Stochastic Optimization of Conjunctive Use in Pakistan

by Christine A. Shoemaker, Cornell Univ, United States,
Carolyn J. Logan, Cornell Univ, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Optimizing the Resources for Water Management

Abstract:

This paper describes an optimization analysis of conjunctive use of ground and surface water that incorporates stochastic inflows and regional variations in groundwater quality and availability. The objective function includes the effects of salinity, water deficits and/or waterlogging on expected crop production as well as income from the sale of water and hydroelectric power. The model is applied to a very large irrigation system in the Indus Plains in Pakistan, which has saline and fresh groundwater regions and a random surface water inflow. The results for the Indus Plains indicate that crop losses can be substantially reduced by replacing the historical policy, which involves constant pumping rates, with a flexible policy that modifies groundwater pumping and surface water allocations among regions in response to fluctuations in the surface water supply.

Subject Headings: Hydro power | Surface water | Stochastic processes | Salt water | Groundwater quality | Water resources | Inflow | Pakistan | Asia

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