We will investigate methods to assess the effects of climate change on reservoir sedimentation, which affects the life expectancy of a reservoir. Such impacts, in conjunction with climate change impacts on reservoir inflow patterns, could affect future operations and water delivery reliability. This research will parallel a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) study to provide a period change climate and hydrologic analysis in selected study basins. Reclamation reservoir selections are (a) Bighorn Lake in Montana and Wyoming and (b) Elephant Butte Reservoir in New Mexico. USACE reservoir selections are (a) Garrison Reservoir in North Dakota and (b) Cochiti Reservoir in New Mexico.
Both research projects will apply existing water operations models to assess how projected hydrology and reservoir sedimentation would impact water delivery reliability under otherwise existing operating conditions.
