Development and evaluation of a digital behavioral economics game towards improved understanding of groundwater conservation in southern Colorado

The earliest and often most significant impacts of climate change in the American West is on water resources. For communities reliant on irrigated agriculture, ensuring water security in the face of climate change can be critical to the preservation of local economies and understanding water management practices can support climate resilience. Research techniques such as behavioral games can be used to study how incentives and interventions influence community behaviors toward water conservation practices. This work explores the development and evaluation of a digital behavioral economic game using data from the San Luis Valley in order to improve understanding of how groundwater is consumed and conserved within agricultural communities in Colorado beyond traditional study techniques. In 2023, stakeholders were recruited to play and validate the game as a tool for understanding groundwater conservation practices and discuss the advantages of this study mechanism compared to standard methods such as surveys that do not account for dynamic and interactive decision-making. Results showed that financial incentives significantly influenced participants’ crop choices and water use patterns, while demonstrating the impact of data transparency and revealing the development of collaborative behaviors. Qualitative assessments provided insights into real-world challenges, including state pressure to restore aquifer levels and threats to the local economy’s reliance on irrigated agriculture. Discussions emphasized the need for improved water conservation education and more effective subsidy approaches for agricultural practices. The study tool will help policy makers explore and pilot new institutional innovations to prevent overexploitation of natural renewable resources and can be used to inform and empower communities to actively engage in collaborative problem-solving processes leading to improved community water conservation efforts.