HISTORY OF THE FEDERAL‐STATE COOPERATIVE WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE PROGRAM¹

Abstract

This paper presents a condensed history of the State Water Resources Research Institute Program, which evolved from the Water Resources Research Act of 1964, as amended, the Water Research and Development Act of 1978, Public Law (P.L.) 96–457, and the Water Research and Development Act of 1984. These laws authorized the following components of the Institute Program: (1) the annual allotment and matching grants program for the Institutes, and (2) the additional and saline water research programs for organizations in addition to the State Water Resources Research Institutes. The paper covers the legislative history of the Institute Program and reviews authorized and appropriated funds for the program from fiscal year 1965 to fiscal year 1986. It also discusses the Institutes’role in conducting and sponsoring water‐resources research and development, training of scientists and engineers, and coordinating, disseminating, and transferring water‐research results. The State Water Resources Research Program has been administered by the Office of Water Resources Research (OWRR) (1964–1974), the Office of Water Research and Technology (OWRT) (1974–1982), the Office of Water Policy (OWP) (1982–1983), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (1983‐present).

Looking into the Next 40 Years – 40 Years Ago

“…Other important developments in the area of water resources in the 1960s were the publication of the book Design of Water-Resource Systems (Maass et al 1962) (Burton 1986).…”

Instituting water research: the Water Resources Research Act (1964) and the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute

“…Although the pending request in Congress for $73 million might seem extravagant to critics, Anderson contextualized these disproportionate budgets, emphasized pressing needs, and claimed the nation stood unprepared for the anticipated doubling of population and concomitant water needs. Anderson bolstered his claims by citing recommendations from the recent Senate Select Committee on National Water Resources, an influential committee that recommended to President John F. Kennedy in 1961 that the federal government lead efforts for basinwide river planning and support wider research in water conservation and development to meet national needs by 1980 (Anderson 1964, p. 5779;Baker 1985;Burton 1986;Danver 2011a). Anderson made a strong case.…”

“…Much of WRRA's text concerned funding mechanisms and priorities (Burton 1986). The Secretary of the Interior would distribute funds, beginning with $75,000 in the first year, $87,500 the second, and $100,000 thereafter to establish and maintain those state research institutes (Water Resources Research Act of 1964, p. 329).…”

“…Since 1964, IWRRI and its counterparts in other states sponsored or supported thousands of research projects (Burton 1986). Altogether such work advanced knowledge and technology that could be applied, ideally, to improve management of water resources at a time when governments the world over confronted water shortages and pollution problems, demonstrating one way IWRRI worked in local issues but within global patterns (McNeill 2000).…”

“…In fact, water research has been almost wholly neglected by historians of science and environment (Kingsland 2005;Worster 1994). A single short history in a water resources bulletin provides historical context to this long-lasting successful program (Burton 1986). Millions of dollars have been spent and thousands of studies have been launched and coordinated from WRRA's impetus, deepening local resource knowledge and improving water management.…”