Inland waterway resource and spill management needs in Southeastern USA

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the issues faced by managers of inland waterways in the Southeastern USA as a guide for improvements to spill management information systems.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was administered to a group of over 300 professionals representing multiple organizations involved in water quality management and/or spill response in the Southeast region of the USA to query their perceptions on leading demands and issues faced in management of inland waterways both on a daily basis and during spill response efforts.

Findings

Survey results indicated that communication is often the “weak link” in both water management and spill response activities, and that enhanced spill management information tools could serve as a valuable resource in addressing this problem. Display of spatial/visual information was deemed to be especially important to spill response personnel and should be included in the next generation of spill response systems.

Research limitations/implications

The scope is limited to the Southeastern USA, but similar results would be expected in other regions where management of surface water is of concern.

Practical implications

In these trying economic times, the survey results serve to rank order decision‐support priorities to which available resources should be allocated and indicate areas of interest for improved support in both water resource management and spill response.

Originality/value

The paper provides the first documentation of the demands and decision‐support priorities of inland waterway resource managers and spill response personnel.

Citation

Camp, J.V., Abkowitz, M.D. and LeBoeuf, E.J. (2010), "Inland waterway resource and spill management needs in Southeastern USA", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 19 No. 4, pp. 483-497. https://doi.org/10.1108/09653561011070394