932 



47 



definition, implementation, and achievement are essentially linked to 

 nongovernmental organizations, particularly the International Associa- 

 tion of Hydrological Sciences (lAHS) , the International Association of 

 Hydrogeologists (lAH) , and the Scientific Committee on Water Research 

 (COWAR) of ICSU. It is through these nongovernmental professional 

 associations that the XHP Council is provided scientific and technical 

 advice and guidance in undertaking complex studies and demonstration 

 projects. They also provide'^important guidance on training and infra- 

 structure development. 



One should keep in mind that the IHP has been conceived as a long- 

 term program with results potentially beneficial to all countries, 

 particularly those in regions of the world experiencing grave water 

 resource problems. The United States has benefited from this UNESCO- 

 sponsored program through enhanced technical interactions with many 

 countries and regions of the world where such contacts would have been 

 difficult on a bilateral basis. UNESCO, as an intergovernmental 

 organization, has facilitated these contacts among scientists. These 

 interactions, including the significant technical contributions of U.S. 

 scientists to the solution of problems elsewhere, may be increasingly 

 restricted as a result of the U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO. In the 

 short term, withdrawal may have only limited impacts on U.S. partici- 

 pation in IHP, since it is likely that many U.S. scientists will con- 

 tinue to be associated with this program in their personal capacity. 

 In the longer term, however, the lack of official association with this 

 intergovernmental program involving more than 100 nations could have 

 serious consequences on both U.S. scientific relationships abroad, as 

 well as on the quality of the overall UNESCO program. 



With nonmembership in UNESCO, the United States loses its place on 

 the IHP Intergovernmental Council and on the bureau of the Council where 

 the United States has played a critical planning and leadership role. 

 It will be possible to provide some leadership through participation in 

 nongovernmental organizations closely associated with IHP. Scientific 

 bodies in certain other countries are also expected to provide useful 

 liaison with scientific groups, projects, and program developments 

 elsewhere. 



Alternatives 



In view of the importance of the IHP to the U.S. scientific commu- 

 nity, support for this program at a level of $1 million per year (at a 

 minimum) is suggested. This funding is based on the current level of 

 U.S. contributions to the UNESCO-IHP. However, there are opportunities 

 to enrich and significantly expand collaborative work in this program. 

 Such possibilities are being considered by the U.S. National Committee 

 on Scientific Hydrology housed at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) . 

 In any case, the alternatives considered here with respect to current 

 multilateral IHP activities will require strengthened national manage- 

 ment structures (including dealing with personnel ceilings) and fun » 

 to support the participation of U.S. scientists in IHP and other multi- 

 lateral water resource program activities. 



