A Strategy to Quantify Water Supply of an Agricultural Reservoir for Integrated Water Management Policy

Abstract

A data-driven approach is required to scientifically manage agricultural water resources in accordance with the integrated water management policy of South Korea. In this study, a quantification strategy is presented to calculate reservoir supply by comparing the results with the actual reservoir water storage. Strategies considering current calculation methods were divided into canal flow measurement (S1), theoretical flow rate (S2), water storage decrease in field practice (S3), and water demand in design practice (S4), utilizing water levels of the reservoir and its canal and the level–flow rate curve obtained from surveying the canal flow. Each strategy was assessed through hydrological verification of reservoir water balance modeling. Based on the determination coefficient (R2), Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), and relative error (RE) values, the S1 method was found to be the most suitable. S2 had lower reliability than S1, while S3 and S4 satisfied neither R2 nor NSE and had a larger RE than S1 and S2. To accurately quantify agricultural water supplies, the importance of directly measuring reservoir canal flows must be emphasized using automatic water level and flow gauges in canals. This study provides insights into more scientific management of agricultural reservoir water supplies and more effective monitoring of agricultural water usage.