Generic Simulation Models for Facilitating Stakeholder Involvement in Water Resources Planning and Management: A Comparison, Evaluation, and Identification of Future Needs

Abstract The keen public interest in the management of water resources and related environmental and socioeconomical issues has placed a great demand for a new class of generic simulation models capable of facilitating the involvement of stakeholders at all levels in the decision-making process. This chapter presents the results from a workshop on the assessment of the current state of the science and art in river basin simulation modelling. It also identifies future needs from the perspective of those involved in the development and/or the application of five leading generic river basin simulation models. The models discussed in this chapter have many features in common, and some that differ. All are what we commonly call decision support systems for analysing and estimating various impacts associated with alternative water, and, in some cases, watershed management policies and practices. All are interactive, i.e. they use graphic interfaces and are menu driven. Each model is designed to be flexible enough to apply to most if not all river basin systems no matter where located. Each is a tool that can be used, at least as a first step, in the identification and evaluation of preferred management policies and practices. Just how well models like these have met their goals in their many applications, and just how well they have facilitated stakeholder involvement? This question was the subject of one of the International Environmental Modelling and Software Society (iEMSs) workshops in 2006. The purpose of the workshop was to identify weaknesses and research and development needs that can lead us toward more effective models for addressing current and potential future management issues. This chapter is based on the results of the workshop. The five models that were discussed in this workshop included MIKE BASIN from Danish Hydraulics Institute (DHI) in Denmark, MODSIM from Colorado State University in western US, RIBASIM from Delft Hydraulics in The Netherlands, WBalMo from WASY (now part of DHI) in Germany, and WEAP from Stockholm Environmental Institute in Sweden and the US. Several participants in the workshop had experiences developing and using other generic river basin simulation software.