Water Woes: Structure and Agency Influences on Adaptive Capacity in Southwest Kansas

Concerns over the continual reduction of available groundwater in southwest Kansas have been increasing. This concern is compounded by the high dependence on irrigated agriculture and the related agribusiness industry, which is a staple to the regional economy and employs a large labor force. Future climate variation may enhance the sensitivity of the region to limited water availability. Through archival research and interviews, this study examines the impact of both structural forces (such as policy makers and legal bodies) and individual agents (local farmers, ranchers, and other citizens) on the capacity of southwest Kansas to adapt to climate variation. Although structure does have an impact, agency components far exceed structure in overall impact on the adaptive capacity of the region.