Frameworks for amending reservoir water management

Lake and Reservoir Management
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Abstract

Managing water storage and withdrawals in many reservoirs requires establishing seasonal targets for water levels (i.e., rule curves) that are influenced by regional precipitation and diverse water demands. Rule curves are established as an attempt to balance various water needs such as flood control, irrigation, and environmental benefits such as fish and wildlife management. The processes and challenges associated with amending rule curves to balance multiuse needs are complicated and mostly unfamiliar to non-US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) natural resource managers and to the public. To inform natural resource managers and the public we describe the policies and process involved in amending rule curves in USACE reservoirs, including 3 frameworks: a general investigation, a continuing authority program, and the water control plan. Our review suggests that water management in reservoirs can be amended, but generally a multitude of constraints and competing demands must be addressed before such a change can be realized.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Frameworks for amending reservoir water management
Series title Lake and Reservoir Management
DOI 10.1080/10402381.2013.829893
Volume 29
Issue 3
Year Published 2013
Language English
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Atlanta
Description 8 p.
First page 194
Last page 201
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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