River Basin Management: An Integrated Approach

Abstract

ABSTRACT The integrated management of a natural resources system such as a river basin requires a through understanding of the system and its people. The development and implementation of such a plan of integrated management are not simple or straightforward. This article shows that such a plan should consist of at least several basic premises. These are; conceptual framework consisting of a vision; an analysis of the state of the environment including various trends; regional quantification; and information needs. Other factors that must be enumerated under these broader headings are; key concepts that must be adhered to; trend analysis of the environment; local partnerships; water rights; and how all these factors and concepts are brought together in the development and implementation of a basin-wide framework to manage a river basin. Two case examples are presented, one on the main stem of the Mississippi River showing that it will be extremely difficult to have a unified management concept that could be implemented on this entire basin. The other case example is on the Illinois River with a drainage area of about 29,000 square miles where such an integrated approach has been developed by a broad coalition of private citizens, local, state, and federal agencies; it shows why such an approach could be successful eventually.