Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Following the release of findings on the economic impacts of climate change on New Mexico's water resources, efforts continued to develop related publications and to continue efforts to improve model capabilities and functionality. Efforts continue on identifying adaptation strategies suitable for watershed managers and water users who confront diminishing water supplies either from heightened competition, drought, or climatic changes. Climate change impact assessment is evolving in sophistication and complexity. A key area of research is the role of behavioral changes and the effects of these behavioral changes on the magnitude and distribution of impacts. Using developed water models, research can continue to investigate the development of specific coping strategies and their benefits in both water and agricultural systems. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Assessment of climate change legislation impacts on New Mexico agriculture reveal that the agricultural economy will face likely be challenged by associated rises in energy costs though the negative impacts will be mitigated by increased revenues from rising commodity prices.

Publications

• Hurd, B. 2010. Water-Conserving Attitudes and Landscape Choices in New Mexico, Choices. Fall 2010, 3rd Quarter, 25(3), pp: 1-6, http://purl.umn.edu/95759.
• Hurd, Brian H., Christopher Goemans, George Frisvold, and Janine Stone. 2010. Impacts of Climate Change Legislation on Agriculture in the Rocky Mountain States: Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico, White Paper published by the American Farmland Trust, 43 p.

Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Following the release of findings on the economic impacts of climate change on New Mexico's water resources, efforts continued to develop related publications and to continue efforts to improve model capabilities and functionality. Efforts continue on identifying adaptation strategies suitable for watershed managers and water users who confront diminishing water supplies either from heightened competition, drought, or climatic changes. Climate change impact assessment is evolving in sophistication and complexity. A key area of research is the role of behavioral changes and the effects of these behavioral changes on the magnitude and distribution of impacts. Using developed water models, research can continue to investigate the development of specific coping strategies and their benefits in both water and agricultural systems. A paper was published. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Climate change and increased competition will intensify the search for alternatives including increased use of groundwater systems. Preliminary findings indicate that groundwater management and institutions can affect greatly the potential for climate change adaptation strategies and the underlying value of water within a watershed.

Publications

• Hurd, B. 2009. Review of the book, Water and Disasters by Chennat Gopalakrishnan and Norio Okada (eds.), Journal of Natural Resources Policy Research, 1(1):120-122.
• Hurd, B. 2009. Coping and adapting to a changing climate: Concepts, issues and challenges. Annals of Arid Zone, 47(3&4): 1-11.

Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Valuing the Effects of Climate Change on New Mexico Water Users. Efforts to develop and apply hydro-economic watershed models to the estimation of the economic effects of potential climate changes were completed. Findings of these impacts on New Mexico water users were produced this year and released to the public. In addition to the release of the findings, efforts were completed on the EPSCoR proposal, which was finally funded. The aim of this EPSCoR is to improve watershed information gathering and analysis for use in climate change assessments. Role of Adaptation in Reducing the Impacts of Climate Change on Water and Agriculture Efforts continue on identifying adaptation strategies suitable for watershed managers and water users who confront diminishing water supplies either from heightened competition, drought, or climatic changes. Climate change impact assessment is evolving in sophistication and complexity. A key area of research is the role of behavioral changes and the effects of these behavioral changes on the magnitude and distribution of impacts. Using developed water models, research can continue to investigate the development of specific coping strategies and their benefits in both water and agricultural systems. A paper was published. Rangeland Management and the Value of Improved Weather Information. Using recorded and simulated soil moisture, estimates were made of the relationship between annual end-of-season forage yield and weather conditions on the New Mexico State University Corona Ranch located in central New Mexico. A regression model was developed to estimate the economic value of selected rainfall events for added range forage production. This work resulted in two AES reports and several posters and abstracts. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Release of the findings of the potential impact of climate change on New Mexico's water resources and economic opportunities continues to receive interest from the public and officials. Participated in a workshop to support the Border Governor's Conference to reflect climate change impacts along the border.

Publications

• Hurd and Coonrod, 2008. Climate Change Risks New Mexico's Waterways: Its Byways and Its Flyways. Water Resources Impact 10(4), pp 5-11.
• Hurd, B. 2008. Challenges of Adapting to a Changing Climate. UCLA Journal of Environmental Policy 26, 77-92.
• Hurd, B.H. and J. Coonrod. 2008. Climate Change and Its Implications for New Mexico's Water Resources and Economic Opportunities, New Mexico State University, Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Report 45, Las Cruces, NM. 28 p.

Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07

Outputs
Valuing the Effects of Climate Change on New Mexico Water Users: Efforts to develop and apply hydro-economic watershed models to the estimation of the economic effects of potential climate changes are continuing. Initial findings of these impacts on New Mexico water users were produced this year and released to the public. In addition to the release of the initial findings, efforts continued on the EPSCoR proposal that aims to improve watershed information gathering and analysis for use in climate change assessments. Role of Adaptation in Reducing the Impacts of Climate Change on Water and Agriculture: Work also continued on identifying adaptation strategies suitable for watershed managers and water users who confront diminishing water supplies either from heightened competition, drought, or climatic changes. Climate change impact assessment is evolving in sophistication and complexity. A key area of research is the role of behavioral changes and the effects of these behavioral changes on the magnitude and distribution of impacts. Using developed water models, research can continue to investigate the development of specific coping strategies and their benefits in both water and agricultural systems. Rangeland Management and the Value of Improved Weather Information: Using recorded and simulated soil moisture, estimates were made of the relationship between annual end-of-season forage yield and weather conditions on the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Corona Ranch located in central New Mexico. A regression model was developed to estimate the economic value of selected rainfall events for added range forage production.

