People, Policy Dialogue, and Policy Change

5th World Water Forum March 20, 2009

David W. MoodyPast President

American Water Resources Association

Assertions• Associations can be the “glue” that holds

water sector stakeholders together.

• Serve as an interface between science, management, policy, law, and civil society

• Serve as “neutral” meeting ground for the exchange of information, knowledge and perspectives

• Can sponsor dialogues that others cannot politically sponsor.

What is the American Water Resources Association?

• AWRA is a non-profit professional association dedicated to the advancement of water resources management, research, and education.

• Mission - To advance multidisciplinary water resources education, management and research.

• Promise - A balanced, professional approach to solving water resources challenges in a friendly and comfortable atmosphere.

• Community, Cooperation, Connections

AWRA Objectives

• To advancement water resources research, planning, development, management and education.

• To establish a common meeting ground for physical, biological, and social scientists, engineers, and other persons concerned with water resources.

• To collect, organize, and disseminate ideas and information in the field of water resources science and technology

US Water Challenges

The Dialogues• Sponsored/proposed by ten federal agencies

• Purpose: Identify policy issues and possible actions; provide input to WWF Regional Process (Dialogue 4)

• Outcomes: Letters to President, Members of Congress, Govenors and senior leaders; Summary reports

Stewardship of the Nation’s water resources is being neglected and the manner in which we deal with water issues is dysfunctional

Letter to the President, Congress and GovernorsFeb 2007

The center of gravity for national water actions is shifting to the state level and should be backed by appropriate support from the federal government.

Fourth Dialogue

• Washington DC on Capital Hill• Sponsored by AWRA, Environmental and Water Resources Institute(EWRI) of ASCE, National Wildlife Federation• Identify Key Current Issues for New President• Provide Input to 5th World Water Forum

Conclusions of 4th Dialogue

1. Need for a national water resources assessment2. Need to develop a national vision and overarching principles to guide water resources development3. Need mechanisms that better coordinate water activities4. Re-evaluate changing relationships between federal, state, and local relationships 5. Federal actions must be taken in a watershed context and planned in partnership with states and local entities.

10

National Priority Watersheds“ Top 200 “ ( 10% ) @ Most Risk

Acceptable

Urgent

High

Low

Moderate

( Non-Decisional. For Illustration ONLY. )

Water Stress Index

NationalWatershed“Baseline”

NationalWatershed

100-yr Intent

RiskTriangle

WatershedTriage

NationalPriority

Watersheds“Top 200”

10% most @ Riskof NOT achieving100-year “vision”

$

“Top 200”

10% most @ Risk ofNOT achieving 100-year Vision

Third National Water Resources Policy Dialogue - January 2007

Arlington, VA

Outcomes

• Series of National Water Resources Policy Dialogues has led to periodic communications with the Office of the President, Congress, and Governors.

• Briefings of Congressional staff on issues

• Networking between Federal, State, and local water resources managers leading to a shared vision of where to go, what the gaps are, and common priorities

• Evolution of political will and momentum which comes from all parties moving in the same direction