Optimization Techniques for Instream Flow Allocations

The issue of instream flow maintenance is an aspect of environmental quality which is now required as part of the project planning process of water resources development. A mathematical programming methodology is developed which provides an analysis technique for multipurpose reservoirs for both biological instream flow needs (IFN) and more traditional water project objectives such as water yield, flood control or economic efficiency. The constrained optimization approach used combines an implicitly stochastic modeling technique for surface reservoirs known as the linear decision rule (LDR) with an objective function representing the instream value of reservoir releases to downstream fisheries. Operating policies for a reservoir are defined in a set of LDR chance constraints which enforce the satisfaction, at specified reliabilities, of water use goals other than those required to meet biological IFN. Values for instream flows which are maximized are based on the median committed releases produced from the LDR operating policy.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Environmental Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Sale, Michael John

• Environmental Sciences

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8114473

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/66894