Engineering Commons^™

Adapting Colorado River Basin Depletions To Available Water To Live Within Our Means, Jian Wang, David E. Rosenberg

Publications

The Colorado River’s two largest reservoirs are drawing down because releases exceed inflows and releases adapt to reservoir elevations instead of elevation and inflow triggers. To help slow reservoir drawdown and sustain target elevations, we introduced a new rule that adapted basin depletions to available water. We simulated inflow-based operations and validated existing operations in a new open-source exploratory model for the Colorado River Basin. We developed the exploratory model to more easily adapt Upper and Lower Basin depletions to available water, reduce run time, and lower costs to use compared to the proprietary RiverWare Colorado River Simulation System (CRSS) …

Lessons From Real-Time, Online Collaborative Modeling To Discuss More Adaptive Reservoir Operations, David E. Rosenberg

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

This work had the purpose to model and discuss in real-time more adaptive Colorado River reservoir operations with manager and experts. I created real-time, online collaborative modeling environments by using an interactive web spreadsheet (Google Sheet) during video conference sessions. 26 Colorado River managers and experts participated. Within each session, up to 6 people from the same stakeholder group simultaneously consumed, saved, and traded water in six basin water accounts, protected reservoirs, and sustained endangered, native fish of the Grand Canyon. The collaboration differed from prior studies that excluded stakeholders, extracted data from participants, had a lead modeler or facilitation …

Managing Lake Urmia, Iran For Diverse Restoration Objectives: Moving Beyond A Uniform Target Lake Level, Somayeh Sima, David E. Rosenberg, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh, Sarah E. Null, Karin M. Kettenring

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

There is widespread interest in restoring drying saline lakes. At Iran’s hypersaline Lake Urmia, managers have sought a uniform target lake level of 1274.1 m above sea level to lower salinity below 263 g L−1 and recover Artemia to sufficient densities to support flamingos. We suggest that addressing a broader range of objectives will allow more flexibility for managing the lake. We define eight restoration objectives to lower salinity, sustain Artemia and flamingo populations, separate islands from each other and the mainland, reduce lakebed dust, maintain commercially valuable ions, and improve recreational access from resort beaches. We use 40 years …

Restoring Lake Urmia: Moving Beyond A Uniform Lake Level (2-Page Summary), Somayeh Sima, Dory Rosenberg, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh, Sarah E. Null, Karin M. Kettenring

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

More than 5 million people live near Lake Urmia in northwestern Iran, one of the world's largest hypersaline lakes. Over the past two decades, the lake has lost 95% of its volume, lake level has dropped more than 7 m, and lake restoration has gained widespread interest. The government seeks a uniform "ecological" target lake level of 1274.1 m above sea level to lower salinity below 240 gL^-1 and recover brine shrimp (Artemia spp.) and flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus).

We have synthesized over 40 years of available data, defined 8 ecosystem services for human health, water quality, ecology, recreation, and …

Estimation Of Evapotranspiration And Energy Fluxes Using A Deep-Learning-Based High-Resolution Emissivity Model And The Two-Source Energy Balance Model With Suas Information, Alfonso F. Torres-Rua, Andres Ticlavilca, Mahyar Aboutalebi, Héctor Nieto, Maria Mar Alsina, Alex White, John H. Prueger, Joseph Alfieri, Lawrence Hipps, Lynn Mckee, William Kustas, Calvin Coopmans, Nick Dokoozlian

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Surface temperature is necessary for the estimation of energy fluxes and evapotranspiration from satellites and airborne data sources. For example, the Two-Source Energy Balance (TSEB) model uses thermal information to quantify canopy and soil temperatures as well as their respective energy balance components. While surface (also called kinematic) temperature is desirable for energy balance analysis, obtaining this temperature is not straightforward due to a lack of spatially estimated narrowband (sensor-specific) and broadband emissivities of vegetation and soil, further complicated by spectral characteristics of the UAV thermal camera. This study presents an effort to spatially model narrowband and broadband emissivities for …

Irrigania Game Activity - Ii, Kaveh Madani

All ECSTATIC Materials

Directed class activity for students to play the Irrigania Game by Seibert and Vis (2012). Students choose to irrigate fields each year (round) with rainwater, surface water, or groundwater to maximize profit. Six different games are described.

