7913

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7913
• Author: Freshwater Society.
• Title: Water Management in Transition, 1985.
• USFW Year: 1985.
• USFW - Doc Type: Navarre, MN.
• Copyright Material: YES

perspective

These changes will test the
resiliency of this country's
social, economic, political
and legal institutions.

This current period of
transition from federal
control and subsidization to
state control and publici
private financing presents a
unique opportunity for
enhanced water
management.

Christine Olsenius
Director
Freshwater Society

The current federal deficit is dramatically and irrevocably changing the present
system of water management in the United States. With estimates of hundreds
of billions of dollars to rebuild and maintain the current water infrastructure,
the scarcity of federal dollars highlights public concern over how and by whom
the infrastructure will be maintained as well as when and how water supplies
and water quality will be maintained. The trend in national water management
is to return increased responsibility to the states, but this responsibility is not
being coupled with corresponding financial assistance.

The trend toward decentralized responsibility and local financing, together with
increasing competition for usable supplies, is forcing changes in how water is
used, allocated, priced and managed, These changes will test the resiliency of
this country's social, economic, political and legal institutions.

During this time of transition, the Freshwater Society has noted many examples
of institutions beginning to change to meet emerging needs:

- Coalitions of water agencies and organizations are developing which cross
bureaucratic, geographic and political boundaries,

- Management efforts are beginning to integrate quality and quantity, surface
and groundwater, structural and non-structural approaches.

- The public and private sectors are joining together to develop management
plans and financing options for water project.<;.

- Greater emphasis is being placed on regional, watershed-based planning
and priority-setting.

The effect of these forces will be a slow, painful shift from political subsidies
to a national, equitable, economic plan for long-range water management.

In this report, the Freshwater Society has assembled examples of those forces
at work, as well as commentary on the present and future implications of those
forces from leading lawyers, economists, politicians and policymakers.

As a nonprofit, non-advocacy foundation which supports research and public
education related to freshwater, the Freshwater Society has been monitoring
and studying water issues for 15 years, We feel this current period of transition
from federal control and subsidization to state control and public/private
financing presents a unique opportunity for enhanced water management.

It is hoped that this special report will highlight the many innovative responses
to that challenge now taking place throughout the country, thus offering a
framework for action in these changing times,

O~~

Christine Olsenius

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