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Water Management

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Great Plains Regional Technical Input Report

Part of the book series: NCA Regional Input Reports ((NCARIR))

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Abstract

Water in the Great Plains is a critical natural resource that determines the social-ecological processes related to conservation, agriculture, energy, and urban development, among others. Climate regimes across the Great Plains vary tremendously and affect seasonal distribution of water inputs and availability. Changes in precipitation patterns, such as the variability and intensity of rain or snowfall, and seasonality of precipitation have major impacts on water resources in the region. In addition, the river systems dissecting the Great Plains, such as the Red River of the North, the Missouri, the Platte, the Arkansas, and the Rio Grande basins, emerge from the Rocky Mountains, so the hydrologic flow is connected to the snow deposition in this region. This is com-plicated by a legal allocation system that determines when, where, and how much water can be diverted and used in the region. Determinants of these allocation rules were developed during the past century and evolved under more ample precipitation conditions; and when population was sparser; industrial, energy, and urban demands were lower; and environmental water flow requirements were of lower priority. Water usage across the Great Plains is dominated by agriculture demands, though increased concentrations of regional urban development have affected water rights and usage. Changes in water ownership during the past few decades have also caused increased transfer of water rights to various municipalities. This has resulted in conflicts and legal battles between states and between various uses and users.

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  1. Dennis S. Ojima
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    Dennis S. Ojima

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Ojima, D.S. (2015). Water Management. In: Ojima, D.S. (eds) Great Plains Regional Technical Input Report. NCA Regional Input Reports. Island Press, Washington, DC. https://doi.org/10.5822/978-1-61091-510-6_4

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