Optimization of Multi-Reservoir Flood Control Operating Rules: A Case Study for the Chaobai River Basin in China

Reservoirs are susceptible to interference from inter-basin water transfer projects intended relieve serious shortages. The Central Route of the South-to-North Water Division Project in China has altered hydrological conditions and storage status terminal reservoir, Miyun Reservoir, thereby affecting flood control reliability Chaobai River Basin. In this study, a dual-objective five-reservoir operation model was developed, which reservoir releases obtained through piecewise linear operating rules. considers flooding risks both downstream basin area. A parameterization-simulation-optimization approach employed obtain Pareto-optimal front, providing decision-makers with list optimal rule parameters select match their own risk preferences. All optimized rules could ensure safe during designed floods be expected once (or more than once) every thousand years. contrast, current schemes largely ignore between basins but primarily concentrate on storing floods. Thus, whose design return period is 1000 years, can easily become filled 100-year flood, impeding system’s capacity. Compared result 10.5% higher upstream inundation loss an unsatisfactory 17 million CNY equivalent loss.