Water Supply Analysis for Restoring the Colorado River Delta, Mexico
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 133, Issue 5
Abstract
This paper employs an economic-engineering optimization model to explore water supply options for environmental restoration of the Colorado River Delta, Mexico. Potential water sources include reductions in local agricultural and urban water use through water markets, wastewater reuse, and additional Colorado River flows from the United States. For these alternatives, the optimization model estimates operating and water scarcity costs, water scarcity volumes, and marginal economic costs of environmental flows and values of additional Colorado River flows from the United States over a range of required delta environmental flows. Economic values for agricultural and urban water uses were estimated by two ancillary models. The results provide insights into economically promising water supplies for restoration activities. Quantifying the trade-off between agricultural and urban economic valuation and environmental flows provides a framework for decision makers to quantify their valuation of environmental flows. The model also provides a framework for integrating additional knowledge of the system as information becomes available.
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Acknowledgments
The writers are greatly indebted to the Mexican agencies and institutions that provided data for this research, in particular to the Comisión Nacional del Agua (CNA), the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexicali (UABC-Mexicali), and the Baja California office of the Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentación (SAGARPA). The writers are also thankful for the comments and suggestions of two anonymous reviewers. This research was made possible through a UCMEXUS-CONACYT collaborative grant.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 133 • Issue 5 • September 2007
Pages: 462 - 471
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 25, 2006
Accepted: Feb 12, 2007
Published online: Sep 1, 2007
Published in print: Sep 2007
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