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The National Assessment
Overview and
Foundation
Reports were produced by the
National
Assessment Synthesis Team, an advisory committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and were not subjected to OSTP's Information Quality Act Guidelines. The National Assessment was forwarded to the
President and Congress in November 2000 for their consideration. |
 |
 Publications
by the National Assessment Synthesis Team
Links to Material from the Water Assessment Group
Related Articles from the National Assessment's
Newsletter, Acclimations.
Other Related Links
Issues Covered
The Water Resources Sector focused on water quality and human health;
extreme events such as flooding and drought; ecosystem function and
health; water management and socio-economic impacts; and water use,
availability, and resources. All of these issues were analyzed in the
context of how potential climate change impacts could be related to other
stresses that already exist.
Assessment Approach
The assessment team presented a general summary of major issues of
concern and then focused specifically on a few of them. The issues covered
in detail are listed above. To assess the impacts of climatic variability
and change on the water resources of the U.S., the analysis examined
current and anticipated trends in water demand. Quantitative evaluations
of potential climate change impacts were based on modeling efforts when
available. The assessment process was incorporated with professional
review through a special symposium and journal issue of the American Water
Resources Association. Cross-cutting issues between sectors were developed
at the Water Resources Workshop along with assessment priorities,
responsibilities, and a schedule of activities.
| Co-chairs |
- D. Briane Adams, U.S. Geological Survey
- Peter Gleick, Pacific Institute for Studies in Development
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| Coordinating Federal Agency |
Department of the Interior |
| Agency Representative |
David Kirtland, U.S. Geological Survey |
| Issues |
- Water quality and human health
- Extreme events (flooding, droughts, etc.)
- Ecosystem function and health
- Water management and socio-economic impacts
- Water use, availability, and resources
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| Timeline |
| July 2, 1998 |
First assessment team meeting and assignments. |
| Sept. 14-16, 1998 |
Sector Workshop. |
| Oct. 1998 |
Additional work commissioned to complete the assessment
activities. |
| Dec. 15, 1998 |
Requested summaries from all regional co-chairs. |
| Feb. 15, 1999 |
Contributing papers in peer review.
First draft of papers for symposium. |
| Apr or May, 1999 |
American Water Resources Association Symposium used as a
review for papers and public interaction |
| May 1999 |
Final draft of papers for symposium. |
| May 1999 |
Final draft of papers for symposium |
| December 1999 |
Publication of first set of peer-reviewed papers in the Journal
of the American Water Resources Association |
| April 2000 |
Publication of second set of peer-reviewed papers in the Journal
of the American Water Resources Association |
| May 2000 |
First public draft of water report available for comment on
National Assessment Web site |
| Summer 2000 |
Final assessment report completed and published |
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National Assessment 
