I thought since much of this essay focuses on the Great Lakes and Great Lakes Region people might find it interesting...
Alan Maki
America's Got Water Problems, and No Plan to Fix Them
By Elizabeth de la Vega, Tomdispatch.com.
By Elizabeth de la Vega, Tomdispatch.com.
Posted July 23, 2008.
http://www.alternet.org/water/92435/america%27s_got_water_problems%2C_and_no_plan_to_fix_them/?page=entire
http://www.alternet.org/water/92435/america%27s_got_water_problems%2C_and_no_plan_to_fix_them/?page=entire
The lives and income of millions have been upended by
government mismanagement of water issues.
government mismanagement of water issues.
"Lisa, the whole reason we have elected officials is so
we don't have to think all the time. Just like that
rainforest scare a few years back. Our officials saw
there was a problem and they fixed it, didn't they?" --
Homer Simpson
we don't have to think all the time. Just like that
rainforest scare a few years back. Our officials saw
there was a problem and they fixed it, didn't they?" --
Homer Simpson
On June 24, 2008, Louie and I curled up on the couch to
watch seven of the nation's foremost water resources
experts testify before the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment.
watch seven of the nation's foremost water resources
experts testify before the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee's Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment.
This was a new experience for us. For my part, the
issue to be addressed -- "Comprehensive Watershed
Management Planning" -- was certainly a change of pace
from the subjects I ordinarily follow in Judiciary and
Intelligence Committee hearings. I wasn't even entirely
sure what a "watershed" was. I knew that, in a
metaphorical sense, the word referred to a turning
point, but I was a bit fuzzy about its meaning in the
world of hydrology. (It's the term used to describe
"all land and water areas that drain toward a river or
lake.")
issue to be addressed -- "Comprehensive Watershed
Management Planning" -- was certainly a change of pace
from the subjects I ordinarily follow in Judiciary and
Intelligence Committee hearings. I wasn't even entirely
sure what a "watershed" was. I knew that, in a
metaphorical sense, the word referred to a turning
point, but I was a bit fuzzy about its meaning in the
world of hydrology. (It's the term used to describe
"all land and water areas that drain toward a river or
lake.")
What was strange from Louie's point of view was not the
topic of the day, but that we were stuck in the house.
Usually at that hour, we'd be working in the backyard,
where he can better leverage his skill set, which
includes chasing squirrels, digging up tomato plants,
eating wicker patio chairs, etc. On this particular
afternoon, however, the typically cornflower-blue San
Jose sky was the color of wet cement, and thick soot
was charging down from the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains.
Sitting outside would have been about as pleasant as
relaxing in a large ashtray.
topic of the day, but that we were stuck in the house.
Usually at that hour, we'd be working in the backyard,
where he can better leverage his skill set, which
includes chasing squirrels, digging up tomato plants,
eating wicker patio chairs, etc. On this particular
afternoon, however, the typically cornflower-blue San
Jose sky was the color of wet cement, and thick soot
was charging down from the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains.
Sitting outside would have been about as pleasant as
relaxing in a large ashtray.
It would have been difficult, on such a day, not to
think about water.
think about water.
June 24, 2008: Water on the Brain
In California, of course, it was the lack thereof.
Thanks to the driest spring on record in many areas --
including in San Jose, where recordkeeping began in
1875 -- the whole state was parched. Far worse, large
chunks of it were burning. To be precise, on June 24th,
there were 842 wildfires blazing, the result of "dry
lightning," which -- I've now learned -- happens when
conditions are so dry that the rain never makes it to
the plain. It evaporates in mid-air.
Thanks to the driest spring on record in many areas --
including in San Jose, where recordkeeping began in
1875 -- the whole state was parched. Far worse, large
chunks of it were burning. To be precise, on June 24th,
there were 842 wildfires blazing, the result of "dry
lightning," which -- I've now learned -- happens when
conditions are so dry that the rain never makes it to
the plain. It evaporates in mid-air.
