Feb
28
DC Water Follies
February 28, 2008 | Posted by Michael "Aquadoc" Campana
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I just returned from Washington, DC, where I attended the National Institutes for Water Resources (niwr.montana.edu) annual meeting, which includes a healthy dose of Congressional visits. I also dropped over to see my colleagues at the National Ground Water Association (www.ngwa.org) who were in town for the annual NGWA Fly-In.
The NIWR meeting usually features some excellent, perceptive speakers, and this year was no exception. Dr. Bob Hirsch, USGS Associate Director for Water; Rep. David Price (D-NC); and Tony Willardson, Deputy Director of the Western States Water Council (www.westgov.org/wswc/) all spoke (among others). Our own Gerry Galloway addressed the group but I had to leave early.
Other news: the Department of the Interior has a new Water For America (www.doi.gov/initiatives/water.html) initiative, and the USGS’s NAWQA program is slated for a 15% cut.
At the risk of telling you something you know, the consensus is that this year’s (FY 2009) budget process could be uglier than usual (according to a House staffer). Democrats may try to wait on the budget till a new Congress and President assume their duties in 2009. Homeland Security and Defense will likely see their budgets passed this year, along with funds for the war efforts.
If you are interested in my ”DC Reports” visit WaterWired (aquadoc.typepad.com/waterwired) and view my posts for February 25, 26, and 27. It’s easier to direct you there than to re-post them here.
We live in interesting times.
“The difference between an economist and a political scientist is that the economist believes people are rational.” – Unknown, courtesy of Tony Willardson
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