ABSTRACT
This research considers three policy scenarios aimed at reducing groundwater consumption in three high priority subareas of southwest Kansas. The three policy scenarios include: (1) a Status Quo scenario where there is no change in water-use policy, (2) an Immediate Conversion to Dryland scenario where all groundwater pumping is halted, and (3) a Reallocation scenario, which allows only a 40% reduction in saturated thickness in 25 years. Each policy scenario is simulated under normal versus drought weather conditions. Results suggest that, from both a community and producer perspective, groundwater conservation policy can generate positive economic gains.
