Water Budgets to Inform Sustainable Water Management
Abstract Any plan for increasing the provision of water for the environment can be greatly aided by the preparation of a water budget that clarifies how much water is available, how much is being consumed and for what purposes, how water demands may change over time and how much water remains within the ecosystem of interest. This chapter highlights important considerations and challenges in constructing a water budget, and illustrates how a water budget can inform strategies for returning water to the environment. However, any strategies for restoring environmental water should carefully consider the changing economic, social, and cultural context in which restoration strategies will be pursued.