In the Midwest, on the other hand, water was
everywhere, cascading across the land and through
towns; or, it was threatening to do so, as terrified
homeowners and volunteers desperately hoisted sandbags
onto levees that were failing, due to forces as
powerful as the mighty Mississippi and as seemingly
innocuous as burrowing muskrats. The flooding had been
ongoing for weeks, killing dozens of people, displacing
thousands, and causing billions of dollars of crop,
building, and other damage. With California burning and
Iowa underwater, the Red Cross national disaster relief
fund for 2008 was already entirely depleted, although
six months of potential weather devastation of various
sorts still lie ahead. The balance, its finance
director had announced, was "zero."
everywhere, cascading across the land and through
towns; or, it was threatening to do so, as terrified
homeowners and volunteers desperately hoisted sandbags
onto levees that were failing, due to forces as
powerful as the mighty Mississippi and as seemingly
innocuous as burrowing muskrats. The flooding had been
ongoing for weeks, killing dozens of people, displacing
thousands, and causing billions of dollars of crop,
building, and other damage. With California burning and
Iowa underwater, the Red Cross national disaster relief
fund for 2008 was already entirely depleted, although
six months of potential weather devastation of various
sorts still lie ahead. The balance, its finance
director had announced, was "zero."
Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources Weekly News was reporting that the deluge had
swept record amounts of storm-water into lakes and
rivers, "bringing along pollutants from urban streets,
farm fields and construction sites." To make matters
worse, as of late June, Wisconsin communities had
already identified 164 "overflow events" -- a polite
term for the release of untreated sewage into the
state's waters.
Resources Weekly News was reporting that the deluge had
swept record amounts of storm-water into lakes and
rivers, "bringing along pollutants from urban streets,
farm fields and construction sites." To make matters
worse, as of late June, Wisconsin communities had
already identified 164 "overflow events" -- a polite
term for the release of untreated sewage into the
state's waters.
Where were all these chemicals and all that muck
ultimately headed? Some of it would be spewed into the
Great Lakes, already beset by a host of problems. To
name a few: slimy Eurasian water milfoil that clogs
boat propellers, fish viruses, chemicals that cause
glandular disturbances (think: intersex fish), Asian
carp that eat everything in sight, zebra mussels by the
trillions, and -- not to be forgotten -- lots and lots
of chicken manure. (This is a huge and serious issue,
but I can't resist mentioning that it was the topic of
the recent Great Lakes Manure Handling Expo, which you
may have missed.)
ultimately headed? Some of it would be spewed into the
Great Lakes, already beset by a host of problems. To
name a few: slimy Eurasian water milfoil that clogs
boat propellers, fish viruses, chemicals that cause
glandular disturbances (think: intersex fish), Asian
carp that eat everything in sight, zebra mussels by the
trillions, and -- not to be forgotten -- lots and lots
of chicken manure. (This is a huge and serious issue,
but I can't resist mentioning that it was the topic of
the recent Great Lakes Manure Handling Expo, which you
may have missed.)
The quality of water in the Great Lakes was not the
only challenge; there are also myriad ongoing conflicts
about quantity -- about the right to use the 6
quadrillion tons of water the five lakes contain.
Ironically, on June 24th, Nestlé Corporation, a party
to an infamous Great Lakes water dispute, was also
facing a water quality problem. That very day, the
Federal Drug Administration notified Northeasterners
that Nestle's Pure Life Purified Drinking Water was not
as pure as might be imagined. After filling its bottles
with Lake Michigan water, Nestle had managed to
contaminate some of that very same bottled water with
cleaning compound.
only challenge; there are also myriad ongoing conflicts
about quantity -- about the right to use the 6
quadrillion tons of water the five lakes contain.
