Mountain Scholar :: Browsing by Author "Grigg, Neil, committee member"

Browsing by Author "Grigg, Neil, committee member"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 31

Open Access
An alternative water resource project for the state of Colorado: the Million - Green River Basin Water project: a comparative economics study and cost-benefit analysis of the Colorado River and Green River basins
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Million, Aaron P., author; Hoag, Dana, advisor; Loomis, John, committee member; Frasier, Marshall, committee member; Grigg, Neil, committee member
Water supplies are a limiting factor in the Western United States. Policy, social welfare, and economic interests all reflect the demands placed on this scarce resource. Projects to develop water are complex and reflect both historical and current institutional, environmental, and financial constraints. This study proposes a project from the Green River Basin for use in the State of Colorado. Water managers called this study the first new idea in water resources in 50 years. The cost-benefit analysis identifies limits, constraints and opportunities from the Green River Basin compared to the Colorado River basin. Economic welfare issues reflect water's expanding use and legal constraints. Not a public good exclusively and not a private right exclusively, the procurement of water, water rights, and development history is influenced by water's legal standing, public policy, and economic benefits. In the western United States, the Colorado River Compact influences the division and equitable use of waters in the Colorado River Basin System. Significant infrastructure is part of the landscape influenced by the Compact and the need to allocate water in a constrained system. Recent public project proposals failed to identify a potential water supply from the Green River. Environmental benefits, comparative costs, and financial opportunities may allow a new paradigm in the development of a major water project by the private sector. The historic return to private development of water projects reflects current policy changes and markets. The private sector may have significant advantages over public development and meet or exceed public welfare goals related to conservation, environmental benefits, protection of irrigated farmland, and supply procurement.
Open Access
An investigation of water quality considerations for premise plumbing systems in buildings
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Kalan, Duygu, author; Ozbek, Mehmet, advisor; Omur-Ozbek, Pinar, advisor; Grigg, Neil, committee member; Dooley, Gregory, committee member
Providing potable and palatable waterq to their consumers is a top priority for drinking water treatment utilities in the US. To ensure the safety of the drinking water, disinfection methods have been applied for over a century. Chlorine is the most extensively used disinfectant to control waterborne pathogen activities. Despite its effectiveness, chlorine is known to react with natural organic matter (NOM) and produce disinfection by-products (DBPs) (e.g., trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids) that are known to be harmful to humans. Currently, DBPs are regulated at the distribution system level. However, premise plumbing systems are unique and different from water distribution systems. Moreover, there are knowledge gaps for premise plumbing in residential and non-residential buildings under routine operations, and that has not been fully understood for different operation scenarios (e.g., use of water-efficient fixtures in conventional buildings) and building types (e.g., green-certified buildings). The primary purpose of this dissertation was to contribute to the body of knowledge on water quality in premise plumbing systems by addressing some of the knowledge gaps identified in the literature. This dissertation comprises three independent but complementary studies. Each study focused on essential aspects of water quality in premise plumbing systems as follows: i) identifying the effects of building type (e.g., conventional vs. green-certified) on water quality in premise plumbing systems, ii) providing a comprehensive literature review on existing contaminant prediction models for premise plumbing systems, and iii) developing a DBP prediction tool for premise plumbing systems. In the first study, effects of building type on premise plumbing water quality were addressed. For this purpose, trihalomethanes (THMs) and water quality parameters, including temperature, pH, free chlorine levels, and total organic carbon (TOC) were collected and compared between a combined conventional and green-certified (i.e., water-efficient) building drinking fountains. Even though the distributed water quality to the green and conventional building sides was the same, statistically significant differences in water quality parameters and TTHMs were observed due to the changes in water chemistry in the premise plumbing systems. The study findings point out the importance of the plumbing pipe age and its impacts on water chemistry. In the second study, a state-of-the-art review was conducted to provide background information on water quality and indoor air quality models that have been implemented in residential and non-residential building premise plumbing systems and indoor air environments. A systematic literature search was conducted in the Compendex, Web of Science, IEEE Explore, Science Direct, and PubMed databases. A total of 22 contaminant prediction modeling studies for premise plumbing and 12 for indoor air quality were reviewed in this study. Among the premise plumbing models, lead and copper prediction models have drawn more attention from researchers than any other contaminants. Due to increased inhalation exposure levels, shower models have been excessively included in risk exposure studies. This review aimed to draw attention to the research needs in modeling approaches, identify the gaps in the literature, and provide a baseline for future research attempts. In the third study, a chloroform prediction model was developed and incorporated into a simulation software to predict chloroform concentrations in a premise plumbing system for eight hours of water stagnation. The model coefficients were determined with the bench-scale experiments based on water quality parameter ranges that can be seen in premise plumbing systems. Chloroform concentrations were tested in a two-story townhouse; experimental and model prediction results were compared. The chloroform prediction model underpredicted chloroform concentrations by 27-37% compared with the house measurements. This study represents an important initial attempt in developing a simulation-based water quality prediction model, which can be implemented in premise plumbing systems. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on water quality in premise plumbing systems by providing a better insight into the effects of conventional and green-certified buildings, shedding light on the current state of numerical modeling research, and implementing a chloroform prediction tool in premise plumbing systems.
Open Access
Analysis of public university facilities cost
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Suhail, Gazala, author; Strong, Kelly, advisor; Glick, Scott, advisor; Grigg, Neil, committee member
Comparing construction costs between public and private sector projects has been a topic of interest, specifically, which one is more cost efficient. Many researches have compared the two sectors, however, there is limited research with emphasis on university construction. This study focuses on the cost factors influencing project cost performed at public universities and comparing it with similar projects in the private sector. It also presents an analysis of the assorted reasons responsible for the difference or similarities in the two sectors. This study utilizes an exploratory, comparative case study methodology performed on a small sample number of public university projects and two sources of private sector cost data. A thorough analysis with a large dataset is required to conclude a generalizable outcome. The data of four categories of projects collected from five public universities is compared with the cost range obtained from two private entities based on cost per square foot. The results show that most of the public projects have comparable costs to that of their private sector counterparts. The cost data from the university projects is also compared with each other to explore if there are any possible relationships between the types of delivery methods and sustainability certifications based on two project performance indexes; cost and duration. Based on the limited scope of this research it can be surmised that Design-Build proves superior performance when compared to Design-Bid-Build and CM/GC. Based on the limited data, no significant conclusion could be made on the effect of LEED certifications levels on either cost or project duration. This research does provide a starting point for future research into the topic of public sector project costs when compared to private sector counterparts.
