72nd SWCS International Annual Conference July 30-August 2, 2017 Madison, WI

1. What are the Most
Pressing Water Issues
Facing the U.S.?
Perceptions of Federal
Government Staff
Dr. Sarah P. Church
USDA NIFA Postdoctoral Fellow
Natural Resources Social Science Lab
Purdue University

2. Water resources
Photo credits: NOAA; WRI; Erik M. Lunsford; Chesapeake Bay Program; Clean Technica; American Trails; Michigan State University; Spokane Journal

3. Photo credits: NOAA; WRI; Erik M. Lunsford; Chesapeake Bay Program; Clean Technica; American Trails; Michigan State University; Spokane Journal
Researchers seek to solve water resource issues

4. USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Synthesis of USDA NIFA Water Portfolio (2000 – 2013)
o Determine lessons learned, critical findings, and outcomes
o Identify future funding focus for water resource issues

5. USDA competitively funded water resource areas
13.6%
15.3%
16.4%
30.0%
35.5%
#5 Water Policy and Economics
#4 Watershed Management
#3 Animal Waste Management
#2 Water Conservation and Agricultural Water Management
#1 Nutrient Management
Percent of Total Competitively Funded Projects (2000 - 2013)

6. How to prioritize future research funding?
To which water priorities?
What elements to incorporate into project structure and research design?

7. Methods
Delphi method
o Experts surveyed
o Generate consensus – prioritization through multiple surveys

8. Delphi survey process, three steps
o Step 1: Initial list development
− focus groups, surveys, advisory group input
− 40 water issues
o Step 2: Rank 40 water issues, funding priority (phase 1, online survey)
− Federal agency water experts (focus groups & recommendations)
− 5-point Likert scale (1 = “Strongly Disagree” through 5 = “Strongly Agree”)
− Open-ended responses
o Step 3: Identify top five water issues (phase 2, online survey)
− Phase 1 survey respondents
− Select top three priorities
− Additional questions based on phase 1 open-ended responses

9. Results – Phase 1 survey, response rate
o 89 participants invited
o 35 surveys completed
o 39.3% response rate

10. Results – Phase 1 survey, survey responses by federal agency (n=35)
Federal Agency Name Completed
Surveys (n)
% of Total
Responses
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 10 28.6
U.S. Department of Agriculture 9 25.7
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 4 11.4
U.S. Department of Energy 3 8.6
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 3 8.6
Bureau of Reclamation 2 5.7
U.S. Geologic Society 2 5.7
National Science Foundation 1 2.9
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1 2.9

11. Delphi survey process, Step 1: initial list top 20
1) Climate change and water quality and quantity
2) Climate change and adaptation and mitigation strategies
3) Water quality and conservation practices
4) Water data (includes water monitoring, water usage,
tool development, etc.)
5) Water quality and nutrients
6) Water quality and drought
7) Watershed management
8) Water reuse
9) Benchmarks, indicators, and models to study/monitor
water quality and quantity
10) Climate change and economics
11) Irrigation efficiency and management
12) Tile drainage systems
13) Water quantity: Impact on water quality
14) Water quality and livestock
15) Water quantity and efficiency (includes technology
and structures)
16) Stakeholder involvement/collaboration in water
projects
17) Soil science and water
18) Groundwater recharge
19) Water quality and microbiological/organic material
20) Water protection and conservation behavior

12. Delphi survey process, Step 1: initial list top 20 – climate change
1) Climate change and water quality and quantity
2) Climate change and adaptation and mitigation strategies
3) Water quality and conservation practices
4) Water data (includes water monitoring, water usage,
tool development, etc.)
5) Water quality and nutrients
6) Water quality and drought
7) Watershed management
8) Water reuse
9) Benchmarks, indicators, and models to study/monitor
water quality and quantity
10) Climate change and economics
11) Irrigation efficiency and management
12) Tile drainage systems
13) Water quantity: Impact on water quality
14) Water quality and livestock
15) Water quantity and efficiency (includes technology
and structures)
16) Stakeholder involvement/collaboration in water
projects
17) Soil science and water
18) Groundwater recharge
19) Water quality and microbiological/organic material
20) Water protection and conservation behavior

13. Delphi survey process, Step 1: initial list top 20 – water quality
1) Climate change and water quality and quantity
2) Climate change and adaptation and mitigation strategies
3) Water quality and conservation practices
4) Water data (includes water monitoring, water usage,
tool development, etc.)
5) Water quality and nutrients
6) Water quality and drought
7) Watershed management
8) Water reuse
9) Benchmarks, indicators, and models to study/monitor
water quality and quantity
10) Climate change and economics
11) Irrigation efficiency and management
12) Tile drainage systems
13) Water quantity: Impact on water quality
14) Water quality and livestock
15) Water quantity and efficiency (includes technology
and structures)
16) Stakeholder involvement/collaboration in water
projects
17) Soil science and water
18) Groundwater recharge
19) Water quality and microbiological/organic material
20) Water protection and conservation behavior

