Development of a SWAT Hydropower Operation Routine and Its Application to Assessing Hydrological Alterations in the Mekong

摘要: Reservoir operations and climate change can alter natural river flow regimes. To assess impacts of hydropower on downstream flows energy generation, an integrated catchment hydrological model is needed. The widely used Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) ideal for hydrology, but provides only limited reservoir operation functions. A routine (HydROR) was thus developed SWAT to analyze complex systems under different policies. Hydrologic Engineering Center’s System Simulation (HEC-ResSim) model, a well-established simulation indirectly evaluate functionality the HydROR. comparison between HydROR HEC-ResSim range rule curves resulted in R2 values exceeding 0.99. then applied alterations due combined 38 dams 3S basin Mekong River. Hydropower production varied from −1.6% 2.3%, depending general circulation chosen. Changing policy maximizing maintaining ecological 13%. calculation alteration indices at outlet revealed that over 113% outflow regime occurred operations. Furthermore, seasonal extreme water conditions changed by 154% 104%, respectively. Alterations were also significant within basin, and, as expected, larger high-head small-river reservoirs. These will adversely affect dynamics, particular, habitat availability. proved be valuable addition analyses policies scenarios.