U.s. Department of the Interior

Disputes over Science and Dispute Resolution Approaches?a Survey of Bureau of Reclamation Employees U.s. Department of the Interior

A growing number of constituencies with different interests and values are competing for overallocated water resources in the Western United States (NRC, 2004). As a result, these users are increasingly challenging the decisions of the public agencies charged with managing Western water resources (NRC, 2004). Because they are the primary targets in litigation surrounding water management decisions, agency officials are motivated to pursue the best scientific information throughout the decision-making process so that their decisions are not later overturned (Adler and others, 2001). However, scientific studies pertaining to water resources in the West often provide uncertain or competing results or recommendations (NRC, 2004). As a result, science can become a source of disputes during decision-making processes.