Exploring the Implications of Climate Change on Water Resources through Participatory Modeling: Case Study of the Okanagan Basin, British Columbia

Abstract

Few regions in North America have directly incorporated the implications of climate change in water resources planning initiatives because the relevant information is not readily accessible, and methods for adjusting policy and operations are not obvious. To help one community and to provide an example for managers of other watersheds, we engaged stakeholders in a group model building process to explore plausible water resources futures for the Okanagan Basin, British Columbia, Canada. The process was conducted by a team of academic and federal government researchers and comprised of a sequence of five one-day participatory workshops held within the basin over a 12-month period. Primary workshop objectives included: creating a shared learning experience, developing a customized exploration tool, and fostering trust in the model among the participants. Survey results indicate that the exercise helped participants to expand their thinking to the basin scale and to appreciate the complexity of water management. Participants found the resulting model to be suitable for futures exploration and outreach; however, the high turnover rate in participation limited the sense of ownership in the model by the completion of the final session.