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Participatory Systems Modeling to Explore Sustainable Solutions: Triple Value Simulation Modeling Cases Tackle Nutrient and Watershed Management from a Socio-Ecological Systems (SES) perspective
Citation:
Tenbrink, M., K. Heinemann, G. Foley, E. Ruder, N. Tanners, J. Fiksel, AND A. Bassi. Participatory Systems Modeling to Explore Sustainable Solutions: Triple Value Simulation Modeling Cases Tackle Nutrient and Watershed Management from a Socio-Ecological Systems (SES) perspective. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 12 - 16, 2016.
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose of this abstract/ conference presentation is to present an overview and progress to date on the Suffolk Co. Triple Value Scoping and Modeling project, and to receive feedback and discussion, for researchers in the fields and subfields of geology and hydrology who will be in attendance at the conference. It is expected to result in better integration of earth sciences data into environmental decision-making, especially pertaining to water resources management challenges.
Description:
Decision makers often need assistance in understanding dynamic interactions and linkages among economic, environmental and social systems in coastal watersheds. They also need scientific input to better evaluate potential costs and benefits of alternative policy interventions. The US EPA is applying sustainability science to address these needs. Triple Value (3V) Scoping and Modeling projects bring a systems approach to understand complex environmental problems, incorporate local knowledge, and allow decision-makers to explore policy scenarios. This leads to better understanding of feedbacks and outcomes to both human and environmental systems. The Suffolk County, NY (eastern Long Island) 3V Case uses SES interconnections to explore possible policy options and scenarios for intervention to mitigate the effects of excess nitrogen (N) loading to ground, surface, and estuarine waters. Many of the environmental impacts of N pollution negatively affect social and economic well-being and productivity. Key are loss of enjoyment and recreational use of local beach environments and loss of income and revenues from tourism and local fisheries. Stakeholders generated this Problem Statement: Suffolk County is experiencing widespread degradation to groundwater and the coastal marine environment caused by excess nitrogen. How can local stakeholders and decision makers in Suffolk County arrest and reverse this degradation, restore conditions to support a healthy thriving ecosystem, strengthen the County’s resilience to emerging and expected environmental threats from global climate change, support and promote economic growth, attract a vibrant and sustainable workforce, and maintain and enhance quality of life and affordability for all County residents? They then built a Causal Loop Diagram of indicators and relationships that reflect these issues and identified a set of alternative policy interventions to address them. The project team conducted an extensive review of available data for constructing a quantitative model to explore scenarios. Impacts of selected scenarios on measures of health, economy, transportation, equity, water, energy, and land use will be presented for this Case, along with highlights from 3VS projects in MA and RI coastal watersheds