Navigating multiple ways to value water: A case study of the trade-offs of the Clyde Dam in Central Otago, New Zealand

Alice Tilley, a BSc in Water Science, Policy and Management student at the University of Oxford, has recently published her paper on the trade-offs of the Clyde Dam on the local region. It was a pleasure to assist Alice with her research and welcome everyone to have a read.

alice_tilley_msc_dissertation.pdf
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Valuing water is complex because of its many uses. This case study shows the importance of considering different ways to value water through social, political, environmental and economic factors and the challenges this brings to collective action. Using the trade-offs of the Clyde Dam, Central Otago New Zealand as a collective action challenge, this research has both a qualitative and quantitative analysis. Historical information and interview data from nine interviewees form two distributional payoff maps that identify the distribution of costs and benefits produced from the trade-offs during phases of construction and operation. It then quantifies the different values to accentuate the challenge of making collective decisions when there are many ways to value water. The results indicate that to break away from path dependency, institutional change is not enough, rather a collective shift towards in corporating the multiple ways to value water is required.