Two lines and a mess of squiggles in the middle—that’s what was drawn on a whiteboard as a new vision for water governance in the Aspen National Water Strategy.
Martin Doyle of Duke University says that simple sketch captured a big idea: set clear boundaries and goals, but allow flexibility in how to get there.
Today’s system often does the opposite—locking in rigid processes across fragmented agencies and jurisdictions, even when they slow progress or block better solutions.
The strategy calls for a shift to outcome-based governance, where success is defined by results like water security, resilience, and quality—not by checking procedural boxes. That means rethinking permitting, aligning decisions with how water actually moves across watersheds, and opening the door for innovation at the local and regional level.
Episode at https://bit.ly/AspenWaterStrategy
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