Application ofMike Basinfor Water Management Strategies in a Watershed

Abstract

Modeling at the basin scale provides essential information to policy makers in their decisions on allocation of water resources in the basin. This paper describes the application of a basin scale simulation model, Mike Basin, to the Mun river basin located in northeastern Thailand. Monthly simulation was carried out based on the water availability and utilization using hydrological data from 1965 through 1997. Climatic analysis found high seasonal variation: wet season water availability is more than six times dry season availability. Event-based reliability calculations of irrigation and water supply systems of the basin indicated that the existing level of demand has reasonable wet season water availability, but limited dry season availability. Moreover, sensitivity analysis found 80 percent reliable cropping intensity in wet season and only 12 percent in dry season. A proper management approach developed from this analysis may provide a basis for a decision for policy makers in relation to the optimal allocation of water resources.