Cost Effective Targeting of Land Retirement to Improve Water Quality: A Multi-Watershed Analysis

摘要: An integrated watershed management framework that combines economic, hydrologic and GIS modeling is developed to study cost effective land retirement in multiple watersheds achieve off-site sediment reduction goal. This examines two alternative standards-a uniform standard under which each required the same goal a non-uniform marginal of abatement equal across watersheds. Furthermore, for standard, costs rental instruments based on ($/ton) payments per acre ($/acre) are examined. Then effectiveness four policy options (uniform with $/ton $/acre instrument, instrument) discussed. The applied 12 agricultural Illinois Conservation Reserve Enhancement program (CREP) region. varied size between 29,995 70,849 acres. Cropland within 900 feet streams-129,955 acres (33.4% all cropland watersheds)-is considered eligible enrollment into CREP. Consistent Illinois' program, 20% selected simulations. Policy implications from empirical results quite interesting. With either or equalizes watersheds, outperforms policy. instrument instrument. least preferred option, 2.5 times as costly most These suggest administrators may want consider includes payment order their objectives at cost.