Open Access
Assessing and managing urban riverscapes: integrating physical processes and social-ecological values
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Murphy, Brian Michael, author; Nelson, Peter, advisor; Wohl, Ellen, committee member; Grigg, Neil, committee member; Morrison, Ryan, committee member
In the age of the Anthropocene, human influence has spread far and wide across our planet affecting the physical, chemical, and biological condition of the rivers, streams, and floodplains in the urban environment, our "urban riverscapes." The human connection to urban riverscapes includes both the built environment created and accessed by people and the intangible community values that humans place upon flowing water. The value of these benefits encourages stewardship of our waterways by integrating experiential, aesthetic, and cultural attributes that foster appreciation for streams as natural systems in the built environment. However, when poorly managed, human activities adversely impact our natural ecosystems, resulting in less resilient stream systems, poor aesthetics, and unsafe conditions. The research presented in this dissertation asks the following overarching research question: How can managers and practitioners apply multi-scale social-ecological, hydrologic, geomorphologic, and riparian ecological remote sensing and field data to advance urban riverscape management? Four chapters follow from this hypothesis: urban riverscape problems lie on a spectrum of complexity where solutions are often conceivable but difficult to implement. Integrating diverse perspectives and knowledge extends the scope of stakeholder perspectives so that social-ecological context is considered alongside the physical processes that typically characterize riverscapes. This approach entails leveraging existing and new methods to create frameworks that integrate the multi-scale assessment of physical conditions and social-ecological qualities underlying applied riverscape management. I explore the integration of diverse knowledge to enhance management outcomes through the concept of "wicked problems." I analyze the connections between diverse types of knowledge and practices through numerous case studies. My analysis shows how systematically characterizing project attributes, such as the prominence of local government and technical knowledge or the weakness of academia and indigenous knowledge, requires an approach that builds capacity and collaboration within transdisciplinary stakeholder groups. I find that the importance of integrating communities, including under-represented knowledge bases, into urban riverscape management can generate equitable and incremental solutions. To evaluate connections between social values, ecological conditions, and hydrogeomorphic processes, I outline a framework for urban riverscape assessment that advances the practice of managing urban riverscapes facing complex problems. The framework is based upon evaluation across four foundational categories, or facets, critical to the management of urban riverscapes: (1) human connections and values, (2) hydrologic processes and hydraulic characteristics, (3) geomorphic forms and processes, and (4) ecological structure and processes. I structure the framework around three tiers of actionable steps, which tackle the questions: Why are we assessing this riverscape (Tier 1)? What do we need to understand in and along this riverscape (Tier 2)? How will we assess the riverscape to develop that understanding (Tier 3)? I find that the answer to the first question is context-based and dependent upon integrating diverse types of knowledge, while the response to the second question involves examining the functions and values of urban riverscapes through the lens of the four facets and their inter-related processes. Answering the third question requires developing and testing a novel assessment method – the "Urban Riverscape conditions-Based Assessment for management Needs" (URBAN). I base URBAN on riverscape context and on integrating the assessment of facets at multiple scales. I apply the method to a test data set of publicly available and site-specific data across a study area in the Denver metropolitan region to illustrate its overall performance, including its ability to evaluate specific riverscape physical conditions and social-ecological qualities. I find reach typologies combined with urban riverscape characteristics provide tangible management strategies that managers can use to inform planning and decision making. The overarching conclusion of this dissertation is that managing urban riverscapes requires assessment methods that consider scale (spatial, temporal, and topical) and context (both physical and social characteristics), and the use of indicators and metrics that directly support decision-making among interdisciplinary stakeholders. It is possible to move toward this vision by using remote-sensed and field data that provides both social and physical information, to assess the relationship between physical condition and social-ecological values, and to use that information to determine where and how to prioritize management strategies for urban riverscapes.
Open Access
Assessing impacts of rainfall patterns, population growth, and sea level rise on groundwater supply in the Republic of Maldives
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2016) Deng, Chenda, author; Bailey, Ryan, advisor; Grigg, Neil, committee member; Sanford, William E., committee member
Groundwater resources of the Republic of the Maldives are threatened by a variety of factors including variable future rainfall patterns, continued population growth and associated pumping demands, rising sea level, and contamination from the land surface. The Maldives is composed of approximately 2,000 coral islands residing in 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean, with each coral island less than a few square kilometers in surface area and less than a few meters in elevation. This thesis uses numerical modeling techniques to assess the influence of variable rainfall patterns, increased pumping due to population growth, and sea level rise on fresh groundwater supply of the coral islands that comprise the Maldives. The density-dependent groundwater flow and solute transport model SUTRA (Saturated Unsaturated Transport) is used for all simulations, with the model simulating the spatial extent of the freshwater lens in the aquifer of the coral islands. The thesis first assesses changes in groundwater supply due to variable rainfall patterns in the coming decades, a key component of water resources management for the country. Using a suite of two-dimensional vertical cross-section models, time-dependent thickness of the freshwater lens is simulated for a range of island sizes (200 m to 1100 m) during the time period of 2011 to 2050, with recharge to the freshwater lens calculated using rainfall patterns provided by General Circulation Models (GCM) for the three distinct geographic regions (north, central, south) of the Maldives. Results show that average lens thickness of islands in all three geographic regions during the 2031-2050 time period is slightly greater than during the 2011-2030 time period, indicating a mild increase in future available groundwater supply under predicted conditions. Average lens thickness during 2011-2030 for islands of 200 m, 400 m, 600 m, and 1100 m width is 0.5 m, 3.0 m, 7.0 m, and 12.2 m, respectively, with these values increasing by 1-5% during 2031-2050 time period. However, these results do not include the effect of sea level rise. To quantify the total available groundwater on a representative island and to provide accurate simulation of the effect of radial pumping on the freshwater lens, a three dimensional model is created for the island of Gan (Area: 598 ha, Population: 4,280) to evaluate the impact of increasing pumping and sea-level rise on future groundwater resources. Simulations covering the 2012-2050 period are used to compare scenarios of future rainfall, pumping vs. non-pumping, varying rates of population growth and hence of groundwater pumping, and sea level rise (0.5 m by 2100) vs. no sea level rise. Results indicate that the total freshwater volume increases about 19% under the effects of future rainfall patterns. If moderate pumping is included, with rates increasing at 1.76% to correspond with increasing population, the volume increases only by 12%. If just considering sea level rise, then the volume decreases by 14%. With aggressive pumping, corresponding to an annual population growth rate of 9%, but no sea level rise, the volume decreases by 24%. With aggressive pumping and sea level rise, the freshwater lens is rapidly depleted. This study quantifies the major future impacts on groundwater of the atoll islands in Maldives. Similar methodologies using output from GCMs can be used for other atoll island nations, such as the Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Gilbert Islands. For the Maldives, results from this study can be used in conjunction with population growth estimates to determine the feasibility of including groundwater in water resources planning and management for the country.
