We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
From Planning to Action: Advancing Sustainable Water Resources Management in the Potomac Basin
Summary
Not relevant to microplastics — this paper focuses on collaborative water resources planning in the Potomac River basin, examining governance frameworks and stakeholder engagement strategies.
ABSTRACT The Potomac River basin, a critical source of drinking water and home to the U.S. capital, provides a case study in sustainable water resources management. This paper traces the history of planning in the basin, examines the opportunities and challenges of water resources management in a complex, multi‐jurisdictional setting, and analyzes the integrated, adaptive process used to develop and implement the Potomac Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan. Using a review of planning documents and stakeholder engagement outcomes, the analysis identifies key mechanisms through which adaptive, collaborative planning is operationalized across four analytic dimensions: stakeholder engagement, facilitation, plan components, and planning process. The Potomac case demonstrates how integrative principles can be implemented pragmatically through voluntary, science‐based, and locally grounded collaboration—rather than applying Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) as a formal or prescriptive framework. The findings highlight how institutional capacity, iterative learning, and cross‐jurisdictional coordination enable basin‐scale planning to evolve over time. Unlike previous Potomac scientific and planning reports, this paper offers a systematic, reflective analysis of the long‐term planning process in the Potomac basin, providing empirically grounded insights and a conceptual framework for others pursuing integrated, sustainable water resources management.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Managing Urban Water Resources: A Review of Challenges, Techniques, and Sustainability Strategies
Despite its title referencing urban water resource management, this paper is a broad review of water management challenges and tools — including hydrological modeling, remote sensing, and integrated governance strategies — rather than a study of microplastic pollution. It reviews planning frameworks and case studies related to water sustainability and does not examine microplastics or their health effects.
The role of water management and its effect on microplastic transport and fate
Researchers examined how water management practices affect the transport and fate of microplastics in river networks, which serve as both conduits and sinks for plastic pollution. The study found that flow regulation and water management interventions significantly influence how far microplastics travel and where they accumulate.
Modelling to inform the conservation and management of aquatic ecosystems: A synthesis of five case studies
Not relevant to microplastics — this paper presents five modeling case studies for managing aquatic ecosystems under threats including invasive species, over-exploitation, and climate change; microplastics are briefly mentioned as one of many stressors but are not the paper's focus.
Optimal Allocation of Water Resources Considering Virtual Water Trade: A Case Study of the Yellow River
This study optimizes water resource allocation across the Yellow River basin in China by integrating both physical and virtual water flows. The study is focused on water resource management and is not directly related to microplastic research.
Convergence Research for Microplastic Pollution at the Watershed Scale
This paper describes a convergence research initiative that brought together scientists, policymakers, educators, and community members to collectively study microplastic pollution across the Columbia River Basin in the United States. The collaboration produced teacher training materials, a basin-wide microplastic sampling plan using moss and freshwater samples, and stakeholder surveys revealing differing levels of concern across sectors. The project demonstrates that meaningful progress on microplastic pollution requires building trust, co-designing research with communities, and translating findings directly into policy discussions and classrooms.