Long-Term Storage Credits: Analyzing Market-Based Transactions to Achieve Arizona Water Policy Objectives
Affiliation
Univ Arizona, Coll Agr & Life Sci, Dept Environm SciUniv Arizona, Water Resources Res Ctr, Coll Agr & Life Sci
Issue Date
2020-02-19Keywords
market-based transactionslong-term storage credits
water policy
water management
Arizona
recharge
Metadata
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MDPICitation
Bernat, R.F.A.; Megdal, S.B.; Eden, S. Long-Term Storage Credits: Analyzing Market-Based Transactions to Achieve Arizona Water Policy Objectives. Water 2020, 12, 568.Journal
WATERRights
Copyright © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Collection Information
This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu.Abstract
The state of Arizona has created a unique water management tool in response to water scarcity and population growth. In 1994, Arizona's state legislature authorized the creation of long-term storage credits (LTSCs) through aquifer recharge with Colorado River water or effluent. LTSCs represent a quantity of water the owner is entitled to recover and use once the water has remained underground for a full calendar year. Owners may also sell their LTSCs to others by a simple credit account transfer. LTSCs have emerged as a tool for water users to achieve compliance with groundwater regulations in the most populated areas of the state, such as the cities of Phoenix and Tucson. Using data collected and maintained by the state's water resources regulator, this study examines sales of LTSCs to reveal patterns of market-based transactions. Analysis of 23 years of public records shows several trends: (1) LTSC transactions have been increasing since 2003; (2) municipal water providers and investment firms have been active participants in LTSC transactions; (3) the greatest transaction volumes involve governmental entities established by state law with groundwater recharge and replenishment obligations. This analysis reveals how LTSCs have contributed to achieving water policy goals in Central Arizona and suggests how the LTSC system can be used to improve water use efficiency through voluntary redistribution in other water scarce regions.Note
Open access journalISSN
2073-4441Version
Final published versionae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.3390/w12020568
Scopus Count
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Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Copyright © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

