Regional Economics and Development
Palo Verde Valley Economic Monitoring
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (2005-2009)
Monitored and analyzed economic data related to
agricultural markets and economic conditions in farming communities of the Palo
Verde Valley as part of Metropolitan’s PVID Forbearance and Fallowing Program
and for Metropolitan’s evaluation of potential water supply and quality
management programs along the Colorado River, the Colorado Aqueduct, and the
California Aqueduct.
Regional Economic Impacts of Delta Land Use Conversion
Byron Buck & Associates (2008)
This analysis determined the level of increase in
Delta recreation that would be required to offset any residual negative
economic impacts from converting agricultural land in the Delta to restored
habitat. Net impacts accounted for the positive economic impacts
associated with disposition of land sales revenue, expenditures for habitat
restoration and maintenance, and annual expenditures for carbon
sequestration. The required level of increase in recreation visitor-days
was then compared to a baseline forecast of Delta recreation visitor-days
prepared by Plater and Wade (2002) for the California
Department of Boating and Waterways.
Economic Impact to Solano County from Converting
Agricultural Land to Wetlands Habitat
Solano County Water Agency (2008)
Evaluated economic impacts of converting actively
farmed land in Solano County to wetland habitat in three different regions of
the Delta. Economic impacts were differentiated between first-order and
second-order impacts. First-order impacts included reductions in county
economic activity and fiscal impacts caused by removal of land from
agricultural production and commercial hunting. They also included
increases in county economic activity and fiscal impacts due to land conversion
expenditures and annual maintenance of converted land. Second-order impacts
included potential increases in wildlife viewing and other recreation activity
on converted land; changes in local reclamation district operations and costs;
changes in agricultural production costs on neighboring lands remaining in
farming; and increased county services costs. Quantitative estimates of
first-order economic impacts were developed. Second-order impacts were described
qualitatively and, where data permitted, quantitatively.
Transforming Water: Water Efficiency as Stimulus and
Long-term Investment
Alliance For Water Efficiency (2008)
Co-authored white paper quantitatively examining
the short-term economic growth impacts of water/energy efficiency investments
in terms of job creation, income, GDP, national output, water savings, and
other benefits. Development of the paper included modeling a wide range
of water/energy efficiency program possibilities, across all water-using
sectors and involving indoor, outdoor, and water system efficiencies.
Economic Impacts of Reduced CVP Water Deliveries to Westlands Water District
Byron Buck & Associates (2007)
Evaluated how reductions in 2008 CVP deliveries to Westlands could impact agricultural production and
associated regional economic activity. Used a San Joaquin Valley farm
production model and data set developed for Phase I of the Delta Risk
Management Strategy (DRMS) project. Potential impacts were evaluated
for a range of potential water supply cutbacks.
Socio-economic Impacts of Stationary Engine Air
Regulations
San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Industries Association (2005)
Testified before the SJVUAPCD on a proposal to
change Rule 4702 which would impose emission controls
on existing agricultural pumps and other stationary engines. A
cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted based on estimated pump populations
and regional agricultural characteristics. IMPLAN was used to estimate
the regional economic impacts on incomes and jobs.
Glenn-Colusa Water Transfer Impact Analysis
Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District (2004)
Evaluated the socio-economic impacts in Glenn and
Colusa counties from a proposed water transfer from GCID to the Metropolitan
Water District of Southern California (MWDSC). The study relied on the
IMPLAN regional economic impact modeling
framework. It included a survey of both participants
Proposed Tribal Casino Impacts
Elk Valley Rancheria (2004)
Developed a socio-economic regional impact analysis
for the casino proposed by the Elk Valley Rancheria in Del Norte County.
The analysis included accounting for local substitution effects on the economy
and fiscal impacts on local government..
Third-Party Impacts of Land Fallowing Associated with
IID-SDCWA Water Transfer
San Diego County Water Authority, Imperial Irrigation District
(2004)
Member of a three-member independent economists
panel charged with quantifying third-party economic impacts within Imperial
County caused by agricultural land fallowing associated with the IID-SDCWA
long-term water transfer.
Monterey Amendment EIR
California Department of Water Resources (2003)
Evaluated the potential growth inducing impacts
from implementing the Monterey Amendment components. This analysis relied
on assessing how retail water rates might change under different scenarios, and
then estimating the regional economic impacts from those changes.
Analysis of Economic Impacts of Proposed Land Retirement
in Westlands Water District
Westlands Water District (2002)
Estimated regional socio-economic impacts
associated with the proposed retirement of 200,000 irrigated acres in the Westlands Water District under proposed CALFED programs. Evaluated changes in agricultural production, input purchases and
related business impacts, employment, demographic trends, local government
finances, and income distribution. Reviewed economic transition
assistance programs and proposed alternatives.
Impact of Long-term Water Transfer on Palo Verde Valley
Regional Economy
Palo Verde Irrigation District (2001)
Estimated regional economic impacts to the City of
Blythe and surrounding areas for a proposed 35-year land
fallowing program between Metropolitan Water District and Palo Verde
Irrigation District. Evaluated changes in crop production and input purchases;
reinvestment in program signup and fallowing payments; changes in government
tax receipts; and changes in local employment along with income distribution.
Providing on-going monitoring of regional economy during transfer implementation.