Browsing by Author "Robinson, John R.C."
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Item Economic and Conservation Evaluation of Capital Renovation Project: Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 2 (San Juan) - Relining Lateral A – Preliminary(Texas Water Resources Institute, 2003-05) Popp, Michael C.; Robinson, John R.C.; Sturdivant, Allen W.; Lacewell, Ronald D.; Rister, M. EdwardInitial construction costs and net annual changes in operating and maintenance expenses are identified for a single-component capital renovation project proposed by Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 2, (a.k.a. San Juan) to the North American Development Bank (NADBank) and Bureau of Reclamation. The proposed project involves relining “Lateral A” with a geomembrane and shotcrete cover. Both nominal and real estimates of water and energy savings and expected economic and financial costs of those savings are identified throughout the anticipated useful life for the proposed project. Sensitivity results for both the cost of water savings and cost of energy savings are presented for several important parameters. Annual water and energy savings forthcoming from the total project are estimated, using amortization procedures, to be 2,542 ac-ft of water per year and 551,738,646 BTUs (161,705 kwh) of energy per year. The calculated economic and financial cost of water savings is estimated to be $74.49 per ac-ft. The calculated economic and financial cost of energy savings is estimated to be $0.0003698 per BTU ($1.262 per kwh). In addition, expected real (vs nominal) values are indicated for the Bureau of Reclamation’s three principal evaluation measures specified in the United States Public Law 106-576 legislation. The initial construction cost per ac-ft of water savings measure is $57.76 per ac-ft of water savings. The initial construction cost per BTU (kwh) of energy savings measure is $0.0002661 per BTU ($0.908 per kwh). The ratio of initial construction costs per dollar of total annual economic savings is estimated to be -14.29.Item Economic and Conservation Evaluation of Capital Renovation Projects: Brownsville Irrigation District – 72" and 48" Pipeline Replacing Main Canal – Final(Texas Water Resources Institute, 2003-10) Lacewell, Ronald D.; Robinson, John R.C.; Sturdivant, Allen W.; Popp, Michael C.; Rister, M. EdwardInitial construction costs and net annual changes in operating and maintenance expenses are identified for a single-component capital renovation project proposed by Brownsville Irrigation District to the North American Development Bank (NADB) and Bureau of Reclamation (BOR). The proposed project involves constructing a 72" and 48" pipeline to replace 2.31 miles of the “Main Canal.” Both nominal and real estimates of water and energy savings and expected economic and financial costs of those savings are identified throughout the anticipated 49-year useful life for the proposed project. Sensitivity results for both the cost of water savings and cost of energy savings are presented for several important parameters. Annual water and energy savings forthcoming from the total project are estimated, using amortization procedures, to be 1,872 ac-ft of water per year and 318,479,103 BTUs (93,341 kwh) of energy per year. The calculated economic and financial cost of water savings is estimated to be $27.98 per ac-ft. The calculated economic and financial cost of energy savings is estimated at $0.0001933 per BTU ($0.660 per kwh). In addition, expected real (rather than nominal) values are indicated for the Bureau of Reclamation’s three principal evaluation measures specified in the United States Public Law 106-576 legislation. The initial construction cost per ac-ft of water savings measure is $58.60 per ac-ft of water savings. The initial construction cost per BTU (kwh) of energy savings measure is $0.0003444 per BTU ($1.175 per kwh). The ratio of initial construction costs per dollar of total annual economic savings is estimated to be -1.53.Item Economic and Conservation Evaluation of Capital Renovation Projects: Brownsville Irrigation District – 72" and 54" Pipeline Replacing Main Canal – Preliminary(Texas Water Resources Institute, 2003-07) Robinson, John R.C.; Lacewell, Ronald D.; Sturdivant, Allen W.; Popp, Michael C.; Rister, M. EdwardInitial construction costs and net annual changes in operating and maintenance expenses are identified for a single-component capital renovation project proposed by Brownsville Irrigation District to the North American Development Bank (NADB) and Bureau of Reclamation (BOR). The proposed project involves constructing a 72" and 54" pipeline