CLTS Working Papers,
Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Centre for Land Tenure Studies

Abstract: The paper discusses the challenges present in the management of groundwater. The theoretical approach of Elinor Ostrom is presented and her study of the management of groundwater in Southern California in the 1960ies is used illuminate how the bottom up process for developing a sustainable system of governance works in California. The most general challenge for a management system is to establish reasonably accurate knowledge about the extent of the groundwater reservoir, a list of the holders of rights to access or pump the groundwater, and the amount taken by those who exercise their rights. If the rights holders are to govern themselves, they need an institutional framework that allows them to create a legally valid constitution for these who have rights in the groundwater. The system of Home-rule that governs local management of public affairs in California provides such framework. This has been studied as polycentric governance.

Keywords: grunnvann; forvaltning; Ostrom; polysentrisk styring; institusjonell design

JEL-codes: H77; Q15; Q25

25 pages, First version: September 12, 2018. Revised: October 16, 2019.

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