Analysis of the Use It or Lose It Policy
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC Ballroom B/C/D
Start Date
21-5-2015
End Date
21-5-2015
Keywords
Market Based Alternatives
Abstract
The use it or lose it policy was designed to encourage continual beneficial use of water. Since water is considered a public resource, a water right can be revoked whenever a user fails to meet the beneficial use test. Water is a scarce resource in the eastern part of Washington State and if it is not being used beneficially or if only a portion of the water allotted in the right is used, it theoretically would be allotted to another user who would utilize the water more efficiently. This use it or lose it policy has had negative effects, both economically and ecologically. To avoid relinquishing water rights, holders will often waste water by using it in ways that are not beneficial in efforts to protect their allocations. Fortunately, this problem can be mitigated by adopting market based solutions such as water markets, which would change the basis from beneficial use to willingness to pay. Policy alternatives examined will include (1) redefining of beneficial use, (2) altering the time associated with the relinquishment statue, and (3) restructuring of water right allocation from prior appropriation to willingness-to-pay.
Recommended Citation
Wilkinson, Taylor, "Analysis of the Use It or Lose It Policy" (2015). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 121.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2015/posters/121
Poster Number
69
Department/Program
Environmental Studies
Additional Mentoring Department
Political Science
Analysis of the Use It or Lose It Policy
SURC Ballroom B/C/D
The use it or lose it policy was designed to encourage continual beneficial use of water. Since water is considered a public resource, a water right can be revoked whenever a user fails to meet the beneficial use test. Water is a scarce resource in the eastern part of Washington State and if it is not being used beneficially or if only a portion of the water allotted in the right is used, it theoretically would be allotted to another user who would utilize the water more efficiently. This use it or lose it policy has had negative effects, both economically and ecologically. To avoid relinquishing water rights, holders will often waste water by using it in ways that are not beneficial in efforts to protect their allocations. Fortunately, this problem can be mitigated by adopting market based solutions such as water markets, which would change the basis from beneficial use to willingness to pay. Policy alternatives examined will include (1) redefining of beneficial use, (2) altering the time associated with the relinquishment statue, and (3) restructuring of water right allocation from prior appropriation to willingness-to-pay.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Rex Wirth