| The problem of increasing water supply yields of a reservoir/river system, considering water rights and salinity, was studied. The methodology used for evaluating the water supply capabilities of a reservoir/river system is a generalized simulation modeling procedure that could be used in the study of any river basin. The modeling approach was applied to the case study of the Brazos River Basin to test and validate the simulation model.; The WRAPSALT program, developed and used in this research, is a generalized computer model that simulates reservoir/river system operations based on a priority date algorithm for the allocation of water resources among numerous water users, incorporating water salinity constraints for various types of water use. The results provided by WRAPSALT can be summarized and organized by using TABLES, which is a post-processor program for generating input and output data summary tables.; Eighty-three simulation runs, representing various water management scenarios of the reservoir/river system, were included in the simulation study of the Brazos River Basin. The base run (Run # 1) included the active water rights in the Brazos River Basin, as of May 1993, without water salinity constraints for the different water uses included in the simulation model. The overall volume reliabilities of the river basin and the Brazos River Authority (BRA) water rights, are greater than 90% when salinity constraints are not considered in the simulation of the reservoir/river system. If salinity constraints are considered, these reliabilities decrease considerably.; Yield versus reliability relationships were developed. Firm yields for the BRA system diversion were estimated with and without the excess flows permit. If a salinity constraint of 500 mg/l of TDS is included, the firm yield is reduced to zero. The incorporation of salinity constraints into the simulation of the reservoir/river system has a great impact on the reliabilities and yields of the system.; Hydropower is generated only by unappropriated flows and water supply releases for downstream senior water rights. If salinity constraints are not included, the reliability of the hydropower right is low. If salinity constraints are included, the reliability of the hydropower right increases.; The incorporation of the proposed salt control dams into the simulation of the reservoir/river system increases the reliability of the BRA system diversion located in the lower section of the river basin. |
