Abstract
Environmental policy often addresses multiple targets, yet much economic analysis of pollution control is based on a single-target objective. In this paper, we present an analysis of policies to control non-point source nitrate pollution in the presence of minimum river flow restrictions. A non-linear bio-physical economic optimisation model of an intensively cultivated Scottish agricultural catchment was constructed. The presence of minimum river flow controls in the catchment was found to reduce nitrogen pollution. However, by themselves, river flow controls were found not to be a cost effective means to reduce non-point pollution. We quantify the improved social welfare from coordinating the environmental regulation of river flows and pollution, and determine the conditions under which such coordination is beneficial. The paper also investigates whether the benefits of such coordination can be sustained under wetter (winter) weather conditions implied by current climate change predictions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albiac JM, Karaj SU, Martinez YM (2001) Water quality protection through irrigation management. working paper Unidad de Economia Agraria
Anthony S, Quinn P, Lord EI (1996) Catchment scale modelling of nitrate leaching (Modelling in applied biology: spatial aspects). Aspects Appl Biol 46:23–32
Bailey RJ, Spackman E (1996) A model for estimating soil moisture changes as an aid to irrigation scheduling and crop water-use studies: II. Field tests of the Model. Soil Use Manage 12: 129–133
Brooke A, Kendrick D, Meeraus A, Raman R (1998) GAMS Washington DC, GAMS Development Corporation
Brooker JF, Young RA (1994) Modelling intrastate and interstate markets for Colorado River water resources. J Environ Econ Manage 26:66–87
Burt T, Haycock N (1993) Controlling losses of nitrate by changing land use. In: Burt T, Heathwaite A, Trudgill S (eds) Nitrate: processes, patterns and management. Chichester, Wiley & Sons
Caswell M, Lichtenberg E, Zilberman D (1990) The effects of pricing policies on water conservation and drainage. Am J Agric Econ 72:883–890
Chambers B, Johnson P (1990) Effect of fertliser applications on crop yield. ADAS, Wolverhampton, p 25
Crabtree JR, Chalmers N, Stalham M, Dunn S (2000) Evaluating the economic impact of irrigation controls. Aberdeen, MLURI (SEERAD commissioned report)
Darcy BJ, Ellis JB, Ferrier RC, Jenkins A, Dils R (2000) Diffuse pollution impacts: the environmental and economic impacts of diffuse pollution in the U.K. CIWEM Publications, U.K.
Dinar A, Letey J (1991) Agricultural water marketing, allocative efficiency and drainage reduction. J Environ Econ Manage 20(3):210–223
Dinar A, Loehman ET, Marcel PA, Moore RM, Richard EH, Stephen AH (1993) Regional modeling and economic incentives to control drainage pollution. In: Russel SC, Shogren JF (eds). Theory, modeling and experience in the management of nonpoint-source pollution. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, p 345
Dinar A, Xepapadeas A (1998) Regulating water quantity and quality in irrigated agriculture. J Environ Manage 54:273–289
Dosi C, Tomasi T, eds. (1994) Nonpoint source pollution regulation: issues and analysis. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht
Dunn S (1998) Development of an application of a distributed catchment scale Hydrological model for the Ythan, NE Scotland. Hydrol Process 12:401–416
EA (2005) Assessing risks to the water environment: river Basin Characterisation Results 2005. Environment Agency, Bristol (UK)
Fox I (1999) Abstraction and abstraction control in scotland Stirling, SEPA
Hanley N, Shogren J, White B (2006) Environmental economics in theory and practice. 2nd ed. Oxford, Palgrave MacMillan
Haverkort AJ, Mackerron DKL, eds. (2000) Management of nitrogen and water in potato production. Wageningen Pers, Netherlands
Helfand G (1995) Alternative pollution standards for regulating nonpoint-source pollution. J Environ Manage 45:231–241
Helfand G, House B (1995) Regulating nonpoint-source pollution under heterogeneous conditions. Am J Agric Econ 77:1024–1032
Johnson S, Adams R, Perry G (1991) The on-farm costs of reducing groundwater pollution. Am J Agric Econ 73:1063–1073
Kampas A, White B (2002) Emission versus input taxes for diffuse nitrate pollution control in the presence of transaction costs. J Environ Planning Manage 45(1):129–140
Kampas A, White B (2004) Administrative costs and instrument choice for stochastic non-point source pollutants. Environ Resour Econ 27(2):109–133
Larson DM, Helfand GE, House BW (1996) Second-best tax policies to reduce nonpoint source pollution. Am J Agric Econ 78(4):1108–1117
Lockyer D, Scholefield D, Dawson B (1995) N-CYCLE. MERTAL Courseware, Aberdeen
Lord E (1992) Modelling of nitrate leaching: nitrate sensitive areas. Asp Appl Biol 30:19–28
McKenzie H, Gawith M, Brown M, Connell R, Downing TE (eds) (2000) Climate change: assessing the impacts - identifying responses. The first three years of the UK Climate Impacts Programme. UKCIP Technical Report. UKCIP and DETR, Oxford
Moxey A, White B (1994) Efficient compliance with agricultural nitrate pollution standards. J Agric Econ 45:27–37
Ribaudo M, Horan R, Smith M (1999) Economics of water quality protection from nonpoint sources: theory and practice. Department of Agriculture, Resource Economics Division, Washington, DC, U.S.
