Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-281).

Executive summary -- 1. Introduction -- 2. The concept of value -- 3. Water use patterns -- 4. Overview of the economic concept and measurement of value -- 5. Empirical evidence of water values -- 6. Impacts of future trends affecting the value of water -- 7. Toolkit for water managers -- 8. Case studies on the value of water -- 9. A suggested agenda for future research -- Appendix A. Issues and methods for estimating agricultural water demands and values -- Appendix B. Instream flow valuation calculations -- Appendix C. The value of water in the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission system : a view through the "triple bottom line" lens -- Appendix D. Ipswich River watershed : a case study for the value of water -- Appendix E. Case study-the value of water supply initiatives in the Tampa Bay region -- Appendix F. Instream and extractive use values generate considerable total value for local river water users (Verde River, Ariz.) -- Appendix G. Reclaimed water provides value as a reliable supply for local businesses (San Diego, Calif.) -- Appendix H. Developing an apples-to-apples comparison of water supply options for a water-short region (El Paso, Texas) -- Appendix I. Instream flows generate sizable economic values for regional economics based on outdoor recreation and tourism (Vail, Colo.) -- References -- Abbreviations.