Future of Water Policy in the Western U.S.

Experts on national and regional water policies discuss the Bush administration’s policies concerning the continuing drought in the western U.S. Members of the panel discussed the effects of budget cuts, changing committees, and changing environmental concerns on federal water policies, and made recommendations on appropriate U.S. policies to balance the threat of drought on water supplies, wildlife, and energy production. Mr. Underwood defined the problem concerning water policies as being a balance between sustained economic growth and maintenance of the environment. Specific areas addressed in the discussion include the Columbia river in the Northwest, the Colorado river basin, and water in the Dakotas and California. close