Dissertation Vulnerability to Drought in the La Paz
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DISSERTATION VULNERABILITY TO DROUGHT IN THE LA PAZ, MEXICO WATERSHED Submitted by Melissa Haeffner Graduate Degree Program in Ecology In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Summer 2015 Doctoral Committee: Advisor: Kathleen Galvin Michele Betsill Stephen Leisz Dennis Ojima Copyright by Melissa Haeffner 2015 All Rights Reserved ABSTRACT VULNERABILITY TO DROUGHT IN THE WATERSHED OF LA PAZ, MEXICO This study explores the relationship between drought vulnerability and migration in the ranchero community in the Sierras of the La Paz watershed in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Using household survey data, I examine how the various dimensions of vulnerability are related to migration as an adaptation strategy to drought. Contrary to what is predicted by environmental migration and climate vulnerability theory, drought exposed rancheros who had high sensitivity and low adaptive capacity did not use migration as an adaptation strategy in the last severe drought (2006-2012), despite migration being a central part of their traditional culture. This dissertation shows how rural upstream households are constrained in traditional adaptation options (including migration options) while new options have become available (including sedentary options) - because of other social changes in the same watershed, specifically, the expansion of urban services. Taking a closer look at watershed dynamics, I find that urban services have both positive and negative impacts on ranchero drought vulnerability. On the one hand, urban services diversify ranchero water sources in normal seasons; on the other hand, access to urban services does not remain consistent in severe drought. I conclude with a new conceptualization of drought responses with a discussion of the implications of these findings for future research and public policy that includes a need for broader stakeholder inclusion. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project was and continues to be a true team effort. The gratitude expressed here does not cover the amount I have to be thankful for. Thank you to my committee for approving the sequential stages of the doctoral process: Dr. Kathleen Galvin, whose patience is unsurpassed, and Dr. Dennis Ojima, Dr. Michele Betstill, and Dr. Stephen Leisz who gave thoughtful and critical feedback. Thank you to LeRoy Poff and for the excellent administration work by Jeri Morgan, Lisa Anaya, Karen Gardenier, Scot Allen, Linda Adams, and Brenda Avery. I am eternally grateful to Greg Guibert, Jess Walker, Melannie Hartman, and Ch’aska Huayhuaca who helped convert my rough sketches of ideas into the coherent and legible language found in this document. Thank you also to Mark and Noah Desmond for their never- ending unconditional support. In the field, thank you to Andrew and Shenaqua Jones, McKenzie Campbell, Kate McKenzie, Jordan Bailey, Stephanie Rousso, and all those listed in Spanish below. I consulted a number of scholars throughout the writing process for support including: Paty Romero-Lankao, Ann Hess, Abby Spinak, Erin Towler, Michael Carolan, Fernando Riosmena, Sara Hughes, Hua Qin, Victor Magaña, Amir Aghakouchak, David Freeman, Kelly Mahoney, Jamie McEvoy, Shannon McNeeley, and Mickey Glantz. Thank you also to my fellow colleagues who participated in Russ Schumacher’s SPREAD workshop including Eve Grunfest, Jen Henderson, Linyin Cheng, and Brian Rumsey. Thank you also to Kim Kita and the CSU- Todos Santos Center who supported my follow-up report in the field in 2014. Thank you to my family, Walt, Vickie, and Tom Haeffner, and Laura, Chris, Logan and Luke Coulter. To the following, who have inspired me along the way in ways they will likely never realize: Lety and Betty, Clio Andris, Isabelle Anguelovski, Peter Backlund, Raj Balakrishnan, Megan Bernard, Scott Bernstein, Doug Bolko, John Briscoe, Brook and Eliot iii Brown, Stevon Cristoph Burrell, Suzanne Carlson, Joann Carmin, Fernando Casalengo, Thomas Chermack, Annie and Nick Colombo, Stuart Cottrell, Abby Cristomo, Diane Davis, Jen Delaney, Julie Demuth, One Flores Dewey, Ray Dinkins, Maureen Donnelly, James Drebenstedt, Sheldon Drobot, Jen Dunn, Tiffany Espinosa, Roberta Garner, Sayana and Jon Green, Karen Griggs, Jacky Grimshaw, Brandon Goodall, Jennifer Gurecki, Al Hanan, Chris Hayes and Kate Shaw, Nick Hilliard and Virginia Lacey, Karen Hobbs and Peter Haas, Cheryl Hughes, Carrie