Jurgen Schmandt

Bi-national water issues in the Rio Grande/Rı́o Bravo basin

Abstract The Rio Grande (called the Rio Bravo in Mexico) is the fifth largest river on the North American continent. The river supports extensive irrigated agriculture as well as rapidly growing cities in three US and five Mexican states. From El Paso, Texas to the Gulf of Mexico, the river marks the international border between Mexico and the United States. Treaties for sharing the water of the Rio Grande between the two countries and arrangements for joint management were concluded in 1906 and 1944. Over time, a complex system of water management institutions has emerged. Water problems are pronounced, due to intensive development in an arid environment. Over the course of the last 40 years, the population in the border communities has doubled every 20 years. Demographic projections predict another doubling of the population by 2030. The entire Rio Grande basin is arid or semi-arid. Development has already led to a severe loss of biodiversity in parts of the basin. Development of new surface water resources is not a realistic option. The principal water management options are as follows: improved efficiency of water use, transfer of agricultural to urban uses of water, conservation and re-use of water, and treatment of brackish groundwater. Up to now, differences in law and levels of development between Mexico and the United States have made it difficult to develop basin-wide management strategies. In addition, regional differences in hydrological conditions argue in favor of developing separate but linked strategies for the sub-basins. This paper presents the key issues in two sub-basins with the largest population centers on the international border—the Paso del Norte (Las Cruces, New Mexico, El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua), and the Rio Grande Valley (Reynosa–Matamoros on the Mexican side, and MacAllen–Brownsville on the US side). Together, these cities will have 8 million inhabitants by 2030. The paper concludes with suggestions for improving management of river and groundwater in this bi-national growth region.

Acid rain and friendly neighbors : the policy dispute between Canada and the United States

Acid Rain and Friendly Neighbors is a source book that summarizes the results of the various studies of acid rain and traces the issues historically. Contents: Part One: The Search for a Bilateral Agreement. Acid rain is different; The nature and effects of acid rain: a comparison of assessments; U.S.-Canadian negotiations on acid rain; Part Two: Domestic Policy Development. Canadas acid rain policy: federal and provincial roles; The U.S. policy response to acid rain; Environmental and economic interests in Canada and the United States; Part Three: Supportive Structures. The international joint commission: the role it might play; Lessons from the Great Lakes water quality agreements; Supporting structures for resolving environmental disputes among friendly neighbors.

Growth policy in the age of high technology : the role of regions and states

Part 1 The states as actors: technology, regions and states, Jurgen Schmandt and Robert Wilson regional roles in the governance of the scientific state, Jurgen Schmandt structural economic change and the powers of state government - the viability of regional development strategies, Robert Wilson. Part 2 Theory and evidence: high tech policy, high tech realities - the spatial distribution of high tech industry in America, Amy Glasmeier technological innovation and paths to regional economic growth, Edward Malecki state innovation policies and regional restructuring of technologically dependent industry, Ed Bergam. Part 3 State development strategies: recent state initiatives - an overview of state science and technology policies and programs, Marianne Clarke state strategies for business assistance, Scott Fosler an assessment of state technology development programs, John Rees the impact of elementary and secondary education on state economic development, Ray Marshall simple faiths-complex facts - vocational educational as an economic development strategy, Norton Grubb engineering regional growth, Stuart Rosenfeld and Robert D. Atkinson university-industry research and development relationships, Irwin Feller state government-university cooperation, Karen Paget creating and sustaining the U.S. technopolis, Raymond W. Smilor and David Gibson. Part 4 Conclusions: technology and economic development in the States - continuing experiments in growth management, Richard Barke.

Scientific evidence and technically complex policy issues

Abstract Technically complex policy Issues depend for their resolution on scientific information. Only after research studies have been completed can a conclusipn be drawn that a certain chemical substance is toxic, or that burning fossil fuels increases the acidity of faraway lakes and soils. However, results must be aggregated, evaluated, and presented in non-technical language. The paper examines the process of preparing evidence and its role in decision making.