to replace 2.29 miles of the “Main Canal.” Both nominal and real estimates of water and energy savings and expected economic and financial costs of those savings are identified throughout the anticipated 49-year useful life for the proposed project. Sensitivity results for both the cost of water savings and cost of energy savings are presented for several important parameters. Annual water and energy savings forthcoming from the total project are estimated, using amortization procedures, to be 1,844 ac-ft of water per year and 313,797,977 BTUs (91,969 kwh) of energy per year. The calculated economic and financial cost of water savings is estimated to be $24.70 per ac-ft. The calculated economic and financial cost of energy savings is estimated at $0.0001740 per BTU ($0.594 per kwh). In addition, expected real (rather than nominal) values are indicated for the Bureau of Reclamation’s three principal evaluation measures specified in the United States Public Law 106-576 legislation. The initial construction cost per ac-ft of water savings measure is $56.74 per ac-ft of water savings. The initial construction cost per BTU (kwh) of energy savings measure is $0.0003335 per BTU ($1.138 per kwh). The ratio of initial construction costs per dollar of total annual economic savings is estimated to be -1.46.Item Economic and Conservation Evaluation of Capital Renovation Projects: Cameron County Irrigation District No. 2 (San Benito) – Infrastructure Rehabilitation – Preliminary(Texas Water Resources Institute, 2003-07) Popp, Michael C.; Robinson, John R.C.; Sturdivant, Allen W.; Lacewell, Ronald D.; Rister, M. EdwardInitial construction costs and net annual changes in operating and maintenance expenses are identified for a five-component capital renovation project proposed by Cameron County Irrigation District No. 2, (a.k.a. San Benito) to the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR). The proposed project involves rehabilitating 42+ miles of canals, laterals, and pipelines. Both nominal and real estimates of water and energy savings and expected economic and financial costs of those savings are identified throughout the anticipated useful lives for all five components of the proposed project. Sensitivity results for both the cost of water savings and cost of energy savings are presented for several important parameters. Annual water and energy savings forthcoming from the total project are estimated, using amortization procedures, to be 19,580 ac-ft of water per year and 2,151,277,209 BTUs (630,503 kwh) of energy per year. The calculated economic and financial cost of water savings is estimated to be $45.60 per ac-ft. The calculated economic and financial cost of energy savings is estimated at $0.0004399 per BTU ($1.501 per kwh). In addition, expected real (vs nominal) values are indicated for the Bureau of Reclamation’s three principal evaluation measures specified in the United States Public Law 106-576 legislation. The aggregate initial construction cost per ac-ft of water savings measure is $46.98 per ac-ft of water savings. The aggregate initial construction cost per BTU (kwh) of energy savings measure is $0.0004275 per BTU ($1.459 per kwh). The aggregate ratio of initial construction costs per dollar of total annual economic savings is estimated to be -9.04.Item Economic and Conservation Evaluation of Capital Renovation Projects: Cameron County Irrigation District No. 2 (San Benito) – Interconnect Between Canals 39 and 13-A1 and Replacement of Rio Grande Diversion Pumping Plant(Texas Water Resources Institute, 2003) Ellis, John R.; Popp, Michael C.; Robinson, John R.C.; Sturdivant, Allen W.; Lacewell, Ronald D.; Rister, M. EdwardInitial construction costs and net annual changes in operating and maintenance expenses are identified for the capital renovation project proposed by the Cameron County Irrigation District No. 2 (a.k.a. San Benito) to the North American Development Bank (NADBank) and Bureau of Reclamation. Both nominal and real, expected economic and financial costs of water and energy savings are identified throughout the anticipated useful lives for both components of the proposed project (i.e., a lined interconnect between Canals 39 and 13-A1 and replacement of the Rio Grande diversion pumping plant). Sensitivity results for both the cost of water savings and cost of energy savings are presented for several important parameters. Expected cost of water savings and cost of energy savings for both components are aggregated into a composite set of cost measures for the total proposed project. Aggregate cost of water savings is estimated to be $41.26 per ac-ft and energy savings