Reservoir System Operating Policy-Case Study

A systematic study was made of the daily or short-run operating practices for an existing reservoir system. Official long-run operating rules were cast into algorithmic form using two system state vectors. Iterative adjustments were then made until the algorithm, called POLICY, yielded a reasonable simulation of a series of around 3,000 historic daily reservoir release decision sets. An algorithm like POLICY permits generating relevant statistical aggregations of short-run and long-run operating practices. This type of condensation of practical operating experience is seen as (1)A missing link in the search for unifying views of reservoir systems analysis; (2)an essential building block in the construction of practical on-line operation models as well as design analysis models for use by reservoir regulation staffs of water agencies; and (3)an aid to researchers concerned with technology transfer, i.e., those who seek to judge or increase the applicability of reservoir systems analysis work.