Book Reviews

Abstract

Water Policy – The Netherlands , S. Reinhard and H. Folmer . RFF Press, 1616 P St. NW , Washington, DC 20036 . 2009 . 257 pages. $85 . ISBN 978-1-933115-73-3 . A lengthy introduction discusses the physical geography, social geography, climate, political history of water, and water use of the Netherlands. It also provides an outline of the three parts and 13 separately authored chapters. Chapter 1 introduces the history of water policy in the Netherlands ranging from the dwelling-mound period to modern water policy that includes both quantitative and more recent qualitative water management. Emphasis is given to the history (including examples) of construction and maintenance of structures to prevent flooding and, in a later period, for reclaiming agricultural land. A detailed history of qualitative management for the Rhine River and coastal areas is provided that includes international cooperation, domestic efforts, and meeting the European Union’s (EU) Water Framework Directive (WFD). The definition, monitoring, and use of ecological quality objectives are discussed. Chapter 2 discusses the development and use of numerical water models to guide water policy. The current and future use of hydrologic and water quality models is discussed. Using the Wadden Sea as an example, Chapter 3 discusses the negative influence of mechanical dredging for shell fish, pollution, and sustained bottom disturbance from fishing on the ecological integrity of coastal shallow water ecosystems. Disturbance of the food chain and specific examples of declines in numbers of several species are detailed. A key point is that, although people have used intertidal flats for centuries without damage, the new mechanical fishing and recent industrial pollution have brought ecological problems. Pointing out that flood risk from economic and population growth is increasing and that it is impossible to guarantee complete protection, Chapter 4 argues for decreasing both the probability for flooding and potential damage. Estimation of economic damages, preparedness, and adaptation to expected adversity are discussed. Chapter 5 points out that Netherlands water management has been guided by polluter pays and cost recovery. An example of costs and benefit analysis is presented. Much thought is given to the problems of estimating nonpriced benefits and costs. Descriptions of a model integrating water pollution and economic data based on two scenarios of market price behavior and the results of a willingness to pay for water quality survey are included. Chapter 6 discusses economic issues in the distribution of water to consumers and the treatment and disposal of sewage. Concepts such as consumer surplus, flat rate pricing, increasing and decreasing block rates, entrance fees, marginal social cost, and marginal cost are introduced. Economic efficiency and equity goals in the regulation of natural monopolies are discussed. Discussions of capacity choice, cost functions, and the debate over marginal cost vs. average cost perception by consumers are included. A mathematical appendix is offered. Chapter 7 states that the present large-scale treatment plants are not designed to remove many recalcitrant compounds. An argument is made for separation of wastewater at each source to support mineral recycling efforts. Current and experimental methods for removal and recovery of nitrogen and phosphate are presented. Membrane bioreactor configurations to treat wastewater and bioelectrochemical recovery of energy are discussed in detail. Chapter 8 presents a history of Dutch water management. Regional democratic water boards first appeared in the 13th Century and the need for central coordination by a state water authority was realized in 1798. In the 1960s, water management moved beyond flood protection, drainage, drinking water provision, and sanitation to include surface water pollution prevention, water scarcity, and groundwater protection. Given the legal right to tax polluters, water boards and their roles were significantly changed. Policy was called for integrated management of ecological systems and for charging groundwater users. Integrating water management, land use planning, and “space for water” is discussed. Chapter 9 argues the difficulty of implementing water policy in light of many considerations and conflicting rules. Governance means giving direction to management so that required conditions are met. Three periods of management are discussed with the latest being the strong influence of the EU on Dutch water policy since 2000. Problems of political boundaries and water basin boundaries not matching are discussed in detail. The current institutional structure in Dutch water management is outlined. Fees, taxes, and state/local financing sources for water policy and projects are discussed. Chapter 10 suggests that flood disasters are at least partially “human made.” Resource protection and flood protection create the need for better coordination of water management and land use planning. An example using land planning to make room for water is presented. The development of a water assessment test for spatial planners is discussed. Spatial planning authorities must use the test in an advisory mode but are not required to abide by its results. Strategic planning and EU influence on Dutch strategic planning