Abstract
The integration of evidence-based information in operational water management is essential for robust decision-making. We investigated the current use of experiential and evidence-based information in Dutch regional operational water management. Interviews with operational water managers at regional water authorities in the Netherlands reveal that they use both evidence-based and experiential information for decision-making. While operational water management is shifting towards an evidence-based approach, experiential information is still important for decision-making. To fulfil the current information need, the operational water managers indicate they would like to have access to high-resolution spatial data, value-added products and tools for communication to stakeholders. We argue that hydrological models are suitable tools to support these needs. However, while several evidence-based information types are used by operational water managers, hydrological models are limitedly applied. Hydrological models are regarded as inaccurate for operational water management at desired spatial scales. Also, operational water managers often struggle to correctly interpret hydrological model output. We propose several means to overcome these problems, including educating operational water managers to interpret hydrological model output and selecting suitable indicators for evidence-based decision-making.
Highlights
Populated regions like the Netherlands need well-designed operational water management for coping with varying water availabilities and demands (Haasnoot and Middelkoop, 2012)
We identified six information types typically applied by operational water managers
While Boogerd et al (1997) stated that regional water management should increase the integration of evidence-based information, this study shows that operational water management at the selected regional water management authorities is based on both experiential and evidence-based information
Summary
Populated regions like the Netherlands need well-designed operational water management for coping with varying water availabilities and demands (Haasnoot and Middelkoop, 2012). Operational water management requires decision-making within limited time intervals and involve multiple criteria related to for example flood risk, water supply, and navigability (Xu and Tung, 2008). These complex settings are characterized by large uncertainties (Ascough et al, 2008). Water managers have to operate under regulatory, institutional, political, resources and other constraints that limit their capacity to use new information (Morss et al, 2005). Water managers generally use several information types for decision-making (Polanyi, 1966; Raymond et al, 2010), e.g. experiential and evidence-based information. Evidence-based decision-making can help to ensure that untested practices are not widely adopted, because they have been used previously (Sutherland et al, 2004)
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