The diagram below shows what the player does in a Reservoir Game session. The Reservoir Game is a simulator that represents inflow to the reservoir, releases, and spill over a three-year period. The game calculates the value of the water released for beneficial uses and subtracts flood damages and deficit costs. The game calculates how much water is stored in the reservoir at the end of the week. Dynamic operation in the Reservoir Game is more sophisticated than a simple simulator.
Dynamic operation uses probabilistic forecasts of reservoir inflows to determine release rates.
Each inflow forecast depends on the watershed state for that date. The Reservoir Game has an internal database that contains information about how much water is needed for fish habitat, hydropower, and irrigation. The water demands change from week to week. The database also specifies the value of water for each purpose. Experienced players can change this information, but beginners should not.