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Description:
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The allocation of water resources is typically accomplished within the framework of
water allocation systems (WAS ) . In general , a WAS sets priorities , applies rules , and
organizes responses to a range of water allocation scenarios . This research presents a
comprehensive study of water allocation strategies and provides a conceptual framework of
principles and guidelines for designing , assessing , implementing and supporting WAS . The
voluminous compilation of international treaties and conventions , interstate compacts ,
intrastate administrative documentation , and scientific /engineering literature was researched
in order to identify different water allocation strategies and mechanisms . From this analysis
eight fundamental areas of WAS were identified : water rights , determination of water
allotment , administrative systems , reservoir storage considerations , system reliability ,
multiple uses , instream flow requirements , and drought management . The systematic
scrutiny of these eight areas at the international , interstate , and intrastate levels defined the
conceptual framework for assessing WAS . The Texas experience with regard to its Water
Availability Modeling system is also reviewed with particular emphasis on the application of
the Water Rights Analysis Package (WRAP ) model in supporting water allocation efforts .
The Lower Rio Grande WAS was used as a case study to demonstrate how the principles
presented in the conceptual framework can be used to assess water allocation issues and
identify alternative strategies . Three WRAP simulation studies utilizing several components
of the conceptual framework were performed in order to assess the Lower Rio Grande WAS .
The simulations focused on three of the major water allocation issues of the Texas Rio
Grande : reallocation among uses , instream flow requirements , and drought management .
The simulations showed several deficiencies in the Lower Rio Grande WAS , particularly
regarding the size of the domestic -municipal -industrial (DMI ) reserve and its effect on the
reliability of other uses . The simulation results suggest that water from the DMI can be liberated to be used by irrigators and to support environmental flows without affecting the
reliability to municipal users . Several strategies were proposed that can potentially improve
the overall efficiency of the system . Nonetheless , implementing new strategies and water
allocation policies in the Lower Rio Grande WAS would require considerable changes in
regulation policies . |