Decision Center for a Desert City
Challenge
The Decision Center for a Desert City (DCDC) is a “boundary organization” that bridges the divide between academic research and policy making. They wanted to show the relationships between climate change, water supplies and urbanization in Phoenix.
Solution
DCDC created a system dynamics model with a graphical “dashboard” that allows water professionals in the state to explore alternative scenarios for growth, water supply and water demand. Called WaterSim, the model incorporates growing water demand on the Salt-Verde watershed and the Colorado River in the face of climatic variability and growth.
Results
DCDC WaterSim has the ability to predict the impact of droughts on Arizona’s watersheds, their impact on regional growth, and assist policy makers to explore sustainable water conservation and use policies.