Case Study

Shared Vision Planning on the James River, Virginia

Results

By the end of this pilot effort we will develop an initial model of the river system that is accepted by all stakeholders and used to run scenarios to evaluate water management decisions. The model will be simple enough to be understood by most of the stakeholders, but it will include available technical information and address objectives of multiple stakeholders. Once a collaboratively developed model has established a framework for stakeholder engagement and acceptance, the model can be always improved or more data collected.  
 
The model will support Virginia’s state planning effort by a) collecting technical information in the basin for use by localities in developing water supply plans and for states in evaluating the future permit applications, b) increasing the knowledge among stakeholders in the basin of water supply challenges and opportunities, and c) serving as a potential collaborative planning tool for localities to use in developing their water supply plans.  Likewise the effort will support the Corps/EPA 404 regulatory role by engaging stakeholders in watershed-scale analysis of water issues in the James and establishing a forum for a technically based discussion across stakeholders. 

The pilot study will also support the Corps’ traditional planning role by initiating a collaborative planning process that can then be deepened either at the watershed or project level and by demonstrating new collaborative methods for application to state water planning needs. Finally the study will create a framework for future collaborative modeling studies along at least three new fronts:  use within a regulatory context; testing of a “pilot” level of effort with limited expenditures of time or money; and support to state water planning.

Overview | Study Progress | Results | Printable Version

Reviewed 13 Feb 2009

Overview

Study Progress

Results

Printable Version