Ribaudo M, Osborn C, Konyar K (1994) Land retirement as a tool for reducing agricultural nonpoint source pollution. Land economics 70:77–87
Robinson GM, Lind M (1999) Set-aside and environment: a case study in Southern England. Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie 90(3):296–311
SAC (1992) Fertiliser allowances for manures and slurries. Technical Note: Fertiliser Series 14. Edinburgh, Scottish Agricultural College
SAC (1996) Recommendations for grazing and conservation. Technical Notes: Fertiliser Series No 4. Edinburgh
SAC (1997) Farm management handbook 1997/98. Scottish Agricultural College, Edinburgh
Scholefield D, Lockyer D, Whitehead D, Tyson K (1991) A model to predict transformations and losses of nitrogen in UK pastures grazed by beef cattle. Plant Soil 132:165–177
SEPA (1999) Improving Scotland’s water environment. SEPA State of the Environment Report. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Edinburgh
Shortle JS, Abler D, (1994). Incentives for nonpoint pollution control. In: Dosi C, Tomasi T, (eds) Nonpoint source pollution regulation: issues and analysis. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht
Shortle JS, Dunn J (1986) The relative efficiency of agricultural source water pollution control policies. Am J Agric Econ 68:668–677
Shortle JS, Horan R (2001) The economics of nonpont pollution control. J Econ Surveys 15(3):255–289
SOAEFD (1997a) Arable areas payment scheme. Scottish Executive, Edinburgh
SOAEFD (1997b) Scottish agriculture: a guide to grants and services. Scottish executive, Edinburgh
Stevens B (1988) Fiscal implications of effluent charges and input taxes. J Environ Econo Manage 15:285–296
Stolbjerg-Drud A (1993) ‘GAMS/CONOPT’. GAMS (The Solver Manuals). GAMS Development Corporation, Washington DC, p 55
Weersink A, Livernois J, Shrogren JF, Shortle JS (1998) Economic instruments and environmental policy in agriculture. Can Public Policy 24(3):309–327
Weinberg M, Kling CL, Wilen JE (1993) Water markets and water quality. Am J Agric Econ 75:278–291
Willis KG, Garrod GD (1995) The benefits of alleviating low flows in rivers. Water Resour Develop 11:243–260
Willis KG, Garrod GD (1999) Angling and recreation values of low-flow alleviation in rivers. J Environ Manage 57:71–83
Wu J (1999) Input substitution and pollution control under uncertainty and firm heterogeneity. J Public Econ Policy 2(2):273–288
Wu J, Teague M, Mapp H, Bernardo D (1995) An empirical analysis of the relative efficiency of policy instruments to reduce nitrate water pollution in the U.S. southern high plains. Can J Agric Econ 43:403–420
Xepapadeas A (1997) Advanced principles in environmental policy. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Aftab, A., Hanley, N. & Kampas, A. Co-ordinated environmental regulation: controlling non-point nitrate pollution while maintaining river flows. Environ Resource Econ 38, 573–593 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10640-007-9090-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10640-007-9090-y