Digital Behavioral Economics Game for Groundwater Conservation in Colorado

Abstract

First Subtopic: Background

Climate change disproportionately impacts the western United States through its effect on water resources. Ensuring water security in the face of climate change is critical for rural, agricultural communities such as in Colorado's San Luis Valley. Research techniques like behavioral games can aid in understanding community responses toward water conservation practices.

The game's design integrated real-time groundwater usage data from representative farms to simulate agricultural practices closely. Financial incentives, data transparency, and peer learning interventions were also incorporated for evaluating their effectiveness. The game was piloted with key stakeholders to understand its potential for use in water policy simulations. Results showed that financial incentives influenced crop choices and water consumption patterns significantly.

Quote: "This study tool can help inform and empower communities to actively engage in collaborative problem-solving processes leading to improved community water conservation efforts."

Second Subtopic: Groundwater Conservation in Practice

The research team developed three variations of the game to simulate different policy interventions. These scenarios included: a baseline or current conditions; data transparency; and subsidies for regenerative agricultural practices. Findings suggest that when financial incentives were introduced for fallowing land or adopting regenerative practices, participants shifted towards more water-conservative choices, leading to higher groundwater table levels.

Despite considerable discussions and apparent social pressures, increasing information sharing mechanisms only led to modest changes in groundwater usage. This indicates that while increased transparency may influence short-term behavior, it may not significantly alter long-term groundwater management outcomes in the simulated environment.

Third Subtopic: Implications for Water Governance

Qualitative assessments of gameplay sessions following the study provided insights into the game's applicability to real-world challenges faced by rural, agricultural communities. Stakeholders acknowledged the state's pressure to restore Colorado's aquifer levels, further highlighting the importance of local conservation efforts.

Discussions also explored further use cases for the game, including modeling resource management scenarios or evaluating policy impacts. Researchers identified the need for improved water conservation education and more effective subsidy approaches for agricultural practices. The game emerged as an effective tool for facilitating discussions on water resource management challenges and could potentially aid in the development of innovative approaches.