Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2011MI189B

Building a Transforming Framework for Resilient Policy Option and Water Resource Management for Michigan and Internationally

Institute: Michigan
Year Established: 2011 Start Date: 2011-03-01 End Date: 2012-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $15,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $31,808

Principal Investigators: Karim Maredia, Jon MacDonagh-Dumler

Project Summary: Problem
Current water management systems in the United States are often sub-optimal in their overall performance, especially in terms of the sustainable provision and use of freshwater supplies and their ability to mitigate water quality impacts. In highly stressed areas water management systems do not have adequate resilience or the ability to withstand major disruption and adapt, and thus are unable to even maintain a status quo performance. Thus, there is a need to build a framework that can guide the transformation process leading to a more resilient management system.

Methods
The design of data collection and analysis will focus on the building blocks for a transforming management framework and draw upon collaborative networks of researchers with international experience in water management. In particular, the methods of comparative policy and program analysis of these blocks will investigate: (1) information systems water managers and policy makers depend on for measuring and monitoring water quantity and quality; (2) governance systems for freshwater resources with particular focus on the agricultural sector; (3) economic incentive provisions of federal and state water policies that promote conservation and environmental outcomes impacting water quality; (4) private sector economic incentives enhancing water conservation and/or implementation of best management practices; (5) successful instances of interest group collaborations, forums for dialogue and coalition building; (6) approaches to information sharing, education and effective communications; (7) problem-solving effectiveness of boundary organizations and educational outreach initiated from universities; (8) approaches to achieving equity and fairness through balancing benefits, costs, and needs of user and other impacted groups.

Objectives
The objectives of this research are to perform an integrated national and global analysis of water management systems and publish guidance for future research based on a transforming framework.