A dearth of credible data hampers debate, says Tushar Shah of the International Water Management Institute in Colombo, Sri Lanka: “What should have been a national debate based on analysis, reason, and cold calculus is rapidly turning into a cacophony of discordant prejudices, opinions, preferences, and assertions.” Shah is leading an analysis of the overall project for the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research in Washington, D.C., assessing factors such as flow rates and exploring strategies for maximizing use of runoff. A report is expected in April 2008.