RiverWare is a generalized river basin modeling environment that can integrate the analysis of power system economics with other purposes of reservoir systems such as flood control, water supply, recreation, water quality, and navigation. RiverWare is designed to provide river basin managers with a tool for scheduling, forecasting, and planning reservoir operations. RiverWare is data centered, meaning that a specific river and reservoir system and its operating policies are defined by the data supplied to the model. This feature allows the model to be easily modified or extended to incorporate new features or operating criteria, and it allows easy adaptability between river basins. A user constructs a RiverWare model by selecting river reaches, reservoirs, confluences, diversions, and other objects and linking them to define the basin topology.
Data associated with each object is entered or it can be imported from other data sources.
Operating parameters are added via constraint or rulebase editors. The RiverWare user may select from a menu of available simulation controllers that provide either descriptive or prescriptive simulations. Solution time steps may range from hourly to monthly. Solutions may be either supply or demand driven. Additional capabilities can be developed for specific applications and incorporated into the RiverWare model.