Ironically, on June 24th, Nestlé Corporation, a party
to an infamous Great Lakes water dispute, was also
facing a water quality problem. That very day, the
Federal Drug Administration notified Northeasterners
that Nestle's Pure Life Purified Drinking Water was not
as pure as might be imagined. After filling its bottles
with Lake Michigan water, Nestle had managed to
contaminate some of that very same bottled water with
cleaning compound.
But back to the June floods. Where else will the
pollution from them be heading? For one thing, down the
Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. When it gets
there, the nitrogen and phosphorus swept into the
current from upriver farmers' fields will do what those
farmers intended it to do: make things grow.
Unfortunately, it will be fertilizing algae, which
sucks oxygen out of its surrounding waters as it
decomposes, adding to an already existing "dead zone"
in the Gulf of Mexico where marine life can no longer
live.
pollution from them be heading? For one thing, down the
Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. When it gets
there, the nitrogen and phosphorus swept into the
current from upriver farmers' fields will do what those
farmers intended it to do: make things grow.
Unfortunately, it will be fertilizing algae, which
sucks oxygen out of its surrounding waters as it
decomposes, adding to an already existing "dead zone"
in the Gulf of Mexico where marine life can no longer
live.
Even before the relentless late spring rains,
scientists had predicted that, in the summer of 2008,
this barren area off the Louisiana coast would grow to
be a Massachusetts-sized 10,000 square miles. Post-
flood, with even more fertilizer and freshwater pouring
into the Gulf, that estimate was increased to 12,000
square miles or more, the equivalent of the state of
Maryland.
scientists had predicted that, in the summer of 2008,
this barren area off the Louisiana coast would grow to
be a Massachusetts-sized 10,000 square miles. Post-
flood, with even more fertilizer and freshwater pouring
into the Gulf, that estimate was increased to 12,000
square miles or more, the equivalent of the state of
Maryland.
Now, I'm neither a scientist, nor an engineer, nor
anything remotely similar to either of the above. Once
we got past the planaria in Biology 101, I could never
find whatever it was we were supposed to be analyzing
on that microscope slide. (I'm not proud of this: it's
simply the stark, unvarnished truth.) But even to a
layperson, these Viewmaster shots of the extreme water
issues facing the United States in the summer of 2008
-- random as they may seem -- suggest a panoramic
picture of the state of water resources management in
this country. In four words, it is sheer chaos.
anything remotely similar to either of the above. Once
we got past the planaria in Biology 101, I could never
find whatever it was we were supposed to be analyzing
on that microscope slide. (I'm not proud of this: it's
simply the stark, unvarnished truth.) But even to a
layperson, these Viewmaster shots of the extreme water
issues facing the United States in the summer of 2008
-- random as they may seem -- suggest a panoramic
picture of the state of water resources management in
this country. In four words, it is sheer chaos.
Still Floundering After All These Years
It would be easy, even tempting, to blame the turbulent
state of the nation's water affairs on the Bush
administration. Certainly, they've provided ample
cause: gutting, and failing to enforce, the Clean Water
Act, for instance, and, at best, simply ignoring the
obvious problems of floods, droughts, and hurricanes,
of shifting weather patterns, of contaminants old and
new, and a myriad of other water disasters through
eight long years.
state of the nation's water affairs on the Bush
administration. Certainly, they've provided ample
cause: gutting, and failing to enforce, the Clean Water
Act, for instance, and, at best, simply ignoring the
obvious problems of floods, droughts, and hurricanes,
of shifting weather patterns, of contaminants old and
new, and a myriad of other water disasters through
eight long years.
The truth is, though, that scientists, engineers, and
environmental planners have been advising Congress for
years that holistic watershed management is the only
rational and practical way to address complex water
quality and quantity issues. Why that persistent
recommendation? As Delaware River Basin Commission
Executive Director Carol Collier told the Subcommittee
on Water Resources and Environment on June 24th, bodies
of water don't respect political boundaries; we have to
manage them "on the rivers' terms." And the
stakeholders from both riverbanks -- as well as from up
and downstream -- all need to be at the table.
