrology Training

1. Introduction to Hydrology

  • This video covers the science of hydrology, specifically precipitation, runoff, curve numbers, and peak discharge as covered in the NRCS hydrology modules 101-106 (pdfs online). The video is generally used as a prerequisite to the TTCP basic hydrology course (in-person or virtual).

2. Basic Hydrology Classroom or Live Virtual Session

  • Typically offered through TTCP at least once a year, this training covers the basic concept of determining hydrology for common conservation practices. Concepts such as runoff, curve numbers, peak discharges, and hydrographs will be reviewed. Participants will learn about reading contour maps and delineating watersheds through example problems. By the end of the training participants should be able to delineate a watershed as well as be able to obtain the values needed to determine a peak discharge from the delineated watershed using EFH2. Visit the Training Calendar to see when and where the training will be offered.

 

Advanced Hydrology Training

1. Tech Talk Replay: HEC-HMS

  • Tech Talk Replay from June 15, 2020. Amanda Deans demonstrates the use of HEC-HMS. Amanda models a simple drainage area and compare the discharge values from HEC-HMS to EFH2 to show how utilizing storage in a drainage area effects the peak flows.

2. Tech Talk Replay: HydroCAD

  • Tech Talk Replay from June 29, 2020. Amanda Deans demonstrates a simple HydroCAD model.  She used the same simple drainage area from the ‘Intro to HEC-HMS’ Tech Talk (June 15, 2020) to demonstrate the difference between HEC-HMS and HydroCAD, as well as to show how utilizing storage in a drainage area is completed using HydroCAD.

3. Tech Talk: What Do I Need to Run HEC-HMS or HydroCAD?

  • If you watched either of the Intro to HEC-HMS or Intro to HydroCAD Tech Talks and wondered "But how do I obtain the information I need to enter into those programs?"  Well this is the Tech Talk for you!  Amanda Deans will showcase how to break-up drainage areas and how to gather the information needed to run a hydrology model.

 

NRCS GIS Watershed Tools Training

1. Installing Engineering Tools

  • This video is a quick demonstration of where to find, download, and how to install the NRCS-Engineering Tools toolbox into ArcMap. The Tools version shown is 1.1.14

2. Watershed Tools Overview

  • This webinar is a recorded PowerPoint showing the NRCS Engineering Tools-Watershed Tools and other Tools in ArcMap. The first ~19 minutes covers the steps to delineate a watershed and determine a composite RCN.  At 19:39, other useful tools in the Toolboxes are explained.

3. Watershed Tools Demo

  • This video is a demonstration of each step of a watershed delineation and RCN determination for a project site.  The demonstration shows the steps in ArcMap 10.5.1 using the NRCS Engineering Tools toolbox.

4. ArcGIS Pro Watershed Tools Demo

  • This 30 minute demonstration steps through watershed delineation and runoff curve number steps in ArcGIS Pro using the NRCS GIS toolbox.  It includes where to find the toolbox, an example watershed delineation, and shows what your watershed maps should include.

Hydrology Resources

1. Link to NRCS website to download the EFH-2 software and user’s guide. The EFH-2 software implements the procedures described in the NEH 650 - Engineering Field Handbook Chapter 2 (EFH-2) for estimating runoff and peak discharge.  Required information includes watershed characteristics (drainage area, runoff curve number, watershed length, watershed slope) and rainfall amount and rainfall distribution

2. Link to NRCS MN Engineering Hydrology and Hydraulics page to find and download Minnesota specific files for the EFH2 software.

3. Link to Hydrology Training Series pdfs within NRCS National Employee Development Center (NEDC)

 

Hydraulics

Basic Hydraulics Training

1. Tech Talk: Intro to Hydraulics

  • TTCP Training Engineers Pat Schultz and Amanda Deans dive into all things hydraulics. They provide an introduction into channel flow, orifice flow, weir flow, and pipe flow.

2. Pipe Hydraulics

  • Time: 15:55, Suggested viewing: 10:20;  The NRCS Oklahoma State Engineer demonstrates pipe hydraulics in a lab setting.  He shows several types of inlets and their effects on pipe flow efficiency.

Advanced Hydraulics Training

1. Tech Talk: HEC-HMS - Modeling a Grade Stabilization Structure

  • TTCP Training Engineer Amanda Deans runs through an example using HEC-HMS to model a Grade Stabilization Structure.