<p>Coastal eutrophication is a complex process that is caused largely by anthropogenic nutrient enrichment. Estuaries are particularly susceptible to nutrient impairment, owing to their intimate connection with the contributing watersheds. Estuaries experiencing accelerating eutrophication are subject to a loss of key ecological functions and services. This doctoral dissertation presents the development and implementation of an integrated approach toward assessing the water quality in the Neuse Estuary following the implementation of the total maximum daily load (TMDL) program in the Neuse River basin. In order to accomplish this task, I have developed a series of water quality models and modeling strategies that can be effectively used in assessing nutrient based eutrophication. Two watershed-level nutrient loading models that operate on a different temporal scale are developed and used to quantify nitrogen loading to the Neuse Estuary over time. The models are used to probabilistically assess the success of the adopted mitigation measures in achieving the 30 % load reduction goal stipulated by the TMDL. Additionally, a novel structure learning approach is adopted to develop a Bayesian Network (BN) model that describes chlorophyll dynamics in the Upper Neuse Estuary. The developed BN model is compared to pre-TMDL models to assess any changes in the role that nutrient loading and physical forcings play in modulating chlorophyll levels in that section of the estuary. Finally, a set of empirical models are developed to assess the water quality monitoring program in the estuary, while also exploring the possibility of incorporating remotely sensed satellite data in an effort to augment the existing in-situ monitoring programs.</p> / Dissertation

In approaching such complicated water issues as faced in the Central Valley, the United Nations has attempted to create a process for effective water resource governance with its Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) process. This approach outlines four dimensions of water governance that must be acknowledged and balanced in an effective policymaking process.2 Initially, policymakers must divide water resources equitably along socio-economic strata. After this, water resources must be efficiently used to promote economic growth. In allocating this resource between parties, all stakeholders and citizens must be given equal political opportunities to influence the division and distribution process. Finally, it is essential to the United Nations that water be appropriated and used in an environmentally sustainable way that not only protects ecosystems, but also those who depend on those ecosystems for their livelihoods. It is essential that policymakers in charge of distributing California’s water rights use the IWRM program as a baseline and a starting point for any future policy regimens, as these are the four most basic and integral components of the issue that must be addressed. Beyond the IWRM guidelines, policymakers must approach water distribution issues with the several diverse viewpoints and interests of Californians in mind. It is important to note that as policy issues are being debated, the problem itself is also constantly in flux. In the face of these varied challenges that put a strain on already scarce water resources, appropriate governance and management is becoming more and more necessary. It has been stated that “as a result of climate change,environmental degradation, and a lack of sustained investment in the system, our water system can nolonger meet the needs of the state.”3 The distribution of water in the Central Valley requires an intricate balance of interests between rival, yet deeply interconnected parties.In creating successful water policy, party lines must be crossed and compromises must be agreed upon in the interest of California’s economic, environmental, and social wellbeing.

Reliable access to potable water is one of the most important building blocks for developing countries. Clean drinking water not only helps people break free of the cycle of poverty, but fulfilling basic health needs allows communities to address long-term development goals and improve their quality of life. Although the Millennium Development Goals aimed to halve the number of households lacking access to clean drinking water by 2015, many countries around the world still struggle to improve water coverage to their poorest citizens. Latin America is no exception, and despite being one of the most water-rich regions in the world, over 50 million people still lack access to reliable potable water. In a case study of Mexico City, this paper analyzes the trends of decentralization, privatization, and water management reform characteristic of Latin America, as well as their effects on universal water coverage. The analysis reveals that not only is privatization not a prerequisite characteristic of successful water resource management, but that local governments may be equally successful at expanding their water networks through the implementation of tariff reform, output-based aid, and increased public participation.

Drinking water and wastewater industries are facing a nationwide workforce shortfall of qualified treatment plant operators due to factors including the en masse retirement of baby boomers and the tightening of regulatory requirements regarding the hands-on experience required prior to licensure. Rural areas are hardest hit due to the lack of educational and experiential opportunities available to them within a reasonable proximity. Using a variety of demographic and industry data, a geographic analysis of Kentucky was conducted to assess the viability of the traditional classroom delivery model versus a hybrid experiential and distance learning educational model (HEDLEM). Although this analysis indicates that population density is the dominant indicator for most of the parameters used in this study, the bulk of the workforce needs in the state are distributed throughout rural areas with lower population densities. While the number and geographic distribution of community colleges in the state would appear to support the viability of campus-based workforce development programs, this study demonstrates the limitations of this model in addressing the needs of the water and wastewater workforce, where a significant workplace-associated experiential requirement exists. This limitation is exaggerated in rural areas, which have a demonstrated statewide need. This study indicates that a sufficient recruitment pool exists for the program based on the anticipated

