The Marginalization of Federal Hydropower : An Economic Case for Adaptive Management

ISBN-13: 9783639177756 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 540 str.

George F. McMahon

Opis

The Marginalization of Federal HydropowerMultipurpose federal reservoirs, and the conjunctive and disjunctive purposes they serve, constitute a water resource infrastructure that invariably changes over time, reflecting not only changing economic benefits and beneficiaries, but the evolution of social and environmental concerns as well. This research investigates the adaptability of current federal policy in response to changing values and priorities on uses of water and storage, measured in part by (1) the continued ability to identify the highest and best uses of storage in federal multipurpose reservoirs presently incorporating hydropower, and (2) the degree to which emerging concepts of sustainability can beaccommodated and factored into the future management of these assets.Historically-increasing valuation of water in alternative uses and electric power industry deregulation have combined to reduced the economic benefits of hydropower. In addition, heightened public environmental concerns make imperative adaptations to federal water policy to effect sustainability improvements.

O autorze

Dr. McMahon s diverse career spans nearly four decades of water
resources planning, engineering, design and management
experience in the U.S. and abroad. He has conducted numerous
comprehensive river basin planning studies, specializing in
multipurpose reservoir engineering, water allocation and water
policy studies.