are measured at an aggregate value of $0.0001586 per BTU (i.e., $0.541 per kwh). In addition, expected values are indicated for the Bureau of Reclamation’s three principal evaluation measures specified in the United States Public Law 106-576 legislation. The aggregate initial construction cost per ac-ft of water savings measure is $157.07 per ac-ft of water savings. The aggregate initial construction cost per BTU (kwh) of energy savings measure is $0.0001777 per BTU ($0.606 per kwh). The ratio of initial construction costs per dollar of total annual economic savings is estimated to be -3.80.Item Economic and Conservation Evaluation of Capital Renovation Projects: Edinburg Irrigation District Hidalgo County No. 1 - 72" Pipeline Replacing Delivery Canal and Multi-Size Pipeline Replacing Delivery Canal(Texas Water Resources Institute, 2002-11) Ellis, John R.; Popp, Michael C.; Robinson, John R.C.; Sturdivant, Allen W.; Lacewell, Ronald D.; Rister, M. EdwardInitial construction costs and net annual changes in operating and maintenance expenses are identified for the capital renovation project proposed by Edinburg Irrigation District Hidalgo County No. 1 to the North American Development Bank (NADBank). Both nominal and real, expected economic and financial costs of water and energy savings are identified throughout the anticipated useful lives for both components of the proposed project (i.e., 72" pipeline replacing a segment of delivery canal along the "Curry Main" and multi-size pipeline replacing a segment of delivery canal along the "North Branch / East Main"). Sensitivity results for both the cost of water savings and cost of energy savings are presented for several important parameters. Expected cost of water savings and cost of energy savings for both components are aggregated into a composite set of cost measures for the total proposed project. Aggregate cost of water savings is estimated to be $29.87 per ac-ft and energy savings are measured at an aggregate value of $0.0000595 per BTU (i.e., $0.203 per kwh). In addition, expected values are indicated for the Bureau of Reclamation's three principal evaluation measures specified in the United States Public Law 106-576 legislation. The aggregate initial construction cost per ac-ft of water savings measure is $50.90 per ac-ft of water savings. The aggregate initial construction cost per BTU (kwh) of energy savings measure is $0.0000777 per BTU ($0.265 per kwh). The ratio of initial construction costs per dollar of total annual economic savings is estimated to be -2.01.Item Economic and Conservation Evaluation of Capital Renovation Projects: Harlingen Irrigation District Cameron County No. 1 � Canal Meters and Telemetry Equipment, Impervious-Lining of Delivery Canals, Pipelines Replacing Delivery Canals, and On-Farm Delivery-Site Meters(Texas Water Resources Institute, 2002-10) Ellis, John R.; Popp, Michael C.; Robinson, John R.C.; Sturdivant, Allen W.; Lacewell, Ronald D.; Rister, M. EdwardInitial construction costs and net annual changes in operating and maintenance expenses are identified for the capital renovation project proposed by Harlingen Irrigation District Cameron County No. 1 to the North American Development Bank (NADBank). Both nominal and real, expected economic and financial costs of water and energy savings are identified throughout the anticipated useful lives for each of the four components of the proposed project (i.e., canal meters and telemetry equipment, impervious-lining of delivery canals, 24" pipelines replacing delivery canals, and on-farm delivery-site meters). Sensitivity results for both the cost of water savings and cost of energy savings are presented for several important parameters. Expected cost of water savings and cost of energy savings for each of the four components are aggregated into a composite set of cost measures for the total proposed project. Aggregate cost of water savings is estimated to be $31.37 per ac-ft and energy savings are measured at an aggregate value of $0.0002253 per BTU (i.e., $0.769 per kwh). In addition, expected values are indicated for the Bureau of Reclamation’s three principal evaluation measures specified in the Public Law 106-576 legislation. The aggregate initial construction cost per ac-ft of water savings measure is $26.87 per ac-ft of water savings. The aggregate initial construction cost per BTU (kwh) of energy savings measure is $0.0001603 per BTU ($0.547 per kwh). The amount of initial construction costs per dollar of total annual economic savings is estimated to be -1.30.Item Economic and Conservation Evaluation of Capital Renovation Projects: Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 