A Framework for Achieving Optimal Collaborative-Strategic Water Management Policies (Case Study: Kashafrood Catchment)

Actor’s collaboration in strategic water management activities, decision making and decision aiding are integral principles of sustainable development. Lack of cooperation and ignorance of the actors about their actions and failure to put them in the decision-making position will lead to their feeling of lack of belonging to the future fate of the water and their inevitable consequence will be their inability to conserve water resources. Therefore, the importance of actor collaboration in water management decisions can be emphasized. If the collaboration implement, help to prevent future water scarcity. The purpose of this study was to establish consensus on optimal water management in Kashafrood catchment. In this research, after identifying and analyzing key and effective actors, identifying the status quo and formulating strategies, the landscape of the catchment will be explained in a horizon that will have a stable equilibrium in water resources and consumption. Below this perspective, 19 basic strategies and 63 macro policies formulated. Due to the multitude of policies formulated, roadmap tools were used to facilitate the outlook. The main components of the roadmap in this study are: reforming the structure of executive management, promoting water culture and community empowerment, reforming and enhancing economic, financial and technical policies, enhancing skills, upgrading systems data, processing and analyzing them, and amending laws and regulations. The most effective way to implement formulated policies is to collaborate in decision aiding sessions and raise their awareness. Collaboration meetings will not be able to solve the water management problems of this basin without creating a common understanding between managers and water users.