Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS) RISA team Investigator Bonnie Colby recently published a guidebook for stakeholders titled “Water Auctions: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation.” The guidebook is supported by CPO’s Sectoral Applications Research Program and RISA Program.
Water auctions can be a valuable tool when water is available to move from its current type of use (and users) to new locations and types of use. The guidebook was developed to assist those seeking improved ways to acquire water for specific needs, such as a tribal water settlement, an endangered species instream flow program or to firm up urban drought supplies. It discusses the role, potential advantages and disadvantages, as well as implementation and evaluation of water auctions. Potential guidebook users include tribal, state, and federal agencies, cities, irrigation districts, non-profit organizations and private firms needing to design and implement water acquisition programs.
The work was supported by USDA/NIFA, CPO/SARP, CPO/RISA, and the Walton Family Foundation. The Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS), a CPO RISA Team, serves Arizona and New Mexico.