Development of a Water Temperature Modeling Platform to Support Short- and Long-Term Water Temperature Management in Reservoir–River Systems

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) supports water temperature management for fishery species protection in downstream river reaches below Central Valley Project (CVP) reservoirs in the Sacramento, American, and Stanislaus River systems. The Water Temperature Modeling Platform (WTMP) Project was initiated to modernize and enhance modeling capabilities to predict summer–fall water temperature through reservoir cold water pool management using temperature control facilities designed for temperature management. The WTMP supports forecasts, historical analyses, and long-term planning efforts and advances previous modeling approaches by using an integrated modeling platform. This platform includes a data management system that acquires real-time data, provides quality assurance methods, and yields model-ready data for simulations; a modeling framework that manages model input file construction for multiple models, controls selected model simulation for reservoir and/or river reaches, and manages model output; and an automated reporting feature providing efficient and comprehensive reporting of tabular and graphical output for assessment and analysis by technical teams and decision-makers. The WTMP takes advantage of technological advancements in simulation models, available software, and databases to support Reclamation’s short- and long-term water temperature management needs. The platform is also adaptive for future integration with new or improved models and tools.