THE USE OF WATER RESOURCE INFORMATION: THE SECOND NATIONAL WATER ASSESSMENT¹

Abstract

Despite discontinuation of periodic National Water Assessments resulting from the dissolution of the Water Resources Council (WRC), information that assesses the Nation's water quantity and quality remains important to those involved in water resource management. However, citing limited apparent use of the WRC's Second National Water Assessment, some have implied that past assessments have been of minimal value to water resource management and policy. This has led to numerous suggestions for modifying the assessment process in the belief that such changes would increase the perceived value of future national water assessment efforts. This paper examines use of the Second National Water Assessment by water resource managers and decision makers. Based upon the individual and organizational characteristics of users, conclusions are drawn regarding the nature of national assessment use. The paper concludes that the primary value of national water assessment stems from the fact that it provides a unifying general description of the Nation's water resource situation and that it serves as a symbolic statement that a rational thought process guides national water policy. (KEY WORDS: National Water Assessment; information use; water planning; water policy; organizational decision making; logit analysis.)