Incorporation of system operation strategies in water rights modeling and analysis

Abstract

of the state of Texas. Effective management of this stochastic resource requires that the availability of water for various uses be estimated to a high degree of confidence. The availability of water is constrained by a variety of hydrologic, physical, environmental, and institutional factors. The adoption of the doctrine of prior appropriation by the state of Texas and the administration of the associated system of water rights places a significant institutional constraint upon the availability of water in the state. This thesis describes a generalized river basin simulation model (TAMUWRAP) capable of analyzing the hydrologic and institutional availability of water to specific users under a prior appropriative system of water rights. The model analyzes the availability of water to individual water rights considering system reservoir operations, return flows, hydroelectric power generation, negative incremental inflows between basin locations, and buffer zone operations. The model can also determine the availability of water to groups of water rights with multiple dates of priority and storage in multiple reservoirs. A case study applying TAMUWRAP to the Brazos River Basin in Texas is presented. The effects of various model options upon simulation results are demonstrated, concentrating on the system of reservoirs and water right permits owned by the Brazos River Authority. The effects of the incorporation of a system reservoir operating permit into the Texas water rights permit structure is investigated. Study results indicate that the Bmws River Authority benefits from conjunctive operation of its system of reservoir and might be able to increase its annual permitted diversion amount with a system permit.