Abstract
Water resources sustainability hinges on interrelated physical, chemical, biological, and human processes, all of which may affect the quantity and quality of available water supplies. California's decades-long transition process from intensive and often unmanaged groundwater development toward more effective, sustainable integrated water resources management has resulted in important lessons. The process offers insights to other countries that seek to achieve sustainability. Long-term systematic groundwater and surface water monitoring programs and ongoing assessment of regional groundwater systems are an integral part of management. On local to global scales, the need for fundamental data, regional resources assessments, and increased support for scientific and technological advances is becoming increasingly apparent. The scientific community must enhance society's understanding of the essential links between basic data needs and the advancement and application of scientific approaches for effective water management. Correspondingly, scientific and political communities must coordinate common interests in endeavors toward sustainable management. Public outreach is a necessary complement to achieve sustainability goals and garner support for the programs needed to develop water policies based on sound science, manage water resources, and meet future water demands while avoiding unacceptable impacts.
Résumé
La durabilité des ressources en eau est à la charnière de processus physiques, chimiques, biologiques et humains, tous inter-reliés et à même d'affecter la quantité et la qualité de la disponibilité en eau d'alimentation. Les processus de transition décadaires en Californie, entre un développement intensif et non contrôlé des eaux souterraines, à un système plus rentable et durable de gestion intégrée des ressources en eau, a permis de conclure sur d'importantes leçons. Ce processus offre, en effet, des perspicacités à d'autres pays qui cherchent à concrétiser la durabilité. Les programmes systématiques de surveillance des eaux souterraines et de surface, sur le long terme, font parti intégrant de ce type de gestion. De l'échelle locale à l'échelle globale, la nécessité de données fondamentales, de bilans régionaux des ressources, et d'un support croissant aux avancées scientifiques et techniques, est devenu de plus en plus apparent. La communauté scientifique doit améliorer la compréhension de la société, en ce qui concerne les liens essentiels entre le besoin de données et l'avancement et l'application des approches scientifiques pour une gestion efficace de l'eau. De la même manière, les communautés scientifiques et politiques doivent coordonner leurs intérêts communs en se démenant pour une gestion durable. La mobilisation du publique est un complément nécessaire pour accomplir les objectifs de la durabilité, et rassembler le support aux besoins des programmes, de manière à développer des politiques de l'eau basées sur une science juste, à gérer les ressources en eau et satisfaire les futures demandes tout en évitant des impacts non acceptables.
Resumen
La sostenibilidad de los recursos hídricos gira sobre procesos interrelacionados físicos, químicos, biológicos y humanos, todos los cuales pueden afectar la cantidad y calidad de fuentes disponibles de agua. El proceso de transición de varias décadas que ha experimentado California, a partir de un desarrollo intensivo y frecuentemente carente de gestión de aguas subterráneas, hacia una gestión más efectiva, sostenible e integrada de recursos hídricos ha dado por resultado lecciones importantes. Este proceso ofrece alternativas para otros países que buscan alcanzar sostenibilidad. Los programas de monitoreo sistemático a largo plazo de agua superficial y agua subterránea, y las evaluaciones actuales de sistemas regionales de agua subterránea constituyen una parte integral de la gestión. Se hace cada vez más evidente, a escala global y local, la necesidad de datos básicos, evaluaciones regionales de recursos, y apoyo creciente para avances científicos y tecnológicos. La comunidad científica tiene que estimular el entendimiento de la sociedad de las relaciones fundamentales entre las necesidades de datos básicos y los avances y aplicación de enfoques científicos para un manejo efectivo del agua. Del mismo modo, las comunidades científicas y políticas tienen que coordinar intereses comunes en los esfuerzos hacia una gestión sostenible. El involucramiento del público es un complemento necesario para alcanzar los objetivos de sostenibilidad y obtener apoyo para los programas necesarios que permitan desarrollar políticas hídricas basadas en ciencia sana, gestión de recursos hídricos, y alcanzar las demandas futuras de agua mientras se evitan impactos inaceptables.
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the reviewers, M. Ramon Llamas and Emilio Custodio, for their insightful comments and constructive suggestions that improved the final manuscript.
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Kretsinger Grabert, V., Narasimhan, T.N. California's evolution toward integrated regional water management: a long-term view. Hydrogeol J 14, 407–423 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-005-0005-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-005-0005-0