Each state's water
resources policy developed depending upon distinct circumstances not
necessarily related to the science or engineering of calculating resource
availability. Around a hundred years ago quantifying groundwater resources in
the United States was usually not a concern in most states. If it was,
the responsibility was placed in the hands of engineers and scientists working
for the governing state agency. In Texas,
that responsibility has evolved to rest in the hands of local elected
officials. Texas' current approach of
quantifying groundwater is possibly due to governance historically associated
with three different nations: Mexico,
the Republic of Texas,
and the United States.
Each state follows a different approach. For example, Louisiana is working on a public
participation approach to groundwater management. Their goal is long-term
sustainability of aquifers, but they include consideration of economic and
ecological concerns. Groundwater concerns include water level declines, land
subsidence, and salt water intrusion. In 1972, Kansas established groundwater management
districts for the entire state. These districts issue groundwater permits based
upon priority dates. Since 1912, New Mexico's jurisdiction and quantification of
groundwater resided with the State Engineer, but the Interstate Stream
Commission developed stakeholder-based regional and state water plans from a
2003 legislative directive. In 1980 Arizona's legislation
required a state agency to answer the question of how much groundwater Arizona has in order for
the state to develop rules and a comprehensive management approach to solve
their groundwater overdrafting issues. Since 1909, Oregon water rights, considered state-owned,
state-controlled, and appropriated by date, are connected to land ownership.
Groundwater availability is not calculated directly but is quantified by the
state determining whether the aquifer is fully appropriated or, if not, from
water level declines and resulting determination if the basin users are
withdrawing more water than is being recharged to the aquifer.
