Consideration of Alternatives in Decision Making

The current emphasis on environmental quality, which includes both man-made and natural environments, has had a significant impact on planning, design, and construction of engineering works. Until recent time, however, the major emphasis has been primarily on market or monetary values, even though some recognition was given to intangible values or those difficult to quantify. The incorporation of multidiscipline teams into project planning has helped insure consideration of all factors, as has introduction of new techniques for developing and presenting alternate project plans. The multi-institutional Westwide water resources planning being directed by the Bureau of Reclamation provides a sound guide to be used in weighing various alternatives in decision making. Experiences of Bureau of Reclamation and Corps of Engineers in incorporating the environmental quality objective into design and construction of selected water resource projects are described.