Embargo
Assessing the triple bottom line co-benefits and life cycle cost tradeoffs of cloudburst infrastructure in New York City
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Fenn, Abby M., author; Arabi, Mazdak, advisor; Grigg, Neil, committee member; Sharvelle, Sybil, committee member; Conrad, Steve, committee member
Urbanization and climate change have increased the risk of urban flooding. Specifically, more frequent cloudburst events are on the rise in cities across the globe. Cloudbursts are characterized by high intensity rainfall over a short duration, causing unpredictable, localized flooding. Effective stormwater management is essential to manage extreme precipitation and runoff induced by cloudbursts. Stormwater control measures have evolved over time shifting from gray infrastructure to nature-based and green solutions. Recently, cloudburst specific infrastructure has emerged as a stormwater intervention strategy designed to handle larger volumes of water by capturing, storing, or conveying excess water in highly impervious areas. Cloudburst infrastructure systems are inextricably linked with land use in cities and thus, their implementation should incorporate life cycle costs, and social and ecological co-benefits. This study assesses the Triple Bottom Line co-benefits and environmental effects of cloudburst systems for flood control in New York City. Specifically, we explore the tradeoffs between the costs and co-benefits of alternative surface vegetation including grass, diverse vegetation, and trees. The study identifies the Pareto optimal set of solutions and quantifies effects of incorporating vegetation into the urban landscape via cloudburst systems. The results indicate that surface vegetation plays a key role in altering the co-benefits and life cycle costs of cloudburst infrastructure. Trees were the most frequent non-dominated solution and were linearly related to Triple Bottom Line score and exponentially related to Life Cycle Cost. The framework and results of this study provide valuable insight to support informed decision-making.
Open Access
Clouds over Fort Collins: settlement, urban expansion, and flooding along a layered landscape
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2020) Purdy, Tristan, author; Childers, Michael, advisor; Orsi, Jared, advisor; Grigg, Neil, committee member
Fort Collins, Colorado, home to over 150,000 people along the northern Front Range, is prone to flood. This natural disaster threat is not a recent development nor a strictly natural problem. Rather, flooding in Fort Collins is informed by the interaction of the local environment and the city's growth and development beginning in the mid-nineteenth century. This thesis explores the historical roots of Fort Collins's flood threat by considering the social, economic, and political factors that informed the physical shape of the city and how the city interacted with the watershed within which it sat. By tracing how the city's agrarian root's informed its location, and how a university, (usually) pleasant weather, and westward migration paved the way for urban and suburban expansion, this thesis displays flooding not as an exterior threat, but a natural process that has become enmeshed in Fort Collins's physical structure. Fort Collins is just one of many mid-sized American cities across the American West whose growth over the past century-and-a-half has created increasingly pressing environmental concerns. Addressing contemporary and future concerns over further growth and an increasingly unstable environment in Fort Collins and cities like it begins with understanding the historic interconnections between city growth and the environmental problem in question.
Open Access
Development of framework for predicting water production from oil and gas wells in Wattenberg field, Colorado
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Bai, Bing, author; Carlson, Kenneth, advisor; Grigg, Neil, committee member; Kreidenweis, Sonia, committee member
Water issues in the oil and gas industry have drawn attention from various stakeholders including the public, industry and environmental groups. With the increasing demand for energy, the number of oil and gas wells has increased greatly providing 60% of the energy in the United States. Besides the large volume of fresh water required for drilling and hydraulic fracturing, wastewater from the well can also lead to serious problems. The current approach for managing wastewater from oil and gas fields is deep well injection or evaporation both of which can potentially cause environmental issues. One of the best strategies to solve water issues from oil and gas operations is to reuse wastewater as drilling and fracturing water so the volume of fresh water required and wastewater disposed can be reduced. Information on both water quantity and quality are required when designing wastewater reuse treatment facilities. This study provides a framework for understanding water production trends from oil and gas wells in the Wattenberg field in Northern Colorado by analyzing historical data from Noble Energy Inc. The Arps equations were chosen for modeling water production from oil and gas wells. After studying 1,677 vertical and 32 horizontal wells in Wattenberg field, an exponential decline function was applied to model the produced water production of all the wells and the frac flowback water of horizontal wells. An Excel based 30-year water production prediction tool was developed based on the two protocols developed for vertical and horizontal wells in the Wattenberg field. Three case studies of different subsets of oil and gas wells were examined to illustrate the function of the tool. In addition, a comparison of exponential and harmonic functions was made in the third case study, and a significant difference was observed. The harmonic decline function predicts a less aggressive decline resulting in higher production volumes. It was concluded that in the absence of long term production data, the harmonic decline function should be used since the exponential decline function may underestimate the volume of produced water.
