Expanding environmental emphases in water resources planning

Numerous water resources planning agencies exist within countries and their states or provinces, or within river basin commissions and local areas. Such planning includes projects involving waterway navigation, hydroelectric power generation, flood risk management, water supply, and ecosystem restoration. Although planning has existed for many decades, new environmental challenges are being identified and responsive methods are being developed. This review cites more than 75 journal articles and reports which are related to emerging frameworks and methods. The most frequently cited information source is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The reader is encouraged to explore these general and topical references and to utilise them in the context of their water resources planning efforts. It is important to note that not all references will be relevant to local unique conditions and challenges. Addressing these expanding emphases requires flexibility within existing planning processes and collaboration with multiple stakeholder groups. Examples of newer methods summarized herein include cumulative effects assessment and management, conceptual models, use of indicators and indices, managing downstream flows, addressing climate change, evaluation of ecosystem services, and post-EIS project monitoring and adaptive management to expand the knowledge base of planners and to adjust project operational patterns to minimise undesirable consequences.