Submit to Hydrology Review for Hydrology Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Socio-Hydrology: The New Paradigm in Resilient Water Management

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Hydrology (ISSN 2306-5338). This special issue belongs to the section "Hydrology and Economics/Human Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2021) | Viewed by 43020

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special issue Socio-Hydrology: The New Paradigm in Resilient Water Management book cover image

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Tamim Younos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

1. Founder & President, Green Water-Infrastructure Academy, Blacksburg, VA 24040, USA
2. College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES), University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Interests: climate change and water resources; food, energy, water nexus; watershed science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Tammy Parece

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Assistant Professor of Geography, Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, CO 81501-3122, USA
Interests: urban agriculture; geospatial technology education and outreach K-16

Dr. Juneseok Lee

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Civil & Environmental Engineering, Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY 10471, USA
Interests: water infrastructure analytics; water distribution; building water systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Jason Giovannettone

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Senior Engineer at Dewberry 8401 Arlington Blvd, Fairfax, VA 22031, USA
Interests: climate variability vs. climate change; flood susceptibility; green infrastructure; stormwater & energy conservation

Ms. Alaina J. Armel

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Senior Water Resources Engineer, AECOM 3101 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201, USA
Interests: TMDL planning and implementation; sustainable water management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Socio-hydrology is a new interdisciplinary field that aims to study the long-term dynamics of bidirectional feedback in coupled human-water systems. The science of coupled human-water systems indicates that global biophysical and social processes are strongly interconnected. Hydrologic systems are significantly influenced by anthropogenic factors such as land use (urbanization, deforestation and agriculture); water use and water infrastructure; and other human activities. Additionally, changes in hydrologic systems caused by anthropogenic factors significantly impact global ecosystems, socio-economics, and climate change. Socio-hydrologic study is a paradigm shift toward examining tradeoffs and synergies in coupled human-water systems to provide scientific feedback for defining resilient solutions that resolve complex water management problems. The feedback approach in socio-hydrologic studies enhances the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a practice that promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximize economic and social welfare.

In recent decades, the strong interconnectedness of the global economy has significantly increased the importance of global climate variability, hydrologic conditions and human activities as critical factors in sustainable management of water resources. There is a significant need to understand the nature of hydrological systems and anthropogenic factors contributing to the dynamics and resilience of coupled human-water systems and effective risk management in the arena of water management. This need has also led to developing socio-hydrologic models at various scales for sustainable management of water resources, locally, regionally, nationally, and globally.

This Special Issue on socio-hydrology intends to compile interdisciplinary (natural & social sciences) scientific endeavors and innovations on coupled human-water systems research development, applications and challenges. Research articles are solicited including, but not limited to the following topics: (1) methods of scientific inquiry for socio-hydrology; (2) learning about coupled human-water systems from an historic perspective; (3) comparative socio-hydrologic studies across interdisciplinary boundaries; (4) analysis of spatial dimension of socio-hydrologic factors; (5) resilience assessment and risk management in coupled human-water systems; (6) socio-hydrologic modeling techniques and applications; (7) challenges and opportunities in socio-hydrology learned from research and case studies; and (8) other topics relevant to the Special Issue theme.

Dr. Tamim Younos
Dr. Tammy Parece
Dr. Juneseok Lee
Dr. Jason Giovannettone
Alaina J. Armel
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Hydrology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Coupled human-water systems
sustainable water management
climate variability
hydrologic influences
anthropogenic factors
human behavior
socio-economic factors
resilience
risk management
IWRM

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (10 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 157 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Introduction to the Special Issue “Socio-Hydrology: The New Paradigm in Resilient Water Management”

by Tamim Younos, Tammy E. Parece, Juneseok Lee, Jason Giovannettone and Alaina J. Armel

Hydrology 2021, 8(3), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8030138 - 11 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1899

Abstract

Water is life! Ancient human communities were established in close proximity of natural water systems, i [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Hydrology: The New Paradigm in Resilient Water Management)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

30 pages, 11851 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Regional Climate Change Impact on Coastal Tourism: A Case Study for the Black Sea Coast of Russia

by Evgeniia A. Kostianaia and Andrey G. Kostianoy

Hydrology 2021, 8(3), 133; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8030133 - 6 Sep 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4942

