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Discount Rates for Water Resource Projects

Updated 10/28/2008

Some documents in the tables below require Adobe Acrobat.
Everything but Water Resource Projects should use OMB Circular No. A-94, Discount Rates For Cost-Effectiveness, Lease Purchase, and Related Analyses for analysis involving federal funding, or the appropriate commercial discount (interest) rate for non-federal analysis.  The current rates are available in DISCOUNT RATES FOR COST-EFFECTIVENESS, LEASE PURCHASE, AND RELATED ANALYSES.  For 2008, 4.6% is recommended for non-watershed federal analysis.

Fiscal Year BBC - A-47 1 SD 97 WRC1968 Regulation Principles & Standards WRDA 1974 Section 80(a)
        Adobe Acrobat DocumentPrinciples & Standards  (3.79 MB) WRDA 1974 Section 80(a)
1957 2.500        
1958 2.500        
1959 2.500        
1960 2.500        
1961 2.625        
1962   2.625      
1963   2.875      
1964   3.000      
1965   3.125      
1966   3.125      
1967   3.125      
1968   3.250      
1969   3.250 4.625    
1970     4.875    
1971     5.125    
1972     5.375    
1973     5.500    
1974     5.625 6.875 5.625
1975         5.875
1976         6.125
1977         6.375
1978         6.625
1979         6.875
1980         7.125
1981         7.375
1982         7.625
1983         7.875
1984         8.125
1985         8.375
1986         8.625
1987         8.875
1988         8.625
1989         8.875
1990         8.875
1991         8.750
1992         8.500
1993         8.250
1994         8.000
1995         7.750
1996         7.625
1997         7.375
1998         7.125
1999         6.875
2000         6.625
2001         6.375
2002         6.125
2003         5.875
2004       Adobe Acrobat documentFederal Register (45.5 KB) 5.625
2005         5.375
2006      

 

 5.125
2007       Treasury Annual Interest Rate Certification 4.875
2008       Treasury Annual Interest Rate Certification 4.875
2009       Treasury Annual Interest Rate Certification
 (limited to 1/4% annual change)		 4.625

This file is also available at NRCS Resource Economics and Social Sciences.

Title Effective Date Expired Date
1 Budget Bureau Circular A-47 December 31, 1952 May 15, 1962
2 Senate Document 97 May 15, 1962 December 24, 1968
3 Water Resources Council December 24, 1968 October 25, 1973
4 Adobe Acrobat DocumentPrinciples and Standards (3.79 MB) October 25, 1973 March 07, 1974
5 Water Resource Development Act of 1974, Section 80 March 07, 1974 present