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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2004. Confronting the Nation's Water Problems: The Role of Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11031.
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CONFRONTING THE NATION’S WATER PROBLEMS

The Role of Research

Committee on Assessment of Water Resources Research

Water Science and Technology Board

Division on Earth and Life Studies

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, D.C.
www.nap.edu

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2004. Confronting the Nation's Water Problems: The Role of Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11031.
×

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
500 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This study was supported by Cooperative Agreement No. 02HQAG0086 between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Geological Survey. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.

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International Standard Book Number 0-309-53335-X (PDF)

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2004. Confronting the Nation's Water Problems: The Role of Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11031.
×

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Wm. A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts and Dr. Wm. A. Wulf are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.

www.national-academies.org

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2004. Confronting the Nation's Water Problems: The Role of Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11031.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2004. Confronting the Nation's Water Problems: The Role of Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11031.
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COMMITTEE ON ASSESSMENT OF WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH

HENRY J. VAUX, JR., Chair,

University of California, Berkeley

J. DAVID ALLAN,

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

JAMES CROOK,

Water Reuse Consultant, Norwell, Massachusetts

JOAN G. EHRENFELD,

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey

KONSTANTINE P. GEORGAKAKOS,

Hydrologic Research Center, San Diego, California

DEBRA S. KNOPMAN,

The RAND Corporation, Arlington, Virginia

GEORGE R. HALLBERG,

Cadmus Group, Inc., Watertown, Massachusetts

LAWRENCE J. MacDONNELL,

Porzak, Browning & Bushong, Boulder, Colorado

THOMAS K. MacVICAR,

MacVicar, Federico and Lamb, Inc., West Palm Beach, Florida

REBECCA T. PARKIN,

The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

ROGER K. PATTERSON,

Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Lincoln

FRANKLIN W. SCHWARTZ,

The Ohio State University, Columbus

AMY K. ZANDER,

Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York

NRC Staff

LAURA J. EHLERS, Study Director

ANITA A. HALL, Program Associate

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2004. Confronting the Nation's Water Problems: The Role of Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11031.
×

WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BOARD

RICHARD G. LUTHY, Chair,

Stanford University, Stanford, California

JOAN B. ROSE, Vice Chair,

Michigan State University, East Lansing

RICHELLE M. ALLEN-KING,

University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York

GREGORY B. BAECHER,

University of Maryland, College Park

KENNETH R. BRADBURY,

Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, Madison

JAMES CROOK,

Water Reuse Consultant, Norwell, Massachusetts

EFI FOUFOULA-GEORGIOU,

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

PETER GLEICK,

Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security, Oakland, California

JOHN LETEY, JR.,

University of California, Riverside

CHRISTINE L. MOE,

Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

ROBERT PERCIASEPE,

National Audubon Society, Washington, D.C.

JERALD L. SCHNOOR,

University of Iowa, Iowa City

LEONARD SHABMAN,

Resources for the Future, Washington, D.C.

R. RHODES TRUSSELL,

Trussell Technologies, Inc., Pasadena, California

KARL K. TUREKIAN,

Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

HAME M. WATT,

Independent Consultant, Washington, D.C.

JAMES L. WESCOAT, JR.,

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

NRC Staff

STEPHEN D. PARKER, Director

LAURA J. EHLERS, Senior Program Officer

JEFFREY W. JACOBS, Senior Program Officer

WILLIAM S. LOGAN, Senior Program Officer

LAUREN E. ALEXANDER, Program Officer

MARK C. GIBSON, Program Officer

STEPHANIE E. JOHNSON, Program Officer

M. JEANNE AQUILINO, Financial and Administrative Associate

ELLEN A. DE GUZMAN, Research Associate

PATRICIA JONES KERSHAW, Study/Research Associate

ANITA A. HALL, Program Associate

DOROTHY K. WEIR, Senior Program Assistant

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2004. Confronting the Nation's Water Problems: The Role of Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11031.
×

Preface

At the dawn of the 21st century the United States faces a panoply of water problems that are significantly more numerous, complex, and larger in scope than those of the past. Serious issues about how water resources are to be protected and managed are not confined to one or several regions; they are found nationwide. Increasingly, the science needed to resolve these water issues in workable ways is not available. Thus, for example, efforts to resolve water allocation problems that stem from the need to protect endangered species in the Klamath and Missouri River basins are being constrained by the lack of good scientific information upon which to base policies which will simultaneously protect biodiversity and minimize adverse economic consequences. Efforts to protect and enhance water quality are similarly hamstrung by the absence of scientific information which would allow water managers to respond proactively to both new and existing threats. And, despite the importance of aquatic ecosystems in generating both service and amenity values, our scientific understanding of how such systems function is rudimentary.

