Development of Decision Support Tools to Assess the Sustainability of Coastal Lakes 1Ticehurst, J.L., 2Rissik, D. 1Letcher, R.A., 1Newham, L.H.T., and 1Jakeman, A.J. 1Integrated Catchment Assessment and Management Centre, 2Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, E-Mail:
[email protected] Keywords: Coastal lakes, Sustainability assessment, Bayesian decision network, Decision support. EXTENDED ABSTRACT The integration was completed using a Bayesian Coastal lakes in New South Wales provide decision network (BDN). This approach was important ecological, social and economic benefit advantageous over other methods because it is for much of the state’s population. However they suited to the rapid accumulation and integration of are naturally sensitive to catchment inputs, existing information sourced from observed data, particularly when the lakes are periodically closed model simulation and expert opinion, at various to the ocean. Demand on the lakes and their scales, from many disciplines. The BDN framework catchment’s finite resources through: encroaching structure also inherently represents uncertainty in urban development; poor agricultural the input data but can be readily up-dated when management; the need to protect native flora and new information becomes available. fauna; a growing market for seafood; and increasing tourism; is increasing conflict over Consultation with local stakeholders was an their use and sustainable management. These imperative component throughout the whole issues are intricately linked, so the management process, but it played a particularly important role of coastal lake systems requires knowledge of the in the development of the BDN framework and in processes and interactions between all key defining the scenarios.