Multiobjective Zone TP Reduction Analyses for an Off-Stream Reservoir

Abstract

Multiobjective linear programming (MOLP) models are developed to evaluate total phosphorus (TP) load reduction strategies for an off-stream reservoir. Cost, water quality, and equity are the three major objectives considered. Watershed-based, subwatershed-based, and equal-transport-path-length-based strategies are the three zone control strategies analyzed and compared. The agricultural nonpoint-source pollution (AGNSP) model is used to simulate the non–point-source pollution loads on the reservoir. A twostep modeling procedure is applied to verify sediment mass balance and water quality of storm runoff. MOLP models are established based on the simulation results for the three control strategies and are solved using the ADBASE package to generate the noninferior solution sets of the models. The subwatershed-based control strategy is observed to be the most cost-effective one based on results obtained for TP concentration between 13 and 20 ppb. With respect to equity, however, the watershed-based control strategy is superior to the others. The proposed multiobjective analyses are intended to improve the comparison and evaluation of nonpoint source pollution control strategies.