WEBVTT 00:07.940 --> 00:08.940 Yeah . 00:13.460 --> 00:15.250 Last year the US Army Corps of 00:15.250 --> 00:17.139 Engineers , Southwestern Division 00:17.340 --> 00:19.673 released its Civil works strategic plan . 00:19.850 --> 00:21.906 This plan was developed with many of 00:21.906 --> 00:23.683 our stakeholders to address the 00:23.683 --> 00:25.683 uncertainties we face in the future 00:25.683 --> 00:27.628 with our water resources . What we 00:27.628 --> 00:29.794 found is that to be prepared for these 00:29.794 --> 00:31.906 uncertainties , it will take everyone 00:31.906 --> 00:33.850 looking across all water use is to 00:33.850 --> 00:35.794 develop a comprehensive integrated 00:35.794 --> 00:39.210 approach to how we use water . We call 00:39.210 --> 00:41.650 this approach integrated water resource 00:41.650 --> 00:44.670 management . This approach is critical 00:44.670 --> 00:47.650 to all water uses like navigation , 00:47.660 --> 00:50.220 hydropower , recreation , flood risk 00:50.220 --> 00:53.120 management and water supply . Water 00:53.120 --> 00:55.320 supply is not only essential for the 00:55.320 --> 00:57.320 existence of life , but it is the 00:57.320 --> 00:59.210 lifeblood of many businesses and 00:59.220 --> 01:01.990 industries as well as such . There is a 01:01.990 --> 01:04.350 constant ever growing demand on our 01:04.350 --> 01:06.690 water resources . This increasing 01:06.690 --> 01:09.310 demand affects our reservoirs , working 01:09.310 --> 01:11.540 together now is vital so that our 01:11.540 --> 01:13.820 reservoirs and those like them can 01:13.820 --> 01:15.764 assist in meeting the water supply 01:15.764 --> 01:17.876 needs of the region in the future for 01:17.876 --> 01:19.931 the US Army Corps of Engineers , the 01:19.931 --> 01:22.090 varied interests or use is associated 01:22.090 --> 01:24.034 with our reservoirs can impact our 01:24.034 --> 01:26.230 water supply . Most of our reservoirs 01:26.240 --> 01:28.750 use water for flood risk mitigation , 01:28.970 --> 01:31.220 environmental reasons , as a water 01:31.220 --> 01:33.370 supply for local communities to 01:33.370 --> 01:36.100 generate hydropower and for recreation . 01:36.410 --> 01:38.410 These are not always in competition 01:38.410 --> 01:40.577 with each other , but they all use the 01:40.577 --> 01:42.132 same water that impacts the 01:42.132 --> 01:44.410 availability of water for water supply . 01:44.410 --> 01:46.521 Our water supply is strained not only 01:46.521 --> 01:48.354 from the overuse of aquifers and 01:48.354 --> 01:50.521 increasing populations , but also from 01:50.521 --> 01:52.550 pollutions found in water runoff . 01:53.090 --> 01:55.201 These strains reduce our water supply 01:55.201 --> 01:57.201 and can increase the cost of making 01:57.201 --> 01:59.090 water safe for drinking . Another 01:59.090 --> 02:01.201 factor is changing weather patterns , 02:01.201 --> 02:03.090 which includes things like record 02:03.090 --> 02:05.090 setting droughts that have occurred 02:05.090 --> 02:07.312 throughout the nation in the last 15 to 02:07.312 --> 02:09.770 20 years , 70% of all U . S . Army 02:09.770 --> 02:11.937 Corps of Engineer water supply storage 02:11.937 --> 02:14.200 is in our region , making water supply 02:14.340 --> 02:17.760 critical municipalities , water utility 02:17.760 --> 02:20.220 providers and others are constantly 02:20.220 --> 02:22.420 trying to provide increased water from 02:22.420 --> 02:25.320 both new and old sources . This can act 02:25.320 --> 02:27.542 in a feedback loop where more access to 02:27.542 --> 02:29.598 water can increase the population to 02:29.598 --> 02:31.709 the point that more water is needed . 02:31.709 --> 02:34.170 Again , we must all act now to prepare 02:34.170 --> 02:36.392 for the growing demand on water and its 02:36.392 --> 02:38.560 limited supply . We must work together 02:38.560 --> 02:41.250 now to ensure we don't jeopardize water 02:41.250 --> 02:44.210 quality and regional water supply in 02:44.210 --> 02:46.520 the future . In some areas , the 02:46.520 --> 02:48.520 sediment in reservoirs has become a 02:48.520 --> 02:50.950 strain on water supply . In other areas , 02:50.960 --> 02:53.071 droughts have increased the demand on 02:53.071 --> 02:55.450 water supply . In addition , the need 02:55.450 --> 02:57.561 for electricity during heat waves and 02:57.561 --> 02:59.750 cold snaps , like the ones we saw in 02:59.750 --> 03:02.980 2021 also puts increased strain on 03:02.980 --> 03:04.780 water supply from reservoirs . 03:05.010 --> 03:07.590 Implementing integrated water resource 03:07.590 --> 03:09.890 management , promote the coordination 03:09.900 --> 03:12.050 of land and water resources , 03:12.410 --> 03:14.466 evaluating the needs and commitments 03:14.466 --> 03:16.632 for the entire watershed has proven to 03:16.632 --> 03:18.700 be more successful in balancing our 03:18.700 --> 03:21.090 resources and meeting needs . There 03:21.090 --> 03:23.201 will be some hard decisions that will 03:23.201 --> 03:25.330 need to be made requiring a hard look 03:25.340 --> 03:27.510 at priorities . But this can only be 03:27.510 --> 03:29.890 done as an integrated team that 03:29.890 --> 03:32.610 evaluates all needs and resources . 03:32.750 --> 03:35.200 Integrated water resource management 03:35.210 --> 03:36.988 would be potential multipurpose 03:36.988 --> 03:38.890 projects , water management , 03:38.890 --> 03:41.230 coordination and basin studies across 03:41.230 --> 03:43.640 the region . Everyone who uses 03:43.650 --> 03:46.160 regulates and monitors water in a basin 03:46.280 --> 03:48.224 needs to come together and discuss 03:48.224 --> 03:50.520 needs and priorities . In order to work 03:50.520 --> 03:52.830 toward a solution that serves everyone . 03:52.910 --> 03:56.040 We must begin now as an agency , the US 03:56.040 --> 03:58.151 Army Corps of Engineers is working to 03:58.151 --> 03:59.707 build and foster meaningful 03:59.707 --> 04:02.020 relationships with stakeholders and 04:02.020 --> 04:04.380 other agencies to protect our shared 04:04.390 --> 04:06.450 water resources . We need to work 04:06.450 --> 04:09.030 together to find win win scenarios that 04:09.030 --> 04:11.220 strive to meet the needs of all . How 04:11.220 --> 04:13.540 can you become involved ? We want to 04:13.540 --> 04:16.000 work with you and solving complex water 04:16.000 --> 04:18.700 resource issues . Reach out to us today , 04:18.850 --> 04:20.850 let us know how we can partner to 04:20.850 --> 04:23.160 further I W . RM by visiting our 04:23.160 --> 04:24.870 website and contacting us .