REFINING GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT POLICY IN THE COASTAL PLAIN OF NORTH CAROLINA TO SAFEGUARD GROUNDWATER RESOURCES

In this paper, the authors suggest that the following elements are vital to achieving sustainability of water resources: 1) well-defined long-term goals for the future with varying temporally and spatially measurable benchmarks (vision), 2) innovative management strategies (adaptation and integration), 3) empowerment and education (cooperation), and 4) incorporation of new water supplies, interconnections, innovative technologies, and pricing (diversification and innovation). Such refined and flexible groundwater management strategies incorporating diverse approaches are required to tackle groundwater resource problems in the face of climate change and increasing global populations. To achieve sustainability, metrics that assess not only the physical response of aquifers, but also the social and economic responses to new groundwater management strategies are required. A case study of the Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina was undertaken to assess the roles and effects of the groundwater management protocols described above. The case study not only illustrates the successes and failures of the groundwater management strategy, but also highlights best practices for linking science-based data with management practice.