Understanding the value of information in the Camboriú watershed management program, Brazil

Watershed management programs have great potential to support environmental protection efforts and the development of economic activities. To support design, implementation, and evaluation efforts, program managers often rely on hydrologic modeling and monitoring conducted by technical partners. It remains unclear, however, how hydrologic information is actually used in practice, if at all. Indeed, recent research highlights the gaps between theory and practice of watershed management programs, with program design and implementation often driven by practical and financial factors, rather than hydrologic information.

In the Camboriú watershed, Brazil, we explored the role of hydrologic information in watershed management programs by assessing its value from two perspectives: technical credibility and conceptual or instrumental use. First, we compared the performance of two hydrologic models (Soil and Water Assessment tool, SWAT, and Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs, InVEST) under two scenarios of data availability (with or without monitoring data). Next, we assessed the value of hydrologic information at the program level through semi-structured interviews with program stakeholders.

In general, model complexity and data availability improved the credibility of hydrologic information but did not impact the theoretical design of the watershed management program. Importantly, modeling outputs were not used instrumentally to support the actual program design, but rather contributed to scaling and broad-scale support of the program by increasing scientific credibility. Our study demonstrates that careful identification of modeling goals and impacts through interdisciplinary approaches is needed to understand the value and appropriate level of investment in hydrologic and monitoring efforts.