Chapter 5.5 - Strategic Adaptive Management (SAM) of Intermittent Rivers and Ephemeral Streams

Abstract

Most intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES) are managed for their water resources, ecosystem services, and/or environmental values but seldom as a social-ecological system. The spatial connectivity of IRES across a catchment makes them particularly complex social-ecological systems where there are interlinking social and governance processes with the ecological dimensions. Increasingly, there is realization that adaptive management of such social-ecological systems requires transparent articulation of a desired state, guided by a vision and supported by explicit objectives. We compared implementation of Strategic Adaptive Management of IRES and their catchments in four case studies from South Africa (Kruger National Park and Tankwa Karoo National Park) and Australia (Macquarie Marshes and Edward-Wakool system). There were commonalities and differences reflected in their different values and identification of key attributes as well as the idiosyncrasies of different drivers, including anthropogenic drivers. Effective implementation still represents an aspiration for many but a potentially effective way of identifying priorities for management, transparently supported by scientific monitoring and reporting.