1 (Edinburg) - Curry Main - Final(Texas Water Resources Institute, 2003-09) Robinson, John R.C.; Lacewell, Ronald D.; Sturdivant, Allen W.; Popp, Michael C.; Rister, M. EdwardInitial construction costs and net annual changes in operating and maintenance expenses are identified for a single-component capital renovation project proposed by Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 1 to the Bureau of Reclamation and North American Development Bank. The proposed project involves installing 1 mile of 72" pipeline to replace a segment of the Curry Main canal. Both nominal and real estimates of water and energy savings and expected economic and financial costs of those savings are identified throughout the anticipated 49-year useful life for the proposed project. Sensitivity results for both the cost of water savings and cost of energy savings are presented for several important parameters. Annual water and energy savings forthcoming from the total project are estimated, using amortization procedures, to be 2,258 ac-ft of water per year and 1,092,823,269 BTUs (320,288 kwh) of energy per year. The calculated economic and financial cost of water savings is estimated to be $24.68 per ac-ft. The calculated economic and financial cost of energy savings is estimated at $0.0000598 per BTU ($0.204 per kwh). In addition, expected real (rather than nominal) values are indicated for the Bureau of Reclamation’s three principal evaluation measures specified in the United States Public Law 106-576 legislation. The initial construction cost per ac-ft of water savings measure is $27.49 per ac-ft of water savings. The initial construction cost per BTU (kwh) of energy savings measure is $0.0000568 per BTU ($0.194 per kwh). The ratio of initial construction costs per dollar of total annual economic savings is estimated to be -2.84.Item Economic and Conservation Evaluation of Capital Renovation Projects: Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 1 (Edinburg) - North Branch / East Main - Final(Texas Water Resources Institute, 2003-10) Robinson, John R.C.; Lacewell, Ronald D.; Popp, Michael C.; Sturdivant, Allen W.; Rister, M. EdwardInitial construction costs and net annual changes in operating and maintenance expenses are identified for a single-component capital renovation project proposed by Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 1 to the Bureau of Reclamation and North American Development Bank. The proposed project involves installing 4.83 miles of multi-size pipeline to replace a segment of the North Branch / East Main canal. Both nominal and real estimates of water and energy savings and expected economic and financial costs of those savings are identified throughout the anticipated 48-year useful life for the proposed project. Sensitivity results for both the cost of water savings and cost of energy savings are presented for several important parameters. Annual water and energy savings forthcoming from the total project are estimated, using amortization procedures, to be 5,838 ac-ft of water per year and 3,293,049,926 BTUs (965,138 kwh) of energy per year. The calculated economic and financial cost of water savings is estimated to be $15.58 per ac-ft. The calculated economic and financial cost of energy savings is estimated at $0.0000392 per BTU ($0.134 per kwh). In addition, expected real (rather than nominal) values are indicated for the Bureau of Reclamation’s three principal evaluation measures specified in the United States Public Law 106-576 legislation. The initial construction cost per ac-ft of water savings measure is $30.68 per ac-ft of water savings. The initial construction cost per BTU (kwh) of energy savings measure is $0.0000544 per BTU ($0.186 per kwh). The ratio of initial construction costs per dollar of total annual economic savings is estimated to be -1.58.Item Economic and Conservation Evaluation of Capital Renovation Projects: Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 2 (San Juan) – 48" Pipeline Replacing Wisconsin Canal – Preliminary(Texas Water Resources Institute, 2003-05) Robinson, John R.C.; Sturdivant, Allen W.; Rister, M. Edward; Lacewell, Ronald D.; Popp, Michael C.Initial construction costs and net annual changes in operating and maintenance expenses are identified for a single-component capital renovation project proposed by Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 2, (a.k.a. San Juan) to the North American Development Bank (NADBank) and Bureau of Reclamation. The proposed project involves constructing a 48" pipeline to replace the “Wisconsin Canal.” Both nominal and real estimates of water and energy