The Texas Water Resources Institute recently established the Office of Strategic Water Issues to provide non-biased, science-based analyses of critical water issues facing Texas, according to Allan Jones, the institute’s director.
Jones said the office will develop consensus recommendations and communicate these to policy and decision makers to help them make informed decisions on these complicated issues.
“The Office of Strategic Water Issues will bring together government agencies and interest groups to seek solutions and advise decision-makers regarding the critical water resources issues facing the state,” Jones said. “We’ll provide unbiased advice concerning complex economic, societal and environmental consequences of water resources policy and management decisions.”
He said the office is needed because resolving water quantity and quality issues are paramount to Texas, its future water supplies and its economic development.
“We see the office as inviting experts from regulatory agencies, interest groups and universities to analyze important water issues, using the best available science and most effective policies,” Jones said. “Issues could range from protecting our aquifers from overdraft and contamination or purifying and using the state’s extensive brackish and saline water resources.”
For more information, go to http://twri.tamu.edu/projects/OfficeStrategicWaterIssues.pdf.
