000008467 001__ 8467 000008467 005__ 20250314150824.0 000008467 037__ $$aTHESIS 000008467 041__ $$aeng 000008467 245__ $$aCounty Level Spacial Analysis of Agricultural Economic Water Productivity in California 000008467 260__ $$c2025-03-11 000008467 270__ $$mz_dinklage@coloradocollege.edu 000008467 300__ $$a41 pages$$bmaps$$fPDF files 000008467 380__ $$aThesis 000008467 502__ $$d2025$$nEconomics and Business Department 000008467 520__ $$aThis paper uses data from the California Department of Water Resources and the United States Department of Agriculture to map county-level variations in water productivity metrics across California. Five different water productivity metrics are used, including gross economic water productivity (EWPg), net economic water productivity (EWPn), irrigated cash rent premiums (RP), green water footprint (GWF), and water intensity (WI). Results show that the average EWPn across California is 608 USD/acre-foot, with significant county-level differences across the state. Most significantly, the average EWPn for all coastal counties was 1,754 USD/acre-foot, while the average EWPn for inland counties was 36 USD/acre-foot, indicating that coastal counties in California have much higher net returns per unit of water consumed than inland counties. Variables such as crop mix, drought index values, and labor costs help describe the large variations in economic water productivity across the state. Net economic water productivity can be used to correctly compensate farmers for voluntary reductions in agricultural water use, and results identify regions where compensation payments would be low or high. The county- level analysis identifies several counties in Southern California, including San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, and Inyo counties, where water conservation should be targeted. 000008467 542__ $$fCopyright Reserved, non-exclusive rights granted to Colorado College for distribution 000008467 650_0 $$aAgriculture--Economic aspects 000008467 650_0 $$aWater supply--Management 000008467 650_4 $$aEconomic Water Productivity 000008467 650_4 $$aAgricultural economics 000008467 650_0 $$aIrrigation 000008467 7001_ $$aDinklage, Zachary 000008467 72012 $$aKat Miller-Stevens$$mkmillerstevens@coloradocollege.edu 000008467 961__ $$amhartmann@coloradocollege.edu 000008467 970__ $$aUser agreed to Deposit Submission Agreement 000008467 980__ $$aIR 000008467 982__ $$aEducation Department Student Theses 2024-25