Hec-Hms Lessons

Mastering HEC-HMS: Structured Video Lessons

What you'll learn

Create a basic HEC-HMS model with basin elements, subbasins, reaches, junctions, and routing elements.

Apply loss rate methods such as Initial and Constant, SCS Curve Number, and Green & Ampt to simulate infiltration.

Use transform methods like SCS Unit Hydrograph, Clark, and ModClark to convert excess precipitation to runoff.

Build meteorologic models with hyetographs, design storms, depth-area reductions, and gridded precipitation inputs.

Simulate streamflow routing using methods including Lag, Muskingum, Muskingum-Cunge, and Modified Puls.

Set up continuous simulations with baseflow, evapotranspiration, snowmelt, and soil moisture accounting models.

Calibrate and optimize model parameters using observed flow data and automated parameter estimation tools.

Analyze simulation results using hydrographs, peak flow tables, time series plots, and flow frequency analysis.

Requirements

This course is designed for individuals with a basic understanding of hydrology. Prior experience with concepts such as hydrographs, runoff, and infiltration will be helpful but not required. No prior experience with HEC-HMS is necessary — we’ll start with the fundamentals and build from there.

Description

** All videos are downloadable ** Learn how to simulate watershed hydrology using HEC-HMS, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' premier software for rainfall-runoff modeling. Whether you're new to hydrologic modeling or looking to deepen your expertise, this course provides a step-by-step approach to building, calibrating, and analyzing models of real-world watersheds. You'll start with core concepts such as basin delineation, loss modeling, and unit hydrograph methods, and learn how to input precipitation data, define basin and meteorologic models, and compute runoff hydrographs.As you progress, you'll explore continuous simulation methods, including evapotranspiration, baseflow, snowmelt, and soil moisture accounting. The course also covers advanced techniques such as ModClark gridded runoff modeling, depth-area reduction methods, and reservoir operations. You’ll learn to simulate streamflow routing with Muskingum, Lag, and Modified Puls methods, and setup control specifications to run event-based and long-term simulations. Calibration and optimization tools are introduced for improving model performance against observed data.Throughout the course, you'll gain hands-on experience with the HEC-HMS interface, from project setup and data import to viewing simulation results and interpreting hydrographs, summary tables, and peak flow outputs. Each lesson is clear and practical, aligned with tasks hydrologic modelers face in flood studies, watershed planning, dam safety, and urban stormwater design. No prior experience with HEC-HMS is required, though a basic understanding of the hydrologic cycle and rainfall-runoff processes will be helpful.By the end of the course, you'll be able to confidently build, run, and troubleshoot HEC-HMS models for both event-based and continuous simulations, and apply your skills to support water resources, flood forecasting, and infrastructure planning projects.

Overview

Section 1: All Lessons

Lecture 1 Download and Install

Lecture 2 GUI, Project Basics and Control Specifications

Lecture 3 Time Series Data

Lecture 4 Paired Data

Lecture 5 Grid Data

Lecture 6 Terrain Data

Lecture 7 Basin Model Properties and Map Layers

Lecture 8 Hydrologic Elements

Lecture 9 Flow Network

Lecture 10 Zones

Lecture 11 Computation Points

Lecture 12 GIS Menu (Part 1)

Lecture 13 GIS Menu (Part 2)

Lecture 14 Basin Characteristics, Parameter Estimation, and Coordinate Systems

Lecture 15 Subbasins - Discretization

Lecture 16 Subbasins - Canopy

Lecture 17 Subbasins - Snowmelt - Temperature Index

Lecture 18 Subbasins - Snowmelt - Energy Balance

Lecture 19 Subbasins - Snowmelt - Gridded Hybrid

Lecture 20 Subbasins - Surface

Lecture 21 Subbasins - Loss - Deficit and Constant, Exponential

Lecture 22 Subbasins - Loss - Green Ampt, SCS Curve Number

Lecture 23 Subbasins - Loss - Smith and Parlange, Soil Moisture Accounting

Lecture 24 Subbasins - Transform - Clark Unit Hydrograph and Mod Clark

Lecture 25 Subbasins - Transform - Kinematic Wave

Lecture 26 Subbasins - Transform - Unit Hydrographs (SCS, Snyder, User Specified)

Lecture 27 Subbasins - Transform - User-Specified S-Graph and 2D Diffusion Wave

Lecture 28 Subbasins - Baseflow - Constant and Recession

Lecture 29 Subbasins - Baseflow - Linear Reservoir and Nonlinear Boussinesq

Lecture 30 Reach Routing (Part 1)

Lecture 31 Reach Routing (Part 2)

Lecture 32 Reach - Losses and Gains

Lecture 33 Reservoirs - Outflow Curve Routing

Lecture 34 Reservoirs - Specified Release Routing

Lecture 35 Reservoirs - Outflow Structures Routing (Part 1)

Lecture 36 Reservoirs - Outflow Structures Routing (Part 2)

Lecture 37 Reservoirs - Outflow Structures Routing (Part 3)

Lecture 38 Reservoirs - Rule Based Operations

Lecture 39 Sources, Junctions, and Sinks

Lecture 40 Diversions

Lecture 41 Meteorologic Models - Overview

Lecture 42 Meteorologic Models - Shortwave Radiation (Part 1)

Lecture 43 Meteorologic Models - Shortwave Radiation (Part 2)

Lecture 44 Meteorologic Models - Longwave Radiation

Lecture 45 Meteorologic Models - Precipitation - Frequency Storm

Lecture 46 Meteorologic Models - Precipitation - Gage Weights

Lecture 47 Meteorologic Models - Precipitation - Gridded Precipitation

Lecture 48 Meteorologic Models - Precipitation - HMR 52 Storm

Lecture 49 Meteorologic Models - Precipitation - Interpolated Precipitation

Lecture 50 Meteorologic Models - Precipitation - Inverse Distance

Lecture 51 Meteorologic Models - Precipitation - Hypothetical Storm

Lecture 52 Meteorologic Models - Precipitation - MetSim, Specified, Standard

Lecture 53 Meteorologic Models - Temperature

Lecture 54 Meteorologic Models - Windspeed

Lecture 55 Meteorologic Models - Pressure

Lecture 56 Meteorologic Models - Dew Point

Lecture 57 Meteorologic Models - Evapotranspiration (Part 1)

Lecture 58 Meteorologic Models - Evapotranspiration (Part 2)

Lecture 59 Simulation Runs

Lecture 60 Running a Simulation

Lecture 61 Viewing Simulation Run Results

Lecture 62 Viewing Spatial Results

Lecture 63 Optimization Trials

Lecture 64 Optimization - Compute and View Results

Lecture 65 Forecast Alternatives

Lecture 66 Forecast Alternatives - Setting Initial Values

Lecture 67 Forecast Alternatives - Computing and Viewing Results

Lecture 68 Depth Area Reduction

Lecture 69 Frequency Analyses

Lecture 70 Uncertainty Analyses

Lecture 71 Ensemble Simulations

Lecture 72 Sediment - Overview and Subbasins

Lecture 73 Sediment - Reaches

Lecture 74 Sediment - Reservoirs, Sources, and Diversions

Lecture 75 Reports

This course is ideal for beginners new to watershed modeling, professionals looking to build or expand their skills in HEC-HMS, and experienced users seeking a structured refresher on event-based and continuous simulation workflows. Whether you're a civil engineer, hydrologist, water resources planner, or stormwater manager, you’ll gain practical tools and techniques to support flood studies, urban drainage design, and watershed assessments.