An index-based robust decision making framework for watershed management in a changing climate.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Water Resource Management
• Climate Change Adaptation

Background:

• Urban watersheds face increasing water quantity and quality issues due to climate change.
• Existing management strategies often struggle with deep uncertainty from climate models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply an index-based robust decision-making framework for watershed management.
• To address water quantity and quality challenges in a changing climate.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the HSPF model for watershed process understanding.
• Developed spatial vulnerability indices: potential streamflow depletion (PSD) and potential water quality deterioration (PWQD).
• Employed multi-criteria decision analysis and a minimax regret strategy for robust prioritization under uncertainty.

Main Results:

• Successfully applied the framework to a Korean urban watershed experiencing streamflow depletion and water quality deterioration.
• The framework integrated quantitative and qualitative data for evaluating management policies.
• Generated a robust prioritization of watershed management alternatives.

Conclusions:

• The developed framework offers a valuable tool for effective watershed management and water resource planning.
• Robust decision-making strategies are crucial for addressing climate change impacts on water resources.
• The framework successfully incorporates uncertainty for resilient water management solutions.