Identification of critical organizational design principles in a common property resource regime to enhance endangered species habitat along the Platte River

Abstract

This study examined organizational design characteristics present in a newly created institution constructed to enhance wildlife habitat for endangered species in the Big Bend reach of the Platte River in central Nebraska through the re-regulation of river water. The conceptual foundation for this research was built upon an understanding of the five types of goods available for use by societies and how organizations craft "resource regimes" to obtain the benefits of these different categories of goods. Regimes are a social construct consisting of a tapestry of rights, rules, and responsibilities that vary from regime to regime that define access and use. Understanding these regimes is important as regimes guide human behavior and use of the environment Successful regime designs, the literature suggests, tend to appropriate goods in a manner that is more equitable, efficient and sustainable than regimes lacking these designs. The theoretical lens used in this investigation was drawn from case studies of successful, small-scale common property resource regimes. From these studies, researchers have posited specific institutional characteristics, known as design principles, to account for regime success. This investigation studies a newly created, large-scale common property resource regime designed to re-regulate Platte River water to improve riparian habitat for downstream endangered species. The study hypothesized that seven design principles would be present in this new regime. The hypothesis was supported. In addition, the study also identified four additional design principles critically important to the success of this regime, hypothesizing their importance to other large-scale, common property resource regimes. The study organizes all the design characteristics into a hypothesized framework for future testing. It is also suggested that the presence of social capital will contribute to future success. The study examines social capital and documents its presence in this new regime. It found greater familiarity and consulting taking place among the organizations today than when negotiations began in 1994. In addition, there was relatively low polarization among the regime's organizations that will enhance the regime's chances of viability in the years ahead.