A Multiple-Objective Decision Analysis of Stakeholder Values to Identify Watershed Improvement Needs

Jason R. W. Merrick (), Gregory S. Parnell (), Jamison Barnett () and Margot Garcia ()
Additional contact information
Jason R. W. Merrick: Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 843083, 1001 West Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23284
Gregory S. Parnell: Department of Systems Engineering, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York 10996-1905, and Innovative Decisions, Inc., 1945 Old Gallows Road, Suite 215, Vienna, Virginia 22182-3931
Jamison Barnett: Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 843083, 1001 West Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23284
Margot Garcia: L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University, 923 West Franklin Street, Richmond, Virginia 23284

Decision Analysis, 2005, vol. 2, issue 1, 44-57

Abstract: This paper describes the use of multiple-objective decision analysis to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the quality of an endangered watershed and guide future efforts to improve the quality of the watershed. The Upham Brook Watershed is an urban watershed that lies at the interface of declining inner-city Richmond, Virginia, and growth-oriented Henrico County. A section of stream within the watershed has been identified as so dangerously polluted that it threatens the health of the residents who live within the watershed boundaries. With funding provided by the National Science Foundation, the Upham Brook Watershed project committee was formed to address the quality of the Upham Brook Watershed; it consisted of experts from multiple disciplines: stream ecology, environmental policy, water policy, ground and surface water hydrology and quality, aquatic biology, political science, sociology, citizen participation, community interaction, psychology, and decision and risk analysis. Each member's values and goals were brought together using a watershed management framework to meet the overall objective of the committee: to maximize the quality of the Upham Brook Watershed. The resulting model was used to identify the largest value gaps and to identify future programs needed to improve the quality of the watershed.

Keywords: multidisciplinary; environmental; watershed management; watershed quality; multiple-objective decision analysis; value-focused thinking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (25)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:ordeca:v:2:y:2005:i:1:p:44-57

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