Description

Managing reservoirs is a complex task, requiring a careful balance between water storage, flood control, electricity generation, and drinking water supplies. Factors such as seasonal snow cover, total snow water equivalent (SWE), antecedent soil moisture, and extreme precipitation events significantly influence the volume and timing of reservoir inflows. For effective hydropower planning and flood mitigation, monitoring the volume of precipitation – including rainfall, snow cover, and spring snowmelt at high latitudes and altitudes – and understanding the soil moisture and saturation of a basin is prior to a storm are critical for predicting runoff and monitoring water levels in reservoirs and inflow rivers.

NASA Earth observations and modeled data provide vital insights into these precursor conditions. Satellite-derived soil moisture and precipitation data allow managers to monitor basin saturation and heavy rainfall events. Additionally, remote sensing of snow cover and SWE fills critical data gaps in low-elevation and un-gauged mountainous areas, offering a comprehensive view of available water before it melts. Moreover, data on rain and snow melt runoff, water level heights of reservoirs and inflow rivers, and streamflow provide needed information for monitoring reservoir systems and watershed conditions to make informed management decisions.

This three-part training focuses on case studies and hands-on exercises using rain and snow, soil moisture, runoff and streamflow, and water level height, to help users monitor reservoir inflows, optimize water release decisions, and manage flood risks.

Prerequisites

• Fundamentals of Remote Sensing
• Introduction to NASA Snow and Ice Data Products and Applications for Water Resources Management

Objectives

By the end of this training attendees will be able to:

• Recognize the importance and availability of Earth observations (EO) and modeled data for hydropower reservoir management.
• Identify NASA EO products applicable to reservoir management, focusing on key hydrological parameters such as precipitation, soil moisture, snow cover, snow water equivalent (SWE), runoff, water surface elevations for reservoirs and tributaries, and simulated streamflow in inflow rivers from a global hydrology model.
• Access and visualize the EO parameters using relevant web tools and Google Earth Engine to monitor critical watershed conditions upstream of reservoir inflows and water levels in reservoirs.
• Apply the GEOGLOWS hydrology model to query historical river data and construct predictive streamflow hydrographs for inflow rivers.
• Analyze time series of the EO parameters for given river basin boundaries and reservoirs of interest.

Audience

• This training is designed for local, national, and international water resources professionals, including reservoir and lake operators, hydropower managers, and private sector stakeholders focused on water quality, dam safety, and aquatic ecosystem management.
• Academic researchers, university students, and fisheries management agencies can also benefit from this training.

Course Format

• The complete course consists of three 1.5-hour parts, with Part 1 offered on August 4, Part 2 on August 6, and Part 3 on August 11.
• On each day, there are two opportunities to take the course (Session A and Session B):
  • Session A: 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT (UTC-4)
  • Session B: 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EDT (UTC-4)
• Each part will include a 30-minute live Q&A.
• Those who attend Parts 1, 2, and 3 and complete the homework by the due date will receive a certificate of attendance.

Sessions

Part 1: Data Requirements for Reservoir Management

• About ARSET
• Training Overview
• Part 1 Introduction
• Section 1: Overview of Hydropower Reservoir Management
• Section 2: NASA Earth Observations and Earth System Models to Monitor Reservoir Watershed Conditions
• Section 3: NASA Earth Observations and Earth System Models for Monitoring Reservoirs and Tributaries 
• Part 1 Summary
• Q&A Session

ARSET Trainers: Amita Mehta and Sean McCartney

Part 2: Accessing NASA Earth Observations for Reservoir Management

• Part 1 Review
• Part 2 Introduction
• Section 1: Accessing Watershed Data for Selected Reservoirs
• Section 2: Accessing Reservoir and Inflow Data
• Part 2 Summary
• Q&A Session

ARSET Trainers: Amita Mehta and Sean McCartney

Part 3: Applying NASA Earth Observations to Hydropower Reservoir Management

• Part 2 Review
• Part 3 Introduction
• Section 1: Lake Mead Case Study – Watershed Parameters and Reservoir Level Variability
• Section 2: Lake Itaipu Case Study – Watershed Parameters and Reservoir Level Variability
• Section 3: Thresholds for Decision Making
• Part 3 Summary
• Training Summary
• Q&A Session

ARSET Trainers: Amita Mehta and Sean McCartney