| Recent advances in computer technology and water supply modeling, and improvements in our ability to develop user-friendly graphical model interfaces have led to significant growth in the development and application of decision support systems DSSs. This study provides an example of the development of a DSS to analyze drought management policies. In the Truckee Meadows region, located in Washoe County, Nevada, multi-year droughts are not uncommon with past recorded droughts lasting up to eight years. This study develops a DSS that uses a network flow model in a linear programming framework to analyze drought management policies for multiple 10 year planning horizons. The DSS optimizes monthly water supply operation plans for each planning period using historic and simulated river flows. Policies analyzed in this study include; maximum level of water commitment, effects on operation from watering restrictions, using simulated river flow data, and changes in institutional rules to improve system reliability. This study shows how using a DSS developed in a familiar spreadsheet software can be used to improve multi-year water supply planning and operations in multi-year droughts. |
