PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - David J. Walker AU - Dan T. Noble AU - Richard S. Magleby TI - Effective cost-share rates and the distribution of social costs in the Rock Creek, Idaho, Rural Clean Water Project DP - 1990 Jul 01 TA - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation PG - 477--479 VI - 45 IP - 4 4099 - http://www.jswconline.org/content/45/4/477.short 4100 - http://www.jswconline.org/content/45/4/477.full AB - The effective federal cost-share rate for conservation practices often differs markedly from the nominal rate. The effective cost-share rate affects practice adoption, economic efficiency of the subsidy, and the distribution of water quality costs between public and private sectors. Using a linear programming model, this study estimates the effective federal cost-share rate and thus the distribution of water quality improvement costs for the Rock Creek Rural Clean Water Program watershed in Idaho. The federal government paid 62% of farmer cost through subsidies. The public share of total project costs is 84%, and the private share is only 16%. This effective federal cost-share rate of 84% compares to a nominal rate of 56%. The effective federal cost-share rate is likely higher than that required for economic efficiency. Government subsidies are instrumental under voluntary programs for encouraging farmer adoption of water quality practices.