Digital Commons Network^™

Social And Geographic Contexts Of Water Concerns In Utah, Courtney G. Flint, Xin Dai, Douglas B. Jackson-Smith, Joanna Endter-Wada, Sara K. Yeo, Rebecca Hale, Mallory K. Dolan

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

Public concerns about water issues are key considerations in responding to changing hydrologic conditions. Literature is mixed on the social profiles associated with resource-related risks. Using data from a household survey, we compare concerns about water shortage, climate change impacts on water supply, poor water quality, and flooding. We assess the combined influence of social and locational factors on each concern and variations across three valleys in northern Utah. Generalized linear mixed modeling is used, given the ordinal nature of most variables. Water shortage was the greatest concern, and female, older, nonwhite, and recreationally active respondents were generally more concerned …