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.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1 Setting the Stage
2 The Evolving Federal Role in Support of Water Resources Research
3 Water Resources Research Priorities for the Future
4 Status and Evaluation of Water Resources Research in the United States
5 Data Collection and Monitoring
6 Coordination of Water Resources Research
Appendix A: Modified FCCSET Water Resources Research Categories
Appendix B: Survey Data from Federal Agencies and NonFederal Organizations
Appendix C: Likelihood of Difference in U.S. Water Resources Research Funding Levels Between the Mid 1970s and the Late 1990s
Appendix D: Summary of State Perspectives
Appendix E: Charter of the Subcommittee on Water Availability and Quality
Appendix F: Federal Agency and Nongovernmental Organization Liaisons
Appendix G: Acronyms
Appendix H: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff