SWRR on the Potomac

Rhonda Kranz and John Wells

Sustainable Water Resources RoundtableApril 25, 2006

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

A national collaboration of federal, state, local, corporate, non-profit

and academic interests

Sustainable Water Sustainable Water Resources RoundtableResources Roundtable

SWRR ProgressSWRR Progress

A conceptual framework for understanding water A conceptual framework for understanding water resources sustainabilityresources sustainability

Principles, criteria and indicators to support Principles, criteria and indicators to support decision-makingdecision-making

Collaboration on research needsCollaboration on research needs

Principles of Water Resources Principles of Water Resources SustainabilitySustainability

1.1. The value & limits of waterThe value & limits of waterPeople need to understand the value and People need to understand the value and appreciate the limits of water resources appreciate the limits of water resources and the risks to people and ecosystems and the risks to people and ecosystems of unbounded water and land useof unbounded water and land use

Principles of Water Resources Principles of Water Resources SustainabilitySustainability

2.2. Shared responsibilityShared responsibilityBecause water does not respect political Because water does not respect political boundaries, its management requires boundaries, its management requires shared consideration of the needs of shared consideration of the needs of people and ecosystems up- and people and ecosystems up- and downstream and throughout the downstream and throughout the hydrologic cyclehydrologic cycle

Principles of Water Resources Principles of Water Resources SustainabilitySustainability

3.3. Equitable accessEquitable accessSustainability suggests fair and equitable Sustainability suggests fair and equitable access to water, water dependent access to water, water dependent resources and related infrastructureresources and related infrastructure

Principles of Water Resources Principles of Water Resources SustainabilitySustainability

4.4. StewardshipStewardshipManaging water to achieve sustainability Managing water to achieve sustainability challenges us in meeting today’s needs to challenges us in meeting today’s needs to address the implications of our decisions address the implications of our decisions on future generations and the on future generations and the ecosystems upon which they will relyecosystems upon which they will rely

OutreachOutreach

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 PerspectiveGeneral Systems Perspective

Ecosystems

Social System

Biophysical Environment

EconomicSystem

Ex: Fisheries Ex: Fisheries Systems PerspectiveSystems Perspective

Social System for Fishery Management

Aquatic Ecosystem

Social System

Biophysical Environment

EconomicSystem

Economic System for Fishing

Information PyramidInformation PyramidFewer PiecesOf Information

More PiecesOf Information

Stories

Measurements

Criteria

Indicators

Indicator CategoriesIndicator Categories

Gross WaterAvailability

Social Capacity

HumanConditions,

Infrastructure Capacity

Water WithdrawalsFor Human Uses:Quantity Quality

Water DependentResource

Withdrawals

Water Uses

WaterDependent Resource

Uses

HumanConditions

Water DependentResources and

Conditions

WaterQuality

Water in the

Environment

Environmental Conditions

Social &EconomicProcesses

EnvironmentalProcesses Water Dependent

ConditionUses

Specific Categories for Water-Resources Sustainability Indicators

Environmental Conditions

StartingConditions

Ending Conditions

Processes

Return, Waste and Residual Flows

Alterations of Landform & Stream Morph.

Treatment

Treatment Econ.Production

1. System capacities and their allocation

2. Consequences of water allocation

3. Effects on people

4. Underlying processes and driving forces

Major Categories of IndicatorsMajor Categories of Indicators

5. Composite sustainability assessment

Gross WaterAvailability:

Precipitation

Water UsesAnd Reuses

Water in the Environment:Quality/Quantity

streams,lakes, wetlands

& aquifers

System Capacities and Their AllocationSystem Capacities and Their AllocationExample Indicators

Treatment

Treatment

Social Infrastructural Capacity:

Drinking water and wastewatertreatment capacity

Net WaterAvailability:

Wateravailablefor people

Social Institutional Capacity:

Water law and rightsRegulation 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 System capacities and their allocationallocation

1. Gross water availability2. Total withdrawals for human uses3. Water remaining in the environment after

withdrawals and consumption4. Water quality in the environment5. Total capacity to deliver water supply (i.e.,

infrastructure capacity)6. Social and organizational capacity to manage

water sustainably

Figure 4.1.1.

Available PrecipitationAvailable Precipitation

Source: S. Roy, K. Summers and R. Goldstein

Water Dependent Resource Uses:

Fish consumption

Water DependentResources and

Conditions:Fish stocksAesthetics

Water in the

Environment

Environmental Conditions:Water qualityBiodiversity

Water ConditionDependent Uses:

Sailing

Consequences of Water AllocationConsequences of Water AllocationWater UsesAnd Reuses:Municipal andindustrial use

Water Dependent Resource Harvests:

Fish landings

Water WithdrawalsFor Human Uses

Return Flows

Example Indicators

Consequences of the way we Consequences of the way we allocate water capacityallocate water capacity

7. Environmental conditions8. Resource conditions9. The quality and quantity of water for human

uses10.Resources withdrawals and use

Figure 4.8.1

Capacity of Water Resources to Capacity of Water Resources to Support Human UseSupport Human Use

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Water Quality Inventory 1998 Report

Effects on PeopleEffects on People

Water Uses:Croplandirrigation

WaterDependent Res. Uses:

Fishing

WaterCondition

Dependent Uses:Sailing

Value of Goods and ServicesProduced with Water:Value of produce and

processed foods

Value of Goodsand Services Produced

With Resources:Food & recreational value

Value of Uses Dependenton Water Conditions:Boating expenditures

Recreational value

Health Effects:

Nutritional valueExposure to toxic

chemicalsIncidence of

drowning

Example Indicators

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

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

Figure 4.11.2

Reported Incidenceof Waterborne Disease

Source: Surveillance for Waterborne Disease Outbreaks - US, 1997-1998

Ecosystem ProcessesEcosystem Processes& Societal& Societal DriversDrivers

Natural

Processes:

Disturbance & Response

Energy Cycling

Hydrologic Cycle & Flow Regime

Materials Cycling

Social &EconomicDrivers:

EconomicDevelopment

Energy Production and Use

Land Use

Population Growth

Transportation

Ecosystems Society

Ecosystem

goods & services

Human alterations & discharges

tim

e

tim

e

Underlying processes and driving Underlying processes and driving forcesforces

12. Land use

13. Residual flows – the flow of water and wastes

back into the water system

12. Social and economic processes – the systems

people and organizations develop to influence

water resources and sustainability

12. Ecosystem processes

Figure 4.12.3

Watersheds with a High PotentialWatersheds with a High Potentialfor Pesticide and Nitrogen Leachingfor Pesticide and Nitrogen Leaching

Composite sustainability Composite sustainability assessmentassessment

16.Water use sustainability – in each watershed, the ratio of water withdrawn to renewable supply

17.Water quality sustainability – in each watershed, indicators of the suitability of water quality for the uses desired, including ecosystem uses

Source: S. Roy, K. Summers and R. Goldstein

Figure 4.16.1

Water Use SustainabilityWater Use SustainabilityWithdrawals as a % of available precipitation, 1995

The Work AheadThe 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’dFuture 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 InformationContact Information

John.wells@state.mn.usJohn.wells@state.mn.us John Wells John Wells

Kranz@kranzcons.comKranz@kranzcons.com Rhonda Kranz Rhonda Kranz

http://water.usgs.gov/wicp/acwi/swrrhttp://water.usgs.gov/wicp/acwi/swrr