AN ECONOMIC, INSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL OVERVIEW OF GROUND WATER RECHARGE, STORAGE AND RECOVERY PROJECTS IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES

摘要

In 1983, the Congress authorized the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation's High Plains Ground Water Recharge Demonstration Program to evaluate recharge, storage and recovery opportunities. Under a cooperative agreement, the Western State Water Council has reviewed related economic, institutional and legal issues. Interest and experience in ground water recharge activities has grown as a practical and promising water storage alternative. The effects of such activities are very site-specific, and often little data is available to carefully evaluate project costs and benefits. Given this uncertainty, without federal support many of the program projects would not yet have been built. Project sponsors willingness and ability to share project costs has been the primary measure of economic feasibility. The major legal and institutional considerations involve water availability and state and federal environmental laws. Many state water laws are changing to accommodate recharge activities. In the future, recharge, storage and recovery projects and conjunctive water use should be considered as part of any comprehensive management program. Decisionmakers should focus on the specific problems to be addressed and the particular advantages of recharge technology.