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Keeping it together in destabilized times: looking past the near term

Date

2009-06

Authors

Wiener, John, author
U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, publisher

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Abstract

This extended abstract proceeds from arguments previously made in the 2008 USCID Urbanization and Irrigation meeting (proceedings; presentation at https://ibs.colorado.edu/wiener/), and elsewhere (posted same place), taking a wider view of the issues facing irrigation in the urbanizing US West. Here, the purpose is to look beyond near-term stresses. Irrigation districts and ditch companies face serious hindrances to long-term planning, including re-allocation to match soils, water, farming abilities, and capitalization as well as the problems of defining the many interests affected by irrigation and acquiring their support in meaningful terms. Certainly, each district and ditch is unique, but some common problems suggest common potentials. Group action created the assets at risk, and group action is needed to sustain them. Given the increasing instability of climate as well as input and output markets within sharply increasing environmental pressures, the importance of agricultural productive capacity calls for careful self-defense. There is little help available, but a rationale for one approach is developed; "Five Capitals". Looking at the "five kinds of capital" (natural, built, financial, individual and social/organizational) in the future, one may see the need for pro-active assessment of all of the assets of the district or ditch. In 30 years, what would you like to have? What might you grudgingly agree to have in order to stabilize what you want? How can you get that? Irrigation districts, ditch companies and their allies must be the link between land use change and water management, and they may be the leading edge of progress toward sustainability.

Description

Presented at Irrigation district sustainability - strategies to meet the challenges: USCID irrigation district specialty conference held on June 3-6, 2009 in Reno, Nevada.

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