Economist recognized for outstanding modeling efforts
Allen Sturdivant, Texas AgriLife Extension Service associate, received two awards at the Texas A&M AgriLife Conference held January 7-10, 2008 for his exceptional performance in working with stakeholders and in creating and applying economic models that are instrumental in addressing rural and urban water use issues in South Texas.
Sturdivant received both the Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence for Technical/Extension Support (off campus) and the Superior Service Award in the Extension Associate/Assistant/Technical category.
“Allen’s accomplishments in South Texas since 2002 as part of the Texas AgriLife Research and Texas AgriLife Extension Service economics team have been many and of great importance to the community, region and state,” said Dr. Edward Rister, associate head in the Department of Agricultural Economics. “Allen’s talents have made a highly positive impacton South Texas and the water community, where he continues to demonstrate superior work.”
As part of the Rio Grande Basin Initiative (RGBI) team, Sturdivant has helped develop key economic models such as the Rio Grande Irrigation District Economics spreadsheet model (RGIDECON), the DESAL ECONOMICS model, and the CITY H2O model. In addition, his Valley Irrigation District Rate Analyzer (VIDRA) has led to increased financial stability for several irrigation districts that were struggling to survive. His contributions continued where he played a key role in estimating the economic benefits of the El Morillo Drain, which reduces the salt load to the Rio Grande and saves South Texas farms and cities between $42 million and $56 million annually. He was also a point person for a study of the economic impacts that would be expected with flooding from the Rio Grande due to overflow of the levee system.
Irrigation district managers agree that Sturdivant has been a tremendous asset and through his work helped them realize approval and construction of their conservation projects. Through the development and use of his spreadsheet models, he has provided them with a planning tool of invaluable service.
“Because of his professionalism and high quality of work, Allen has earned the respect of agriculturalon South Texas and the water community, where he continues to demonstrate superior work.”
Allen Sturdivant (center) with Dr. Ed Smith (left), director of Texas AgriLife Extension Service, and Dr. Mark Hussey (right), director of Texas AgriLife Research, after receiving the Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence for Technical/Extension Support (off campus).
As part of the Rio Grande Basin Initiative (RGBI) team, Sturdivant has helped develop key economic models such as the Rio Grande Irrigation District Economics spreadsheet model (RGIDECON), the DESAL ECONOMICS model, and the CITY H2O model. In addition, his Valley Irrigation District Rate Analyzer (VIDRA) has led to increased financial stability for several irrigation districts that were struggling to survive. His contributions continued where he played a key role in estimating the economic benefits of the El Morillo Drain, which reduces the salt load to the Rio Grande and saves South Texas farms and cities between $42 million and $56 million annually. He was also a point person for a study of the economic impacts that would be expected with flooding from the Rio Grande due to overflow of the levee system.
Irrigation district managers agree that Sturdivant has been a tremendous asset and through his work helped them realize approval and construction of their conservation projects. Through the development and use of his spreadsheet models, he has provided them with a planning tool of invaluable service.
“Because of his professionalism and high quality of work, Allen has earned the respect of agricultural producers, irrigation districts, municipalities, commodity associations and many others concerned about water,” Rister said.
“Although this is an individual award, it is due to the team work approach that goes into all of these efforts,” Sturdivant said.
The economics team receives support from the Texas Water Resources Institute, the Departments of Agricultural Economics, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, and other collaborators such as irrigation district managers, municipal water suppliers, state agencies, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and many more.
“Without everyone’s help, these efforts would not get done,” Sturdivant said.
