The Chilean Laja Lake

multi-objective analysis of conflicting water demands and the added value of optimization strategies

authored by: Zoë Erna Bovermann, Elahe Fallah-Mehdipour, José Luis Arumí, Jörg Dietrich
Abstract: Water scarcity leads to conflicts over water allocation. Laja Lake in Chile is a natural lake, which was formed by a volcanic barrier. Outflow from the lake is created by seepage through the barrier and via a controllable artificial outlet, which adds reservoir characteristics to the lake. Hydroelectric power stations have been built at both outlets. Downstream, water is diverted into irrigation canals, and the Laja River forms the Laja Falls, a popular tourist attraction. The previous operating policy preferred the most upstream water user and was found to be inadequate because the lake level decreased over long term. The current reservoir operation policy was established through stakeholder negotiations. This study investigated whether optimization (using Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II) can further improve the operation of Laja Lake while maintaining a fair balance between stakeholder groups. The results were compared with the stakeholder agreement and the previous policy. The main difference is in the spring, when Laja Lake fills up before the irrigation season starts. The optimization strategy prioritizes hydropower generation during this period, resulting in reduced storage. Ultimately, optimization proves to be a valuable tool for identifying trade-offs and exploring different scenarios in water management.
Organisation(s): Institute of Hydrology and Water Resources Management
External Organisation(s): Universidad de Concepcion
Type: Article
Journal: Aqua Water Infrastructure, Ecosystems and Society
Volume: 73
Pages: 369-379
No. of pages: 11
ISSN: 2709-8028
Publication date: 01.03.2024
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Environmental Engineering, Civil and Structural Engineering, Ecology, Water Science and Technology, Pollution, Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2024.165 (Access: Open)