WMS:HEC-HMS Properties

For HMS, all of the parameters (properties) are edited from the same HMS Properties dialog. The dialog is reached through the Edit Parameters command in the HEC-HMS menu.

This dialog offers an option to edit the parameters in seven different types of elements: Sub-basins, Junctions, Reaches, Diversions, Reservoirs, Sources, and Sinks. By allowing the choice of which type is being used, the Properties dialog allows the definition of the parameters of a project accordingly.

Each of the elements listed above is further explained in it's designated section below.

HMS Properties dialog

Displaying and showing options allow seeing only those variables for which to enter data. Toggling on Loss Rate Method in the Display column allows picking which method they want to use. Then toggle the display for the different parameters associated with a given methodology from the Show column.

The HMS Properties window is versatile in that it shows properties for all or selected basins, junctions, reaches, reservoirs, etc. The HMS documentation can be reviewed for detailed model formulation and behavior of the various properties, but different functions of the dialog are defined below:

• Type – Specifies which type of hydrologic unit parameters to view or edit. Options include:
  • "Sub-basins" – An element/ hydraulic unit that can be defined in HMS.
  • "Junctions" – An element with one or more inflows and only one outflow.
  • "Reaches" – Reach routing will lag and attenuate the hydrograph computed (combined) at an outlet according to the reach properties defined.
  • "Diversions" – An element of HMS that allows flow to be diverted from an outlet or drainage basin.
  • "Reservoirs" – Reservoir routing is similar to the Modified-Puls reach routing method.
  • "Sources" – An element that is used when wanting to run a model that is interior to a larger watershed and is defined at the headwaters of a stream within a model.
  • "Sinks" – An element used when wanting to run a model that is interior to a larger watershed and is defined at the outlet of the model.

• Show – Choose to show or edit the parameters of the selected or all hydrologic units of the specified type.
• Display Options – The display options determine which properties (Display column) and which methods (Show column) are displayed/edited in the Properties spreadsheet.
  • Display – Designated area for the defining the method and elements being used for the project.
  • Show – The method used for showing the results.
• Properties – The properties of the selected (or all) hydrologic units are displayed as a spreadsheet for editing in this area. Only the properties and methods as determined in the display options are visible for reviewing and editing. While more than one method may have properties displayed, a method for simulation must be chosen as one of the properties. Property options are dependent on the methods chosen in the previous Display Options section.

HMS includes the following hydrologic units which can be used to define a model:

Type: Sub-Basins

Sub-basins are one of the basic hydrologic units that can be defined in an HMS model. To simulate runoff for a sub-basin, base flow, loss, and transform properties must be defined. This is done by first selecting the "Sub-basins" hydrologic unit Type from the HMS Properties dialog, and then turning on the display of the different properties and methods that to be defined. The properties are then edited in the properties table.

• "Sub-basins" – An element/ hydraulic unit that can be defined in HMS and Represents surface runoff, and subsurface processes interacting with one another.

