Economic implications of brush treatments to improve water yield

One possible method of increasing water yield in some water-poor areas is through brush management. Economic modeling of brush control programs designed to improve water yield has been performed for numerous Texas watersheds. These studies assumed a single criteria brush control program. This single criteria program may have negative impacts on certain wildlife habitats, is likely unacceptable to landowners, and does not incorporate additional restoration practices. Our study analyzed the economic consequences of 3 brush management/restoration scenarios for the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone and Twin Buttes watersheds and the drainage basins contained within. Economic measures included total public cost ($) and public cost of producing additional water ($/1000 m super(3) of added water). Because of its larger size, estimated total public cost was higher for the Twin Buttes watershed than for the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone watershed, despite the fact that the Twin Buttes had lower cost per ha of treated brush. Public cost of additional water is lower for basins within the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone watershed (ranging from $26 to $44 per 1000 m super(3) of added water) than in the Twin Buttes watershed (ranging from $51 to $129) which suggests that public investment in brush management efforts are likely to be more economically efficient in the Edwards Aquifer area. Within individual basins, public cost of additional water were similar for all 3 brush management/restoration scenarios.Original Abstract: Un metodo posible del rendimiento creciente de agua en algunas areas pobres es por la administracion y manejo del matorral o monte. El modelo economico del programa de control del matorral disenado para mejorar el rendimiento de agua se ha realizado para numerosas lineas divisorias de las aguas de Tejas (Texas watersheds). Estos estudios asumieron un solo programa de criterios del control del matorral. Solo este criterio puede tener los impactos negativos en ciertos habitantes de la fauna silvestre, es probablemente inaceptable para los hacendados, y no incorpora las practicas adicionales de la restauracion. Nuestro estudio analizo las consecuencias economicas de tres guiones del manejo y administracion de la restauracion del matorral para la zona de recarga del Acuifero Edwards (Edwards Aquifer) y lineas divisorias de las aguas Twin Buttes y para las palanganas de desaguee contenidas dentro de. Las medidas economicas incluyeron el costo publico total ($)