Simulation of Intra- or Transboundary Surface-Water-Rights Hierarchies Using the Farm Process for MODFLOW-2000
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 133, Issue 2
Abstract
Water-rights driven surface-water allocations for irrigated agriculture can be simulated using the farm process for MODFLOW-2000. This paper describes and develops a model, which simulates routed surface-water deliveries to farms limited by streamflow, equal-appropriation allotments, or a ranked prior-appropriation system. Simulated diversions account for deliveries to all farms along a canal according to their water-rights ranking and for conveyance losses and gains. Simulated minimum streamflow requirements on diversions help guarantee supplies to senior farms located on downstream diverting canals. Prior appropriation can be applied to individual farms or to groups of farms modeled as “virtual farms” representing irrigation districts, irrigated regions in transboundary settings, or natural vegetation habitats. The integrated approach of jointly simulating canal diversions, surface-water deliveries subject to water-rights constraints, and groundwater allocations is verified on numerical experiments based on a realistic, but hypothetical, system of ranked virtual farms. Results are discussed in light of transboundary water appropriation and demonstrate the approach’s suitability for simulating effects of water-rights hierarchies represented by international treaties, interstate stream compacts, intrastate water rights, or ecological requirements.
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Acknowledgments and Disclaimers
This material is primarily based upon work supported by the USGS under the supervision of Randall T. Hanson, and upon collaboration with Sustainability of Semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas (SAHRAs) STC Program of the National Science Foundation, Agreement No. EAR-9876800 under the supervision of Dr. Thomas Maddock III. The writers would like to thank the USGS reviewers, Keith Halford, Jesse Dickinson, and Devin Galloway. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USGS, SAHRA, or of the National Science Foundation.
References
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 133 • Issue 2 • March 2007
Pages: 166 - 178
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Apr 22, 2005
Accepted: Apr 19, 2006
Published online: Mar 1, 2007
Published in print: Mar 2007
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