Selected effects of additional irrigation in the Columbia basin
1979
Wilkins, John Russell
Increasing demands for water related services of the Columbia River and its tributaries create conflicts between users During the 1970's the conflict has centered around three major water uses - irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and fisheries. This study analyzes some of the tradeoffs between upstream depletion of water for irrigation and downstream use of the water for production of aluminum, which depends on large blocks of inexpensive hydroelectric energy The economic value of two projected increments of irrigated crops in 1985 and the consequent losses of economic value from less aluminum output due to reduced hydroelectric generation are analyzed in a 1985 multiregional inputoutput model of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho The analysis also estimates direct and indirect changes in output and employment by industry, State, and for the region. Results indicate that the 1985 incremental value of crop output from additional irrigation overshadows output losses in the regional aluminum industry For each additional dollar of crop production and processing, 4-7 cents are lost n regional aluminum and related output. Neither the crop production increases nor the aluminum production losses are large compared to the projected 1985 regional economy. However, the production changes are significant within each industry and probably would have considerable impact in localities with new irrigated lands or where aluminum production is significant. Indirect or support output in trade, services, transportation machinery, food processing, manufacture, and electric utilities are most affected by future irrigated crop output increases and aluminum output decreases Despite the largest aluminum output reductions, most of the effects occur in Washington, followed by Idaho and then Oregon.
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