Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID CO-2023-R03

Using mental models to understand the governance of adaptive river management for aquatic ecosystem sustainability

Institute: Colorado
Year Established: 2023 Start Date: 2023-09-01 End Date: 2024-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $9,619 Total Non-Federal Funds: $9,618

Principal Investigators: Jonathan Salerno

Project Summary: For my research, I will examine how mental models of social-ecological systems (i.e., people’s perceptions of causal relationships) can be used to understand the governance of adaptive river management in the South Platte River basin. I will interview water managers and decision makers involved in agricultural, municipal, industrial, and environmental and recreation sectors to solicit diverse input needed to characterize perceptional similarities and dissimilarities in water governance among those who manage the South Platte River. With this knowledge, I will identify a range of options for collaborative conservation to help implement the Colorado Water Plan (CWP). As we move forward, it is imperative that we continue to explore innovative solutions to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of our river systems.