TY - JOUR
T1 - A comprehensive sustainability appraisal of water governance in Phoenix, AZ
AU - Larson, Kelli
AU - Wiek, Arnim
AU - Keeler, Lauren
N1 - Funding Information:
We extend our gratitude to the anonymous reviewers whose input was incredibly helpful. We also thank Adrienne Uphoff, Danielle Shaffer, Sandra Rodegher, and Christopher Kuzdas for their research assistance, in addition Barabra Trapido-Lurie for assistance with graphics. This article is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant SES-0345945 , Decision Center for a Desert City . Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.
PY - 2013/2/15
Y1 - 2013/2/15
N2 - In Phoenix, Arizona and other metropolitan areas, water governance challenges include variable climate conditions, growing demands, and continued groundwater overdraft. Based on an actor-oriented examination of who does what with water and why, along with how people interact with hydro-ecological systems and man-made infrastructure, we present a sustainability appraisal of water governance for the Phoenix region. Broadly applicable to other areas, our systems approach to sustainable water governance overcomes prevailing limitations to research and management by: employing a comprehensive and integrative perspective on water systems; highlighting the activities, intentions, and rules that govern various actors, along with the values and goals driving decisions; and, establishing a holistic set of principles for social-ecological system integrity and interconnectivity, resource efficiency and maintenance, livelihood sufficiency and opportunity, civility and democratic governance, intra- and inter-generational equity, and finally, precaution and adaptive capacity. This study also contributes to reforming and innovating governance regimes by illuminating how these principles are being met, or not, in the study area. What is most needed in metropolitan Phoenix is enhanced attention to ecosystem functions and resource maintenance as well as social equity and public engagement in water governance. Overall, key recommendations entail: addressing interconnections across hydrologic units and sub-systems (e.g., land and water), increasing decentralized initiatives for multiple purposes (e.g., ecological and societal benefits of green infrastructure), incorporating justice goals into decisions (e.g., fair allocations and involvement), and building capacity through collaborations and social learning with diverse interests (e.g., scientists, policymakers, and the broader public).
AB - In Phoenix, Arizona and other metropolitan areas, water governance challenges include variable climate conditions, growing demands, and continued groundwater overdraft. Based on an actor-oriented examination of who does what with water and why, along with how people interact with hydro-ecological systems and man-made infrastructure, we present a sustainability appraisal of water governance for the Phoenix region. Broadly applicable to other areas, our systems approach to sustainable water governance overcomes prevailing limitations to research and management by: employing a comprehensive and integrative perspective on water systems; highlighting the activities, intentions, and rules that govern various actors, along with the values and goals driving decisions; and, establishing a holistic set of principles for social-ecological system integrity and interconnectivity, resource efficiency and maintenance, livelihood sufficiency and opportunity, civility and democratic governance, intra- and inter-generational equity, and finally, precaution and adaptive capacity. This study also contributes to reforming and innovating governance regimes by illuminating how these principles are being met, or not, in the study area. What is most needed in metropolitan Phoenix is enhanced attention to ecosystem functions and resource maintenance as well as social equity and public engagement in water governance. Overall, key recommendations entail: addressing interconnections across hydrologic units and sub-systems (e.g., land and water), increasing decentralized initiatives for multiple purposes (e.g., ecological and societal benefits of green infrastructure), incorporating justice goals into decisions (e.g., fair allocations and involvement), and building capacity through collaborations and social learning with diverse interests (e.g., scientists, policymakers, and the broader public).
KW - Phoenix, AZ
KW - Sustainability assessment
KW - Urban systems
KW - Water governance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84872230754&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84872230754&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.11.016
DO - 10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.11.016
M3 - Article
C2 - 23291042
AN - SCOPUS:84872230754
SN - 0301-4797
VL - 116
SP - 58
EP - 71
JO - Journal of Environmental Management
JF - Journal of Environmental Management
ER -