Modeling Framework for Balancing Water Supply, Water Quality, and Environmental Objectives

Adequate supplies of high quality water are essential both for economic development and basic human survival. As populations continue to rise, municipal supplies, irrigation, power supply, resource extraction, industrial development, recreation, ecological services, and waste disposal will continue to place significant, often conflicting, demands on limited water resources within a region. Increasing scarcity leads to conflicts as existing frameworks for apportioning resources, or lack thereof, cease to function properly such that stakeholder needs are no longer met. Similarly, excessive supplies can result in conflict as well due to flood damage or complaints of water being "wasted" as large volumes flow downstream. Because water is closely connected with our livelihoods, quality of life, and values, water resource disputes can be bitter and seem intractable. Effective management of water resources requires the use of robust, scientifically defensible methods along with collaboration and support of multiple parties to build support for policies or projects. Systems models, which are designed to model a water supply system using hydrologic data and realistic operating rules, can be a tool for achieving these goals. This presentation describes an innovative modeling framework for assisting utilities, regulators, and other watershed stakeholders in developing solutions to complex, multi-objective water management issues and presents a number of applications used in real-world projects to resolve difficult watershed issues.