Keywords
Klamath Basin; Planning Model; WRIMS; Collaboration
Location
Session H2: Water Resources Management and Planning - Modeling and Software for Improving Dcisions and Engaging Stakeholders
Start Date
17-6-2014 10:40 AM
End Date
17-6-2014 12:00 PM
Abstract
The Klamath River Basin, straddling the borders of Oregon and California, has been the scene of both substantial controversy and cooperation during the last twenty years over the analysis of water management solutions to address a broad range of interests. Threatened and endangered fish, trust obligations to four Native American tribes, the viability of irrigated agriculture, wildlife refuges on the Pacific Flyway, and a regional source of hydropower are all important aspects of the operation of this small basin. The U. S. Bureau of Reclamation has played a central role in conducting modeling studies to serve multiple management processes. A long term planning model developed using WRIMS {Water Resources Integrated Modeling System) has been used by a group of diverse stakeholders to define an accepted operation for Reclamation's Klamath Project. A seasonal operations projection tool developed with Excel demonstrates to basin stakeholders the
probability of achieving various operational goals given forecasted hydrologic inputs. The common use of these freely available modeling tools has helped to foster a better understanding of basin hydrology and tradeoffs among flow, storage, and delivery, and was vital to the development of an accepted water operations plan.
Included in
Civil Engineering Commons, Data Storage Systems Commons, Environmental Engineering Commons, Hydraulic Engineering Commons, Other Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons
Planning Modeling in the Klamath River Basin - UsefuI Tools for Stakeholders
Session H2: Water Resources Management and Planning - Modeling and Software for Improving Dcisions and Engaging Stakeholders
The Klamath River Basin, straddling the borders of Oregon and California, has been the scene of both substantial controversy and cooperation during the last twenty years over the analysis of water management solutions to address a broad range of interests. Threatened and endangered fish, trust obligations to four Native American tribes, the viability of irrigated agriculture, wildlife refuges on the Pacific Flyway, and a regional source of hydropower are all important aspects of the operation of this small basin. The U. S. Bureau of Reclamation has played a central role in conducting modeling studies to serve multiple management processes. A long term planning model developed using WRIMS {Water Resources Integrated Modeling System) has been used by a group of diverse stakeholders to define an accepted operation for Reclamation's Klamath Project. A seasonal operations projection tool developed with Excel demonstrates to basin stakeholders the
probability of achieving various operational goals given forecasted hydrologic inputs. The common use of these freely available modeling tools has helped to foster a better understanding of basin hydrology and tradeoffs among flow, storage, and delivery, and was vital to the development of an accepted water operations plan.
