Updated June 21 with latest documents released by the BDCP.
There has been much posted and written about the economic analyses for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, and if all of it is spinning your eyeballs, you’re not alone. Here’s a recap of posts, fact sheets and other useful things related to the BDCP economic analysis that has been posted so far:
Background information
- Benefit-Cost Analysis, from the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics: Start here if you’re a little unfamiliar with benefit cost analysis for infrastructure projects. This article contains a useful discussion on things such as determining willingness to pay, valuing environmental benefits and other concepts that are important to understanding these reports.
The economic analysis reports
Here are the reports and fact sheets that have been produced so far:
- Dr. David Sunding’s analysis: Draft+BDCP+Statewide+Economic+Impact+Report+8-5-13 (be patient – it’s a big document, takes awhile to download)
- Fact Sheet for Dr. Sunding’s analysis: Statewide+Economic+Impacts+Report+-+Fact+Sheet-1
- Dr. Jeff Michael’s analysis: BenefitCostDeltaTunnel_Web
- State Water Contractors Fact Sheet: BDCP Cost Benefit Studies: A comparison
- Dr. Jeff Michael’s response: Comparing Estimates of the Benefits and Costs of the Delta Tunnels
Latest documents from the BDCP:
- eNewsletter: BDCP Cost and Yield
- Memo from The Brattle Group: BDCP versus Alternative Supplies
- Your Questions Answered: How does the BDCP cost and yield compare to ocean desalination and recycling?
Bay Delta Conservation Plan documents
- Public Draft BDCP Chapter 9 – Alternatives to Take – Often spoken about in presentations, there is an economic analysis included in chapter 9 that examines the costs and benefits to the water contractors only; it is a narrow analysis and generally is not the broader statewide economic impact study that most people are debating.
- Public Draft BDCP Appendix 9A – Economic Benefits of the BDCP and Take Alternatives – Appendix that goes with above chapter
Workshops and presentations
Listed in descending date order: (Note: these are just the postings in relation to the economics of the BDCP. To review all coverage of the BDCP posted on Maven’s Notebook, click here.)
- Dr. Thornberg tells MWD Bay Delta Committee on the BDCP: “Stop hitting the panic button … This project is worth it, it’s as simple as that.” (posted April 2, 2014)
- Assembly oversight hearing on the funding structure and economic impacts of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (part 4): Delta stakeholders have their say (posted February 22, 2014)
- Assembly oversight hearing on the funding structure and economic impacts of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (part 3): San Diego County Water Authority & Contra Costa Water District share their concerns (posted February 21, 2014)
- Assembly oversight hearing on the funding structure and economic impacts of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (part 2): Anton Favorini-Csorba and Dr. Jeff Michael on funding the BDCP (posted February 20, 2014)
- Assembly oversight hearing on the funding structure and economic impacts of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (part 1): The Administration’s Perspective (posted February 19, 2014)
- Evaluating the economics of the BDCP: Dr. Thornberg reviews all the economic analyses for Metropolitan and says “From my perspective, this is a no-brainer.” – Coverage of Dr. Thornberg’s presentation to Metropolitan Water District board members (posted 12/16/13)
- SDCWA BDCP Workshop: ESA regulations, the environmental review process, and “Baselines 101″ – coverage of a presentation to San Diego County Water Authority – a good discussion on some of the basics; the baseline discussion is particularly useful (posted 12/4/13)
- Dr. Jeffrey Michael and Jerry Meral discuss the economics of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan – coverage of a panel discussion from the State of the Estuary conference (posted 11/19/13)
- Santa Clara Valley Water District workshop: A statewide perspective on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan – Dr. Sunding participated in a panel and presented the results of the study to SCVWD board members (posted 10/21/13)
- Officials present the draft Statewide Economic Impact Study at BDCP Finance Working Group meeting – coverage of the release of the study (posted 8/13/13)
- Dr. Sunding makes his case for the BDCP to Metropolitan’s Special Committee on the Bay-Delta (posted 7/29/13)
- July 17 BDCP Public Meeting: Project costs, financing, and economic benefits (posted 7/22/13)
Bloggers on the BDCP’s Economic Analysis
- Dr. Jeff Michael’s Valley Economy blog: For the main page, click here; for ‘Delta tunnel’ posts only, click here.
- Dr. Rodney Smith’s Hydrowonk blog: For the main page, click here; for BDCP posts only, click here.
