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Navigating Tribalism in Water Security: Understanding Risks, Innovations & Collaborations

Explore the impact of tribalism on water security through a comprehensive analysis of risks, including natural hazards and human threats. Discover how tribal mentalities influence decision-making in the California water industry, affecting stakeholders' priorities and approaches. Learn how acknowledging and overcoming tribalism can lead to an effective, pragmatic water governance model. Insights from diverse perspectives, including state agencies, the Department of Defense, wholesalers, retailers, and community stakeholders, provide a roadmap for building a cohesive "Uber Water Tribe." Survey results highlight the potential for alignment in addressing water security challenges, paving the way for collaborative actions. Delve into the complexities of managing water security in a world shaped by tribal instincts and polarization, and envision a future where unity prevails over division.

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Navigating Tribalism in Water Security: Understanding Risks, Innovations & Collaborations

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  1. “Tribalism’s” Impact on Water Security Dr. John Simpson, P.E. 2/9/2017

  2. Why “Water Security”? • A much more comprehensive concept • Water Supply – (quantity, quality, delivery sys) • Water Rights – (access) • Demand Management – (conservation BMPs) • Physical Security – (human threats) • Weather, Climate, Geography – (natural hazards)

  3. Use “Risk” as the measure - why? The concept of managing “Risk” is very familiar to most decision-makers (Board of Directors) Utilizing “Risk” to measure and manage water security is widely accepted within academia, industry and government Using “Risk” to inform investment decisions is also widely accepted within academia, industry and government

  4. Water Security Risks • Conducted comprehensive literature review of the “Risks” associated with water security • Organized “Risks” into: • Natural “Hazards” (15) • Human Caused “Threats” (28) • Assigned “Causes” to Hazards and “Manifestations” to Threats • Categorized “Hazards” and “Threats” into (5) Dimensions

  5. Additional Considerations Risks: Compound, Cascade, Concatenate

  6. Research Findings: Of the (43) Risks to Water Security, (5) dominated through their significant interactions (compounding, cascading, concatenating) across ALL Risks • Drought • Climate Change • Meteorological Aridity • Tribalism • Overpopulation Of those (5) Risks, the one that CA water industry decision-makers have most control over is: Tribalism…

  7. Research Findings: • Initially our tribal natures were our “competitive advantage”…

  8. Research Findings: • Unfortunately, our innate tribal natures tend to evolve into an “us” vs. “them” mentality...

  9. Research Findings: • And, as we have seen in the past, our tribal “us” vs. “them” mentalities can be weaponized...

  10. Research Findings: Today we live in a complex system of nested tribes which provide us with affinity and validation, and from which we derive our identity… Interests John Doe Family Religion Sports Politics Friends Work

  11. Research Findings: • Correspondingly, today’s “hyper connected” world gives individuals the ability to find affinity and validation for any ”worldview” they may hold…

  12. Research Findings: • Knowing this, powerful entities have “fully weaponized” our innate tribalism, through the manufacture of fear and ignorance to create the hyper-polarization that we find within our society…

  13. Research Findings: • How is this exhibited across the CA water industry? • All stakeholders (Ag, Cities, Industry, Environmentalist, Military, etc.) feel they should have the first priority to available water • Northern California vs. Southern California • Colorado vs. California • Approaches to, and feelings about, Climate Change • Infrastructure investment priorities (no rate increases = no maintenance) • Approaches to, and “feelings” about, Environmental Issues • Special District engagement with (feelings about) State and Fed gov • Approaches to Bay-Delta Issues • Feelings/actions regarding the Drought emergency declaration • Board of Directors vs. Professional Staff • Demonization of Public Employees • Is turf replacement a good idea

  14. Where do we go from here? • Can stakeholders and decision-makers acknowledge their “weaponized tribalism” and come together to evolve beyond it…into an uber water tribe determined to make effective pragmatic decisions for all?... • My research says - YES

  15. Uber Water Tribe CA State Agency Perspective DoD Perspective Felicia Marcus, Chair, SWRCB BG Ted Banta, CG MCIWest Becky Patton, OSD Denny McGinn, ASN Fed Agency Perspective Wholesaler Perspective Jeff Kightlinger, GM, MWD Jack Simes, BoR Area Planning Officer Mark Weston, Chair, SDCWA Maureen Stapleton, GM, SDCWA Local Retail Perspective Env non-profit, Eng Business Perspective Steve Reich, P.E. Principal Jack Bebee, AGM Fallbrook, PUD Matt O’Malley, Esq WaterKeepers Halla Razak, Director, City of San Diego Public Utilities

  16. Survey Results • When the lens for the issue is “Water Security” • When “Risk” is the measure • All stakeholders gave very well aligned answers to complex questions • So how do we tranfer that alignment into our “daily” actions?

  17. Gary and Meena?

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