Abstract

Regional climate change is one of the key factors that should be taken into account when planning the development of the coastal tourism, including investments and construction of tourism-related infrastructure. A case study for the Black Sea coast of Russia shows a series of potential negative hydrological, meteorological, and biological factors that accompany regional warming of the Black Sea Region, that can impede the development of coastal tourism and devalue billions of dollars in investments by the State, private companies, and individuals. We discuss such natural phenomena as air and sea warming, extreme weather events, coastal upwelling, heavy rains, river plumes, wind and waves, tornado, rip currents, sea-level rise, algal bloom, introduced species, and other features characteristic for the region that seriously impact coastal tourism today, and may intensify in the nearest future. Sporadic occurrence of extreme weather events, unpleasant and sometimes dangerous sea and atmosphere phenomena during the summer tourist season, and from year to year can be of critical psychological importance when choosing your next vacation and tourism destination. The research does not include anthropogenic factors, geopolitical, and socio-economic processes, and the COVID-19 pandemic that play an important role in the sustainable development of coastal tourism as well. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Hydrology: The New Paradigm in Resilient Water Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 13468 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Interdisciplinary Water Development in the Peruvian Highlands: The Case for Including the Coproduction of Knowledge in Socio-Hydrology

by Jasper Oshun, Kristina Keating, Margaret Lang and Yojana Miraya Oscco

Hydrology 2021, 8(3), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8030112 - 2 Aug 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4128

Abstract

Agrarian communities in the Peruvian Andes depend on local water resources that are threatened by both a changing climate and changes in the socio-politics of water allocation. A community’s local autonomy over water resources and its capacity to plan for a sustainable and secure water future depends, in part, on integrated local environmental knowledge (ILEK), which leverages and blends traditional and western scientific approaches to knowledge production. Over the course of a two-year collaborative water development project with the agrarian district of Zurite, we designed and implemented an applied model of socio-hydrology focused on the coproduction of knowledge among scientists, local knowledge-holders and students. Our approach leveraged knowledge across academic disciplines and cultures, trained students to be valued producers of knowledge, and, most importantly, integrated the needs and concerns of the community. The result is a community-based ILEK that informs sustainable land and water management and has the potential to increase local autonomy over water resources. Furthermore, the direct link between interdisciplinary water science and community benefits empowered students to pursue careers in water development. The long-term benefits of our approach support the inclusion of knowledge coproduction among scholars, students and, in particular, community members, in applied studies of socio-hydrology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Hydrology: The New Paradigm in Resilient Water Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 3304 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

System Dynamics Modeling for Evaluating Regional Hydrologic and Economic Effects of Irrigation Efficiency Policy

by Yining Bai, Saeed P. Langarudi and Alexander G. Fernald

Hydrology 2021, 8(2), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8020061 - 2 Apr 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3740

Abstract

Exploring the dynamic mechanisms of coupled sociohydrologic systems is necessary to solve future water sustainability issues. This paper employs system dynamics modeling to determine hydrologic and economic implications of an irrigation efficiency (IE) policy (increased conveyance efficiency and field efficiency) in a coupled sociohydrologic system with three climate scenarios. Simulations are conducted within the lower Rio Grande region (LRG) of New Mexico for the years 1969 to 2099, including water, land, capital, and population modules. Quadrant analysis is utilized to compare the IE policy outcomes with the base case and to categorize results of simulations according to hydrologic and economic sustainability. The four categories are beneficial, unacceptable, unsustainable agricultural development, and unsustainable hydrology. Simulation results for the IE policy analyzed here fall into the categories of unsustainable agricultural development or unacceptable, suggesting there are long-term negative effects to regional economies in all scenarios with mixed results for hydrologic variables. IE policy can yield water for redistribution as increased unit water supply in the field produces more deep percolation; however, IE policy sacrifices regional connectivity. Specifically, simulation results show that the policy increases abundance by 4.7–74.5% and return flow by −3.0–9.9%. These positive results, however, come at the cost of decreased hydrologic connectivity (−31.5 to −25.1%) and negative economic impacts (−32.7 to −5.7%). Long-term net depletions in groundwater are also observed from loss of hydrologic connectivity and increased agricultural water demand from projections of increased consumptive use of crops. Adaptive water management that limits water use in drought years and replenishes groundwater in abundant years as well as economic incentives to offset the costs of infrastructure improvements will be necessary for the IE policy to result in sustainable agriculture and water resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Hydrology: The New Paradigm in Resilient Water Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 11777 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Common Pool Resource Management: Assessing Water Resources Planning for Hydrologically Connected Surface and Groundwater Systems

by Francisco Muñoz-Arriola, Tarik Abdel-Monem and Alessandro Amaranto

Hydrology 2021, 8(1), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8010051 - 19 Mar 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3668

