Metrics to evaluate alternative watershed management policy outcomes using linear programming optimization and simulation of the Schuylkill River watershed in Southeastern Pennsylvania

The thesis of this dissertation is that alternative watershed management policies should be compared under low and high probability drought conditions using screening metrics based on water depletion below critical thresholds specific to what water is used for at a given location. Traditional hydrological indicators and reservoir performance metrics are useful to describe the performance of an individual policy, following comparative analysis using screening metrics. The new metrics, vulnerability and severity, are dimensionless indexes that represent the depletion of water below a critical threshold beyond the tolerable depletion of water below that threshold. The tolerable depletion of water and the thresholds that define vulnerability and severity are derived from what water is used for at the location the metric is calculated. At an instream or a reservoir location, thresholds of water depletion may be identified that represent dividing lines between different uses for water. In this project the metrics were able to incorporate water supply needs, ecological streamflow requirements, recreational boating, reservoir release water quality considerations, and emergency water storage.