Reclamation Information Sharing Environment (RISE)

This reservoir operations pilot study explored the potential effects that theoretical changes in operations of reservoirs in the upper Payette River basin might have on reducing harmful algal blooms in Cascade Reservoir. River and reservoir operations models, coupled with a newly developed water quality model for Cascade Reservoir were used to simulate a range of operational alternatives and the potential effects on harmful algal blooms. The water quality model, CE-QUAL-W2, is a two-dimensional (longitudinal-vertical) laterally averaged water quality and hydrodynamic model for rivers, estuaries, lakes, reservoirs and river basin systems. The model for Cascade Reservoir was developed in coordination with Portland State University (PSU). This record includes a model archive containing the model files and data needed to rerun the models and reproduce the results for the model scenarios considered by the larger study. The model archive includes 1) the original model files produced by PSU, 2) the installation file for the version of the CE-QUAL-W2 software used for this study, 3) model input and configuration files for the scenarios considered by the study, and 4) the tools used to summarize the results. The archive does not include the report itself, which can be accessed at https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/pilots/docs/reports/Cascade_Reservoir_Operations_Pilot_March2025.pdf. A study bulletin summarizing the work is available at https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/pilots/docs/bulletins/CascadeReservoirOpsPilotBulletin2025.pdf