Author Archives: Rodney T. Smith

About Rodney T. Smith

Rodney T. Smith, Ph.D., President of Stratecon Inc.—an economics and strategic planning consulting firm—advises public and private sector water users on the acquisition, sale and leasing of water rights and water supplies in the western U.S. He is routinely involved in economic valuation of water rights, water investments, and negotiation of water acquisition and transportation agreements and has served as an expert witness in the economic valuation of groundwater resources, disputes over the economic interpretation of water contracts, economics of water conservation and water use practices, and the socio-economic impacts of land fallowing. For more information, see www.stratwater.com.

Rethinking California’s Water Industry: Part 1—a Zero State Water Project Allocation World

California’s State Water Project is the backbone of the California economy.  The recent declaration of a zero water allocation for 2014 has exposed the California economy’s vulnerability to decades of political gridlock and ineffective water agency action.  Last Friday’s announced allocations for the federal Central Valley Project piled on.  Unless changes are made promptly to California’s “water culture”, look for California growth to come to a screeching halt.  To quote Reverend Wright (admittedly out of context), “California, the chickens have come home to roost.” Continue reading →

What Will Be the Final Allocation for California’s State Water Project in 2014? Redux

Is DWR’s announced zero allocation for California State Water Project (“SWP”) consistent with predictions from Hydrowonk’s study of the historic record of final SWP Allocations?  Yes Continue reading →

What Will Be the Final Allocation for California’s State Water Project in 2014?

One answer, who knows check back in April after Mother Nature speaks.  But, that is not helpful for planning.  Another approach, study the historic record of final SWP allocations.  The final SWP Allocation is expected to be 12%, with one-third chance that the final SWP allocation will be below the initial 5% allocation announced last November. Continue reading →

A Tale of Two Colorado River Basins

There is an interesting trend in the Bureau of Reclamation’s 24-Month studies projecting future elevations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead:  The Bureau projects recovering elevations in Lake Powell and continued deteriorating elevations in Lake Mead.  Continue reading →