Evaluation of rapid reservoir storage-yield procedures

Relatively rapid and reliable procedures are required to determine reservoir storage-yield relationships during preliminary studies or reconnaissance surveys associated with regional assessments of surface water resources. Several techniques are available, but all are limited in their application. The following eight procedures were evaluated: Hurst (empirical), Alexander (gamma), Gould (synthetic), Dincer, Gould (gamma), Hardison (carryover), Guglij and McMahon (empirical). Each procedure was evaluated by application to 33 Australian and 12 Malaysian streams. The storage estimates determined from the rapid procedures were compared with those from behaviour (or simulation) analysis and Gould's transition matrix method. Limitations in theoretical models result from the basic assumptions upon which they were developed. For empirical models, difficulties arise through the non-representativeness of the basic data. Some procedures are restricted in the range of conditions within which they are applicable. The results indicate that Gould's (gamma) and McMahon's (empirical) procedures provide satisfactory storage estimates for preliminary assessments.