Open Access
Evaluation of decentralized alternatives for separate treatment and supply of indoor water: Fort Collins case study
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Fourness, Daniel P., author; Sharvelle, Sybil, advisor; Grigg, Neil, committee member; Glick, Scott, committee member
The replacement of aging water infrastructure in the City of Fort Collins, CO provides an opportunity to evaluate the applicability of dual distribution and decentralized water treatment alternatives in comparison to the existing conventional system. The purpose of an alternative approach is to meet future water demands and quality standards which can be achieved by treating less water through the separation of supply for outdoor irrigation and fire flow from potable demand. Energy consumption required for the production of potable water and deteriorating water quality due to water age provide motivation for this evaluation. Few existing projects have demonstrated the applicability of dual water supply and decentralized treatment at a city-wide scale. This study explores these alternative approaches separating supply of water for indoor use and how decentralized water treatment may integrate into such an approach. Four water treatment and distribution alternatives were considered in comparison to the existing system using a Multi-Criterion Decision Analysis (MCDA) tool with eleven performance metrics assessed from a triple bottom line of economic, social and environmental perspectives. Alternatives were defined as city-wide dual distribution, neighborhood-scale treatment with dual distribution, point-of-entry treatment, and separated irrigation. This study focused specifically on evaluation of dual water supply alternatives incorporating decentralized treatment which reduce additional distribution infrastructure and water age in comparison to centralized treatment. A common selection process for both neighborhood-scale and point-of-entry treatment was used to recommend the most applicable systems for decentralized alternatives. An ultrafiltration package system with chlorine disinfection was recommended neighborhood-scale system due to compact design, low chemical requirements, consistent water quality and amenability to remote monitoring. Activated Carbon/Kinetic Fluxion Media filtration with ultraviolet disinfection was recommended for point-of-entry treatment system based on low capital costs, simplistic operation, low chemical requirements, and small system size. Results of the evaluation illuminate key drivers which dictate the competitiveness of dual water supply with decentralized treatment alternatives with the existing centralized conventional model. The largest advantages are reduced chemical use, improved water age and quality, adaptability to new water management strategies and revenue opportunities from increased capacity at the existing treatment facility. Neighborhood-scale treatment and dual distribution incurs large capital costs while consuming substantially more energy due to pumping. Disruption associated with the installation of neighborhood-scale treatment facilities and dual distribution networks has a negative effect on society and intensifies environmental concerns for greenhouse gas emissions and stormwater pollution. Point-of-entry treatment increases the risk of rate changes related to drastically higher maintenance costs and personnel needs. Both alternatives are strongly affected by the lack of defined regulations for these approaches at a city-wide scale. Overall, dual distribution and decentralized water treatment alternatives were not economically competitive with the existing system and offered negligible social advantages. Environmental benefits were realized for both alternatives which can be largely attributed to improved water quality due to shorter water age. Dual distribution with central treatment alternative results suggest that separating potable water from irrigation and fire flow is a practical solution that may be competitive with conventional water production in a city-wide application. While dual water distribution for separate supply of indoor water may have some advantages over conventional systems, the decentralized alternatives do not appear to offer a competitive advantage compared to the existing conventional system.
Open Access
Extreme precipitation and flooding: exposure characterization and the association between exposure and mortality in 108 United States communities, 1987-2005
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Severson, Rachel, author; Anderson, Brooke, advisor; Peel, Jennifer, committee member; Grigg, Neil, committee member
There is substantial evidence that extreme precipitation and flooding are serious threats to public health and safety. These threats are predicted to increase with climate change. Epidemiological studies investigating the health effects of these events vary in the methods used to characterize exposure. Here, we compare two sources of precipitation data (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) monitor-based and North American Land Data Assimilation Systems (NLDAS-2) Reanalysis data-based) for estimating exposure to extreme precipitation and two sources of flooding data, based on United States Geological Survey (USGS) streamflow gages and the NOAA Storm Events database. We investigate associations between each of the four exposure metrics and short-term risk of four causes of mortality (accidental, respiratory-related, cardiovascular-related, and all-cause) in the U.S. from 1987 through 2005. Average daily precipitation values from the two precipitation data sources were moderately- to well-correlated (rho = 0.74); however, values from the two data sources were less correlated when comparing binary metrics of exposure to extreme precipitation days (J = 0.35). Binary metrics of daily flood exposure were generally poorly correlated between the two flood data sources (rho = 0.07; J = 0.05). There was generally little correlation between extreme precipitation exposure and flood exposure in study communities. We did not observe evidence of a positive association between any of the four exposure metrics and risk of any of the four mortality outcomes considered. Our results suggest, due to the observed lack of agreement between different extreme precipitation and flood metrics, that exposure to extreme precipitation might not serve as an effective surrogate for exposures related to flooding. Furthermore, it is possible that extreme precipitation and flood exposures may often be too localized to allow accurate exposure assessment at the community level for epidemiological studies.
Open Access
High groundwater in irrigated regions: model development for assessing causes, identifying solutions, and exploring system dynamics
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Deng, Chenda, author; Bailey, Ryan T., advisor; Grigg, Neil, committee member; Niemann, Jeffrey, committee member; Paustian, Keith, committee member
Waterlogging occurs in irrigated areas around the world due to over-irrigation and lack of adequate natural or artificial drainage. This phenomenon can lead to adverse social, physical, economic, and environmental issues, such as: damage to crops and overall land productivity; soil salinization; and damage to homes and building foundations. Solutions to waterlogging include implementation of high-efficient irrigation practices, installation of artificial drainage systems, and increased groundwater pumping to lower the water table. However, in regions governed by strict water law, wherein groundwater pumping is constrained by impact on nearby surface water bodies, these practices can be challenging to implement. In addition, current engineering and modeling approaches used to quantify soil-groundwater and groundwater-surface water interactions are crude, perhaps leading to erroneous results. An accurate representation of groundwater state variables, groundwater sources and sinks, and plant-soil-water interaction is needed at the regional scale to assist with groundwater management issues. This dissertation enhances understanding of major hydrological processes and trade-offs in waterlogged agricultural areas, through the use of numerical modeling strategies. This is accomplished by developing numerical modeling tools to: (1) analyze and quantify the cause of high groundwater levels in highly managed, irrigated stream-aquifer systems; (2) assess the impact of artificial recharge ponds on groundwater levels, groundwater-surface water interactions, and stream depletions in irrigated stream-aquifer systems; (3) and gain a better understanding of plant-soil-water dynamics in irrigated areas with high water tables. These objectives use a combination of agroecosystem (DayCent) and groundwater flow (MODFLOW) models, sensitivity analysis, and management scenario analysis. Each of these sub-objectives is applied to the Gilcrest/LaSalle agricultural region within the South Platte River Basin in northeast Colorado, a region subject to high groundwater levels and associated waterlogging and infrastructure damage in the last 7 years. This region is also subject to strict water law, which constrains groundwater pumping due to the effect on the water rights of the nearby South Platte River. Results indicate that recharge from surface water irrigation, canal seepage, and groundwater pumping have the strongest influence on water table elevation, whereas precipitation recharge and recharge from groundwater irrigation have small influences from 1950 to 2012. Mitigation strategy implementation scenarios show that limiting canal seepage and transitioning > 50% of cultivated fields from surface water irrigation to groundwater irrigation can decrease the water table elevation by 1.5 m to 3 m over a 5-year period. Decreasing seepage from recharge ponds has a similar effect, decreasing water table elevation in local areas by up to 2.3 m. However, these decreases in water table elevation, while solving the problem of high groundwater levels for residential areas and cultivated fields, results in a decrease in groundwater discharge to the South Platte River. As the intent of the recharge ponds is to increase groundwater discharge and thereby offset stream depletions caused by groundwater pumping, mitigating high water table issues in the region can be achieved only by (1) modifying fluxes of sources and sinks of groundwater besides recharge pond seepage, or (2) modifying or relaxing the adjudication of water law, which dictates the need for offsetting pumping-induced stream depletion, in this region. The modeling tools developed in this dissertation, specifically the loose and tight coupling between DayCent and MODFLOW, can be used in the study region to quantify pumping-induced stream depletion, recharge pond induced stream accretion, and the interplay between them in space and time. In addition, these models can be used in other irrigated stream-aquifer systems to assess baseline conditions and explore possible effects of water management strategies.