Notwithstanding this long-term chorus of expert advice,
our elected officials have merrily continued to
legislate piecemeal, funding billions of dollars of
local water-related projects without regard to their
overall value or impact.
environmental planners have been advising Congress for
years that holistic watershed management is the only
rational and practical way to address complex water
quality and quantity issues. Why that persistent
recommendation? As Delaware River Basin Commission
Executive Director Carol Collier told the Subcommittee
on Water Resources and Environment on June 24th, bodies
of water don't respect political boundaries; we have to
manage them "on the rivers' terms." And the
stakeholders from both riverbanks -- as well as from up
and downstream -- all need to be at the table.
Notwithstanding this long-term chorus of expert advice,
our elected officials have merrily continued to
legislate piecemeal, funding billions of dollars of
local water-related projects without regard to their
overall value or impact.
Tragically, as it turns out, faced with the urgent need
to change our management of U.S. waters, Congress has,
for decades, been standing "up on the watershed" --
just as in the Indigo Girls song -- and they've been
floundering. But you can't say it hasn't been a
bipartisan effort.
to change our management of U.S. waters, Congress has,
for decades, been standing "up on the watershed" --
just as in the Indigo Girls song -- and they've been
floundering. But you can't say it hasn't been a
bipartisan effort.
Although the witnesses at the Water Resources and
Environment Subcommittee hearing were decidedly
nonpartisan, the testimony of each and every one made
this fact abundantly, even painfully, clear. They were
all measured and polite, of course, but you didn't have
to be Karnac the Magnificent to sense the frustration.
Environment Subcommittee hearing were decidedly
nonpartisan, the testimony of each and every one made
this fact abundantly, even painfully, clear. They were
all measured and polite, of course, but you didn't have
to be Karnac the Magnificent to sense the frustration.
Consider, for example, the testimony of Larry Larson,
the Executive Director of the Association of State
Floodplain Managers. He began: "Once again we are
seeing devastating floods in the Midwest -- likely
billions in losses to farms, homes, businesses and
infrastructure." Then, he ticked off some causes:
population growth, migration, climate changes,
degradation of water-based resources, deteriorating
infrastructures, encouraging wetlands-draining and crop
growth on marginal land, addressing water quality but
not quantity, over-reliance on dams and levees to
prevent floods.
the Executive Director of the Association of State
Floodplain Managers. He began: "Once again we are
seeing devastating floods in the Midwest -- likely
billions in losses to farms, homes, businesses and
infrastructure." Then, he ticked off some causes:
population growth, migration, climate changes,
degradation of water-based resources, deteriorating
infrastructures, encouraging wetlands-draining and crop
growth on marginal land, addressing water quality but
not quantity, over-reliance on dams and levees to
prevent floods.
His conclusion?
"Without dramatic shifts in our approaches and actions,
by 2050 flood losses are likely to be far greater,
ecosystems may well collapse, the nation's quality of
life will be diminished, and all hope of sustainable
communities will be lost."
by 2050 flood losses are likely to be far greater,
ecosystems may well collapse, the nation's quality of
life will be diminished, and all hope of sustainable
communities will be lost."
Not long after that cheery forecast, there was Paul
Freedman, Vice President of the Water Environment
Federation and President of LimnoTech, an Ann Arbor-
based water consulting firm. While preparing his
presentation, he said, he had recognized some irony:
Freedman, Vice President of the Water Environment
Federation and President of LimnoTech, an Ann Arbor-
based water consulting firm. While preparing his
presentation, he said, he had recognized some irony:
"Twelve years ago this month, I co-chaired one of the
earliest and largest watershed conferences ever to
occur. [The Water Environment Federation] organized it
jointly with fifteen federal agencies. Well over a
thousand experts participated and more than five
thousand participated through videoconference... At the
time it was kind of this aha moment, you know, we'd
made enormous progress since the Clean Water Act of
1972, but further progress toward restoring the
physical, chemical and biologic health of our water
resources, and protecting public health and well-being
was stalled.
earliest and largest watershed conferences ever to
occur. [The Water Environment Federation] organized it
jointly with fifteen federal agencies. Well over a
thousand experts participated and more than five
thousand participated through videoconference... At the
time it was kind of this aha moment, you know, we'd
made enormous progress since the Clean Water Act of
1972, but further progress toward restoring the
physical, chemical and biologic health of our water
resources, and protecting public health and well-being
was stalled.
