WATER CONSERVATION POTENTIAL FROM IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSITIONS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

The effects of price changes on irrigation technology transitions and potential agricultural water conservation in the Pacific Northwest are analyzed using Parks' (1980) modified multinomial logit model. Results indicate that commodity price effects are statistically significant, but they are relatively small with nonprogram crop price effects greater than program crop price effects. Locational factors are also found to affect technology transitions. In the absence of water policy changes, continued irrigation technology adoption by year 2005 will result in average annual water savings of approximately 404,000 acre-feet in the Pacific Northwest.