New Data Driven Model Helps California Manage Water Scarcity |

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California is facing increasing pressure on its water supply as droughts and extreme climate events become more frequent. Managing reservoirs under these conditions requires new approaches that can better anticipate uncertainty and balance competing demands for water.

To address this challenge, a research team from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, together with Martin Glanzer, Assistant Professor of Operations Management, has developed a data‑driven model designed to improve reservoir operations.

Using mathematical tools, the model accounts for seasonal variability in precipitation and snowmelt to optimize water release decisions. In a case study of the Sacramento River Basin, the approach reduced average water shortage costs by around 40 percent compared to current operating policies, underscoring its potential for more resilient water management in drought‑prone regions.

New Data Driven Model Helps California Manage Water Scarcity

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