THE RACE FOR WATER RANCHES

摘要

Western U.S. cities have long looked to purchases of "water ranches" to expand available water supplies. These water ranches are generally large historically irrigated acreages with significant volumes of senior water rights. In some cases, cities immediately began developing and transferring water from agricultural to urban uses. More often, the properties were purchased for future water needs. Tightening municipal debt markets, softening urban water demand, and escalating conveyance and pipe costs have left some cities questioning the benefit of the ranches while others continue the age-old tradition.