Computer Models in Lower Colorado River Operations

The Lower Colorado Region, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), is responsible for maintaining and operating Hoover, Davis, and Parker Dams, and the appurtenant reservoirs and powerplants. Operation of this dam and reservoir system is governed by a complex body of congressional acts, a Supreme Court decree, an international treaty, and interstate agreements that have come to be known as the “Law of the River.” Reclamation uses three computer models for decision support purposes ranging from scheduling hourly release rates to planning future monthly and seasonal operations. A computer model called the “24‐month study” is used for planning monthly and seasonal operation of the reservoir and powerplant system. Another model is used to plan and schedule releases for downstream water delivery, energy generation, and flood control requirements on a daily and weekly basis. Finally, Reclamation water schedulers use the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) computer model of the Western Area Power Administration to automatically control hourly releases for the next 24‐hr day and for same‐day changes at Davis and Parker powerplants.