Conceptual Foundations For the Sustainable Water

Resources Roundtable

Why discuss concepts?

• Deal with complexity.

• Build a shared language and common understanding.

• Structure the Roundtable process

• Promote learning needed to move toward sustainability.

The General Systems Perspective

“Natural Systems”

Social System

Biosphere

EconomicSystem

Fisheries Example of the Systems Perspective

Social System for Fishery Management

Aquatic Ecosystem

Social System

Biosphere

EconomicSystem

Economic System for Fishing

Hydropower and Fishery Example of the Systems Perspective

Hydrologic and Climatologic Systems

Social System

BiosphereEconomicSystem

AquaticEcosystem

Social System for Hydropower Management

Economic SystemFor Hydropower

Social System for Fishery Management

Economic System For Fishing

Community Water Supply Example of the Systems Perspective

Hydrologic and Climatologic Systems

Social System

Biosphere

EconomicSystem

Social Systems For Managing Water Supply

Economic Systems For Water Supply

Information PyramidFewer PiecesOf Information

More PiecesOf Information

Stories

Detailed Measurements

Criteria

More Specific Indicators

The Meanings of “Criteria”

• A specific target that is accepted as a threshold of success for an objective.

• A generally desirable direction of change for a category of phenomena.

• A general category of phenomena for which we may later specify the desirable direction of change or a specific target.

A Criteria & Indicators ModelSustainability of Water Resources

EcologicalSystem

SocialSystem

EconomicSystem

Goal

Criteria

IndicatorCategories Human HealthWater Quality Water Hazards

System Condition or Capacity

IndicatorsProcesses Outputs

Human Effects Ecosystem Effects

Sub-criteria

Draft Model OutlineEcological Systema. Capacity to make water of appropriate quality & quantity

available to support ecosystems.b. Integrity of ecosystems.Social Systema. Social well-being resulting from use of water resources.b. Social well-being resulting from use of water-related

ecological resources.c. Social conditions that impact water resources.d. Social capacity for management of water & related land

resources.Economic Systema. Capacity to make water of appropriate quality & quantity

available for human uses.b. Economic well-being resulting from use of water & affected

land resources.c. Capacity to achieve economic value from the use of water

related ecological resources.d. Capacity to manage land use to maintain or enhance quality or

quantity of water.