Stakeholder Interaction Methods to Present Results of the Truckee-Carson Models

Abstract

A modeling and decision support system is currently being developed for the Truckee and Carson River Basins to produce regulated streamflow forecasts, maintain an accounting of water storage categories, and implement proposed changes to basin operating policy. The system will be used to assist basin stakeholders with the coordination of reservoir operations, and is described in detail in related papers presented at this conference. Some of the key elements to the system are the tools used to present the model results to water right owners and stakeholders in the basins. A variety of presentation and communication tools are currently being used to disseminate model results for use by these stakeholders at monthly meetings during the runoff season. These tools are evolving into more innovative communication tools that will assist with the increasingly complicated reservoir operations that will exist in the future under a proposed new basin operating policy. This paper will focus on the communication and presentation tools currently used with the model results to help manage and coordinate operations, and will show some of the tools in development for future use with new basin policy. Experimental tools involving risk and probability associated with model results will be presented, as well as a discussion of the benefits and problems associated with direct model use by stakeholders.