| The last century of overuse of water supplies in the Walker River Basin caused a rapid decline in volume and a corresponding increase of total dissolved solids in Walker Lake. The current level of salinity threatens the survival of the Lahontan cutthroat trout. Several efforts are underway to analyze the situation and develop alternative management strategies that will support a sustainable ecosystem.; To assist the Department of Interior in their effort to analyze alternatives for an Environmental Impact Statement on the Walker River Basin, an object-oriented systems model of the watershed was developed. The model integrates aspects of the hydrology, water quality, and ecology. Integrating the regional economics is in progress. Several proposed alternatives are included in a user-friendly environment. The model is a tool for managers and stakeholders to test assumptions about the effectiveness of alternatives, as well as to simulate a combination of management strategies. |
