Does More Storage Give California More Water?

Journal Article · 23 April 2019 · Journal of the American Water Resources Association

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12745 · OSTI ID:1508445

Nover, D. M. ^[1]; Dogan, M. S.  ^[2]; Ragatz, R. ^[2]; Booth, L. ^[1]; Medellín‐Azuara, J.  ^[1]; Lund, J. R.  ^[2]; Viers, J. H.  ^[1]

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1. School of Engineering University of California Merced Merced California USA
2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of California Davis Davis California USA

Abstract Increasing reservoir storage is commonly proposed to mitigate increasing water demand and provide drought reserves, especially in semiarid regions such as California. This paper examines the value of expanding surface reservoir capacity in California using hydroeconomic modeling for historical conditions, a future warm‐dry climate, and California's recently adopted policy to end groundwater overdraft. Results show expanding surface storage capacity rarely provides sizable economic value in most of California. On average, expanding facilities north of California's Delta provides some benefit in 92% of 82 years modeled under historical conditions and in 61% of years modeled in a warm‐dry climate. South of California's Delta, expanding storage capacity provides no benefits in 14% of years modeled under historical conditions and 99% of years modeled with a warm‐dry climate. Results vary across facilities between and within regions. The limited benefit of surface storage capacity expansion to statewide water supply should be considered in planning California's water infrastructure.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 1508445
• Journal Information: Journal of the American Water Resources Association, Journal Name: Journal of the American Water Resources Association Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 55; ISSN 1093-474X
• Publisher: Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English