Western state instream flow programs: a comparative assessment
By: Matthew J. McKinney and Jonathan G. Taylor
Links
- The Publications Warehouse does not have links to digital versions of this publication at this time
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
During their early history, Western States water rights laws were primarily means for facilitating and regulating water diversions for offstream, consumptive use. More recently, a countervailing concern for instream values such as fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, aesthetic values, and water quality has emerged in the legislative and administrative handling of water rights. As of 1988, the Western United States show a variety of approaches to balancing instream and diversion water rights, from zero control through administrative actions to legislatively established rights for guaranteed instream flows. The nine Western States that have adopted statutory instream flow protection programs include Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Arizona, California, and Nevada have relied, to date, on administrative and judicial decisions, while New Mexico has established no mechanism for protecting instream water uses. In the States with statutory protection, instream water uses are granted the same legal status as any other water uses under the prior appropriation doctrine. The success of instream flow protection has been remarkable, given the controversial nature of the issue, with nearly 2,000 stream reaches protected.
Suggested Citation
McKinney, M.J., Taylor, J.G., 1988, Western state instream flow programs: a comparative assessment, 78 p.
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Other Report |
| Title | Western state instream flow programs: a comparative assessment |
| Series number | No. 18, Biological Report 89(2) |
| Year Published | 1988 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Publisher location | Washington, D.C. |
| Description | 78 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Report |
| Larger Work Subtype | Other Report |
| Larger Work Title | Instream Flow Information Paper |