INTEGRATED SCIENCE AND DECISION MAKING IN THE UPPER SAN PEDRO BASIN, AZ

Decision-makers and natural resource managers increasingly require much more sophisticated levels of expert findings and scientific results to make informed decisions. No single scientific discipline is typically capable of providing integrated solution for decision-makers and managers. Significant effort beyond the traditional scientific method is required conduct interdisciplinary science across the physical and ecological sciences. Even greater effort is required to effectively integrate this research with policy and decision makers for effective and sustainable management of natural resources. This presentation will provide an overview of the evolution of natural resources research in the San Pedro Basin into a mature integrated science and decision making program, as embodied in the Congressionally recognized Upper San Pedro Partnership. The San Pedro contains the US Army's Ft. Huachuca which houses a number of mission deemed critical for national security. In addition, the San Pedro National Riparian Conservation Area (SPRNCA) is the first Congressionally designated National Riparian Conservation Area administered by the BLM. The SPRNCA is judged one of the World's Last Great Places by The Nature Conservancy and the Audubon Society for its ecological diversity. The groundwater aquifer in the Sierra Vista sub-basin of the San Pedro supplies water for Ft. Huachuca, residents of the basin and sustains flow in the San Pedro. The presentation will significant scientific finding and discuss the transition in research from a focus on science and research for understanding; through science for addressing a need; to integrated science and policy development. At each stage the research conducted became more interdisciplinary, first across abiotic disciplines (hydrology, remote sensing, atmospheric science), then by merging abiotic and biotic disciplines (adding ecology and plant physiology), and finally a further integration with the social sciences and policy and decision making for resource management. Lessons learned from this experience will be reviewed with the intent providing guidance to ensure that hydrologic and watershed research is socially and scientifically relevant and will directly address the needs of policy makers and resource managers.