The 5-year Technology for Trade project, initiated in 2018, contributed to enhanced water management by furthering the development and application of three promising and complementary emerging technologies: improved seasonal forecasting, remote measurement of crop water consumption, and computer-aided ‘smart’ water markets.  In addition, the project examined legal, regulatory, and contractual innovations that can be important to allow water users to use these technologies as effectively as possible while protecting the water rights of others. This two page summary describes the different aspects of the Tech for Trade project in more detail.

 

The work entailed active engagement with individuals and organizations working throughout the region to identify and help focus on the most critical and fruitful research avenues. This work would not have been possible without insights from the Advisory Committee.

The research utilized data collection through multiple sources, including active simulation-based water market and water use decision experiments, and real-world market activity. Our testbed included three regions in the Columbia River Basin of Washington State — the Yakima, Okanogan, and Walla Walla River Basins.

 

One aspect of the research included a survey of water rights holders and irrigation district growers in the Okanogan, Methow, Walla Walla, and Yakima river basins in Washington State (see here for a summary of key results). The survey was part of a larger project that was exploring the development of information technologies that could enhance water use now and in the future.

Research highlight papers for the project can be found here.

Technology for Trade Overview Article Coverage

For more information contact Jonathan Yoder (Lead PI) at yoder@wsu.edu, or Co-PI and Project Manager Kirti Rajagopalan  at kirtir@wsu.edu.

This work was supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, project #1016467.

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