Abstract |
An interdisciplinary approach to the solution of the water resource problems of the Upper Rio Grande region (URGR) in New Mexico was centered around a socio-economic model, with special emphasis placed upon the Rio Grande Region. Inputs into the socio-economic model were obtained from separate studies. Three sets of alternatives were considered: (1) Without a water constraint, in the Rio Grande Region, both production and depletions are expected to exhibit the largest increase (59.7 percent and 47.4 percent, respectively); (2) When a surface water constraint is imposed, the value of production is reduced by $18.1 million in 2020 and water depletions are expected to decrease about 18.1 percent by 2020; (3) When a total water constraint is imposed, the value of production is decreased $4.1 million below that expected when using only a surface water constraint, and water depletions reduced about 8.4 percent. (Modified author abstract) |