14. Delphi survey process, Step 1: initial list top 20 – water quantity
1) Climate change and water quality and quantity
2) Climate change and adaptation and mitigation strategies
3) Water quality and conservation practices
4) Water data (includes water monitoring, water usage,
tool development, etc.)
5) Water quality and nutrients
6) Water quality and drought
7) Watershed management
8) Water reuse
9) Benchmarks, indicators, and models to study/monitor
water quality and quantity
10) Climate change and economics
11) Irrigation efficiency and management
12) Tile drainage systems
13) Water quantity: Impact on water quality
14) Water quality and livestock
15) Water quantity and efficiency (includes technology
and structures)
16) Stakeholder involvement/collaboration in water
projects
17) Soil science and water
18) Groundwater recharge
19) Water quality and microbiological/organic material
20) Water protection and conservation behavior

15. Results – Phase 2 survey, response rate
o 35 participants invited
o 21 surveys completed
o 60.0% response rate

16. Results – Phase 2 survey, survey responses by federal agency (n=21)
Federal Agency Name Completed
Surveys (n)
% of Total
Responses
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 8 38.1
U.S. Department of Agriculture 8 38.1
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 1 4.8
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1 4.8
Bureau of Reclamation 1 4.8
U.S. Geologic Society 1 4.8
National Science Foundation 1 4.8

17. Results – Phase 2 survey
Top 5 water issues:
“…select which priorities you believe to be the 3 most important water issues that USDA NIFA
should consider funding in the future.”
1) Climate change and water quality and quantity (n=13, 61.9%)
2) Water quality and conservation practices (n=8, 38.1%)
3) Water quality and nutrients (n=8, 38.1%)
4) Climate change and adaptation and mitigation strategies (n=6, 28.6%)
5) Policy analysis: Water quality and quantity (n=4, 19.0%)

18. Results – Phase 2 survey
Top 5 water issues:
“…select which priorities you believe to be the 3 most important water issues that USDA NIFA
should consider funding in the future.”
1) Climate change and water quality and quantity (n=13, 61.9%)
2) Water quality and conservation practices (n=8, 38.1%)
3) Water quality and nutrients (n=8, 38.1%)
4) Climate change and adaptation and mitigation strategies (n=6, 28.6%)
5) Policy analysis: Water quality and quantity (n=4, 19.0%)

19. Results – Phase 2 survey
Top 5 water issues:
“…select which priorities you believe to be the 3 most important water issues that USDA NIFA
should consider funding in the future.”
1) Climate change and water quality and quantity (n=13, 61.9%)
2) Water quality and conservation practices (n=8, 38.1%)
3) Water quality and nutrients (n=8, 38.1%)
4) Climate change and adaptation and mitigation strategies (n=6, 28.6%)
5) Policy analysis: Water quality and quantity (n=4, 19.0%)

20. Results – Phase 2 survey, new topics and themes
Broadly applicable themes:
“… How important is it to incorporate the following elements into NIFA RFAs, assuming they
are relevant to the proposed project? ...” (1=not at all important to 5=extremely important)
o Scientists, professionals, and/or educators from different disciplines/expertise
(i.e., interdisciplinary teams) (n=18; mean=4.39; extremely important=44.4%)
o Stakeholder involvement/collaboration in the projects (n=19; mean=4.16;
extremely important=36.8%)
o Promotion/facilitation of data sharing across federal agencies (n=19; mean=4.11;
extremely important =26.3%)

21. Preliminary recommendations
o Water quality and quantity themes
o Climate change – effects on water, adaptation, mitigation
o Data sharing and agency coordination
o Meaningful interdisciplinary research teams
o Meaningful stakeholder engagement/collaboration

22. Co-authors:
Dr. Mike O’Neill, University of Connecticut
Dr. Linda S. Prokopy, Purdue University
Additional thanks:
Laura Esman, Purdue University: survey administration
Kelly Addy, University of Rhode Island: NIFA funding categorization
Acknowledgements
D r. S a r a h P. C h u r c h
c h u r c h 9 @ p u r d u e . e d u
7 6 5 - 4 9 4 - 1 7 8 5
@ S P C p l a n n i n gGrant Number 2014-51130-22496