Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 25, 1283–1306, 2021 https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-1283-2021 © Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Multi-level storylines for participatory modeling – involving marginalized communities in Tz’olöj Ya’, Mayan Guatemala Jessica A. Bou Nassar1, Julien J. Malard1, Jan F. Adamowski1, Marco Ramírez Ramírez2, Wietske Medema1, and Héctor Tuy2 1Department of Bioresource Engineering, McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada 2IARNA, Universidad Rafael Landívar, Vista Hermosa III, Campus Central, Zona 16, Edificio Q, Oficina Q-101, Guatemala City, Guatemala Correspondence: Jessica A. Bou Nassar (
[email protected]) Received: 24 August 2020 – Discussion started: 8 September 2020 Revised: 31 January 2021 – Accepted: 2 February 2021 – Published: 15 March 2021 Abstract. Unconventional sources of data that enhance ranges, and emerging from three different marginalized lin- our understanding of internal interactions between socio- guistic backgrounds (Kaqchikel, Tz’utujil, and K’iche’), in economic and hydrological processes are central to modeling the PM activity. The proposed approach facilitated the partic- human–water systems. Participatory modeling (PM) departs ipation of marginalized stakeholders. Moreover, it (1) helped from conventional modeling tools by informing and concep- develop an understanding of mechanisms governing the eu- tualizing human–water systems through stakeholder engage- trophication of the lake, (2) initiated a dialogue between ment. However, the implementation of many PM processes Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous stakeholders, and remains biased, particularly in regions where marginalized (3) extracted potential solutions targeting the system’s lever- communities are present.