Civil Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-1-2024

Abstract

Climate change is one of the foremost problems facing water resources globally. Rising temperatures can impact global water supplies through decreased precipitation, increased evaporation, greater severity and frequency of extreme weather events, and increased wildfire risk. This work used system dynamics modeling through a social, ecological, and technical systems framework to evaluate the impact that climate change has on the municipal water supply for the City of Santa Fe in northern New Mexico, USA. Specifically, the model showed how, by the end of the century, climate change decreases total average annual water supplies by 28% and increases reliance on groundwater pumping beyond sustainable levels, with or without the construction of the San Juan – Chama Return Flow Pipeline. To limit pumping to sustainable levels, water demand needs to decrease by 38% to 57 gallons per capita per day by 2100, unless additional sources of water and/or conservation are found and utilized.

Keywords

system dynamics modeling, GoldSim, Santa Fe, climate change, water supply

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Degree Name

Civil Engineering

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Civil Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Yolanda Lin

Second Committee Member

Jose Cerrato Corrales

Third Committee Member

Julie Coonrod

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