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Standing Committee

Water Science and Technology Board

The Water Science and Technology Board (WSTB) serves as the focal point for studies related to water resources at the National Academies. The board works to improve the scientific and technological foundation for addressing national- and regional-level questions and issues associated with efficient management, development, and use of water resources in natural and engineered environments. The interests of WSTB include scientific, engineering, economic, institutional, legal, and social aspects of water resources.

In progress

News and Updates

U.S. Needs New Drought Assessment Framework as Droughts Become More Severe and Unpredictable

News Release

As droughts in the United States become more frequent and longer-lasting, new assessment tools are needed. A new National Academies report examines how the field of drought assessment can better account for shifting drought conditions and proposes a framework to support drought monitoring, planning, and decision-making to meet future challenges.

Jun 30, 2026
Low water levels at Oroville Lake during a drought in Oroville, California

New Technologies and Approaches Needed to Shore Up Interconnected U.S. Energy and Water Systems, Says New Report

News Release

As demands on the nation’s deeply interconnected energy and water systems grow, potential disruptions can have far-reaching consequences for communities, the economy, and national security. A new National Academies report examines how the systems’ interdependencies create both risks and opportunities and how collaborative, coordinated approaches can strengthen resilience and reliability.

May 19, 2026
Tom Miller Dam, Lake Austin, Colorado River, Austin Texas. Lake Austin (formerly Lake McDonald) is a water reservoir on the Colorado River in Austin, Texas. The reservoir was formed in 1939 by the construction of Tom Miller Dam by the Lower Colorado River Authority.

New Report on Managing Highway Stormwater Quality

Announcement

Stormwater infrastructure plays an important role in protecting water resources, but contaminants from highway runoff are not adequately removed by current structures, and improved management of the various types and sources of pollutants is needed. A new congressionally mandated report from the National Academies recommends methods state departments of transportation could use in their strategies to manage highway stormwater quality.

May 21, 2026
Drenched road from heavy rainfall.

Projects

Showing 1–32 of 64 items
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Review of the Long-Term Operations of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project: Cycle 2

Consensus/Advisory Activity

In Formation

U.S. Army National Guard Joint Base Cape Cod Small Arms Ranges and Their Impact on the Cape Cod Sole Source Aquifer

Consensus/Advisory Activity

In Formation

Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress XI - The 2026 Biennial Review

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Recently Completed

The Future of Drought in the United States

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Recently Completed
BASC-WSTB_Drought_banner-corn.jpg | https://nasemoceprodcomm-nationalacademies.cec.ocp.oraclecloud.com/content/published/api/v1.1/assets/CONTEFDFD265C3674841A42FE2C6E5057CC7/native?cb=_cache_daba&format=webp&channelToken=d2dc71410b56f1d61406108f1738d0f4

Meeting of Experts: Discussion of Potential Impacts of the Camp Edwards Multipurpose Machine Gun Range Project on the Cape Cod Aquifer

Meeting of Experts

Completed

Enabling DOE Regional Energy-Water Technology Pilots

Consensus/Advisory Activity

In Progress

Communities, Climate Change, and Health Equity Workshop Series: Exploring flood adaptation strategies to support health equity

Workshop

Completed

Review of Approaches for Managing Pollutant Loads in Highway Stormwater Runoff

Consensus/Advisory Activity

In Progress
DCIM\100MEDIA\DJI_0060.JPG

Workshop on Climate Change and Human Migration: An Earth Systems Science Perspective

Workshop

Completed
Human Migration_UW Banner.png | https://nasemoceprodcomm-nationalacademies.cec.ocp.oraclecloud.com/content/published/api/v1.1/assets/CONT8A71BF10AD4347FDA7445C0B4292C323/native?cb=_cache_daba&format=webp&channelToken=d2dc71410b56f1d61406108f1738d0f4

Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress

Initiative

Completed
Banner-Independent-Scientific-Review-of-Everglades-Restoration-Progress-X.jpg | https://nasemoceprodcomm-nationalacademies.cec.ocp.oraclecloud.com/content/published/api/v1.1/assets/CONT8F435135ACD747CD8DB1D68F7C58D3AC/native?cb=_cache_daba&format=webp&channelToken=d2dc71410b56f1d61406108f1738d0f4

Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress X

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Modernizing Probable Maximum Precipitation Estimation

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Climate Intervention in an Earth Systems Science Framework: A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

Workshop on Tipping Points, Cascading Impacts, and Interacting Risks in the Earth System

Workshop

Completed
Calving Glacier Alaska - Hubbard Glacier - a huge iceberg calves into Disenchantment Bay - St. Elias Alaska. Taken from an Alaska cruise ship - near Yukon, Canada

Community Wastewater-based Infectious Disease Surveillance

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Leading Practices for Improving Accessibility and Inclusion in Field and Laboratory Science: A Conversation Series

Workshop

Completed

Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress IX

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Anticipatory Research for EPA’s Research and Development Enterprise to Inform Future Environmental Protection: The Road Ahead

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

The Future of Water Quality in Coeur d’Alene Lake

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Workshop on Federal Government Human Health PFAS Research

Workshop

Completed

Workshop on Earth System Predictability Research and Development

Workshop

Completed

Advancing a Systems Approach to Studying the Earth: A Strategy for the National Science Foundation

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Towards Safe Water from Every Tap – A Workshop to Identify Opportunities for Leadership

Workshop

Completed

Roundtable on Unconventional Hydrocarbon Development

Roundtable/Forum

Completed

Identifying Opportunities to Understand, Control, and Prevent Exposure to PFAS

Workshop

Completed

Ecosystem Services of Urban Forestry: A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress VIII

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Addressing the Energy-Water Nexus: Panel Discussions at the Science and Technology for Sustainability (STS) Roundtable

Workshop

Completed

Owens Lake Scientific Advisory Panel: Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Alternative Dust Control Methods

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Onshore Unconventional Hydrocarbon Development: Legacy Issues, Induced Seismicity, and Innovations in Managing Risk: A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

Groundwater recharge and flow: Approaches and challenges for monitoring and modeling using remotely sensed data: A Workshop

Workshop

Completed

Advancing Sustainability of US – Mexico Transboundary Drylands – A Workshop

Workshop

Completed
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