Loss Rate Method

	Show	Properties
	All – Select to turn on all property options for Loss Rate Method	Name – The name given to the specified element of the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Loss Rate Method – Property area where you enter the loss rate method being used. Options include: "Green & Ampt," "Gridded Green & Ampt," "Initial/Constant," "SCS Curve Number," "Gridded SCS Curve Number," "Deficit/Constant," "SMA," "Gridded SMA," and "No Loss Rate." Initial Loss(in) – Represents the amount of precipitation received before surface runoff. Initial Content – Should be entered in specific terms of volume ratio and represents the initial water content. Saturated Content – Should be entered in specific terms of volume ratio and represents the maximum water capacity or the total porosity of the soil. Wet. Front Suct. (in) – Must be specified and represents the texture of the soil. Conductivity (in/hr) – Must be specified and represents the hydraulic conductivity according to the specified soil texture. Impervious (%) – The amount of the sub-basin that is connected directly. Specify Ia – Initial Abstraction (in) – SCS Curve No. – A Number that represents all soil group and land use combinations within the sub-basin. Initial Abstraction Ratio – Potential Retention Scale Factor – Initial Deficit (in) – Loss Rate (in/hr) – Max Deficit (in) – Init Canopy (%) – Init Surface (%) – Init Soil (%) – Init Groundwater 1 (%) – Init Groundwater 2 (%) – Canopy Storage (in) – Surface Storage (in) – Max Infiltration (in/hr) – Soil Storage (in) – Tension Storage (in) – Soil Percolation (in/hr) – Groundwater 1 Storage (in) – A representation of the amount of water storage in the upper groundwater layer. Groundwater 1 Percolation (in/hr) – Represents the rate of percolation from the top groundwater layer into the lower groundwater layer. Groundwater 1 Coeff (hr) – Represents the amount of time lag due to the transformation of stored water becoming lateral outflow. Groundwater 2 Storage (in) – Represents the amount of water storage in the lower level of groundwater. Groundwater 2 Percolation (in/hr) – Represents the rate of the function of current storage in the lower groundwater layer. Groundwater 2 Coeff (hr) – Represents the amount of time lag due to the transformation of stored water becoming lateral outflow (Generally a larger value than the groundwater 1 coefficient.
	Green & Ampt	Name – The name given to the specified element in the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Loss Rate Method – Property area where you enter the loss rate method being used. Options include: "Green & Ampt," "Gridded Green & Ampt," "Initial/Constant," "SCS Curve Number," "Gridded SCS Curve Number," "Deficit/Constant," "SMA," "Gridded SMA," and "No Loss Rate." Initial Loss(in) – Represents the initial water loss. Initial Content – Should be entered in specific terms of volume ratio and represents the initial water content. Saturated Content – Should be entered in specific terms of volume ratio and represents the maximum water capacity or the total porosity of the soil. Wet. Front Suct. (in) – Must be specified and represents the texture of the soil. Conductivity (in/hr) – Must be specified and represents the hydraulic conductivity according to the specified soil texture. Impervious (%) – The amount of the subbasin that is connected directly. Transform Method – Basin Data – Data pertaining to the specified basin. Map Data – Data pertaining to the specified map. Baseflow Method –
	Gridded Green & Ampt	Name – Area (mi^2) – Area of the module that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Loss Rate Method – Property area where you enter the loss rate method being used. Options include: "Green & Ampt," "Gridded Green & Ampt," "Initial/Constant," "SCS Curve Number," "Gridded SCS Curve Number," "Deficit/Constant," "SMA," "Gridded SMA," and "No Loss Rate." Transform Method – Basin Data – Data pertaining to the specified basin. Map Data – Data pertaining to the specified map. Baseflow Method –
	Initial/Constant	Name – Area (mi^2) – Area of the module that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Loss Rate Method – Property area where you enter the loss rate method being used. Options include: "Green & Ampt," "Gridded Green & Ampt," "Initial/Constant," "SCS Curve Number," "Gridded SCS Curve Number," "Deficit/Constant," "SMA," "Gridded SMA," and "No Loss Rate." Initial Loss(in) – Constant Rate (in/hr) – Defines the infiltration rate when the soil is saturated. Impervious (%) – Transform Method – Basin Data – Data pertaining to the specified basin. Map Data – Data pertaining to the specified map. Baseflow Method –
	SCS Curve Number	Name – Area (mi^2) – Area of the module that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Loss Rate Method – Property area where you enter the loss rate method being used. Options include: "Green & Ampt," "Gridded Green & Ampt," "Initial/Constant," "SCS Curve Number," "Gridded SCS Curve Number," "Deficit/Constant," "SMA," "Gridded SMA," and "No Loss Rate." Specify Ia Initial Abstraction (in) SCS Curve No. Inmpervious (%) Transform Method – Basin Data – Data pertaining to the specified basin. Map Data – Data pertaining to the specified map. Baseflow Method –
	Gridded SCS Curve Number	Name – Area (mi^2) – Area of the module that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Loss Rate Method – Property area where you enter the loss rate method being used. Options include: "Green & Ampt," "Gridded Green & Ampt," "Initial/Constant," "SCS Curve Number," "Gridded SCS Curve Number," "Deficit/Constant," "SMA," "Gridded SMA," and "No Loss Rate." Initial Abstraction Ratio – Potential Retention Scale Factor – Transform Method – Basin Data – Data pertaining to the specified basin. Map Data – Data pertaining to the specified map. Baseflow Method –
	Deficit/Constant	Name – The name given to the specified element of the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Loss Rate Method – Property area where you enter the loss rate method being used. Options include: "Green & Ampt," "Gridded Green & Ampt," "Initial/Constant," "SCS Curve Number," "Gridded SCS Curve Number," "Deficit/Constant," "SMA," "Gridded SMA," and "No Loss Rate." Initial Deficit (in) – Loss Rate (in/hr) – Max Deficit (in) – Impervious (%) –
	SMA	Name – The name given to the specified element of the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Loss Rate Method – Property area where you enter the loss rate method being used. Options include: "Green & Ampt," "Gridded Green & Ampt," "Initial/Constant," "SCS Curve Number," "Gridded SCS Curve Number," "Deficit/Constant," "SMA," "Gridded SMA," and "No Loss Rate." Init Canopy (%) – Init Surface (%) – Init Soil (%) – Init Groundwater 1 (%) – Init Groundwater 2 (%) – Canopy Storage (in) – Surface Storage (in) – Max Infiltration (in/hr) – Soil Storage (in) – Tension Storage (in) – Soil Percolation (in/hr) – Groundwater 1 Storage (in) – A representation of the amount of water storage in the upper groundwater layer. Groundwater 1 Percolation (in/hr) – Represents the rate of percolation from the top groundwater layer into the lower groundwater layer. Groundwater 1 Coeff (hr) – Represents the amount of time lag due to the transformation of stored water becoming lateral outflow. Groundwater 2 Storage (in) – Represents the amount of water storage in the lower level of groundwater. Groundwater 2 Percolation (in/hr) – Represents the rate of the function of current storage in the lower groundwater layer. Groundwater 2 Coeff (hr) – Represents the amount of time lag due to the transformation of stored water becoming lateral outflow (Generally a larger value than the groundwater 1 coefficient.
	Gridded SMA	Name – The name given to the specified element of the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Loss Rate Method – Property area where you enter the loss rate method being used. Options include: "Green & Ampt," "Gridded Green & Ampt," "Initial/Constant," "SCS Curve Number," "Gridded SCS Curve Number," "Deficit/Constant," "SMA," "Gridded SMA," and "No Loss Rate." Init Canopy (%) – Init Surface (%) – Init Soil (%) – Init Groundwater 1 (%) – Init Groundwater 2 (%) –

