Water supply development amidst growing scarcity: a case study of the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project

This thesis explores existing water conditions in California and, using economic valuation and policy analysis tools, examines whether desalination is a reasonable solution to growing water scarcity across the state. The author begins with an analysis of historical water development and the current structure of water law in California, which forms the foundation of the state’s ongoing water crises. In recent years, as easily accessible water supplies dried up and demand for water continued to surge, water conditions across the state became more contentious and water supply development became more important. The bulk of this thesis uses a case study, the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project, to analyze existing water policy and desalination as a solution to the service area’s growing water needs. Comparing farmers’ willingness to pay with the costs of water production in the Water Supply Project, this paper suggest that courts and the State Water Resources Control Board should re-evaluate and re-allocate existing water rights rather than facilitate investment in costly new water projects.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.U.P.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Urban Planning

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Chintamaneni, Vaneeta

Contributors dc:contributor

• Chakraborty, Arnab

• California water law
• case study
• economic valuation
• urban planning

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2014 Vaneeta Chintamaneni

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/72794

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/72794