The Office of Water Resources administers programs for river basin management, river assessment, water supply assistance, water conservation, flood mapping, the National Flood Insurance Program and water resources development. Further, OWR serves as the State liaison with federal agencies on major water resources related projects and conducts any special studies on instream flow needs as well as administering environmental education and outreach programs to increase awareness of Alabama’s water resources.
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Mission Statement
The Office of Water Resources plans, coordinates, develops, and manages Alabama's water resources, both ground and surface water in a manner that is in the best interest of the State of Alabama. This includes recommending policies and legislation, conducting technical studies, implementing and participating in programs and projects, and actively representing Alabama's intra and interstate water resource interests.
We are implementing this mission through the establishment goals in three primary areas. They include:
Planning and Negotiation
Act as the lead agency in the state that is responsible for developing long-term strategic plans and water resources policy. This includes implementation of water resources programs and projects for the coordination, protection, conservation, development, and management of the waters of the state. This office also acts on behalf of Alabama in the negotiation and consummation of any interstate compact and represents the state's intra and interstate water resources interests.
Data Management & Analytical Capabilities
Develop and maintain state of the art tools either through internal efforts or contracted support that will allow us to serve as a repository for water resources data and other data developed in support of ongoing census and demographic compilations. This includes the study, analysis, and evaluation of water resources including the hydrologic analysis and modeling support applied to basin planning efforts and other water resources studies, such as reservoir relicensing. Data developed in various water resources programs and studies, such as the ACT/ACF Comprehensive Study, is maintained for better management and protection of water resources.
Community Services and Support
Develop and maintain capabilities in coordinating, supporting, sponsoring, encouraging, and facilitating plans, projects, policies, and programs that relate to water resources and statistical data. Included in this task are the public education and awareness programs and participation in various organizations and working groups. A large part of this outreach function is the support provided to the Census Bureau and to Alabama agencies, organizations, and citizens requesting population and other statistical data. The Alabama County Data Book and the Alabama Municipal Data Book are published in support of these efforts.