Impact Evaluation Procedures: Theory, Practice, and Needs

Abstract

Over the past 50 years, planning procedures and analytical methods for evaluating social and environmental effects have played an increasingly important role in federal water planning. Yet the impact of these procedures on decision making has been less than what their proponents hope for. Among the reasons for this are the inability of many methods to provide the information most needed by decision makers and insufficient education of potential users. A recent Engineering Foundation conference addressed social and environmental goals in water management. This paper summarizes conclusions reached there regarding the theory, practice, and needs of evaluation procedures. One conclusion is that recent changes in federal water planning guidelines are but a pragmatic adaptation to the way planning actually takes place and that multiobjective methods will continue to play a role. A recommendation is that these planning procedures be adapted to the new federal cost‐sharing rules and for use in conflict management.