"Everyone agreed there, watershed management was the
only answer to take us into the twenty-first century."
only answer to take us into the twenty-first century."
Of course, that particular aha moment occurred in 1996.
But University of Maryland Professor of Engineering
Gerald Galloway -- a retired U.S. Army Brigadier
General who was the 2007 President of the American
Water Resources Association -- had a similar one in
1994.
But University of Maryland Professor of Engineering
Gerald Galloway -- a retired U.S. Army Brigadier
General who was the 2007 President of the American
Water Resources Association -- had a similar one in
1994.
After floods in 1993 had devastated many of the same
Mississippi River towns that were once again inundated
on June 24, 2008, he led an interagency team to study
the complex problem of floodplain management. And,
unsurprisingly, his team concluded that the United
States should abandon its project-by-project approach
to water resources. Not only, they pointed out, does
such fragmented funding lead to ineffective, sometimes
conflicting results, it actually forecloses
possibilities for cooperation by, and among, federal
agencies. As Galloway noted, "If you don't have the
money, it's awfully hard to come to the party."
Mississippi River towns that were once again inundated
on June 24, 2008, he led an interagency team to study
the complex problem of floodplain management. And,
unsurprisingly, his team concluded that the United
States should abandon its project-by-project approach
to water resources. Not only, they pointed out, does
such fragmented funding lead to ineffective, sometimes
conflicting results, it actually forecloses
possibilities for cooperation by, and among, federal
agencies. As Galloway noted, "If you don't have the
money, it's awfully hard to come to the party."
We could rewind to even earlier aha moments. On
February 17, 1952, for example, a New York Times
headline reads, "Bill Asks Policy for River Basins:
President's Commission Files Draft that Sums Up its
Plan for Water Resources." The President in question
was Harry Truman and the plan was, according to the
article, "based solidly on the commission's original
and far-reaching premise that entire river basins must
be considered in one broad and uniform policy." In
1933, of course, the United States formed the Tennesee
Valley Authority to execute a model comprehensive,
collaborative approach to the water and power issues in
that region. It has been, in Galloway's words, a
"shining example" -- albeit one rarely followed.
February 17, 1952, for example, a New York Times
headline reads, "Bill Asks Policy for River Basins:
President's Commission Files Draft that Sums Up its
Plan for Water Resources." The President in question
was Harry Truman and the plan was, according to the
article, "based solidly on the commission's original
and far-reaching premise that entire river basins must
be considered in one broad and uniform policy." In
1933, of course, the United States formed the Tennesee
Valley Authority to execute a model comprehensive,
collaborative approach to the water and power issues in
that region. It has been, in Galloway's words, a
"shining example" -- albeit one rarely followed.
Words of the Day
In the end, when it came to an assessment of the
current state of our national water policy, there were
precious few positive sentiments voiced at the hearing.
Instead, the most often-used descriptions were
alarmingly negative.
current state of our national water policy, there were
precious few positive sentiments voiced at the hearing.
Instead, the most often-used descriptions were
alarmingly negative.
As applied to programs and projects, the words of the
day included fractured, ad hoc, isolated, random,
haphazard, inconsistent, stovepiped, and mish-mash.
Relative to congressional committees and federal
agencies, the term was hodge-podge. Larry Larson
testified that there are a grand total of 36
congressional subcommittees that oversee water-related
issues in some fashion or another -- with few clearly-
delineated divisions of authority.
day included fractured, ad hoc, isolated, random,
haphazard, inconsistent, stovepiped, and mish-mash.
