UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A new publication from Penn State Cooperative Extension, "River Basin Approaches to Water Management in the Mid-Atlantic States," introduces the concept of regional river basin commissions and explores several current and emerging issues these commissions and similar river basin management organizations face.
Public policies for managing and protecting water resources are among concerns often voiced by Pennsylvania residents, and this concern illustrates the importance of these commissions, according to a water-policy expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
"Individuals, businesses and communities will be affected by the decisions of the region's river basin commissions well into the future," said the publication's lead author, Charles Abdalla, professor of agricultural and environmental economics.
"Citizens need to become aware of their stake in water-resource issues and policies, understand the jurisdiction of river basin commissions and effectively participate in public policy-making through these organizations," he said. "Public policies for water management and protection will be improved if the affected parties, which include almost everyone, are well-informed about likely impacts and take advantage of opportunities to participate in decisions."
Seeking to engage residents, landowners, environmental organizations, economic-development groups and others, the publication introduces the various river basin commissions and other water-management institutions in the Mid-Atlantic region, discusses their differing authorities, and summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of these commissions.
The publication suggests ways citizens can have a voice in water-management decisions through river basin commissions and spotlights five far-reaching issues with which commissions currently are dealing. These include out-of-basin diversions/population growth, water withdrawals for Marcellus Shale natural-gas drilling, climate change, invasive aquatic species and the Chesapeake Bay cleanup.
"Through this publication, we hope to increase the public's understanding of these hot-button issues and help people learn how and where they can offer input into river basin commission decisions about water use," Abdalla said. "These policies will play a large part in determining the economic well-being and quality of life for residents of the commonwealth for a long time -- perhaps generations -- to come."
The publication is based upon work supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"River Basin Approaches to Water Management in the Mid-Atlantic States" is available online (PDF). Pennsylvania residents can obtain a free copy of the publication by contacting the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Publication Distribution Center by mail at 112 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802-2602; by telephone at (814) 865-6713; or by e-mail. For cost information on out-of-state or bulk orders, contact the Publications Distribution Center.