CRDSS_Task1_15-2_WaterRightsPlanningModelEvaluationCriteria

• Title: CRDSS Task 1.15-2 - Water Rights Planning Model - Model Evaluation Criteria
• Description: In order to select a suitable water rights planning model that will address the goals and objectives of the CRDSS, an objective methodology to evaluate model functionality and performance was developed.
• Decision Support - Doc Type: Task Memorandum
• Date: 5/10/1994
• DSS Category: Surface Water
• DSS: Colorado River
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Contract/PO #: C153658, C153727, C153752
• Grant Type: Non-Reimbursable
• Bill Number: SB92-87, HB93-1273, SB94-029, HB95-1155, SB96-153, HB97-008
• Prepared By: Riverside Technology inc.

CRDSS
TASK MEMORANDUM 1.15-2
Water Rights Planning Model
Model Evaluation Criteria
1.0 ISSUE
A number of river basin simulation models have been developed and applied for the general purpose
of water rights planning. Some of these models incorporate and provide features which are essential
for the proper and realistic simulation of water right priorities in large river basins, while some
models do not. Private companies have developed some of these models, and restrictive conditions
may be placed on the use of these models or they may not be available to the State for use in the
CRDSS. The CRDSS Project Feasibility Report prepared by Dames and Moore identified many of
the key issues and specific areas of concern that a water rights planning model should address. In
order to select a suitable water rights planning model that will address the goals and objectives of the
CRDSS, an objective methodology to evaluate model functionality and performance was developed.
2.0 DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS
An evaluation process involving two decision levels was developed to provide an efficient
methodology for the selection of a water rights planning model. The first decision level (Level One)
was structured to address the broader issues of the selection process including: availability of the
model source code, status of the model documentation, and fundamental features of functionality.
The model must satisfactorily meet these essential requirements to be considered for further
evaluation at the second decision level (Level Two). The second decision level involved a more
detailed and project-specific evaluation focusing on technical functionality and performance for
water rights planning issues contemplated for the CRDSS. At this level, the functionality features of
the models can be addressed specifically and objectively. However, there are other considerations,
such as user compatibility; model performance; model maintenance and support; and even the basic
solution algorithms used by the models that, by their very nature, are subjective evaluations.
Accordingly, the Level Two review is intended primarily to identify any other notable attributes
and/or constraints that were not identified in the Level One review and that would affect the
recommendation. The adopted decision criteria for the model selection were based on a review of
the established goals and objectives of the CRDSS as described in the Project Feasibility Report
(Dames and Moore) and the discussions at work sessions to develop the CRDSS scope of work.
The Level One decision criteria, intended for the broad-based evaluation, are summarized on the
attached Table 1. The more detailed evaluation criteria, related to specific functionality and
performance (Level Two decision criteria), are attached as Table 2.
3.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This two-level decision methodology provides an efficient, impartial process for selecting a water
rights planning model for incorporation into the CRDSS. The procedure ensures that the
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A275 05.10.94 1.15-2 Fosha, Hyre