Economic Analysis 

Over 2000 jobs potentially lost in the Republican River Basin

You may download an excel worksheet and perform your own studies.

This analysis makes several significant assumptions. 

  1. The local NRD and the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have a large variation in the number of wells and acres they identify as Quick Response wells. We used the state DNR numbers because we believe they will prevail. 

  2. One of the DNR's estimates show that a 10% reduction of water usage for all upland wells and a 50% reduction in usage by all quick response wells will achieve the necessary reduction in water usage.  We use these numbers for this analysis.

  3. We estimate that farmers will make minimal reductions in inputs even if their water usage is reduced.  These estimates are shown on the input tables below.  Download the excel worksheet to perform your estimate.

  4. We assume the average wage in the community is $23,000 a year.  This number is far higher than the amount the census reports of $17,500.  The number is also far lower than what many people receive.  The only affect this number has is on our estimate of the number of jobs lost.  You can download the spreadsheet and put in your own value for the wages and see how many jobs will be affected. 

Click to review interactive excel web sheet.