Jackson, Shelly Jackson, Louise Jennings, Sara Elizabeth Jones, Ken Kehoe, Kiljoong Kim, Simon Kim, Michael Krein, Carolee Kokola, Mary Kuhn, Stephanie Lane, Tim Lang, Sharlene Leuring, Matt Luizza, Ted Manley Jr., Danny Martin, Kristopher Brian Mitchell, Susan Murcott, Deepak Lamba Nieves, Steve Parks, Vanessa Pinter, Laura May PJ, Amit Prothi, Erin Polgreen, Melinda Powers, Dan and Heather Pugatch, Paul and Karen Rettig, Chad Rispalje, Nancy Rivera, Dawn Roberts, Danielle Rojas, Donna Rowsell, Danielle Rojas, Mark Roy, Seth Sher, Nah Yoon Shin, Kathryn Solie, Alec Story, Christina Suarez, Larry Susskind, Jess Thompson, Matthew Eben Tómas, Cara Turdhal, Larry Vale, Firuzeh Valle, April Whitworth, Beth Weiler, Deena Weinsten, Lucy White, Mia White, Graham and Laurie Denyer Willis, David Wilcox, and Elise Zelechowski. iv AGRADECIMIENTOS Un especial agradecimiento a los rancheros que dieron su tiempo para platicarnos acerca de su vida en la cuenca de La Paz. Un agradecimiento especial a los rancheros que nos dieron su tiempo para hablar con nosotros sobre su vida en San Javier. Gracias a los profesores de la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur que aportaron valiosos conocimientos de la zona y comentarios sobre los resultados de la encuesta, especialmente a la Dra. Alba Eritrea Gamez Vázquez, Dr. Fermín Reygadas, Javier Alberto Arce Meza, Dra. Antonina Ivanova, y Dra. Micheline Cariño Olvera. Gracias también a la biblioteca de la UABCS por las imágenes obtenidas por satélite para los mapas. Gracias a los profesionales que proporcionan valiosa información de antecedentes: Gerardo Chiw, Hermes Estrada Terán, Roberto Romero, Arq. Andrés de los Ríos Lunda, Ignacio Iglesias Caro, Jesús Quiñonez, Norma Estrada, Arturo Cruz-Falcón, Miguel Aragón, Felipe González y Francisco Javier Guzmán Roa. Gracias a Niparajá A.C. por su ayuda en el diseño y la ejecución de este proyecto, especialmente a Gabriel Patrón, Mabilia Urquidi Gaume, Alejandra Irasema Campos Salgado y la practicante, Cenia Alemán Sarabia. Gracias a las Raíces Vivas que contribuyeron decisivamente en el diseño e implementación de este proyecto, especialmente McKenzie Campbell y Martha Drew. Gracias a nuestros guías: Aníbal López, Profesora Rosario Almeida Cruz la Subdelegadora de San Blas, y Ezequiel de San Pedro. Gracias a Luz Fabiola Armenta Martínez y Mariana Ledesma por la traducción y transcripción de las entrevistas. Gracias a mis maravillosos asistentes quienes realizaron las encuestas en el campo: Vinnie Enrique Caicero, Chris Estrada, Joel Coronado Gaxiola, Irene López, Carlos Mancilla, Laura Morales, Carlos Nava, Arry v Gonzalez Peralta, Nancy Rubio y Jesenia Torres. Gracias a mis maravillosos asistentes en San Javier quienes realizaron las encuestas en el campo: Yuridia Davis, Laura Morales y Paola Bonilla Yee. Gracias a Laura y Luz un otra vez por traducir entrevistas adicionales en la memoria de la sequía en la zona. Muchos abrazos a Rosina en San Javier que nos dejó quedarnos en su casa de repuesto en el último minuto. Gracias también a nuestra guía de Jesús “Chuy” para ayudarnos durante varios días en el campo. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iii AGRADECIMIENTOS…………………………………………………………………………...v LIST OF TABLES………………………………………………………………………………..xi LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER 1: Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1 1.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 The study region ................................................................................................................ 2 1.2 Drought .............................................................................................................................. 3 1.3 Population and culture ....................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Approach ......................................................................................................................... 11 1.5 Organization of the dissertation ....................................................................................... 17 CHAPTER 2: Literature Review .................................................................................................. 19 2.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 19 2.1 Environmental migration literature ................................................................................. 19 2.2 Climate vulnerability literature .......................................................................................