This report, which was undertaken at the request of Congress, illuminates the state of the water resources research enterprise in the United States. It is the logical sequel to an earlier volume entitled: Envisioning the Agenda for Water Resources Research in the Twenty-First Century, prepared by the Water Science and Technology Board of the National Research Council (NRC). The purpose of the present report is to:

  • refine and enhance the findings of the Envisioning report

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2004. Confronting the Nation's Water Problems: The Role of Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11031.
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  • examine current and historical patterns and magnitudes of investment in water resources research at the federal level and assess its adequacy

  • address the need to better coordinate the nation’s water resources research enterprise

  • identify institutional options for the improved coordination, prioritization and implementation of research on water resources

Thus, the report discusses the history of federal support of water resources research, it proposes a framework for prioritizing the research agenda, it reports the results of a survey which was intended to describe the characteristics of the current national research effort, and it addresses issues related to the future organization of water resources research at the federal level. Because the NRC committee assembled to conduct the study was charged with examining the water resources research enterprise in the United States, the report does not encompass international water resources research endeavors, including those research efforts funded by American agencies in foreign countries. The committee acknowledges that some future review might usefully take an international perspective.

The committee found that federal investment in water resources research has remained essentially static (in real terms) for more than 30 years. Moreover, water research is accomplished in a highly decentralized fashion with numerous federal agencies setting research agendas independently of each other. Much of that research is focused on operational and near-term problems, with less attention and fewer resources devoted to longer-term, more fundamental research. There are a number of circumstances that suggest a priori that the nation’s water resources research enterprise is not as well organized and financed as it will need to be if the science required to address the multiplying water problems confronting the United States is to be available.

In developing this report, the committee benefited greatly from the advice and input of a companion group of federal agency and non-governmental organization liaisons established for the purpose of assisting the committee. Individual liaisons are identified in Appendix F. The committee also benefited from discussions held with a group of state representatives at its second meeting in January 2003. The list of state representatives can be found in Appendix D. We thank all those who took time to share with us their perspectives and wisdom about the various issues affecting the water resources research enterprise.

The committee was ably served by the staff of the Water Science and Technology Board and its director, Stephen Parker. Study director Laura Ehlers kept the committee on task and on time and provided her own valuable insights which have improved the report immeasurably. Anita Hall provided the committee with all manner of support in a timely and cheerful way. This report would not have been possible without the help of these people.

This report has been reviewed by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with the procedures approved by

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2004. Confronting the Nation's Water Problems: The Role of Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11031.
×

the NRC’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the authors and the NRC in making the published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards of objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The reviews and draft manuscripts remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We thank the following individuals for their participation in the review of this report: John Boland, Johns Hopkins University; Patrick Brezonik, University of Minnesota; Robert A. Frosch, Harvard University; Gerald E. Galloway, Titan Corporation; Peter H. Gleick, Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security; Bernard Goldstein, University of Pittsburgh; George M. Hornberger, University of Virginia; Judy L. Meyer, University of Georgia; and James Westcoat, University of Illinois.

Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Floyd E. Bloom, The Scripps Research Institute, and Daniel P. Loucks, Cornell University. Appointed by the NRC, they were responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the committee.

Henry Vaux, Jr.

Chair

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2004. Confronting the Nation's Water Problems: The Role of Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11031.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2004. Confronting the Nation's Water Problems: The Role of Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11031.
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 Limitations to the Current Water Resources Research Enterprise,

 

90

   

 Conclusions and Recommendations,

 

91

   

 References,

 

92

4

 

STATUS AND EVALUATION OF WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH IN THE UNITED STATES

 

97

   

 Survey of Water Resources Research,

 

97

   

 Old FCCSET Data,

 

102

   

 Water Resources Research from 1965 to 2001,

 

105

   

 Evaluation of the Current Investment in Water Resources Research,

 

160

   

 Conclusions and Recommendations,

 

175

   

 References,

 

177

5

 

DATA COLLECTION AND MONITORING

 

179

   

 Challenges in Monitoring,

 

180

   

 Opportunities in Monitoring,

 

182

   

 Status of Key Monitoring Programs,

 

184

   

 Conclusions and Recommendations,

 

193

   

 References,

 

196

6

 

COORDINATION OF WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH

 

199

   

 Encouragement/Discouragements of Coordination,

 

200

   

 Purposes of Coordination,

 

203

   

 A Brief Review of Coordination of Federal Water Resources Research,

 

205

   

 Options for Improved Analysis, Strategic Planning, and Coordination,

 

206

   

 Issues of Vertical Coordination,

 

212

   

 Conclusions and Recommendations,

 

212

   

 References,

 

214

 

 

APPENDIXES

 

 

   

A   MODIFIED FCCSET WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH CATEGORIES

 

217

   

B   SURVEY DATA FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES AND NONFEDERAL ORGANIZATIONS

 

229

   

C   LIKELIHOOD OF DIFFERENCE IN U.S. WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH FUNDING LEVELS BETWEEN THE MID 1970s AND THE LATE 1990s

 

268

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In order to confront the increasingly severe water problems faced by all parts of the country, the United States needs to make a new commitment to research on water resources. A new mechanism is needed to coordinate water research currently fragmented among nearly 20 federal agencies. Given the competition for water among farmers, communities, aquatic ecosystems and other users—as well as emerging challenges such as climate change and the threat of waterborne diseases—Confronting the Nation's Water Problems concludes that an additional $70 million in federal funding should go annually to water research. Funding should go specifically to the areas of water demand and use, water supply augmentation, and other institutional research topics. The book notes that overall federal funding for water research has been stagnant in real terms for the past 30 years and that the portion dedicated to research on water use and social science topics has declined considerably.

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