The Influential Role of Sociocultural Feedbacks on Community-Managed Irrigation System Behaviors During times of Water Stress
Abstract
Sociohydrological studies use interdisciplinary approaches to explore the complex interactions between physical and social water systems and increase our understanding of emergent and paradoxical system behaviors. The dynamics of community values and social cohesion, however, have received little attention in modeling studies due to quantification challenges. Social structures associated with community-managed irrigation systems around the world, in particular, reflect these communities' experiences with a multitude of natural and social shocks. Using the Valdez acequia (a communally-managed irrigation community in northern New Mexico) as a simulation case study, we evaluate the impact of that community's social structure in governing its responses to water availability stresses posed by climate change. Specifically, a system dynamics model (developed using insights from community stakeholders and multiple disciplines that captures biophysical, socioeconomic, and sociocultural dynamics of acequia systems) was used to generate counterfactual trajectories to explore how the community would behave with streamflow conditions expected under climate change. We found that earlier peak flows, combined with adaptive measures of shifting crop selection, allowed for greater production of higher value crops and fewer people leaving the acequia. The economic benefits were lost, however, if downstream water pressures increased. Even with significant reductions in agricultural profitability, feedbacks associatedmore »
- Authors:
-
[1];
[2];
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Texas A & M Univ., Kingsville , TX (United States). Dept. of Agriculture, Agribusiness & Environmental Sciences
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1429502
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-2018-2770J
Journal ID: ISSN 0043-1397; 661435
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525; CNH-1010516; WSC-1204685; DGE-0909667
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Water Resources Research
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 54; Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 0043-1397
- Publisher:
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; Sociocultural dynamics; climate change; community‐managed irrigation; interdisciplinary modeling; coupled natural and human systems
Citation Formats
Gunda, Thushara, Turner, B. L., and Tidwell, Vincent C. The Influential Role of Sociocultural Feedbacks on Community-Managed Irrigation System Behaviors During times of Water Stress. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1002/2017WR021223.
Gunda, Thushara, Turner, B. L., & Tidwell, Vincent C. The Influential Role of Sociocultural Feedbacks on Community-Managed Irrigation System Behaviors During times of Water Stress. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017WR021223
Gunda, Thushara, Turner, B. L., and Tidwell, Vincent C. Wed .
"The Influential Role of Sociocultural Feedbacks on Community-Managed Irrigation System Behaviors During times of Water Stress". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017WR021223. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1429502.
@article{osti_1429502,
title = {The Influential Role of Sociocultural Feedbacks on Community-Managed Irrigation System Behaviors During times of Water Stress},
author = {Gunda, Thushara and Turner, B. L. and Tidwell, Vincent C.},
abstractNote = {Sociohydrological studies use interdisciplinary approaches to explore the complex interactions between physical and social water systems and increase our understanding of emergent and paradoxical system behaviors. The dynamics of community values and social cohesion, however, have received little attention in modeling studies due to quantification challenges. Social structures associated with community-managed irrigation systems around the world, in particular, reflect these communities' experiences with a multitude of natural and social shocks. Using the Valdez acequia (a communally-managed irrigation community in northern New Mexico) as a simulation case study, we evaluate the impact of that community's social structure in governing its responses to water availability stresses posed by climate change. Specifically, a system dynamics model (developed using insights from community stakeholders and multiple disciplines that captures biophysical, socioeconomic, and sociocultural dynamics of acequia systems) was used to generate counterfactual trajectories to explore how the community would behave with streamflow conditions expected under climate change. We found that earlier peak flows, combined with adaptive measures of shifting crop selection, allowed for greater production of higher value crops and fewer people leaving the acequia. The economic benefits were lost, however, if downstream water pressures increased. Even with significant reductions in agricultural profitability, feedbacks associated with community cohesion buffered the community's population and land parcel sizes from more detrimental impacts, indicating the community's resilience under natural and social stresses. In conclusion, continued exploration of social structures is warranted to better understand these systems' responses to stress and identify possible leverage points for strengthening community resilience.},
doi = {10.1002/2017WR021223},
journal = {Water Resources Research},
number = 4,
volume = 54,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Mar 14 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Wed Mar 14 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}
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