Riparian Water Regulations

This unique book combines years of research with practical techniques to set up a program of water withdrawal regulation. State, provincial, or national regulators will find suggested guidelines for regulating water withdrawals from streams, lakes, aquifers, and reservoirs in regions traditionally under the riparian legal doctrine, as well as guidance on setting up a program of water withdrawal permit trading. These guidelines explain how to routinely regulate the withdrawal of water efficiently (both bureaucratically and economically) and fairly with minimal involvement of the legal system. Topics include resource assessment and maintenance, developing a water withdrawal regulatory program, bases for defining permits, methods for allocating water among users, voluntary permit transfers, and special groundwater issues. A section of definitions is also included. ""Riparian Water Regulations: Guidelines for Withdrawal Limitations and Permit Trading"" will assist state, provincial, or national agencies in developing a program of water withdrawal regulations for maintaining minimum streamflow standards. It will also assist them in supplementing such a program with a program of withdrawal permit trading that will minimize the economic impact of meeting streamflow standards.