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A Systems Approach to Water Resources

Robert Pirani Director Environmental Programs

Regional Plan Association

America 2050 National Leadership Meeting

October 19, 2009U.S. Library of Congress

Washington, D.C.

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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

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Population Pressures on Water Supply

Lake Lanier, Atlanta Reservoir Lake Mead, Las Vegas Reservoir

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Unmet Water Quality Goals

NYC DEP

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Unmet Water Quality Goals

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Climate Change will Raise the Stakes

Flooding in Iowa, Jun 2008Impact of Category 1- 4 Hurricane, Columbia University

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EPA Gap AnalysisNo 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 EPAASCE

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and Institutional Silos

Paedergat Basin CSO, NY Atlantic City and Ventnor, NJ

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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

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Treating Water as Water

Storm water management in PortlandNapa River Flood Protection Project California

Highlands Preservation Area, New Jersey

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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?

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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

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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

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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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www.America2050.org

www.rpa.org