Background

The AU Water Resources Center was established in January 2007 as part of the new AU natural resource initiative at Auburn University. Graeme Lockaby, associate dean for research and professor in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, is directing the center and is working with a nine-member interdisciplinary committee that will guide the center's development.

The general goal of the center will be to:

Enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for residents of Alabama and other southeastern states by ensuring the quality and availability of ample quantities of surface and groundwater.

We will accomplish our goal by:

Designing water distribution systems that will allow interbasin transfers of water to be financially feasible
Developing new irrigation technology to enhance productivity of crops
Developing integrative models that link activities and characteristics within river basins to protection of coastal resources
Examining existing policies and laws that relate to water use.
Framing a state water policy for Alabama
Enhancing outreach activities related to water resources

To kick off this effort, a Conference on Water Resources will be held June 14-15, 2007in Auburn.