Water Use Analysis Model (WUAM) Demonstration

Social Science Series No. 28

Abstract

This is a report on a study intended to demonstrate the application of Environment Canada's Water Use Analysis Model (WUAM) on the Saskatchewan River basin. It focuses on the application aspects of the model (data requirements and preparation, scenario development, and model runs) and on the analysis of the results.

The water resources impact of four alternative development scenarios were investigated. The scenarios, all assumed to correspond to the year 2000, covered two levels of future water use in Alberta and two levels of irrigation development in Saskatchewan. Only the irrigated area in Saskatchewan was varied; all other irrigation parameters were assumed to remain constant. The system was also simulated under the extreme condition of Alberta's using 50% of the monthly natural streamflow.

The primary issues were emphasized in the analysis of WUAM's simulation results: irrigation water use in Saskatchewan and the impacts of developments in Alberta and in Saskatchewan on Lake Diefenbaker's recreational value and instream uses downstream. Irrigation water uses (by irrigation, evaporation, and diversion) were analyzed for the various scenarios and their frequencies of occurrence were presented.

The study showed that lake levels required for recreational uses will be satisfied only 21% to 39% of the time, depending on the scenario. Minumum flows required for instream uses below the Gardiner dam will always be satisfied.

This report presents only one application of WUAM and illustrates the advantages of the model in river basin planning studies. It does not cover the complete range of the model's capabilities.

The full version of this report is available in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. 

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If the format is not accessible to you, print copies can be requested from:

Sustainable Water Management
Environmental Stewardship Branch
Environment Canada
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0H3
Fax: (819) 934-5101 or
H2O@ec.gc.ca