Varis, O.Lahtela, V.2016-04-192016-04-192002Water Resources Development 18(4): 501-5210790-06271360-0648http://hdl.handle.net/10919/65928Metadata only recordPast attempts to manage the Senegal River to improve the national economies of West African nations have generally not been successful. Analysis of the problem requires an understanding of a large number of intertwining variables that are difficult to quantify. The authors demonstrate the use of a Bayesian network to investigate the effects of three policy scenarios: emphasis on improving macro-economies, emphasis on improving rural livelihoods, and "integrated water resources management." The authors also discuss the variables involved in their modeling approach.text/plainen-USIn CopyrightEconomic growthGroundwaterDeforestationNational planningWater managementDroughtFamineQuality of lifeArid zonesWarsLand tenureFood securityHydropowerEmpowermentRural-urban migrationSustainabilityIrrigationWater qualityBayesian networkIntegrated water resources managementWatershedAbstractCopyright 2002 Taylor & Francis Ltd.