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District, maintains ten reservoirs in the Cumberland River Basin in Kentucky and Tennessee, and has been monitoring sediment chemistry in the reservoirs since 1994. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the sediment data collected from the reservoirs from 1994 to 2010 to determine if there are any spatial patterns of the trace elements: arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, and zinc. The results indicated that trace element levels were consistent with national baseline concentrations measured by the U.S. Geological Survey. Center Hill reservoir had the greatest number of trace element concentrations (all except cadmium) that were significantly higher when compared to all other reservoirs. The degree of urbanization in the reservoir basins was based on population density from the 2000 Census and the percentage of developed land using the 2006 national land cover dataset. Aquatic toxicity values were used as a measure of sediment quality. The reservoirs with the worst aquatic toxicity rankings were not the most urban, instead they were the reservoirs with the longest retention times. Therefore, it may be concluded that retention time has a larger effect on Cumberland River Basin sediment concentrations than the type of land use or the degree of urbanization. The results also indicate that it may be prudent to include an evaluation of quality based on aquatic toxicity when monitoring sediment quality, and that when reservoirs are the subject of sediment quality assessments, the consideration of the physical properties of the reservoir, especially the retention time, is essential for a comprehensive evaluation. This may also imply that sediment quality in reservoirs may effectively be regulated by water resource management techniques at the reservoirs that affect retention time.

This research focuses on how conservation authorities create organizational knowledge to enhance adaptive capacity to improve environmental policy. Organizational knowledge creation refers to the ability to create, disseminate and embody knowledge to improve products, services and systems (Nonaka and Takeuchi 1995). Organizational knowledge is required for building adaptive capacity, which is defined as the ability to anticipate, respond to and learn from disturbance and change. Highly adaptive organizations can anticipate, respond to and learn from disturbances to adjust management practices and overcome weaknesses in policy created by changing circumstances (Ascher 2001). As quasi-government agencies responsible for water management in Ontario, conservation authorities need to respond to change if they are to learn from past experiences and develop innovative water resource policy that adequately addresses increasingly complex social-ecological problems. A broad multidisciplinary literature review was conducted to develop a theoretical framework of conditions that potentially facilitate organizational knowledge creation and adaptive capacity. A case study analysis was conducted using five conservation authorities to acquire insight into the circumstances under which these conditions facilitate knowledge creation and adaptive capacity based on practical water resource management experience in three programs areas: flood damage reduction, low water response and source water protection. The case studies include Credit Valley Conservation, Grand River Conservation Authority, Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority and Toronto Region Conservation Authorities and were chosen because they reflect a cross section of institutional attributes in terms of budget, staff, rate of growth and population. A qualitative, exploratory research methodology was employed to undertake analysis of empirical evidence from 64 semi-structured interviews with water resource practitioners. Analysis of interview transcripts was conducted with QSR NVivo, a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software, to provide insight into the role facilitating conditions played in water resource management. Findings from the analysis suggest there are twelve facilitating conditions for creating organizational knowledge to enhance adaptive capacity in conservation authorities. A conceptual model illustrates the relative importance of the facilitating conditions to conservation authorities and highlights three core conditions: values of trust and respect, social capital and accountability. The other nine conditions include leadership, surveillance of the environment, social memory, autonomy, motivation, conditions for social interaction, dialogue, shared vision and adaptive mental models. The conceptual model identifies and operationalizes theoretical facilitating conditions in water resource management. The model has a strong theoretical underpinning developed through a consolidation of insights from various fields of study including social-ecological systems, knowledge management, organizational learning and collaborative planning. The model’s structure is derived from the observations and experiences of practitioners in managing water resources and can in turn, provide practitioners with an opportunity to recognize how their daily activities and decisions can influence organizational knowledge creation processes and adaptive capacity. From a planning perspective, this research highlights the importance of creating organizational knowledge and building adaptive capacity in planning institutions to improve their ability to develop informed and adaptive public policy.

High pressure on water from competing users has changed the past perception of water as gift to water as a resource that requires sustainable management. Management of water resource needs active stakeholders’ involvement for its sustainability. Many organizations along with the national water policy have been calling for active stakeholders’ involvement for management of the resource.  In Usangu catchment conflicts over accessing water between farmers and pastoralists and between upstream and downstream have been common. Water allocation in the catchment has been done without involving stakeholders and adequate consideration of the rivers’ carrying capacity. This study focuses on stakeholders’ involvement in Usangu catchment. Six villages in three sub-catchments were studied and data were collected using questionnaire through face to face interview and focus group discussion. The study found that there is limited stakeholders’ involvement in Usangu catchment. In some places involvement is at basic stage, in other places there is no involvement. Interaction within stakeholders’ category was documented, while no stakeholders’ interaction between sub-catchments was discovered. Moreover, some challenges for active involvement were noted, such as lack of coordination between institutions operating in the catchment, high illiteracy rate and lack of awareness, and with lack of legislation support. The issue of limited stakeholders’ involvement in Usangu catchment is complicated, there is no single and comprehensive solution; integration of different approaches which are cross-sectoral in nature is needed for sustainable water management.

