A MODEL FRAMEWORK FOR WATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING IN SOUTHEAST ALABAMA Recent work by the Alabama Agencies Working Group (AWAWG) on water management and policy (AWAWG 2014) recognized that a regional/watershed type of approach for water resource assessment, planning, and management activities would be needed for a more equitable and efficient process that allows better integration of local needs and concerns with respect to understanding water use and water availability issues. The actual structure of this local watershed planning entity was left undefined by AWAWG, who instead is relying on the Local/Regional Planning Focus Area Panel (FAP) to work through this issue with water stakeholders. Several Alabama agencies and organizations have a local presence in water management, such as the Alabama Rural Water Association, Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee, Regional Planning Commissions, Water Management Authorities, and the Alabama Clean Water Partnership. These organizations have their fingers on the pulse of local economic and government activity as related to water needs and concerns, water quality problems, and potential local answers to these issues, and are in touch with the local political and government structure. Having a local understanding combined with some control over water-related issues can be an effective approach to water management planning because it builds a higher level of trust and cooperation among water users to manage water resources in a more efficient and cooperative way. These organizations play unique roles in water management in the state and many of the program objectives, methods, and operations of these agencies and organizations are consistent with the AWAWG concept for a local/regional water management unit. Prior to the AWAWG 2014 report, the Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Water Policy and Management (PJLCWPM) identified in their 2009 report, future water-related issues that should be considered as the water policy discussion moved forward. Two of these issues (underlined for emphasis) reflected the need for a regional/local component of water management:
A MODEL FRAMEWORK FOR WATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING IN SOUTHEAST ALABAMA Recent work by the Alabama Agencies Working Group (AWAWG) on water management and policy (AWAWG 2014) recognized that a regional/watershed type of approach for water resource assessment, planning, and management activities would be needed for a more equitable and efficient process that allows better integration of local needs and concerns with respect to understanding water use and water availability issues. The actual structure of this local watershed planning entity was left undefined by AWAWG, who instead is relying on the Local/Regional Planning Focus Area Panel (FAP) to work through this issue with water stakeholders. Several Alabama agencies and organizations have a local presence in water management, such as the Alabama Rural Water Association, Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee, Regional Planning Commissions, Water Management Authorities, and the Alabama Clean Water Partnership. These organizations have their fingers on the pulse of local economic and government activity as related to water needs and concerns, water quality problems, and potential local answers to these issues, and are in touch with the local political and government structure. Having a local understanding combined with some control over water-related issues can be an effective approach to water management planning because it builds a higher level of trust and cooperation among water users to manage water resources in a more efficient and cooperative way. These organizations play unique roles in water management in the state and many of the program objectives, methods, and operations of these agencies and organizations are consistent with the AWAWG concept for a local/regional water management unit. Prior to the AWAWG 2014 report, the Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Water Policy and Management (PJLCWPM) identified in their 2009 report, future water-related issues that should be considered as the water policy discussion moved forward. Two of these issues (underlined for emphasis) reflected the need for a regional/local component of water management: