Legal and Administrative Systems for Water Allocation and Management: Options for Change. Seven Perspectives on Aspects of Water Resource Planning in the Southeastern States

摘要

This report analyzes seven aspects of water resources planning and management and their implications for the southeastern United States. Its purpose is to provide an assessment of alternatives for changes in the water law of the Southeast. 'Allocation of Supplies Among Competing Offstream Users Within the Basin' suggests that permit systems offer improved capability for balancing public and private interests in water but that this option may be too severe for states with a general abundance of water resources. Options assessed in 'Accommodating Interwatershed Transfer Under the Riparian Doctrine' include a declaration that any water use is protected from actions for damages in the absence of material injury, establishment of reasonableness as the sole criterion for evaluating the legal standing of a nonriparian use and adoption of a procedure for protecting inbasin water users.