Game 1

• Objective: Maximize your individual rank (profit) in class

• Rules: 1) No communication between you and any other farmer, 2) Precipitation = Normal (P=1), 3) Number of years (rounds) = 15.

Game 2

• Objective: Maximize your individual rank (profit) in class
• Rules: 1) No communication constraints, 2) Precipitation = Normal (P=1), 3), Number of years (rounds) = 15.

Game 3

• Objective: Maximize …

Accuracy Of Residential Water Meters In Response To Short, Intermittent Flows, John R. Chadwick

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In this study, water meter accuracy in response to short, intermittent flows was tested. Burst flows have short durations (a few seconds or less), and occur at a variety of flow rates. For some types of meters, it is difficult to accurately measure short, intermittent flow rates. Depending on the meter type, an intermittent flow can result in either under-registering or over-registering of the actual throughput.

During the testing for this research, water was passed through meters for various time combinations, test setups, and flows. It should be understood that realistically, a household setting will not see burst flows occurring …

Desorption Of Trace Inorganic Contaminants From Solids In Drinking Water Distribution Systems, Tiana W. Hammer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In order to maintain high quality safe drinking water, we need to understand what happens after the water has been cleaned at the drinking water plant and before it gets to the consumer’s house. Even if low concentrations of toxic contaminants enter the drinking water distribution system (DWDS) there is potential for contaminants to accumulate and be released by changes in flow or water conditions in high concentrations at the tap. For this study, we collected solid material from Park City, Utah that accumulated within the DWDS, along with a year of monthly monitoring of the DWDS. These solids were …

Impact Of Beaver Ponds On Stream Temperature And On Solar Radiation Penetration In Water, Camilla J. Snow

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Beaver dams alter streams characteristics in a way that promotes the diversity of aquatic species and provides a wide distribution of temperatures within beaver ponds. In order to quantify the spatial distribution of these temperatures, a process-based temperature model was developed for a beaver pond in Northern Utah. This model provided insight into the processes and characteristics that are driving these temperatures. Solar radiation is one of these processes that is often the primary driver of stream temperature. There is a need to develop methods to measure the fate of solar radiation within the water to better represent solar radiation …

The Effects Of Pipewall Offsets On Water Meter Accuracy, Jesse M. Pope

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Accurate flow measurement is essential for the management of any type of fluid system. In order for a meter to accurately measure the flow, some installation requirements must be met. These installation requirements are meant to produce a condition where there are limited flow disturbances as the fluid enters the meter. If flow disturbances do occur, the meter may produce inaccurate measurements.

This research investigated the effect on accuracy that different types of 12-inch flow meters have as a result of being installed in pipelines of differing inside diameter. The types of meters chosen for this research were the portable …

Hydraulic Modeling: Pipe Network Analysis, Trevor T. Datwyler

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Water modeling is becoming an increasingly important part of hydraulic engineering. One application of hydraulic modeling is pipe network analysis. Using programmed algorithms to repeatedly solve continuity and energy equations, computer software can greatly reduce the amount of time required to analyze a closed conduit system. Such hydraulic models can become a valuable tool for cities to maintain their water systems and plan for future growth. The Utah Division of Drinking Water regulations require cities to maintain hydraulic models of their culinary water systems, and before additional connections can be made to the water system, a licensed professional engineer must …

Heterogeneous Water And Energy End-Uses And Implications For Residential Water And Energy Conservation And Management, Adel M. Abdallah

