The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has issued a long-awaited update to its guidelines for making federal investments in water resources. The March 2013 document, Principles and Requirements for Federal Investments in Water Resources, takes a more holistic view of water investments than the original standards issued in 1983. The updated principles and requirements “allow communities more flexibility to pursue local priorities; take a more comprehensive approach to water projects that maximizes economic, environmental, and recreational benefits; promote more transparent and informed decision-making across the Federal Government; and ensure responsible taxpayer investment through smart front-end planning so that projects proceed more quickly, stay on budget, and perform better.”