An integrated catchment management system: A socioeconomic approach to water allocation in the Namoi

The Integrated Catchment Management System (ICMS) software has been developed to provide decision support for a wide range of catchment modelling and management needs. This is facilitated by object-oriented techniques, user friendly interfaces, data analysis and model libraries, and scenario formulation tools. This paper explores an integrated socioeconomic and hydrological modelling framework that is being developed within ICMS for the exploration of a number of issues surrounding water allocation problems in the Namoi river catchment in eastern Australia. Key stakeholder groups within the catchment are seeking information on the impacts of water reforms and catchment management policies in terms of their social, economic, hydrological and environmental implications. ICMS allows for the consideration of a wide range of impacts using an integrated modelling approach, including economic and hydrological components. Stakeholder inclusion in the model development process has been largely undertaken through links with the various River Management Committees (RMCs) within the catchment, with model requirements and modelling scenarios being developed to meet the information needs of the RMCs. This paper discusses the role of stakeholders in the model development process, the regional structure of the economic model and details of the integration between economic and hydrological components of the model structure.