Groundwater Management in the West

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Groundwater Management in the West

Jeffrey S. Ashley and Zachary A. Smith

319 pages

Hardcover

November 1999

978-0-8032-4276-0

$50.00 Add to Cart

About the Book

One of the greatest conundrums facing the arid western United States is the availability, use, and quality of groundwater. In large sections of the West, groundwater is the only dependable source of water for agricultural production and home consumption. Yet many of the aquifers are being depleted at a rate that will suck them dry within a century. Furthermore, dependence upon groundwater in many areas will only increase in the future. This dependence is already having serious consequences for small towns on the Great Plains. Faced with growing costs associated with deeper wells and the need for ever more advanced technology for extracting water, these towns find they lack the resources to maintain current agricultural practices.
 
In this timely assessment of the West’s groundwater resources, the authors provide a detailed overview of groundwater management in the Western states. The authors present for each state the various management strategies, laws, and political realities that have made groundwater appropriation such a volatile subject. They also suggest possible difficulties that states and regions might face under current groundwater policies. By examining separate cases and viewing the West as a whole, the authors are able to identify not only the most pressing problems but also the most appropriate management techniques for protecting water supplies for future use.

Author Bio

Jeffrey S. Ashley is an assistant professor of political science at Saginaw Valley State University with published articles on risk assessment in water management and other environmental topics. Zachary A. Smith is a professor of political science and environmental and natural resource policy at Northern Arizona University. His publications include The Environmental Policy Paradox.

Praise

"The authors have labored substantially in this thought-provoking study and concluded that more planning for existing and future groundwater use is urgently needed. Highly recommended for academic and professional libraries. Undergraduates through professionals; two-year technical program students."—Choice

"A comprehensive, accurate and easy to read overview of groundwater in each of the region’s states. All water practitioners, educators, and students with an interest in groundwater or the West would find this book worthwhile."—Great Plains Research

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