Incorporating salinity considerations in water availability modeling

Abstract

This research focused on expanding the capabilities of the Water Rights Analysis Package (WRAP) for incorporating salinity considerations in assessments of water availability. A simulation modeling approach was used to address this issue and a generalized simulation model called WRAP-SALT was developed. The Brazos River Basin served as a case study to test the simulation approach adopted by the model. The simulation model adopts a generalized modeling approach applicable to any river basin system. The model tracks salinity throughout a river basin system over different periods of time for alternative scenarios of water use, reservoir system operating policies, and salt control mechanisms. The model was applied to the Brazos River Basin considering different management scenarios and the results obtained were analyzed. Reservoir reliabilities were assessed under user imposed salinity constraints. It was observed that the water supply reliabilities decreased significantly if salinity constraints were considered. Salt control dams proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were also incorporated in the simulation of the river basin. It was observed that salinity in the main stem of the Brazos River was significantly reduced. However, no significant improvement was observed in water supply reliabilities.