The Role of Perception on Water Allocation and Conservation Management in Western North Carolina

Western North Carolina (WNC) has traditionally given limited attention to conservation in water management primarily due to the fact that the area is a water rich region, with high annual rainfall and low population. Recent droughts and high population growth have put stresses on many water supply systems. In order to effectively deal with the new stresses on water supply, many new management practices were initiated, prompted by both state mandates and local pressure. Decision-makers are apt to make decisions based on perceptions, personal beliefs, and historical practice rather than on relevant data. Therefore, there is a need to understand the perceptions of decision-makers which influence management decisions. Results from eighty-five surveys and nine interviews are used to understand how decision-maker perceptions relate to active conservation policies. Water use, climate, and population data are also used to understand the effects of increased water management in the two case study towns of Boone and Hendersonville. Results indicate that while water management in WNC encompasses many aspects of sustainability, the region still has much room to improve to ensure that all current and future needs are met.