Columbia-Pacific Northwest Region

Modeling Spatial Water Allocation and Hydrologic Externalities in the Boise Valley

This report describes the development and application of a prototype spatial water allocation model for a portion of the Boise Project. Model development involves linking a conjunctive hydrologic model with a partial equilibrium economic model. The prototype model describes the hydrologic distribution of canal seepage, groundwater pumping, and drain return in a small area of the Boise Project as trades between spatially distributed water suppliers and demanders.

The report findings indicate that quantities of water supplied and demanded and water prices are influenced by the existence of hydrologic externalities resulting from canal seepage spatially.

Assessing the economics of water supply and demand is an emerging science and there is still much work to do to improve models and scale them to regional levels. This report is intended as an informational document, aimed at improving our understanding of water supply and demand issues as well as hydrologic externalities. The report has been peer reviewed by technical experts at Reclamation and at the University of Idaho for scientific accuracy and appropriateness of methodology.

Contact
Jennifer Johnson
(208) 378-5307
jmjohnson@usbr.gov

Bureau of Reclamation
PN Regional Office
1150 N. Curtis Road
Boise, ID 83706