Relative to congressional committees and federal
agencies, the term was hodge-podge. Larry Larson
testified that there are a grand total of 36
congressional subcommittees that oversee water-related
issues in some fashion or another -- with few clearly-
delineated divisions of authority.
And just how many federal offices are there in this
mix? Well, last week, I spent a really enjoyable day
calling U.S. Government offices and doing on-line
research. In the end, I determined -- conclusively --
that it is not possible to actually know how many
federal agencies engage in freshwater-related research,
administration, projects, oversight, disaster relief,
and/or reconstruction.
mix? Well, last week, I spent a really enjoyable day
calling U.S. Government offices and doing on-line
research. In the end, I determined -- conclusively --
that it is not possible to actually know how many
federal agencies engage in freshwater-related research,
administration, projects, oversight, disaster relief,
and/or reconstruction.
There appear, however, to be at least two dozen: The
Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Council on
Environmental Quality, the Food & Drug Administration,
the Department of Transportation, the National Park
Service, the Agricultural Research Service, the Natural
Resources Conservation Service, the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, the Bureau of the Census, the Office of
Housing and Urban Development, the Bureau of Land
Management, the National Science Foundation, the Small
Business Administration, the Bureau of Reclamation, the
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,
the Economic Development Administration, the State
Department's International Boundary and Water
Commission, the Rural Utilities Service, and several
Department of Homeland Security offices that are
probably too secret for us to be talking about.
Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Council on
Environmental Quality, the Food & Drug Administration,
the Department of Transportation, the National Park
Service, the Agricultural Research Service, the Natural
Resources Conservation Service, the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, the Bureau of the Census, the Office of
Housing and Urban Development, the Bureau of Land
Management, the National Science Foundation, the Small
Business Administration, the Bureau of Reclamation, the
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,
the Economic Development Administration, the State
Department's International Boundary and Water
Commission, the Rural Utilities Service, and several
Department of Homeland Security offices that are
probably too secret for us to be talking about.
Finally, with regard to laws, the operative terms were
outdated and inadequate. The Clean Water Act of 1972
has made a dramatic difference in water quality and is
justifiably considered to be a big success. As Freedman
explained, however, the problems that exist in today's
environmental landscape are "dramatically different in
scale and in nature" than they were thirty-some years
ago.
outdated and inadequate. The Clean Water Act of 1972
has made a dramatic difference in water quality and is
justifiably considered to be a big success. As Freedman
explained, however, the problems that exist in today's
environmental landscape are "dramatically different in
scale and in nature" than they were thirty-some years
ago.
In the 1970s, he said, the main environmental driver
was "point source pollution" -- that is, harmful
substances spilled directly into water. Now, however,
concerns include contaminants from indirect, but ever
more ubiquitous, "nonpoint sources" -- remember the
chicken manure? -- as well as "land use, ecosystem
restoration, water scarcity, flooding, invasive
species, endocrine disruptors, climate change, etc. --
the list goes on."
was "point source pollution" -- that is, harmful
substances spilled directly into water. Now, however,
concerns include contaminants from indirect, but ever
more ubiquitous, "nonpoint sources" -- remember the
chicken manure? -- as well as "land use, ecosystem
restoration, water scarcity, flooding, invasive
species, endocrine disruptors, climate change, etc. --
the list goes on."
Consequently, Freedman told the Committee:
"Trying to solve these problems with the 1972 Clean
Water Act is like trying to use a 1972 auto repair
manual to repair a 2008 electric hybrid. It just
doesn't work. So it is with other independent and dated
federal programs that don't reflect the large scale and
complexity of the problems we're dealing with today."
Water Act is like trying to use a 1972 auto repair
manual to repair a 2008 electric hybrid. It just
doesn't work. So it is with other independent and dated
federal programs that don't reflect the large scale and
complexity of the problems we're dealing with today."
