Prepared by the Technical Committee on Project Formulation for Irrigation and Drainage Systems of the Irrigation and Drainage Division of ASCE. This report sets forth the generally accepted principles of project formulation and provides a guide for the planning and review of irrigation and drainage projects. Irrigation and drainage projects should be formulated to accomplish their intended purpose with full consideration of physical, economic, social, and environmental factors. Irrigation and drainage projects have numerous common elements regardless of their size, scope, and location. This guide describes the series of steps involved in project formulation, as well as checklists. Topics include: determination of objectives, identification and definition of problems and needs, evaluation of available resources, development of alternative means of resolving problems and meeting the needs, evaluation of the alternatives, and selection and implementation of the recommended plan.