Open Access
Implementation of graywater reuse in the State of Colorado
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Vandegrift, Jillian, author; Sharvelle, Sybil, advisor; Glick, Scott, committee member; Grigg, Neil, committee member
The United States is expected to see large population growth in the coming years. The southwest region of the country will see dramatic effects due to a higher demand for water paired with concerns associated with climate change resulting in less runoff, increased temperatures and evapotranspiration, and decreased precipitation (Barnett et al. 2007). Water conserving methods such as low-flow fixtures and appliances are believed to be approaching their maximum water saving potential and new techniques are needed in order to protect the world's most valuable resource. Graywater reuse is a strategy gaining popularity because it is a low-strength wastewater that is easier and less expensive to treat than domestic wastewater (Winward et al 2008). Graywater, or water discharged from showers, bathtubs, laundry machines, and laundry and bathroom faucets, constitutes approximately 44% of total indoor water use at the household level (REUWS, 2012). The reuse of graywater for toilet flushing and irrigation has been well studied at the household level, however little research has been done regarding water reuse at commercial facilities. Through a series of feasibility studies, water use at several business types was investigated in order to identify facilities that could benefit from simple water reuse methods. Conclusions from these studies show that research labs, hotels, and gyms have the potential to reduce their demand on municipal water by up to 21%. Overall, businesses that have balanced water use tendencies between graywater demand and graywater supply resulted in the largest estimated potential water savings. In contrast, businesses such as office buildings do not typically generate large amounts of graywater and therefore are not often ideal candidates for graywater reuse, unless there is on-site laundry effluent available for reuse. Water conservation also has its downfalls in terms of implementation. In the western region of the United States, water allocations and water rights are a serious consideration for municipalities. The City of Fort Collins Utilities was interested in investigating the potential impacts to return flows associated with graywater reuse. Adoption of graywater reuse in existing, and new and redevelopment populations in Fort Collins was estimated to be between 5-10%, and 80-100%, respectively. Results of the impact to return flows study show the City of Fort Collins could see a maximum reduction in return flows of 5.5% in realistic adoption rate scenarios. In hypothetical adoption rate scenarios, calculations were made in order to capture the effects of 100% adoption in existing, new and redevelopment areas of Fort Collins. Though this adoption rate is highly improbable, it illustrates the potential impacts that newer developing cities may see if graywater reuse is integrated as part of the infrastructure planning process. 100% adoption of graywater reuse resulted in an estimated 21% reduction from base flows to the wastewater treatment plant. Additionally, implementation of graywater reuse will be dependent upon city/county local ordinances when Regulation 86 is finalized in the future. In order to assist the development of a city ordinance for Fort Collins, as well as promote graywater reuse, a series of Best Management Practices documents and graywater factsheets were created with educational intentions. Recommendations for design criteria and permit requirements were provided in another series of documents attached in the appendices of this report. Operational experience was beneficial in terms of making the appropriate design criteria recommendations for graywater legislation. The graywater reuse system for toilet flushing at Aspen Residence Hall on Colorado State University's campus provided several valuable operational experiences when it underwent the first actual implementation period in the spring of 2014. The first operational period was generally successful aside from a few instances of unexpected malfunctions and equipment failures resulting in foul odors in student's toilets. Automatic chlorine residual monitoring was utilized in order to protect public health, and chlorine residuals were present during unexpected occurrences. Student survey results show mixed feelings towards the graywater reuse system, however most negativity was attributed to the isolated malfunction incidents and not normal operation periods. The fall of 2014 will serve as another pilot-phase period in which necessary system improvements will be made prior to start-up, and more frequent monitoring of chlorine residuals in student's toilet will occur in order to better gauge the functionality of the system.
Open Access
Improving construction machine engine system durability in Latin American conditions
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Azevedo, Kurt Milward, author; Olsen, Daniel, advisor; Bradley, Thomas, committee member; Grigg, Neil, committee member; Strong, Kelly, committee member
Between 2016 and 2030, the Latin America region needs to spend $7 trillion dollars (Bridging global infrastructure gaps, 2016). Thus, for the foreseeable future, the Latin American market will experience high demand for construction equipment such as backhoes, excavators, crawler-dozers, and loaders to construct roads, housing, airports, and sea ports. Construction equipment employed in Latin America operates in conditions which are often more severe compared to developed countries such as the United States. Consequently, the durability of construction equipment diesel engines is reduced within the context of the system engineering life cycle. This results in a greater number of warranty claims, increased customer product dissatisfaction, and delays in completing contracted projects. Peer-reviewed literature lacks information regarding the wear and failure of construction equipment diesel engines operating in Latin America. Thus, the purpose of this research is to contribute to the system and maintainability engineering fields of knowledge by analyzing oil samples taken from diesel engines operating in Latin America. Oil samples are leading indicators and predictors for wear in specific components of diesel engines, as they directly connect to the use conditions of actual work environments. The methodology approach considers data points from different sources and countries. The engine oil sample analysis results are evaluated in the context of local diesel fuel quality, machine diagnostic trouble codes, and the work environments for the following countries: Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. The following data sources are used to answer the research questions: (1) database of oil sample laboratories of eleven countries, (2) construction equipment diagnostic trouble codes, (3) construction equipment surveys, (3) John Deere service manager's surveys, (4) two John Deere 200D excavators, (5) engine operating data, and (6) Engine Control Unit sensor data. It is determined that cross-system contamination was key contributors of oil contamination. Contamination related to environmental conditions in which the equipment was operated is also a key factor, as there is a high statistical correlation of sodium, silicone, and aluminum oil contamination present in the oil of equipment operating at higher altitudes. It is determined that sulfur, diesel fuel quality, humidity, bio-diesel, temperature, and altitude are factors that must be considered in relation to diesel engine reliability and maintenance. The research found that by correlating the engine oil sample contamination with the environment risk drivers (a) altitude and diesel fuel quality have the greatest impact on iron readings, (b) bio-diesel impacts copper, and (c) precipitation and poor diesel quality are associated with silicon levels. Wear metals present in the oil samples indicate that scheduled maintenance frequency must not exceed 250 hours for diesel engines operating in many areas of Latin America. The leading and earliest indicator of engine wear is a high level of iron particles in the engine oil, reaching abnormal levels at 218 hours. The research found that engine idling for extended periods contributes to soot accumulation.
