The price of water: Market-based strategies are needed to cope with scarcity

Growing population and environmental concerns are increasing the demand for California's water resources. Historically, the state has dealt with shortages by expanding supply. In the coming years, new strategies will be required to allocate water among existing and em...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: David Sunding
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources 2000-03-01
Series:California Agriculture
Online Access:http://calag.ucanr.edu/archive/?article=ca.v054n02p56
Description
Summary:Growing population and environmental concerns are increasing the demand for California's water resources. Historically, the state has dealt with shortages by expanding supply. In the coming years, new strategies will be required to allocate water among existing and emerging uses and to create additional supplies by nontraditional means. Three techniques will form the foundation of water management in the next era: water markets, water-use efficiency and active conjunctive use. Such methods establish prices for water that more accurately reflect costs, encouraging conservation and more efficient use patterns.
ISSN:0008-0845
2160-8091