This presentation premiered at WaterSmart Innovations
watersmartinnovations.com
Inspiring Water Conservation through Recognition of
Environmental Water Needs WaterSmart Innovations
October 7, 2010
Joanna [email protected]
(520)621-7292
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Overview
Environmental Water Needs AssessmentProject Goals & TimelineProducts: Assessment and GuidebookInventory & Analysis
Conserve to EnhanceConcept OverviewImplementation GuidelinesPilot Program
Overarching Goals
• Increase understanding of environmental water needs in Arizona on the part of water professionals, policymakers, and the public.
• Help place the environment “at the table” as a water using sector in Arizona water planning.
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Need for this Project
Source: ADWR, 20094
ToTal DemanD: 6.7 maF
Project Objectives
– Incorporate environmental water needs into future water planning,
– Increase public awareness about environmental water needs,
– Assist decision makers in understanding the science used in environmental flow studies,
– Support decision making for addressing environmental water needs within Arizona, and
– Facilitate efforts to address information gaps about environmental water needs in Arizona.
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General Project Timeline• One-year Assessment
– Spring-Fall 2010 – Assemble and analyze information from environmental flow studies
– Fall-Winter 2010 –Review of draft report and guidebook – Early 2011 - Guidebook and report publicly available
• Second year - Actively disseminate findings through:– Geographically focused bulletins– Outreach presentations– Participation in water planning efforts, as appropriate– Stakeholder workshops
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Main Products
Technical and Spatial Assessment of Studies of Environmental Flow Needs
Guidebook of Existing Methodologies
Identification of Information Gaps
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Assessment Outline
1. Introduction2. Summary of Studies
1. Types of Studies2. Spatial Coverage3. Findings4. Information Gaps
3. Research Agenda
Guidebook Outline
1. Classification of Methodologies2. Evaluation of Methodologies
1. On Evaluation Criteria 2. Decision Tree 3. Tie to Information Gaps
3. Detailed Description of Methodologies1. Reference to Specific Studies and Experts
Advisory Committee
• 11 Members• U.S. FWS, AZGFD, Reclamation, Sierra
Club, Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, University of Arizona, Arizona Land & Water Trust, Arizona State University
• Provides guidance on sources and interpreting results
• Collaboration efforts
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Study Categories
• Study Type• Geographic Extent: River Basin(s)• Biological Elements: Vegetation, Animal,
Macroinvert• Hydrologic Focus: Riparian, Aquatic• Methods Classification• Use of Field Data or Expert Opinion• Output Dynamics
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Summary of Studies
Aquatic Only Riparian Only Aquatic/Riparian TOTAL
Multiple Study Syntheses
5 10 11 26
Review of Multiple Studies
0 10 6 16
Single Study 17 35 11 63
TOTAL 22 55 28 105
105 studies in database
67 give quantitative information about flow needs or responses20 of these have limited description of methods used
Summary of Studies
105 studies in database
67 give quantitative information about flow needs or responses20 of these have limited description of methods used
Quantified Flow Needs…
Single Species Multiple Species Community
TOTAL 5 27 15
Methodology Classification
Arizona’s studies utilize methods that:
I. Quantify environmental water needs-for aquatic elements-for riparian elements
II. Describe environmental water needs (not quantitatively)
III. Value environmental water needs
Methodology Evaluation
All Studies in Inventory
Methods Categories
Published Literature,
Expert Opinion
Assumptions
Purpose/Use
Quality of Findings
Cost/Effort
Methodology Evaluation
Methodology Specific Use/PurposeHydraulic rating
Wetted Perimeter or Maximum Depth of Flow
Static minimum flow prescriptions; Scenario-based decision making and water allocation; Informs short term and local operational rules; Validate instream flow rate requests greater than median flow rates
Habitat simulation
Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM)
Tradeoffs analysis in decision making; Instream flow prescriptions; Mitigation plan development
Correlation of flow attributes/ water quality with biological characteristics
Predict biological response to flows/analyze management scenarios in stream where developed; Flow recommendation in conjunction with management objectives
Opportunities
Adapted from: Brown, Carmony,and Turner (1981); TNC’ State-wide Freshwater Assessment (2005)
Projects Funded by U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
• Environmental enhancement projects need funds to secure water supplies (Megdal et al, 2006 “Projects to Enhance Arizona’s Environment”, Gerlak, et al., Water Policy, 2009)
• Public interest in preserving and enhancing riparian areas (Katz, 2006)
