Development of Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) for the Yuba River Basin, Northeastern California, with application for streamflow predictability and flood forecasting

Project Chief: Kathryn M. Koczot

Reservoirs in the Yuba River Basin are operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as part of the Feather-Yuba Forecast Coordinated Operations Program, and play an important role in flood management, water quality, and the health of fisheries as far downstream as the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The basin has been developed for hydropower and irrigation diversions, so that measured streamflows do not accurately reflect natural flows. Existing models of the Yuba cannot adequately describe responses to changing climate and land-use in the basin which affect at what elevation snow will accumulate or melt in winter, the timing and magnitude of streamflow, and the availability of snow for spring melt. A better understanding of streamflow variation in this basin is necessary for improved reservoir operations and watershed management.

A new spatially detailed Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS), and an automated Object User Interface (OUI) will be constructed and calibrated for drainage areas in the Yuba River Basin above Marysville. PRMS simulates responses to climate and land-use variations at a higher spatial resolution than is currently available to DWR. Climate change in the Yuba River Basin will be identified in historical streamflow, precipitation, and temperature data, from 20 years of observed data and up to 150 years of synthesized data. The calibrated Yuba PRMS will be used to test how the basin streamflow responds to changing climate, by inputting historical and synthesized climate data into the model.

PDF map of project area - allows viewing at better resolution

Contact Information

Kate Koczot
Office phone: 916-278-3000

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