Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2016MD507S

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

Institute: Maryland
USGS Grant Number: G16AP00019
Year Established: 2016 Start Date: 2015-12-07 End Date: 2017-09-16
Total Federal Funds: $260,832 Total Non-Federal Funds: Not available

Principal Investigators: Gerald Galloway

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. The research will identify motivations, unique conditions, evolutions in societal and organizational cultures, as well as challenges, and opportunities that became evident as a result of these national level reconnaissance efforts conducted throughout the US. 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. The central goal of this investigation is to explore the linkages between the production of large-scale water resources planning studies by federal agencies, and the material that was developed on water resources at the federal, state, and local levels. Through the analysis of the set of reports, participant motivations, as well as contemporary economic and political events, key lessons will be sought with applications for the development of water resources planning in the United States. 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.