Social and Economic Values of Environmental Flows to the Coast

Abstract

Environmental flow (EF) has been shown to have a significant economic value and impact. These values are often in the form of ecosystem services (ES). In Texas, science and policy on EF are well advanced, but operationalizing the protection of it is still lacking. Institutional alignment at a state level is part way there, but more work can be done to facilitate transactions for all water, including EF. Socio-behavioral-economic tools can be used for valuing ES provided by EF and determining the true value of water beyond the cost of water infrastructure.