Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2015AL167B

Water Policy and Law in Alabama (Year Two)

Institute: Alabama
Year Established: 2015 Start Date: 2015-03-01 End Date: 2016-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $40,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $80,000

Principal Investigators: Heather Elliott, Bill Andreen

Abstract: Alabama faces a major and expanding water crisis. Population growth and economic development are putting increasing pressure on water resources already strained by recent droughts, and such droughts are likely to become more frequent and more severe in the future. Disputes with neighboring states over shared water resources threaten Alabama's use of interstate waters to meet future needs. Alabama's current water-law regime, because it is primarily a judicially created common-law regime, is nowhere clearly explicated; such explication is necessary to determine its strengths and failings. This project will produce a two volume treatise on Alabama water law and policy.