SIMULATION AND DECISION-MAKING - THE PLATTE RIVER BASIN IN NEBRASKA

An interdisciplinary computer simulation model, representing the water quantity, water quality, environmental, and economic dimensions of the conflict, was developed to analyze the tradeoffs among allocation scenarios. Simulation results for a base case and two scenarios are presented. One scenario favors protection of instream flow for wildlife; the other favors water diversions for agriculture. Impacts of the instream flow scenario, as measured by the amount of land irrigated, groundwater levels, the amount of wildlife habitat for cranes and catfish, and net agricultural benefits did not differ greatly from those of the base case. However, impacts of the diversion scenario were substantial. The modeling process was successful insofar as it promoted an understanding among the highly diverse interest groups of the systems nature of the basin.