Tranform Method

	Show	Properties
	All – Select to turn on all property options for Transform Method	Name – The name given to the specified element of the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Transform Method – Allows the selection of methods to define the project. Options include: "Clark," "Kinematic Wave," "ModClark," "Snyder," "SCS," "User-Specified S-Graph," or "User-Specified UH." If none is chosen as the method then the sub-basin will change any excess precipitation as runoff in the end. Basin Data – Data pertaining to the specified basin. Map Data – Data pertaining to the specified map. Time of Concentration (hr) – Represents the maximum travel time within the sub-basin. Storage Coefficient (hr) – This accounts for the effects of storage within a linear reservoir. Overland Length (ft) – Slope (ft/ft) – Roughness – % of Subbasin Area – Number of Steps – Channel Routing Method – Channel Parameters – Second Record – Time of Concentration (hr) – Represents the maximum travel time within the sub-basin. Storage Coefficient (hr) – This accounts for the effects of storage within a linear reservoir. Snyder (Standard) Lag, tp (hr) – Snyder Peaking Coefficient, Cp – SCS Lag – Time – S-Graph – Lag (hr) –
	Clark	Name – The name given to the specified element of the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Transform Method – Allows the selection of methods to define the project. Options include: "Clark," "Kinematic Wave," "ModClark," "Snyder," "SCS," "User-Specified S-Graph," or "User-Specified UH." If none is chosen as the method then the sub-basin will change any excess precipitation as runoff in the end. Basin Data – Data pertaining to the specified basin. Map Data – Data pertaining to the specified map. Time of Concentration (hr) – Represents the maximum travel time within the sub-basin. Storage Coefficient (hr) – This accounts for the effects of storage within a linear reservoir.
	Kinetic Wave	Name – The name given to the specified element of the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Transform Method – Allows the selection of methods to define the project. Options include: "Clark," "Kinematic Wave," "ModClark," "Snyder," "SCS," "User-Specified S-Graph," or "User-Specified UH." If none is chosen as the method then the sub-basin will change any excess precipitation as runoff in the end. Basin Data – Data pertaining to the specified basin. Map Data – Data pertaining to the specified map. Time of Concentration (hr) – Represents the maximum travel time within the sub-basin. Storage Coefficient (hr) – This accounts for the effects of storage within a linear reservoir. Overland Length (ft) – Slope (ft/ft) – Roughness – % of Subbasin Area – Number of Steps – Channel Routing Method – Channel Parameters – Second Record –
	Modclark	Name – The name given to the specified element of the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Transform Method – Allows the selection of methods to define the project. Options include: "Clark," "Kinematic Wave," "ModClark," "Snyder," "SCS," "User-Specified S-Graph," or "User-Specified UH." If none is chosen as the method then the sub-basin will change any excess precipitation as runoff in the end. Basin Data – Data pertaining to the specified basin. Map Data – Data pertaining to the specified map. Time of Concentration (hr) – Represents the maximum travel time within the sub-basin. Storage Coefficient (hr) – This accounts for the effects of storage within a linear reservoir.
	Snyder	Name – The name given to the specified element of the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Transform Method – Allows the selection of methods to define the project. Options include: "Clark," "Kinematic Wave," "ModClark," "Snyder," "SCS," "User-Specified S-Graph," or "User-Specified UH." If none is chosen as the method then the sub-basin will change any excess precipitation as runoff in the end. Basin Data – Data pertaining to the specified basin. Map Data – Data pertaining to the specified map. Snyder (Standard) Lag, tp (hr) – Snyder Peaking Coefficient, Cp –
	SCS	Name – The name given to the specified element of the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Transform Method – Allows the selection of methods to define the project. Options include: "Clark," "Kinematic Wave," "ModClark," "Snyder," "SCS," "User-Specified S-Graph," or "User-Specified UH." If none is chosen as the method then the sub-basin will change any excess precipitation as runoff in the end. Basin Data – Data pertaining to the specified basin. Map Data – Data pertaining to the specified map. SCS Lag – Time –
	User-Specified S-Graph	Name – The name given to the specified element of the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Transform Method – Allows the selection of methods to define the project. Options include: "Clark," "Kinematic Wave," "ModClark," "Snyder," "SCS," "User-Specified S-Graph," or "User-Specified UH." If none is chosen as the method then the sub-basin will change any excess precipitation as runoff in the end. Basin Data – Data pertaining to the specified basin. Map Data – Data pertaining to the specified map. S-Graph – Lag (hr) –
	User-Specified UH	Name – The name given to the specified element of the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Transform Method – Allows the selection of methods to define the project. Options include: "Clark," "Kinematic Wave," "ModClark," "Snyder," "SCS," "User-Specified S-Graph," or "User-Specified UH." If none is chosen as the method then the sub-basin will change any excess precipitation as runoff in the end. Basin Data – Data pertaining to the specified basin. Map Data – Data pertaining to the specified map. Unit Graph –

