The assessment of transboundary aquifers is essential for the development of groundwater management strategies and the sustainable use of groundwater resources. The Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program (TAAP) is a joint effort by the United States and Mexico to evaluate shared aquifers. This study examines the TAAP Cooperative Framework as a guide for further transboundary groundwater collaboration. We compared lessons learned from six transboundary aquifers that currently have mechanisms for groundwater collaboration to identify common elements of collaboration. Though the TAAP Cooperative Framework governs an assessment-only program, the elements of collaboration included are consistent with the principles of other institutional agreements around the world. Importantly, all the analyzed agreements included a knowledge-improvement phase, which is the main objective of the TAAP Cooperative Framework. The present study finds evidence of successful outcomes within the TAAP Cooperative Framework consistent with available transboundary groundwater management agreements, demonstrating that this approach is suited to serve as a model for those wishing to engage in transborder aquifer assessments. Furthermore, the TAAP elements of collaboration can help to establish the meaningful and robust binational cooperation necessary for the development of U.S.-Mexico groundwater management agreements at the aquifer level.
Groundwater Governance and Management
State-Level Groundwater Governance and Management in the U.S.
Groundwater is increasingly important for meeting water demand across the United States. Forward thinking governance and effective management are necessary for its sustainable use. The U.S. has state governments that are primarily reponsible for groundwater governance (i.e., making laws, policies, and regulations) and management (i.e., implementation of laws, policies, and regulations). This decentralized approach results in different strategies and practices. In Fall 2015 the Water Resources Research Center began the next phase of its "Groundwater Goverance in the U.S." project. A nationwide survey was developed in coordination with an advisory council from the Ground Water Research and Education Foundation (GWREF) and funded by a grant from the GWREF. The survey was administered to state-level officials who oversee groundwater quality programs in 2016 in order to identify on-the-ground practices that may help improve and enhance management of the nation's water supplies. The report was finalized in June 2017.
The U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program as a Model for Transborder Groundwater Collaboration
Decentralized Groundwater Governance and Water Nexus Implications in the United States
The interconnectivities of groundwater to food, energy, and the climate are addressed to various degrees at the state level. Groundwater governance in the United States is decentralized, resulting in considerable variations in state practices. This article, published in Jurimetrics and written by Sharon B. Megdal and Jacob Petersen-Perlman, reports on two state-level surveys and three regional case studies conducted to better understand groundwater governance strategies and practices. The article also relates the results of these research efforts to food, energy, and climate. The analysis points to the importance of identifying best practices for addressing nexus challenges for groundwater.
Citation: Sharon B. Megdal & Jacob D. Petersen-Perlman, Decentralized Groundwater Governance and Water Nexus Implications in the United States, 59 JURIMETRICS J. 99-119 (2018).
Critical Issues Affecting Groundwater Quality Governance in the United States
The article, "Critical Issues Affecting Groundwater Quality Governance in the United States," published in Water in 2018, by Jacob D. Petersen-Perlman, Sharon B. Megdal, Andrea K. Gerlak, Mike Wireman, Adriana A. Zuniga-Teran, and Robert G. Varady, reports the results of the "State-Level Groundwater Governance and Management in the U.S.: Summary of Survey Results of Groundwater Quality Strategies". Survey respondents identify a wide assortment of groundwater issues and concerns, including quality and quantity impairment, staffing and budget issues, private well vulnerability, and overdraft. The authors also discuss how findings align with current groundwater uses in the U.S.
Invisible Water: The Importance of Good Groundwater Governance and Management
Increasing demand for water has led to a higher reliance on groundwater. As dependence on groundwater increases, water managers and policy makers need to pay careful attention to both groundwater quality and quantity. This paper, written by Sharon B. Megdal for the journal npj Clean Water in 2018, summarizes the results of efforts to bring attention to the importance of understanding and improving groundwater governance and management. Discussion of survey work in the United States and global case studies highlights the importance of focusing attention on this invisible water resource before pollution or depletion of it causes severe economic, environmental, and social dislocations. Better governance and management of groundwater are required to move toward sustainable groundwater use.
Groundwater Governance in the United States: A Mosaic of Approaches
The diversity of groundwater governance (making laws, policies, and regulations) within the United States makes describing generalities difficult, as each state determines its own groundwater priorities and governance approaches. Sometimes states delegate significant reponsibilities to sub-state jurisdictions. This chapter in the book Advances in Groundwater Governance, written by Sharon B. Megdal, Adriana Zuniga Teran, Robert G. Varady, Nathaniel Delano, Andrea K. Gerlak and Ethan T. Vimont demonstrates the changing nature of groundwater governance and groundwater debates by considering California and Arizona. Arizona has a long history of practicing groundwater management in designated parts of the state, while California recently adopted a more comprehensive, state-wide approach.
Decentralized Groundwater Governance and Water Nexus Implications in the United States
Groundwater governance (making laws, policies, and regulations) in the United States is decentralized, resulting in considerable variations in practices across states. This article in Jurimetrics, written by Sharon B. Megdal and Jacob D. Petersen-Perlman, reports on two state-level surveys and three regional case studies conducted to better understand groundwater governance strategies and practices. The article also relates the results of three research efforts to food, energy, and climate. The analysis of this article points to the importance of identifying best practices for addressing nexus challenges for groundwater.