savings and expected economic and financial costs of those savings are identified throughout the anticipated useful life for the proposed project. Sensitivity results for both the cost of water savings and cost of energy savings are presented for several important parameters. Annual water and energy savings forthcoming from the total project are estimated, using amortization procedures, to be 977 ac-ft of water per year and 372,892,700 BTUs (109,289 kwh) of energy per year. The calculated economic and financial cost of water savings is estimated to be $70.97 per ac-ft. The calculated economic and financial cost of energy savings is estimated at $0.0002124 per BTU ($0.725 per kwh). In addition, expected real (vs nominal) values are indicated for the Bureau of Reclamation’s three principal evaluation measures specified in the United States Public Law 106-576 legislation. The initial construction cost per ac-ft of water savings measure is $75.29 per ac-ft of water savings. The initial construction cost per BTU (kwh) of energy savings measure is $0.0001973 per BTU ($0.673 per kwh). The ratio of initial construction costs per dollar of total annual economic savings is estimated to be -3.12.Item Economic and Conservation Evaluation of Capital Renovation Projects: Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 (Eagle Pass) – Lining Main Canal – Final(Texas Water Resources Institute, 2004-04) Popp, Michael C.; Robinson, John R.C.; Sturdivant, Allen W.; Lacewell, Ronald D.; Rister, M. EdwardInitial construction costs and net annual changes in operating and maintenance expenses are identified for a capital renovation project proposed by Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 to the Bureau of Reclamation and North American Development Bank. The proposed project involves lining 3 miles of the “Main Canal” with a urethane lining and a concrete anchor and ballast system. Both nominal and real estimates of water and energy savings and expected economic and financial costs of those savings are identified throughout the anticipated 49-year useful life for the proposed project. Sensitivity results for both the cost of water savings and cost of energy savings are presented for several important parameters. Annual water and energy savings forthcoming from the total project are estimated, using amortization procedures, to be 8,084 ac-ft of water per year and 2,041,095,338 BTUs (598,211 kwh) of energy per year. The calculated economic and financial cost of water savings is estimated to be $33.37 per ac-ft. The calculated economic and financial cost of energy savings is estimated to be $0.0001322 per BTU ($0.451 per kwh). In addition, expected real (rather than nominal) values are indicated for the Bureau of Reclamation’s three principal evaluation measures specified in the United States Public Law 106-576 legislation. The initial construction cost per ac-ft of water savings measure is $25.97 per ac-ft of water savings. The initial construction cost per BTU (kwh) of energy savings measure is $0.0001029 per BTU ($0.351 per kwh). The ratio of initial construction costs per dollar of total annual economic savings is estimated to be -13.65.Item Economic and Conservation Evaluation of Capital Renovation Projects: Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 (Eagle Pass) – Lining Main Canal – Preliminary(Texas Water Resources Institute, 2004-01) Popp, Michael C.; Robinson, John R.C.; Sturdivant, Allen W.; Lacewell, Ronald D.; Rister, M. EdwardInitial construction costs and net annual changes in operating and maintenance expenses are identified for a capital renovation project proposed by Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 to the Bureau of Reclamation and North American Development Bank. The proposed project involves lining 3 miles of the “Main Canal” with a urethane lining and a concrete anchor and ballast system. Both nominal and real estimates of water and energy savings and expected economic and financial costs of those savings are identified throughout the anticipated 49-year useful life for the proposed project. Sensitivity results for both the cost of water savings and cost of energy savings are presented for several important parameters. Annual water and energy savings forthcoming from the total project are estimated, using amortization procedures, to be 8,084 ac-ft of water per year and 2,041,095,338 BTUs (598,211 kwh) of energy per year. The calculated economic and financial cost of water savings is estimated to be $33.37 per ac-ft. The calculated economic and financial cost of energy savings is estimated to be $0.0001322 per BTU ($0.451 per kwh). In addition, expected