Potentials for numerical models in water management recommendations for local water management with stakeholder involvement / Möjligheter för numeriska modeller inom vattenförvaltning Rekommendationer för lokal vattenförvaltning med aktörssamverkan
The outcomes from two Swedish IHP workshops on the use of numerical models in water management are presented. The workshops involved researchers and modellers from various parts of Europe and representatives from the Swedish water management sector. Recommendations of good practices in the use of models, with emphasis on local water management and stakeholder involvement are presented. Models abilities to extrapolate and interpolate information and synthesize existing knowledge, as well as their potential to facilitate decisions related to complex questions, where several environmental and economic goals are integrated, were highlighted. However, also challenges that need to be overcome were identified, including the need of increased effort to address transparency and more effort on communication between modellers and users of model results. Provision of ranges of uncertainty was called for, as well as a focus on identification of reasons behind the discrepancies rather than striving for a “best fit” between models and measurements. The need to promote success stories, where models are used for collaboration between stakeholders and authorities and where this work has resulted in implementation of measures were addressed. By doing this, the participants anticipated that politicians will invest more resources in the use of models in water management.