Factors Affecting Water Management on the North Slope of Alaska

• Main Authors: Greenwood, Julian K., Murphy, R. Sage
• Format: Report
• Language: unknown
• Published: University of Alaska, Institute of Water Resources 1972
• Subjects: water management; North Slope; Arctic Slope; water quality; Arctic; north slope; Alaska
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11122/1486

The North Slope of Alaska is undergoing sudden development following the recent discovery of large oil and gas reserves in the area. The water resources of the region should be carefully managed both to ensure adequate supplies of usable water at reasonable cost, and to guard against excessive deterioration of water quality. The likely effects on the environment of man's activities are investigated and found to be poorly understood at the present time. Research priorities are suggested to supply rapid answers to questions of immediate importance. The applicability of a regional management concept to the North Slope waters is considered and the concept is recommended as part of a broad land and water planning philosophy which would emphasize regional control over state and federal control. The use of economic incentives rather than standards for the control of water quality is not recommended at the present time. The work upon which this report is based was supported primarily by funds provided by the Sea Grant Program of the University of Alaska under grant No. 1-36109.