1. “Tribalism’s” Impact on Water Security
Dr. John Simpson, P.E.
2/9/2017

2. Why “Water Security”? A much more comprehensive concept
Water Supply – (quantity, quality, delivery sys)
Water Rights – (access)
Demand Management – (conservation BMPs)
Physical Security – (human threats)
Weather, Climate, Geography – (natural hazards)

3. Use “Risk” as the measure - why?
The concept of managing “Risk” is very familiar to most decision-makers (Board of Directors)
Utilizing “Risk” to measure and manage water security is widely accepted within academia, industry and government
Using “Risk” to inform investment decisions is also widely accepted within academia, industry and government

4. Water Security Risks
Conducted comprehensive literature review of the “Risks” associated with water security
Organized “Risks” into:
Natural “Hazards” (15)
Human Caused “Threats” (28)
Assigned “Causes” to Hazards and “Manifestations” to Threats
Categorized “Hazards” and “Threats” into (5) Dimensions

5. Additional Considerations
Risks: Compound, Cascade, Concatenate

6. Research Findings:
Of the (43) Risks to Water Security, (5) dominated through their significant interactions (compounding, cascading, concatenating) across ALL Risks
Drought
Climate Change
Meteorological Aridity
Tribalism
Overpopulation
Of those (5) Risks, the one that CA water industry decision-makers have most control over is: Tribalism…

7. Research Findings:
Initially our tribal natures were our “competitive advantage”…

8. Research Findings:
Unfortunately, our innate tribal natures tend to evolve into an “us” vs. “them” mentality...

9. Research Findings:
And, as we have seen in the past, our tribal “us” vs. “them” mentalities can be weaponized...

10. Research Findings:
Today we live in a complex system of nested tribes which provide us with affinity and validation, and from which we derive our identity…
Religion
Politics
Sports
Family
Friends
Work
Interests
John Doe

11. Research Findings:
Correspondingly, today’s “hyper connected” world gives individuals the ability to find affinity and validation for any ”worldview” they may hold…

12. Research Findings:
Knowing this, powerful entities have “fully weaponized” our innate tribalism, through the manufacture of fear and ignorance to create the hyper-polarization that we find within our society…

13. Research Findings: How is this exhibited across the CA water industry?
All stakeholders (Ag, Cities, Industry, Environmentalist, Military, etc.) feel they should have the first priority to available water
Northern California vs. Southern California
Colorado vs. California
Approaches to, and feelings about, Climate Change
Infrastructure investment priorities (no rate increases = no maintenance)
Approaches to, and “feelings” about, Environmental Issues
Special District engagement with (feelings about) State and Fed gov
Approaches to Bay-Delta Issues
Feelings/actions regarding the Drought emergency declaration
Board of Directors vs. Professional Staff
Demonization of Public Employees
Is turf replacement a good idea

14. My research says - YES Where do we go from here?
Can stakeholders and decision-makers acknowledge their “weaponized tribalism” and come together to evolve beyond it…into an uber water tribe determined to make effective pragmatic decisions for all?...
My research says - YES

15. Uber Water Tribe CA State Agency Perspective DoD Perspective
Felicia Marcus,
Chair, SWRCB
BG Ted Banta,
CG MCIWest
Becky Patton, OSD
Denny McGinn, ASN
Fed Agency
Perspective
Wholesaler
Perspective
Mark Weston,
Chair, SDCWA
Maureen Stapleton,
GM, SDCWA
Jeff Kightlinger,
GM, MWD
Jack Simes, BoR
Area Planning Officer
Local
Retail
Perspective
Env non-profit,
Eng Business
Perspective
Steve Reich, P.E.
Principal
Jack Bebee, AGM
Fallbrook, PUD
Matt O’Malley, Esq
WaterKeepers
Halla Razak, Director,
City of San Diego Public Utilities

16. Survey Results When the lens for the issue is “Water Security”
When “Risk” is the measure
All stakeholders gave very well aligned answers to complex questions
So how do we tranfer that alignment into our “daily” actions?

17. Gary and Meena?