Technological Adaptation for Water Storage and Distribution in the Oldman River Basin in Response to Extreme Climate Exposures
Technology has played a significant role in the development of the Oldman River Basin since early settlements. The development of new and expanding industries, changes in agricultural activity and practices, and transformation in demographics and population density across the region have led to the installation and use of new technologies to manage water effectively and efficiently for multiple consumers. Existing technologies are challenged by extreme climate conditions that abruptly change water flow to increase droughts and floods that also affect vulnerable social systems. It is in this context that technology for water storage and distribution has taken a greater role as a determinant for adaptation in the agricultural industry. This research explores the impacts of severe climate exposures on technology for water storage and distribution, and how these impacts affect the vulnerability of these technologies, and consequently the vulnerability of agricultural producers within three jurisdictions in the Oldman River Basin. This research also explores technological actions taken by agricultural producers and local institutional representatives that lead into either adaptation to reduce vulnerability or to maladaptation to increase risks and vulnerabilities of social systems in the context of severe climate exposures. To understand and explain how adaptive actions contribute or not to technological adaptation, as well as how they may reduce risks and vulnerabilities of agricultural producers, this thesis focused on two major components: the social science represented by social and human capital, and the engineering component represented by the technological approach. This connection on how the vulnerability of technological systems relate to social systems and the vulnerability of agricultural producers was explored through semi-structured interviews and analysis of historical data on technological improvements and their impacts on the vulnerability of agricultural producers. The key findings identify opportunities for increasing adaptive capacity through technological actions divided in three main categories, including technological improvements, addressing water needs, and monitoring water levels. Two main type of actions were identified: (1) the installation of technologies in a new location and (2) changes to the physical structure of existing technologies. The latter is predominant in the study area as an action to rapidly respond to the impacts of extreme climate exposures, particularly flooding. In addition, both primary and secondary sources indicate that decision making processes related to community and individual changes can increase resiliency and build adaptive capacity through knowledge-sharing among agricultural producers and also through local and industry institutions. The research also highlights the connection between formal education attainment and increased decision making ability of agricultural producers in their selection and implementation of technological adaptations to extreme climate events and, as consequence, reduced social vulnerability.
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Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina