Sustainable Watershed Management: Approach and Toolkit for Planning - Prof. A. A. Keller, Study notes of Environmental Science

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Sustainable Watershed Sustainable Watershed

ManagementManagement

A short course by:A short course by: Bren School of Environmental Science &Bren School of Environmental Science & ManagementManagement and UCSB Extensionand UCSB Extension

1. Introduction1. Introduction

Prof. Arturo A. KellerProf. Arturo A. Keller

Sustainable Watershed MgmtSustainable Watershed Mgmt

ƒƒ^ Sustainability:Sustainability: ƒƒ^ Consider longConsider long--term as well as presentterm as well as present ƒƒ MultiMulti--objectiveobjective ƒƒ Not equal to invariantNot equal to invariant…… ƒƒ Variability in natural systemVariability in natural system ƒƒ Changing land and water uses in watershedChanging land and water uses in watershed ƒƒ^ Changing public perception and interestsChanging public perception and interests

Objective of the Course Objective of the Course

ƒƒ^ Provide an approach and toolkit to developProvide an approach and toolkit to develop

a Watershed Management Plana Watershed Management Plan

ƒƒ^ Consider water quantity and quality withinConsider water quantity and quality within

the planning processthe planning process

ƒƒ^ Incorporate short, medium and long termIncorporate short, medium and long term

objectives into the planning frameworkobjectives into the planning framework

ƒƒ^ Analyze several case studies to putAnalyze several case studies to put

approach and toolkit into practical contextapproach and toolkit into practical context

Course Outline Course Outline

ƒƒ^ Sustainable Watershed ManagementSustainable Watershed Management ƒƒ Water PolicyWater Policy ƒƒ Elements of a Watershed Management PlanElements of a Watershed Management Plan (WMP)(WMP) ƒƒ^ Planning the Development of a WMPPlanning the Development of a WMP ƒƒ Identifying Data Needs and SourcesIdentifying Data Needs and Sources ƒƒ Population Growth ConsiderationsPopulation Growth Considerations ƒƒ Water Supply and DemandWater Supply and Demand ƒƒ^ Survey of Modeling Tools in Support of aSurvey of Modeling Tools in Support of a WMPWMP

Course Outline Course Outline

ƒƒ Incorporating Management ActivitiesIncorporating Management Activities ƒƒ^ Structural Best Management Practices (BMPs)Structural Best Management Practices (BMPs) ƒƒ NonNon--structural BMPsstructural BMPs ƒƒ^ Other policy and management activitiesOther policy and management activities ƒƒ Case studies of Watershed Management PlansCase studies of Watershed Management Plans ƒƒ Tucson, AZTucson, AZ ƒƒ Santa Ana River, CASanta Ana River, CA ƒƒ^ Calleguas, CACalleguas, CA ƒƒ Santa Clara River, CASanta Clara River, CA ƒƒ San Cristobal, Chiapas, MexicoSan Cristobal, Chiapas, Mexico ƒƒ Special considerations for Watershed ManagementSpecial considerations for Watershed Management ƒƒ^ Dealing with uncertainties in the planning processDealing with uncertainties in the planning process ƒƒ San Cristobal, Chiapas, MexicoSan Cristobal, Chiapas, Mexico ƒƒ^ What missing data is most valuable for the planning process?What missing data is most valuable for the planning process? ƒƒ SummarySummary

Water Resources Water Resources

Water Resources Water Resources Watershed ManagementWatershed Management

ƒƒ^ Land Use & Land Use ChangeLand Use & Land Use Change ƒƒ^ Ag, Residential, Commercial, Industrial, ParksAg, Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Parks ƒƒ Forests, Grasslands, Wetlands,Forests, Grasslands, Wetlands, …… ƒƒ^ Land Management PracticesLand Management Practices ƒƒ^ Physical changesPhysical changes ƒƒ Chemical use & releaseChemical use & release ƒƒ Introduction or elimination of biotaIntroduction or elimination of biota ƒƒ Water Management PracticesWater Management Practices ƒƒ^ Extraction or diversion from natural systemExtraction or diversion from natural system ƒƒ Changes to recharge of natural reservoirsChanges to recharge of natural reservoirs ƒƒ Physical modificationsPhysical modifications

