Application of an Optimization Model for the Sustainable Water Resource Management of River Basins

Abstract

An optimization model for the sustainable water resource management that maximizes sustainable net economic benefit over a long-term planning horizon is applied to the Prescott Active Management Area (Prescott AMA), a management area in north-central Arizona experiencing rapid population growth and limited water resources. Population growth in the Prescott AMA has stressed available water resources and a plan has been proposed to pump and transport ground-water from a remote location. Studies have suggested that pumping water at the proposed location will impact flows on the Verde River. Four scenarios were evaluated for purposes of validating the developed model, to gage the model viability, and to provide examples of potential application. This paper serves to illustrate the modeling capabilities available in the optimization model.