This research focuses on how conservation authorities create organizational knowledge to enhance adaptive capacity to improve environmental policy. Organizational knowledge creation refers to the ability to create, disseminate and embody knowledge to improve products, services and systems (Nonaka and Takeuchi 1995). Organizational knowledge is required for building adaptive capacity, which is defined as the ability to anticipate, respond to and learn from disturbance and change. Highly adaptive organizations can anticipate, respond to and learn from disturbances to adjust management practices and overcome weaknesses in policy created by changing circumstances (Ascher 2001). As quasi-government agencies responsible for water management in Ontario, conservation authorities need to respond to change if they are to learn from past experiences and develop innovative water resource policy that adequately addresses increasingly complex social-ecological problems. A broad multidisciplinary literature review was conducted to develop a theoretical framework of conditions that potentially facilitate organizational knowledge creation and adaptive capacity. A case study analysis was conducted using five conservation authorities to acquire insight into the circumstances under which these conditions facilitate knowledge creation and adaptive capacity based on practical water resource management experience in three programs areas: flood damage reduction, low water response and source water protection. The case studies include Credit Valley Conservation, Grand River Conservation Authority, Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority and Toronto Region Conservation Authorities and were chosen because they reflect a cross section of institutional attributes in terms of budget, staff, rate of growth and population. A qualitative, exploratory research methodology was employed to undertake analysis of empirical evidence from 64 semi-structured interviews with water resource practitioners. Analysis of interview transcripts was conducted with QSR NVivo, a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software, to provide insight into the role facilitating conditions played in water resource management. Findings from the analysis suggest there are twelve facilitating conditions for creating organizational knowledge to enhance adaptive capacity in conservation authorities. A conceptual model illustrates the relative importance of the facilitating conditions to conservation authorities and highlights three core conditions: values of trust and respect, social capital and accountability. The other nine conditions include leadership, surveillance of the environment, social memory, autonomy, motivation, conditions for social interaction, dialogue, shared vision and adaptive mental models. The conceptual model identifies and operationalizes theoretical facilitating conditions in water resource management. The model has a strong theoretical underpinning developed through a consolidation of insights from various fields of study including social-ecological systems, knowledge management, organizational learning and collaborative planning. The model’s structure is derived from the observations and experiences of practitioners in managing water resources and can in turn, provide practitioners with an opportunity to recognize how their daily activities and decisions can influence organizational knowledge creation processes and adaptive capacity. From a planning perspective, this research highlights the importance of creating organizational knowledge and building adaptive capacity in planning institutions to improve their ability to develop informed and adaptive public policy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of community involvement on management of water tanks in the Arkavathi sub-basin in the state of Karnataka, South India. Water management was analysed from a socio-environmental perspective, with emphasis on village-level stakeholders’ roles and perceived responsibility. The efficiency of community participation was investigated by comparing two villages having undergone the same World Bank launched program to restore water bodies traditionally used to sustain the livelihood of the rural population. In one village there was a resistance towards how the implementation of the tank rejuvenation project had been performed, in the other there was no local involvement. A minor field study was conducted by visiting the two villages. Qualitative interviews were held with village-level stakeholders of three age groups, to analyse changes over time in knowledge and attitudes. Additionally, ocular observation and photo documentation were made of the study areas. Some informal interviews were carried out with members of an external non-governmental organisation and locals in the study villages. The collected data were analysed by comparing the results for the two villages, as well as the results of the different age groups and genders. There were significant differences in awareness and sense of responsibility, but not knowledge, between the two villages. In the village with a community involvement resisting the governmental scheme for tank renovation, this involvement had proved to be of some advantage to the local community. Contrary to the guidelines, the governmental implementation of the water management strategy did not include local stakeholders’ participation, nor were the tanks restored. Overall, the villagers considered the tank management to be the responsibility of external authorities. There were generally no significant differences between the age groups or men and women, though there were indications of a lower level of knowledge and awareness in women. Absence of effective institutions for water management on all levels as well as difficulties in mainatining efficient village level leadership for community participation are factors causing a major gap between planning and implementation.

This study was done to explore the organization mobilization, identity construction and local development in Meinung Anti-dam Movement. Literature review and in-depth interview were applied in this study. The former focused on social movement and collective action theory. Besides, the local elites were interviewed to find out how they united the local societies and intellectuals to convince local residents and politicians to participate in the Movement, and how they inspired Pintung LiuDui Hakka and international organizations to support the Movement. Suggestion were made according to the findings.