Management of fresh waters: Input of scientific data into policy formulation in the United States

Summary

Historically, water resource policy in the United States has been formulated by lawyers, politicians, engineers, and bureaucrats, rather than by scientists. Three reasons for this pattern in policy development are: (1) little general recognition of ecological principles, (2) lack of a common body of knowledge shared by scientists and politicians, and (3) operation of science and government on different time frames. In spite of these gaps, American perceptions of the value of fresh waters (e. g. freshwater wetlands) have changed dramatically during the past three decades as the inherent worth of wetlands has been recognized. In the future, three critical steps can be taken to increase the influence of scientists in the decision-making process:

(1)	create standard methodologies for obtaining, presenting and evaluating data thus permitting more direct comparison of data and reduction of variation in data produced by different institutions;
(2)	develop policies which recognize that ecosystems are dynamic resources;
(3)	improve communication between scientists and such important groups of nonscientists as economists, the news media, and personnel of regulatory agencies.