476
17.6.2 Case Study 2: Visualized Simulations
In a third example, stakeholders and researchers participated in developing simulations, a set of tangible and mobile interfaces, and facilitation guidelines to help
participants jointly explore the problem space and design solutions to water shortages and flooding.
The simulations were process-based, explicitly showing land-cover and water
flow in a simple, yet reasonably realistic, way so that stakeholders could inspect the
models and examine and adjust their assumptions. Participants created scenarios on
a tangible interface (a map and wooden tokens) to try out management alternatives
via simulations that provided immediate feedback on a range of outcomes. Each
participant held a mobile interface to which all the simulation outcomes were downloaded, saved, and then sorted by the preferences of everyone (property damage,
infrastructure investment, area flooded, runoff to downstream neighbors, etc.).
Participants could further inspect each scenario and select their favorites, per their
values, and then discuss the trade-offs across stakeholder perspectives.
Assisted by a facilitated exploration and synthesis process, this participatory
modeling setup allowed stakeholders to learn about the impacts of land and water
use on hydrology, and with this understanding, design and try out several scenarios,
negotiate across costs and benefits for each scenario, and move towards concrete
solutions that helped them address their multiple concerns.
17.6.3 Case Study 3: Colorado River Controversy
A final example illustrates how decisions in one area of the FEW nexus affect the
other areas, thereby necessitating tools for impact evaluation and stakeholder negotiation. Water rights refer to the right to use water from various sources, such as
rivers, streams, or groundwater. Water rights laws and management differ from
country to country and from state to state in the USA (see Chaps. 7 and 8). In the
western USA, for example, water rights can be sold or mortgaged like other property. Water rights owners, such as farmers or landowners, can sell their water rights
to municipalities and energy providers, who may wish to purchase water rights from
farmers for expanding urban and commercial needs. Coupled with the inevitable
changes in climate patterns and possibly diminishing river flows, significant shifts
in water usage and allocation will affect food production, urbanization, and
energy growth.
An ongoing controversy surrounding the Colorado River and fears of agricultural “dry-up” due to the demands of cities and businesses is an example of how
such shifts in water patterns can negatively affect agriculture and divide the community. Even if the consequences of water rights transfers are not negative, they can
still affect markets and sustainability rates. In Sect. 13.3, the Texas case study shows
E. Eftelioglu et al.
17.6.2 Case Study 2: Visualized Simulations
In a third example, stakeholders and researchers participated in developing simulations, a set of tangible and mobile interfaces, and facilitation guidelines to help
participants jointly explore the problem space and design solutions to water shortages and flooding.
The simulations were process-based, explicitly showing land-cover and water
flow in a simple, yet reasonably realistic, way so that stakeholders could inspect the
models and examine and adjust their assumptions. Participants created scenarios on
a tangible interface (a map and wooden tokens) to try out management alternatives
via simulations that provided immediate feedback on a range of outcomes. Each
participant held a mobile interface to which all the simulation outcomes were downloaded, saved, and then sorted by the preferences of everyone (property damage,
infrastructure investment, area flooded, runoff to downstream neighbors, etc.).
Participants could further inspect each scenario and select their favorites, per their
values, and then discuss the trade-offs across stakeholder perspectives.
Assisted by a facilitated exploration and synthesis process, this participatory
modeling setup allowed stakeholders to learn about the impacts of land and water
use on hydrology, and with this understanding, design and try out several scenarios,
negotiate across costs and benefits for each scenario, and move towards concrete
solutions that helped them address their multiple concerns.
17.6.3 Case Study 3: Colorado River Controversy
A final example illustrates how decisions in one area of the FEW nexus affect the
other areas, thereby necessitating tools for impact evaluation and stakeholder negotiation. Water rights refer to the right to use water from various sources, such as
rivers, streams, or groundwater. Water rights laws and management differ from
country to country and from state to state in the USA (see Chaps. 7 and 8). In the
western USA, for example, water rights can be sold or mortgaged like other property. Water rights owners, such as farmers or landowners, can sell their water rights
to municipalities and energy providers, who may wish to purchase water rights from
farmers for expanding urban and commercial needs. Coupled with the inevitable
changes in climate patterns and possibly diminishing river flows, significant shifts
in water usage and allocation will affect food production, urbanization, and
energy growth.
An ongoing controversy surrounding the Colorado River and fears of agricultural “dry-up” due to the demands of cities and businesses is an example of how
such shifts in water patterns can negatively affect agriculture and divide the community. Even if the consequences of water rights transfers are not negative, they can
still affect markets and sustainability rates. In Sect. 13.3, the Texas case study shows
E. Eftelioglu et al.