Considering the Indicators

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Considering the Indicators
Indicator definition Measures that present
relevant information on trends in a readily
understandable way
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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 whats most relevant to sustainability
• Adopt appropriate time horizon and scale
• Demonstrate integrity
• - measurable, unbiased, scientifically
  defensible, spatially explicit
• Be understandable

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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 (whats left) 4. Water
quality 5. Total capacity to store, deliver,
and treat the water supply over unit of
time 6. Social and organizational capacity
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SWRR Indicators (cond)
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
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SWRR Indicators (cond)
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
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SWRR Indicators (cond)
E. Composite Sustainability Assessment 16.
Water use sustainability 17. Water quality
sustainability
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Indicator Approach
1. What is this indicator? 2. Why is it
important? 3. What do the data show?
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Example 1 Indicator 1 (Gross Water Availability)
Available precipitation minus potential ET
(1934-2002)
Source Roy, Summers, and Goldstein, SWRR
presentation, March, 2004
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Example 2 Indicator 7 (Environmental Conditions)
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.
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Example 3a Indicator 8 (Resources and Conditions)
Contamination of Fish and Wildlife of
Advisories in Effect, 1998
Source U.S. EPA, National Water Quality
Inventory 1998 Report
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Example 3b Indicator 8 (Resources and Conditions)
Summary of Use Support in Assessed Rivers and
Streams
Source 1998 U.S. EPA State and Tribal Section
305b Report
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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.
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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
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Other Indicators?
1. Are the categories appropriate / inclusive?
2. Are there other indicators that should be
included? 3. Are there better data sets /
information?
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Example Missing Indicator (Oil Spills)?
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Questions

• 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?

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Breakout Groups

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