Even in a water abundant context, the spatial and temporal concentration of ir-rigation withdrawals can create water scarcity. Many studies have explored irri-gation management behavior in the western U.S. The determinants of irrigation behavior in a water abundant context have been studied less extensively. This paper explores the environmental and market determinants of irrigation man-agement in a five-state Great Lakes region. I find evidence that corn, soybean, and potato irrigators respond to the cost of water at the intensive margin. Evi-dence of a water-price effect at the extensive margin is mixed. Additionally, this study is unique in its consideration of the water-use effects from extreme heat and precipitation variability. I find important effects of long-run average temper-ature on crop acreage allocation decisions and short-run extreme heat events on water application rates. I do not find evidence of a water-use response to intra-seasonal precipitation variability.
Read
