MECHANISMS TO ALLOCATE ENVIRONMENTAL WATER

Abstract

Environmental water can be implemented using a range of different allocation mechanisms that are legal or policy tools that enable the provision of water for environmental purposes. This chapter identifies five allocation mechanisms and classifies these based on their legal characteristics, function, and operation. There are three allocation mechanisms that provide environmental water by imposing conditions on other water users: caps on consumptive water use, conditions on private water users, and conditions on storage or water resource operators. There are two allocation mechanisms that create specific legal rights for the environment itself: ecological/environmental reserves, and environme..