Water Rights Modeling and Analysis

Abstract

A generalized model for simulation of surface water management under a prior appropriation water rights system was recently developed and applied to a major river basin in Texas. The water rights analysis model provides capabilities for evaluating institutional as well as hydrologic water availability. The case study provides a perspective on key considerations in water rights modeling and analysis. A river basin should be viewed as an integrated system. Water available to a particular water management entity depends upon the impacts of other water users in the basin. Increases in reservoir yield achieved by system operations should be properly reflected in water rights. Assigning priorities by appropriation date versus type of use and assigning priorities to refilling storage capacity are two other issues which are illustrative of the complexities of administering and modeling water rights.