are discussed. Chapter 11 presents Dutch and EU water law. EU water law takes precedence if any legal disputes arise. With different emphases, before 1985 the Dutch and EU had followed a sector approach with separate legislation for various water management problems. The recent WFD (2000) and other directives follow an integrated river basin approach requiring major changes in Dutch Water Law. Governance, rule of law, and democratic legitimacy do not fit well into the WFD that is more rights based. The Dutch delayed ratification of the WFD because of objections and bad experiences with previous similar directives in other fields. Problems, legal ramifications, and cooperation are discussed in detail. Chapter 12 suggests that voting by citizens is a minimum requirement in a democracy. Detailed discussion of the benefits and costs of public participation follow. Information, access to process, and relative power are considered. Several public participation methods are discussed. Participation by citizens, government, and nongovernmental organizations are discussed. A case study using focus groups and citizen juries is presented. The final chapter summarizes the previous chapters. Extensive bibliographies, maps, and charts are contained in most every chapter. This quality book is of interest to resource managers and resear-chers in the Netherlands, the EU, and major delta regions. Donald E. Agthe 2509 N. Campbell Ave., PMB 133 Tucson, Arizona 85719 Gravitational Systems of Groundwater Flow , J. Tóth . Cambridge University Press , 32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10013 . 2009 . 297 pages. $140 . ISBN 978-0-521-88638-3 . As the title of this book suggests, gravitational systems of groundwater flow are discussed beginning with an introduction to basic equations of groundwater flow such as Laplace and Darcy equations and proceeding rather smoothly to visualizations of groundwater flow through the subsurface. Tóth discusses some of the problems with creating idealized models of such flow systems. I was briefly bemused by Tóth’s reference to the “Unit Basin” as I have recently come to question the utility of “unit hydrograph” theory in light of isotope studies delineating new-water vs. old-water in stream discharge; for me, the use of the term “unit” seems to connote unvarying uniformity. I would not change the use of the term unit basin – the difficulty was my semiosis – as will be seen, unit basins are useful theoretical constructs. Regardless, the unit basin concept is useful as it focuses the reader’s attention on the important (and still valid) concepts of boundary conditions, flow patterns, and head distributions. Tóth proceeds to discuss much more complex and interesting basin configurations that contrast well with the unit basin. In particular, he depicts an idealized relationship between the water table and land surface topography; this relationship is particularly interesting to me in that I am aware of some regional scale (thousands of square kilometers) numerical groundwater flow models that seem to minimize or even ignore the importance of variations in land surface topography (or alternatively rugosity) on hydraulic head distributions or groundwater flow patterns. Perhaps it was a consequence of earlier (single core) desktop computers with limited computing speed and memory that previously required modelers to simplify numerical models and ignore the relationships of “hierarchically nested flow systems.” Or perhaps, it is a lack of understanding on the part of the modeler that results in these simplifications. In many landscapes, such as the Nebraska Sand Hills ecoregion, the concepts espoused are particularly germane when creating conceptual and or numerical groundwater flow models. However, present day computers are quite capable of representing the concepts of Tóth’s work; thus ignorance of these types of land surface and water table relationships probably results in numerical models that do not accurately depict the patterns present, and processes operant, in these types of basins. Thus, hydrologists, hydrogeologists, and modelers could benefit from reading Tóth’s work. Equally as interesting are the concepts discussed regarding the effects of land surface changes on relict flow patterns. Again, this seems relevant to simulating local to regional scale groundwater flow patterns resulting from climatically induced changes in the land surface such as those changes in the spatio-temporal distribution of dune and interdune geometry of the Nebraska Sand Hills over portions of the Holocene (as well as Anthropocene) epoch. I suspect that workers in other diverse landscapes such as areas where mountaintop mining occurs would also benefit from Tóth’s book. Tóth discusses groundwater flow patterns associated with fens and bogs – these terms have significant meaning to me and likely others too, although in some of the technical literature the term “wetland” is used generically. I appreciate Tóth’s use of these terms as they succinctly signify very particular hydrologic and hydraulic patterns and processes. Anthropogenic perturbations or disturbances such as impoundments, diversions, and wells and their effects on hydrologic patterns and processes are aptly discussed by Tóth; water wells either wholly or in part help reconfigure groundwater flow patterns and thus