# Presentation: 914660

## Considering the Indicators

- Indicator definition:
- Measures that present relevant information on trends in a readily understandable way

**Notes:**
Start with definition, but not sure if this will be redundant with prior talks?  - Al 

## Factors(for identifying and choosing indicators) 

- Consider the condition and capacity of ecological, social and economic systems
-   - direction and rate of change; interactions
- Focus on what’s most relevant to sustainability
- Adopt appropriate time horizon and scale
- Demonstrate integrity
-   - measurable, unbiased, scientifically defensible, spatially explicit
- Be understandable

**Notes:**
1. Defining state of things
A) system condition and capacity
B) direction and rate of change
C) interactions across systems and system parts
2.  Relevance
(things of long-term consequence to the well-being of ecological, social, and economic systems)

3. Time horizon and scale
Criteria  and indicators must adopt a time horizon long enough to capture both human and ecosystem time scales, thus responding to needs of future  generations as well as those of short-term decision making.  Also must define a space of study large enough to include local and long-distance impacts on people and ecosystems

4.  measureable, unbiased and scientifically defensible, geographically located and differentiated, and at some point, supported by available data.  Also should possess a short time lag between state of affairs referred to and the indicator becoming available 

## SWRR Indicators(17 total: this is a starting point) 

- A.  System Capacities, Quality, and Allocation
- 	1.  Gross water availability
- 	2.  Total withdrawals for human uses
- 	3.  Water in the environment (what’s left)
- 	4.  Water quality
- 	5.  Total capacity to store, deliver, and treat
-  	      the water supply over unit of time
- 	6.  Social and organizational capacity

**Notes:**
Thought it might be useful to just list the identified indicators, just so people see what we have done.  Spend very little time on each one – Al 

## SWRR Indicators (con’d)

- B.  Consequences of the Way We Allocate Water Capacity
- 	7.  Environmental conditions
- 	8.  Resources and conditions (e.g. fish
-            contamination)
- 	9.  Quality and quantity of water for human
-            uses (for different sectors)
- 	10. Resources withdrawals and use
- 		    - uses of harvested resources
- 		     - uses of non-harvested water-dependent
-  		       resources

**Notes:**
continued

## SWRR Indicators (con’d)

- C.  Effects on People of the Conditions and Uses of Water Resources
- 	11.  Human conditions
- 		    - measures of value people receive from uses of
- 		       water and the costs incurred
- D.   Important Factors Affecting Water Resources
- 	12.  Land use
- 	13.  Residual flows (point and nonpoint sources)
- 	14.  Social and economic processes
- 	15.  Ecosystem (environmental) processes

**Notes:**
continued

## SWRR Indicators (con’d)

- E.  Composite Sustainability Assessment
- 	16.  Water use sustainability
- 	17.  Water quality sustainability

**Notes:**
continued

## Indicator Approach

- 1.  What is this indicator?
- 2.  Why is it important?
- 3.  What do the data show?

**Notes:**
Highlight the approach found in the report for each indicator as overview – al 

## Available precipitation minus potential ET (1934-2002)  

- Source:  Roy, Summers, and Goldstein, SWRR presentation, March, 2004

- Available precipitation minus potential ET (1934-2002)

- Example 1: Indicator 1 (Gross Water Availability)

**Notes:**
Tim’s suggestion for key indicator.  Basis for our discussions: shows water availability for humans and ecosystems.  Shows renewable supply of water is larger than rate of consumptive use, but situation varies on a local basis.  - Al 

## Overall national and regional coastal condition between 1997 and 2000

- Source:  U.S. EPA, December 2004. National Coastal Condition Report II. Office of Research and Development/Office of Water. EPA-620/R-03/002.

- Example 2: Indicator 7 (Environmental Conditions)

**Notes:**
I chose this one for 2 reasons:  1) example from the consequences category; and 2) I know something about this one! 
Shows consequences of water allocations on the phys, biol, and chem conditions of the environment. 

Useful info for some critical challenges in those areas with problems in need of restoration; areas with good water quality in need of protection; and areas where addtl data are needed

Overall quality of natl coastal waters rated fair.  No info on GW withdrawals, threatened/endangered spp, invasive spp- Al 

## Contamination of Fish and Wildlife:  # of Advisories in Effect, 1998

- Source:  U.S. EPA, National Water Quality Inventory 1998 Report

- Example 3a: Indicator 8 (Resources and Conditions)

**Notes:**
Characterizes amt and quality of resources that are directly or indirectly dependent on water quality and quantity.  Measure of the condition of the resource in the natural envt rather than when consumed by people

Useful info because bioaccumulation of contaminants in fish and other aquatic spp in contaminated systems.  Comparison to guidelines offers a useful reference to help judge the significance of contamination

## Summary of Use Support in Assessed Rivers and Streams

- Source:  1998 U.S. EPA State and Tribal Section 305b Report

- Example 3b: Indicator 8 (Resources and Conditions)

**Notes:**
Data give information on condition of the  water and the life within it.  Data are based upon the assessment of 23% of all known rivers and streams within US.  

No temporal trends in these data. 

## Example 4a: Indicator 11 (Human Conditions)

- Percent of the Population Lacking Complete Plumbing by State** ****Source: Rural Community Assistance Partnership.  2004.  *****Still Living without the Basics in the 21st Century.***

**Notes:**
Indicator measures the value that people receive from the uses of water and the cost they incur from not having these resources.

A critical measure of value is access to potable water and sanitation.  There is a well established link between potable water and public health.  

## Example 4b: Indicator 11 (Human Conditions)

**Adapted From: Surveillance for Waterborne Disease Outbreaks - US, 1997-1998 ****Accessible at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss4904al.htm**

**Notes:**
Indicator measures the value that people receive from the uses of water and the cost they incur from not having these resources.  

## Other Indicators?

- 1.  Are the categories appropriate / inclusive?
- 2.  Are there other indicators that should be included?
- 3.  Are there better data sets / information?

**Notes:**
Set the stage for transition from existing information to unknown information – al 

## Example: Missing Indicator (Oil Spills)? 

- Example: Missing Indicator (Oil Spills)?

**Notes:**
These oil spill statistics are from the Coast Guard. There is no indicator relating to oil spills in the 2005 SWRR report, yet this kind of event always makes the news and has major impact on the ecology where it occurs. This kind of event is of real interest to industry as well. Should such an indicator be added? – Tim 

## Slide 16

## What water information and statistics are needed to develop indicators?
What sources of data or statistics should be considered for developing indicators of sustainable water resources?
If new data should be collected for these indicators, what organizations should do it and why? What gaps exist?

- <date/time>

- What water information and statistics are needed to develop indicators?
- What sources of data or statistics should be considered for developing indicators of sustainable water resources?
- If new data should be collected for these indicators, what organizations should do it and why? What gaps exist?

- Questions

**Notes:**
We must also think about where actual data might be found, in order to develop an indicator. Sometimes there are important issues for which no current data exists. If so, then we must consider how data gaps might be filled, and what impact on existing data programs might occur if we try to fill those gaps. What will we lose and what will we gain? – Tim 

## Review each of the indicators
Take regional considerations into account, if appropriate

- <date/time>

- Breakout Groups

- Review each of the indicators
- Take regional considerations into account, if appropriate

**Notes:**
I was thinking this slide could be used as the transition to the breakout groups, giving people specific instructions they can refer to on the screen.  - Al