Alaska’s North Slope hosts a phenomenal wealth of natural, cultural, and economicresources. It represents a complex system, not only in terms of the biophysical systemand its global importance but also from the standpoint of its social dynamic. A majorchallenge at the forefront of domestic energy development on the North Slope is the needfor best management practices that will ensure benefits for all stakeholders. To do sorequires stakeholder cooperation that enables cost-effective development strategies thatfit within a broader context of long term cultural, economic, and environmentalsustainability.Ice roads and ice pads provide a cost-effective means of oil and gas exploration withminimal impact to the sensitive underlying tundra. Consequently, these ice structureshave become integral to oil and gas exploration activities on the North Slope. Theirwidespread use represents a challenge to water resource managers, however, due to thelarge volume of water required to construct and maintain them. Crucial questions onwater balance and ecosystem impact must be considered in the state regulatory processthat permits construction of these ice structures.The North Slope Decision Support System (DSS) is currently under development as atechnology in support of oil and gas exploration and development that explicitlyconsiders optimal water use, direct and cumulative environmental impacts, and multipleobjectives and values among stakeholders. Major modules of the DSS includeinformation systems, natural system models, planning and management functions, andregulation workflow. Development of the DSS is a collaborative effort of academic andindustry personnel with significant stakeholder involvement from multiple agencies oflocal, state, and federal government, private energy companies, and non-governmentalorganizations.
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