real (rather than nominal) values are indicated for the Bureau of Reclamation’s three principal evaluation measures specified in the United States Public Law 106-576 legislation. The initial construction cost per ac-ft of water savings measure is $25.97 per ac-ft of water savings. The initial construction cost per BTU (kwh) of energy savings measure is $0.0001029 per BTU ($0.351 per kwh). The ratio of initial construction costs per dollar of total annual economic savings is estimated to be -13.65.Item Economic Impact of Withdrawing Specific Agricultural Pesticides in the Lower Rio Grande Valley(Texas Water Resources Institute, 1993-01) Bremer, John E.; Sparks, Alton N.; Norman, John W.; Robinson, John R.C.; Lacewell, Ronald D.; Bryant, Kelly J.The Air, Pesticides, and Toxics Division of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has encouraged all states to develop a plan to manage the use of pesticides to prevent application that would result in unreasonable risks to human health and the environment from contamination of ground water. In February, 1988, EPA proposed a strategy where by they would regulate certain pesticides by prohibiting their use in areas vulnerable to leaching unless a state develops and implements a management plan acceptable to EPA. However, banning the use of a pesticide in a region is the worst case scenario available to the TWC for managing water quality. The Texas Water Commission (TWC) assessed the State for areas vulnerable to leaching and found the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) to be a highly vulnerable area. This study examines three pesticides (atrazine, dicrotophos, and aldicarb) currently used in the LRGV that were identified by the TWC as potential contaminants of ground water. Alternative methods of controlling pests in this region were identified, and the economic impacts of withdrawing one or all three of these pesticides from the study area were estimated. Regional impacts on gross receipts (sales), variable costs, and net returns were determined. If atrazine use were banned in the LRGV, corn and sorghum sales would decrease by approximately $1 million, variable costs to produce corn, sorghum, and sugarcane would increase by almost $2 million dollars, leaving farmers in the region with a $3 million dollar 1088 in net income per year. If dicrotophos use were prohibited in the LRGV, variable cost to produce cotton would increase by over $600,000 for the region as a whole. Banning aldicarb use in the study area would reduce citrus sales by almost $3 million, increase variable costs to produce citrus by over $200,000, and reduce farmer net income by over $3 million annually.Item Economic Methodology for South Texas Irrigation Projects - RGIDECON(Texas Water Resources Institute, 2002-10) Ellis, John R.; Robinson, John R.C.; Sturdivant, Allen W.; Lacewell, Ronald D.; Rister, M. EdwardA mathematical discourse is provided, documenting the economic and financial methods used in RGIDECON, an Excel spreadsheet capital investment evaluation model focused on irrigation district-level pumping and delivery systems. These methods and the spreadsheet are the basis to ascertaining several measures of performance for the capital improvement investments proposed by irrigation districts relying on the Rio Grande River for their supplies of agricultural irrigation, municipal and industrial water. Both the approach developed by Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and Texas Cooperative Extension agricultural economists and the procedures used to calculate the required indicators mandated in Public Law 106-576 are presented. Attention is also directed to the process of selecting the discount rate to be used in the analyses for individual irrigation districts' proposed projects.Item Estimated Benefits of IBWC Rio Grande Flood-Control Projects in the United States(Texas Water Resources Institute, 2004-09) Villalobos, Joshua I.; Srinivasan, R.; Sheng, Z.; Staats, Chris; Robinson, John R.C.; Morrison, Wendy; McGuckin, James T.; Madison, W. Tom; Jacobs, Jennifer H.; Freeman, Roger; Eriksson, Marian; Assadian, Naomi; Rister, M. Edward; Michelsen, Dr. Ari; Lacewell, Ronald D.; Sturdivant, Allen W.The International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) is responsible for maintaining a series of flood-control projects beginning in New Mexico and extending along the Rio Grande’s international border dividing the United States and Mexico. A review by the USIBWC indicate that, over time, the flood-control capability of the levees has been compromised, possibly to the point where the level of protection is below original-design