CRDSS_Task1_15-3_EvaluationOfBESTSM

• Title: CRDSS Task 1.15-3 - Water Rights Planning Model - Evaluation of Boyle Engineering Stream Simulation Model ‎(BESTSM)‎
• Description: The purpose of this task memorandum is to generally describe the computer model BESTSM and to address its suitability for incorporation into the CRDSS.
• 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.

Level Two Decision Criteria
The BESTSM model was evaluated against the Level Two decision criteria. Many of these
criteria are subjective by nature, and the review was primarily intended to identify any other
attributes and /or deficiencies that were not identified in the overall review and the Level One
decision process. No additional concerns were identified, other than the concerns noted herein.
Summary of Notable Attributes and Deficiencies
Attributes
• Easy to understand solution methodology.
• Internal module to compute virgin flows.
• Accommodation of multiple accounts /ownerships within a reservoir.
• Provisions for exchanges from reservoir to direct flow node.
• Flexible return flow procedures.
• Provisions for in- stream flow requirements.
• Flexible for addition of new water rights, including conditional rights.
Deficiencies
• Green Mountain version of BESTSM is out of date and is not maintained or supported by
its original developer.
• There is no documentation of the Green Mountain version to assist in understanding the
fundamental logic and the nature of the variables in the code. No documentation is
available regarding setting up the input file structure.
• Portions of the source code relating to reservoir operations are specifically written for
applications on the Blue River and may not be readily converted for generic applications in
the CRDSS.
• Specific reservoir operations may require the development of new source code and /or
subroutines and accordingly, a thorough understanding of how that subroutine would
interact with the remainder of the source code logic. This process is hampered by the lack
of documentation.
• The model can only operate exchanges from a reservoir source to a direct flow diversion.
• Concerns exist related to a possible error when modeling return flows accruing to the
stream in the same time -step because of the inability to iterate.
• Lacking documentation and support, the use of BESTSM would require a higher level of
effort by the CRDSS Project Team to fully understand the fundamental solution logic to
the point of being readily capable of making the changes /modifications that would be
necessary to address specific issues of the CRDSS.
3.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The available BESTSM model (Green Mountain version) is not recommended as the core water rights
planning model for the CRDSS. The model is found to be unacceptable for the CRDSS because: (a)
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