WSP11716 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Water Management Study: Upper Rio Grande Basin Issues related to perceptions of the fairness of different resource uses and competing demands abound in this Basin. Many fanners and advocates of irrigation believe those who would restrict irrigation in favor of instream flows and other environmental amenities are latecomers with no right to interfere with the activities of those with a prior claim to water. Many instream advocates counter by arguing that diversionary uses impose environmental damages on all of society and the institutional-legal framework unfairly favors such users. Public officials in Albuquerque and elsewhere are hoping that residents' sense of fairness toward future generations will encourage them to curtail their consumption of finite groundwater resources. Supporters ofIndians' rights believe the federal government's failure to defend these rights as it helped finance the development of others' rights is deplorable. " ~, ~ ( :;, , , - B. Major Problems \ ~ The problems affecting the competition for the Basin's water and related resources are so numerous and intertwined that it is impossible to demonstrate cleanly where one stops and another starts. Whatever the approach for describing and evaluating the problems, one first must define the criteria for detennining if a problem exists and for measuring its severity. We use three criteria that are standard hallmarks of this nation's economic system to assess the competition for water and related resources in the Basin. These criteria also reflect three major types of arguments raised during controversies over water and other resources. This framework indicates that the outcome from this competition is optimal if; (1) the resources are used in the manner that yields the highest net value for the bundle of goods and services derived from the resources; (2) the resources are used in the manner that yields the highest standard ofliving; and (3) the resources are used in the manner that is perceived to be fair. .;.. ~ i: '".: We separate the problems into two sets. We first describe two problems that represent the most serious, fundamental aspects of the past and current failure to meet the three criteria described above. We call these the bottom-line problems. One ofthem focuses on the resources themselves, and the other on the economies and communities dependent on the resources. We then describe several of the factors that create, exacerbate, or prevent mitigation ofthe bottom-line problems. We call these the contributory problems. l_~: '., ;'. .;. " \. 'l~ 8-6 f, '.' ') Q 6 9 \ '.' Iv \J . ~ -. , >'" \"i