Summary
Today, the agricultural region surrounding the Klamath River, which straddles southern Oregon and northern California, is embroiled in conflict. For a century, farmers have used the Klamath's water for irrigation, but the federal government and Indian tribes have strong claims to the irrigation water as well. In 2001, the federal government cut off water to farmers in order to protect two endangered fish, an act that aroused anger and caused financial distress.
"Restoring Harmony in the Klamath Basin" explains how this conflict developed and offers a solution—markets in water. Written by Roger Meiners and Lea-Rachel Kosnik, this paper persuasively argues that clarification of property rights to water is fundamental to ending the crisis. If these rights are clarified, voluntary markets in water can set the stage for a more harmonious future in the basin.
Founded 30 years ago in Bozeman, Montana, PERC—the Property and Environment Research Center—is the nation’s oldest and largest institute dedicated to improving environmental quality through property rights and markets.
PERC’s publications, each designed to resonate with specific groups, move ideas generated at PERC to broader audiences.
Research is at the heart of PERC's work, with a focus on the question: What is the link between economic growth and environmental quality?
The goal of PERC’s programs is to fully realize the vision of establishing “PERC University,” where scholars, students, policy makers, and others convene to expand the applications of free market environmentalism.
PERC's fellowships share a common goal of exposing new scholars, students, journalists, and policy makers to free market environmentalism, as well as enable scholars already familiar with FME to explore new applications.
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