Impacts
Climate Change Impacts: Release of the initial findings of the potential impact of climate change on New Mexico's water resources and economic opportunities garnered considerable public and media interest. Following the October press release, the findings were reported by various print, radio, and television outlets including front page coverage in the Albuquerque Journal, articles in the El Paso Times, and the Associated Press, which was picked up also by the New York Times. The impact of raising general public awareness as well as that of state, local, and federal decision makers is difficult to measure, but for economic research of any kind, this level of attention is very rare. Climate Change Impacts: Release of the initial findings of the potential impact of climate change on New Mexico's water resources and economic opportunities garnered considerable public and media interest. Following the October press release, the findings were reported by various print, radio, and television outlets including front page coverage in the Albuquerque Journal, articles in the El Paso Times, and the Associated Press, which was picked up also by the New York Times. The impact of raising general public awareness as well as that of state, local, and federal decision makers is difficult to measure, but for economic research of any kind, this level of attention is very rare. Range and Weather: The release of our research on the value of weather information on rangeland producers is presently underway. Actual impacts remain to be seen but can potentially give ranchers a clearer understanding of the weather information that is potentially available to them and can provide some guidance on the best use of this information.

Publications

• Hurd, Brian H., L. Allen Torell, and Kirk C. McDaniel. 2007. Ranch and Rangeland Management: Perspectives of the Rangeland Economy and its Relationship to Weather Information, Research Report #759, Agricultural Experiment Station, New Mexico State University.
• Hurd, B. and J. Coonrod, July 2007. Climate Change and Its Implications for New Mexico's Water Resources and Economic Opportunities. Research Report, National Center on Energy Policy.
• Hurd, B. and J. Coonrod, November 2007. Impacts of Global Warming on New Mexico's Water Resources. Technical Summary Brochure, published by the National Commission on Energy Policy.

Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06

Outputs
Climate change research is continuing. Progress on research was presented at the NM 2006 Drought Summit, and preliminary findings presented to the National Commission for Energy Policy in November 2006. The research findings for this phase are anticipated in early 2007. Also anticipated is the use of these findings to leverage additional funding through an EPSCoR proposal to NSF that is currently in development. Investigations are proceeding into the value of improved weather forecasts for ranchlands and range management. Analysis is currently underway with results expected in 2007.

Impacts
Significant water savings of 35% to 70% are possible from changes in residential landscaping and improved management of outside watering, which often accounts for more than 50% of total residential water use. This research is examining the findings from a survey of New Mexico homeowners and their attitudes and preferences for residential landscapes and the factors that determine or limit their choices.

Publications

• Hurd, B.H. 2006. Water Conservation and Residential Landscapes: Household Preferences, Household Choices. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 173-192.
• Hurd, B.H., C. Brown, J. Greenlee, A. Granados, and M. Hendrie. 2006. Assessing Water Resource Vulnerability for Arid Watersheds: GIS-based Research in the Paso del Norte Region. New Mexico Journal of Science, Vol. 44 (Aug), pp. 39-61.
• Hurd, B.H., R. St-Hilaire, and J. White. 2006. Residential Landscapes, Homeowner Attitudes and Water-Wise Choices in New Mexico. HortTechnology, 16(2): pp. 241-246.
• Granados-Olivas, A., C. Brown, J. Greenlee, B. Creel, J. Hawley, J. Kennedy, O. Dena-Ornelas, and B. Hurd. 2006. Geographic Information Systems At the Paso Del Norte Region: The Academic Accomplishments and Challenges for a Transboundary Water GIS Cooperation. New Mexico Journal of Science, Vol. 44 (Aug), pp. 59-70.
• Ward, F.A., B.H. Hurd, T. Rahmani, and N. Gollehon. 2006. Economic impacts of federal policy responses to drought in the Rio Grande Basin. Water Resources Research, VOL. 42, W03420, doi:10.1029/2005WR004427, pp. 1-13.

Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05

Outputs
Water conservation: Analysis of the 2004 survey data of the landscaping choices of New Mexico homeowners was completed. The research has resulted in three peer-reviewed publications, two presentations and a poster presentation. Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change: Adaptation paper presented at the AAAS meetings. Appointment to the technical working groups associated with the Governor's Climate Change Initiative to assist in drafting guidance documents. Salinity management in arid watersheds: Research on this topic continued, beginning with technical software training with an agricultural land management program and the development of New Mexico appropriate simulation data. Drought impact and assessment: Initial research completed and published in a forthcoming peer-reviewed journal. Weather, water and climate on the range. Proposal developed for NOAA to explore rangeland management issues related to weather forecasting.

Impacts
Water and other natural resources provide fundamental services that support both human and environmental systems. The demands created by these systems often stretch resource supplies and capabilities to critical levels and result in stress and heightened system vulnerability. This project will provide estimates of resource values needed by managers, policy makers, and stakeholders to better direct investment decisions, enhance existing resource supplies, improve resource-use efficiency, and enhance environmental and cultural services.

Publications

• No publications reported this period