|  What It Is
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| Problems arise from a series of interconnected
events, actions, and needs in the area. The context thus
reaches far beyond the local community. Don't forget the
human environment ! |
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| The study boundaries should be wide
enough to encompass the problemshed and yet narrow enough
to effectively solve the problem. |
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Once you understand the context the problem
is operating in, you can define and attack the problem. A variety
of areas of needs and influences determine
the problemshed: geographical, social,
economic, cultural, biological, health care, hydrologic, etc.
Ask:
- What is the problem?
- How does it show up?
- What is involved?
- Who does it impact?
- How does it impact them?
- What do these impacts mean?
Causes and problems can be widely scattered. For example,
if salinity is causing the problem in a lower basin, the sources
of salinity may be in an upper basin. Thus, the entire river
basin becomes an area of influence or problemshed even though
the upper basin isn't going to benefit directly from the solution.
To determine a water quality issue's problemshed, for example,
you might ask:
- What is the watershed basin (e.g., geographic, physical
boundaries)?
- How and where does the problem manifest itself (e.g.,
drinking water,wetlands, fish)
- Who and what uses the water (e.g., farmers, trees, fish)?
- What do they use the water for (e.g., agricultural, ecosystem,
etc.)?
- Where is the source of pollution (e.g. pesticides, sewage,
mine drainage, etc)?
Thus, to look at the water quality issue, you have to interact
with water supplies to users, pollution sources, economic parameters,
downstream water flows, upstream land use and impacts, etc.
Measuring indicators can help analyze
a broad range of causes and effects.
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Hip Pocket Concepts
Limitations
Fatal Flaws