Open Access
Landslide riskscapes in the Colorado Front Range: a quantitative geospatial approach for modeling human-environment interactions
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Hicks, Heather Brainerd, author; Laituri, Melinda, advisor; Fassnacht, Steven, committee member; Grigg, Neil, committee member; Rathburn, Sara, committee member
This research investigated the application of riskscapes to landslides in the context of geospatial inquiry. Riskscapes are framed as a landscape of risk to represent risk spatially. Geospatial models for landslide riskscapes were developed to improve our understanding of the spatial context for landslides and their risks as part of the system of human-environment interactions. Spatial analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) leveraged modeling methods and the distributed properties of riskscapes to identify and preserve these spatial relationships. This dissertation is comprised of four separate manuscripts. These projects defined riskscapes in the context of landslides, applied geospatial analyses to create a novel riskscape model to introduce spatial autocorrelation methods to the riskscape framework, compared geostatistical analysis methods in these landslide riskscape assessments, and described limitations of spatial science identified in the riskscape development process. The first project addressed the current literature for riskscapes and introduced landslides as a measurable feature for riskscapes. Riskscapes are founded in social constructivist theory and landslide studies are frequently based on quantitative risk assessment practices. The uniqueness of a riskscape is the inclusion of human geography and environmental factors, which are not consistently incorporated in geologic or natural hazard studies. I proposed the addition of spatial theory constructs and methods to create spatially measurable products. I developed a conceptual framework for a landslide riskscape by describing the current riskscape applications as compared to existing landslide and GIS risk model processes. A spatial modeling formula to create a weighted sum landslide riskscape was presented as a modification to a natural hazard risk equation to incorporate the spatial dimension of risk factors. The second project created a novel method for three geospatial riskscapes as an approach to model landslide susceptibility areas in Boulder and Larimer Counties, Colorado. This study synthesized physical and human geography to create multiple landslide riskscape models using GIS methods. These analysis methods used a process model interface in GIS. Binary, ranked, and human factor weighted sum riskscapes were created, using frequency ratio as the basis for developing a weighting scheme. Further, spatial autocorrelation was introduced as a recommended practice to quantify the spatial relationships in landslide riskscape development. Results demonstrated that riskscapes, particularly those for ranked and human factor riskscapes, were highly autocorrelated, non-random, and exhibited clustering. These findings indicated that a riskscape model can support improvements to response modeling, based on the identification of spatially significant clustering of hazardous areas. The third project extended landslide riskscapes to measurable geostatistical comparisons using geostatistical tools within a GIS platform. Logistic regression, weights of evidence, and probabilistic neural networks methods were used to analyze the weighted sum landslide riskscape models using ArcGIS and Spatial Data Modeler (ArcSDM). Results showed weights of evidence models performed better than both logistic regression and neural networks methods. Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curves and Area Under the Curve validation tests were performed and found the weights of evidence model performed best in both posterior probability prediction and AUC validation. A fourth project was developed based on the limitations discovered during the analytical process evaluations from the riskscape model development and geostatistical analysis. This project reviewed the issues with data quality, the variations in results predicated on the input parameters within the analytical toolsets, and the issues surrounding open-source application tools. These limitations stress the importance of parameter selection in a geospatial analytical environment. These projects collectively determined methods for riskscape development related to landslide features. The models presented demonstrate the importance and influence of spatial distributions on landslide riskscapes. Based on the proposed conceptual framework of a spatial riskscape for landslides, weighted sum riskscapes can provide a basis for prioritization of resources for landslides. Ranked and human factor riskscapes indicate the need to provide planning and protection for areas at increased risk for landslides. These studies provide a context for riskscapes to further our understanding of the benefits and limitations of a quantitative riskscape approach. The development of a methodological framework for quantitative riskscape models provides an approach that can be applied to other hazards or study areas to identify areas of increased human-environment interaction. Riskscape models can then be evaluated to inform mitigation and land-use planning activities to reduce impacts of natural hazards in the anthropogenic environment.
