Water for western agriculture

Book · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6502384

Frederick, K D; Hanson, J C

The continued increase in American farm productivity depends to a large extent upon the availability and cost of water resources. The report in this book is one of three prepared by Resources for the Future on irrigation. It examines the role of western irrigation and the impacts of the changing water supply situation on the development of western irrigation. Past trends, water-supply conditions, water institutions, economic forces, technological alternatives, and environmental factors are examined for their impact on the course of western irrigation over the next two or three decades. The influence of these institutional and economic forces on resource use and the environment are also considered along with the broad policy implications of the analysis. The report concludes that the West is only running out of low-cost water, and no set of policies and programs will alter the fact that water is becoming increasingly valuable. Reviewing existing laws that helped to foster western development and raising the market value of irrigation are among the suggested approaches. 203 references, 3 figures, 49 tables.

• OSTI ID: 6502384
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
290400* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Resources
AGRICULTURE
COMPETITION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FEDERAL REGION IX
FEDERAL REGION VII
FEDERAL REGION VIII
INDUSTRY
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
IRRIGATION
NORTH AMERICA
PUBLIC POLICY
RESOURCES
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
USA
WATER REQUIREMENTS
WATER RESOURCES