Water Policy and Economics

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Water Policy and Economics

Increasing water demands from a growing population, economic expansion and increasing use per capita have resulted in localized, temporal shortages of available drinking water resources. As a result, many USDA CSREES research efforts are focusing on drinking water policy and economics. USDA CSREES has identified Water Policy and Economics as a topical theme to focus research, education and extension projects.

Improving Water Quality and Farm Profit

Ways to implement integrated pest management (IPM) practices and reduce fertilizer use while maintaining or enhancing farm profit are being addressed by CSREES and Lang Grant System research programs. For example, at Oregon State University a partnership of family farmers, agency representatives and university faculty are working together to research and develop farming IPM practices that enhance water quality without negatively impacting farm profitability.

crop sprinkler system in action Irrigation Technology

Improvements to irrigation methods will expand the use of available drinking water resources. Research through CSREES and the Land Grant System is addressing water conservation and irrigation technology.

Accomplishment: The Rio Grande Basin Initiative is a cooperative effort between Texas A&M University and New Mexico State University that is implementing strategies for meeting present and future water demand in the Rio Grand Basin. These strategies expand the efficient use of available water and create new water supplies.

Other Water Policy Issues

Further research on water policy address water transfer and use conflicts, water marketing and potential privatization impacts.

The intent of these pages is not to catalogue all activities, but rather to indicate the types of research activities in this theme across the U.S.