Sustainable Solutions for Water Resources : Policies, Planning, Design, and Implementation

by James L. Sipes

• ISBN13: 9780470640296
• ISBN10: 0470640294
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2010-03-01
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

The single-source solutions guide to the sustainable?management of water resourcesWhy is water the environmental issue? The answer is simple: without it, life on this planet could not exist. Yet, despite this fact, reckless consumption practices from a growing population are drying up the Earth's already limited water resources. Other factors, such as river and lake contamination, rising temperatures, and disproportionate geographic accessibility further contribute to the fresh water crisis. To confront this pressing concern, this enlightening guide, which covers over twenty case studies offering insights into real-world projects, uses a holistic, integrated approach to illustrate ways to preserve vital water supplies-from green design remedies to encouraging greater personal responsibility. This book:Provides a?basic overview of water resources, hydrology, current problems involving water resources, and the potential impact of global warming and climate changeCovers watershed planning, Best Management Practices, and potential design and planning solutionsOffers a concise overview of the issues affecting water use and managementIncludes a full chapter dedicated to planning issues, and a full chapter covering site planning, design, and implementationSustainable Solutions for Water Resources takes a practical approach to head off a global water catastrophe by offering sensible measures that can be put in place immediately to promote a clean, plentiful flow of the Earth's most precious resource.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Overview

The Importance of Water Resources

Overview of Water Resources

Rivers and Streams

Groundwater and Aquifers

Lakes and Reservoirs

Wetlands

Coastal Zones

Precipitation

Sources of Information

Issues Involving Water Resources in the United States

Global Warming and Climate Change

Impacts of Climate Change

Addressing Climate Change

Sources of Information

Drought and Water Wars

Worldwide Water Wars

Southwest Water Wars

Southeast Water Wars

Peachtree Water Wars

Water Demands

Meeting Needs

Demands in Las Vegas

Uses of Water

Options for Meeting Demands

Water Sources

Development Pressures

Traditional Approaches to Meet Demands

Growth in the South

The Corps Meeting Demands

Environmental Concerns

Wadeable Streams Assessment

National Rivers and Streams Assessment

Large River Bioassessment Protocols

Economic Concerns

Cost of Water

Infrastructure Cost

Costs of Polluted Water

Privatization

Agricultural Uses

Impacts

Reducing Impacts

Water Quality

Water Quality Regulations

Legal Issues

Riparian Rights

First in Time

Groundwater, Soil Moisture, and Precipitation

Direct Flow and Storage

Water Law

Sustainable Planning Approaches for Water Resources

An International and U.S. National Perspective on Water Resources Laws, Policies, Regulations, and Permits

Federal Reserved Water Rights

National Laws, Acts, and Policies

Other Acts

Water for America Initiative

Federal Agencies Involved with Water Resources

Clean Water Act

Water for America Initiative

Flood Management at a National Level

National Drought Policy

Planning at the State Level

State Actions

Regional Approaches to Water Management

Interstate Water Commissions

Regional Approaches within States

Power Companies

Planning at the District Level

St. Johns River Water Management District

Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District

Watershed Planning

Conservation Approach

Watershed Assessment

Tools for Water Resource Analysis

Watershed Boundaries

Water Markets and Water Supply Systems

Wetland Planning and Wetland Banking

Wetland Recommendations

Wetlands Data

Wetlands of International Importance

National Wetlands Inventory

National Data

Wetland Mapper

Wetlands Master Geodatabase

Data at the State Level

Stormwater Management and Erosion Control

State Procedures

Minimizing Erosion

Controlling Pollution

Land Use Planning and Management

Land Use and Zoning

Ordinances

Land Use Data

Shoreline Management

Stabilization and Protection

Shoreline Ownership and Access

Shoreline Use Permits

Natural Resource Protection

Local to Federal

Urban Hydrology

Existing Systems

Impervious Cover Model

Sewage and Septic

Trees in Urban Watersheds

Landscape in Flux

Watershed Scale

Groundwater Protection

A Sustainable Approach

Data at the Local Level

Data at the National Level

Groundwater Modeling

Water Outreach Efforts

Demonstration Projects

Case Studies

Sustainable Practices for Site Planning, Design, and Implementation

Developing Goals and Objectives

Working with Local Stakeholders

Types of Stakeholders

Web-Based Communication Technologies

Public Involvement Plan

Design Process

Research

Inventory/Analysis

Synthesis

Implementation

Lake Management Plan and Actions

Lake Water Quality

Water Changes

Water Clarity Readings

River, Lake, and Wetland Restoration

Hydromodification

Stream Repair Practices

Fish Passages

Constructed Wetlands

Unified Stream Assessment

Bridging Solutions

U.S. Gulf Coast

Low-Impact Development and Smart Growth

Low-Impact Development

Smart Growth

Recreational Use

Marinas

Wildlife Management and Habitat Restoration

Habitat Restoration Efforts

Federal Wildlife Programs

New Lakes, Reservoirs, and Dams

Tennessee Permitting Process for New Dams

Dam Removal

Land Acquisition

Fee Simple Acquisition

Conservation Easements

Leases, Deed Restrictions, and Covenants

Purchase of Development Rights

Transfer of Development Rights

Land Trusts

Acquisition Programs

Best Management Practices

BMP Databases

Structural and Nonstructural Best Management Practices

Vegetative Practices

Runoff and Sediment Control

Wetlands

Rainwater Harvesting

Rooftop Runoff Management

Filtering Systems

Erosion and Sediment Control Plans

Controlling Runoff from Croplands

Case Studies

Conclusion

Avoiding Predictions

A Focus on Sustainability

Revisiting Atlanta

Legal Battles

Addressing the Problem

The Future

Further reading

References

Index

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