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- Weather data can be added directly from HydroBase, NCWCD, or CoAgMet and <br />edited by the user on the screen. This feature makes it easy to update an existing <br />file with new climate data. For CDSS, climate station data must be extended <br />using TSTooI. However, using TSTooI, missing data can also be filled whereas <br />IDSCU does not offer any filling methods. <br />- Diversion data can be added directly from HydroBase and edited by the user on <br />the screen. Diversions can be selected based on the "Source" and "Use" codes <br />contained in HydroBase. The GUI interprets the use codes for the user (i.e. <br />Source = 2 represents reservoir storage). For CDSS, diversion data must be <br />created using TSTooI. It is recommended that TSTooI continue to be used to <br />develop diversions under CDSS as it improves the potential for gaining a clear <br />understanding of the diversion coding and associated data. <br />Multiple ET methods can be run at the same time (e.g. Blaney-Griddle and ASCE <br />Standardized Penman) for the same modeling area (location). The results from two <br />different ET methods can be directly compared on a yearly, monthly, or annual basis. <br />Note that a similar feature will be added to StateCU under the SPDSS Phase 3 <br />StateCU Enhancements with the simplified report generator (see Recommendations <br />below). <br />A comprehensive water budget report generator allows the user to select components <br />of the results and allows the user to view these results in several different formats <br />(e.g. daily/monthly/annually and on a unit basis or for the acreage specified in the <br />input file). Note that a similar feature will be added to StateCU under the SPDSS <br />Phase 3 StateCU Enhancements with the simplified report generator (see <br />Recommendations below). <br />Any data displayed in a grid format can be copied to or from Excel or another file <br />type. Note that a similar feature will be added to StateCU under the SPDSS Phase 3 <br />StateCU Enhancements (see Recommendations below). <br />The following features of IDSCU were found to be less useful than with StateCU (summarized <br />in Table 1 below): <br />• As with StateCU, IDSCU requires a scenario to start with a template or dataset. <br />There are several templates provided with the program, however it is unclear what <br />these templates are based on. For example, as with StateCU, only the crop types <br />defined by the crop coefficient and crop characteristic files associated with the <br />template are available for a model run. Some of the templates included with IDSCU <br />include crop types that are not included in the other templates. <br />• Some of the settings are not well documented, such as the use of the "ET <br />Adjustment" and "Altitude Adjustment" to the Blaney-Griddle coefficients. <br />• The GUI screens generally have a lot of information and settings on each screen, <br />making them more confusing than if data were organized by more specific data types. <br />• Some features that do not apply to most analyses have been added to the GUI for <br />specific users and are not well documented in the Help manual (e.g. Sprinkler Spray <br />Loss). <br />• All of the input and output data cannot be viewed graphically through the GUI. <br />• The user must toggle between the input and output screens to view data. This can <br />become cumbersome when checking model results. <br />Task 62.doc 2 of 4 <br />