Adapting to Drought and Floods in the Semi-Arid Landscape of Santa Cruz County, Arizona

This paper analyzes the actions of key interest groups and major institutional regulatory agreements that influence land use change and water demand in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, in order to better understand the capacity of residents in the county to adapt to hydroclimatic hazards (drought and flooding). We found that there are strong special interest groups working in the region to ensure their own livelihoods and interests. At times, the actions of these groups enhance the adaptive capacity of the county, but their actions can also conflict with each other, producing a less-clear outcome for adaptation. We also note that government regulation at the binational, state and local scales supports water resource management and buffers the potential impacts of drought. Unfortunately, government regulatory policy has been less effective in mitigating flood concerns, and thus overall, the capacity of the county to adapt climate variability and change remains questionable. Lastly, the county’s unique position on the U.S.-Mexico border challenges efforts to plan for climate related hazards