Research Project Information
Additional Publications

Expertise

Dr. Michelsen is Research Director, Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at El Paso, and Professor of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University System, specializing in water resources management, valuation, conservation, markets and policy analysis. As Center Director he is responsible for strategic planning and direction of research programs, fiscal affairs, facilities and overall personnel management. His research includes studies on the effectiveness of agricultural and residential water conservation programs, water markets and prices, impacts of endangered species water acquisition programs, air and water quality regulatory impacts and decision support systems for river basin resource management and water policy analysis in the U.S.,China and Chile. He has authored or co-authored over 140 publications and technical reports, serves on the Board of Directors and is immediate Past-President of the American Water Resources Association, Past-President and Board of the Universities Council on Water Resources, and serves on the National Water Census Advisory Committee, National Levee Safety Review Committee, Paso del Norte Watershed Council Executive Committee, New Mexico-Texas Water Commission, Rio Grande Salinity Coalition, and is IWRM Priority Chair for the 6th World Water Forum.

Education

Professional Experience

Research Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center at El Paso, and Professor, Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University, 1999-present.

Faculty, Department of Economics, MBA, MPA and Environmental Science Programs, Washington State University, Vancouver, WA, 1994-1999.

Associate Director, Wyoming Water Resources Center, and Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 1989-94.

Senior Associate. Environment and Resource Group, RCG/Hagler, Bailly, Inc., Boulder, Colorado. 1987-89.

Vice President and Principal. Coal Network Associates, Inc., Fort Collins, Colorado. 1983-87.

Selected Publications and Presentations

Booker, J.F., R.E. Howitt, A.M. Michelsen and R.A. Young. 2012. “Economics and the Modeling of Water Resources and Policies.” Natural Resource Modeling Journal. 25th Anniversary Special Issue. (forthcoming, January)

Rister, M.E., A.W. Sturdivant, R.D. Lacewell, A.M. Michelsen and B.L. Harris. 2011. “Challenges and Opportunities for Water of the Rio Grande.” Journal of Agriculture & Applied Economics. Southern Agricultural Economics Association. 43(3):367-378.

Michelsen, A.M. 2011. Time for Solutions: 6th World Water Forum and Priority for Action - Integrated Water Resources Management. American Water Resources Association Specialty Conference, IWRM: The Emperor's New Clothes or Indispensable Process. Snowbird, Utah. June 27-29.

Michelsen, A.M. 2011. Integrated Water Resources Management as a Basis for Addressing Climate Challenges, Panelist for the North American Regional Symposium, sponsored by Environmental and Water Resources Institute, American Society of Civil Engineers. Palm Springs, CA. May 24. Invited.

Michelsen, A.M. 2011. Analysis of Salinity Impacts on Agriculture and Urban Water Users. Korea Water Resources Association Annual Conference. Daeju, Korea. May 19-20. Invited.

Michelsen, A.M. 2011. Effective Water Management Requires Interdisciplinary, Integrated Approaches. 2nd Istanbul International Water Forum. Istanbul, Turkey. May 3-5. Invited.

Michelsen, A.M. 2010. Economic Valuation of Environmental and Natural Resources Related to Climate Change and Natural Disasters. Water, Innovation, Climate Change and Natural Disasters: Impacts and Prospects for the Bio Bio Region Workshop, University of Concepcion, Chile. November 22-23. Invited.

Lacewell, R.D., M. Dubois, A.M. Michelsen, E.M. Rister, and A.W. Sturdivant. 2010. Transboundary Water Crises: Learning from Our Neighbors in the Rio Grande (Bravo) and Jordan River Watersheds. Journal of Transboundary Water Resources. 1:2010:95-124.

Michelsen, A.M. 2010. Transboundary Water Resources Management and Institutions: A Case Study, The Rio Grande . Korea Water Resources Association Annual Conference. Daejeon, Korea. May 12-14. Invited Keynote Speaker.

Robinson, J.R.C., A.M. Michelsen, and N.R. Gollehon. 2010. “Mitigating Water Shortages in a Multiple Risk Environment.” Water Policy. 12(2010):114-128.

Michelsen, A.M. and R.A. Young. 2009. “Optioning Agricultural Water Rights for Urban Water Supplies During Droughts.” Book chapter in Economics of Water Resources, Vol.II, 549-559. Editor R. Quentin Grafton. Edward Elgar Publishing Limited. Article originally published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics.

Michelsen, A.M. 2009. Opportunities and Challenges of Water Demand Management Through Pricing. International Workshop on Water Demand Management, International Water Resources Association and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Beijing, China. September 17-18. Invited.

Michelsen, A.M. 2009. Do We Need A National Vision for Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources? National Collaborative Water Resources Conference, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington DC. August 27-28. Invited.

Michelsen, A.M., T. McGuckin, Z. Sheng, R.L. Lacewell and B. Creel. 2009. Rio Grande Salinity Management Program: Preliminary Economic Impact Assessment. Prepared for the Rio Grande Salinity Management Coalition with partial support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque Office. December. 59p.

Michelsen, A.M., M. Chavez, R.D. Lacewell, J. Gilley, and Z. Sheng. 2009. Evaluation of Irrigation Efficiency Strategies for Far West Texas: Feasibility, Water Savings and Cost Considerations. Prepared for Far West Texas Water Planning Group, Rio Grande Council of Governments and Texas Water Development Board. Funding Provided by Texas AgriLife Research, Rio Grande Basin Initiative and Texas Water Development Board. Also available as TR-360, Texas Water Resources Institute.

