When Colorado Basin States fail to protect communities from water shortages, climate change mediation offers a way for communities to be pro-active about water solutions. The 7 states in question – Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, California, Wyoming, New Mexico and Utah – have failed to meet federally imposed deadlines for reaching an agreement. Federal officials have for the first time declared a Tier 2 Shortage for 2023, reflecting the reality of drastically shrinking water supplies. This means cuts that will affect everyone. How will these communities cope?
The Bad News: Conflict Over Shrinking Water Supplies
Water levels in the Colorado River and its reservoirs are at historic lows. Tier 2 shortage conditions have dictated that Arizona’s annual water apportionment will be reduced by 21%, Nevada’s by 8% and Mexico’s by 7%. There is no required water savings contribution for California. The contribution made by states like Arizona and the reduced contribution of other states has led to resentment that makes it more difficult to reach an agreement.
While states continue to fight over water agreements, stakeholders including farmers, municipalities, nonprofits, individuals and community organizations face the reality of water shortages. Ordinary people need realistic solutions, and realistic solutions can only be found when people choose a cooperative method of resolving conflicts. Climate change mediation transcends political bargaining to reveal the benefits of common interest and the disadvantages of a race to the bottom. Our climate change mediators use the math of conflict dynamics to demonstrate that cooperation has material benefits, and depleting a natural resource affects everyone negatively
The Good News: Water Scarcity Solutions Are Within Reach
A key part of getting to water solutions is acceptance. While developers continue to build in the desert without adequate water resource planning, while municipalities fail to update laws surrounding surface and groundwater use, change is stalled. Climate change mediation encourages acceptance of the real conditions that communities are facing under climate change, which allows people to give up their entrenched positions and work together.
Problems and Solutions
What is the problem and what is the solution? It’s amazing how rarely people ask this simple question. Generally the question that’s asked is “What’s in it for me?” The benefit of climate change mediation is that it encourages people to see that giving up immediate self- interest helps them arrive at solutions.
Take the following example:
- The problem: Water shortages hit and people drill deeper to access water from wells. Not only does this deplete groundwater and affect everyone, the well water is of poorer quality. However, getting water from elsewhere is more expensive so it’s cheaper to tap an existing well with senior water rights.
- The Solution: If people had the option to get better quality water from elsewhere they would take it. Climate change mediation could negotiate a deal to source funding for water solutions that can provide parched communities with water.
If you are facing the reality of water shortages in your local community, you shouldn’t have to wait for authorities to make things fairer. There are ways to work within your own community to share resources. At Boileau Conflict Solutions we help communities, businesses and individuals become models of water parity and water efficiency. We have resolved many water conflicts and provide you with case studies that show that it’s possible to solve even a conflict that seems intractable. We can be reached 7 days a week when you need help with your water crisis. We have offices in Bozemann Montana, Berkeley, CA, Silicon Valley and San Diego CA. We can mediate in person or remotely to resolve any water crisis nationally. Please contact us to learn more about our climate mediation services.