Advancing Collaborative Governance and Sustainable Water Management: Transdisciplinary Practices in Sociohydrology

Sociohydrology, an interdisciplinary field exploring the dynamic interactions between human and water systems, has emerged as a critical area of study to address the growing complexity of water management challenges in the Anthropocene. Transdisciplinary practices in sociohydrology extend beyond traditional academic boundaries, integrating diverse knowledge systems, stakeholder perspectives, and real-world practices. These approaches bridge the gap between science and society, enabling the co-creation of solutions that are socially equitable, environmentally sustainable, and contextually relevant. This study explores the transformative potential of transdisciplinary approaches in sociohydrology, emphasizing collaborative governance, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable water management. Drawing on an extensive review of literature and following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses), the research highlights diverse applications of transdisciplinary methodologies in water management, ranging from integrating citizen science frameworks to fostering adaptive strategies for climate resilience. Case studies spanning the Katari River Basin in Bolivia to community-led monitoring in Australia's Great Barrier Reef illustrate how integrating ecological, social, and economic dimensions can address complex hydrological challenges. These practices underscore the importance of co-producing knowledge among researchers, policymakers, and communities, thus bridging gaps between scientific inquiry and real-world implementation. By synthesizing insights from multi-scalar analyses, the paper offers a framework for designing adaptive, equitable, and sustainable water management strategies. The findings advocate for institutional reforms and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen collaborative governance and propose a roadmap for applying transdisciplinary methodologies to global water crises. This research contributes to the evolving discourse on sociohydrology, emphasizing the need for integrated systems thinking and participatory processes to achieve long-term water security.