In my last post, I wrote about the Dutch Way, the habits of directness, consensus, and warmth that shape how the Dutch manage water. This time I want to look at a harder, more technical difference between our two countries, one that came up in almost every briefing on
In my last post, I wrote about how the Netherlands went from roughly 3,500 water authorities to 21. Structure matters. But throughout this NAFSMA trip, our Dutch hosts kept pointing to something that doesn’t show up on an organizational chart. They called it the Dutch Way. As they described it
In my last post, I wrote from the Noordwaard, a former farming polder (or protected basin) on the edge of De Biesbosch National Park, where the Dutch lowered a dike on purpose so the river can spill into the polder at high water. That was the Dutch trying something
I’m writing this from the Netherlands. Today I spent the day at the Noordwaard, a former farming polder (or protected basin) on the edge of De Biesbosch National Park. I traveled here with NAFSMA (the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies) as part of a mission to learn
Members of the Rangers led the First Continental Army during America’s Revolutionary War, and their “No man left behind” motto became a central fixture of U.S. military protocol. The slogan communicated the need to make sure that EVERYONE was taken care of. But do we have the same policy when it comes
Most of our past Blog posts have been focused on current events, analysis of new trends, and breaking news. Today, we are sharing some news that is eight months old but that offers a potential and promising path for getting things done. Some of you may already know of a
As a registered federal lobbyist I’m often asked to describe my job. Some days I describe it as an advocate; other days as an educator. I’ve also been known to liken it to being a translator or cruise director, but this past month it has felt a lot like being a
The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2018, included as title I of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (S. 3021), was signed into law today. The new law provides the needed authorization for investment in harbor, waterway, flood protection, and other water infrastructure improvements throughout the country.
As
In late June, President Trump unveiled his administration’s plan to reorganize the federal government. The proposed shakeup is entitled “Delivering Government Solutions in the 21st Century: Reform Plan and Reorganization Recommendations.” On page 15 of the proposal you will find: “Move the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Civil Works out of the Department of Defense (DOD) to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of the Interior (DOI).” This proposal has left many people asking questions, such as how would it work? Would it be better? Does Congress need to approve it? And how is this different than every other proposal made in the past? Indeed, during a recent Senate hearing, Senators voiced inquiries about the Department of Defense’s views:
