PUB00104

• Year: 1995
• Title: Exploring Ways of Increasing the Use of South Platte Water - Information Series 41
• Author: John W. Labadie & John M. Shafer
• Description: Technology described here for evaluating options in management of reservoir-stream water supply systems was developed in the water research program of the CWRRI.
• Publications - Doc Type: Tech Report

Figure 1 shows a portion of the calibration results
for the model after it was tully developed. It shows that
this computer-simulation model matched historical
gaged records of river tlow very closely since results
tor other years used in the calibration turned out even
better than this one.
To test its utility, this model was applied to the
Cache La Poudre River Basin. Specific teatures of the
upper basin that were used in this study are shown by
diagram in Figure 2. Factors that must be accounted
for in the model include:

. the physical complexity at Interrelated water
storage, transport, distribution and reuse;

. all possible combinations of reservoir
release policies that could physically satisfy
the tinal demand but are subject to

. constraints on system operation due to
water rights; and
. constraints on system operation due to
locations of final demand.

The model is reliable in accounting for all these
variables.

Worsler
RI!S,

NOflh
Poudre
Conol

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
Peterson
Res.

Cache
La POudre R;ver
Sou1h Fork Cache
La Poudle Ri'Ve.

MODEL APPLICATIONS

Application of the model was tested on two real
water supply management cases where changes In
system operation might potentially increase utiliza-
tion and benefits of the limited water available to the
basin. In the first case, options for managing releases
from high-country storage reservoirs were explored.
Increasing pUblic pressure tor high-country recrea-
tion opportunities as well as for maintenance of
instream recreational values make this a practical
question to examine.
The second case was not as hypothetical as the
first case. It involves the need for cooling water
supply to the Rawhide Power Plant being constructed
north of Fort Collins, Colo., by the Platte River Power
Authority (PRPA). The problem in this case was to test
potential options for getting water delivered to the site
wifhout negative impact on other water-right owners.

Enhancing Recreational Potential of Reservoirs

High-country storage reservoirs oHen are closed \0
the public or are so severely drawn down dUring

Pork
Creek
Res.

N
t

Spilzer
Res.

Indian
Creek
Res.

N,P.#4

np.
#'0

N.P.#6

Hinkle~
L.ake

Figure 2. Schematic of the Greeley-North Poudre System.

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