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A new era for water management will be guided by smaller-scale and more cost-effective solutions for the nation's water problems. A Reduced-But Definite-Federal Role The growing trend is to move in the direction away from federal water management. This does not mean, however, that the federal role is no longer needed, The federal government is the most appropriate vehicle to undertake, for example, basic water research - whether on monitoring and control technologies or the fate of toxic pollutants in groundwaters - and to set minimum national water quality standards to ensure consistency across states. At the same time, the complex and regional nature of water issues, the current federal philosophy regarding water management, and the federal budgetary problems all point to a new era for water management. It will be guided by smaller-scale and more cost-effective solutions for the nation's water problems. About the author: As staff to the US, EPA's Office of Solid Waste in Washington, D,C. ,Joan Warren's responsibilities include public outreach and community involvement in the national hazardous waste management program, For over four years, she covered water -related and environmental issues for the National Governors' A~sociation, She also served previously as staff director for natural resources at the National Conference of State Legislatures, ICWP: Protection and enhancement of the national interest must rise from a true partnership of federal and state activities in water. Joan M. Kovalic Executive Director and General Counsel Interstate Conference on Water Problems While the federal government has an important role in defining and reflecting the national interest, the states are primarily responsible for managing all our nation's water resources-both quality and quantity-and for defining water rights, Protection and enhancement of the national interest must rise from a true partnership of federal and state activities in water. National water policy and effective water management must evolve from this partnership for action. The Interstate Conference on Water Problems (ICWP) is the national association of state and regional water officials. Its purpose is to facilitate cooperation, consultation and exchange of information among state, intrastate and interstate officials and agencies, ICWP's areas of concern include: conservation, use, development and administration of water and related land resources; the laws governing these matters; and federal-state relationships, To the extent feasible and desirable, ICWP seeks to promote a consensus of views and to present such views to the Congress and federal agencies, The members ofICWP are truly water policymakers, concerned with managing and developing water as a total resource, incorporating both quantity and quality concerns, ICWP seeks to provide guidance gathered from the experience of state, interstate and intrastate water officials on the major water issues confronting the nation. A5 the only national organization of state and regional water officials which has as its concern all water problems-both quantity and quality-related issues- ICWP is a unique forum for identifying critical issues, arriving at a consensus and working with key policymakers through the National Governors' Association, federal agencies and the Congress. In an effort to broaden the forum for exchange, ICWP has created an affiliate membership category for individuals, "for-profit" businesses and other water-related entities. 34