The WMDSS is a tool designed to determine the best use of water for human consumption such as agricultural, domestic and industrial purposes based on the implicit economic value of those activities. By optimizing surface and ground water use based on linear programming algorithms, multiple resource allocation objectives can be identified under water management schemes already existing or planned by local water authorities. The WMDSS allows for analysis of optimal water conservation scenarios and evaluates water allocations based on economic, ecological and regulatory requirements.

The WMDSS is a transparent and user-friendly instrument designed for facilitating communication between multiple stakeholders.

The WMDSS is a tool that can address a wide range of water management issues in a systematic and integrated way. The Watershed Management Decision Support System is a multi-dimensional optimization model designed to identify possible management scenarios that meet multiple resources allocation objectives under various hydrologic, ecologic, social, regulatory and economic constraints.

The major components of the watershed management decision support system include:

• The Physical Environment
  The physical system underlying the DSS operates by account for all water that enters the watershed until it leaves the watershed.
  
  

• Water Use
  Each productive use of water involves demands and yields for water. This needs to be accounted for in mass-balancing.
  
  

• Economic Factors
  Economic factors are used to search among all potential watershed management and water allocation options available at any point in time and to choose the option that will yield the highest return.
  
  
• Social Factors
  Water allocations can have major impacts on the wealth and stability of local communities. Social norms and expectations need to be recognized, respected and strengthened through watershed management and water allocation decisions.
  
  
• Legal/Political Issues
  Rights to water for various purposes exist and need to be reflected in any management options produced by the watershed management decision support system. These can greatly influence the management options available.

The Watershed Management Decision Support System was first developed to meet the needs of the State of Chihuahua, Mexico. The Architecture of the watershed management decision support system is based on the work done for the Rio Conchos Decision Support System or RCDSS and is completely Flexible and expandable to meet the needs of any watershed.

Government of the State of Chihuahua, Mexico - Rio Conchos Decision Support System

DPRA has assisted local stakeholders within the State of Chihuahua, Mexico to develop a Decision Support System (RCDSS) to manage the Rio Conchos watershed. The RCDSS is an electronic modelling tool designed to enhance the water and environment management activities within the Rio Conchos basin. Specifically, the project involved developing and implementing an electronic GIS data management and modelling system for improving the management of the Rio Conchos watershed. The project was developed with financial support coming from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the North American Development Bank (NADBank), and the US/Mexico Border Environmental Cooperation Commission (BECC).

For more information, please click here to download the WMDSS flyer.