Base Flow Method

	Show	Properties
	All – Select to turn on all property options for Base Flow Method	Name – The name given to the specified element of the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Baseflow Method – Initial Q – Units – Recession Constant – Threshhold Type – Threshhold Q – Monthly Values – Represents the monthly values collected. Groundwater 1 Storage Coefficient – Groundwater 2 Storage Coefficient – Groundwater 2 Number of Reservoirs –
	Recession	Name – The name given to the specified element of the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Baseflow Method – Initial Q – Units – Recession Constant – Threshhold Type – Threshhold Q –
	Constant Monthly	Name – The name given to the specified element of the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Baseflow Method – Monthly Values – Represents the monthly values collected.
	Linear Reservoir	Name – The name given to the specified element of the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Baseflow Method – Groundwater 1 Storage Coefficient – Groundwater 2 Storage Coefficient – Groundwater 2 Number of Reservoirs –
	Bounded Recession	Name – The name given to the specified element of the project. Area (mi^2) – Area of the project that is being defined. Description – A description of the element to which properties will be assigned. Baseflow Method – Initial Q – Units – Recession Ratio – Monthly Values – Represents the monthly values collected.

Unlike HEC-1, meteorological data are not defined as a sub-basin property, but rather as part of the meteorological parameters of the HMS simulation.

Type: Junctions

"A junction is an element with one or more inflows and only one outflow. All inflow is added together to produce the outflow by assuming zero storage at the junction. It is usually used to represent a river or stream confluence." (HEC, 2002)

WMS treats outlets as junctions. This means that when creating an outlet, WMS is actually creating a junction. WMS is also creating a reach when creating an outlet. The only data associated with junctions is a description. This description is exported to the HMS file when saving the file. A reach is also associated with each outlet.

Type: Reaches

HMS Properties dialog

The reach element represents a segment of stream or river and reach routing will lag and attenuate the hydrograph computed (combined) at an outlet according to the reach properties defined. To define reach parameters, open the HMS Properties dialog, shown below, and then select the HMS Property type to be Reaches. Show or edit properties for only the selected reach(es), or for all reaches in the model. Select a reach in WMS by selecting the upstream outlet of the reach since it is from this point hydrographs are routed.

