ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses major mistakes included in many water projects, and covers elements needed by the new Americans for sound water planning and sound engineering design. An understanding of past efforts of the community will help avoid repeating the same mistakes. Renovation, modification, or elimination of dams, aqueducts, and drains should be based on the ecological needs of these aquatic and marine resources. Water planners should begin to focus on restoration of the aquatic and marine resources of water bodies, with the intent of restoring populations that can be harvested on a sustainable basis for food supply. The dams have also adversely modified the normal hydrology of the rivers, reducing nutrient loads to wetlands, estuaries, and coastal fisheries. Dams will also be difficult to improve, but the smaller industrial dams are the most likely candidates. New dams must be designed to optimize all uses of the water in a sustainable manner.
