Mission

NWC Mission 

Our mission is to effect common sense policies and programs, recognizing the public value of our Nation’s water resources and their contribution to public safety, a competitive economy, national security, environmental quality and energy conservation.

NWC Vision 

To transform the organization into a much broader umbrella group that provides a forum for airing water resources issues, seeks consensus on issues where possible, serves as spokesman for broad water resources interests, becomes the preferred “go to” group for the Congress and Executive Branch as they seek stakeholder input, plays an active role in development of policy and legislation, and advocates on behalf of consensus positions on major issues. NWC will not seek to replace or supplant the activities of its member organizations, which will continue to act in their respective self-interests and advocate for matters not part of the common effort.

NWC Guiding Principles

Established in 1960, NWC is the only national organization to advocate in favor of national policy and laws that recognize the vital importance of America’s water resources infrastructure to our nation’s environmental wellbeing and quality of life. 

NWC supports a sound balance between economic and human needs and environmental and ecological considerations with the NWC Guiding Principles: 

  • Rational balanced common-sense policies and programs that recognize the multiple uses of water and the essential contributions of a healthy and environmentally sound water resources infrastructure to the nation’s economic prosperity, public health and national security.
  • Robust investments in critical water resources infrastructure, including funding for operation and maintenance sufficient to preserve the value of prior investments, to ensure that water resources will continue to contribute to the quality of life enjoyed by every American and sustain our global economic competitiveness. 
  • An investment decision process for new projects that reflects the national interest in water resources premised upon proven analytical tools and an evaluation of a full range of alternatives. 
  • Cooperation among stakeholders and all levels and agencies of government that recognizes and respects national, regional, state and local differences in priorities and values related to water resources and supports decision-making at the level of government closest to our citizens. 

Reliable, well-maintained water resources infrastructure is fundamental to America’s economic and environmental well-being and is essential to maintaining our nation’s competitive position within the global economy. Our water resources infrastructure provides life-saving flood control, needed water supplies, shore protection, water-based recreation, environmental restoration, and hydropower production. Moreover, waterways transportation is the safest, most energy-efficient and environmentally sound mode of transportation. Among the numerous benefits that water resources projects provide to our nation: 

  • Flood damage reduction programs that save lives and prevent more than $700 billion in riverine and coastal damages – reducing damages by almost $6 for each dollar spent. 
  • Ports and waterways – the backbone of the nation’s transportation system –that provide domestic and international trade opportunities and low-cost, environmentally sound goods movement. 
  • Effective management of our nation’s floodplains – – giving balanced consideration to economic and human uses, as well as environmental and ecological concerns — ensuring the safety, security and well-being of all Americans and their families.
  • Hydropower facilities, built and maintained by the Corps of Engineers, that produce nearly a third of the nation’s total hydropower output: enough energy to serve about ten million households. 
  • Management of the nation’s water supply – critical to limiting water shortages and lessening the impact of droughts – including multi-purpose Corps’ projects that can provide almost 5 billion gallons of water per day for use by local communities and businesses, enough water to supply the average household needs of about 55 million Americans for a year.
  • Shore protection projects that provide protection from hurricanes and other storm events for transportation, petroleum and agriculture infrastructure around our coastlines, coastal waterways and deltas, as well as recreational benefits.

Support policies recognizing the value of America’s water resources