ABSTRACT
Recently, integrated resources planning (IRP) has begun to be used in evaluating water supply options for large populations experiencing water scarcity. Traditionally employed to make decisions in the energy sector about different energy mixes, integrated resources planning is a technical methodology for forecasting needs, delineating alternative supply options, and choosing among different supply combinations (Goodman and Edwards, 1992; Western Area Power Administration, 1994). When used in water planning, the IRP approach lacks an important component seldom required in energy planning: processes for building a political consensus among water managers, producers, and consumers. The need for consensus-building processes in resources management generally is growing. Agencies at all governmental levels are beginning to manage resources collectively rather than individually so that ecosystems can be protected as a whole (Cortner and Moote, 1994). This shift to ecosystems management requires collaboration between many decision makers (Grumbine, 1994; Slocombe, 1993).
