Details for Water Transfers in the West

As new demands stretch the West's limited water resources, cities, industry, environmentalists and other water users increasingly turn to voluntary, market-based water transfers. The Western Governors passed a policy in 2011 specifically recognizing the potential benefits of water transfers as well as concerns about the impacts of shifting water uses on rural communities. 

This report identifies leading practices for transferring water and highlights successful case studies from around the West. Water Transfers in the West helps states and practitioners share tools and identify the specific steps that states can consider in order to improve water transfer outcomes for agriculture, urban needs, and the environment.