WSC Category 1: Learning from Adaptable Water Systems

学习适应水系统，密歇根州的气候变化可能会增加降水和水流的数量和可变性。这些增加的流量中有很大一部分将流经雨水和废水基础设施，从而影响生态系统功能，并可能影响公众健康。流量增加还可能加剧与洪水、点状和非点状污染有关的水质问题，以及全州生态系统、饮用水水源和娱乐用水的质量。城市和农村供水系统处于这些增加的流量与人类系统和经济的反应之间的交界处。该项目涉及城市和农村供水系统如何适应环境变化，以及这些适应如何影响水质、健康和经济机会。特别是，重点是废水和雨水/下水道基础设施和技术以及治理系统和复杂流域中出现的冲突。这些问题正在两个截然不同的流域--大河和圣克莱尔湖--得到解决，这两个流域捕捉到了该州--S--水资源和问题的多样性。由于废水、雨水和饮用水的财务决策可以在州、县或通常是地方一级做出，因此在处理治理和水问题时，重要的是研究解决这些相互作用和决策的规模。正在制定进行研究以更好地了解这些流域未来的水质和健康风险的路线图，并发表了一系列论文。这些产品正在应对“蓝色经济”和未来气候变化下可能的适应、缓解和潜在的机遇。正在通过一系列为期一天的讲习班收集有关数据需求和来源以及模型、工具和技术的信息，这些讲习班侧重于与社区资本框架有关的七个领域。这七个重点领域是：人力资本，涉及人的知识、技能和能力；社会资本，包括信任和关系网络；政治资本，获取公众和政治组织之间的关系；文化资本，涉及国家和世界观点；金融资本和未来可供投资的资金；建成资本，包括水利基础设施和技术；以及自然资本，包括生态系统、生态系统服务和人类栖息地(如海滩、公园)。CCF允许开发研究设计，在评估气候变化对这些流域的影响时整合社会、经济、基础设施和自然因素。该团队包括教师和研究生，并正在与公众接触，特别是美洲原住民利益相关者、政府官员和相关行业。由于该区域水问题的跨境性质，加拿大的国际参与也包括在内。正在制定一个独特的社区资本框架，将七个首都在未来气候变化的多种情景下结合起来，以增进对人类和水系统耦合的复杂性质的了解，并协助决策。水是国家对气候变化和能源问题的一个重要组成部分。鉴于淡水系统无疑将在迫在眉睫的水危机中发挥关键作用，从五大湖跨界地区，特别是从密歇根州等淡水资源丰富的州吸取的经验教训，可以帮助理解和解决未来国内和国际上的水和健康问题。此外，为防止水资源污染而对水和废水基础设施进行再投资的巨额费用是一项重大挑战。将大学、企业和政府的智力、企业和组织专业知识结合起来，将有助于发展水科学、技术和教育的最佳实践，使问题成为机会。这将增进对水资源的了解、保护和明智利用，从而造就未来健康、具有经济活力的社区。“向适应性水系统学习”项目正在整合社会复杂性质的多个方面，认识到水对生活质量的重要性。

Learning from Adaptable Water Systems Michigan is a state where climate change is likely to increase the amount and variability of precipitation and water flows. A significant portion of these increased flows will pass through stormwater and wastewater infrastructures thus impacting ecosystem functions and potentially affecting public health. Increased flows are also likely to exacerbate water quality problems associated with flooding, point and non-point pollution, and the quality of ecosystems, drinking water sources and recreational water throughout the state. Urban and rural water systems are at the interface between these increased flows and the response of the human system and economy. This project addresses how urban and rural water systems adapt to environmental changes and how these adaptations affect water quality, health and economic opportunities. In particular, the focus is on wastewater and storm /sewer infrastructure and technology as well as governance systems and conflicts that arise in complex watersheds. These issues are being addressed in two contrasting watersheds, the Grand River and the Lake St. Clair, that capture the diversity of the state?s water resources and issues. As financial decisions can be made at the state, county or often local level for wastewater, storm water and drinking water, it is important that research address these scales of interaction and decision making when addressing governance and water. A road map for conducting research to better understand future risk to water quality and health in these watersheds is being developed, resulting in a series of published papers. These products are addressing possible adaptations, mitigations and potential opportunities under a 'blue economy' and future climate change. Information on data needs and sources as well as on models, tools and techniques are being gathered via a series of 1 day workshops focusing on seven areas associated with the community capital framework (CCF). The seven focus areas are: human capital addressing knowledge, skills and abilities of people; social capital including networks of trust and relationships; political capital capturing relationships between the public and political organizations; cultural capital addressing the state and world view; financial capital and funds available for investment in the future; built capital including water infrastructure and technology; and natural capital which includes ecosystems, ecosystem services and human habitat (eg beaches, parks). The CCF allows for the development of research designs that integrate the social, economic, infrastructural, and natural factors in assessing the effects of climate change on these watersheds. The team includes faculty and graduate students and is engaging the public, particularly Native American stakeholders, government officials, and relevant industries. Because of the cross-boundary nature of the water issues in the region, international participation from Canada is included. A unique community captial framework is being develop that integrates the seven capitals under multiple scenarios of future climate change to improve the understanding of the complex nature of coupled human and aquatic systems and assist with decision making. Water is a critical component of national concerns regarding climate change and energy. Given that freshwater systems will undoubtedly play a critical role in a looming water crisis, the lessons from the Great Lakes transboundary region, and particularly from a freshwater-rich state such as Michigan, can assist in understanding and addressing future water and health problems nationally and internationally. In addition, the large expense of re-investing in water and wastewater infrastructure to prevent pollution of water resources is a significant challenge. Coupling the intellectual, entrepreneurial, and organizational expertise of universities, businesses and government will facilitate the development of the best practices for water science, technology, and education such that problems become opportunities. This will improve understanding, protection and wise use of water resources leading to future healthy, economically vital communities. The "Learning from Adaptable Water Systems" project is integrating multiple aspects of the complex nature of society, realizing the importance of water to the quality of life.