Multiobjective Approaches to River Basin Planning

Abstract

The impact of alternative water development strategies upon an urbanized area in the semi‐arid Southwest is examined within a multiobjective context. The main stem of the Santa Cruz River Basin is taken as a case study. The conflicting nature of wateraelated issues necessitates a broader approach to river basin planning than the frequently used single‐objective context in which each objective, such as flood protection, ground‐water recharges, and water supply, is considered in isolation of the other objectives. In reformulating the problem, a multiobjective approach is taken. Solutions are obtained from four multiobjective techniques briefly described and applicable to the selection among discrete alternatives: ELECTRE, compromise programming, cooperative game theory, and multiattribute utility theory. Review and comparison of these solutions as well as sensitivity analysis on each is provided. The difference between results may be explained by the manner in which the techniques use discordance. All four techniques appear to be robust to moderate parameter changes.