Preparing for a Drier Future: Welfare Consequences on the Salton Sea Region of Re-allocating Colorado River Flow Deficit

Jacob Rightnar and Ariel Dinar
from ARE Update Vol. 23, No. 6, Jul/Aug, 2020
Abstract
Colorado River water flow is running short of its 1922 allocation to users. We assess effects of reallocation of Colorado River water deficit on sectoral and regional welfare in the Salton Sea Region. We use several allocation schemes from previous regional studies, including an allocation based on priority to greatest regional benefit, and allocations based on proportional water quantity reductions with and without social preferences to certain users. We derive water allocations that are most beneficial and feasible for the region as less water becomes available.
Keywords
Colorado River water, Salton Sea, water scarcity, bankruptcy allocation, regional welfare
Citation
Jacob Rightnar and Ariel Dinar. 2020. "Preparing for a Drier Future: Welfare Consequences on the Salton Sea Region of Re-allocating Colorado River Flow Deficit." ARE Update 23(6): 5-8. University of California Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics.
https://giannini.ucop.edu/filer/file/1597260842/19730/