Identification of Barriers to More Effective Agricultural Water Management in theSalinas River Valley

摘要

The Salinas River Valley is currently in its fifth straight year of drought.Groundwater is becoming increasingly more important to the economic future of this agriculturally dominated valley. Continued consumption of groundwater at the current rate threatens the economic and environmental future of the Valley through excessive overdrafting of the underlying aquifer and through the phenomenon of seawater intrusion. This thesis identifies the physical, economic, social and political barriers to more effective agricultural water management from the perspective of the individual grower, through the use of a comprehensive survey. This study will contribute to a better understanding of the major water conservation issues and barriers from the individual grower's perspective. It will provide useful information to decision makers in arriving at water conservation policies that are both equitable and in the best long term interest of the various water users of the Salinas River Valley. By exploring the multiple dimensions of specific issues, the perceived and real barriers and the perceptions of interested parties, this study will help foster better awareness, cooperation and communications between he county agency responsible for water resources management and the individual agricultural growers.