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WATER by Peter H. Gleick |
1. Hydrology Related Internet Resources, maintained by the Pacific Northwest Labs, offers a very wide range of links to diverse governmental, non-governmental, university, and corporate Internet water resources. It is updated regularly, comprehensive, and easy to read.
2. For those interested in water conservation and efficiency, Waterwiser is for you. It includes a wide range of cross-linked water sites, lists of water-related listservers, and access to both information and people working on water efficiency issues. It even includes a link to Toiletology 101 and Xeriscaping, for those who want to pursue some of the more elite water discussions.
3. Environmental Organization Web Directory is actually not devoted to water, though it has several quite interesting and useful connections to water sites. Instead, it is a web "directory" for environmental organizations with many useful connections, the ability to add sites fairly easily, and a broad sense of important environmental issues. I think this site has serious potential in the future as well as some current value to activists, researchers, and the public. Time will tell how it develops.
4. Universities Council on Water Resources provides strong references and interconnections and maintains a set of chat-type fora on a wide range of water-related issues. While not designed all that well, it nonetheless offers resources other water sites don't have.
5. The U. S. Geological Survey has an excellent government Website (no, that's not necessarily an oxymoron for all you cynics) on water. This site has all sorts of stuff on water quality, wetlands, water use--an unusual resource given the typical focus on water supply--and more. It also has downloadable data, and links to other USGS activities.
Peter H. Gleick is President of the Pacific Institute in Oakland and a frequent consultant to the United Nations on issues of water quality and quantity.