Drought Conflict and Cooperation in Montana: Trends Across the State

Keywords: Drought, Montana, Water Management, Cooperation, Conflict
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

Climate change is predicted to decrease freshwater resources while water demands intensify, posing a variety of challenges in the western United States. Drought resulting from anthropogenic climate change heightens the supply and demand imbalance for freshwater, increasing the potential for local conflict. However, conflict is not the only plausible outcome; heightened water demands can also create space for cooperation. Still, there are very few studies on water cooperation and conflict within the West, and even fewer within the state of Montana. Therefore, this study will examine 1) the quantity and intensity of cooperative and conflictive drought-related events in Montana, 2) which drought issue types result in more conflictive and more cooperative outcomes in Montana, and 3) how conflictive and cooperative drought-related events transpire in different communities. To do so, drought-related incidents of cooperation and conflict in Montana will be cataloged and analyzed using a mixed-methods approach. Results from this project will provide important insights to help Montana’s drought managers and decision-makers proactively address drought-related challenges.