capacities. Prior to investing federal monies in the rehabilitation of major flood-system infrastructure, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget requires an economic analysis of expected benefits, or losses avoided with implemented protection measures. Recent flood events along the international border, resulting in significant economic damages and loss of human life, emphasized the need for a timely assessment of impacts of potential flood-control failure. Given a short project time line mandated by IBWC and the large geographic extent of the river- and floodway-levee system, innovative methods were developed to conduct a rapid and preliminary economic assessment of the flood-control infrastructure. Estimates for four major project areas relating only to the U.S.-side of the border only (stretching from Caballo Reservoir in New Mexico to the Rio Grande’s mouth, near Brownsville, TX.) comprise the study’s focus. Millions populate the cities and towns along these economic reaches of the Rio Grande where extensive housing, commerce, industry, tourism, and irrigated agricultural production exist. Areas susceptible to flooding, along with land-use, were identified and quantified through high-resolution map imagery. Estimates of representative residential, commercial, and industrial property values and agricultural production values were developed from property assessment records, economic development councils, crop enterprise budgets and cropping patterns, census data, previous U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ flooding studies, etc. Gross economic values of flood-control benefits for a sample of each of the land-use types were determined and extrapolated to similar land-use areas in the flood zone. This analytical method provides a rapidassessment of potential flood-control benefits for a single event for each of the four IBWCdesignated flood-control project areas. An aggregate estimate arrived at by summing the potential benefits across all four project areas assumes avoidance of, or protection against, a simultaneous breach in all areas. Baseline economic benefits for agriculture and developed property along the Rio Grande Canalization project are estimated at $13.7 million (basis FY 2004). Comparable estimates for the Rio Grande Rectification project are $139.1 million, while those for the Presidio Valley Flood Control project amount to $2.9 million. The Lower Rio Grande Flood Control project is estimated to provide $167.2 million in flood-control benefits. Combined, the four project areas provide $322.9 million in flood-control protection benefits in the baseline analysis. When preliminary estimates of $183.0 million in other costs (i.e., emergency, roads, utilities, and vehicles) are added to the baseline estimate, the total floodcontrol protection benefits provided by the four project areas increases to $506.0 million.Item Evolution of Irrigation Districts and Operating Institutions: Texas, Lower Rio Grande Valley(Texas Water Resources Institute, 2003-07) Fernandez, Linda; Robinson, John R.C.; Lacewell, Ronald D.; Rister, M. Edward; Ellis, John R.; Sturdivant, Allen W.; Stubbs, Megan J.The growing population in the Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley, shortfalls in water deliveries from Mexico, and multiple years of drought have placed an increased need for efficient water management and allocation in the Rio Grande Basin. These improvements are essential regardless of the treaty compliance issues between Mexico and the U.S. for improved water deliveries to satisfy the 1944 Water Treaty. This report presents a broad overview of how the history of settlement and development shaped current water rights and laws, how the waters of the Rio Grande are divided between the two nations, and how the U.S. and the State of Texas manage their portions. Legal rules and regulations, both current and past, represent the complexity of water allocated in the region. The paper overviews characteristics of the 1944 International Water Treaty and management of Amistad and Falcon international reservoirs by the International Boundary and Water Commission. This overview provides insight on history and the basics of the current set of water allocations, rules and regulations, and some discussion of evolving institutions, i.e., water authorities. Knowledge of the background of the region facilitates ongoing water management policy deliberations, revision/development of policies, and future management of limited water resources. A review of selected Rio Grande Basin irrigation districts and associated operating principles will follow in subsequent reports.