Arbitration as a Decision-Making Tool: The Tampa Bay Water Case

Rapid population and economic growth in the Tampa Bay region of Florida has severely affected fresh water resources. Plans to increase water supply have been opposed for their perceived failure to divide limited resources fairly between stakeholders and to protect the Bay ecosystems. A partnership among local governments and public agencies in 1998 attempted to end years of litigation over water rights and ecosystem protection, but failed to prevent arbitration over proposed withdrawals from the surrounding rivers. This paper examines the process of arbitration as a tool to negotiate complex interests in water. Under certain circumstances, arbitration may constitute a quality decision-making process.