CSS and USRPT Training for Open Water and Triathlon

Is anyone out there using CSS and/or USRPT as the training basis for open water and/or triathlon? Having drifted away (pardon the pun) from the pool and into the open water, I am using these metrics to establish a platform for my 1.5K, 5K, 10K, and marathon swim events (26.4K Sri Chimnoy on Lake Zurich in August). I'm currently training in a 25-yard pool until the ice thaws and the water warms up enough to get into my local swimming hole. I'd love to start a dialogue with anyone out there who's interested. Mark