|
|
| Valuing Nature in Texas |
 |
The Value of Water to Sustain and Preserve the Ecosystem in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
Located on the easternmost part of the Texas-Mexico border, the Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley (the Valley) lies in one of the most biodiverse regions in all of North America. However, the water needs of the ecosystem are rarely considered as agricultural production, industry and a rapidly growing urban population use all but a trickle of the Rio Grande's water. This project utilizes innovative economic techniques for estimating the value of water to sustain the ecosystem in the Valley. These estimates can then provide the basis for economic representation of the ecosystem in water use decisions.
|
|
 |
Valuing Freshwater Inflows Initiative
Texas' bays and estuaries are among the state's most valuable but under-appreciated natural assets, providing the foundation for a variety of important economic activities that include recreational and commercial fishing, and a rapidly growing ecotourism sector. However, intensifying competition among upstream human water users is threatening the water needs of coastal ecosystems, putting mounting pressure on these valuable natural resources. HARC's Valuing Freshwater Inflows Initiative was established to improve our understanding of and help find solutions to this pressing issue. The Valuing Freshwater Inflows Initiative seeks to assess the economic value associated with freshwater inflows needed to sustain the ecological health of Texas' Bays and Estuaries. The initiative is currently focusing on the Rio Grande Estuary and San Antonio Bay.
|
|
|
| Page Updated/Reviewed: 06/20/2008 8:37 AM |
|
|
