VALUING THE PROTECTION OF MINIMUM INSTREAM FLOWS IN NEW-MEXICO

Currently, New Mexico law does not provide any legal avenue of protect ing instream flows. A change in the status quo requires that a prima f acie case be made-establishing sufficient evidence of the public benef its from maintaining instream flows to warrant consideration, or stand ing, in future water policy deliberations. Using the contingent valuat ion (CV) method, we investigate the nonmarket benefits of protecting m inimum instream hows in New Mexico. Results from a dichotomous choice CV telephone survey show significant nonmarket values for protecting i nstream flows that are sensitive to a change in scope and insensitive to a group-size reminder.