Sustainability Sustainability

ƒƒ^ Easier to define situations that areEasier to define situations that are notnot

sustainable:sustainable:

ƒƒ Excessive extraction of groundwaterExcessive extraction of groundwater ƒƒ Lower watertable and diminished baseflowLower watertable and diminished baseflow ƒƒ^ Increased energy consumption per unit of waterIncreased energy consumption per unit of water extractedextracted ƒƒ SubsidenceSubsidence ƒƒ^ Salt-Salt-water intrusionwater intrusion

SustainabilitySustainability

ƒƒ^ Other examples of unsustainableOther examples of unsustainable

managementmanagement

ƒƒ Pollutant loading above the capacity of thePollutant loading above the capacity of the system to assimilate the loadsystem to assimilate the load ƒƒ Concentrated discharges that result inConcentrated discharges that result in localized hot spotslocalized hot spots ƒƒ^ Practices that increase risk of floodingPractices that increase risk of flooding ƒƒ Decrease in aesthetic or recreational valueDecrease in aesthetic or recreational value due to physical or biological changesdue to physical or biological changes

Sustainable Water Resources MgmtSustainable Water Resources Mgmt

ƒƒ ““Availability of sufficient quantity andAvailability of sufficient quantity and

quality of water, at acceptable prices, nowquality of water, at acceptable prices, now

and in the future, without causing theand in the future, without causing the

environment to deteriorate.environment to deteriorate.””

Balance short- vs. long-term socioeconomic objectives

Sustainable Water Resources MgmtSustainable Water Resources Mgmt

ƒƒ Managing for sustainability sets a clearManaging for sustainability sets a clear

goal:goal:

ƒƒ Resource must be managed in a responsibleResource must be managed in a responsible mannermanner ƒƒ Think about longThink about long--term implications of humanterm implications of human activitiesactivities ƒƒ Need to consider human health AND needs ofNeed to consider human health AND needs of other species that depend on water resourceother species that depend on water resource

Sustainability and Change Sustainability and Change

ƒƒ Essential to planning is anticipation of changeEssential to planning is anticipation of change ƒƒ Change in demand and/or supplyChange in demand and/or supply ƒƒ^ Change in uses and criteriaChange in uses and criteria ƒƒ Change in climateChange in climate ƒƒ Adaptive Management must be built intoAdaptive Management must be built into planning processplanning process ƒƒ^ Control/Monitoring points in time and spaceControl/Monitoring points in time and space ƒƒ Decision pointsDecision points ƒƒ Review of objectives and approachReview of objectives and approach

Sustainability and ScaleSustainability and Scale

ƒƒ What is the appropriate spatial scale?What is the appropriate spatial scale?

ƒƒ Too large a scale (e.g. major river basins)Too large a scale (e.g. major river basins) may overlook unique local attributesmay overlook unique local attributes ƒƒ EconomiesEconomies ƒƒ EcosystemsEcosystems ƒƒ^ ResourcesResources ƒƒ^ Too small a scale (e.g. every hectare) mayToo small a scale (e.g. every hectare) may not be selfnot be self--sufficient or sustainablesufficient or sustainable

Sustainability and Scale Sustainability and Scale

ƒƒ^ What about time scales?What about time scales?

ƒƒ Short time scale may seem sustainableShort time scale may seem sustainable…… ƒƒ^ How long is longHow long is long--term?term? ƒƒ Can there be periods where some objectivesCan there be periods where some objectives are not met?are not met? ƒƒ Abrupt changes in conditions?Abrupt changes in conditions? ƒƒ Resilience?Resilience? ƒƒ Vulnerability?Vulnerability?

Interbasin transfers may not be sustainable in the long-term

Sustainability and Variability Sustainability and Variability

ƒƒ^ Variability in flow AND quality is a naturalVariability in flow AND quality is a natural

phenomenaphenomena

ƒƒ Ecosystems are adapted to variabilityEcosystems are adapted to variability ƒƒ^ Some organisms depend on variability to startSome organisms depend on variability to start some processessome processes

Sustainability and VariabilitySustainability and Variability

ƒƒ UncertaintyUncertainty ≠≠ VariabilityVariability

ƒƒ^ Variability may be characterized usingVariability may be characterized using statistical methodsstatistical methods ƒƒ Uncertainty is much tougher to characterizeUncertainty is much tougher to characterize

Sustainability and Risk Sustainability and Risk

ƒƒ Risk Assessment:Risk Assessment:

ƒƒ^ What could go wrong?What could go wrong? ƒƒ What is the likelihood that this will happen?What is the likelihood that this will happen? ƒƒ What are the consequences?What are the consequences?

ƒƒ Risk Management:Risk Management:

ƒƒ Identify high risk eventsIdentify high risk events ƒƒ High probability, high damageHigh probability, high damage ƒ ƒ Reduce probability and/or damageReduce probability and/or damage ƒƒ Extreme events: low probability, high damageExtreme events: low probability, high damage

Key Elements of a Key Elements of a Sustainable Watershed Mgmt PlanSustainable Watershed Mgmt Plan

ƒƒ Identify quantifiable criteria that contribute toIdentify quantifiable criteria that contribute to

ƒƒ Human welfareHuman welfare ƒƒ Ecological healthEcological health

ƒƒ Management Plan mustManagement Plan must

ƒƒ^ Ensure reliability of solutionsEnsure reliability of solutions ƒƒ Determine resilience of elements to changesDetermine resilience of elements to changes ƒƒ^ Assess and minimize vulnerabilityAssess and minimize vulnerability ƒƒ Identify and reduce sources of uncertainty thatIdentify and reduce sources of uncertainty that may significant negatively affect the planmay significant negatively affect the plan

Guidelines to Manage forGuidelines to Manage for SustainabilitySustainability

ƒƒ Identify and involve as many stakeholdersIdentify and involve as many stakeholders

as feasibleas feasible

ƒƒ^ May need to reMay need to re--scope spatial scalescope spatial scale

ƒƒ Develop a shared vision of desired social,Develop a shared vision of desired social,

economic and environmental goalseconomic and environmental goals

ƒƒ^ Consider present and future generationsConsider present and future generations ƒƒ Define reasonable planning horizonDefine reasonable planning horizon

ƒƒ^ Identify ways for all parties to contribute toIdentify ways for all parties to contribute to

achieving shared visionachieving shared vision

Guidelines to Manage for Guidelines to Manage for SustainabilitySustainability

ƒƒ^ Identify solutions/approaches that restore,Identify solutions/approaches that restore,

enhance or maintainenhance or maintain

ƒƒ Economic vitalityEconomic vitality ƒƒ^ Environmental qualityEnvironmental quality ƒƒ Natural ecosystem biodiversity and healthNatural ecosystem biodiversity and health ƒƒ Social and cultural community goalsSocial and cultural community goals

Guidelines to Manage forGuidelines to Manage for SustainabilitySustainability ƒƒ Integrate best science available into decision-Integrate best science available into decision- making processmaking process ƒƒ^ UncertaintyUncertainty^ ≠≠^ no actionno action ƒƒ Manage uncertainty within processManage uncertainty within process ƒƒ^ Understand the watershed (components,Understand the watershed (components, processes, values and attributes) and itsprocesses, values and attributes) and its responseresponse ƒƒ^ Explain watershed response to stakeholders toExplain watershed response to stakeholders to help them make informed decisionshelp them make informed decisions

Guidelines to Manage for Guidelines to Manage for SustainabilitySustainability

ƒƒ Establish baseline conditions againstEstablish baseline conditions against

which change can be measuredwhich change can be measured

ƒƒ PrePre--development condition may be hard todevelopment condition may be hard to determinedetermine ƒƒ Pristine condition may not existPristine condition may not exist

ƒƒ Monitor and evaluate frequently toMonitor and evaluate frequently to

determine if goals and objectives aredetermine if goals and objectives are

being achievedbeing achieved

Key Points Key Points

ƒƒ Planning for Sustainability is imperativePlanning for Sustainability is imperative

ƒƒ There are many aspects involved in theThere are many aspects involved in the

concept of Sustainabilityconcept of Sustainability

ƒƒ Watershed Management approach isWatershed Management approach is

generally an appropriate scale for thinkinggenerally an appropriate scale for thinking

about Sustainabilityabout Sustainability

ƒƒ It’It’s hard work!s hard work!