Optimal Reservoir Operation Based on Conjunctive Use of Surface Water and Groundwater Using Neuro-Fuzzy Systems

Reservoir operation cannot be carried out without due heed to surface water and groundwater resources, since neglecting either will have irreversible consequences. Optimal operation of the Zayandehrood Dam which supplies water into the Zayandehrood River basin in the central plateau of Iran is a case in point which warrants due consideration paid to both dam operation and the climate conditions in the region suffering from a history of successive droughts. The main objective of the present research is to develop operation rules for the Zayandehrood reservoir through a combined perspective of both surface and ground water resources using the fuzzy inference system, and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system. The objective is to determine the share of the Zayandehrood reservoir in meeting downstream water demands. For this purpose, the water shortage and the dramatic groundwater drawdown in the Zayandehrood River basin faced with in recent years have been studied in an attempt to develop operation models capable of controlling groundwater drawdown. The models indicate that not only can groundwater drawdown be controlled, but that it is also possible to establish a greater sustainability. Different operation models have been compared in terms of their operation criteria. Results show that the ANFIS model composed of optimal data enjoys a higher sustainability compared to others. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013