Value of an Acre‐Foot of Water

Abstract

limited water supplies. With water limited in many areas and with demands thereon increasing, competition is bound to develop. Moreover, people are prone to look into the future and wonder if decisions and dedications made today concerning the use of water will prove sound tomorrow ; consequently, they are interested not only in today's conflicts, but they also endeavor to minimize those of tomorrow (1, Vol. 3, p. 1097). The US has reached a point in the development of its economy when only rarely can use be made of water for some particular purpose without adversely affecting its use for some other purpose. For instance, diversion of water for irrigation can result in lower navigable depths, lower power potentials, limited ability of streams to dilute and carry away industrial and human wastes, decreased recreational values, destruction of fish and wildlife habitats. It may permit the intrusion of salt water into bays and estuaries, with a consequent modification of the chemical composition of coastal waters, their character, and their aquatic life. The water that does return to streams after