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Groundwater Management: Combating the Sinking Feeling

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  • Igor Cialenco
  • Mike Ludkovski

Abstract

This non-technical survey introduces the topic of groundwater management to the mathematics and statistics communities. We focus on the emerging marketplaces for groundwater pumping rights, outlining probabilistic and statistical approaches to groundwater dynamics and game equilibria that underpin stakeholder decisions. After discussing rationing schemes and regulatory policies we list a range of open problems that are well suited to be tackled by the mathematical sciences researchers.

Suggested Citation

  • Igor Cialenco & Mike Ludkovski, 2026. "Groundwater Management: Combating the Sinking Feeling," Papers 2608.23914, arXiv.org.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2608.23914
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    File URL: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2608.23914
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Louis Sears & David Lim & C.-Y. Cynthia Lin Lawell, 2019. "Spatial Groundwater Management: A Dynamic Game Framework and Application to California," Water Economics and Policy (WEP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 5(01), pages 1-34, January.
    2. Ellen M. Bruno & Katrina Jessoe, 2024. "Designing water markets for climate change adaptation," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 14(4), pages 331-339, April.
    3. Kuwayama, Yusuke & Brozović, Nicholas, 2013. "The regulation of a spatially heterogeneous externality: Tradable groundwater permits to protect streams," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 66(2), pages 364-382.
    4. Andrew B. Ayres & Kyle C. Meng & Andrew J. Plantinga, 2021. "Do Environmental Markets Improve on Open Access? Evidence from California Groundwater Rights," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 129(10), pages 2817-2860.
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