Improving the Integration of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Goals in Total Maximum Daily Load Model Implementation for Water Quality Management

Water quality modeling is used globally to assess surface water impairment and manage watershed pollution in formal programs like the United States’ (US) total maximum daily load and in less structured initiatives elsewhere. Despite these programs, progress toward realizing equitable water quality benefits to society is stymied through an inability to recognize, plan, and incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) principles in the modeling efforts. In this paper, we describe the major barriers and limitations to the inclusion of DEIJ principles in the design and implementation of pollution load reduction programs in the US. We offer a blueprint to embrace participatory modeling approaches to engage more openly, honestly, and fairly with relevant participants (stakeholders) to achieve just and equitable water quality outcomes and upgrade water quality management principles nationwide. We provide case studies where the DEIJ principles have been applied and synthesized, showing how participatory modeling can enhance water quality management in more inclusive ways, providing specific pathways to support such a transformation in diverse communities.