Groundwater appropriation game: A dynamic simulation approach

This research explores the common pool resource (CPR) characteristics of groundwater resources by dynamic simulation modeling and computer gaming. As the largest source of freshwater in the world, groundwater is deemed one of the most valuable resources. Due to the difficulty of excluding potential users and high subtractability of the benefits consumed by one user from those available to others, groundwater resource is conceptualized as a CPR. As a CPR, groundwater is prone to both provision and appropriation problems including but not limited to drying up of wells, increased pumping costs and deterioration of water quality due to the intrusion of salt water. In this research, allocation of flow (the extracted groundwater) from the resource stock (extractable water at the aquifer bed) during a single irrigation season is investigated. When groundwater users act independently to increase their water extraction, the resulting drawdown of the water table may lead to an increase in energy costs and reduce overall, as well as individual benefits. This represents a CPR dilemma among the irrigators, where the actors have to cooperate for the quantity and coordinate for the timing of their irrigation activity to increase overall benefits. To facilitate learning in and about the dynamic complexity of this dilemma, a network based dynamic simulation game is developed. The game is grounded on a dynamic simulation model. The model represents the groundwater dynamics (i.e. groundwater flows within the aquifer and recharge mechanism) and dynamic relationship between water extraction and crop yield. The model also calculates biweekly and end- of-the-season statistics for the individual farms on finances and water use efficiencies. Namely the Groundwater Irrigation Game is a multiplayer, dynamic game in which participants seek to maximize their farm profits while they are faced with the renewable resource limits. This game allows participants to explore consequences of different strategies and gain insights about the complex dynamics of the commons. Accordingly, the initial observations obtained from the pilot gaming indicate that the game instructions are sufficient for participants to develop a strategy and achieve their goals.