Open Access
Maintaining leachate flow through a leach bed reactor during anaerobic digestion of high-solids cattle manure
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Lewis, Matthew A., author; Sharvelle, Sybil, advisor; Grigg, Neil, committee member; Quinn, Jason, committee member
To address the accumulation of high-solids cattle manure (HSCM) found at many of the state's Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs), researchers at CSU have developed a Multi-Stage Anaerobic Digester (MSAD). The MSAD system consists of a leach bed reactor (LBR), a compositing tank, and a fixed-film methanogenic reactor. The LBR is a critical part of the MSAD system since hydrolysis can be a rate-limiting step in the anaerobic digestion of HSCM (Hinds 2015; Veeken and Hamelers 1999). To ensure that hydrolysis is occurring properly within the reactor, leachate injection and reactor operation must proceed in a manner that facilitates uniform distribution of leachate through the manure waste bed. Since the leachate must be recirculated through the LBR for the entirety of the batch digestion time, any phenomena that disrupt the duration or uniformity of leachate distribution must be addressed. The overarching goal of this thesis project was to improve the hydraulic performance of the LBR stage of the MSAD. This research included a multi-criterion decision analysis (MCDA) to assess unique design aspects of the MSAD relative to other technologies, construction and operation of a prototype LBR, and the development of an experimentation strategy to assess mechanism of hydraulic failure in the LBR. The MSAD system was compared to four other high-solids anaerobic digester technologies using a MCDA. The purpose of this comparison was to identify unique design features of the MSAD technology compared to other high-solids anaerobic digestion technologies to inform the focus of future design and research activities. The technologies were rated and evaluated for the following criteria: operational requirements, impact of hydraulic failure, capital requirements, operational control, feedstock technology fit, and process efficiency. The scores ranged from 2.9 to 3.7 out of 5 possible points. Under equal criteria weighting, the MSAD system received the highest rating with a score of 3.7. The MSAD system received high ratings due to its strong hydraulic performance, operational control, and process efficiency. Knowledge gained through laboratory and prototype-scale LBR experimentation was used to establish possible improvements to LBR design. The primary improvement to the LBR was the modification from a downflow to an upflow configuration. A prototype LBR was operated in the upflow configuration to facilitate longer durations of undisrupted leachate permeation. In addition, it was determined that leachate injection spacing should be studied further as results from operation of the prototype LBR suggested that higher volatile solids reduction occurred closer to the leachate influent manifold. Column experiments and prototype operation showed some successful operation of LBRs for treating HSCM. However, hydraulic failures due to clogging and preferential pathway formation were observed. Due to the continued risk of hydraulic failure, further research was needed to understand mechanisms for hydraulic failure and to determine approaches to overcome these issues. At commercial scale, hydraulic failure of LBRs would result in decreased energy and agricultural product output and increased operating costs. Since commercial processes rely on reproducible results, a high degree of LBR reliability is required to achieve technical and economic feasibility. Therefore, control over the hydraulic performance of LBRs is critical for commercialization of the MSAD system. To this end, an experimentation strategy was developed, with the goal to elucidate the mechanisms behind hydraulic failures occurring in the LBR. To evaluate these mechanisms, the experimentation strategy recommends the use of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) to render visualizations of leachate distribution throughout the waste bed. Further characterization of the pore space network geometry at the microscale using either Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or X-ray Computed Tomography (X-ray CT) is recommended.
Open Access
Modeling of hydraulic transients in closed conduits
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013) EL-Turki, Ali, author; Venayagamoorthy, Karan, advisor; Grigg, Neil, committee member; Wohl, Ellen, committee member
Hydraulic transients (often known as 'water hammer') occur as a direct result of rapid variations in the flow field in pressurized (closed-conduit) systems. For example, changes in velocity from valve closures or pump operations cause pressure surges that are propagated away from the source throughout the pipeline. The elasticity of the pipe boundaries and the compressibility of the fluid prevent these sudden changes in pressure from taking place instantaneously throughout the fluid. The associated pressure changes during a transient period are often very large and occur very rapidly (within a few seconds). If the maximum pressures exceed the bar ratings (mechanical strength) of the piping material, different types of failure such as pipe bursts can occur. Similarly, if the minimum pressure drops below the vapor pressure of the fluid, cavitation can occur and can be detrimental to the pipeline system. The purpose of this research is to model and simulate hydraulic transients in a closed conduit water system using different numerical methods. First, a numerical model was implemented to simulate the water level oscillations in a surge tank caused by the rapid closure of the outlet valve. The water surface oscillation results from the numerical model were compared with experimental results obtained from a surge tank experiment and found to be in good agreement. Furthermore, the stability and accuracy properties of the first-order explicit Euler time discretization scheme and the fourth-order Runge-Kutta (RK) time advancement scheme are highlighted using this example. It is found that using a higher-order scheme (such as the 4th order RK scheme) not only ensures a greater degree of numerical stability, but permits the use of larger time steps to achieve a similar degree of accuracy as the less stable first-order scheme. This is followed by a field test case study to investigate a pipe burst that occurred on a pipeline system in the Man-Made River in Libya. The Bentley HAMMER V8i software was employed to study this problem. A total of 28 scenarios were simulated using different combinations of the operating levels in the upstream Ajdabiya Reservoir and the downstream Gran Al-Gardabiya Reservoir and different time to closure of the valve. The simulation results show that the transient pressures in the pipeline exceeded the bar rating of the pipe where the burst occurred for most of the simulated scenarios. The range of results from the idealized simulations to the field test case study of hydraulic transients presented in this research highlights the importance of accurate prediction of the pressure fluctuations in order to ensure that a pipeline's integrity is not compromised.
Open Access
Non-perennial streamflow & geomorphic patterns in a semi-arid rangeland slated for development
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Poteet, Dixie L., author; Bhaskar, Aditi, advisor; Morrison, Ryan, advisor; Kampf, Stephanie, committee member; Grigg, Neil, committee member
Urbanization has widely recognizable impacts on stream morphology and flow patterns. Predicting and quantifying these impacts can be difficult, especially for non-perennial streams in semi-arid rangelands. Non-perennial streams tend to lack a historical baseline with complete records of streamflow presence and absence. A historical pre-development baseline allows for better consideration when making development and infrastructure decisions as well as post-development comparison to quantify urbanization-driven impacts. This project focuses on a non-perennial stream channel in West Stroh Gulch, located in Parker, Colorado south of Denver, U.S.A. A historically semi-arid rangeland area slated to undergo housing development in the next few years, West Stroh Gulch is a unique opportunity to establish a historical baseline for a non-perennial stream. Streamflow presence and absence was recorded at multiple locations along the stream network with time-lapse photography. Photo observations and precipitation data were reviewed to determine what storm events did, or did not, trigger a flow response. After over two years of stream channel monitoring, one precipitation event with a total depth of 92-mm and maximum 60-minute intensity of 50-mm per hour triggered streamflow. Additionally, a hydrodynamic model was built in SRH-2D to compare the impacts of predicted flows through a reach of interest. Topographic pre-development data and Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) generated peak flows were used to simulate impacts of different sized storms. Peak flows varied both by storm and development scenario: existing undeveloped, traditional centralized post-development detention, and post-development distributed detention. Boundary shear stresses were used to compare the different simulations. Overall, the pre-development existing scenario had the lowest flows shear stresses for the two smallest storm scenarios (water quality capture volume and 2-year storms). For the 5-, 10-, 50-, and 100-year storms, the proposed post-development scenarios that incorporated distributed detention had the lowest flows and shear stresses. The traditional centralized detention post-development stormwater strategy had the highest flows, shear stresses, velocities, and water depths for all storm sizes. The simulation results indicate that the post-development distributed detention strategy will be effective at reducing stream channel stresses and erosion for larger storm events.
