To reach a more in-depth understanding of the Colorado and Brahmaputra’s current management responses, I contacted Aaron Wolf, and expert in the transboundary basin realm. After discussing my study with him, in addition to other research, it became clear that potential transboundary conflict is ultimately a road to necessary cooperation. Colorado has made many mistakes in terms of managing the Colorado basin, and is now attempting to adapt accordingly to not only remedy such blunders, but also to react to increasing environmental fluctuations. China has the potential to follow a very similar path if decisions and negotiations are not made early enough, especially regarding infrastructure alterations to accommodate planned surface water projects and environmental vulnerability. Although so many more specific scenarios and policies need to be analyzed and discussed for this situated analysis to be fully comprehensive, the general patterns between the two basins and conclusions that can be made are becoming clear.
Investigations by Lydia Bleifuss