Multi-objective Reservoir Operation with E-WAS Framework: A Case Study of the Fuhe River Basin, China

With rapid urbanization, there will be more conflict between human systems and the riverine ecological system, and therefore, multi-objective operations, practices and research must involve the water resources allocation of entire river basins with new modeling tools. In this study, based on a water resource allocation and simulation model (WAS), we establish an ecological flow-oriented water resource allocation and simulation framework (E-WAS) for multi-objective reservoir operation. With new water balance equations for virtual reservoirs and ecological units, the E-WAS can simulate the ecological replenishment process in a river basin and can provide a recommended water resources allocation scheme that considers multiple objects, such as human water use and ecological water in river. The E-WAS was applied in the Fuhe River Basin, China. Ecological units and water supply nodes are considered in the model. A water sources allocation scheme that used water from reservoirs was selected. This scheme significantly increased the satisfactory degree of ecological water demand and human water use. The E-WAS framework is similar to model plug-ins but helps to avoid the large workload that is required for model redevelopment and can expand the functions of models quickly.