SETTING A DIRECTION IN A CHANGED ENVIROMENT: WATER POLICY MUST BE FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABILITY

摘要

All indications are that global warming has begun to affect climate, and that climate change will bring unprecedented challenges to water resource managers. These challenges join other more familiar issues: the public wants better protection from hurricanes, restoration and protection of shorelines, reservoirs that are full for boating and recreation, healthy rivers and estuaries, and ample water at low prices. And, of course, the myriad special interest groups have their own demands, with high expectations that the Congress will provide them. The status quo has provided farm, power, and water subsidies, with each subsidy shaping western water use. In this article, I want to suggest why climate change, and sustainability more generally, are the principles around which we should integrate water resource efforts at the federal level.