Faculty Exchange Presentation: "Collaborative State Efforts to Resolve Transboundary Water Conflicts"

 

Abstract
In transboundary river basins, conflicts frequently arise across jurisdictions and between water users about how much water can be used, as well as for what purposes and by whom. To better understand the nature of conflicts and how they are resolved in transboundary river basins, this paper analyzes data from a study of conflicts arising in 15 interstate river basins in the western U.S. that are governed by interstate river compacts. The compacts themselves provide multiple mechanisms for resolving disputes among states, ranging from compact commissions, to meetings of states water directors, to mediation and arbitration. A variety of other institutional arrangements also exist in these river basins for addressing conflicts - including legislative processes, state courts, the U.S. Supreme Court, and informal discussions. Dispute resolution is a function of the match between the conflict resolution mechanism and the type of conflict.

The Consortium on Collaborative Governance (CCG) sponsors faculty exchanges among the partnering schools to encourage collaboration and cultivation of joint research projects within the Consortium.

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