The food-energy-water (FEW) nexus concept has emerged as a powerful approach to address the social and environmental challenges created by land and climate change. We present an analysis of the impact of the governance structure of the Lower Colorado River Basin (LCRB) on the implementation of the FEW nexus concept. Specifically, we quantified the linkages between food, energy, and water systems and then used two different future scenarios: (1) drought and (2) increased demand for alfalfa to look for the emergence of resource scarcity and/or vulnerabilities. Our results indicate that fluctuations in food production are not controlled by water availability but by the governance structure. Additionally, there is proportionally more water used for food than energy, and more energy used to move water to cities than water for agricultural production. Analysis of the production scenarios indicate tipping points of food, energy, and water resources based on climatic and consumptive trends that are not yet addressed by the rigid water laws in the LCRB. These results highlight the need for resource governance to play a strong formative role in the analysis and implementation of FEW nexus management strategies.
1.Univ Calif Berkeley, Dept Landscape Architecture & Environm Planning, 202 Wurster Hall 2000, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA 2.Univ Wisconsin, Nelson Inst Environm Studies, 175C Sci Hall,550 N Pk St, Madison, WI 53706 USA 3.Univ Calif Berkeley, Dept Environm Sci Policy & Management, 130 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
Recommended Citation:
Huckleberry, Justyn K.,Potts, Matthew D.. Constraints to implementing the food-energy-water nexus concept: Governance in the Lower Colorado River Basin[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY,2019-01-01,92:289-298