A Social Assessment of Alternative Water Management Policies in Southwestern Kansas

R. Scott Frey
Ismail Said

---

DOI: 10.2190/XKR2-CLYJ-WEX2-XF30

Abstract

Results of a social assessment of three alternative water management policies proposed as possible solutions to the groundwater depletion problem in southwestern Kansas are presented. The following three alternatives were assessed in terms of their estimated impact on conflict polarization in the area: (1) continue existing water management practices, (2) water demand control through incentives, and (3) water demand control through regulation. A panel of knowledgeable informants made estimates according to a modified Delphi procedure. Results indicate that increased regulation of water demand is the best policy because it reduces conflict polarization more than other alternatives.

---

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.