Evaluation of environmental policies targeting irrigated agriculture: the case of the Mooki catchment, Australia

Lee, Lisa Y., Ancev, Tihomir and Vervoort, Willem, (2012). Evaluation of environmental policies targeting irrigated agriculture: the case of the Mooki catchment, Australia. Agricultural Water Management, 109 107-116

Document type:
Article

Metadata
Links
Versions
Statistics
  • Sub-type Journal article
    Author Lee, Lisa Y.
    Ancev, Tihomir
    Vervoort, Willem
    Title Evaluation of environmental policies targeting irrigated agriculture: the case of the Mooki catchment, Australia
    Appearing in Agricultural Water Management   Check publisher's open access policy
    Volume 109
    Publication Date 2012-06
    Place of Publication Amsterdam
    Publisher Elsevier
    Start page 107
    End page 116
    Abstract

    An integrated biophysical and economic model is used to determine the effects of using more water efficient irrigation systems and trade in water rights on the environmental performance of irrigation enterprises in the Mooki catchment within the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia. We find that improved water use efficiency increased profit in the presence of modern irrigation technologies and water trading. Salinity risk downstream is reduced due to the fall in saline discharge from the catchment, and irrigation water is traded away from ecologically significant regions. It is important that the institutional setup gives confidence in the security of water supplies. When irrigators can be assured about the security of their water entitlements in the context of water reform policies, incentives emerge for them to invest in water efficient irrigation technologies and to participate in the water market. Environmental performance can thereby be improved without the need for financial support from the government. Further, minimal government intervention is required to address salinity; given the conjunctive nature of secondary salinity and water use it can be cost-efficient to address both environmental flow and salinity mitigation with a single policy instrument.

    Keyword Australia
    Environmental flow
    Murray–darling basin
    Salinity
    Irrigation efficiency
    Water market
    Copyright Holder Elsevier
    Copyright Year 2012
    Copyright type All rights reserved
    ISSN 0378-3774
    DOI 10.1016/j.agwat.2012.02.011
  • Versions
    Version Filter Type
  • Citation counts
    Scopus Citation Count Cited 0 times in Scopus Article
    Google Scholar Search Google Scholar
    Access Statistics: 652 Abstract Views  -  Detailed Statistics
    Created: Tue, 26 Aug 2014, 13:18:05 JST