Innovative Water Supply Reliability Arrangements

This thesis presents a historical approach to water law and economics in the western US and then provides a framework for conducting innovative water transfers for the purpose of augmenting traditional water sales and leases. Innovative transfers considered include: dry-year water supply reliability contracts, water auctions and water banking. Determinants of price in typical water leases at a statewide spatial scale for California, Colorado and New Mexico, using econometric analysis, as well as the minimum price required for growers to forego irrigation in Yuma County in Arizona are discussed. Several case studies are compared, including pilot fallowing programs conducted by the US Bureau of Reclamation.

Michael ODonnell_Masters Thesis.pdf (2.46 MB)

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