The Water Marketing Solution

摘要

Water markets have long been viewed as a promising option for addressing water shortages, and as a tool For meeting burgeoning urban water demand in the western United States. But the traditional water laws of western states make it difficult and in some cases even impossible to operate efficient water markets. As a result, water transfers and water marketing have thus far proved to be tools of limited utility for addressing the West's future water needs. As drought, climate change, and ever-increasing populations put more pressure on the West's limited water supplies, some additional movement of water from agricultural to urban use seems inevitable. But water marketing offers the possibility of much more. With modest reforms to current law, water marketing could be an efficient and effective solution for most of the West's future water resourcechallenges. And it could displace the need for destructive water development projects that continue to plague water resource management.