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GUIDING
PRINCIPLES FOR WATER RESOURCE PLANNING Water
Resource Planning in the PURPOSE 1.
Encourage localities to pursue a
holistic/comprehensive approach on a regional basis to water resource
planning that should focus on the development of recommended policies and
tools for use in their water resource planning efforts. Tools or recommendations provided to accomplish this
task: o
River basin model facilitates a comprehensive approach by providing a
means to evaluate the impact of water development on a system wide basis. o
Regional approaches are advocated in discussion of planning boundaries
and a proposal is presented that divides the basin into natural planning
areas based on consideration of both natural and political boundaries. 2.
Incorporate
adaptability as a part of the development of water supply planning
policies and tools and underscore the value of continuing to explore and
develop multiple options for water resource planning since future
development will affect the feasibility or effectiveness of recommended
policies in ways the present-day perspective cannot fully anticipate. Tools or recommendations provided to accomplish this
task: o
The concept of adaptability is promoted through provision of planning
models that facilitate the evaluation of multiple options for such factors
as conservation and supply expansion. 3.
Maximize
the opportunity for local decision-makers and stakeholders to control the
allocation of water resources by providing the tools necessary to make
allocation decisions that take into account the goals and needs of local
stakeholders and decision makers. Tools or recommendations provided to accomplish this
task: o
Local control is enhanced by increased understanding of the resource
resulting from data summaries and procedures for location and analysis of
water resources information. 4.
Insure that water resource planning
includes consideration of both human and natural environment needs and
strives to balance in-stream and off-stream needs in a manner that limits
impact upon the environment while
allowing localities and water resource authorities
to provide the life-supportive resources that sustain their
economic and social quality of life. Additionally, the concept of water
resource management should include the protection of ground and surface
waters to ensure resource sustainability. Tools or recommendations provided to accomplish this
task: o
River basin model provides a mechanism for examining the impacts of
alternative minimum flow policies and water conservation strategies. o
Data summaries and resource descriptions emphasize that water supply
planning requires consideration of the balance between instream and
offstream water use. DATA/INFORMATION 1.
Provide
objective quantification of water resources that facilitates consensus through development of
data that promotes proper water resource planning at the regional level. Tools or recommendations provided to accomplish this
task: o
Better understanding of the resource
is facilitated by the summary of surface water data and review of
literature on ground water availability. IDENTIFY
STAKEHOLDERS 1.
Identify
and involve all stakeholders to determine their goals and water resource
needs and provide the
opportunity and encourage them to participate in the planning.
These different stakeholders should be identified in each region within
the basin, and these “regions” should be based upon
the nature of the water resource planning issue. Tools or recommendations provided to accomplish this
task: o
River basin model supports the shared vision approach to planning by
facilitating examination of conflicts among stakeholders and
identification of win/win solutions. o
Definition of appropriate regions is facilitated by proposal for water
supply planning areas. IDENTIFYING ALTERNATIVE
SOLUTIONS 1.
Evaluate projects and decisions by asking what is the social, political,
economic and environmental costs of being wrong in the broadest sense as
it affects all aspects of water resources and provide the tools for
localities to make these evaluations and assess water supply planning
issues in their areas. Tools or recommendations provided to accomplish this
task: o
River basin model provides a tool for evaluating the consequences of
water management decisions. 2.
Incorporate as a minimum the following
issues in a water supply plan: Drought management Conservation management Supply and Demand Side Alternatives Ground and Surface Water Sources Source Water Protection Tools or recommendations provided to accomplish this
task: o
Understanding of the severity and duration of historical drought is
facilitated by data summaries and simulation of river behavior by the
river basin model. o
Information on conservation effectiveness is provided by a literature
review. o
The river basin model facilitates examination of the impacts of both
supply enhancement and water demand reduction.
3.
Address the alternatives involving supply side and demand side solutions
in water resource planning, including the issue of interconnections and relationships with
surrounding service authorities and localities in order to optimize the
utility of the basin water resources. Tools or recommendations provided to accomplish this
task: o
Model of the interconnected reservoirs in the 4.
Educate the public on water supply planning issues to create an
understanding of planning choices. Tools or recommendations provided to accomplish this
task: o
Resource information and planning tools developed provide a basis for a
public relations campaign to enhance the level of citizen awareness and
sense of involvement in water supply management. IMPLEMENTATION 1.
Demonstrate
the buy-in by federal, state and local decision-makers in the framework
for water supply planning developed by the WAG (Water Allocation Group)
and how this can be used to empower local decision-makers. Tools or recommendations provided to accomplish this
task: o
The shared vision planning model that has been adopted as the framework
for development of planning techniques and tools has generated a
substantial level of interest by local water suppliers and state and
federal agencies; it provides a continuing means to maintain an
interactive, cooperative approach to serve in place of the adversarial
relationship often seen among levels of government relating to water
supply management. This
environment provides more guidance and greater certainty for water
suppliers as they plan for satisfaction of future water supply needs. |