peer review report 1 on using mental modelling to explore how irrigators in the murray darling basin make water use decisions

78 Peer Review Report / Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies 9 2017 77–78BasinPlan.Andiftheysoldwatertothebuybackprogram–againnotBasinPlanthenpresumablytheydidsowillingly andthoughtthr

Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies 9 (2017) 77–78

Studies

j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e :w w w e l s e v i e r c o m / l o c a t e / e j r h

Peer review report 1 on “Using mental-modelling to explore how

irrigators in the Murray-Darling Basin make water-use decisions”

1 Original Submission

2 Comments to Author:

DOI of the original article:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2016.01.035

2214-5818/$ – see front matter

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2016.12.003

78 Peer Review Report / Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies 9 (2017) 77–78

BasinPlan.Andiftheysoldwater(tothebuybackprogram–againnotBasinPlan)thenpresumablytheydidsowillingly andthoughtthroughtheramificationswellbeforetakingthatdecision.Sotobestillcomingtotermsseemsunlikely.Can thisbeclarifiedmoreatall?

• Line298:factorsnotconsideredbytheMDBA.Suchas?Iwouldhazardthattheirprocesshasbeenreasonablywell focusedandconsiderate,andcontinuestobesogoingforward.Currentissuesincludehowbesttodevelopandprogress environmentalflowprioritiesonanannualbasis,whichIalludetoabove,thatagainthisresearchcouldhaveinformed usefully.Thatisdependent,ofcourse,onirrigatorinterestinprovidinginputtothatprocess,ofcourse

• Line350:addeduncertaintyinMDBpolicy?Whatuncertainty?ThepolicyisnowveryclearandverywellsetintheBasin Plan.TheCEWHandMDBAandotheragenciesareveryupfrontandtransparentabouttheirstrategiesandoptionsfor futuredevelopmentwithinthatframework.Policyuncertaintyisatfar,farlowerlevelsthanfuturelong-and/orshort-term climate,commoditypriceorinputcostissues

• Line454–455 and460:governmentdecisionsthataffectwatersecurity? Howdoesthishappen?Securityissetasa probabilityofsupply,asspecifiedearlierinthemanuscript.Howdoesgovernmentdecision-makingaffectthis?Ifsecurity waschanged/compromisedfarmfinancialbaseswouldbeirreparablydamaged,andgovernmentsknowthis

• Line474:continuedcallforco-management?Bywhom?Whereintheliteraturedoesthisappear?Andifitispredominantly calledforbyirrigatorsthenitisendogenousandshouldbepursuedwithappropriatecaution

Line60:successfulimplementationofthispolicydoesnotdependonsomeextentonthecooperationofthestates;they arecriticaltotheprocess.Iwoulddeletethattext

Line63:CitationforMooneyetal.,2012notincluded.Thisisapity,asitprovidedthecorejustificationformuchofthe manuscript’ssubsequentlogic

Line68:ABAREScitationnotincluded

Lines74–75:watermanagementbywhomand/oratwhatlevel?Catchmentorbasin-levelplanningareverydifferent

toregionalorwater-supplysystemlevels.Whichareyoureferringto,asthereareveryreallimits(asoutlinedabove)to realisticirrigatorrolesinwatermanagement?

Lines79–80:whatiftheyarefarmersthatspanbothtypes?

Lines101–112:youtalkabouthighandlowsecurityrights,andthenhorticultureandbroadacreusers.Itwasnot imme-diatelycleartomethatthesewerethenrelated,with(Iassume)horticultureusersneedinghighsecurity;althoughthat wouldbelogical.Itmightbemoresensibletouseaterminthissectionconsistentlytoavoidconfusion

Line132:large-diameter?

Line140:IseemtorecallsomewherethatirrigatorsinSouthAustraliawereestablishedtogetbyonallocationsofbetween

70to80%,andhencealotoftheirwaterusedtoflowdowntheriveringoodyears.HereIreadthattheirdevelopmentwas basedonfullallocationsatalltimes?Ifthisistrueitwouldbehelpfulforthistobeevidencedonewayortheother Line150:Iwoulddelete‘hereaselsewhereintheBasin.’

Line187:summarizes

Line259:thisisthecruxofmyearlierthinking:thatthevalueofthisresearchcouldhavebeenonaddingtotheecological decision-makingprocessforMDBenvironmentalflows

Line310:irrigationwater-useisnotadecision-makingpriorityfortheMDBA/CEWH.Morefortheirrigationsuppliers perhaps,butagainapersonalriskissueIwouldhavethought?

Line361:cottonmentionedforthefirsttime;Ithoughtitwassolelyrice?

Line379:receivingvariableofdecisioninterest?Whatdoesthismean–veryconfusingterm?

Line415–418:IcanacceptthehighersalinitylevelintheMurrayRiverwaterbutsomeevidencetosupportthiswould

beusefultooplease

Line442:vocation?

Line463:whatistheadvantageofreal-timehere?Itwaswhenyourecordedit,butafterthat?

Line472:researchandhasbeenlefttofutureresearch”??Considerrewritingthisplease

Line474:continuedcall?Bywhom?

Line477:Irrigatorsneedstohaveasmalli

Line519–521:thisclaimdependsonhowwellyoujustifytheneedforthisinthefirstplace.Soifcannotbeevidencedin theliteraturethencallsbyirrigatorsformorelocalmanagementfromthisstudyarenotsufficientreasontoconductmore futureresearchastheycouldbeendogenous

Table1:Autumnorfall?Justonewilldoplease

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