CLIMATE-CHANGE AND WATER-RESOURCES

Global climatic change-the greenhouse effect-is here to stay. Although uncertainties remain about the nature and extent of climatic changes that will Occur, most among the scientific community believe changes i n the hydrologic cycle and to water resource management systems will b e significant. Water managers, policy-makers, and the public should be gin to consider the implications of climatic change for long-term wate r planning and management. AWWA's Public Advisory Forum has discussed this problem for the past two years. The recommendations it offers in this article are not for specific changes in operations, for complicat ed or costly new infrastructure or development, or for irreversible ac tions. Instead, they are recommendations for thoughtful analysis of wa ter systems' vulnerabilities to unprecedented climate change and for a ttention, planning, and continued vigilance in response to this situat ion. As the proverb says, to see the future is good, but to prepare fo r it is better.