A CBO Paper. How Federal Policies Affect the Allocation of Water

A CBO Paper. How Federal Policies Affect the Allocation of Water PDF

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 30

ISBN-13:

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Use of the nation's freshwater resources attracts particular scrutiny in times of drought. When water is scarce, people are more aware of its importance. The mechanisms that govern the allocation and use of water are complicated, however. To examine how society uses its water resources, this Congressional Budget Office analysis addresses several major questions: (1) What are this country's water sources, and how is the water used? (2) What determines the underlying allocation, and does that allocation maximize water's potential benefits to society as a whole? (3) What policies might the federal government consider toward that end?

Valuing Ground Water

Valuing Ground Water PDF

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1997-07-10

Total Pages: 203

ISBN-13: 0309175003

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Because water in the United State has not been traded in markets, there is no meaningful estimate of what it would cost if it were traded. But failing to establish ground water's valueâ€"for in situ uses such as sustaining wetlands as well as for extractive uses such as agricultureâ€"will lead to continued overuse and degradation of the nation's aquifers. In Valuing Ground Water an interdisciplinary committee integrates the latest economic, legal, and physical knowledge about ground water and methods for valuing this resource, making it comprehensible to decision-makers involved in Superfund cleanup efforts, local wellhead protection programs, water allocation, and other water-related management issues. Using the concept of total economic value, this volume provides a framework for calculating the economic value of ground water and evaluating tradeoffs between competing uses of it. Included are seven case studies where ground-water valuation has been or could be used in decisionmaking. The committee examines trends in ground-water management, factors that contribute to its value, and issues surrounding ground-water allocation and legal rights to its use. The book discusses economic valuation of natural resources and reviews several valuation methods. Presenting conclusions, recommendations, and research priorities, Valuing Ground Water will be of interest to those concerned about ground-water issues: policymakers, regulators, economists, attorneys, researchers, resource managers, and environmental advocates.

Water Transfers in the West

Water Transfers in the West PDF

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1992-02-01

Total Pages: 321

ISBN-13: 0309045282

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The American West faces many challenges, but none is more important than the challenge of managing its water. This book examines the role that water transfers can play in allocating the region's scarce water resources. It focuses on the variety of third parties, including Native Americans, Hispanic communities, rural communities, and the environment, that can sometimes be harmed when water is moved. The committee presents recommendations to guide states, tribes, and federal agencies toward better regulation. Seven in-depth case studies are presented: Nevada's Carson-Truckee basin, the Colorado Front Range, northern New Mexico, Washington's Yakima River basin, central Arizona, and the Central and Imperial valleys in California. Water Transfers in the West presents background and current information on factors that have encouraged water transfers, typical types of transfers, and their potential negative effects. The book highlights the benefits that water transfers can bring but notes the need for more third-party representation in the processes used to evaluate planned transfers.

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