Water management and conflicts in Oklahoma: Regulating and competing for limited common pool resources

Abstract

Relying on the theoretical frameworks of the tragedy of the commons and the tragedy of the anti-commons, we argue: 1) the water management approach pursued by Oklahoma’s government is likely to contribute to the tragic overuse of groundwater resources and 2) the involvement of large and opposing groups that operate within an environment of competing access rights undermine the emergence of an efficient water management regime for Sardis Lake.