Open Access
Optimal water allocation for joint sustainability of irrigated agriculture and urban growth
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2017) Mahmoudzadeh Varzi, Manijeh, author; Oad, Ramchand, advisor; DeJonge, Kendall, committee member; Grigg, Neil, committee member; Laituri, Melinda, committee member
Historically, agriculture was the main water consumer in Colorado. But the state's demand for water has increased because of rapid urban growth and development of oil and gas industry. Urban communities started buying agricultural water rights to satisfy their growing demands. However, alternative land uses for farms without water right are limited and often they are left fallow. Colorado's newly finalized water plan recognizes agriculture dry-up as one of the primary water challenges of the state and supports projects that explore alternatives to the permanent transfer of agricultural water rights to municipal and industrial users. This research has investigated deficit irrigation and limited irrigation strategies as methods of reducing farm water consumption as well as methods of temporary transfer of water, viable under Colorado's Water Law. These two sets of information formed a conceptual framework for defining an effective transfer method. An economic model was developed to determine optimal water partitioning between on-farm water uses and off-farm water renting. The model proves partitioning water is only optimal when crop water production function is concave; for linear functions the optimal option is to allocate all farm water to the most profitable. Field experimentation has determined the effect of water scarcity on agricultural production and revenue. In particular, crop yield response to water stress was quantified in experimental farms for three common crops in Colorado: corn, sunflower, and sorghum-sudangrass. The filed observations support a linear crop water production function for sorghum-sudangrass and a concave function for corn and sunflower with corn function being more concave than sunflower function. The economic model was used for South Platte River Basin to determine the minimum renting price of water for water partitioning to be optimal. The results show current renting prices of water in South Platte River Basin are too low and need to increase to more than six times before partitioning of water becomes a worthwhile practice. It was also concluded that two set of engineering tools are required for implementation of deficit irrigation; 1) tools to accurately apply desired amount of water, and 2) tools to measure farm consumptive use on a daily basis. At institutional level, Colorado Water Law's no-injury and anti-speculation rules need to be simplified for deficit irrigation to be a worthwhile alternative method to buy-and-dry.
Open Access
Optimization of sustainability and resilience for transportation projects
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Kumar, Shantanu, author; Mehany, Mohammed Hashem, advisor; Grigg, Neil, committee member; Abdallah, Moatassem, committee member; Atadero, Rebecca, committee member; Fisher, Gwen, committee member
The state of America's infrastructure is old and has been deteriorating and is in need for severe rehabilitation and maintenance. The population has been increasing which has increased the demand for new transportation projects over the last decade. Therefore, it is essential to not just construct new transportation projects but invest in the rehabilitation and maintenance of the existing infrastructure. The transportation sector has the highest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions among all infrastructure projects. In the transportation sector, the roads and highways subsector have the highest associated emissions which calls for projects in this subsector to be more sustainable. Concurrently, it has been observed that the frequency of natural disasters has increased exponentially in the last few decades which has increased the need to be more resilient. Sustainability and resilience are intertwined but different concepts that need to be explored and analyzed together. Both sustainability and resilience have been quantified using a variety of different methods, and rating system have been one of the most common and widely used methods across the globe for infrastructure projects. In North America (especially the US), the ENVISION rating system created through join efforts of the Harvard graduate School of Design's Zofnass Program of Sustainable Infrastructure and the Institute of Sustainable Infrastructure, has been the most widely used rating system for various infrastructure projects, especially transportation projects. Often, achieving sustainability and resilience is associated with a higher cost. This research proposed optimizing sustainability and resilience while minimizing the life cycle cost (LCC) and GHG emissions using the NSGA-II algorithm. It takes input of all possible strategies within the different dimensions of sustainability and resilience and uses the abovementioned algorithm to determine a list of pareto optimal solutions. These solutions represent a space of acceptable solutions which have high sustainability and resilience while also having low GHG emissions and LCC. This model is intended to assist stakeholder in making decisions to improve the sustainability and resilience while promoting a life cycle thinking. It also provides a unique database creation idea for keeping all sustainable and resilient strategies for different infrastructure projects in one place which can promote an open access feature as more transportation agencies and stakeholders buy-in to the idea of using this model.
Open Access
Optimization of water infrastructure design and management in multi-use river basins under a changing climate
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2024) Hunu, Kenneth D., author; Conrad, Steven, advisor; DePue, Michael, committee member; Grigg, Neil, committee member; Bradley, Thomas, committee member; Sharvelle, Sybil, committee member
Traditional approaches to the hydrologic design of water infrastructure assume that the climate is stationary, and that historical data reflect future conditions. The earth's climate is not stationary but changing with time. The traditional approach may, therefore, no longer be applicable. In addition to the issue of nonstationarity of climate, the design of water infrastructure to meet a particular need, such as water supply, is often assumed to be a single-objective optimization problem and is done without consideration of other competing watershed uses and constraints such as recreation, hydropower generation, environmental flows, and flood control. Such an approach routinely fails to adequately address the challenges of complex systems such as multi-use river basins that require an understanding of the linkages between the various uses and stakeholders. Water infrastructure design will benefit from a holistic and systems engineering approach that maximizes the value to all users while serving its primary function. The objective of this research was to identify and develop a new approach for designing and managing water infrastructure in multi-use basins that accounts for the effects of climate change by shifting the current static design paradigm to a more dynamic paradigm and accounts for other multi-use basin objectives, which may include recreation, hydropower generation, flood control, environmental flows, and water supply. This research involved an extensive literature review, exploration of concepts to solve the identified problems, data collection, and development of a decision support research tool that is formulated such that it can be used to test the viability of various hypotheses. This dissertation presents a practical approach for designing and managing water infrastructure that uses quantifiable hydrological estimates of the future climate and accounts for multiple river basin objectives from stakeholders. The approach is a hybrid approach that applies the updated flood frequency methodology for accounting for climate change and an adaptive management framework for managing uncertainty and multiple basin objectives. The adaptive management framework defines and maintains baseline objectives of existing climate stressors and basin users while designing the primary water infrastructure, in a manner that accounts for nonstationarity and uncertainty. The adaptive management approach allows for regular review and refinement of the application of climate data and adjustments to basin objectives, thereby reducing uncertainty within the data needed for decision-making. This new approach provides a cost-effective way to use climate change projections, is applicable to all basins and projects irrespective of geographic location, size, or basin uses, and has minimal subjective components thereby making it reproducible.