SIMULATION–OPTIMIZATION MODELLING FOR WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT USING NSGAII-OIP AND MODFLOW

Abstract

Optimal water allocation may be considered a valuable solution to increase the productivity of water resources in arid and semi-arid areas. To achieve this purpose, the main resources of water consumption in the Baghmalek Plain (Khuzestan Province) from October 2014 to September 2015 and the groundwater table for 12 years (2002–2014) were simulated. Multi-objective optimization of the cropping pattern and groundwater simulation model have been programmed to generate a decision system in agricultural water management. Groundwater flow was simulated to address optimal discharge scenarios based on a finite difference numerical approach using MODFLOW software. The study years were divided into 48 seasonal stress periods and coefficients of hydraulic conductivity, specific yield and recharge were calibrated (36 periods) and verified (12 periods). The results showed that the flow model had an acceptable simulation accuracy by variance of 2.9 and 3.84 in the calibration and verification processes, respectively. Furthermore, precipitation is the main source of water supplying the cropping pattern, especially in the water-deficit scenario when total water demand is not fully satisfied. © 2020 International Commission for Irrigation and Drainage