An evaluation of federal-interstate compacts as an institutional model for intergovernmental coordination and management: Water resources for interstate river basins in the United States

This dissertation evaluates federal-interstate compacts as an institutional model for coordination and management of water resources for interstate river basins in the United States. In a federal-interstate compact, the federal government is a signatory party with the states. Federal-interstate compacts represent one institutional approach for addressing a recurring problem of government---how to perform functions that transcend state boundaries, but do not require national action.;The dissertation research is performed using the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) as a case study. Program-evaluation methodology is utilized to determine whether the DRBC has been successful in reaching its predetermined objectives and by extension whether federal-interstate compacts are effective in coordinating and managing water resources.;The research concludes that the DRBC has been effective in meeting most of its objectives as set forth in its enabling legislation, the Delaware River Basin Compact. The DRBC has been most successful in settling disputes over water allocation and addressing severe stream pollution problems. The DRBC has been the least effective in flood-loss reduction.;The research derives conclusions concerning federal-interstate compacts based upon the experience of the DRBC. The effectiveness of federal-interstate compacts depends to a great degree on the extent to which the parties are willing to fully support and participate in them. Their success also requires that the parties believe that severe water resources problems exist that require regional solutions. As an instrument for cooperative planning, federal-interstate compacts have been most successful for securing interstate coordination for addressing regional problems. The DRBC case study indicates that federal-interstate compacts only have been partly successful in securing federal-state and federal-interagency coordination for resolving regional problems. Their future potential for such purposes largely will depend on the federal government's willingness to make commitments through the compact commissions.