MULTI-SECTOR WATER SHARING IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES: CAN ENGINEERS ENGAGE SOCIAL SCIENCE FOR SUCCESSFUL SOLUTIONS?

摘要

Freshwater demand is exceeding the supply throughout the world for agriculture, urbanrnneeds and to sustain a healthy environment. The western United States is no exception. Thernauthors of this paper are separately and jointly involved in projects and studies to determinernhow water might be shared between agricultural, urban, and environmental sectors in waysrnthat effectively stretch supplies, with benefits to all.rnEngineering solutions such as employing high technology measurement tools, utilizing highlyrnefficient irrigation technologies and adopting creative management regimens will be necessary.rnBut legal and institutional changes, alternative approaches to achieve economic and otherrnsocial benefits, and management of the paradox of private water rights vs. water for the publicrngood must be addressed for these engineering solutions to be accepted. Stakeholders fromrnall sectors must be fully engaged at all levels.rnThe authors present a water sharing model under development in the South Platte RiverrnBasin of Colorado in the western United States to show how engineers are attempting tornincorporate social science considerations into their technological formula to achieve success.