Controlling brush encroachment has been a problem for livestock producers utilizing native rangelands in the Southwestern United States for most of the 20th century (Scifres et al.). Increased returns from improved animal performance are usually too low for brush control to be economically feasible (McBryde, Conner, and Scifres; Whitson and Scifres; Upper Colorado River Authority; Dugas, Hicks, and Wright; Thurow and Hester).
In addition to increasing animal performance, brush control may increase off-site water yields via increases in surface run-off and percolation to underground aquifers (Meiman and Dils; Hibbert; Blackburn 1983, 1985; Upper Colorado River Authority; Whitson and Scifres). Ranchers, however, cannot fully capture the benefits associated with increased off-site water yields. Further, good estimates of these benefits have not been developed. In 1985, the Texas Legislature cited the relationship between reducing brush and increasing water yields as a rationale for passing the Texas Brush-Control Act to encourage brush control on private ranches (Texas State Legislature).
Recent droughts and municipal water shortages have prompted renewed interest in the water-harvesting potential of brush control in Texas. One such area receiving attention is the Edwards Plateau region. In this study, biophysical and economic simulation models are integrated to determine potential economic gains to ranchers in different regions of the Edwards Plateau from participating in a State-supported brush-control program.
The primary objective of the study is to estimate regional levels of cost share required to entice rancher participation. In accomplishing this objective, the State's costs of implementing this program in the different regions of the Edwards Plateau are estimated. These cost estimates are necessary for evaluating policy implications of the Brush-Control Act to provide enhancement of off-site water yields in the Edwards Plateau
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