Development of strategic management plans in river basins: Gediz River Basin case

Water resources management is still crucial issue in the world and in Turkey. There are many studies about water management at local and international scale. Formerly, economists recognized the water as normal good that everybody can reach and its unlimited. Recently, water is considered as economic good which is scarce and commercially valuable. There is a great emphasis on strategic management approach both in private and public sector. Conventionally, water resources have been planned in a static manner for long term periods. But the world and the environment changes rapidly. Strategic management approach as a dynamic process is focused on outcomes, ensure long term objectives and sustainability can be applied on water resources management. In this study, strategic management concept which concerned to be a convenient approach for water resources management is introduced and strategic management process is applied to Gediz River Basin as a case study. The steps of Strategic Collaborative Model such as identification of stakeholders, vision and mission statement general issues, drivers and scenarios are introduced for the Gediz River Basin. Three basic strategies generated after the SWOT analysis. It is concluded that the proposed strategies; Gediz River Basin Water Quality Control and Improvement Strategy, Gediz River Basin Water Demand Management Strategy and Gediz River Basin Integrated Planning and Management Strategy, will be effective in the solution of the major issues in the Gediz River Basin. Keywords: Water resources management, strategic planning and management, SWOT analysis, Gediz River Basin