Michelsen, A.M. 2009. Economics of Water Resources. Blue Gold: When Water Meets Money, 2009 Water Law, Policy and Science Conference. Lincoln, NE. April 29-30. Invited Keynote Speaker.

Michelsen, A.M. 2008. Economics, Public Goods, and Environmental Management Methods and Analysis Approaches. Pan American Advanced Study Institute, Sustainability Workshop, EULA, University of Concepcion, Chile. August 10-22. Invited.

Galloway, G.E. and A.M. Michelsen. 2008. "New Directions in Water Policy: Water Resources Development Act of 2007." Southwest Hydrology. May/June. 7(3):8.

Sheng, Z., Sturdivant, A., Michelsen, A. and R. Lacewell. 2008. "Rapid Economic Assessment of Flood-control Failure Along the Rio Grande: A Case Study." Book chapter in Water and Disasters, Eds. Chennat Gopalakrishnan and Norio Okada. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. Article originally published in the Journal Water Resources Development. 

Michelsen, A.M. and Z. Sheng. 2008. Southwest Desert Floods: Agency Responses, Assessment of Flood Risks and Recommendations to Mitigate Damages and Improve Flood Management. Association of State Flood Plain Managers, 2008 Annual Conference. Reno, NV. May 18-23.

Brown, C., A.M. Michelsen and T. Greg. 2007. A Study on the Effects of Take-or-Pay Contracts on Water Conservation. Chris Brown Consulting for the Texas Water Development Board. 75 pgs.

Ward, F.A., A.M. Michelsen and L DeMouche. 2007. "Barriers to Water Conservation in the Rio Grande Basin." Journal of the American Water Resources Association. 43(1):237-253.

Ward, F.A., J.F. Booker and A.M. Michelsen. 2006. "Integrated Economic, Hydrologic and Institutional Analysis of Policy Responses to Mitigate Drought Impacts in the Rio Grande Basin." Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management. 132(6):488-502.

Booker, J.F., A.M. Michelsen and F.A. Ward. 2005. "Economic Impact of Alternative Policy Responses to Prolonged and Severe Drought in the Rio Grande Basin." Water Resources Research. 41(WO2626):1-15.

Michelsen, A.M. and T. Brown. 2005. "Western Water Markets: Transactions, Prices and Diversity." 50th New Mexico Annual Water Conference. New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute, Las Cruces, NM, October 18-20. Invited. Proceedings.

Sheng, Z., Y., Liu, A. Michelsen and D. Xu. 2005. "Comparative Study in Water Resources Development of Western Regions in the United States and China". Transactions of American Society of Agricultural Engineers. 48(3):1015-1024.

Cai, Ximing, L. Lasdon, A.M. Michelsen. 2004. "Group Decision Making in Water Resources Management Using Multiple Objective Analysis." Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management. 130(1):4-14.

Ward, F.A. and A.M. Michelsen. 2002. "The Economic Value of Water in Agriculture: Concepts and Policy Applications." Water Policy. 4:423-446.

Huffaker, R., A.M. Michelsen, J. Hamilton and M. Frasier. 2001. "Western Water Allocation Issues Arising from the Hierarchy of International, Federal, State and Local Laws Regulating Water Transfer." Complexities With Transboundary Water Resource Management. Water Resources Update. 118:3-10.

Taylor, R.G., A.M. Michelsen and R.Huffaker. 2000. "Why the Price Chain for Federally Developed Irrigation Water Doesn't Promote Conservation." American Agricultural Economic Association. Choices. 3:13-16.

Michelsen, A.M., J.F. Booker and P. Person. 2000. "Expectations in Water Right Prices." International Journal of Water Resources Development. 16(2):209-219.

Michelsen, A.M., R.G. Taylor, R.Huffaker and T. McGuckin. 1999. "Emerging Agricultural Water Conservation Price Incentives." Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics. 24(1):222-238.

Michelsen, A.M., T. McGuckin and D.M. Stumpf. 1999. "Nonprice Water Conservation as a Demand Management Tool," Special issue on Human Dimensions in Watershed Management, Journal of the American Water Resources Association. 35(3):593-602.

Huffaker, R., N. Whittlesey, A.M. Michelsen, G.Taylor and T.McGuckin. 1998. “Evaluating the Effectiveness of Conservation Water-Pricing Programs,” Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics. 23(1):12-19.

Michelsen, A.M., T. McGuckin and D.M. Stumpf. 1998. Effectiveness of Residential Water Conservation Price and Nonprice Programs. American Water Works Association Research Foundation. Denver, Colorado. ISBN 0-89867-954-0.

Harding, B., T. McGuckin, D. Gegax and A.M. Michelsen. 1997. "The Selection, Design and Evaluation of Conservation Oriented Rate Structures for Irrigation and Water Districts." Handbook on Incentive Pricing for Agricultural Water Districts, for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Michelsen, A.M. 1994. "Administrative, Institutional and Structural Characteristics of an Active Water Market." Water Resources Bulletin. American Water Resources Association. Vol. 30(6):971-982.

Michelsen, A.M. 1989. Agricultural Compensation Payments for Water Diversion: Methods, Estimates and Adjustments. RCG/Hagler, Bailly, Inc. for Public Service Company of Colorado.

Member

Agricultural and Applied Economics Association
Association of Environmental and Resource Economists
American Water Resources Association
American Water Works Association
International Society on Multiple Criteria Decision Making
Society for Benefit Cost Analysis
Texas Economists Association
Western Agricultural Economics Association

Additional Publications