Efficiencies designed to conserve irrigation water may in fact increase water consumption and leave some users with less water, a Washington State University (WSU) agricultural economist believes. In Washington State, water is allocated according to a prior appropriations system, which means that a water right is set forever at a certain amount. Senior water rights–those set first–take precedence over junior rights. Although this system has been criticized as being inflexible in terms of new water users, it is the best system for stabilizing water delivery, WSU economist Dr. Ray Huffaker explained at a recent meeting of the Washington Tree Fruit […]