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Appendix: Key Water Availability Issues in each Water Resources Region. <br />Water availability issues exist throughout the Nation and vary in different regions of the <br />country. This is illustrated below by a brief synopsis of key water availability issues in <br />each of the 21 Water Resources Regions. <br />I New England Region- -The New England Region includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, <br />Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, and a portion of Vermont. Ample precipitation <br />and low evapotranspiration across New England combine to generate some of the highest <br />runoff rates in the Nation. However, the region should not be considered "water- rich " -- <br />ground -water storage is generally low, and surface -water storage is largely restricted to <br />either existing supply reservoirs serving major cities, or to ecologically sensitive lakes in <br />New Hampshire and Maine. Recent climate trends (shifts from snow to rain and an <br />increase in the frequency of winter snowmelt events) have resulted in substantial changes <br />in the seasonal distribution of streamflow. Ground -water development in the glacial <br />valley aquifers typical of the region can reduce streamflows, resulting in aquatic habitat <br />loss. Rapid urbanization is now taking place at the fringes of the older cities and along <br />the entire coastline. Consumptive use of water in these areas - -for irrigation of residential <br />lawns and golf courses, for example - -is thought to be large, but remains poorly <br />quantified. Ground -water recharge is also not well quantified in New England as a <br />whole. <br />2 Mid - Atlantic Region - -The Mid - Atlantic Region includes all or parts of 10 states and <br />contains major metropolitan areas from New York City to Washington, D.C. It is the <br />most densely populated of the hydrologic regions. The region is generally rich in both <br />surface -water and ground -water resources, but as a result of the large population, the <br />demands for public -water supply are high. The region is susceptible to drought, as was <br />evident during the recent drought of 1998 -2002. Surface water is the greatest source of <br />water supply in the region, particularly for large metropolitan areas. Interstate <br />commissions have been established for several major river basins to promote interstate <br />cooperation and provide for the conservation, development, and administration of water <br />in the basins. A particular need is to understand the stream flow and quality requirements <br />that will adequately support aquatic ecosystems. Ground water is an important source of <br />supply in many areas. Many important aquifers are shallow, overlain by developed areas, <br />and consequently, vulnerable to contamination. Increases in population have resulted in <br />declining ground -water levels in Coastal Plain aquifers and associated saltwater intrusion <br />in some areas. In other areas, ground -water consumption has resulted in streamflow <br />depletion and reduction of wetlands. <br />3 South Atlantic - Gulf Region —Three of the 10 fastest growing States in the Nation are <br />in the South Atlantic – Gulf Region, as well as 8 of the 20 fastest growing metropolitan <br />areas. Competition for water between and within States is increasing in order to supply <br />the needs of the growing population, and to meet heightened demands for habitat <br />protection and restoration, such as in south Florida. Although surface water is abundant <br />16 <br />