Integrated surface water and groundwater management is identified as a priority for the Okanagan Basin (located in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada) due to the combination of a fast-growing population, water resources shortages, and the potential impacts of climate change. In order to properly assess and evaluate the current status of water resources in the region it was determined that a model was needed with the capability to simulate both surface water and groundwater and the complex interactions and exchanges between the them. As a result, a pilot project entitled "Numerical Modelling on Surface Water and Groundwater Integration" is currently underway in the Deep Creek Watershed, one of subbasins in the Okanagan valley.
Following a review of existing groundwater and surface water integration modeling programs, Prof. Adam Wei from University of British Columbia (Okanagan) identified DHI's MIKE SHE, together with other selected tools, as the most appropriate modeling platform for this challenging project. "We looked at a wide range of possible tools for performing the modeling, but in the end we decided on MIKE SHE due to the strong integration and communication between the surface water and groundwater systems, and due to the proven track record of projects where it has been successfully applied." says Dr. Wei. "The results from the simulations will provide critical information for the local community to achieve long-term watershed ecosystem sustainability, and the model itself will be easily expandable to other sub-basins and watersheds in the region."