Tallulah Powers

Abstract:

The long-term sustainability of freshwater resources is under threat due to recurring and intense droughts. Access to and use of water in industries like agriculture depends on the underlying property rights. The design of these property rights can influence human behavior and choices. For example, in the absence of any penalty for misuse of water, farmers may choose the most profitable but wasteful water-intensive farming practices. In contrast, if there are laws that penalize the wasteful use of water and/or incentivize its conservation, farming practices may shape accordingly. This is the topic we explored in this project by comparing and contrasting the groundwater laws and cropping patterns across the three states – Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska – that lie over the contentious Republican River Valley.