Water Resources Planning, Management, and Development:
What Are the Nation's Water Supply Problems and Issues?
CED-77-100: Published: Jul 28, 1977. Publicly Released: Jul 28, 1977.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
The development of solutions to the serious water problems facing the United States poses challenges for the establishment of priorities and responsive implementing programs. Issues and concerns related to water and water-related programs which merit attention include: (1) Are existing water resource plans and programs adequate to meet the competing demands for water uses? (2) Do water agencies and industry have effective water conservation and reuse programs which reduce demand and make more efficient use of water supplies? (3) How can the constraints of water laws and rights on meeting water needs be effectively resolved? (4) Do federal agencies' benefit-cost analyses fully and realistically consider the beneficial and adverse effects of water resource projects? (5) Are water supply and water quality programs being effectively coordinated? (6) Are water research programs making progress in developing technology and in finding new ways to increase the Nation's water supply? (7) Is conjunctive use of surface water with ground and saline water sources adequately considered in meeting water needs? (8) What are the problems affecting the timely, efficient, and economical construction of water resources projects? and (9) Are cost-sharing requirements of federal and federally assisted water resource projects and programs viable today: what are the considerations and issues?
Oct 6, 2020
-
Federal Oil and Gas Revenue:
Actions Needed to Improve BLM's Royalty Relief PolicyGAO-21-169T: Published: Oct 6, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 6, 2020.
Sep 23, 2020
-
Gas Transmission Pipelines:
Interstate Transportation of Natural Gas Is Generally Reliable, but FERC Should Better Identify and Assess Emerging RisksGAO-20-658: Published: Sep 23, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 23, 2020.
Aug 6, 2020
-
Natural Gas Exports:
Updated Guidance and Regulations Could Improve Facility Permitting ProcessesGAO-20-619: Published: Aug 6, 2020. Publicly Released: Aug 6, 2020.
Aug 5, 2020
-
Climate Change:
A Climate Migration Pilot Program Could Enhance the Nation's Resilience and Reduce Federal Fiscal ExposureGAO-20-488: Published: Jul 6, 2020. Publicly Released: Aug 5, 2020.
Jul 23, 2020
-
Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Plan:
Improved Communication and Adaptive Management Strategy Could Help Address Stakeholder ConcernsGAO-20-529: Published: Jul 23, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 23, 2020.
Jul 14, 2020
-
Social Cost of Carbon:
Identifying a Federal Entity to Address the National Academies' Recommendations Could Strengthen Regulatory AnalysisGAO-20-254: Published: Jun 23, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 14, 2020.
Jun 25, 2020
-
National Flood Insurance Program:
Fiscal Exposure Persists Despite Property AcquisitionsGAO-20-509: Published: Jun 25, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 25, 2020. -
Mining on Federal Lands:
More Than 800 Operations Authorized to Mine and Total Mineral Production Is UnknownGAO-20-461R: Published: May 28, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 25, 2020. -
Supplemental Material for GAO-20-461R:
Data on Solid Mineral Operations on Federal LandsGAO-20-520SP: Published: May 28, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 25, 2020.
May 29, 2020
-
Wildfire:
Information on Forest Service Response, Key Concerns, and Effects of the Chetco Bar FireGAO-20-424: Published: Apr 29, 2020. Publicly Released: May 29, 2020.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here

Explore our Key Issues on Natural Resources and Environment