CLIMATE VULNERABILITY IN COLORADO RIVER BASIN AGRICULTURE: IMPACTS OF WATER RIGHTS AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS

Our study aims to uncover relationships between water rights, irrigation patterns, crop production, and socioeconomic factors in the Colorado River Basin (CRB) and the state of Colorado. Through understanding system interactions around irrigation and identifying which geographic areas or social groups are at risk of water shortage, we hope our project will direct management and policy interventions to improve adaptive capacity and maintain stable agricultural production in the CRB. We specifically envision our study directing assistance, including crop insurance or infrastructure improvements, and being used as justification for proactive policies on climate change adaptation. We hope such interventions can stop the cycle of slow violence against under-represented groups and help mitigate climate vulnerability.To achieve these goals, our specific research objectives are to: 1) analyze how irrigation extent is influenced by drought and socioeconomic status in the CRB; 2) investigate how water rights priority is related to socioeconomic factors and water availability, especially during times of water stress in the state of Colorado; and 3) in both the CRB and Colorado, identify and communicate which areas are most vulnerable to water shortages through the creation of an interactive online map. ?