Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2018MD504S

Results of the 308 Reports on Water Resources Planning and Development in the United States and Implications of These Results for the Future

Institute: Maryland
USGS Grant Number: G18AP00029
Year Established: 2018 Start Date: 2018-03-26 End Date: 2019-03-25
Total Federal Funds: $151,606 Total Non-Federal Funds: Not available

Principal Investigators: Kaye Brubaker

Project Summary: The objectives of the research are to conduct a historical investigation of national level water resources planning activities in the United States derived from studying the 308 Reports. This research will produce an analytical review of strategic water resources development planning in the United States during the 20th century for the purpose of applying these in the 21st century planning. The Water Institute has a unique role to evaluate the evolution of multipurpose planning and cost-benefit evaluations of water projects through the 308 reports. The 308 reports served as a data resource and set of planning documents in the hands of local and state officials. This research will continue previous work and conduct a historical investigation of national level water resources planning activities in the United States through the publication and implementation of analysis and results derived from studying the 308 reports. By using this analysis the research will seek to identify motivations, unique conditions, evolutions in societal and organizational challenges, and unique opportunities that became evident as a result of the national level reconnaissance efforts conducted during the first half of the 20th century. Using these results there will be an attempt to aggregate and synthesize key issues for consideration when contemplating similar investigations during the 21st century. The Maryland Water Resources Research Center has the critical skills and expertise necessary to conduct this research for the nation and recommend improvements to the 308 water resources planning process.