Catawba River Basin Model

 

 

 

Background

The Catawba-Wateree CHEOPS (Computer Hydro-Electric Operations and Planning Software) model was developed as a study tool during the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing of Duke Energy's hydropower projects in the Catawba River Basin. Duke Energy allowed the State to use their model to evaluate basin-wide water resource issues.

The model incorporates operational strategies that were developed during the lengthy process of negotiations between stakeholders during the FERC hydropower relicensing process. A component of these operational strategies is the Low Inflow Protocol (LIP), which establishes procedures for reductions in water use during periods of low flow. A purpose of the LIP is that all parties with interests in water quantity would share responsibility to establish priorities and conserve the limited water supply.

The model uses a 15-minute time step.  The output is in both a 15-minute and daily time-step. Only the daily values are being provided to simplify and improve response time for doing analyzes and summaries.

 

CHEOPS 2006

Archived IBT Reports Based on CHEOPS 2006

• Supplemental Analysis Report on Concord - Kannapolis Interbasin Transfer from the Catawba River Basin
• Analysis Report on Concord - Kannapolis Interbasin Transfer from the Catawba River Basin

 

CHEOPS II 2014

CHEOPS Model Enhancement 2014:

On behalf of the Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group (CWWMG), Duke's consulting company HDR initiated discussions with the North Carolina Division of Water Resources (NC-DWR) regarding modeling efforts in the Catawba-Wateree River Basin using CHEOPS™ for the CWWMG's Water Supply Master Planning efforts.  NC-DWR has provided funding for this project, subject to the modeling effort conforming to DWR's basin modeling requirements and in conformance with Session Law SL2010-143, and the December 3, 2010 Settlement Agreement South Carolina v. North Carolina, No 138.
 

Archived Model Development Documents/Presentations:

• Technical Memo
• Model Overview 
• CHEOPS II User's Manual and Appendices
• Catawba Wateree CHEOPS Model Report September, 2014
• Catawba Basin Plan
• Catawba Water Resources Plan 2007
   

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Contact

If you have a comment or question on the Catawba basin, please contact us at: dwr-catawba-staff@ncdenr.gov

If you would like access to the CHEOPS 2014 model, contact Neelufa Sarwar (neelufa.sarwar@ncdenr.gov) or Pam Behm (pamela.behm@ncdenr.gov) to request access.