Adaptive management for water quality planning – from theory to practice

Rachel Eberhard; Catherine J. Robinson; Jane Waterhouse; John Parslow; Barry Hart; Rodger Grayson; Bruce Taylor

doi:10.1071/MF08347

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Adaptive management for water quality planning – from theory to practice

Rachel Eberhard ^A ^H , Catherine J. Robinson ^B , Jane Waterhouse ^C ^G , John Parslow ^D , Barry Hart ^E , Rodger Grayson ^F and Bruce Taylor ^B

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Eberhard Consulting, 55 Park Road West, Dutton Park, Qld 4102, Australia.

^B CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, 306 Carmody Road, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia.

^C CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Davies Laboratory, University Drive, Townsville, Qld 4810, Australia.

^D CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Castray Esplanade, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia.

^E Water Science Pty Ltd, PO Box 2128, Echuca, Vic. 3564, Australia.

^F Catchments to Sea Pty Ltd, PO Box 948, Lakes Entrance, Vic. 3909, Australia.

^G Present address: Coasts to Oceans, PO Box 290, Belgian Gardens, Qld 4810, Australia.

^H Corresponding author. Email: rachel@eberhardconsulting.com.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 60(11) 1189-1195 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF08347
Submitted: 16 December 2008 Accepted: 28 July 2009 Published: 17 November 2009

Abstract

Adaptive management has been promoted as a structured approach to learning in response to the uncertainty associated with managing complex systems. We developed and tested a protocol to guide an adaptive approach to water quality management in north-eastern Australia. The protocol articulates a framework for documenting uncertainties and performance expectations, negotiating feedback and anticipating iterative and transformative responses to future scenarios. A Water Quality Improvement Plan developed for the Tully–Murray catchment in the Great Barrier Reef region was used to test the protocol and three benefits of its use were identified. First, developing rigorous and timely monitoring and evaluation ensures that opportunities for iterative planning are realised. Second, anticipating future endogenous or exogenous changes to the plan enables the early initiation of actions to inform transformative planning responses. Finally, the protocol exposed the need to coordinate multi-scalar responses to tackle environmental knowledge and management uncertainties and assumptions. The protocol seeks to provide a practical translation of adaptive planning theory that will enable the benefits of adaptive management to be realised on the ground.

Additional keywords: collaboration, Great Barrier Reef, integrated, iterative, natural resource management, partnerships, risk, transformative, uncertainty, watershed planning.

Acknowledgements

Funding for this project was provided by the Australian Government’s Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts (DEWHA), which was hosted by Terrain Natural Resource Management. Additional funding was provided through the CSIRO’s Water for a Healthy Country Flagship Program. We thank the members of the Reef Water Quality Partnership Regional Implementation Group and Scientific Advisory Panel for valuable input, and in particular Frederieke Kroon, the author of the Tully WQIP. Reviewers are thanked for their constructive comments and guidance.

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