Engaging farmers in water governance in the Western United States: lessons from the Colorado River Basin

The Colorado River Basin (CRB) is central to many sectors in the Western United States, including agriculture, ecology, recreation, and urban water supplies, but it faces shortage and conflict. Because agriculture is the CRB’s main water user, leaders are increasingly looking for ways to engage farmers and ranchers in water conservation efforts. In this perspective essay, we reflect on the state of public engagement with agricultural producers in the CRB in the United States. We describe some positive trends in public engagement in the Basin that may lead toward more inclusive and effective outcomes. At the same time, we flag four areas where there is still opportunity for improving engagement with farmers in water conservation: (1) the fragmentation of water governance and engagement activities; (2) the need to bridge the research-practice divide; (3) the necessity of fostering more equitable and inclusive engagement practices; and (4) the challenge of translating engagement trends into effective, sustainable practices. These reflections are relevant for those looking to support engagement with agricultural producers in the management of water resources, but also for anyone engaging across sectors to manage complex socio-environmental systems.