B1: Water Resource Modelling - IMPC - Global Water Futures

This work package integrates the simulation of water management in major river basins in Canada through an advanced simulation modelling platform, using state-of-the-art water management modelling tools such as the MODSIM-DSS. We model water management, infrastructure and operations with a high level of detail, with climate and hydrology as exogenous inputs, and special attention given to the representation of water rights, demand priorities, human behavior, supply preferences, and transboundary water issues. In six years, we will integrate this modelling platform with natural systems models. The outcomes of other theme B working packages are integrated within this model framework for multi-criteria decision and scenario analysis (Theme C), including identifying vulnerability to future climate conditions and opportunities for building resilience into the water system.

Area of focus:

Pan-Canada

Model in use:

MODSIM
ABAD
WEAP
WRIMS
WATFLOOD
HEC-HMS

Year 1: Further develop MODSIM to enable direct economic market values of water for hydropower and irrigation and to accommodate environmental flow needs based on the presumptive standard method. Develop an irrigation water demand model that estimates irrigation demand for the historical and future conditions across the SaskRB.

Year 2-3: Complete additional water resources models in the Okanagan and Assiniboine/Red River/Winnipeg Basin system pending successful partnerships with collaborators in the area.

Progress so far:

(i) Detailed water management models are developed and tested in the Nelson drainage basin (MODSIM, WEAP and WRIMS). Initial work has been conducted coupling MODSIM with MESH in the Saskatchewan River Basin. Also, MODSIM has been coupled with WATFLOOD and HEC-HMS (collaborator modelling tools) in the lower Nelson River Basin;
(ii) an agent-based model (ABAD) simulating agricultural water demand based on farmer water use behaviour is developed for the Bow River Basin.

Lead:

Saman Razavi

Assistant Professor
University of Saskatchewan | School of Environment & Sustainability

Co-Leads:

Masoud Asadzadeh

Assistant Professor
University of Manitoba | Department of Civil Engineering

Amin Elshorbagy

Professor
University of Saskatchewan | College of Engineering

Highly Qualified Personnel:

Andrew Slaughter

Visiting Fellow/Professor
University of Saskatchewan
2018-2019

Research: Integration of flow and water quality within water resource modelling
Supervisor: Saman Razavi (U of S)

Mohammad Ghoreishi

PhD
University of Saskatchewan
2017-

Research: Agricultural water demand modelling
Supervisor: Saman Razavi (U of S)

Su Jin Kim

Masters Student
University of Manitoba
2018-2019

Research: Coupling hydrologic models and integrated water management
Supervisor: Asadzadeh (UManitoba) & Tricia Stadnyk (UManitoba)

Parya Beiraghdar

Masters Student
University of Manitoba
2017-2019

Research: Integrated water management modelling
Supervisor: Tricia Stadnyk

Syed Mustakim Ali Shah

Masters Student
University of Saskatchewan
2017-2019

Research: Water management modelling
Supervisor: Saman Razavi (U of S)

Kasra Keshavarz

Masters Student
University of Saskatchewan
2017-2019

Research: Water Resource Modelling
Supervisor: Saman Razavi (U of S)

The research team engaged extensively with collaborators during research design and data collection to learn more about the basin, modelling methods currently used in the basin, and what data sources might exist. At Usask, the team has a ‘data acquisitions contact’ list that is shared between the team members to coordinate engagement – the list currently has 21 contacts across provincial and federal governments, agricultural groups and non-governmental organizations. At UofM, the team meets regularly with Manitoba Hydro to guide MODSIM development in the Upper Nelson and negotiate data sharing agreements. The research team also engages in events such as IMPC annual general meetings and the Agriculture-Water Research Expo co-hosted by IMPC in June 2019. In the future, these existing partnerships will be enhanced with site visits and key meetings with target sectors (e.g. Saskpower in Regina, AAFC in Outlook, AEP in Calgary, etc.) and new partnerships will be sought out in new basins (e.g. Assiniboine River Basin Initiative in the Assiniboine).

	Alberta Environment & Parks
	Saskatchewan Water Security Agency
	Manitoba Hydro
	Partners for Saskatchwan River Basin
	City of Calgery
	Agriculture & Agri-food Canada
	The Saskatchewan River Delta Stewardship
	Northern Village of Cumberland House

Selected Publications

Farjad, B., Gupta, A., Razavi, S., Faramarzi, M., & Marceau, D. J. (2017). An Integrated Modelling System to Predict Hydrological Processes under Climate and Land-Use/Cover Change Scenarios. Water, 9(10), 767.