Abstract
   Decisions on water allocation to humans and the environment depend on physical engineering structures, various operations and allocation policies, supplies, and demands of numerous end-users. Considering that, the goal of this collection of studies is to provide new insights on reservoir operations, hydropower generation and water
   management, aiming to balance human demands, while achieving greater environmental benefits. This work involves the use of a water system modeling framework (CenSierraPywr) with a specific application to the Central Sierra Nevada, California. CenSierraPywr involves hydroeconomic modeling, hydropower optimization, detailed hydroeconomic modeling, hydropower optimization, detailed and facility-specific information to provide a more comprehensive and finer spatial and temporal resolution (daily time-step) of reservoir operations. CenSierraPywr was used to identify the impacts of future climate change scenarios on environmental water allocation, and the impacts of climate whiplash on these regional water-power systems. As environmental water is generally the most impacted use, this dissertation also employs a systematic review and bibliometric analysis to identify the primary global challenges and propose solutions for the implementation of environmental flows. Overall, the findings advocate for a holistic approach to integrated water resource management, emphasizing the importance of adaptive regulatory frameworks, stakeholder collaboration, and climate-resilient strategies to ensure the long-term sustainability and equitable allocation of California's water.

Biography
   Gustavo is a PhD candidate in Environmental Systems at UC Merced, joining Dr. Viers' team in 2019. He holds a BSc in Agricultural Engineering-Agronomy from São Paulo State University, Brazil, with study abroad experiences in South Korea and Argentina. He earned an MSc in Environmental Technology from Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, and was a visiting researcher at University of British Columbia Okanagan, Canada. At UC Merced, he also earned an MSc while pursuing his PhD. His research spans agricultural production, plant pathology, forest fragmentation, and land use/land cover change, focusing on water system simulation, watershed management, environmental flows, data analysis, and the use of remote sensing in ag/environmental studies.

Zoom

https://ucmerced.zoom.us/j/81278471648