Abstract

Common pool resource (CPR) management has the potential to overcome the collective action dilemma, defined as the tendency for individual users to exploit natural resources and contribute to a tragedy of the commons. Design principles associated with effective CPR management help to ensure that arrangements work to the mutual benefit of water users. This study contributes to current research on CPR management by examining the process of implementing integrated management planning through the lens of CPR design principles. Integrated management plans facilitate the management of a complex common pool resource, ground and surface water resources having a hydrological connection. Water governance structures were evaluated through the use of participatory methods and observed records of interannual changes in rainfall, evapotranspiration, and ground water levels across the Northern High Plains. The findings, documented in statutes, field interviews and observed hydrologic variables, point to the potential for addressing large-scale collective action dilemmas, while building on the strengths of local control and participation. The feasibility of a “bottom up” system to foster groundwater resilience was evidenced by reductions in groundwater depths of 2 m in less than a decade. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Hydrology: The New Paradigm in Resilient Water Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 7028 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

How Perceptions of Trust, Risk, Tap Water Quality, and Salience Characterize Drinking Water Choices

by Madeline A. Grupper, Madeline E. Schreiber and Michael G. Sorice

Hydrology 2021, 8(1), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8010049 - 18 Mar 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5422

Abstract

Provision of safe drinking water by water utilities is challenged by disturbances to water quality that have become increasingly frequent due to global changes and anthropogenic impacts. Many water utilities are turning to adaptable and flexible strategies to allow for resilient management of drinking water supplies. The success of resilience-based management depends on, and is enabled by, positive relationships with the public. To understand how relationships between managers and communities spill over to in-home drinking water behavior, we examined the role of trust, risk perceptions, salience of drinking water, and water quality evaluations in the choice of in-home drinking water sources for a population in Roanoke Virginia. Using survey data, our study characterized patterns of in-home drinking water behavior and explored related perceptions to determine if residents’ perceptions of their water and the municipal water utility could be intuited from this behavior. We characterized drinking water behavior using a hierarchical cluster analysis and highlighted the importance of studying a range of drinking water patterns. Through analyses of variance, we found that people who drink more tap water have higher trust in their water managers, evaluate water quality more favorably, have lower risk perceptions, and pay less attention to changes in their tap water. Utility managers may gauge information about aspects of their relationships with communities by examining drinking water behavior, which can be used to inform their future interactions with the public, with the goal of increasing resilience and adaptability to external water supply threats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Hydrology: The New Paradigm in Resilient Water Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3660 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Landslide Susceptibility Analysis: A Logistic Regression Model Case Study in Coonoor, India

by Evangelin Ramani Sujatha and Venkataramana Sridhar

Hydrology 2021, 8(1), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8010041 - 5 Mar 2021

Cited by 55 | Viewed by 4878

Abstract

Landslides are a common geologic hazard that disrupts the social and economic balance of the affected society. Therefore, identifying zones prone to landslides is necessary for safe living and the minimal disruption of economic activities in the event of the hazard. The factors causing landslides are often a function of the local geo-environmental set-up and need a region-specific study. This study evaluates the site characteristics primarily altered by anthropogenic activities to understand and identify the various factors causing landslides in Coonoor Taluk of Uthagamandalam District in Tamil Nadu, India. Studies on landslide susceptibility show that slope gradient, aspect, relative relief, topographic wetness index, soil type, and land use of the region influence slope instability. Rainfall characteristics have also played a significant role in causing landslides. Logistic Regression, a popular statistical tool used for predictive analysis, is employed to assess the various selected factors’ impact on landslide susceptibility. The factors are weighted and combined in a GIS platform to develop the region’s landslide susceptibility map. This region has a direct link between natural physical systems, hydrology, and humans from the socio-hydrological perspective. The landslide susceptibility map derived using the watershed’s physical and environmental conditions offers the best tool for planning the developmental activities and prioritizing areas for mitigation activities in the region. The Coonoor region’s tourism and agriculture sectors can significantly benefit from identifying zones prone to landslides for their economic stability and growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Hydrology: The New Paradigm in Resilient Water Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Readiness and Resilience of Czech Society against Water-Related Crises

by Štěpán Kavan, Šárka Kročová and Jiří Pokorný

Hydrology 2021, 8(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8010014 - 22 Jan 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2580

