Changing precipitation patterns and their impact on surface water reso
urces is an important climatic problem facing society today, especiall
y as it relates to potential global change. Therefore, this paper anal
yses temporal varability and trends in the empirical percipitation rec
ord and modelled runoff in Louisiana, USA, during the past century. Lo
ng-term trends in precipitation were identified and impacts on surface
water resoruces were found. If general circulation model predictions
for increasing precipitation in the south-eastern US prove to be corre
ct, surface water will likely increase at a disproportionately higher
rate which should be of concern to water resource planners in the regi
on.