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Indoor water-use consumes energy to heat hot water. Indoor water- and energy-use vary significantly among households due to variable household water-use behaviors and varying ages and efficiencies of water appliances. Also, the energy consumed to heat water varies among households and depends on water heater efficiency, heater thermostat setup, percentage of hot water in the final used water, and the cold water intake temperature. This research considers behavioral and technological variability in household water-and-energy-use to better understand water and energy linkages and help utilities target water and energy conservation actions to customer and appliances within their homes that the most …

Estimating And Verifying Household Potential To Conserve Water, Francisco J. Suero, Peter W. Mayer, David E. Rosenberg

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Behavior and technological impacts on residential indoor water use and conservation efforts in the United States are identified. Preexisting detailed end-use data was collected before and after toilets, faucets, showerheads, and clothes washers were retrofitted in 96 owner-occupied, single-family households in Oakland, California; Seattle, Washington; and Tampa, Florida, between 2000 and 2003. Water volume, duration of use, and time of use were recorded and disaggregated by appliance for two weeks before and four weeks after appliances were retrofitted. For each appliance, observed differences in water use before and after retrofits are compared to water savings predicted by simple analytical, regression, …

Estimating And Verifying Household Potential To Conserve Water, Francisco J. Suero

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This thesis identifies impacts of behaviors and technology on residential indoor water use and conservation efforts. We use pre-existing detailed end-use data collected before and after toilets, faucets, showerheads, and clothes washers were retrofitted in 96 owner-occupied, single-family households in Oakland, California; Seattle, Washington; and Tampa, Florida between 2000 and 2003.

Water volume, duration of use, and time of use were recorded and disaggregated by appliance for two weeks before and four weeks after appliances were retrofitted. For each appliance, we compare observed differences in water use before and after retrofits to water savings predicted by analytical engineering, semi-analytical engineering, …

Metering Secondary Water In Residential Irrigation Systems, Gregory L. Richards

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The use of residential secondary or dual water systems for irrigation purposes is common in the western United States where water supplies are scarce. While the use of non-potable water in secondary systems has successfully curtailed demands on potable systems, experience has shown that overall water use actually increases with the introduction of a secondary supply because users commonly pay a fixed fee and have unlimited water use. While water metering and billing effectively reduce water use, there are two main obstacles to the widespread installation of meters in secondary systems.

The first obstacle is that standard residential water meters …

Optimization Model For National Water Master Planning: Design And Documentation, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Physical distribution system and Balancing and Allocation and Transfer modules descriptors.

Rockport Reservoir Final Environmental Assessment And Finding Of No Significant Impact Pro-06-004, Peter Crookston, U.S. Department Of The Interior, Bureau Of Reclamation

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

No abstract provided.

Potential Arkansas And White Rivers Water Available For Diversion To The Grand Prairie, W. Douglass Dixon, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

At the present time. the rate of groundwater use in the Grand Prairie region of Arkansas exceeds natural replenishment of the underlying aquifer. Most of the groundwater is used for agricultural production. [f current agricultural water needs of the region are to be satisfied under sustained yield conditions. supplemental surface water will be required. The objective of this study is to assess the viability of the Arkansas and White Rivers as sources of supplemental water for meeting water needs in excess of those which can be met with groundwater.

Evaluating Water Policy Options By Simulation, Ann W. Peralta, Richard C. Peralta, Keyvan Asghari

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Computer simulation models are used to predict the effects of three sample water policy decisions on selected conjunctive water use/sustained groundwater yield strategies for the Arkansas Grand Prairie. The three applications illustrate the facility of the target objective approach in providing an interface for legal, economic and engineering analysis. The approach is used to evaluate potential water management decisions at the judicial, legislative and water management district levels

Economic Feasibility Of On‑Farm Reservoirs For Irrigation Water, Robert N. Shulstad, Jayson K. Harper, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Water For The 21st Century, Will It Be There?, Richard C. Peralta, Ann W. Peralta, Leslie E. Mack