Choose to Display properties of the reach and then show one or more methods in the properties table. The method that HMS will use and the associated parameters are all edited from the properties table.

• "Reaches" –

Method

	Show	Properties
	All – Select this if multiple methods are needed.
	Muskingum Cunge Std. – Defined by the channel's length, shape, and slope.
	Muskingum Cunge 8-Point – Defined by the channel's length, shape, and slope.
	Kinetic Wave – Defined by the channel's length, shape, and slope.	Ignores inertial and pressure forces to estimate the full unsteady flow equations.
	Muskingum – Dependent primarily upon an input weighting factor for the reach.
	Straddle Stagger – This requires the number of ordinates to lag and the duration.
	Lag – Lags the hydrograph without any attenuation. The only parameter for this method is the lag time with its accompanying units (minutes or hours).
	Modified Puls – Uses a storage routing technique or level-pool routing.

Muskingum

The Muskingum method is The required parameters are as follows:

• Number of sub-reaches (time steps that hydrograph will be in the reach).
• Muskingum K coefficient in hours for entire reach.
• Muskingum x (weighting) coefficient.

Using the basin data computed by WMS when a TIN or DEM is used to delineate the watershed, the K coefficient and the number of sub reaches can easily be estimated. K is essentially the travel time for the reach, which can be estimated by noting the length of the stream segment (see this by displaying in the Muskingum Cunge method) and multiplying by an assumed channel velocity (1-5 ft/s would be appropriate for most natural channels). Convert the estimated travel times from seconds to hours before entering it into the K property field. The sub-reaches value is the number of time steps the flood wave is in the channel and can be determined by dividing K by the computational time step found in the Job Control dialog (again be sure that units are consistent). A button exists in the Muskingum K property field so that these computations can be done directly within WMS.

Modified Puls

Enter the storage, outflow relationship as well as the number of sub-reaches and initial conditions.

Muskingum Cunge Std., Muskingum Cunge 8 Point, or Kinematic Wave

The Muskingum-Cunge and Kinematic Wave methods are defined with essentially the same parameters.

• Channel length.
• Energy grade slop (generally a project can use channel slope).
• Manning's roughness.
• Characteristic channel shape.
  • Type, base width and side slope of a prismatic cross-section or.
  • 8 point cross-section defining the right overbank, center, and left overbank.

Type: Diversions

HMS allows the flow to be diverted from an outlet or drainage basin. This flow can be thought of as leaving the normal drainage system at that point. It can be retrieved at a downstream outlet where the diverted flow then contributes to the flow at that outlet. If no downstream retrieval outlet point is specified, the flow simply leaves the system at the diverted outlet point and never returns (similar to a sink).

Diversion Data

Diversions are created using a combination of the Add Diversions and Retrieve Diversion commands found in the Tree menu. Once created, data for the diversion can be defined and/or edited by using the HEC-HMS Properties dialog.

The following data should be defined for a diversion:

• Name – The name identification string of the diversion as used on the DT record. It is important to assign a unique name to each diversion in a given model because this name is used by WMS and by HEC-1 to identify the diversion.
• Max Volume – Maximum volume of diverted flow in acre-feet (1000 cu m).
• Peak Flow – Peak flow that can be diverted in any computation period in cfs (cms).
• The flow capacity of a stream flow diversion is specified using an inflow and outflow table. This table is defined with the XY Series Editor.

Type: Reservoirs

Reservoir routing is similar to the Modified-Puls reach routing method. The difference is that relationships between elevation-storage and elevation-outflow can be used to determine the storage-outflow curve. This input can either be in the form of:

• Storage-Outflow (same as reach routing)
• Elevation-Storage-Outflow
• Elevation-Area-Outflow

Also, establish the initial conditions (whether there is storage), and the number of sub-reaches.

Type: Sources

If wanting to run a model that is interior to a larger watershed then define a source at the headwaters of a stream within a model. A source can be defined either as a hydrograph or a constant flow rate. Sources can only be defined at outlet points that do not have upstream reaches or basins defined, i.e. the stream headwaters.

Before defining a source in the HMS properties dialog, first add the source to the outlet. This is done using the Add | Source command from the Tree menu.

Type: Sinks

If wanting to run a model that is interior to a larger watershed then define a sink at the outlet of the model. A sink can be defined either as a hydrograph or a constant flow rate. Sinks can only be defined at outlet points that do not have downstream reaches.

Before defining a sink the HMS properties dialog, first add the sink to the outlet. This is done using the Add | Sink command from the Tree menu.

Related Topics

• HEC-HMS