ABSTRACT
A regional model is proposed for evaluating policies aimed at controlling the quantity and quality of drainage from agricultural lands. The model includes both physical and economic components. The physical component incorporates a crop-water production function which computes the physical soil-water-crop relationships. The multi-farm economic model is a regional income maximization model. The model includes also physical and institutional constraints for each farm and the region. Policies evaluated in this context are varying taxes and constraints on drainage discharge and surface water use. The model was applied to a region in California. Results for alternative control policies are compared on the basis of resource use, regional income, drainage quality and quantity, and the resulting pollution load.
