Understanding and enumerating water management options at the margin: a blueprint for achieving optimal outcomes in the CLLMM
​Project Lead: Joanne Tingey-Holyoak and Lin Chase (University of South Australia)
Project Team: Bethany Cooper, Jeff Connor, John Pisaniello, Vandana Subroy, Yuan Gao
(University of South Australia), Kerri Muller (AU2100)
Project overview
Optimal water management requires an understanding of the value of water in different contexts. Optimising management across the CLLMM region under future climatic conditions requires an understanding of what a desirable condition for the system is and supporting appropriate policies and programs for such conditions. Arguably, one of the most vexing issues related to water management is the attribution of non-extractive values, such as the environmental benefits from water for the environment, and the recreational and cultural gains related to those flows.
Economists have developed a range of techniques for enumerating those values so they can be optimised along with the marginal values from consumptive use. These techniques are now well-established in both academic and regulatory settings, but successful deployment requires input from other disciplines to describe ecological and cultural responses to altered flows under changing climate scenarios.
Having constructed an optimisation model that harnesses multiple values, it will then be possible to analyse scenarios that capture potential impacts of water redistribution and those related to climate change. Specifically, more frequent and extended low flow events can be modelled to both anticipate vulnerabilities and investigate different institutional arrangements which might help offset some of those impacts. A cross-disciplinary team has been established to negotiate the interdependencies required to deliver this project.
Water is critical to the region, and this project will add to understanding of the value (economic and non-economic) of the water to support management and decision-making across the CLLMM as the impacts of climate change increase.
The project will grow strong links with community, primary producer groups, First Nations, local councils, and NGOs. Representatives from these stakeholder groups will play an active part in the delivery of the project. There will be opportunity for workshops, networking, and capacity building through analysis of local cases.
The project will support management and decision-making by providing:
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Comprehensive primary data of economic benefits, use and non-use values for water in the CLLMM region linked to key water quality variable
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An understanding of other use values and cultural values supported by case studies of local practices, businesses and organisations
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An evaluation tool to examine the impacts and risks of alternative watering scenarios.
First Nations culture and traditions are rooted within an ancient historical connection with country and countless generations of studying their local environment as a way of life. First Nations traditional ways of life, including land and water management, sustainable harvesting, and the conservation of local species can provide vital perspectives into the ways we manage the lands and waters into the future.
This project will hold significance for First Nations Culture and people through cultural water allocations. Ensuring that future water management optimisation and planning includes perspectives form First Nations people is vital in order to protect and maintain cultural values in the future against forecast climate scenarios, mitigating their effects.
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First Nations perspectives will be significant with regard to sustainable water allocations for the environment and preserving cultural practices and traditions which rely heavily on water availability. Accessibility to water through optimal water allocations will assist in ensuring longevity of habitat for Nga:tjar (totem animals) in the region, while also offering a resource for other cultural traditions and consumption.
Cultural significance
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