UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 12-28-2001 Water policy and theoretical models: Political, bureaucratic and class dynamics in a growth economy Kelly Michelle De Vine University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation De Vine, Kelly Michelle, "Water policy and theoretical models: Political, bureaucratic and class dynamics in a growth economy" (2001). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 3149. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/f6mc-8x2m This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. 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Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. WATER POLICY AND THEORETICAL MODELS: POLITICAL, BUREAUCRATIC AND CLASS DYNAMICS IN A GROWTH ECONOMY by Kelly M. DeVine A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Sociology Department of Sociology University of Nevada, Las Vegas August 1996 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1381012 Copyright 1996 by De Vine, Kelly Michelle All rights reserved. UMI Microform 1381012 Copyright 1996, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. © 1996 Kelly M. DeVine Ail Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. The Thesis of Kelly M. DeVine for the degree of Master of Arts in Sociology is approved. Chairperson, Barbara Brents, Ph.D. Examining Committee M emb^ Maralee Mayberry, Ph D A Examining Committee Member, David Dickens, Ph.D. /// ' if. 'Li Gradmte Fadplty Representative, Dennis Soden, Ph.D. Dean of the GradùàîëtTollege, Ronald Smith, Ph.D. University of Nevada, Las Vegas August 1996 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Water Policy and Theoretical Models: Political, Bureaucratic and Class Dynamics in a Growth Economy explores the three major socio-political theories of the state and public policy: pluralism, elite/managerialism and class-dialecticism using a case study of a series of policy decisions and outcomes during the period from 1989 to 1995 related to the Las Vegas Valley Water District which serves Las Vegas, Nevada. This time period is important due to the unprecedented levels of population growth experienced in the Las Vegas Valley and due to the extreme scarcity of water resources. This case study explores the issues of popular politics, bureaucratic and elite organization and class imperatives as played out in the development of public water policy by the Las Vegas Valley Water District. Ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT........................................................................................................................ni ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................ vi CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................1 Water Policy in the Las Vegas Valley...................................................................... 3 The Study................................................................................................................. 6 CHAPTER 2 THEORY AND METHODS.........................................................................10 Pluralist Models......................................................................................................10 Elite/Managerial Models.........................................................................................12 Class-Dialectic Models...........................................................................................14 Case Studies of Local Policy Issues and their Limitations.................................... 17 Method and Methodology...................................................................................... 32 CHAPTER 3 HISTORY.................................................................................................... 40 Water and the West............................................................................................... 40 Nevada and Water.................................................................................................. 43 CHAPTER 4 FINDINGS.................................................................................................. 53 The Cooperative Water Project............................................................................. 55 Pluralist Model............................................................................................55 Elite/Managerial Model............................................................................. 64 Class-Dialectic Model................................................................................ 69 Southern Nevada Water Authority......................................................................... 76 Pluralist Model............................................................................................78 Elite/Managerial Model............................................................................. 79 Class-Dialectic Model................................................................................ 85 Integrated Resource Planning/Integrated Resource Planning Advisory Committee.................................................................................................. 89 Pluralist Model........................................................................................... 92 Elite/Managerial Model............................................................................. 96 Class-Dialectic Model...............................................................................102 Analysis of Policy Trends.....................................................................................104 Pluralist Model..........................................................................................105 Elite/Managerial Model............................................................................106 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Class-Dialectic Model.............................................................................. 107 CHAPTERS CONCLUSIONS....................................................................................... 113 APPENDDC 1....................................................................................................................125 APPENDIX 2....................................................................................................................126 BIBLIOGRAPHY..............................................................................................................127 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my Chairperson and Committee Members, Dr. Barbara Brents, Dr.