Watersheds and Bays
As we saw in the previous chapter, a central goal of ecosystem management is to bridge divides—between individual sectors and between human and natural systems. This holistic approach could be particularly effective for watersheds: areas that defy artific
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As we saw in the previous chapter, a central goal of ecosystem management is to bridge divides—between individual sectors and between human and natural systems. This holistic approach could be particularly effective for watersheds: areas that defy artificial boundaries between land and sea, as well as people and nature. Because rivers flow to the ocean, carrying along pollutants from agriculture, industry, and other activities taking place on land, human actions in the watershed determine many of the conditions at the coast. So it seems logical to manage the watershed and coastal bays as a single unit. Unfortunately, administrative obstacles stand in the way. In this chapter, we will explore those obstacles, how watersheds have traditionally been managed, and how an ecosystembased approach could improve management of connected landscapes and seascapes.
Evolution of river basin management The first European explorers of North America moved inland along river corridors, and settlements developed at the landward extent of navigation. Later, rivers supplied water for growing cities, and manufacturing grew from waterpower. Rivers for direct water use, for navigation, and for economic development were essential for the growth of the country. It’s not surprising then, that government has long been focused on individual activities within watersheds. But over time, policies have shifted in response to society’s changing values. R. Burroughs, Coastal Governance, Foundations of Contemporary Environmental Studies, DOI 10.5822/978-1-61091-016-3_9, © Richard Burroughs 2011
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From the early years of the nation to about 1900, rivers fueled economic development carried out by the private sector. John Wesley Powell proposed that the right to waters be linked to lands and that drainage basins be used as the unit for management (White 1969; Sabatier 2005b). Through these observations Powell anticipated many of the ongoing discussions about the relationship of land and water. Early on, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assisted private interests through structural improvements to navigation systems. In response to floods along the Mississippi River during the 1870s, the Corps also began building levees to protect communities on the river. By the early years of the twentieth century, government had moved away from its exclusive focus on private economic activity to a more public-spirited engagement with river basins. Progressives pushed for watersheds to be managed for the greatest good of the greatest number of Americans (Sabatier et al., 2005b). Increasingly, citizens expected government programs to be administered by technically trained but neutral officials. The development of water resources for multiple purposes emerged through creation of federal dams to control floods, supply municipal and irrigation water, produce electric power, and ultimately provide recreational opportunities (Goldfarb, 1994). Growing cities such as New York, Denver, and Los Angeles controlled rivers and created reservoirs at
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