Short- and Long-Term Implications of Drought on Agriculture

The ongoing Texas drought has challenged many people's perceptions of water.  In one sense, water is a human right, with a concomitant societal obligation to provide clean, affordable drinking water for all.  In another sense, water is a property right, as in Texas where groundwater is little different from oil as a resource to be mined and exploited.  In another sense, water is a commodity to be bought, sold, and transferred as part of a free market.  In yet another sense, water is a shared common asset, to be utilized to the greatest benefit of society while also protecting the environment.  Texas law, which views surface water and groundwater as two different substances, exemplifies these inconsistencies.  Drought and water shortages bring these views of the nature of water into direct conflict with each other.  Through legislation and lawsuits, Texas is beginning the process of reconciling these perspectives and formulating a coherent water policy, but there is still a long, long way to go.