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

One of Arkansas' major water management goals is to provide adequate water for agriculture, the economic mainstay of the state. Effective water management requires inputs from engineering, economics, law, administration, and environmental concern, all in a matrix of public education, participation and communications. Groundwater levels in eastern Arkansas have been dropping for decades as irrigation for rice, other row crops, and fish farming have increased substantially. Additional surface water supplies are available from the adjacent rivers but there are competition, conflict of use, and jurisdictional problems involved. A critical path sequence chart was designed to include all the research steps …

Evaluation And Accessing Of Data For A Water Resources Simulator, Richard C. Peralta, Roberto Arce, Timothy Skergan

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

This report evaluates the availability of data needed to use a groundwater simulation model for real time conjunctive water management in the Arkansas Grand Prairie. It is assumed that the goal of such management is to protect existing groundwater rights by maintaining water levels so that wells do not go dry, even in time of drought.

Sufficient hydrogeologic data exists to use the simulation model to predict the effect of known pumping rates on groundwater levels. Developing an optimal set of "target" levels and annually managing pumping to achieve those levels requires additional data: fall groundwater levels, degree of connection …

Potential Use Of Arkansas River Water For Irrigation In The Plum Bayou Watershed, Richard C. Peralta, Paul W. Dutram

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Design And Operating Criteria For Rural Water Systems, James E. Garton, Gary L. Goodwin, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Rural homesites in the United States require the availability of high quality water. One means of meeting this need is with the rural water district, a system composed of tank storage and a pipe network serving a number of homes. The tanks are filled by pumping during periods of minimal water use and serve as the immediate water source for homes.

Optimum design requires consideration of not only immediate needs and economic factors but also the possibility of expansion at some future date. Accurate prediction of monthly usage rates is sometimes necessary to set contractural needs. Daily water use per …

Water As A Factor In Energy Resources Development, A. Bruce Bishop, Melvin D. Chambers, William O. Mace, David W. Mills

Reports

Water, in many cases, is a key factor in the development of energy resources in the western states. The total water supply available in the arid west is fixed; yet potential water uses in the region are growing continually. In fact, in many areas quantities of water desired to be put to beneficial use has already surpassed the limit of local supplies as indicated by filings for water rights. The availability of water, in adequate quantities and of suitable quality, is one of the essentials to the economic viability of some economic sectors in the states in the Colorado River …

Computer Simulation Of The Hydrologic And Salinity Flow Systems Within The Bear River Basin, Robert W. Hill, Eugene K. Israelsen, J. Paul Riley

Reports

Accompanying the increased use of water resources is an increases accumulation of chemical pollutants. Te prevent degradation of the water resources beyong useful limits, pollution inputs from additional uses must be quite accurately predicted prior to implementation of the new use. The model described in this report was formulated to provide the required predictive capability for the Bear River Basin. Modeling concepts of the hydrologic system are based upon the development of basin relationships describing the hydrologic processes which are linked together by the countinuity-of-mass principle. The salinity flow system is then linked to the hydrologic system based on the …

A Critical Analysis Of Water Rights And Institutional Factors And Their Effect On The Development Of Logan River, Frank W. Haws

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The physical setting of the Logan River Drainage Basin is first described with emphasis on the hydrologic and climatic factors that made the river an economic and social benefit.

The historical development of the river by man is then traced, and changes in water use patterns are pointed out. Methods used to administer water rights as water use patterns change is then described.

Legal controversies over water rights on the river are examined and methods of solving problems analyzed. A recent law suit between Logan City Corporation and the Logan River Water Users Association is examined in detail and the …

A Study Of The Flow Of Water Over Triangular Weirs And The Determination Of Coefficients Of Discharge For Small Heads, J. Milton Barrett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The development of artesian and pumped wells as a source of irrigation water has created the need for a measuring device which will be accurate for small discharges. The thin edged weir has been accepted as one of the most accurate and desirable measuring devices for this work. Three types of weirs are now commonly used: the Rectangular, the Cipolleti, and the Triangular Notch weir. Of these types the triangular notch is probably best suited for small discharges (under 3 second feet). The various formulae for discharge over 90% Triangular weirs have been accurately determined for heads over two tenths …