Surface water diversion impacts on farm income and sources of irrigation water: The case of the Grand Prairie in Arkansas

J. Hill; E. Wailes; M. Popp; J. Popp; J. Smartt; K. Young; B. Watkins

ABSTRACT:

Alternative water conservation investment choices for the Grand Prairie Region of eastern Arkansas have been proposed. In particular, the cost-share and river water diversion components of the Grand Prairie Area Demonstration Project were analyzed in this study to determine their ramifications to area farms and water use. The cost-share alternative was deemed most effective given trade offs between ground and surface water use, income redistribution and farm income considerations. Effects of earlier reductions in rice production on the Arkansas economy may, however, justify water diversion and thus this study suggests the importance of further review of the Grand Prairie project.

Footnotes

Jason Hill is a research associate at the University of Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart, Arkansas. Eric Wailes is the L.C. Carter Chair professor with the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Michael Popp is an associate professor with the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Jennie Popp is an associate professor with the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. James Smartt is a program associate with the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas in Fayet-teville, Arkansas. Ken Young is a senior research associate with the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Brad Watkins is a research assistant professor at the University of Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart, Arkansas.
Copyright 2006 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society

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