Adaptive Management for Water Resources Project Planning

This book reviews the Corps of Engineers' experiences to date with the concept of "adaptive management" and provides advice on additional and more effective implementation of this planning approach.

The adaptive management concept itself is complex and evolving, but might be summarized as "learning while doing." The book reviews literature on adaptive management and notes that a range of adaptive management practices present themselves for Corps projects.

It is noted that there is no "cookbook" approach to adaptive management, and the book encourages the Corps of Engineers to continue to work with and learn from its applications of the concept.

To facilitate institutional learning and to ensure that experiences are being employed across the agency, the book recommends that a Corps Center for Adaptive Management be established.

The book also notes that greater involvement from the administration and Congress will be essential to successful adaptive management applications, as the Corps' efforts in this area will benefit from clarified water resources management objectives, the authority to manage adaptively, and from resources necessary for programs such as stakeholder collaboration and post-construction evaluations. Table of ContentsFront MatterExecutive Summary1 Report Purpose and Scope2 Adaptive Management Theories, Frameworks, and Practices3 The Context of Corps Decision Making4 Case Studies of Adaptive Management5 Prospects for Adaptive Management in the Corps6 EpilogueReferencesAcronymsAppendix A: Water Resources Development Act 2000, Section 216Appendix B: RostersAppendix C: Biographical Information of Panel Members and Staff