10: Exploring Private Roles in Environmental Watering in Australia and the US

Recognition of the environment as a legitimate water use has been closely followed by questions about who should provide water for the environment, and how. This chapter examines the evolution of private roles in environmental water recovery in Australia and the US, two regions with arguably the longest history of reform experience to reallocate and manage water for riverine and groundwater dependent ecosystems degraded by overuse. In both regions, private non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have played important roles in the establishment and management of environmental water reserves, although these roles have shifted over time and in relation to public authorities. We compare the Australia and the US to understand which types of private organisations participate in environmental water, why and how…