HR: 11:50h
AN: H32B-07    [Abstracts]
TI: Options and Consequences: Water Banking/Leasing Issues Explored for the Rio Grande in Southern New Mexico
AU: * Brookshire, D S
EM: brookshi@unm.edu
AF: University of New Mexico, Department of Economics MSCO5-3060 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131 United States
AU: Coursey, D
EM: d-coursey@uchicago.edu
AF: University of Chicago, Harris School of Public Policy 1155 E 60th St University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637 United States
AU: Dimint, A
EM: demint6@cs.com
AF: University of New Mexico, Department of Economics MSCO5-3060 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131 United States
AU: Tidwell, V
EM: vctidwe@sandia.gov
AF: Sandia National Laboratory, P.O. Box 5800 MS 0735, Albuquerque, NM 87185 United States
AB: Since 1950, the demand for water has more than doubled in the United States. Historically, growing demands have been met by increasing reservoir capacity and through groundwater mining, often at the expense of environmental and cultural concerns. The future is expected to hold much the same. Demand for water will continue to increase particularly in response to the expanding urban sector, while growing concerns over the environment are prompting interest in allocating more water for in-stream uses. So, where will this water come from? Virtually all water supplies are allocated. Providing for new uses requires a reduction in the amount of water dedicated to existing uses. The water banking/leasing model is formulated within a system dynamics context using the object oriented commercial software package, Powersim„ Studio 2003. System dynamics provides a unique mathematical framework for integrating the natural and social processes important to managing natural resources and can provide an interactive interface for engaging the public in the decision process. These system level models focus on capturing the broad structure of the system, specifically the feedback and time delays between interacting subsystems. The spatially aggregated models are computationally efficient allowing simulations to be conducted on a PC in a matter of seconds to minutes. By employing interactive interfaces, these models can be taken directly to the public or decision maker. To demonstrate the water banking/leasing model, application has been made to potential markets on the Rio Grande. Specifically, the model spans the reach between Elephant Butte Reservoir (central New Mexico) and the New Mexico/Texas state line. Primary sectors in the model include climate, surface and groundwater, riparian and aquatic habitat, watershed processes, water quality, water demand (residential, commercial, industrial, institution, and agricultural), economics, policy, and legal institutions. Within the model the basin is divided into four distinct but interacting reaches and a monthly time-step is employed. River operations and water demand trends have been calibrated to historical data.
DE: 1884 Water supply
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting