possible key-factors for successful application of ... · services filtration, recreation, …...

picture: Catskill - YeahThatsKosher.com

Possible keyPossible key--factors for successful factors for successful application of ecosystem services application of ecosystem services in watershed managementin watershed management

lessons learned from New York applied in the Dutch / lessons learned from New York applied in the Dutch / German river German river VechtVecht

Jos M Jos M BrilsBrils, Deltares (right) , Deltares (right) jos.brilsjos.brils@@deltares.nldeltares.nl

Albert F Albert F AppletonAppleton ((leftleft) ) appletons5@[email protected]

Albert F. Appleton &

Ecosystem services & watersheds

- interventions (risk)resulting in unsustainable use of ES

+ interventions (mitigation)towards sustainable use of ES

goodsfuel, fibers, food, …

servicesfiltration, recreation, …

social systemindividuals, groups

institutions

ecosystemstructure and

functions

Sources: www.resalliance.org and www.riskbase.info


Ecosystem services & watersheds

- interventions (risk)resulting in unsustainable use of ES

+ interventions (mitigation)towards sustainable use of ES

goodsfuel, fibers, food, …

servicesfiltration, recreation, …

social systemindividuals, groups

institutions

ecosystemstructure and

functions

Sources: www.resalliance.org and www.riskbase.info

ecosystem ecosystem services (ES)services (ES)

watershedwatershed

humanhumanwell beingwell being

sustainabilitysustainability

soilsoil

surfacesurfacewaterwater

groundgroundwaterwater

Albert F. Appleton &Source map: www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/drinking_water/wsmaps_wide.shtml

The New York-Catskill-Delaware system

Serves:

• nine million people:

- 8 million in NYC

- 1 million in northern suburbs

• 4.500.000 m3 of water each day

Delivered to:

• 600.000 residential buildings

• 200.000 commercial buildings


Key-factor 1: An important stakeholder had a clear and urgent need for action

it was sustainable

ladyanne47 (photos.igougo.com)

drinkingwaterz.com

““champagne of drinking waterschampagne of drinking waters””

threatened to get unsustainable (90’s)

farmingsweetbay.wordpress.com

major major increase of increase of nonnon--point point source source pollutionpollution

www.waterfiltercritic.com

$$$$$$for NYC


Key-factor 2: Entrepreneurial approach:

Cartoon sources: Brils & Harris, 2009 – © www.illustraties.nu

• ‘top-down’ (NYC, authorities ..) and ‘bottom-up’ (local farmers) got connected

• ‘two sides’ spent time in mutual education:

• understand each others stake and learned to see mutual self interest

• learned to get used to idea of doing business together

(a) the stakeholders left comfort zones & (b) ‘learned together to manage together’

joint design of a mutually beneficial upstate-downstate partnership

(a) (b)


Key-factor 2: Entrepreneurial approach: (c) regarded environment as profit centre

Vision/believe that doing right environmentally does not impose net

costs on economic development

The opposite – according to Al – :

• leads to strategies of regulatory compliance that are fragmented

• seek the minimum amount of acceptable regulatory compliance

• lack an overall basin wide ecological and social context

“A good environment will produce good water”:

• avoiding exorbitant costs for water filtration (see next slide)

• (part of) savings can be invested in preserving of the rural environment


Key-factor 2: Entrepreneurial approach: (d) went beyond ‘Cmnd & Ctrl’ solution

www.waterfiltercritic.com

‘Cmnd & Ctrl’:

• End of pipe

• $4 to $6 billion to build necessary filtration capacity

• $250 million annual operating costs

• Harsh impact on NYC neighborhoods where plants

have to be build

media.insidegamer.nl

South Bronx – Mel Rosenthal


farmingsweetbay.wordpress.com

ladyanne47 (photos.igougo.com)

Whole Farm Planning (WFP):

• Farmers stewards of environmental resources

• Environmental measures designed to also benefit

farmer economically (Whole Farm)

• Incentive based: NYC pays WFD operating costs:

• Self-selected Watershed Agricultural Council

(WAC, see: www.nycwatershed.org)

• Provides individual farm support service

• Independent academics for monitoring & RTD

• Avoid onerous regulatory oversight

• Voluntary as to any individual farmer, but critical

mass commitment boundary condition (next slide)

1/8 of filtration costs

Key-factor 2: Entrepreneurial approach: (d) went beyond ‘Cmnd & Ctrl’ solution


Key-factor 3: The stakeholders defined and up till to date hold fast to clear targets

Picture: Catskill farm by Robert Breese

clean raw surface water = water that needs no filtration => 85% farmers join WFP within 5 years(within 5 years 93% joined WFP!)

sustainable farming = profitable farming(WFP demonstrated to be sustainable)

water supply manager

www.inspiredwater.org


Key-factor 4: Facilitative leader

Role in New York-Catskill-Delaware ES case:

• designed & directed initial implementation of the watershed protection program

Character in this case:

• out of the box thinker

• persuader / motivator

• entrepreneur: exploited unrecognized opportunity

• boundary spanner / communicator / mediator

Albert F Appleton

Former (1990-1993):

• DEP Commissioner

• director of the NYC Water and Sewer System

www.illustraties.nu


Lesson 1 applied to the Vecht:

A clear and urgent need by an important stakeholder for action?


ES approach in Vecht (so far)

Source: Ecosystem Services: A Guide for Decision Makers (WRI)


ES approach in Vecht (so far)

Source: Ecosystem Services: A Guide for Decision Makers (WRI)

first phase:ES identification

if ‘need’: next phase:1. ES quantification2. ES valuation


Local water management

Business / industry

Agriculture

Tourism / leisure

Nature protection

Inhabitants

ES identification through interviews

CoevordenCoevorden

EmlicheimEmlicheim

HardenbergHardenberg


ES Opportunity

Fish (Small) market for regional food products; new product local fish > income, tourism

Recreation Electric boats > recreation, get in touch with Vecht + preserve peace for nature

Agr. production Incentive for extensive land use in the floodplain > less damage from flooding

Maize can be used for biofuel without stench > income

Water regulation Farmers might want to sell land in the Vecht area > retention area

Reconnection of old meanders > retention capacity + landscape value

Restoration sandy river banks > landscape value +biodiversity

Disconnect rain water drainage from the sewage system > save sewage costs

Energy Improved effectiveness hydropower production > energy production, low CO2-emissions

Use subsurface for ATES > save energy for heating and cooling of buildings

Education Demonstrate functions and characteristics of the vecht system in the field

Most prominent ES in play in the Vecht

most promising ‘driver’ for action at the moment(stakeholder workshop 12 September 2011)


Clear and urgent need by an important stakeholder for action?

Important stakeholder? yes

A clear and urgent need for action? recreation?

Waterschap Velt en Vecht


Resume

Successful application of ecosystem services in watershed management possibly takes:

• A clear and urgent need by an important stakeholder for action

• An entrepreneurial approach:

• leave comfort zones, take an adventurous road

• learn together to manage together

• regard the environment not as cost, but as profit center

• consider other then only ‘Cmnd & Crtl’ solutions

• The definition of, and sticking to clear targets

• Facilitative leadership

picture: Catskill - YeahThatsKosher.com

Thank you Thank you for your attentionfor your attention

Acknowledgement for Vecht study:

Heide Jekel Niels Vlaanderen Ilke Borowski Suzanne van der Meulen& Waterdienst & Linda Neubauer

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