Development of Simplified Models of Regional Groundwater and Surface Water Flow Processes based on Computational Experiments with Comprehensive Models

The development of complex decision support model systems for the analysis of regional water policies for regions with intense socio-economic development affecting and being affected by the water resources system is of increasing importance. One of the most illustrative examples are regions with open-pit lignite mining. Such model systems have to be based on appropriate submodels, e.g. for water quantity processes. The paper describes submodels for groundwater and surface water flow with special regard to open-pit lignite mining regions. Starting with a problem definition in Section 2 the methodological background is given. The state-of-the-art of comprehensive models of regional water flow processes based on groundwater flow models and of stochastic long-term management modeling are described in details. Section 3 gives the methodological approach for model reduction. The application of this approach is illustrated in Section 4 for the modeling of mine drainage and groundwater tables, for the modeling of remaining pit management and of groundwater-surface water interactions. In the appendix computer programs of some submodels are given being suitable for a more general application

Water Policies: Regions with Open-Pit Lignite Mining (Introduction to the IIASA Study)

There is an apparent need for the analysis of long-term regional water policies to reconcile conflicting interests in regions with open-pit lignite mining. The most important. interest groups in such regions are mining, municipal and industrial water supply, agriculture as well as the "environment". A scientifically sound and practically simple policy-oriented system of methods and computerized procedures has to be developed. To develop such a system is part of the research work in the Regional Water Policies project carried out at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in collaboration with research institutes in the German Democratic Republic, Poland, and in other countries as well. A test area that includes typical water-related elements of mining regions and significant conflicts and interest groups has been chosen. The first stage in the analysis is oriented towards developing a scenario generating system as a tool to choose "good" policies from the regional point of view. Therefore a policy-oriented interactive decision support model system is under development, considering the dynamic, nonlinear and uncertain systems behaviour. It combines a model for multi-criteria analysis in planning periods with a simulation model for monthly systems behaviour. The paper outlines the methodological approach. describes the test region in the GDR, and the submodels for the test region

Decision support model systems for regional water policies in open-pit lignite mining areas

The impact of open-pit lignite mining on water resources creates significant conflicts between different interest groups, such as the mining industry, water supply agencies, and agriculture in the mining region. The activities of each of the interest groups modify the water resources system and at the same time the conditions for resources use by other groups. Consequently, there is an apparent need for the analysis of regional water policies to reconcile the conflicting interests within such socio-economic environmental systems. On that, a collaborative study between the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and Research Institutes in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and Poland is directed