The Role of Climate and Water Resources Data in Societal Decisions

The use of Decision Support Systems (DSS) for the purposes of managing and presenting climate and water data is becoming more common, is an accepted method for delivering information, and is intended to improve the speed and quality of decisions. Some of the primary challenges when presenting climate and water data through a DSS include the differing technical competencies, abilities to use technology, and information needs of the end users. Rarely are these considerations understood when delivering climate and water data through a DSS.

This presentation highlights of the results from a recent NOAA Sectoral Applications Research Grant, which examined the relationship between resource management decisions and the reliance on climate and water data in the Klamath Basin, Oregon and California. Through the use focus groups the relationship between societal resource decisions made on a frequent basis, the temporal and spatial scales of these decisions and the data relied upon for decision-making were documented. The methods used are transferable to other locations and demonstrate how value can be added to existing climate and water data by providing the data in a manner most relevant to the decision maker.