Recipient Organization
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV
1310 BOLLEY DR
FARGO,ND 58105-5750
Performing Department
Agribusiness and Applied Economics
Non Technical Summary
This research will support better management decisions on the Missouri River by estimating the economic value of water sored in upstream reservoirs in boating and recreation. The project will also look at literature concerning laws and rules that might constrain the future storage of Missouri River water in aquifers.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Quantify water demand and value of water in competing and complementary water uses. Comments: Water managers and users make decisions regarding water use based on its value (whether social, environmental, or economic) to them and an implicit understanding of how their demand for water will change in response to social, environmental, and economic factors. Accurate estimates of value and demand are crucial to the implementation of effective water-saving policies and programs. Research undertaken in this objective will assist policymakers in understanding how to structure incentives and conservation programs to encourage technology adoption and water use efficiency.
Evaluate and compare alternative water quantity and quality management strategies and institutions. Comments: Institutions and management strategies to address the allocation of groundwater and surface water and/or deal with water quality measures vary considerably. Efficient and effective policies to reach the goals of water agencies are critical and can be comprised of institutions such as taxes, subsidies, markets, collective action initiatives, and technological innovations. Research undertaken in this objective will assist policymakers in evaluating policies that improve water allocation and water quality institutions and meet policymakers goals.
Project Methods
Benefits transfer will be used to estimate the value of water in upstream reservoir recreation. Secondary data on participation will be collected from four states (Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and, Nebraska) on recreation is six reservoirs (Fort Peck Lake, Lake Sakakawea, Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case, and Lewis and Clark Lake). Participation rates will be analyzed to assess the impact of weather and reservoir levels. Mega-analysis will be used to estimate the value of a participation day in waterborne recreation. These figures will be combined to estimate the value of reservoir water in recreation.The understanding of the institutional constraints on the storage of flood waters in underground aquifers is limited. As an initial step to assess the institutional feasibility of this concept is an understanding of the public policy, social science, and legal literature concerning beneficial uses under the prior appropriation doctrine. Also, an understanding of the institutional environment of cases where this type of storage augmentation has been implemented would advance this expansion of knowledge.