Sharing the Cost of Making Federal Water Project Feasibility Studies

GAO discussed feasibility studies undertaken by the Federal government to resolve water resources problems and the factors affecting the study outcome. The purpose of the review was to determine how frequently studies did not identify acceptable solutions and why.

GAO estimated that, during the past 17 years, Federal agencies have spent about $100 million on water project feasibility studies. In its review GAO examined more than 1,200 studies and found that most of the concluded or completed studies were unable to identify acceptable solutions to water resources problems. In many cases, costs to correct a water problem either exceeded the benefits or local government or communities did not support the solution. GAO believes that cost sharing between the Federal entities and local sponsors would provide evidence of local commitment to a study and any resulting project and thus reduce the likelihood of a solution that is unacceptable to the community.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Hugh J. Wessinger Team: General Accounting Office: Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division Phone: (202) 275-5489