"One of the world's great karstic aquifer systems, the Edwards aquifer system supplies water for more than 2 million people and for agricultural, municipal, industrial, and recreational uses. This volume reviews the current state of knowledge, current and emerging challenges to wise use of the aquifer system, and some technologies that must be adopted to address these challenges"--
This text explores the natural history of Texas and more than 2900 springs in 183 Texas counties. It also includes an in-depth discussion of the general characteristics of springs - their physical and prehistoric settings, their historical significance, and their associated flora and fauna.
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.
Understanding the issues that have been encountered at other sites, and the steps that have led to successful resolution of these issues, can provide great help to those considering, planning, or implementing new groundwater recharge projects. Recent technical advances and operational experience have demonstrated that well recharge is a feasible and cost effective method of artificially recharging natural aquifers. This practical guide reviews the technical constraints and issues that have been addressed and resolved through research and experience at many sites. The book presents aquifer storage recovery (ASR) technology and traces its evolution over the past 25 years in the United States. Procedures for groundwater recharge are presented, and selected case studies are examined. Drinking water quality standards and conversion factors are provided in the appendix for easy reference.
In International Groundwater Law and the US-Mexico Border Region, Maria E. Milanes provides a study and analysis of the international groundwater law. The regulation and groundwater management along the US-Mexico border reflect the current international trends for management of transboundary groundwater. International Groundwater Law and the US-Mexico Border Region offers a new international legal and institutional framework to manage fossil aquifers and groundwater in conjunctive use with surface water, where specific guidelines and recommendations for water banking can improve water allocation and protect the environment. This framework can be adapted to any region of around the world. The US-Mexico border is the case study selected to apply and demonstrate the efficacy of this legal and institutional framework.
CONTENTS: v. 1. Arkansas River Basin, Red River Basin, Sabine River Basin, Neches River Basin, Trinity River Basin, and intervening coastal basins -- v. 2. San Jacinto River Basin, Brazos River Basin, San Bernard River Basin and intervening coastal basins -- v. 3. Colorado River Basin, Lavaca River Basin, Guadalupe River Basin, Nueces River Basin, Rio Grande Basin, and intervening coastal basins.
