Valuing Ground Water
Valuing Ground Water

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1997-07-10

Total Pages: 203

ISBN-13: 0309175003

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Because water in the United State has not been traded in markets, there is no meaningful estimate of what it would cost if it were traded. But failing to establish ground water's valueâ€"for in situ uses such as sustaining wetlands as well as for extractive uses such as agricultureâ€"will lead to continued overuse and degradation of the nation's aquifers. In Valuing Ground Water an interdisciplinary committee integrates the latest economic, legal, and physical knowledge about ground water and methods for valuing this resource, making it comprehensible to decision-makers involved in Superfund cleanup efforts, local wellhead protection programs, water allocation, and other water-related management issues. Using the concept of total economic value, this volume provides a framework for calculating the economic value of ground water and evaluating tradeoffs between competing uses of it. Included are seven case studies where ground-water valuation has been or could be used in decisionmaking. The committee examines trends in ground-water management, factors that contribute to its value, and issues surrounding ground-water allocation and legal rights to its use. The book discusses economic valuation of natural resources and reviews several valuation methods. Presenting conclusions, recommendations, and research priorities, Valuing Ground Water will be of interest to those concerned about ground-water issues: policymakers, regulators, economists, attorneys, researchers, resource managers, and environmental advocates.

The Great Lakes Water Wars
The Great Lakes Water Wars

Author: Peter Annin

Publisher: Island Press

Published: 2009-08-25

Total Pages: 321

ISBN-13: 159726637X

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The Great Lakes are the largest collection of fresh surface water on earth, and more than 40 million Americans and Canadians live in their basin. Will we divert water from the Great Lakes, causing them to end up like Central Asia's Aral Sea, which has lost 90 percent of its surface area and 75 percent of its volume since 1960? Or will we come to see that unregulated water withdrawals are ultimately catastrophic? Peter Annin writes a fast-paced account of the people and stories behind these upcoming battles. Destined to be the definitive story for the general public as well as policymakers, The Great Lakes Water Wars is a balanced, comprehensive look behind the scenes at the conflicts and compromises that are the past-and future-of this unique resource.

Agricultural Practices and Water Quality
Agricultural Practices and Water Quality

Author: Ted L. Willrich

Publisher:

Published: 1971

Total Pages: 452

ISBN-13:

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SEDIMENT AS A WATER POLLUTANT; PLANT NUTRIENTS AS WATER POLLUTANTS; PESTICIDES AS WATER POLLUTANTS; ANIMAL WASTES AS WATER POLLUTANTS; AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION IMPLICATIONS; AGRICULTURE'S INVOLVEMENT IN POLLUTED AND CLEAN WATER.

Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems
Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1992-01-01

Total Pages: 580

ISBN-13: 9780309045346

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Aldo Leopold, father of the "land ethic," once said, "The time has come for science to busy itself with the earth itself. The first step is to reconstruct a sample of what we had to begin with." The concept he expressedâ€"restorationâ€"is defined in this comprehensive new volume that examines the prospects for repairing the damage society has done to the nation's aquatic resources: lakes, rivers and streams, and wetlands. Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems outlines a national strategy for aquatic restoration, with practical recommendations, and features case studies of aquatic restoration activities around the country. The committee examines: Key concepts and techniques used in restoration. Common factors in successful restoration efforts. Threats to the health of the nation's aquatic ecosystems. Approaches to evaluation before, during, and after a restoration project. The emerging specialties of restoration and landscape ecology.

Encyclopedia of Water Politics and Policy in the United States
Encyclopedia of Water Politics and Policy in the United States

Author: Steven L. Danver

Publisher: CQ Press

Published: 2011-05-17

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781604266146

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Water has had an immeasurable impact on the history and growth of the United States. As an essential element of life water has been and remains a constant source of conflict and controversy as different constituencies fight for limited resources. The Encyclopedia of Water Politics and Policy in the United States is the most comprehensive reference source available that analyzes water-related issues in America. A diverse group of over 100 scholars have provided their research and analysis of why water is so significant by tracing its impact on issues like national and state boundaries, western migration, urbanization, and the economy. This volume chronicles the origins of present-day water problems, political conflicts, the impact of legislation and court decisions on the use of water resources, the major projects undertaken across the country, and what experts are proposing be done to preserve this basic component of the environment. Going back some 150 years, the Encyclopedia provides an overview of approximately 280 pieces of water-related legislation, legal cases, people, projects, and organizations that have shaped the history of the United States. In addition to historical coverage, the volume also addresses many current environmental issues including acid rain, agriculture, climate change, mining, erosion, levees and dams, pollution, urbanization, and wastewater treatment. The volume’s A to Z entries are divided into four sections: Regional Water Politics and Policy: Essays providing a narrative background and overview Major Issues in Water Politics and Policy: A comprehensive list of issues from colonial times to the present Law and Government: The people and legislation that have shaped water policy in the United States Places and Projects: Extensive coverage of the projects (including dams and aqueducts) the government has undertaken to develop the nation’s waterways Throughout the volume, concise text features highlight important events, advocacy groups, people, books, and sites important to water politics and policy. A thematic table of contents allows users to easily locate reclamation projects geographically, biographies of important figures, current issues by subject area, government agencies, and legal cases.

Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples in the United States
Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples in the United States

Author: Julie Koppel Maldonado

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2014-04-05

Total Pages: 178

ISBN-13: 3319052667

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With a long history and deep connection to the Earth’s resources, indigenous peoples have an intimate understanding and ability to observe the impacts linked to climate change. Traditional ecological knowledge and tribal experience play a key role in developing future scientific solutions for adaptation to the impacts. The book explores climate-related issues for indigenous communities in the United States, including loss of traditional knowledge, forests and ecosystems, food security and traditional foods, as well as water, Arctic sea ice loss, permafrost thaw and relocation. The book also highlights how tribal communities and programs are responding to the changing environments. Fifty authors from tribal communities, academia, government agencies and NGOs contributed to the book. Previously published in Climatic Change, Volume 120, Issue 3, 2013.

Water, Cultural Diversity, and Global Environmental Change
Water, Cultural Diversity, and Global Environmental Change

Author: Barbara Rose Johnston

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2011-12-07

Total Pages: 594

ISBN-13: 9400717741

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Co-published with UNESCO A product of the UNESCO-IHP project on Water and Cultural Diversity, this book represents an effort to examine the complex role water plays as a force in sustaining, maintaining, and threatening the viability of culturally diverse peoples. It is argued that water is a fundamental human need, a human right, and a core sustaining element in biodiversity and cultural diversity. The core concepts utilized in this book draw upon a larger trend in sustainability science, a recognition of the synergism and analytical potential in utilizing a coupled biological and social systems analysis, as the functioning viability of nature is both sustained and threatened by humans.