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The Economics of American Indian Water Rights

EPA Grant Number: U914925
Title: The Economics of American Indian Water Rights
Investigators: Steenstra, Alex
Institution: University of Utah
EPA Project Officer: Thompson, Delores
Project Period: January 1, 1996 through January 1, 1999
Project Amount: $102,000
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (1996)
Research Category: Academic Fellowships , Fellowship - Economics , Economics and Decision Sciences

Description:

Objective:

The objective of this research project is to develop an interdisciplinary method of valuing Indian water rights and recommend an alternative quantification method to better define Indian water rights to end the uncertainty surrounding tribal claims on the mostly allocated waters of the West. This research project demonstrates that the use of Indian water will promote further economic development and environmental quality on and off reservations if tribes are allowed to freely market their water. This research project proposes the Indian Water Rights Impact Statement (IWRIS) as an alternative method to determine the quantity and use of tribal water.

Approach:

Because the American Indian water conflict and prospects for resolving it are mostly local or regional, the focus of this research project is on case studies. Individually, the case studies identify specific issues and water institutions; collectively, they provide information on the causes of problems and offer prospects for resolving the water conflict. The proposed IWRIS is necessarily limited to general guidelines because it is not possible to consider the cultural diversity of Indian tribes and their right to self-determination.

Supplemental Keywords:

fellowship, American Indian water use, American Indian water rights, tribal water, economics, Indian Water Rights Impact Statement, IWRIS. , Economic, Social, & Behavioral Science Research Program, Scientific Discipline, RFA, Social Science, decision-making, Economics & Decision Making, Economics, econometric analysis, tribal claims, economic research, American Indians, bargaining process, native americans

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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