Description

Abstract: This paper presents a preliminary study of the Water Evaluation And Planning System (WEAP) as a decision support tool (DST) for local stakeholders and communities in addressing shared water issues in the River Njoro watershed. Located in the semi-arid Rift Valley of Kenya, the watershed includes important downstream habitat at Lake Nakuru, a large shallow saline lake designated a RAMSAR wetlands site of international importance, and a broad mix of water uses and users. A complex web of possible causes has been put forth by different groups for the growing water quality and quantity problems. Most attention has been focused on recent deforestation in the upper catchment. The magnitude, extent and duration of water shortage problems and their causes, however, have been poorly documented and poorly understood, hindering pursuit of more sustainable and effective options for water resource management and development. Lacking is a common understanding of the water system and a clear definition of the problems faced by different stakeholders, in part because no comprehensive quantitative assessment of the water supply and demand system has been undertaken. In this exploratory study, a model of the Njoro watershed using WEAP was created and a workshop held with a multi-disciplinary group of Kenyan researchers involved in local water and environmental issues. The workshop explored WEAP’s potential as a participatory modeling tool to support Njoro watershed stakeholders to develop a shared vision of water management solutions. Modeling capabilities and features of WEAP are assessed and its usefulness as a DST considered for a developing country watershed such as the Njoro. Outcomes of the workshop included new information and increased common knowledge about the current water resources system, and new shared insights into the causes of water problems and potential solution strategies. These represent important stakeholder educative and attitudinal changes that support a shared vision of solutions and consensus on sustainable and cooperative water management.