Sustainability 2011, 3(5), 720-742; doi:10.3390/su3050720
Article

Sustainable Water Resource Management and Participatory System Dynamics. Case Study: Developing the Palouse Basin Participatory Model

Allyson Beall 1,* email, Fritz Fiedler 2 email, Jan Boll 2 email and Barbara Cosens 2 email
1 School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Washington State University, P.O. Box 642812, Pullman, WA 99164, USA 2 Waters of the West, University of Idaho, P.O. Box 443002, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 1 March 2011 / Accepted: 15 April 2011 / Published: 27 April 2011
(This article belongs to the Special Issue System Dynamics Simulation of Environmental and Resource Sustainability)
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Abstract: The complexity of explaining highly scientific information and juggling a plethora of social values is leading agencies and communities such as those in the Palouse Basin to explore the use of participatory modeling processes using system dynamics. Participatory system dynamics as a methodology creates a transparent nexus of science, policy options, social concerns and local knowledge that enhances discussion of issues surrounding the use of natural resources. The process of developing a systems model uses the tenets of scientific theory, hypothesis testing and clear statements of assumptions. A unique aspect of the Palouse basin project is the use of system dynamics to describe ground water dynamics in a sole source confined aquifer system. There are, as of yet, no standards for analyzing participatory modeling projects, therefore, we use case study analysis to describe the process, insights and qualitative measurements of success.
Keywords: participatory modeling; collaborative modeling; system dynamics; ground water

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MDPI and ACS Style

Beall, A.; Fiedler, F.; Boll, J.; Cosens, B. Sustainable Water Resource Management and Participatory System Dynamics. Case Study: Developing the Palouse Basin Participatory Model. Sustainability 2011, 3, 720-742.

AMA Style

Beall A, Fiedler F, Boll J, Cosens B. Sustainable Water Resource Management and Participatory System Dynamics. Case Study: Developing the Palouse Basin Participatory Model. Sustainability. 2011; 3(5):720-742.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Beall, Allyson; Fiedler, Fritz; Boll, Jan; Cosens, Barbara. 2011. "Sustainable Water Resource Management and Participatory System Dynamics. Case Study: Developing the Palouse Basin Participatory Model." Sustainability 3, no. 5: 720-742.

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