1 A Systems Approach to Water Resources Robert Pirani Director Environmental Programs Regional Plan Association America 2050 National Leadership Meeting October 19, 2009 U.S. Library of Congress Washington, D.C.

2 A Systems Approach to Water Resources Water in Crises Treating Water as Water Toward A New National Agenda Reframe Agency Decision Making Provide Funding and Incentives

3 Population Pressures on Water Supply Lake Lanier, Atlanta ReservoirLake Mead, Las Vegas Reservoir

4 Unmet Water Quality Goals NYC DEP

5 Unmet Water Quality Goals

6 Climate Change will Raise the Stakes Flooding in Iowa, Jun 2008 Impact of Category 1- 4 Hurricane, Columbia University

7 EPA Gap Analysis No Revenue Growth $263$271Total $161$148O&M $102$122Capital Drinking Water Clean Water Total Payment Gap (20 Years) (Average in Billions of Dollars) A Financial Gap… Steven Albee, US EPA ASCE

8 and Institutional Silos Paedergat Basin CSO, NY Atlantic City and Ventnor, NJ

9 Treating Water as Water “ A crisis-driven approach will be insufficient to meet the growing challenges facing the nation’s water infrastructure…a new framework that looks ahead …towards a more sustainable model or approach to funding water and wastewater infrastructure, is needed” Aspen Institute. May 2009

10 Treating Water as Water Storm water management in Portland Napa River Flood Protection Project California Highlands Preservation Area, New Jersey

11 Toward a New National Water Agenda Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot 1908 Can we reframe the decision-making process to establish a results oriented, outcome driven watershed approach that meets national goals and standards?

12 Reframe Agency Decision Making Realign our water policies to ensure a watershed perspective Coordinate federal agencies’ missions and programs Break down barriers between traditional infrastructure, land use, and natural resource silos. Target investments in 21st century priorities, including green infrastructure, efficiency, climate change, and integrated water and land use management

13 Provide Funding and Incentives Establish funding mechanisms, including a dedicated trust, to drive a series of policy reforms: Promote watershed management that links to land use decisions. Evaluate projects based on life-cycle costs Encourage cross-sector collaboration and an integrated approach Protect and restore green infrastructure Pilot non-structural and decentralized technologies

14 Moving Forward Questions –Have we Framed the Issue Correctly? –What are the Key Opportunities? –How can the America 2050 Network Best Contribute?

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