PLSC 4357 Research Paper

The first definition that fits the American West is its aridity and water scarcity together with the inconsistency of water sources with the coastal areas being exempt from this water shortage. It thus follows that there is a limited supply of water against a background of growing demand from increased populations to industrial and agricultural needs creating a serious water crisis. The major sources of water in the American West are under threat due to overreliance by humans, climate change and the river management strategies. With the threat of water scarcity, it is evident that the current application of water use in the American west is unsustainable and measures need to be taken to address water management. Although it is not possible to address all the water challenges facing the west in just a single study, it is important to understand the governance and policy issues surrounding this natural commodity in the American Westin an effort toaddress its sustainability. The issue of water in the American West has been brought about by the high rate of population increase in the urban areas. This has led to an increase in the stress that already exists due to the scarcity of water, leading to a need of identifying solutions for water that can guarantee sustainability in the long term. This massive rise in population is expected to continue in the coming years and thus create more strain on water sources. A majority of residents in the American West also live in large cities which represent 6 in 10 of the cities with the highest growth rates in the United States of America (Bates 3). Therefore, since there are no new sources of water to satisfy the demand, it remains that water use has to be diverted from its traditional use of irrigation in order to accommodate the pressure of this rise in population. Effects of global warming will also pile onto the stress of the water resource due to dwindling levels of water in the storage facilities and rivers.