What are the Factors Affecting Western States’ Adoption of Laws Regarding Tribal Water Rights?

Faced with increasing population and demand for water, water users in western states are increasingly turning to water transfers to meet their needs. One potentially important source for transfers is tribal water rights, which are reserved based on the premise that the federal government meant to reserve water rights when creating an Indian reservation. Over time, the relationship between tribes and states has evolved to a point where states are adopting laws regarding tribal water transfers. This thesis hypothesizes that transaction costs and potential benefits affect the adoption of those laws. Empirical support is not found for the variables representing transaction costs, but some support is found for those representing potential benefits.

Bowron_Thesis_revised.pdf (353.69 KB)

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