RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER BASIN COMMISSION

GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR WATER RESOURCE PLANNING

Water Resource Planning in the Rappahannock Basin should include the concepts of Proactive Planning, Supply Side and Demand Side Management, Ground and Surface Water Source Development and Protection, Self-Sufficiency and Regional Cooperation, Public Involvement and Ecological Integrity.

PURPOSE

1.      Encourage localities to pursue a holistic/comprehensive approach on a regional basis to water resource planning that should focus on the development of recommended policies and tools for use in their water resource planning efforts.

2.      Incorporate adaptability as a part of the development of water supply planning policies and tools and underscore the value of continuing to explore and develop multiple options for water resource planning since future development will affect the feasibility or effectiveness of recommended policies in ways the present-day perspective cannot fully anticipate.

3.      Maximize the opportunity for local decision-makers and stakeholders to control the allocation of water resources by providing the tools necessary to make allocation decisions that take into account the goals and needs of local stakeholders and decision makers.

4.      Insure that water resource planning includes consideration of both human and natural environment needs and strives to balance in-stream and off-stream needs in a manner that limits impact upon the environment while allowing localities and water resource authorities to provide the life-supportive resources that sustain their economic and social quality of life. Additionally, the concept of water resource management should include the protection of ground and surface waters to ensure resource sustainability.

DATA/INFORMATION

1.      Provide objective quantification of water resources that facilitates consensus through development of data that promotes proper water resource planning at the regional level.

IDENTIFY STAKEHOLDERS

1.      Identify and involve all stakeholders to determine their goals and water resource needs and provide the opportunity and encourage them to participate in the planning. These different stakeholders should be identified in each region within the basin, and these “regions” should be based upon the nature of the water resource planning issue.

IDENTIFYING  ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS

1.      Evaluate projects and decisions by asking what is the social, political, economic and environmental costs of being wrong in the broadest sense as it affects all aspects of water resources and provide the tools for localities to make these evaluations and assess water supply planning issues in their areas.

2.      Incorporate as a minimum the following issues in a water supply plan:

Drought management

Conservation management

Supply and Demand Side Alternatives

Ground and Surface Water Sources

Source Water Protection

3.      Address the alternatives involving supply side and demand side solutions in water resource planning, including the issue of interconnections and relationships with surrounding service authorities and localities in order to optimize the utility of the basin water resources.

4.      Educate the public on water supply planning issues to create an understanding of planning choices.

IMPLEMENTATION

1.      Demonstrate the buy-in by federal, state and local decision-makers in the framework for water supply planning developed by the WAG (Water Allocation Group) and how this can be used to empower local decision-makers.