Rhonda John

Measuring the Sustainability of Water Management in the U.S.: 

SWRR on the Potomac Rhonda Kranz and John Wells Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable April 25, 2006 Measuring the Sustainability of Water Management in the U.S.

Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable: 

A national collaboration of federal, state, local, corporate, non-profit and academic interests Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable

SWRR Progress: 

SWRR Progress A conceptual framework for understanding water resources sustainability Principles, criteria and indicators to support decision-making Collaboration on research needs

Principles of Water Resources Sustainability: 

Principles of Water Resources Sustainability The value & limits of water People need to understand the value and appreciate the limits of water resources and the risks to people and ecosystems of unbounded water and land use

Principles of Water Resources Sustainability: 

Principles of Water Resources Sustainability Shared responsibility Because water does not respect political boundaries, its management requires shared consideration of the needs of people and ecosystems up- and downstream and throughout the hydrologic cycle

Principles of Water Resources Sustainability: 

Principles of Water Resources Sustainability Equitable access Sustainability suggests fair and equitable access to water, water dependent resources and related infrastructure

Principles of Water Resources Sustainability: 

Principles of Water Resources Sustainability Stewardship Managing water to achieve sustainability challenges us in meeting today’s needs to address the implications of our decisions on future generations and the ecosystems upon which they will rely

Outreach: 

Outreach 300 active participants from federal, state and local governments; corporations; nonprofits and academia Meetings in California, Minnesota, Michigan, Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia Publications and conference presentations

General Systems Perspective: 

General Systems Perspective Ecosystems Social System Biophysical Environment Economic System

Ex: Fisheries Systems Perspective: 

Ex: Fisheries Systems Perspective Social System for Fishery Management Aquatic Ecosystem Social System Biophysical Environment Economic System Economic System for Fishing

Information Pyramid: 

Information Pyramid Fewer Pieces Of Information More Pieces Of Information Stories Measurements Criteria Indicators

Indicator Categories: 

Indicator Categories

Major Categories of Indicators: 

System capacities and their allocation Consequences of water allocation Effects on people Underlying processes and driving forces Major Categories of Indicators Composite sustainability assessment

Slide14: 

Gross Water Availability: Precipitation Water Uses And Reuses Water in the Environment: Quality/Quantity streams, lakes, wetlands & aquifers System Capacities and Their Allocation Example Indicators Treatment Treatment Social Infrastructural Capacity: Drinking water and wastewater treatment capacity Net Water Availability: Water available for people Social Institutional Capacity: Water law and rights Regulation of appropriations Water Withdrawals for Human Uses: Total withdrawals for all purposes Return Flows: Return water & physical, chemical and biological pollutant loading

System capacities and their allocation: 

System capacities and their allocation Gross water availability Total withdrawals for human uses Water remaining in the environment after withdrawals and consumption Water quality in the environment Total capacity to deliver water supply (i.e., infrastructure capacity) Social and organizational capacity to manage water sustainably

Slide16: 

Figure 4.1.1. Available Precipitation Source: S. Roy, K. Summers and R. Goldstein

Slide17: 

Water Dependent Resource Uses: Fish consumption Water Dependent Resources and Conditions: Fish stocks Aesthetics Water in the Environment Environmental Conditions: Water quality Biodiversity Water Condition Dependent Uses: Sailing Consequences of Water Allocation Water Uses And Reuses: Municipal and industrial use Water Dependent Resource Harvests: Fish landings Water Withdrawals For Human Uses Return Flows Example Indicators

Consequences of the way we allocate water capacity: 

Consequences of the way we allocate water capacity Environmental conditions Resource conditions The quality and quantity of water for human uses Resources withdrawals and use

Slide19: 

Figure 4.8.1 Capacity of Water Resources to Support Human Use Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Water Quality Inventory 1998 Report

Effects on People: 

Effects on People Water Uses: Cropland irrigation Water Dependent Res. Uses: Fishing Water Condition Dependent Uses: Sailing Value of Goods and Services Produced with Water: Value of produce and processed foods Value of Goods and Services Produced With Resources: Food & recreational value Value of Uses Dependent on Water Conditions: Boating expenditures Recreational value Health Effects: Nutritional value Exposure to toxic chemicals Incidence of drowning Example Indicators

Effects on people of the conditions and uses of water resources: 

Effects on people of the conditions and uses of water resources Human conditions – measures of the value people receive from the uses of water and the costs they incur, including health effects

Slide22: 

Figure 4.11.2 Reported Incidence of Waterborne Disease

Ecosystem Processes& Societal Drivers: 

Ecosystem Processes & Societal Drivers Social & Economic Drivers: Economic Development Energy Production and Use Land Use Population Growth Transportation Ecosystems Society Ecosystem goods & services Human alterations & discharges time time

Underlying processes and driving forces: 

Underlying processes and driving forces Land use Residual flows – the flow of water and wastes back into the water system Social and economic processes – the systems people and organizations develop to influence water resources and sustainability Ecosystem processes

Slide25: 

Figure 4.12.3 Watersheds with a High Potential for Pesticide and Nitrogen Leaching

Composite sustainability assessment: 

Composite sustainability assessment Water use sustainability – in each watershed, the ratio of water withdrawn to renewable supply Water quality sustainability – in each watershed, indicators of the suitability of water quality for the uses desired, including ecosystem uses

Slide27: 

Figure 4.16.1 Total Freshwater Withdrawal in 1995 (as a percent of available precipitation) Source: S. Roy, K. Summers and R. Goldstein Figure 4.16.1 Water Use Sustainability Withdrawals as a % of available precipitation, 1995

The Work Ahead: 

The Work Ahead Complete, revise and refine indicators including indicators scalable to national, state and local levels Assist agencies describing the need for programs to collect the information necessary for generating indicators Increase representation incorporating indicators of regional water management programs

Future Work, cont’d: 

Future Work, cont’d Expand relationships with the scientific community Consult with other programs on water related indicators National Research Council Key National Indicator Initiative Council on Environmental Quality Heinz Foundation Plan a National Forum

Contact Information: 

Contact Information John.wells@state.mn.us John Wells Kranz@kranzcons.com Rhonda Kranz http://water.usgs.gov/wicp/acwi/swrr