COMPETING WATER USES IN THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED-STATES - VALUING DROUGHT DAMAGES

Economic benefit functions of water resource use are estimated for all major offstream and instream uses of Colorado River water. Specific b enefit estimates are developed for numerous agricultural regions, for municipal uses, and for cooling water in thermal energy generation. Ec onomic benefits of hydropower generation are given, as are those for r ecreation on Colorado River reservoirs and on one free-flowing reach. Marginal and total benefit estimates for Colorado River water use are provided. The estimates presented here represent a synthesis of previo us work, providing in total a comprehensive set of economic demand fun ctions for competing uses of Colorado River water Non-use values (e.g. , benefits of preserving endangered species) are not estimated.