AWRA Releases Conclusions of Fourth National Water Resources Policy Dialogue; Urges New Administration & Incoming Congress to Address Growing Challenges

MIDDLEBURG, Va., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Climate change concerns, aging water resources infrastructure, and changing population demographics are among the water resources issues that must be addressed by 21st century policymakers. The American Water Resources Association (AWRA) Fourth Water Resources Policy Dialogue was convened in September 2008 by AWRA, the Environment and Water Resources Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the National Wildlife Federation to do just that. They first reviewed the results of three previous AWRA National Water Policy Dialogues held in 2002, 2005, and 2007, and then moved on to identify the most pressing challenges facing the incoming Obama Administration and 111th Congress. Attendees included water resources experts from the public and private sectors and congressional and federal agency staff. Their recommendations to the new administration include addressing the following urgent water resources policy needs:

• An immediate assessment of the nation’s water resources;
• The development of a national [not federal] water resources vision and overarching principles to guide water resources development;
• Better coordination of water-related activities of federal agencies and congressional committees;
• Reevaluation of federal government’s role in water resources in light of growing state attention and direction of water resources activities; and
• Use of a watershed context where underlying water resources planning is conducted in partnership with states and local entities.

The complete Summary Report of the 2008 Dialogue and the results of the prior Dialogues are available here: http://www.awra.org/pdf/fnwpd.pdf

AWRA is the premier non-governmental organization dedicated to the advancement of multidisciplinary water resources management and research. For over 40 years, AWRA has provided a forum for water resources conservation and networking. AWRA has members in every state and in over 50 nations. More information at: http://www.awra.org.

SOURCE American Water Resources Association