Green Lawns in the Desert: Water Scarcity in Southern Utah

• In Event: 254 - Section on Environment and Technology Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 03. Water

Abstract

Drawing on qualitative interviews, primary documents, and participant observation, I explore responses to water scarcity in southwestern Utah. Utah historically is one of the driest states in the country and water has been a central concern throughout the state’s existence. Increasing population pressures, climate change, and potential disruptions in external supply are combining to create an emerging crisis, like that experienced in much of the US. My research asks how policy makers and citizens address these challenges in a state political climate that is deeply conservative and libertarian. My findings so far demonstrate that the economic, political, and cultural centrality of agriculture as well as the ubiquitous Kentucky bluegrass featured in lawns across the state have led significantly more emphasis on supply rather than demand.

Author

• Andrew D. Van Alstyne, Southern Utah University