WATER IN THE WEST - Stanford University

WATER INTHE WESTCreating solutions to address water scarcity in the WestA program of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environmentand the Bill Lane Center for the American WestWATER IN THE WEST1

Water in the West bridges the gap between research and practice to create and promote effectivesolutions for more sustainable water management in the American West.“ When the well is dry, we learn the worth of water.”— Benjamin FranklinWATERWATER ININ THETHE WESTWEST2

THE POWER OF STANFORD:ACADEMIC RESEARCH, APPLIED SOLUTIONSStanford University established Water in the West in 2010 to address the West’s growing watercrisis and to create new solutions that move the region toward a more sustainable water future.A joint program of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and the Bill Lane Centerfor the American West, Water in the West marshals the resources of one of the world’s preeminent research institutions to address one of the most urgent questions about the West’s future—how can the region continue to thrive despite growing water scarcity?The American West is an arid region to begin with; explo- Experience and a proven track record of fostering innova-sive growth and increased drought are creating a water crisis. Research can help solve this crisis, but research aloneis not enough. Water in the West bridges the gap betweenacademic research and applied solutions by creating newpractical tools and forming strong partnerships to informtive and interdisciplinary solutions Geographic focus that spans the entire West Reputation and credibility capable of unifying and influ-encing a broad range of leaderspolicy makers, water managers, businesses and environmental groups. Stanford University brings four uniqueWater in the West focuses expertise from the fields ofassets to solving the West’s water scarcity challenge:engineering, law, economics, political science, businessadministration, geophysics, hydrology, environmental World-class faculty, researchers and students across anextraordinary breadth of disciplinesWATER IN THE WESTsystems and communications on a single goal:solving the West’s growing water scarcity problem.3

AN INTEGRATED VISION FOR SUSTAINABLEWATER MANAGEMENTTo deal with water scarcity, the West needs new technologies, practices and laws that are moreflexible and efficient than our current systems. Across Stanford’s departments, Water in the Westfocuses on meeting these needs with practical, timely and relevant solutions that shape policyand support water managers. Water in the West is guided by a Theory of Change with fourkey elements: Create innovations that solve water scarcity Use communications to advance new ideas andproblems through research in policy, management,create tools for sharing research in ways that respondand technology.to water shortages and are useful for water managers, Engage Stanford students in creating water man-policy makers and partner organizations.agement solutions, addressing water scarcity today and B uild strong partnerships to inform policy makers,educating the next generation of leaders.water managers and NGOs, providing a direct path fordisseminating new solutions and technologies.How We WorkCreateinnovationsthat solvewater scarcityproblemsConvene to informresearch, toolsand disseminationEngageStanfordstudents increating watermanagementsolutionsTranslate to bridgegaps between researchand practiceUsecommunicationsto advance newideas and createtools for sharingresearchWork directly withpolicy makers anddistrict managersBuild strongpartnershipsto informpolicy makers,water managers,and NGO’sOutcome: Solutions to Water ScarcityImproved Policy Decisions More Sustainable Management More Efficient Water Use

MAKING A PERMANENT IMPACT ON OUR MOSTPRECIOUS RESOURCEWater in the West’s interdisciplinary work is organized around four main program areas:Sustainable GroundwaterWatershed HealthThroughout the West we are pumping groundwater atPeople have heavily manipulated the rivers of the West,unsustainable levels, jeopardizing the primary water supplyfirst to sustain settlement and agriculture, and then to meetfor many communities and making groundwater unavailableexplosive economic and population growth. Dams, waterduring times of drought when it plays a critical role as awithdrawals, changes in hydrology, degraded physicalbuffer against surface water shortages.habitat and other factors have altered western watershedsWater in the West integrates law and policy, geophysics,and profoundly harmed their ecological health.engineering and economics to develop comprehensiveWater in the West focuses on new technologies and policiessolutions to the challenges facing groundwaterthat can preserve rivers and streams while supplying ade-management.quate water to cities, farms and ranches.Water and EnergyWater and energy use are strongly linked, since withdrawing, transporting and treating water require large amountsof energy. Energy production and extraction can also uselarge amounts of water. Despite these interdependencies,energy and water are managed separately.Water Management and AllocationEfforts to rationally manage water in the West— allocatingit to the most valuable uses, both human and ecological— are hampered by a lack of data, fragmented governanceand the West’s rigid prior appropriation system. This lack ofWater in the West explores new tools to better integrateflexibility is now colliding with, and potentially exacerbat-water and energy management, and to find ways to increaseing, increased water shortages.efficiency on both fronts. In 2014, Water in the West begana joint program with ReNUWIt, an NSF-funded consortiumfocused on the nation’s urban water infrastructure. Thisprogram evaluates strategies to encourage adoption ofTo make water management more effective and efficient,Water in the West conducts research on governance, policies and new models for water pricing and marketing.innovative technologies and management tools. The goalis to promote energy efficiency through water conservation,while reducing energy consumption in the treatment anduse of water.WATER IN THE WEST5

IMPLEMENTING OUR VISIONTo achieve sustainable water management in the western United States, Water in the West willfocus on the following objectives: Develop new ideas and tools through interdisciplin- Convene diverse groups of leaders, researchersary research that will revolutionize the way we manage,and managers on water issues to advance Stanford’suse and allocate water in the West.research and education mission and to contribute to Provide practical, timely and focused solutionsto a diverse mix of nonprofit, government and businesssolving the West’s water challenges. Create a western water curriculum to engage Stan-partners, including new applied research, publicationsford students and give them the opportunity to engageand web tools that provide digestible and useful synthe-in addressing the West’s water scarcity challenges.ses of Stanford’s core research.WATER IN THE WEST6

OUR TEAMProgram StaffLeon SzeptyckiNewsha AjamiTara MoranJanny ChoyGeoff McGheeExecutive DirectorDirector of Urban Water Policy, Water and Energy Program LeadResearch AssociateResearch AnalystBill Lane Center, Creative Director for Media and CommunicationsCore FacultyBruce CainCraig CriddleDavid FreybergPolitical Science / Lane CenterCivil and Environmental Engineering / WoodsCivil and Environmental Engineering / WoodsDavid KennedyPeter KitanidisRosemary KnightDick LuthyBuzz ThompsonFrank WolakHistory / Lane CenterCivil and Environmental EngineeringGeophysics / WoodsCivil and Environmental Engineering / WoodsLaw School / WoodsEconomicsNon-Resident Water in the West FellowsRebecca NelsonLaw (Australia)Burke GriggsLaw (Kansas)PhD Students and Early Career FellowsVanessa Casado-PerezTeaching FellowDebra PerronePostdoctoral FellowNicola UlibarriPhD StudentPhilip WomblePhD Student“ Anyone who can solve the problems of water will beworthy of two Nobel prizes— one for peace and onefor science.”WATER IN THE WEST— John F. Kennedy7

For more information visit:waterinthewest.stanford.eduWater in the WestStanford UniversityJerry Yang & Akiko Yamazaki Environment& Energy Building473 Via Ortega, MC 4205Stanford, CA 94305waterinthewest@stanford.eduWATER IN THE WEST8

Stanford University established Water in the West in 2010 to address the West’s growing water . solutions to the challenges facing groundwater management. Water and Energy Water and energy use are strongly linked, since withdraw-ing, transporting and treating water require large amounts