Article ID: | iaor2005328 |
Country: | United States |
Volume: | 129 |
Issue: | 3 |
Start Page Number: | 155 |
End Page Number: | 164 |
Publication Date: | May 2003 |
Journal: | Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management |
Authors: | Lund J.R., Draper A.J., Jenkins M.W., Kirby K.W., Howitt R.E. |
Keywords: | engineering |
An economic-engineering optimization model of California's major water supply system is presented. The model's development, calibration, limitations, and results are reviewed. The major methodological conclusions are that large-scale water resources optimization models driven by economic objective functions are both possible and practical; deterministic models are useful despite their limitations; and data management, reconciliation, and documentation are important benefits of large-scale system modeling. Specific results for California indicate a great potential for water markets and conjunctive use to improve economic performance and significant economic value for expanding some conveyance facilities. Overall, economic-engineering optimization (even if deterministic) can suggest a variety of promising approaches for managing large systems. These approaches can then be refined and tested using more detailed simulation models. The process of developing large-scale models also motivates the systematic and integrated treatment of surface water, groundwater, facility, and water demand data, and identification of particularly important data problems, something of long-term value for all types of water resources analysis.