Too Many Uh-oh Moments
As I write this in mid-July, Louie is munching on a
trellis. The smoke in our neighborhood has mostly
cleared, leaving behind a stonewashed denim-blue sky.
Safe and dry and happily back in the yard, it would be
relatively easy to follow Homer Simpson's advice. The
disasters that dominated the headlines on June 24, 2008
have now been relegated to interior news pages and
after all, there are three dozen congressional
committees working on our national water issues.
trellis. The smoke in our neighborhood has mostly
cleared, leaving behind a stonewashed denim-blue sky.
Safe and dry and happily back in the yard, it would be
relatively easy to follow Homer Simpson's advice. The
disasters that dominated the headlines on June 24, 2008
have now been relegated to interior news pages and
after all, there are three dozen congressional
committees working on our national water issues.
But the reality is, of course, nothing has changed. The
lives of approximately 11 million people in ten
Midwestern states have been upended and -- in far too
many instances -- devastated by this year's wave of
Mississippi River floods. The damage and the pain are
immediate and ongoing. In California, too, the
nightmare continues for the thousands of people who
lost their homes and loved ones. Since May, there have
been 1,700 wildfires sparked by lightning here; more
than 300 are still raging, and 752,000 acres have been
scorched. The fire "season" in the West is now year-
round; reservoirs in the southeast are still depleted;
fish are dying in the Great Lakes; our water is
medicated with pharmaceuticals; the lost wetlands have
not miraculously reappeared; and the hurricane season
looms for at least three months to come.
lives of approximately 11 million people in ten
Midwestern states have been upended and -- in far too
many instances -- devastated by this year's wave of
Mississippi River floods. The damage and the pain are
immediate and ongoing. In California, too, the
nightmare continues for the thousands of people who
lost their homes and loved ones. Since May, there have
been 1,700 wildfires sparked by lightning here; more
than 300 are still raging, and 752,000 acres have been
scorched. The fire "season" in the West is now year-
round; reservoirs in the southeast are still depleted;
fish are dying in the Great Lakes; our water is
medicated with pharmaceuticals; the lost wetlands have
not miraculously reappeared; and the hurricane season
looms for at least three months to come.
One could argue that a fractured, ad hoc, haphazard
mish-mash of random, inconsistent, and stove-piped
projects, administered by a hodge-podge of 36
congressional committees and more than 20 agencies in
accordance with outdated and inadequate laws
constitutes a national water policy. A de facto one.
But with so many ignored aha moments followed by ever-
more-frequent and disastrous uh-oh moments, it seems we
could use a policy that's not quite so dependent upon
sandbags and firehoses.
mish-mash of random, inconsistent, and stove-piped
projects, administered by a hodge-podge of 36
congressional committees and more than 20 agencies in
accordance with outdated and inadequate laws
constitutes a national water policy. A de facto one.
But with so many ignored aha moments followed by ever-
more-frequent and disastrous uh-oh moments, it seems we
could use a policy that's not quite so dependent upon
sandbags and firehoses.
------------------
Elizabeth de la Vega is a former federal prosecutor
with over twenty years experience. A contributor to
TomDispatch since 2005, her pieces have appeared in
various publications including the Nation, the
Christian Science Monitor, the Los Angeles Times,
Salon.com, Truthout, Common Dreams and the Public
Record. The author of United States v. George W. Bush
et al., she may be contacted at
elizabethdelavega@verizon.net or through Speakers
Clearinghouse.
Elizabeth de la Vega is a former federal prosecutor
with over twenty years experience. A contributor to
TomDispatch since 2005, her pieces have appeared in
various publications including the Nation, the
Christian Science Monitor, the Los Angeles Times,
Salon.com, Truthout, Common Dreams and the Public
Record. The author of United States v. George W. Bush
et al., she may be contacted at
elizabethdelavega@verizon.net or through Speakers
Clearinghouse.
Copyright 2008 Elizabeth de la Vega
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