Abstract
A water availability modeling (WAM) system consisting of the Water Rights Analysis Package (WRAP) and input datasets for all Texas river basins has been used for statewide, regional, and operational planning and water allocation regulatory purposes for many years. The modeling system was recently expanded to support integration of environmental flow requirements in comprehensive water management. A strategy is presented in this paper for combining the WRAP-WAM modeling system with data management and statistical analysis tools to expand capabilities for analyzing stream flow alterations and the effects on flows of environmental flow standards. A Trinity River Basin case study demonstrates the utility of the modeling and analysis strategy in addressing relevant issues in the river systems of Texas and elsewhere. Dams and reservoirs constructed on the Trinity River and tributaries supply water for the Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston metropolitan areas, which are among the most rapidly growing large metro areas in the United States. Ecologically relevant statistical analyses of observed flows presented in this paper are designed to quantify flow alterations. Analyses of simulated flows representing natural and specified conditions of development are performed to assess the impacts of both water resources development and the establishment of environmental flow standards.
Highlights
Supplying water, electrical energy and other needs of growing populations and economies while preserving the vitality of riverine ecosystems is a global challenge
This paper presents Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration (IHA) statistical analyses of observed flows of the Trinity River recorded at four gauges and simulated daily flows derived from the Trinity water availability modeling (WAM) simulation model
New water rights permit applicants or amendments to existing permits are subject to the Senate Bill 3 (SB3) environmental flow standards (EFS)
Summary
Electrical energy and other needs of growing populations and economies while preserving the vitality of riverine ecosystems is a global challenge. The objective of the research reported in this paper is to improve capabilities for compiling statistical information characterizing stream flows to support integration of environmental flow needs in water management and associated water availability modeling. The paper presents research that (1) quantifies long term alterations in flow characteristics of the Trinity River and tributaries that have occurred over the past 100 y due to population growth and water resources development; (2) analyzes the effects of instream flow standards established pursuant to a statewide program to protect environmental resources; and (3) demonstrates modeling and analysis capabilities that are effective in this investigation and similar studies in other river basins. The research included compilation, synthesis and analysis of period-of-record daily observed flows and 1940–2018 daily simulated naturalized, regulated and unappropriated flows at relevant sites. The unappropriated flow at a site in a day of the simulation may be less than the regulated flow due to requirements for instream flow needs at that or downstream locations or senior downstream diversion or storage rights
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