This publication, Proceedings of the Interamerican Dialogue on Water Management, contain papers presented at the conference of the same name, held in Miami, Florida, October 27-30, 1993. The Dialogue provided a forum for the advancement of technical and institutional knowledge and promotion of sound and sustainable water management practices throughout the western hemisphere. Also, the Dialogue served as a linchpin for the consolidation of an international water resource partnership called the Interamerican Water Resource Network, to facilitate the exchange of information, promotion of cooperation and training among water resource professionals and institutions between North, Central, South America and the Caribbean. Emphasizing the diversity of water resource problems and solutions, emerging problem areas, and financial resource scarcity, many papers were presented under three main roundtable tracks: 1) Management of Aquatic Ecosystems; 2) Water Supply and Sanitation Infrastructure in a Sustainable Development Context; and 3) Water Governance and Policy. The Dialogue also hosted a series of keynote speakers, dignitaries and panelists from non-government organizations, multi-lateral financing institutions, international organizations, foreign governments, and federal, state, and local officials who presented their perspectives on the issue of water resource management, sustainable development and empowerment. In addition, traditional topics such as hydrological and wetlands research, environmental impact assessments, water supply modelling, and water policy were discussed.
Library of Congress Cataloging Data
Proceedings of the Interamerican Dialogue on Water Management, sponsored by the water management districts of Florida, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Interstate Council on Water Policy; co-sponsored by the Organization of American States, Tennessee Valley Authority, MacArthur Foundation,... [et al.], Miami, Florida, United States of America; edited and published by the South Florida Water Management District, A.J. Palombo et al. (ed.)
490 p.1. Water Resources - Congresses. 2. Water Resources - United States - Congresses. 3. Water Resources - International - Congresses. 4. Environment - Congresses. 5. Environment - United States - Congresses. 6. Environment - International - Congresses. 7. Sustainable Development - Congresses. 8. Sustainable Development - United States - Congresses. 9. Sustainable Development - International - Congresses. I. South Florida Water Management District. II. Interstate Council on Water Policy. III. Organization of American States.
Includes Table of Contents
April 1994
This publication contains selected papers and addresses from the conference Interamerican Dialogue on Water Management, augmented by case studies presented during the conference. The views expressed in the papers and case studies are those of the authors and are not necessarily shared by their respective employers or organizations or the conference organizers.
Authorization to photocopy material for internal or personal use is granted by the South Florida Water Management District, publisher, provided that proper credit to this publication and individual author are given to reproduction. Requests for special permission and/or bulk copying should be addressed to South Florida Water Management District, Office of Government and Public Affairs/Publications.
Published by South Florida Water Management District
Manufactured in the United States of AmericaThe Interamerican Dialogue on Water Management constitutes an important initiative to follow up on one of the critical themes of the Earth Summit of 1992. In the post-Rio period, sustainable management of water resources is being seen as one of the most demanding challenges confronting developed as well as developing countries. The launching of a sustained practical dialogue on this subject between the countries of the Western Hemisphere sets an important example for other regions around the globe.
Kirk Rodgers, Director of the Department of Regional Development and Environment, Organization of American StatesAn Illusion of Plenty
In the quest for better living standards and economic gain, modern society has come to view water only as a resource that is therefor the taking, rather than a living system that drives the workings of a natural world we depend on. Harmonizing human needs with those of a healthy environment will require new ways of using and managing water. And it will require adjusting our production and consumption patterns so as to remain within ecological limits.Taking heed of water's limits, and learning to live within them, amounts to a major transformation in our relationship to fresh water. Historically, we have approached nature's water systems with a frontier philosophy, manipulating water cycle to whatever degree engineering know-how would permit. Now, instead of continuously reaching out for more, we must begin to look within - within our regions, our communities, our homes and ourselves - for ways to meet our needs while respecting water's life-sustaining functions.
On Bread and Water
Living, as so many of us do, in cities, suburbs, and towns, we leave concerns about food production to the farmers and irrigation problems to the engineers. In an age of space travel, telecommunications, and high-tech health care, it seems anachronistic to worry about something as simple as having enough water to grow sufficient food for the world's people.From Sandra Postel's Last Oasis.
