Water Resources Management
About The Program
The Need for Management
Life on Earth is not possible without water. According to a recent United Nations Environment Programme report, a substantial fraction of humanity might be living with water shortages within 50 years as a result of poor water resources management. Water resources management is, therefore, at the center of the survival of entire ecosystems.
Interdisciplinary Management
Managing this precious resource is best accomplished by an interdisciplinary approach, which includes hydrologic consideration including water quality and water quantity, as well as policy issues including water economics and water law.
The laws and regulations at the federal, state, and local levels directly affect the direction of scientific research. It is because of such dynamic interactions that an interdisciplinary approach holds the most promise when attempting to solve often-intractable problems related to water resources management.
Southwestern Issues
These issues are even more pressing in the arid and semiarid southwestern United States. The unprecedented growth in this region is directly tied to the availability of water resources of appropriate quantity and quality. Wasteful use or contamination of waters and ground waters may threaten the entire ecosystem. The dropping level of Lake Mead over the last few years, as a consequence of drought in the western United States, helps us realize the potential magnitude of the problem and challenges we face.
Working Together
These challenges need to be addressed by a variety of professionals who are determined and willing to work together as a team. The goal of the water resources management graduate program at UNLV is to promote this approach and to provide the necessary education.