• Connect water conservation to environmental concerns (Schwarz and Megdal, 2007, 2008; Megdal and Bate, 2009)
Aravaipa Canyon, Arizona
Verde River, Arizona
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Water saved through water conservation
Water delivered to riparian restoration sites
Conserve to Enhance
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Program Objectives• Provide water to environmental
enhancement projects• Increase water conservation • Link individual conservation to
environmental benefits• Create a simple accounting
mechanism • Create a reliable funding
source• Raise awareness about water
conservation and river restoration
Aravaipa Canyon, Arizona
Verde River, Arizona
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Conserve to Enhance
• Voluntary reductions in water consumption• Water savings translate into money savings • Savings translated into donations for water for
environmental enhancement projects
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• Purchase of water– Reclaimed water/Effluent– Groundwater
• Lease water• Secure instream flows• Acquire easements and
retire pumping• Recharge groundwater• Other
Donations Can Go Toward…
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• Outreach efforts have included roundtables, presentations, workshops, one-on-one meetings, and surveys with:– Utilities– City and county officials– Environmental groups– Homeowners/residents– Professors– Hydrologists – Water conservation professionals
Stakeholder Involvement
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Check-box donation programs– Exists in three communities– Does not connect donations to conservation
actions– Demonstrates support for environmental water
supply– May be useful for first phase of project– Limited billing system modifications
A Simpler Mechanism
Water Restoration Certificates (Bonneville Environmental Foundation)
• Certificate represents 1,000 gallons of water & costs $1
• Linked to allow people to offset water use– National Average– Dollar Amount– Gallons Used– Personalized Calculator
• Used to support NFWF-approved projects
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A Similar Mechanism
Starting a Program• Build partnerships• Identify funding sources• Share the concept• Evaluate interest • Implement pilot programs
– Accounting mechanism– Recruit participants– Oversight body– Receiving projects
Esperanza Ranch, Arizona
Verde River, Arizona (Jeanmarie Haney, TNC)
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Tucson Pilot Program Partners
NGOs
Funders
Utility
Focus on Water Harvesting
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• Advisory Board formed– Oversight body – Represents local organizations, government entities – Has defined criteria for receiving sites– Solicited proposals from restoration
project managers
Esperanza Ranch, Arizona
Managing Funds
• Existing restoration project• Needs supplemental water• Water source identified• Publicly accessible • Located within the Tucson
Water service area• Has other funding sources
Verde River, Arizona (Jeanmarie Haney, TNC)
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Criteria for Selecting Projects
Evaluation: Elements to Evaluate
Program Development
Outreach
Participant Water Behavior
Environmental Benefits
Evaluation Tools• Participant Survey• Water Use Tracking Tool: “Conservation
Calculator”• Excel-based• Web-based
• Restoration Site Reporting• Progress Report
Websitehttp://www.cals.arizona.edu/azwater/
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Next Steps
Environmental Water Needs Assessment• Complete technical & spatial analysis of
studies• Obtain external review of materials• Share Assessment and Guidebook
Conserve to Enhance• Identify partners for implementing C2E
pilot programs• Evaluate pilot programs
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Conserve to EnhanceReferences:
Megdal, Dr. Sharon B., Bate, Joanna, and Andrew Schwarz. June 2009. Securing Water for Environmental Purposes: Establishing Pilot Programs, Intl. Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability 5.*
Gerlak, Andrea, Eden, Susanna, Megdal, Dr. Sharon B., Lacroix, Kelly Mott, and Schwarz, Andrew. 2009. Restoration and river management in the arid southwestern USA: exploring project design trends and features. Water Policy 11: 461–480.*
Schwarz, Andrew and Dr. Sharon B. Megdal. January 2008. Conserve to Enhance,Journal of the American Water Works Association 100 (1): 42-53.
Megdal, Dr. Sharon B. Jan-Feb 2008. Conserve to Enhance, Arizona Water Resource Public Policy Review.*
Schwarz, Andrew and Dr. Sharon B. Megdal. 2007. Water Conservation Banking: Municipal Water Conservation to Support Environmental Enhancement. WRRC and US Bureau of Reclamation, Tucson, AZ.*
Megdal, Dr. Sharon B., Lacroix, Kelly Mott, and Andrew Schwarz. 2006. Projects to Enhance Arizona’s Environment: An Examination of Their Functions, Water Requirements, and Public Benefits. WRRC and US Bureau of Reclamation, Tucson, AZ.*
*Available on WRRC website: http://cals.arizona.edu/azwater/publications.php
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