interconnected surface water features are affected. Thus, Tóth’s discussion of these types of disturbances is relevant today for resource managers concerned with conjunctive use or aquifer storage and recovery projects. In summary, this book is ideally suited for use in the classroom as well as in practice. Students will benefit from the combination of theory coupled with real-life examples presented in the book. I would certainly purchase this book and indeed I will seek the author’s permission to share portions of this book with my present work group as most of the topics discussed by Tóth (topics I have noted above) are relevant to the creation of accurate conceptual and numerical groundwater flow models. Kevin J. Spelts Twin Platte Natural Resources District 111 S. Dewey St., 2nd Floor North Platte, Nebraska 69103 HEADS UP! Early Warning Systems for Climate-, Water-, and Weather-Related Hazards , M.H. Glantz ( Editor ). United Nations University Press ( http://sales@hq.unu.edu ), 53-70 Jingumae 5-Chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan . 2009 . 195 pages . ISBN 978-92-808-1169-8 . The forces of nature can have deadly and damaging consequences for societies and ecosystems that stand in their path. Early warning systems offer one of the best defenses against the adverse effects of climate, water, weather, and geologic hazards, although far too often this realization is made after disaster strikes. Heads Up! provides a useful review of early warning systems in operation today, while exploring a range of hazards including hurricanes, heat waves, floods, droughts, tsunami, and volcanoes. With contributions from an international team of scientists, this practical handbook serves as a valuable contribution to our awareness and understanding of the role that early warning systems play in disaster avoidance and reduction. The Role of Hydrology in Water Resources Management , H.-J. Liebscher, R. Clarke, J. Rodda, G. Schultz, A. Schumann, L. Ubertini, and G. Young . 2009 . 332 pages. £67 . ISBN 978-1-901502-94-7 . This title is the outcome of a symposium that discussed ways in which hydrologists can contribute most effectively to the planning and management of freshwater projects, including the efficient operation of existing systems faced with new socio-political situations, and how water resource managers can capitalize on the hydrological expertise available to them. The contributions discuss these topics and consider the need to include more environmental, social, and economic aspects in the planning and management of such projects, while keeping in mind the sustainability of water resource systems and related projects. Making the Most of the Water We Have: The Soft Path Approach to Water Management , D.B. Brooks, O.M. Brandes, and S. Gurman ( Editors ). Earthscan , 22883 Quicksilver Dr., Sterling, Virginia 20166-2012 . 2009 . 273 pages. $80 . ISBN 978-1-844-07754-0 . Demand for water is one of the major challenges of the current century, but past approaches are no longer sufficient. Based on the “soft path” approach to the energy sector, a transition is now under way to a soft path for water. This approach starts by ensuring that ecosystem needs for water are satisfied and then undertakes a radical approach to reducing human uses of water by economic and social incentives, including open decision making, water markets and equitable pricing, and the application of super-efficient technology, all applied in ways that avoid jeopardizing the quality of life. This book is the first to present and apply the water soft path approach. It has three aims: to bring to a wider audience the concept and the potential of water soft paths; to demonstrate that soft path analysis is analytical and practical, and not just “eco-dreaming”; and to indicate that it is politically feasible. These goals are reflected by the scape of the book, which is organized around the three aspects of any soft path: a vision of a sustainable water future based on the soft path concept; an analytic method to define alternative routes to get to that future (most literally, the soft paths), as illustrated by case studies in Canada and elsewhere; and a tool kit for planners and other practitioners. Waves and Mean Flows , O. Bühler . Cambridge University Press , 32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10013 . 2009 . 341 pages. $99 . ISBN 978-0-521-86636-1 . Interactions between waves and mean flows play a crucial role in understanding the long-term aspects of atmospheric and oceanographic modeling. Indeed, our ability to predict climate change hinges on our ability to model waves accurately. This book gives a modern account of the nonlinear interactions between waves and mean flows, such as shear flows and vortices. A detailed account of the theory of linear dispersive waves in moving media is followed by a thorough introduction to classical wave-mean interaction theory. The author then extends the scope of the classical theory and lifts its restriction to zonally symmetric mean flows. The book is designed as a fundamental reference for graduate students and researchers in fluid mechanics, and can be used as a text for advanced courses. It will also be appreciated by geophysicists and physicists who need an introduction to this important area in fundamental fluid dynamics and atmosphere-ocean science.