Defining the
Status Quo
Definition of Status Quo
The “Status Quo” describes existing or
anticipated conditions of a water resources
system if policies, system
configurations, regulations,
and management strategies
remain unchanged.
Defining the Status Quo Requires

A shared understanding of the physical,
technical, regulatory, management, and policy
attributes of the system

A statement of important problems facing the
region

Identification of uncertainties and
discrepancies in information and policies

A common vocabulary for future discussion
When the Status Quo is Defined
Managers and stakeholders develop a shared
understanding of system attributes and
management concerns.
Once the status quo is established it is used to

Confirm the appropriateness of planning
objectives

Identify constraints to planning alternatives

Establish a baseline for comparison with
proposed alternatives
Status Quo for
Tactical
and Strategic Plans

Tactical Plans define the status quo in terms
of existing conditions

Strategic Plans use long-term forecasts to
describe future conditions
The Process of Defining the Status Quo
Activities in Defining the Status Quo

Perform a facility inventory, a resource inventory, a
legal, policy, economics, management and demand
inventory

Resolve conflicting information and data gaps

Develop a Shared Vision Model to develop an
integrated expression of your system’s performance

Examine system performance under different
hydrologic scenarios
Components of a
Facilities Inventory

Reservoirs

Distribution facilities

Treatment plants

Diversions

Water-related structures such
as boat ramps, locks

Pumping facilities
Components of a
Resources Inventory
Hydrology/Climate
Fish and Wildlife
Water Quality
Unregulated streamflow Important species Existing water quality
Data
Endangered species Fish and wildlife needs
Gauging station locations
(at different life stages)
Local inflows
Sedimentation and
scour areas
Precipitation
Snowpack
Types of effluent
discharged
Evaporation
Temperature
Groundwater resources
Components of a Legal Inventory

Authorized project purposes

Existing water rights and priorities

Instream flow requirements

Water quality regulations
Components of a
Management Inventory

Operating policies

Rule curves

Triggering mechanisms
Components of a Policy Inventory

Management preferences

Societal preferences

Political concerns
Components of an
Economic Inventory

Facility costs

Recreational benefits

Marginal cost pricing

Benefit/Cost analysis
Components of a Demand Inventory
Water uses (instream, offstream, consumptive,
non-consumptive)
 Demand levels
 Forecasted demand levels
 Demand patterns
 Driving factors
 Cost of water
 Conservation strategies
 Curtailment measures
 Revenue generated

Choice of Hydrological Data in
Status Quo Analysis

Evaluation of the status quo requires
understanding of the average performance of a
system as well as its performance under
extreme conditions

Good hydrologic data is
essential for these
assessments
Options for
Short Hydrologic Records
If hydrologic records are short

Accept historic data set and acknowledge
uncertainty

Use data set from a
region with similar
characteristics

Develop “synthetic” data
Pros and Cons of
Design Droughts and Floods
Use of a Design Drought
Pros

Represents a sequence of events that has
actually occurred

Impacts may be tangible to managers
and stakeholders
Pros and Cons of
Design Droughts and Floods
Cons

Will not reoccur in the future

A more severe drought may be possible

May provide region with a false sense
of security

Does not provide information on
overall system performance
Summary

Managers and stakeholders must work to
establish a collectively endorsed vision of the
status quo.

The status quo acts as a baseline for the
comparison of alternatives.

Shared vision models are used to assess
cumulative impacts of the status quo.

Hydrologic data sets should be carefully chosen
when defining the status quo.
Exercise