Abstract

This assessment of societal readiness and resilience to water-related situations in the Czech Republic focuses on an interdisciplinary approach in the Czech Republic for solving this problem. The goal of the article is to evaluate and characterize the preparedness for handling water-related crises. The analysis is carried out via a SWOT analysis, which is a universal analytical method used to understand and interpret strengths and weaknesses and to identify opportunities and threats. For the calculation of the weight factor of the SWOT analysis, an assessment was determined based on the multicriteria analysis. The pair comparison method was used to determine the relative importance of the parameters of the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The Fuller Triangle method was chosen for the system used to make the comparisons of the individual criteria. The uniqueness of the study consists of the issue of water management, which is thus reflected from a non-traditional perspective, being a contemporary model—the paradigm of the view on the preparedness of the planning documentation as one of the characteristics of societal resilience for water-related crises. The result of the research is the fact that a positive approach prevails in the researched area from the perspective of preparedness for water-related crises. For the creation of the conditions, the factors arising from the internal environment currently prevail slightly over those arising from the external environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Hydrology: The New Paradigm in Resilient Water Management)

28 pages, 9054 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Analytical Protocol to Estimate the Relative Importance of Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors in Influencing Runoff Quality in the Bumbu Watershed, Papua New Guinea

by Willie Doaemo, Lawrence Wuest, Shaurya Bajaj, Wan Shafrina Wan Mohd Jaafar and Midhun Mohan

Hydrology 2020, 7(4), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology7040077 - 14 Oct 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4531

Abstract

The wellbeing, socio-economic viability and the associated health of the inhabitant species of any ecosystem are largely dependent on the quality of its water resources. In this regard, we developed a protocol to measure the potential impact of various environmental and anthropogenic factors on runoff quality at 22 water sampling sites across the Bumbu Watershed in Papua New Guinea. For this purpose, we utilized Digital Elevation Models and several GIS techniques for delineation of stream drainage patterns, classification of the watershed based on Land Use/Land Cover, spatial interpolation of rainfall patterns and computation of the corresponding factor runoff. Our study concludes that a variety of potential challenges to surface water quality are possible such as natural geologic and geochemical inputs, runoff accumulation of precipitation and organic matter pollutants. The developed protocol can also accommodate socio-economic factors such as community and household health, sanitation and hygiene practices, pollution and waste disposal. This research lays the foundation for further development of an all-inclusive correlational analysis between the relative importance values of the factors influencing runoff and spatially distributed water quality measurements in the Bumbu basin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Hydrology: The New Paradigm in Resilient Water Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

22 pages, 1373 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Social Barriers and the Hiatus from Successful Green Stormwater Infrastructure Implementation across the US

by Jingyi Qi and Nicole Barclay

Hydrology 2021, 8(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology8010010 - 15 Jan 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3981

Abstract

Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), a nature-inspired, engineered stormwater management approach, has been increasingly implemented and studied especially over the last two decades. Though recent studies have elucidated the social benefits of GSI implementation in addition to its environmental and economic benefits, the social factors that influence its implementation remain under-explored thus, there remains a need to understand social barriers on decisions for GSI. This review draws interdisciplinary research attention to the connections between such social barriers and the potentially underlying cognitive biases that can influence rational decision making. Subsequently, this study reviewed the agent-based modeling (ABM) approach in decision support for promoting innovative strategies in water management for long-term resilience at an individual level. It is suggested that a collaborative and simultaneous effort in governance transitioning, public engagement, and adequate considerations of demographic constraints are crucial to successful GSI acceptance and implementation in the US. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Socio-Hydrology: The New Paradigm in Resilient Water Management)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Socio-Hydrology: The New Paradigm in Resilient Water Management

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (10 papers)

Editorial

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI