1. Measuring the Sustainability of Water Management in the U.S.
Minnesota Water 2005
John R. Wells
Minnesota Environmental Quality Board &
Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable
October 26, 2005

2. Minnesota Environmental Quality Board
Governor’s Office (Chair)
5 Citizens
Administration
Agriculture
Commerce
Employment & Economic Development
Health
Natural Resources
Water & Soil Resources
Pollution Control Agency
Transportation
Staffed By….
Office of Geographic &
Demographic Analysis
Department of Administration

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

4. SWRR Progress A conceptual framework for understanding the world
Principles, criteria and indicators to support decision-making
Collaboration on research needs

5. Principles of Water 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

6. Principles of Water 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

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

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

9. General Systems Perspective
Biophysical Environment
Economic
System
Ecosystems
This diagram uses set theory concepts to display the relationships among the three major systems encompassed by the concept of sustainability. The biosphere includes all living things on Earth and the non-living systems with which they interact and on which they depend. The Social System is within the Biosphere and includes all the human elements of the Biosphere. “Natural Systems” are thus the non-human elements of the Biosphere. The scare quotes show our recognition that humans a part of nature, not apart from nature.
Social System

10. Fisheries Systems Perspective
Biophysical Environment
Aquatic Ecosystem
Economic
System
Social System
for Fishery
Management
Economic System
for Fishing
In the case of fisheries, the Aquatic Ecosystem is the non-human part of the overall system, the part on which fish stocks depend. The Social System includes governmental, tribal and traditional arrangements for managing human fishing activities. The Economic System includes fishing equipment, labor and market – based processes for fishing.
Social System

11. Ecosystem Processes & Societal Drivers
Ecosystems
Society
Natural
Processes:
Disturbance & Response
Energy Cycling
Hydrologic Cycle & Flow Regime
Materials Cycling
Social &
Economic
Drivers:
Development
Energy Production
and Use
Land Use
Population Growth
Transportation
Ecosystem
goods & services
time
time
Human alterations & discharges

12. Indicator Categories

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

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

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

16. Information Pyramid Fewer Pieces Of Information Stories Criteria
Indicators
This slide show a general concept that has become well accepted as a basis for developing indicator systems. It shows a hierarchical arrangement with relatively general and simple stories that many people can absorb at the top and increasing detail, specificity and complexity at successively lower levels in the pyramid. The pyramid metaphor is based on the idea that there are more building blocks in the lower tiers of the pyramid. The stories are developed from information obtained through measurements, indicators and criteria.
More Pieces
Of Information
Measurements

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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

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

24. Ground Water Levels in the High Plains
Figure 4.3.1

25. Nitrate Load Carried by Major Rivers
Figure 4.4.1
Nitrate Load Carried by Major Rivers
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency State of the Environment 2006 report

26. Watersheds with a High Potential for Pesticide and Nitrogen Leaching
Figure
Watersheds with a High Potential
for Pesticide and Nitrogen Leaching

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

28. Population Lacking Complete Plumbing
Figure
Population Lacking Complete Plumbing
Source: Rural Community Assistance Partnership 2004

29. Reported Incidence of Waterborne Disease Figure 4.11.2
Source: Surveillance for Waterborne Disease Outbreaks - US,

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

31. Collaboration on Research Needs
Process research
Decision support tools
Data inventory
Technologies
Value of water in policy decisions
Better law & policies
Human resources
Collaboration

32. 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

33. Future Work Complete, revise and refine indicators Assist agencies
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

34. 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

35. Contact Information