Science: Basis for sound water management or excuse for politics as usual?

Legislation affecting our water resources often requires that regulators ba se decisions upon the "best science." Use of science in this manner is seen as a "neutral" technical foundation upon which to base environmental polic ies. However, even scientists may inject assumptions and make implicit poli cy recommendations through their own technical studies and reviews. In addi tion, regulators in possession of "precise scientific" information may stil l have to make difficult policy decisions. The Central and Southern Florida Project Restudy ("Restudy") is an effort by the U.S. Army Corps of Enginee rs to "re-plumb" South Florida and provide environmental restoration, flood control, and urban and agricultural water supply. The Restudy is an exampl e of the interplay between science and policy.