Strategic Water Resource Management Plan for Moses Lake: Aligning with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Addressing Water Scarcity and Ensuring Sustainable Communities (SDG 6, SDG 11)

The City of Moses Lake has announced a forthcoming workshop on September 16 to present a long-term water resource strategy. This initiative is a direct response to increasing pressure on regional water supplies due to population growth and drought conditions. The core objective is to reduce the city’s significant dependence on a deep basalt aquifer, which currently supplies approximately 90% of its water. City officials report that this aquifer is being depleted at an unsustainable rate, posing a direct challenge to the long-term viability of the community and its alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Core Strategic Objectives for Water Sustainability

The proposed strategy, as outlined by City Manager Robert Karlinsey, is a multi-faceted approach designed to ensure a resilient and sustainable water supply. This plan directly supports the integrated water resources management principles of SDG 6.

1. Diversification to Shallow Aquifers: The city will investigate and develop shallow, faster-recharging aquifers as an alternative water source. This measure aims to alleviate pressure on the deep aquifer, promoting sustainable withdrawal practices as outlined in SDG 6.4.
2. Evaluation of Surface Water Resources: A comprehensive assessment of surface water options, including irrigation canals, will be undertaken. This aligns with SDG 6 by exploring integrated management approaches to enhance water security.
3. Advocacy and Partnerships for Agricultural Water Use (SDG 17): The city will engage in lobbying efforts to transition more agricultural activities to canal-based water delivery systems, such as the Odessa Groundwater Replacement project. This collaborative approach exemplifies SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by working with regional stakeholders to achieve more responsible consumption and production patterns (SDG 12).

Governance and Implementation Framework

The September 16 workshop will serve as a critical platform for finalizing the city’s water systems plan and prioritizing key initiatives. The implementation will be guided by a clear, actionable framework.

• A six-year capital plan will detail the necessary investments in existing and new water infrastructure.
• The strategy focuses on tangible projects with pre-identified funding sources, moving beyond conceptual planning.
• The process emphasizes establishing partnerships with stakeholders across the Basin to ensure a coordinated regional response to water scarcity.

Alignment with Global Sustainability Mandates

The Moses Lake water strategy is fundamentally aligned with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, reflecting a commitment to responsible environmental stewardship and community resilience.

• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): The plan directly addresses the need for sustainable water management and ensuring the long-term availability of freshwater resources for the community.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): By proactively managing its primary water source, the city is enhancing its resilience to climate-related hazards such as drought and securing its capacity for sustainable growth.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The strategic shift away from a depleting aquifer represents a move toward the sustainable management and efficient use of a critical natural resource.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): Reducing over-extraction protects vital groundwater-dependent ecosystems from degradation, contributing to the conservation of inland freshwater ecosystems.

Leadership Perspectives and Community Engagement

City leadership has affirmed the centrality of this strategy to the future of Moses Lake. Mayor Dustin Swartz emphasized that sustainable water management is integral to the city’s growth, public safety, and quality of life. Council members have stressed the importance of establishing clear timelines and ensuring equitable, community-wide engagement throughout the implementation process. This commitment to fairness and inclusivity in infrastructure planning reinforces the principles of building sustainable and equitable communities under SDG 11.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The article’s primary focus is on the sustainable management of water resources for the city of Moses Lake. It directly addresses issues of water scarcity, over-extraction from a non-recharging aquifer, and the need for a new water strategy.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The discussion revolves around urban infrastructure planning (“six-year capital plan focused on existing facilities”), ensuring the city’s future viability in the face of growth, and maintaining the “quality of life” for its residents through responsible resource management.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly mentions “drought pressure” as a key driver for the new water strategy. This links the city’s water challenges to the broader impacts of climate change and highlights the need for adaptation and resilience.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The city’s strategy is not insular; it involves collaboration. The article mentions the city’s aim to prioritize “projects and partnerships across the Basin” and lobbying efforts, which underscores the importance of cooperation to achieve water security.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. The entire article is about addressing water scarcity by developing a strategy to “wean” Moses Lake from its reliance on the over-pumped deep basalt aquifer and ensure a sustainable supply for the future.
2. Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels. The city’s proposed “three-pronged path” — using shallow aquifers, surface water, and coordinating with agricultural users — is a clear example of an integrated water resources management plan in action at the local level.
3. Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of people affected… by disasters, including water-related disasters. The city’s proactive planning is a direct attempt to mitigate the future impacts of drought, a slow-onset, water-related disaster that could affect the entire community.
4. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The development of a long-term water strategy to diversify water sources is a direct measure to strengthen the city’s resilience and adaptive capacity to the climate-related hazard of drought.
5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The plan to pursue “partnerships across the Basin” and the call for “community engagement” align with this target, recognizing that solving complex water issues requires collaboration among various stakeholders.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 6.4: The article states that “About 90% of the city’s water comes from that Ice Age aquifer.” A key indicator of progress would be the reduction in the percentage of water withdrawn from the deep basalt aquifer over time. This directly measures the success of the city’s effort to “wean” itself off this unsustainable source.
• Implied Indicator for Target 6.5: The development and formal adoption of the “long-term water strategy” and the “water systems plan” itself serves as an indicator. The article notes these are “actual projects that we plan to get done,” so the implementation status of the integrated water resources strategy is a measurable sign of progress.
• Implied Indicator for Target 13.1: The existence of the city’s water strategy is an indicator. Progress can be measured by the adoption and implementation of a local strategy for climate change adaptation, which this water plan represents in response to drought risk.
• Implied Indicator for Target 17.17: The article mentions a goal to prioritize “partnerships across the Basin.” An indicator would be the number and nature of formal partnerships established with other Basin communities, irrigators, and stakeholders to manage regional water resources.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: yoursourceone.com