OPTIMALLY MANAGING WILD RIVERS FOR INSTREAM BENEFITS

Frank A. Ward

No 278444, 1986 Annual Meeting, July 27-30, Reno, Nevada from American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association)

Abstract: This paper reports on study which employed the travel cost method of estimating economic values from low streamflow augmentation for whitewater angling and boating. In addition, we constructed a dynamic programming (DP) model which allows a water management agency to optimally time instream flow augmentations of a seasonally fixed water supply in the face of uncertain future natural streamflows. The model was applied to a case study of the wild river stretch of New Mexico's Rio Chama. Results indicate that properly timed streamflow augmentation can yield benefits of up to $1100 per consumptive acre foot, as compared to agricultural values of $50 per acre foot. Hence, results strongly suggest the economic feasibility of public acquisition of water rights for instream flow augmentation.

Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy; Environmental Economics and Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 13
Date: 1986-07
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:aaea86:278444

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.278444

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