Jim Thebaut and Erik Webb: A Water Strategy for the United States

Friend and colleague Erik Webb of Sandia National Laboratories, one of the smartest water and energy guys in the room, recently sent me a document that he and Jim Thebaut wrote over a year ago. I posted  an 'Op-Ed' version of this in January 2009 but never the entire document. Here it is, with the abstract below.

Download A_Water_Strategy_for_the_United_States_D6

Abstract

The world faces a serious water crisis. The United States faces water stress and potential water disasters.

The only hope we have of establishing effective and to the degree possible unified water policies is to develop a set of goals and principles for water management to which we progressively conform our policies and actions.  The U.S. statement of goals and principles that underpin our international policies are more coherent than are the principles underpinning our domestic policies.

Guiding goals and principles for domestic water management should be developed with an eye to our stated international principles.  These principles include:

• Understand the Status and Trends in Water Resources
• Expand Partnerships and Coordination Across Federal, State, Local and Native American Government Organizations
• Continue Federal Investment in Water Infrastructure
• Connect Water Quantity, Water Quality and Environmental Land Use Planning 
• Seek Sustainable Development – Bridge the Gap Between Public Good and Private Rights
• Seek to Expand Supplies
• Provide a Strong Scientific Base for Water Management Decisions
• Value Water Resources Appropriately
• Value Ecosystems and Their Human Benefits

The progressive application of these principles will require coordination of policy development and implementation of programs across Federal agencies.  The now defunct National Water Council provides an interesting example of how our nation approached these same problems 50 years ago and may hold clues to how we should proceed in the future.

Enjoy!

“If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people." -- Chinese proverb

Comments

[PAUL F MILLER]

Jim Thebaut and Erik Webb: A Water Strategy for the United States ... This referenced document like so many offered for consideration are written, it appears to me, for the benefit of a 30 year career Philadelphia lawyer, not for JOHN Q. PUBLIC ... and I need ask ... why ...?

Any honestly sustainable water strategy for the United States or any place MUST honestly secure "buy-in" from "we" (the people) and yet again they are not invited to be a part of these discussions ... how then can this or any water strategy be considered viable...?

Respectfully,