10.2190/XKR2-CLYJ-WEX2-XF30 XKR2CLYJWEX2XF30 6 A Social Assessment of Alternative Water Management Policies in Southwestern Kansas 173 182 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 XKR2CLYJWEX2XF30.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=XKR2CLYJWEX2XF30 2 R. Scott Frey Ismail Said Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, Kansas State University, Manhattan Results of a social assessment of three alternative water management policies proposed as possible solutions to the groundwater depletion problem in southwestern Kansas are presented. The following three alternatives were assessed in terms of their estimated impact on conflict polarization in the area: (1) continue existing water management practices, (2) water demand control through incentives, and (3) water demand control through regulation. A panel of knowledgeable informants made estimates according to a modified Delphi procedure. 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