Location
UMass Amherst
Start Date
27-6-2011 10:20 AM
End Date
27-6-2011 10:40 AM
Description
Reservoir development on the Connecticut River Basin has altered the natural hydrograph and detrimentally affected the region's aquatic ecosystems that thrive on natural streamflow variability. This paper presents the use of computer simulation and optimization models to develop alternative reservoir management options and to evaluate the impacts of climate change and climate variability. A primary goal of the study, funded by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Nature Conservancy, is to examine ways in which flows in the river and its tributaries can be returned to a more natural regime without negatively impacting other user users. This paper begins by introducing the problems faced in the basin. It then describes a number of stakeholder engagement efforts that were used. Next, the paper describers the decision support tools that were developed. The primary institutions that are engaged in this process are also described. Finally, the paper describes the results of the study to date and future research is described.
Session C1- Developing an optimization model for reservoir operation on the Connecticut River explicitly including fish flows
UMass Amherst
Reservoir development on the Connecticut River Basin has altered the natural hydrograph and detrimentally affected the region's aquatic ecosystems that thrive on natural streamflow variability. This paper presents the use of computer simulation and optimization models to develop alternative reservoir management options and to evaluate the impacts of climate change and climate variability. A primary goal of the study, funded by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Nature Conservancy, is to examine ways in which flows in the river and its tributaries can be returned to a more natural regime without negatively impacting other user users. This paper begins by introducing the problems faced in the basin. It then describes a number of stakeholder engagement efforts that were used. Next, the paper describers the decision support tools that were developed. The primary institutions that are engaged in this process are also described. Finally, the paper describes the results of the study to date and future research is described.
Comments
Richard Palmer is currently Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He was previously a faculty member in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Washington form 1979-2008. His primary areas of research include the application of structured planning processes to water resource systems, the study of the impacts of climate change on water resources, and the application of shared vision models to improve the outcome of water resources conflicts. He has been involved in the modeling of water resources systems since 1976. He has published over 100 peer reviewed papers and conference proceedings. He has received the Julian Hinds Award and the Huber Prize from the American Society of Civil Engineers.