Quick Tutorials — 19 Step-by-Step Guides
Progressive skill-building tutorials for SwaNET, the MAGNET4WATER SWAT-based watershed modeling platform. From loading your first saved model through building a watershed end-to-end from a DEM.
SwaNET runs USDA SWAT (Soil & Water Assessment Tool) on the web — no desktop install, no GIS license. New to SwaNET? Start with one of the two One-Click Model tutorials below — both walk through the same quick-simulate-then-refine loop on a real Michigan watershed; choose the one matching your audience. Then use the 19 progressive tutorials to deepen specific skills. Use the left-side navigation to jump to any tutorial, or filter by keyword.
⚡ Start Here
Same workflow, same Kalamazoo example, two versions for different audiences. Pick the one matching your background — or read the quick version first, then the educational version when you want to understand the hydrology.
10 steps · Kalamazoo worked example · how to read the Sankey · NSE/PBIAS/RSR fit metrics · refinement paths. ~15 min read. For users who want to run the workflow and understand SwaNET’s outputs.
Everything in the quick tutorial + 13 hydrology callouts: watershed delineation (D8 algorithm), water balance, HRUs, soil hydrology, channel routing (Muskingum), stream gauging (USGS NWIS), curve number method, calibration (equifinality, NSGA-II). ~30 min read. For users new to SWAT or hydrologic modeling.
Part 1: Model Loading & Calibration
Load a SWAT model, bring in real weather, calibrate manually and automatically, run simulations, and visualize results.
Upload saved models, import ArcSWAT/QSWAT, load from server, or select by watershed location
Replace simulated weather with NOAA/PRISM/CFSR real-world observations
Interactively adjust parameters and compare to observed streamflow with NSE and PBIAS metrics
NSGA-II multi-objective optimization against USGS gage observations
Configure dates, print options, output variables, and water balance settings
Plot time series for subbasins/reaches, 2D maps, watershed summaries, and downloads
Download your SWAT model, generate groundwater recharge rasters, publish to Observatory
Manage overlay maps, markers, transparency, legends, and 3D terrain
Click any subbasin on the map to edit data, plot time series, inspect HRUs
Part 2: Update Modeling Workflows
Modify land use mid-simulation, update management operations, manage crop schedules, and estimate pollutant loads with LOADEST.
Modify land cover types mid-run using .lup files — simulate urbanization, reforestation, crop conversion
Schedule non-recurring conservation practices, tillage, irrigation, BMPs
Planting schedules, harvest, rotations, heat units, irrigation, fertilization
USGS LOADEST for estimating N, P, sediment loads via rating curves and prediction
Part 3: Interactive Model Creation from Scratch
Build a SWAT watershed model end-to-end: DEM → stream network → outlets → HRUs → SWAT input files.
Load DEM from DataNET, create stream networks, delineate watershed for SWAT
Select outlets, use USGS gauging stations, merge small subbasins, finalize delineation
Generate Hydrologic Response Units from land use × soil × slope intersections
Filter HRUs by area threshold, download reports, generate SWAT input files
Map overlays, legends, 3D terrain visualization, animation, publish to Observatory
Full Kalamazoo River example — from DEM to SWAT input files in one walkthrough