Evaluating New Water Supply Projects in Eastern Utah
GoldSim was used to help justify the growing need for new water supply projects in the Uinta Basin of Eastern Utah. Water users in the basin were experiencing water shortages and significant municipal growth in cities and towns and a booming energy demand. The model was developed to determine the validity of new water supply scenarios, including new and enlarged reservoirs, trans-basin import water, on and off stream storage, and water right exchanges.
The model simulated future water supplies based on 90 years of streamflow records and allocated water rights throughout the basin using a prioritization process for more than 30 diverters along the river system. The graphical and modular aspects of GoldSim made it possible to construct a model that was simple to understand for a diverse stakeholder audience yet captured the complex water allocation process.
