Congressional Water and Climate Presentation by Peter Gleick

On January 9 Peter Gleick of the Pacific Institute gave presentations to both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The title: Water and Climate Change: Managing Unavoidable Impacts; Avoiding Unmanageable Impacts.

His conclusions:

1. Impacts of climate change on water systems are already occurring
2. Both mitigation and adaptation are needed
3. Recommendations to water managers have been available for two decades but actual progress towards implementing them have been slow
4. In many cases there is compelling evidence that climate changes will pose serious problems to water systems
5. National water policy must be reevaluated and updated to meet 21st century challenges, including the risks of climate change to the USA's water

He then provided eight recommendations to Congress:

1. Constitute  a new, national bipartisan Water Commissionto to develop new water policy recommendations
2. Update the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act
3. Reorganize and streamline the diverse and uncoordinated Federal water responsibilities
4. Expand investment in our drinking water and wastewater treatment systems, especially for small communities
5. Establish Federal incentives for improving water efficiency and reducing wasteful use of water, using the Farm Bill, trade laws, plumbing codes, and tax code revisions
6. Spotlight national security issues related to water and climate
7. Update the 2000 National Assessment on the impacts of climate change on USA water resources
8. Integrate climate change into all Federal water decisions and policies

Gleick also provides budget recommendations for a variety of Federal agencies.

Excellent advice from the man who should be the first White House Water Advisor.

"The evidence that humans are changing the water cycle of the United States is increasingly compelling." -- National Water Assessment Report, 2000

Comments

[David Zetland]

Pretty good. I'd add these:

9. Fix the Colorado River allocations.
10. Set up a standing body to resolve transboundary water disputes.
11. Subsidize and/or require that water rights for "impacted" aquifers be adjudicated.
12. Freeze all big engineering projects until old problems/repairs are complete.