search our site     home > key topics > natural resources, environment, & conservation   irrigation & water use U.S. agriculture competes for water resources with other sectors, including environmental and urban users. Policies and trends in water allocation, conservation, and management all have a profound impact on irrigated agriculture. ERS conducts research and analysis of water markets, producer decisions, and water-related policies, as well as the adoption of water conserving technologies. related briefing rooms - offer an indepth discussion synthesizing ERS research Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) Irrigation and Water Use feature Economic and Conservation Tradeoffs of Regulatory Vs. Incentive-Based Water Policy in the Northwest—Water quality, endangered salmon species, and Native American fishing rights have significantly heightened the competition for Columbia and Snake River Basin water resources. A solution to this regional resource conflict is expected to involve a reallocation of water resources from agriculture. This analysis examines both onfarm water conservation and agricultural economic tradeoffs across five broad regulatory and conservation-incentive water policy perspectives for the Pacific Northwest. International Journal of Water Resources Development (6/00). web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov updated: June 4, 2001  Also at ERS... latest publications (all) • Amber Waves, September 2004 • Measuring the Success of Conservation Programs • Amber Waves, June 2004 latest data products (all) • Western Irrigated Agriculture • Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators (AREI) Database and Mapping Tool • Crop Production Practices resources • Contact an ERS Expert • Calendar of Releases services • Receive E-mail Updates • E-mail This Page • Translate This Page

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